Rostil Regional News 2.0 [Closed - Rostil]

by **Estainia** » Sun Jun 04, 2017 9:50 pm

The Rostil regional news thread of old, founded in 2012, is now quite old and much of it is no longer canon for a variety of reasons. Above all, a loss of image sites, links and an evolution of art and text styles have seen it seen as mediocre to members, as such, we opted to replace it with a new one, reflecting these changes.

Midsummer's Faire to Go as Planned

Roman Nesterov (@RomanNesterov)(Novograd Gazette )
^{March 22, 2022 - 12:13 PM | Alexandrovsk, Estainia}

An Artist's interpretation of a joust

Alexandrovsk — The Steward of the Empire, Sevastyan Yordanov, announced today amidst rumors, that the traditional midsummer's faire, held every year continuously since the reign of Roman II in 1234, was not going to be canceled quote 'simply because of a small domestic matter' end quote, referring of course to the ongoing nobles' discontent primarily in the south of Estainia. As usual, knights from all over the realm, as well as others from the world over, will be invited to compete in a grand tournament in the month of July, and that the tournament, and the festivities that surround it such as the emperor's feast which all are invited to, regardless of station, would be held on time quote 'without exception', end quote. Some have expressed worry, due to the discontent, saying that the empire would be better off cancelling the event, if only to concentrate on quelling the nobles. Others have disagreed, defending the tradition of the tourney, which was held even during the Great War. Regardless, this statement will surely see supplies set aside and venues set up well in advance, as the lists are reconstructed again this year.

Roman Nesterov

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by **Adelsmaerke** » Mon May 07, 2018 4:25 pm

MP Fisker Unveils "Political Freedom" Act
The seasoned legislator leads her party to their first major win in a decade and will see them returned to government

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{March 7, 2023 4:30 PM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

Kvemoen — The spring session of Adelsmaerke's 233rd Parliamentary Session has gotten underway since it was opened at the start of the week by His Majesty King Stefan X in the grand State Opening, and one of the most prominent members of the Opposition has made it very clear they are determined to make this session highly productive, as MP Max Fisker who is the Opposition's Alternate for Labor and a veteran MP of 12 years, proposed a new bill package on the floor, titled the Political Freedom Act, he champions it as the final bulwark that will ensure universal suffrage, even though that is already a thing under Voting Rights Statues, and will enshrine political freedom permanently within Adelsmaerken government. What he really means to say, and forgot to mention as many Sterk Høyre MP's were quick to decry, is that the main clauses of the proposed bill strip away any barriers allowing corporations to donate directly to candidates or politicians, and even lays a ground work for a system on how to do it.

Officially, corporations are fully barred from contributing financially, physically or offering any means of support to candidates running for election, or also to any politicians currently in office. The practice, known as corporate embellishment, has been unofficially banned going all the way back to 1813 when a series of Monarchs and Presidents issued a number of investigations, Royal and Executive Ordinances against it, and other such practices. Statues and regulations were formally drafted and adopted in 1854, 1891 and then were re-codified in 1922 when Electorate Regulations and Codes was passed. Businesses have always lobbied against it, even though they have practically zero public support, and the best line in their favor is that if politicians and candidates could get funding from businesses, they wouldn't have to spend as much time and effort running fundraisers, booster events, banquets and other such fund raising events and instead focus more meaningful manifesto development, discussion and debate and would attribute to "more developed political theory". Generally, this line has been decried by academia, pundits, analysts and normal people, though it gained a minor traction and spotlight when reports were released by independent organizations who covered the last elections and noted that fundraising efforts dominated most of the candidate's time, and the levels reached previously unheard levels.

Agnar Clemensen has already been joined by Eva Akelsen who are the most able orators within the Government's host in the Chamber and both have decried the blatant misdirection marketing of the bill and have vowed to kill it immediately on the first reading; the threat isn't empty either, with a 14 seat majority within the Commons, Sterk Høyre can virtually play jury, judge and executioner on any bill's movement through the legislative process.

Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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by **Adelsmaerke** » Sat Aug 11, 2018 2:43 am

Fall Electorial Campaigning in Full Swing as the Summer Cools off
As 94 seats in the Chamber of the Commons go on elections, all parties are in full campaigning swing - including the President

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{August 8, 2023 2:15 PM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

Constituencies such as the one here in Varriholm go to the polls on October 15 - a key first test for President Holt's favor in the country DJM photo

Kvemoen — Just as the most northern of our brethen and citizens turn towards testing the often storm-riddled fall and hoping their summer preparations held, those of us who get to enjoy the creature comforts of the mainland now have a new source of entertainment and interest for the next 2 months, and it's everybody's favorite; electoral campaigning!

The off-year fall elections, which will see 94 key electorates head to the polls, is going to prove to be the first major battleground that recently elected President Holt will have to guide Sterk Høyre and their MP's through; four months into her first term, Holt has already helped SH establish a tight dominance in the Commons, which was explicitly seen when Opposition MP Max Fisher, who is among the ranking senior members of the Labor Party, proposed an 'electoral freedom act' that would have removed any legislative barriers or illegalities around corporate donations or funding for political campaigns - the bill was soundly squashed the moment it left the reading committee (which I feel obligated to mention it only graduated due to a vote split down party lines; despite commanding a good majority in the chamber, there are still some bill review committees where Labor holds a slim majority). In addition to this, a number of more minor bills or legislative packages that Labor sponsored or supported were soundly defeated in heavy volume and the Opposition Party finds itself struggling for footing as it heads into this new election, while the Government is looking stronger then ever and potentially to consolidate and expand an already good majority in the Commons.

Most of the electorates up for election fall within the Realms of Miskunnvegr or Vaggaverǫld, and in the case of the latter, Sterk Høyre is practically guaranteed to have a total victory. 23 electorates go up for election this October in Vaggaverold, 17 of which are already held by SH-loyal MP's or other friendly parties, while Labor holds the other 6. The key man for Labor in this realm is going to be Valter Olsen, the MP for Ermutfell which is a small city of approximately 150,000 people. Coastal realms such as Vaggaverold have traditionally always veered heavily into a conservative stronghold, but Olsen was elected more then eighteen years ago and has remained a staunch Labor holdout despite encroachment from all sides. His main boost is that his constituency is one of the youngest in the realms, with an average age of approximately 52, and estimates putting most of the population of young families or single individuals; aka traditional labor base demographics. However, even they have been turned away due to Labor's unwillingness to commit to the continuation of the massive infrastructure reforms and expansions that Adelsmaerke has witnessed for three decades, and many lost jobs when Labor failed to renew a number of key contracts eleven years ago, or pursue further projects in that line of work. His SH sponsored challenger is one Andrea Johansen and she's practically the perfect candidate to bring Olsen's power base to ruins. As a women of only 31 years, she's going to appeal to families and the traditional labor demographics; even with her conservative beliefs, they're pretty mild on the grand scale of things but her eight years of service with the Navy in nowhere else then Svartbloodyhelm itself is going to really bring in the conservative crowd for her and shore up her base. Johansen as already held a number of public gatherings across Ermutfell, appealing on a doctrine of returning constituent growth and continuing to bring the Realms forward into the future - a message that will reverberate heavily with younger crowds. If Johansen could topple Olsen in Ermutfell, I have no doubt that the other 5 Labor MP's who are already facing stiff challengers will either barely hold on by the skin of their teeth, or lose outright.

