Calonis
16-07-2004, 04:19
A lone anchor sits at a news desk as the lights fade up in the World News Network studio. The lone anchor sits pensively glancing at his notes one last time before looking up to the camera.
“Greetings this is David Malbo with a special news report.”
The camera pans to the left to allow room for the graphic that appears next to the anchors head depicting the Calonian flag with a soldier firing his weapon super imposed upon it.
“Reports are just coming in that in the region of the Calonian Empire the largest nation Calonis has just collapsed into massive civil war.”
The image changes to footage apparently recorded by a helicopter circling the capitol city. As the shaky image pans around the area multiple tanks are visible surrounding the Royal Palace taking fire from other tanks that look identical except for a black stripe painted down the middle.
“The images you are seeing were taken by a local news crew during the first few hours of the main assault on the capitol.”
The image continues to watch the tanks fight below as the anchor fills in what little details are known.
“Our sources inform us that the small and seldom news worthy nation of Calonis has been suffering from military oppression for several years now. Having been the subject of media blackouts except for the Emperors controlled network little is known about the Empire.”
The image switches to a split screen showing the anchor talking and the news footage from the chopper in opposite sides of the screen.
“With closed borders for the last 80 years Calonis has generally faded from the minds of most countries, being too small to pose any serious military threat.”
The anchor glances back down to his notes for a moment then looks up again solemn faced.
“As you are about to see this footage came at a high cost. The Helicopter it was filmed from was transmitting to a ground vehicle hidden far below on the side streets of the capitol. One of the military forces involved in this coupe has instigated a no fly zone over the entire country for any civilian or commercial craft.”
The image from the helicopter again fills the screen. Suddenly the image jerks up as if the helicopter made a sudden and violent bank. As the camera stabilizes again it is staring down the mounted guns of an Apache Assault Helicopter only a few hundred yards away. The picture quickly zooms in the Apache which hovers menacingly. Suddenly a voice breaks into the recording which was most likely a result of the ground news vehicle patching in the pilots audio.
“… again if you do not land your chopper immediately we will fire on you.”
Another voice answers crackling over the radio.
“There is heavy fighting below us if we set down we will be killed. This is a news helicopter with WKVR channel 1 the Emperors channel. We pose no threat please do not…”
Suddenly the turret on the front of the Apache begins to spin and tracer rounds can be seen flying through the news helicopter. The camera holds steady for a moment then is dropped to the floor of the helicopter and the screen fills with static. The image slowly fades back to the anchor…
“As well as no fly zone, the border of which we can not define since we have been unable to determine the exact factions involved in this conflict, there has be a total media black out. We are receiving what information we can through private channels and satellite uplinks.”
The view switches to a different angle on the Anchor.
“The few sources we have been able to get in contact with have informed us that while they are not sure as to the extent of the coupe they believe it was due. The current leadership of the nation could only be described as a violent dictatorship lead by Jules Verinoth the Fourth. His militaristic rule has been the source of much poverty and unhappiness in the country. With the majority of the nations estimated budget of 22,726,850,000 Blueths, which converts to around 9.6 billion dollars US, going towards military spending the armed forces dominate the nation with active bases in nearly every city.”
The news anchor raises a hand to his ear and nods briefly.
“We have received this breaking news on the Calonis Coupe. A recorded message was smuggled out of the nation through encrypted military satellite transmissions. It appears to be a statement by the new faction that has formed within the nation and is attacking the capitol.”
The image changes to a view of a woman in a white dress, she seems young and unblemished. Her black hair has been carefully styled and is adorned by jewels and platinum chains. Here cool blue eyes look into the camera for a moment as it slowly zooms in on her faces.
“My name is Solania Grey, former aide to the Emperor. If this message is received we ask that you broadcast it and send copies of it to all the nations of the world so that they may know our plight.”
Solania pauses for a moment perhaps to make sure anyone receiving the transmission has time to begin recording.
“For nearly a lifetime the current Emperor Jules Verinoth the Fourth has ruled this land with an iron fist. His brutal tactics and total suppression of free speech, creativity and freedom of choice have forced us to finally make a stand.”
“This forceful overthrow of the Emperor is the final attempt at saving our Empire from total ruin. Many attempts on the Emperors life have been made and failed. It is now past the point of political intrigue and time for military action. Many have come to support me in this course including nearly 50% of the existing military who are no longer loyal to the Emperor. The men of these fighting units have grown tired of the senseless slaughter of innocents they are ordered to do every day. They do not want to fear for their families well being any more. They are taking a stand by my side.”
