Listeneisse
29-09-2005, 23:06
BOMBS WRACK MICROROOSTER!
GOVERNMENT IN CHAOS!
Listeneisse Offers Aid & Assistance
Source: Listeneisse Times-Herald (http://listeneisse.blogspot.com/2005/09/bombs-wrack-microrooster-government-in.html)
DAS KAPITAL, USSM -- A large series of bombs detonated devastated the national government of the United Socialist State of Microrooster (USSM), eliminating senior government leadership and causing over a thousand casualties.
The national assembly was in open session when the building exploded, utterly destroyed by one or more military-grade bombs. Simultaneously, senior government members, including the President, were believed to have been sequestered in a secret emergency leadership meeting at a separate location when a massive bomb detonated. Over a dozen other bombs were unleashed across the country over the next hour in a coordinated attack on national government sites, leaving hundreds of other casualties in their wake.
The two devastating bomb blasts in the capital were estimated to have killed 580 people and wounded at least 910. Casualties were estimated by a surviving member of the health ministries, who reported his own superior was missing and presumed killed in the senior committee meeting.
The figures were based on actual confirmed deaths and reported casualties as well as government estimates of the numbers of workers in each building. The health ministry official admitted the figure could be higher, depending on how many tourists or visitors were in the national assembly building at the time. Bodies were still being recovered from the ruins, and many persons were reported missing.
BUILDINGS OBLITERATED
"It just evaporated," said Mrs. Edith Broome, a shaken tourist, describing the national assembly building's explosion, "I was with my husband and children taking pictures when the whole thing went up."
Mrs. Broome's video camera was taken from her by security personnel. She was told it was to be used as evidence. She and her husband and children were first questioned by authorities then barred from the scene. The press were denied access to the video. But the results of the carnage were clear, as the blasts could be heard throughout the city.
While the fires were still being extinguished and bodies recovered, wreckage fragments were taken away for chemical analysis. According to one anonymous source, experts readily detected traces of a military-grade explosive in at least three of the blast sites. Both capital explosions, and another at a regional taxation office, were caused by an explosive known as PBX Composition B. Other bombs were said to have been made soley with traditional explosives like TNT.
USSM officials refused to answer detailed inquiries as to the source or nature of the blast, but did not refute the Times-Herald's information.
"Whoever they were, this was not an amateur operation," said Harold Torpex, a munitions expert for Listeneisse Chemical, a leading provider of explosives for the Ministry of Defense. "PBX, or Polymer Bonded Explosives, are made from rather rare materials. Composition B, for instance, is comprised of TNT but also cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, professionally called RDX. If you want it to really burn hot, you might mix it with some aluminum. You won't get this from your neighborhood chemistry supply shoppe."
Brig. Chester T. F. Pounder, retired ordnance chief for the Royal Army of Listeneisse, estimated the size of the bomb that devastated the USSM national assembly, "Looking at the pictures of the scene, I'd say we're talking about two, three or more tons of explosives to bring a building of that size down that fast."
He said it was too early to speculate the entirety of the damage. "I hear there were seventeen sites in all. Not all of them were as large as the national assembly, and I haven't seen pictures of the other attacks, mind you, but this likely took tons -- and I mean tons -- of explosives. If they could do this in one day, there's still likely to be more tons of military-grade explosives they have laying around."
THEORIES ABOUND
No known demand or claim has been made public by any terrorist organizations. It is unquestionably a mass assassination of government officials unprecedented in recent times. But beyond that, there are vast differences in the theories circulating.
Political demagogues immediately began to cast blame on foreign powers, claiming different international rivals paid for the assassination. Some have even listed Listeneisse among potential sponsors of this terrorist act, though the Kingdom was widely regarded as being on good terms with the USSM prior to its collapse.
Regional separatist movements in the USSM have long wanted to break away from the centralized government, but no one gave serious credence to such threats. Most separatist movements were frustrated with the irresponsive central authorities yet presumed peaceful in nature.
Another theory being put forth was that one or more senior leaders decided to flee rather than face internal security scrutiny, which might have led to their criminal arrest, and set up an elaborate 'terrorist' scenario to cover their departure. It was long-rumored a senior-level investigation was occurring, up to the highest levels of government. According to these speculations, some number of conspirators may have been behind the explosions, to cover their escape and to eliminate political rivals and proof of their crimes.
