NationStates Jolt Archive

"SHAME DRAPEUR SHAME" read a sign being waved in the air by one of the protesters in the crowd of fifty or so gathered outside a church building somewhere in one of New Rome's newer outer suburbs. There were dozens of other signs in the crowd, of varying legibility, all of them condemning either the Socialist Government or the actual church itself. At first glance it might have seemed odd that the sort of crowd which would protest the Drapeur Government would also protest a church, but examination of the church itself made things clearer.

Firstly, the church building looked rather more modern in style than most Pantocratorian churches. Even newly built churches in Pantocratoria tended to be built in one of four or five styles which had remained essentially unchanged for the past two hundred years - some even longer than that. Newly built churches in Pantocratoria therefore generally looked like older churches, only perhaps without the decades of industrial pollution discolouring the stone. The church being protested on the other hand looked modern. Whilst identifiably a church by its steeple, cross, and overall shape, it was built out of regular building materials, and not according to any of the usual architectural styles for Pantocratorian churches, looking far plainer. Finally, if one could see through the protesting crowd, one could see a sign in front of the church building - "New Rome Presbyterian Church".

The sign had been erected last, but the protesters had known what was being built here for months, courtesy of sympathetic public servants, and they didn't like it one bit. Neither, for that matter, did their local Member of Parliament, Charles Deloit, one of the few then-Pantocratoria First Party MPs to survive the second 2004 election, he was now a backbencher in the reformed United Christian Front. Deloit seemed particularly upset about the building, and was speaking to the crowd with a loudspeaker. Deloit's presence had, of course, attracted some media attention, and a TV camera crew was setting up across the road, joining the several newspaper journalists who were already at the scene, taking statements.

"Well here it is at last, my friends." Deloit began after he had quieted the crowd down a little to listen to him on the megaphone. "In our own city in the heart of the Empire, a sectarian temple, practising a foreign perversion of Christianity, disseminating heresy out into the very streets of the capital. I never thought I would see the day, and I thank God that my father, who fought in the Turkish War to preserve our way of life and our religion, died before he saw, on the very soil he fought to protect, our own government allow such a travesty as this to take place. To think of the sacrifices of the sailors of the Imperial Navy in that war and of the sacrifices of all of our people throughout history in our struggles with unbelievers, to think of those sacred sacrifices of our dearest blood being repaid by our very government importing heresy into the heart of our fatherland, is enough to make the blood of any patriot boil!"

"This temple preaches an heresy called Presbyterianism by its adherents." Deloit continued, to the crowd's indignant cries of shame. "Its so-called ministers, in the depths of their apostasy, are the vanguard of a foreign invasion, an invasion not fought with armies and battleships and fighter planes, but with false religions and foreign languages and un-Pantocratorian ideals. Look at that sign! In addition to their French and Greek services, they've even a service in English! How long until neither of the mother tongues of our people are spoken by our children? Our children who, if these foreign religions have their way, will be worshipping false gods? Our children who will be Pantocratorian in name only if outrages like this so-called church are allowed to continue!"

"Now my friends, I know some of you are very angry, we all are, we're all appalled, but I must counsel you against violence." Deloit said, and indeed, some of the younger people in the crowd looked like they were quite ready to get violent. "The way to stop this from ever happening again isn't to burn the place down, it's to kick the arrogant Socialist Government out of power later this year when an election is finally called. I have been very privileged to be your representative for fifteen years, but your friends and colleagues who live in other electorates may not be so lucky as to have a United Christian Front MP. The fight against abominations like this temple being visited on the rest of Pantocratoria will be fought in the hearts and minds of those people, your friends and colleagues. And if they vote against this disastrous Socialist Government, then it is a fight we will win! Because as much as this temple is a testament to the false religion preached from its pulpit, it is also a testament to the arrogance of the out-of-touch elitist, extremist policies of Thibault Drapeur and his band of cronies. So let it be a testament to that, let it stand as a reminder when we go to the polls why the United Christian Front must win!"

Peacock Radio National 92.1 FM

"...should stop complaining and GET A JOB." the corpulent talk-back radio show host concluded into his microphone. Alain Jeans, right-wing radio jock extraordinaire, turned the page of his programme sheet quietly, moving on to the next talking point. "Now some time ago, the Drapeur Government withdrew Pantocratoria from the United Nations, a move which this programme and by and large most of its listeners applauded it for. That meant a whole host of laws foisted upon this country by that self-righteous bunch of liberals, anarchists, and communists ceased to have any sway in Pantocratoria, which, on the whole, with a few exceptions, most of you were perfectly fine about. The Parliament was supposed to get together and legislate in Pantocratorian law to keep the effects of the resolutions the Government wanted to keep, and it has been moving through the list, at the same speed politicians do anything, which is to say incredibly slowly."

"Now abortion was illegal before Pantocratoria had it forced upon her by the United Nations." Jeans continued. "In fact, under Pantocratorian law, abortion is still illegal. Abortions have only been legal in Pantocratoria by virtue of the United Nations passing binding resolutions on the matter, binding resolutions by which we are no longer bound, not being UN members anymore. So I ask you, why is that abortions are still going on in this country, at a rate of, if you believe the Adrienople Morning Herald today, 213 for every 1000 pregnancies, completely unpunished and unprosecuted? That's right, even though abortion is, once again, illegal, doctors and promiscuous young women are murdering unborn children with impunity in this country."

"Well, I'm sick of it! And I have a feeling you are too. I'm throwing open the lines now, if you have an opinion on abortion, or about how long it is taking Thibault Drapeur to remove his index finger from his posterior to do something about it, or anything really, call in, I'd like to hear from you. The number, Pantocratoria-wide, is 1-800-921-921." Jeans said, finishing his introduction before answering the first call. "Hello caller, you're on the air!"

Imperial Monitor
Exarchate to force abortion issue
New Jerusalem's finance minister and leader of the Exarchate's United Christian Front, Isaakios Euthanatos, has today introduced into the New Jerusalem Council of Ministers legislation to forbid abortions being carried out in the Exarchate's public hospitals and asserting that "abortions are forbidden by Imperial Law on the matter of infanticide". Euthanatos says that he expects that the bill, if passed by the Exarchate's Council of Ministers, will force the Imperial Government to take action on the matter of abortion, although what form that action will take, the Sakellarios says he does not know.

