August 3, 299AP

RNS Headline News - (4:00 PM Local Time)

(Bringing the news to the public every hour on the hour.)

Dignanian War - Fighting continues between UBD troopsNo official word on yet on the outcome of the UBD offensive in the Rokriayin Mountains.  Fighting continues

Novoyoakes - Sources within the UNV report that the break down of governmental institutions within Novoyoakes continues.  The refuggee problem continues as thousand journey north out of the Mestinia Park.  The amount of dispossed people has overwhelmed the UNV aid agencies.  Aid workers in the UNV controlled part of Novoyoakes report rovering gangs terrorizing the refugges and stealing aid supplies.  Reports of fighting in the UNV controlled sections of Novoyoakes has increased in the last few weeks.  Many analyists here in Eastern Zartania believe the that the UNV mission in Novoyoakes is failing.  One KTZ government offical speaking on a condition was quoted as saying, "The UNV went into Novoyoakes  in July to flex it's international muscle.  It wanted to prove that it could turn what was left of Novoyoakes into a peaceful member of the UNV.  Unfortuntely, they underestamated the resources needed or the amount of political chaoes caused by Northern Gronk leaving and the resulting break up of Novoyaokes.  The UNV went in with the best of intentions.  The problem is good intentions will not win over angry, hungry people.

Deputy Harrison Ford seen in Abvion - MLFLD Deputy Harrison Ford was sighted entering Abvion state buildings earlier today.  This the first confirmed sighting of Deputy Ford in over two months.  KTZ and Abvion officals told reporters that Deputy Ford was here in Abvion for high level talks with the government about the war in Dignania, but when asked about the details of the meeting, KTZ officials responded with no comment.  Still no explanation on the media blackout in Dignania or the continued silence from MLFLD military leaders.

August 10 299 AP
 
 

August 15, 299 AP

[Dignanian war update broadcast at 17:00 ZST from the RNS temporary Broadcast Center in Q'Leist]

KHELVOR: "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Chris Khelvor bringing you the latest news updates about the Dignanian Civil War. There is still a veritable information blackout on the Dignanian mainland at this time. For several months, since the beginning of the UBD-MCZ offensive in May, little or no news information has been able to reach the outside world about the progress of the war. Grand Admiral High General Sir Rudolf Yuvan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces, has told RNS that he has been in contact with Brigadier Robert Shelkin, commander of the Royal Zartanian Army forces currently in Dignania, but will not comment on the content of those communications. Yuvan's words and actions seemed to indicate that the so-called "Eastern Offensive" in Dignania has not been contained as successfully as hoped, and that more problems could lie in the future. There are currently 71,000 Eastern Zartanian soldiers and engineers in Dignania, including 5,000 members of the Royal Army Police and more than 50,000 combat troops. No word has been released yet from Royal Army Headquarters concerning the disposition of those forces. General Erik vun Orcton, commander of the Royal Army, has stated that while news and information cannot leave the Dignanian Theater of Operations (DTO), the Royal Mail Service is still delivering letters from home to the front line soldiers, and that family and friends should continue to write."

    "Rumors still abound concerning the report over a month and a half ago of chemical weapons use in the DTO. While no Royal Government, Royal Military, or MLFLD sources have confirmed or denied the incident, a spokesman for the Royal Council came one step closer today. While speaking to a group of newspaper reporters in the east garden of the Imperial Palace, Rupert Bazwel stated that "a very serious incident has occurred in Dignania, and for security reasons we're not talking about it until we know all the details." When asked if the incident he was referring to was the chemical weapons report, Bazwel responded by saying "I can neither confirm nor deny that." This conspicuous silence and unwillingness to talk about the rumored chemical weapons use has prompted some news agencies and reporters to speculate that it was the MLFLD, Eastern Zartania's allies, who used poison gas first. This line of investigation, however, has run up against the Royal Government's famed "Brick Wall of Silence."'

    "General vun Orcton confirmed two days ago that a number has, indeed, been set for the amount of Eastern Zartanian troops projected to be needed in Dignania.  According to information released by the Royal Zartanian Army, the entire 2nd Division (200,000 troops) and almost half of the 4th Division are scheduled for deployment in the DTO by the end of this year. Vun Orcton also said that if things should go badly for allied forces in Dignania, contingency plans have been drawn up which would also dispatch the rest of the 4th and all of the 3rd Divisions. With such a total deployment, almost 600,000 Eastern Zartanian soldiers would be deployed to the DTO. The Royal Army currently has over 1.4 million active-duty troops in its ranks, with almost 13% of those troops currently stationed or fighting overseas. There are also approximately another 26 million people registered in the stek militia, which can be called to active duty at any time."