Turning our attention to Miskunnvegr's affairs, this is going to be much more contested of a battleground then Vaggerverold; no less then 59 seats are going to be up for contention among the two big players in national politics, and for this Realm, it's going to prove tricky to navigate the waters. Sterk Høyre enters the foray holding just a mere 11 seats within this realm, while the National Conservatives hold approximately 17 and Labor hold the remaining 31 seats, which makes it a pretty solidly Labor realm. Moreover, Sterk Høyre can not hope to win this by merely appealing to people's traditionalist sides or by winning over some lukewarm moderate factions who have slight conservative tendencies; the NC will have either already purchased them, or will out-conservative SH to win them or their voters over. No, the key part of the Miskunnvegr elections will be that Sterk Høyre has to establish for itself a profound, unique identity, divorcing entirely from the "slightly conservative and piggy backing off of NC" course they have taken for the last generation's worth of time. They're led now by the Republic's first female leader, and have a number of dominant, strong female personalities who are either new to the political scene and thus represent change and a breath of fresh air, or have shored up around grizzled veterans of the establishment to help produce some prestige and reputation. The battle for these electorates will be a battle for the future of their party, and the tune they take here will set the course for their party for all the rest of President Holt's term, if not longer; and she's very keenly aware of this, precisely why it is no wonder nor to anyone's surprise that she has begun a grand campaigning tour throughout the city of Refset; not merely is it the capital of Miskunnvegr and thus at the heart of the issue, but it's also the republic's 5th largest city, and has all but a single one of its 8 MPs up for election; and only one of these belongs to the Sterk Høyre party. If she could captivate the populace and swing at least three or four seats towards her party, it would be a grand success for her and set the stage for further victories in the other holds throughout Miskunnveger.

Part of what President Holt may establish an tenet of her party's, as well as her own, belief is what some could call national practicalism; it began in the 1960's under the National Alliance, when then-President Tove Lang embarked the Republic on its largest national infrastructure expenditure; and then rebroke it two decades later once the reforms were complete and started expansion in the heaviest volume that Adelsmaerke has ever witnessed. Modern estimates put government expenses at approximately 1.4 trillion ducats, the largest such they have ever incurred and some fifty years later, I don't think a single citizen would disagree that it was perhaps the best investment, and the boldest, that the Republic ever committed to. Paving the way for future generations, literally and proverbially has become the cornerstone or a key thought throughout our society, and if President Holt was wise, she would harness this, and commit Sterk Høyre fully to seeing Phase IV through; to foreigners, that is the proposed fourth stage of the grand national infrastructure investments that Labor governments at the time nixed because the price tag for said contracts and projects catapulted higher and higher. And it wouldn't be just to new roads, or more modern forms of mass transit, but also of less tangible aspects of preparing future generations; education, which as always been a sort of disregarded cousin throughout Adelan politics, it receives negligible national levels of funding and most of it is left to the Realms to provide for; I'm not saying they do a less then adequate job, but is good enough really good enough when it comes to teaching our children and hoping they will be better, that they will progress?

President Holt will be joined on the campaign trail in Refset and throughout Miskunnvegr by several key Sterk Høyre figures, such as Agnar Clemensen, who is known for his success in drawn out and dramatic electoral forays, and he will potentially be seen the most on the campaign of Sigrid Lang, the grand-son of the former President and a form of darling for the media in the realm of politics and such; it will be interesting regardless of any results on how these parties, their supporters and the campaigners perform.

Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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by **Adelsmaerke** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 6:56 am

Refset candidate surprises polls, surges ahead to nearly tie every other major candidate
Relative unknown Felix Wolff surged ahead in this week's polls to tie with the previous leaders; official a dark horse?

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{September 24, 2023 10:00 AM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

Mr.Wolff during a TV interview with a local news station in the city of Refset DJM photo

Kvemoen — With a little under three weeks until voting day for the nation's fall election season this year, we wouldn't blame you for thinking that most of the substance that would be put out there for campaigns would have been done so already, the last weeks here usually treated as 'garbage time' and devolves into just advertising campaign after advertising campaign, pumping out rhetoric constantly to reinforce stance points made during a speech, rally or town hall meeting. However, as the new week begins today and we as many other news establishments and agencies updated our polling for the various seats up for election, and specifically the predictions on the election outcomes for each candidate, we were all greeted with a surprise when a previously practically unheard of candidate for District 4 in Refset is now polling as tied with the prior front-runners and leaders for not just that seat, but every seat throughout the capital city of Miskunnvegr.

Prior to today's publishing of updated polls, ourselves, Refset Herald, Dalfak Rating Agency and many others had the leader for District 4's seat as Mattias Nikolajsen, a National Conservatives member with a background in legal work as a lawyer and running his own firm within the city known for its upper class clientry, who was projected to garner approximately 57% of the votes. The runner up was aimed to be Rasmus Silje, a local business owner and member of the Sterk Høyre, who was predicted to get approximately 33% of the votes and then finally the current incumbent, Labor MP Arthur Omdahl who was projected to get approximately 10% of the vote roughly. The large loss for the incumbent MP Omdahl was mostly based on his poor performance in the four much attended debates held across the district, where he often failed to sufficiently counter his opponent's arguments, such as Mr. Nikolajsen who often speared the MP for failing to support endeavors much of the constituency supported, such as wider funding for expansion of underground metro trains to help elevate street traffic, something that is often a problem in the district that encompasses some of the oldest neighborhoods in the large city. However, these have all been turned on their heads and completely discarded as after polling approximately 50,000 people within the voting area, one Felix Wolff is now projected to be tied with Nikolajsen with 40% of the vote to each of them, Silje dropping down to approximately 10% and Omdahl staying roughly around where he was before, though each of the various polls differ on a roughly 5-8 point average.

Of course, you like many of ourselves must be wondering who is this Felix Wolff, and how did he overcome polls and predictions so late into the campaigning process, and why has no one heard of him before? Well, the lack of coverage is mostly due to the fact that he hadn't formally registered as a participant in the election until two weeks ago, and because of that he hadn't taken part in any of the four debates that were previously held between all of the contestants, which also explains why he was never included on any polls or even a list as a "minor contestant". However, what's even more bizarre is that on his electoral contestant form, per documents obtained by us here from Refset City Hall and the Royal Elections Commission, is that Mr. Wolff has officially registered as an Independent contestant, meaning he takes no party affiliation or official support, which is quite a strange move to pull in what has become a battleground between Sterk Høyre, who is seeking to establish a stronger position in Parliament, National Conservatives who are hoping to ensure they keep SH at bay here in the traditionally strong NC city, and Labor who seeks to make up for losses elsewhere with gains here. The three-way battle would make you think that any aspirant to one of the seats would definitely want to run as a party-backed candidate, but Wolff has decided he's better off at it by going in on a solo foray into the electoral fight.

