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The camera pans in to a heavy set man that obviously was dragged out of a used car sales lot. He had his thumbs through his overall straps and a wide grin on his face. He suddenly busted out with a loud voice.
Welcome to the GRAND REOPENING of the famous Gambit's Bar! Patrons of the bar will surely recognize this fine establishment reborn just as it was in the old days. It's even set next to a beautiful strip club fitted with pink neon lights in the shape of a bunny head. Nostalgic isn't it? Here's a few words from the Ragin' Cajun himself, Gambit!
Gambit walks into the camera and slowly the used car sales man is panned out leaving only Gambit's gorgeous body standing in front of the red neon lights of his bar.
"Dis is Remy LeBeau callin' all old patrons and welcomin' new ones t' de newest and greatest bar in town. Here at Gambit's Bar, I promise you only de best and most adequate selection of drinks in a beautiful vintage looking bar wit' a friendly staff and community."
Gambit slowly walked to his left seeming not to notice that he was walking too far. Soon the background had shifted over from Gambit's Bar to the strip club next door.
"So come on down t' Gambit's Bar, take a load off, an' grab a drink. We aim t' please."

A trumpet blares a common chorus for the intro to Channel 69 News, NOW! A sharply dressed man in his prime turns to the left and slides his papers across the table with him. He faces the camera and presents a sharp smile. A sparkle shines for a moment in his teeth and he gives the camera a thumbs up. His right hand suddenly disappears under the table.
"Hello Wing City, I'm Dick Burns. We have an amazing story for you tonight marked with tragedy and sorrow. The Embassy was the victim of what seems to be a massive terrorist attack, Iowna Beerwagon is LIVE on the scene to bring you the latest in breaking news."
The camera cuts to a young woman in her early twenties standing in front of a wooden house. Her usual cheery self and her rosey cheeks glinted with drunken joy even in the most sorrowful instances. One side of the wooden house has collapsed inward as it seems a large pile of cement plowed through that side of the house. On the porch of the house is an elderly woman, content with rocking back and forth in her rocking chair.
"Thank you Dick. I'm here at the scene with Roxane Rolls, a witness to this unforgettable tragedy."
Iowna moves back onto the porch beside Roxane. The camera pans out enough to allow them both on the screen.
Iowna: "Roxane, in your own words, please tell us what you saw."
Roxane: "Ohhh, I didn't see much. I was just sitting here rolling some yarn into a ball while rocking here on my beauty of a rocking chair when all of a sudden I heard this loud boom."
Iowna: "Like a bomb?"
Roxane: "No no, it sounded more like a... a bomb! A big bomb."
Iowna:"But that's what I said..."
Roxane:"Shush child, you should know better than to talk back to your elders. Anyway, right after the boom there was this big wind that felt like it was going to blow me right over. If it weren’t for the cat stopping the rocking chair from blowing all the way back, who knows where I would be."
The camera cuts for a moment to the corpse of a cat with a large horizontal imprint on it's body indicating that it had been crushed to death.
Iowna:"So you saw the explosion?"
Roxane:"See it? How am I supposed to see a giant fireball in the middle of the night? Everybody knows it's too dark out to see anything. Don't they teach you anything in school anymore?"
A vein bulged out on the right side of Iowna's forehead as she clenched the microphone in her hand tighter. She grumbled for a second under her breath.
Iowna:"You stupid old bat..."
Roxane:"What was that child?"
Iowna: "Uhhh, I said that's a lovely hat!"
Roxane: "Why thank you, it's actually a bonnet. It does look pretty on me doesn't it?"
Iowna:"Yes yes, anyway. So you heard a loud explosion but you didn't see the giant fireball that plumed over the embassy just a couple hundred yards ahead of you. I don't suppose you saw who might have done it?"
