From the Ashes - 2100 - IC

[The New Teutonic Order]

Claim: Marienburg (in between Danzig and the main NTO hub)

Marienburg Castle

The Grandmaster's arrived in a clearing just south of the castle. The military that was there, mostly the garrison of Danzig, were hard at work restoring the castle, with its reconstruction being made a priority. The Grandmaster walked through the old castle's walls that Grandmasters of old had walked through.

The castle had been partially destroyed in the Great War, but it had also been destroyed in World War II, and it had fallen to neglect in the 18th century. Both times, it had been restored, and the Grandmaster had no doubt that the restoration would go smoothly.

Now, safe land travel could occur between Danzig and Memel, along with Konigsberg.

HEADLINES:

Elections of 2101

In the most contested elections in the history of the New Teutonic Order, the Conservative Party narrowly edged out the Liberal Party. In the Parliament of one hundred seats, the Conservatives won 53 seats and the Liberals won 47 seats. Prime Minister Victor Hindenburg was voted out of his parliamentary seat. As a result, he resigned from his seat and his position of Prime Minister in November. In a Lame Duck session, Conservative Ludwig Kurzmann was voted in as Prime Minister. He shall hold that position until at least next January, in which he shall be up for re-election as Prime Minister.

The Liberals promise that they will offer a stiff opposition to the Conservative majority in Parliament along with Conservative Grandmaster Matthias von Schleiden.

[Publectia]

Claim: Last province on the coast of Marmara

News:

The Marmara under control!
Economy is rising!
The Latin party leaves the government coalition!

[Delphio]

Today’s Claim;

The southwest region of Mississippi. The entire state is now mine.

Natchez falls, all of Mississippi is now united under The Order of Vicksburg....

Despite major delays the previous summer (equipment issues and a small raider band encroaching on Biloxi) the unification campaign of Mississippi was now complete and successful. All of Mississippi was under the rule of Chairman Victor “the Red”, his campaigning commander John Loren hailed as a hero of state and the people.

The city of Natchez was easily taken. The city was nigh deserted aside from scattered bands of scavengers holed away in ruined casinos and hotels. Most “surrendered” and were gladly taken into The Order’s fold. A select few attempted to flee and were all subsequently rounded up by Lorens’ men, and were afterward used as forced labor in renovating Natchez. After leaving a sizeable garrison to keep Natchez secure and instilling the new “governor” chosen by Victor, Loren and his remaining force returned to Vicksburg, hailed as heroes.

The Order flourishes...

Things were on the progressive rise for Vicksburg. Many of the states’ cities had power and running water. The Orders’ army grew as more and more began to willingly enlist, seeing it as their duty to defend their homes and the ruling government. Crops and livestock thrived, and the government distributed adequate food and supplies to the people. In Vicksburg, a grand statue of Chairman Victor was being erected in front of the city hall. A protective was was being erected around much of Vicksburg as well, the laborers working day and night.

The Chairman was not simply content with this however. He stated that The Order needed more lands, more access to supplies and goods outside of the state of Mississippi. He fully intended to continue his expansion actions. After all, he did indeed have the resources. His army was roughly six thousand strong, and they had recently acquired a number of salvaged pre-war weaponry. Refurbished tanks, several refitted and operational military helicopters, kevlar gear, explosives, and scores of armored cars and box trucks.

Victor “the Red” was in fact planning his expansion campaign into southeastern Louisiana, across the Mississippi River, when he received urgent word...

Vicksburg, City Hall-Mayor’s Office, 4:04 PM...

Chairman Victor “the Red” sat in his office as his intelligence officer, Jesse Moran, stood before him. Moran was roughly five-feet ten, had clean cut red hair, and skin as white as snow. His eyes were a piercing blue. Morans’ usually calm demeanor was slightly on edge as he delivered word to the Chairman of foreigners at their doorstep.

“A ship, you say?” Asked the Chairman, voice level and assertive.
“Yes, Mister Chairman,” Moran said, “a prewar cargo ship of adequate size. They sailed right through our waters.”
“No hail,” Victor asked, “who allowed them passage?”
“Unsure sir,” Moran said nervously, “no one will come forward.”
Chairman Victor dipped his chin into his right palm, and then slowly smiled, which unnerved Moran, though he kept this hidden.

