NationStates Jolt Archive

Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

The room is dark, a void without color or life. A spotlight gleams to life, illuminating the a simple wooden podium, emblazoned with the Federation seal.

More lights flicker to life, slowing bringing an even light level through the room, which is revealed to be an auditorium. On the wall behind the podium, a picture mosaic of thousands of scenes forms the Federation flag from far away.

Holographic and flat screen cameras line the wall furthest from the podium, behind rows of empty seats.

A set of double doors slide open, and the silence is broken, as reporters and cameramen drift in, chattering among themselves.

Once they had taken their seats, another door, this one at the front of the room, slid open and a shapely young woman in a tight blue skirt suit walked out. She stepped up to the podium, and flashed a dazzling smile.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I know of you know me yet, but I assure you, that will change in the fairly near future. My name is Rebecca Cameron, and I am the Government’s new public relations officer, and the managing director of the new Federal Public Broadcasting Organization. I’d like to welcome you to the opening of the FPBO Headquarters building.”

Her light blue eyes traveled around the room, briefly meeting all those gazing back at her, and she flashed her brilliant smile again.

“FPBO will be carrying government programs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Primary programming will consist of broadcast House of Delegates sessions and government statements. Emergency announcements and special programs will run when they are available.”

Such programming would not cut into the broadcasts of the channels currently present, because none carried such programming, though certain things would probably be simulcast between FPBO and the private networks. All the reporters and channel representatives knew this, and so, said nothing.

“Concordantly, this is the first item being broadcast on FPBO. Also, I am going to use this opportunity to bring the public up to date on the current information regarding the war with the Confederacy of Lost Americans and other military operations, to the extent national security can allow.

Firstly, Mars. The Federation units there recently participated in the defense of Kajal Mars, along with many other Martian nations in a broad-based coalition. The Kajal Imperium, based out of the Pleiades Cluster, sent a fleet of approximately six hundred warships attempting to reconquer their former colony on the Red Planet. One thousand and forty three Federation military personnel lost their lives in defense against unwarranted aggression and imperialism. Every ship in the Imperial Kajali Fleet appears to have been either captured or destroyed prior to surrendering.

Second, the relocation of the Kristatatan population off planet, where their obvious racial insanity will no longer be a threat to peace and stability of the Earth and the Solar System as a whole, is proceeding as planned. In the first stage of operations, two Federation pilots were downed over ADK. They are presumed to be killed in action, as no further communications have been received.

Third, the war with the Confederacy. Despite severe losses in the initial space naval engagements, from with the Federation emerged victorious, later operations have continued with considerably less loss of like and achieved all stated objectives. Also, Federal Forces are now preparing to intercept the Confederate invasion force bound for the North Coast of Peitha.

Fourth, as a result of the current round of violence over the last few months, the Imperial President has seen fit to authorize a twenty-five percent increase in the ground aerospace wings, a thirty-three percent increase in the size of the ground forces, a one hundred percent increase in the size of the Patrol Fleet, a two hundred percent increase in the size of Battle Fleet, and appropriate other increases to fulfill the need, but exact numbers have not been released.”

Another smile. Apparently one part of her job, at which Miss Cameron excelled, was to be charming. “Thank you, but I’ll not be taking any questions at this time. Good day.”

OOC: Questions will be answered from time to time, so if you wish to have reporters present at any session, that would be acceptable. Just make sure I know ahead of time before asking questions. Those of you who would not be permitted citizens in the Federation (You know who you are) might as well not consider this invitation open to you. Because it isn't.

Also, this thread will be the primary news thread for anything in the Federation not really important enough to have its own thread, but important enough it needs to be posted. This will include minor construction projects, minor government changes, minor new laws, and military updates.

FPBO Special Report

The screen flashes to life in a mist of swirling colors, but yet, nothing is seen, the slowly, pinpricks of light are made out. Stars, very far away, and not twinkling, dominate the background, of an empty stretch of space.

But the center of the picture remains clear, as if something is blocking the starlight from reaching the camera transmitting the image.

And that something must be huge, for it blocks an incredible number of stars.

“Welcome to the Mercury System, ladies and gentlemen, at the far end of the Warp Chain jointly claimed by the Federation and Menelmacari Governments, and the site of the Khristatatan Relocation Program’s final stage.”

A single light blinks on in the middle of the blackness. Then another, and another, the numbers growing exponentially as a form is rapidly defined. It is a massive space station, the customary light grey of unrelieved battlesteel. If one knows what to look for, it can be seen to be bristling with weapons and production areas.

The lights are all online now, delineating the classic lines of a massive Anglachel-class battlestation and construction yard.

“This is the fourth of Anglachel stations, and the name of the place is the S.P.S.S. Angpilinel. It will serve as a base of operations for the Kristatatan Relocation Program in the Mercury System, as a secure Federation shipyard. Starting immediately, it is to begin securing the system against external threats, and begin producing the new warships that the Federation Space Forces require.”

The image of the massive station remains on screen for a few moments, then fades to black…

FPBO Special Report

Another massive station gleams silently in the dark of space, though, along the underside of its hull, it shimmers faintly blue, with no discernable reason for this phenomenon.

Still silent, the angle of the image slowly rotates about, shifting so that the reason for the glow can soon be identified. It is the light of Sol, reflected off the deceptively smooth blue surface of the Southern Atlantic Ocean, shining upon the gleam battlesteel surface.

“Welcome to the S.P.S.S. Anglothel, heart of the Federation’s space presence in the Sol System. Recently damaged in an unprovoked attack by the nation of Abu-Dhabi Kristatata, the station is now fully operational once more.”

Lighting gleams through small portals, and if one looks closely, small craft can be seen buzzing about the fifty kilometer station, which suddenly goes slightly out of focus as its drive field comes online to minimal power. If one knows what to look for, though, that is what one sees, anyway.

“One hundred and fifty thousand Federation personnel died in that attack, but the proud station is ready to serve once more, with the Fifth Army Group now embarked.”

The camera spins around, focusing on one end of the massive station. “Here was the area receiving the heaviest damage, where the Kristatatan attack was focused.”

