World Cup 77 - Roleplay Thread

[Taeshan]

"So we still have a chance?"

"Yep, another 1 nil victory, and Krytenia stole two points from Red Blackiland."

"So what we need to win out, and somehow beat Chromatika in this qualifying scenario and...?"

"Red Blackiland needs to lose twice, or just not win and lose one of their remaining games."

"Who do they play?"

"Huelavia, Lanzo, and the Serbian Empire."

"So it's not going to happen."

"Nope."

"Dang if only we had beaten Lanzo at home we would only need them to lose once, and miraculously be four goals better than Chromatika."

"Alternatively we could have Chromatika lose 3 straight, and us win our other two matches in a combined 26 goal swing."

"Right."

"It could happen."

"I doubt it."

"But hey. We haven't been terrible this second half."

"But we haven't been real good either."

"As Always."

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Gregoryisgodistan Locker Room After Loss To Ndaku

Secret Police Agent Dominic Button: All right, boys, that was absolutely terrible out there. The worst performance I have seen from you in my entire life. You ought to be ashamed. You can't get complacent now that we've qualified. You need to keep playing hard. We're playing for rank and seeding here, not to mention pride. Show some of it!

Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Death to San Jose Guayabal: Coach is right, this was a bad, bad loss. But we can still recover. Let's go out there the next three games, put some heart into it, go nine for nine in points, win the group, and maybe play ourselves into Pot 2 for the World Cup.

Enemy Crusher Fatty Footy: I agree. Let's crush our opponents, literally and figuratively!

Prune Farmer 3818F: Yeah, you do that, Fatty! Strike the fear of Lord Almighty Gregory into that heathen scum!

Soldier 0EDCK13DHI: And maybe we'll get a rematch of The Holy War with San Jose Guayabal. Or The Border War, The DIablo Duel, or whatever kids are calling it these days.

History Teacher CZDE9745: Wouldn't it be great to take down those stupid Guaya Beans in the Final Match of the World Cup? Show them who's really boss?

Whole Team: HELL YES!

Xylocarp Smasher XILE42: Who's the greatest soccer team in the Multiverse?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Xylocrap Notatypo: Who's going to win World Cup 77?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Loyal Youth Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Death To Dumpy O'Rumpy And His Spectacularly Hideous Hair: Who's going to beat all the nations on the Enemy List whenever we play them?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Slave Catcher I913AFBSBFI239: Who's going to beat The Holy Empire so bad it'll make Tzimmes blue?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Police Agent Jorge Warlord who thinks that Juan Tzimmes has a stupid name becuase Tzimess is a food with prunes that Jewish people eat on their holidays?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Prune Farmer 3818F: But prunes are awesome, right? Who loves prunes?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Loyal Friend of Lord Almighty Gregory Death to San Jose Guayabal: Who will destroy Cosumar again whenever we face them?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Enemy Crusher Fatty Footy: Who will vanquish the foes from Dumbokuni should we face those clowns?

Whole Team: FOOT SLAVES!

Enemy Crusher Fatty Footy: DAMN YOU KUNI!

Whole Team: DAMN YOU KUNI!

Secret Police Agent Dominic Button: All right boys, let's wrap this meeting up. We were bad tonight, but I have faith in you all to bounce back. Foot Slaves on three!

Whole Team: ONE-TWO-THREE! FOOT SLAVES!

[Amnarei-asud]

As soon as The Hood stepped inside through the heavy wooden doors of the Museum of Antiquities he was hit by the smell of dust. Amnarei-asud was a dry, arid country, and he'd gotten well used to the smells and irritants that the winds coming in off the sea whipped into the air. This, though, this was different. The smell of a dust laden with time. Heavy with previous experiences, sights, smells, locations, and sounds, it seemed to drift through the air lazily in the sunbeams that poured down through the ornate skylights in the ceiling. Caught in an epoch of their own delusion, the particles in the air created a sort of sheath that protected the museum beyond them from The Hood's full inspection. As if walking past a threshold into a different time, The Hood raised his arm instinctively as he moved through them.

He looked around for signs of life and found none. At odds with the modern arabian sensibilities with fascist leanings on show in the rest of the buildings off Central Boulevard, the museum seemed to have been built in a different style altogether. A cleaner, more material take on neo-classicism, it stood out from the other buildings in Ain Salah like a sore thumb with it's almost nordic stylings, and would have fit into any other country in the world were it not for the fastidiously detailed traditional Asud fixtures and fittings. The doors had been clean and modern. The skylights were ridden with unmistakably arabian patterned wrought ironwork. The whole ensemble gave the building an uncertain edge. Like the dust floating in the entrance, it seemed to hang, placeless, in a time of its own construction.

As he paced through the foyer, The Hood's footsteps bounced and echoed around the double height space, sending noises ricocheting and pinging back at him from all angle as the geometries of the competing architectural styles fought for supremacy of his sensory experience.

"I've been expecting you, Kismet," said a soft voice, echoing off to The Hood's left.

He spun round like a shot.

"Do not be alarmed," continued the voice, "I'm here to help you. I know why you're here."

"What did you call me?" asked The Hood, "Step forward, show yourself."

"That's rich, coming from you," laughed the voice, "the international man of mystery, aren't you?"

As the noises bounced around the hall, echoing footsteps from one of the corridors to The Hood's left became closer and more deliberate. When they were audible with one clear note, The Hood could see the source of the voice. An old woman, much paler than most Asud, had emerged from the hallway. With a slight hunchback, the shuffling feet of the figure brought her close enough for The Hood to start making out other features with more clarity. Underneath the tatty yellow headscarf, a shock of wispy grey hair was visible, whilst a kind but weary smile shone from her face underneath her piercing blue eyes.

"You're not from round here," accused The Hood warily.

"Originally? No. But neither are you," countered the woman.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Amal, and I am the file manager of this museum."

"I need to speak to an archaeologist," said The Hood, quickly, "or a historian."

"Oh, I know what you're here for, Hood," said Amal, with heavy emphasis on the word, "but alas, I also happen to be the only member of staff here."

"Well, when will they be back?" asked The Hood, choosing to ignore the previous emphasis.

"Ah, no, I misspoke. I mean, I'm the only staff member at all. Ever. Or, have been for a long time now, anyway."

The Hood stared blankly from underneath his robes, "how can a museum not have any historians?"

"Like this," chuckled Amal warmly, "there isn't much call for them, really. Have you not noticed how people in this country don't seem all that concerned with what came before them?"

"Well, yes, of course, but wait; where are you from?"

"I am from a place not so far from you, my friend," smiled Amal.

"But... I can't remember where that is," replied The Hood with frustration in his voice, "not anymore, anyway."

His words bounced around the foyer, lonely. And yet, in being heard by Amal, slightly less so. She smiled warmly at him again.

"All in good time, Hood," she said, offering him a hand, "please, come with with me."

Finding himself unable to refuse, The Hood did as he was told and was soon led on a bewildering path through the many corridors and windy passageways of the museum. Almost as if it were literally designed by two separate competing architects, the two geometries intersected in bizarre places, offering corridors that bisected others for no apparent reason, cul-de-sacs that led to nowhere, one pathway that led away and curved back on itself up some stairs before ending up back at the same corridor it started from without having offered any alternative destination or the original corridor changing height at all, and windows of multiple styles in bizarre places. Though he travelled in silence so as to remember the way out again, The Hood was soon undeniably lost as they crossed this way and that, backtracking and retracing their steps on several occasions, including in one instance where The Hood could have sworn they were somehow managing to travel a third way down the same corridor they'd already walked up and down twice...

"This way," said Amal at last, showing The Hood a doorway with her arm outstretched.

The Hood walked into what was a large archive room covered with maps from top to bottom. more dusty sunbeams shone down into the room from skylights above, and despite the blazing heat outside, there was a distinct chill in the air.

"Now," said Amal, closing the door behind her as she followed The Hood in, "I'm afraid I must ask you for your help."

"Help? But I've come to you for help," said The Hood, turning around to face her and taking care not to spin his robes down off his head with the momentum, "I know practically nothing, how could I possibly help you?"

"Why, Kismet, you are the keycode!"

"I'm the what? What is that word? Why do you keep calling me it?"

"Kismet?"

"Yes, that one."

"Kismet is fate," explained Amal, moving her arms passionately as she explained, "we have no memory here, the Asud, but we have a clear understanding of what might yet be. Kismet is fate. It is the power that controls what is yet to happen in the future. It is a sign from god. It is you."

"Me?"

"I believe so, my friend," continued Amal, "I hope so."

"But... how?"

Amal sighed, "I'm afraid that much is less clear. I know there is information that we are both locked out from. I also know there must be a way to get that information. I believe we are each other's keys. I have seen it, in the sky."

The Hood looked around at the maps that adorned the walls. Dry parchments, some of which had to date back as far as anything as old as he'd seen so far on this island, were everywhere. Maps and charts showing different parts of the island, some with locations circled multiple times all scrawled over with spidery navy pen strokes. The deep indigo of the ink stood out from the yellowing parchment, almost burning a hole through the paper with their weight.

"Are those circled locations involved?" asked The Hood.

"Very perceptive of you, my dear," smiled Amal, "yes. I think so. This is my research of the past few years. My investigations. My chosen locations for study."

"What are they?"

"Historic sites."

"The pyramids?"

"No, not the pyramids. Those are pyramids. No mystery there."

"Then what?"

"The sites that we cannot, I cannot explain."

"How do you mean?" asked The Hood.

"Well, we might not have memory here, but we do have carbon dating," explained Amal, walking The Hood towards one map in particular, "I go to most places, and I can work out just how old a site is. Many millennia in most cases. The pyramids, for example, and two and half millennia old. Nobody really knows what they were other than 'they were there before I was', but we can at least date them."

"But...?"

"These three sites," said Amal, pointing to three circled locations on the map up in the hills above Ain Salah, "have never been broken into."

"So?"

"So, I can't accurately date anything inside them," continued Amal, "Their presence was brought to my attention in the margin of one of my former colleague's notebooks. I was intrigued by the fact there were three sites that had never been studied, and even more intrigued by the fact they lay almost in a perfect triangle, see?"

The Hood followed her finger, deciding not to press her on what became of her former historian colleagues under this paranoid dictatorship. Sure enough, the three marks made a rough triangle on the map, at the centre of which was The Rock, home of the Fennecs.

"So what happened when you went to them?" asked The Hood, wondering why he'd never noticed any temples or historic sites around the stadium during his many visits there.

"I couldn't get into them. Whatever mechanisms that close them are beyond my comprehension," sighed Amal, "it is almost and completely like I've been intentionally or unintentionally locked out of them. But the markings on them definitely seem to suggest that a chosen person could unlock them. Kismet. Like you; they are kismet."

"But... why me?" asked The Hood, confused.

"Why not you?" laughed Amal, "You are the only person here who is seeking for some of answers of his own, are you not? The only person who feels compelled to keep his face hidden even though he isn't quite sure why? There's clearly something about you, Hood, you must see that! I'm not quite getting the tech support I should be from my superiors but I've seen it in the sky, remember? And I think I've worked it out."

"Worked what out?"

"Why you're here, and what I'm supposed to do with you now you are."

"Just to be clear," said The Hood slowly, "you're not being very clear. At all."

"Let me try something," said Amal, attempting to explain, "I did manage to take carbon dating readings at the three sites, and I got some very interesting responses."

She lay three pictures out in front of The Hood on a dusty desk. One of them appeared familiar, though he couldn't work out why.

"From one site, I got nothing at all," continued Amal calmly, "and from another I got a mixture of different readings, all from the same sample. Rather than being millennia old, these readings were a mixture of tens, fourteens, and twenties. It looked ancient, but there was no denying the readings I was getting."

"And the third?" asked The Hood, still not quite following.

"Nine."

"Nine?"

"Nine. Always nine. No variation whatsoever," said Amal, "now, tell me. Have you ever seen these sites?"

"No," answered The Hood, truthfully.

"But there's one you're drawn to, isn't there?" pressed Amal.

"Yes. That one," said The Hood, pointing to the picture on the right of a monolithic block set just a few metres away from a stark cliff face.

Amal smiled, and turned over the pictures. On the back, more spidery navy handwriting. On the back of the first was written "Kismet, no reading". On the back of the second, "Kismet, 10, 14, 20yo". And then, on the one The Hood had somehow recognised, "Kismet, 9yo".

"I see," said Amal smugly, "I thought so."

"You thought what?"

"All in good time, my friend," Amal replied, "meet me there in a fortnight. This time next fortnight. I need to do some more research."

"But-" stammered The Hood.

Amal turned away, and with a spry leap that defied her apparent age, jumped over a pile of maps and opened a side door that The Hood hadn't noticed before. For all the twisting and turning she'd made through the corridors on the way there, this door was quite clearly made of the same material as the structure of the building and led directly outside through the heavy masonry wall into Central Boulevard. The Hood took the hint and walked hesitantly towards the door.

Smiling warmly at him as he took tentative steps down outside into the sunlight, Amal's eyes betrayed the fact her mind was racing elsewhere ahead of them both.

"But," started The Hood, turning back to look up through the doorway at Amal, "I still don't know who you are?"

"All in good time, my friend."