Roxane:"Well, as I was sitting here on my porch rolling my ball of yarn, just maybe about 10 minutes before the explosion, one large man with a big heavy looking jacket on and another scrawny looking fellow with glowing red eyes walked by here headed to that place where that Embassy building used to be. They both had a lot of guns, and they were definitely not dressed in Embassy uniform. Now that I think about it, there were a lot of clicking noises before the big explosion. Say, what ever did happen to that Embassy building over there?"
Iowna:"What do you mean? It blew up. That's what we've been talking about for the last 10 minutes..."
Roxane: "Ohhh... You know, I heard a big boom last night, kind of like a..."
Iowna: "A bomb! Yes we know, thank you Roxane. Back to you Dick."
Just before the camera has time to switch back to Dick Burns, a brief glimpse of Iowna beating Roxane over the head repeatedly with her microphone is seen.
"Thank you Iowna. Hehe, those two seemed to get along so well. It's a tragedy indeed, but here in the studio we have another treat for you. We have here in the studio Dr. Bigg Boom, a self claimed expert in “big booms.”"
The camera pans out to show an older man resembling Albert Einstein in a white lab coat.
Dick:"So tell us Dr. Boom. What is it about this big boom that has made you devote the last 45 minutes of your life to?"
Dr. Boom:"Well Dick, I was actually not that far away from the explosion when it happened. My observatory where I observe other big booms is only a couple blocks away. Call it intuition, but I could just tell there was a big boom coming my way. I just happened to walk outside and turn to the left, and there I saw it. The biggest boom I have ever seen. After observing the beauty of this big boom, I slowly began to realize that this was not the average big boom. You see, most big booms round out in a bubbly kind of way when they occur above ground. Judging by the magnitude of the big boom, I estimate that this big boom started at least three feet above ground. Soon I realize I was looking at an ugly big boom in disguise. The edges frayed, and there was unevenness to the boom. Sure it was big, but it was emaciated in a vertical stretch. It seems a large amount of the energy, the fat if you will, went upward and was lost in the abyss."
Dick:"So you’re saying this was an ugly big boom?"
Dr. Boom: "Oh most definitely. And believe me; I’ve seen a lot of big booms before. It was definitely the biggest, but also the ugliest. I can tell a lot of the “fat” of the boom was thrown in all the wrong places because huge holes looked like they were punched through all four walls of building. All that excess “fat” poured out of those holes unevenly causing a vulgar display of chaos. Big booms are supposed to be a pleasurable display of elegance and command respect, a true testament to how man is able to turn this potentially destructive force of energy or “fat” and hone its power. This was a disgrace; the big boom was out of control. The building was left in utter destruction with mangled metal everywhere. The crater a big boom is supposed to form was littered in a haphazard display of debris and the mangled bodies of victims. If this was a better big boom, there would have been a more obvious gradient in destruction, bringing order to all the chaos."
Dick:"That’s very insightful, but investigators are still baffled as to what caused the explosion. They haven’t found bomb fragments anywhere. What do you have to say about it?"
Dr. Boom: "This was not a bomb! A bomb creates a beautiful big boom for the eyes of man to gaze upon. I have yet to figure out what could have caused this monster of a big boom, but all I can say is that it may be a new kind of weapon we have never seen before."
Dick:"I see, thank you Dr. Hugh Boom. And that’s all the time we have for today folks. See you again next time, remember to always turn on to channel 69! This is Dick Burns signing off, good night Wing City."
The camera begins to pull away as the studio lights fade. A trumpet blares out a corny overplayed melody before the screen goes black.

"Is it working? Am I live...?" the busty and otherwise flustered figure of Donna Dexler spoke. Her hair was no longer the perfect cascade of locks in her usual broadcasts, and instead looked hastily thrown into a ponytail behind her. Her male associate, another member of the Channel 69 News, nodded from behind a sea of cables and boxes.

