HARTHOE - The mining world of Harthoe has been destroyed following a collision with the ViCorp orbital rig Lodestone.
Reports from automated surveillance suggest that the rig, headquarters of ViCorp’s Crystal Cerite mining operation on Harthoe, activated its AIM Drive and was propelled at faster-than-light speed towards the surface, splitting the planet’s already volatile crust. It took approximately two hours for Harthoe to disintegrate entirely. So far, no survivors have been recorded.
Lodestone was an essential outpost for ViCorp, as the only source of Crystal Cerite in the known galaxy. The brightly coloured mineral has become highly popular on the galactic gem and jewellery markets in recent months, with a specimen known as the Compass Rose famously selling for over ⍺200 million at auction. With the destruction of Harthoe, the value of Cerite already in circulation has jumped, as the mineral cannot be synthesised and is now no longer found in nature.
Though authorities are officially ruling the disaster as a malfunction with tragic consequences, rumours abound of foul play, possibly at the hands of jealous collectors seeking to ensure the exclusivity of their Crystal Cerite antiques. Security footage allegedly shows Montreau Conservatory agents present on the rig shortly before the crash.
While the cause of Harthoe’s destruction is debated in the court of public opinion, the court of law has seen numerous negligence charges levelled against ViCorp, the latest in a growing trend of litigation against corporations operating on the frontier.
More on the Harthoe Incident as details emerge.
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