"Or ask you why you're the one person to never ask me if the hood was truly necessary."

"You do not need to explain yourself to me, Hood," smiled Amal, with one hand on the door handle, "the answers are beginning to reveal themselves to me."

"Well, I'm happy for you, really I am, but they aren't appearing to me at all," replied The Hood sarcastically, feeling used, "I haven't gotten any information out of you at all! I haven't even shown you the rant that-"

"-that Abdul-Rahman Saab made in Mercedini," said Amal, finishing The Hood's sentence for him.

"...yes," said The Hood, unsure, "How did-"

"-I know about that?

"Yes."

"Because it was me who sent it," smiled Amal with a twinkle in her eye, "I did say I was the file manager here..."

The Hood stared in shock, remembering the words in Saab's rant. Unable to quite connect the dots in his mind, he frowned and opened his mouth to interrogate further.

"All in good time, my friend!" interrupted Amal with a laugh as she shut the door in The Hood's face before he could speak, "This time next week! Kismet!"

His head spinning, The Hood felt his pocket for his transcript of the rant. He pulled it out and checked. Yes! It was there!

"Contact your ultimate administrator or file manager."

But who was she? And who was the ultimate administrator? And where was he from? And how had he come away with more questions than he'd started with?

A bump on the shoulder from a passer-by broke the spell of the dust and brought The Hood back to the present day with a jump, and he suddenly remembered that he was in a public place with little shade in broad daylight. Best to get home, quickly, and without fuss.

For one thing, he needed to go home and find out how the Fennecs had got on against Tumbra...


*Three hours later*

"Ah, shite."

[Brenecia]

THE ROZELLE OBSERVER
REPORT: Cullen close to jumping, closer to being pushed
Tara Ousted

Raven Cullen has cut an increasingly erratic and stressed figure in recent weeks and reports from within the Brenecian camp suggest that she is losing hold of the dressing room.

It has been a turbulent qualifying run for the Patriots as they have been wracked with inconsistency, taking six points from Turori but just two from Great Caledonia, and have seemed to be sitting in third for practically all of qualifying.

Further unrest has been stirred by suspicions that Cullen has managed several key matches while the worse for liquor on the touchline. Once notoriously media-friendly, she has become increasingly abrasive in recent weeks to the point where many pundits suspect she no longer wants the job.

However, Cullen is yet to hand in a resignation and appears to be striving her best to make Brenecia qualify. She has been let down badly by poor performances from fringe players, as well as a couple of established starters in Trevelyan and Lovelock.

While poor performances in qualifying have sunk Brenecian managers in the past - and Cullen herself took the job in the middle of a seemingly-doomed qualifying run - Cullen's strong record in charge of the Patriots has worked in her favour.

She turned that qualifying campaign around and managed not only to qualify, but to have Brenecia reach the knockout stages for the first time. The Patriots then won the regional tournament and reached the World Cup quarterfinals, all while playing an attractive, fast-paced style of football.

However, the team didn't look quite right throughout the last Campionato Esportiva and poor performances have lead to suspicion that Cullen, more motivator than tactician, simply isn't being listened to anymore, and whatever spurred a largely unchanged side on in the past just isn't working anymore.

There are not many candidates to replace her and the current favourites are foreigners. Gabrielle Hourihane, currently at Kingsgrove, is the most likely domestic candidate, but former international Althea Chenoweth has done sterling work at North Hall, albeit with a defensive style of play.

The dark horse candidate, however, is Catherine Bardsley, recently liberated from Sameban captivity. Bardsley would appeal to nostalgia, but the reality is that she has been out of work for some years now, and the 54-year old is unlikely to launch straight back into her former career.

In any case, everything rests on victory against Anglatia in two days, and if Brenecia loses or even draws, Cullen's job is forfeit.

[Great Caledonia and North Hybernia]

The following RP is the follow up of this RP: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=397620&start=101

Queen Margaret II of Caledonia was sitting in her favorite chair and knitting while a family friend, Baron Philip von Röthlisberger, asked to meet her privately. Baron Philip von Röthlisberger is a wealthy jewish wine producer from Aquitaine-Languedoc. He showed her a video of her son, the heir of the crown, Prince Tearlach of Cambria, 68 years old, having s** with a 12 years old boy. Baron Philip von Röthlisberger told her if she abolish the monarchy and abdicate, the video will be deleted. But if she don't comply, the video will be made public. She has 48 hrs to abolish the monarchy and abdicate.

Queen Margaret II of Caledonia have decided to abolish the monarchy and abdicate. She has made this speach on tv from the Roxburgh Palace:

"Great Caledonia and North Hybernia has arrived to its crossroads. Either we keep living in the past with the archaic political system that is monarchy or we embrace the future with a democratic republic. It was a hard decision, I have decided to abolish the monarchy and abdicate. Unlike in Prusy Krolewskie, we don't need new elections in Great Caledonia and North Hybernia. From now on, our prime minister, James McGregor, is not only the head of the government but he's now the head of state and president of the Republic of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia. Great Caledonia is now a republic and not a United Kingdom anymore. "

[Turori]

On the topic of Qualifying :: If you look at the Group 6 table heading into Matchday 15, the Turori Eels earned a point at home to Eastfield Lodge - the leaders going into the match.

If you look at the World Cup Committee World Rankings, however, it was certainly another two points dropped for the Turori National Team who now finds themselves 3 points off the top of the table and two points out of the qualification positions with no games remaining against their qualification rivals. At this point, their fate is no longer in their own hands. Even three straight victories to close out the campaign wouldn't ensure a spot in the World Cup 77 finals - but it would certainly help.

With Brenecia and Anglatia still to play, someone ahead of the Eels is going to drop some points. The most ideal scenario would most certainly be a draw which would see a total of four points lost relative to the Eels assuming the Turori National Team can take care of its own business. Such a result would put the Eels back in control of their own destiny - and would be the only result which could, on its own, allow Turori a way back in based on their own performances over the final two matchdays.

The match is crucially important for Anglatia who would be all but qualified with a victory which would give them a six point advantage over Brenecia. A Brenecia victory would be equally undesirable for the Eels, however, as that could keep Brenecia and Turori level on points and the Brenecians would most certainly hold the tiebreaker due to their victories over the Eels, superior Goals rate and goal differential.

Ultimately, there really isn't anything for the Turori Eels to do but win. Win on Matchday 16. Win on Matchday 17. Win on Matchday 18. The least they can do is all they can. If they win all their matches and still don't qualify, then it just wasn't meant to be.

. . . .Image. . . .
The entrance to Cocoabo Park

. . . .
. . . .
On the topic of Cocoabo Preservation :: Turori's final home fixture of the World Cup 77 qualifying campaign will take place on Matchday 17 when the Eels host Savojarna at the newest stadium under the auspices of the Island Emirate - the Cocoabo Park Arena in the Cocoabo Park, Cocoabo Forest.

Cocoabo Park was christened during Eagles Cup VI when it hosted the classic final matchup between Zwangzug and Osarius. The underdogs, Zwangzug, ran out 2-1 winners in a thrilling match that required extra time to settle things. Although not technically Turorian territory - the Cocoabo Forest is a Cocoabo Preserve built on Calanian lands formerly held in trust by the Atlantian Oceania Regional Defense Organization (AORDO). The lands are administered in a joint effort between the quasi governmental entities of Tropicorp and the Cocoabo Preservation Society.

Prior to the match, the Cocoabo Preservation Society will host a Cocoabo Rally at Cocoabo Park. There will be dual-admission acknowledgement on the day - all those with a ticket to the game will also be admitted access to the park and rally, and likewise, those with a general admission ticket to the Park for the day will be able to queue up for first-come first-serve open seating at the Cocoabo Park Arena for the match. Of the 71,000 seats in the Cocoabo Park Arena, it is expected that about 50,000 tickets will be sold with the remainder of the 21,000 seats available for open general attendance.

[Chromatika]

Match 15: Chromatika 3-2 HUElavia

Lineup vs. HUElavia: Ria; Ilya (Morningstar '47) - Sorendai - Aart - Damjana (Ellen '81); Montague - Lucas; Rien - Sybill - Dragana (Antonio '78); Victoriane (C).

Goals: Victoriane '11 (assisted by Montague), Lucas '47 (assisted by Montague), Antonio '88 (assisted by Sybill)

After causing Chromatika to drop two points in their first match, HUElavia once again gave the Chromatiks all they could handle. Mia Ria had a shaky game, but recovered with four late saves; Victoriane added another in her season as an emerging threat while Daniel Lucas added a goal for the first time in ages. It was the usual Captain, Gabriella Antonio, who drilled the game-winner late before stoppage time to grant the Chromatiks another one-goal win, something that is becoming a staple during their second half play. Alyss Montague was masterful once more, leading to speculation on just what Silian Parker will decide once Meagan Kelly returns from childbirth next cycle; Sandra Sybill was a stud in the midfield in the absence of Rachel Hellion once again. With Victoriane streaking up, though, there is also now speculation of whether or not Nioli Quren will be able to keep his bench spot, and where Kaytlyne's career will take her in the future. Perhaps a win that was a bit closer than it should've been, but three points are three points, and it leaves the Chromatiks in a wonderful spot.

Lineup @ Lanzo Ria; Cameron - Sorendai - Lia - Ellen; Montague - Buric; Niro - Hellion (C) - Chesser; Victoriane.

Rachel Hellion makes her long-awaited return in a game that the Chromatiks should dominate. With her presence and that of Montague, there shouldn't be a doubt in picking up the three points, which would send the Chromatiks to the World Cup Proper and either San José Guayabal or the Royal Kingdom of Québec. With Elise still out, Ria will start in goal; Ilya's age gives way to Cameron, with Otis and Ishmael getting the center. Zlastica Ellen will help shore up the defense and hopefully help the youngster Mia keep a clean sheet. Alexandria Chesser deserves another look in the front, and Victoriane will be counted on to shine once again. With a draw or a win here or a draw or loss by Taeshan, the Chromatiks would qualify, and Parker is then likely to use the last two matches to rest his starters and give the Deep Reserves more playing time. It will be at Lanzo, though, so there might be a cause of variance there; however, with the class that is now the Chromatik team, expect the victory, by at least two goals. Unless something like EEC happens again.

[Flardania]

Opening Theme

---

Bonjour et Ohayōgozaimasu Kirishima. Welcome back to the World Cup 77 Qualifiers edition of the Kitsune Report, brought to you by the Nagatomo Sports Network (NSN), sponsored by Air Pacifica An experience that exceeds the skies of time, and Pocari Surge Feel the Surge. Here at the Kitsune Report, it's all about Kirishinan sports but right now the main focus lies on world cup football and the namesake of the report, the Kitsunes. With Matchday fourteen completed, it's time to see how the Kitsunes did and get grooving once more to some world cup football!

Kirishima 1-0 Sameba Review:

The Kitsunes returned home to the Dayangseong Stadium, home of Olympique Imgeum-si, in Imgeum, following their 2-0 win against the mysterious Mercenary Islands. In that match the Kitsunes were slightly more prepared to face the secretive team and were determined to erase the tragedy of their 3-3 draw against their ranked 244th opponent. That draw served as a catalyst in which Seong Mi-Soo decided to throw everything the team trained for out the window with her still trending line from her press conference, Well enough is enough and it's time for a change! The match against The Mercenary Islands was that much more symbolic due to that. Ako Izumi scored in the 60' and Sayo Matsuoka scored in the 74' seemingly continuing the ladies night out performance that the Kitsunes had against Brigantii.

The symbolism continued again as the Kitsunes faced Sameba in the city and stadium where the Kitsunes drew with The Mercenary Islands, Imgeum. The Kitsunes donned their alternate Empress Red kits as they were playing in the feudal capital. Sameba came out the gates aggressively as they took a shot on goal in the 1' nearly giving people in attendance a heart attack but the shot was luckily saved by Miyoko Hojo. The opposition took another attempt on goal in the 4' that was deflected by Fujisaka. It was clear at that moment that the Kitsune offense would have to be patient and decisive in order to score and maintain a lead for a win. It certainly makes sense as the opposition was sitting in second and the walls were closing in as the final matchday sits on the horizon.

The Kitsunes had shot attempts in the 6', 8', 20' and 35' with only their shot in the 8' and 35' being on target. On the other hand, in keeping with their aggressive play, Sameba added to their attempts on goal in the 1' and 4' with attempts in the 10',24',25',26' and 27', with Hojo's save in the 27' finally putting an end to the barrage as well as lowering the blood pressure of the Kitsunes fans watching. Both teams entered the half tied 0-0 but with Sameba leading in shot attempts 7-4.

In the second half, the Kitsunes looked liked they had a goal in the bag when Yabuta got free in the 57' but Berto Fonta refused to get beat with a tremendous save. This led to a counter attack attempt on goal in the 59' that ended up being off target for Sameba. Things would stay quiet shot attempt wise until Akiho Ubukata who subbed in for Papadopoulos in the 60' received a pass inside the box from Mizoguchi after a fake shot attempt. The Hyuga teammates were on the same page as Ubukata took the shot on the first touch from just behind the penalty area and as a result beating the keeper in the 74'. Ubukata kept her celebration brief as well as simple as she winked and blew kisses to the crowd. The Kitsunes looked to double their lead with a shot attempt that was off target in the 76' and a corner kick in the 77' that was saved by the opposition keeper. Iwamoto had a yellow card issued to him in the 84' leading to a free kick for Sameba that was luckily saved by Hojo. Final score Kirishima 1 and Sameba 0. As the Kitsunes have now defeated every team they drew against in the first half and have now won six straight.