Since Pantocratoria withdrew from the United Nations, United Nations resolutions have no standing under Imperial law, including the resolution which legalised abortion. However, a legal grey area has developed over the past months in many legislative areas where UN resolutions have not yet been replaced by appropriate legislation from the Imperial Parliament.

Crown Prosecutor for Adrienople, Sir Michel Bouillot, when confronted by pro-life protestors last week about his decision not to prosecute a seventeen year-old girl and her doctors for infanticide after the anonymous seventeen year-old allegedly undertook an abortion, explained that "it is inappropriate to prosecute... as citizens may have a reasonable belief that UN resolutions still have de facto force of law until the Parliament deals with such issues on a de jure basis".

The United Christian Front has demanded that the Government enforce the law as it stands, which makes any form of abortion illegal except in cases where the mother stands no reasonable expectation of survival unless an abortion is performed. "The Attorney General could resolve Sir Michel's reservations by simply advising Crown Prosecutors to enforce the law as it is written." said Isaac Comnenus, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. "He chooses not to because the Imperial Government wants these criminal procedures to continue unpunished without having to take responsibility for making them legal."

Isaakios Euthanatos, who is the deputy leader of the majority in the Council of Ministers, told a press conference that his bill, if passed as it is expected to be, will force the Government to overrule the legislation by an Act of Parliament if it wishes to allow abortions in the Exarchate of New Jerusalem. He added that several Imperial Government MPs supported his legislation and would not support such an act by the Imperial Parliament. Monsieur Euthanatos refused to name the Government MPs when asked.

Imperial Parliament
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

Pantocratoria, Parliamentary Debates, vol. no. 243, Feast of Pope Hilary (28th February) 33 Andreus I Capet (2007), Yellow p. 9

Hon. Lord Speaker: The Honourable the Attorney General.

Hon. Sébastien Jambart: Thank you, my Lord Speaker. My Lord Speaker, a question was placed on notice by the honourable Member for Saint Apollinie, whose presence in the chamber I note. After conferring with my cabinet colleagues I wanted to give my answer in this place, for the benefit of the Member for Saint Apollinie, rather than give a reply by notice, if it is agreeable to the member.

Hon. Lord Speaker: The Member for Saint Apollinie.

Jean-Louis Beaufoy: My Lord Speaker, I would welcome the Attorney-General's response in person in this chamber to the question I placed on notice, and waive my request for a written response.

Hon. Lord Speaker: The Honourable the Attorney General.

Hon. Sébastien Jambart: Thank you, my Lord Speaker. In his question placed on notice, the Member for Saint Apollinie asked whether I would advise, in my capacity as Attorney General, Crown Prosecutors, and Sir Michel Bouillot IC in particular, to press infanticide charges against women who procured abortions and against doctors who performed them. My Lord Speaker, it is my opinion that a state of ambiguity exists whereby it is reasonable for women and even for doctors to believe that the procedure in question is still legal, as it was when Pantocratoria was a member of the United Nations. I acknowledge the Member's point, in his question, that this is not, in fact, the case, and that infanticide is a crime and will technically remain so until this Parliament amends the criminal code. I assure the Member that the Government will soon move legislation to deal with the issue in some clarity, which will include, amongst other things, my Lord Speaker, retrospective immunity from prosecution for women and doctors involved in abortions between the time of the final legislation's enactment and Pantocratoria's withdrawal from the United Nations. (members interjecting)

Hon. Lord Speaker: Members on my left! The Attorney General has the call.

Hon. Sébastien Jambart: My Lord Speaker, to deal with the final part of the Member's question, an Act of Parliament will be introduced to deal with the Exarchate of New Jerusalem's recent legislation about abortion in public hospitals. It will be a separate act to the one I alluded to earlier, by which the Council of Ministers will be deprived of the right to legislate about the particular procedures performed by public hospitals administered by the Exarchate, as the Imperial Parliament deals adequately with medical standards and the like. That bill is being drafted by my department at the moment, and will be introduced at the next sitting. As to the status of the other, more general bill, I can only say that it is still being drafted, and may be introduced at the next sitting or some sitting subsequent to that.

Imperial Monitor
Princess Irene resigns from Parliament
Princess Irene shocked colleagues and supporters this morning when she announced her retirement from the Imperial Parliament.

The former Imperial Chancellor announced her resignation to the press after the United Christian Front's first party room meeting for the new sitting of Parliament.

"The party needs to be reborn, needs to recreate itself if it is to defeat the Socialists at the next election." Princess Irene told the press corps. "Pantocratorians want to vote for the United Christian Front, but they will only bring themselves to do it if the United Christian Front looks forward, instead of to the past."

Her Highness discussed the victory of the Ambaran Christian Democrats in Pantocratorian Ambara and said that their electoral success had some lessons in it for the United Christian Front here in Pantocratoria.

When an elected Member of Parliament dies or resigns, their seat passes to their legal heir, although Her Highness indicated that she had arranged a meeting with the Chancellor to discuss alternate arrangements, since Princess Irene's legal heir is the Emperor himself.

"His Majesty would clearly decline my seat, as would His Highness the Despot." Her Highness explained. "The Despot's heir would be His Highness the Member for St John Chrystostom, and thus would not be eligible, which would leave Madame de Langeais, and while I've not discussed my resignation with Her Highness, I cannot imagine she would not decline. The situation being thus complicated, I am hoping that the Chancellor will be receptive to legislation permitting a by-election for the Deanery of Saint Louis (New Rome)."

As of the time of printing, Her Highness was meeting with the Imperial Chancellor, Dr Thibault Drapeur, to discuss the matter, but it is expected that Dr Drapeur will agree.

