Celestial Chronicle (Regional News Thread)

[Lubyak]

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NAVY ANNOUNCES MODERNISATION PLAN
Lubyakan Navy Announces Long Arm Modernisation Plan; Massive Orders to Foreign Suppliers Placed
Source: Lubyakan News Network (LNN)|30 November, 2014|Politics|Nonastov

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Battlecruiser LNS Crucible Returning to the Carousel Shipyards as the Long Arm Phase I Modernisation Plan Begins

CAROUSEL SHIPYARDS, NONASTOV--The return of a warship as large as a Dominion class battleceruiser is almost always cause for celebration here in the famous port city on the Tovakyan Ocean. The Crucible alone has been home to several hundred sailors for the past several months, and with the rest of her task force not far behind, perhaps thousands of families will be welcoming home loved ones who have been away for far too long. However, it seems that this stay at home will be much longer than usual, for the Crucible is one of the first Lubyakan Navy vessels scheduled for an overhaul as part of the newly announced Long Arm Modernisation Plan. The Crucible along with nearly a dozen other capital ships and tens of cruisers, escorts, and submarines will be entering drydock for massive upgrades that the Ministry of Defence described as, 'The next step in Lubyakan naval presence in Poneria and beyond." In addition, LNN insiders have heard whispers that key industrial, electronics, and aerospace corporations across the Dominion have been contacted by the Ministry of Defence for new contracts in naval expansion.

The announcement of the Long Arm Modernisation Plan came as a surprise today from the Ministry of Defence, though it has been foreshadowed. The Dominion Council had been the recent scene of a major squabble between the Social Democrat and Federal Centre Parties over the defence budget in the coming year, with the Social Democrats advocating for tax cuts on the middle class, compensated for with a reduction in military spending for 2015. However, the Federal Centre, backed up by the Reichpolitik Party managed to drive through a vote which gave the Council's stamp of approval to the Governor-General's proposed shuffle in the budget for the coming year. Unfortunately, the exact details of the budget remain classified until the new year, but given the new naval announcement, it would seem that the Navy's budget has been increased. Whether this has come at the expense of the Army, Air Force, social spending, or the tax payers remains to be seen.

According to the Ministry of Defence and Navy Department's announcement, the Long Arm Modernisation plan is to result in a complete overhaul of the entire Lubyakan fleet, upgrading vessels to incorporate new top of the line electronic systems, and beginning what some in policy think thanks have called the, "long overdue replacement of hull designs within the Lubyakan Navy." The Lubyakan Navy has long received criticism for clinging to old styles of ship design, even as other powers--most prominently the Greater Pony Herd--developed new hull designs to take advantage of new technologies. This likely means the retirement of some classes of Lubyakan Navy vessel--some of which have had the same basic design since the 1980s--and the construction of new vessels to replace them. This upgrade plan of the Lubyakan fleet is scheduled to take place over several years, starting with electronics upgrades for certain key vessels along with the introduction of interim vessels based on foreign designs, followed by the expansion of these upgrades across the entire fleet, and finishing with the replacement of aging vessels with new domestically designed hulls and weapons. Confirmation has already come through that the Ministry has been purchasing equipment and production rights from foreign states, such as the Yohanessian VMK AG.

The Ministry of Defence and Navy have both stated the Long Arm plan is centred around remaking the Lubyakan Navy into a fully modern fighting force. Historically, the Navy has always taken a lower priority when compared to the threat of the Loron Pact, and during the Windigo War, it was widely accepted that the Lubyakan Navy would be almost completely annihilated in combat with the Herdite Navy. However, since the end of the Windigo War and the alliance with the GPH, the Lubyakan Navy has become a new centre of attention. The apparent failure of the Navy to adequately project power to protect even Protectorates within Poneria during the Taros Crisis drew huge amounts of criticism from Lubyakan citizens and policy groups. While details have yet to fully emerge, the Long Arm plan is most likely going to be highly focused on righting these perceived weaknesses, and bringing the Lubyakan Navy to a new high of power projection capability.

Chronicle Story Code: Military; Navy; International

[The Lunar Domain]

The Midnight Report

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Parliamentary Resolution 1328 signed: Domain presence now in Universe 02

Artist’s depiction of Tarantar Island

Source: The Midnight Report (TMR)|Midnight Court Federal District, The Lunar Domain|Tues 4/22/3028

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MIDNIGHT COURT FEDERAL DISTRICT -- This morning, Prime Minister Phalanx Spear in a press conference announced the signing of the Parliamentary Resolution One Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight on the Status of Tarantar Island.

Passed by The Lunar Parliament on April 14, P.R. 1328 is a legislative bill that claims the Tarantar Island as a Federal Territory, similar to the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Federal Territories currently existing.

Tarantar Island itself is located in Universe 02, roughly 2,360 kilometers off the coast of The Federal Republic of Montesardo-East Adanzi, and has historically been uninhabited. Comprised mostly by hills and valleys, the terrain has been passed over historically.

According to the Resolution itself, part of the reason for the claim to the island is to provide an established presence in Universe 02 for The Domain, instead of having to continuously move military vessels between the Universes for any sort of activity.

Due to the difficult and recently pioneered method of moving between universes, a task thus far accomplished only by the New Lunar Republic Armed Forces’ Navy’s vessels, any Lunar Citizen wishing to move to the Tarantar Island Federal Territory must contact the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and register themselves to the planned settlement groups to be launched next month. There will be no governmental fee for moving to or from the Tarantar Island Federal Territory.

As with the administration of the other Federal Territories, the Ministry of the Environment’s Department of Territorial Administration will be placed in charge of the Territory’s government until the Territory is eligible to become a State of The Lunar Domain.

“The Tarantar Islands do not just present The Lunar Domain with a greater diplomatic capability in Universe 02,” Prime Minister Phalanx Spear stated in the aforementioned press conference. “They present its peoples an opportunity, one to not only move to and from its lands, but to represent the Domain in a method of peace.”

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Chronicle Story Code: Politics, International News
04/12/Domain

[Allanea]

FLEET MOVES TO PONERIA
1st Ponerian Fleet Moves to New Base; Part of Naval ExpansionSource: Allanean News Network (ANN)|12 November, 20??|Military|De Reyo

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FKS Imperka Flag, one of the Navy’s Troy-class landing ships, moves into De Reyo Harbour

DE REYO NAVAL BASE, De Reyo--As the Imperka Flag sails closer to port, it seems that the Hobbiests - long known as ‘Allanea’s wiser, culturally superior allies’ - will now play host to the wealthier, larger nation’s Navy, in an arrangement some may have termed ‘amicable’. The Republic has agreed to host within its borders an Allanean fleet, intended to aid the Republic - and other Allanean allies in the region - in the event they fall victim to aggression.

Mystery shrouds the arrival of the fleet. It is fairly small - sources within the Free Kingdom Navy tell us it numbers less than 25 surface combatants, none of them heavier than 35,000 tons, and most of them under twenty thousand. It remains unclear what military advantage, if any, will be achieved from the presence of this warfleet.