They were amid piles of rubble, and scattered remains of what appeared to be the Channel 69 headquarters on the north side of Wing City. They were in a small clearing, electrical equipment surrounding them, as it was scattered loosely around the shattered structure. Dust still hung in the air from the events that had transpired, making it appear like some post-apocalyptic theatrical movie. No, this was more real - this was Donna Dexler from Channel 69, on an emergency broadcast.

"Ladies and gentleman, Donna Dexler of Channel 69 News. If you look behind me, you can see the remains of the Channel 69 News Studio, a result of the vicious assault on Wing City through the course of the night." She versed, obvious emotions welling up in her eyes and wavering in her voice. This gave her only a slight pause as she composed herself, unwilling to destroy her image even in such times of horror - the news must go on.

"Most of Wing City lies in ruin - nearly half of the city has been destroyed by some cataclysmic explosion, caused by what appeared to be some gargantuan, um, for lack of better terms, demon." Again, she paused, this time biting her lip in what seemed to be suppressed anger.

"From the reports that we are getting from survivors, it seems that Wing City has become the victim of a ruthlessly organized assault force, which has chosen to remain anonymous as of this moment. Survivors have organized a few places where medical attention can be given, such as Gambit's Bar in Sector Five. Evacuations have also been routed, and it has been said that a large number of Wing City residents have gathered at the eastern shore of The Lake." The video signal began to flicker for a moment, before re-stabilizing. It seemed as if they were on some sort of patched connection, and weren't getting the quality of signal that Channel 69 was famous for.

"We're losing the signal, babes..." came the faint cry of the engineer, still behind the octopus of cables.

"We are here to report that Channel 69 is alive and well, for the most part - and we'll be getting the details of this disaster straight to you, as soon as they become available. This is Donna Dexler, from Channel 69 News, signing off with this footage." Her full chested torso turned to the right to face the engineer, the upper body angle still showing her place her hand upon her hip as she whipped her other arm around in the air, signaling to roll tape.

The broadcast snapped over to a dark and sketchy recording, accented by a bouncy camera and horrible audio. It became apparent with the short clip that there was serious carnage involved. The time stamp at the bottom left hand side of the screen ticked, just like a home video - and seemed to be an accurate representation of the time.

Video Broadcast wrote:Oct 20 23:27:36 * Chain_Beast 's blood red orbs turned their attention to a nearby building, roaring in rage as a powerful right arm crashed into the obstacle's surface, ripping through its being. The building toppled under the immense impact of the blow.
Oct 20 23:28:20 * Chain_Beast turned to yet another building, roaring with a great might as a powerful leg was raised, bringing it crashing down into the streets below. The impact crushed deep into the ground, sending chunks of earth skyward.
Oct 20 23:29:59 * Chain_Beast 's body then lunged forwards into the nearby building, crashing his bulk into its structure as he toppled it quite easily. Another roar was given in challenge to these denizens of the city. He challenged their defenses. Another fist collided into a smaller building, crushing it to pieces.

Then promptly, the signal ended with a simple logo - that of Channel 69.

Once more the broadcast flickers back to viviscience, fading the familiar face of Donna Dexler back into view. A slightly more stable signal this time around, it was no longer plagued by the constant white snow that had annoyed the viewers of the previous broadcast.

"Hello again, this is Donna Dexler from Channel 69 News, reporting from inside Wing City. It has almost been three days since the initial strike on Wing City. Just last night, an anonymous figure made a declaration of war against the innocent citizens of Wing City." Her definitive voice spoke clearly, a very drastic change from her emotional state in the first broadcast.

"As a journalist, I am appalled by the approach taken by the figure. In his speech, he alluded to ideals representative of long-lost socialism and communism. Mussolini would have been proud of this man's speech, but as a Wing City resident, I question who will take up the task of standing up for who we are. Threatening to slay those who fail to take action first, this being has placed a task upon all of us. This is Donna Dexler, doing my part to incite action among the Wingers."

And with that, the signal cut out, leaving the all too familiar static on the channel's frequency.

