The Western Wire [Regional News]

[Knootoss]

• Knootoss to have referendum on its name
  HARTSTAD - The ballot for the upcoming 2016 parliamentary elections is set to include a vote on whether the Dutch Democratic Republic should instead be called the Knootian Republic. A debate will also be hosted on the Knootoss News Network, where the countries' social-liberal Prime Minister, Maurits Viljoen, will be debating the petitioner that initiated the vote.

[Snefaldia]

• New National Language in Snefaldia
  
  In an official decree, the Supreme Council has authorized the development of a standard Snefaldian language based on Bagura, declaring that the official language of Snefaldia shall now be termed "Snefaldian."

[The Resurgent Dream]

The Caldan election results are in. The composition of the new parliament shall be:

*National Party: 384
*Labour Party: 184
*People's Party: 50
*Liberal Party: 44
*Parti arcadien: 10
*Inuit Community: 2
*Reform Party: 2
*Edinan National Party: 1
*Green Party: 1
*Party of Tasat: 1
*Radical Party: 1

This constitutes an absolute majority for the National Party and gives Sir Malcolm Stuart a clear mandate. However, it also constitutes an unprecedented 4900% expansion of the People's Party representation in Parliament, surpassing the Liberal Party which was previously viewed as a centre pivot in a two and a half party system.

[Kartlis]

Kartlis Central News Service

• MTSKHETA - Patriarch-Catholicos Kallistrate II has dramatically escalated a growing dispute within the Georgian Church by excommunicating Bishop Shio of Senaki & Chkhorotsku Eparchy and Archbishop Zosime of Tsilkani & Dusheti Eparchy for unspecified "errors and sins." The announcement comes as the latest action in a dispute between the Patriarch-Catholicos and Archbishop Zosime and Bishop Shio, and formerly with the late Bishop Abraham of Kornabuji Eparchy, ostensibly centering around dogmatic and ritual disagreements and the authority of the Patriarch. Rumors suggest the dispute really centers on the disposition and distribution from the income of church lands within those Eparchies.
  
• BATUMI - A collision in the Port of Batumi between two cargo ships has raised questions about transportation safety in Kartlis' busiest seaport. The MV Steamrunner, a Knootian-flagged ship owned by a subsidiary of the Snefaldian Kømyë Corporation, collided with the MV Atabeg, a Zamimbian coal freighter owned by a Kasakian concern and flagged in Mont de la Lune. Authorities are attempting to determine which ship was a fault for the accident, which occurred in a heavily-traveled lane leading into Batumi's busy wharves. This is the third, and worst, maritime accident in Kartlian waters in the last two years, all related to increasing rate of seaborne trade through Kartlis and the heavy traffic through Batumi.
  
• MTSKHETA - According to a press release from the Royal Household Agency, Her Serene Highness Princess Ekaterine, youngest daughter of His Serene & Apostolic Highness Prince Teimuraz, will seek an advanced university degree in Art History at a foreign university, beginning in the coming year. HSH Princess Ekaterine's experience with the art world is already long; she took a Bachelor's degree from the prestigious Prince Simon College of Arts in Mtskheta before taking on a position as assistant to the Director of the Kartlian National Gallery, also spending time as a visiting ambassador in several foreign countries. Although her destination was not announced by the Household Agency, the announcement did detail that Her Serene Highness is seeking a Ph.D.

[Snefaldia]

• SARGEDAIN - The publicity office of the Supreme Council has announced that the defunct position of State Minister for Epheron has been revived, with the portfolio being held by former army General Hartappa Aššuaswa. The office was initially established by the Ren Dirh government to handle the complex economic and security issues represented by the Epheron region in a unified way, but the position was subsequently downgraded during the Wølmey ministry and was not filled under Pairi Hantili's government.
  