Following the match, a pleased but cautious Seong Mi-Soo had this to say after the game. "We won our previous game which felt as a validation for revamping our system during the middle of a tournament, and it was the first time the KFA had experienced something like that. We finished the second half of that validation by trying to redeem ourselves in the eyes of our fans in Imgeum with a win.....*hold tears* last time we were here in Imgeum....things were so painfully. We were all at a loss at what we are going to do.

Last time we were here we were at rock bottom, not of the standings but we might as well been seeing how everything was going against us. last time in Imgeum, I stated enough was enough and it was time for a change. The change was hard and difficult and now we sit here in second in charge or our own destiny. but it does not get any easier. Brigantii is right there behind us and Sameba is still in it. We still have our work cut out for us and we have a difficult remaining stretch with Valanora up ahead on the calendar. All being in second means is that so long as we keep playing well, we will make it and not be forced to rely on someone else slipping. "

Kirishima 1 - 0 Sameba 
A. Ubukata(74')

Ancharmunn v Kirishima Preview:

The Kitsunes have won six straight games to finally claw their way back into a qualification position. However, if World Cup 75 qualifiers and the slip to Anglatia is anything to go by, we are not there yet. The Kitsunes have three games left and one of them is against Valanora. With that said every single game at this stage is important and the Kitsunes can not afford to take any matchup for granted. The Kitsunes ended their draw streak against Ancharmunn last time out and the Kitsunes can't let a single point slip. The Kitsunes has beaten them before and have no choice but to do it again if the Kitsunes wish to return to the World Cup. Until next time, Lets Go Kitsunes!

Post by: Keita Woo

[San Jose Guayabal]

Who will get the beloved qualification today?

Matchday Sixteen Cutoff

[Brenecia]

[Jeruselem]

Jeruselem coach Princess Laura and forward Marie Christie looking a bit grubby covered in grass after Jeruselem beat Darmen 4-3 in the last minute

Laura: Great work Marie, you saved our campaign with that goal.
Marie: Oh it's nothing, I was just doing my job
Laura: My son would have proclaimed himself a hero if we did that
Marie: Oh him, he would have been incapable of scoring that goal.
Laura: Say, why a bicycle kick instead of a plain header.
Marie: I'm like you, I'm a short ass and a header wouldn't have much power on the shot.

Laura: I've tried bicycle kicks but all that happens is I hurt myself and look like complete idiot. In my younger days, not now. I'd break one of my knees.
Marie: Oh yes well, I'm just very flexible.
Laura: Oh yes, you were a pole dancer.
Marie: There's still a dancing pole in my house ... well, I like just keeping myself fit.
Laura: God, I wouldn't try that. I'd end up in hospital.
Marie: I guess we have to be good at something

Laura: Do you think we should put Ellis back in the team
Marie: Oh him, not me. I wouldn't. He's just unpredictable.
Laura: I know, and I'm his mother. And I can't figure him out.
Marie: When he's good, he's dangerous. When he's bad, he's terrible.
Laura: As a mum you'd think your kids learn from their mistakes. Young Elsa had a bad temper, well from me but she's now a mature young lady. OK, some days she's a bit of a handfull but she's not the worse kid around.
Marie: I dunno Ellis is smart but he ... he has no self control when it matters.

Laura: You met his Dad?
Marie: Oh yes, that guy. I can see why Ellis is way he is. The worst of you and him.
Laura: He's not a bad person ... just flawed and well meaning
Marie: I see why you get grey hair
Laura: I don't have issues raising my girls, yes they are far from perfect but I don't really worry about them. I'm concerned my son isn't married yet.
Marie: Yes, well Anna and Elsa have stable partners. Elsa's got two kids.

Laura: I think it's hard to live with someone with no control and no filter..
Marie: Is ROAW that bad?
Laura: Oh him, he's just old and slow these days. So he's mellowed down, I wish my son could be the same.
Marie: Well Mum wanted me to have a normal job but it didn't turn out that way.
Laura: You're still relatively young and full of energy, don't waste it.
Marie: I'm trying not too

Laura: You're so muscular and strong, I never was. We were compact and strong but never strong.
Marie: Exercise Laura, that's the key
Laura: Eh, I'm no fan of going to gyms or home gyms
Marie: You're looking good for a grandmother
Laura: I'm feeling my age, don't let my looks deceive.
Marie: Say, how do you Dallas girls stand up with those oversized boobs for your size. My boobs are like pancakes.

Laura: No idea, not being an issue. We don't have back issues.
Marie: Maybe you got more backbone than more others
Laura: Just lucky, good genetics. Mostly
Ellis: Hey Mum , hey babe.
Laura: Where you been?
Ellis: Been around town, figured I wasn't needed today. Well, I'm not allowed to play anyway being on a red card.

Marie: Good thing too
Laura: We did win 4-3 without you
Ellis: That's great
Laura: Don't assume you're starting next game
Ellis: Oh that 's OK I'm used to that at Jeru FC, sometimes they forget to pick me
Marie: I playing Jeru FC, dirty team! Football that is, not their sex life.

Ellis: That's Jeru FC, we're just dirty Marie. Even if the opponent is all girls and has my sister in it.
Laura: Yes. Elsa hates playing against you lot as well.
Ellis: We're just better
Marie: No, you just like kneecapping defenders. Then you lose because half the team is sent off.
Ellis: True dat, sometimes we kinda go overboard.
Laura: Sometimes?

[Red Blackiland]

Red Blackiland Sports and Off-topic Chronicles

---

Enterprise Rumbles

RB fans in HUElavia

---

Author : Mathias Gërdorffen

"I hear the salary will come out only at the end of the other week."
"The bank does not want to lend any more money."
- Sales have fallen a lot and will need to cut costs.
- And they must create a council of shareholders.
"The truth is, the members are going to drift out of the way.
"They're going to hire a company to make the changes."
"A year and a half to two to straighten everything out.
"At the end of the day, it will be enough for us."
- Yeah, I've seen this movie before.
- Let's have some coffee?
- With sugar or sweetener?

---

HUElavia 0-2 Red Blackiland

---

It is becoming routine Schwartz to make beautiful goals against HUElavia. On Thursday, the striker scored another one in Red Blackiland's victory over HUElavia by 2-0. Rodristander, entering a starter in the beautiful counter-attack of Red Blackiland, also scored his goal.
With this result, Red Blackiland only needs one more point to qualify for the World Cup, in the exotic territory of Quebec and in the passionate lands of San Jose Guayabal and the FAS.
Even with a good part of the mixed team, reserves and holders, to test players, HUElavia took the initiative and controlled the game for much of the first half. With quick touch, HUElavia involved the defense of Red Blackiland, who was far behind, and created chances of goal. Slemadov headed out and Xabi Torres, after crossing by Raúl Sanchez, scored. But the referee saw an impediment in the throw.
On the other side, Red Blackiland decided to leave for the match a few minutes before the break. It was hot in the defense of HUElavia. Two dangerous crosses and a first kick from Shacker, defended by Mateo Diaz, were enough to leave the game balanced.
The played changed the panorama in the complementary stage, as Red Blackiland returned from the dressing room more offensive, while HUElavia could not keep the same paid and started to abuse the crosses in the rival area. Slemadov tried a new pass and the ball skimmed the crossbar.
But the tactic that prevailed was the Red Blackiland one. On the counterattack, Beckenstander crossed to open the scoring at the 26th. Shortly after, in front of the area, Schwartz received a pass at half height, straightened and, with the ball still in the air, sent a rocket in the left angle of Mateo Diaz, closing the scoreboard, in favour of Red Blackiland.

---

The Justified Means - Storyline and Guide

---

The Justified Means - Be a little warrior fighting against a titan!

---

Mission 49 - Injuring the free market (Mission for Dakersh Wiladat Jadida)

---

This is the first territory mission you'll do it for the Wiladat Jadida. The mission begins at a small Wiladat headquarters, located in Rakkanan village. Shujaa el-Kaarim, the leader of the Wiladat Jadida, introduces himself to Federico as he walks around his office, telling him that he hopes that the two can reach a reciprocal cooperation. It is clear that business is on Shujaa's agenda, both in his office and in Dakersh. While traveling to the Tankka Alsani, he tells Federico that he wishes to gain control of the port from the government so he can reap the benefits of government trades in Alhaiat's docks district.

Using the machine guns to take down enemies

You will spawn with the technician and a small group of other Wiladat Jadida soldiers close to the port entrance, in the Alhaiat docks. Approach the gate, take care of the soldiers there and then get over the wall and hack the gate control platform. Next you'll have to fight your way in a huge hangar, after leaving it, you'll encounter two bush fighters on two of the cranes, kill him and continue towards the terminal. It's recommended to use heavy guns or machine guns to continue and complete this half of the mission. The Dakersh Army will send some infantry and three DK-30's to try to take control once again about the port. After they are defeated, the commander arrives in another GG-125 helicopter, just hijack the vehicle or kill him to complete this mission. After you completes the mission, Shujaa will use the port to export massive amounts of drugs to this area of Dakersh.

---

Mission 50 - Treasure at the expense of blood (Mission for Dakersh Wiladat Jadida)

---

This time, Shujaa asks for Federico to take control of an oil refinery, called Gukku Abdura. Go to the place, stay in position, and then, run forward towards the entrance of the refinery to take out the gate guards. The technician is otherwise likely to walk right into their line of fire. Use the grappling hook to get over the walls and grab the box full of ammo and weapons, in the road to hacking the gate password.

Get inside the oil refinery

Once the technician is through, clean out the soldiers who appear before the vehicles show up. Throw fragmentation grenades or C4s at the cars before the occupants can get on foot, make your road to the catwalk where you can kill the soldiers, but they will be still able to shoot against you from above, luckily Wiladat Jadida easily finish them off.
Climb the ramp, being careful with the officer of the demolition team who will throw C4s against you and few grenades, kill him. Once the technician gets to work, three waves of soldiers will come at you. The first one will climb the ramp pretty much like you did before. The second will come from the left, climbing up some buildings, with some paratroopers in it. The third it's when the commander arrives in another GG-125 helicopter, kill him easily with a rocket launcher, or if you don't have it, just use the grappling hook again to hijack the helicopter. If you drives the helicopter after, be careful with the surface-to-air missile systems.

---

Mission 51 - Dirty Bussiness (Mission for Dakersh Wiladat Jadida)

---

The mission starts in the headquarters of Wiladat Jadida. Federico is transported to the location in a helicopter. Shujaa tells Federico that a place called Bab al-Kanziziya, it was, once a place of work for ancient tribes, became now a drug lab for a rare narcotic in Dakersh. Taamir took advantage of this and turned it into a government front. Shujaa wants to take the facility over to expand the Wiladat Jadida's drug contraband bussiness. Federico has to protect the technician, remember.
The first thing you'll see are some soldiers, just kill them. You'll find a machine gun in one of the edges, with two guard towers in the two sides, with a bush fighter in both of them. Kill them to continue with the mission. Then, as you continue to walk on the road, keep going towards to the top of this front, to face more soldiers and a Dakkaran G28, an armed patrol buggy shows up and parks up there, trying to kill Federico. Kill them, but don't go without prudence ahead.
In the top of the place, you'll find a huge amount of soldiers with one of them carrying a rocket launcher, so obviously take cover properly and kill all of them, take advantage of the place where the rocket launcher guy was to defend yourself in this part. The Dakersh Army will try to take that place back, if you'll need health recovery, you have first aid kits in the left, justing climb up the small building. When the enemy soldiers shows up, stay in position and kill all of them, after that, some Dakkaran L-20 armed personal carriers equipped with machine guns will appear, take cover where you are, and kill the machine gun soldiers. Then, a helicopter with the command appears in the place trying to kill Federico, to your left you have a weapon full of ammo and of course, weapons. You can pick up the rocket launcher to easily take down the helicopter.

[Juvencus]

OOC: I apologise for my inactivity over the past week, I was taking a break/recovering from illness.

"I can't believe these Savojars. Putting Juvencus into the same melting pot because of several extremist cazzi*" said Pablo, one of the 500 Juven fans that had gathered up to Savojarna for the second round robing match of the group stages against Savojarna.

"These far leftists should seriously calm down and stop calling us imperialist. Our last 'imperialistic' campaign was a century ago. Jesus Christ, let me not start that far leftists have already begun to actually attack innocent fans, just like their newspapers claim."

Pablo jumped off his seat and saw a Savojar citizen. "Excuse me, you're Savojar, right?"

"Yeah." said Denis, a local Savojar, who feared that Pablo would attack him, he tried running away.

"Wait, dear sir. I need to go to the Nationalstadion Carl Gustaf Bjurman, I would appreciate it if you helped me."

"You head straight forwards and turn right to the third block you'll come across, then you'll head straight for about 500 meters and you'll reach the stadium, can I go now?"