On the other hand, the Navy Spokesman’s Office remains upbeat about the endeavour. Captain Trevor H. Gringoff, Assistant Navy Spokesman, had this to tell our correspondent: “This is the dawning of a new day for both the Free Kingdom Navy and the armed forces of the Hobbiest Republic. If anything, people in both countries should be popping open bottles of champagne to celebrate this diplomatic achievement.”

The Free Kingdom Navy will also deploy a small Marine Infantry complement - approximately a single brigade strong - as well as a coastal defense and aviation complement, in order to be able to independently protect and support its naval operations, as well as operate jointly with the Hobbiest Republic.

It is believed that the creation of the fleet - dubbed the 1st Ponerian Fleet - is part of the same naval expansion that is being heralded by this year’s Rearmament Act, which has seen substantial naval weaponry purchases authorized with both domestic and foreign suppliers, including Allanean Arms, Schwerpunkt, and VMK AG. Kazansky Heavy Industries, the King’s own industrial company, has entered several bids for the construction of SSNs and SSBNs for the navy, but the results of these bids have not yet been determined.

The Rearmament Act this year has focused extensively on naval reorganization, and while it is not intended to rival such naval giants as the Greater Pony Herd, or even Lubyak, it is intended to bring the total number of ships in Allanean service to 30,000, and see the addition of a third Hood-class superdreadnought to Allanean service.

Chronicle Story Code:Military
12/12/Allanea

[Lubyak]

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WORRIES RISE AS TO FUTURE OF LUBYAKAN OIL RESERVES
National Standard Oil and RO&G Corporation Announce New Study Regarding Lubyakan Oil and Gas Reserves
Source: Lubyakan News Network (LNN)|12 December, 2014|Economics|Vostroya

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The Goldpond Field May Cease Economic Production Before 2020

POL CENTRE TOWER, VOSTROYA--What was once a relatively low key report being developed by the School of Energy at Rotana Royal University’s College of Earth Sciences has now topped headlines in emergency bulletins and trade journals throughout the entire Lubyakan oil and gas industry. The new study is scheduled to be published in the first quarter 2015 edition of the Journal of Oil and Gas Sciences, but early editions have already been circulating through the boardrooms of major Lubyakan oil corporations and the tremors have already begun to ripple out through the rest of the commodities and stock markets. At a joint press conference held at the POL Centre in Vostroya, National Standard Oil and Rotanan Oil & Gas--who jointly control approximately 65% of Lubyakan domestic production--the two giants announced some of the key elements alleged in the paper before its publication.

The most important piece of information alleged is that the long predicted date of Lubyakan peak oil production at sometime in the 2060s or 2070s was dreadfully wrong by an average of nearly twenty years, and more than forty in specific cases. Major fields like Goldpond, Schwarzenwald, and Lord’s Mill are now believed to have already passed or are rapidly approaching peak production. While such an alteration may be severely damaging as is, the additional discoveries only intensify the worries. Notably, the fields that have had their expected lifespans slashed most dramaticallya are those which have the lowest price of extraction in terms of thalers spent per barrel pumped. Indeed, the expected lifetime of some oil fields which have just recently been tapped in Upper and Lower Anyova have actually been increased by the University study. However, when compared to the major fields in Vaterland, Entferntlan, and Vostroyaka, the costs of extraction at these new fields is substantially higher, not mentioning the added costs of creating infrastructure connecting the new fields on the eastern shores of the Bay of Toman to the refineries and pipelines in the Rota Valley.

Over the course of the press conference, Chairman Shimmering Pool of National Standard and CEO Sylvester Datriato of RO&G admitted that recent data off of many ‘light sweet’ oil fields that are among the cheapest to exploit lends credence to the concerns elucidated in the report. However, both executives insisted that the news was not cause for alarm, arguing that even as original fields run dry, maritime production and the development of new fields will ensure that any price rise would be limited to a handful of thalers per barrel. The pair categorically denied having misrepresented information to stockholders and investors, and also denied allegations that Lubyakan oil producers have been suppressing attempts at independent scientific surveys of their fields for years. However, in their own press conference, Professor Eloise d’Auvergne insisted that she and her students experienced great difficulty in receiving geological data from the oil companies or in gaining access to company land in order to conduct their survey.

The full implications of this announcement remain to be known. While the Dominion is not an oil exporter, the Lubyakan economy consumes huge amounts of oil on a daily basis, and a fall in domestic production could lead to increased imports and a higher oil price for the region over. No doubt, the market effects of today’s press conference will spread far beyond Lubyakan borders to markets all over Poneria.

Chronicle Story Code: Economic, Oil, Gas

[Kouralia]

"Slavery should not be a crime in Kouralia..." - Chief Kouralian Judge

Chief of Law Simplification Commission Courts Controversy with Latest Recommendation,
'Fuck the slaver cunt sideways' Says Allanean.

Sourced from Clyc-Bæt News | 16th December, 2014 | Legal Affairs | Kouralia



Eorle Cher of Norðhu Pictured Making the Announcement

People across Kouralia and in all good nations around the globe were today shocked to hear the views from one of Kouralia's senior-most Judges and Chief of the Law Simplification Commission (LSC), stating he felt Slavery 'should not be a crime' in Kouralia. The information came as part of the LSC's biannual announcement revealing its progress into its stated aim. The Right Honourable Lord Justice Patrick Cher, 3rd Eorle of Norðhu was appointed to this position in 2010, a year after being appointed Second Senior Gyustycyaræ-in-Ordinary, the deputy head of Kouralia's highest Court of Appeal and one of the most senior judges in that nation. Since then the Commission has made a number of recommendations each year, invariably followed by the government of the time, in its endeavours to 'correct the mess of the Kouralian Legal and Justice System, left ruinous after over a millennia of common, case or statute additions without a single attempt at reform.'

On previous occasions, the Eorle Norðhu had made announcements warning that gaps in laws and conflicting statutes could result in especially clever or determined appellants could see rightful convictions quashed through the less-than-clear nature of the Kouralian legal system. This, however is the first time he has announced such a serious deficiency in Kouralian law. Speaking at the conference to a selected group of Kouralian journalists, the Gyustycyaræ-in-Ordinary stated that 'the convoluted tangle of repealed and amended laws - including the mass repeal of the vast majority of laws made from the mid sixties to the 21st century - has ensured that far too many rely on interconnecting definitions for offences, sections of offences, punishments, elements of the Actus Reus and elements of the Mens Rea.' Continuing he stated that 'as it stands, Slavery should not be a crime in Kouralia, and this is a recommendation that I will be making to the Councils Common and Grand in the coming days.'

