World Cup 68 RP Thread

by **Republic of Vietnam** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:43 am

"Welcome back to THVN Sport News with Thanh Truong, Leyna Nguyen, and Nam Le . I think you are all anxious to find out the results. But first, we got some news for you." said Thanh.

"That is right. RVNSPN is doing a merge with THVN. So, now you will be hearing sport news on Chanel 9 along with the old programs." said Leyna.

"So, let us fill you in while we were gone. Match Day three game was Republic of Vietnam against the Alexanderburn team. The final score was 1-0.
Here is the rest of the scores of Match Day 3 for Group 22." said Nam.

Group 22
Jeruselem 3–0 Razul
Ossidiacqua 2–2 Starblaydia
Alexanderburn 0–1 Republic of Vietnam
Hutanjia 3–2 Kemballia

Group 22 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Starblaydia 3 2 1 0 9 5 +4 7
2 Jeruselem 3 2 0 1 9 4 +5 6
3 Hutanjia 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
4 Republic of Vietnam 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6
5 Ossidiacqua 3 1 1 1 10 8 +2 4
6 Alexanderburn 3 1 0 2 1 2 −1 3
7 Razul 3 1 0 2 2 7 −5 3
8 Kemballia 3 0 0 3 5 11 −6 0

"Match Day 4 was an interesting one. It was the RVN against Hutanjia. This time around, the team focused on attacking not defending. Final score was 5–2.
In Group 22, these are the results of Match Day 4." said Thanh.

Group 22
Razul 6–0 Kemballia
Republic of Vietnam 5–2 Hutanjia
Starblaydia 2–1 Alexanderburn
Jeruselem 2–1 Ossidiacqua

Group 22 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Starblaydia 4 3 1 0 11 6 +5 10
2 Jeruselem 4 3 0 1 11 5 +6 9
3 Republic of Vietnam 4 3 0 1 10 7 +3 9
4 Razul 4 2 0 2 8 7 +1 6
5 Hutanjia 4 2 0 2 6 8 −2 6
6 Ossidiacqua 4 1 1 2 11 10 +1 4
7 Alexanderburn 4 1 0 3 2 4 −2 3
8 Kemballia 4 0 0 4 5 17 −12 0

"On Match Day 5, our team focused on defense more then attacking. The match was against Kemballia. The final score was 2-0. Here are the results of the other teams in Group 22." said Leyna.

Group 22
Ossidiacqua 2–0 Razul
Alexanderburn 0–1 Jeruselem
Hutanjia 1–1 Starblaydia
Kemballia 0–2 Republic of Vietnam

Group 22 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Jeruselem 5 4 0 1 12 5 +7 12
2 Republic of Vietnam 5 4 0 1 12 7 +5 12
3 Starblaydia 5 3 2 0 12 7 +5 11
4 Ossidiacqua 5 2 1 2 13 10 +3 7
5 Hutanjia 5 2 1 2 7 9 −2 7
6 Razul 5 2 0 3 8 9 −1 6
7 Alexanderburn 5 1 0 4 2 5 −3 3
8 Kemballia 5 0 0 5 5 19 −14 0

"Now here we get to the sad part. This game was the Republic of Vietnam against Razul. It was a close game, but we lost. The final score was 2-3. Now the games after here are games when we start going down hill. But we will get into that later. In Group 22, below are the following scores." said Nam.

Group 22
Razul 3–2 Republic of Vietnam
Starblaydia 3–0 Kemballia
Jeruselem 6–3 Hutanjia
Ossidiacqua 2–1 Alexanderburn

Group 22 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Jeruselem 6 5 0 1 18 8 +10 15
2 Starblaydia 6 4 2 0 15 7 +8 14
3 Republic of Vietnam 6 4 0 2 14 10 +4 12
4 Ossidiacqua 6 3 1 2 15 11 +4 10
5 Razul 6 3 0 3 11 11 0 9
6 Hutanjia 6 2 1 3 10 15 −5 7
7 Alexanderburn 6 1 0 5 3 7 −4 3
8 Kemballia 6 0 0 6 5 22 −17 0

OOC: I will add more to this later.

by **Nexxus Drako** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:47 am

MD9: Nexxus Drako 2–1 Stadavrik
13' Kevin Arland
78' Daniel Mackintosh

CM: "Hello and welcome to ND SportsCast, I'm your host, Clyde Mackintyre, here with me is our analyst Wayne Becks, and our special guest for the night Lio Golt, striker and Vice Captain of the national football team."
WB: "Pleasure to be here Clyde."
LG: "What Wayne said."
CM: "The pleasure is mine. Anyway, we're second in the group after a win ver Stadavrik, how do you see our playoff chances, Wayne?"
WB: "Well, first off, lets get the table up for those at home, shall we?"

R Group 7                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Barunia                            9    8   1   0    31   12  +19    25
2 Nexxus Drako                       9    6   1   2    25   15  +10    19
3 Darmen                             9    5   3   1    30   19  +11    18
4 Gyatso-kai                         9    5   0   4    26   17   +9    15
5 Crystal Empire                     9    4   1   4     9    7   +2    13
6 The Cabindan Free State            9    4   0   5    17   21   −4    12
7 Stadavrik                          9    1   0   8     9   31  −22     3
8 Braylandia                         9    0   0   9    13   38  −25     0

WB: "I daresay we have a good chance of at least third. Barunia are almost a shoe-in for the top place, so it really is a fight for second and third, although finishing second will give us an advantage in the first playoff round."
CM: "Sure, sure, what do you say of our qualification chances?"
WB: "With this terrible playoff system, slim. even if we qualify first, we still need to win a playoff, whether it be the first or the second. But at least if we finish third, we have a chance, albeit slim due to having to win two on the trot."
CM: "Interesting, Lio, how's morale on the team ahead of the match with The Cabindan Free State?"
LG: "It's high, but Ryn had made it clear that even though we're on a good run of form, we're not a shoe-in, so to speak. He's warned us not to be complacent and to keep our eyes on the prize, and that is a playoff spot."
CM: "What are Ryn's expectations for what is our second World Cup?"
LG: "A playoff spot, at least. Anything more is a bonus. Although, he has iterated that we should aim for an invite to the Cup of Harmony."
CM: "Ahh yes, the Cup of Harmony, which surprisingly has had no bids up until now, although I've heard rumblings of Vilita considering it. Anyway, that's about all we have time for on the World Cup, so let's talk about other stuff...."

Matthew Parker sat in the NDSA office, awaiting the intelligence that one of the head spies had told him to collect. Finally, the spy came.

AA: "Hello, Matthew, I'm Agent A-Class #4, I believe you came seeking the intel that A-Class #6 told you about?"
MP: "Yes, that would be correct, I know you couldn't say anything over the phone, but can you say anything now?"
AA: "Certainly. It seems that the Empire of Yveltal is preparing to cede to the Northern Sunrise Islands, quoting broken economy, dwindling population and the death of Lord Yveltal.
MP: "Wait, Lord Yveltal's dead?"
AA: "Se we believe."
MP: "Okay then, is that all?"
AA: "Yes Mister President."
MP: "Good, I'll be off now."

by **Yveltal** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:59 am

Lord Yveltal lay motionless on the floor of his lair, as cold, hard and dead as he had been for the past week. No-one had seemed to have noticed, as his assistants had been told to keep out. Main reason for that was Lord Yveltal had decided to kill himself. The Drakonians knew this, as they had secret cameras installed.

An assistant walked past and noticed an unlawfully bad stench eminating from the Lord's lair. She tried to open the door, but it was locked. She eventually busted it down, and started screaming when she noticed the Lord's dead body. All the assistants ran in, and they started screming too.

Eventually, they all got tired and started to plan a funeral, cede to the Northern Sunrise Islands and in general, PANIC!

by **Gregoryisgodistan** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:29 am

Gregoryisgodistan 4–0 Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenlander

OOC: The repeated misspellings of Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenlander in this article are IC mistakes made by the author of this article, who might well be executed in a future RP.

Foot Slaves finally break through, defeat Arbitrator Alexander

by Journalist QUANZ182PAPA

It had been a tough qualification season for the Gregoryisgodistan national soccer team. They had no wins since the opener, when they came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat The Greater Vakolicci Haven, and only one goal to their credit since then. It was going to take a miracle to qualify, even with the top 3 in the group having a chance. But they finally came through and played a good game last night before a sold out home crowd against Alameda Alpaca. Unfortunately, he visitors from Elmira Alexandria failed to submit a roster, so The Lord's Word has elected to use fake and highly insulting names in this article.

In any case, the action started in the 5th minute, when Alpaca Alpaca's forward Useless Bum passed it into the box and found Ugly Nose, who fired it on goal. Thankfully, Prune Farmer 3818F made a diving save, denying Arbishemanchee Algernon its first goal of the match, as the crowd erupted in cheers for the young keeper.

In the 19th minute, Guy Who Cleans Up Behind The Elephant at the Circus P0120AZNNAU found Pervert Chaser 867530PNC, but the goalkeeper Stupid Fool ran up and was about to pounce on it. Since Pervert Chaser 867530PNC had no clear shot at goal, he tapped it back to Soccer Captain Laredo Potato right behind him then got out of the way of the charging goalkeeper, narrowly missing being run over. Unfortunately, Soccer Captain Laredo Potato failed to avoid the same fate, and the Albeshian goalkeeper plowed right into him. The official immediately gave Fool a red card and awarded the Foot Slaves a penalty kick. In came the backup goalie, Ugly Fool, who is not related to stupid Fool. Meanwhile, a defender came out because Alphonso Alisheva needed to play with 10 men due to the red card.

Soccer Captain Laredo Potato lined up to take the penalty kick and aimed right post. Fool guessed wrong and it was an easy goal for the hosts. 1-0 Foot Slaves in the 21st minute, as the crowd cheered wildly. Their team had actually scored and taken the lead, and might actually win the game. In fact, it was their first lead since the opener. All other games had been 0-0 draws or losses, except for the game at New North Aqmuland where the hosts scored the first goal before the Foot Slaves answered to tie it via a goal from Soccer Jester CLOWNPIREPIE. So in the course of 741 minutes, the Foot Slaves had never led until now. In fact, it was only their second goal during that time, the first coming in the 83rd minute of the NNA game. Before that, the previous goal was in the 76th minute of the opener against the Greater Vakolicci Haven. There had been 548 minutes in between those two goals, which is close to a record for futility.

But now the Foot Slaves were finally ahead, and the team was celebrating. But there was still a lot of game left. In the 31st minute, Stinky Ugly made a run into the box, but Police Agent Jorge Warlord cleared it away and the Foot Slaves looked to counter. The ball came down to Prune Farmer 913881, who passed it up to Guy Who Cleans Up Behind The Elephant at the Circus P0120AZNNAU. He found Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Robert Possibe all alone, as defender Dumbo McFoolerwitz had fallen down while trying to keep pace with the longball. Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Robert Possibe then took the ball and ran into the box with only the keeper to beat. He fired top left and found the back of the net! The Foot Slaves had scored again. Meanwhile, Alshapiro Alpanera coach Dummy Head was not very happy about it and said that Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Robert Possibe should have been called offsides. However, replays showed he was clearly onsides when the pass was made, and only got so open because McFoolerwitz fell down after the pass was made and the two of them were chasing after it. There might have been a little push by Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Robert Possibe, the replays were unclear, but he was definitely onside.

The Foot Slaves would take a 2-0 lead over Al Jazeeralamedia into halftime, and began feeling confident that they could pull this off and finally get a win. Retired Soldier Commander Lieutenant Warlord McBurgerKing praised his team in the locker room, saying they had this in them all along, and it was good that it was finally showing. The Foot Slaves kept their fire in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Soccer Captain Laredo Potato had a free kick from a dangerous position just outside the box, and shot it on goal. Fool dove and knocked it away, but Guy Who Cleans Up Behind The Elephant at the Circus P0120AZNNAU kicked the rebound into the back of the net for his second goal of the tournament and his career. He made his debut this cycle, and has already turned into a star. This put the Foot Slaves up 3-0 against Arbitrary Abdussamatov, and it seemed almost completely over.

In the 79th minute, Guy Who Cleans Up Behind The Elephant at the Circus P0120AZNNAU crossed it into the box, and it bounced once before Soccer Captain Laredo Potato fired a rocket past Fool into the net to put the Foot Slaves up 4-0. In fact, they had two more goals than Abibullo Alpacastan had shots. The visitors had two shots total, one of which hit the target but was saved. They wouldn't get any for the rest of the match either, as the Foot Slaves won in a rout. Finally, the Foot Slaves had won that second game. They now had 11 points in 9 games, good for fifth in the group. Next up is an away match against Turori, who lead the group and has not lost yet. However, the Foot Slaves are one of only two teams to manage to get a draw against them, playing to a 0-0 result at home. Realistically, however, Gregoryisgodistan needs to win this match if they want to advance to the World Cup Tournament in Free Republics and Legalese. Even if they win out, they would need some help from the rest of their group.

by **Bears Armed** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:38 am

“And just hwhat are you looking so grrumpy about? The Belles won, here tonight, didn’t they?”