    "The air war against the UBD has apparently slowed dramatically, according to figures released this weekend by the Royal Zartanian Air Force. Those figures, which appeared in an unclassified report to the Royal Council, show a total of only 2,168 sorties by naval and air force aircraft during the month of July. This is a dramatic decrease compared to more than 12,000 sorties in each of the previous two months. Commander-General Nikolas Vogle, commander of the Royal Zartanian Air Force, attributes this decline in air operations to several factors. Among the top of those factors are the current nature of the ground combat and the attrition rate. Said Commander-General Vogle, "The situation on the ground is volatile right now. We've got constantly shifting front lines, and those make it harder to land your munitions on the given target and avoid friendly casualties or friendly fire. On top of that the attrition rate is starting to be felt. We came into this war without a thoroughly prepared air force. We had only 800 total airplanes in the air force, and this is actually the very first sustained air war we've fought. We made some costly mistakes at the beginning of the conflict, and we're starting to feel the affects now." Vogle said, though, that the attrition rate for the UBD is much more severe, still bringing the final analysis down on the Zartanian side. The commander-general has said that air operations will continue to be curtailed until more aircraft can be built and shipped over from the Kingdom, and this has caused the postponement of Operation Thunderball."

    "The naval war, meanwhile, continues its course. Upper Admiral Bill Johnston, commanding officer of Task Force 3/4/8, has said that his ships are continuing to perform expertly and are steadily enforcing the blockade of UBD-held southern Dignania. Task Force 3, centered around the jump carrier HMIS Bird-of-Prey (JC-2), has been operating in northern Dignania, contributing its own air squadrons to help the progress of the ground war, while making sure to keep out of range of UBD fighter and bomber aircraft. One UBD Echo fighter was picked up on radar Wednesday approaching the carrier group at high altitude. The plane was intercepted by two F-10 fighters from the carrier's combat air patrol (CAP), and was identified as probably a reconnaissance aircraft. Upon picking up the approaching Eastern Zartanian fighters, the Echo dove for the ocean in an attempt to escape. One Striker air-to-air missile, however, brought its escape to quick and watery end. No parachute was seen, and no other enemy aircraft were found in the area."

    "Under Admiral Krishnien's Task Force 4, centered around the battleship HMIS Imperial City (B-1), experienced some mild excitement of its own earlier in the week. The task force withdrew from the blockade line Monday to enter the Gonnoreia Archipelago for resupply. While anchored off the island of Attizek in the central part of the archipelago resupplying from the freighter ZS Rastal Arrow (NF-1162), the light cruiser HMIS Sovereign Raider (LC-4) came under artillery fire from the island. The fire was very accurately placed, with Sovereign Raider taking three hits immediately to her bow and #4 5-inch secondary gun. Judging from the impact and the damage, Captain Yon Torschek believes that the artillery pieces were 105mm mobile pieces mounted on a hilltop about half a mile inland. Upon coming under fire, resupply was immediately suspended and the cruiser's crew called to battlestations. Sovereign Raider brought her main battery of eight 7-inch guns (mounted in four 2-gun turrets) to bear on the target area and opened fire. After three well-aimed broadsides, the enemy artillery fire was silenced. A hastily assembled crew was armed and put ashore, and found the remains of a camp in the surrounding forest, with evidence of a small artillery park. Wreckage from two artillery pieces was found in the craters created by the cruiser's shells, but no bodies or other equipment. The Admiralty has declared Attizek Island off limits to IZN ships, and TF4 has been ordered to blockade the island for now while a final decision on the island's fate is worked out with the MLFLD."

    "Task Force 8 continues to enforce the blockade of Dignania as well. Within the past two weeks, five more ships have been turned away while attempting to enter the war zone, while three more have been captured. One of the three captured vessels was flying the Whitlamite flag, one the flag of Aros, and the third was flying the San Patrician flag. The Whitlamite and Aro ships, on two separate occasions, were attempting to run the blockade and enter southern Dignania. On both occasions, the ships were ordered to turn back immediately or be fired upon. Both refused, at which point a shot was placed across their bow. At that point the Aro ship hove to and was boarded by a crew from the frigate HMIS Seawolf (F-2). The subsequent inspection found the ship's hold full of food, light arms, ammunition, and boots. The freighter's registry in Aros was confirmed by the ship's papers, and the ship was claimed as a prize. The prize crew sailed it to Haddock Cove, where it is now being judged by an Admiralty court who will either condemn it as a legal prize of war (then buy it into the service thereby earning the frigate's crew prize money), or declare it an illegal capture and return it to its owners with restitution. The Whitlamite freighter continued on its course after the warning shot, refusing to heave to. The destroyer HMIS Orkton Battlecharger (D-6) was forced to fire upon and hit the freighter "Forde's Freedom" in the stern, causing it to stop. An inspection of the ship's hold found flags, machine guns, grenades, and helmets. That ship has also been taken to Haddock Cove as a prize. The San Patrician flagged ship was a small, fast personal yacht that was caught attempting to leave southern Dignania. After refusing to heave to for inspection at the blockade line, the yacht turned south and increased speed for the Eastern Delgamian coast while hoisting the San Patrician flag. The frigate HMIS Persistance (F-21) pursued the yacht into international waters. The frigate closed to within gunfire range, and fired a warning shot, causing the yacht to heave to just outside Eastern Delgamian waters. Upon boarding the vessel, two UBD "diplomats" and an MCZ "attaché" were discovered on board. The "diplomats" being considered contraband, the yacht was seized as a prize and taken to Haddock Cove. The Imperial Navy has yet to fully determine if the yacht was truly registered in San Patricio or if that flag was a ruse."