In Pantocratorian Ambara, the Fontainbleu Government established an ecumenical organisation which included the three largest Christian denominations present in the colony. The move was controversial on both sides of politics - the government was interfering in religion and favouring some groups over others, opponents mostly from the left said, while opponents on the right complained about the denominations being included, maintaining that the government should favour one over the others. The Ambaran Christian Democrats pressed ahead regardless. The following is an information leaflet printed by the Colonial Government to explain the changes:

The Ambaran National Church Association

What is it?
The Ambaran National Church Association is an ecumenical body including, at the time of its creation, Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran churches in Pantocratorian Ambara. Legally speaking, these denominations are part of the ANCA by virtue of their governing bodies affiliating with the ANCA. The bodies formally affiliated are:

The Pantocratorian Ambaran Episcopal Conference (Catholic)
The Metropolis of Pantocratorian Ambara (Orthodox)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pantocratorian Ambara (Lutheran)


Who is in charge?
The Ambaran National Church Association is self-governing. This means that even though it has been established by the Colonial Legislature, the Colonial Government has no authority over it. The Ambaran National Church Association is administered by its own Interdenominational Council. Each affiliated body appoints a certain number of representatives to the Interdenominational Council. The number is determined by the proportion of the total population which adheres to the denomination represented by each affiliated body. Representation on council is recalculated annually. The present representation on the Interdenominational Council is:

Catholic - 9 delegates
Orthodox - 7 delegates
Lutheran - 4 delegates


Can another denomination join?
The Ambaran National Church Association is open to all Christian denominations, at the discretion of the Interdenominational Council. In order for a denomination's request for affiliation to be accepted, it must be accepted by a majority of delegates on the Interdenominational Council, including one delegate from each delegation. Failing that, it must be accepted by a supermajority of delegates (i.e. two thirds of delegates) on the Interdenominational Council.

What will the ANCA do?
The Ambaran National Church Association will perform a number of vital tasks in regards to the place religion has in the lives of Pantocratorian Ambarans. This will include, but will not be limited to:

Setting the curriculum for religious education classes in state schools.
Producing an official Pantocratorian Ambaran translation of the Bible.
Coordinating church charity work.

Imperial Monitor
Business Magnate Enters Politics
The United Christian Front has pre-selected Sir Thierry del Moray, CEO of Peacock Holdings Group, as its candidate for the seat of the Deanery of Saint Louis (New Rome), recently vacated by the resignation from Parliament of Princess Irene.

Sir Thierry announced his candidature to the press after the UCF preselection meeting finished, saying that he intended to change the Pantocratorian political debate by bringing a fresh perspective to his party and to the Parliament.

Sir Thierry also announced that he would be resigning as CEO of Peacock Holdings Group and making appropriate arrangements with all of his investments so as to ensure that he can be accused of no conflicts of interest.

The Pantocratorian Socialist Alliance has yet to preselect a candidate, although PSA General Secretary Philippe Maison said that his party does intend to field a candidate for the affluent blue-ribbon UCF seat in the capital.

The unprecedented by-election, for which special legislation had to be passed by the Parliament upon agreement by both the Government and the Opposition, is viewed by some commentators as a precedent by which the inheritance of seats in the Imperial Parliament will be ended.

Arthur Isaksen, host of "Ike in the Evening," smiled playfully as he adjusted his heavy jacket, similar to that worn by Gadic fishermen when they were out on the oceans. It was all part of his image as one of the boys, an image which made him immensely (and, to many, disturbingly) popular to audiences not only in Gade but also the Melican Islands, Thule, Donnacona and other parts of the Confederated Peoples.

"You know, John, Princess Irene went and resigned from the Pantocratorian Parliament the other day. They're going..." Isaksen began.

"Really, Ike? How's she going to compensate for the fact that no man wants that elephant hide of hers now? Did they she finally get a little motorized friend like the other homely girls the boys wouldn't play with?" John Hayden, Isaksen's producer, chimed in.

"Be good, John." Isaksen said. "Who says she needs a man? Irene's all buddy buddy with one of our own strong lady politicians. Remember Beatrice Wake? They did that whole tour together and everything. Both got away with murder. Maybe Irene wants to retire and finally get her some. I'm sure Bea'd rather have a princess than what's-her-name, the Xirniumite slut, anyway."

"That's the thing about these women politicians." Hayden said. "They make up for no real leadership with a sort of psycho..."

"Now, now..." Isaksen chided. "Pantocratoria has some great lady politicians, as you know."

"Who?" Hayden asked. "You don't mean Izzie Fuckwit, Foglit, whatever her name is?"

"Well, I mostly meant Chancellor Drapeur..."

A UCF campaign letter sent to the residents of Seat of the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)
http://www.senato.it/leg/15/Immagini/Senatori/00001065.jpg
Sir Thierry del Moray KOP
The United Christian Front's Candidate for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)

Dear Citizen,

As you probably know, Her Imperial Highness the Most Pious Princess Irene recently announced her retirement from the Imperial Parliament as your representative. I am writing to you to ask for your support in the upcoming by-election for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)'s seat in the Imperial Parliament.

I was born in Phociople, and baptised in the Chapel of St Louis at the Deanery of St Louis itself. I have lived my entire adult life and most of my childhood in this great city of ours. My wife and I have raised our three children here in New Rome. I know and love this place as I am sure you do, and I can think of no higher honour than representing it in the Imperial Parliament.

I am proud of my country, but I think we have a long way to go to make Pantocratoria the best place it can be. For the past few years, I feel that we have been taking two steps backward for every step forward. Many Pantocratorian parents have been forced to withdraw their children from the schools of their choice and place them in a public school, because the Drapeur Government slashed funding for non-public schools. I am very fortunate, as are many of you, to have the resources to send my children to the schools of my choice, and I strongly believe it is the right of every Pantocratorian parent to send their children to the school of their choice. That is why, therefore, I regard it as a tragedy that the Drapeur Government forced so many of our compatriots to withdraw their children from their former schools by dramatically increasing (and in many cases, introducing for the first time) fees at Church schools. The Drapeur Government has created a financial barrier to exercising this fundamental parental right, and I am determined to see it removed!

Pantocratoria's public hospital system is in a mess. Ideologically-based attacks on our old hospitals launched by the Drapeur Government have made them inaccessible to many Pantocratorians, but the public hospital system meant to replace them is less capable than it needs to be by far. The United Christian Front has a hospital plan to repair the damage done to it by Dr Drapeur and his Health Minister, Pierre Gastinois. Rather than continue with Dr Drapeur's failed hospital experiment, I support returning financial support to private and Church hospitals - government ought to be about delivering results to citizens, not pursuing fanciful experiments in the name of ideological purity.