"Yes, you can go. But don't be scared, I don't bite like some hooligans."

Denis ran away, clearly scared because of the Juven hooligans. Pablo was confused but also dissapointed by the behaviour of both sides. He headed towards the Nationalstadion, the match was going to start in an hour and a half from then but he had to find his seat. It was on the small Juven side, the hooligans were on the bottom, while the more civilised fans were up. The hooligans turned on the fumigrants as the rest of the Juven fans, as well as Savojar fans looked in disgust.

The first few chances saw Juven players trying to redeem themselves after the unfair defeat in Torona. Joaquim Martell had changed his role to the playmaker of the squad, creating chances for his teammates, most notably Gallo, Gallo was in serious bad luck, even though he was a threat to the Savojar defence. Gallo missed the most important chance of the first half in the 38th minute, but his header hit the crossbar before heading wide. The Savojar fans were booing loudly with every single chance Juvencus were making. At least it was reasonable.

The Savojars tried securing a second victory in the second half, but the side's most important chance which came from Karjanen in the 63rd minute was saved by Zappa, who would later be called Juvencus' MVP, since afterwards, he'd save a couple of more Savojar chances. The match ended in a goaless draw, to the dissapointment of each side's fans. However, some Juven hooligans caused some damage to several seats. The more civilised Juven fans looked in dissapointment, as they persuaded the policemen to make them stop, Pablo was one of them.

"We cannot allow our fellow fans do damage to your stadium. Arrest them and fine them, fans like that shouldn't be representative of entire nations. Good evening."

[Spaam]

The white-hooded figure quietly opened the secret door to the queen’s office, and walked through.

“Brother Alea, thank you for answering my summons.”

The queen, her royal majesty Queen Oruzaadov, supreme ruler of Spaam, sat behind her ornately decorated desk in her ornately decorated office. No-one attended her, however, as no-one was to be privy to this meeting. Brother Alea bowed in response before closing the door behind him. Taking his time, he then turned to back to his monarch and stood with his hands clasped and hidden in his robes in front of him.

“I live to serve, your highness. May the blessings of Margaret be on your reign.”

“And may the odds ever be in your favour, Brother. You and your brothers and sisters are to be commended for your dedication to this holy cause. It has been eminently successful.”

“We live and die to serve, your majesty. Our prayers to the all-powerful goddess are the ultimate meaning of our lives.”

“We are most pleased to hear that. My condolences on your losses. Our holy soldiers shall be sorely missed.”

“They died in order that our great nation shall again be made great in the eyes of all. They were happy to die for that purpose.”

“Should we qualify for the World Cup, their lives will not have been in vain. You are aware what is at stake, do you not, Brother Alea?”

“Yes, your grace. I am aware.”

“Then you know that our next match is of the utmost importance. We face a team that we have never beaten and is one of the best in our group. Anything other than a win would spell elimination, and render everything we have done here meaningless. We must beat West Saintland.”

“We shall, your eminence. Lady Margaret has blessed our nation, and with her watching over us, we are unbeatable. Even now we triumph against those heathens in North Carcossia and the Hesperides.”

“That may be so, but we failed to defeat Eura. That sort of failure is inexcusable.”

“They are one of the best teams in the world, my liege, former world champions. Surely we cannot…”

“You were not brought here to make excuses. You were brought here to make assurances. We shall defeat West Saintland, or your will die to serve. Have I made myself clear, Brother Alea?”

“Yes, my queen.”

“Then begone, and bring me good news on our next meeting.”

“May the blessings of Margaret be on your reign.”

Brother Alea turned and left through the secret door he came through.

---

“Why are you making them go through this, Maggie?”

The portly god was sitting on golden leather sofa watching a giant flat screen television that somehow showed the inside of Queen Oruzaadov’s office. Sitting gracefully on a beautifully carved oak chair, the goddess Margaret, vengeful arbiter of randomness, was sipping a golden chalice of ambrosia.

“Obviously because it’s entertaining, Mike, why else would I do anything?”

“They’re killing themselves because they think you actually care about them enough to cause the upset of the century. You have a brutal reputation, but isn’t this a bit much for you?”

“Oh, hardly. They make the choices, we just give things little nudges depending on how much they please us. And you know my star has been waning of late, so it’s nice for one to get some attention now and then.”

“I suppose, just seems a bit drastic. Do you have anything to do with their young striker, whats-her-name?”

“Merlara Sehelin.”

“That’s the one. Cute, young… wouldn’t mind turning into a bull for her.”

“Don’t be vulgar, Mike.”

“She’s scoring almost a goal a game, and she’s only eighteen. Surely there’s some divine assistance there?”

“So what if there is? They need all the help they can get.”

“Perhaps they do… you’re not going to actually let them qualify, are you?”

“Well, I haven’t decided yet. Depends on how I feel on the day. Would it be so bad if I did?”

“Maybe not, Maggie, but it doesn’t seem to sit right, encouraging them like that.”

“We’ll see, then. Now, would you mind changing it to Gregoryisgodistan? I’d like to see a good old execution.”

Mike waved his hand and the picture changed. “Could be entertaining, but he’s a bit of a wanker…”

[Electrum]

OOC: A satirical website based on the Onion. The article below is inspired by their "5 things about the Mexican border wall"

The Turnip: 5 things about the Euran border wall

Will the wall be beautiful?

Well it has heart. The wall will be built over pristine landscapes from deserts to national parks.

What will be Eura's response to the wall?

One possibility is that they can throw firebombs over the wall to destroy to it, and the border outposts -- that's arson, but we'll leave that to the geopolitical experts.

Are the Eurans grateful about the wall?

Yes, because it will keep out those annoying, whining Electrumites who always complain about their biggest neighbour, defence ally and export market.

How has the wall affected Electrumite politics?

Other than inciting widespread apathy, hatred, bigotry and mistrust, not much else.

Why are we being apathetic?

let's keep them in their war-torn nightmare from which they will never wake up from.

[Veldgouwen]

Calmly steering his car through the abandoned streets of Piershaven, directing himself to the highway that led out of time into the seemingly endless flat of the heartland of Veldgouwen, Johan Valkeniers contemplated about what could appear as an eventless confrontation in the eye of the casual beholder. Quite contrary to their habit, the home squad had taken the game in their own hands straight from the kick-off and such had reaped quite a result as well. Eager for the three points, the side in blue drew first blood when a free kick from Marnix Van Baekel disappeared into a forest of legs and adjacent limbs and only made its reappearance for those in the stadium when the nets already trembled. As Jim Decubber ran out of the melee cheering a tad more than the others, he was declared as the goalscorer by those present.

The opening goal had removed every remaining vibe from the confrontation. Whilst Veldgouwen contented themselves with control over the ball, the opponent at the other side looked little like the Socialist Northern Islands that gave West Saintland a shrubbery in their own Royal Stadium. In order to throw the press a bone, Valkeniers had called it a mature performance and one that only promised much for the future. The fact that, late in the game, one of the Islanders removed himself prematurely from the match with a ludicrous tackle that would keep Roel Meganck far from everything grassy anytime soon made it possible for replacement Waegemaekers and good old Piet Masschelin to run up the score, so the official record would match up the chitchat from the gaffer.

Although from the outside, all should feel fairly comfortable for a manager, Valkeniers struggled to get his mind off the game, usually one of his strengths in this profession. As such, he was cruising at a speed that exceeded the limit by miles into a direction he did not even had to go into. It felt like unfinished business, which was not that strange. But the game, the decider might be the next game but wasn’t for days to start. It felt bizarre that the clash with Kaboomlandia was painted in all tabloids as ‘the one’, whilst the name on the golden ticket would be written hundreds of miles away, in West Saintland. And for some reason, Johan couldn’t shake off the feeling that that name would have only five letters, as if some higher power had written out a marvellous story and only needed to add a last exclamation point. Involuntarily, Johan shrugged and tried to convince himself that said feeling was just superstitious nonsense poked up by deluded stories of worshipping cults in Spaam – the kind of baloney to discard you’ld find in rags who would publish anything to sell. No, the thing that bugged him, Johan thought, was something else… As if he had forgotten something. Or someone.

The shrieking sound of tires doing a U-turn on the highway crumbled the sacred silence of the night.

---

”I must say, it was a pretty gutsy plan of our gaffer,” Derk admitted, ”bring together the guys that got a little fight, lock them up and let them watch, whilst chewing a bag of cheese-o’s, how their replacements put up a mediocre confrontation to get them motivated and then launch them for the big cracker. But I’m not sure what he wants to achieve with making the experience last five hours.”

They kept quiet for half a minute, both feeling as if they missed a last crucial piece of the puzzle from the manager. Ironically, it had been the longest silence in over four hours, as they had discovered that their opinion about the national team accorded surprisingly well. Too static in the back, powerful spine and a lack of room for overlapping backs and incoming wingers. With the fat on their fingers from the cheese-o’s, they had used the metal table to paint a perfect picture.

”It’s not as if they will have forgotten us,” Yassin giggled, a bit more nervous than he wanted to admit.
”We’ve discussed football, our families, football, politics, football, cars and then some more footy. I think he wants us to run out of conversation stuff or something.”

If it weren’t for the metal casting, one would think from the loud bang that the door was kicked in the next moment, but it was just a very enthusiast swing that knocked against the side wall. In the doorpost, the smiling face of Johan appeared.

”So boys, ready for the Phoenix? Make sure you’re at your best, we’re gonna need every man,” he boomed and with a wink and a smile, he left as quickly as he had arrived.

”I’m quite sure it’s all part of a plan,” Yassin spoke dumbfounded as the footsteps from the gaffer distanced themselves, ”but don’t ask me which.”

[Flardania]

Opening Theme

---

Bonjour et Ohayōgozaimasu Kirishima. Welcome back folks once again to the World Cup 77 Qualifiers edition of the Kitsune Report, brought to you by the Nagatomo Sports Network (NSN), sponsored by Air Pacifica An experience that exceeds the skies of time, and Pocari Surge Feel the Surge. Here at the Kitsune Report, it's all about Kirishinan sports but right now we set our gaze on world cup football and the namesake of the report, the Kitsunes. With Matchday fifteen completed, it's time to see how the Kitsunes did and get grooving once more to some world cup football!

Ancharmunn 0-3 Kirishima Review:

The Kitsunes went on the road following their 1-0 escape win against Sameba at Dayangseong Stadium, in Imgeum, Haebaedo Prefecture. The match was by all account was a stalemate and saw the opposition have more attempts on goal than the Kitsunes. The worse of it came in the 24',25',26' and 27', this barrage was enough to make someone's heart stop for obvious reasons. As that match went on the worry of a draw begun to creep in and thoughts of the Stags reclaiming second was at the very least a worrying thought in my mind. Akiho Ubukata's goal in the 74' and Miyoko Hojo's save in the 84' was enough to seal the deal. The Kitsunes with that win manage to not only win six straight but defeat every team they previously drew against. Furthermore, they beat the team that caused them to change [The Mercenary Islands] and next the next match won at the stadium where they decided to change [Dayangseong Stadium].

With that said at this stage, you can't be hung up on previous victories. Enjoy the win but be ready to start over. With Brigantii and Sameba right behind as the Kitsunes traveled to face Ancharmunn, the question was now that the Kitsunes redeemed themselves in the second half, how would they do against the team they defeated before? Last time at the Aincrad in Akihabara, the Kitsunes squeaked away with a 3-2 win which ended their four-game draw streak. It was a win but it was unsatisfying judging by the dejected look the players had as they entered the tunnel. The team got the win but barely and nearly had a draw once again against an unranked team. This shows how important morale and momentum is to sports because during that time morale and momentum struck rock bottom and the team was vulnerable. This time was not the case before the match as you could see the difference in the team's posture as they walked out the tunnel. They were confident and determined to win.

The Kitsunes had a fantastic start with attempts on goal in the 2' and 10', with the latter being saved by the opposition keeper. That would not keep the Kitsunes down as Joseph Yabuta drilled a shot past the keeper with an assist from Renée Guidice in the 14'. That is what you need to do against lower ranked teams, score early and put their backs against the wall. The Kitsunes tried to increase their lead to two with shot attempts in the 18',23', and 29' with only the latter being on target and thus saved by the opposition goalkeeper. The opposition would wake up in the 32' and 34' minute with two shot attempts, the first being saved by Hojo and the latter being an off target corner kick. The Kitsunes tried to build on their lead with a surge of counter attack momentum but a missed shot in 37' as well as two missed corners in the 39' and 41' would put an end to those hopes. Just before the half, the opposition would take one more attempt at goal in the 43' but it was off target. Kirishima entered the half leading 1-0 with the shot attempts reading 8-3.

In the second half, the opposition tried to be more aggressive with a shot attempt in the 48' but it was saved by Hojo. A minute later after counter-attacking the opposition who over committed, Rin Mizoguchi delivered a nice leading pass to his former teammate Renée Guidice. Renée would add to her previous assist with a goal in the 49' with a chipped shot over the isolated keeper into the goal. Renée would run towards the supporter section with her teammates in pursuit before she hugged every one of her teammates. The former Hyuga striker who left due to Nita Jagr and Sylvain Gainsborough and went on to be a champion in Nabaek, is finding success in her first cycle as a World Cup starter.