Victor looked up at Moran, his smile now half of a smile,”Dig deeper. If no answers are found, threaten to have the entire unit on-duty flogged and quarantined. We don’t just let unidentified units skirt our borders willy-nilly.”
Moran responded, “Yes sir, I’ll carry out a thorough investigation with factors of punishment.”

“Good,” Victor said,”and Moran...”
“Chairman, sir?”
“Dispatch our helicopters to comb the coastline and follow the river northward, I want this ship found and I want it halted. No killings, no free fire. I want to find out who our new visitors are.”
“Yes sir.”

[Newark Aristocracy]

Today's claim:Cario,Illinois.


Mississippi River,Near New Orleans.
The ship had stopped in New Orleans for a few days to scout the city for survivors,and radio Vicksburg if there was any.
600 survivors have been found in the city so far.
Its been 5 days,and now the ship was leaving the city,but before that,they radioed Vicksburg,telling them the ships identification and how many survivors the crew of the ship found in New Orleans.

[Delphio]

[quote="Newark Aristocracy";p="35332262"][/quote]

Six days after the initial contact with foreign vessel...

*STATIC* (Ten Seconds) Attention unidentified water vessel, this is a special message relayed through short range burst transmission. You are being hailed by The United Order of Vicksburg. You have been specially requested by our Chairman, Victor “the Red”, to make your way to the port of Vicksburg and await reception. Repeat, this is a special request by the Chairman of The Order of Vicksburg, please navigate your way to the port city of Vicksburg and await reception. You are expected no later than two days time. Scouts will be monitoring your approach.
Know that we hail you under a flag of truce. *STATIC* —TRANSMISSION END—

[Newark Aristocracy]

The ship heads toward Vicksburg as stated in the radio message.

[Publectia]

Claim: Western coast of Turkey

News:

The Army advances!
Navy is stronger every day!
Justinian announces the building of a long railway from Constantinople to Izmir!

[Asquran]

Claiming:

Taking the east coast

The people are excited that soon entire former South-Korea will be conquered, with only two areas left to take. These areas are former farmlands but thanks to the bombs they are now wastelands with some abandoned towns left in them.

These wastelands can be helpful, however, because they now provide excellent land to place windturbines, far more accessible than the ones on the sea. Military camps will also probably be build here due to all the space and the closeness to the sea.

[Letderan]

Resistance to Crown Rule? Nonsense!

Campbell Barracks (me knows what I Talkin about)

Australia - West Coast, Campbell Barracks

Gun fire ringed throughout the streets, as the city was bombed by battleships at sea. Letderan soldiers running from cover to cover, as they attempted to snuff out the last remaining resistance amongst the city.

Unlike that of Sydney, which was mostly filled with those welcoming Crown Rule, the west coast in which the military of Letderan intended to make an outpost was much more opposed to the idea. For a centralized government was formed years ago, and the locals claimed that they were doing fine on their own. Saying that they didn’t need the protection that being a subject underneath the crown provided, claiming they could defend themselves from any threat that faced them. Something laughable truly, for these men were clearly uneducated and foolish to think that they could survive whilst living in such a hostile world. It must be up to the queen to ensure their safety, no other could provide the same level of protection, civilization, culture, hope, and quality of life as the crown of Letderan could.

Even after trying to peacefully convince them they foolishly refused, now it was up to the military to subdue them for their own safety. The navy bombed their Capital along the coast whilst also raiding and pillaging any ships sailing towards them, or ships belonging to them. Capturing a few that could be added to the navy, but now a landing of Letderan forces has been pulled off and they have recently taken the Campbell Barracks. An old military base from before the war, a valuable location that provided much needed weapons and ammunition for the Letderan cause.

Now, a quarter of this troublesome rebel group remained within their territory. But for the most part, they had been pushed out of the land Letderan desired, for now. As they would be back to reclaim the rest of Australia eventually, for the dominion belonged to them and them alone. No exceptions could be made in this matter, no straggling governments would be allowed within Australian territory. It must all be taken underneath the love and care of the empire, for their and everyone’s own good.

Shots were fired, and the last man in the resistance amongst the city had fallen, the few who were still alive were captured by Letderan forces and made into slaves. The children being sent off to be re-educated, so they could become a proud patriot of the crown.

