OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
Will Greece follow?
Will Greece follow?
Commonwealth Square
Capital City of Aragon, Buendia Province
Royal Palmyrian Commonwealth
29 June 2019 1345PST
One would be amazed at just how unfazed the LGBT community was in Palmyrion; the Commonwealth Square was the site of a bloody massacre by the BLP just 15 days prior, and even then the LGBT community just didn’t care about it - but rescheduling was too late, and all the other venues were occupied with their own pride events, all of which were to be coordinated with the one to be held on the Commonwealth Square. Security was tight; one could describe the event’s security as over-the-top, with X-Ray machines at every entrance, strict body frisking by male and female guards, and with an entire armored brigade stationed within 5km of the Square. It was perhaps the most securely-guarded Pride event in Palmyrion to date - but there was no other significant reason to fret, as the event proper was, in no time, filled with flags representing various sexual orientations, various companies showing solidarity with the LGBT+ community by their booths and stands. This was the epicenter of the national pride event that was held in the capital cities of the provinces of the Royal Commonwealth, and the total attendance nationwide was pegged to be nearly 20 million spread across various venues, with nearly a million attending the pride event in Aragon alone.
The event would be kicked off with the Lakán giving a speech about the LGBT community’s role and contribution in nation-building, and condemning the irrationality of hatred against the LGBT community. Harold Canja, however, wouldn’t let the Lakán go from this unharmed, as he positioned himself and his M310SS Cheyenne Tactical on the rooftop of a building overlooking the Commonwealth Square. He was one of the newest entries to the militant Dominionist BLP, one who recently had a dishonorable discharge from the Army after he was involved in the brutal assault and gang-rape of an intersex comrade, who died in comatose after the event. Now on the run, he took the honor of being the sniper who would end the Palmyrian Lakán’s life - for him, a payment by the Lakán as atonement for the grave sin of “promoting the disease that is sexual immorality”.
A tablet PC beside him displayed the event life as seen from a BLP insider during the event, while he looked down the sights of his TrackingPoint XS1 scope. He only had one shot, and he had to make this count - especially now that the Lakan was on the move towards the podium, presenting a great risk of missing despite his impeccable sniping skills paired with a scope that did all the calculations for him on the fly. Emotions were also into play - and God forbid he lets his emotions get in the way of his task. He muttered a prayer of war to God while tracking the Lakán through his scope, as the Lakán slowly went up the podium and started his speech.
”Ladies, gentlemen, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, the entire LGBT community. Comrades, delegates, and world, good afternoon.” the Lakán started, much to the jubilant cries of the crowd. The Lakán was a well-known ally of the LGBT community, himself being a self-identified gray asexual. ”We come today, in spite of inclement weather, to the chosen, hallowed grounds of the Commonwealth Square, where the 1984 Commonwealth Charter was ratified and signed into effect, to march and hold a fabulous event with the aim of calling for the rights of the LGBT community.” he added to his speech.
”Wait for my signal.” said Canja’s task leader through his earpiece as Canja patiently watched the Lakán do his speech. At this point his trigger finger was figuratively itching - but he needed to wait, as his other comrades were setting up to cause chaos when he fired his shot.
”...As your Monarch, Head of State, and the Steward of the Royal Palmyrian Commonwealth, I stand here, speaking to you in patriotic solidarity and camaraderie.” the Lakán continued, accompanied by yet another cheer from the crowd. ”So far the government has done significant steps in making the world less hostile to the LGBT community, and in recognizing, acknowledging, and responsibly and compassionately utilizing their role and strength in the nation-building process of the Royal Commonwealth.” the Lakán continued, as the crowd cheered and applauded once again.
”While I have a lot to say about the LGBT community as one among equals in nation building, I sadly have to keep this short and straightforward to prevent being a killjoy.” the Lakán said, much to the laughter of the crowd due to his casual manner of saying the word “killjoy”, followed by an applause. ”First off, we’ll be dealing with the labor force. Our labor force stands at nearly a million and two hundred thousand strong, nearly 60% of the Commonwealth’s population.”