After the traditional intro chorus blared on the Holovision, the two traditional anchors appeared on screen, one male, one female. Both clad in buisness attire. The Female then spoke up,

Glorius children of Buddallah, we here at Caliphate news network have just now reveiced word of a terrible injustice. One of our peaceful Survey Missions into our unclaimed space was decimated by an unprovoked attack from Trantorian Infedels, also a nation only adressing itself as the Caldari State has claimed our space in their name, with out good reason. Children of Budd-Islam, in the name of Budd-Allah, our great Imams, under permission of our Mighty Sultan, have determined that even though, through the word of the Prophet, blessed be his name, have we been taught to embrace peace and mercy, but the crimes committed by these infidels cannot be forgiven, and warrant no mercy, so, we march to holy war, Jihad, against the Infedels, and all who assist gain entry to the kingdom of heaven and paradise! We can no longer stand idly by and allow further desecration to all that is sacred, now is the time to wage Jihad on the infedels in such a way that they will never blaspheme in such a manner ever again!

As she finished, all the citizens in the world turned skyward, towards where the planet of Harmonthep lay in space, and began to pray and chant with incredible piety,



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This is the Innaugural Broadcast of Tripolitania News Network, International Edition.

In galactic affairs, the Trantorian Empire and the Selekus Commonwealth are now at war. Trantor's secret fleet buildups on our humble nation's doorstep are quite simply, a military buildup meant to strip yet another people of their freedoms and impose their regime of unfettered economic corruption and vice. Trantor means to strip the nations of their economic freedoms on one hand with massive trade barges to suborn our economies to theirs, and then sweep in on the other with their behemoth military forces. For a nation of peaceful traders, they are no strangers to demonstrating their supposed military prowess and predilection for violence at even peaceful Eudemonian congresses.

This is not the first time in history traders who "come in peace" showed their true colors. Earth history is replete with examples of explorers and traders, who were shown to be conquerors, interested only in the wealth of nations and the slavery of peoples! Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire of millions with a few hundred soldiers. Trantor intends the same with his robotic legions and war behemoths. Selekus wants no part in submission to this nation of suits and bureaucrats! Selekus will fight to preserve freedom! For itself and it's neighbors...to pursue destiny alongside your peoples, not ahead, with yokes on your necks towards what we view "best for you"!

Tripolitania was most regrettably forced to repel the first Trantorian strike forces hiding near our borders, and with superior tactics against stupendously heavier forces the Trantorans were sent packing. A nation of their capability, while intimidating, is not unconquerable. Together we can preserve what we have and build towards a future free from hegemony and submission! We can fight, win, and live together as equal partners in what we reap from our sowings, or we will fall, die, and fade into the oblivion of slavery.

Join Tripolitania, Arden and Eudemonia! Side with Selekus! Fight for your Future!

Across the Ardren Empire video screens clicked on to see one of the most widely respected news establishments give what could be thought of to be the most important report in quite some time. There have been mutterings and isolated information leaking in from all sectors of the nation. Conjecture about an attempted invasion of Eudemonian and Tripolitanian space. Reports of a fleet from a nearby power being destroyed without provocation. Likewise, most surprisingly there is speculation that from some of these actions, an obviously hostile empire may Whisperings of war crossed all these reports.

At the designated hour, the usual opening introduction to the show appears, showing video clips and images from a series of events in the nation's history, ranging from the expulsion of the Selekusion aggressors, to the Ardren Civil War, all the way to peace keeping acts of the Aiden Knights. Once they come to a close though, the image settles upon a single female anchor sitting before a long, smooth and almost featureless black desc. Her own features, with long black hair, and a diminutive frame mark her as being a "Franconian", one of the ethnic groups of the Ardren.

"Good afternoon, brothers and sisters from all corners of the Empire."

The standard greeting came almost like clockwork. Mechanical, and without feeling. Already people across the nations could tell something was wrong. Usually, this pretty woman would offer a chipper, heart warming smile. Obviously there was something different this time..

