NationStates

Trouble in the Tropics!

Hello and welcome to UBNN's first fully international broadcast. Thank you for tuning in to the world's newest dependable media network. Our opening story takes us to breaking news out of the Central American regions as turmoil batters two key states there. Firstly, we have the latest on the diplomatic crisis with NS Puerto Rico. As of late, the recent communist seizure of the Puerto Rican government has claimed the lives of over 2,000 suspected "enemies of the people" (pro-capitalists) in firing squads while an estimated 4,000 others have been taken to government established and run gulags. The communist crackdown on capitalist ideology is said to have affected schools and the local media as well, tracking and targeting anyone who is suspected of being a capitalist sympathizer.

Shortly after word of the crisis reached the international community's ears, Repulaean President Andrew Barr, along with several other states, issued an ultimatum to the Puerto Rican communist party declaring that all political prisoners must be set free. As of now, foreign vessels are off the Puerto Rican coast awaiting the transport of these prisoners safely, should the communists choose to comply with this unofficially declared "coalition's" strict demands. Until such demands are met however, Naval Vessels of The United Dominion of the Holy Raj have established a controversial blockade about the coastline, threatening with seizure or gunfire any vessels that resist their operation. Rajput warships have, thus far, met no resistance in this "embargo effort". Also, a Repulaean task force of 30 warships is said to be within arms reach of the Puerto Rican coastline should the situation deteriorate.

On another front, the revolution in Greater Santiago is in full swing as of tonight. With the capture of Sintunja Army Base by local communist rebels, leftist uprisings have taken the country by storm. With insurrectionist violence spreading across the whole of the tiny banana republic, the Repulaean government has become increasingly worried about the humanitarian situation there. In response, President Barr has authorized the use of a combined military/civilian task force of thirteen ships to assist in humanitarian efforts for the displaced civilian population. By executive orders, however, humanitarian aid is to only be received by non-combatants.

Puerto Rico Stand Off

With Repulaean neutral zones being established in Greater Santiago, President Barr has declared the humanitarian situation there under control and secure. Now, he, along with nations around the world, turn their attention to Puerto Rico. With the Puerto Rican government continuously refusing to comply with Coalition demands, Repulaea, and other pro-capitalist nations, have joined in full favor of the Holy Raj's movements against the communists, effectively establishing a blockade force around key points in what have been designated as "fleet zones". A "no-fly zone" of sorts has been proposed by the newly Coalition-adopted Lucandan government in an effort to stop all inbound and outbound air traffic in and around the communist nation.

In a press conference at the capital, this morning, President Barr reffered to Puerto Rico as a "rogue state" with an "illegitimate government". Fleet Admiral Rex Barker, of Repulaean Task Force Lynx has reported to the President that by the end of the day, Repulaea will have a number of 45 military vessels securing puerto Rican waters. An official decision as to what to do next has yet to have been reached by the Coalition. It remains, however, that Repulaea's stance is with whatever action the Coalition decides to take against Puerto Rico. We'll have much more on this progressing story as new events unfold.

Farm Business Suffering in this Economy?

Without a a doubt, the state of the Repulaean economy within the past decade hit higher marks than ever before. In the aftermath of the 2004 energy crisis, business has once again begun to flourish. Even the oil industry has rebounded from near depression to become the continent's leading oil exporter. From automobile manufacturing to technological production and shipping, industries all across the Constitutional Monarchy are feeling the uplifting economic surge. Or so it would seem.



Johannes Kail has operated his small private ranch in the small town of Kindenwood, west of Hegrane, for the past 34 years. Now 61, Kail says they're no way he'll be able to hand down ranch operations to his sons in the immediate future. Unlike many larger business that profit from the current economic surge, farming has always been a subject of government funding.

"I miss the Liberal days of the 70s and 80s," said Kail, as his cattle jingled about in the background. "when the government grants supporting successful small businesses fairly based upon their sales or crop output or the quality of their livestock. No longer. With the Conservative capitalist movemoent going on down up there in Ancot, the agricultural business has been forgotten. We just can't compete, anymore with the massive exporting corporations, like F&R. It just ain't right.

Crop output and livestock quality seem not to be a problem for Kail's ranch. However, sales are down due to the high cost of his independently produced goods. Competition is fierce, putting corporate conglomerates on top whilst destroying smaller businesses. Kail says he survives day in and day out, having to lay off a worker or two every month. Despite the hardships of the industry, Kail still has hope that the current state of the agricultural industry will blow over and he can return to successfully operating his business.