Some twenty odd ships separate from the station, obviously larger than the small craft buzzing about, and quite clearly following the somewhat blocky shape of Federation warships. They coast outward, tiny next to the massive bulk of the station, then they too blur behind the protective ellipsoid of their drives.

“These ships just launching are the repaired elements of the Third and Fourth Task Groups, and new ships to replace those groups losses during the opening rounds of the current war with the Confederacy of Lost Americans.”

The ships vanish, and the screen goes blank.

FPBO Special Report, On Location, Sentient Bloom Colony, Mercury System

A man is standing in the camera frame, dark haired, and lightly tanned, with straight teeth, revealed by a wide smile. "Welcome to the edge of beyond, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you unsure where I am, this is the moon Bloom, or the third moon of the seventh planet in the Mercury System. It is here the Federation is establishing a colony to help support our and Allied forces patrolling the warp chain and the Khristatatan relocation site."

He gestures behind him with one hand, where a dropship is landing. "As you can see, we're just settling in here, but Bloom is to be an agricultural colony, to help supply the fleets with foodstuffs, and provide shoreside recreational facilities. Predicted to have a population approaching seven million, Bloom will hopefully become an integral part of the Federation, despite its distance from the Federation proper, which is nearly seven hundred lightyears."

The reporter grins. "Anyway, they want us to help them unload the dropship, so I suppose that I had better sign off. This is Dan Brown, FPBO, signing off from Sentient Bloom."

FPBO Special Report, Grand Opening, Federation War Museum, Gatlenberg, Dominion of Vanderhill, FSP

The picture blazes to life, an aerial shot of a rather large building, with a number of ships sitting in a small harbor outside it. The smooth lines and harsh prows give away their military affiliation, even if the largest of them, obviously an aircraft carrier, had not. The image slowly revolves towards the ground, and settles on a young woman with an unremarkable face, but bright slit-pupil green eyes gave away not a purely human ancestry.

“Welcome to the Grand Opening of the Federation War Museum. It’s a bright sunny day in Gatlenberg, Vanderhill, and I’m standing outside the Main Entrance to the Museum, where IRD Minister Currey will be cutting the red ribbon very soon.”

She gestures over her shoulder at the people clustered near a set of doors, heavily armed soldiers in combat uniforms and other soldiers and naval personnel in varying stages of dress uniforms. An older man, Minister Currey, stands among them. “Minister Currey was Prime Minister of the Dominion of Vanderhill before the Amalgamation, and led Vanderhill through the Fall. As you could see in the aerial shot we opened with, there are six vessels sitting at anchor in the harbor outside the Museum proper, left over from the old Dor Lomin Regional Alliance Surface Navy. The S.P.S. Hellcat, an aircraft carrier, with a full wing of operational Peregrines still aboard her, the S.P.S. Lightning and the S.P.S. Barony, two cruisers. A Yamamato-class Destroyer, a Murphy-class Frigate, and an Atlantic-class Fast Attack Submarine round out the ships. Rumor has it that a Revenge-class Ballistic Missile Submarine may be added in the future.

As for the facility itself, it has history of various wars and technologies, along with simulators and other fun entertainments, such as holo-films. Old and new military equipment is also displayed in the Museum, though only publicly available data is revealed, of course. And now, Minister Currey…”

She turned around, and the camera zoomed in on the International Relations Directorate Minister and the large pair of golden scissors poised on the bright red ribbon…

Snip. “Welcome to the Federation War Museum, ladies, gentlemen, and other sentients!”

FPBO Special Report

A massive Anglachel-class Battlestation-shipyard is visible, filling the screen, clearly one of the Earth orbiting three stations, recognizable with the extra ten kilometers of metal designed to hold an entire Army Group. It appears to be completely intact, limiting the possibilities to two stations, the S.P.S.S. Anglachel and the S.P.S.S. Anguirel, as the S.P.S.S. Anglothel was still brutally mauled from the Confederate surprise attack. At least, that is what anyone truly concerned about the Federation Space Navy would know.

A number of small warships depart from the station, easily recognizable from their distinctive winged-block shape. A size comparison would reveal them to be seven destroyers and a light cruiser, and the voiceover identifies them.

“These eight vessels were heavily damaged in the Kajali Imperium attack on Mars when the Kajali subspace gate was destroyed. The Federation forces, which had only suffered minimal losses up until that time, suffered heavily during the subspace shockwave that flowed over the space near Mars following the gate’s destruction.

They are returning to complete the Second Task Group and return it to full strength, while it remains in orbit of Mars. As currently four task groups are stationed at Mars, once these ships arrive, the regular patrol patterns will recommence.”

The ships cruise serenely out of the view, and the screen fades to black.

FPBO Special Report, Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

The teaming mass of reporters and other assorted newsies is waiting with a quiet roar of chattering, of white noise from their writing pads and hand computers, from focusing their holo and flat screen cameras. They are in low light, seated, awaiting the arrival of whom ever is to give the briefing today.

They had been alerted that something special was in the works.

The front door near the platform slides open, and two men step through it. One is instantly recognizable as Minister Johnathan Currey, of the International Relations Directorate, dressed in a navy blue suit. The other man is an enigma. Flowing white robes shimmer against the black flag mosaic, emphasizing his height, a good fifteen centimeters taller than Minister Currey. He carries a staff of some sort, and the look on his face proclaims him, even if his adornments had not, to be a foreigner. Currey steps to the podium.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to introduce Sector Administrator the Marquis Rel Markison, of the Exalted Star Supremacy of Revenia.” He indicates the man in white. “One hour ago, Administrator Markison and I signed into existence a treaty of alliance between the Federated Commonwealths, Dominions, and Colonies of the Federation of Sentient Peoples and the Exalted Star Supremacy of Revenia. In broad terms, the treaty calls for mutual defense, trade agreements, joint usage of military facilities, and limited joint offensive operations, at the discretion of the involved Governments. The joint use of other space facilities of a non-military nature, and cooperation and cross training of all branches of military operations.”

Currey smiles. “Thank you for coming, and text of the treaty will be made available to you as you depart. Have a nice day.” He steps back from the podium and leads Markison from the platform, back through the door, which slides silently shut behind them.