"We here at United Ardren News have just been informed that the Speaker, Matthew Emmanuel Karx is giving a sudden statement about the state of the Empire in regards to the recent aggressions of Trantorian allied forces, who it has recently been confirmed attacked a Red Technocracy diplomatic envoy alongside the recent border skirmishes with our allies, Eudemonia and Tripolitania."

The video transmission then immediately switches over to a sight of a podium in the heart of the government building in Aachen. There, the Speaker Karx stands with his hands braced against the wooden platform before him. Even with his auburn hair framing face, one can still easily see his brow furrowed, and eyes closed. It's apparent that he's gathering himself up for what he is going to say next. It does not take long, before he raises his head up, and speaks with his usual careful, steady tone.

"Oh, race of Enlightened, race from across the mountains, race beloved and chosen by God, - as is clear from many of your works,- set apart from all other nations by the situation of your country as well as by your faith in Reason and the honor which you render to the holy Idea: to you our discourse is addressed, and for you our exhortations are intended. We wish you to know what a grievous cause has led us to your country, for it is the imminent peril threatening you and all the faithful which has brought us hither.

From the confines of Terra and from the city of Constantinople a grievous report has gone forth and has -repeatedly been brought to our ears; namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Heathen known as "Trantor". These Trantor are an accursed race, a race wholly alienated from God, `a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God,' violently invaded the lands of those Enlightened and has depopulated them by pillage and fire. They have led away an art of the captives into their own country, and a part have they have killed by cruel tortures. They have either destroyed the churches of God or appropriated them for the rites of their own religion. They destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness....The kingdom of Man is now dismembered by them and has been deprived of territory so vast in extent that it could be traversed in two months' time.

"On whom, therefore, is the labor of avenging these wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you, you upon whom, above all other nations, God has conferred remarkable glory in arms, great courage, bodily activity, and strength to humble the heads of those who resist you ? Let the deeds of your ancestors encourage you and incite your minds to manly achievements:-the greatness of Speaker Seine, and of the Great Philosophers, and of your other monarchs, who have destroyed the kingdoms of the Heathen and have extended the sway of the Enlightened over lands previously possessed by the Heathen. Let the holy sepulcher of our Lord and Saviour, which is possessed by unclean nations, especially arouse you, and the holy places which are now treated, with ignominy and irreverently polluted with the filth of the unclean. Oh, most valiant soldiers and descendants of invincible ancestors, do not degenerate; our progenitors., but recall the valor of your progenitors. We stand this day saying that no barbarian shall obstruct a person's path to Virtue, and so we march to war. Not

"But if you are hindered by love of children, parents, or of wife, remember the wisdom of the Aiden, `Those who value comfort above Virtue are heathens ', 'Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.' Let none of your possessions retain you, nor solicitude for you, family affairs. For this land which you inhabit, shut in on all sides by the seas and stars and surrounded by the mountain peaks, is sufficient for your progenity; it abound in wealth; and it furnishes plentiful food enough for its cultivators many times over. Hence it is that you do not murder and devour one another, but be it as it may, that you must still wage war, and that very many among you perish in intestine strife. We, the strong, must bring our strength to those who lack it. Is that not what the Aiden have done for us? Is it not what we then have a responsibility to do for others? Is this not a obligation upon our Knightly spirit? We stand this day saying that no barbarian shall obstruct a person's path to Virtue, and so we march to war. Not for our own gain, but for those who cannot fight for themselves, who cannot be heard."

"Let hatred therefore depart from among you, let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and controversies slumber. Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepulcher-, wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to yourselves. That land which, as the Scripture says, floweth with milk and honey' was given by God into the power of the children of the Enlightened. Terra is the center of Man's Heart ; the land is fruitful above all others, like another paradise of delights. This spot the Redeemer of mankind has made illustrious by his advent, has beautified by his sojourn, has consecrated by his passion, has redeemed by his death, has glorified by his burial.