  In reviving the position, the Supreme Council has underscored the importance of the Epheron region to Snefaldia's economic health, and also shown a renewed interest in the security situation in Zamimbia and South Epheron, which still suffer from sporadic communal and racial violence, according to the Council statement. Mr. Aššuaswa, a former career military official, has held positions in the National Development Council and the military General Logistics and General Staff Departments. In a released statement to the press, Minister Asššuaswa emphasized the importance of national security, economic development, and regional harmony to the remit of the office, and indicated that one of the first tasks of his office was to conduct a top-down audit of Snefaldian commitment in Zamimbia and South Epheron and look to revitalize opportunities for trade and travel with those countries and Epheron as a region.

[Brasland]

• MARKUND - The Royal Court has announced that His Majesty the King will depart for Dillenburg this Tuesday. He will be informed of the situation surrounding Hurricane Helga, which has caused widespread devastation across the Gulf Islands. Once on Dillenburg, it will also be determined whether he will be able to visit the heavily affected islands of St Fritz, Elistansa, St Maria and St Ulrich, which are all part of the Kingdom of Brasland. The King will be travelling with Alfred Zimmermann, Minister of the Interior. A naval ship, the HMS Prinz Otto, was able to dock in the harbour of St Fritz and has begun offloading emergency supplies. It is also carrying three helicopters. An earlier naval ship, the HMS Königin Theodora, has also delivered emergency supplies but the harbour is heavily damaged by the hurricane, and widespread plundering is making the delivery of supplies difficult. Alfred Zimmermann has been in touch with Charles Bretton Jr, the governor of St Fritz, but contact has been difficult. The roof of the governor’s office has been ripped off by the hurricane.

[Abt]

• BELGOROD - Abtian Gulf Islands heavily battered by Hurricane Olga, also named Helga by other countries, as the northern shores of the Republic also feel the impact. The Abt Republic Defence Force will step up humanitarian operations in the area.

[Balthorvia]

Imperial Chamber of Economic Sciences Declares 2017 'Breakthrough Year' for Raw Materials


SPOPOMIR - WA market analysts are finding their eyebrows raised by new figures coming out of the Balthorvian Empire a little over one year into a radical new wave of policies embraced by the young and charismatic Emperor Nicodemus. In particular importance is the dramatic climb in domestically produced raw materials (historically a major plank of the Balthorvian economy) and an attached increased in refined goods coming out of the Emperor's "Head-and-Body" initiative to fertilize and sustain the nation's sizable proletariat society, by guaranteeing "fair trade" vertically from workers to potential consumers and exporters, and spurring said exporters to "plot an economically conscious revenue" and seek higher wages. Unsurprisingly, small arms and military ground vehicles are the largest sector in the latest production boom, followed closely by automobiles, aircraft, and agricultural equipment.

[Soveriegn States]

The Daily National Register
Online Edition

President to Deliver State of the Confederation Address

Jefferson, C.S.S. - As President Sean Collins prepares to deliver his second State of the Confederation Address to a Joint Session on Congress speculation is rising as to whether he will continue his calls for a more progressive approach to economic policy - calls that have so far gone unheeded by the Liberty Party majority in the House of Representatives - or whether he will seek to moderate his proposals as the nation heads into mid-term elections. In the past, President Collins has called for increases in the minimum wage, an expansion of welfare benefits and a national health insurance plan - all major pillars of the Democratic Labour Party platform. However, with polls showing continued strong support for the libertarian Liberty Party, some speculate that the President may propose an array of more moderate policy initiatives in hopes of securing some legislative victories ahead of this year’s election for the House of Representatives and one-third of the House of States. In an unrelated development, President Collins will spend the day before his address taking part in the official opening of the Thomas Caine Presidential Library at New Virginia University. The library, honoring the President’s predecessor and political nemesis, will house former President Caine’s official papers and memorabilia from his three terms in office.