As a business leader and former CEO of one of Pantocratoria's largest companies, I have witnessed first hand how the bumbling economic policy of Dr Drapeur and his Treasurer Isabelle Folquet has damaged Pantocratorian industry and put Pantocratorians out of work. Dr Drapeur has displayed reckless disregard for the well-being of the businesses which employ so many Pantocratorians, especially in the manufacturing sector, where his policies have seen a contraction the likes of which have rarely been seen in this country. Our automobile industry, once the pride of the nation, has almost completely collapsed thanks to the ineptitude of Dr Drapeur and Mme Folquet. As a former part of the Peacock family of companies, I was devastated when Peacock Motors was forced to move much of its production off-shore, unable to compete if it left its factories in Pantocratoria as a result of the onerous over-regulation pursued by the Drapeur Government. When Peacock Motors was forced to move jobs overseas to Allanea, I knew I had to run for Parliament in order to fix our economy and preserve Pantocratorian national pride!

At the by-election on 25 April, I hope I can count on your support to enter Parliament and to start work to make Pantocratoria the shining beacon to the world I believe it should be!

Thierry del Moray
Sir Thierry del Moray KOP
United Christian Candidate for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)

A PSA campaign letter sent to the residents of the Seat of the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)

Denise LATROBE
SOCIALIST Candidate for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)

Dear Fellow Resident,

As you may know, Her Imperial Highness the Most Pious Princess Irene, the sitting United Christian Front MP for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome) has resigned as your Member of Parliament, just months away from the expected election later this year. Because Her Highness is a member of the Imperial Family, a by-election for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome) has become necessary, forcing the residents of our area to the polls early at great expense to the taxpayer.

My name is Denise Latrobe, and I am the Pantocratorian Socialist Alliance's endorsed candidate for our community. I am a postgraduate student at Louis University, where I am undertaking a Masters degree in Political Economy, and unlike my opponent, I live in the electorate and have done so since childhood. If you elect me as your Member of Parliament, I promise that I will be a hard working local member, and, unlike the United Christian Front MPs who have represented our community, that I will never take your support for granted.

I am running for Parliament because I believe that our community has benefited a great deal from the valuable and necessary reforms of the Drapeur Government, and because I believe our community deserves a voice within the Drapeur Government to ensure that we continue to benefit from it. Since the Drapeur Government took office, in our community alone:

1250 university students have had their tuition subsidised.
Six public schools with a combined total of over four thousand students have been opened.
A 600 bed public hospital has been opened in Theodoses.
The average tax burden has fallen by ∂5,600.


The reforms of the Drapeur Government have made our country a better place to live and a fairer place for all Pantocratorians. Greek-speaking Pantocratorians are no longer second-class citizens. Bright young people from families whose parents are unable to support them through university now have access to higher education for the first time thanks to the Drapeur Government's tuition fee subsidisation programme. We have forged new friendships in the world which have made us more secure in our region and liberated a dark continent from tyranny. Our country greater than it has ever been and with your help, the Pantocratorian Socialist Alliance can make it even better.

I hope to have your support on 25 April,

Denise Latrobe
Denise Latrobe
Socialist Candidate for the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome)

Imperial Monitor
Sir Thierry del Moray enters Parliament
The United Christian Front's star candidate to succeed Princess Irene as the Member of Parliament for the seat of the Deanery of St Louis (New Rome), Sir Thierry del Moray, won yesterday's by-election in a landslide with 59% of the vote to Socialist Denise Latrobe's 41%.

The Leader of the Opposition, Monsieur Frère de l'Empereur Prince Basil, said that the decisive by-election result was "a warning to the Drapeur Government that Pantocratoria grows impatient", especially with the Socialist public school programme which saw all funding to Church schools cut.

In his victory speech at the Hôtel des Chevaliers in Theodoses, Sir Thierry del Moray said that the by-election win was "but the beginning - the real work begins tomorrow".

Sir Thierry also said that he plans to work "for change for the better in our movement, in our government, and in our society".

It is widely expected that Sir Thierry, who was convinced to run for Parliament by Princess Irene, will be promoted immediately to the frontbench by Prince Basil, to answer the growing calls for fresh blood in the United Christian Front's leadership.

The frontbench is currently filled with familiar faces from the United Christian Government of 1992 to 2004, and the Pantocratoria First Government.

Princess Morgan found that despite sharing her husband's interest in politics, being a catechumen, and having a great many social and courtly duties, the hardest part of life in the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, at least for a lady, was having far too much empty time. In addition to all sorts of activities with her friends, Morgan had taken up a number of hobbies, including the maintenance of a large riparium.

The young princess, however, was not doing any of those things today but was instead making her way with a pleasant but determined smile to seek out her husband's aunt, Princess Irene. Morgan inclined her head politely to Irene's secretary and asked "Is Her Imperial Highness available?"

"Her Highness shortly has an appointment, but has a few free moments, madame." the Irene's PPS replied. "Let me show you in."

The secretary led Morgan into Irene's chambers and into her drawing rooms. She then made her way towards a small door and scratched on it lightly.

"Yes?" came a voice from within the door.

"Mademoiselle, Madame de Cerny to see you." the secretary said.

There were a few moments of silence as Irene wondered why Morgan wanted to speak with her, before she opened the door and emerged into the drawing room, wearing a silver court dress with light blue and turquoise embroidery. She acknowledged Morgan with a polite curtsey and then motioned with her left hand towards one of the seats in the room, sitting down herself.

"Madame, this is an unexpected privilege." Irene said as the secretary curtsied to the ladies before withdrawing from the room. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Morgan returned Irene's curtsey and sat down at Irene's gesture. She smiled politely. "I actually came to inquire if Your Highness might be free tomorrow afternoon." Morgan said. "I was hoping that you might join me for a game of chess?"

Morgan settled slightly, still smiling. "I usually play with my ladies but the game has been growing rather dull lately. I hear that Your Highness is one of the better players at court. I'm sure I stand no chance but I am nonetheless sure I would find the challenge to nevertheless be quite stimulating and the company most agreeable. It is rather unfortunate that you and I have not spoken more since I arrived. I was hoping to rectify that."

"That's an excellent suggestion, madame." Irene replied. "Let's make it three o'clock?"

Irene's secretary reappeared in the drawing room and curtsied to the princesses.

"I beg Your Highnesses' pardon, but your appointment is here, mademoiselle." the secretary said.

"Excellent, send him in." Irene said to the secretary, rising to her feet and turning to Morgan. "Actually, madame, why don't you stay a few moments, there's someone I'd like for you to meet."