"This royal planet, however, situated at the center of our hearts, is now held captive by the enemies of Virtue and Reason and is subjected, by those who do not know God, to the worship of the heathen. She seeks, therefore, and desires to be liberated and ceases not to implore you to come to her aid. From you especially she asks succor, because as we have already said, God has conferred upon you above all other nations great glory in arms. Accordingly, undertake this journey eagerly for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the reward of imperishable glory in the kingdom of Virtue.."

"Most beloved brethren, today is manifest in you what the Lord says in the Gospel, `Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them'; for unless God had been present in your spirits, all of you would not have uttered the same cry; since, although the cry issued from numerous mouths, yet the origin of the cry as one. Therefore I say to you that God, who implanted is in your breasts, has drawn it forth from you. Let that then be your war cry in combats, because it is given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: 'It is the will of God! It is the will of God!'

When the speech closes down, it cuts back to the same Franconian female who, unsurprisingly, seems a little disturbed.

"So...there you have it. A state of war has been declared upon Trantor and any who would ally themselves with her. We here at UAN pray for a swift end to this conflict, and for the safety of our soldiers. We now turn to our Foreign Relations consultant Wilhelm Schwarze, who will inform us about the state of politics which brought us to this end."

Many then simply turn off their video screens, and contemplate the circumstances. Ardren? At war? They were no strangers to wars, bringing Strength to nearby Ardren peoples, but a war with an entirely different enemy? It was almost inconceivable.

Across the entirety of the nation of Eudemonia, broadcasts among a multitude a multitude of mediums were suddenly interrupted as the nation’s largest sequence of international news started their breaking news segment. “COUNCIL NEWS” flashed across the screen with a well-made graphic of Tripolitanian ships moving victoriously over the remains of the Trantorian scouting party for their inevitable invasion, followed by Tripolitanian, Eudemonian, and Ardren flags superimposed in the background while a formation of Pezhetairoi march towards the camera. Footage of the Red Technocracy was also briefly shown without any context, as to suggest to the viewer that they were one of the “good guys”.

After the graphic, a well-dressed man with extensive cybernetic communications equipment was shown, not an unusual sight for any Eudemonian. With a grim face he started the report, a smaller picture of Trantor ships in a menacing position in the upper right hand corner of the screen

Breaking news from beyond the sea, Trantor, a nation that had previously attempted to maintain peaceful relations with Eudemonia was found to be amassing a fleet to force their way into Eudemonian territory shortly after contact with Eudemonian and Tripolitanian fleet elements. A diligent Tripolitanian fleet managed to destroy most of the fleet, however, before they could send for the rest of the Trantorian forces and commence a war of aggression against the Selekusion Commonwealth.

Council member Gorgidas, head of military sequences, has released the following commentary on the unfortunate state of affairs…

Footage cuts to Councilman Gorgidas, dressed in some sort of ceremonial hardsuit and obviously in the middle of some kind of press conference. Standing in a confident manner and unblinking despite the array of flashing lights as journalists from all corners of Selekus took picture after picture for their news agencies.

…After the Trantorian fleet gated in to establish a diplomatic connection with the Eudemonian fleet elements they had communicated that one of their vessels was in distress in a classified area of space near Selekusion territory. The Eudemonian fleet continued to establish contact with the Trantorian diplomatic envoy while Tripolitanian forces commenced standard boarding procedures. Tripolitania, in addition to commencing boarding ops, also sent a fleet to investigate and aid the stranded vessel of Trantorian origin at the behest of EUDECOM, where they encountered what appeared to be a scouting element amassing for a larger attack. The sequence of defense as well as the larger council believes that the original diplomatic stance adopted by the Trantorians was in, fact, a ruse and they purposely told us the location of their stranded ship in order to lower suspicions and take out a substantial portion of our fleet in a surprise attack. Thankfully, the Tripolitanian fleet arrived before the Trantorian fleet had arrived in it’s entirety and the scouting element was quickly dispatched.