This position on the west coast would be used almost exclusively by the military, until Australia could be united underneath the black jack. For it was vital for operations in the Indian Ocean, and for strengthening Letderan’s grasp on the dominion.

[Hystaria]

expand further into Japan, East northern, coast. Sorry the map is funky
NEWS HEADLINES:
More Shinto reconstruction.

[Samnordisk]

News Headlines:

Stockholm airport rebuild. Citizens rejoice as Stockholm Airports has been completely rebuild, this makes flights between Stockholm and the already fixed Helsinki airport possible.
Helsinki completely rebuild. The final district, the Tech and Science Park, of Helsinki has been completely rebuild.
News about Russians approaching closer and closer to the border causes worry around the border areas.
North Sweden nuclear power plants almost completely rebuild as soldiers set out to fix wiring and other means of transportation to Stockholm and other parts of the country. Not Finland power plants are still in construction but are expected to be completely rebuild in a season.
Navy prepares to enter Gotland soon.

Claim:
The county west of Stockholm, the one that would give me the entirety of lake Mälaren.

[The Iron Tsardom]

End of The Road

[img]https://i.imgur.com/tjsNvlT.png
[/img]

Luka stood over the corpses of the dead, some still twitching, as barbed arrows and bullets had lodged themselves into spines and brains. It hadn't taken long for him and the dragoons to track down the fleeing refugees. They had encamped not far from an irradiated stream, and Luka guessed had it not been for his arrival they would have surely moved on. He looked around at the party of dragoons, most of them dismounted. They were slicing the ears off the corpses, attaching them to macabre necklaces and chains.

Beyond that, b y the stream, a small group of the dragoons had the mangled meat of a refugee over a small fire, its strange cross shaped pendant still round its neck, now bereft of a head. Radoslav would no doubt be pleased with the hunt, although there was something he still couldn't understand. Before one of the refugees had been executed, he had said something, or rather screamed it. A "Two-tonic Order" or something, whatever it was, Luka suspected they must have been seeking sanctuary with them. He would have to report this back to Radoslav, a rival in the west couldn't be tolerated.

[The New Teutonic Order]

Expansion: The southeastern province of Estonia

NEWS HEADLINES: Join the Army! Defend Against The Pagan!
August von Steuben Promoted to General
Fortifications Expand
Ludwig Kurzmann Re-Affirmed as Prime Minister
The Fourth Parliament Begins its Session


Konigsberg

Ludwig Kurzmann walked to work every day. Today was no exception, although it was chilly out. He was the new Prime Minister, and his role had been affirmed by an election just two months after his last election. He could now expect to hold the position for at least three more years.

He thought about Hindenburg, his predecessor. The fool hadn't even finished his term - he resigned in disgrace after losing his own parliamentary seat. He had not been ambitious enough, nor had he acted forcefully enough. When the two parties were formed, the coward couldn't pick a side!

Ludwig resolved to change this. He would act with ambition - he would not just sit idly by while the Grandmaster made all of the important decisions. Of course, like most members of Parliament, Ludwig admired the Grandmaster and would try to work with him. However, he would not waste his time sitting in von Schleiden's shadow.

He walked along the streets of the main boulevard of Konigsberg. The military was heaping on the propoganda now - calling for young men to take up arms to defend their nation from the barbaric horde in the east. It seemed to work - in Ludwig's briefing two days before, he saw that enlistment had jumped. He hoped that there would be enough time to train the men, or perhaps the horde could come to terms. However, from what he had heard of their ruthlessness, he assumed that this would not occur.

The Estonian-Russian Border

General August watched as fortifications were constructed. He had been promoted to fight against this new threat, and he would make sure that he would do it as well as he could.

His job had shifted from one of mere expansion to one of defense, fortifying the Baltics before the horde could get to them. Fortifications continued to be built in western Latvia, as their garrisons grew exponentially.

He was to receive a special visitor - Friederich Polonaise. He was the man who had set up relations with Nordiska, who apparently would aid the Order, and had led an expedition down the Vistula. However, he had joined the army to defend his country. What a fine young lad, August thought.

"Sir!" a voice said behind the general. He turned around. Freiderich was standing there. The General smiled warmly, extending a hand, which the new recruit enthusiatically shook. "An honor to meet you, General," Friederich said. "An honor to meet you as well," the general replied. "It appears that you have made my job a lot easier." Friederich chuckled. "I sure hope so. Do you plan to follow their strategy?" "I do not see why not," the General replied. The man had a bit of suspicion to the Scandinavians, but help was help, and with no idea about the enemy's strength and capabilities, the General could certainly use it.