FPBO Special Report

A soft light sparkles in the night, reflecting off of a gently gleaming metal construct in the deep of space. Soon, a shadow moving among the stars can be discerned, certain of the stars moving with it, lights gleaming on the form. Someone extremely familiar with Federation military equipment might be able to identify the form as a Shambhala-class Space Station, moving through the star field.

That said someone might even notice the smaller black icons when they drift across the stars, small enough not to block them totally. Other than their tiny mass, and the fact that they would block light, there was little way to detect them.

A burst of blue light flashes across space, a flood of EM radiation in multiple wavelengths. A ship, transiting a war point. The station lit in the blue glow, revealing it to indeed be the Shambhala. Another blue flash, and another. More and more flashes, sixty in total. No ships are visible, though. Whatever has come through does not appear to be moving into the view of the camera.

“Fourth Task Force, returning.”

FPBO Special Report, Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

Rebecca Cameron stepped through the front doors, walking slowly in high heeled boots, quite fashionable currently. She wore a black skinslick with the boots, and smiled at the assembled reporters, gazing out with blue eyes from underneath black bangs. Her hair color seemed different everyday as well, but matched her outfit, such as it was, perfectly.

“I’ve got some good news for you for a change. Earlier this morning we received confirmation from Imperial House that Lady Lesley is indeed pregnant, though the gender is not being released. According to our medical sources, both mother and child are doing well at the moment. The child is expected to be born sometime in February.”

Flipping her black hair provocatively, Rebecca smiled at the cameras lining the back of the gallery. “As for recent world events, the Government’s official statement on the Situation in the Dominion of the Dread Lady is that it is none of our business, and that relations will continue normally.”

She grinned, revealing her perfect white teeth, eyes smoldering over the crowded reporters. “That’s all I’ve got. Any questions?”

FPBO Special Report

Darkness fades away into a starscape, the dim light hardly changing the scene, but enough to show the camera’s slow rotation. As the camera steadies, a blue star seems to move towards it, then another, and another, until twenty specks of blue light seem to glide towards the camera through the darkness.

But not directly towards the camera. Instead they appear to be angling past it. As the approach silently, the camera slowly turns to track them, the slowness of the change showing the actual distance to the dots of light. Something red begins to curve across the view point, as the glowing dots become mere specks of light among hundreds of others orbiting the fourth planet.

“This is the Mars Heavy Task Group, the first unit of the new Federation Colonial Fleet, the need for which has been demonstrated by the constant warfare near and on the Federation’s colony planets of Mars and lately, Venus. This has led the Government to decide that these planets need a permanent Fleet presence in some strength. And so, the first forty ships of the new construction plan have been committed to this defense force.

Concurrently, the First and Second Patrol Fleet Task Groups will be staying at Mars for some time while the Mars Task Group works up, especially as it appears that things may be heating up on the War God’s Planet once more.”

FPBO Special Broadcast

The Office of the Imperial President, Imperial House, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

D’ron was sitting behind his desk, dressed in the most formal traditional blacks that he own, though most of the fabric’s quality was lost behind the wood desk on which his gloved hands rested. A small display with each flag of the nation rested on the left corner of his desk, the Federation Stars and Sword central among the other seven flags. He smiled at the camera.

“Today marks a momentous occasion in the nation of our allies, formerly the Empire of the Eternal Dawn, and now the Iluvauromeni Commonality of Everlasting Light.” He managed to pronounce the foreign words with no trouble. “Today they have entered into an untried realm of an entirely greater form of self government, and we congratulate them on their decision.”

“One of the goals of the Federation, and the former Empire, has always been stability, both internally and throughout the world. From our earliest alliance during the war in protection of All Elves, through our formal alliance, and our time in the Triumvirate of Yut, and our time since then, we have always been friends.” The images of his dream flickered through his mind, that horrible dream from which both nations had been left in ruins, ripping into each other, a dream war. “As such, we of the Federation are happy to welcome the Commonality as an ally, both new and old, in that battle for stability. As their ideals and ours come more closely into phase, we hope for an unprecedented level of cooperation in combating the disease of violence and unrest throughout the world.”

“We will always be friends, us of the Federation and our neighbors to the north, whether they be Empire or Commonality, and we will proceed into the future together, our destinies linked, for one day we shall see peace, and hopefully, that day, historians will look back and say it started right here.”

D’ron smiled at the camera. “Thank you all, and goodnight.”

FPBO Special Report

The revolving blue and gold shield bursts apart into the burning initials FPBO, revealing the new graphic that will proceed all future special reports. The camera zooms into the flames until the entire screen is white, then fades to a black starscape.

“Welcome to the Apache System, the first system on the Warp Chain connecting the Federation to the rest of the universe without FTL drive.” The starry darkness continues to spin by slowly, until a dark shadow appears to blot out the stars.

“It is here that the fifth of the Anglachel-class stations is being built, and is now, finished. The S.P.S.S. Belethil joins its sisters as the guardians of the Federation, centers of defense, and construction, the heart of the Federation’s space presence. This last station should bring Federation production capacities to their maximum for the time being, allowing the most rapid construction of warships the economy can sustain.”

The dark shadow begins to light up, revealing the tiny dark holes of weapons ports, and the gaping maws of construction bays. Gleaming in the darkness, it shines as a beacon of civilization and prosperity on the frontier.

“The S.P.S.S. Belethil will be concentrating on producing ships for the new Second Battle Fleet, and will exclusively concentrate on that new series of construction, while the S.P.S.S. Angpilinel finished up the Colonial Task Groups. That station will join in construction of the Second Fleet as soon as it can.”

Movement begins to swarm around the station on the screen. Freighters, shuttles, fighters. “The three stations in Earth Orbit will be concentrating on finishing the First Fleet, and then on Patrol Fleet, will assist in the completion of Second Fleet once they are done with those projects.”

The view fades out to blackness.

FPBO Special Report

Rebecca Cameron, today wearing a light blue flowing dress that, seems to cling in all the right places, her hair a dark purple, contrasting, yet matching with the dress, walks in through the doors. Or perhaps sashays through them. It was not quite walking, what she did, over emphasizing her very feminine body, in almost an inappropriate manner.