The Council has issued a message to Trantorian forces, and issued a formal declaration of war, as has the NTS…

The footage then cut back to the anchorman, who was about to carry on with the rest of his report as well as some commentary when he suddenly paused, more information apparently being fed to him via the datalinks. After several moments of looking off into space, he returned his view back towards the camera, his face cracking into a look somewhere between shock and disgust

This just in… we have scattered reports of Trantor eradicating fleets from the Red Technocracy and an as of yet unidentified nation while on route to a peaceful diplomatic mission greeting another unidentified nation. This is truly shocking, ladies and gentlemen, and I am at a loss of words at the moment…

Breaking News: Trantor Non-Aggression Pact Signed

The scene was of an Official Newsroom, wherein stood a man wearing full military dress, with high boots and the trademark Hammer-and-Sickle cap emblem of the Red Technocracy, The man stood astutely in front of a wall bearing the Emblem of the Nation as a whole, and was holding a cue sheet and papers. He began to talk, periodically looking down at this papers as he did so.

As of 05.00.00 0190 SYS, a Non-Aggression Pact with signed with the the Trantorians, a sign of renewed attempts at relations with our formerly hostile neighbors to the south. This was met with mixed results from the populace, as some see Trantor as a menace still, considering the earlier rhetoric issued by this same station.

Citing the desire not to engage in war with our neighbors, and the possibility of an indirect involvement due to our relations with the Eudemonians, the Premier said that, "We must consider that war with Trantor is not the best alternative, opposed to what some of our more Conservative member of Government would have you think."

In light of current events, the Technocracy will try to remain neutral, so as avoid needless conflict with either Trantor, or the Commonwealth. The pact insures the neutrality of the Technocracy in disregard to the current allied positions on other nations, and allows for continued military buildup, should that neutrality be challenged.

There have been reported rumors in the wake of this treaty, that Trantor will be joining the Red Technocracy against the commonwealth, but we can assure you they are very unlikely.

This is General Peter Fydorov, of the 542th Regimental Defense Force, reporting.

A man dressed in a military high officers garb sat next to a woman in slightly less rank camouflage drab, the signal was being broadcast across the Hub and to the subsequent nations.

"Good evening, I am Gao Shimura."

"And I am Mininela Erinen."

"Tonight on our Caldari News Cast we will bring up several new events involving the Caldari State."

"Indeed, Gao, Caldari expansion effort has begun to reap the benefits, a few days ago, we conquered the system now known as Neo-Juunigaishi to the south of New Jita, this system is full of precious ore necessary for Caldari development."

"The system was originally inhabited by pirates but thanks to the efforts of a small Caldari strike force and the Trantor the system was purged and claimed in the name of the Caldari."

"In other news, the Caldari State is sending its diplomat Alakoni Ishanoya to meet with the leader of the Trantor to discuss the possibility of an alliance."

"Rumour is bounding around that the Commonwealth is also preparing to assault the Trantor, another reason why the Caldari has chosen to invoke this alliance."

"This is all for news on the Caldari frontlines, this is Mininela signing off."

"And I am Gao Shimura, good night."

All screens fade to static and then return to their usual programmings, the message clearly delivered.

Breaking News: 71th Spetsnaz Unit, 15th Squad Executed for Treason and Failure to Comply with Regulations with the Boundaries of a Foreign Power.

This is General Peter Fydorov, of the 542th Regimental Defense Force reporting in, and with me today, is Political Commissar Ivan Vladislav.

The scene was the same as always, a drab room with a member of Military General Staff and emblems plastered on the walls. Peter was still holding a stack of papers as he was last time, but was periodically looking nervously over his shoulder at the Commissar.

