Despite Political Rhetoric, No Action on Chicago

March 5, 2057

 

Outside the Chicago Containment Zone: UCAS army transports continue to bring supplies and munitions for the soldiers of the 109th Infantry Battalion, who guard the southern walls of the Chicago Containment Zone (CCZ).  The troops of the 109th, as well as their compatriots in the 93rd and 7th Battalions, and the entire compliment of the Illinois National Guard have now been guarding the increasingly well guarded barrier between the UCAS and the the formerly bustling metropolis of Chicago for almost two years now.

In 2055, when the national emergency was first declared by then President Steele, the public was led to believe that the city was the site of a massive VITAS outbreak, possibly an act of bio-terrorism, that, for some, brought back dark memories of the dead and dying during the first and second VITAS waves back in 2010 and 2023.  The universal fear of that horrible disease silenced many who would have objected at the time to the actions taken by the Steele administration: the cutting of all communications lines to Chicago, and the erection of a containment wall manned with snipers.  

It was not until early 2056 that the public finally learned about the true nature of the Chicago tragedy: Insect Spirits.  Malevolent beings from beyond astral space and summoned here by deranged shamans, these creatures "manifest" by possessing the bodies of metahumans.  While this process sometimes creates the monstrous "true form" insect spirits, giant insectile beasts capable of overturning security vehicles or flying off with unsuspecting prey, it just as often creates what UCAS army mages are calling "flesh form" spirits: metahuman in every respect, down to the host's memories, but possessed of the spirit's powers and cruelty.  It is because of these creatures that the Steele administration, advised by the Great Dragon Lofwyr and the Council of Princes in Tir Tairngire, gave the order to cut off the city, and to shoot on site anyone attempting to flee the zone.  

Inside the wall, the city is in chaos.  Gunshots ring out night and day, punctuated by screams and explosions.  From outside the containment wall, massive true form wasp and fly spirits can be seen hauling victims back to hives for implantation.  Though military personnel may want to help these doomed innocents, true form spirits are all but immune to conventional weapons, and highly dangerous to the precious few army spellcasters available to police the zone.  As such, army policy has been to only engage spirits attempting to flee the CZ itself.  Though the military has been making regular supply drops to the zone, intelligence operatives, army drones, and satellite footage have confirmed that these drops are almost always claimed by local gangs and warlords, who in turn, demand fealty from those in the area who would like a few meager scraps thrown their way.  Rumors of neo-feudal kingdoms, skyscrapers-turned-fortresses, roving gangs committing acts of racial cleansing, and strange alterations to Chicago's astral plane have all worked their way out to the men and women who guard the walls of the CZ.  Such rumors, and the things they see through scopes and imagers on a daily basis have worn morale down significantly over the past two years, but neither has hurt as bad as the killings.

Because of the insidious nature of the flesh form spirits, anyone who escapes the zone could be an insect spirit bent on spreading the contamination to the rest of the UCAS.  The guards and snipers guarding the CZ walls issue fervent warnings to anyone approaching the wall, praying that they'll listen to reason and return to the zone.  Each day, however, some refuse to turn.  Driven by hunger, terror, hopelessness, madness, and maybe, just maybe, the insidious influence of an insect spirit, they attempt to scale the wall in a poorly lit area.  Sometimes, they simply charge the towers, knowing what comes next.  In either case, the men and women of the UCAS armed forces must bear the onerous task of protecting the UCAS by putting a bullet into what may well be an innocent man, woman, or child. 

Yet, with the zone up for nearly two years now, public attention has drifted away from the plight of those in Chicago and those who keep them there.  A number of distractions have pulled the fickle UCAS's attention toward President Steele's election debacle, and now the media circus that is the 2057 election.  And while the Containment Zone is a hot-button topic, especially for  retired army General Franklin Yeats and magicians like Rozalynn Hernandez and the Great Dragon Dunkelzahn, the continued political turmoil in Washington means that no firm decisions can be made about what the media has dubbed "Bug City."  One can only hope, in this time of true crisis, that the UCAS voters can make an informed decision, and that our new President can form and implement a swift resolution to the ongoing tragedy that is the Chicago Containment Zone.

 

The New Century Party:  Technocrats Turned Magocrats?

March 1st, 2057

Washington FDC, UCAS:  In the midst of this tumultuous election, many UCAS voters are casting a critical eye towards the New Century Party and wondering, are these the Technocrats of my youth?   

On the surface, the majority of members of the party are Technocrats that appear to have jumped ship after the the Tech party leader, former President Thomas Steele rigged the 2056 election, but there's more going on than that.  Those former Technocrats claim that they saw the rigged election as the final proof that the party that promised to move the UCAS into a future of technological innovation and economic strength has become as old and corrupt as the Democrat and Republican parties from which it was originally formed back in 2040.  Moreover, they say, the purely technological promise of the the Technocrat party ignores the terrible fact that the UCAS, unlike many of its North American Neighbors, has failed to truly integrate the power of magic into its governance.  That's where Dr. Rozalyn Hernandez, controversial social scientist and mage, and her Illuminates of the New Dawn come in.