But then, she was in public relations, and was supposed to sell her stories. And the first rule in that book? Sex sells.

Once more, her dazzling smile flashes as she steps up to the podium, and faced the reporters throughout the room.

“Good morning, gentlebeings. Just thought I would bring you up to date on the status of last nights attacks from the Animal Liberation Front. The Imperial President has finally gone the extra step and upgraded them to a terrorist group, declaring them persona non grata if found on Government property. Furthermore, any citizens with information about the Animal Liberation Front are encouraged to inform their local Federal Justice Directorate Personnel.

This only applies to future crimes committed in the name of the Animal Liberation Front, and the Imperial President has issued an Imperial Order than all crimes yet unresolved committed by this group are hereby amnestied. But all future actions will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, as a terrorist, and attacks against Government facilities will constitute as Treason.” Miss Cameron’s eyes went hard at that, and no one would have mistaken those blue eyes for anything but chipped ice. Then her expression softened, with a smile.

“In accordance with the ongoing military build up, I am pleased to announce the completion of the Mercury System, or Fourth Colonial, Heavy Task Group, as well as the completion of the First Task Force, bringing its total up to the originally designated ship strength of eighty vessels, including a full eight ship squadron of Capella-class Dreadnaughts.”

She nodded, smiling still. “That will be all. Have a good day.”

Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

The lights slowly came up, drifting to life with an ephemeral quality of their own, illuminating the press room, the massive mosaic on the wall behind the podium gleaming softly, obviously recently scrubbed. The wood of the podium gleamed too, obviously polished recently.

The door flickered open with its customary silence, and the click of heels on tile could be heard. Rebecca Cameron was not just on the other side, as per normal, but strode through a few seconds later, looking completely normal.

Well, normal for her, anyway. Her hair was in rainbows today, flowing down in visual spectrum from the crown of her head. Her blue eyes swept lightly over the assembled reporters, but it was her outfit that drew attention. Shimmering gold lines flowed over her body, trailing down like tinsel from her neck, hugging every curve in a glimmering cloud of radiance, revealing everything, and showing absolutely nothing. Somehow.

Obviously a very expensive piece of fabric. Or whatever it was. Where it gathered back together at her waist, it was with a silver belt. And matching high-heeled silver boots came up to her knees to complete the outfit.

“Good day, gentlebeings. Despite repeated calls from both sides of the issue, The Imperial President has once more refused to grant any more police powers or funding, but at the same time, as elected not to decrease those powers, as in his opinion changing something that has worked for so long would be foolish. Further, he has decided that he will once again be cutting back on environmental restrictions, seeing as how they serve no useful purpose, in that oxygen production can be done faster with non-natural means. But national wildlife and wilderness areas will continue to be preserved.”

The blinding smile flashed again. It was undoubtedly part of the reason Cameron had been hired for the position. “Also, despite repeated protests from the religious and hyper conservative communities, to which the President feels his closest ties, the Imperial President has once again decided not to illegalize euthanasia, citing that it people want to die, there is no point in keeping them around.”

Rebecca moved behind the podium, the gold shimmering and twisting, sending patterns of light sparkling about the room. “In military news, I’m glad to announce that the Third Colonial Heavy Task Group has been completed for deployment to the Mercury System to guard the Sentient Bloom colony and the Khristatatan Relocation Site. The new task group, led by the Dreadnaughts Tarazed and Markab, will be joining the Revenian Sixth Fleet and the Menelmacari Squadron already on station. This was timed to coincide with the completion of Operation Crying Rock in Abu-Dhabi Khristatata, which was finished just a few days ago.”

A visible sigh from the speaker, the motion ruffling her garment as well. “Complete casualty lists and other information involving that conflict will be forthcoming very soon from this office.” The blue eyes swept the room again. “Additionally, with the Third Colonial Task Group, the completion of the first new ships for the First Fleet has begun, completing the First Task Force, in the form of twenty new vessels, led by the Dreadnaughts Dawn Treader and Argo.”

Another dazzling smile. “Thank you for your time, that will be all.” Rebecca Cameron turned and walked back through the door, her heels clicking as the golden outfit swayed provocatively with her motion.

Original Post Here (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=6794371&posted=1#post6794371)

FPBO Broadcast

Office of the Imperial President, Imperial House, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

“We interrupt this regularly scheduled report for this breaking news statement.”

The FPBO opening logo burns out into the revolving Great Seal of the Federation, and then in a fade through black, the Imperial President appears, sitting behind his large official desk. He is dressed in the most formal of civilian wear, traditional blacks, the golden accents gleaming softly. Behind him is a cityscape, the tops of the Griffin downtown towers, over fifty kilometers away, projected in startling realism through the miracle of holographics. But one has to know all that, of course. Many people do not, even in the Federation itself. He begins to speak.

“Today I received word of a grievous crime committed by a sovereign national government, the government of the United States of Allanea. By their actions, they have declared themselves criminals, in violating contract law with another nation, in the commission of crimes of economic warfare, in a misguided attempt to strike back at a nation, the Queendom of Zero-One whose only ‘crime’ was to sell the Allaneans equipment that the Allaneans had requested. Then, they attempted to strike back on the deal when their own mishandling and lack of understanding of the equipment caused damage to themselves, by ordering an immediate devaluing of the currency used in the transaction. This in itself, while horribly impolite and a crime in its own right, is nothing compared to what actually happened.”

The President breathes in deeply. “Due to the massive trading power that is the Queendom, they were no longer in possession of any of these funds, they had instead been scattered throughout the globe within hours of being received. So instead of damaging one nation’s economy for revenge, they have damaged ten times that, maybe a hundred times, causing a fluctuation throughout the global economy itself. This damage to the world economy will no doubt cost jobs and lives, and makes the Allanean Government’s unthinking act a crime against the time honored standards of trade and trustworthiness expected from a government.”