“Ayyuh. It’s just that…
“Wining only by two goals to none? It looked to me as if their opponents weren’t hrreally trying, and our girls could have pushed the score a LOT higher if they’d seriously been bothered, hwhich would of course have helped urrs if it rrreaches a point hwhere ‘goal difference’ becomes important as a decider. Did Ug-Ug actually tell them to go easy on those Arabs, or something?!?”

“Well, ayyuh, the Belles pretty certainly could have scored more goals, for true, but what I heard was that they were told to take it a bit easier once they were clearly ahead so that they’d be in better condition for the remaining matches because those are all against tougher opponents… and that policy makes enough sense to me, anyhows.
“Doesn’t it seem like a good idea, to you, too?”

“Ur’rmm. Well, maybeso…”

“Hwhat was hrreally interesting about that game’s background, to me, was the rreason hwhy our girls’ opponents weren’t trying anymore.”

“Oh?”

“Ayyuh. It seems that the wrath of Mod had”

“Ahem!”

“Hwhat now?”

“You’re breaking the fourth wall…”

“Oops! Hokay…
“It seems that the wrath of God — I don’t know hwhich ‘God’ in particular, take your pick, as long as the one hwhom you think it was can be “wrathful” enough — descended on their homeland a few weeks ago, and the entire country just abruptly ceased to exist!”

”Urrgah!”

“Ayyuh. Scary thought that, isn’t it, for true?”

“For true, it is!”

“Anyhows, here’s the list of the Belles’ remaining ‘qualifier’ matches, with the venues for the ‘home’ games amongst them, that you were asking for earlier on…”

Vilita _ away (1st leg = loss 4-7)
Saintland _ NorthPort (1st leg = loss 3-1)
Kernansquillec _ away (1st leg = loss 0-1)
Vettrera _ away (1st leg = loss 0-1)
Sammelreich _ Wimbley (1st leg = win 2-7)

”Hr’rmm.
“And hwhat sort of rresults would you be forecasting for each of these matches?”

“Ur’rmm…
“Let’s smell it…
“Draw or narrow loss, reasonable win, narrow win, draw, easy win?”

“Care to put any money on that?”

“Let’s wager match-by-match hrrather than all at once, hokay?”

“Well, hokay. Eight thalers at evens on the first game?”

“That’s a deal.”

by **Buyan** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:29 am

The atmosphere in the dressing room was near zero. Silently, the eleven starters laced their shoes and pulled their socks up one more time. The warm-up had been a disaster. Usually, the early birds amongst the fans would cheer them on and youngsters would line up for autographs or a high five. Today, a silence had laid its cloth over the arena and there even hardly was enthusiasm when Sverre Devold demonstrated a remarkable back heel. All in all, it had almost appeared as if the Lzherusskians were the home side, so dead the stadium appeared.

Sirius Hope felt the tension, but knew there was no way back anymore. He had crossed the proverbial Rubicon and had to go with it now.

“Gentlemen,” he spoke, with a remarkable seriousness in his voice, “let me make this clear. If one of yours has an issue with Manuel Schmidt being our man with the number one on his back, speak now or remain silent forever.”

Maybe, he should just leave. Wrap it up and stop destroying the chances and support of their homeland of the men around him, lads he had learned to appreciate so much over the past few years. Had it been worth it? When he took the field against Nyucia, there had been hesitating applause on the stands. His performance hadn’t been astonishing, almost solid if it weren’t for that dodgy ball at the first post...

But during these years, he never had felt such a stranger. An outcast almost, a ...

“Gentlemen,” Sirius suddenly spoke, with a remarkable seriousness in his voice, “let me make this clear. If one of yours has an issue with Manuel Schmidt being our man with the number one on his back, speak now or remain silent forever.”

Manuel felt as if he could sink below the floor. He almost bow his head, not to be seen anymore when in the corner of his eye, he saw how Bronius Bartkus rose. Bronius, of all people? The captain of his very own side, his most reliable man who stood in front of him, the defender that had allowed him to rise above himself...

“Sirius, I am offended,” the tall Viztourzys man spoke, “I am offended that...”
“I’m sorry,” Manuel interrupted him, “I shouldn’t have... Ich...”

His stuttering ended in something that would be a sob if we weren’t talking about a man well above 1m90.

“Manuel,” Bronius responded, “shut up.”
“Sorry...” the former German American spoke.
“I am offended, Sirius, that you could somehow think that one of us wouldn’t support our goalie. We’re behind him like one man.”

A handful of nods supported his statement and the more vocal ones from the team yelled ‘yeah’.

“Well,” Bronius grinned, “it’s also the other way around. You’re one man behind us, of course.”

The cheering in the dressing room swelled into a roar as if they had already won the game.

Actually, it was already in the pocket. Havelund had headed the opening goal already against the nets during the opening minutes and Devold had doubled it up before half-time. With three more minutes to go, Buyan played the ball around in defence. Krupa to Tufte, pass to Refshauge, back to Krupa on the other wing. The visibly annoyed Lzherusskians decided to play all or nothing and a poor pass from an otherwise impeccable Bartkus came a bit too short. An opposing attacker ran off with the ball and could only be stopped by a fault. With Bartkus to the dressing room and the ball on the plastered spot, eighty rather unentertaining were washed away at once.

While a Lzherusskian ran up, Schmidt realised once again why he had become goalie. The stadium was silent... They of course didn’t support the foreign captain, but hesitated to cheer. Schmidt faced a loneliness, incomprehensible for those who never had dealt with it. It was that sharp edge to being underneath the crossbar that made it so attractive. With a marvellous reflex, he tilted the ball out of the top corner.

Even those amongst the audience who had, before the kick-off, protested his presence with a banner couldn’t sit still anymore, all rose from their seats and yelled for the man in white. Schmidt himself had ample time to celebrate, trying to organise his one man short defence. On top of it all, the Lzherusskian goalie joined his teammates in the box. Little use. Schmidt grabbed hold of the crosspass with a sole hand, pointed to Eero Halmiini –the only Buyanese not joining the fortification around the Buyanese goal due to his limited height – to rush forward and launched the ball into space, over the heads of the opposing defenders. Eero never had scored an easier goal, but the standing ovation when the three-nil appeared on the board wasn’t for the new Ararat Severyan star, but for the goalie, who humbly waved to the fans. His new home fans.

XI for Texacano - Buyan

Manuel Schmidt
Gabriel Refshauge – Sigurd Tufte – Alowysz Krupa
Quinten Zermin – Harald Naess
Marco Castell – Sverre Devold – Frederik Wallenberg – Sil Moen
Elmo Havelund

The rather moderate opponent for the upcoming match allows Hope to bring in a few new names. The red card from Bartkus, with Zemaitis still suspended, leads to an unseen defence. The midfield has both Devold and Wallenberg in the heart, Castell and Moen cover the wings. We can expect Knutsen and Hopp to receive some minutes as well. Havelund once again leads the attack.

by **McKleigh** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:33 am

Patistan and McKleigh were finally able to make arrangement s to exchange players for training. Deciding the details was disrupted as Patistan has been on the brink of a civil war. Both teams will be sending players to train with the other nation, the exchange will take place tonight in Zwannswijik. McKleigh will be sending the following players to Patistan to better their offensive skills; #20 Willard Bruce age 20 striker(son of the team manager and World Cup 55 star William Bruce), #21 Daron McSands age 19 forward, #23 John McGeorge age 19 forward, and #27 Belkbacbac Luagaslouitu age 17 striker. Coming to Mckleigh to hone in their defensive skills will be #21 Rashid Hussam #41 Ramish siddiqi #36 Shezik ali Sabtain #87 Shabaz Taimour.

McKleigh rebounded from their demoralizing loss against Equestrian States(we have opted not to repeat the embarrasing score) and soundly defeated Patistan 3-1 with the help of scorers O'Ryan at the 15 minute mark to go up 1-0, MacGrough at the 58 minute mark to regain the lead 2-1, and McKleigh at the 62 minute mark to seal the deal at 3-1. McKleigh remains in third in group 23 by one point. Tonight we fave Zwangzug who is undefeated, leads group 23, has only allowed 3 goals in total during qualifying, and beat a team 3-0 last night that beat us 5-2 the night before and walked away with a 2-0 victory in our first matchup. What we have going for us is we are at home! Still, an upset win is unlikely, but in no way impossible.

The team also issued the following team photo today and added it to their posted roster. It only depict the 12 players who have started matches thus far and the three man management team whos friendship between themselves and some of the older players from World Cup 55 has proven to create a team chemistry that is accredited for much of the teams success thus far.

by **Kinitaria** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:53 am

Sura Malenča was, for all the world, a normal, everyday schoolgirl. Born and raised in Mi'ato, the capital of Kinitaria, the 17-year-old was achieving respectable but not brilliant grades by coasting through her classes at high school. Her teachers would often say that, if she really put her mind to her work, she could achieve fantastic things. She didn't pay their words a lot of attention. She was often caught out daydreaming, and although her grades looked good, she was commonly thought of as a gifted pupil who didn't apply herself enough.

In truth, she wasn't that engaged with her studies. Although she seemed to get grades disproportionate to the amount of effort she put in, she was often reluctant to discuss schoolwork outside of her classes. She was a lot more interested in her sporting ventures - she played volleyball for the local youth branch of the Dinamo sports society, and was also an accomplished swimmer. Her dreams and ambitions were neither academic nor vocational in nature, and she was more likely to fantasise about one day representing her country at the Olympic Games.

At a fairly recent point in her life, she began to sit up and take notice of the issues affecting her country. She had been born into a horribly turbulent era. In her time at school, the curriculum had been ripped up twice already under the guidance of different governments seeking to control the information that was given to the country's young people. She might be told at one point, for instance, to disregard everything she'd previously learned about national history, because it was false information planted by bourgeois conspirators. Although she was lacking in experience, and didn't exactly know what a bourgeois conspirator was, something about life in Kinitaria just didn't sit right with her.

That's how she came to be part of a throng of demonstrators marching down towards Heroes' Square in the centre of the capital. She was not aware of the complex political and historical causes behind the demonstration, nor was she an expert in dialectical materialism or political theory. She just knew that there were a group of students joining the march in an attempt to make their society better. That's why she was there. She'd slipped away after classes had ended and caught the subway to the heart of the city.

She had never been to a demonstration before. She didn't know what to expect. She was taken aback by the sheer size of the crowd. Some of the banners that they had raised made her a little uncomfortable. Some slogans called on demonstrators to tear down the apparatus of the state, but in general, people there were calling for a better standard of living, an end to starvation wages and queueing for basic essentials. It seemed peaceful enough, though. There weren't even any police or soldiers around, so she didn't see any problems with following them along.

They reached Heroes' Square, at which point the demonstration seemed to stall. Some of the protesters had expected to meet some sort of resistance, maybe to find their way blocked, but nothing. Armed troops were beginning to surround the square, but they weren't making any move to expel the crowd. Sura would have put the size of the flock at maybe ten thousand. The atmosphere was beginning to seem intimidating to her. A few isolated people started up chants against the system, but those quickly dissolved into thin air.

The group seemed to have no collective idea of what to do next. The troops surrounding the square took the initiative to start clearing the protesters. Individuals, or small groups, were grabbed by the guards and forcibly removed from the square. Sura saw people being bodily removed, sometimes physically thrown away, from the crowd. She suddenly felt lost, intimidated, and alone. She backed away, into the centre of the square, the centre of the crowd. It was tightly packed here, but small, enclosed spaces made her feel safe.

She forced herself to stay put while she could hear the commotion growing around her and on the outskirts of the crowd. She could see that the crowd was slowly thinning, but a not insignificant group of determined individuals was staying put. It would take a long time to clear the square at this rate, and she didn't exactly want to be left as one of the last to be forced away. But it seemed as though the soldiers were withdrawing. They weren't happy with the amount of time it was taking to disperse the stubborn protesters.

They took up a new strategy. They marched into the square itself, forcing the protesters into separate groups. Sura felt coarse hands shoving her bodily into one section of the crowd, but wasn't able to catch sight of the perpetrator. Other groups, she was aware, were being forced out of the square. She felt horribly intimidated by this point, especially as she was part of the last group that was being left inside the square. Something flew from behind her, smashed on the ground on the outskirts of the square, and erupted into flames. She screamed. People were pushing back at the soldiers, some were being thrown to the ground, others were resisting, the small group of soldiers were struggling to regain order, there was a loud shout from somewhere behind, they raised their weapons and fired...

Sura Malenča was killed that day in Heroes' Square. She would be held up as a martyr of the protest movement the very next day, when some unknown individual put a simple photo of her next to a lit candle on the steps of the seat of power of the Kucinič government. Of course, the government removed it the same night, but it was a simple, effective symbol of the defiance of the people - and also that the government, which supposed itself to be all-powerful, was losing control at an alarming rate.

