NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This RP has been moved from the Apolyton regional boards. It was set up by myself, the Federal Republic of Centralis, and the Capitalist States of Karakas. Please contact one of us if you wish to participate.

IC:

Southern News "Breaking Story" music plays

Hi, viewers, Shepard Smith here. Let's go live to Flaim, the capital of Alecrast, where I'm told there has been a major incident near the Monarch's residence.

Scene changes to an attractive blonde woman standing on the street. In the background a large marble palace is visible.

"Linda Harris here, Shep. Alecrast is, of course, no stranger to political upheaval, but today's scenes here took everyone by surprise. At about 1:30 our time, a group of about a hundred protestors blocked the driveway of the Monarch's residence. Right over here (she points towards the high metal fence behind her).

"Now, usually demonstrations focus on some aspect of Alecrastian policy that people disagree with. Today, though, the demonstrators were apparently calling for the Lord-Captain to step down. We've obtained one of the banners that was being waved at the residence, I'll hold it up so the camera can see it."

She holds a large piece of cardboard at chest height. It reads "We Demand Democracy In Alecrast" in large red letters.

"Shep, there's usually lots of disagreement in Alecrastian politics, but this is the first time that anybody can recall any kind of demand for an actual change in the governmental system. People have generally had a lot of faith in the Alecrastian system since the end of the Chaos Wars.

"After that there was a lecture, with very strong anti-monarchist content. It called the Lord-Captain an 'absolute ruler' and called for him to resign. The police observed but did not intervene, as generally happens with peaceful protests here in Alecrast.

"Apparently, Shep, this isn't the end of it. Several television stations, including Southern News' Alecrast branch, have received anonymous letters promising nationwide anti-monarchist demonstrations tomorrow. The authorities are keeping a close eye on this, and I'm sure we'll hear something official from the Lord-Captain soon. Shep?"

Scene changes back to Southern News main studio

Thank you, Linda. I've just received a business-related item on my desk here. I'm told that the Alecrast Broadcasting Corporation's board of directors has accepted a bid from the Centralian banker, Zacharias Meyer, that will make him the owner of that company.

The board hasn't divulged the exact figure he payed, although it's reported to be very, very large.

Stay tuned for Your World With Neil Baker, at the top of the hour.

* * *

[Live from ABC offices in Terribi, ABC anchor Rick Baxton]

"Good evening viewers. As all of you should know, I'm Rick Baxton, here for what will likely be my last appearance on this network.

"As a lot of you probably know, the Centralian banker Zacharias Meyer recently bought this company for a very tidy sum - and while the exact figure is confidential, I can say that it's set a lot of lucky shareholders up for life.

"Anyway, as a condition of the sale, myself and a number of other senior staff members and directors agreed to retire on very generous severence packages, to be replaced by appointees of the new management. And when I say generous, I mean generous - I could live like a king for the rest my life without having to work another day.

"In case you're wondering what I'm planning to do with that money - I intend to take a long holiday somewhere peaceful, then settle down someplace nice and sunny, and possibly write a book about my experiences.

"Anyway, enough rambling about me - over to our new anchor, Alina Rosenfeld, for today's news.

*scene cuts to a middle-aged woman with darkly tanned skin and short black hair, wearing a dark blue suit*

"Thanks, Rick. I'm sure our viewers all wish you a nice retirement, and I for one would love to read about some of your experiences here.

"Anyway, on to tonight's news. As promised by yesterday's letters, today saw anti-monarchist demonstrations in virtually every city in Alecrast, with the largest, in Flaim, numbering at least 10 000 according to the organisers. Political commentators are at something of a loss to explain this upsurge, with theories ranging from declining economic conditions - which don't seem to exist - to foreign conspiracies, promulgated by some of the more extreme monarchists. Some of them make quite amusing reading; unfortunately I don't have time to recount any here, but next week's feature on conspiracy theories is sure to feature a couple.

"Now, on to international news. The Naori situation continues to escalate, with Centralis despatching another 400 000 troops to the area, and the first Karakasian forces leaving for Tarasaki..."