Mid-ranking officials concede today's secret briefing of cabinet was going to be on matters of internal security. But whatever happened in those meetings remains a mystery, at least to the public. All of those who were thought to be present for the briefing are either dead or missing. Anyone monitoring the meeting within the room was killed in the blast.
There are many rumors and hot debate over what happened to the senior members of government. No bodies have been identified with senior USSM leaders. With the utter destruction of the building, it is unlikely that the mystery will be cleared up any time soon.
Suspicions of others who might have committed the act, or cooperated with its conduct, now cast a pall over members of the military and intelligence services of the USSM government, as well as members of the military-industrial suppliers who may have not been paid recently by the faltering government.
No explanation was forthcoming on how massive quantities of explosives were delivered to so many key government installations without a significant internal conspiracy. No visible attackers were reported, and no vehicles were seen approaching or leaving the bombed sites.
Surviving members of the national government have formed a joint civil-military authority (CMA) to handle affairs, but the situation is chaotic, and conflicts between government members have already been reported. The CMA includes representatives of both the USSM military and a few members of the national assembly who were not present for the session. Regional leaders have decried that they have been left out of the new CMA, and that it equates to no more than a military coup.
Talk of a coup, or martial law, has alarmed the nation. Many wonder if a civil war might result. Tonight, there are roadblocks set up across regional borders between the once United Socialist States of Microrooster. State governors, unprepared for this sort of national emergency, are stopping domestic traffic crossing regional borders to perform spot-checks of cars and trucks. National airports are closed.
FRACTURED NATION
It had been commonly joked in this mostly apolitical country, "National Apathy would have been the largest party, but no one decided to register." But today few joked, and the people were far from apathetic.
The "United" Socialist States were long-ignored by their central ruling committee, and for the most part, the average citizen ignored their government.
For many, today's devastation was the final straw. Rather than rally together, with the elimination of so many senior officials, popular sentiment is to devolve the state entirely.
Separatist leaders hope to now see the fruits of their efforts to break the USSM into smaller regional states. Ethnic and regional tensions remain high, but hostilities have not broken out yet, and civil order is being maintained.
Yet in some scattered towns, there were actual celebrations of the fall of the government. While most in the capital or the affected cities mourned the deaths, hard-hit rural and industrial communities waved local flags, spontaneously marched or rallied before other national government buildings, or held up placards with slogans like "USSM RIP" or "The Nation Formerly Known as USSM."
"What government? We have no government!"
So declared one regional separatist leader who refused to be named for interview. "I'll give you my name when I am sure we have a real government again. I don't want the police to come get me. We should not have to fear to say things like this. We had a government who took our money. We had people who promised great things. I haven't seen any great things in a great while. Forgive me for speaking ill of the dead, and I grieve for the families of those killed, but we needed a new government. Maybe now we might get one."
The USSM is, or had been, a nation with a population of 130 million, roughly comparable to the size of Listeneisse. It joined the Warzone of the Defenders (WD) (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/28534/page=display_region/region=warzone_of_the_defenders) just prior to the Kingdom of Listeneisse (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_nation/nation=listeneisse)'s entry into the defensive regional union, but was rather inactive in international affairs. In recent years it had devolved economically, causing many immigrants to come to Listeneisse in search of opportunity.
The USSM's GDP per capita was last reported at $5,207.16 (L£6,888.03), with a tax rate of 23%. In comparison, as of today, the Kingdom of Listeneisse has a GDP per capita of $15,393.12 (L£20,362.02), and a tax rate of 20%.
LISTENEISSE OFFERS AID
Tonight, in a widely-televised speech, King Parzival XIV (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/King_Parzival_XIV) declared the neighboring government of the United Socialist States of Microrooster was on the brink of chaos, and offered to respond, "with all civil and military means available to the Kingdom of Listeneisse."
The King made the case for international intervention, "We need to act swiftly, to prevent the situation from deteriorating, as it has done in other regions around the world."