That photo became one of the most iconic images of the protest movement. It wasn't just in Mi'ato, either. In the mountainous city of Paleu, far to the north of Mi'ato, and a region often considering itself alienated by the distant central government, anti-government demonstrators came out two nights later carrying reproductions of that photo, which had been widely publicised by an underground movement calling itself the Salvation Front. The group carried a banner reading, "we are all Sura". The government found it nearly impossible to control the dissent that was gradually making itself visible, given that it was too concerned with trying to hold its power in the capital city, and prevent any more overt shows of dissatisfaction in the industrial heartland of Kinitaria.

The issue facing the protesters was that, other than a sense of anti-government sentiment, they had very little unifying mentality behind them. Some of the demonstrators were committed socialists who wanted a restoration of the pre-Kucinič government, what they saw as the "true" socialist face of Kinitaria, in which the nation had liberalised considerably and was on the way to opening up to the rest of Atlantian Oceania, taking up its position in the international order, and co-operating with foreign partners.

On the other hand, right-wing elements, long since suppressed in Kinitaria, even before Kucinič ascended to power, suddenly found that they had a greater degree of freedom to operate in the underground movement that the government was unable to hang onto control of. They were small in terms of membership and influence, but the few members that they did have were often fanatical and unwilling to enter into any sort of negotiations, both with the government and with other resistance groups.

But the image of Sura Malenča remained an iconic emblem of the protest movement. As the future of the Kinitar government hung in the balance, those groups opposed to it from both left and right adopted that image as a symbol of their own. In the end, this intelligent, aspirant girl, with no deep-seated political convictions, ended up being a martyr for a cause that she wasn't even sure if she supported. But it wasn't as if her story was unknown or embellished in certain ways - she was an outsider, an apolitical innocent, gunned down by the regime. That is why she became the symbol of the hope of a better future.

by **Sangti** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:56 am

The Agilang Dilaw has never been in this position before. With five matchdays to play and the team inside the playoff spots for the World Cup finals, the team will have its first stern test in the form of The Inevitable Syndicate. The World Number 10 gave the Barangayans their only loss so far in the Estadio Olimpico, as well as the game where the hosts failed to score a single goal. Since that and the 4-1 humbling in the hands of Astograth, the Agilang Dilaw has been on a tear, scoring four goals in each of their last five matches, resulting to four wins and one draw and as a result, sneaked into third place on seventeen points. However, the positioning of Group 18 is too close to comfort, as the second to fifth placed teams (TIS, us, Star United States and Carialus) are only separated by a mere four points, and with the latter two facing teams who are now considered goners for the World Cup Finals, the game against the top seeds could have been of more emphasis this time around.

The last time that TRB defeated a top seeded team was when the Cup of Harmony was held in Falcus and Free Republics. In a group with Filopines, Silver Beach, Chiata and Milchama, who were the top seed at the time, the Agilang Dilaw needed a win against the Warriors to secure progression into the Round of 16, as they would also hope that Chiata fail to win against Filopines. The second requirement was cleared, and the match was intense, with keeper Alwin Villejo injuring his crotch being the main talking point in that. Despite that, the Agilang Dilaw took a historic 3-2 win to advance to the Round of 16, where they were sadly eliminated by Barunia in extra time. The Agilang Dilaw has never scored a point against a top team in the World Cup qualifiers, however, no match has ended with a margin of three goals or more. The Flynn Arena could be the setting where these could all change.

The Syndicatians are coming from a surprise defeat at Astograth, giving Olibondeka the group lead after a 1-0 defeat, and the visitors could take advantage of a team in a state of shock after that game - which in itself has big implications; a TRB win means that the Syndicatians may fall as low as fourth, depending on the result of the match involving the SUS and will have another important match, this time against Carialus, who gave them their first defeat of the qualifiers. However, a TRB loss would mean that the Agilang Dilaw would fall prey of the two sides immediately below them, and the with the return fixture against the group leaders looming, Rick Martinez knows that it is crucial to keep their momentum running - three wins on the trot is hard to ignore, even if those were against the minnows (oops, SUS), and the team scoring 20 goals in five games.

With the partnership of Adrian Magcaleng and Daren Corsiga clicking in the last two matches (six goals between them), and the usual scoring of Robin Linsangan contributing two, the time for another scoring outburst is ripe and Martinez hopes that things could click for them, in order to avoid complications coming into the last two games (against Carialus and Star United States), which were luckily, are to be played at home. Expect a strong lineup against the Syndicatians and expect the Agilang Dilaw to fight until the end.

Lineup and scorers against New South Aqmuland:
NSA 2 - Soswikze (14'), Sebastien-Knipo (87')
TRB 4 - Corsiga (8', 69'), Magcaleng (44'), Linsangan (56')

TRB Squad - Balido; Bautista, Docdoc, Ang (Bayona 85'), Pablo; Amio (E. Khan 70'), Magsombol, K. Khan, Linsangan (Sanchez 88'); Magcaleng, Corsiga

Lineup and scorers against Aritian:
TRB 4 - Corsiga (4', 9'), Linsangan (pen 34'), Magcaleng (70')
ARI 1 - scored in 64'

TRB Squad - Balido; dela Vega, Docdoc, Ang (Arceo 79'), Bautista; Sanchez (Amio 84'), Magsombol (Marchadesch 76'), Taguiam, Linsangan; Magcaleng, Corsiga

by **Qazox** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 12:27 pm

QSPNWC68.com

With just 5 games left before Qazox football rides off into the sunset, yesterday's 4-3 win over Olastor saw perhaps the last hat-trick in team history, as Paulette Bishop, who started for a flu-ridden Kevin Yarl; scored thrice in 1st7 minutes as Qazox came back for the win. After allowing 2 goals in the first 28 minutes (17 & 28), Ms. Bishop's goal in the 32nd minute cut the deficit in half to 2-1. Just 7 minutes later, she tied the match at 2, and just 4 minutes into the 2nd half, her historical goal made it 3-2. Naomi Fine's 69th minute goal made it 4-2, before Olastor trimmed it back down to 4-3 in the 77th. Up next, Qazox travels to face group leaders Polar Islandstates, in a virtual must win game, as Qazox remains 8 points back and time running out.

by **Eura** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:27 pm

DISCOMFORT IN MONFORT
Eura edge out Licentian's in nail biting thriller
Simon Banning reports from Monfort, Licentian Isles

- Late goal stuns Licentians
- Sporadic relieved after securing "hard fought win"
- Sinclair likely to miss next qualifier through injury
- Nova Anglicana scrape to win again
- Guayabal record another high scoring victory
- Sameba continue unbelievable run

LICENTIAN ISLES - 3
Leighton 8, 69
Docherty 80

EURA – 4
S. Oslograd 22, 45
Sinclair 56

Eura just about triumphed over a heartbroken Licentian Isles to go a point clear at the top of the group, and leave Gethin Ramsey's Licentian side in a real struggle to avoid missing out on qualification.

Ramsey experienced a painful qualifying against us in the qualifying section for the last World Cup. Managing his native New Sideburn, he directed them to a superb 3-1 win against Eura at home; but on the return trip to Bastion were hammered, and Eura's merciless consistency for the rest of qualifying resigned New Sideburn to a playoff spot. Tonight Ramsey was faced with a tough task, looking to beat Eura at home to get the Licentian Isles qualifying campaign back on track, as the second seeds had slipped down the table. They had previously lost 5-3 in Bastion, a scoreline that possibly flattered them a bit but not much. However, Kelly Sporadic's Eura were under pressure too. They were top of the group after beating the Vilkings 3-0 in their first game back after the mid-qualifying break, but only a point. Despite being unbeaten so far, Eura had drawn three games - two of which had been drawn against opposition that they would expect to beat nine times out of ten.

Eura set themselves up with an unsual lineup in Monfort that surprised most pundits. It appeared that Sporadic would respond to Ramsey's side stacking the middle of the midfield by doing the same, dropping winger Adams and striker Ashtree to bring in two attacking midfielders to play in the middle, either side of Craig Sinclair in a central attacking midfield position. Or at least so we thought. In the end, Sinclair would play in a sort of LCAM position, with Albin Oslograd playing RCAM; and John Spartan was moved forward to play CAM. Behind them Riley and Blackthorn played in the central midfield roles. It would be Riley's first start for a while. The only other thing of note was Lyle Heath spending another game on the bench, with Craig Gilbert playing at centre back. The Licentian Isles fielded their strongest possible lineup, with their superb centreback pairing of Hill and Bastion's Munro, and the experienced Ruaraidh Donaldson facing up against another aging captain, Tom Riley, in the midfield.

The Licentian's kicked off and played with attacking zest and nerve, testing Chris Waller with a few optimistic attempts early on. Just when it looked like they might be backing off, they took the lead. It was not a pretty goal by any means as Donaldson lofted a cross into the box which Danny Leighton headed down and in at the near post, but it was enough. The early goal shocked Eura, who quickly responded with a chance of their own as Albin Oslograd curled a shot wide from 25 yards. His older brother Skorji, frustrated and up front on his own between Munro and Hill, was not having a good game for the first twenty minutes. But Oslograd is also arguably a class above 99% of the players in this World Cup qualifying section, and he wouldn't allow himself to be bullied. He gained possession in the 22nd minute and charged past Munro before knocking the ball past Hill into the box in one fluid motion. Shay Jamieson did his best in goal but was unable to stop Oslograd finishing off his solo effort with a low finish.

The game was relatively even at this point with both sides having plenty of chances, but Eura delivered a crushing blow before half time. John Spartan drilled a shot into the box that was blocked by Munro but fell straight to Oslograd, who netted again with a powerful shot from 15 yards. Both sides made changes at half time. Skorji's younger brother Albin came off for Ryan King, while the Licentians pulled off their defensive midfielder Grant Torin after a torrid 45 minutes for Nate Parkinson's ambitious replacement, bringing a third striker in an incredible display of risky strategy. Tough nut Peter Oliver came on as the third forward and immediately caused problems up front, beating Michael Robertson in the air to another Donaldson cross to head the ball just over the bar right after half time. Yet the substitution was as much a bad diagnosis of the problems Eura's formation was causing the Licentian Isles as it was a bold risk. There was too much space at the back and in the 56th minute Craig Sinclair was allowed to sprint at the Licentian defence unchecked, before he hammered a low shot into the bottom left hand corner.

The Licentian Isles were now 3-1 down and faced a mountain to climb, and it seemed Eura were content with a two goal lead. They shifted King out to the left wing, substituted Sinclair (who seemed to have a groin problem) for Mike Adams who came on at right wing, and shifted John Spartan back into the centre with Riley dropping in deep behind him and Blackthorn. This move surprisingly worked in the Licentian's favour as the Euran's began to let pressure come on to them. The home side grew in confidence and had chance after chance, but nothing seemed to come from it. Then finally, in the 69th minute, they had a breakthrough; Leighton fired a shot through Robertson's legs that Waller didn't see until it was too late, leaving Eura shocked. The Licentian's piled forward and in the 80th minute they had an unbelievable equaliser. Leighton was put through by a well timed Aran Miller through ball only for him to chip Waller and hit the bar; but before any Euran's could get back to clear, Fraser Docherty sprinted in and prodded the ball into the net.

The Licentian's were now pressing for a winner and Kelly Sporadic, who cut a miserable figure on the touchline as Eura headed for a fourth draw of qualifying, decided to try and shake things up. He brought off the exhausted Tom Riley for Spartangrad's Sam Thomas, who was thrown up front alongside Skorji Oslograd. He was going to bring on Sam Ashtree, but the Royal Rumiatzi striker appeared to be sick on the touchline a few minutes before he could come on. The Licentian's kept coming and almost won it when Docherty met a Miller cross unmarked with his head. But the bullet header struck the bar and rebounded out of the box, denying the Licentian's a winner. Then the extraordinary happened. Another corner for the home side was cleared and Bastion's Munro slipped as he came away from the centre line to intercept. Oslograd raced onto it and sprinted away, leaving Sam Hill sprinting back in pursuit. Ramsey looked horrified on the touchline as Sporadic looked on calmly. The Licentian fans, who had been unbelievably loud for the whole second half, were suddenly quiet. The Euran minority behind one of the goals were roaring.

Oslograd appeared to have messed it up for a moment when he stumbled on the ball after slowing down outside the box. Just as the keeper began to return to his line as Hill appeared to have it covered, Oslograd performed a world class turn backwards past Hill, giving him the second he needed to hit the ball leftwards with the outside of his right foot into the path of Sam Thomas, who hit a first time cracker into the top right hand corner with his right foot, from just outside the box. The Euran fans and backroom staff exploded into a state of jubilation while Sporadic simply stood there cutting a cool and collected figure, recognising the counterattack winner with a brief clap. Ramsey turned away with his eyes closed and both hands on his head. The Euran players ran off behind the goal; the Licentian's heads dropped and Donaldson practically fell to his knees in the centre circle. It wasn't over yet though. There was two minutes of the ninety left and then three minutes of stoppage time. However the home side were distraught and couldn't muster the effort to find another equaliser.