    "Eastern Zartania's privateers are still at work as well. Last week, three more enemy ships were captured, and two this past week. Four of the five ships were confirmed as enemy merchant vessels flying the UBD flag, and were scuttled after being boarded and seized in international waters. The fifth ship was an oiler that was snapped up by the privateer HMIP Vendixa's Shield, under the command of Captain Mariel Baeresmen. Baeresmen was cruising off the northern coast of Brolecia when a tanker, low in the water, was spotted to the north. Pursuing, the privateer followed the tanker through the night, coming to within seven miles of the oiler by daylight. At that time, the tanker hoisted Thistland colors, and Vendixa's Shield responded with the Eastern Zartanian merchant ensign. This maneuver bought enough time for the crew to positively identify the Thistlandic tanker in reality as an Eastern Zartanian oiler that was taken by an enemy commerce raider two weeks ago. With this evidence in hand, Baeresmen ordered the attack, hoisting the privateer ensign in place of the merchant ensign. The tanker was quickly captured with only a warning shot fired. A prize crew confirmed that the tanker was indeed formerly ZS Relbeek. The ship was taken to Haddock Cove where it was condemned as a prize of war and bought into the Imperial Navy's supply service. The Thistlandic crew was turned over to SF3 for interrogation. Meanwhile, several more merchant vessels have been lost at sea to enemy commerce raiders. A total of eleven ships have been lost to these pirates over the past three weeks, and all the Imperial Navy's attempts to find them have failed to this point. Fleet Admiral Mikail Indurii, commander of the Imperial Zartanian Navy, has reissued the directive ordering all Eastern Zartanian merchant vessels to travel only in convoy from now on, and requests that any foreign or domestic merchant or warship that happens to sight a ship acting in a suspicious manner immediately contact the Imperial Navy and report the incident."

    "That concludes this afternoon's RNS update on Dignania. We'll have more news for you tomorrow. I'm Chris Khelvor; have a good night."
 

August 21, 299

RNS Broadcast Center - (6:00 PM Local Time)

[Computer graphics and dramatic music que the start of the show.  Several pictures and video containing images of the war in Dignania flash before the screen.  The show’s title appears:]

RNS Special Report: War Diaries from Dignania

An announcer speaks:

    “This is the weekly news program dealing with all the events in and surrounding the war in Dignania.  The program will be run from RNS news center and hosted by news anchor Josh Macgregor and analyst John Turturo.”  [The camera shows a news studio with the large bold letters RNS on the back wall.  Right underneath the letters sits the familiar face of Josh Macgregor.  Macgregor first shuffles some papers before him then begins to speak.]

Macgregor:  “Good evening ladies and gentlemen.  John Turturo is on special assignment and will not be joining us tonight.”

“This is the fifthteenth week of the UBD offensive in the Eastern Sector of Ambrosio Line.  As our audience well knows through reports from RNS, the battle currently underway has been a mystery, but today we can report that the battle raging is on the decline.  There are reports that the UBD drive has been halted and in some areas forced back.  While military officials from MLFLD and KTZ deny any rumors of the UBD calling off their offense in the east there is no way for the reporters not to notice the shifting moods among the MLFLD and KTZ soldiers as they return from the front.  RNS does not have any information that could confirm an end to the fighting, but part of a reporter’s job is to study; no only what is said or what is not said, but also body language and mood.  For example, when people go to a funeral sadness is embodied into the way a person acts, talks, and moves.  If someone is paying attention and watching how people walk and behave one can notice if that person is happy, sad, tired, or angry.  I am sure everyone has noticed when someone is angry.  They don’t have to say a word; their body gives them away.  Usually an angry person’s body is tense and rigid.  A good sign is to see if their hands are balled up into a fist or if they walk fast not watching where they are going.  Of course the reverse is the same, when a person is happy their face light up, their eyes shine and they can’t seem to stop smiling.  Now while an angry person might avoid any contact with people, a happy person is constantly looking for someone to share their good fortunate with.  This happiness can clearly be seen on the MLFLD and KTZ soldiers as they march too and fro from the front.  Even as the officers keep reporters from speaking with the men, it is hard not to notice the smiles through the mud and grim over the last couple of days.”