The King was likely referring to the situation in those nations which fell to civil war in the International Democratic Union (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/48212/page=display_region/region=international_democratic_union), to which the government responded by supporting relief missions through the Church (http://s10.invisionfree.com/IDU/index.php?showtopic=278).
"We have already been in contact with national and regional authorities of the CMA to establish what assistance they wish from us. Right now, we are preparing to respond with medical assistance and law enforcement agents to help in investigating this crime of heinous proportions. We have sent our own son, Prince Kardiez (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Prince_Kardiez_of_Listeneisse), along with one hundred and fifty knights to assist our stricken neighbor."
During the press questions after the briefing, a USSM journalist from a separatist-leaning newspaper forthrightly asked whether the Kingdom would be interested in annexing any of the states of the USSM, since many of them adjoined Listeneisse's southern border.
"Let us not consider capitalizing on the grief of the people of the USSM. While we understand there may be some who would wish for that to happen, there are many more who would be opposed to a break up of the nation," the King replied.
"Let me be clear that We wish to see the situation stablized peaceably. Today is a day to seek out survivors and answers. To reassure our southern neighbors We care for them during their time of crisis. The people of the USSM should know that they have a northern neighbor who is ready to stand by them. We urge the people of the USSM to support the Civil-Military Authority in the days ahead."
Regardless of the King's answer, speculation spread over whether it would be a possibility to annex some or all of the USSM border states. Some separatist movements in the USSM would not be adverse to the idea, while others clearly wish to create wholly independent nations themselves. At the same time, the question further polarized debate about whether Listeneisse was behind the explosions.
The Minister of Defense raised the level of alert in the country to the highest level, with troops of the Royal Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9712690&postcount=70) all on standby. Government buildings were searched by bomb-sniffing dogs. Airports, bus, train and ferry terminals remained opened, but all transit to the USSM was cancelled.
Border checkpoints were closed by the USSM military, apparently under orders of the CMA, but the Foreign Minister was trying to contact the CMA to establish a fair system to allow passage across the border.
The Kingdom of Listeneisse maintains an embassy in the country. For now, visitors are advised to avoid travel to the USSM until the situation stablizes.
GOVERNMENT IN CHAOS!
Listeneisse Offers Aid & Assistance
Source: Listeneisse Times-Herald (http://listeneisse.blogspot.com/2005/09/bombs-wrack-microrooster-government-in.html)
DAS KAPITAL, USSM -- A large series of bombs detonated devastated the national government of the United Socialist State of Microrooster (USSM), eliminating senior government leadership and causing over a thousand casualties.
The national assembly was in open session when the building exploded, utterly destroyed by one or more military-grade bombs. Simultaneously, senior government members, including the President, were believed to have been sequestered in a secret emergency leadership meeting at a separate location when a massive bomb detonated. Over a dozen other bombs were unleashed across the country over the next hour in a coordinated attack on national government sites, leaving hundreds of other casualties in their wake.
The two devastating bomb blasts in the capital were estimated to have killed 580 people and wounded at least 910. Casualties were estimated by a surviving member of the health ministries, who reported his own superior was missing and presumed killed in the senior committee meeting.
The figures were based on actual confirmed deaths and reported casualties as well as government estimates of the numbers of workers in each building. The health ministry official admitted the figure could be higher, depending on how many tourists or visitors were in the national assembly building at the time. Bodies were still being recovered from the ruins, and many persons were reported missing.
BUILDINGS OBLITERATED
"It just evaporated," said Mrs. Edith Broome, a shaken tourist, describing the national assembly building's explosion, "I was with my husband and children taking pictures when the whole thing went up."
Mrs. Broome's video camera was taken from her by security personnel. She was told it was to be used as evidence. She and her husband and children were first questioned by authorities then barred from the scene. The press were denied access to the video. But the results of the carnage were clear, as the blasts could be heard throughout the city.
While the fires were still being extinguished and bodies recovered, wreckage fragments were taken away for chemical analysis. According to one anonymous source, experts readily detected traces of a military-grade explosive in at least three of the blast sites. Both capital explosions, and another at a regional taxation office, were caused by an explosive known as PBX Composition B. Other bombs were said to have been made soley with traditional explosives like TNT.