Morgan smiled. "That sounds lovely. I look forward to it." Just then, Irene's secretary entered to announce the arrival of her appointment. Morgan was just about to excuse herself when she was invited to stay. She nodded her head with a small smile and turned to see who it was.

Irene's secretary left the drawing room and returned a few seconds later with a gentleman in his forties with a self-confident but approachable air, with a head of dark hair with a gracefully receding hairline, apparently at home in the long jacket and boots of New Rome court fashion. He nodded his head politely to both ladies.

"Sir Thierry del Moray, mademoiselle." the secretary announced.

"Sir Thierry, a pleasure to see you again. Allow me to introduce Her Highness Madame la Princesse." Irene said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, monsieur." Morgan said, inclining her head and smiling slightly.

"The pleasure is mine, madame." Sir Thierry said, quickly moving his hands behind his back to disguise that he had been moving to accept Morgan's hand in his.

"Madame will be joining us for a while, Sir Thierry, I thought we both might like to talk with her." Irene suggested. "Please, do sit down."

"Excellent." Sir Thierry smiled at Morgan and took a seat between the two ladies.

Morgan resumed her own seat, smiling as well. If she noticed his hand, she didn't give any sign. Any reaction would have simply made the situation awkward anyway. "Congratulations on your election."

"Thank you, madame." Sir Thierry replied.

"Sir Thierry is just the sort of person the Parliament needs." Irene told Morgan. "He's an extraordinarily capable man and he brings a fresh perspective on so many issues."

"You flatter me, mademoiselle." Sir Thierry smiled.

"Not at all, Sir Thierry." Irene said, dismissing his objection. "I understand, madame, that you are interested in politics yourself."

"I have a certain amateur interest, I suppose." Morgan confessed modestly.

"Do you have an amateur opinion on the leadership of Monsieur?" Irene inquired, coming to the point not altogether delicately. Some elements of her manner remained despite the disappearance of her black dresses and perennial frowns.

"He seems to have focused too much on maintaining his credibility with hardliners when he instead has the opportunity to portray himself and his party as moderate, especially in light of the popular reaction to some of the socialists more radical policies. He has also failed to appeal to populist sentiments entertained by many Greek-speaking social conservatives who now vote in large numbers for the Constantinople Party." Morgan said.

"Not to mention that he repaid your husband's unfaltering loyalty to him by unceremoniously dropping him from the deputy leadership after he married you." Irene observed.

"I was politely leaving that unsaid but...yes." Morgan confirmed.

"You will find, madame, that I am not one for leaving things politely unsaid." Irene smiled. Sir Thierry allowed himself a small chuckle.

"His Highness, your husband, is more moderately inclined than Monsieur, I understand." Sir Thierry said to Morgan.

"I would say so." Morgan said.

"And is a man who enjoys some support in the United Christian Front party room, I might add." Sir Thierry observed.

"That's good to hear." Morgan said.

"Perhaps eighty MPs would consider His Highness' opinion before casting their votes on... internal party room ballots, I should think." Irene observed, putting a figure on it.

"That is quite a few." Morgan said. "I almost can't help but think that UCF success in the next elections would inevitably strengthen the moderates within the parliamentary party."

"Unfortunately I don't see how the United Christian Front can expect much success under Monsieur's leadership." Irene lamented. "A fresh perspective is needed. Somebody who isn't... tainted... as it were, by either my government nor Monsieur's government. Unfortunately, madame, as you know, your husband and I rarely speak these days..."

"Unfortunately, I must admit that that's true." Morgan said.

"Do you think that your husband, madame, could be convinced of the need for a change of leadership, such as I described?" Irene asked Morgan, once again being quite direct.

"I'll talk to him about it." Morgan said non-commitally.

"I am sure any hesitations or concerns he might have could be easy allayed by your powers of persuasion, or by any undertaking he might request..." Irene suggested.

"Undertaking?" Morgan asked curiously.

"If there was a capacity in which His Highness thought he could better serve, for instance," Sir Thierry began. "I am sure that a new leader who enjoyed his support would be able to facilitate that desire."

Morgan nodded. "I understand."

"Well, I look forward to our chess game tomorrow, madame." Irene smiled, and reclined back in her chair a little.

"As do I." Morgan said.

When Constantine returned to their chambers later that day, Morgan was waiting for him on the sofa. She was reading something although she placed it aside almost as soon as her husband walked through the door. "Good afternoon, Constantine. I hope that you had a good day?"

Peacock Radio National 92.1 FM

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"Welcome back to the Alain Jeans Morning Show on Radio National 92.1. Are you making frequent visits to the men's room or having trouble urinating?" Alain Jeans said as the show returned from commercial. "If you're having trouble urinating, pissing more frequently, struggling to maintain a steady flow, or dripping and dribbling all over the show, then you may have a prostate problem. Prostate enlargement is a problem that many men face and can be a real pain in the arse, in fact, just in front of the arse behind the balls. But now there's a product available to help alleviate the symptoms of prostate enlargement named Prostate Mate. Prostate Mate is a natural herbal product which can be swallowed, smoked, applied topically or inserted rectally, but it's found to be very effective in easing the problems associated with prostate enlargement. Prostate Mate is available at all leading pharmacies however always read the label and remember, if symptoms perdoc see your sister."

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"Now, we've been talking about politics so far this morning but now I need to talk about something which is much more important than all the hurly burly in Parliament, the spin, the baby kissing and all that." Jeans said, his voice suddenly sounding deathly serious. "Sexual assault is a dehumanising, devastating crime, probably the most traumatic but tragically common crime for its victims. Even in Pantocratoria, where we are proud to have one of the lowest crime rates in the world, young women and even girls not old enough to be called that are raped every day and don't report it. There are many reasons. Many rape victims feel a misplaced sense of responsibility for their own sexual assault, for a myriad of psychological reasons we don't have the time to go into here. Many others are afraid that they will be harshly judged by society, or that they will be accused of leading their rapists on. Many others still are simply afraid that they won't be believed. Well, this morning I was contacted by a young woman, no, a child, a girl only just turned fifteen, who shares a mixture of all those fears, but has an even more compelling reason which prevents her coming forward, and that makes this appalling crime all the more deplorable."