This was a crucial win for Eura, who stay unbeaten and top of the group, and importantly have achieved maximum points against the second seed. They must now succeed where they failed last time, by beating Nova Anglicana and San Jose Guayabal. For Gethin Ramsey's Licentian's it is a crushing defeat, as they now face a difficult task of trying to gain points on all three teams above them despite having already faced the top seed without reward. Elsewhere, San Jose Guayabal and Nova Anglicana continued with performances typical of their qualifying campaigns so far; the former thumped someone while conceding a few goals, while the latter edged out someone by parking the bus and hoping for the best. The two teams are clearly opposites, but it works. Meanwhile, in Group 8, Sameba recovered from a poor 3-3 draw with Catholican Catholica by beating Usjekhipstahf 2-1. With Cosumar choking and Boring Paradise being as boring as usual, they have a serious chance of securing a playoff spot behind Farfadillis.

by **Itanpavia** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:40 pm

i.Tanpavia News

Rejuvenated Itanpavia make Miracle Recovery
Joy! We're back in it! After one hell of a rollercoaster road last week, the Quads have finally recovered from a slump in form and are looking promising for qualification. Hanging on the fringes of qualification, we've still a long way to go, but it's looking better, as TOM ACKERMANN explains.

First off, before the two day break - everything was sliding. By the break, we were stone-dead last. But how have we made it back up to 5th, close to qualifying for the World cup? Well, first up was Apox. After suffering an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at their hands on Day 1, the Stripes were desperate to get back. And what better place to do it, than our very own Stadtpavia Staium? Of course, beating such legends who so convincingly destroyed us last time out was going to be a big ask. In an interview with captain Tomasz Francis, he took us through the Quads' 'incredibly complex' strategy for the big match.

i.News: So, Tom, how are we going to win this one? Are we going to win this one?
Tom Francis: Of course we'll win, I'm the captain! *laughs* But honestly, this'll be one hell of a battle. I think we have a chance, but our best bet is to play defensive. Hopefully we can catch them off guard with defence and hopefully score later.
i.N: Thank you, any predictions?
TF: *jokingly* We'll win 15-0 and walk home with the World Cup.
i.N: Very funny. Thank you Tom.

Luckily, we did win - although not quite by 15 goals! Our defence was truly quite scintillating. Frantic attempts by Adnan Zozula, Martin Roskorwell and Apoxian midfielder Jack Demir were blocked by great Itanpavian defence (and one heck of a performance from Tom Albrunte), a habit which was carried to the Yttribian game - see later! - and the offence seemed to wear off, leaving the first half goalless. Save for a late dash for the scoreline by Ben Dakota - which almost materialised - it was a fairly uneventful first half. However, the second half more than made up for it.

First off, a goal from Martin Roskorwell was controversially disallowed, reducing the unusually feisty Apoxian manager to the stands after an explosive row with the fourth official. Perhaps this is what halted Apox's progress, as favourite and Itanpavian captain Tomasz Francis nailed one hell of a shot at 78', after navigating past an unusually sluggish opposite side - maybe due to their manager's absence. Despite Apox regaining form in the last 10 minutes, and giving the Quads a hard time, Tom Albrunte gave the home crowd yet more to cheer about saving FOUR shots from Apoxian players. He was rightfully awarded the Man of the Match award, and we won a glorious 1-0, despite being arguably the weaker side. Needless to say, the roof was raised on the Stadtpavia Staium!

Next, Yttribia, and a fairly uneventful game. Yttribia have undoubtedly been the disappointment of group 5, even with all their... self-confidence, politely put. The trend of Yttribian disappointment kicked off (excuse the pun) with the first game against Itanpavia - our first international win. This one didn't go so well, as Yttribia clearly harnessed the home crowd in their favour. However, there were two main points of interest. First off, Itanpavia's stunning defence against the surprising assault from the other side. This time, however, it was more down to Keller, von Kampf and Ellis than Albrunte's goalkeeping. Also, Alx Listz is quite a character, and truly courageous - as proved by his stunning attempt at a 67' goal, which was ultimately stopped at the last second. There were no goals, however, and the match ended 0-0.

We're on a knife edge, but unfortunately the rest of the group are formidable enemies. Can we make it? It's all down to your support.

TOM ACKERMANN

by **Hutt River** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:49 pm

Winther sat in his office at the hedge fund. He was in front of his computer, as usual, but wasn't paying much attention to it. At the other end of the office was his 'business partner', Brandon Scott who was focusing on his tablet computer. Winther couldn't tell what he was doing, although he could hazard a decent guess that he was either reading the digital copy of one of the papers, usually the finance section, or doing some technical research on some topic or another.

Some of the super-rich financiers Winther met occasionally wondered aloud why he had made Scott an equal shareholder in Winther Investment Associates. It was after all, his algorithims that made all the profits and his name on the company. But it suited Winther's temperament to have someone more outgoing and talkative to hide behind. Beside, he knew that the company probably wouldn't exist in this state without Scott. It wasn't just the interest and interest in banking that he lacked, he also had something that Winther could never possess no matter how he tried: a talent for dealing with people. It was partly charm, but also a capacity to bend human being to a larger purpose. He had a first in politics, economics and history from Bury University, an ex-wife and two kids stored somewhere near Forford, and a flat in Bury where he went with whoever happened to be his girlfriend that month. Rachel couldn't stand him.

Winther spun his chair around to look outside the window. There wasn't anything nice out there, just faceless offices and warehouses. Winther Investment Associates was based in the middle of a grey industrial estate in the northern part of bury. He had set up here so the company could remain as anonymous as possible. There was less chance of unwanted people disturbing them if you were in the middle of a bunch of haulage companies. Apart from the industrial estate and a nearby main road, there was a viaduct rather close by, and you could hear the noise of the three or four carriage units clunking their way over every hour or so. It was a bit of a pity that he wasn't there to see it in it's heyday, Winther thought, as the 10:23 service to Ince (calling at University, Bury North, Parbold, Ward-on-Ouse, Fairfield and Ince) trundled it's way over, sounding it horn as it went. The bridge looked incredibly old and probably wasn't that safe, plus it had a load of graffiti over it as Winther discovered when he went to visit one day.

He looked down at the car park outside. You could who was employed by Winther as they were normally the more expensive saloon cars which had personalised registration plates and metallic paint. He didn't like personalised plates as he didn't see the point in them and thought they were a waste of £50, but never said anything in case he offended anyone. A person had just gotten out of a small hatchback parked quite close to the office. Winther couldn't see the person's face, but he thought it was man, fairly young and probably worked at one of the haulage firms. Everyone looked fairly similar to Winther, which made him think he had some sort of facial dyslexia type thing. The man looked up at the window, and Winther instantly recognised the face. He only saw it for an instant as the man turned his head away and walked off, but he knew it was the man who had attacked him.

"You alright mate?" Scott must've detected some discomfort in Winther when he looked up from his tablet
"Fine", Winther replied, his gaze still fixated on the back of the man as he walked up the car park and behind a building. When he'd gone, Winther turned around. "When's the meeting again?"
"10:45", Scott said, looking up at the clock, "about 10 minutes away. Are you sure you're going to be okay with that thing on your head?"
"I'll be fine. No need to worry."

***

"...just last week the HRSE closed at 4,788, which represents about a over a year of about half a quarter. All those poor saps with retirement plans have lost..."

Winther's brain drifted in and out of Scott's opening speech. He probably needed to listen to this as it was his turn coming up soon. He looked around at the boardroom. It had a sort of corporate impersonality that his and Scott's offices had, soundproofed glass walls and floor to ceiling venetian blinds that were in all of them. A giant black screen used for teleconferencing took up a large part of the end wall looking down onto a few rows of chairs that had been set out for the potential investors to sit in. There was about 20 of them in all, most of them he vaguely recognised. They'd probably talked to him before, but god knows if he knew their names.

Winther decided to focus his gaze outside the room onto the 'trading floor', formerly an atrium. Four dozen quantitative analysts were staring at their six screen arrays. Even if they did talk it was barely above whispers. A giant plasma television carried HRBC News, the only 24 hour news network available. Beneath it was two large digital clocks, showing the time for the HRSE stock exchange and the Kleinestadt exhange, which was installed on the demand of Scott. Winther thought they were pointless, all you had to do was +1 hour to get to Kleinestadt's time but he let him have them, just to keep him happy. The quantitative analysts were about nine tenths male, a fact which he didn't exactly understand. It wasn't deliberate policy, it was just men who applied for them. Maybe it was something to do with the requirements, a PhD in maths or the physical sciences, in the top 15% of the country. Social skills did not matter to Winther, which is why Scott occasionally referred to it the 'National Society of Asperger's Syndrome'.

"Carl?" Scott had finished speaking and had turned to Winther, putting a hand on his shoulder to grab his attention.
"Oh yeah, sorry Brandon. I'll go up now." Winther stood up and looked at the crowd.

Winther's speech was noticeably shorter than Scott's and went through the basics of how BOB worked, after all that's what they were here to invest in, but not too far so people could steal their methods from them. People seemed to understand him relatively well, but there was one man on the far right chair of the second row who looked confused. When Wither came to the end of his speech, he knew that the man was going to blurt something out.

"What's that guy's name?" Winther asked Scott away from the microphone.
"Esmund Donaldson. You've met him before" Winther recognised the name. They had talked over the phone a few months ago when the hedge fund was 'hard closed' (no investments at all) and he knew that every fourth word that came from his mouth was a piece of financial jargon. He nodded at Scott to indicate he'd understood and returned to the microphone
"Any questions?" No one spoke. Winther was relieved, but knew Donaldson would say something sooner or later. "Right then, I'll let you out of here. If you want to talk about anything in private you can speak to me on the floor."

One by one the investor filed out of the room and milled about on the trading floor, talking with each other and Scott. Winther held open the door until they'd all gone out and them shut it very quietly. The analysts didn't like anything above talking voice disturbing them. He turned and went to go to the floor and speak to the investors when he saw Adam Reynell, his Chief Risk Officer walking towards him with a worried expression on his face.

"Anything the matter?" Winther said when he arrived. Reynell handed Winther a tablet computer which displayed all of BOB's trades.
"Don't you think those trades look a bit risky?" Reynell replied. Winther flicked through the trades, saying aloud some of his thoughts as he went along.
"One and a half million, I suppose that sort of makes sense... three million of them? Can't see any logic there... Bloody hell."
"What?" Winther showed Reynell one of the trades. "Nine and a half million options on Western Trains? Very strange."
"Western Trains have twelve percent passenger growth and a good profit forecast." Winther recalled from memory. "That is strange. I suppose there must be some logic to it. Don't worry for now."

Reynell walked off back into his office. Winther stared out of the window at the viaduct, very worried. Why had BOB been making such large trades? It was very unusual of it. He watched as a train started on the viaduct. Western Trains were given the local franchises around here, as well as all the infrastructure. The trains weren't of great quality but they were very cheap and passenger numbers are always going to be high. The train moved slowly across. At this time of day there was never many people on them, especially during the week. Winther noticed that the train had sped up a bit and wondered why, until, a few seconds later, the middle span of the viaduct collapsed, taking the train with it.

by **Carialus** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:51 pm

Wartorn
Part 8

Two Miles From Deala's Coast-

The waves lapped at the sides of the battleships as they began to slow down and face their port side to shore. Overhead, in the sky, wave upon wave of heavy bombers droaned in the sky as they headed for Deala's coast. The bombers were carpet bombing the meager resistance. Then a giant roar was heard as the battleships began to bombard the shoare with their massive guns. Now the night was turned into day as mosterious guns went off with streaks of fire and bombs exploded into fireballs.

However, the Deala defenses were still fighting back. Tracers whipped around on the air and would sometimes shear through a planes metal skin, sending it down in a fireball to earth. Other times, missile trucks would shoot up their payload in retaliation to the relentless bombers. Also, a few large artillery pieces returned fire to the battleships and scored a few hits.

After and hour or so, the shelling and bombing ceased. Now it was time for the actual invasion. Troops were loaded into LCIs ( Landing Craft Infantry) and were dropped out of the boats into the cold ocean. In other instances, the LCIs were lowered first and the troops would climb down on nets and board the wildly rocking craft. Also, tanks and jeeps were loaded into LCVs (Landing Craft Vehicles) and dropped to the waves.

The LCIs and LCVs circles around and waited for all the craft to be in the water to form up. Once that happened, the landing craft got into rows and started going faster. Artillery from the shore whistled overhead and crashed into some of the invading boats. There were a few poles stuck in the water that had land mines on the tip. In a few cases, the boat drivers, blinded by the night, struck the poles and never made another mistake again. Metal spikes placed close to the shore tore open landing craft that scraped against them and the LCs occupants would tumble into the water.

As boats neared the beach, gun fire began to rattle on the metal doors that would soon drop. Chaos rained as the doors began to be winched down and the machine gun fore began to do their intended effect. The MGs began to focus their fire on the doors that were beginning to drop. Some soldiers jumped out the sides of the LCs to avoid the concentrated fire. The doors dropped all the way and the bullets buzzed in. Then soldiers then took a leap of faith and took the first steps out of the landing craft.

by **Polar Islandstates** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:58 pm

It was the match against Olastor. That was where the real damage had happened.