Breaking News: Repulaean transport shot down over Kazakhstan Krai!

We've just received breaking news out of the embattled region of Kazakhstan Krai. In the midst of the conflict occurring in the large Greater Russian possession, a Repulaean military transport, carrying humanitarian goods, was lost over the city of Aktau, on Kazakhstan's western coast. As per military reports, all 22 military officers aboard were killed when the damaged aircraft struck the desert floor, after falling nearly 20,000 feet. It was later reported that the local Muslim extremist group, known as "The Fist of Mohammed", claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft which was, at the time, thought to have been a Peace for Men paratrooper transport.



In response to this dramatic turn of events, President Barr has moved for the Unified Council to take immediate action against the rebel forces threatening to destabilize the region. An emergency session of the Council has been called, though it is not clear whether they have reached an official settlement or not. We'll have more on this story as it progresses.

Repulaean Missiles hit Kazakhstan Krai!

Just yesterday, at around 3 o'clock AM, Kazakh time, Repulaean forces of the 4th Expeditionary force struck Muslim insurgent targets in and around the Caspian city of Atyrau. With relentless air and missile strikes persisting throughout the day, intelligence reports indicate a vast majority of rebel positions were damaged or destroyed by the Repulaean strikes. This morning, nearly 4,000 Repulaean ground troops landed on the beaches outside the city and began to launch an assault deep within. Fleet Admiral Spencer Stills, overall commander of what is known as Operation: Caspian Spring, has stated that casualties were light with 7 Repulaean dead and 12 wounded. As of just hours ago, the city has been reported secured. Fleet Admiral Stills has expressed his interest in establishing base of operations at Atyrau's international airport to increase troop numbers for future operations. We await more on this developing chain of events in the troubled region of Kazakhstan Krai.

Repulaean Troops Return Home

With the successful nagotiation of the Ancot Accords, Operation: Caspian Spring has been put to an official end. With the conflict in Kazakhstan Krai over, the rebels have been ceded small amounts of supporting provinces in the south of the region while thousands of Repulaean Navy personnel pile into the country to help the locals establish a border in a three month program dubbed Operation: Little Front. Official cassualty reports for Repulaea have come in from the Eastern Operations Defense Office (EODO) numbering the total KIA to 29, WIA to 12, with just one Repulaean pilot captured by Bothnian ground forces. He was returned upon the conflict's end, though he has repectfully asked to not be identified.

Meanwhile, at Naval Air Station Anstrona, the first detachment of 16,000 Caspian Spring vets returned home this morning. The 4,612 soldiers of the 4th Expeditionary Brigade landed via transport airlifters only to be recieved by crowds of thousands that well exeeded their own numbers. Cheering families and friends greeted the returning troops with a hero's welcome while emotional reunions marked a return from three weeks overseas.


Captain Keller Vinns, of India Company, 3rd Battalion, is recieved by his wife and young daughter shortly after landing

OOC: I am reviving this thread of mine at last!

Repulaean Condemnation Follows German Invasion of Poland

Yesterday's commencement of war upon the Polish State by Kaelmark and Gvordreth forces forced that hand of President Barr, who has henceforth demanded their immediate withdrawal from Poland. This ultimatum has escalated tensions to a frightening level as nearby Repulaean task forces are currently on "Strikehold", or an unofficial standby to commence combat operations. The eyes of the nation now rest upon that lonely corner of Eastern Europe. Fuhrer-Emperor William Tiggs of German Kaelmark, to whom the President's message was primarily directed, has yet to respond to the Ultimatum, only heightening the uneasy nature of the precarious situation. General Clivus Dons of the 4th Air Force high command has issued the following brief statement on GlobalDeffense.Rep:

We have yet to receive any response from the German high command, but it will not be long before we do. Our current understanding of the situation on the ground is quite general. Several corps of German Panzers, and other mechanized infantry outfits, have pushed across the Oder River and into Northern Poland in an effort to secure a staging point from which to seize the vast oil fields of the east. This is an unjust and unwarranted attack on a sovereign state which had never offended Kaelmark, or given them sufficient reason to declare war. Thusly, our military has been mobilized and is ready to intervene with force in the unfortunate event that Kaelmark, and her ally, Gvordreth, refuse our petitions for peace. I ask all peoples of the world to pray tonight, to whatever deity(ies) they worship, for peace and for a quick resolution to this conflict so that the combined force of the Repulaean military will not be necessary.

We will continue to follow up on this dramatic story as it progresses.