[Soveriegn States]

The Daily National Register
Online Edition

A Presidency Still Finding Its Way Faces Mid-Term Elections

Jefferson - The election of Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Candidate Sean Collins as President two years ago ended President Tom Caine’s historic three-term presidency. Although Collins promised to reverse many of Caine’s policies in favour of promoting the interests of union labour and other liberal groups, the President has struggled to advance his agenda through a Congress effectively controlled by former President Caine’s Liberty Party (LP) and other center-right parties including the Sovereignty Party (SP) and the anti-Caine conservative National Renewal Party (NRP).

President Collins’ greatest achievements so far have been limited to the realm of foreign relations, where the Confederation has managed to repair its relations with the Excalbian Empire without seeming to alienate Caine’s old allies in Knootoss, and matters of Executive discretion, such as rolling back Executive Orders that applied confederation-level regulations that favoured business over labour and Libertarian social policies on the sovereign states. In the latter, Collins found broad support from center-right allies in the SP and NRP, which had long chaffed under what they called Caine’s tendency “to pay lip service to state sovereignty” while using the national government to “steamroll the states”.

Even in these achievements, however, Collins faces growing opposition. Many who have grown used to an almost Knootian-level of personal freedom and Libertarian, if not libertine, social policies under President Caine are complaining about more socially conservative states attempting to roll back these policies. Additionally, pro-sovereignty groups that support devolving these policies to the states have expressed concerns that growing too close to Excalbia at the expense of Knootoss could negatively impact the Confederation’s sovereignty at the national level.

In the midst of this, the nation will soon head to the polls for mid-term congressional elections. The results, whether they strengthen President Collins’ center-left supporters, such as the DLP, the New Liberal Party and the Democratic Party, or his opponents in the LP, they will be seen as a referendum on his policies to date and will shape the future course of his presidency.

[Excalbia]

Citadel Daily Post
Online Edition

Excalbia to Join Reichsburg Agreement?

Citadel Excalbia - Following the unexpected visit of Allanean Foreign Minister Maverick Monningham to the Holy Empire it appears that the Government is on the verge of joining the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement. Monningham met yesterday with Lady Christina Freedman, the Minister of State. While details of the meeting have not been released, a spokesman for the Ministry has confirmed that the Reichsburg Agreement was on the agenda, as was an exchange of ambassadors and a normalization of diplomatic relations.

The Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement, drafted by the Free Kingdom of Allanea in 2017, is a fairly bare-bones multilateral trade agreement. Rather than the usual detailed chapters relating to various industries and sectors and the standard dispute resolution mechanisms, the Agreement simply prohibits signatory states from imposing punitive tariffs or import bans on any items legally sold in the domestic market. Analysts conclude that this would allow the Government to maintain existing bans on various drugs and drug-laced foods and beverages, as well as drug paraphernalia and other prohibited items. Free trade advocates also claim that the Agreement in no way compromises Imperial health and safety standards, as the Agreement simply requires that imports be sold on a level playing field with domestically produced goods.

It is believed that the Cabinet voted last night to recommend that the Agreement be signed and that the Emperor submit it to the Imperial Senate for ratification.

[Upper Virginia]

Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

Democratic Union-Liberal Alliance Surges in Polls

Courtland - A new poll conducted by Archer, Pike and Zemelis Pollsters shows that the recently announced electoral alliance of the Democratic Union and the Upper Virginia Liberal Party has taken a slight lead in the generic ballot. With new Democratic Union leader Gwen Ubrecht making the rounds on the news-talk shows and touting decidedly moderate leftist themes, such as wage equality, parental leave and free universal tertiary education, younger voters and women voters in particular are flocking to the new left wing coalition. Most of the shift appears to be coming at the expense of the National Renaissance and Democratic Recovery Parties. Support for the Liberty and Prosperity Party (LPP) has remained steady and it takes second place in the poll. The LPP seems to be benefiting from the demise of the National Independence Party, which appears to be headed for electoral oblivion.