Hernandez has been on the board at Georgetown University for the past fourteen years, and her theories on social development, technomagic and progress through innovation have met with acclaim and criticism throughout her career, and many have accused her of being a "guru" to her academic adherents.  Dr. Hernandez stands by her theory that (meta)humankind can achieve a utopian society through technological and magical development.  In the speech announcing her candidacy, she summed up her opinion in the following words: "Our technology isn't doing enough.  Magic isn't doing enough.  Neither of them has lived up to what they could be.  We need to take back the reins of power and guide the world into the new era.  Magic and technology working together can show us the new directions that our nation needs to take; this way, we can fulfill the promise of the twenty-first century."

Of course, Dr. Hernandez knows all about the workings of magic.  She is a high-grade initiate mage and a member of the magical group known as the Illuminates of the New Dawn.  The Illuminates claim to see the "Awakening" as a sign of a new era in human development.  They say that they believe that the forces of magic and science must be reconciled in order to advance the (meta)human cause.  Of course, virtually every member of the IOND is also a member of the New Century Party, and these hip, progressive mages have succeeded in bringing younger, disillusioned members of the Technocrat party under the New Century banner.  Focusing only on progress at the expense of tradition, the New Century Party is heavily pushing the idea that magic is the key to the future of UCAS governance; an idea that appeals to young people enamored of magic and disconnected from the traditions of our American heritage.

With all that said, the voter must ask himself, is this really what I want?  Young voters propelling a female demagogue wielding unknowable powers and a fervent desire to re imagine our society as one that "integrates magic into governance?"  "Dr." Rozalyn Hernandez hails from the elitist halls of academia and the secretive halls of a magical order that goes so far as to call itself the "illuminates."  For all her talk about solving issues through research and the application of technology and magic, it is fairly clear that her agenda, and that of the Illuminates of the New Dawn is to replace the venerable Technocrats with a new form of Magocrats.  A "New Century" where ordinary humans answer to their magical and academic "betters," and magic users a placed to take the reigns of our once great nation.

Work Resumes on Renraku Arcology After Setbacks

Installation of Increased Security Measures Stalled Work on Chronically Behind-Schedule Landmark

February 25th, 2057

 

 Seattle, UCAS:  This morning saw construction crews returning to the as yet unfinished 305th floor of the Renraku Arcology.  After the mysterious disappearance of a Renraku cargo helicopter shortly after lifting off from the Arcology's 300th floor cargo heliport structure, work on the structure was put on hold while an investigation took place.  With the conclusion of the investigation, and the addition of new security measures on incoming and outgoing air traffic from the Arcology's upper levels, work has resumed on final two floors of Renraku's signature landmark.

Of course, news of setbacks and work on the Renraku Arcology is hardly new.  Under construction since 2039, the huge, truncated pyramid now rises nearly one thousand meters into the sky above the waterfront and stretches more than ten huge city blocks on each side.  Construction has employed tens of thousands of Seattlites and Renraku corporate citizens.  Though still unfinished, the familiar edifice is almost fully operational, housing over 80,000 Renraku workers, as well as incorporating shopping malls, nightclub districts, hospitals, schools, internal transportation, food production, its own nuclear power plant, and even Renraku Seattle's main manufacturing facilities, and the massive mainframe computers that run SEASource, the foundation of the Seattle public matrix.  Essentially, the grand structure is a city within the city.
 
Of course, the aim is for it to be more than that.  When completed, the arcology will be self-sufficient fortress.  Renraku America President, Sherman Huang, who personally oversees both the the AAA megacorp's interests in North America and the construction of the Arcology, has seen to it that the completed structure will be more than self-sufficient; it will be impregnable.
 
"The SCIRE (Self-Contained Industrial-Residential Environment) is the largest arcology in the world, and when in lock-down mode, it will be able to withstand even a nuclear bombardment," Huang told Newsfax.  "All needs are seen to within the SCIRE, and safety and security are assured.  In the future, Renraku citizens will be born, work, and die within its mighty walls, never needing to leave.  Arcologies like the SCIRE could be built in even the most inhospitable places, and assure productive living and working inside, even if the world outside falls to chaos.  In short, the Renraku Arcology is not only the future of Renraku, but very likely the future of life on Earth."
 
Despite Huang's claims and the already impressive 90% operational capacity of this, the world's largest arcology, the fact remains that work on the monumental structure is now almost three years behind schedule.  Unforeseen construction woes, weather problems, and now security measures have all conspired to keep the the completion date of Renraku's pride and joy a fluctuating thing.  Originally scheduled for completion in the summer of '54, that date was pushed back to December of '56.  With that deadline come and gone, Huang now declares that the structure will be complete and fully operational by July 2058.

Too Awakened For the White House?
February 16th, 2057

There can be no doubt about it; the proven fraud in last year's election, and the shortened campaign season announced by congress have conspired to, by far, the most eclectic and diverse group of candidates to ever run for the UCAS' highest office. With a dwarf/troll shaman ticket from the Democratic One World party, an ork VP running for the Republicans, a female mage running the New Century Party, and a great dragon running as an independent, it seems like the "plain vanilla" candidates, Booth and Brackhaven, are the minority.