USSM officials refused to answer detailed inquiries as to the source or nature of the blast, but did not refute the Times-Herald's information.
"Whoever they were, this was not an amateur operation," said Harold Torpex, a munitions expert for Listeneisse Chemical, a leading provider of explosives for the Ministry of Defense. "PBX, or Polymer Bonded Explosives, are made from rather rare materials. Composition B, for instance, is comprised of TNT but also cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, professionally called RDX. If you want it to really burn hot, you might mix it with some aluminum. You won't get this from your neighborhood chemistry supply shoppe."
Brig. Chester T. F. Pounder, retired ordnance chief for the Royal Army of Listeneisse, estimated the size of the bomb that devastated the USSM national assembly, "Looking at the pictures of the scene, I'd say we're talking about two, three or more tons of explosives to bring a building of that size down that fast."
He said it was too early to speculate the entirety of the damage. "I hear there were seventeen sites in all. Not all of them were as large as the national assembly, and I haven't seen pictures of the other attacks, mind you, but this likely took tons -- and I mean tons -- of explosives. If they could do this in one day, there's still likely to be more tons of military-grade explosives they have laying around."
THEORIES ABOUND
No known demand or claim has been made public by any terrorist organizations. It is unquestionably a mass assassination of government officials unprecedented in recent times. But beyond that, there are vast differences in the theories circulating.
Political demagogues immediately began to cast blame on foreign powers, claiming different international rivals paid for the assassination. Some have even listed Listeneisse among potential sponsors of this terrorist act, though the Kingdom was widely regarded as being on good terms with the USSM prior to its collapse.
Regional separatist movements in the USSM have long wanted to break away from the centralized government, but no one gave serious credence to such threats. Most separatist movements were frustrated with the irresponsive central authorities yet presumed peaceful in nature.
Another theory being put forth was that one or more senior leaders decided to flee rather than face internal security scrutiny, which might have led to their criminal arrest, and set up an elaborate 'terrorist' scenario to cover their departure. It was long-rumored a senior-level investigation was occurring, up to the highest levels of government. According to these speculations, some number of conspirators may have been behind the explosions, to cover their escape and to eliminate political rivals and proof of their crimes.
Mid-ranking officials concede today's secret briefing of cabinet was going to be on matters of internal security. But whatever happened in those meetings remains a mystery, at least to the public. All of those who were thought to be present for the briefing are either dead or missing. Anyone monitoring the meeting within the room was killed in the blast.
There are many rumors and hot debate over what happened to the senior members of government. No bodies have been identified with senior USSM leaders. With the utter destruction of the building, it is unlikely that the mystery will be cleared up any time soon.
Suspicions of others who might have committed the act, or cooperated with its conduct, now cast a pall over members of the military and intelligence services of the USSM government, as well as members of the military-industrial suppliers who may have not been paid recently by the faltering government.
No explanation was forthcoming on how massive quantities of explosives were delivered to so many key government installations without a significant internal conspiracy. No visible attackers were reported, and no vehicles were seen approaching or leaving the bombed sites.
Surviving members of the national government have formed a joint civil-military authority (CMA) to handle affairs, but the situation is chaotic, and conflicts between government members have already been reported. The CMA includes representatives of both the USSM military and a few members of the national assembly who were not present for the session. Regional leaders have decried that they have been left out of the new CMA, and that it equates to no more than a military coup.
Talk of a coup, or martial law, has alarmed the nation. Many wonder if a civil war might result. Tonight, there are roadblocks set up across regional borders between the once United Socialist States of Microrooster. State governors, unprepared for this sort of national emergency, are stopping domestic traffic crossing regional borders to perform spot-checks of cars and trucks. National airports are closed.
FRACTURED NATION
It had been commonly joked in this mostly apolitical country, "National Apathy would have been the largest party, but no one decided to register." But today few joked, and the people were far from apathetic.
The "United" Socialist States were long-ignored by their central ruling committee, and for the most part, the average citizen ignored their government.
For many, today's devastation was the final straw. Rather than rally together, with the elimination of so many senior officials, popular sentiment is to devolve the state entirely.