The human mind can be a dense and limitless place to get lost in. One and a half kilograms. One thousand one hundred and thirty cubic centimetres. That's all it was, biologically speaking, and yet psychologically speaking there was no end to the possibilities on how large or how powerful a force it could become. At that moment in time, Gustaf Kolehmainen's mind was an endless vista of dark thought. Heavy thought. Sad, depressive thought. He was supposed to be playing football; he was certainly running around as if he was doing just that, but his mind was elsewhere. With just a small bit of his mind devoted to the action of not running into other people, his consciousness was free to roam the avenues of despair that he had otherwise been trying to avoid looking down. Ironically, it was his attempt to continue playing football and keep his place in the team that appeared to have opened up this expansive introspection that ultimately put that playing opportunity at risk.

He'd ran around the pitch aimless, spending five minutes at a time without even getting close to a touch of the ball, such was the poor quality of his runs as he battled his internal demons. He tried calling for the ball half-heartedly on a couple of occasions, and made a run or two that ended up with him running into an opposition player, but really, he mind was occupied by other thoughts.

He could see his wife's face, orbiting around a point of light in the distance. Three infants, wrapped in swaddling, faded in and out beside her like ghouls - the ghosts of his past. He saw a figure looking like a younger version of him in a Surtsey kit, scoring goals. He saw a younger version of his wife at university, studying for a medical degree. He saw a younger version of the two of them combined out on the road, passing his driving test. All three faded. He closed his eyes and the visions of his dead mother and father flashed up ahead of his tired, weary eyes. His wife began to cry. Fog seemed to permeate through his owns, such was the density of emotion he was feeling. He saw the silhouette of Surtsey against the night sky. His home. His heart gave a lurch as he thought about his self-imposed exile from the city he had grown up in.

The more he thought, the more he was inclined to think. The more he was inclined to think, the less he played. The less he played, the less he ran. The less he ran, the more he thought.

He legs felt leaden, and heavy. An intense pain started to throb behind his eyes, and his temples were sore. He felt like bursting into tears right there and then. He was running on autopilot, looking up into the dark sky above them. Eyes tinged with the sting of tears, he looked down again and took a second to realise where he was.

The ball hit him on the chest before he even realised where he was. Whilst his mind was busy deciding he would never be happy again, his body had gotten him to break the offside trap, and he'd taken the ball down off his chest with a lucky bounce. Snapping out of the zombie-like trance he'd apparently been in, his eyes focused on the moving object in front of him. He was through on goal. He needed a goal badly to avoid being dropped. Playing was the only way he could rationalise his thoughts at the moment, even if his performances weren't great. With the weight of his own expectations pressing down on him, he took two paces and anxiously snatched at the ball with his weaker foot.

He air-kicked horribly.

Slicing off the top of his boot, the ball spun away towards the onrushing Olastor defender coming back to cover. Kolehmainen saw in that moment not a ball, but his Terns future spinning away from him.

Angry at his mistake, he lashed out at the ball, and found only a stud-ful of his opposite number's flesh in its place. The opposition player tumbled head over heels like he'd been shot, and Kolehmainen realised at last that the chance was gone. He'd missed another one-on-one situation, and being dropped was surely an inevitability now.

As the referee brandished a yellow card, Kolehmainen didn't even look up. Instead, he thought about how his parents would have reacted to that. With disappointment. He felt like a failure. He'd failed to save them. He'd failed to save his children. He'd failed his wife. And now he was failing to score goals, too. Without goals, he wouldn't be playing. Without playing... he didn't know what he'd do. He sank to his knees and cried sweet, hot, angry tears of despair. He tried to hide them, but there was no escaping it. Even in the dim light of the evening, the punishing cameras would be sure to pick it up. He felt paralysed by grief, and curled up as small as he could, kneeling on the turf.

Torsten Wolff had carried the yoke of the strike partnership since the first game of qualifying, and he'd walked over to Kolehmainen at this point to check up on his strike partner. He saw the state of him and put this hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he made a face at the bench, and a substitute was prepared accordingly. As Kohev Kungas-Vaga helped Kolehmainen from the pitch, Victor Larsen ran on, with Vadim Illich-Svitych almost immediately taking an inconsolable Kolehmainen down the tunnel to the changing rooms.

The crowd were silent. Confused. Though aware of the general circumstances influencing Kolehmainen's state of mind and his move from Surtsey to SK, the precise details weren't known, and, like the son who sees his father crying for the first time, weren't sure what to make of seeing their hero go to pieces like that.

Sure enough, Kolehmainen was dropped for the next two matches.

Those events had been several weeks in the past, now, and Kolehmainen was sitting in the foyer of the team hotel in Eastfield Lodge, not really taking in his surroundings. Sulkily, he looked up when he heard his name being called out. He'd been assigned a room with Vadim, again. Probably at Vadim's request. Or Rasmussen's insistence. He didn't really care which, but on the walk up the stairs to the room, Vadim instigated an unwanted conversation which tipped his guess towards the former.

"So, Gustaf, me and some of the guys are going to go for a walk before the training session tonight," he said with artificial cheer, "you know, stretch our legs. You want to come along?"

"Pass," said Gustaf, "I might give training a miss too, actually."

"What? How come?" asked Vadim, getting out the room key and letting them in, "You not well?"

"Er, well, no," replied Gustaf, "I think the journey through the portal was a little worse than usual."

"It was a little bumpy, wasn't it? Leftovers from Ossidiacqua, so I heard."

"Wouldn't surprise me."

There was an awkward silence as the two looked at each other across the pair of single beds in the room. Vadim was trying to read Gustaf's facial expression, but was struggling. He did look a little peaky. Gustaf lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He looked ready to fall asleep at any moment.

"Alright," said Vadim hesitantly, "I'll leave you to it. I'll come get you before training."

And Vadim left.

Alone with his thoughts, Gustaf stared at the ceiling and felt the feelings of dread come flooding back over him. The cold sweats. The shivers. The bleak, black hole in front of him. The feeling that he just didn't care if he'd be missed by anyone or not. Everything amplified and muted at the same time. He felt nothing. But he felt it so intently that the feelings needed to be numbed, quelled, put to the back of his head. Every nerve was alive with discontent. He blinked and saw the images of his parents, his children, never born, and his ex-wife. The family portrait he would never have. The family he would never have. The life he would never have.

The life he didn't want anymore.

He reached for his duffle bag. He'd known for a while now. Sleeping tablets and painkillers. All over the counter stuff. And a litre bottle of Seasogs. Painless. Easy. Final. He felt bad for Vadim, but that was okay. Soon he wouldn't feel anything at all.

He lay down and waited for oblivion. He closed his eyes. Darkness greeted him like an old friend.

This is it.

Except it wasn't.

Just two hours later, white, fierce light penetrated his eyelids and he forced hot, angry bile up his gullet and out through his mouth onto the hotel room wall. He tried leaning up on his shoulder instinctively, but found himself unable to raise his torso. From the way his clothes were sticking to him, he could tell he'd been throwing up for a while.

"Easy there, welcom back to the world of the conscious," said a voice above him, weighing him down. Vadim. "you've been at it a while, mate. I found you covered in puke when I got back here."

The words went in one ear and right out the other for Gustaf, however, as his body focused only getting this vile concoction out from his stomach. What had happened? Shouldn't he have been dead? He thought of his stomach, rejecting the liquid in an explosive manner. Is that was happening here? Was his body rejecting him? Rejecting his plans? Was his brain saying one thing and then his body disagreeing?

"Get it all out, mate," said Vadim, patting him on the back as another weak stream of bile fled upwards and out towards the edge of the bed, "man, you really were ill, weren't you?"

Or maybe he was just too fit? He was a professional footballer, after all. He's taken enough substances to have floored two men twice his size, so why had his body not just keeled over like he'd planned? It had to be. His body wasn't done yet. Wasn't done with life.

He expelled the last of the latest contractions in his abdomen, and as Vadim stood up all he could think to himself was that he'd even failed at being the ultimate failure. Unless he hadn't failed. Unless his body had reacted with strength and resolution after all.

"There," said Vadim, "you're done for now. You okay?"

"I don't know," coughed Gustaf, his throat on fire from the corrosive acids in his stomach, "I honestly don't know."

"Right," said Vadim firmly, and with authority, "well, you're clearly too ill to train tomorrow or play the day after. I'll go and get the physios and some hotel staff and we'll get you sorted out, yeah?"

Gustaf nodded.

"Oh," said Vadim, just before leaving, "and I'll, erm, empty your wastepaper bin on the way down."

Gustaf raised his neck to try and look over his shoulder at Vadim, but he'd already gone. He glanced around the room. There was no trace of anything that he'd taken. Vadim's silence could be relied upon. He needed that, right now.

He wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed, yet more depressed, or happy to be alive. Right now they were all just cancelling each other out in the front of his mind. And yet, at the back, there was a small voice telling him that this had happened for a reason. He tried to place the voice. It was his ex-wife's. He lay down and stared into space in the middle distance across his bedside table

Where now?

He blinked, and the motion of his blinking reflection in the lamp shade caught his eye, as movement does to the human eye. But that wasn't what held his attention. No. He saw something steely in the eyes reflected back at him in the distorted shade of the plastic lampshade. A steely glint. A sign of resistance. It wasn't much. But it was more than he'd seen from himself in a long, long time. It was a start. He had to do better. He deserved better from himself. The people around him deserved better from him. He clenched his fists.

He remembered something his father had said to him when he was a child, growing up in Surtsey and playing football in the park with him.

"Dad?" he had asked, "do you think I'll ever be good enough to play for the Gulls?"

"I think you'll be good enough to captain the Gulls," his father had replied, "but even if nobody else thinks that, make sure you're happy. Whoever you play for. Even if its just a pub team. As long as you'r happy, nothing can stop you. You're invincible."

As long as you're happy, nothing can stop you.

It was somewhere to start from. Starting with an explanation. Something to explain things to the fans. He made a mental note to contact his publicist in Surtsey when he got home and work something out that he could send out. The fans deserved it from him.

Yes. He rolled over in his sodden clothes as he waited for the physios and hotel staff to come and help him. He shivered in the cold, but didn't feel it. He felt like a new man.

This is it.

Different 'this'. Different 'it'.

by **Pasarga** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:14 pm

Torgos Tribune ~ Hero or Villain?

Tobias Möller, a name that is spoken through Pasarga these days as a revered national hero, a champion for the people of the nation. And why not, he has propelled club and country to the forefont of the footballing community, with the Wanderers once again looking like they are part of the footballing upper echelon. The mercurial striker has double digit goals in a campaign that has not even seen ten games yet, nabbing another hattrick as the Wanderers once more thwarted West Angola and seized complete control over their group heading into the final few matches. Thirteen goals from the sensational striker who has done everything that could be asked of him when wearing the national team uniform and then some. Yet, he shocked the entire nation with his comments after the match, which now see him cast as the potential villain.

"I have decided that I will be leaving Pasarga in the next transfer window. I appreciate everything that CAP has done for me, coming up through their academy and into the first team, all the way here to the national team. Yet I need to go out and challenge myself when I am at the height of my playing career and the SuperLiga just can't offer me that." Those were the words of the national hero before her parted the field and went into the dressing room to celebrate with his teammates. It is a strange decision to announce for the striker, considering that CA Paulinthal seems to be on the rise once more in the international competitions, winning their sixth Rushmori Champions League as it is called in Pasarga and faring decently in the Champions' Cup. Also that he choose to announce it while away from Pasarga, as if he expected a backlash for his slight at the domestic league here in the dual islands.

While it certainly is going to sour some peoples opinions of the man, there is a saving grace for Tobias, in that as long as he is putting back goals for the Wanderers, it really wont matter where he is playing his football. Yet if the striker should ever start to come up empty, especially in the next three years, you can be sure the critics will come out loudly against him. A move is dangerous, especially before a Finals summer, potentially disrupting the players form and in turn his confidence. We can not kid ourselves, Tobias is the key to the Wanderers progress in the rest of the qualifiers and playoffs, and then the Finals should the Wanderers indeed make it to that stage again. He is a world class player, only the second one to ever come out of Pasarga and the first one in nearly two decades, but that he is leaving our shores is a bitter pill for domestic league.

Let's look down the possible suitors for the striker though, with this decisions of his. CAP is the richest and largest club in the islands, and although there is no immediate replacement on the team for the likes of Tobias, they wont be hard done by when he is sold. That being said, with two years still on his contract, the club will no doubt be expecting a large transfer fee, especially considering the talent of the striker, which eliminates a lot of smaller leagues in Rushmore. Given that he is looking to push himself, that obviously means he is looking for a tougher league to play in, eliminated nearly all the other leagues in Rushmore and abroad. Yet we are left with three obvious choices, Astograth, Eura, or Polar Islandstates. With incidents happening in two of those nations right now, you can be it is the Polarians who he will look to go to, if in Rushmore, though it would be no big surprise if he somehow landed in Atlantian Oceania either.