The Lakán paused for a while to let the statistics, however short and simple they were, sink into the population; it would have them thinking, how much of that labor force was LGBT? How many of the working LGBT community were hidden in closets (figuratively) or have already come out? How many of them were being assaulted and discriminated against due to their sexual orientation?
”Surveys by various private entities state that the percentage of this labor force that identified as LGBT+ are 1-2 percent, with our very own Commonwealth Statistics Bureau stating 1.24% of the labor force identifying as LGBT. Nevertheless, this amounts to nearly 15 million people - an astounding amount indeed, but they are 15 million people who, despite the government’s best efforts to curb discrimination and violence against the LGBT community, have faced discrimination and violence in every aspect of their lives, if perhaps almost at the cost of their lives.”
The Lakán paused for a while to clear his throat and have a sip of water. ”Many cases have gone public during the last month, no doubt, but these perpetrators have been brought to justice to bear the full might of the legal consequences of their crimes, in spite of the nation facing a bloody June this year.”. The Lakán said, followed by a thunderous orchestra of applause and cheers from the crowd.
The Lakán awaited for the applause to subside before continuing. ”While our laborers and workers toil for an inclusively productive and prosperous Royal Commonwealth, our compatriots among the ranks of our policemen and armed forces help defend the nation.” the Lakán said. ”Our military stands at 3.2 million active and 1.6 million soldiers - it’s almost 0.24% of the population, but the military nonetheless is a formidable force. Among these soldiers are warriors who belong to the LGBT community - the last demographic survey of the military under the Armed Forces Review 2018 pegged the percentage of soldiers belonging to the LGBT community at nearly 1.25 percent.” the crowd applauded and cheered.
So as not to suspend the event further, the Lakán decided to conclude his speech. ”I have a lot to say about the LGBT community, but I don’t want to be a killjoy and bore everyone with such a speech. The world is far from perfect, far from flawless - and perhaps will remain so until the end of time. Discrimination, oppression, and bigotry will still exist no matter how much we try to fight against it - but as your monarch, I assure you that the Royal Commonwealth shall steadfastly stand guard against such despicable actions. We shall remain united in progress!” the Lakán resoundingly finished, accompanied by loud jubilant celebration from the crowd, while the Lakán began to depart from the podium.
”Fire! Fire! Fire!” Canja heard his team leader speak through the earpiece as the rest of the team awaited his shot - and, with a crisp, hate-laden pull of the trigger, Canja sent flying down the barrel a highly accurate 419-grain .408 caliber bullet. The bullet, one of near-flawless monolithic construction optimized for sub-minute of angle accuracy at extreme distances, cut through the air as it whizzled towards the Lakán’s head - and it hit the Lakán at his brain stem as he stepped down the podium. This would be followed by a group of shooters emerging from various spots surrounding the event proper, in particular the Commonwealth Square, gunning down attendees like panicking ducks in a live, visceral shooting gallery. In the square, a van burst open in an explosion, as a cloud of phosgene emerged from the van and flooded the area.
Comm Square Pride Attack Kills Thousands; Lakán Assassinated
Evelyn Sabaot | 30 June 2019 11:31AM PST
- Mass shooting and phosgene attack kills est. 1,000
- Lakán Alexander II assassinated by sniper
- Bagong Lipunan ng Palmyria believed to be behind the attack
ARAGON CITY, PALMYRION | In a vicious terrorist attack at the Commonwealth square yesterday, the Palmyrian Lakán and almost 1,000 others have been killed by mass shooters, a sniper, and a chemical gas attack.
”We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Lakán Alexander II has been assassinated alongside an estimated 1,000 others in a terror attack at the Commonwealth Square.” Vice-Chancellor for Defense Joaquin Magdalo stated in a press conference regarding the attack earlier this morning.
CCTV and amateur footage recovered from the scene show a large but dispersed group of heavily armed men carrying RPKs and wearing what seemed to be Stalinist Era gas masks opening fire at the pride march attendees, followed by a van exploding to release what had been identified as phosgene gas, an industrial chemical with a known use in chemical warfare. Declassified after-action reports from responding units of the Civil Defense Force and the Armed Forces of Palmyrion show that on-site security managed to call for back-up before being overrun, alongside almost 50-70 terrorists neutralized.