In response to these comments we at Clyc-Bæt News sought the opinions of a number of prominent anti-slavery campaigners. While the Kouralian Royal Household refused to comment on the matter, numerous foreign officials' offices and organisations were more forthcoming. Upon being informed that one of Kouralia's senior-most judges had stated 'slavery should not be a crime', the office of the most highly esteemed Arch Duchess DaffyDill the First, absolute monarch of the Grand Duchy of Muffinvania, stated Eorle Norðhu 'should be disbarred for life.' The Malgravean Committee for the Abolition of the International Slave Trade and Worker Exploitation announced it was 'concerned about these comments and how it impacts the millions of oppressed workers both within Kouralia and the wider world.' Similarly to the Arch Duchess, Elentári Sirithil of Menelmacar promptly replied to our inquiry, stating 'obviously I disagree fully with these comments... By the way, do you know where the judge is? Like right now? GPS coordinates will do.' The most vehement responses, however, came from the Free Kingdom of Allanea: The Grand Prioress of the Order of the Sisters of Liberty, Victoria Sheshet declared it to be "a HERETICAL act, foul before the Star God", specifying the use of upper case; Steven Vetrovsky, a volunteer with an Ama-Gi Anti-Slavery charity stated "Fuck the slaver cunt sideways with a bridging mallet" when questioned about the comments.

After this comment, the Gyustycyaræ-in-Ordinary continued: 'So long as the courts believe that slavery is a safe crime to punish people, and so long as the law remains so ill-defined and based on legislation that is now repealed or bears an irreconcilable resemblance to the original, we will see the intelligent appellant be able to overturn almost any conviction on the basis of shoddy statutes.' At a question from the Union Press Service Eorle Cher clarified, 'Of course, morally it must remain illegal; but until new legislation will solidify and ensure this area of the law is watertight, which I will recommend is rushed through before the 2015 election, the courts should find anyone guilty of Slavery guilty of Grievous Bodily Harm, False Imprisonment, Assault and Kidnapping, which together is more than enough to net a life sentence.'

[Frenequesta]

Martire Territory Bill Settled
Late-Night Negotiations "Fruitful", Ends Four Years of Council-Legislature Struggle

Representative Mark Graber (SR-Plestoria), left, initiates a
conciliatory shake with Secretary of Military and Defense
Terrell Orkund Carson, right.

Neue Bayreuth, Frenequesta--The plasma lighting of the Ministry Council Building flickered all night as secretaries, representatives, and bureaucrats alike put on the final touches of General Law #2019. Representative Mark Graber (SR-Plestoria), at the forefront of the negotiations, described the scene as "almost anticlimatic" when the Ministry Council gave their final approval for the bill he had advocated for the past four years: "We were in the room, and Smalls had his lucky pen with him. He nodded quite silently as he read it and put the pen to the paper but dropped it. It was quite funny actually. Just to think that only two weeks ago he would have been saying 'No, no' every other line, citing this consideration and that exception and this loophole and that ambiguity. Carson was a little more concerned, but fortunately it passed his muster too."

Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Economy Vishton Smalls and Secretary of Military and Defense Terrell Orkund Carson were two of the three Ministry Council members that were necessary to vote "yes" to pass General Law #2019, the other being Secretary of Infrastructure Grace Nerevas. Each of their subcouncils had given approval to the bill three days ago.

The passage of the bill last night by the full Ministry Council put an end to four years of rocky and often contentious dispute over the status of the islands of Charkovia in the Sapphire Sea in the Southern Pony Lands below Orussia and east of the Greater Pony Herd. Although the islands have been abandoned for decades due to a major earthquake and several mudslides causing its previous occupant to flee and other countries reluctant to resettle, it was repopulated five years ago after a team of Freneq explorers, diplomats, geologists and surveyors found two areas relatively unaffected by the past catastrophes that could also be viable settlement sites. About 30,000 persons, a third of them Ponies, have since settled in the two areas, now known as the cities of Brazenfield and Calirove, and the number is still growing. The island has little arable land due to the earthquakes and mudslides, as well as a generally dry environment, but has substantial reserves of coal, uranium, and silicon, and thought to have a number of silver and rare earth metal deposits. [These have not generally been exploited as economic and environmental exploitation in Frenequesta requires the incorporation of a new territory into a state or other official entity.]

Four years ago then-representative John Barker Fleming (P-Oskhammer) partnered with Representative Graber to call for an official incorporation of the island as Freneq territory. A provisional declaration of Frenequesta's sovereignty over the islands was issued in November of that year, but a number of representatives quickly seized upon conflicting reports of the geological structure of the two settlements, calling into question of the viability of the two cities. In addition, the Popular Legislature was divided in whether to consider the territory a full state or an autonomous territory like that of Kofahl Island, the first area in the Pony Lands claimed by Frenequesta. [In Frenequesta, although states and other subfederal entities may have their own boundaries, those areas that are outside the cities are directly administered by the federal government. A minimum of two settlements are necessary to constitute a state.]

When the bill was first sent to the Ministry Subcouncils, then-Secretary of Military and Defense Lie Feng was skeptical of a lack of strategic analysis of the area, and ordered the Popular Legislature to reconsider the legislation. This in turn led to even more heated debate, especially since Feng had recommended actually allowing for a formal military base in the Brazenfield area and several minor outposts surrounding the island's coast, touching a live wire over Freneq constitutional considerations regarding national defense.

But finally, the fire has cooled down, and the islands, officially known as the Territory of Martire, will be granted dependent territory status with a track for full statehood--once the population has reached 250,000, it may apply for that status and thus be able to send representatives to the Popular Legislature. Brazenfield will host the military base as planned by Feng and re-advocated by his successor. Another city on the west side of the islands, known as Ambleton, was also approved to be incorporated.

Minister Advisor and President Claire Ritter Rieu approved the decision, saying that "the fruits of my promises to move toward a more reconciliatory approach to the Charkovia issue has ripened. This will be a great benefit to the Freneq economy as a whole, allowing us to have better access to our best trading partners, and will hopefully demonstrate the Freneq ingenuity to overcome perilous environments and make it a better place to live." Rieu in fact had been instrumental in accelerating the negotiations, brokering discussions between Graber and his allies and Carson and his backers for the past several weeks.

The Ministry Council voted 7-2 for the heavily revised bill passed by the Popular Legislature two days ago, with Secretary of the Environment Nicholas Ebert and Secretary of Law Roberta Strauss dissenting.

"I told everyone that the mining provisions essentially bypassed normal regulatory procedure but nobody really paid attention," he said in a short interview coming out of the Ministry Council Building. "Especially with Smalls around. That and the still pending final surveys still leave the most important considerations up in the air."

Secretary Strauss could not be accessed for comment, but her aides indicated that she exhibited similar reasons for opposing the bill, as well as citing disagreement over the statehood process, believing it to be inconsistent with established Freneq case law.

Representative Graber appeared pleased with the result. "Well, we didn't get everything we wanted and got some stuff that I still disagree with, but sometimes it's good to compromise every now and then. I'm glad to have this behind us and we can get to work on serving the people who have decided to make their homes in Martire."

Political Correspondents Samantha Major and Truth Seeker contributed reporting.

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[Montesardo-East Adanzi]

-DELETED-

[Malgrave]

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MoFA: Erota-Epping announcement expected 'soon'
Sources within multiple branches of government inform the RMT the current strong relations between the Dominion and the United Kingdom are 'just the beginning' .