Whatever the case may be, he will need to hit the floor running in whatever club he winds up in and keep up the form that has seen him put defenses to the torch for club and country. For now, the Wanderers have to be pleased with his success, given their continued spot of leading the table from the get go in qualifying. With the second seed once again disposed of, it looks to be clear sailings, despite that hiccup draw to begin the second half. What lies after that for country and player is as of yet, uncertain and mull of intrigue.

by **The greater Vakolicci Haven** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:21 pm

O'clane: Celari authorities acted with deliberate ineptitude to counter murderers
The Irosii

Outgoing president Ronan W. O'clane today accused Celari Authorities, in particular Crown Prince Blacksen, of 'deliberate ineptitude' following the visit of Gregoryisgodistan to the province 2 days ago.
Mr. O'clane, 53, recently came out in support of a Havensport request for Gregoryisgodistani footballers to be arrested before they had the chance to perform their crude imitation of football in what the President refered to as 'a nation far more worthwhile than a brainwashed backwater.'
Despite this, Black Legionaries from Celeria did not take any action against the Gregoryisgodistani team, who made a quick getaway after the rather boring 0-0 draw, provoking widespread public anger on social networks.

"I think the attitude towards this farse of a football team was completely disgusting," he commented. "The Crown Prince [Blacksen I Domination] showed something that can only be called arrogant and deliberate ineptitude. With the King's poor condition, it is just unfortunate that loyal Vakolicci soldiers had to take orders from someone with such a low value on human life as [Blacksen]."

Domination, 17, frontman and drummer of the popular heavy metal band Eternity and Captain of the Vakolicci National football team, responded to the Presidents comments on Tweeter, receiving mixed responses from his 43 million followers:
@Blacksen_footbal President O'clane should be ashamed, Football is no medium for a nation to exercise its international aims.

Domination later went on to post this remark about President O'Clane:
"O'clane is going dangerously close to war now with another warning to Gregoryisgodistan. #stopthemuster #celarfrenzha."

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:27 pm

>goto quickieleaks.co.mr
webpage requests password: *************
password accepted.
>pull document corvidae_meeting_76_transcript.txt
document pulled.
>terminate connection quickieleaks.co.mr
connection terminated.
open document corvidae_meeting_76_transcript.txt
opening document...

***BEGIN TRANSCRIPT***

LEX CROWLEY: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to our weekly news meeting. I'll save you all the usual spiel, you know why you're here... So, tell me - what the hell is going on in this world?

IAN CLAYTON: Well Lex, you're the figurehead of our campaign, why don't you start by telling us what you've been up to?

LEX CROWLEY: Fine. I spoke with Ugarte recently, and he tells me things are going smoothly over in Astograth. He claims he's had a hard time adjusting to Lord Protector, but I think he's filling the position perfectly. He delivered a speech the other week that was incredible, and it seems he's really bringing his people around. As for Polaris, they've bought no new news to the table. Claim he's just doing what she normally does, and he's still bithering about battling the voices in his head. Apparently.

(a brief pause)

LEX CROWLEY: So, that's the important things out of the way - anything to add?

STEPHEN BAGAVRIK: I've sent you this week's Unrequired Reading. It should be in your inbox. There's quite a bit this week, as everyone seems to be making the connection between us and Astograth.

LEX CROWLEY: And they're saying bad things?

STEPHEN BAGAVRIK: Somewhat, yes. Claiming that we're turning the nation into "Our fascist sandbox" or something...

IAN CLAYTON: A sandbox, eh? We had one of those already - look what it did to itself!

LEX CROWLEY: I'll look for it after the meeting. Any other news?

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Well, there's that Vanorian patrol boat that was sighted off the coast the other day... I told you about that already, but for the benefit of our fellow circle members: We saw a Vanorian patrol boat off the coast of Sutler-on-sea last Friday. This is rather unusual, as our data shows that this isn't a usual patrol route for that class of ship. This makes me think that they were conducting a reconnaissance mission, trying to gather some intelligence on possible strike targets in the event of a war. Now, we're not on par with the Vanorians in terms of technology, and we haven't quite cracked the whole long lifespan thing either, but if they think they can try something against our glorious nation, they've definitely got anot-

LEX CROWLEY: Right, we get it. This is unusual activity. I suggested we keep an eye on the channel for now, and if the frequency of their patrols increases, we take the diplomatic approach to make sure we don't look bad. If it persists - mines. Simple.

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Oho! Mines? I'd love to watch you approve the budget for that!

ANTONY CORDEN: I wouldn't allow it.

LEX CROWLEY: You'd have no choice.

ANTONY CORDEN: I guess. And with all the money we made on the ByteCoin market recently...

IAN CLAYTON: Ah, how is that? Have we expanded the coffers yet?

ANTONY CORDEN: I was just getting to that. Like most things, the bubble seems to have burst, but luckily we got out of there in time for minimal loss. The country prospered from it, and we gained roughly seven trillion Ducats in the operation.

(applause from other Circle members)

ANTONY CORDEN: Of course, we're not going to tell anyone this! The Unolians know, though... Their king wasn't too pleased with our offer, and unfortunately declined our request to buy his nation.

LEX CROWLEY: Pax! I knew he wouldn't sell it. Those flaming Unolians... I didn't like the last seven controlling parties, and I hate this one!

ANTONY CORDEN: He also claimed any more threats, and he'd have to militarise the border.

LEX CROWLEY: Oh, let him piss his resources away! We could just send a group in to incite chaos in the streets while their soldiers are sat down south!

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: If you wanted to, I could set a group up to do just that. It would require more action on Corden's department to send another offer to the nation, however.

ANTONY CORDEN: I wouldn't mind... After all, it is a way of trying this diplomatically! Can't be worse than the actions of the Sunrise, right?

LEX CROWLEY: Yes, quite right. Do that. We'll discuss the details in a later meeting. Any other points anyone wishes to make?

NATHAN FLYNN: Some quite important news, actually - last night we apprehended some fugitives from the western border...

LEX CROWLEY: Anyone we know?

NATHAN FLYNN: Oh yes. None other than your favourite political power, Stephen Jones...

(silence for a few seconds)

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Surely not? He's dead, right? We banished him years ago!

NATHAN FLYNN: He had an accomplice. Identified as Samuel Dannin-Fresko. They're in a holding cell in Nostromo, awaiting further questioning concerning their time in the Great Calanian Desert.

LEX CROWLEY: I'll go there with Oliver in the week. I want to speak to Jones personally.

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Make sure to beef up the security in that cell complex as well - don't want any of these terrorist getting wind on who is in there - understand?

NATHAN FLYNN: I'll contact them after the meeting.

IAN CLAYTON: Nathan, any news on finding the World Gate?

LEX CROWLEY: You're still trying that? It's been months, I told you to give up...

IAN CLAYTON: ... And I told him to carry on. Sure, it's a myth, but the previous government found the Meteoricon, and look what that's done for us!

LEX CROWLEY: Bugger all apart from keeping the weather slightly miserable and causing natural disasters for those in former Ahlenfi, in order to prevent any sort of uprising?

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: About that, actually, when is it fully charged to screw up Mertagne?

IAN CLAYTON: The Weather Institute claim it's going to be at least six months. It's still recharging after the power spike.

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Three years, and it's still charging?

STEPHEN BAGAVRIK: I imagine it takes a lot of energy to move a tectonic plate.

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Nobody wanted it to move a tectonic plate! I lost my house!

NATHAN FLYNN: ... Anyway, in response to your question Ian, no news yet. we've got drones in the desert, but not much else.

LEX CROWLEY: I hope that's not costing us too much. We don't need to find a World Gate. The Dreamed Realm already have the technology, we can borrow it off of them if needs be...

ANTONY CORDEN: This concept does sound interesting, though. I mean, come on - interdimensional paratroopers? Who wouldn't want that?

LEX CROWLEY: It's something we can concentrate on later. In the meantime, I've heard that Douglas has a plan for us. He can't be with us today, he's got a dentist appointment, but he told me to pitch it to you. Which is odd, as it doesn't matter if I pitch it to you, we're going with it anyway. Ever heard of a nation called "Felix"?

(the room nods)

LEX CROWLEY: Good. It's quite a big place, you see... And they're going through an interesting time at the moment. They have a Nationalist Party that looks tipped to take power...

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: You're suggesting we assimilate them into Corvidae?

LEX CROWLEY: Of course. We'd actually have a foothold in three prominent regions then. After that, it's only a matter of time before the Corvidae Syndicate begins to expand!

IAN CLAYTON: Hear, hear!

ANTONY CORDEN: Well, that sounds like a good idea, but where are you getting the money to fund it? And where are we going to operate out of?

IAN CLAYTON: Your pockets, I imagine...

LEX CROWLEY: He's right there. We're taking the money from your new source of pocket money, and dumping it into the National Party's bank account. We'll do the transfer via Stadavrik. It'll be undetectable.

ANTONY CORDEN: I don't think that's fair. We could use the money for something better, like a full scale assault on Mertagne! Surely getting our own territory back is better than grabbing more?

STEPHEN BAGAVRIK: He's not heard, has he?

LEX CROWLEY: No. And for this week, he won't, as I'm craving an Anchup. Let's call this one adjourned?

IAN CLAYTON: Sounds good to me!

OLIVER BELLEPHORON: Likewise.

(Circle members leave the room.)

***END TRANSCRIPT***

by **Farfadillis** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:27 pm

He received the ball from Mêndêlöíndçêl and looked up. He saw a great chance to go down the flank once again to wreak havoc. Doing that could end up in the first goal of the match. The Paradisian right midfielder quickly slid through the floor as soon as he decided to make use of his ability to change pace effortlessly. He was stripped of the ball.

This started a fatal counterattack. The guy passed the ball to one of the strikers, who then dribbled Fakkotti and went on to cross. Then the other striker managed to head the ball to the left post, with Lisdiren unable to do much due to the precision. The game was uphill all of a sudden because of him. Nobody complained, however. Anyone could lose the ball at any time, right? Besides, what use was there for worrying and regretting? It wouldn't help him and the team, anyway.

He sighed, slightly annoyed at himself. He promised himself not to allow that to happen again and turned towards the centre of the pitch, waiting for the game to continue. Dandalleion passed the ball to Roga, and so he left behind the goal. The three points were very important, nobody could afford to have him down. No, he just had to make up for it now.

And, funnily enough, he'd get a chance to redeem himself just five minutes later. He feinted going to the left against that same annoying midfielder then went to the right, dribbling him. However, the opposing centre midfielder was already backing the other guy up, and so got to the ball before him, starting another counterattack which, to his relief, ended up with Mêndêlöíndçêl saving the game for Farfadillis by stopping one of the strikers from going one-on-one with an astonishing sliding challenge.

A few minutes passed, and it was starting to get frustrating. On the other side, Fôx was pulling things off. Maybe he had to take him as an example? Soon, he got the ball once again, this time from Terán. He feinted going for the right, then went for the left. The very same annoying midfielder guessed his intentions, but he managed to quickly change his mind and change to the right before the sliding challenge got to him. He looked up and saw the same centre midfielder going for his head. He then dribbled him by sending the ball to his right and running to his left, which left the Paradisian confused. He then sprinted like never before to get to the sphere before the other centre midfielder could get to it. He looked up. He was now heading towards the penalty spot, just a few metres away. Things were moving in slow motion. He saw Dandalleion preparing for a through pass, and Roga offering himself to receive the ball and pass it back to him. He went for the second option. Roga one-touch passed it back, as was expected. When the ball was getting close, his instincts suddenly took control and he went for violent long-range effort. The shot that came off his right foot could be compared to a bullet. The ball barely avoided the crossbar, and hit the roof of the net. A pretty awesome goal to get back on track, with twenty minutes left to win the game!

He had redeemed himself, sure, his performance had already reached a seven or so out of ten. But, what good would he be if he just stopped there? There were still things to play for, and now he had the momentum going for him! Now they could go for the win, and a tie against Boring Paradise away from home wouldn't be bad anyway! But wait, no, he couldn't think like that. He had to go for the win. It would be pretty coward not to.

Turns out he had lost focus a bit, so it somewhat caught him by surprise when he got the ball from Terán. He looked up and saw that midfielder once again. He one-twoed him getting help from Tuzzio then cut in. He looked up and saw Dandalleion preparing for a through pass once again. Roga was also offering himself in the very same way as in the goal. Then he looked up and saw Fôx sprinting with his last breath - cause the guy's endurance was far from admirable - towards the box, leaving behind the one supposedly taking care of him. He connected a through pass to his fellow Rulandese that left him in a perfect position to shoot in the first touch. Mâás did just that, but the shot was not very precise. It was more powerful than anything else. Luckily, the goalkeeper did not seem to be in the best of his days, so his reflexes did not work properly, which would've saved Boring Paradise from the loss. So, a goal for Farfadillis, and after that the game was pretty much Farf.