The President’s gaze burns into the camera before him. “As punishment befitting the crime, I hereby declare all Allanean government personnel persona non grata in the Federation, all Allanean Government properties and assets in the Federation seized, and the presence of the Federation Government in the Trade Boycott of Allanea. I strongly urge all Federation based companies to participate in the boycott as well, for Allanea has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that they cannot be trusted with other people’s money. I would hate to see this tragic event reoccur.”

The President smiles from behind his desk. “Thank you all, and good day.”

”We now return to the regularly scheduled programming of the report to the House of Delegates from the Commerce Directorate’s Agriculture Committee.”

“And furthermore, at the rate at which the arable land is decreasing due to over use and further development, the increasing cost of running downside farms may soon drive the production of plants for recreational drugs from the surface to the space based facilities. The crops are showing a thirty five percent decrease over last years yields…”

FPBO Special Report

The darkness is not completely black, for it is speckled with stars, points of light in a dark night. Some of the stars seem to shift radically for an instant, as one blacks out completely.

Explosions rip through the vacuum of space, an asteroid is revealed as the cause of the star’s disappearance, glowing brightly, then vanishing as it vaporizes.

“Seen here are a portion of the weapons trials being conducted by the Fourth Colonial Heavy Task Group, assigned to permanent station in the Apache System, to guard the Fleet base anchoring the closest end of the warp chain that runs clear to Nexus, controlled by our ally, the Exalted Star Supremacy of Revenia. The Fourth Colonial is led by the Capella-class Dreadnaughts Polaris and Pollux, and was launched at the same time as the last two Heavy Battle Groups of the Second Task Force, led by the Dreadnaughts Iliad and Armageddon.”

Another asteroid lights up and explodes. “More on exciting Federation Military Developments as they arise.”

FPBO Special Report, Rebroadcast all Federation Networks, in All Territories, Commonwealths, Dominions and Colonies

Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

The lights come up slowly, as they always do, so that the cameras lining the back wall have time to adjust, before the door to the side of the stage flickers open with its customary silence and Rebecca Cameron walks through, followed by a man that for home viewers would be identified as Arthur Williams, the Minister of Commerce. He is wearing, as usual, a simple suit, today, dark gray, but Cameron, as usual, is dressed flamboyantly, though quite patriotically.

Her skin seems to gleam gold today, and is in fact covered in gold body paint that glitters when she moves. Over that is a skin tight black mesh body suit, and she wears a pair of black, high heeled boots. Her hair is black, with gleaming streaks of the same gold in it, while her eyes gleam like sapphires in her golden face as she steps to the podium. “Good day, gentlebeings. First, I’d like to introduce Minister Williams to you here, and then I have some announcements afterwards. So, Minister Williams of the Commerce Directorate.”

Williams steps uncertainly to the podium and looks out at the cameras. He does not appear on screen very much, which probably explains his nervousness. “Well, uh, thank you for the introduction, Minister Cameron.” This probably comes as a surprise to many people. Very few people seem to actually realize that Rebecca Cameron is the Minister of Public Information, Head of the Public Information Directorate. “Anyways, yesterday, Bruce Reynolds, acting in his capacity as Second Ambassador of the Federation, signed the Federation’s Membership of the Knootian International Stabilization Treaty, or KIST. While the treaty imposes a slight bit more regulations on how our trade policy is conducted, it leaves the actually policy up to us in its goal of increasing world stability. As this fits with the Imperial President’s desire of promoting world stability by whatever means present themselves, he ordered Ambassador Reynolds to sign it in his name. Uh… yeah, that’s all.” He steps back from the podium, and Rebecca, as she moves forward, winks at him as if to say good job.

“Thank you, Minister. As for other news, as the protests in Allanea continue into yet another week of ineffectual civil disobedience, there are rumors the Imperial President is considering increasing the level of Martial Law. Further relating to the military, the Third Task Force, under the recent Construction plan, was completed yesterday with the addition of twenty new build warships, bringing total First Fleet strength to three hundred warships in Earth Orbit.” She smiles out at the reporters in the room. “I’ve time to answer a few questions, on whatever you like.” As she points out to the audience, presumably at an unseen hand, Minister Williams takes the opportunity to slip back out the side door.

A whiny female voice speaks up. “Miss Cameron, would you care to comment on the Government’s position on the so-called ‘Allanea Protests’ in the last few days?”

Rebecca smiles. “Of course. The Government’s position is this. While legally the Federation Territory of Allanea is under Federal Weapons Laws, which are technically even more strict while the territory is under Martial Law, we need citizens to understand that the laws, for the time being, are frankly impossible to enforce. The Allanea’s absurd level of openness with regards to weapons is no doubt what led to their violent, destructive behavior as a society in the first place. As soon as the proper infrastructure is in place, the laws will be enforced.” She smiles again. “Also the protestors need to know that, despite what they may have thought, the looseness towards the weapons laws in the Federation Territory of Allanea does not herald a new openness towards weapons in the Federation Proper. Answer your question?” At an apparent nod from the reporter, she pointed to someone else.

“Miss Cameron, might I enquire as to the types of the new warships deployed to Third Task Force?” This is from a light baritone, obviously male.

“Of course. The composition is the standard for a Heavy Task Group, twenty ships led by two Capella-class Dreadnaughts, the Tizona and Kusanagi.”

“Thank you.”

Rebecca points to a new hand, apparently, as another voice begins, this one light and breathy. “Miss Cameron, would you care to comment on the recent rumors circulating that you and Second Ambassador Bruce Reynolds are a couple now? That you’ve been seen in his apartment building a number of times and have been seen dining with him on numerous occasions?

“No, I would not like to comment on the recent society gossip, because frankly, I’ve no idea what they’re talking about. They must be drinking too much Pink Bunny Cola.” She laughed lightly. “That’s all the time I’ve got now, I’m sure I’ll see you all again soon.”

Turning, Rebecca Cameron walked out, a little more briskly than normal, in fact, for her, it was the equivalent of fleeing the area.

Excerpts from Official Briefing Sheets...

First Battle Fleet Completed
With the addition of the last twenty warships to the Fourth Task Force, the Government has declared that the First, or Home, Battle Fleet, is now completed, as is the entire Colonial Task Force. As for the current construction schedule, only the second half the Patrol Fleet and the Second Battle Fleet remain to be constructed.