“Another sign that the battle in the east is whining down is the relaxing of tensions.  People are calming down in body and voice.  Fewer and fewer people are running around as if the UBD would break through the front any time.  Even the KTZ 2nd Regiment soldiers are even easing their guard over the last week.  Just in the last few days, a growing number of reports have been coming in indicating that the fighting is dying down.  The sounds of distant explosions have curtailed to only a sprocaic display.  The movement of troops and supplies has slowed and even some units were seen leaving the combat area for relocation and rest.  Now this is not concrete evidence it does allow us a educated guess, which at the moment is the best we can do until more information is released.  The one thing I can say is that the UBD will not be breaking through any time soon."

"In other news, street fighting in the Novoyaokes cities of BLANK and Blank continues as the UNV continue to pull of the
This is Josh Macgregor for RNS, have a good night.
 
 

August 26, 299 AP

    [The TV screen goes black and the following words appear on the screen. RNS regular programming has been cancelled due to a special report about Dignania hosted by RNS military analyst John Turturo.  Music and graphics start up as the program begins.]

[The camera focuses on John Turturo sitting behind a desk.  Turturo begins to speak.]

    “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’m John Turturo.  Tonight I will explore a new and potently dangerous situation developing that could forever alter the political makeup of Dignania and the surrounding countries.  The situation that I speak of is the growing trouble across the border in Novoyoakes.  Tonight’s program will detail how the problems in Novoyoakes could spill over into Dignania and expand the war.

I want to start by describing for our audiences the problems that occurring at this moment in Novoyoakes.  I will ask the questions what is going on?  How did it start? And will it affect the conflict in Dignania?”

 “To start off, Novoyoakes was a colony of Northern Gronk, but over the last four months internal problems have forced the rulers of Northern Gronk to turn inward to deal with problems at home.  These problems include drought; economic break down and internal political turmoil.  At the time, Colony governors were told that they would have to fend for themselves as the public mood at home stated that they were tired of colonies bleeding the home country dry.  Most of Northern Gronk’s drive for overseas possessions was led by a small group of business and political leaders looking for wealth, fame, and adventure.  The home population of Northern Gronk never embraced the thought of colonialism and when the current crisis at home developed many in Northern Gronk saw it as a chance to get rid of as one government official said, “useless pieces of rock.”

 As you can imagine, the sudden withdraw of military, financial, and governmental support from the Northern Gronk brought many colonies to the brink of chaos.  This was no different for the Colony of Novoyoakes;  heavily populated colony of over 180,000 million people.  Now as you look at these maps you can get a sense of how the Colony is laid out.  Geographically speaking, Novoyoakes has a small Northern Plain much like Dignania.  As you look south, you head into the large mountain ranges correctly called BLANK.  In the mountain ranges are many river and lake valleys the hold a large population.  Keep going south and you cross over the tallest mountains on the whole continent of Delagmia.  Once over the mountains, the terrain quickly descends in huge flat plains that reach from central Novoyoakes to the southern coast.  This land is very rich in forests, farming, and industry. South Novoyoakes contains most of the large cities and industry and thus is where most of the population is.  At least ten rivers flow out of the mountains and into the central plains.  They meet in three different lakes named Four or five rivers such as flow out of the mountains and in the central lake BLANK and then the water flows down Djurango river and several smaller one until they finally drain into the ocean at the Djurango delta in the southern coast of Novoyoakes.  The largest concentration of population is along the southern and western coasts.  For example the capital of BLANK has and the city of BLANK has  Out of a population of 180,000 million, about a 120,000 lived from the southern edge of the BLANK mountains to the coast.