A Lubyakan naval patrol nears Portsmouth to begin joint-exercises

In the immediate years following the cessation of isolation relations between Malgrave and the wider international community remained limited as the Tesla administration wisely decided to slowly open the country to the world, a result of that was that relations between Erota and Epping remained minor with the Dominion only sending a brief message of congratulations after the success of Operation Tempest and the successful elimination of several terrorist leaders. Following that acknowledgement and going by directives issued from within the newly elected Berry administration to increase the rate of de-isolation trade and military cooperation began to grow with the heavy industry of the Dominion and the high-tech industries of Malgrave proving to compliment each other well in building up economic growth on both sides.

Since that date economic and scientific collaboration has increased spectacularly with the Dominion quickly becoming one of Malgrave's largest trading partners and a keen target for state-owned corporations like MalTec and MalMart and this is only set to increase as Lubyakan naval expansion and Malgravean colonial growth require significant resources from each other in order to be successful. Despite the establishment of an economic relationship between Erota and Epping and the vast scale required to conduct anti-slavery operations cooperation on the military front has been on the back burner, however Doctor Nicolas Frawn, Associate Professor at Portsmouth State University suggests that movements on this front has been made quietly and the military build-up reported as a military exercise around the island of Arastonia could point towards a permanent Lubyakan military presence in the region.

If true it would certainly herald a new shift of relations away from the typical economic dealings of the past into a stronger alliance involving high-levels of military cooperation something that in the future could be challenged in the courts for breaking the neutrality requirement in the constitution.

Edward Moor of the Royal Malgravean Times

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Chronicle Story Code:National News, Foreign Affairs, Lubyak
19/12/Malgrave

(No comments yet!)

[Kouralia]

Winter sees Kouralians ‘King of the Hill’ in freezing conditions

Infanteers enjoy Lykosian hospitality and training in ground-breaking example of international cooperation.

Sourced from MediaOpGroup.gov.kour | 19th December, 2014 | Military | Kouralia



A section of Comrædas evacuate a simulated casualty in the harsh Lykosian conditions.

In what is almost unheard of for the Kouralian Military, eight hundred elite Arctic and Mountain Warfare specialist light infantry have travelled this week to Chernarus Range, Sleipniden Region, in the Harmonious Republic of Lykosia for advanced training in their facet of warfare. The soldiers are from the 30th of Horse (also known as the Royal East High Burnhamtonsbyshire Town-on-Crouch-Under-Wood-On-Thames-Over-Hill-On-Sea-Thorpinghamsex-Pwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Marxist Fusiliers of Horse), a light cavalry regiment which has since 1975 acted in the role of Mountain Warfare Specialist Infantry in Kouralia’s XIV Corps, and which returned this Summer from a deployment to D’halbrisir as part of the Kouralian National Assistance Force.

In addition to the Comrædas of the Marxist Fusiliers, this week saw a number of staff from the Kouralian Mountain Warfare Academy travel with them to observe Lykosian training methods. Speaking to CSjt Wallace of the Media Operations Group in Lykosia, Colonel Matteo Caroll of the Academy Chief Staff stated that this was ‘a perfect opportunity to spread both best practice and goodwill around the region,’ continuing to say that ‘training with the Lykosians represents an unmissable opportunity to expand our repertoire, test our troops in environments they would normally rarely see, and take a peek over the fence and see how the ‘other side’ do things. For all we can blindly claim superiority in this matter or the other, the fact remains that in this field the Republican Army are the experts.’ In the short time the Media Operations Group was able to observe the training, we were able to clearly see the truth in the Colonel’s words as even troops whose barracks is situated in the Eastern Border Range of mountains were tested to the very limits. Lieutenant Colonel Camille Jones of the Marxist Fusiliers also praised the warm welcome given to the Kouralian contingent, even though the two countries previously had no history of military cooperation or friendship. ‘What I hope we’re doing here is really building bridges to make further inroads into international Kouro-Lykosian cooperation possible. So far the troops have not only been able to learn new techniques for survival and other key skills in the snow, but we’re also knocking down cultural walls and immersing our lads in a foreign culture, promoting further understanding of Lykosia, its people and its spirit.’

The CSjt Wallace was also given an opportunity to speak to the Lykosian Officer in charge of the event in the Northern end of the partnership, Colonel Yuli Artemyev of the 18th Guards Airborne Regiment, asking him his thoughts about what this month in the snow gave the Republican Army, and what he felt it could further spell for Kouro-Lykosian relations: ‘It is always been a great experience for us to be able to to train together with another Ponerian military. The LNAF is highly trained in arctic warfare as it is the requirement for all Lykosian military units, for an obvious reason, and we are more than happy to share what we know to friendly militaries. Other than that this is an opportunity for us to build an understanding with the Kouralian military for a better cooperation and coordination in the future.’

It’s hoped by many that this could represent a change in Kouralia’s traditionally martially isolationist stance, another crack in the facade of independence which has made this the fifth training exercise since the turn of the century which has involved foreign personnel. Previous exercises have included naval training in Riemaia, special forces assigned to Malgrave and the deployment of an entire Brigade of Riflemen and other Light Role Infantry to the Hobbiest Republic to assist in post-Demon War professionalisation of the Empire’s military. A recent press announcement by the office of General Sir Peter Hazel, Commandant-General Force-Development and Training, outlined a number of the foreign units expected to be training in Kouralia over the coming calendar year. Headlining was the LNAF’s own 14th Guards Tank Regiment, expected to be joining an exercise in Armoured Urban Operations in Altonia in Spring 2015, but included in the list were elements of the Menelmacari Mornahossë who are due to train with the Silverfin Guards Commandos and Swimmer-Canoeist Regiment, and the Lubyakan 152nd Guards Independent Tank Regiment who will partake in Exercise Summer’s Dream ‘15 alongside units of the 9th Armoured Division.

[The Lunar Domain]

The Midnight Report

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BREAKING NEWS

Armed Assault at the Grand Galloping Gala

Midnight Palace Gardens

Source: The Midnight Report (TMR)|Midnight Court Federal District, The Lunar Domain|Sun 5/11/3028

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MIDNIGHT COURT FEDERAL DISTRICT -- At last night’s annual Grand Galloping Gala, hosted in the Midnight Palace, shots rang out, according to eyewitness accounts, at about 5:30 P.M. when, during Princess Luna’s greeting speech, eight armed gunmen opened fire at security personnel.

A statement is expected to be made by either the Prime Minister or the Ministry of Defense later today.

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Chronicle Story Code: News
21/01/Domain

[Montesardo-East Adanzi]

-DELETED-

[Allanea]

Official Announcement of the Sovereign Duchy of Leyfield

The Duchy of Leyfield hereby notifies the world and the international community that Professor Devaroe, formerly tutor at the Leyfield School for Girls, has been detained this morning by members of the Mentor Space Marine Chapter, on charges of Espionage and Breaches of Student Privacy. He is suspected of spying on members of the Royal Family on behalf of a foreign power. His punishment, if proven guilty, will be swift and certain.