His few glimpses with media coverage have surfaced in our investigation on him through personal recorded videos, such as those captured on a smartphone or similar device, at a number of events held in public; none were formally organized affairs, but rather 'on the spot' occurrences, such as the most popular one which features Mr. Wolff in a discussion with what would appear to be the owner of a bakery that the video takes place at, where the two are discussing the high taxes on businesses of a certain financial threshold, and Wolff arguing with the man on why such taxes are a necessity, while the baker argues that they are frivolous, and killing his business. The video is roughly about 17 minutes long and appears to capture the middle portions of the two's discussion, and had also been posted on the social media site Murvegg and shared more then 1.2 million times, with approximately 17 million views at the time of this article's writing. There are three other videos of such a nature, Wolff engaging in discussions with common day people, either discussing policy points or their beliefs and he has been hailed across social media as "an incredible speaker - persuasive and great at not just explaining his points, but also making you want to believe", "a very honest man - more of that is needed in today's world and politics" and "a fresh break from our usual high class, high strung politicians. Seems like one of the every day people that make up this nation."

His ascension in the polls will be a tenuous one for him to maintain, as with now more of a higher profile and media attention and coverage that is sure to only increase in the coming days, Mr. Wolff is going to have to work overtime with whatever kind of team he has supporting him to hold off attacks and such from SH, NC and Labor as they all seek to kill his sudden gigantic gain of momentum and restore some normalcy to the campaigning season. Their first big showdown will be Thursday evening, when a fifth city wide debate will be held which the REC has already confirmed that Mr. Wolff was on the list of invitees, and every candidate for all of the seven seats currently being contested will be there to debate and discuss their varying policy points, political and personal beliefs, as well as manifesto promises. This will be a good test for Mr.Wolff to see if he's ready for the full battle he's thrown himself into - a good performance could see him solidified as the official dark horse candidate for the election, and perhaps the most interesting story to follow through the whole of this election season, where as a bad or even lackluster turnout could see him returned to the shadows of unknown in short order.

Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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by **Ramance** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:50 am

Bulletin Update
Freehold News Network - Report

Pictured: Government loyalists conduct a neighborhood patrol in the capital of Utona.

Rhydoranan Civil War Enters Second Month of Open Violence
Experts say current troop movements indicate no sign of a predictable lull in the fighting.

For the last several weeks Ramancean's mainland neighbor of Rhydorana has been experiencing the tumultuous effects of an armed uprising and civil war between two divergent forces of government. Two and a half months ago a bill was authored to be voted on by the Rhydoranan Senate following talk of an investigation into President Piripi Paora's recent actions and talk of alleged movements to impeach the President being discussed in back-room deals. The new bill would have, allegedly, been a first step in reducing the scope and effect of the standing caste system - a tier of Residents, Citizens, and High Citizens that bears a similarity to the Freehold's own two-tiered system. While this bill would clearly be popular among non-Citizens who make up a large majority of the lower and middle classes of Rhydoranan society, the President and several other key members of government expressed protest at the idea.

Intense violence rocked the capital two weeks later in a two-way fight with the city caught in the cross-fire. Elements of the 1st Citizens Guard Brigade were ordered to seize various key facilities and points through the city as President Paora ordered a declaration of martial law. However, as soldiers moved to take various utility providers in the city, they were met with an unexpected stiff resistance from other elements of the 1st Brigade under the command of Colonel Kauri Nikora. While initially providing no comment or statement in regards to his purpose and allegiance, the Colonel has since gone on to state that lax standards and corruption throughout the whole of the current administration have left neither the current administration nor those elements of the government seeking to replace it fit to govern and lead the country. He has made a general call to the Citizenry of Rhydorana to take up arms and join him in recent weeks.

At present there is a stalemate between the various factions involved.

- The government loyalists, led by President Paora.
- Dissenting Senators, the nascent Nga Wai Hou party in the Senate.
- Separatist military forces, led by Colonel Nikora.

The most notable shift recently has been the successful efforts of government loyalists in pushing both the military coup and armed supporters of Nga Wai Hou out of the capital of Utona, and maintaining control over most major population centers. However, recent reports have said that fighting still goes on in those population centers and that armed forces of both Residents and Citizens rebelling - as well as now-independent military forces - have taken to ambushing and assaulting government loyalists in the country and on open road networks to make travel nearly impossible. In addition, further reports indicate that there are repeated incursions by separatist troops into the capital district of Utona.

Current projections say that there is a functional stand-still between the two major parties - that being government loyalists under President Paora and military insurrectionists led by Colonel Nikora - while more 'passive' forces seem to have gone into hiding to avoid being targeted by either other side. Reports are still coming in of rising casualties and high levels of collateral damage from the back-and-forth engagements taking place so close to major population centers.

XX MON 2024
POSTED, 0930 HOURS

Breaking Development
Freehold News Network - Report

Pictured: Emergency personnel work to secure the area surrounding the Tuai Urban Development following the bombing.

Freehold Residents & Citizens Confirmed Killed in Unsourced Airstrike
Ramanceans abroad caught in the cross-fire between warring factions in Rhydorana - 23 confirmed dead, 27 wounded.

A breaking development in the growing two-month conflict in Rhydorana occurred today. Following the outbreak of armed fighting in Rhydorana approximately two months ago, over two hundred members of the Freehold - both Citizens and Residents - were confirmed to be within the borders of Rhydorana at the time. By the time the Ramancean embassy in Utona was forced to evacuate for the safety of staff present, only 37 of those independent travelers could be confirmed as having successfully fled the country. Despite this the government and private interests alike kept work to try establishing contact with Citizens and Residents, and this was successful one week ago when a satellite phone contact was established with several of them. While they could not account for all of their fellows, over seventy of them had joined together and were seeking shelter in the Tuai Urban Development - a gated community on the outskirts of the capital of Utona. However tragedy struck mere days ago as the Freehold attempted to open talks for a cease-fire to extradite the trapped civilians.

A hostile flight of attack aircraft - as yet unidentified by Ramancean military intelligence - conducted a high-volume accurate bombing attack on the TUD. While both the separatists and loyalist forces have access to such equipment and personnel, both have denied their own involvement in the attack and claim it to be the other side's doing. Separatist forces have claimed it was likely targeted by government forces who suspected such a large body of people to be a strike force trying to move further into the city, while the official response of the standing government is separatist air power struck what they suspected to be a staging area for forward deployment. Both would be the most recent in several cases of forward observers and other personnel failing to properly identify potential hazards to civilians in the area of intended strikes and operations.

While they have not made an official statement. The Freehold government is expected to provide one shortly.

