Seeding the Sectors -

"Thread the Needle"
digital drawing & collage by Mick Mather

SYSTEM EDGE, K-Line - The Ministry of Science & Future Technology will be sending a study group to K-Line later this year. This is the furthest afield of the 12 official worlds that comprise the Outer Dust Rings as well as it's most inhospitable. Except for the fact that the largest jump gate ever discovered is located here, it is unlikely that K-Line would ever have qualified for the atmosphere processors that now make it habitable. Most of the activity at this planet-size gate is little more than dust and particle streamers, the odd space rock, comets, asteroids and - once upon a time - Waterworld came through this portal. There has been a particular spike of electromagnetic measurements in the sector and it is hypothesized that another event is to be expected soon. An artists rendition of the gate, nicknamed Thread the Needle, shows what scientists believe to be a typical flight path and what the magnetic array surrounding the port during an event might look like. Only scientific excursions are currently allowed to K-Line but if enough interest can be generated, tourist class transport seats may become available at the time of real activity in the sector.