Decemiton AeroSpace Fighter Base Completed
In the Commonwealth of The Halo, a large new base rests in the mainland of Dor Lomin. It contains the standard fighter wings as all the other bases, but has a larger housing area and a series of huge hangers and landing areas that no other base contains. They are currently unoccupied, but rumor has it that all the other bases, both under construction and completed will be receiving the same new buildings.

Completion of Negociations
Negociations with the Empire of Greater Prussia concerning the occupation of the Territory of Allanea have come to a successful end. What exactly 'successful' is defined as is unknown, but rumor has it that the Federation is preparing to withdraw a large portion of its presence from Allanea.

Excerpts from the Official Briefing Sheets...

Patriot AeroSpace Fighter Base Completed
Patriot AFB is completed in the Dominion of Vanderhill, and over the next month, its crews and staff should begin arriving, with the base being fully operational within a week. All of the fighter wings will take longer to arrive, of course, but they should all be present within a month. Further, as previously mentioned, Patriot AFB has the large unknown hanger like buildings, which have, since the completion of Decemiton AFB, been spotted at Oriole, Crandelburg, Camden and Flint AFB's. More on this as it develops.

Combat Report
While on patrol in the Rampage system, following their working up period, the 13th and 14th Space Battle Groups engaged and destroyed a pirate attack on Federation Civilian mining operations in one of that system's many asteroid belts. Civilian losses are unknown, but expected to be somewhat high due to the destruction of at least one mining center. Military losses are expected to be considerably lower. The pirates were completely wiped out, and an investigation is ongoing to determine if the pirates have more ships or friends who might attack Federation civilians in the future.

FPBO Special Report

The darkness shifts, and slowly, pinpoints of light resolve, gleaming slightly blue. Oviod, they move closer to the camera, slipping past it, sixty of them, if one took the time to count them all.

One by one, they reach a point in space and vanish, winking out like stars blocked by a giant hand. "This is the deployment of the Fifth Task Force units constructed in the Sol System at the Earth Orbiting Shipyards. It is unclear right now as to their final destination. The Military Directorate offered no comment on the matter."

The ships continue winking out. "Some have questioned the Government's decision to deploy the ships away from home, especially in a time of war, and with tensions escalating world wide because of yet unseen factors. According to our source, this deployment is based on reliable intelligence about specific enemy intentions, and no further questions were answered."

The last light winks out, the Fifth Task Force vanishing into the night. "In other military news, it appears that the Fifteenth Space Battle Group has been completed and is undergoing work ups in the Rampage System, as well as joining a number of other battle groups on Anti-piracy patrols there."

FPBO Special Report

An aerial shot of a massive military base appears on the screen, the land surrounding it the much flatter terrain recognizible to many as the Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples. The camera slowly revolves around the base, showing it off from all sides, hundreds of kilometers of fencing and paving, thousands of buildings, and a fifth of a million Federation soldiers. "This is Fort Henries, the newest Federation Ground Force Primary Base, and will be home to the Ninth Army Group, under the command of General Toby Durskonil."

The camera continues to move around the base. "The Ninth Army Group was recently reformed after it was disbanded early in the war against Lost Americans, having suffered horrible losses to it while deployed in space during an unprevoked attack on our space borne military installations."

The view slowly blackens, then comes back into focus, stars now speckling the display. "This is the Rampage system, now home to a permanent presence of Federation Patrol Fleet Task Groups, including the Thirteenth through the Sixteenth Space Battle Groups, due to the increasing Federation presence there needing to be protected from an increasing pirate threat." The screen blanks.

FPBO Special Report

The lights gleamed everywhere, brightening the darkness they inhabited. Music played softly in the background.

Night time sharpens
Heightens each sensation

The lights were moving slowly, some of them, sorting out in a defined order, larger ones grouping together, smaller ones spreading out near the edges, ones in the middle staying, well, in the middle.

Darkness wakes
And stirs imagination

The uninformed might regard the display as a beautiful ballet, an intricate dance of those multimegaton motes of light, gleaming the in the darkness of space. To those who did, the formation cried out of the practiced lethality of the Federation's Space Navy.

Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses

There were a hundred and sixty of the lights, if one counted them all, moving to space in time to the music. Then came the voice. "With the completion of the Sixth Task Force, the Federation's Second Fleet is now considered operational, possessing currently half it's assigned strength. Additionally, rumors of changes in production for upcoming warships are rife within the military and civilian construction sectors, and a total media blackout was imposed on the recent launch of the Seventeenth Patrol Fleet Battle Group."

Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night

The dance continued in the background of the voice, accompanying the music elegantly. "In other recent military news, approximate two weeks ago the Panisville Aerospace Fighter Base was declared operational with deployment of its fighter and fighter bomber wings beginning immediately to assist in the ongoing conflict with Lost Americans."

Press Room, FPBO Headquarters, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

Rebecca Cameron walks into the room, her outfit today a fairly sedate opaque skinslick in crimson, gold, and black. Her hair is perfectly matching, and her blue eyes gleam happily. "Good morning, sentients," she announces softly as she moves to the podium. "It's been pointed out to me that it has been some time since we brought our citizens up to date on our military construction and expansion, so I thought I would give a brief report."

She sets her hands on the podium and smiles out at the assembled cameras and reporters. "Since we've last brought you up to date, Earthside, we've completed Southfold Aerospace Fighter Base and Fort Washington, which will house the Twelveth Army Group. In space, another 107 ships have joined the Space Navy, comprising the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Space Battle Groups, and the Seventh Task Force. Everything is running up to date on our construction plans, and they are expected to complete on time." The Minister of Information smiles her blinding white smile. "That'll be all."

FPBO Special Report

Excerpt, Flag Bridge Recorder, S.P.S. Betelgeuse, Flag Ship, Eighth Task Force, Second Battle Fleet

The scene comes into focus with the entire flag bridge visible, with a man in the uniform of a Vice Admiral standing before the massive holographic display. When he turns, pacing back towards his command chair, if one were to look closely, his name patch would identify him as H. Alexander.

A young woman speaks from the front of the compartment. “Admiral, we’re in position at fifteen AU from Rampage Alpha, sir.”