"You see, this child, let's call her Marie, although that's obviously not her real name," Alain Jeans continued. "This Marie is a member of a very select group of girls, orphan girls, at the Imperial Court. Marie is an Emperor's Maiden (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Emperor%27s_Maidens). The Emperor's Maidens, if you don't know, are a group of orphaned girls taken from orphanages around the country to be raised at the Imperial Court. It's a strange sort of existence but these girls are all the family each other have until they come of age, when they're often sought after brides amongst the nobility. The Princess of Verditania was an Emperor's Maiden, for instance. It's almost a sort of real-life fairy tale for girls who, by some tragic circumstance or another, were denied the love of a mother or a father and placed into an orphanage, only to be plucked from there to grow up amongst the upper classes and to marry into the nobility. Not for everyone, perhaps, but for these girls, being an Emperor's Maiden really is a fairy tale, where in the end, Cindarella marries Prince Charming. But for our Marie, the fairy tale was cruelly shattered."

"In the dock of the Criminal Court today there is one so-called Reverend Dr Peter Graves, the head of a foreign ecclesial community well-known for its intolerance, its persecution of Catholics and non-Christian minorities, and for its condoning of the most obscene abuses of human rights within the borders of Greater Prussia." Jeans continued, his voice now building into a righteous fury. "This Dr Graves, charged with seventeen counts of paedophilic rape of boys and girls alike, in Allanea and Iesus Christi, sixteen counts of kidnapping and murder of his rape victims, whom he tortured like some sort of perverted medieval, sometime head of the government of Reichskamphen, visited the Imperial Court at the Palace of Chantouillet over the Christmas holidays. But Dr Graves did more than beg the Emperor for Pantocratoria's aid or at least neutrality in Greater Prussia's ill-advised war with the Reich, far more indeed. Dr Graves grabbed our little Marie, who was fourteen at the time, while she was collecting his breakfast tray, one of her chores at the palace, and pulled her aside. Marie told me this morning that she didn't understand what was about to happen, and that she didn't cry out or try to escape, she just froze up. The poor girl must have been terrified out of her wits, and who knows what any of us would have done in her place, but nevertheless she blames herself, after a fashion, for not struggling harder."

"This is one of the most terrible things about rape, of course," Jeans lamented. "Too many victims blame themselves because it is easier to believe that they were somehow able to control what happened to them. Because our Marie was too scared to run away, she blames herself. Well I'm sure you've all guessed what happened next. Peter Graves, that wanted paedophile, torturer, kidnapper, and murderer, raped Marie. Then, while she was still in shock, he cleaned her up, thrust the breakfast tray back into her hands and sent her on her way. Truly, a despicable and deplorable act, made all the more despicable and deplorable because Dr Graves knew that Marie couldn't come forward. You see, Emperor's Maidens must remain virgins in order to remain at the court, with their adopted sisters, the only family they have ever known in this Earth. Even though Marie was raped, if she comes forward and identifies herself and testifies against this inhuman monster, she will have to leave her sisters at the court."

"And that, listeners, is why she called me." Jeans declared, taking on the air of a moral crusader. "Marie hopes that if there is enough public outrage that some arrangement can be come to, and that she will be able to testify against Dr Graves anonymously, without being forced to leave her adopted sisters, who she needs more now in this traumatic period of her life than ever before. I told Marie that I thought she was very brave, and that I would do everything I could to see that justice was served, and so I ask you, my listeners, if you want to see justice for Marie, justice, that you write letters, letters to the editor, letters to your Member of Parliament, letters to the Attorney General, that you go to the Criminal Court and that you demand justice for Marie! Because if a young lady, a girl, living a fairy tale in the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator isn't safe from such an appalling crime, then your daughter, your sister, your niece, none of them are safe from rapists like Peter Graves, not if justice isn't served, not if he gets away with it. We'll be back after these messages."

Morgan was sitting next to her husband on the sofa, her legs pulled up under her. She smiled softly at him as she glanced over. "So I spoke to Princess Irene today."

"Really?" asked Constantine, frowning in surprise. "Why?"

"She is your aunt." Morgan pointed out.

"Or so the witnesses say." Constantine snorted. He didn't think there was very much about Irene's demeanour which suggested any sort of familial affection.

"I went to ask her to play chess later this week." Morgan said. "And I ran into Sir Thierry while I was there. He seems like a nice gentleman. I had not previously made his acquaintance."

"Sir Thierry del Moray?" Constantine asked, once again surprised.

"The very same." Morgan confirmed.

"What did you think of him?" Constantine asked, rising to fetch a glass of water from the tray left by a servant a few minutes earlier.

"He seems very astute. I think that he will be a needed voice of moderation in the party." Morgan said.

"You don't think that the party has voices of moderation already?" Constantine asked, sitting down next to her again.

"It has you." Morgan said. "But they've shut you out of the leadership."

"So this was a discussion about leadership?" Constantine asked, taking a sip from his water.

"It came up." Morgan mentioned.

"So I can see." Constantine replied. "So my aunt and Sir Thierry had a little chat about leadership with you then?"

"Sir Thierry could take the party in a direction where it could recapture the loyalties of the Pantocratorian people." Morgan said. "And you would be on the front bench if you offered your support. Your voice carries others."

"Some others, yes." replied Constantine, dubiously. "So Sir Thierry, having just been handed a safe seat, is instantly plotting a spill, is he?"

"So it would seem." Morgan said. "And I think it's a good idea."

"You think I should betray my uncle then?" Constantine asked. He did still feel a strong personal loyalty for Prince Basil and his leadership, even if their relationship had been strained since his marriage to Morgan.

"It isn't personal. It's politics. I think you should do what's best for the party and for the nation." Morgan said.

"Politics is personal, for both my aunt and my uncle. Why do you think they hate each other so much?" Constantine asked. "In fact, I'd wager my aunt put you up to this as part of her vendetta for Monsieur."

"I don't think she did." Morgan said. "Your aunt has changed a lot since I first met her and, in any event, she is your aunt."

"Monsieur has the experience, more experience than the current Chancellor. Sir Thierry has been in Parliament for all of five minutes!" Constantine argued. "The country wants a sure pair of hands after the past few years."

"No, it doesn't. The country remembers the abuses of both your aunt and your uncle's governments." Morgan said. "The country is looking to secure the important reforms of the last few years while abandoning Socialist excessses."