The choices for the voter seem endless. Who would vote for a plain-jane politician like Booth, when most of the candidates have exotic looks and access to fantastic magical powers? Wouldn't a mage or a shaman be best to deal with the magical bug spirit problem in Chicago? What about a dragon? Nobody really knows what dragons are capable of or how they think; all we know is that they're ancient creatures of great power. Wouldn't Dunkelzahn be able to wave his claw and banish the bugs forever? It seems as though choosing one of the many "awakened" candidates is obviously superior to choosing a "mundane" leader like Booth or Brackhaven.

But is the choice really so simple?

James Booth has years of experience on the hill, with numerous successes in both legislation and foreign policy. His term as VP saw him negotiating tough treaties with our North American neighbors (none of which harbor much love for the old Stars, Leaves, and Stripes), and winning strong terms that favored UCAS trade. Kenneth Brackhaven is a politically intentioned businessman who's had several successes of his own. While neither man is adept at magic, they are, to varrying degrees, clearly adept at governing, and isn't that what we want in a president? After all, what's more important to the UCAS people; conjuring or congress, magic or management?

With recent reports from Knight Errant showing that metahuman magic users, the so-called "insect shamans," are the original source of the bug spirits that inhabit our world (and thus, the Chicago Containment Zone), do we really feel comfortable trusting the White House to Vogel's "eagle" shaman VP, Gary Grey? Do we want, as our leader, a woman who flaunts her membership in a secretive magical order and proposes "integrating" more magic into every UCASer's daily life? Last of all, can the UCAS afford to have a commander-in-chief who is irreperably magical by his very nature, has an unknowable alien mind, predates the time of Christ, and is a multi-ton predatory carnivore?

Maybe now we can see why plain vanilla is so popular.

High School Students Protest Brackhaven Speech

February 13th, 2057

Winnipeg, Manitoba: High school students at Martin Mulroney High School left classes and picketed a planned speech by Archconservative candidate Kenneth Brackhaven. The students, some eleven hundred of them, formed a crowd outside the Mulroney High gymnasium, blocking the entrance, and carrying signs that read "Hope not Hatred," and "No White Hoods in the White House."

The protest, in all likelihood organized by the teachers at Martin Mulroney (though they claim otherwise), refused to disperse and allow Brackhaven and his staff entrance to the gymnasium podium. Martin Mulroney Principal Deborah Eggers, who requested that Brackhaven come and deliver a speech at the school, attempted to break up the crowds with threats of suspensions, but the crowd was unswayed. Instead, many accused Eggers of being a Humanis Policlub member, and cowing to Brackhaven's so-called "racist" agenda.

"This is not entirely unexpected," Brackhaven told NewsFax. "Those who cannot do, teach. Saddly, that axiom is more true now than ever. In today's competitive world, where honest, lucrative positions are available to all citizens with the drive to make something of themselves, only the purely socialistic nature of the UCAS public education system rewards intellectual laziness and radical left-wing and non-human politics. Thus, these radical fringe members of our society, filled with leftist hatred for honest religion, normality, and hard, honest work, are given jobs as teachers and allowed to survive on the teat of government handouts, while simultaneously polluting the hearts of our children with dangerous ideas. This is why I say a fully privatized education system is needed to ensure that only those worthy to cut it in today's world are involved with education."Kenneth Brackhaven was born in 2011. His mother died of complications as a result of his birth. His father, Charles Brackhaven, lavished his son with every luxury, while casting a critical eye on his son as unworthy of the "sacrifice" made by his mother. Kenneth Brackhaven went to Pacific State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He earned his MBA at the Harvard Business School, then went to work in the family investments business. When Charles passed away in 2044, Kenneth Brackhaven stepped up to take over the family business. He invested many resources into politics, through his fundraising and lobbying organization the Citizen's Coalition for Security (CCFS), and became a powerful voice on many political issues, particularly those in which the government unduly burdened ordinary UCAS citizens with unnecessary legislation and taxation purely to benefit non-normative fringe groups. This political influence culminated in his current bid for UCAS president.

Pricuricu: Innocent Awakened Animal Or Threat to Jobs?

