Archaen News.Net - Live from Scanlon Station

[lowell]

Scanlon Station
Level M
Transcom Channel 14


[*BzzZZZ... SCANLON INFO-TRAFFIC-ARTIFIC ....BZZZZ...REPORTING TEMPORAL SHIFT-SIGNAL WARNING.....WARN...BZZZ.... . DUE TO PHASE STORM INTER ....BZZ-ZZZ.. NEWS-POST FROM THE PAST HOUR...QZZZZ... ARE BEING RANDOMLY BROADCAS...XZZZ... THIS IS NOT AN ERROR... BZZZ... REPEAT, QZZZ... DO NOT..... BZZzzzzz... *]

[The blare of white noise and static clears and hardens into a solid focused image. A single man dressed in an archaen tunic faces the camera. Behind him are two massive doors bearing the official seal of Scanlon Station. Removing his hand from his earpiece he looks up with a friendly grin.]

"Hello, and welcome. This is Somerset Ohio of the Archaen News.Net reporting live from Scanlon Station in Neutral Space, Level M - Minor Empire Hub. A new development has been added to the already exciting atmosphere here at the center of Galactic events. Several unconfirmed sources have spotted heavy troop movement of Intergalactic Battle Cruisers entering Jump Gates bearing for Sectors G, H, and F. The exact reason for this movement has not been explained and from what we can understand from scattered reports coming into the Minor Empire Decks is the IGP and quite possible
the Watchers themselves have simply moved addition forces in to protect a number of newly recognized Minor Empires such as the Isie and the August Empire of Archaen, my home, and one of several thousand Minor Empire receiving this broadcast.

"Such a procedure would not be unusual, if the authorities of Scanlon did not issue a edict temporally grounding all Trade Union ships while an emergency special Council meeting as been called for all Major Empire Ambassadors, Trade Union representatives and a number of Watchers. More baffling ... No Minor Empire representatives have been invited.

"Currently several of the merchants and their crews are on extended leave, where they have been given a generous number of tokens and play vouchers for all entertainment platforms here on the station. Already station security droids and IGP forces have arrested over a hundred Trade Union crewmen for drunken and disorderly conduct. Quite a large number are thrilled by this unheard of windfall, yet this reporter has found quite a number sequestered in various taverns passionately discussing an debating the true meaning of this turn of events.

"Many of those I have interviewed believe both the IGP and the Watchers are secretly blockading all Interstellar shipping lanes and Hyper-Gates to the Trisector area, or to perhaps prevent other empires and elements from entering a possible war zone. If this is true, this presents an unprecedented change in policy for the protectors of Galactic diplomacy, commerce and travel to that of authoritative enforcers.

"To date, this reporter has not seen any hard proof to confirm these speculations, however the effects of these rumors have already taken root. Two hours ago a Watcher's Cabal stationed here on Scanlon were attacked by a mob of angry merchants. This was the scene.. ."

[Screen fades to a handheld-cam view of a group of merchants, many are Human and some are citizens from several empires. To camera left three Sib'Yls stand in defensive positions as crackles of energy seethe around their hands. Three bodies lay on the floor twitching with spasmodic pain, while the rest of the mob is restrained by several members of IGP Security.

"Those bastards illegally searched our ship, the Falling Suns!... Despots! everyone of them!" shouts a voice.



"Hold on ... this just came in."

[The reporter holds a hand to his modular earpiece, nods his head then looks back at the camera.]

"A temporary curfew has been put into effect and all merchants have agreed to confine themselves to their ships or quarters until an official station wide broadcast has been made on the subject."



"Lady Onia on board the H.M.S. Negotiator, along with envoys and scientist from the White are currently en route to Scanlon Station to set up the Empire's Embassy and to and negotiate trade and alliance talks with Trade Union representatives and numerous Minor Empires. Currently, all communications with the Archaen ships have been cut off as several Ambassadors, merchants and this reporter himself believe the Archaen Princess and vessels may have been caught in the middle of the blockade zone strictly enforced by the IGP.

"This is Somerset Ohio with Archaen News.Net signing off for now. I'll be back as more events and information develop and break. As usual ... I'll try and see you hear it from me first."

[lowell]

Scanlon Station
Level M
Transcom Channel 14

[The studio lights fade up revealing a sitting Human anchorman at an Ophoran shell lacquered desk. The man looks up with a tired expression
yet with sharp and alert eyes.]

"Hello and welcome. This is Somerset Ohio of the Archaen News.Net. Crisis in the August Empire of Archaen. Princess Onia Onnetta Farel Marcello, youngest daughter to Emperor Shadrach Farfel Marcello VI has been kidnapped by Mord Pirates."

The reporter takes a moment to compose himself and swallows down a dry throat. He continues.

"Reports coming in are sketch at the moment but there have been reports of a treachery by a trusted member within Princess Onia's circle who may have betrayed both her and the crew of the HMS Negotiator to the outlaw pirates. Causalities have been reported, but all names have been withheld pending the notification of the crew members families. However, it is believed that among the wounded is Lord Warren Cambridge of the House of Penn, a close friend and trusted advisor to the Royal family."

[Image cross dissolves to show a holo-image of the Dream Engineer, superimposed on the Archaen emblem. The image fades back to Ohio]

"Princess Onia and her diplomatic staff were on their way to Scanlon Station to attend the First Contact Conference where she would represent both Emperor and Empire as the Archaen Ambassador of State."

[The image cuts to a close up holographic portrait of the young Dreamer.]

"Though only eight years old the young Princess' mind-age is reported to be eighteen. Educated on the Archaen Mind Plane it is believed that she already holds degrees in diplomacy and interstellar relations."

The portrait cuts back to a medium close up of the reporter.

"The Royal Family and Archaen Parliament have offered no official statement, but orders have been issued placing the entirety of the Archaen Fleet on a full war standing. The Archaen borders have been sealed while August Battle Group 3, under the command of August Admiral Neven Teagan, has been sent via Hyper-Gate to the coordinates of the last encounter with the Mords.

"Within the Archaen culture betrayal is considered the most heinous of all crimes, and is regarded even more repulsive than murder, or assault."

The reporter touches his all-channel ear piece and cocks his head to the side. He pauses a few moments and shakes his head with a slightly look of alarm.

"This just in ... a possible second battle has now been reported between forces of the Isie Empire and Mord pirate elements, though it has not been confirmed if this is the same element that attacked the Archaens. If so we may be looking at a multi-empire crisis within Sector G. One can only wonder how many other Minor or Lessor Empiires within the Tri-Sector area."

[The reporter pauses another moment and sits straighter to regard the camera directly.]

"We will keep you up to date as more reports come in, however ... "

[He lets out a long breath.]

"In the midst of this unfolding story I am afraid I must bid my loyal viewers farewell as I begin my new post away from the Archaen News.Net to a new job and position as head of the Archaen bureau of the Galactic News.Net. I am happy to say that my syndicated show Somerset on the Net will still continue, but ... I will also leave you in good hands. My replacement will be my producer here at ANN, Malory Barnes. Malory has been directly responsible for making me look good over the years, or more to the point, preventing me on numerous occasions from making a fool of myself."

[The camera pushed in closer as the reporter fondly smiles.]

"I want to thank you for your loyalty and support over these past years, and as ANN will bring the best and most in-depth stories happening in the Archaen Empire, I will do my best to present the news from the Archaen perspective as we take our place within the greater galaxy. I look at this as not an ending, but as a beginning down a newly discovered road."

[The lights begin to fade]

"This is Somerset Ohio signing off. Wherever the news may fare ...
I hope you hear it from me first. Thank you, and good night."

[The camera fades to black]