The Kitsunes tried to make it a decisive 0-3 lead with an off-target shot attempt in the 53' and an on target but saved shot in the 61'. A corner kick in the 73' would change that when Koharu Miyamoto scored to put the Kitsunes up 3-0 with 17 minutes left in the game. It looked liked the game was in the bag but the opposition had one more act of defiance as they sought to prevent Hojo from getting the clean sheet with shot attempts in the 75' and 76' both on target and both saved by Hojo. Only that was not the worst of it. A barrage of shot attempts would come in the 86',87',89',90' and 91' as the defense was unable to clear the corners. Hojo was able to save the attempts on goal in the 86' and 89' while Nguyen deflected the attempted in the 87' and Papadoupulous blocked the attempt in the 90'. With the off-target shot in the 91' for the opposition, the final whistle blew. Final score Ancharmunn 0 and Kirishima 3. Hojo got the clean sheet and the Kitsunes have now won seven straight with two games to go.

Following the match, a visibly pleased but careful Seong Mi-Soo had this to say after the game. "It was a good win. The team was loose and played aggressively when they needed to and defensive when they needed to. The team had fun on the pitch and executed the game the way players of their caliber should. Our next match is huge with two different storylines. Valanora and Kirishima both have this next match circled on the calendar. From the perspective of Valanora...their on a quest to go perfectly in qualification and realistically speaking with two matchdays to go with them facing us on the road or Mriin at home. We are the best bet to ruin that perfection.

I don't care about that. I like that Valanora is trying to make history and maybe if we did not drop points in the first half to Mriin and The Mercenary Islands, I would be rooting for them. I wouldn't mind them making us another victim. Valanora is a nice and beautiful country. Why? Because even now we don't care about ending their streak. Right now all we care about is staying alive. Sameba and Brigantii face each other in the next match. We need a draw from them because if we fail and lose to Valanora and either Sameba or Brigantii win and we do not win...it will be over for us. Both of these teams have easy matchups that they have defeated before. At the same time we can't wait for a draw we need to be active and try and add a loss to Valanora perfection. Not because we want to....but because we need to."

Ancharmunn 0 - 3 Kirishima 
                   J. Yabuta(14')
                   R. Guidice(49')
                   K. Miyamoto(73')

Kirishima v Valanora Preview:

The Kitsunes have won seven straight games but with Sameba and Brigantii still on their tail, it will mean nothing if they can't beat Valanora or draw or lose against Valanora with the Brigantii and Sameba match also resulting in a draw. If one of those two sides wins then the Kitsunes must win. National Media is already hyping up this match as Streak v Redemption and record viewership numbers in Kirishima are not only expected for the Valanora-Kirishima match but for the match between Brigantii and Sameba. The Kitsunes will be counting on the fans at the Dreamscape Arena in Kairaku to help give the team the energy needed to boost their momentum in the face of the superior momentum of their opponents. Valanora has always had the Kitsunes number outside of an upset win in World Cup 74 before being eliminated. Here we are in different times in Qualifiers for World Cup 77 against a stronger Valanora and hoping to call upon some of the dark horse magic we once had. Kitsunes the hopes and prayers of a nation will be with you in Kairaku. Kamiya Bless. Until next time, Lets Go Kitsunes!

Post by: Keita Woo

[Abanhfleft]

Sorry if this seems a little bit shorter than my usual output. Blame a Harry Potter marathon for that one.

Lex Talionis, Part Thirty-eight

Northbound coastal highway
Somewhere outside Alery, Patierre
The present day

It was a bright and sunny day over in northern Patierre. The birds were twittering, the waves were smashing up on the shore hypnotically, and in general it was very peaceful. It made for a very picturesque scene to be honest. There was only one thing which didn’t fit with the nice mental image usually conjured by such words, and that was because a loud and throaty motorcycle was making its way through the countryside on the coast highway leading up to the city of Alery, a major town in the colony of Patierre, on his way to bring down the insurgency seeking to kick out the Anglatian occupiers and restore the nation to independence.

The man’s name was Quintus Castor, and he was a member of the Bravos, the Patierre branch of the multinational web of allies established by the motorcycle gang known as the Corsairs. He was on his way to Alery to coordinate with the local Bravos and Corsairs who had already set themselves up in the city to counter the planned rebellion to be instigated at the University of Alery by the Gold Hands, aided and abetted by members of the Eastern Brotherhood. The Corsairs and the Bravos had struck a deal with Imperial Intelligence to help bring down this brewing insurgency before it even got off the ground and became a real revolution that they had to fight. Anglatia had never been one to fight fair but then, as the Pridnestrovians would be quick to attest, Anglatia had never gone into a fair fight in the first place. They relied on others to do the actual dirty work before stepping in to clean up what remained of the vanquished foes.

Today, Quintus Castor was carrying plans by the Corsairs and Bravos to lie in wait at some of the insurgency’s collection points in the streets of Alery. There, the plan was for the Corsairs and Bravos, supported by Imperial Intelligence, to lie in wait for the rebels before surprising them with pro-Imperial gunfire from quarters which they didn’t expect. Of course, Castor didn’t carry all of the plans, just some of them, but he was carrying maps which, if it fell in the wrong hands, would tell those who knew what it meant just what the Corsairs and Bravos were planning to do to bring down this insurgency even before it got off the ground. And today was the day, little did he know it yet, that an old enemy of the Corsairs who were planning to spoil the party for the bikers, would be making its first “official” appearance in Patierre even though they had already had a week or so to get themselves established in the area.

This stretch of the highway seemed familiar to Castor as he passed by it. At first he couldn’t tell why, but then it hit him like a bolt from the blue. This was the spot where that young Corsair kid had absolutely devastated that Goth vice leader by chopping him up with a machete and then pumped an entire magazine of bullets into the Goth’s girlfriend. It had been recorded by the hundreds of motorists who had been stuck on this very highway when the Corsairs struck and extracted information from the man with regards to the insurgency’s plans to take over Alery quicker than the occupation forces could muster to bring them down. It was a calculated gamble on the Corsairs’ part, and it had also sent a message to the Goths that there was a new top dog in town.

Castor had seen the boy who had done the killing. Well, physically, Lucio Riviero could still be described as a boy, but the way that he sank the machete blade deep into the poor little Goth spoke of a strength and rage which he could only have come across through bitter experience. His father had been torn apart by the Corsairs’ rivals in Abanhfleft, the Huns, and Lucio wanted nothing more than to kill the bikers responsible and avenge his father’s death. Lucio knew only the road names (some kind of nickname that the Huns used among themselves and with outsiders to diminish the chances of getting identified by the authorities) of two of the responsible bikers: Countess and Kid, whom as far as Castor had heard from the Corsairs, were pretty high-ranking members of the Huns. But because of the Corsairs’ agreement with Imperial Intelligence to bring down the impending rebellion in Patierre, Lucio’s desire for revenge had had to take a backseat to the Corsairs’ more immediate plans. Still, the lad had it in him to channel the rage he felt against the Huns into more relevant pursuits such as chopping up that Goth vice leader.

As Castor passed by the very spot where the Goth and his girl had been chopped and shot to death respectively (someone had thoughtfully erected a few candles on the spot, candles which were now beginning to sputter due to their fire-shortened lengths), he happened upon a small group of motorcycles just ahead of him. Moving closer to the group, Castor noticed that they were made up all of women and that they were astride big and powerful bikes, though there appeared to be little in the way of modifications or customizations on said bikes except for some personalized paintjobs. They appeared to be riding in some kind of staggered formation but occupying only one lane. Castor drove up to their side and waved his hand at them. The four women waved back at him, and the woman at the head of their little formation waved her hand onwards, giving Castor permission to overtake them. Castor gave them a thumbs-up, tipped the rim of his helmet in a gentlemanly fashion, and then he revved his bike and went ahead of their little group.

Quintus Castor thought it a bit odd that four girls such as the ones he had just encountered were riding out in the Patierre countryside by their lonesome. Maybe they could feel that the peace in the country was about to vanish soon and so were putting their last moments of freedom to good use while they still could. Then again, they didn’t look like locals. They had to be foreigners then, but that begs the question what were the foreigners doing here? Were they on some kind of global road trip and they just happened to be in Patierre in the days before the insurgency would be quashed violently and messily? It was something for him to think about as he drove on to Alery.

Fifteen minutes after passing by the girls, Castor noticed that his bike was beginning to get a little sluggish in responding to his commands. He slowed down his bike, erring on the side of caution as the plans and maps he was carrying would mean nothing without the verbal orders he had been given back in Saint Rainier and he wasn’t in the mood to become a victim of a crash, and parked on the shoulder of the highway. As he got off, he noticed that his bike was sitting a little lower on the ground than he remembered. He checked the tires and saw that the rear one was flatter than the front one. He couldn’t remember a reason why the rear tire would be flat. Did he run over a nail or a blade or something? The fact that the flattening of his tire was an act of deliberate sabotage by an old enemy of the Corsairs simply didn’t come to his mind.

The only disadvantage of riding bikes was that one couldn’t carry a spare tire around for emergencies such as this. Maybe a tire patch kit or something like it but not an actual whole rubber tire itself. Well, there was nothing to be gained by just sitting around on his ass. Castor began searching the rear tire for the leak and hoped that it wasn’t too big to be patched.

“Hey, mister, what’s happened to you?”

Castor looked behind him and saw the four women he had just passed by riding up towards him. The first one, the one who had waved him on, had already parked her bike ahead of him, and her companions were moving up and taking positions around Castor. “Need any help with that, monsieur?” the first woman asked.

“No, no, it’s all right, just a flat tire,” Castor replied.

“Are you sure? Because it looks like you’re struggling a lot over there,” one of the other bikers said as she stopped over. The four bikers had now formed up around Castor as he was bent down over his bike. And it was because he was so busy with the busted wheel that he didn’t notice that the women had actually taken up positions around Castor so that there was no chance of him escaping from their little ring. But Castor didn’t notice all that. He just noticed the four women. “Excuse me, where are my manners?” he asked, wiping his hands and standing. “I am Quintus, Quintus Castor. And you are…?”

“I’m Lucy,” the lead woman biker said, shaking Castor’s half-extended hand. “This is Melissa, Natasha, and Elise.”

“How do you do?” Castor said as he shook each woman’s hand. The girls’ grips were steady and firm; a bit too firm for Castor’s tastes when he got to the woman whom Lucy had introduced as Natasha. He even felt something prick his hand when he shook hers, although Natasha just waved it off. “Probably my ring,” she said, and she showed him the fancy emerald-topped ring on her right hand.

“So, what are you four fine girls doing here on the road on this fine day?” Castor asked. “You don’t seem like you’re from around here, and not a lot of people have been going to Patierre for a vacation for a long time now.”

“Oh, we just wanted to go round the world, see the sights, you know,” the girl named Elise replied. “Especially the ones in places less traveled by people. And Patierre seemed like the proverbial road less traveled. So here we are.”

“Nice bike,” Melissa said.

“I know, right?” Castor said, proud of his own creation. “And I can say the same thing to your bikes. Although I could think of some ways that we can improve on them even further, not that there isn’t a lot of room for improvement for them, don’t get me wrong,” he appended quickly even though none of the women seemed to have noticed. “They’re all good, but they could be better.”

Castor then blinked furiously. It felt as if his eyes had gone blurry. He rubbed his eyes and blinked them but still they blurred up. He felt tired as hell suddenly. “Forgive me, ladies, I seem to be falling asleep…” he said, but he was unable to finish his sentence before he collapsed on his butt. Or at least he would have collapsed on his butt had the women not caught him immediately. Right at that moment, a black unmarked van stopped at the very spot where they had assembled and the door slid open to accept Castor’s unconscious form. Once Castor was in the van, it immediately sped away, leaving behind four girls and five bikes.

“Right, get everything that’s in that bike because it’s sure to be important,” said the girl who had been introduced as Melissa but who was known more commonly as Steeler as they looked upon Castor’s now abandoned bike. “Everything that’s important to what they’re planning is probably in there. They won’t send a bigwig like Castor down here to Alery if it was just a simple op.”

---

CRESCENT NEWS NETWORK
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ABANHFLEFT • PRIDNESTROVIA • OONTAZ DERT LI NG • COPPER CUPRUM • TRENDSTART • FHULGHAMOUS PENINSULA

WORLD CUP 77 QUALIFIERS: ACRONIUS VS ABANHFLEFT
By Malik Qazizadah


Abanhfleft's Andrea Marilungo celebrates his goal against Acronius. (Courtesy of Crescent News Network Sports Channel/Andros Tasasa)

ACRONIUS - A goal from Andrea Marilungo was more than enough to see Abanhfleft through against Acronius.

An away trip to Acronius was always treated as a tough proposition and this game was no exception. Vitaly Zima produced the first dangerous moment for the Revolutionaries with a chipped ball over the opposing goalkeeper after being played through by Valery Zolnerov, but this happened only after 35 minutes.

Abanhfleft's next chance was also the only chance where they managed to find the back of the net. Andrea Marilungo got on the right end of a Rory Edwards corner and was able to push the ball between the gap between the post and the keeper's fingers.