The Duchy of Leyfield is interested in procuring a new magical tutor – and this time, hopefully, one who will not spy on us. Other requirements are being skilled in the Sacred Words school of magic.

Chronicle Story Code:Crime
30/01/Leyfield

[Kouralia]

Second Stage of the 'Salient Fleet' Plan Announced

Travers Ministry draws support for further military expansion

Sourced from MediaOpGroup.gov.kour | 2nd February, 2015 | Military | Kouralia



The Hæleð Class Supercarrier, Queen Alyx en Fidelis.

Today the Kouralian Government voted to pass the 'Fleet Saliency Act 2015' to the Noble Chambers for its final review before being presented to Her Majesty, Queen Alyxandra Campbell to be given royal assent. This act represents one of the final building blocks to be laid in place for this scheme by the Travers Ministry to expand the Royal Navy to a manner where it is capable of defending Kouralian interests region-wide.

First announced when Lord Travers took over from Mr Harper in 2013, the plan was delayed by opposition from two of the three Lords of War, requiring it to be twice re-adjusted, even though it was originally penned by one and seconded by another who didn't oppose it. Lord Commander, Lord Croft, the Lord High Commander of the Kouralian Armed Forces, lent his support unequivocably to the defence strategy proposed by The Right Honourable Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, First Sea Lord and Lord High Admiral, Lord Jones - the Chief of Naval Staff. This was, at the time, seen as something of a surprise by many military and history experts in Kouralia, especially owing to the traditional role of the Army as the primary military branch. This bill threatens to overturn that, for the first time removing the statutory limitation on the size of the navy which was imposed over 200 years ago. The Martial Management Act 1800 first stipulated that the Kouralian Royal Army should always be considered the most important and largest of the Kouralian services, and has arguably hampered the development of a coherent sea control strategy since the unification of the Kouralian peninsula under one banner in the late 1810s.

The Fleet Saliency Act removes this barrier to the Royal Navy, allowing it to expand beyond the roughly 2.5 million active personnel which the Kouralian Royal Army maintains. This expansion is due to come in line with receipt of additional warships of the Hæleð, Temeraire, and Emancipare Classes from the Freethinker Commonwealth. In addition to this, a range of capital ships, escorts and sloops are being produced by internal Kouralian shipyards. These are due to replace a number of now-ageing vessels such as the Draughtsman Class Frigates, first commissioned in 1979, which have reduced capabilities against the more modern threats.

The newly enabled Naval organisation is expected to maintain the 20-Fleet plan that it currently uses, though the current 40 light carriers will either be scrapped or re-purposed for purely escort and support roles, instead being replaced by the 150,000-tonne-displacement Hæleð-Class supercarriers. In addition the Draughtsman and Tenacious Escorts will be removed from their current roles in the Squadrons of the Battle Fleets, instead likely being replaced by Prefect and Ino-Class Escorts in all roles, and re-assigned to act as support for Nymph Flotillas and other more independent 'probing' formations. Another planned creation is that of 'compact' squadrons which lack integral Skyfleet assets, but are rumoured to likely consist of a single Temeraire and Prefect alongside two Emancipare frigates and a possible Nymph Class and Cargo Class. These will allow the Navy to cover and control more sea at once, and challenge any attempts to impinge on Kouralian operations or interests.

The Act represents another success for the new þe Party Mennesc which has slowly climbed the polls in Kouralia since it was formed on the return of the Kouralian monarchy in the early noughties. Its professed platform is one of a 'strong, just, honourable Kouralia', with full support for the Monarchy and 'old, true Kouralian values and virtues'. Nominally Right wing, it also is known for greater-than-would-be-expected spending in the Public Sector, and general support for wellfare to ensure that the standard of living for the average Kouralian does not drop below a certain level. While it had never been a major force in politics, by the time of the 2011 election it was a large enough force in politics to form a coalition government alongside the right wing 'Party of National Honour'. However, following the resignation of the Captain of the Justiciars in 2013 after the damaging 31st Annual Demon War, Arthur Travers became the First Minister, and has since seen the party's popularity rise. With the success of operations in Balka and other efforts worldwide and in Kouralia, þe Party Mennesc is now expected to be popular enough to be able to form a full ministry in the upcoming elections.

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Chronicle Story Code: National News, Foreign Affairs, Kouralia
02/02/Malgrave

(No comments yet!)

[Shrillland]

The Daily Telegraph

Arming Shrillland With Knowledge

Election results finally in: Harmonists Win Congress; Orange Blossom Elected President

Foreign Secretary Orange Blossom, candidate for the Harmony Party of outgoing President Rarity, has emerged victorious after receiving 391 electoral votes from eight states, which puts him safely above the 325-vote threshold. In terms of the popular vote however, he only received a total of 43.2%, the lowest margin for a victorious candidate since the 1991 Revolution. Shrills for Properity Candidate Tea Kettle came in second place with 29.5% and 121 electoral votes from Jameson and Vankro. Green Party Candidate Wilson Hartigan got third place with 62 votes and 17% of the popular vote, withtehe old stalwarts of the PRP and NHP came in with just over 5% each.

"Today we can put the tumultuous yet great years of my predecessor in the past," Orange Blossom said at his victory speech with his wife and two sons behind him, "And we will make Shrillland a successful nation again! We will rise back to what we were before the dark times of the Dominion economically militarily, and magically. I promise you, that my first act as President will be to open the long-awaited Starswirl Academy. Second, we will ensure the seventh New Maxia Agreement regarding the nation's Breezies shall finally be inscribed in the Constitution where it belongs. Mineral wealth is not worth the expulsion of innocent beings."

The new President and Congress will be sworn in on Victory Day, February 27. Orange Plans to have the Academy open within 30 days as he has already chosen a site at the old Mergenthaler Castle in the New Maxia suburb of Candleford.

Chronicle Story Code:National News, Politics
11/02/Shrillland

[The Lunar Domain]

THE EQUESTRIAN DAILY

Your source for news for over a millennium.

BREAKING NEWS:

Prime Minister knew attack on Grand Galloping Gala would happen!

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Prime Ministerial Portrait of Phalanx Spear

The Prime Ministerial Residence

MIDNIGHT COURT FEDERAL DISTRICT -- In an Office Address earlier this afternoon, the new Prime Minister Phalanx Spear revealed that he, along with other government officials of his choice were aware there was a high probability that last night's Grand Galloping Gala would be attacked.
After giving a background about Executive Order Nineteen, and its Task Force: Sparkle, which Prime Minister Spear commandeered only two weeks after his inauguration, Spear discussed that it had come to the Task Force's, and his, attention that the attacks on Stalliongradi Armory and Aquila Financing were perpetrated by the long-time terrorist Twilight Sparkle.
"It was after the siege of Aquila Financing that it came to the Task Force's attention, and soon my own, that there was a high probability another attack was going to occur, its target the Grand Galloping Gala," Spear added on. "Both myself and a few others knew last night's attack would happen, and I did keep this knowledge secret from The Lunar Parliament."
He later added on that the intelligence gathered on the attack beforehand was faulty, and that the primary target of the attack was not even accurately known. "It was only when Sparkle revealed herself that it was discovered that the true target was Princess Luna," Spear admitted. "Thanks to the efforts of The Lunar Guard, Twilight was soon apprehended, with Luna unharmed."
Soon after, Prime Minister Spear ended the address. Several members of the Ministry and Parliament were asked for comment, and declined to do so. When attempts to contact Spear’s family were made, no one was available to respond.
It is anticipated that The Lunar Parliament will, in response to this revelation of Spear’s violation of duties as Prime Minister, temporarily put aside the Cloudsdale Reform resolution and conduct a thorough investigation of both the capture of Twilight Sparkle, and of Phalanx Spear’s Ministry.

