[]

[Greislas]

[]

[Greislas]

[]

[Laufenbergen]

FEDERATION OF LAUFENBERGEN

13 February, 2018

---

As General Philip Weiß leaves Klopfhaben airport after his recent flight coming from The Republic of Bear California, he stretches his legs in relief that he is finally on his home soil. He runs his hand through his short brown hair and puts his leather bags down for a brief second. He texts his wife that he is going to be home in a few hours and proceeds to meet up with his escort. The escort is comprised of three clean cut men in sharp looking black and white uniforms. They walk proudly with the iron banner of Laufenbergen sitting proudly on their shoulders. Upon arriving to their car, a brand new black Mercedes Maybach, the driver opens the door and helps the middle-aged general into his seat.

“Welcome home, sir”

Weiß nods and gets in the car. Inside the car awaits a man who is eager to finally meet the general in person. His name is Friedrich Schloß, a stocky blond man with a pair of round pair of specs.

“Hello, General Weiß. I have been waiting to finally meet you. It is truly a pleasure. It has been too long for us to not have met”

“I agree, Friedrich. After all of those phone calls, it is nice to be able and have a conversation with you that isn't encrypted.”

Friedrich laughed. “What sort of business are you looking to talk about today with the president? Anything good?”

Weiß looked shocked. “How did you know I was meeting with the president today? That should have been classified.”

Smiling, Friedrich said “Lucky guess, is all.”

With a half smile, Weiß looked outside his window and gazed up at the Laufenbergen Cathedral, an ancient building created many generations before both men. “You know,” said Weiß, “that building truly is beautiful. It is a wonder how it survived the war.”

“I can only agree with you, General Weiß”

The car slowly rolled up to the entrance of the most powerful building in all of Laufenbergen. The Hub, as many called it, stood three stories high, all stone and brick. Six engraved pillars stood tall and lined front wall. The path to the entrance was lined with red carpet and gold trim. If it was real gold though, nobody knew. Along the way, there were at least ten fully armed guards , all ready to spring at the moment’s notice.

As the general walked inside, the soldiers saluted him briefly, then went back to their default position. Once inside, he was greeted by the waft of air conditioning and the smell of paperwork. He gazed at the now familiar marble and sandstone interior while he made his way to the security guard.

“Hello General Weiß.” said the guard. “Might I request that you show me your identification?”

The General promptly presented his badge and card to the officer.

“Thank you General. Your meeting will be taking place in Room B of the East wing.”

The General nodded and continued on his way. Friedreich received the same treatment and then caught up with the general.

“This is bigger than I thought it would be. Everything is so clean.”

“You get used to it. Trust me.” said the general.

They then met up with their escort and proceeded to the designated room.

Upon arriving, the general was once again asked to confirm his identity. The officer then turned to Freidrich and said,” You will have to stay out here for the meeting. You don’t have the clearance to-”

The general stopped him and said “He is with me, and I expect it to stay that way.”

The guard then checked friedreich's identity and reluctantly waved him into the room.

While walking in, the general said “Now, Friedreich, you are not to speak unless spoken to, and you do not touch anything. Understood?”

Friedreich nodded and said “Understood, general.”

The general notices that Friedreich is sweating heavily and is beginning to twist his hands as he begins to walk with the general towards where the President of Laufenbergen sits with the other generals. Upon arriving, the president smiles and gets up.

“Hello General Weiß. How was your trip?”

“The trip was almost a vacation. The Prime Minister of Bear California only met with me twice over the whole trip. It was almost a waste of two weeks”

“Well, as long as you talked, that is fine. Come sit, both of you.” The president then looked over at Friedreich. “Actually, I don’t believe we have met. Who might you be?”

“I am Friedreich Schloß, Mr.President. It is truly an honor to meet you.”

“It is a pleasure, Friedreich. To move quickly on, let us all sit and begin since General Weiß is now here.”

“I would like to speak first.” said Weiß.

“Go ahead.”, said the president.

“On the subject at hand, I suggest we begin rapid development of new recruitment centers for our military across Laufenbergen. We can buy out old shops and convert them. You know, send recruiters to schools, conferences, the works. We could capture the young mind of a laufenbergenian and help them choose the right path. Maybe eve-”

The general across the table pitches in “This sounds like a horrible idea. What we need is to re-outfit our current force and make them stronger!” He hits his hand on the table. “Brainwashing out young people will only make our nation weaker. We need the strengthen the existing instead.”

The president looked at the third general at the table and asks: “General Kobbel, do you have any ideas?”

The General looked at both of the other generals and simply said: “Why not both?” He chuckled. “We could not only increase recruitment, but also provide those new soldier with new weapons.” This could in turn make them better soldiers because they are learning on new equipment.”

The president smiles and looks around the table. “Any better ideas? No? Then it’s settled.” The president looks over at his personal writer a young nordic woman with a pretty face, and gives her the signal to begin writing up a rough draft.

“I feel this meeting was a success, don’t you?” said Friedreich.

Both Weiß and Kobbel look at Friedreich with looks of displeasure, but the president looks over and smiles: “I completely agree, my boy.”