Solania Grey pauses again letting the information sink in, then smiles slightly.
“I have been asked by the forces and the people who stand with me to take the place of the Emperor and help to rebuild the Empire to its former glory. This is not an election and if we win this war I will take the throne. But I want people to know my intentions.”
The camera begins to slowly zoom out from her face till it frames her waist up. She is an attractive woman perhaps in her early thirties and in good shape.
“Every since I was a young girl I was taught to never speak to strangers, not for fear of the stranger but for fear of what others might hear and report to the Community Control Agency. I was taught to never leave the house without two adults to protect me. As soon as I was old enough I was forced into work for the Empire as a Typist in one of the Palace Offices, I was lucky. Many children I knew were sent to mines or work camps where they helped to build the great military machine for the Emperor.”
Her face saddens a bit as she continues.
“I want to bring peace pack to the people. I do not want children to have to be afraid anymore. I want to help the poor who every day are brutally murdered by the Community Control Agency who forced them into that position in the first place. Most of all I want to see the populace happy, what ever that takes. If the nation decides they do not want me on the throne after a time I will step down. But during my reign, how ever long it may be, I will do everything in my power to rebuild this fine Empire.”
Her crystal clear eyes stare into the camera as her tone becomes more serious.
“As I have said we currently control 50% of the military in the Empire. But as you can guess this will result in a long bloody war that will bring more harm than good. Now that we have established our selves and removed the ability of the Emperor to make a pre-emptive move against us I ask any nation out there who is willing to send us aide. We can use everything from food and medical supplies to armed forces willing to fight a long side us during our struggle for freedom. Encoded on a sub channel of this transmission is a shifting frequency code, your experts should be able to figure out the pattern and open communications between our countries. If you wish to offer aide please contact us on that channel, no critical military information will be transmitted over it, only general information that will enable us to speak further on a more secure line. I thank you.”
The image fades out then returns to the anchor at the news desk.
“That was a recorded message from Solania Grey former Aide to the Emperor and leader of a new faction in Calonis that is attempting to overthrow the current Emperor. We will have more on this as we get it and we will continue to re-broadcast the transmission on our back up channel for anyone wishing to record or watch again.”
“Greetings this is David Malbo with a special news report.”
The camera pans to the left to allow room for the graphic that appears next to the anchors head depicting the Calonian flag with a soldier firing his weapon super imposed upon it.
“Reports are just coming in that in the region of the Calonian Empire the largest nation Calonis has just collapsed into massive civil war.”
The image changes to footage apparently recorded by a helicopter circling the capitol city. As the shaky image pans around the area multiple tanks are visible surrounding the Royal Palace taking fire from other tanks that look identical except for a black stripe painted down the middle.
“The images you are seeing were taken by a local news crew during the first few hours of the main assault on the capitol.”
The image continues to watch the tanks fight below as the anchor fills in what little details are known.
“Our sources inform us that the small and seldom news worthy nation of Calonis has been suffering from military oppression for several years now. Having been the subject of media blackouts except for the Emperors controlled network little is known about the Empire.”
The image switches to a split screen showing the anchor talking and the news footage from the chopper in opposite sides of the screen.
“With closed borders for the last 80 years Calonis has generally faded from the minds of most countries, being too small to pose any serious military threat.”
The anchor glances back down to his notes for a moment then looks up again solemn faced.
“As you are about to see this footage came at a high cost. The Helicopter it was filmed from was transmitting to a ground vehicle hidden far below on the side streets of the capitol. One of the military forces involved in this coupe has instigated a no fly zone over the entire country for any civilian or commercial craft.”
The image from the helicopter again fills the screen. Suddenly the image jerks up as if the helicopter made a sudden and violent bank. As the camera stabilizes again it is staring down the mounted guns of an Apache Assault Helicopter only a few hundred yards away. The picture quickly zooms in the Apache which hovers menacingly. Suddenly a voice breaks into the recording which was most likely a result of the ground news vehicle patching in the pilots audio.
“… again if you do not land your chopper immediately we will fire on you.”
Another voice answers crackling over the radio.