[Snefaldia]

• PALAHŠA, HAPALLA AND SEHA - The Snefaldian State Deputy for Hapalla and Seha, Pihasassi Surassura, has assented to the appointment of Maššana-Pijama-Maddu as Scholar-Superior of Hapalla and Seha, a Snefaldian dominion. The Scholar-Superior is the head of government in the theocratic state, and is appointed by the Monastic Hierarch, a hereditary position that revolves between one of two Grand Librarians in the Dominion. By law, the representative of the Snefaldian government must provide assent to this appointment. Maššana-Pijama-Maddu, a Loremaster of the Hapallasehan branch of Aatem Nal and a former engineer, has already served one five-year terms as Scholar Superior, and is viewed as a technocratic manager for the mountain theocracy's government.
  
  Unusually, he also received a commission as the Second Minister for the United Front Commission, a Snefaldian bureau responsible for promoting the interests of the nation abroad and building "broad consensus across all parts of society." It is apparently the first time a Hapallasehan has been appointed to a government post in Snefaldia, although it is not unheard of for citizens of Snefaldian dominions to receive positions inside the States-Federation. By Snefaldian standards, Hapallasehans are ultraconservatives; only full members of Aatem Nal have political rights and the government is theocratic in nature; although nominally independent, as a Dominion the States-Federation is responsible for foreign policy and defense.

[Upper Virginia]

Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

Editorial: Dangerous Ground

A pro-business, laissez faire center-right government held power in both the National Assembly and the Presidential Palace. A left-wing socialist movement, branded revolutionaries and terrorists was showing surprising strength headed into national elections. The year was 1932 and then-President Olanis Coleman responded by banning the Socialist Party, along with its allies in the Labour Party and its supporting trade unions. In response, union members and others rioted in the capital. With rioters literally pulling down the gates of the Presidential Palace, Coleman barricaded himself in the basement and telegraphed his resignation to Armed Forces Commander General Roger Courtland. Over 70 years of repressive military rule followed.

There are many differences, thankfully, between 1932 and 2018. There is no Great Depression. President Alex Holmes is no Olanis Coleman, having proven his bravery in battle against the Altman regime during the 2004 coup to restore democracy. The Presidency is no longer all-powerful, counterbalanced by a new parliamentary-style National Assembly and Prime Minister. And the Democratic Union of Workers, Farmers, Green and Students, despite its links to the former revolutionaries of the Free Virginia Liberation Army, is a seasoned political party, not a neophyte group fighting for a place at the table.

Nevertheless, Upper Virginia, even in its prosperity, remains a country of two wildly divergent views. On one side, the pro-business, economically Libertarian,pro-police upper and middle classes remain fearful that a socialist government will be the end of capitalism - and of liberal democracy. On the other side, the economic interventionist, pro-union, socially Libertarian working class, intellectuals and post-Millennials fear that the establishment will seek to use extra-constitutional means, such as the Army and police, to keep them from power.

Given the history of the nation and the current deep divisions, it is incumbent on all parties to reassure the nation that the rule of law will be obeyed above all else. That the vote will be fair and transparent, and accepted by all. And, that there will be another election after this one.

[Soveriegn States]

The Daily National Register
Online Edition

Separation?

Jefferson - The capitol is abuzz with rumors that Saxmerean independence is once again on the table. More than a decade ago the Treaty of Courtland resolved the Saxmere Secession Crisis and a series of plebiscites decreed that Saxemere would gain autonomy and grand duke while remaining part of the Confederation. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, politicians on both the left and right are talking about “amicable separation” and “peaceful dissolution” of the ties between the restored Grand Duchy and the Confederal government.

Some pundits attribute the move to reignite debate over the status of Saxmere to growing frustration with the impasse between President Collins, the left-leaning Saxmerean chief magistrate, and the center-right Congress. Others cite the inherent and long-suppressed incoherency of having a constitutional monarchy as a constituent part of a republican confederation.