February 9th, 2057

By now, everyone has heard the presidential hullabaloo about Federated Boeing's eradication of local pricuricu colonies. Everyone in Seattle remembers the massive protests at Boeing field that blocked downtown traffic and prompted Lone Star's Riot Division to mobilize in order to prevent violence from the vocal mob. Coincidentally, this large conservation protest managed to happen when Democratic "One-World Party" candidate, and self-proclaimed eco-activist Arthur Vogel was in Seattle on his election P.R. tour.
Rather than denounce the angry gathering, Vogel rushed to a podium (already built when he arrived), and addressed the crowd. Vogel thanked the rioters for coming, then spoke of the UCAS' duty to put the rights of paranormal animals over those of "oppressive" corporate interests. He defended the pricuricu as an innocent "awakened" creature, and a gift of the so-called "Sixth World." The "great" dragon Dunkelzahn soon arrived in his astral form, and also addressed the crowds on the importance of living in harmony with innocent creatures like the picuricu.
But is the picuricu really so innocent? Would a corporation like Federated Boeing, which handles vast contracts for the UCAS military, supplies the world with safe aircraft, and employs over two-hundred thousand Seattlites, wantonly kill an innocent and harmless little bird?
The fact is that the picuricu, for those in any business related to aircraft or remote-sensing drones, is a known nuissance and, all too often, a killer.
The "awakend" form of the common thrush (H. mustelina), the picuricu is nocturnal and navigates by emitting ultra-high pitched cries. These cries, though innaudible to metahumans, can play havoc with modern sonar and sensor systems. Any pilot will tell you, loss of ultrasonic sensors can easily mean loss of life to hundreds of air comuters, and the thousands of real innocents who live in the houses below. Is it any wonder why Federated Boeing, in the interest of the public safety, and at no cost to the public, destroys picuricu flocks?
Unfortunately, despite evidence of the deadly nature of this "gift to the 'Sixth world,'" two of the more radical presidential hopefulls seem to be firmly in the camp of the "innocent" picuricu. Should either Vogel or Dunkelzahn be elected POTUCAS, we may see corps like Federated Boeing shut down by overbearing legislation designed to ensure that plane-killing birds have a home, but hard working Seattlites don't.

Helicopter Disappears Over Downtown

February 5th, 2057

Seattle, UCAS: Yesterday's mysterious disappearance of a Renraku owned Ares Dragon cargo helicopter has both Lone Star Air Traffic and Renraku officials completely stumped. The Dragon was carrying unspecified cargo from the temporary landing structure at the top of the as yet unfinished Renraku Arcology to SeaTac when, inexplicably, it seemed to simply vanish. Sources from Renraku Air Control and Lone Star Air Traffic confirmed that the helicopter ceased all communication before disappearing completely from all radar and sensor screens. Visual confirmation on the Dragon then became impossible as the 600,000 nuyen helicopter simply vanished from sight, along with its mysterious cargo.
According to Seattle Lone Star Air Traffic Chief Michael DiMartino, the disappearance is "completely outside of the norm for Seattle. It's usually very safe to traffic people and equipment over the city. We have our best men working on the Dragon case. Obviously, magic was involved, and we have mages on the job. We've also got Wasps scanning the surrounding areas looking for wreckage. " So far, says DiMartino, no wreckage has been found.
Renraku officials, other than a prepared statement that, indeed, the helicopter has been lost, have remained quiet about the disappearance. Top brass at the Arcology have been avoiding reporters since the incident. Rumors of proprietary computer technology on board the Dragon remain unsubstantiated.
"We have our own people working on this,"Renraku Security representative Annie Togusa told NewsFax, "we'll take care of it."

Yucatan Rebels Attack Aztlan Medical Convoy

February 3rd, 2057

Oaxaca, Aztlan: Violence in the Yucatan today as the Yucatan insurgents attacked an Aztlan medical aid convoy en route to Tepich. The convoy, consisting of unarmored and undefended trucks and ambulances, was bringing necessary medications and vaccines to the underprivileged of the peninsula when the insurgents attacked. Roadside explosives and spirits were used to disable the convoy in the deep jungle. Insurgents then stormed the ambulances, shooting unarmed civilian doctors and volunteer nurses.

After stealing numerous vehicles, as well as vaccines and medicines that will be kept for the insurgency, and out of the hands of the besieged citizens of the region, the rebels covered their tracks by bathing the entire area in napalm. The resulting forest fire is still burning, threating the farms and livelihoods of local farmers. The burned bodies of twenty-four volunteer medical staff have so far been identified. Several of the convoy medical staff is, as yet, unaccounted for, and it is believed that they may have been taken to insurgent breeding camps.

Aztlan military officials condemned the attack and the barbaric tactics utilized by the militant Yucatan minority, giving this statement to NewsFax: "Aztlan will not allow such horrific and inhuman attacks within its borders. The Yucatan murderers will be brought to justice. We will use any means neccesary to stop the senseless killing of innocent people by this maladjusted group of sociopaths."

Not Just Golf: The Candidates Talk Leisure Time

February 2nd,2057

Newsfax reporter Carlene Danvers recently caught up with the major presidential candidates and asked the question that's foremost on the mind of all UCASers: What's your favorite way to spend a weekend off?

Arthur Vogel (One World Democrat): "Well, I rarely have an entire weekend 'off,' but optimally? I quite enjoy hiking, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors. Of course I haven't been able to do that in some time. When I can't get out to the wilds, I like to try out new restaurants; it's my little hobby."

Rozalyn Hernandez (New Century Party): "My weekends are usually spent in seminars and meetings. Were I to have a complete weekend off, I would likely spend it catching up on some reading I've been meaning to get to. I have a book on metaplanar transfixion that I'm quite curious about."

James Booth (Technocrat): "One word: golf. I'm a fearsome golfer. I also like to watch Urban Brawl. My daughter Kiara and I catch games on the trid, and we to go to arena brawls whenever we have the chance."