XX MON 2024
POSTED, 1341 HOURS

by **Adelsmaerke** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:08 pm

President Offers Aid, Words of Caution After Rhydorana Slaughter
She extended offers of aid to the Freehold government, and warned the factions in Rhydorana against future militant actions

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{Artemis 5, 5474 AL 10:00 AM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

President Holt giving an address from within the Presidential Press Room at Sókn PlazaDJM photo

Kvemoen — Yesterday evening, an attack took place in the Rhydorana capital district of Utona, in a gated community known as the Tuai Urban Development where over seventy Ramanceans were trapped as a result of the in-fighting and civil war conditions plaguing the country; an unidentified airstrike conducted a bombing strike on the development, causing extreme, heavy damage and while reports are still coming in it is estimated that approximately 60% of the Ramanceans were killed, as well as a still unaccounted number of Rhydoranans who were residents of the buildings and at home during the strike. This assault marks a high point in the Rhydoranan Civil War, which began approximately nine to eleven weeks ago amidst a period of significant political turmoil and strife. The nation's unicameral legislature, the Rhydorana Senate, had written, discussed and was set to vote on a new civil rights bill that would have been, reportedly, the first step in reducing the scope and effects of the standing caste system within the country, itself modeled after the Ramancean's own caste system. The bill while popular in a majority of the country's population received significant backlash from members in the high-levels of the caste system, which included the President (Piripi Paora) and several other key members of the Rhydoranan government. The civil war was triggered nearly two weeks later when President Paora had ordered a military unit into the capital of Utona to seize key facilities and locations, and attempting to declare martial law. The effort largely failed when the military unit, the 1st Citizens Brigade, defected near entirely under the orders of its commanding officer, Colonel Kauri Nikora.

Colonel Nikora alleged that the President's administration, as well as the Rhydoranan government as a whole, had failed to govern with 'honor and valor' and thus he would replace it with those he saw fit to govern, making a call upon the citizenry of Rhydorana to rise up, take arms and join his nascent rebellion. Despite this heavy blow to President Paora's power, he has managed within the last several weeks to use the government loyalist forces to push both Nikora's rebels, and armed supports of the Sentorial Nga Wai Hou party, completely out of Utona as well as maintaining nominal control over most of the major population centers. However despite this, heavy fighting continues as the three factions remain locked in a sole stalemate, with the insurgents and rebels taking to ambushing government patrols or vehicle convoys while they are on the roads between cities and settlements, leaving most of the country's transportation network completely in chaos and the site of many sudden, deadly firefights and battles. The situation across the country is completely out of control nearly, with numerous violations of standard war restrictions, assaults commonplace against innocent civilians and an untold number of their deaths, thus far uncounted due to interference from the various factions or the violent fighting.

President Holt took to the press room this morning to issue a statement concerning the assault, declaring that Adelsmaerke would never tolerate a willing violation of Lumens Accords and other statues has accepted by the Assembly of Nations, hinting that the failure of government and rebel forces to properly identify their strike targets may be a violation of the Lumens Accords, the collection of statues and one of the few international laws that govern the act of war, and how it must be conducted. Famously, it includes articles affording protections to civilians, particularly when they're within urban centers and major population areas, such as those that are currently the host to so much violent fighting between the three factions within Rhydorana. The President went on to say that she would be in touch with the Ramancean ambassador to Adelsmaerke and offer any form of aid that her government could extend, both in recovering the survivors if any exist and returning home those who did not. She also hinted that she would be directing Minister Erland Ljungman, the government's Minister for International Relations, to direct the government's special envoy to the Anoan Trade Bloc to contact both the Freehold and the United States representatives, and to potentially gather them for a meeting over how to proceed over these actions.

The President took limited time for questions at the end, and notably when pressed on if she would rule out a military intervention of any kind she said she would not, and if need be, exercise any and all powers afforded to the Presidency on the matter if they were absolutely needed, though she would view them as a last resort if need be. According to national laws, she may only order the military aboard under a declaration of war, which she would need Parliament for, or she could subvert them by seeking permission from the Crown; one of the few powers still afforded to the Crown is the supreme commander of all Adelsmaerkan military forces, and King Stefan could give permission to President Holt to use those forces in the Crown's name, which would allow her to use the military until Parliament could act, or until the Crown rescinded the permission.

Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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by **Bereia** » Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:39 am

The National Publicist
News You Can Trust Since 1896

U.S. WARSHIP TO VISIT RHYDORANA
In keeping with precedent, a warship is sent to ensure the lives of U.S. Citizens overseas.

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Cecil J. Lockheart (@CJLockhart) (The National Publicist)
^{XX XX 2024 | Charlottesville, U.S.B.}

U.S.S. Vlasis Argyris has been ordered into the Glasplatte Strait east of Fairer Hafen to 'observe recent developments.'

Rhydorana. It is a name not many people in the United States often think about in their daily lives, let alone see with their own eyes. Today, almost three hundred men and women of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will get that chance, though not as tourists.

U.S.S. Vlasis Argyris was already in Freehold waters when the situation in Rhydorana began coming apart. She had been sent on a routine presence patrol to help maintain relations with Bereia's allies in the Trade Bloc, and her deployment was extended as the first shots were fired. She was told to await orders to head east at a moment's notice.

Today, it seems, the orders came, and after enough time to ensure all crew were aboard and the ship was ready for sea, Commander Oliver Brimsey issued his orders, and the ship put to sea. The good captain still managed to find enough time for a quick interview by phone as final preparations were made, and he had the following to say.

"This is a dangerous situation, but we train and prepare for snap deployments like this constantly, and we are a good crew and an excellent ship."

The advanced warship and her crew are under orders to observe the situation in Rhydorana as it deteriorates, according to War Department officials, and to help ensure the lives and properties of Bereian Citizens in the country. Though the State Department have issued statements encouraging these to leave the hazard area, many cannot or will not, and precedent is for the U.S. government to always act to protect Citizens in foreign lands, circumstances aside.

One can only hope that in this case, her mere presence will be enough.

Cecil J. Lockhart
Delfina Santiago y Muñoz

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by **Ramance** » Sat Jul 06, 2019 5:48 pm

Der Wächter
Founded - 1901
Bedenke das Ende.

Father of the Thorium Reactor Passes
Dr. Eric Kalb (MS) confirmed deceased this morning, 93 years old

Posted, 12 February 2024 - 1041 RST
Christian Traugott (@C.Traugott) | DWM Sciences Correspondent
c.traugott@dwmpress.frc | +010 202-212-2457

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Dr. Eric Kalb (MS), speaks at Baumbach-Müller Academy of the Sciences to aspiring undergraduates, 2020 [DWM Materials]

Nearly forty years ago today, history was made the world over as the heart of the world's first thorium reactor came to life on the Ramancean Home Islands. Das Neues Lichtlinienprojekt (Belkan, lit. The New Light Project) would be host to DNL-T1: now the oldest working design for a thorium reactor anywhere in the world. At the head of the DNL was a whole board of some of the brightest minds in the Freehold, led by one Dr. Eric Kalb (MS), who was 43 years old when the Project's first reactor was brought online. Considered a wonder of engineering even today, articles at the time declared that the nuclear age had evolved and that preceding designs of nuclear reactors had been made obsolete. In following years the additions of DNL-T2 and DNL-T3 would be finished.

