The increased number of attacks on Pleasure Cruises and continued presence of Red Dragon piracy distracts many authorities in the Glenn Commission from the growing threat of "body-snatching," or so claims miner Cameron Jorden."Since 75% of their [Glenn Commission] profits are from tourism, no one is gonna give a hoot over a few missing miners!" the middle-aged, Earth-born miner exlaims.
Indeed, Glenn space Patrols, as well as EarthCorps Scouts, confirm reports of Glenn Commission Miners being "body-snatched" during mining expeditions in Shepard sector. Although the Glenn Commission primarily earns most of its mining industry revenue from its business arrangements with the Terran trade conglomerate, InfinitiCorp, smaller contracts with individual miners are also issued- contracts that afford minimal protection. Despite the fact that Glenn Commission holds many security contracts with the Progen Republic, conditions for miners have not improved.
"We don't enjoy the same benefits of protection that InfinitiCorp does with EarthCorps, and as for the Space Patrols, it's hard to improve security when the Progen interpret complaints as grave insults on their personal honor. Us miners try to stick together for our own survival, but when a Body Snatcher comes out of nowhere and kills your buddy simply to harvest his organs, it adds a whole new perspective to 'occupational hazards', to say the least." Jorden adds, "Our ships are not properly equipped to handle this kind of threat. Who are these people? Why are they doing this to us?"
Lack of security and weaponry are seemingly one side of the coin to this body-snatching debacle. The fact that there is a bio-commodities market, especially for Human material, to begin with raises many ethical and legal issues against "Uncle" Harvey Krum, the self-proclaimed number-one buyer in the trade. His primary sellers, he claims, are a branch of Freespacers who have gone "feral".
"They give me the creeps. They loot wreck fields for body parts and genetic material to sell. They'll even attack ships for high priced organs," Krum confesses. However, Krum did not disclose what he does with the genetic material or who he sells it to, if he sells it at all. The fact that he operates out of Chernavog Station in the Aragoth Prime sector (Aragoth System) leads many to speculate some degree of involvement on part of InfinitiCorp.
"How can InfinitiCorp claim they don't condone this grotesque market when they allow it to happen right before their eyes?" Jorden questions. InfinitiCorp representatives assert that the Red Dragons may have something to do with it, especially since Tong Tai Fu has been spotted in the vicinity near the Commission miners in Shepard Sector.
Commission miners may be found near nav Frontier Field Beta in the Shepard sector (Beta Hydri System). Harvey Krum may be found onboard Chernavog Station.
This is Admiral Mulgrew reporting for Net-7 News.