General Yeats (Republican): "I haven't had a weekend 'off' since the Chicago Containment Zone went up, and I'm retired. I live in Chicago. Any leisure activities I might want to pursue are trapped behind the containment wall. Weekend off? That's a goddamned inane question. If I had a weekend off, I'd spend it trying to fix the unacceptable mess this country is in."

Kenneth Brackhaven (Archconservative): "I go to church every Sunday. Prayer is more important today than ever before. If more people spent their Sundays in church, perhaps our nation wouldn't be the fractured, liberal remnant that it is today."

Dunkelzahn (Independent): "What a strange question for a political candidate. Ah well, I suppose a great many UCAS citizens are curious as to the daily dalliances of a dragon. Firstly, Carlene, you must understand that, as a dragon, I am capable of a high degree of multitasking, so it is not uncommon for me to work and 'play' simultaneously. Were I to devote an entire weekend to leisure, I would likely play around in the matrix for a bit, then spend the rest of the day listening to music and reading. I've recently acquired some rare comic books that I'm anxious to go over. I suppose I might also fly over and watch the Mountain Dragons, my urban brawl team, practicing. I find their tenacity inspiring."

New "Meat Puppet" Brothels In Seattle? 

February 2nd, 2057

Seattle, UCAS: Vice division detectives from Seattle LoneStar have told Newsfax that street level rumors indicate that new "bunraku" brothels may have been set up around the Seattle metroplex. "Bunraku" is the word for the puppeteer in traditional Japanese puppet theater. In bunraku brothels, the sex workers have specialized cyberware installed in their brains. These implants combine a neural cutoff--known on the streets as a "shunt"-- with a direct-feed for posonafix BTL chips. While the shunt is operating, the subject is unconcious--totally unaware of what's happening around him or her, or to him or her. Meanwhile, the personafix BTL controls the subject's body, letting him or her act in as normal, or abnormal a way as the client desires.
 
Norman Takamura, a headware specialist at Mitsuhama Seattle, informed Newsfax that the bunraku technology, though reprehensible, is "the ultimate advance in next-generation prostitution. While an old prostitute can attempt to act out a fantasy, you will know it is an act. With bunraku prostitutes, there is no act. They believe they are your fantasy: blushing virgin, dominatrix, celebrity, whatever you can imagine. Of course, it's all very bad that this is out there, but with bunraku, your fantasies are reality."
 
LoneStar vice division claims that they have no leads as to the locations of any of the bunraku parlors said to be operating in Seattle, and have no information whatsoever on any possible clientèle because the parlors are so skillfully hidden from prying eyes. However, due to the bunraku parlor concept originating in Japan, many in Star's vice department believe that these state of the art pleasure houses are likely run by the members of the Seattle Yakuza crime syndicate. As such, Star believes, potential customers are likely to begin searching for the parlors in Yakuza run areas and businesses.

Astounding Overtime Win For the UCAS League!
The New York Jets, behind from the first quarter, pulled off an amazing come-from-behind victory against the Freedom League Champion Richmond Raiders. This clash of the titans was truly a testament to the sheer power of the respective teams' defensive lines, as run after run, and pass after pass ended abruptly in a bone crunching tackle, often with a loss of yards. While the Jets entered the game with the same grudge match mentality displayed by every UCAS league Champion since the splitting of the old NFL, they were unable to completely halt Richmond's progress, letting by first a touchdown, then in the second quarter, a field goal.

Dispite being sacked seven times in the first half, Richmond QB Eric Pruitt unflinchingly stood his ground play after play. His sixty yard touchdown pass to Trochae Philips gave the Raiders their early lead, and his daring run toward the close of the first half was essential in putting Richmond in range for their first field goal. But the relentless pounding by New York's defense, lead by 3.1 meter tall troll Nyama "the African Horror" Okinde made certain that Richmond would score no points in the second half.

By comparison, the Jets seemed to rally. Richmond's special teams star Morris "the Loris" Polaski returned the second half opening kick-off, only to have the surprise star of the UCAS League Championship, Hiram Epstein strip the ball from him and run to the Raider's own five yard line. Of course the resulting tackle removed Epstein from the game (and possibly next season) but his astounding performance gave New York the position they needed to score an unanswered touchdown in the third quarter.

For the rest of the game, the Raiders fell back on their tough and smart defensive line. Smashing the Jets relentlessly while their offense burned as much time as possible throughout the second half. The strategy seemed to be working as neither team managed to make much progress on the field, so punished were they by their adversaries' defense.

By the end of the fourth quarter, Richmond had held New York to their own fifteen yard line. Well out of field goal range, Jets Quarterback Neil Hurst threw a sixty-yard pass to wide reciever Wade Barrett, who ran for another fifteen yards before being tackled. The position gained allowed for a hasty field goal that passed the uprights just as the buzzer sounded.