[Excalbia]

From http://travel.state-excalbia.gov.ex

Travel Warning for Leagran

The Directorate-General for Consular Affairs of the Ministry of State has imposed a Travel Warning on the Protestant Republic of Leagran. Excalbian citizens are urged to defer travel to Leagran and citizens within the country are advised to consider departing by expedient commercial means. Excalbian citizens remaining in Leagran or traveling to the country in spite of the warning are advised to register with the Excalbian Embassy in Praise-God.

Travel Warnings also remain in effect for the Democratic Republic of Daytanistan, the People’s Republic of Narvasar and the Holy Free State of Iesus Christi. In addition, Excalbian citizens are banned from travel to the Holy Empire of Iesus Christi and to the Principality of Ostmark.

[Zamimbia]

The New Hope New Day

Education Reshuffle

The Ministry of Education announced today that a number of schools in South-West Epheron Province, which has the highest density of schools in the nation, will be closed in order to permit more resources to be directed to schools in underserved areas, particularly in the interior provinces.

In a related development, the Ministry said that secondary education in the metropolitan region of New Hope and the other coastal cities would be rationalised. Most secondary students will now attend schools in the city centres, where there are better transportation options and where more students live, rather in the outlying districts.

[Balthorvia]

HIM Emperor Nicodemus Sends Gifts, Offers Support to Children of Zamibia

SPOPOMIR - Amidst his ongoing crusade to reform what he calls "the sickness of money-power politics" in Balthorvia, young Balthorvian children facing an uncertain future are not the only little ones to receive the conspicuous personal attentions of the Balthorvian Emperor Nicodemus. The official press agency of the royal court released a bulletin on Saturday announcing that His Imperial Majesty has taken an especial interest in the recently-televised plight of the schoolchildren of the nation of Zamibia, including his personal statement that the adversities of youth education in the mired Epheronian nation "frustrates the charitable heart of the Lord, Jesus Christ," and presumably by implication the charitable heart of his imperial self.

In addition to a signed letter from the Emperor, addressed to the schoolchildren of Zamibia, His Imperial Majesty has reportedly arranged to have a shipment of over ten-thousand solar-powered laptop computers delivered to Zamibia as an aide to secondary studies, threatened by the prospect of politically-motivated redistricting in the nation's urban centers. The gift is accompanied by packages of up to nearly 5 tons containing pencils, notebooks, and basic textbooks written in English. "There is no reason why the resources of our collective humanity should not be shared appropriately among what we consider to be our whole community," the Emperor said.

There was reportedly a second letter as well which the Emperor sent directly to President Duna, confiding the Emperor's belief in the power of education and proposing to establish an Imperial office in Zamibia for facilitating the distribution of Balthorvian aide. The move was received positively by many Balthorvian students, some of the Emperor's strongest, if not perfectly loyal supporters, and was echoed favorably by the rhetoric of many church figures. Reactions among older Balthorvians were more mixed, with many being skeptical that the gesture was anything more than a token of goodwill.

"I think it's very nice that our Emperor wants to do a good service for the people of Zamibia, a Christian service, but I think I will be more interested to see if he can accomplish the same goals here and make things better for our country," one resident of Spopomir said.

[Ajuba]

Abjua Daily Current
Online Edition

More Violence in Zamimbia
Ayewole Ozols

(New Hope) The Ministry of Public Safety in a series of tersely worded statements has reported that a demonstration in the South-Western Epheronian village of Winburg turned violent. Boer parents had been attempting to block the Ministry of Education’s closure of the local elementary school when a scuffle resulted in violence, a show of guns and shots being fired. The statement mentioned only “injuries” being treated at local hospitals. Reports from the scene, however, suggest that several Boer civilians were killed and that at least two police officers were gravely wounded. The number of injured reportedly reaches into the dozens.