 “Now as I said before, Northern Gronk withdraw its support from Novoyoakes.  As soon as Northern Gronk announced it’s plans to set their colonies free, even if they didn’t want too, transplanted Gronkian nationals began to leave Novoyoakes for home. The Northern Gronkian military stationed in Novoyoakes began to leave too.  They took as much as they could, but towards that end they just abandoned much of the equipment because there was no transportation for the tanks, vehicles, and other equipment.  They took what was easy to carry and boarded passenger liners and never to return.  In the exodus military planes were flown out and naval ships left port never to return.  The only thing that Northern Gronk leadership especially wanted out of Novoyoakes was the nuclear missiles.  Those were quietly shipped out in late May.  So what did the Gronkains leave behind?  From estimates gathered by RNS from international achieve Sources State that Novoyoakes has enough arms and equipment to field an army of three million with at least twenty million people to draw soldiers from.  Novoyoakes has between 300-500 tanks of various types with hundreds of artillery pieces.  Now some of this military has been drained off by countries that have come in and claimed parts of Novoyoakes.  I will discuss that later in the program, but for now and for the sake of augments the rump territory that is left of Novoyoakes has enough arms to completely equipment an army of one and half million.  This is even after breakdowns, theft, and other countries claiming some.  This is a lot of guns are soldiers in the KTZ might have to fight. ”

    “The colonial government tried to keep the country together, but throughout May, June, and July the economy and then the country started falling apart.  With no home government to provide money and support, the currency fell and within two months inflation quadrupled.  The colonial government did not have any gold or silver reserves to float the economy so they printed paper money, which with each additional printing devalued the currency.  To compound the problem even more, there wasn’t much international investment in the colony to draw support off of.  In fact, most trade dried up once the colony was cut loose from Northern Gronk.  Novoyoakes’ biggest markets were Northern Gronk and Dignania, both of which were no longer open.  Acquiring foreign loans from other countries were next to impossible because most felt that they would not be paid back. Banks and companies began to close as productivity dropped and markets shrank.  Due to the worsening economy, unemployment rose dramatically.  With millions out of work, desperate men and women with families to feed looked for some sort of hope.  Some found it in a revving sense of religion.  Others turned to crime and still others looked for radical solutions to their problems.”

[Turturo pauses to let the magnitude of the problem sink into the audience.]
 
    “Now I ask our audience, does these scenario that I have described here tonight sound familiar.  It should, because these same sort of problems plagued Dignania just after it was set adrift by the FCC and we all know what that outcome was; war, death, and destruction; a country torn apart by ideology and hatred.  Even as I speak, men and women are dying in the trenches in Dignania.  Could this happen in Novoyoakes?  The answer is yes and from reports gathered over the last few weeks it has already started.”

    To add to the misery of an economic depression is a deep rooted racial and cultural hatred among many of the people and to the ever increasing economic crisis racial tensions between three groups of people and you have unrest.  As the colony fell apart every group began to look to its own and suddenly old racial hatreds and past aggressions came to a head.  Violence rose in the cities and in the countryside as various ethnic groups fought for what was left.  I am sure that our audience remembers the reports of riots and massacres coming out of the colony.  Throughout much of May and June, most government officials and military that belonged directly to Northern Gronk left.  At first, the violence was small in scale and scattered; a few murders and beatings here and there.  Temples and ethnic sites burned and as government authority withdrawal more and more from society, groups became bold and vicious.”

    “The racial problem is especially bad in Novoyoakes.  The Colony of 180,000 is divided into three large racial and economic groups with dozens of smaller groups of varying national and ethnic origins.  Gronkians who ruled the colony for many centuries make up about fifteen percent of the population.  The second group is racially mixed groups of native Delgamians who intermixed with Gronkians and were before Novoyoakes was a colony were the ruling class.  This group makes up roughly 20 percent.  The last and largest group is what Gronkians call the Mulattos.  This group makes up about 50 percent of the population.  They are the backbone of the labor in Novoyoakes.  They are very poor and as a whole uneducated and are very much disliked by the ruling establishment, which is made up of the first two groups.  Those groups consider the Mulattos beasts of burden that belong on the bottom of the food chain.  The hatred between the groups is racial, cultural, and economic motivated.  The Gronkians and the higher classes of Delgamians are city dwellers and consider themselves sopiticated.  They own most of the property, industry, and farming operations.  The mulattos form the servant classes and could be seen in the cities as maids, factory workers and day laborers. The political system was stacked against the Mulattos.  The upper classes controlled the government, the security forces, and the courts.  Over 80% of the people in jail were mulattos.

    "As I said before, a large percentage of the population lives along the coasts of Novoyoakes.  The large southern plains below the Tecojoro Mountains are mostly made up of large ranches called Latifundias (“broad acres”).  These large ranches and farms produced cash crops to be sold to Northern Gronk such as tobacco and rice.  The mulattos make up most of the labor that work the fields.  The Latifundias are owned by the Gronkian and high born Delgamians.  They live in large Haciendas while the Mulattos live in shantit towns.  Most of the farms are worked by hundreds of poor workers.  Owners don’t use high tech machines to work the farm because it is cheaper to pay labor and historically using hands in the soil did farming in Novoyoakes.  You see when the Gronkians took control of Novoyoakes they adopted the negative view of the Mulattos from coastal Delgamians.