Separatist leaders hope to now see the fruits of their efforts to break the USSM into smaller regional states. Ethnic and regional tensions remain high, but hostilities have not broken out yet, and civil order is being maintained.
Yet in some scattered towns, there were actual celebrations of the fall of the government. While most in the capital or the affected cities mourned the deaths, hard-hit rural and industrial communities waved local flags, spontaneously marched or rallied before other national government buildings, or held up placards with slogans like "USSM RIP" or "The Nation Formerly Known as USSM."
"What government? We have no government!"
So declared one regional separatist leader who refused to be named for interview. "I'll give you my name when I am sure we have a real government again. I don't want the police to come get me. We should not have to fear to say things like this. We had a government who took our money. We had people who promised great things. I haven't seen any great things in a great while. Forgive me for speaking ill of the dead, and I grieve for the families of those killed, but we needed a new government. Maybe now we might get one."
The USSM is, or had been, a nation with a population of 130 million, roughly comparable to the size of Listeneisse. It joined the Warzone of the Defenders (WD) (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/28534/page=display_region/region=warzone_of_the_defenders) just prior to the Kingdom of Listeneisse (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_nation/nation=listeneisse)'s entry into the defensive regional union, but was rather inactive in international affairs. In recent years it had devolved economically, causing many immigrants to come to Listeneisse in search of opportunity.
The USSM's GDP per capita was last reported at $5,207.16 (L£6,888.03), with a tax rate of 23%. In comparison, as of today, the Kingdom of Listeneisse has a GDP per capita of $15,393.12 (L£20,362.02), and a tax rate of 20%.
LISTENEISSE OFFERS AID
Tonight, in a widely-televised speech, King Parzival XIV (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/King_Parzival_XIV) declared the neighboring government of the United Socialist States of Microrooster was on the brink of chaos, and offered to respond, "with all civil and military means available to the Kingdom of Listeneisse."
The King made the case for international intervention, "We need to act swiftly, to prevent the situation from deteriorating, as it has done in other regions around the world."
The King was likely referring to the situation in those nations which fell to civil war in the International Democratic Union (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/48212/page=display_region/region=international_democratic_union), to which the government responded by supporting relief missions through the Church (http://s10.invisionfree.com/IDU/index.php?showtopic=278).
"We have already been in contact with national and regional authorities of the CMA to establish what assistance they wish from us. Right now, we are preparing to respond with medical assistance and law enforcement agents to help in investigating this crime of heinous proportions. We have sent our own son, Prince Kardiez (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Prince_Kardiez_of_Listeneisse), along with one hundred and fifty knights to assist our stricken neighbor."
During the press questions after the briefing, a USSM journalist from a separatist-leaning newspaper forthrightly asked whether the Kingdom would be interested in annexing any of the states of the USSM, since many of them adjoined Listeneisse's southern border.
"Let us not consider capitalizing on the grief of the people of the USSM. While we understand there may be some who would wish for that to happen, there are many more who would be opposed to a break up of the nation," the King replied.
"Let me be clear that We wish to see the situation stablized peaceably. Today is a day to seek out survivors and answers. To reassure our southern neighbors We care for them during their time of crisis. The people of the USSM should know that they have a northern neighbor who is ready to stand by them. We urge the people of the USSM to support the Civil-Military Authority in the days ahead."
Regardless of the King's answer, speculation spread over whether it would be a possibility to annex some or all of the USSM border states. Some separatist movements in the USSM would not be adverse to the idea, while others clearly wish to create wholly independent nations themselves. At the same time, the question further polarized debate about whether Listeneisse was behind the explosions.
The Minister of Defense raised the level of alert in the country to the highest level, with troops of the Royal Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9712690&postcount=70) all on standby. Government buildings were searched by bomb-sniffing dogs. Airports, bus, train and ferry terminals remained opened, but all transit to the USSM was cancelled.
Border checkpoints were closed by the USSM military, apparently under orders of the CMA, but the Foreign Minister was trying to contact the CMA to establish a fair system to allow passage across the border.
The Kingdom of Listeneisse maintains an embassy in the country. For now, visitors are advised to avoid travel to the USSM until the situation stablizes.