Born in 1932 in the small farming town of Minilini to Sebastian and Doreen Kalb, Eric Kalb was the youngest of seven children. His family had survived for years as one of the largest contributors in a share-cropping development, but wouldn't escape the economic recession that would last from 1938 to 1949. None of the eldest children had been able to finish their primary education, driven to drop out so that they could support the family farm and help to raise the younger children. Eric's immediately eldest sibling - his sister, Sabine - would be the first of the children to graduate from primary education. However while she would go to return to the family farm life, Eric would manage to attain grant from a science club in a bordering town after high school that would help send him to college.

He would go on to graduate entirely from Baumbach-Müller Academy of the Sciences at 28 years old, in 1960, with Honors and a Masters in the field of nuclear physics. Further achievements and academic promise would see him recruited by the Baumbach-Müller Development Initiative - called "the Council" by those within and around it - in 1963 following the publication of his controversial paper on the dynamics of nuclear physics and potential development of a thorium engine. And there would see him put in charge of Das Neues Lichtlinienprojekt when it would begin development and planning in 1966, and then be approved for construction in 1967.

He would go on to pioneer several other projects and papers, such as his publication of A Study in Scientific Magics: The Imperial Duality, and development of the thorium-uranium-salts-lead chain that the DNL now produces. His work in multiple fields saw him awarded with the Citizen's Service Medal, the highest award that can be granted by the Freehold Republic. Yet despite all of this he was available for multiple interviews and discussions over the years.

When asked by a student of his alma mater how they knew to develop the DNL, he had this to say:

Dr. Eric Kalb (MS) wrote:"We didn't, to be perfectly honest. It was conjecture and theory. Every question was a guess, trying to apply what we knew into what we didn't know. That's what you have to remember. As a scientist you won't have all the answers. In fact you'll almost never have the answers. That's where you have to find your love in it: when you're in the unknown. Don't look for the success - you'll fail more times than you succeed. Find it in the one second before you know the answer, success or failure, and you'll go farther than me or anybody before you."

He is survived by his wife (Birgit Kalb, 90), his two sons (Marcel Kalb, 39 - Alexander Kalb, 41), and his daughter (Sandra Kalb, 41).

There will be a meal held in his honor at the Horizon Building on the Baumbach-Müller campus. (Link)

A public ceremony will be held the following day. (Link)

The family have asked that in lieu of donation to the family or flowers, interested parties should consider donation to the National Young Minds Association. The NYMA is a scholarship fund dedicated to the further development of the sciences in the Freehold, and to encouraging the pursuit of STEM degrees in modern youth. (Link)

Flags across the nation have been ordered to fly at half-mast for the next seven days to honor his passing.

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by **Adelsmaerke** » Sat Jul 06, 2019 7:09 pm

What A War Would Look Like
As President Holt sends military forces to the Far East, what would war look like with Rhydorana?

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{Cereris 4, 5474 AL 10:00 AM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

Overview picture of Ólafsfoss Naval Base, the largest AN base, situated on the Isle of Vaxlänge, in SvarthelmDJM photo

Kvemoen — News events and developments have been unfolding rapidly here, as the Freehold government finally issued a statement concerning the events that took place in Rhydorana a few days ago which saw an unidentified faction conduct a targeted airstrike on a civilian urban center in the capital city of Utona, killing potentially dozens if not hundreds of Ramanceans who were seeking shelter there from the in-fighting plauging the rest of the country, as well as native residents of Utona. The Freehold government issued a heavy statement yesterday, stating that it was giving all three of the major factions currently engaged in the Rhydorana Civil War an 24-hour window to come into a ceasefire that would conclude hostilities so an investigation could take place towards who conducted the airstrike that killed Ramancean citizens; the Freehold stated it believed this demand was the only option, after all three factions refused to refute that they had conducted the strike, or offer concrete evidence to back up such claims, and their demand for the ceasefire is not just empty words. Observers abroad have noticed that approximately two squadrons of V-55 Jagodas, an heavy bomber originally designed decades ago in the Estainian Empire and marketed abroad, have been seemingly deployed in a patrol manner, circling around the core islands of the Freehold's territory. Heavy activity has also been reported and confirmed at Freehold naval facilities in and around Port Minna, with multiple warships seen leaving the harbor, or being crewed and fitted and supplies being ferried across; in other words the tell-tale sign of a nation being readied for war.

For our domestic readers, you may wonder why that has any effect on us here in Adelsmaerke, unless you've been paying attention to President Holt's statement yesterday, and also following speeches and statements from Members of Parliament, ministers and other executive ministers or notable politicians; Holt had condemned the attacks and warned the Rhydoranan factions against further barbaric violence, and had offered her support to the Freehold in 'any way it may be used or administered' - the legal aficionados among us are now wondering if that includes this country going to war, something that has not happened in decades since the time of the Great War. For many of us, the idea of a war is a foreign concept, what would it look like, how would it change our lives?

Well first, in a much less-covered piece of news, the Navy has announced that it received permission from President Holt to forward deploy a patrol squadron towards Ramance, to assist it in any efforts possible; the unit is being designated Squadron Atta, and is being led by RAS Spøkelse, a Engram-class destroyer that has been in the Naval service since it was bought from the Ormessian Empire and commissioned into action in 1986. The Spøkelse will lead a small unit joined by two other Engram type destroyers, Sverd and Styn, who are also being accompanied by the destroyer tender Kephina, which is a supply ship designed to resupply and rearm the squadron but has been reportedly been loaded above the "combat maximum" load, indicating it may also be carrying supplies to resupply international partners, such as Ramance or Bereia both of whom already have military assets in theater. In addition to this, President Holt announced that in a larger move, the Navy and Army were preparing and moving assets into place to assemble a larger Expeditionary Force that would depart east to assist the Freehold in their mission, which may at that point be enforcing the cease-of-hostilities that it included in it's soon to expire demand. For alot of us, that means much would not change unless you have someone currently in the national service, however that is not completely true. As previously mentioned in our last breaking news coverage of this situation, the President has two options for deploying military assets, either by passing a declaration of war through Parliament, or by getting the Crown's permission to deploy the Armed Forces. This is where things become less clear, as support for a war in the Chamber of the Commons is unclear, but I feel confident in saying it is tenuous at best. Despite Sterk Høyre winning President Holt a larger majority in the Commons, taking their lead from a parsley 3 seats to an approximate 8 and further dividing the opposition, a big component in getting a declaration through would be whether Felixx Wolff supported it; Wolff is the MP for Refset, and although he is officially an Independent, since he joined the Chamber in the fall he has developed a significant amount of influence about the divided Opposition which is split between the disunited Labour, what remains of the National Conservatives and the eighteen other independent or single-party-affiliate members that consist of it. If President Holt, or more importantly if the more notable SH members such as Agnar Clemensen, Sigrid Lang who is also a freshman but a particularly wily one who has been posted to the Armed Services Committee, and Home Secretary Eva Akselsen. The National Arms Minister, Tryggve Steensen, has also made an uncommon appearance on the floor of the Chamber, issuing a statement on his Ministry's expectation should they be dragged into a war.

