The inhabitants of Conway City awoke three days ago to news that the station election had ended, with the “Democrats of LTT 4961” party gaining the most representatives in the city assembly.

Ongoing polls of voter intention started to show a sudden swing away from NULL in favor of DLT. With little in the way of negative political events, many observers put the sudden change down simply to voter apathy.

In the last few days however, Conway Herald has learned of the illegal involvement of Federation agencies and private businesses in the recent LTT 4961 elections. Not least of these companies, is the digital advertising consultancy “Coriolis Analytica”.

Evidence has come to light that “CA” have been involved in psychological profiling and subliminal conditioning via holo feed and social cloud systems such as SpaceBook and BoosterGram through use of a shell company, “Aggregate ID” registered in the Lave system. CA reportedly injected subliminal messages secretly into the daily media and entertainment feeds of large numbers of innocent users, using sometimes falsified messages to nudge opinions one way or another depending on their client.

The scale and timing of the sudden change in the mindset of the LTT 4961 citizenry may be even more sinister than this unethical and illegal messaging.

"There has been an unprecedented shift in the vote, this can’t be explained away by a simple dislike of policy, it has to be manipulation, but on a scale that defies sense even for the winning sid."

Armando Smith, LTT 4961 Guild of Lawyers

The sudden spike in poplarity of DLT in LTT 4961 coincides with several anonymous donations to the party on the 12th of March amounting to well over 10 million credits. Donations to political organisations and parties are not limited in LTT but how much they are able to spend on election campaigns is limited to no more than 8 million in any given calendar week.

It is the belief of investigators at the Independent Systems’s Monitor (ISM) that DLT contracted Aggregate ID to broadcast election disinformation and were secretly paid by both DLT and Coriolis Analytica.

In an attempt to “stay” within election funding rules, it is alleged that DLT paid just 100,000 credits for services from Aggregate ID. And that the actual cost of implementation and value of the work done was well into the tens of millions, where Coriolis Analytica would subsidise Aggregate ID, effectively indirectly performing millions of credits of work for a few thousand.

If true, the alleged illegal investment by DLT into digital targeting paid off, but seemingly to a much greater degree than Coriolis Analytica had planned.

From network traces over the ten days of the election period, a surprisingly uniform pattern of behaviour emerges. Experienced digital researchers will recognise the clusters above as the result of a neural network. Neural networks themselves are common in basic computer software, but the speed and spread suggests advanced AI behaviour gone unchecked. If true, this will mark a severe breach of inter-galactic law.

The Alliance has been collecting data on unusual political and cargo movements. Is this the same sinister group responsible?

The AOS story repots that not only were civilians bombarded with vast amounts of mixed-mode media aimed at swaying votes, but that numerous large tonnage starships appeared to be following similar flight patterns.

First-person video captured by one of the researchers appears to show an AI piloting several different ships. Is this link of election rigging and AI just coincidence?

Only time will tell..

Rock Solid Support

Over the last few days LTT 4961 has seen a staggering 40,000 arrivals. Ships supporting the construction of the new “Greg’s Legacy” station and others providing security for trade ships in and around the system.

“We’ve seen a huge outpouring of support, we are truly moved by those who would donate their time to this”

Administrator Keeghan – NULL trade office

The new mining base under construction in honour of the late CMDR Gr3g will provide employment for thousands of mine workers, technicians and traders, as well as increasing the security of extraction operations.

Obsidian Ant Bulletin

Many have chosen to lend support to the operation. But as with all gatherings of trade ships, some more unsavoury characters have been seen in system.

..the long struggle is over for us.

Just a short while ago it has been confirmed by the collective NULL leadership that LTT 4961 is now officially under direct protection as a result of the new Alliance presence at Aranbarahun.

“The Alliance of Independent Systems has officially extended it’s sphere of protection and support outward from Aranbarahun. This now places LTT 4961 under the legal, military and corporate protection of the Alliance.”

NULL Spokesman

With this new political move comes not only an effective deterrent against Federation incursions but also a significant number of tangible trade benefits to those bringing their business to Conway City.

Emboldened by this news LTT 4961 has already seen an up-swing in trade ships arriving at the system’s primary station (Conway City). Our in-house analysis team suggets this development not only brings much-needed stability to the region, but that it will also greatly help NULL’s efforts to expand and grow it’s operations and influence in the area.

“They (NULL) will no longer have to field task-forces to meet incoming federal expansion attempts. That alone will free up their ships for other uses”

Prof J Greenaway, Conway Political Science School

In the aftermath of the recent DR Crucis conflict, it appears that several Winters commanders have decided to shun the rule of law and engage in reprisals against civilian craft in the LTT 4961 system.

Wanted:

Cmdr John Stark - 134,680 cr

Cmdr Manwhale - 72,540 cr

These two elusive figures are currently wanted together for bounties amounting to over 200,000cr.

The LTT 4961 system security forces are ramping up patrols and increasing the number of ships on-duty.

Meanwhile, a vocal few are calling for a concerted effort to reach out to Cmdr Manwhale in the belief that he may be victim of a little known banned federation research programme where cetacean DNA combined with human DNA to increase pilot resistance to high G-forces. Several “welcome” ships have been seen preparing for departure from Conway City loaded with Aquaponic systems and Fish as potential gifts to tame the wayward beast.