Fôx was replaced by Kühâx and Roga by Dragãozý. Rossizzo told everyone to play a possession game, and Boring Paradise just couldn't get the ball anymore. He had redeemed himself, and completely countered his mistake.

A good player is not one that does not make mistakes. A good player is one whose contributions completely mitigate his mistakes. Risko Kâí was just that.

by **Turori** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:27 pm

The names just keep getting longer...

... Continued ...

It was the comedy of oppositionthat began for the Eels, with the length of the name of their opposition seeming to increase exponentially from their modest 'Kericia' starting point on Matchday 4.

The Eels started brightly against New North Aqumland, scoring early as Inamari Altariiz cought the opposition defense napping to steal in just 2 minutes into the match and convert an opener for the Eels. It was not to be the start of a rout, however, as New North Aqumland fought back to take a 2-1 lead into the half time break.

It was the first match of the campaign that Mumau Atla-Siioai did not start and the goalkeeping change was all of a sudden looking like a horrible idea for the Eels who seemed to have the flood gates opened on them by an unlikely source.

Saenu would make one change to the side at half time taking the goalscorer Altariiz off the pitch - he had earlier picked up a knock that he tried to play out but was obviously limbering about when not involved in the play. Coming on for Altariiz was the youngster Teliima Loinara who had been impressive in early games.

The Eels would salvage a point in the second half through Klaillal Tuirma's goal but it was disappointment overall as there was no margin for error standing between Turori and World Cup 68 Qualification. In fact, there was no such thing as a sure thing in the unique playoff format being utilized for the first time during the road to Saintland and Legalese, and any further slipups could risk the Eels losing control of their own destiny in the playoff race.

Turori Eels [2] - [2] New North Aqumland

Turori Goalscorers::
2' Inamari Altariiz
72' Klaillal Tuirma

Turori
Best Player: Tarek Edgeli
Worst Player: Ronji Miiastara
Shots on Target: 3
Corner Kicks: 5

Turori Eels Lineup v. New North Aqumland ::
[GK] Ronji Miiastara, [D] Tarek Edgeli, [D] Dmitri Levada, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Cediici Tzatzos, [MC] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Inlite Makakio, [MR] Rutaj Ranaso, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Anuh Ciniima
BENCH::
[FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Matlya Eelador, [M] Teliima Loinara, [M] Raso Tareak, [UT] Mirana Gotuai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai

Turori Substitutions::
(45) - Inamari Altariiz >>> Teliima Loinara

As if New North Aqumland wasn't a long enough name for the announcers to get a handle around, the Eels matchday 6 opposition was the Greater Vakolicci Haven.

Head coach Ematea Saenu - and the entirty of the Turorian media - didn't know a thing about this long-winded nation from who-knows-where so much of the pre match discussion was centered around the length and presentation of their opponents name.

Luckily for the Eels, The Greater Vakolicci Haven was hiding no surprises, and they performed just as awkwardly as their name rolled off the tongue. The experienced Rikko Rawaii was the star for the Eels, even though he didn't get on the scoresheet.

Matlya Eelador of Cednia Beach AFC opened the scoring for Turori and his goal was followed up by one from the utility player Klaillal Tuirma, putting Turori up 2-0 at the break.

Then, the Eels added a 3rd just past the hour mark from Rutaj Ranaso.

It was a fourth clean sheet in five matches for Mumau Atla-Siioai who was re-instated in the starting lineup after a shaky performance from Ronjii Miiastara on Matchday 5 led to a pair of goals a gainst and two points lost for the Eels.

Atla-Siioai would get a rest on Matchday 7 but the youngster Sharif Deniibo - some consider the future replacement for Atla-Siioai as starting National Team goalkeeper, would match the Turoki United goalkeepers performances with a clean sheet of his own to close out the first half of qualifying.

Even better, Saenu's Eels appeared to have remembered how to attack, with a four-star performance against Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenlander, leading credence to the theory that the Eels perform better the longer the name of the team their are opposing.

Turori were up 2-0 after just 9 minutes after early goals from Inamari Altariiz and Oani Moralziia. The Eels took their foot off the pedal from that point, perhaps unwisely, but maintained large amounts of the possesion and never looked like conceding to give their even-longer-windedly-named-opponents a way back into the match.

Liinai Zakazaka would eventually put the match out of reach with a pair of goals giving Turori its biggest victory of the campaign, a 4-0 result.

Turori Eels [3] - [0] The greater Vakolicci Haven

Turori Goalscorers::
34' Matlya Eelador
43' Klaillal Tuirma
61' Rutaj Ranaso

Turori
Best Player: Rikko Rawaii
Worst Player: Dmitri Levada
Shots on Target: 4
Corner Kicks: 7

Turori Eels Lineup v. The greater Vakolicci Haven ::
[GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Tarek Edgeli, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Dmitri Levada, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Rutaj Ranaso, [MC] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MR] Raso Tareak, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Matlya Eelador
BENCH::
[FC] Loala Kigoouao, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [M] Teliima Loinara, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [UT] Jukkia Diijelhma, [D] Oani Moralziia, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(45) - Etamara Kulkkiia >>> Teliima Loinara
(60) - Yoains Konoaafeo >>> Cediici Tzatzos
(72) - Matlya Eelador >>> Loala Kigoouao

Turori Eels [4] - [0] Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenlander

Turori Goalscorers::
7' Inamari Altariiz
9' Oani Moralziia
50' Liinai Zakazaka
85' Liinai Zakazaka

Best Player: Inlite Makakio
Worst Player: Liinai Zakazaka
Shots on Target: 8
Corner Kicks: 9

Turori Eels Lineup v. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenlander ::
[GK] Sharif Deniibo, [D] Tarek Edgeli, [D] Oani Moralziia, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Raso Tareak, [MC] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Inlite Makakio, [MR] Cediici Tzatzos, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Inamari Altariiz
BENCH::
[FC] Mirana Gotuai, [FC] Matlya Eelador, [M] Rutaj Ranaso, [M] Vrotaoa Lorasoiba, [UT] Dmitri Levada, [D] Geafi Laina-Sola, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(34) - Rikko Rawaii >>> Rutaj Ranaso
(45) - Klaillal Tuirma >>> Vrotaoa Lorasoiba

by **Felix** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:34 pm

(I thought I was going to do a match report for the Apox/Felix match but I am not, going to do that tomorrow... Oh and this RP is inspired from my report I did in that Esportivan foreign press thingy we have, linky to my report)

Xavier Solos lived alone in his apartment, he once had a wife but he divorced her a long time ago. He found her to be a problem, a distraction if you will to his plans to found a new political party. Yes it was in 1987 when he had enough of the status quo. He was a Conservative Party supporter but he found them to get too soft, "How could they not include the formation of a military into their national plan of success?" a 39 Xavier Solos thought. So he had an idea, he had to form a new political party.

Boy was that easier said than done, he had to do a lot in order to form this new party. But it was going well and in 1988 he founded the Nationalist Party. A year after that he divorced his wife, the reason? In the words of Xavier Solos she was, "the quintessential nagging bitch". Yeah they really hated each other near the end of their 11 year marriage. Sad really.

Which bring us to today, where he is living alone in his apartment in Vigo, Felix. His party sure had changed over the years, ever since the Free Republics fallout the nation wanted a military. Now the United Party and his own Nationalist Party were reaping the rewards of this shift in public opinion. The NP and UP are now the new political powerhouses of Felixian politics. While his rival United Party has stayed true to their name, being United namely, his Nationalists were divided between a peaceful military formation (Solos's faction) faction and the quasi-Imperialist military formation (Passerini's faction) faction. The party perhaps has attracted those Fascist fanatics?

That thought brought a chill to his spine and he now has to figure out a way to reverse the effects Passerini made to his party. Thanks to that nut head the NP was viewed as the far-right party hellbent in joining the ranks of Astrograth and the Syndicate. He didn't want that, far from it. In fact, had he not lost the party elections for President he would've made an alliance with the United Party and they would be a united force to bring a military to protect Felix from foreign danger. But alas, it wasn't meant to be and Lazzaro Passerini had his way.

A knock came from his apartment. He grumbled, "Who the hell is it now? Don't they know I don't want Boy Scout Cookies?" He looked at the peephole of his door and noticed to men dressed in black, that didn't look good. And despite his better judgment he opened the door, his gun on the counter in case things went sour, which his gut told him it would go. He opened it, "Who is it?" The two men didn't answer and barged in quickly silencing Xavier Solos, the two then got some duct tape and some rope. They laid him down in the living room of his apartment.

One of the black cladded men spoke on his cellphone, "We have Mr. Solos." there was a pause, Mr. Solos could some of the words from the other line, something about, "Good... Eliminate him..." The words took a minute to process and then he realized something. It was a hit, he was going to be killed today. Murdered, by who? Why? Those questions he asked in his head would never be found out, he was gone man. He accepted his fate, but he didn't cry. He wasn't the type that would cry at the face of death.

The two men realized Mr. Solos must of heard something, the two grinned. "You know you are going to die, right?" Said one of the men, he was tall, 6 foot 2 maybe. Solos frowned and nodded. The other man spoke he was shorter than the other one, "Good. Mr. Lazzaro Passerini, told us that you would be accepting of your death." The name that came out of the shorter assassin's mouth shocked the 68 year old Solos. It was Passerini, the younger bastard wanted him dead! He was angry but he couldn't do a thing about it. It was all over.

Bang.

And that silenced gunshot marked the end of Solos's life. One shot to the head and that was it. The two weren't done though, they wanted to make sure and they then shot the now dead corpse of Mr. Solos five times. Just to be safe. The two laughed and the taller of the men dressed in black got his phone out again. He called Lazzaro Passerini, "The deed is done boss. Mr. Solos is dead." Passerini responded quickly, "Good, I will pay the amount in cash. Meet me in the old warehouse in Vigo." The assassin responded with a simple nod and yes.

The assassin looked at his partner, "Let's go, the cops will get here soon." The other man nodded and they left. Days later the family of Solos reported Xavier Solos missing and days after that they found the body in his apartment. Everyone suspected Passerini had something to do with the murder, but there was no evidence, there was no reports of screaming no signs of struggle. Nothing.

As for Passerini a political obstacle has been eliminated, permanently. He now had all the power in the Nationalist Party and any other forms of resistance to his rule would be met by gunshot. He now needed to unite the minor parties such as the Fascist Party of Felix and the Felixian National Party for Greatness. Those two were minor but still important parties he need to get under his wing. If they united with his party, great. If not, then he would have to pull another Solos on the two leaders and make them join his party.

To be continued...

ISideWith UK · by **Eastfield Lodge** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:42 pm

Back at the Eastfield Lodge Portal Control Centre:

Ryad: "Doctor, Rassilon, have either of you got ideas now?"

The EL Government, quite predictably alarmed at the impending disaster about to befall the nation, had brought in the two Time Lords to try and find a solution to the problem. So far, they had tried reversing the polarity of the neutron flow in the reactor, which made the whole situation worse by destabilising the accelerator, and sending a few pulses of time energy waves through the nation, de-ageing everybody by a couple of weeks before it was put right. They'd tried cutting out the interference by amplifying the resonance from the accelerator, which served the purpose of nearly cracking the multiverse apart. There were plenty of other attempted solutions, including trying to separate the void between Eastfield Lodge and Ossidiacqua, which really didn't work.

Rassilon: "We've only got one realistic option left to us. Close the void. So there's no chance of a space-time disaster of unimaginable scale."

Doctor: "Actually, I can quite easily imagine that. The curse of being a wanderer."

Rassilon: "Your own fault, but that's not the point. The point is there that will be a disaster, and I for one do not want to be around to see it. I'd rather die saving Gallifrey, and ensuring our supremiority, than in this backwater where I've been stuck for the past 30-odd years of my life!"

Ryad: "Anyways... you say we should close the void, but that would completely cut us off from the rest of our reality, the reality with which we have our main association. I don't think anyone would accept that."

Doctor: "They're going to have to. Unless..."

Rassilon: "What?"

Doctor: "Well, we could ... transport Eastfield Lodge back across the void."

Ryad: "I suppose that's possible. Given that a much larger expanse of land was transported across it in the first place. But do you know it could be done?"

Rassilon: "Well, we could build a void controller, hook it up to the particle accelerator, which would give us the ability to take the empire back across the void. But the risk is enormous, what with the proximity of the other portal close by. And from what I can gather, Ossidiacqua is lost forever, even to us."

Ryad: "What exactly do you mean by risks?"

Doctor: "You see, the initial journey, whilst it wasn't smooth as it was a newly created portal, was still made because it could be a direct crossing, with no problems. Now, with the other portal throwing things off course, just the slightest miscalculations could result in this country barrelling off sideways and being torn apart in the time vortex. Worst still, it could puncture the space-time continuum, and that would be the end. And I don't want to consider what happens if we aim at Ossidiacqua."

