NationStates Jolt Archive


A Short Press Conference

Arakeen Fremen
17-07-2004, 20:10
8:00PM Arakeen local time
Arrakis, Federation of Arakeen Fremen (FAF)

A crowd of reporters waits impatiently in small, hot room. They wiggle and shift uncomfortably in the metal chairs as they watch for any sign of movement at the front of the room. The air conditioning system struggles to cool and re-circulate the thick air. The scents of perfumes and deodorants, used to mask the summer heat, linger. A noise at the front of the room captures all attention and camera flashes light up the room. Three people, two men and a woman, dressed in expensive looking suits walk across the low stage and take up positions around and behind a large podium, draped in the Arakeen flag. The woman stands to the left, a shorter man stands on the right, and directly behind the podium is Arakeen President Atriums Washington. Washington pulls a pair of silver-rimed glasses out of his breast pocket, situations them on his face, and shuffles the papers in front of him.

“Now, I know your all wondering why this press conference has been called at such short notice. I appreciate all of you making it and I will try to make this as brief, yet as detailed, as possible. At exactly oh nine hundred hours yesterday, we launched a series of ballistics protection satellites from launch sites though out the country. These satellites give us the ability to bring an ICBM out of the air with almost 90% accuracy on every shot. Unlike traditional weapons designs, which use lasers, our systems use something known as the Metal Storm Weapons System. Thousands of explosive-tipped fifty caliber projectiles are loaded end-to-end and detonated electronically. Computers systems here on the ground track the incoming missiles and launch a stream of bullets at it. Timers determine when to detonate the bullet head, engulfing the ICBM in a shower of shrapnel and fire, while also repeatedly striking it with the large caliber bolts.

Ah, I’m rambling on about the specs and assuredly boring you all. All of the important specifications, well the ones that are not classified anyway, will be available in handouts. I find the launch of this system the perfect time to also announce the FAF’s stance on nuclear weapons. We feel that nuclear weapons should never be used as an offensive weapon, only once to be used in defense as a response to such an attack. Being that our nation lacks the delegate status to propose new resolutions into the United Nations, I make a plea to all of the delegates around the world- please propose this to the UN: a ban on all member nations from using nuclear weapons as an offensive weapon. These weapons have a great detrimental affects on the world, and it seems imperative to me that the UN take actions to prevent these affects. Thank you for your time tonight, and I hope to speak to you all again under such great circumstances for this nation.”

The president turns and leaves the stage quickly followed by a band of body guards.