    “The mulatto’s historically come from the central valleys and mountains of Novoyoakes.  They are a mountain people who believe in strong family ties and of large families.  In fact one of the problems is the ever-increasing population of the Mulattos. The great fear among the elite is that eventually the Mulatto population will grow to such size that they will take control and destroy everything that the uppercases have built.  The underlining reason for the hatred is fear.  Fear that the mulattos will do to them what they did to the mulattos.  That great fear seemed to be coming true when the Northern Gronk abandoned Novoyoakes and the Gronkian citizens.  As the months pasted, the economic situation deteriorated, the upper classes began to lose money and security.  The first people to lose jobs were the Mulattos.  By mid May, Novoyoakes was paralyzed by economic chaos and growing unrest.  The upper classes grew nervous and scared as crime increased and riots developed.  Especially disturbing was the growing numbers of unemployed mulattos swarming the cities looking for work.  Then UBD and MCZ simplizers began preaching to the masses of economic and political equality.  Many Mulattos began listening to leaders speaking about revolution of the workers.  Protests against the colonial government increased.  Sabotage and murder increased.  The ruling class started to panic.  By early June, police and militia forces manned and controlled by the Upper classes started fighting back.  They started imprisoning the leaders and began large scale round ups of Mulattos.  The security forces are believed to have committed terrible acts of murder and torture all in the name of law and order during this period.  In retaliation, Haciendas were looted and burned.  The owners murdered.  The colonial government began to give military weapons to vigilante groups composed of ethnic Gronkians and Delgamians.  The daily news programs were filled with video footage of youth manning tanks and using automatic rifles to hunt down the unwanted mulattos.  Then in late June, the central mountainous region, the historical home of the Mulattos turned to open rebellion.  They captured military bases and warehouses and declared themselves free.  All groups armed themselves to begin a civil war much like the one happening in Dignania.  In fact, the case can be made that the catalyst of the unrest in Novoyoakes can be traced to the revolution and civil war in Dignania.”

    “The upper classes of Novoyoakes were in full panic.  They were looking for any help and they didn’t care if they would have to pledge allegiance to another nation just as long as they were protected from the Mulatto masses.  They started looking out for allies.”

[Turturo pauses.]

    “Late June and early July, the UNV was already considering action in Novoyoakes.  They had been denied authority in the Dignanian civil war and now  Novoyoakes presented an opportunity to flex its muscle and just maybe, once they were in Novoyoakes they might still have a hand in the civil war in Dignania.  They took the pleas of the ruling establishment of restoring order to the chamber and asked if any countries would step in to help stabilize Novoyoakes.  After much debate and conferences, the UNV decided that Novoyoakes was too large and was untenable as an independent country and that to prevent another civil war like in Dignania countries should step in and claim a section as part of a trust.  Five countries that had long standing interests in Novoyoakes stepped forward.  To make in nice and legal they divvied the sections out by what countries had minorities in Novoyoakes.  The division would be legalized by the UNV giving the corresponding countries trusts.  Now as you look at this map the countries of Aros, Westria, Lamb’s cove, Eastern Delgamia, and Brolecia claimed parts.

    “Now as they say, the plot thickens.  Aros, Brolecia, and Eastern Delgamia belong to an international organization called MESTO, which stands for Melanian Sea Treaty Organization.  This organization is based on protecting the environment at all costs.  They were eager to try ego-tourism. This organization saw an opportunity to do something that never has been done before.  They put forth a plan to turn most of Southern Novoyoakes into a nature park.  It would be prefect because most of the region was large farms and forests with few built up cities.  Most of the cities were along the coasts and those would be under the control of the various occupying countries.  By looking at the map, the audience can see roughly the shape of the park with the northern boundaries against the Tecojoro mountains.  The park also acts like a buffer zone to the areas taken by the countres.  The UNV jumped at the opportunity at what they say a good idea for Vexilluim.  The UNV brought the plan to the ruling classes and with the alternative, in their minds, surrender to the mulattos they chose to give their allegance to whoever country took them.  It was decided that the rump of Novoyoakes not claimed by anyone would become a UNV zone of control.  The plan was the UNV to come and set up a new government and with luck they could exieite control over the Dignania civil war.  You see part of the reason why the UNV agreed to the break up and division of Novoyoakes was they saw a chance to become a player in international matters.  The leaders of the UNV felt anger that the Dignanians refused the leadership of the UNV and to make matters worse the MLFLD let the Kingdom of Eastern Zartania help instead of the UNV.  The leaders saw it as a direct challenge to the authority of the UNV.  If countries ignore the UNV and deal independently of international body then it was only a thing on paper.  The UNV saw this as an opportunity to become a force in Vexillium.  Unforunately, that part of the plan never got past the first stages.