Specifically, deploying Squadron Atta has already cost an estimated Ð8 million, with most of the expense being in removing the three destroyers from their semi-inactive state, and to finish a number of immediate repairs which were either in process and unfinished, halted, or not yet started; also re-activating their core systems and restocking them, took time and money. Further more, the Ministry has already contacted suppliers here in Adelsmaerke and is tenatively placing orders for anti-shipping missiles that will be mountable on the arm-launcher that the Engram's use; unlike the more modern ships in the Navy, they carry no VLS systems and as such, use a number of older systems or weapons that are more expensive and harder to find. Furthermore, the formation of the Expeditionary Force has consumed a million ducats of the Ministry's budget already, and it is estimated it will take many more to get moving. As of now, the Force will contain RAS Løve, one of the Navy's three active aircraft carriers; stocking her with enough provisions and pulling warplanes out of storage to fully fit her out to her 96-plane combat hold is expected to cost around 17 million ducats, and that's not the end of the expenses. A large bulk of the expected cost is anticipated to come from the stocking and fueling of three ships, Rytter, Eikebølge, and Sjøfløyen; the ships are enormous FCSV's, or Fleet Combat Support Vessel. The class was designed and produced within the last eight years at the tune of 1.2 billion ducats, and the ships main objective is being able to transport men, supplies, fuel, and any other item, individual or vehicle neccesary for supporting an overseas war or military operation. They each clock in individually at a little over ninety thousand tons and their storage holds rival that of some of the larger civilian counterparts that are seen across the world in the international shipping business. Minister Steensen confirmed that Ryyter would be fully loaded within two days with supplies, men and ammunition and hinted that the Ministry is also trying to get a hold of foreign ammunition calibers, mortar rounds, and artillery shells, as well as a standardized jet and diesel fuel so as to be able to offload supplies towards any potential allies as well. While he did not give an estimated cost at the time, independent observers familiar with MNA operations estimate that the total cost of all three supply vessels will tune out to between 28 and 32 million ducats, though that price could end up much higher.

For the more educated in internal affairs, you will realize that nearly fifty million ducat figure represents a large portion of the Ministry's annual budget, so much so that it would probably exceed their annual allotments and require some form of emergency adjusting or fund transfer so as to ensure it does not neglect on the other areas or duties it is responsible for. Where could that money come from you ask? Well, it could come from a number of places. The Treasury maintains a number of public and private investments which are collectively managed under what is called The National Welfare Trust, or as cynic's call it "a politician's billion dollar rainy day fund" - however, it can only pull approximately 10 million ducats from these funds before it must seek Parliamentary approval. If the President seeks to avoid the legislature, this will hamstring funding efforts significantly, and how she steps around it gets messy quick. She could authorize cross-ministry fund transfers, but the amount needed by the military would probably exceed whatever she could muster or could harm other government agencies and impede their work. One drastic solution would be the introduction of a "service levy" - it has been unused since 1899, and is only allowed in times of great need to fund the military's coffers. If put into effect, it would add a 5% tax on every sale conducted in any Realm within the nation; and yes, it's perfectly legal. Politically wise? Probably not, there's a reason it hasn't been used in such a long time, peace not being the main one, and its employment could deal significant political damage to President Holt, and Sterk Høyre.

Thus, I conclude it is inevitable that within the next 72 or 48 hours, we will probably see a war proposal raised within the Chamber, and depending on how much support it gets, it could possibly make its way through Parliament by no latter then the middle of next week. That thought alone should scare some of you, this country has not been in a serious war in more then a hundred years, and rising up and going into one, ostensibly because of our ties and involvement with the Anoan Trade Bloc, will have serious implications in our culture, society and way of life. I would urge our readers to reach out to their local representatives, let them know how you feel and get them involved, do not make this a close vote.

Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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Svere Hall · 17 minutes ago
Slippery slope, I originally was a fan of ATB because it meant more international trade and the potential money it could bring to us, as well as potentially diverse and better products. But war? I don't know about that
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Rundström · 1 hour ago
Shouldn't we be like, not spending war on death and more on our internal matters, like finishing the infrastructure upgrades the government abandoned when they didn't pick up the Phase III RITS option thirty years ago?
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Frans Berglund · 1 hour ago
Quibbling over a war and some death, what has happened to us Nords? It is our Nordleng way, or did you all ignore our history of when we dominated the Far East coasts. They have forgotten our fire, the strength of our steel. Let us remind them! Nydron is hungry, Blood for the War God!
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by **Estainia** » Mon Jul 08, 2019 4:17 pm

The Empire's Premier News Source Since 1701

Uprisings in Alisonia

Tatiana Michelakakis (@LadyTatianaMichelakakis) (Imperial Press Association)
^{| Paestia, Alisonia}

Paestia — First, happy anniversary. It's been nearly two years to the day since Proteus impacted the planet, killed hundreds of millions, displaced tens of millions more, and caused irreparable damage to the world order. As if things couldn't get worse, what with the world's largest and most unprecedented humanitarian crises in history still unfolding, there are those who have decided it could, in fact, be worse. The Province of Alisonia, ruled by Her Imperial Majesty in trust, has erupted in a state of revolt. What began three weeks ago as mass (illegal) protests in the major cities of Lumos and Rome, has spread to other cities in the province and as of today has erupted into open violence. The Alisonian People's Army, a vile and detestable terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the organization of the uprising and called for more uprisings by all those loyal to the 'true' Alarii state, an independent Alisonia. For those of you who weren't alive at the time, The Alisonians used to have their own country until the Empire righteously liberated them. Ever since, the Alisonians have promised some vague revenge, and it would appear that they're finally delivering on that promise.

We at the Herald will do our utmost in keeping you duly informed as this... rebellion unfolds.
Tatiana Michelakakis

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Mariabaztan Nolazabal · Ten minutes ago
It's opportunistic but the romantic in me doesn't blame them for seizing the moment to regain their freedom.
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Spyro Antonis · Six minutes ago
Traitors, each and every one of them. They need to be rounded up and shot so that this sort of nonsense can never happen again.
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Heng Qing · 4 hours ago
This is troubling, as if things couldn't get any worse, now the Alisonians go and do this. What happened to 'peaceful integration'? Lies, I say.
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ChurchMatron2001 · 4 hours ago
THE END IS NEIGH, REPENT, REPENT AND EMBRACE THE LADY; PROTEUS WAS A SIGN AND NOW THE ALARII RISE AGAINST THE FALSE GOD, REPENT!
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by **Adelsmaerke** » Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:44 pm

BREAKING: War declared on Rhydorana by Parliament, President Holt
Special joint session of Parliament, Declaration of War introduced by Pres. Holt, passed 160 - 157

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IreneStendahl (@IreneStendahl) (DJM)
^{Cereris 6, 5474 AL 3:01 PM | Kvemoen, Menheimr, Adelsmaerke}

By a razor-thin margin, Parliament declares war on Rhydorana at President Holt's behest DJM photo

Kvemoen — For the first time in more then a century, the Republic of Adelsmaerke has issued a declaration of war; declaring war on Rhydorana on the back of a special bill proposed by President Holt when she convened and addressed a special joint session of both houses of Parliament, the first in two years since the Proteus Crisis initially began.