“Very good, Commander.” The Vice Admiral turned and looked down at his display screen, which displayed his flag captain’s head, barely visible. “Captain, are all ships reporting ready?”

The voice came back, a soft contralto. “Sir, the Squadron is ready, and Moltke, Cohort of Radiance, Inanna, and Copenhagen report that their group are ready and in position.”

“Very well, Jennifer. The Task Force will jump on your command.”

“Aye aye, sir.” The voice sounded very pleased. “All ships, prepare to jump. Jump in five…

four…

three…

two…

one…

JUMP!” The holographic display blanks, flashing bright white briefly before stabilizing. The Admiral smiled down at his display, silent for moment before speaking again.

“How are we doing, Captain?”

“Everything green.”

“Good.” Hampton Alexander sat down in his chair, and watched as the holographic display switch over to an astrographic display for the first time in Federation history.

Edge of the Sol System, Six Days Later

Colorful dust drifts in space, lightly spread across the display, swirling and spinning randomly. Abruptly, the dust cloud shifts, stretching away, spinning faster as if it is vanishing down the drain, sucked away, speeding ever faster, and then…

An explosion of color, flashing brightly, ever color of the spectrum, burning hotly in space for less than a millisecond, hardly long enough to be seen.

Eighty warships rest there, lying in deadly repose as their drive fields come online, glowing a light blue as they push through the dust cloud. “Eighth Task Force, Arriving.”

Press Room, FPBO Headquarters

It is the long length of black covered leg that is noticeable first as Rebecca Cameron strides into the room, walking smoothly up to the podium, setting her hands lightly on it. “Greetings, sentients. I realize it’s been some time since my last announcement, so I’ll make this one good. The military expansion that I announced last year is now completed. We now have twenty operational Aerospace Fighter Bases, twelve operation Army Groups, and the Space Force has no reached an operational strength of two Battle Fleets, twelve Patrol Fleet Task Groups, and Colonial Fleet is now a complete Task Force.”

The young woman smiles, flicking her blue eyes lightly around the room. “And now for a surprise. You all think we’ve gotten the Fleet as strong as we can, no doubt. And it’s true, for now. But I am authorized to tell you that there are current plans to build two hundred and sixty-four vessels of four new classes, and also plans to double the size of the Colonial Fleet, due to the constant problems around Mars, primarily. Also, there are hints of possible construction of new design surface naval vessels following the Lost Americans.” Rebecca smiles sweetly out at the gathered reporters, letting her eyes laugh. “That’s all I can say, but I’m sure you’re all itching to pump your own sources now, so I suppose I’ll leave you to it.”

Grinning, she walks from the stage, the heels of her boots clicking sharply on the floor.

FPBO Special Report

It is a length of tanned calf that proceeds Minister Cameron into the room, freshly returned from her vacation with Bruce Reynolds to Nexus, and dressed conservatively in a black skirtsuit that stopped just above her knee, and matched her very natural black hair. Blue eyes gleam with amusement as she sees the reporters for the first time in over a month. “Good morning, all. I must say, as nice a planet as Nexus is, it is good to be back home in the Federation. And before you ask, I definitely enjoyed my vacation,” are the words which greet them as she stops at the podium. “Now, I believe you would like an update on the government situations, though I see my deputy has been making regular visits down here.” She smiles brightly.

“Firstly, and very happily, major combat operations in the Federation Proper concluded yesterday with the annihilation of the Lost Americans invasion force. No doubt many of you felt the shocks that continued for some four hours as both First and Second Fleets conducted a continuous bombardment of the surface and the ocean. Also, offers of peace extended by the International Relations Directorate to the Confederacy have been turned down, with follow up offers ignored completely. As such, the Imperial President is considering his options for the continuation of the war.” The young Minister reaches up and brushes a lock of hair back behind her ear.

“As a continuation of his wartime policies, the Imperial President has decided to authorize the construction of two new classes of starwarship, as well as the reformation of the surface naval force proposed some months ago, construction on which started today. You should receive information downloads with all the public knowledge we can provide on all the new ship classes. Additionally, all of our new Air Combat Squadrons that provided such a decisive advantage in the final campaign of the ground war have now been completed and stationed at their respective aerospace defense bases. Further, Operation: Retributive Ferocity in the Atheist Reality was a success, and has resulted in our fellow member of the Axis, the Kingdom of Britmattia, occupying the nation.”

Rebecca smiles and glances around the room, her hands resting on the podium. “So, do you have any questions for me?”

The room is tensely quiet, for this, the first official briefing by the Minister of Public Relations, since the end of the war. Everyone knew what was coming, but no one knew just how bad it would be. Then Minister Cameron entered the room, and her stride was far less energetic than normal. The sensuality which normally oozed from her naturally was also absent. Sex sells, but this… this was obviously something she did not want to sell. Of course, the most placid outfit they had ever seen the woman in likely gave that away. Solid black clothing blended into her jet black hair, and while it was tight and stylish, the pantsuit revealed precisely none of the skin which was the Minister’s trademark. As the reporters finally saw her eyes, they shrank in their seats without realizing it, and the soft click of the woman’s heels was accompanied by the sounds of about two hundred bodies shifting in their seats. “Good evening, sentients,” came the flat voice when Rebecca finally reached the podium. “I’ll start with the bad news. I’m releasing the final government count on the death toll for the Lost Americans full out strategic attack. While most of the missiles came through in the more lightly populated, and therefore, lightly defended, the final count comes to one hundred and thirteen million, six hundred and eighty-four thousand, five hundred and seventeen Federation citizens, and just under a million foreign nationals from thirty-seven different countries.”

The numbers deadened all sound in the room. It was frankly impossible. Statistically, that mean everyone in this room knew someone who had been killed. A different someone. The odds were probably against it, but the statistics did not lie. No one had realized the loss number would have been that high, but the Federation’s automated agriculture and extremely high density urban areas meant it was almost a given. And now she continued. “In response, the Federation launched a full strategic strike of its own, systematically obliterating pieces of the Confederacy. The Intelligence Division indicates that they expect no more than one in a thousand Confederates survived as their high end estimate.”