CDF troopers at a section of the Commonwealth Square. A lockdown has been declared covering all blocks within a 5-kilometer radius of the Commonwealth Square’s main entry/exit points.
”This is perhaps the worst terrorist attack witnessed by Palmyrion in recent years; while Pride Month had its spate of terror attacks, never have we seen an attack of this scale happen until now, with the resulting assassination of a head of state.” Vice Chancellor Magdalo said about the incident. ”We have locked down an area within a 5-kilometer radius of the Commonwealth Square’s main entry and exit points. Civilian peacekeeping and military forces are on high alert regarding the situation, but we still expect to stay within DEFCON 3.” he added.
It is also believed that the militant dominionist group "Bagong Lipunan ng Palmyria" is behind the terror attacks, given that much of this year's LGBT-related terror attacks have been perpetrated by BLP, but the government is still going to investigate. "We believe that BLP is behind the attacks, as they have been the confirmed perpetrators of the last three anti-LGBT attacks this June..., the Vice Chancellor Magdalo said, "...in fact, in pretty much every single Pride Month since the known foundation of BLP, they have been the single most notorious for increased terror attacks during this month, second only to the Islamists." he added.
Rescue workers tend to some of the casualties of the terror attack. Over 1,000 have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to CDF and AFP estimates.
In light of the event, it is unclear if the widowed Lakambini, Elizabeth the Commoner, will ascend to the throne as the head-of-state of the Royal Commonwealth following the assassination of her husband; the Lakambini has so far neither answered to an inquiry by the Commonwealth News Service, nor issued an official declaration regarding the situation, although sources close to the Royal Family recount how the Lakambini is in “deep mourning” regarding the death of her consort the Lakán.
More on this story as it develops.
”We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Lakán Alexander II has been assassinated alongside an estimated 1,000 others in a terror attack at the Commonwealth Square.” Vice-Chancellor for Defense Joaquin Magdalo stated in a press conference regarding the attack earlier this morning.
CCTV and amateur footage recovered from the scene show a large but dispersed group of heavily armed men carrying RPKs and wearing what seemed to be Stalinist Era gas masks opening fire at the pride march attendees, followed by a van exploding to release what had been identified as phosgene gas, an industrial chemical with a known use in chemical warfare. Declassified after-action reports from responding units of the Civil Defense Force and the Armed Forces of Palmyrion show that on-site security managed to call for back-up before being overrun, alongside almost 50-70 terrorists neutralized.
CDF troopers at a section of the Commonwealth Square. A lockdown has been declared covering all blocks within a 5-kilometer radius of the Commonwealth Square’s main entry/exit points.
”This is perhaps the worst terrorist attack witnessed by Palmyrion in recent years; while Pride Month had its spate of terror attacks, never have we seen an attack of this scale happen until now, with the resulting assassination of a head of state.” Vice Chancellor Magdalo said about the incident. ”We have locked down an area within a 5-kilometer radius of the Commonwealth Square’s main entry and exit points. Civilian peacekeeping and military forces are on high alert regarding the situation, but we still expect to stay within DEFCON 3.” he added.
It is also believed that the militant dominionist group "Bagong Lipunan ng Palmyria" is behind the terror attacks, given that much of this year's LGBT-related terror attacks have been perpetrated by BLP, but the government is still going to investigate. "We believe that BLP is behind the attacks, as they have been the confirmed perpetrators of the last three anti-LGBT attacks this June..., the Vice Chancellor Magdalo said, "...in fact, in pretty much every single Pride Month since the known foundation of BLP, they have been the single most notorious for increased terror attacks during this month, second only to the Islamists." he added.
Rescue workers tend to some of the casualties of the terror attack. Over 1,000 have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to CDF and AFP estimates.
In light of the event, it is unclear if the widowed Lakambini, Elizabeth the Commoner, will ascend to the throne as the head-of-state of the Royal Commonwealth following the assassination of her husband; the Lakambini has so far neither answered to an inquiry by the Commonwealth News Service, nor issued an official declaration regarding the situation, although sources close to the Royal Family recount how the Lakambini is in “deep mourning” regarding the death of her consort the Lakán.
More on this story as it develops.