The Commissar, Ivan, was dressed in the normal uniform of his rank, a brown greatcoat and a Ushanka carrying the emblem of the Technocracy. His face was a stoic scene, weathered and looking absolutely cold. He was wearing a neural linked Eyepiece/Transponder, and a bulky, holstered Railgun pistol was strapped to his hip.

Peter turned back to his papers, and began the newscast for the evening. He gulped slightly, and then steeled himself.

Oh why did he have to stand next to the Commissar? That damn man was evil down to his core, a ruthless enforcer of loyalty in the Red Technocracy; He even trumped the Premier in terms of zeal, and was hated at all levels of government for his insistence on loyalty to the Party.

Earlier this week, on the Planet of New Terra, a Spetsnaz unit acting outside the authority of the Red Technocracy, and who was supposed to be stationed in the Hub Region, was executed for the usage and detonation of an Anti-Matter Weapon in a civilian area. There were also reports of the Caldari state opening fire on the Spetsnaz, but that had yet to be verified.

There two Spetsnaz units in New Terra at the time, and one was operating under orders, but with faulty data, leading to the raid of a civilian ship. The Red Technocracy would like to give a full apology for this and the actions of the 16th Spetsnaz Squad.

The Scene cuts to the execution of the 15th Spetsnaz by firing squad.

All screens in the hub fade to static and then form anew picture, the same man from the last news feed, Gao Shimura.

"Good evening Hub, I am Gao Shimura, breaking news from New Terra" the video breaks to show footage of a battle between Caldari Marines and Red Technocracy Spetznaz on the surface of New Terra, "Yesterday, a rogue Spetznaz squad was traced by Caldari Covert Ops to the planet of New Terra, the ship was of unknown ID but rogue transmissions classed them as Red Technocracy."

The video shows an anti-matter missile being launched at the Caldari ship and being diverted by Donny.

"The Spetznaz ad tracked down the recent Trantor criminals, Zhelir, Donny and Renee and set up and ambush for them, thanks to the efforts of the Caldari and Armarx the group made it out alive" the video breaks to show Gao again, "The Spetznaz had apparently attempted to set off an anti-matter missile to destroy a Caldari ship, after the battle they attempted again to set off an anti-matter explosion using 3 kilotons of anti-matter, thanks to the intervention of an unknown force the matter was resolved and the planet saved."

"This has been Gao Shimura, good night."

Broadcast Two begins:

Terra falls into chaos as reports of mob attacks and looting spread from those fleeing the area. The situation appears to be getting worse before it gets better, and more likely than not any and every group with guns may try to carve something out for itself.

The Armanx government is now moving to blockade Terra and the associated star system. This blatant powergrab in what is essential a neutral star system is a threat to the trans-national citizens who reside there. The chaos and violence pose a threat to the Commonwealth's intentions of establishing trade deeper into the Known Worlds as we cannot guarantee the safety or timely passage of our ships and goods.

The blockade has deleterious implications for trade with the system: self insufficiencies cannot be met under such heinous blockade conditions, and if the blockade keeps up for long it will simply make the siege mentality and everyman-for-themselves situation far worse. Armanx has taken the wrong moves to ensure stability of the system, and instead of requesting outside help to put an end to the madness they are simply keeping honest people from fleeing the havoc they seem merely half-interested in.

But perhaps Armanx has ulterior motives. Such a quick blockade movement implies organization beyond prudence, and perhaps entering the realm of ulterior motive. The station will not give space to the idle speculation that Armanx might even be instigating these riots, but they seem un-interested in putting everything under control. Perhaps the idea is that they are boosting themselves to local pre-eminence, in a venture to seize control of the area.

Such uncivilized backstabbery is not part of Known Space. The Hub remains one of the few neutral wellsprings of freedom and commerce. While not demilitarized, the Hub exists at the confluence of many of the major powers, making it a cosmopolitan, living, breathing city that is a whiff of fresh air to those fleeing the stale dessicated hives of the inner worlds.