View source for MNet: Jericho V Hijacked, Mars Sponsored Saboteurs Suspected

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== Jericho V Hijacked, Mars Sponsored Saboteurs Suspected ==
''Originally Published on January 10th, 2492<br>''
''Cocoon Station, Grant Jones''

As we informed you a few days ago, Jericho V, a state of the art, self sustained floating city was experiencing technical issues, and even the shutdown of their spaceports. While the security systems were still active, there has been no word of the seven and a half million people living in the floating city. Arc Systems 13th Division, under the command of Ian Sorensson has been keeping a close eye on the situation, and after strange activity detected, Commander Sorensson has offered an update to the media.
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|“As of 16:57 local time, the orbital systems of Jericho V were tampered with and a spike in power was registered. As of right now, Jericho V is no longer orbiting Earth, it has also changed its inclination and has produced a movement vector. To put it bluntly, Jericho V has been hijacked, and is on the move. At the present time, and due the speed that the floating city is gaining, it's not possible to make an infiltration on the habitat. Arc Systems 13th Division has been recalled, and as we speak we're meeting with ARES, Armitech, and Matsumoto to discuss a more tactical approach.

Ideally, shutting down the orbital systems with controlled detonations would be the right path, however, due the nature of Jericho V and its self sufficient systems, the orbital systems are significantly more difficult to hit, let alone shutdown. Our best Netrunners are attempting to infiltrate data nodes to reach the Jericho V Mainframe and shut it down that way, but so far our efforts have been fruitless, as it appears as if Jericho V has shut down any and all NET access from the inside.

At the present time, we're unable to guarantee the success in any operations aiming to shutdown Jericho V's orbital systems, and based on our initial information concerning the movement vector of the habitat, we have calculated an estimated collision course. We have issued a warning to the following space stations, floating cities, and colonies:

* San Jose Orbital Farms
* Ny Zurich
* Neo Tokyo
* Cocoon Station
* King's Protein Processing Farm #14-B
* Luna Colony
* Prometheus Observation Platform

We have also determined that the Martian moon of Phobos may be impacted, but since Mars has seceded from New Geneva, we are not considering it a target to be worried about.

An additional concern comes in the form of the increase in velocity, due the size of Jericho V, it's very likely it will break off in several fragments, however at the time, we're unable to predict how many fragments will there be, or when will it break off, although we calculate an approximate of 30 hours if the tendency remains the same.”
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Concerning our own Cocoon Station, Commander Sorensson calculated a possible point of impact between 36 to 48 hours, at this time, there are procedures in place to ensure the defense and preservation of Cocoon Station. At this present time, there are evacuation orders issued on most of the mentioned possible targets, especially the ones unable to produce orbital defense procedures. Luna Colony is already aiming their orbital cannons to Jericho V's trajectory, however they won't open fire unless Jericho V being on a collision course with the colony is a certainty.

When inquired about the hijacking of a floating city like Jericho V, Commander Sorensson had the following to say.
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{| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%; padding: 50px; margin: auto"
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| “While at the present time we're unable to determine concrete identities, we have managed to unveil the existence of a team of nearly a hundred operatives in the floating city. We have also determined that they are on a suicide mission, neither of them expect to survive it.

Comparing tactics and strategies we have determined that they are saboteurs sponsored by Mars, most likely by the Kakusareta Akuma, otherwise known as the Hidden Demons Clan. During the Mars Wars, it was the Hidden Demons Clan that fanned the flames of discord against Advanced Research and Experimental Systems and their legitimate claim to Mars. It's very likely that Mars learned that Jericho V developed weapons and ammunition of all kinds for Corporate Security Forces and has decided to strike, in an attempt to weaponize Jericho V and incite terrorism.

Mars has been on a war path since the Mars Wars were declared, one year after their got what they wanted, they turned against corporations that had been operating on Mars legitimately and according to their own rules, and killed thousands of corporate employees, and caused billions of Sol Credits in damages, not only that, but to this day, the heiress to the NexTech Industries CEO seat, Amélie Sauniere continues to be missing, she was last seen on Mars, trying desperately to flee the planet when forces linked to the Hidden Demons Clan found her and took her captive.

At this moment, our focus and priority is to tackle this crisis and solve it without the unnecessary loss of life, and most importantly, ensuring that corporate assets are maintained. New Geneva has authorized the deployment of additional forces and vehicles to ensure your protection.”
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With this, Arc Systems, through Commander Sorensson, has pointed to Mars and specifically, the Hidden Demons Clan as the responsible parties for the crisis on Jericho V.

Please stay tuned for more on this story as it develops.

What are your thoughts and opinions on this crisis? Do you believe that Mars has gone too far? Do you live in one of the affected locations? If so, what is your plan of action? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below, but above it all, please remain safe.
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