With the game tied at ten, Richmond recieved the overtime kickoff, but was unable to get within fieldgoal range, their sad attempt from one hundred yards off elicited a collective sigh from the Jacksonville crowd. The Jets however, seemed revitalized. Former star runningback Trevor Lonnelly ran for sixty two yards, deftly evading Richmond's defense in a run characteristic of his performances as a rookie four years ago. The aging athlete seemed untouchable as he pushed himself to the Raider's own thirty-yard line. From there it was a simple matter of kicking the field goal. A surprise indeed from this Jet's team that entered the UCAS League Championship as a wild card, to come to Jacksonville and beat the Freedom League on their own soil. New York coach Vic Marrelles told reporters after the game, "Sherman has marched to the sea a second time".

Major Candidates Settled


The major candidates have announced their running mates and the race for UCAS president is officially in full swing. Some surprising choices have been made on just about all sides of this conflict, with a staggering three metahumans involved in the race for the White House.

Current front runner, Republican General Franklin Yeats, has surprised just about everyone in his party and out by selecting his long time friend Anne Penchyk. Penchyk, who has served two terms as a UCAS representative from Wisconsin, is a successful self-made business woman, a lifetime Republican, and an outspoken advocate for tough action in the Chicago Containment Zone. All of these facts endear her to Republicans the world over, but the fact that she is both a woman and an ork has caused a considerable amount of controversy. At the same time that her selection has pushed some Repbulicans towards the Archconservative party, a fair number of metahumans and those who typically vote for a the most meta-friendly candidate are flocking to Yeats's "Rebuild America" platform. Penchyk, for her own part, is a strong and outspoken woman, feared in the UCAS House for her willfullness and her fearsome oration skills.

One World Democrat Arthur Vogel has made another surprising choice by selecting Gary Grey, a troll eagle shaman, to run as his VP. Grey is a staunch environmentalist who has been active in the Audubon Society and Sierra Incorperated, along with a handful of other environmental preservation groups. His inclusion makes him both the first troll and the first shaman of any kind to enter into a presidential race. Grey is a powerful speaker, capable of wooing a crowd in mere seconds with his deep resonant voice. He's also fiercely patriotic, equating his eagle totem with the symbolic bird of the United Canadian American States. This reverance with which he speaks for both Eagle and the UCAS seems to have strong pull with many voters. The fact that this presidential ticket is made up of the two least populous metahuman types (aside from metavariants) places many metahuman and metahuman sympathy voters behind Vogel's Democratic One World platform, even with some more conservative voters pulling for Yeats and Penchyk. It is unknown at this time if Grey's shamanism will split the small but vocal Awakened vote between the Democrats and the New Century Partry.

ArchConservative candidate Kenneth Brackhaven has selected hard-right Republican William Ager as his running mate. A former corporate resource adjsuter for Fuchi North America's UCAS division, Ager has a reputation for backing strong conservative legislation in the UCAS government. With his rather cutthroat corporate know-how and Brackhaven's business accumen, the ArchCons have created a ticket that has real potential to cut into the legislature and create real change. Ager is a vocal opponent of the current "welfare state", and proposes cutting taxes accross the board by removing "needless and malfuctioning attempts at social engineering" such as the Equality in Education Act, and the Welfare-to-Work Program. Voters are flocking to the Brackhaven/Ager ticket after both candidates have had the will to speak directly to the needs of the vast majority of the UCAS population without caving to the demands for special treatment from fringe minorities.

Professor Rosalyn Hernandez of the New Century Party is powerful initiated mage and reknowned (and often controversial) social scientist from Georgetown University, so her choice of Ramsay McCulkin, famed trid and simsense actor, might seem strange at first. McCulkin was one of the first screen/trid actors to really make the transition to sim in the early days of that medium. Known for giving "good X" (excellent emotive track), McCulkin has starred in such memorable sims as Friday the 13th: Feel the Terror, Life of the Hero, A Soldier's Tears, and Who's in Charge Here? As such, many UCASers feel that they not only know McCulkin, but that they've been him. Putting the mundane face on the NCP's platform of utilizing magic and technology to unlock the untapped promise of the Awakening, McCulkin has already announced plans to record his life on the campaign trail through his implanted simrig, and distribute the sim on the campaign matrix host. "We're the only party really trying to change things for the better," McCulkin told NEWSFAX. "I'm hoping the sim recordings help people understand what we're about, and what we can do to change the future for the better".

Former Vice President James Booth has selected Brandon Ekimatsu, a corporate golden boy from Mitsuhama Computer Technologies. A staunch technocrat, Ekimatsu is a political moderate focused almost exclusively on any legislation that benefits the economy. Though many accuse Ekimatsu of only pushing legislation that benefits corporations, Ekimatsu refuses to defend himself against such claims, stating repeatedly that "these corporations are not the enemy of government, they are not the enemy of the UCAS people. It is on the backs of these very corporations that our economy balances. Why is it that we should not attempt to aid them in aiding our economy? Has the UCAS become so jaded against a hard day's work that we wish to destroy the largest employers of our own citizens?".

With the race all but settled for these parties, the true campaigning is now underway. While Yeats leads the preliminary polls, there can really be no determining this early in such an unconventional and short election. The future of the UCAS is for the first time in a long time, truly up in the air.

