FNN News Item

Spelljammer

Terraspace: Europa, Jovian federation.

Comet strikes Jupiter!

A small comet, named Shoemaker-Levey after the Terran astronomers who
discovered it, recently broke up and crashed into the planet Jupiter over a
ten day period.

The incident, which was initially feared to be an attack by hostile aliens on
the Jovian Federation, turned out to be in fact a natural phenomenon and
posed no permanent danger.  Many authorities are not convinced, however, and
investigations are continuing on some of the few small remaining fragments of
the comet.

There was some concern that fragments of the comet, which had been torn apart
by Jupiter's complex gravity fields, would smash into Gannymede or Io.  As a
precaution, the local governments of those worlds evacuated area considered
dangerous, but fortunately the bombardment to those two worlds was minimal.
 All the large portions of the comet hit the planet itself.

The only inhabitable area of Jupiter is a stable air pocket that lies within
what astronomers call the "Great Red Spot."  The rulers of the floating
cities therein were prepared to evacuate.  In fact, one of the larger
fragments did strike dangerously close to the red spot, causing significant
atmospheric disturbances in the area.  The governors of the sky cities of
Jupiter have told the Jovian federation that the disturbances have been
minor, but they will not disclose specific details.

All trading between the member worlds of the Jovian Federation had been
placed on suspension until the bombardment had finished.  With the storm
over, trading between the member worlds of the federation will resume in a
matter of days.