ABC Special Report - Fascism in Alecrast? Part I

*The screen shows scenes from a large public rally in central Flaim, interspersed with strikingly similar footage from Nazi rallies. A somber voice-over begins*

"Early yesterday, the Alecrastian political situation took a decided turn for the worse. The notoriously extreme monarchist, Duke Nelson Deforge of Marmo, called a public rally to proclaim the formation of the Federation of Royalist Alecrastian Patriots, dedicated to, in his words, "Preserving the nation from the virulent cancer of socialist republicanism." When asked after the rally, he affirmed that he is entirely willing to use any means, including extreme violence, to ensure that the monarchy remains in power.

"At present, his movement claims to have over three thousand members, not counting the substantial private armies possessed by the Duke. In addition, the group is financially very well-provided for, as the Duke himself is a very wealthy man and has many supporters in business and aristocratic circles. He is also rumoured to have extensive links with Alecrastian intelligence services, although no evidence has ever been provided either way, and the government has always refused to comment on this matter.

"A number of prominent republican figures have condemned the Duke's move, warning that it threatens to militarise Alecrastian politics and lead to widespread political violence. Given the nature of the Alecrastian armed forces, this may not be far from the mark. Just what effect the FRAP will have on the situation, with the present surge in republican sentiment and the increasingly embattled position of the monarchy, remains to be seen.

"This is ABC Reporter Ted Engman, signing off, and I'll be back next week with more reports on this issue."

wha-wha-what?

ABC Special Report - Fascism in Alecrast? Part I

*The screen shows scenes from a large public rally in central Flaim, interspersed with strikingly similar footage from Nazi rallies. A somber voice-over begins*

"Early yesterday, the Alecrastian political situation took a decided turn for the worse. The notoriously extreme monarchist, Duke Nelson Deforge of Marmo, called a public rally to proclaim the formation of the Federation of Royalist Alecrastian Patriots, dedicated to, in his words, "Preserving the nation from the virulent cancer of socialist republicanism." When asked after the rally, he affirmed that he is entirely willing to use any means, including extreme violence, to ensure that the monarchy remains in power.

"At present, his movement claims to have over three thousand members, not counting the substantial private armies possessed by the Duke. In addition, the group is financially very well-provided for, as the Duke himself is a very wealthy man and has many supporters in business and aristocratic circles. He is also rumoured to have extensive links with Alecrastian intelligence services, although no evidence has ever been provided either way, and the government has always refused to comment on this matter.

"A number of prominent republican figures have condemned the Duke's move, warning that it threatens to militarise Alecrastian politics and lead to widespread political violence. Given the nature of the Alecrastian armed forces, this may not be far from the mark. Just what effect the FRAP will have on the situation, with the present surge in republican sentiment and the increasingly embattled position of the monarchy, remains to be seen.

"This is ABC Reporter Ted Engman, signing off, and I'll be back next week with more reports on this issue."

abc? that seems like a a copyright breach! I smell lawsuit

OOC: How so?

OOC: ABC = Alecrast Broadcasting Corporation. No copyright breach there that I can see.

Susan Clrackson was startled when some gave her shoulder a gentle shove causing her to wake up. Taking a moment she looked around the round trying to bring the room to focus. She had falling asleep on a couch, standing in front of her Ryan Willson, her personal assistant. Her first thoughts were for her husband.

“Any word about my husband” she inquired.

Ryan just shook his head, he hated to interrupt her, he knew how much she had been through in the past few days, this would just add to an already heavy burden. “I’m afraid not ma’am. I just spoke with Harold Armstrong from the Foreign Affairs office, there a situation developing in Alecrest, and with your husband missing you are now the act President of Tappee, Armstrong would like to know what you want to do.” He hand her a rather large file “Here all the background information that Armstrong could give You”

It wasn’t until now that the full scope of the situation hit her unless they could find Smith, then she would now be running the country in his place. The notion of going it alone scared her, but she knew she had to act. Taking the file she looked over it.

“Very well.” She took a moment to think “Contact our ambassador there, Ambassador Stromwell. Tell him to contact the Lord-Captain” She paused trying to decide what the message should say “Tell him the government Tappee will support him should a civil war break out. Have Armstrong issue a travel advisory to all our citizen telling them to stay out of the area, and that those there should come home ASAP”

Ryan nodded “What kind of support are we going to give him”

His question caught her off guard, she hadn’t though of it really. “Contact Admiral Dodalla on the Dauntless, have her meet up with the 3rd Marine transport division and set course for Alecrest. However, make sure that for the time being they remain in international water until we have cleared the deployment of Troops with the Alecrest government. I want near the area in case they are needed. Does that answer your question?”