[The New Teutonic Order]

Location: Unknown

"Are you ready?" the scientist asked. Subject 0277 nodded. 276 attempts. 276 deaths. The lab had grown somewhat resignated to the fact of failure and death. However, the procedure could give one so much power, that many were willing to die for even a chance to have it.

The plexiglass containment chamber shaped like a cylinder closed, as robotic arms descended from the sky. Their needles stuck into the subject's body, and then withdrew.

The subject collapsed onto the ground, screaming in pure pain. However, he was growing. His muscles became much larger, and he became so large that he would loom over any normal human. Suddenly, the screaming stopped. "Check for vitals," the scientist said. "It appears that the subject is alive and well," the A.I. replied, after a couple seconds of scanning. Then, the subject opened his eyes again, and stood up. He body-slammed the chamber, and it shattered. He stepped out back into the room. "It-it worked!" the scientist said. "It worked!"

Two hundred seventy seventh time's the charm.

[Letderan]

Letderan Rules the Waves

Australian Peninsula in the north, near Darwin

Coral Sea - Letderan Fleet

The mighty fleet of Letderan sailed across the waters of the Coral Sea, far from the coast of Australia as the guns ringed and smoke bursts through the barrels. Streams of bright red light shit out towards ships that did not belong to them, those who chose to fight back against Letderan might. Whilst their ships were many, they were crude compared to the average vessel of the crown and they were dwarves if you put them aside each other.

The guns deafened any man foolish enough to stand next to them, as enemy ships exploded in a glorious blast of light and fire. Men screaming as they abandoned ship, leaping off and into the waters of the sea.

Letderan ships cared little for the fate they would face, as they continued to sail forwards towards the target that they were assigned to capture, the small dinghy boats they fought being crushed upon getting rammed by the battleships.

The last of the enemy vessels now either lay ruined in pieces whilst slowly burning away of sinking into the water, or they’ve surrendered so they may raise the black jack up high. Those aboard swearing loyalty to the crown of Letderan, the captain of these captured vessels sailing forward with the fleet of the crown and a barrel at the back of their head with a bullet ready to fly.

[Publectia]

News:

Weird mutant people! Where are they coming from?
The Northern Expansion starts!
Winter is coming to an end?
The Population rises!

[Asquran]

The county that I'm claiming:

The last of South-Korea

Today marks the day that former South-Korea is completely under the control of the new government of United Korea. The last area to conquer is located near the border with former North-Korea and now most of the army are stationed along this border to protect everyone south.

With entire South-Korea conquered, the people can rebuild all the railways, roads, ships and machines to produce energy that are still somewhat repairable. This will take a long time but it is necessary to rebuild society and show the reborn world what a good workforce can do.

After the last area is taken over, the army will march into northern Korea to take over the entire peninsula

[Hystaria]

I Expand into southern japan
NEWS HEADLINES:
More Shinto reconstruction.
Military reform and change dealing with Gun Weapons are under construction
There are government funded sea explores, into the Korean, and Chinese region, making Maps and the such.

[Iatina]

Recovery of Fuzhou

Right after securing Wenzhou, A larger party of 460 men is sent further south in their cargo ships.

The ships pull up to the remains of Fuzhou to find the inhabitants happy to see them, they let the army in. The engineer corps or the mission repair a siginificant power station in not much time, allowing them to repair a power connection to Wenzhou once the routes there are secured. Make shift factories are also given some maintenance. With Taipei the base of the Taiwanese contengent, and Shanghai the main base, Fuzhou becomes the base of the southern contengent. Battlements are hastily pieced together from the rubble.

Fuzhou is recovered.

Claim (shaded in province):

[The Iron Tsardom]

Reclamation

https://i.imgur.com/Pxhet8C.png

Rurik stood on a huge outcrop, beneath him, the half-sunken city of Saint Petersburg lay, scorched and faintly glowing with ethereal malice. Filling the space beneath him, were thousands upon thousands of warriors, all looking at him silently, with reverence and fear. From behind his silvery mask, an unmoving mouth spoke, 'My subjects, my devout, look upon this place; this was once the beating heart of a bygone era, and so it shall be once more!' he raised his arms to the sky, and silently the amassed crowd below knelt.