--Jack 'Diferk, Chief Political Correspondent

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Chronicle Story Code:National News, Politics
22/2/Domain

Bucky124
(Cherial,United Pony States)
6 MINUTES AGO +20 Holy cow! This multiverse Twilight Sparkle is the evil one, and tried to kill this nation’s Luna, and a secretive Prime Minister. This is totally going to become a movie one day!

RoyalBri3
(Trotskivna, Montesardo-East Adanzi)
23 MINUTES AGO +19 Terrorists? Heavens forbid, those from the Lunar Domain must suffer from ineffective administration. Their PM, Phalanx Spear, should receive some immediate lessons from our own Alexandrite on how to lead a nation!

Mdama2313
(Bekan Keep, Sanghelios)
13 MINUTES AGO +17 My frnds lyfe has eben shitt ever sine ur fatass became Prne Mninster. I hop u get killed by Brtues, cus u as fta as on.

FireGrit093
(Shire of Trottingham, The Lunar Domain)
23 MINUTES AGO +14 Okay, what the hell? This kid who we just elected is now actively defying Parliament and sneaking around? Make no mistake, Twilight Sparkle being captured is good and all, but this guy needs to be held accountable for what he did. Preferably by an actual trial of the Federal Court.

Mdama2313
(Raven Rock, Alduinium)
11 MINUTES AGO +12 Please, Alexandrite can barely run a tiny worthless country in the Pony Lands, let alone someplace actually worth a damn. The Lunar Domain would be better off with a more powerful leader assisting it, like Alduin.

[Menelmacar]

OOC: Posted with permission from Lykosia.

With Anwatercánis nos Finarfin

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Anwatercánis: ...meanwhile in business news, chaos in the Lykosian markets today as Menelmacari divestment from that nation continues! The Snowpoint Stock Exchange continues its steady decline of the last week and a half as investors from other nations join the sell-off. I have Thorontur nos Loslóriel, Councillor-Seer and director of divinomics at Varnautë Navarre, Menelmacar's sixth-largest bank, on the holo to discuss this story. Thanks for your time, Thorontur.

Thorontur: My pleasure, Anwatercánis.

A: What can you tell us about what's driving this trend?

T: Well, the current president of Lykosia, Regal Charmer, is by all indications not planning to run for re-election. Polls seem to indicate that the Lykosian electorate will take a hard left turn this term and the Lykosian Workers Union is currently leading most Lykosian polls.

A: That is indeed concerning.

T: Indeed, and our foretellings have seen strong indications that nationalizations will follow if the LWU wins, which it is likely that they will.

A: Is Varnautë Navarre deeply exposed to the Lykosian market?

T: As of a few weeks ago we either owned or managed approximately four hundred billion credits in Lykosian investments, down from about five hundred fifty billion credits a year ago. We have nearly divested those positions as of today. Obviously we have sought to do this with minimal market disruption, but we are not the only firm moving money out of Lykosia and there's only so quietly you can do that sort of thing. Others abroad have also seen the trend and are heading for the doors themselves.

A: Currently the largest Menelmacari firm actually operating in Lykosia is Porkwich's Holdings Group, with over fourteen thousand franchises operating in the country, is this something they should be concerned about?

T: I don't believe so. They have no corporate stores or facilities in Lykosia; all Pony Lands operations and distribution are handled from Flankfurt am Mane in the Herd. They have relatively little exposure to a nationalization campaign, most of the risk is borne by individual franchisees in Lykosia. I still consider Porkwich's a buy and our target price for them this quarter is eighty credits per share.

A: Can investors still make money in Lykosia?

T: Sure, though likely only in the short term. We anticipate a decent bump in the Snowpoint index next week; some investors will buy back in for credit-cost averaging.

A: Thanks for the chat, Thorontur, it's been a pleasure. That's all we have for today, Menelmacar; Remember, here at ISN Nightside, we make the news!

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Chronicle Story Code: Business News
25/Coirë/Menelmacar

Anwatercánis nos Finarfin
Imperial Satellite News

[Malgrave]

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HMNV 'Bastion' sets sail!

HMMV 'Bastion' is the latest update in the indigenously designed Admah Class

HMNV 'Maldon' escorts HMNV 'Bastion' as part of ongoing anti-slavery operations

In recent months the Navy has come under increasing criticism from the defence community, the latest scandal coming from a leaked internal report that indicated that the operational strains of anti-slaver operations alongside continued budgetary constraints brought up by international development funding in nations like Crystal Spires has led to a drastic drop in the overall capability of the navy with the report referencing a recent incident when a destroyer engaged on anti-slaver operations had to be towed to the Fortuna for emergency repairs after an engine malfunction caused the ship to lose power.

During a scheduled press conference on the status of Operation Infinite Reach, Grand Admiral Campioni urged for the population to ignore the 'deceitful' report and called for calm in the defence and journalistic community claiming that the released report was several years old and the work of fascist remnants that have infiltrated the navy since the conclusion of major anti-terrorist operations. In addition to these comments the Grand Admiral announced that the newly constructed HMNV 'Bastion' would take part in anti-slavery operations off the coast of Riemaia with the notable conclusion that the ship shall be crewed entirely with untested crew and newly minted officers from the naval base at Portsmouth. Gregory Zolov, Chief Analyst at Defence Weekly gave his verdict on what this meant for the military.

HMNV 'Bastion' was constructed over a year ago in the city of Portsmouth and has only recently entered service with the naval service. As it is one of the first models of the indigenous Admah class hardly any concrete evidence about the vessel is known. It has been theorised that the government will attempt to export this class of vessel to allied states so it should be expected to contain some of the most advanced technology available within the country.

Campioni's decision to outfit the entire vessel with inexperienced officers and crew fresh from the academy is an unexpected decision, especially with the inclusion of such an advanced military vessel. It has been usual naval practice for sailors and officers fresh out of the academy to be spread out across the fleet to ensure they receive additional experience from fellow sailors on the job and overall capability of the navy is not lost due to inexperience. It is certainly a confusing move and I hope it doesn't come back to haunt the navy.

Edward Moor of the Royal Malgravean Times

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Chronicle Story Code:National News, Foreign Affairs, Defence
27/02/Malgrave

(No comments yet!)