By mid- July, the five nations agreed upon to claim part of Novoyoakes moved to take their share.  Securing the sections were realitly easy as the ruling classes welcomed the stablizing government and the inflex of new capital and since most of the organization military belonged to the upper classes, fighting was miminal.  In fact, it was quite easy.  The sections belonging to each country just changed flags and colors and became part of that country.

    "The UNV arrived in what was left of Novoyaokes in late july.  At first they were able to secure the support of various factions trying to gain control of the rump of Novoyaokes.   The UNV sent in aid groups and began trying to rebuild the broken society.  A UNV security force was flown in, but were completely unprepared for the task at hand.  They could not control the factions within Novoyoakes and could only sit back and watch as fighting erupted between groups trying to gain control.  Open street battles would explode.  Most of the battles involved only street thugs hopped up on drugs firing wildly at each other.  But as time wore on the battle became organized and deadly.After a few weeks, It soon became clear that the UNV was getting no where.  Leaders of the various factions and clans began to ignore

[Turturo again pauses; the lights in the studio dime as the camera zooms in for a close up of Turturo’s face.]

 “Now comes the most tragic and heart revening part of this whole land grab.  The upperclass Gronkians and Delgamians know that the southern plains would become a nature preseve.  It is true that many owners of the Latifundias were extremely uphappy to give up their land and farmers to form some kind of nature park.  It is also true that several farmers would not give up their land and would fight for it.   Many Gronkians and Delgamians unhappy with becoming a part of some other country left the southern areas and moved either out of Novoyoakes or into the Northern plains that was still free of control and where large populations of Gronkians and Delgamians live.  But most of the people really affected were the Mulattos.  They were not loin cloth primitive natives living in wooden huts that the Ego warriors could love and study.  No they were poor masses of people who just lost their homes.  Now this is the terrible part.  The upper classes knew that the park was going to be created and they saw an opportunity to get rid of millions of unwanted people.  They thought if they could act now they could say they were only following what MESTO wanted.  A park clear of unwanted people.  So when officials came to survey the new land for the park they found the ruling class willing and eager to help.

[Turturo Pauses again.  Behind him pictures of thousands of people marching in the mountains.  Pictures of sad children fill the screen.  Then pictures of bulldozers clearing out shanty villages, and finally pictures of bodies along side a road.]

 “This is the result of the campaign to clear southern Novoyoakes of the mulattos.  As reported by Thomas Skillern on July 31, the upper class is shipping out the mulattos in the mountainous and northern rump of Novoyoakes.  They are tearing up and burning villages all in the name of the environment.  Millions of Mulattos are on the move north into the mountains.  The Upper classes finally have their wish, a chance to clear their areas of the unwanted element.  Murder, rape, and torture are on every mulatto’s lips as they reach safety in the mountainous regions.  It is hard to get details about what is going on in Mestonia Park since all reporters are kept out.  We can only see and hear the cries of pain and anger of the mulattos as they travel in long lines of refugees north into the mountains.”

August 25, 299 AP

Breaking News!

RNS special report about the war in Dignania – (11:17 AM Local Time)

[The camera turns on and immediately the audience can see a large room filled to capatitely with reporters, foreign government officials, and military personal.  The camera pans around to show just how filled the room is.  Everyone is seated in folding chairs facing the front of the room.  The camera is able to capture through sight and sound the nervous energy in the room.  Everyone one is talking to each other or into a camera.  The bright lights of the camera's cases a yellow glow over the room.  A podium with at least a dozen Mic's on top stands near the front the room.  All the chairs face the podium.  The MLFLD and KTZ flag’s are tacked up on the wall behind the podium.  Just in front of the flags and behind the podium is a line of chairs against the wall.  There are about six men and two women sitting in those chairs.  The audience might recognize them as ambassadors to several countries of Vexillium.  The camera then focuses on Kristoffer Henriksson.  He begins to speak.”

 “Good morning, we are in the large conference room of the hotel blank in the city of Mansa.  Late last night, MLFLD and KTZ military police and officials begin telling reporters, international observers, and civilians that there would be a news conference explaining the news media blackout and the UBD offensive in the Eastern Rokariyn Mountains.  To say that any body who is any body is here waiting for the conference is an understatement.  Every reporter in Dignania and a few that have just arrived are here to hear what is going to be said.  I notice that several ambassadors are also in attendance tonight.”