This then resulted in a massive confidence boost for Abanhfleft in which they asserted dominance and increased their attacks on their goal tenfold, but nothing else came their way after that except the three points which Marilungo had earned them.


Abanhfleft manager Ranulph Bustamante: The big test comes next

Abanhfleft manager Ranulph Bustamante: "We have done all we can do so far and we have come away victorious against every opponent we have come against bar one: Nephara. The next game will be the true test of our resilience. The result of that game will see the winner surely become winner of Group 14 as well. Whether it's us or Nephara, they will be almost sure to top the group. But I do surely hope that it is us."

Abanhfleft will host Nephara at the May 26 Revolution Memorial Stadium for the penultimate game of the World Cup 77 qualifiers. The victor of that game will be reasonably expected to win Group 14.

ACRONIUS 0 - 1 ABANHFLEFT
               MARILUNGO (56')

ABANHFLEFT
GK: 1 Varamoninov █
RB: 2 Afolayan
RCB: 4 L. Edwards
LCB: 5 Owobowale
LB: 3 Ogigayatsu
RM: 20 Okamoto (Behrendt - 80')
CM: 7 Zolnerov
LM: 6 Marilungo
CAM: 10 R. Edwards (El Salah - 63')
RS: 21 V. Zima
LS: 11 Dagen █ (Lee - 75')

MATCH STATISTICS
Possession
Acronius: 50%
Abanhfleft: 50%
Shots
Acronius: 10 (4 on target)
Abanhfleft: 21 (13 on target)
Corners
Acronius: 5
Abanhfleft: 11
Fouls
Acronius: 24
Abanhfleft: 23

[Tumbra]

https://soundcloud.com/theodore-pao/wc77

Script can be found at http://pastebin.com/r8PeBEQD

Scores + scorers can be found at http://pastebin.com/eAjX0vJk

[Qasden]

15:20•Friday•T.V. City, Qasden—

Ok, so with the draw against Devonta, that puts us at—
Third still. Tumbra had won their game and so did Amnarei-asud.

Sols and Häther continued their logistics hunt in the minister's office. Since returning to T.V. City, the manager had seemed quite tense.

I see.
If we want to qualify, we're gonna have to win tonight against Amnarei-asud at Royal T.V. Stadium and defeat Tumbra in Esportiva.
Great, so no more losses then?
No defeats nor draws can be tolerated at the altitude we stand in. If we get 1 point tonight, Tumbra could easily swoop in and grab that qualifier spot. As far as I know, the opponents they still need to face are pretty low ranked.
And what about Valladares and Semarland?
As far as I know, Valladares has qualified as the top spot while the Semars are still DQ'd.

The two were interrupted by the voice of Rosie on the intercom.

Minister? It's me, Rosie. Listen, I have some very important news.

Rees gave the guards at the door the ok signal to let her in. As she bursted into the room, she clutched a small packet of papers with stained mascara poised underneath her eyes. Whatever the news was, it must be terrible.

Yes, Ms. Fraiser?
There's a, um, j-just read the paper.

She plopped the article in front of Sols and Häther. As they read, they grew in uttered dismay and shock.

Semarland stabilized....
Does that mean—
I'm afraid it might be true.

Rees and Sols stare at each other in disbelief.

Th–this can't be real! Semarland has been a third party threat for the majority of the campaign!
I suppose it all comes down to the hosts on whether to reinstate them as content.
But if they do that, then we'd be—
Mathematically eliminated.

Rees felt the urge to throw something but he knew that wouldn't seem very mature in his place of work. Instead, he vented his flames.

*mutters* I knew we shoulda fired Merritt.
Do not blame Jonathan for the defeat, minister. He did an excellent job.
But to think we were that close.
It's only our second run. It took Mercedini 3 tries to get in, so who's to say we're done for good?
I understand that but, we just lost so many ridiculous battles.
Mistakes will always be made, Rees. It's part of life. I'm sure this'll still be an excellent transition into the Cup of Harmony.
I suppose so. I'm still gonna push Zach to appoint Drucati next cycle.
I'm afraid that plate has also left the table, sir.

Rees perked up in angry disbelief.

What do you mean?
Boulevard had been offered a job in Novapax he couldn't refuse. Between the manager job there and his coach status for the U21 team, I'm afraid he may feel a slight overwhelmed.
Great. Music to my ears.
Gentlemen, you do realize we're only eliminated if the committee decides to lift Semarland's ban, right?
Why bother. They're most likely gonna do it.
And if they don't, we can still qualify. That really all pends on tonight's game against the fennec foxes. If Jansberg is declared disqualified completely entirely, then tonight grows in importance.
It is better to win bronze than to not medal at all.
Is that suppose to be a reference to Aeropag?
Prescott, but close enough. Ryan's sister is competing in snowboarding, so it should be a treat to watch her.
I suppose so. I'll give Merritt these last two games and probably the Cup of Harmony. He better impress me, though. I don't want a repeat of the incident on that sandy island.

[Bonesea]

.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

They were all once again on the train to Evergreen Forest.
It was all a guess, though.
Night had already fallen.
Sunday had fled from Sunrise's home and while sure, they had no idea of where her owner was, they would rather keep it until she managed to show up.
Finally, they exited the train as it arrived at the Forest's train station.
"So, here's the plan."
He pointed to the three main paths of the forest, all illuminated thanks to some helpfully installed light poles.
"I'll take the central path. Chrom, you and Kirisaki take the eastern path."
"Do I really need to?"
"D-d-do we really need to separate?"
"We have three paths to cover and I think the finest warrior of the Shining Moon could protect someone from almost dying like last time."
"..."
"Fine. Let's go."
"Kitsunia, you go with Qasden through the other path. If we don't find anything, we'll re-group at the station like last time, OK?"
"Promise me you won't get hurt?"
"...You know I won't."
"Heh."
"You all got it?"
They all nodded.

Qasden wasn't responding very much.
She seemed locked on her sadness, still torn over the way Sunday treated her.
"You look sad, sweetie..."
"...I-I'm not."
"Are you sure of this?"
"...Y-Y-Yes."
"Really?"
"..."
The little girl hugged her adoptive mother, sighing.
"I know my little princess with the palm of my hand... Are you still upset with what the Glaceon told you?"
"I... I just wanted her to... to like me..."
"I know she will like you after we find her again... Don't feel bad about it..."
She remained with her head looking down.
"Cheer up, darling... You have an Eevee, don't you?"
"B-but... but... what if Eevee doesn't like me?"
"You treat him well, don't you?"
"Y-Y-Yeah..."
"Give them care and they'll like you, remember that."
The little girl nodded, but seemed still upset until she heard a cry.
A Glaceon cry.
"Sunday!"
Qasden ran alone towards the cries of the Pokémon.
"Wait!"

Shadow laid down.
She had ran for a couple of hours until she twisted one of her legs after stepping on one hole that probably had been dug up by an unsuspecting Dugtrio.
It wasn't the first time she ever felt pain but that was probably the worst moment she ever had.
She wished her trainer was around.
Her trainer always knew how to take care of her.
Meanwhile, here she was.
Alone.
Wincing.
In pain.
She closed her eyes, hoping that it was all just a long nightmare.
As soon as she woke up again, she'd find her trainer, a smile on her face as well.
The Glaceon took a little nap.
As she opened her eyes, however, she noticed a weird sight.
The girl that had once put make-up on her face was now taking care of her leg.
To her side, was the woman that tried to cheer her up as soon as she fled from the Glaceon's face.
Shadow closed her eyes.
She wanted some rest.

As they finally re-grouped, Sunrise noticed Qasden retrieved Sunday.
"...Huh. You found her!"
"...Yes."
"Qasden found her. She was crying a lot."
"Her or Sunday?"
"Sunday. She had a broken leg, so we treated it..."
Kitsunia had a noticeable smile on her face.
"Or rather, my little princess did!"
"I-It wasn't a problem, mom."
"Qasden..."
"No problem, mommy!"
Kitsunia laughed a bit, holstering Qasden high.
She seemed a bit more upbeat.
"Well, we found nothing of note. Just some bugs."
"Which I caught."
"After you almost tried to eat them. Three times."
"We didn't have dinner yet."
"I found one of my posters laying around for some reason."
Sunrise shrugged, showing it before throwing it down a trash can.
"You'd think people would at least try to keep things clean, you know... Who would throw paper on the forest?"
A voice came from behind Sunrise.
"I'm sorry. Fell out of my pockets."

[Anglatia]

OOC: Don't worry! I'll still have my narrative style post up today, I just decided to knock out this news post first because it's the easier one to write.

TheInsiders.an
An inside view of sports in the Empire of Greater Anglatia

Imperial Football Roundup: Utter chaos; Explorers stun Brenecia under interim manager Indah Nystrom
Article by James Inchausti

IAFF scandal takes new turns

The IAFF scandal has developed pretty quickly. Lillian 'Lily' Cress provided leaks claiming that the federation was doing certain bad things behind the scenes that notably included forcing star players to play through injuries, with threats of not making it back onto the team if they don't, and backing these claims up by posting medical reports from the team that said that certain players were hurt but would play through it. Cress herself says that she was barred from getting treatment for a mental condition last cycle, because she was a starter at the time and the team didn't want to lose her for the World Cup qualifying cycle. Cress also says that while looking for others who had similar problems, she found that the IAFF had another scandal; corruption, something that she'd already witnessed a bit as a player.

Everyone has always thought that the Imperial Anglatian Football Federation has leaned towards big cities, but according to the allegations of corruption, the federation hasn't just leaned towards big cities: officials within the federation have used their position to turn the Imperial Superleague into their own fantasy football sandbox, where they pressure players into making transfers to certain clubs such as Underfell FC, Lane United, and Bathgate City FC. These allegations, however, do not come from Lillian Cress. They come from Imperial Intelligence, who released their own report on an investigation into the IAFF that was commissioned during this cycle by the Imperial government. Cress' criticisms of the IAFF prompted an investigation into the matters that she complained about, but that investigation found more and more things that were wrong, mainly in the area of corruption.

According to the report, members of the board of executives of the IAFF manipulated the Imperial Superleague in favor of their supported clubs, and other times, they manipulated the clubs in exchange for money. For example, the report says that Joao Francis Inciarte decided to sign for Bathgate City instead of staying in Escane because a national team board member promised him a role on the team if he chose Bathgate over his current club and the other clubs that were chasing his signature. Zahara Santana supposedly decided to return to Underfell FC instead of signing for Ross United after her stint in Redblackiland, because of promises for a greater national team role and an under the table bonus of five million marks, which was given to her by two board members from Underfell. Underfell FC was also coerced by two Ross based board members into not making an offer for Allie Vacek when she was a free agent, with the board members threatening to have her suspended for drug violations if Underfell made moves for her.

While these are the highest profile examples of corruption, there were others that were named in the report. There was match fixing in the lower dregs of the Imperial Superleague by many board members, who used the lower parts of the table as a chance to make some money gambling, and players and managers received a cut of the money in exchange for helping them. Among the clubs named in the match fixing are Choni FC, Jiru FC, CD Mjasa, Xera Bay Sporting, the Choni Foresters, CD Almighty Adamari, and New Torsjo City. With the exception of City, all of these clubs are considered bottom feeders and this is why the match fixing involving them went under the radar. Their players didn't make large salaries last season and used the extra income to support themselves, and the fixing never would have come to light without Cress causing an Imperial Intelligence investigation to be commissioned.

The Imperial Anglatian Football Federation headquarters were raided minutes after the report was released to the public, and the homes of various board members were raided too by both local police forces and imperial Intelligence agents. Most notably, the Executive of the Federation, Aidan Camden, was arrested by Imperial Intelligence and the Ross Police Department in the midnight raid of his home. He was seen being taken away in handcuffs and was also spotted being taken inside the central police station in Ross, where reports say that he is currently being held. Thirteen of the fifteen other members of the board of executives were also arrested in these house raids, which occurred all over the Empire. Among them were Porir Cronholm, the Director of Football for the Valerian region, and Michael Copleston, the Director of Football for the island of Anglatia itself. Those two were the ones who were supposed to take the lead in the administration and organization of football in the two most important regions of the Empire, but both of them were discovered to be just as corrupt as Camden.

In a press conference held the morning after the raids, an Imperial Intelligence crew led by Western Anglatian branch officer Luke Hennessy announced that because of the deep corruption by the IAFF, the Imperial Superleague would be suspended indefinitely. Players under contract with Imperial clubs will have the choice to be released from their commitments because of the suspension of the league, and the IAFF will be run by an interim panel of four former lower level federation members who were not implicated in the scandal, until the federation can elect new board members. The decision has left Imperial footballers in shock, especially coming so soon before the match in Brenecia.

The players reportedly received the news while they were on their flight to Rozelle, causing a panic to spread among the team as the players who were playing domestically tried to figure out their contract situations. Zahara Santana was reportedly furious that she would lose millions of marks that Underfell FC would owe her in the next two years of her contract, and Andros Diasakos decided to hit the open market for the second time in his career instead of waiting around in Ross. Costin Anghelescu was supposedly glad about it all because of the large contract that he will command as a free agent, and Darren Harbin is allegedly planning to join forces with fellow Underfeller Allie Vacek if Vacek leaves her current club this window. But this wouldn't just affect the Explorers because of their contracts. They would have to play what might be their most important match ever without their most successful manager, in terms of wins.

