Seattle -- A magickal oddity was reported today from the outskirts of the sprawl, where a 15 foot long rat was reportedly caught by animal control this past weekend. Authorities report that the creature showed signs of being magickally manipulated, and the creature does not represent a new meta-species. Witnesses describe the creature as having 12 foot long tentacles sprouting from it's back, and holding off animal control officers for nearly an hour by using some sort of fiery spittle as a weapon. Two officers were hospitalized and are listed in serious condition, the animal has since been put down.
Aztlan -- Tragedy struck the Kepler probe mission at the Spindle orbital habitat. A fuel line ruptured, igniting and destroying the launch engines of the Kepler probe less than an hour before its intended launch time. The probe was quickly disentangled from the launch engines, but not before it suffered significant damage to its sensor and telemetry systems. Officials of Aztechnology, Federated Boeing, and Shibata Construction and Engineering have stated that the probe is repairable, but it will not be able to be launched in time for Halley's Comet's first pass around Earth. A new launch time has been scheduled to intercept the Comet on its second pass.
Cairnes -- More bad news for comet watchers from Australia, where a comet-worshiping terrorist group called the Cataclysts seized control of the semiballistic that was intended to carry the Brahe probe into orbit. The terrorists somehow infiltrated the Normanton launch site, killed the crew, and commandeered control of the vessel. Shortly after takeoff, a massive explosion destroyed the probe and all on board. The Cataclysts released a statment soon after, claiming that they intended to accompany the probe to the comet, but that Shiawase shot the craft down with a surface-to-air missile. Shiawase refutes the claim, pointing out that the probe was incapable of carrying passengers and further claim that the terrorists themselves destroyed the probe with a bomb. So far there has been no comment by Shiawase officials regarding any further probe plans at this time.