“Very well, I’ll contact Armstrong right away” he said as he went on way.

As he did Susan got to her feet and made her why back into the core. “When it rains, it pours” she said under her breath. Alecrest was only a side note to what was going right now in Tappee, but it would still need her attention.

______________________________________________________________________

{Start Open Transmission}
To: Alecrest Goverment
From: Tappee embassy
Subject: Civil unrest
Message: Although current Tappee president Smith Alenson is missing, acting President Susan Clrackson would like to provide any assistance that is possible. The Government of Tappee would like to see a peace resolve to the current situation, but should hostilities break out is willing to provide military assistance. Current the Main Battle fleet, as well as the 3rd Marine Divison are enroute, but will remain in internation waters until they are cleared to enter your country. Should you have any question or concerns direct all question to ambassador Stromwell. Due to the current situation in Tappee you will be unable to contact Mrs Clrackson directly.

{end open Transmission}

The Lord-Captain was in a bad mood. He couldn't arrest either Deforge, or the republicans in the street. Shooting your mouth off, even when it bordered on a national security threat, was permitted under Alecrast's constitution. And if he ordered the Yokuza to eliminate the Duke, it would be too transparent. Everyone would know who did it. And that would plunge Alecrast into civil war.

So he was stalking back and forth on the balcony, glaring over the perimeter fence at the distant spires of Flaim. His wrist link beeped. Frustrated, the Lord-Captain tore at it, trying to work the buttons. Finally he managed to access the transmission from Tappee.

Help from afar? he thought. He smiled. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

There were two things to be done. First, he would reply to the message and request that Tappee's forces stand off for the time being. The Treaty of Fonseca was watching intently, and premature action would only complicate matters.

Second, he would order the intelligence division to apply their most intense scrutiny to the republicans.

A large country estate, some distance from Flaim

As the sun slipped below the horizon, a dark blue Land Rover drove down the nearby road, turned off at the open gates, drove through, and parked in the estate's spacious garage. Behind it, the heavy gates swung shut with a loud clang, and searchlights lit up along the walls.

Meanwhile, the vehicle's occupant, a tall figure in a black cowled robe, barely visible in the dim lighting of the garage, stepped from it and walked swiftly toward the door into the main part of the house. stepping through it, he walked swiftly and surely down several corridors, stopping in front of a set of large mahagony doors, which opened before he had a chance to knock. Stepping through, he found himself in a large, circular room, dimly lit by a ring of lamps in the middle of the room and with twelve shadowed alcoves set at intervals in the wall. Above each alcove, there was a number carved into the wall, from 1 to 12. The figure headed across the room to alcove number three, and sat in the chair hidden within it. As soon as he had seated himself, a deep, rasping voice spoke from alcove number one, to his left.

"Now that we are all here," it said, "we shall begin. Our sources indicate that the republicans are planning another major rally in central Flaim, tommorrow. Our... sponsors... would like us to disrupt it, and to this end, I asked Number Three to obtain us several high explosive devices. Number Three, were you successful?"

"Completely, Number One," came the reply, "They are in the back of my vehicle, if they haven't already been unloaded. The Yokuza didn't even suspect."

"Good, good... the plan will proceed, then. We shall leave the bombs around the planned rally site, in positions where they will cause a maximum of terror, and we will detonate them in full view of the international media. And then, when the police investigate... they will find that the explosives originated in a hidden Yokuza storehouse, and then the investigation will be halted. That should have the desired effect..."

"Linda Harris reporting here from Pall Mall, in central Flaim. Another day of anti-monarchist demonstrations here in Alecrast. You can probably hear singing behind me; some of the protestors formed impromptu bands and began playing a variety of anti-monarchist and protest songs, everything from Simon and Garfunkel to the Kyralian national anthem. There has been little comment from the Elected Monarch's office yet. We're currently waiting on -"

Linda's voice was cut off by a loud booming sound from the Mall behind her, then another, and then another. The demonstration was thrown into chaos. People began streaming in all directions. The reporter had to struggle just to stay in one place.

The cameraman was jostled roughly by the fleeing crowds as sirens blared in nearby streets. Linda caught a glimpse of a burning car, a spiderweb of cracks running through its windshield. "Try and get a shot of that!" she screamed, before the camera went dead.