Phoenix?

With the five Demon Prices presumed dead has Oikumene, and Beyond for that matter as well, become a safer place? A just question....

For some time now we've witnessed a power vacuum, which is now - slowly - being replaced by a power struggle as new brigands crawl to the surface of our civilization.

One of the recurring names is Woodrow Ink III who, as rumor goes, started out as insignificant freelance henchman, occasionally doing legwork for Howard Allan Treesong. It now appears that Mr. Ink created a vast network of very illegal operations: piracy, slavery, kidnapping, contraband... anything goes and in well planned and structured operations, we might say.

Official sources from IPCC reluctantly confirmed that Ink's operations caused "some harm and damage". "He has appeared on our radar and we're quite vigilant..." an IPCC spokesman said today. Obviously IPCC vigilance is not enough as a long range star boat was attacked and plundered last week. The boat was towed to an unknown location, all 750 passengers were taken hostage; crew members were killed on spot. Their bodies floating in space as a sad epitaph of the attack. It was later confirmed that the operation was directed by Woodrow Ink himself.

- Frontpage clipping from "The Concourse Herald" by an unknown editor