Martins out along with federation; Imperial staff to be named before penultimate match

Yanick Martins entered the Imperial national team with little experience in national team management. He did, however, have success with the biggest club in the Redvale, FC Maris, and that experience helped him control the egos of an empire and drag Anglatia from a mediocre history in World Cup qualifying to a team that has been consistently good this cycle. It took him one cycle to figure things out, but now, the team is looking like the favorite to win their group, and it's all because Martins turned them around and got them playing well on a consistent basis. While Wilson Tahiri was great at managing big matches, Martins is great at keeping the team from getting too high or low, which is reflected in his balanced counter attacking game plan.

But now, because of his role in carrying out federation orders to force injured players to play through their injuries, and because he knew about the corruption and did nothing about it, Martins has been released from his position and the government has bought out the three million marks due for the last year of his contract. The move came as a complete shock to the players, and Martins found out the news only half an hour before the flight to Rozelle. When the players left, before they had even received the news themselves, Martins was left at the airport in Ross and wasn't allowed to accompany the team or to manage the last two matches. Because of the absolute chaos going on in the federation, the team had to scramble to find an interim manager quickly.

Indah Nystrom, the recently retired Hunsen Loggers defender, was brought in to be the interim assistant after Cedric Cress was fired by the federation for his role in the leaks. Now, Nystrom will be serving as the interim manager while goalkeeping coach and former Anglatia goalkeeper Eli Shan serves as the interim assistant. The press conference by the interim board of executives said that Nystrom and Shan will only manage the team for two matches, and that the full time replacement managers will be named before the penultimate match of qualifying, and that they will begin their work after the final match of qualifying begins. The rest of the staff have been retained, and Nystrom will return to her role as a defensive coach and Shan will return to being a goalkeeping coach once the new replacement managers arrive at the team.

The assistant manager position has somewhat of a clear picture of who may be appointed, right now. The post is linked with both Turori and San Jose Guayabal, with a Quebecois manager supposedly being an outlier that may surprise everyone by getting the job. Ha'asontii Whalera'a of Turori is the one candidate that has been named by the press as being interested, but the press have also reported candidates from the other two nations despite not knowing their names yet. The manager position is less clear. The oddsmakers have made Revolutionary Nordskania assistant Julius Shvets the favorite of taking over, giving him 4/1 odds of becoming the next Imperial manager because of his exceptional work as an assistant and his nation's connections with the Empire, but reports from the Nordskania camp say that Shvets is only interested in leaving to coach club football.

Second on the odds list is Thane Hull, who managed the Explorers for a year before losing the locker room and being sacked, and the Ross manager is known for being a tactical expert who doesn't necessarily manage his players well. Hull will now be out of work because of the Superleague being suspended, and some reports say that the federation likes the idea of having a strict manager like him who can keep the team stable through this rough time. The oddsmakers in Bathgate have him at 8/1 odds to win the job. Third on the list is an outlier candidate, Raven Cullen. Cullen is going to be sacked from Brenecia according to the rumor mill, and the Imperial media has picked up these rumors and has said that the federation could be interested in poaching the former rival manager who was able to break Imperial hearts multiple times in previous matches between the teams.

The rumor mill says that Cullen's experience managing a top nation in world football gives her a strong edge over Hull and Shvets, with the former having a poor run as national manager and the latter never having managed a club or a national team as anything other than an assistant. But because it seems unlikely for her to jump from one national team to another, the oddsmakers have her at 15/1 odds to get the job. There's also fears that the difference in culture between Brenecia and Anglatia could make it hard for Cullen to adapt immediately and perform well in the World Cup, if the team can close out their last two matches with wins and secure their spot in the big dance. Whatever happens, the Imperial fans won't have to wonder for long which manager is going to take over. Both announcements are set to happen before the Great Caledonia and North Hybernia match, even though the appointments won't actually take place until the end of qualifying.

Brenecia 1-2 Anglatia

Now, we get to the match. This one was absolutely crazy, and that started from even before the match began. The Explorers got into the heads of the Brenecians very early, even though the players weren't aware of it until afterwards. When the Brenecian bus was en route to the stadium in Rozelle, it was 'ambushed' by the newer hooligan firm from Anglatia, the Desperados. They pelted the bus with rocks and with firecrackers and cherry bombs, before disappearing into the crowds and wearing Brenecian colors to blend in with the locals. The Desperados don't travel as well as the other Imperial hooligans, Imperial Hardcore, or as the normal non-hooligan fans from the Purple Bloc, but they made the most of the people that they were able to bring over and they made sure that by the time the opponents arrived at the stadium, their bus was filled with dents and the paint was badly scratched by all of the rocks. One of the windows was shattered too, which must have scared the occupants of the bus.

When they arrived at the stadium, they would find that instead of being located in their usual upper corner, the Imperial fans were directly behind the southern goal, close enough to make plenty of noise and continue the mind games. Before the match, the Purple Bloc and the Purple Storm unveiled dozens of short banners making light of the recent failures of Brenecia, reminding them of the times when they were upset by smaller nations this cycle. The pressure they were putting on the opposition allowed the Imperial players to forget about their own troubles, even as they were being managed by two interim managers because of the Superleague scandal. For this one match, the Explorers were one hundred percent focused, even with so many potential distractions.

Anglatia and Brenecia play similar styles, with both teams using quickness and lightning fast attacks to score, but the difference between the two is that Brenecia plays quickly all of the time and the Explorers turn up the heat for shorter stretches and often sit back for long periods of time. When the match started, they'd go down to one of those quick attacks. Three minutes in, Catherine Gryphon would volley a ball way over the midfield and over the high defensive line, putting Ursula Rankin in a one on one battle with Lukas Aukland after winning the aerial battle for the ball. Before support could come, she'd cross Aukland over and send him to the ground before making a run in on goal and finishing from the top of the box.

The Explorers looked like they'd be in for a long night, and their fans immediately showed their displeasure with their own team with plenty of whistles when the players ran back to start the match again. Indah Nystrom was furious with the team's lack of motivation, and screamed at them to display some energy and passion. Lukas never should have let Rankin win the ball, she said, and she let the defenders know what she thought of their effort, using some colorful words and emphatic gestures. She told the team to put everything on the line to win, and they responded well to that.

Anglatia played the much more physical match, with six players being carded, including three in the first half. They fully went into their counter attacking system, pulling Allie Vacek and Zahara Santana back and using them as wide midfielders instead of inside forwards, and Jace Votto was the lone striker up top, who dropped deep often to make plays for others and to defend. They were like a coiled cobra, ready to strike, and they would strike back before the end of the first half. It was the forty first minute, and the Explorers had been absorbing plenty of pressure since conceding the goal and not giving up any ground defensively to an attack that was uninspired against a low block.

And when they lulled their opponents into putting too much forward, they finally struck faster than anyone had expected. Darren Harbin made a tackle on Matt Ruffan to win the ball, he sent it to the wide midfielder spot where Santana was roaming, and Zahara watched for Allie Vacek to make a run down the wing, before launching a long volley across the pitch that was nearly offside. Vacek went after the ball aggressively and beat Szukala for it before cutting to the inside and blowing by a dazed Brandon Duguid. When Mathis Woodgate rushed out to try to stop her from getting a free chance on goal, she expertly flicked the ball over his head and then cut around him and tapped the ball into the net for the best looking goal of her career. She'd then run to the fans behind the goal, and and hold up a finger to silence them.

The energy in the match changed, and everyone saw that Anglatia was now the one that looked in control, with their expert defending and their quick striking attack. Andros Diasakos would hit the bar with a long shot just as the half ended, to give Anglatia some decent attacking momentum going into the second half, and Indah Nystrom revealed in the postmatch press conference that her halftime speech was all about having the killer instinct to step on the proverbial neck of the opponent and put them down completely in the second half. She also stressed the importance of keeping their defensive levels up and 'parking the bus' if the Brenecian attack increased and forced them onto the defensive. The result was the only thing that mattered, according to her, not the way that the play looked. If they had to park the bus to win, so be it.

That was largely what happened in the second half. They went back to sitting back when the Brenecians raised the tempo to blistering levels of pace, and they held their ground well and formed a defensive line ten yards above their box that was near impenetrable for the opposition. Darren Harbin and Marco Saint Paul flew all over the midfield and made plenty of tackles, with both big and physical players using their physicality to protect the back line from pressure. Emily Hakkarainen also entered the match for Leonne Warner, despite the fact that she's still rehabbing from a knife wound on her side that was allegedly gained when she was jumped by teammates, and that gave the back line a more physical presence in exchange for Warner's speed.

The second half was more physical than the first, as it is in many Imperial matches, and there were three more yellow cards. Harbin got one for flashing his studs in a tackle on Rankin, and Hector Grier and Emily Hakkarainen also picked up yellows with hard tackles. The fans wouldn't see too much attacking, but they were still satisfied because they were seeing their team play with a ton of heart, and a lot of passion that was surprising considering the recent scandals involving the Imperial team. For these ninety minutes, everyone forgot about the corruption scandal and focused on moving closer to the ultimate goal of getting into the World Cup.

Anglatia has been making late winners a trend recently, and that trend sort of continued in this match. Eighty minutes in, everyone was sure that there would be a draw. It didn't look like the Explorers were willing to move out of their low block, but they didn't have to do that to score. Jace Votto continued his legendary run as a late rookie addition to the team, and he revitalized the attack in the eighty first minute himself. He took a pass from Andros Diasakos, fired a low pass to Marco Saint Paul, and then made a central run and signaled for Saint Paul to send the ball to Santana. Zahara took the ball from him on the wing and watched as the forwards set up on the other side of the pitch, and Votto was the one who was the most central among them. With both Vacek and Votto making runs, the Brenecian defense focused on Vacek and left Votto one on one with Ophelia Lovelock.

That was a bad decision that cost them the draw. Zahara Santana is masterful at crosses, and she whipped a low one into the box that had a ton of spin on it, making it hard to judge where it would go if it was deflected. Votto accelerated to his maximum speed and was three steps ahead of Lovelock by the time the ball got there, and he shot the rapidly spinning ball through the legs of Woodgate for a goal that seemed to happen in only a few seconds. The ball had been moving at a ridiculous speed, and the goal had come down to Votto's reaction being faster than that of the defenders and keeper. As soon as the ball went in, Jace Votto knew that he'd won the match for his team again. The eighteen year old jumped up from the ground and ran towards the area behind the net, doing a front flip over the advertising boards and then saluting the fans that had made the trip.

While the Brenecian fans were in stunned silence, the Anglatian fans were going absolutely insane after the goal. Suddenly, the pitch was filled with purple smoke as the flares began going off in celebration. The only thing that was heard in the stadium in the minutes after the goal was the chant that had taken over among the Imperial fans: "Ole, ole, ole ole! WE ARE! Anglatia!". The song echoed through the ground and the energy had changed once again. Now, they were on the fast track to getting to the World Cup, and they were about to get sweet revenge on a team that had broken their hearts in the past.

Brenecia wasn't going to go quietly into the night, though. They'd have one more chance and the Explorers would have to come up big to stop them. Gryphon launched a desperation volley down the pitch in extra time, and once again Lukas Aukland lost a battle in their air and allowed Rankin to get the ball. She would be one on one with him until help could arrive and close down, and she'd attack him with two forward steps before firing off a shot in between him and Hector Grier, who was coming in to cover. That rocket of a shot would be punched out of the box by Costin Anghelescu, who could barley hop to the right spot in time to make the save. As the match went into the fourth minute of extra time, the ball would fall to Squire Trevelyan. Trevelyan would fire off another laser quick shot, and Anghelescu would dive to his right corner to knock the ball forwards again, and when the ball fell to Rankin for one more shot, Anghelescu came up huge by diving back in the other direction to the middle of the goal to gather the ball and prevent the match tying goal.

The final whistle would blow immediately after that, and Anglatia had done what they had been working towards all cycle. If they could hold on for the last two matches, they'd be in the World Cup for the first time. But now, nobody was thinking of that. They were just thinking of how crazy this match had been and how they had finally gotten a win over their rivals from Brenecia. Even more shockingly, they had done it under interim managers Indah Nystrom and Eli Shan, who were lifted up on the shoulders of the players afterwards in celebration. They may have been interim managers with no prior experience, but their pasts as players had given them enough experience to outcoach Raven Cullen. It didn't matter that there were distractions... Those would sort themselves out. The players were focusing on doing their job, and in the Brenecia match, they'd done that masterfully.

[Schottia]

The Art of Sneaking

Part sixteen.