This place, Saint Petersburg, would serve as an effective second city for his Tsardom, from here new weapons could be forged, new armies raised. In his mind Rurik had heard news of the Teutonic Order, a shameless rebound of an antiquated order that had died many decades ago. He would have to make plans for this, but first more territory must be secured in the east, then, and only them, would the Baltics burn.

[Samnordisk]

News Headlines:

Nordiskan Airlines doing better than ever before, as people travel more than ever. Wether that be going to work or visiting family, the people seem more connected than ever.
Helsinki completely rebuild. Major celebrations as all of Helsinki goes online and research and development of genetics and technology continue once more.
Stockholm Airlines the most beautiful and advanced compared to the others from the past and present.
Nordiskan Army closing taking back more and more of Finland to form a border between the Russians and our country.

Special headline:

Nordiska's ally, The New Teutonic Order, on edge from advancing Russians. Intelligence report that the Russians are now only a few days miles away from St. Petersburg. Nordiskan Army ready to intercept any attack coming from them and navy inspects the Gulf of Finland thoroughly everyday.

[The New Teutonic Order]

Claim: The southwestern province of Estonia



NEWS HEADLINES:

Russian Horde Reaches St. Petersburg
Prime Minister and Grandmaster Urge Citizens to Remain Calm

Latvia, Estonia Become Second and Third Provinces, Respectively

In a historic bill, two new states were created; Latvia and Estonia. Their names are taken from the pre-war countries that once controlled these territories. Unlike most bills since the political schism last year, this bill got wide, bipartisan support. Latvia's capital will be Riga, and Estonia's capitol will be Tallinn.

Most people have speculated that the main reason for the bill is to encourage more people from these territories to fight. It also legalizes pagan religions, which the NTO has fought against since these territories have come under its control.

The bill also created a fourth zone, which will remain as a territory and under martial law, due to its potential border with the Russian hordes. Its name is Latgale, and its capitol will be Tartu. The bill also promises that once the Russian threat is "neutralized", Latgale will be split and given to Estonia and Latvia.

Despite what some, especially in Danzig, had hoped, this bill did not include any seperation of the capitol state of Prussia.


An image of the three provinces and one territory.

The Gulf of Finland
Outside St. Petersburg

Hans could see the massive reconstruction of St. Petersburg. After Friederich had joined the Army, he was put in command of the ship, which by now had become exclusively used for diplomatic missions.

It had been verified that the horde, or whatever it was, did not have any ships, nor did it have a naval capacity. However, the ship stayed off-shore, for fear of artillery in the city itself.

"Are we ready?" Hans asked to the radio crew. "Yes," a radio crewman replied. And so the transmission began.

The message was simple. "We come in peace. We are diplomats from the New Teutonic Order. We wish to discuss matters between our two nations." First, it was broadcasted in German, then Copernicus translated the message to Russian, and for good measure, it was repeated again in Morse Code. To make sure St. Petersburg was listening, the message was broadcasted three times.

Then, the boat sat in the water, waiting for a reply.

[Nuverikstan]

expansion, the territory with San Antonio and Corpus Christi in it.

Austin, Austin Territory

After the conquest of Austin, Assemblist Hall refused to return to League City. He was attempting to move the capital of Galveston to Austin and reform the State of Texas. This was not widely popular in the other Assemblies, with only Assemblist Baker of Fort Worth supporting this. Many of the other Assemblists liked the capital's current central location, with some even proposing that it be moved to Houston, once the cities crime rate had lowered. Hall would not listened to them, and refused to return. While they held one meeting at Capitol Hill in Austin, no other meetings have been held there. Since the conquest of Austin, there has only been one meeting of the Assemblists.

This did not bother Hall, believing he would be able to centralize power and diminish the roles of the other assemblists, after the reelection. He continued his military march across Texas. After putting down all the rebels remaining in Fort Worth and Austin, he sent the army south, to San Antonio. This time, it was different. Assemblist Hall now had in his possession, the old US Military Base, Fort Hood. All Galveston troops were armed and even some were equipped with bullet proof armor. In addition, he tasked his most brilliant men with refurbishing any of the vehicles they could. After the conquest of San Antonio, they would be tasked with repairing the Joint Base there.

Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, San Antonio Territory

San Antonio had been conquered three days ago. Field Marshall Colton Houston marched on the city with 30,000 men and 2 working howitzers. San Antonio was currently being controlled by a self-proclaimed dictator. He had armed some men with weapons from the military base and began attempting to unite the city under his rule. Once the Galvestonian troops arrived, however, this was put to an end. Houston demanded that the dictator surrender to Galveston, or the troops would storm his military base. He refused, and his men set up barricades to keep the Galvestonian forces out. Houston's howitzers made quick work of the makeshift barricades and the soldiers stormed the base and killed all who did not surrender. The dictator had ran away out a secret entrance and was not found. All other people of San Antonio stood down and allowed the Galvestonian troops to enter. In addition to taking San Antonio, 7,000 troops were dispatched to Corpus Christi to wrest control of the major naval base there.

Galveston, Galveston Assembly

Assemblist Garza was busy at work, attempting to create a new government in secret. He had the support of the League City and Conroe Assembly, as well as Field Marshall Houston, his good friend. His intention was to overthrow Assemblist Hall as Head Assemblist and make himself Head Assemblist. However, he also intended to use Houston's military to force the other Assemblists to submit to him and end the HA selection process. He sent a letter to Field Marshall Houston, in secret, to inform him of the plan. Houston was in agreement with Garza and agreed to pull this off, but he asked that Garza wait three months, so that they may fully secure San Antonio. Garza agreed and set his sights on another target.

Garza dispatched his scout ships to New Orleans recently, to see if there was anyone there. When they returned, they reported that there was only vagabonds and swindlers, no form of government whatsoever. Well, Garza put off storming New Orleans and continued to dispatch ships to keep an eye on it, as well as sending ships to investigate Havana in Cuba. Recently, the boats came back and reported that New Orleans had been taken by a contender from Mississippi and was currently being assimilated. In fear of this new state controlling the Mississippi river, he immediately sent his navy, as well as 3,000 marines, to take the port of New Orleans. However, the troops were instructed not to attack the current occupiers, just to begin setting up defenses across from the port, at Algiers Point.

[Newark Aristocracy]

Claim:New Orleans.
Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.

A ship (same from earlier) had left Vicksburg and now was headed to Europe,but,before that,the ship had landed forces in New Orleans,taking it from raider groups in the area.
The ship's objective:Reach Europe and get land there.
You see,the crew had found out that Norfolk,VA had been flooded by waves created when the bombs dropped,so they decided to set course for Europe after they found that out.

[Letderan]

Royal Crown Network - 1

Province to the left of Wellington on the northern island of Zealand

The anthem of Letderan plays, as televisions spring to life and a voice is heard from radios and televisions alike.

Letderan Expands North Zealand!
“Hello people of Letderan! Welcome to the first ever televised edition of the Royal Crown Network, I am your host Lyra and before we can go into further explanation of televised news. We first need to cover the important story of the government recently taking action to forward its expansion on the northern island of New Zealand, by sending soldiers and delegates to the local communities. It seems that thankfully, the vast majority of the autonomous communities have chosen to join our great nation!

However, many in the government believe that Letderan should focus upon other dominions rather than that of New Zealand. These being the dominions of Papua Guinea, Australia, Malaysia, and the numerous other islands dotting the sea. Those who disagree say that it is essential that Letderan rule all of Zealandia, rather than most of it as it is not only more easy land. But, a way of securing Letderan as a whole.

Despite these debates, and what point they may hold the Queen has already authorized expansions to continue forward upon Zealandia.”

Televised News!
“Now! Moving onto the next topic at hand, many of you might be interested in the news now broadcasting on old radios and television. Well, the crown has finally remade the television network! So important news for the country as a whole may be heard for all of Letderan’s people, currently it is only available in Hong Kong and Zealandia. But, the government is hard at work to bring this innovation to Australia as well as providing more channels and shows for its people to view.”

Great Goat Herd!
“Now, for our final story… a mass herd of goats have been plaguing the countryside of the southern island of Zealand! Clearing grass and crops wherever they go, so far only the dominion government has said anything about it. But it currently lays as a problem for the local population to solve on their own.”

BROADCAST END
The anthem of Letderan plays, as the first ever broadcast goes off.