Channel 44 News

[Renolion]

Channel 44 News, the people’s news source

A New Way to Drive

2/8/2022- The Fahrenheit Motor Company has announced the release of an updated model of the 1965 Cosmo, deemed simply the Cosmos II. The original 1965 model was known for its luxurious interior, good gas mileage, and hydropneumatic suspension. While the Comsos II retains its predecessor's suspension, the car has been redesigned from a luxury two-door convertible, into a four-door family sedan. Its engine has been replaced, going from a 4.7 liter V8 down to a smaller 3.0 liter V6, and while the engine may be smaller, its greater fuel economy is intended to make it more appealing to the family man. Its interior has given up some of its finer detailing for cheaper and sturdier nylon rather than the quick-to-damage leather of its older brother.

The news Cosmos II

FMC reports that a model within a larger 4.9 liter V8 engine will be available alongside a coupe model which will remove the back seats in favor of greater storage space for the travelling businessman. Initial price tags place the new vehicle at around the 184,000 siloca range (or 38,000 ADS), making it a viable option for the average Joe, while the planned V8 and coupe model will sit comfortably around the 194,00 siloca mark (40,000 ADS). Various upgrades can also be purchased separately, including digital entertainment systems, enhanced speakers, and if the purchaser so desires, traditional coil suspension.

 

Railroading Reshuffle

This week the Ministry of Transportation has announced plans for a reworking of the nation’s aging rail network, including the funding of new rail lines, and the creation of a standardized mixed traffic locomotive. Since 1948, the nation’s railways have been largely free of government interference, barring the Grechevi Station incident in 1952. This however has left the nation in a struggle to build an efficient transport network, as while some rail companies such as the Great Coastal Railway have profited tremendously over the years, allowing for the constant improvement of their network and fleet of rolling stock, other rail lines such as the Northern Railway Company have failed to maintain even small sections of track. This has led to a noticeable decline of rail service availability and a decline in interregional connection, as while some areas of the nation have enforced pollution control legislation, much of the north hasn’t. Steam locomotives still operating in the north are prohibited further south, forcing passengers to either find another rail service further south that meets required standards in certain provinces, or force them to find other ways to commute. In the meanwhile, most southern diesel-electrics are incapable of running on the lower speed lines up north, constricting their range drastically.

To solve this issue the MoT has provided a 630 million siloca (130 million ADS) grant to the newly established Grand Northern Railway, created by the forceful merging of several smaller companies. The money provided will go to the redevelopment and replacement of much of the GNR’s rails, and for the acquisition of new rolling stock. Old pieces of rolling stock such as outdated Class 141’s and miscellaneous cargo trucks will be broken up for scrap value, though some pieces of equipment have been designated for donation to transportation museums across the nation. In the southern half of the country, the GCR will be required to provide any additional funding required, as well as providing generic rolling stock such as passenger carriages and gondola cars. The GCR’s standard service locomotive, the Class 240, was to replace any Class 226’s, 232’s, and especially any remaining 141’s, and the MoT has made it clear that they’re willing to subsidize the purchases. If this program will be successful or not is yet to be seen, however hopes are high.

An outdated Class 141 in service up North

Edited August 3, 2022 by Renolion
Fixed currency abbreviations (see edit history)

[Renolion]

 

An Inky Ocean

10/8/2022- Following the Majesty incident, many questions have been raised over the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the oil tanker Cavliere and the wounding of the RMS Majesty, ranging from the final resting place of the wreck to possible ulterior motives behind the entire ordeal.

Initial reporting by the Komspukov Times gave birth to claims that the captain of the Cavliere intentionally shifted the course of the massive tanker to intentionally collide with the Majesty as a show of anti-monarchist protest. In a much similar fashion the Royal Report accused the radio operator of the Cavliere of treason for ignoring radio transmissions from the Majesty to proceed with an intentional attack against a symbol of Renolion pride and the last golden age of the Monarchy. These assertions ended up fueling a series of small protests at the headquarters of Gennaro Shipping, owner of the sunken tanker. Fears of possible increasing volatility were calmed with the release of an early statement from the National Transportation Safety Board, who released the following statement: 

“It has come to the attention of the investigators of the Majesty Incident that claims of this being a treasonous attack have led to undesirable situations in Komspukov for the former owners of the MS Cavliere. These claims are without base and purely fear mongering on behalf of the original journalists. No evidence of an intentional turn has come to fruition, and both crew of the Cavliere and Majesty have agreed that there was no intentional effort to sink the Majesty. We ask that any news source releasing claims of this being an attack cease further publication so as to not create unnecessary concern over what is merely an accident.” 

Of the information the NTSB has released thus far, much of it proves this statement to be true. Based on the point of collision and the wake seen by the crew of the Majesty from the form of the Cavliere, there’s evidence that a turn in order to avoid rather than ram into the Majesty was made, and that based on the waves spotted breaking against her stern, she was attempting to reverse rather then continue forward. Additional information regarding the Cavliere’s final moments unfortunately cannot be reached as of this moment, as due to the depth at which she sank, her VDR cannot be easily recovered without the assistance of a submersible craft. The Navy has denied the NTSB access to its fleet of three submersibles, which has left the NTSB in talks with the Deep Quest Company for access to their submersible vessel ‘Peanut’ (see below).

Damages so far total 110 million ADS, 90 million of which cover the loss of the Cavliere, while the remaining 20 million is for the repair costs of the Majesty, however these estimates do not include costs of loss cargo or lost profit due to the laying up of the Majesty and complete loss of the Cavliere. While the investigation is very much in its early stages, both the Blue Star Line and the Helesko Oil Company are already at each other's throats over the ordeal. Due to the lack of a vessel being available to run the Komspukov-Toloa, or ‘Ocean Blue’ route, the National Line’s Queen Nezetchi has been given access to the route’s rights by the Ministry of Commerce, much to the chagrin of the Blue Star Line. We’ll continue to update you as more information arrives.

Edited August 10, 2022 by Renolion
Formatting (see edit history)