Full circle

Snow had arrived in the valley, but Gary didn't care. He had an extra log on the fire, some bean soup bubbling away on the stove, and a good book in his hands. It was the story of a young family during the Socialist Revolution, which lead to the formation of Schottia. The story charted their changing fortunes, from the end of the 19th century, up until 1920's when the father became one of the first members of the High Council. Gary didn't read books these days, he devoured them, and he had even been forced to pay for an extra bag on his last trip back from Schottia to carry his new additions

The advantage to having such a small hut was that it wasn't hard to heat. His sleeping area above, also benefited from the heat that rose up form the living area, so he was never cold. There had however, been yet further departures on the other side of the river, as the newcomers now seemed to be running a skeleton crew. Yogic Dave's unmistakable tent was still there of course, but even he must have been feeling this cold snap. Gary wondered if they had any idea just how well he was set up. His hut may lave looked rustic, but he hadn't spared any costs when he converted the old lambing shed. The walls and roof were well insulated, the doors and windows tightly fitted, and the stove was more than capable of providing him with heating and hot water. If it came down to a battle of wills, there was no way he was losing. With all the time he had on his hands, he had taken an inventory of his food supplies, working out that he could survive four months if needs be. There was some romantic part of him that would have loved to have been snowed in - properly snowed in - just him, his books, and his teabags. If he had to be snowed in with one person for four months, who would it be? Could anyone endure his company for four months straight? - Most likely not, he would end up murdered and stuffed under the floorboards.

Gary looked up from his book, and down towards the river. He had to paint this scene at some point; the view from his window was one of such beauty. But where would he hang the thing? It seemed a little counter productive when he had the real thing just there.

There was some movement over by the ridge. Gary lifted the opera glasses and tried to make out whom it might be. A man by the looks of it, tall, but not someone he instantly recognised. The newcomers had visitors from time to time, family, friends, but not since the weather had worsened. Maybe stick, with a new jacket, or Yogic Dave? No. Unless they were returning from town. But hang on, he was headed in Gary's direction. No one crosses the river without his permission.

Gary leapt to his feet in such a commotion that his cup of tea was spilt and his sheets of paper were sent flying. Who was this and what did they want? Was he being evicted? Had he missed a training session? It was a like ticking time bomb. Gary ran to the door and bolted it shut. Then he unbolted it, bolted it again, and unbolted it once more. It wasn't like he could keep whomever it was out, what was the point in trying?

There it was a knock at the door. Gary really should have gotten a peephole fitted, or maybe even some sort of security system that ran on a battery.

Another thump at the door; harder this time. "Gary - open - up"

There was a muffled cry, a voice Gary couldn't immediately place. 'Who is it?'

"Bwahr - winn!"

'Bordwjin?'

"Gohr - Gin!

'Gordon who?'

"Gor - man! Gorman you fucking idiot. Barry Gorman. Open the bloody door, before you have to remove my frozen corpse from your doorstep "

Gary wasn't particularly comforted by the fact that it was his former manager and mentor, but he opened the door nonetheless. However, not before he had taken his patent files and stashed them at the bottom of the log pile.

'Jesus Christ Gary you are the most infuriation person I've ever met in my life.' Gorman removed his gloves angrily, the fact that he instinctively looked around for a hat stand by the door told a lot about him. The fact that there was one told a lot about Gary. 'I wouldn't even be surprised if you willed it to snow, just so as I would have to endure that.' He unbuttoned his coat, which looked like it might have belonged to an arctic explorer from the turn of the century. 'Here, make yourself useful and take my coat.'

'Your welcome.' Gary mouthed as he hung the fur-lined coat beside his own. 'What's this?' He asked pulling a small, tartan travel-flask from one of the inside pockets.

'Oh, we need that,' Gorman said matter-of-factly. 'Grab a couple of mugs, preferably thick stone china if you have them.

Gary located a couple of mugs and placed them on the table. He wasn't sure if they would meet Gorman's standard, but it was a Hobson's choice. The Chatswood midfielder unscrewed the lid and sniffed the warm, alcoholic vapour, which rose from the flask. It was strong, meaty, but not wholly unpleasant. Gorman was still removing his boots, so he went to pour it between the their respective drinking vessels.

'What do you think your doing?' Gorman barked while he stood on one foot, his other boot in his hands. 'Warm those mugs first with a little hot water. You... bloody heathen. It will lose all of its heat otherwise, it will defuse into the mug. And keep the lid on until you're ready to pour: There are only two devils getting their share of that.'

Gary screwed the lid back on, and checked how much water there was left in his kettle. He had forgotten how much of a pedant Gorman could be; he was like something from a bygone age. He poured a little of the water from his kettle into the mugs, swirling it around before pouring it out the door into the snow.

'Much better.' Gorman sat down Gary's chair and removed a pair of slippers from his shoulder back, sliding them over his feet. 'Is that some soup you have on the stove.'

'Yes.' Gary answered coldly, as he filled their mugs to the brim with the thick, dark-brown liquid. Its heady scent competed with the smell of Gary's soup.

'Good, I'll take a bowl when it's ready.' Gorman was clearly in a bad mood, and was minded to blame Gary for his troubles. 'Cheers.' He said accepting the mug.

'What's in it?' Gary asked, inhaling deeply, as the mixture seemed to launch an attack on all of his senses at once.

'Mostly beef stock, tomatoes juice, a little Tabasco sauce, a little cracked black pepper, and a lot of vodka.'

'It's certainly strong.' Gary opined, although it did nothing to slow his rate of consumption. Such was the shock of his former manager turning up - once again unannounced - he hadn't given much thought as to why he might have been here. The only thing you could say for certain was that it wouldn't have been a social call.

'Congratulations on the qualification by the way.' Gorman said, as he took a drink from his mug, closing his eyes, as the concoction seemed to breath a little life back into his frozen muscles.

'hm?' Gary raised an eyebrow. 'Congratulations on qualifying for what?'

'Oh Jesus Christ Gary!' Gorman spluttered, spraying beef stock and tomato juice over the table. 'What the hell do you think I mean? How many bloody international sports teams do you play for?' Perhaps it had been a long journey, because the former national team boss seemed at the end of his tether.

'Oh, sorry.' Gary answered, wondering if it would be rude to start cleaning up the mess. He really didn't want anything to stain his good table. 'I didn't realise we'd qualified.'

'Mathematically.' Gorman spat. 'Mathematically. How in the name of... all that is righteous... can you not know that. I mean, I know you've only come off the bench once, but you must talk to people. You must listen to conversations. Do you know you actually receive five hundred pounds of taxpayers' money to go to that training camp? The fact that you don't even know whether you've qualified or not is a bloody disgrace.'

Gary couldn't really argue with any of that, it was probably an accurate assessment. He had literally no interest in football whatsoever. The only sport related thing to resonate with him right now was trying to keep Chatswood in the Premiership, and as a team, they were failing miserably. Embarrassingly, he couldn't have even told Gorman who else was in Schottia's group. Even worse, he couldn't even remember the name of the team he had come off the bench against. Vélo? No, that was French for bicycle.

Gorman took another drink from his mug before slamming it down. 'Look, that's why I'm here. I'm just going to cut to the chase. You need to get yourself sorted out - and I mean right now! Keep your head down, and stay away from Claire Hanson.'

Claire Hanson? What did Gorman know? 'I'm not sure I catch your drift Sir.' Gary gazed at the contents of his cup.

'Oh I think you do.' Gorman crossed his legs, a sign that the brunt of his rank was over. 'She's not going to go to the police this time, but... Listen; just leave her and her parents alone, okay? Sometimes I really don't know what possesses you. Why in God's name am I still surprised by anything that you do?'

How was Gary going to get out of this one? He had once faked his own death to get out of a meeting with Gorman, and it had bought him enough time to escape. He couldn't very well do that here - could he? Fall on his hand and knees and begin to choke? Wait until an ambulance got here, then jump out of the moving vehicle. No, Gorman wasn't going anywhere; this was going to be a long night...

[Tinhampton]

TINHAMPTON UNIVERSITY GATEWAY CAMPUS RAVAGED BY STUDENT STRIKES

"Tinhampton Student Unity" forces weekend lockdown on Gateway campus, in strikes set to continue throughout the school year

TSU's Seven Demands:

1. The removal of all tuition fees at Tinhampton University
2. "A feminist, anti-racist, anti-fascist, tolerant campus"
3. Divestment from "colonisers" and to "those they oppress"
4. Tinhampton Uni to shift all fossil fuel funding to renewable energy
5. Pressure on federal government to increase corporation tax to 60%
6. The impeachment of Mayor Lydia Anderson
7. "A safe, livable environment, with a decent wage for all students"

About TinU's Election System

Tinhampton University runs a traditional scheme of electing officers
to the university. However, it is a little-known fact that the university
operates more democratically.
On the second full week of March, elections to determine
the Committee of Students occur yearly. This is comprised of 120
Committee Members, with 15 from each of the eight campuses.
They meet at the Alexandra Svensson Hall, renamed in 1988 to
"commemmorate the contribution of Svensson to opening up the
University's political process to all students, whether in the Students
Union or not". The Union was nominally abolished in 1989, although
students retain access to perks offered by meta-student-unions.
Each CM belongs to a caucus (although about 10% are
independents). The caucuses are related in no way to Tin City political
parties, although many caucus members are also members of the
corresponding party. The current caucus is the Conservative caucus,
currently in a coalition with the Democratic and Freedom caucuses.
The leader of the largest party (currently Josh Wilkinson) is the
Premier of the Assembly.
Despite strong conservatives combining with popular
centrists, there is concern about how the 61-seat coalition (the first
of its kind since the Socialists lost seven of their CMs after the 2012
die-in on the M37) will hang on. This is definitely an election to watch.

An organisation stylising itself Tinhampton Student Unity (TSU) have organised sit-ins around our university's Gateway campus, although some people believe that the name of the organisation is a misnomer in itself.

With student elections taking place between the 13th and 17th of March, and with the Conservatives neck-and-neck with the Socialists in the Assembly of Students, the main question centres about the TSU: Will they help or hurt the Democrats and Socialists? Whilst the Democrats should consider themselves lucky to even be in a coalition, and the Socialists are on the rise, these trajectories could turn around. But regardless, the TSU is the key.

The TSU has carried out various controversial moves since founding early this month, but only kicked into action with the "uberprotests" on Thursday, designed with an onus on the Seven Demands. The protests ranged from full-out rioting, which has already seen 18 arrested, to quiet sit-ins in lecture rooms. Disruption is set to drag on throughout election season, although the summer holiday could be indefinitely suspended until a deal is reached. TSU have made no position on these claims.

Of course, Tinhampton has witnessed such student protests since the start of the millenium - just take the 24 students arrested at a "die-in" on the M37, for example. Despite this, the TSU appears to be more advanced and more coherent than any other group like it - even though protests have remained limited to the Gateway campus so far, students from across the university are standing in support with the group.

The political reaction has been strong. In a speech on Friday, Premier Josh Wilkinson condemned the actions of the TSU, stating that "no matter how much this famously libertarian campus can deal with freedom of speech, we cannot afford to suffer the actions of protesters whose main aim seems to be attacking conservatism at every opportunity.. I fear that a rule of tyranny could soon cast a shadow over our universities if we fail to act". Later on, Leader of the Opposition Sara Puchos was to decry these claims, noting boldly that "we cannot take the right-wing regime's serious harm lightly... One of the minor coalition partners, the Freedom Caucus, has been actively involved in hatred against others simply for their status, no matter under which category, and the Democratic Caucus are as complicit".

A joint press release that was put out by Democrat leader Alison Trincham and Freedom leader Liam Wright as this was set to go to press refuted the claims themselves made by the Socialists. One of the more effective sections read "We categorically deny the claims made by Sara Puchos CM over hatred. Our parties may differ in ideology, but we collectively denounce hatred and attacks on others based on their characteristics". Beforehand, Independent CM Jan Koeter had warned that "what is happening in Gateway right now could lead to a vicious cycle of hatred," and he seems to be proven right with each passing minute.

TSU was also a magnet for commentary by average students. First-year Spanish student Nadiya Ahmad welcomed the TSU, saying that "all the caucuses have sold out to the establishment, and Student Unity is our last hope if we want to take back our school". However, second-year Business student Brad Williamson complained that "these people are in dribs and drabs. They're holding up "Refugees Welcome" posters in one bit, burning effigies of the mayor in another bit, and blocking transport routes in yet another bit." Whether the resistance will hold or not is yet to be seen.

---

Tinhampton City FC - manager's office: 6:47am, 23th February 2017

• Press Secretary Suzanne Hammond: And, for the second time, a one-all draw against one of the world's top teams - I know what you're going to say now. The good news is that our supposedly pathetic team have secured a draw against the 20th-best side in the world. The bad news is that this result, combined with a victory for the Electrumites, mean that we can't qualify.
• First-Team Manager Clive Turnwood: Well, there's always World Cup 78. And if I'm not mistaken, we're the second-best unranked team after Spaam? That's no mean feat, especially given that the boys from Spaam are on the verge of qualification, and there are 23 unranked outfits.
• Suzanne Hammond: Correct. And we were the last unranked team to fail to qualify, only missing out after 16 of 18 rounds. We'll be the penultimate if Spaam miss out.
• Clive Turnwood: Where did you get that, Suzanne? The World Census report on Anime Daisuki?
• Suzanne Hammond: Probably. On a more original note, if 240th-ranked Nagore can defeat powerhouse Eura, then we can defeat Damukuni as well!

---

DAMUKUNI 1-1 TINHAMPTON: AAAAAND WE'RE OUT!

Despite securing second draw on the trot, Tinhampton to be stranded in mid-table after widely-expected circumstances
Damukuni 1 (Jones 40') -- Tinhampton 1 (Graham 42')