All 317 members of Chamber of Commons and House of Lords met for the joint session in the crowded Commons room, the public barred from their normal viewing gallery to allow for the Lords to have seats for the full session. In an unusual move, Speaker Agnar Clemensen opened the session and immediately ceded the floor to President Holt, marking the first time the President has ever addressed both houses of Parliament simultaneously and the first President to do so in more then a decade; the last time anyone addressed both houses was Stefan X on the heels of Proteus's initial impact, and while President Frederiksen was in attendance, he did not speak.

President Holt gave a eight minute and twenty second passionate and firm speech on the atrocities committed amidst the Rhydorana Civil War and that the both its government and the international body the Assembly of Nations had failed to protect the rule of law and peace in the region, allowing it to devolve into fierce acts of barbarism that threaten the most innocent of lives, and therefore precautions, actions and steps must be undertaken to ensure the restoration of common civilization and its principles within the nation, end quote on the President. She was immediately followed by the Speaker, who gave a five minute speech of his own mostly assigning support of the tenets the President laid out, and then when questioned by MP Torger Ovesen (Lib) on how she would accomplish those vague goals, the President spent the next eleven minutes outlining a plan that the Ministry of Defense and military had clearly come up with some time ago, perhaps the minute after the incident that occurred in Rhydorana that led to all of us; Operation Full Caper as it's being called, the first offensive military operation of Adelsmaerke since the end of the Great War more then one hundred years ago; is this truly something to break the peace over?

The President proposed the bill that would not only issue a declaration of war, but would also authorize the usage of 4.5 billion ducats in support of the war, and despite spending more then four hours debating over it and some clear breaks in the Government's line (as evidenced by how close the vote went), the bill was passed, 160 votes to 157. Three votes; three votes just took away 5% of the government's total annual budget, and will now send Nordlengs thousands of kilometers away, instead of dealing with the damage Proteus dealt here at home.

The military and MoD have been tight-lipped, but they have confirmed that the three FCSV that were being slowly loaded will now be completely loaded, both with supplies and stores as well as the gear, weapons, equipment and vehicles belonging to three Royal Army regiments, unconfirmed but reported to be the Saunte Regiment, Limskov Rifles Regiment, and the 4^th Republican Cavalry Regiment; the first is a traditional infantry regiment which will deploy supposedly with all but 1 of its usual four active battalions, the fourth having been lost during Proteus in addition to the regiments three reserve battalions it previously had. Limskov is one of the few regiments in the Army at full strength and has been pulled from the relief and reconstruction efforts in southern Menheimr to participate with all four of its battalions, three of which are air infantry, otherwise known for deploying in the battlefield through helicopters and such. The 4^th Cavalry reportedly had to borrow tanks from a number of other regiments but will deploy with 2 active battalions, with each battalion holding 40 'Lænke' main battle tanks and a single reserve battalion which will be using older and lighter 'Jorde IV' tanks, approximately 30 of them. In addition to the land units, the Navy has attached two frigates, Kime and Lyse as escorts for the aircraft carrier Løve, which has been loaded to its "combat full" amount of 90 total aircraft, a good amount of which are the venerable multi-role fighter L.M/74 'Vandro', as well as a number of dedicated strike aircraft.

The military has not said when and where they will strike, but we will keep you as updated as we can, bringing you the most accurate and reliable information through our wide network of dedicated sources and experienced writers.
Irene Stendahl contributed to this report.

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by **Ramance** » Sat Jan 04, 2020 7:28 am

Der Wächter
Founded - 1901
Bedenke das Ende.

A War on the Home Front
Republic of Rhydorana launches retaliatory invasion

Posted, 4 Cereris 2024 - 2030 RST
Vanessa Jaeger (@V.Jaeger) | DWM Capital Correspondent
v.jaeger@dwmpress.frc | +010 202-212-2497

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A Ramancean Army artillery piece engages the Dorynian landing zone on eastern Fairer Hafen, 2024 [DWM Materials]

Despite its size and its importance both economically for Ramancean markets and strategically for ocean defense, Fairer Hafen is not actually considered one of the ''Home Islands'. In fact, despite being the third largest of any of the more prominent islands of Ramance it is also one of the most distant. It is closer to its mainland neighbor - Rhydorana - than it is to the Freehold Republic. And today that was felt in a very real and pointed way with an undeclared act of war by the Republic of Rhydorana.

While official reports from military forces are understandably classified at the present time, witnesses reported a sizable landing force approaching eastern Fairer Hafen where they were met by regional defensive forces of the Ramancean Naval Infantry and Army, supported by several Navy patrol vessels at approximately 1015 RST. However, despite being contested heavily by available forces a beachhead was able to be established that is being used to ferry more personnel and equipment on to the island - likely to prepare for advances further inland to seize control of the main island.

The suddenness of the invasion and force advancement might leave outsiders to feel as if this invasion was unprovoked or risen from nowhere, however that is not the case. Though the Republic of Rhydorana has not released any statements confirming the assertion, many feel that the invasion is retaliation against economic sanctions imposed by the Freehold Republic earlier in the year. As one of the largest consumers of Dorynian exports in the region, the complete discontinuation of trade would lead to likely disastrous economic impacts for the Republic.

These sanctions came in the midst of rising tension in the Republic, with government forces cracking down on growing dissent and rebellion among the national population. Reports alleged that government loyalists had repeatedly ignored or deliberately violated the Lumen Accords - of which the Republic is a signatory - when dealing with civilian populations and militant forces alike. After repeated protests from the Freehold Republic, Platz. Puldi Krüger announced a complete embargo on Dorynian products and trade coming into the Freehold. This came after requests from the Red Ankh were repeatedly denied by the Dorynian government, stating that the situation was "too volatile" for the humanitarian NGO to operate safely.

Dissenters of Platz. Krüger's foreign policies say this was just another step in an "increasingly militaristic, confrontational strategy" in regards to the Republic. They have said that while defensive actions are obviously necessary and justified in defense of sovereign Freehold territory, it is likely that Platz. Krüger will use this invasion as an excuse for what some call a "retaliation of total dominance" in light of deteriorating relations between the two nations over the last several years.

At present, the administration has released no comment on such strategies or plans for counter-advances. However, there have been reports that the 1st Brigaden-Manöverteam (1^ST BMT, "Siedler") have been mobilized though it is more likely their deployment is purely defensive at this time.

At present the involvement of the other Anoan Trade Bloc signatories, or indeed the world at large, is unknown given how rapidly this situation has escalated and developed within the course of a single day.

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by **Mackjaracotavon** » Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:33 am

5 Regals

Two days ago, His Holy Reverence, Aeden II of the Holy Church of the Canon gave a solemn declaration at the altar in Ruunfield's Grand Cathedral, vowing to help those suffering in the wake of the ever-worsening conflict in Rhydorana and Ramance. Transcribed below is the full speech, announced to the world before the Crown.