In his head, Friedreich gives a large sigh of relief.

The president then shakes the hands of all men and shows them the way out of the room.

[Bear California]

---

President Redmond Orders State of Emergency Lifted

---

Sacramento, FD

President Nathan Redmond has ordered the lifting of a national state of emergency placed on the regions of South Baja and North Baja today during a press conference with reporters in the Capitol Building.

The state of emergency was originally put in place in November in order to aid law enforcement in putting down drug smuggling and human trafficking in the poorest part of the country.

The move, known informally as Operation Full Stop, has garnered a serious amount of criticism and a wide range of support. California Defense Forces will begin withdrawing to standard operating bases by next Monday.

Redmond had this to say on the withdrawal:

When we set out to perform Operation Full Stop, we believed we were acting in a method that would not only keep our proud traditions of liberty intact, as well as enhance law enforcement in the Baja to stop the epidemic- and I do stress that it is an epidemic- of drug use. I now realize that [Full Stop] was not the way of going about this strategy. When we tried to make an enhanced and safe community policing situation,
we made a quasi-police state with serious violations of the civil liberties we all cherish as Californians, one and all.

I am nothing short of deeply ashamed of the lives we have disrupted and ruined without cause in Operation Full Stop. My heart goes out to all that I have ultimately affected. Please, forgive me. I will do everything within my power to right the wrongs and work with the local police forces of North and South Baja to create a community environment that fosters cooperation and brings a full stop to the epidemic in the Baja.

A Gazette poll done last week finds the nation evenly split on the issue of Full Stop, with 45% in favor, and 35% against with 10% neutral when asked.

Interestingly, a majority of support for the action came from rural areas and Las Vegas, parts of the country that usually have been opposed to Redmond's policies.

The Governor of North Baja has declined to comment on the issue, although it is known that she was extremely in favor of Full Stop continuing.

This sentiment is shared by the local government of South Baja, where the Governor has protested using several letters of concern written by Baja citizens asking him to make sure Full Stop continues.

The office of the President has not responded to further inquires for comment by the Gazette or any other news media outlets, or to the concerns of the Governor of South Baja.

[Laufenbergen]

FEDERATION OF LAUFENBERGEN

14 FEBRUARY, 2018

---

It is 6:30 am on the 14th of February, 2018 and officer Jurgen Greisinger is just beginning his patrol. He plops down into his dusty old cruiser, starts the engine after a few cranks, and begins to drive. After driving for a few minutes, he gets a call in from dispatch, a middle aged woman who has been smoking for half her life. She says:

“We’ve got a case of domestic violence on 6th and Oliver St. Anyone near this area?”

“This is car 38, enroute to destination”

“Copy car 38”

Jurgen begins to make his way to the destination which lays 4 miles away. The streets are lined with flags representing the currently very popular Laufenbergen fair which takes part in this are of town. He sees his turn and moves across the four-wide avenue on to a small one lane residential area. Upon arriving he sees the dusty house sitting at the end of the street, littered by people in dirty clothes standing outside like flamingos in a pond. He comes to the part of the sidewalk where their entrance starts and he stops the car to gets out. While getting out, the old car creaks and squeaks from the old leather and metal. He then walks over to the people and asks:

“Somebody called about some domestic violence. Can someone tell me what is going on?”

A woman in her thirties with black hair and a dirty green shirt turns to the officer and says:

“My husband slapped me after I wouldn’t do that thing he likes anymore and then drove off! I never wanted any of this!”

As the woman begins to cry, Jurgen provides her with his handkerchief and asks the man next to her what he knows. The man says:

“I just saw the guy drive off. I was next door with my girlfriend and heard the car squeal out of the area. He drives an old red audi with an ‘I love my wife’ sticker on the back. Kind of ironic, no?”

Jurgen chuckles. “Thank you for the assistance, sir. “After seeing the red hand print on the womans face, he asks: “Ma’am, do you need any medical assistance?”

“No, he only slapped me. If I see him again, he’ll be the one needing medical assistance!”

“Let's be calm here, ma’am. Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“There isn't anything else,” She said still shaking, “I only know he could be going to his brothers house by the Klopfhaben Airport.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” He turns away and gets on the radio. “Dispatch, this is car 38, 10-51 at location.”

With a crack, dispatch returned: “Understood Car 38. Please stay until arrival”

“Understood dispatch”

Jurgen comforted the woman while waiting for the ambulance to arrive with water and kind words. Upon arrival, Jurgen re-entered his car and made his way back onto the road, leaving the woman in the hands of EMS. After a half-an-hour drive around town, jurgen decided to get onto the highway. After about 45 minutes of smooth sailing, a black blur flys past at lighting speeds. Jurgen whipped on his lights and sirens, flooring the crusty pedal to try and catch up with whatever just passed him. He contacts dispatch: “Dispatch, car 38. We have a 10-80, requesting assistance. I am just passing exit 87 going to exit 88 on interstate 10. Vehicle is black and going very fast.”

Dispatch responded after a few seconds: “Understood. Sending two cars your way.”