“There is heavy fighting below us if we set down we will be killed. This is a news helicopter with WKVR channel 1 the Emperors channel. We pose no threat please do not…”
Suddenly the turret on the front of the Apache begins to spin and tracer rounds can be seen flying through the news helicopter. The camera holds steady for a moment then is dropped to the floor of the helicopter and the screen fills with static. The image slowly fades back to the anchor…
“As well as no fly zone, the border of which we can not define since we have been unable to determine the exact factions involved in this conflict, there has be a total media black out. We are receiving what information we can through private channels and satellite uplinks.”
The view switches to a different angle on the Anchor.
“The few sources we have been able to get in contact with have informed us that while they are not sure as to the extent of the coupe they believe it was due. The current leadership of the nation could only be described as a violent dictatorship lead by Jules Verinoth the Fourth. His militaristic rule has been the source of much poverty and unhappiness in the country. With the majority of the nations estimated budget of 22,726,850,000 Blueths, which converts to around 9.6 billion dollars US, going towards military spending the armed forces dominate the nation with active bases in nearly every city.”
The news anchor raises a hand to his ear and nods briefly.
“We have received this breaking news on the Calonis Coupe. A recorded message was smuggled out of the nation through encrypted military satellite transmissions. It appears to be a statement by the new faction that has formed within the nation and is attacking the capitol.”
The image changes to a view of a woman in a white dress, she seems young and unblemished. Her black hair has been carefully styled and is adorned by jewels and platinum chains. Here cool blue eyes look into the camera for a moment as it slowly zooms in on her faces.
“My name is Solania Grey, former aide to the Emperor. If this message is received we ask that you broadcast it and send copies of it to all the nations of the world so that they may know our plight.”
Solania pauses for a moment perhaps to make sure anyone receiving the transmission has time to begin recording.
“For nearly a lifetime the current Emperor Jules Verinoth the Fourth has ruled this land with an iron fist. His brutal tactics and total suppression of free speech, creativity and freedom of choice have forced us to finally make a stand.”
“This forceful overthrow of the Emperor is the final attempt at saving our Empire from total ruin. Many attempts on the Emperors life have been made and failed. It is now past the point of political intrigue and time for military action. Many have come to support me in this course including nearly 50% of the existing military who are no longer loyal to the Emperor. The men of these fighting units have grown tired of the senseless slaughter of innocents they are ordered to do every day. They do not want to fear for their families well being any more. They are taking a stand by my side.”
Solania Grey pauses again letting the information sink in, then smiles slightly.
“I have been asked by the forces and the people who stand with me to take the place of the Emperor and help to rebuild the Empire to its former glory. This is not an election and if we win this war I will take the throne. But I want people to know my intentions.”
The camera begins to slowly zoom out from her face till it frames her waist up. She is an attractive woman perhaps in her early thirties and in good shape.
“Every since I was a young girl I was taught to never speak to strangers, not for fear of the stranger but for fear of what others might hear and report to the Community Control Agency. I was taught to never leave the house without two adults to protect me. As soon as I was old enough I was forced into work for the Empire as a Typist in one of the Palace Offices, I was lucky. Many children I knew were sent to mines or work camps where they helped to build the great military machine for the Emperor.”
Her face saddens a bit as she continues.
“I want to bring peace pack to the people. I do not want children to have to be afraid anymore. I want to help the poor who every day are brutally murdered by the Community Control Agency who forced them into that position in the first place. Most of all I want to see the populace happy, what ever that takes. If the nation decides they do not want me on the throne after a time I will step down. But during my reign, how ever long it may be, I will do everything in my power to rebuild this fine Empire.”
Her crystal clear eyes stare into the camera as her tone becomes more serious.
“As I have said we currently control 50% of the military in the Empire. But as you can guess this will result in a long bloody war that will bring more harm than good. Now that we have established our selves and removed the ability of the Emperor to make a pre-emptive move against us I ask any nation out there who is willing to send us aide. We can use everything from food and medical supplies to armed forces willing to fight a long side us during our struggle for freedom. Encoded on a sub channel of this transmission is a shifting frequency code, your experts should be able to figure out the pattern and open communications between our countries. If you wish to offer aide please contact us on that channel, no critical military information will be transmitted over it, only general information that will enable us to speak further on a more secure line. I thank you.”
The image fades out then returns to the anchor at the news desk.
“That was a recorded message from Solania Grey former Aide to the Emperor and leader of a new faction in Calonis that is attempting to overthrow the current Emperor. We will have more on this as we get it and we will continue to re-broadcast the transmission on our back up channel for anyone wishing to record or watch again.”