Rassilon: "Before we even do that, we need to properly determine the cause of the time disaster in Ossidiacqua. Yes, we can't reverse it, but if we can elicit it's cause, we may just be able to create a buffer against it, for just enough time to enable you to get across."

Ryad: "Well, let's pass this plan before the government, and see what they think."

OOC: In case anyone is wondering, I'll be making the final jump either during or after the CoH, depending on circumstances (a host bid in the works, mainly).

by **The greater Vakolicci Haven** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:42 pm

POV: Blacksen Domination

"So, this is it. It's apparently 'what Celeria's been waiting for for ages,' though you wouldn't know it.
It's Celeria pride festival, Parci du Rei, 3 days of music all from Celerian bands, and we're second-highest tonight on the bill.
The whole band is with me: Liam's tuning his guitar, Michael's sot a brand new one, Rhuthien's finally got the new shipment of keyboards and Marc's practicing his base tracks. Myself, I'm discussing with a roady, who's insisting that my drums are the correct volume. In fact, they're a bit too quite.
We all show the idiot sound man where he's wrong, you can hardly hear the drums past 2 guitarists, a keyboard, a base player and my voice, and he's got the picture.

6:545 shows up on my watch and, although I can't see it, I know that aircraft's flying over the crowd from the great rumble I feel under my feet. I know everyone's started to stand still in anticipation by the hush of voices and the roar of fans wanting us to come out.
"Tested ready," a techy said, handing us our jetpacks which we dutifully donned, hoping that their are no burns this time.
You see, jetpacks are something that Celeria is truely good at. We're a nation that imports most of our weapons from the Haven and other places, but if you want that gun to fly, we're the ones you need. The same thing can go for your favorite bands: most things in Celeria, including music, flies.

"1 2 3 4, 1 1 2 3," is all the crowd can hear from the stage as yet another sound check comes through. It's the final one. He's sorting out my microphone. I set the thing up myself, and I know it works fine, which he agrees and gives it back.
I clip the thing onto my Eternity t-shirt and lift off from the stage, my drum kit strapped to my chest, the jet pack making an almost inaudible werring noise as myself and the rest of the band lift off.

As the layer of black fog disepates, I'm flying over the crowd, the microphone and drum amplifiers wirelessly transmitting my sound through the speakers positioned around the crowd. "World on fire," something safe, something easy to start with. I blast it out like I've done a thousand times before, and everything goes right. Just bad my football can't do that, I think to myself sullenly as the stick rhythmicly beat the base, snare and clasped symbols.

About 15 songs later, I realise with something of a panic where I should be. It's the 4th of April! I almost lose track of my words as I realise that I'm meant to be playing tonight in the world cup...against New North Aqmuland of all people.
I think to myself that everything will be alright, that Laura, or Miralim or someone will know where I am, but the knowledge I'm letting myself, letting Celeria, letting millions of expectant fans down is overwhealming. By the Gods, please let the game be postponed. Please let Rijic realise what's happening, and then the show ends, and we're back behind the layer of fog.

"More! More! More!" the crowd is shouting at us, but the festival organisers won't let us play more. The next band is already preparing to come on...It's Liam's other band, and his friend Jean-Luc is trying to wrestle us backwards.
Jean-Luc's strong, but it's clear that Liam's not listening. He wants to play more...he wants Convergent Flame, his other band, to have to start late. I don't know why, but I'm not about to complain as I lead them back infront of the crowd to deafening roars to play 3 more songs.
And that, my friends, is how I nearly missed a football game."

by **Schiavonia** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:49 pm

Jenny: "Three-one to Schiavonia! Wow! A great goal from Chester! This could be another Schiavone win!"

Kev: "Wow! Unbelievable!"

Jenny: "This result would keep Schiavonia in the play-offs for another game!"

Kev: "Not bad for a new team!"

Jenny: "We've done better."

Kev: "Better?"

Jenny: "Oh yes!"

Kev: "Surely new teams don't do much better than this?"

Jenny: "Schiavonia qualified for their first ever World Cup!"

Kev: "No way!"

Jenny: "I've told you that before, Kev."

Kev: "You have?"

Jenny: "Yes, of course I have!"

Kev: "Oh."

Jenny: "But it is an interesting story as to how Schiavonia even got to that stage."

Kev: "Oh yes?"

Jenny: "Absolutely! After ending up in the football playing region of FIFA, the game took four years to reach Schiavonia. But when it did, it's popularity grew ridiculously quickly."

Kev: "Well, no wonder! It is awesome!"

Jenny: "Exactly! And it meant that groups could play sports on a team, not just on their own."

Kev: "That's good, right?"

Jenny: "Right! It meant that people could use the friendly competitiveness of sport alongside playing alongside their friends!"

Kev: "It doesn't get any better than that!"

Jenny: "No, it doesn't! This was in the year 95, around the same time as Schiavonia was opening up to the world. Well, there's only one way it could go from there."

Kev: "Starting an international football team!"

Jenny: "Exactly! It was the best way that Schiavonia could improve international relations! Send out a football team to play wonderful attacking football that proves ultimately unsuccessful. That way, we could look stylish without insulting the establishment. And then they could celebrate with the Schiavonies, who loved a party, no matter what!"

Kev: "But you said that they qualified?"

Jenny: "Well, the plan didn't exactly go to plan. As it were. It all started at the Baptism of Fire, which was being held in Rejistania. At the time, Rejistania were Schiavonia's neighbours. But they did not share the same philosophy as their neighbours."

Kev: "No?"

Jenny: "Not at all. Indeed, the Rejistanians held these odd blue ball things called va'karela that made players unnaturally defensive. It meant that there were barely any goals at the Baptism of Fire, and this annoyed the Schiavones."

Kev: "Understandably so."

Jenny: "Anyway, the slow rate of goals earned the Schiavonia team the nickname the Sloths. And they've had it ever since!"

Kev: "Ah... OK!"

Jenny: "You're not missing too much here, by the way. Anyway, who did the Sloths draw when it came to World Cup Qualifying?"

Kev: "Not..."

Jenny: "It was Rejistania!"

Kev: "Oh."

Jenny: "What did you think I was going to say?"

Kev: "Not sure."

Jenny: "Oh. Anyway, as it turned out, both teams qualified for the finals, even though the Sloths were rank outsiders in their first ever cup! But, more than that, when Rejistania came to Kingsbury..."

Kev: "Not New Kingsbury?"

Jenny: "No. This was the old one. The original."

Kev: "Aaah."

Jenny: "Anyway, when they came over, Schiavonia won! They actually won!"

Kev: "Woooooo! Go Sloths!!!"

Jenny: "And so it was that Schiavonia made it to their first ever World Cup Finals at the first attempt!"

Kev: "Good story! Not that interesting, though."

jenny: "Really? I suppose it must take a certain type. One that isn't an utter moron... The mach here, on the other hand, is not particularly interesting at the moment. The modern day Sloths are stifling Greater Watford, and not letting them play at all. Anyway, just because Schiavonia didn't get to play their attacking football and lose a lot, it didn't mean that they didn't become popular. They did!"

Kev: "So it worked, then?"

Jenny: "It did! It turned out, that all they needed to do was just play!"

Kev: "Brilliant!"

Jenny: "And they became sooo much more popular! And, the Schiavones being as welcoming as they are, they invited the world to the Forty-Six Islands. The World Cup came to Schiavonia!"

Kev: "Wow! That could never happen now!"

Jenny: "Well, of course not! We've only got one stadium!"

Kev: "And where would we put them all?"

Jenny: "Exactly! But we had plenty of space back then, and the main stadium was named after the king who made it happen - King Francesco."

Kev: "Well done to him!"

Jenny: "Absolutely! And well done to Bedistan, who won their fourth World Cup in the thirtieth cup, which Schiavonia shared with their friends in the Islands of Qutar. But worse times were afoot. The first Schiavone Dark Age."

Kev: "Dark Age? What happened then?"

Jenny: "Well, King Francesco, one of the guests of honour at the World Cup Final, passed away nine years later. At this point, his son King Alfredo came to power. Alfredo had different ideas about sport in Schiavonia."

Kev: "Like what?"

Jenny: "A bit like the team from World Cup 52."

Kev: "He didn't want to play?"

Jenny: "Pretty much. Alfredo believed that sport did not bring people together, but showed up the divisions between peoples, and was thus not considered very Schiavone. He went on to ban sport in Schiavonia."

Kev: "No! Ban it!?!"

Jenny: "Oh yes! As a cross from Tilder is blocked by Tilda."

Kev: "Interesting, That's an unusual surname for players on both teams to have one, isn't it?"

Jenny: "Isn't it just? Not more interesting than Schiavonia's first World Cup, though."

Kev: "It must be the way you told it!"

Jenny: "Riiiight... of course, Schiavonia did not react at all well to the banning of sport, and so Schiavone sport found a new home in the neighbouring nation of Race Track. Sport was banished, but the decision was unpopular. So much so, in fact, that it threatened to overthrow the king unless he reinstated sport."

Kev: "Overthrow the king? That sounds a bit extreme."

Jenny: "Well, the system made it easy to overthrow the king. The monarch had to be voted in every year, so if they became unpopular, they would lose their position, and the next in line would be given a chance,"

Kev: "What a terribly Schiavone system of monarchy!"

Jenny: "Wasn't it just! Anyway, the decision to take away the thing that had made the nation feel happier and more Schiavone than ever proved unsurprisingly unpopular, so he had to change it back."

Kev: "Of course he did."

Jenny: "And so sport came back to Schiavonia. Alfredo learned about what made Schiavonia the nation it was, and the people were happier than ever. They had back the thing that they loved the most, and a new era was ready to start."

Kev: "Oh wow! And what was this new era?"

Jenny: "Well, actually, technically, it is part of the same Schiavone era as the rest of what we've been talking about. But it was the pinnacle of it."

Kev: "You're confusing me now, Jenny! Is it a new era or not?"

Jenny: "No. Not a new era. It would be the pinnacle of the era. And also, time for a move."

Kev: "A move?"

Jenny: "Oh, yes! A move! Oh, come on. Schiavonia's history is littered with moves!"

Kev: "We have had a few so far, haven't we?"

Jenny: "In both the story so far and living memory, Kev."

Kev: "Oh yes! I'd forgotten about them. It has been a while though."

Jenny: "It hasn't even been two years, Kev."

Kev: "Oh. Oh yes."

Jenny: "Anyway, I'll tell you about that during the Sicoutmont match."

Kev: "Oh no! Not now, then?"

Jenny: "I think that's quite enough history for today. We've a football match to commentate on!"

Kev: "We do."

Jenny: "So can Schiavonia follow up their four-two defeat against Mytannion with a win here in Greater Watford. It is three-one as we enter the final fifteen minutes."

Kev: "Four-two defeat against Mytannion?"

Jenny: "Yes. You were there, remember?"

Kev: "Oh yes! But... we weren't commentating, were we?"

Jenny: "No. Remember, SIBN invested in Bytecoins, which became almost instantaneously worthless. So we had to stop broadcasting for a week and a half."

Kev: "Damn."

Jenny: "Thankfully, we didn't invest too much, so it was only a week and a half. Otherwise, it would have been trouble."

Kev: "I'm sure it could have been!"

Jenny: "Anyway, that's why there was no commentary. But the game goes on, as Tilda works the ball forward..."

by **German American States** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 3:02 pm

A Golden Dawn

Kapitel Zwei

Kapitel Eins

The members of Action 1 nodded, standing solemnly, contemplating the gravity of the situation. Only they could bring the nation to its deserved place in Esportiva.

Kurt gestured for the men to take their seats. "So, it is time?" Kurt ventured.

Meier spoke up. "Ja, Herr Nachreich. All the pieces are in place. It seems like now is the time to implement the action."

"Good. Who have we assigned to deliver the...dispatch?"

Beckermann cleared his throat. "Herr, we have hired a specialist to take care of that. We plan to utilize his skills next week when the President visits Congress to make a speech about that tax loophole business. Expect a commotion. The most legitimate way for our cause to succeed is to identify a common enemy and distract the people from how we will rise to international prominence. Lucky for us, the specialist has a double passport with the Commune. Anyhow, we want to make it a moment that will always be ingrained in the national memory after our revolution succeeds. It will be showy, yes. He is expected to do it from the center isle of the Senator's seats. Don't worry about the security, we at the Kriegsmachen will take care of that."

Meier spoke back to Kurt. "We expect you will get inagurated right then and there on the Congress floor. We shall drum up support before Kruger's last moments aboveground. You'll undoubtedly be asked to speak, and you shall amplify the cause. Once we get enough support for the proposal, we shall go forward with it. It shall be easy."

Kurt stared down at the wood grain in the table. "Gentlemen, you do realize the gravity of the situation? If we fail, we will be tried and executed. Without a doubt. I need to know that you are with me on this. One last time, take another vow that you will stay faithful to the cause."

As the men stood up again, Kurt took the Bible from a shelf in the study. They all put their hands on the bible.

"DEUTSCHE-AMERIKA ÜBER ALLES!"

World Cup 68 RP Thread

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