"If you consider the Pantocratoria First and the Loyal Christian vote together, from the last election alone, the combined primary vote was higher than the Socialist vote. If we had been one party then and nothing else had changed, we would've won the election." Constantine pointed out. "Not by much but even still. What has changed since then that makes you think Monsieur isn't a viable leader?"

"It isn't entirely a matter of numbers, Constantine. Monsieur's politics are horrifically backwards in a number of areas and you know it." Morgan pointed out.

"Pantocratorians aren't as progressive as Danaans, Morgan." Constantine argued. "I am not convinced that Monsieur is so far off what the common people actually think, you know."

"I think he is." Morgan said.

"OK." Constantine said. "He probably is in some respects, but not in most, I think. And our policies have changed a lot since the last election, besides. We support the Greek language being the co-official language of the Empire. We're not proposing to bring back the old days of the Ministry of Cultural Development... where do you think we still need to shift?"

"Towards the more moderate positions represented by Sir Thierry." Morgan said.

"Well, why don't you talk me through Sir Thierry's positions over dinner? His Majesty has prolonged his stay at Subeita, so we're free to dine in private again." Constantine said. "I've arranged a little gazebo tucked away in the gardens. I thought it was warm enough and it might be nice..."

"That does sound nice." Morgan said with a small smile.

Imperial Monitor
Del Moray to Monsieur: he's had his chance

Sir Thierry del Moray fired a shot at the leadership of Opposition Leader Prince Basil yesterday, while nominally answering a question about former National Democratic Chancellor Sir Thierry Romain.

When asked his opinion on the opinion column the former Chancellor wrote for the Saturday edition of the Adrienople Morning Herald, Sir Thierry del Moray replied that he didn't read the column, saying that "once one has been the Imperial Chancellor, one really should stop talking about what should be done like he has", adding "he's been chancellor - he's had his chance."

According to United Christian Front insiders, Sir Thierry del Moray has been currying support from opposition MPs since his election to the Imperial Parliament earlier this year.

This morning Sir Thierry del Moray told reporters that his remarks had been "misinterpreted" and taken "out of all proportion", and that they were not about the UCF's present leader, Prince Basil.

When asked whether he supported Monsieur's leadership, Sir Thierry replied that "I support the whole United Christian Front, from our leader, through our frontbench, to our backbench, down to the rank and file branch members".

Prince Basil, who is seeking to return to the Chancellor's office this year at the expected election, but whose popularity in opinion polls has remained substantially below that of his party, declined to be interviewed, but had his office issue a statement saying that "Sir Thierry [del Moray] was expressing the opinion about the hypocrisy of the former PNDP Chancellor" and that "press speculation that [del Moray's answer] spoke to a rift between Monsieur and Sir Thierry was entirely unfounded".

Adrienople Morning Herald
DRAPEUR'S PANTOCRATORIA: Longest dole lines in Western Atlantic
A damning economic statistics report by the United Nations Statistics Division released today shows that Pantocratoria's unemployment rate was the highest in the Western Atlantic, and in the highest 5.31% world-wide.

The statistics contradict with the Imperial Bureau of Statistics figures, which assert that unemployment is at just 2.62%, compared with the United Nations Statistics Division's estimated unemployment rate of 16.8%.

For the purposes of the Imperial Bureau of Statistics official unemployment rate, a person who performs one hour of work or more per week for any sort of remuneration, even non-financial remuneration, is counted as employed, as are homemakers on farms and other people deemed to be performing "unsalaried work in support of agricultural activity".

The United Nations Statistics Division on the other hand, did not count the underemployed (i.e. those who perform some work but not enough to support them), homemakers on farms, welfare recipients classified as non-participants in the workforce without physical disability or full-time carer responsibilities, or any number of other categories of person classified as employed in the IBS figures.

There was some light in the otherwise gloomy UN report for the Imperial Government, however, with Pantocratoria's trade surplus again the highest in the Western Atlantic (owing especially to the strength of Pantocratoria's beef exports).

continued on page 3

Imperial Monitor
MIXED MESSAGES FOR UCF
United Christian Front MPs will be wondering what to make of the latest in a long series of MONITORPOLL results which say that support for their party is higher than any other time since the last election, while UCF Leader, Monsieur the Prince Basil, trails Chancellor Drapeur dramatically in Preferred Chancellor polling.

In the wake of yet another gloomy economic statement by the Imperial Reserve, support for the United Christian Front climbed to 52% of the primary vote. In contrast, the governing parties both suffered polling setbacks, with the support for the Constantinople Party falling slightly to 18% (from 19%), and the Socialist primary vote at a record low 30% (down 4%).

According to MONITORPOLL, the swing to the opposition in the party primary vote figures is such that if an election was held last weekend, the United Christian Front would most probably have won a majority in its own right.

However, despite this promising news for the Opposition, Dr Thibault Drapeur remained the preferred Chancellor, even though the Chancellor's satisfaction rating fell slightly. Dr Drapeur leads Monsieur 58% to 28%, a margin which has increased in this poll to 30% (up 2%). Satisfaction in the Chancellor was 42% (down 3%), whereas satisfaction in the Leader of the Opposition was just 25% (steady).

Pollsters and commentators alike are split on the meaning of the apparently contradictory polls, while politicians on each side of politics are keen to take one poll and discard the other.

Socialist Alliance General Secretary Philippe Maison claimed that Dr Drapeur's formidable lead in the preferred Chancellor polls showed that Pantocratorians still supported the Chancellor's "strong leadership", which he characterised as "strong, but tempered by wisdom and careful consideration of all the facts", a line Socialist spin doctors have been keen to promote since criticisms of supposed "dithering" in the Government's reactions to the various political crises of 2007.

Monsignor Hugh de la Morée, President of the United Christian Front, said that a mood for change was in the air, and asserted that the polling showed that voters supported the "breadth and depth of experience and talent" on the Opposition frontbench, and preferred "a good team to a one-man show".

He rejected the suggestion that the polls showed the United Christian Front was weighed down rather than helped by its current leader, pledging his "total commitment to and undying admiration for His Highness", whom Monsignor de la Morée described as "the greatest chancellor in modern Pantocratorian history".

In a rare comment on political matters since her departure from the Imperial Parliament, former chancellor Princess Irene told Imperial Monitor palace reporters, when asked whether she thought Monsieur should resign, replied that she thought "it would be best, for the good of le parti et la patrie (the party and the fatherland)".

