New Caldari – Representatives from the House of Records and Caldari Funds Unlimited testified before a Chief Executive Panel investigatory committee today, painting a bleak picture of future Caldari development in the occupied territories. House of Records analyst Noki Ban led with the most sobering assessment, saying that, “The situation emerging is that many investors were not prepared for the speed and ferocity of the Federation counterattack.”

According to Ban’s economic models, many corporations may have over-leveraged themselves and did not take adequate precautions before beginning operations in the occupied territories. “If the current trends continue,” said Ban, ‘we can expect bankruptcies and loan defaults all throughout the economic spectrum. Another credit crisis, similar to what we experienced last year, is not impossible.”

Caldari Funds Unlimited provided much of the financing for new corporate ventures in the occupied territories. Its CEO, Jaan Omura, seemed less pessimistic than Ban. “So far, while we have seen a number of defaults by smaller, independent corporations, we have yet to see serious issues with any loans made to megacorporate subsidiaries,” she told the committee. “While we have re-evaluated our lending policies in the wake of this counteroffensive, we believe any economic setbacks will be temporary and most investment will be recovered.”

Response to the testimony was mixed, though all committee members expressed surprise at the House of Records’ dire assessment. Sukuuvestaa and Wiyrkomi called for further investigation, proposing a combined Caldari Business Tribunal and House of Records audit of the disputed territories.

Annaro – Over a month has passed since a team of 16 Amarr slaves took part in the successful rescue of 176 trapped Caldari miners before being subsequently released. Each of the freed slaves indicates that they are content in their new lives. According to Ducia Foundry, seven of them have returned to their previous owner, The Ducia Foundry, as employees, while the rest have moved on to careers with other astro-surveying teams throughout New Eden.

Reporters caught up with Foitien Stourli, one of the former slaves, hard at work in the depths of yet another asteroid. When asked about his new life, he said, “It’s taking some time for me to process. I can’t express how grateful I am to Aszhar Freimala and everyone involved. I have great food, shorter hours, and simple comforts. The only thing is that I don’t know what to do with all my free time. I’m hoping the Lord will bless me with some purpose out here.”

In related news, the former Annaro police commander Garr Diymir was sentenced to two months of house arrest and fined 1,000 ISK for illegally diverting police resources to allow the Ducia Foundry slaves to enter Caldari space and perform the rescue. Unofficial surveys indicate the majority of Caldari citizens support his decision. Diymir cannot legally return to the Annaro police corporation, but he has been offered a position with Spacelane Patrol, CBD Corporation’s corporate security force, upon his release from house arrest.

Annaro – Confirmation that the Ducia Foundry team deployed to Annaro system included slave workers emerged last night, sparking controversy and overshadowing the successful rescue of 176 miners from the collapsed CBD Corporation asteroid mine. The Caldari Business Tribunal is reported to have been alerted by individuals within the Annaro police; they are investigating allegations that corporate and civil codes were broken by the local police corporation.

According to reports, the rescue team included 16 slaves, who carried out dangerous work on the surface of the asteroid. Those slaves have since been purchased and released by Amarr Holder Aszhar Freimala, in accordance with an agreement between Freimala, Ducia Foundry, and Annaro police commander Garr Diymir. Despite this agreement, the venture was still illegal under Caldari law, as the individuals in question were slaves during the rescue operation.

Sources within the Annaro police force have alleged that Commander Diymir gave his authority for the illegal venture to proceed and ordered several police patrols to change course away from the Amarr team’s ships and the asteroid. Tribunal investigators are interviewing senior officers in the Annaro police corporation. Commander Diymir is reported to have been suspended from duty, though he is cooperating with investigators. With the investigation appearing to be aimed at prosecuting Garr Diymir, local miners have begun a fund to help pay for his legal costs.

Annaro – Confirmation that the Ducia Foundry team deployed to Annaro system included slave workers emerged last night, sparking controversy and overshadowing the successful rescue of 176 miners from the collapsed CBD Corporation asteroid mine. The Caldari Business Tribunal is reported to have been alerted by individuals within the Annaro police; they are investigating allegations that corporate and civil codes were broken by the local police corporation.

According to reports, the rescue team included 16 slaves, who carried out dangerous work on the surface of the asteroid. Those slaves have since been purchased and released by Amarr Holder Aszhar Freimala, in accordance with an agreement between Freimala, Ducia Foundry, and Annaro police commander Garr Diymir. Despite this agreement, the venture was still illegal under Caldari law, as the individuals in question were slaves during the rescue operation.

Sources within the Annaro police force have alleged that Commander Diymir gave his authority for the illegal venture to proceed and ordered several police patrols to change course away from the Amarr team’s ships and the asteroid. Tribunal investigators are interviewing senior officers in the Annaro police corporation. Commander Diymir is reported to have been suspended from duty, though he is cooperating with investigators. With the investigation appearing to be aimed at prosecuting Garr Diymir, local miners have begun a fund to help pay for his legal costs.

Annaro – A dangerous rescue operation aimed at recovering 176 Caldari miners trapped in an asteroid proved successful last night . The rescue was performed by an Amarr team from Ducia Foundry experienced on unstable asteroids.

Reports indicate that the miners themselves were not informed of the attempt and spent the evening writing final letters to their loved ones. One miner told reporters, “When I heard they were drilling just a few meters away, my first thought was that we were hallucinating from the lack of oxygen.” The surprise rescue operation was executed, though, for reasons that remain unclear, only a select few knew about the operation. Their secrecy has aroused suspicions that Ducia Foundry was allowed to covertly transport and deploy its slave workers to the asteroid mine.

In a brief statement, Ducia Foundry’s Steen Greimala said, “The operation went as smoothly as ever. Every member of my team performed admirably, and we were more than helped by the Deep Core Mining experts, who analyzed every aspect of the asteroid. I never had a point where I was seriously concerned.”

CBD Corporation released a statement saying, “We welcome the successful rescue of our miners and thank Deep Core Mining and Ducia Foundry for their help.” CBD would not comment on the safety procedures they had employed during the mining operation. Police commander Garr Diymir was not available for comment.

Caldari law expert Dimm Margo remarked, “I think it’s obvious what’s happened. They managed to sneak the slaves in and get the job done, but there will need to be legal accounting sooner or later. Luckily for them, they were successful.”