[Montesardo-East Adanzi]

-DELETED-

[YellowApple]

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New Memories of Wellboneland Album Released

"Blood Eagle" Tops This Myriasecond's Charts

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reporter: Ashley Laxton
location: Del Tangerino, YellowApple, Inc.

Memories of Wellboneland - the latest YellowApplan screamo and metal sensation - has released their new full album "Blood Eagle". Unsurprisingly, the eponymous collaboration with YellowApplan norðmetal band Depleted Uranium Battleaxe is the star of the charts this myriasecond, with over ⢺⢸⢸ million downloads since release.

Of course, the eponymous "Blood Eagle" is not the only popular chart; MoW's latest album also includes hits previously released as singles - like "011010000110010101111001" and "¿Ping me, perhaps?" - along with a few previously-unreleased tracks like "Del Tangerino Style" and "Intergalactic Preserves".

Analytics reports from various download sites hosting "Blood Eagle" are indicating profound popularity among Intermediate-Education-age youths and geriatric retirees.

"Dude, ðis music is, like, fuckin' BR00TAL," reports such a geriatric retiree, her curly white hair, wrinkles, horn-rimmed spectacles, and faint odor of ginerbread cookies cleverly distracting passerbys from her passion for the sounds of screaming, melancholic adolescents. "Ðis shit reminds me of my younger days, when boys were boys, girls were girls, and we'd fuck shit up all cycle every cycle." Her remarks were punctuated with her display of a "metal-horns" hand gesture and the inadvertent manifestation of multilingual profanities tattooed all along her arm.

This is Ashley Laxton, headbanging my way through Del Tangerino.

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Chronicle Story Code:Entertainment
⢹⢽⣹/⢹⣻⣾/YellowApple

(No comments yet!)

[Malgrave]

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HMNV 'Bastion' lost at sea!

HMNV 'Progress' lost contact with HMMV 'Bastion' after emergency drills

HMNV 'Hope' leaves the research colony

Malgrave is in a state of shock and disbelief after it was revealed that the navy had lost communications with one of its submarines during routine anti-slavery operations in the region Mystria. HMNV 'Bastion', the ship missing is one of the first models of the indigenously designed Admah Class and had only recently joined a fleet supporting ongoing anti-slavery operations in Mystria, upon its arrival it started a series of emergency drills designed by the MoD to test the real limits of new ships and maintain combat awareness during long-operations. At this point HMNV 'Progress' was scheduled to meet up with the 'Bastion' in order to transfer over supplies for the crew and ferry over handwritten messages and gifts from sailors, however the ship failed to make contact and following a subsequent search of the area the vessel was declared missing to the Ministry of Defence and an official search and rescue operation was ordered.

Since hearing of the news of the stricken submarine people in their millions have flocked to the streets up and down the country to show their solidarity with the people who are now tasked with tracking down the vessel, and of course those young souls trapped on the vessel itself and their loved ones back on land. In emotional appeals family members representing the entirety of the missing 'Bastion' crew have called to the international community to assist with the search of the stricken submarine, and with some on board as young as 17 increasing pressure has mounted on the national government to order another review of the navies capacity to ensure that all vessels in the fleet are prepared for long-term naval operations.

Former Admiral James Highbury gave his opinion on the unfolding situation and expressed some discontent with the current narrative.

In 2009 the MoD conducted a review on the potential strains of long-term military operations on the navy and concluded that a rotational approach would reduce the strain on the fleet, and that combined with the attentiveness and professionalism of our sailors has resulted in the fleet being respected internationally for its efficiency and work ethic. Of course since that naval review the economic situation has changed in the country and small mishaps have been reported with destroyers and other vessels in the fleet however during this time period the amount of money and time spent servicing the submarine fleet actually increased so that is an unlikely reason for the loss in contact.

HMNV 'Bastion' is a new vessel, part of the recently designed Admah class. I don't like to be drawn into speculation but i've seen some of the theories being distributed in the media so I have to say at the moment equipment failure ranks above poor maintenance and crew performance.

Edward Moor of the Royal Malgravean Times

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Chronicle Story Code:National News, Foreign Affairs, Defence
27/02/Malgrave

(No comments yet!)

[The Ctan]

Great Civilization joins HMNV Bastion Rescue Mission

Lady-Senator Ureshurthaal

Aldaconciga Ureshurthaal ita Nekthyst of the Shalathuun Reach today requested that The Department of Infrastructure make its assets available to assist in the Malgraven search for stricken vessel Bastion. This request was granted by Patrast Andoner nos Elyantaquen, who has since redirected several chartered vessels to the area to begin assistance of the Malgravean navy in its rescue operations.

Heading the operational aspects of the mission is Nemesor (Coordinator-General) Eris Raseqeth, who had previously been head of the Mystrian Unaligned Seabed Regions Prospecting Mission backed by several commercial mining institutions, seeking to expand Mithril production in the regions of the Mist Ocean north of Terradin, they are joined by assets from the Imeriata Oceanic Decontamination Mission, a Greater Prussian led operation currently established using static-barriers to sedimentize radioactive runoff from the lands of Imeriata-proper that has been carried into that country's river basins, in preparation for long-term decontamination efforts.

Speaking to the Chronicle about the decision to assist the Malgravean Ministry of Defence, Senator Ureshurthaal was forthright in her remarks.

Although there may be a significant expense incurred in this operation, we should not lose sight of the distinct possibility that the stricken vessel's crew are still alive, and I am confident that our people should be able to swiftly locate it and effect a rescue. The fact remains that the United Kingdom of Malgrave has been steadfast opponents of slavery on the high seas within the Pony Lands region, and it therefore behoves us to ensure that their efforts are regarded in the correct light, and that we support them in their hour of need as they have been supporting others.

The rescue mission is also joined by specialist personnel from the City of Isasrach, known for their aid in rescue missions and medical staff from the same. They are also joined by radiation handling experts from the Imeriata Oceanic Decontamination Mission.

Thunder Flash of the Pony Lands Survey

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Chronicle Story Code: Military Affairs
27/02/C'tan

(No comments yet!)[/quote]

[The Vines]

Issue 4021 ‧ May 11, 2015

Chronicle Story Code: Politics
33/05/Vines

Council gains zebra seat

ASTERVILLE, THE VINES On Friday last week, President Dandy Lion signed a constitutional amendment into law, reserving a zebra seat on the National Council. This change brings Council representation to the fast-growing zebra population -- 4% in the 2014 census.

Concerned citizen Tattle Tale is a keen supporter of the amendment. "I have always been irritated by the even number of councilors." (The amendment raises the number from eight to nine.) "Oh yeah, and more democracy is good too."

Civil rights activist Natural Right disagrees. "That this change took so long to pass reveals a flaw in our system," he said in a phone interview. "Here in the Vines, the population of zebras has exceeded that of humans for decades. Yet until now, the latter have had a seat while the former have not. As our demographics continue to evolve, we cannot pass amendment after amendment every time some new group demands representation. The list of seats must not be fixed by the constitution, but derived dynamically from the census itself."