 “Besides this being the first news conference given by the MLFLD in almost three months, we have been told that MLFLD leader Matthew Cook will personally address the assembled crowd.   We now only wait for his arrival.  Reporters are hoping that this conference will explain the blackout and whether or not there is any truth to the reports of chemical weapons used in the fighting.  If we’re lucky he might also discuss the growing signs of UBD and MCZ involvement access the border in the rump of what was Novoyoakes.  The assembled media is eager for what is to be said… Wait! some people are entering the room.  Let’s hear to what they have to say.”

[Several men enter the room and all, but one takes a seat in the chairs provided behind the podium.  One man, a colonel according to his rank ensigina, approaches the podium to speak.  The camera focuses on the newly arrived men sitting in the chairs.  The audience should recognize the faces of General Matthew Cook, Deputy Harrison Ford, Lt-General Kenneth Calcaterra, Brigadier Baron Josef Hennessy, and Brigadier Robert Shelkin, but the sixth man is unfamiliar.  He is tall, well built and has a darker complexion then the other men around him.  This man seems very uncomfortable in a new general’s uniform as he fidgets with the collar.  When he entered the room, General Cook’s limp and use of a cane were very noticeable.  The camera shifts to the podium as the colonel begins to speak.]

 “Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press and thank you for coming.  I would also like to thank the foreign ambassadors and observers that has taken time out of their busy schedules to be here this morning.  You are all gathered here with the assumption that some sort of explanation will be presented that will explain the events over the last few months.  This morning’s news conference will focus on the media blackout, the UBD offensive, and several governmental changes within the MLFLD.  Before General Cook speaks, I would like to remind the members of the press that there will be no interruptions during the speech and I state again, there will be no questions answered at the end.  Now please, General Matthew Cook.”

[The colonel gestures for General Cook to take the podium.  General Cook stands up using the cane as leverage. The limp is clearly seen from the back of the room.  He leans on the crane for support as he walks to the podium.  The room is silent as General Cook takes out several pages from a folder. His movements are drawn and unsteady as if a great weight has been thrust upon him. The General begins to speak.]

 “Good Evening and thanks for being patient over the last few months.  I know that our silence has caused many problems, but it couldn’t be helped.  I especially hate to cut off the reporters from doing their job.  They have been very kind to the MLFLD and the plight of the people of Dignania.  I say first that all restrictions placed upon reporters over the last three months are now lifted.  As long as you clear it with the commanding officers it is allowed to return to the front lines.  I also would like to thank the heads of the foreign governments that have stood by us even when we could not be truthful on the nature of the crisis that plagued the MLFLD leadership.”

 “Now before I begin, I would first like to thank the Government of Eastern Zartania for their continued support without which we would not have survived.  I would especially like to thank Brigadier Baron Josef Hennessy and Brigadier Robert Shelkin for their support and actions over the last few months.  [General Cook pauses]  Well, let's get down to brass tacks.  First of all, I would like to say that the UBD offensive in the Eastern Sector has been contained and there is… repeat there is no chance that the UBD will break through.  It was a hard fight, but we held them.  General Calcaterra will provide more details on the operations against the UBD after I finish speaking.”

 “The reason behind the media blackout was that for over the last two months the leadership of the MLFLD has been in turmoil.  In simplest terms we had a coup attempt.”

[The room suddenly bursts into murmurs and uneasiness.  General raises his hands to calm the crowd.]

 “Let me continue! Please, now as I said, a coup attempt was made, but it does not stop there.  On May 8th, General Dale Webster and I were traveling to, what was at the time Lt-General Calcaterra’s headquarters for the Eastern Sector.  The purpose for the meeting was to discuss plans on counteracting the new UBD offensive in the East.  To avoid attention, we traveled along a small back road that should have been only known to us, but unfortunately as things turned out someone else knew too.  Because without warning our motorcade came under attack.  The ambush was executed superbly.  They cut through our motorcade within a few moments.  RPG’s destroyed the lead and last vehicles, which prevented the rest of the vehicles to escape.  We were trapped between the burning vehicles.  They quickly swarmed out of the bushes and trees to engage us hand to hand.  Within a few minutes, I was captured with a bullet in my leg.  The attackers quickly gathered up the survivors and then shot them all except for me.

[General Cook pauses to clear something from this throat.  The room is deathly quiet.]

 “All together during the raid they killed forty-three brave soldiers including General Dale Webster who took a bullet to the head.  They tied me up, gagged me, and put a hood over my head before throwing me into some sort of truck.  At the time, I thought it was strange that just as we were driving off, I heard the sound of jets screaming overhead and then tremendous explosions back from where we came.  I was later to learn that the jets belonged to the UBD and they covered the tracks of my attackers.  I would spend the next month in a half imprisoned before I was freed, but before I get into how I was freed, I would like to explain what happened in the meantime.

 “As soon as I was out of the way, the coup plotters began the second phrase of their plan.