"Karl Kombatmage 2" Ignites Summer Season

The entertainment world is buzzing with the release of the trailer for "Karl Kombatmage 2". This sequel to the breakthrough blockbuster of two years ago is hailed by insiders as surpassing the amazement of the original.

Four years ago, New Bavarian SimSinn Studios took a chance on an unknown filmmaker named Hans Cliber, who came to NBSS lead producer Jan Marx with a remarkable proposal: installing a simrig into a mage. Marx saw the potential and together they took the plunge, creating the most innovative simsense production the world had ever seen.

"Never before had the sim viewer been able to feel what it's like being magically active," said Cliber, who wrote and starred in "Karl Kombatmage," and who will be returning to the role this summer. "I always thought that it was a shame that although you could become a spy, or a street sam, or a famous polititian, you could never really feel what I think is the best feeling in the world, which I think is bending the mana to your will to cast a spell. So I thought, 'why not make a sim myself'?"

The original grossed over $200 billion nuyen worldwide, beating out such hits as "Against the Hivemasters" and NBSS's own "Drehen, Nicht Drücken". Overnight, Karl Kombatmage became the epitome of cool for teens (and more than one adult) the world over. Merchandising tie-ins also broke records for sales, with even the previously outdated "action figure" making a huge comeback. "Kombatmage" games have been released on every major gaming system, along with a multiplayer Matrix game with millions of players jacking in each day.

This success has not come without a cost for Hans Cliber. "Everyone said I was insane to have a simrig installed. Of course it has made magic a little bit harder. But I knew it was worth the sacrifice in order to make such an amazing sim, and to let everyone feel a little bit of what magic can be."

This summer, audiences around the world will get a second taste of magic. The poly-POV action sim promises more spells, more motorcycles, more gunfights, and of course, the infamous dragon. When asked if he had really gotten a dragon to star in "KK2", Cliber just smiled slyly. "Well, I suppose you will have to see my film to find out."

Bellingham to Host NAN Economic Council

The Sovereign Tribal Council announced today that the Salish-Sidhe capitol has been selected as the site for the 2057 Summit for Economic Affairs. This summit, held every five years, will discuss trade and economic laws between the Native American Nations, as well as international economic policy.

The big issue this year is shaping up to be agriculture, with nearly all of the nations having one thing or another to say about the subject. Perhaps the most controversial topic is the imminent unveiling of Wind River Corporation's Shoshoni Hydroponics Farm, slated to open in June of this year. This 20,000 square kilometer facility is built entirely underground, making it the largest underground complex in the world.

"The Shoshoni Hydroponics Farm will be a paradigm shift in the way the NAN is fed," states Wind River CEO Ron Mull. "Since our complex will be climate-controlled, we will be able to produce up to ten harvests annually, as well as growing crops as diverse as pineapples and winter wheat, all in a germ- and pest-free environment. All the NAN will be able to enjoy fresh, natural food, free of chemicals, and at affordable prices."

Not everyone is happy with this development, however. "The introduction of undergroud farming is a rash experiment at best," argues Sheila Doxawnee of the Algonkian-Manitou Agricultural Bureau. "Wind River has been highly reluctant to let any Council observers into their facility to verify their claims of safety and ecological responsibility. Moreover, they have released no studies to prove that crops grown without sunlight are as nutritious as traditionally-grown crops. I feel that allowing Wind River to continue without any Council oversight is a mistake we can't afford to make."

Just as controversial is the issue of water rights. The Ute Nation is already making somewhat hostile overtures to the Pueblo Corporate Council's proposal to buy rights to another five million gallons per year, to be diverted from the Colorado River. The PCC leadership maintains that these rights are vital to keep up with the growing population center of Phoenix. The Ute, however, are unwilling to divert such a large amount from their agricultural industries, as well as the lucrative tourist trade of Las Vegas.

Surprisingly, the Trans-Polar Aleut nation, which rarely makes waves during NAN political councils, is putting forth a greivance against the Athabaskan Council for what TPA representative Mary Two Bears calls "criminally negligent border security." Two Bears's claim revolves largely around the illegal transporting of controlled sugar products to the TPA nation, which many claim to come mostly through the mountain ranges of Athabaska. The Athabaskan Council has not yet made any public rebuttal to Two Bears's accusation.

The Summit on Economic Affairs is slated to be held from March 3rd through the 14th at the Bellingham Convention Center. It remains to be seen whether the UCAS's request to have a delegate present will be approved.