After bolting down the interstate for a few minutes, the officer has caught up with the car, slowed down by traffic. The officer calls in “I have visual of the vehicle. It is a black mustang, number plate reading ‘F4GG7’. We are slowed down by traffic. Attempting to pull over.”

“You are clear to proceed, 38” responds dispatch.

The officer flashes the mustang and instructs over the loudspeaker to pull over to the side of the road. The car complies and both vehicles come to a stop on the side, being vibrated by the rumblestrip and then fully stop. Two other police cars come blaring down the interstate and roll up behind jurgen incase anything goes south. The officer call on the radio: “I have the car. Car 38.”

Dispatch confirms and Jurgen walks up to the black car and asks: “Well looks like I finally caught up to you.”

A very californian looking man looks up at the officer with brown eyes and hair, and he says in a very californian accent:

“Its okay, I am 1/8th laufenberganian, so you can speak with me in laufenbergenian with me.”

“Ehh, I don’t think you understand that the primary language here is english, do you?”

A pale, ginger man then blurts out: “Ye fookin’ idiot! This is Laufenbergen! The speak fookin’ english here!”

The californian soon went red in the face and then asked “So, officer, why am I being stopped today?”

With a smirk on his face, Jurgen tilts his hat forward and says “Well, you were absolutely thrashing it down the interstate, and that just happens to be illegal around here. Now, here are your options: You can ei-”

He is interrupted by the californian who says: “It’s alright, I am a law student and I know all the laws. I will choose to pay the fine here”

With a face of content, Jurgen looks down the the mid twenties looking californien and said: “You do that again, and the only choice you’ll have is sleeping on concrete. Since you know everything, you know that I’ll need your identification and insurance.”

After digging around too close to the scot’s gentleman parts, Jurgen hears:”Thats me fookin dick, ye dick!” which came from the passenger side of the car. The californian gets his paperwork and hands it to the Jurgen. “I am not from here, but my passport should work, right?”

“I thought you are studying law. Either way, yes this will work. I will also get you your paperwork for the fine.”

He walks back to his car and plops down, almost hitting his head on the roof as he slides in. He fiddles with his clipboard, trying to retrieve the paperwork to issue a fine. Upon opening the clipboard, which has clearly saw high milage, most of its contents go flying all around the car. Pens litter the highway, back seat, and a pack of sticky notes sits proudly on the brim of jurgens hat.

“Fucking shit!” yelled Jurgen in a fit of anger.

After fishing out the paperwork and a pen, Jurgen then spends 25 anger-filled minutes filling out all of the required information. He slowly climbs out of the car, and makes his way to the californian. He gives them the paperwork and says: “For driving 60 miles per hour over the speed limit, I am issuing you a 150 mark fine. This will need to be paid within a week or it is doubled and you will be required to appear befo-” Jurgen is interrupted again.

“I know all of that. No need to bore me. Here, my signature.”

Upon receiving the signature, jurgen reluctantly says:”Thank you and have a nice day” and walks back to his car. The two drive off slowly, not to draw attention. Jurgen laughs sarcastically and says:

“Never know who you’ll meet.”

[Greislas]

[]

[Venductaria]

Yesterday at 19:00PM GMT

The King of Venductaria asked the Chief of Defence Staff how goes his Military, Chief of Defence Staff Nick Houghton replied "We are doing great, but we need more mechanics, more Barracks and more respectful and proud Officers"
So eventually after a little talk, the King replied "Do as you wish as"

Now the Chief of Defence Staff, has put out a posters and speeches around England for more men and officers and has used some money to make a few Barracks like St, Georges Barracks and is making sure Venductaria is secure in the highest.

[Venductaria]

February 14th 2018 15:51

The King of Venductaria, read the Scottish news and when he read about the two smugglers from Venductaria doing horrible stuff that made Scotland arrest them, and the part where a Venductarian Minister insulting the Scottish, the king decided to interrogate all the ministers of Venductaria and the ministers that agree on insulting Scotland were removed from power and the king never wanted to see their faces again,

The King quoted "I can not believe my own ministers would do such a thing, it is horrific, they should of known better because Scotland did the right thing"
But his majesty also quoted "Also, my reply to Scotland about the meeting is, we shall arrange a time and date when we both have the time do do so"
His Majesty hopes and wishes incidences like this will never happen again

His most Imperial Majesty, King Bay I

[Bear California]

CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

---

The California Republic has ended a series of negotiations with THE REPUBLIC OF AMERICA, between our Secretary of Foreign Affairs Matthew GREEN et al., and their AMERICAN counterparts.

These negotiations have resulted in the formation of a supranational alliance known hereafter as THE UNION OF FREEDOM, whose membership details are as follows:

1. During Times of War, to reinforce each other and declare war on their common enemy

2. During Times of Peace, to mutually aid each other and accept refugees with open borders between the two nations.

An exchange of membership in the Union for an as-yet undisclosed number ofCALIFORNIA Bradley infantry fighting vehicles as a friendship marker.

The need for a visa to travel from AMERICA to CALIFORNIA has been dissolved and other steps to facilitate for open borders will begin soon.

Entrance into THE UNION OF FREEDOM shall begin immediately.

---

END OF COMMUNIQUE

---