To prevent tyranny by majority, the legislative Council comprises exactly one member of each "represented race", as defined by the constitution. The list has been amended twice so far, with bat ponies added in 1964.

The election for the new seat will be held on June 1.

Enmesh Words of the Asterville Times

[Montesardo-East Adanzi]

-DELETED-

[Skallen]

SPONTANEOUS DEMONSTRATIONS LEAD TO GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE
Article by Bernhard Andreasson, taken from article of 07/14/2015

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Crowds gathering in the Regeringen Distriktet during the protests.

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Shock has come over the nation, as a simple protest against mandatory military service blossomed into something far larger then the PPfFT had expected. A small gathering of citizens in the Lys Fremtid projects set out to protest the national service policy that required all able-bodied citizens to register and undertake some form of government service for at least two years, with police first reporting only around a hundred or so people. Reports are still vague and hard to confirm, but the most common story people offer for why the movement exploded as it did was a decision by the Police commander on the scene, one Captain Jerker Klauson, ordering lethal force to be used if need be. Almost immediately at Noon, shots rang out through the plaza, and panic ensued. Instead of dispersing the movement, the shooting only served to shake the local populace into action. Besides this, the Police were not wholly behind the idea of gunning down more citizens, and infighting between Police units broke out. Before 1:00PM had come to pass, the district was entirely in the hands of citizens and defected officers. Captain Klauson was captured by the defecting Police and placed under 'Citizens Arrest', while the now large mob began to plan a march on the Regeringen Distriktet, where the government keeps it's offices and facilities.

As the news spread of the Police defections and the swelling crowd, estimated to contain upwards of 10,000 people now, began to filter through the city, even a Government blackout on internet services failed to keep the news quarantined. Steadfast Watch ordered the military to mobilize and quash the budding movement, and as a result the local units were sent to the city. This was the 2. Vagter Tanken Division and the 103. Vagter Luftbårne Division, both composed of mostly local citizens and largely sympathetic to the crowds. The government was frantically evacuating the Blå Palads as the two Divisions came to head off the movement, Steadfast Watch and her government supporters flying to the Poulsbo AFB to wait for word on the action. However, despite some commanders wishing otherwise, the vast majority of Government troops sent to disperse the crowds ended up joining them. Conscripts themselves, many were heard chanting slogans ranging from "Ikke længere er vi slaver!" (No longer are we slaves.) to "Lad os hænge Steadfast ud som vasketøj!" (Let's hang Steadfast out like laundry!). When the crowds finally reached the government building, few remained there to surrender and capitulate, so it was that the Commissar of Civil Aviation, Teodor Hansen-Abel offered the governments resignation. This remains a sticking point for the exiled government members who claim the entire movement is illegal still, and the Commissar was not legally allowed to offer the dissolution of the government, while the interim government has declared that those who have fled are all wanted for war crimes.

Upon hearing the Army had defected, Steadfast and the government members who had fled to Poulsbo quickly arranged to leave the nation, though at this point where exactly they have gone remains a mystery. With the government remains secured and the Military mostly behind the movement, it was decided to form an interim government to see things through before elections, planned for two months from this time. Though without real leadership of their own, the mass movement found some semblance of unity and invited the mayor of Nybro, Katherine Akselsen to step in as temporary Chancellor, while the former Deputy Commissar of Public Transports, Vidar Mattsson was appointed to take over as interim President. A constitution was promulgated based off federal ideals, granting in reality the powers that were held in theory by the previous laws to the new states. Given the lack of political structure prior to this date, elections are expected to be frantic.

Chronicle Story Code:National News
01/08/Skallen

[Kouralia]

Kouralia opens new 'Inescapable' Super-Prison


Designed to hold the most dangerous, highest escape risk, and awaiting-execution prisoners, it's the most secure, expensive and advanced Kouralian prison. Ever.

18th August, 2015 | Mainland Affairs | Kouralia



The main entrance to HMP Aornum

Today the Kouralian Government announced the opening of the most ambitious prison in Kouralian history: HMP Aornum. First put forward in 2005, plans for a uniquely SuperMax control unit prison were not implemented until 2010 when the construction of the facility began in the region of Ost Chieti, seeing it finished earlier this year with its first inmates transferring from the capital city's Class A HMP Deepdale before the month is out. Indeed, for all the fanfare about its opening even with the secrecy surrounding its security features and inner workings it is clearly something to make a fuss about.

One of the most important aspects of any prison is its security features, and speaking of them the Chief Prisons Officer Sir Adrien Dewsbury proudly announced that it was 'the most significant undertaking in Kouralian penitentiary history.' Continuing, he boasted that 'In HMP Aornum we have successfully created a facility neither the Captain-Generalcy nor the Allanean Prison Liberation Units could successfully effect a mission on.' While naturally many of its security features are kept tightly under wraps, some have been made public and they alone make the facility seem insurmountable. Underground, on a deforested island with no additional human habitation which is located within the JFB Pentyarycs Active Aerial Exclusion Zone, its location alone is sufficient to give pause for thought in any mind considering a break-in or out. Not only is it practically impossible to approach the facility without being detected at multiple points, but its proximity to one of Kouralia's Joint-Forces Bases sees a number of units of the Captain-Generalcy and its Auxiliary being sited close enough to respond as quickly as fifteen minutes from an alert being sent by the Governor. Not only that, but the prison's entrance - the only image of inside the base yet revealed - looks more like the door to a military command bunker than any form of civilian prison. We're also assured that even more esoteric measures have been taken, such as Scanderan runic enchantments to preclude any use of unauthorised magic in the facility, and disrupt it across key points on the island.

Within its walls, every prisoner is kept in a solitary confinement cell, 7ft by 12 ft - windowless and secured by both a barred door and a full steel exterior door - both of which remain shut permanently. Every cell is also soundproofed, while prisoners are only given 90 minutes exercise a day and are not permitted telecommunications contact with the outside world, increasing the sense of complete isolation. Of course, the security does not stop there, and every prisoner, we're told, must be accompanied by three to five guards when being moved around the facility for the safety of the staff. Indeed, this prison is mean to house three types of inmate, none of which are pleasant: those who are such a high escape risk that they or their compatriots may be able to breach another establishment's defences ('Class A Exceptional' Prisoners), those who pose such a significant threat to Warders' lives that failing to take the measures in place at HMP Aornum could result in grievous injury or death of prison staff at their hands, and those to whom the sentence would be a further punishment. The final group includes not only those who are to be executed by firing squad, but also those who can be specifically sentenced to a whole-life-sentence in the solitary cells of Aornum.

While only the Secretary of State for Justice can approve an execution, any court can send a prisoner to Aornum and any prison can request troublesome inmates are transferred there. So far, however, the only prisoners who have been announced to serve their sentences there will be the Poldakian perpetrators of the 2014 terrorist attack in Chieti which killed twenty civilians, three police officers and a Treasury Guardswoman. This leaves the prison, with hundreds of guards and room for roughly a thousand inmates, in possession of a total of four prisoners by the first of September this year. While this number will undoubtedly rise, the question must surely be asked - is all this expenditure worth it?

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