Democrats Back Vogel's "One World" Party

In Response to last Thursday's announcement by Republican leadership of that party's complete backing of new candidate retired General Franklin Yeats for the '57 repeat election, the Democratic National Committee has announced today that it will be throwing its weight, and its name behind ecological conservationist lawyer Arthur Vogel's grassroots "One World Party". The new "Democratic 'One World' Party" has officially nominated Vogel as their chosen candidate for President of the United Canadian and American States.
Arthur Vogel is a dwarf from Ontario and, as of yet the only metahuman presidential candidate. One of the first dwarves born as a result of UGE, Vogel is in his early 40s. An expert attorney specializing in ecological causes, he worked his way through law school and has built his career on pulling off difficult and delicate negotiations with powerful corporations. Arthur Vogel first made international headlines during the infamous People vs. Hawkshorne Chemical trial of '49 when he presented the toxin induced tumors on an eight year old girl's face and head as the prosecution's first forty-seven exhibits of evidence. Hawkshorne later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, rumored to be in the billions of nuyen. And they weren't alone, the Ontario dwarf has an unparallelled record of wins and large settlements against corporations that violate various eco-laws. He is a dynamic speaker, and many people consider him a champion of eco-conciousness.
True to form, Vogel's campaign platform stresses ecological issues and conservation. His One World Party is dedicated to the idea that the UCAS can only be saved if its citizens first heal the Earth, and that people can only make peace with themselves when they make peace with the planet. The democratic party adopted the One World platform and are backing Vogel all the way; they have allowed him to label himself a Democrat to give him recognition and "respectability" plus enough money and exposure to to go from fringe candidtate to full-fledged political player in a Manhattan minute. The DNC is still in negotiations with Vogel regarding a choice of running mate. At this time, it is believed that Eric Travers, last years Democratic nominee, will get the VP nod.

Jets Soar Over Vikings 30-27

It's official, the New York Jets are the 56-57 UCAS League champions. Coming on strong from the beginning, New York seemed to own the first half of the game. From Hiram Epstien's fantastic touchdown return from the opening kickoff to the excellent capitialization on the score of turnovers in the second quarter, the Jet's seemed to walk all over the Vikings. Despite an impressive fourth quarter rally, Minnesota failed to catch up to the Jets' powerful start.
Minnesota's star runningback, Katrina Holden, distinguished herself as usual. From recovering her own team's fumble and running 120 yards for a touchdown to punching straight through New Yorks formidable defensive line to score Minnesota's final seven points, the 5'7" Holden seemed to be personally carrying Vikings through much of the second half. "We didn't lose because I'm a woman" she told ASN reporters "we lost 'cause the rest of my team isn't". Of course many point to Alan Aekers, Minnesota's second string quarterback as the reason for the many turnovers and poor planning. It's an open secret that Aekers, unlike injured QB Alan Corman, dislikes Holden and fails to utilize Minnesota's best offensive asset. As Coreman's allergy to his recently installed bone-lacing is due to keep him down for next season as well, it is unknown at this point what the Viking's managment will do about the situation.
The UCAS champion Jets will now go on to face the Freedom League champion Richmond Generals in the Superbowl in Jacksonville CAS on the 24th.

Republicans back Yeats

In response to pro-tem president Pritchard's announcement of the shortened election run, the Republican National Comittee called an emergency meeting yesterday to decide whether or not to back last year's presidential candidate Governor Alan Tate of Minnesota for this year's repeat election. Speculation ran high as the Republican party leadership cloistered itself away from prying eyes in order to render their decision. Some believed that Governor Tate would once again recieve the nomination and a second chance to run. Other's believed that pro-tem president Betty Jo Pritchard, the speaker for the house (R-Ont) now sitting in the oval office, would be pushed forward as the Republican nominee due to her no-nonsense attitude and demonstrations of ability shown during her time as pro-tem president.
After Tate's "hard question" foible during last year's election campaign, the it appeared that the Technocrats were able to waltz their way to an easy win. Thought the election proved to be rigged, many Republicans expressed extreme doubt in Tate's ability to recover from that particular mishap even during this second election.
Pro-tem President Pritchard on the other hand, seems to have her hands full with the office thrust upon her, and the ongoing effect that the impeachment process has had on an already unruly congress. When asked if she would pursue the 2057 ticket, President Pritchard had this to say:
"I have never run for President, I have never had any intention of running for President. What I do now, I do because it's my job as Speaker. If the party leadership wants to nominate me... Well, we'll see."
Of course all of the speculation wrapped up at around 12:45 when the Republican party leadership held a press conference in Washington FDC. In a bold move, they announced thier full backing of retired UCAS Army General Franklin Yeats. A career soldier, and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yeats has historically been a vocal proponent of ending the decades long series of military cutbacks initiated by congress. In stark contrast to the public's perception of Governor Tate as a man afraid of decisions, Yeats has already come across as a strong steady voice for the Republican party. At his acceptance of the nomination, Yeats had this to say:
"If we want the United Canadian and American States to survive, we have to elect leaders who care about something beyond their own personal ambitions. We have to elect leaders who love this country, who want to see it strong again, and who aren't afraid to make personal sacrifieces to serve the nation's good. I love this country, and I am willing to shoulder the burden of leading it down the difficult road to renewal."
While that statement can be seen as directed towards the Chicago containment zone, many fear a more dire meaning behind his words. His nomination has many believing that the Republicans have chosen to fully support a reformationist agenda. Politicos in the CAS, CalFree, and the NAN (especially the Sioux Nation) are already decrying Yeats as a warmonger. While he has made no official statements regarding the forced reconcilliation with former members of the old United States since the nomination, he has been vocal about reformation in the past As of yet, General Yeats has not picked a running mate.