A second brief statement noted the discovery of the body of a 13-year old ethnic Butu school boy on the borders between South-Western Epheron and majority Butu province of Kwazula. Rumours rage that the boy was killed by Boer vigilantes seeking revenge for the event in Winburg. There are unconfirmed reports that the a threatening note was affixed to the body. However, the contents, and indeed the existence, of the note is being kept a closely held secret by Public Safety officials here.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post
Online Edition

New Additions to The Imperial Family

(Citadel Excalbia) The Imperial Household Agency announced late yesterday that Her Imperial Highness Princess Rebecca and her husband, His Imperial Highness Duke Andrik, are expecting twins. The Princess is expected to deliver in October. The twins will become the fourth and fifth in line to Sword, displacing the Emperor’s youngest son, Prince James.

[Upper Virginia]

Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

Latest Polls: Democratic Union Pulling Ahead

(Courtland) The latest polls from Vaislevs, Cebule and Johnson, shows the left-wing electoral alliance between the the Democratic Union (DUWFGS) and the Upper Virginia Liberal Party (UVLP) holding a solid majority among likely voters. Within the alliance, the Democratic Union has surged well ahead of the UVLP, making a government headed by the former Communist revolutionaries a very real possibility. Among the other parties, the Liberty and Prosperity Party (LPP) of current Prime Minister Marcus Poole appears to be making the strongest showing for second place. The Democratic Recovery Party (DRP), however, remains not far behind the LPP. Meanwhile, support for the National Renaissance Party (NRP), associated with former President Becka Harrison, continues to bleed support, with most of its voters turning to the DRP or the LPP. The National Independence Party, meanwhile, appears for headed for a very poor showing and may, in fact, find itself without seats in the National Assembly for the first time since the restoration of the Constitution.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post
Online Edition

On the Island, by Bill Ozols

The Red Prince?

In today’s Landing tabloids, the gossip columnists have revealed one of the worst kept secrets on the island: His Imperial Highness Prince James may be dating Ms. Suniefreda Hoogaboom. Yes, that Hoogaboom. She is the granddaughter of good old Uncle Noel Hoogaboom himself, the communist leader of Anahuac. Young Ms. Hoogaboom, a young independent professional in her own country, accompanied her grandfather on his groundbreaking State visit a little over a month ago. Recently, she returned with the Anahuacan delegation attending the Emperor’s Birthday Ball. In the days following the Ball, young Ms. Hoogaboom was spotted about town with Prince James, the Emperor’s youngest child and soon-to-be university graduate. While the island and its wagging tongues have gotten used to the Emperor’s nephew - and the Prince’s alter ego - Lord Tariq whisking a wide variety of young ladies, both foreign and domestic, about town, seeing the Prince out and about holding hands with the pretty young communist was truly something new under the sun. While most people in the Citadel have the discretion and decency to keep such sightings to themselves, the Landing tabloids, armed with paparazzi photos of the young couple and lurid headlines (making mine seem quite tame), have decided to spoil their privacy. Now, we can only wait to see whether love truly knows no boundaries.

[Upper Virginia]

Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

BREAKING NEWS: Ubrecht Survives Assassination Attempt

(Petersburg) According to the Dominion Security Service, a lone gunman attempted to assassinate Democratic Union leader Gwen Ubrecht and prime ministerial candidate this afternoon as she was leaving the Grand Highlands Hotel in Petersburg for a campaign rally. The gunman, identified as John Carroll, 45, was recently fired from his position as a security guard at the hotel and used his duty pistol, which he had failed to surrender, to fire at Ubrecht and her entourage as they made their way through a crowd gathered in front of the hotel. Although Ubrecht was whisked to safety by her security detail, sources report that her press secretary, Ellen O’Neil, 36, and a member of her security detail, Vernon Hansen, 32, were shot by the gunman before he was shot in turn by security service officers. O’Neil is reportedly in serious condition in Petersburg’s Mercy Hospital. Both Hansen and Carroll were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Four bystanders were also injured in the incident. Two were treated and released; two others remain hospitalized in stable condition.