"It troubles me, that conflict is allowed to persist, even as the wounds left by Proteus continue to heal almost three years later. I look at the events around the globe with great sorrow, and witness the seeds of strife continue to be sown regardless of the assistance of mankind. The White Inquisition's resources continue to be pushed to their limit, helping people of all races and creeds heal from the terrible scars left by the asteroid impacts, by famine, by drought, by pestilence, and by conflict. And even now, in countries such as Rhydorana and Ramance, government funding meant to help their people is instead spent on their militaries, and their own people suffer as a result. I hereby declare, that by the grace of GOD most holy, on Dodekateus, Lucia 16, 5475, the Holy Church of the Canon, alongside the military of His Majesty, the King of Cretia, venture forth alongside and in support of Assembly of Nations coalition forces. Through our doctors, we shall heal the sick and dying regardless of race, faith, and nationality. Through our soldiers, we shall uphold justice. Through our Inquisition, we shall feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, and mend communities. And through GOD and the light of Azrael, we shall see peace restored to the land. Thank you."

This speech came at a time when tentions and perceived hatred and ambition are at an all time high between the two countries. His Royal Majesty, King Mauer I, agreed to the joint effort between the Church of the Canon and the Cretian Military, saying that he and the joint task force will cooperate fully with the Assembly of Nations forces being deployed to both nations during this military crisis. The Grand Inquisitor, who has been chosen as the supreme commander of this task force, has chosen not to comment on his thoughts. The Royal Steward has promised to release new information as it becomes available.

Written by Christophe Lajoie
Edited and Published by Vincent Maier

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by **Mackjaracotavon** » Thu Jul 16, 2020 11:04 pm

An Arsenal Aviation VB.10 similar to the recovered relic. Picture taken at a Joint Cretian/Estainian air base, August 1943

Aviation and Military History Enthusiasts around Rostil rejoiced in unison today, as an Arsenal VB.10, recovered several months ago from a beach along Cretia's southeastern-most shore close to the border with Belkaland, has been approved by order of His Majesty, King Mauer I, for restoration to airworthy status. The VB.10, considered to be Cretia's answer to Alisonia's and Adiya's then-latest fighters and a "war-winning fighter", was mass produced between mid-1942 and late 1946, with a total number of 1,205 examples produced. With contra-rotating propellers powered by two turbo-supercharged Alphones Heavy Industries 'Firestone' V-10 engines, It had a top speed of 374 Knots, with an innovative Nitros Oxide Injector for maximum performance at War Emergency Power. Some pilots after the war reported reaching as much as 430 knots in a sustained dive from thirty-thousand feet. It was armed with six AMG.40 12.7mm machine guns and four 20mm cannons, an impressive and devastating armament for any fighter. To obtain maximum potential range, maneuverability, and speed, the engineers behind this aircraft had to cut down weight without sacrificing protection and durability. To that end, a creative and talented seven-year-old schoolgirl suggested substituting hydraulically-actuated trailing-edge flaps with leading-edge slats that open and close via air pressure at a certain speed threshold. This idea cut down on a good portion of the airframe's total weight in hydraulic actuators, tubing and pumps. The unique, almost terrifying screeching sound of the VB.10's contra-rotating propellers earned it the moniker 'Wraith' by both allied and enemy forces.

The recovered relic, identified as example 13956-310 by its manufacturer's number, was lost in March of 1943 to unknown circumstance while in transit via the so-called "Esto-Cretian Southern Air Corridor" between the two nations that would have taken it southeast towards Estainia over the Straits of Kemet, which avoided the sovereign airspace of then-neutral countries of Belkaland and Ormest. Eugène Badeaux, who passed away in 2017, was the pilot of this particular aircraft that day, and was able to safely ditch the airframe on the coastal beach, before hitching a ride back to the manufacturing plant.

"As I was entering the Southern Air Corridor, the bird started losing engine power. It wasn't sputtering, as it would from fuel starvation, but a gradual loss of power... like the carburetor was blocked by something." Eugène recounted in his memoirs. "Naturally I pulled the carburetor heat to full open and expected the engine power to return. It didn't, and soon enough, the engine seized up entirely. It was like a curse... Battery was fresh and charged, the fuel and oil levels were just enough to make the trip, and the engine was brand new. As I looked around for a place to land, there it was... A wide, soft sandy beach along the coastline, glimmering aquamarine and lush green bordering the sand on both sides. My speed reduced, and the leading edge slats deployed on their own, giving me plenty of extra wing to make a soft landing. I announced my emergency landing on the radio and lowered my gear, before turning right in a westerly direction and making my final approach. I had only one chance. Glancing between my artificial horizon, my airspeed indicator and the outside, I allowed the VB.10 to ride itself down like a kite. Then, with a thud, the plane hit the ground, harder than expected. The landing gear collapsed, and by the time it was over, the wings were partly covered in sand. Several onlookers walked in my direction, making sure I was safe as I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the canopy, shakily climbing out."

At the time of the incident, an investigation by the Royal Cretian Army Engineering Corps revealed nothing wrong with the engine, fuel, oil, carburetor, or other components related to aircraft operations. This left designers and engineers at Asrsenal Aviation scratching their heads, wondering what went wrong, with some suggesting that an anomaly beyond their control led to the loss of the newly-built airfame. Since the incident happened, no other instances of this anomaly were reported, although the airframe was left on the beach, where it remained for almost eighty-five years before its recovery last January.

Now, with the plane in the hands of the crown-funded Musée Royal De L'aviation De Cretia in Haense, and with support of public donations, hopes are high that this rare warbird will soon spread its wings and once again take flight.

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by **Euro Asian Republics** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:04 pm

Usean News Network

Terrorist Attack in Saint Ark
Over five hundred dead at the Peace Column

^{SHARE THIS:}

Peter A. Genette (@PAGenette) (UNN)
^{November 13, 2025 10:30 AM | Saint Ark, Usea}

Still image from CCTV footage [Saint Ark City Council]

Saint Ark — Over five hundred innocent people are confirmed dead in what has been the worst terrorist attack in Usean history. Last night, at approximately 8:20 PM, a car bomb went off at the Peace Column roundabout, followed by several gunmen and suicide bombers attacking the people in the area. The group claiming responsibility for this attack is reported to be the 'People of God's Army', which has been combating Assembly of Nations forces in Ardstan since the intervention started several years ago. Their motivation is reportedly that of blunting the Assembly of Nations into leaving the troubled Republic of Ardstan.

President Robert Sinclair has been briefed on this tragedy and has made a speech earlier this morning. He stated, "This nation cannot, and will not, be cowed by the whims of cowardly terrorists. To those in the PGA, there will be nowhere for you to run nor hide from the our righteous fury."

Even now, the death toll continues to rise. However, if it weren't for the speedy responce from the Usean Army and Special Forces, the death toll would have been a lot higher.

Peter A. Genette and Patricia van Ohain contributed to this report

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