Monsieur's office has offered no comment on the poll figures or Princess Irene's remarks.

Press Conference
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
Palais du Parlement
New Rome
The political commentators had spent the last hour on Pantocratoria's cable news channels speculating as to the purpose of the sudden press conference called by the Leader of the Opposition, Prince Basil, for midday. Calling it just one hour before may not have been unusual during an election campaign, but no official campaign was yet underway. Still more unusual was the news that Opposition MPs had been recalled to New Rome from across the country - given the Imperial Parliament wasn't scheduled to sit for another three weeks, such a recall was unusual indeed. Speculation was rampant that Prince Basil was going to invite a leadership challenge to address the leadership destabilisation which had been going on in the press of late, that he intended to get the seemingly inevitable brawl out of the way before the Chancellor called the election everyone expected him to call before the end of the year.

The clock struck midday and the Prince's official secretary invited the journalists to be upstanding for His Imperial Highness, Monsieur the Emperor's brother. The journalists obliged, and Prince Basil entered the room, his wife Princess Jacqueline by his side and his eldest daughter Princess Helen behind him. The two women looked like they were struggling to conceal emotion, and the younger princess had the appearance of one who had recently been crying. Following the second family of Pantocratoria's imperial house were the Prince's parliamentary staff, many of whom had been with him since the 80s, and a few trusted parliamentary colleagues. The staff looked quite emotional and the other MPs were, by and large, very sombre looking, as if steeled for something. Monsieur took his place at the lectern, and his family, staff and colleagues stood to one side, although not long after taking his place Monsieur turned to Princess Jacqueline and motioned with his hand for her to join him. After allowing the family, staff and colleagues to take their places, Prince Constantine slipped into the room largely unnoticed, looking very pale.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press," Prince Basil began. "No doubt you are all wondering why I gathered you here today, at such a strange time."

The Leader of the Opposition then paused as if searching for words. Princess Jacqueline turned to him and squeezed his hand, as if urging him on. There was a flurry of camera flashes from the assembled press for this rare sign of emotion.

"It has been my privilege to be the leader of the United Christian Front, in one form or another, for eighteen years, twelve of those in government." Prince Basil said. "I am proud of my accomplishments as Imperial Chancellor during those years in government, and proud of the accomplishments of both my party and the nation in that time. The three years since then have not been easy, and during those three years the Drapeur Government has worked to undo much of what we, the United Christian Front and Pantocratoria, accomplished together in the twelve which preceded them."

"However, there exists now, as there was in 2004, a deep seated mood for change in the hearts and minds of the Pantocratorian people." Prince Basil persisted. "The United Christian Front has reformed itself, adapted to the changing circumstances, the changing desires and hopes and ambitions and dreams of the Pantocratorian people. We now have our collective finger on the pulse of the national consciousness, and we stand ready to deliver an alternative approach to the economic and cultural vandalism of the Socialists. But we must recognise that the mood for change in 2004 was real, that the people wanted reform, and were prepared to accept the bad which has indeed come from electing the Drapeur Government, in exchange for achieving that reform."

"Today, I recognise both moods for change." Prince Basil began. "The Pantocratorian people are tired of the chronic economic mismanagement of the Drapeur Government, and its record high unemployment. The Pantocratorian people do not want to see the character of our nation undermined any further by the Drapeur Government. But neither do they want a return to the past. Today, I recognise that the national mood has changed and that it calls for a new way forward... the view has been put to me that it also calls for a new leader along that way."

Basil paused and there was another flurry of camera flashes. As he did so, Jacqueline looked away from him and glared at Constantine in the crowd, a rare anger burning in her eyes, mixed with the sympathetic pain she felt for her husband. Constantine felt sick and almost physically shrank, but he was out of sight of the cameras, positioned behind the press.

"The view has been put to me, and I concurred, that the interests of the United Christian Front, and the millions of Pantocratorians who want and deserve a change of government, were not best served by my remaining leader." Prince Basil said. There was another flurry of flashes. "I am therefore calling an emergency meeting of the parliamentary United Christian Front for this evening at 9:30pm, to give all MPs sufficient time to make their way to the capital. At that meeting, I will resign as Parliamentary Leader of the United Christian Front."

The flashes continued and the room collectively held its breath.

"There are many people... too many perhaps, whom I would like to thank. First and foremost I would like to thank my long-suffering wife and daughters." Prince Basil's voice trembled slightly but his countenance betrayed no hint of tears. If anything it was even harsher than usual as he steeled himself against the emotion. Princess Jacqueline leaned into her husband's shoulder and he put his arm around her as he continued. Princess Helen took a few steps forward and joined Prince Basil on his other side. "Madame has always supported me. It hasn't always been easy, I've often not been around. It is a sacrifice with which many in the Imperial Parliament are familiar, a sacrifice most keenly felt by the wives and children, who pay the price but don't share in the fleeting glory. Jacqueline, Helen, and Marie, who is watching from Tarana I am sure, thank you for your infinite patience, for your counsel, and most importantly for your love."

"To my colleagues in the parliamentary United Christian Front throughout the entire course of my parliamentary career, but especially to those from the 105th and 106th Imperial Parliaments who remained loyal when our party was split in two, thank you. Your wisdom through the good times and the bad made us the most important and significant government in modern Pantocratorian history, and your support and loyalty sustained me through those dark first days of opposition when I most keenly tasted the bitterness of political betrayal." Prince Basil said, looking to his colleagues on the left of the lectern. He was referring especially to the days when his government was brought to its end by his sister Princess Irene, but Jacqueline's gaze squarely fixed itself on Constantine again. Constantine felt it like a blow to the abdomen.

"To my hard working staff, to the branch members of the United Christian Front, your efforts have been less glamorous but perhaps even more important to our successes than those of us in the parliamentary party. The defeats are, of course, entirely of our own making." Prince Basil said. "To Monsignor Hugh de la Morée, our party president and my predecessor as leader, for your counsel and support, especially in recent weeks, I thank you. I apologise to you, Monseigneur, that I could not do what you asked of me, but we must all follow our own consciences, as you have so often told me. Finally, I want to thank the Pantocratorian people for their support and hard work, especially during my twelve years as Imperial Chancellor. Together we built a better and more prosperous Pantocratoria. I know that, together with my successor, whomever he or she may be, you will do so again."

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I will now field your questions..."