The consequences of that scarcely bore thinking on. That would mean, at most, from the Confederacy’s population of over six billion, there were just over six million survivors. But the Minister was speaking again. “The Imperial President has declared the war to be over, though technically, we will remain at war with the Confederacy indefinitely, at least until a government emerges. We doubt there are actually enough survivors, though, and predict most of them will simply move into other nations in Arda, mainly the Five Kingdoms.” She shrugged, then swallowed visibly. “Moving on to better news, I have the pleasure of announcing the reactivation of the Federation of Sentient Peoples Surface Naval Force as of noon yesterday. Furthermore, a large number of the starwarships laid down before the end of hostilities are now commissioned, including nearly half of our newest classes, and all the new construction and replacement construction in the old ship classes, bringing the Battle Fleet back to full strength, as well as activating the Axis Rapid Intervention Force when our forces were joined by the Britmattian forces and departed for station at the Neptunian moon of Larissa approximately one week ago.” She smiled. “That’s all for now. Questions?”

FPBO Broadcast, Immediately Following Repeated Statement by Owen

Office of the Imperial President, Imperial House, Griffin, Commonwealth of Sentient Peoples, FSP

When D’ron came into view, he was not, as he was normally, wearing his best formal blacks, inherited from the time of the Empire. He was dressed somewhat more casually, though he wore floor length cape and the Sword of the Commander on his belt. “People of the Federation, tonight I bring you sad tidings. Due to disagreements in the area of foreign policy, regarding the recent decision of this government and that of the Exalted Star Supremacy, to support the new government in the Five Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Britmattia has decided to dissolve the Axis, as is their right under the treaty.”

He turned to face the camera, frowning. “As you have just heard, His Royal Majesty cited the fourth article of the treaty as his reasoning, and he was correct to do so, though perhaps, he might have chosen a better way to go about it. Yes, the governments of the Axis nations were supposed to present a unified front in International Relations, but given that two thirds of those governments chose to support the new government of the Five Kingdoms means that the nation which failed to present a unified face was, in fact, Britmattia.” He smiles, and everyone watching can feel the understanding in that smile. “It was only proper of them to do so. We would not want people we consider worthy of being our allies to dishonor themselves and their beliefs.”

His smile turns a bit colder. “But unfortunately, the Britmattians have also failed to uphold the treaty. The same article and section which they cite continues on to state the Axis is supposed to support Stability and Peace, which the recognition by this government of the Five Kingdoms is an attempt to do. The current regime in the Five Kingdoms was an opponent, in the end, of Morgoth, just as all civilized peoples are an opponent of such limitless evil. His return absolutely cannot be permitted. The support for that same nation against the aggression of the Empire of Automagfreeks is just a further expression of that goal. Because of this, in order to actually permit the Britmattians to leave the Axis, under the terms of the treaty, the Federation will also move for the immediate dissolution of said organization. Our units in the Axis Rapid Intervention Force will, as soon as they receive this message, be under orders to begin immediate return to the Axis Base at Larissa for immediate debarkation of Britmattian personnel, then to proceed to the Apache System for immediate conversion back to Federation requirements.”

The cultured smile turns warm again, and D’ron’s hands move slightly, relaxing his body posture. “As His Majesty stated, though, this will not be the end of the friendship between the Kingdom and the Federation, at least not by our part.” The Imperial President nods to the people watching. “I apologize for interrupting your regularly scheduled nightly entertainments, but the responsibility of government is serve its people, and this was best. I bid you all goodnight.”

OOC: This is an excerpt from a longer post, found at http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12642474#post12642474

FPBO Broadcast

“After a couple of days of deliberation with his advisors in both the International Relations and Commerce Directorates, the Imperial President decided this evening to issue a black economic finding again the Hegemony of Pilon.” Appropriately enough, Rebecca’s hair and clothing are a severe, unadorned shade of black, not at all revealing or overtly sexual is as her wont. Her blue eyes are as piercing as normal, though, as she gazes out at the holocameras. “This is in response to the Pilonese’s government’s new law requiring DNA sampling of all visitors to the Hegemony, and to their actions regarding nations that the Federation considers to be friends.” Rebecca smiles, breaking her serious mein, as she sets her hands calmly on the lectern she always speaks from behind.

“As it has been some time since the President last issued a black economic finding, he asked me to remind you what exactly it is that it means. A B.E.F., more commonly known as ‘black-listing’, is a status that has been shared in the past by such nations as the Five Kingdoms, Kalessin, Whispering Voices, Automagfreeks, and Allanea. For various reasons, none of those nations remains black-listed, though the export of military resources remains forbidden to Kalessin or AMF.” Rebecca made eye contact with the cameras, making eye contact with those watching directly, and smiled her very convincing smile. “A nation which has a B.E.F. issued against it receives trade discouraged status – any trade agreements which exist with the nation are considered to be suspended, and it is recommended that Federation companies and private individuals not conduct business with the nation.” The young woman took a step back from the podium and gestured to the door which rested in the wall beneath the mosaic flag. “To more fully explain, I’ve invited Minister Williams to join us.”

The nervous looking man moved through the doorway, smiling jovially at the reporters and giving a jaunty little wave. He inclined his head in acknowledgement of the younger woman standing there as he arrived to the podium. “Thank you, Rebecca.” He looked out to the audience. “Most of you are probably asking yourself right now what exactly the Black Economic Finding does, since it does not prevent trade between the Federation and the subject nation. In essence, you would be correct – it does nothing in economic terms. It is a means for the Government to express its dissatisfaction with the policies of another government. In the past, greater than 99% of economic entities in the Federation have followed the recommendation of a B.E.F. in each case one has been issued, making a Black Finding have nearly the same functional affect on the economy as a Red Economic Finding, which outlaws trade. ”

The man smiled pleasantly and shifted his weight noticeably. “Like many past Black Findings, this one is predicted to have little real affect on the economy of the Federation or the Hegemony, as the significant difference in national philosophies already prevents much trade from taking place. As such, the Black Economic Finding remains merely a political tool for the Imperial President and the Federation Government to express their unhappiness with the situation.”