Near-Earth Asteroid Claimed by Striking Space Miners

This move follows months of failed negotiations between the Space Mining Union and Tevlos, their employer and the most prominent space mining operator. Recent business reports declared the base unprofitable and called for abandonment. It was thought that Tevols were willing to wait out the dispute until the miners ran out of food and water to return to Earth. 

However, it is now believed that the miners will be able to become self-sustainable due to the high water content of the asteroid. About two-thirds of the team chose to return to Earth, leaving enough life support equipment for the smaller colony to be sustainable for a while. The facilities are sufficient for growing enough food to feed the group of 14 miners, assuming they can tolerate the diet of algae, lattice, and mushrooms. 

The remaining miners have held onto Tevlos’s mining equipment, citing their unpaid yearly bonuses as payment. It is currently unclear on the legality of seizing this equipment, but it is true that the miners are collectively owed a significant sum in missed payments. With a sizable amount of metals and water predicted to be held in the asteroid, the miners will be able to generate a generous revenue once they have found buyers. 

The group's decision to reside on the asteroid has changed the base economy and made it profitable overnight. It has eliminated the need for most of the supply flights and pricey crewed shuttles from Earth. Very expensive compliance measures might become optional now, as Tevos released itself from responsibility for miners' well being.  

Tevlos’s shareholders are pushing for the company to place pressure on the group in an effort to stop other striking miners from seeking independence. Some of the more vocal critics are calling for Tevlos to apply strength and forcefully remove the miners from their new station. However, the logistics of a hostile takeover in space are unclear, very expensive, and have very little legal base. It seems Tevlos has to rethink its business strategy and consider settlement mining operations  as part of their portfolio in the future.

Meanwhile, since people decided to settle on the asteroid, they started thinking about the long term future of the base. One of the remaining problems, miners admit, is the lack of women. Only 2 of the remaining personnel are female. The head of the base mentioned in the last broadcast that they are looking for more women residents. He promised quarters with individual bathrooms and a window for all future female personnel. “Come here, see it for yourself” - he said to potential female applicants - “your odds are good here, though some might say that the goods are a bit odd...”