[Sabaristan]

The Yangikent Times

• YANGIKENT: In a lavish public ceremony today at the Palace of the Sobornoyan, His Majesty the Sabaristankhan delivered his official yassa appointing Prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren to the vacant position of First Minister, the head of the Sabari cabinet. Namnansüren, the Noyan of Bayan-Ölgii, is a hereditary aristocrat and reformist politician with close family connections to the Sobornoyan, previously serving in the State Diet before its reorganization into the State Diet as a member of the National Revival Party.
  
  After the disgrace and death of the previous First Minister, Namnansüren became a strong contender to form a new government after his strong peformance as governor of Dornod aimag, as well as his quick responses to the devastating 2016 earthquakes there. Critically, he received the support of Prince Nirinbai, the Noyan of Övörkhangai and former Foreign Minister, now a powerful reformist voice at court. The other leading contender for the position, Beile Kultigin Baarhongol, a current Diet Deputy and former First Minister, was supported by the traditionalist faction of his patron, Khan Khuu Tserendondovyn Navaanneren.
  
  Namnansüren's cabinet has been announced in part: Da Lam Tserenchimed as minister for internal affairs, Mijiddorjiin Khanddorj as minister for foreign affairs, Dalai-Van Gombosuren as defense minister, Dambyn Chagdarjav as finance minister, and Erdene Van Namsrai as minister of justice. Critically, Prince Namnansüren has also offered the position of Development Minister to Toghtogha, the current State Diet Presiding Chairman, to be held concurrently.
  
  Prince Namnansüren has already made statements expressing his firm resolve to restore trust and stability to the government of the Khanate in the name of His Serene and Imperial Highness the Sobornoyan.

[Excalbia]

Landing Journal
Weekly Review of Books
Online Edition

“The Winner” Sheds A Mixed Light on The Most Consequential Politician of the Modern Era
By Jonathan Connerly

Felix Baumgartner's new unauthorised biography of State Minister Lady Christina Freedman - “The Winner” - arrived with a splashy ad campaign and salacious whispers. The book, however, has proven to be well-paced, almost novel-like, portrait of a politician who between her service as Imperial Chancellor, Minister of Defence and Minister of State has been at the center or Imperial policy-making for nearly two decades. Baumgartner’s book appears to be well-researched, despite many of sources opting to maintain anonymity, and portrays Freedman as highly intelligent and capable woman of vaulting ambition.

Beginning in high school, where Freedman captained the championship-winning girls’ soccer team and was chosen as homecoming queen, student body president and valedictorian, and continuing through university and her meteoric rise from local television reporter to national news anchor, Baumgartner portrays his subject as committed to winning at almost any cost. He quotes a host of, understandably, bruised egos left in the wake of Freedman’s ascent, but the most convincing tales lay in the way Freedman negotiated the breakup of the Progressive Conservative Party and the founding of the New National Union.

Based largely on anonymous sources, Baumgartner asserts that the National Unity Coalition formed in the 2006 and was created under coercion from the Crown Prince Regent. As both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives began to fracture under the strain of their forced union, Freedman realised - according to Baumgartner - that it would be better to destroy her own party - and the Liberals - and pull the centrist remnants together in a party that would support the Sword and, in turn, receive the tacit endorsement of the Sword. Thus giving birth to the New National Union, Freedman remained at the center of the political word while coldly tossing her own former associates into the political wilderness.

Despite all of Freedman’s “wins” - including a late marriage to a famous actor - Baumgartner asserts that Freedman's hubris helped contribute to several of the Empire’s greatest failures in the middle of last decade. Beginning with the Iesian Civil War and continuing through the Zamimbian and Ostmark Crisis, Baumgartner claims that Freedman’s single-minded desire to “win” every argument and challenge reinforced the Crown Prince’s and the Emperor’s own most belligerent tendencies, precipitating not one, but two confrontations with Knootoss, three military interventions and the humiliating collapse of the Empire’s attempts to lead the Western Atlantic to a new regional accord. The author points out that these failures washed up on the reputations of Sir Albert Cummings and Sir Sterling Wentworth, both of whom were forced out of their Chancellorships prematurely, while Freedman remained in place and relatively unscathed.