Bretonian Embassy Attacked

[pbrione]

==NEWSFLASH==
--Bretonian Embassy in Liberty Attacked, Severe Casualties Feared-

Today in the skies above Manhattan, a most tragic and terrible event has occured. The Bretonian Embassy ship, the HMS-Britannia, has been attacked by a force of suspected Lane Hackers and Outcasts. The attack comes only hours after the Bretonian Ambassador, Lord William Henri Braterford, hosted a major diplomatic summit onboard the Britannia. The summit had been preceded by a sumptuous dinner party at which many senior Liberty and Bretonian officials attended, and which had been warmly received by the Liberty community. At the dinner party Lord Braterford gave a speech to the people of New York, in which he praised the close relations between the two nations and expressed hopes of closer cooperation on many key issues, which received heartfelt applause from all present. Only hours later, however, the luxurious Bretonian Royal Liner Britannia lay in smoking ruins on the surface of Planet Manhattan, after crash landing following a sudden and unprovoked attack from Liberty terrorists.

=Camera zooms in on an image of the burning wreck of the Britannia, in the midst of a Manhattan district with many buildings succumbing to raging fires=

The attack was totally unexpected, with the Liberty Navy having to rush to the scene to help defend the stricken Embassy. They succeeded in destroying many of the attackers, but it was too late for the helpless Britannia, which plummeted towards the planet's surface and crashed into a major residential district. Official figures released put the number of dead currently at 27 from onboard the Britannia; 15 crewmen, 7 Bretonian officials as well as 3 visiting Liberty citizens, an ex-convict seeking a Royal Pardon and a journalist from Rheinland. Of the Bretonian officials dead the most senior was the Hon. Robert Walker, Parliamentary Secretary of State for Industry. He was visiting Liberty as part of a BMM and Bowex trade delegation.
The Bretonian Government has reasured citizens of Liberty and Bretonia that the Ambassador himself was unscathed in the attack, being jettisoned in a specially-designed escape pod shortly after the attack commenced. He is currently recovering from shock and is being housed at the residence of Liberty President James Powell. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the most senior Bretonian officials present for the dinner and conference, including Bretonian Admiral Whittlington and several Ministers, had set off back for Bretonia onboard a Liberty Navy ship only minutes before the attack began.


A Photograph of the attack taken from a Manhattan sattelite

Her Majesty Queen Carina of Bretonia has issued a statement on behalf of the Bretonian government. It reads as follows:

Her Majesty wishes to express her severe regret at this most tragic of incidents. We strongly condemn the unprovoked attack upon an unarmed vessel with Diplomatic Immunity, and wish to point out that the diplomatic nature of the Britannia has meant that those killed and injured have been of many different nationalities, not just Bretonian. Attacks of this kind strike at the very heart of international diplomacy and peace efforts, and that perpetrators of them demonstrate their lack of all moral decency, sacrificing any sympathy the public may have had for their causes. Her Majesty also wishes to express her gratitude to the Liberty Navy for their swift response, and the Manhattan authorities for their vital aid in rescuing surivors and minimising casualties. The next day has been declared a national day of mourning for both Bretonia and Liberty.

==End of Broadcast==

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>

[pbrione]

==News Report Broadcast==
--Powell speaks at Ceremony of Rememberance--

Today in the skies above Manhattan, the newly-repaired HMS-Britannia paid host to President James Powell of Liberty in a special ceremony designed to remember those killed in yesterday's attack. Amidst incredibly heavy Liberty Navy protection, dozens of vessels gathered around Manhattan to pay their respects to the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack on the vessel by unconfirmed agents. As a symbol of faith in the ability of the Liberty Navy to defend the Embassy, and to demonstrate his defiance towards the perpetrators of the attack, President James Powell personally attended the ceremony, where he stood alongside Lord Braterford, the Bretonian Ambassador during a minute's silence. A ceremonial 40 gun salute was then fired by the Britannia and her Liberty Navy escorts out in respect for the casualties. Lord Braterford and President Powell both then gave speeches, outlining their views on the tragedy. The main themes were sympathy for the families of those killed, a denunciation of the attack on inter-House diplomacy and hope for the future, that events of this kind might never be allowed to reoccur. Both also drew heavily on the close relationship between Bretonia and Liberty, emphasising the shared sense of common purpose that the two Houses have.
A further breif speech was then given by Admiral David Hale on behalf of the Liberty Navy, which had fought hard to prevent the attack. Finally a flypast of Liberty ships paid tribute to the 27 casualties.

A full list of the casualties has now been published by the Bretonian and Liberty Authorities:

Crew of the Britannia
Arthur Jeakings (48) - Chief Technical Officer
Rebecca Brown (32) - 2nd Navigational Officer
David Grover (36) - Starboard Engineer
Peter Howells (53) - Quatermaster
Richard Davies (46) - Senior Communications Officer
Samuel Davies (21) - Junior Communications Officer
Paul Roberts (29) - Junior Engineer
Albert Rice (53) - Crewman
Tim Moore (25) - Crewman
Fred Conners (22) - Crewman
Katherine Blake (24) - Crewman
Patrick Wadsworth (21) - Crewman
Seamus O'Donnell (30) - Crewman
William Rispin (18) - Crewman
Carlos Ramierez (19) - Crewman

Bretonian Diplomatic Staff
Hon. Robert Walker (47) - Parliamentary Secretary of State for Industry
Richard Patterson (52) - Senior Naval Attache at the Embassy
Samantha Bloom (43) - Personal Private Secretary to Lord Braterford
David Driscoll (35) - Cultural Attache at the Embassy
Edward Porter (35) - BMM Trade Delegate
Jane Hunter-Smith (36) - Embassy Under-Secretary for Commerce
Simon Scott (28) - Cleaner

Foreign Nationals
James Miller (42) - LIBERTY - Interspace Trade Delegate
Mike Taylor (35) - LIBERTY - Visa Applicant
Sarah Anderson (21) - LIBERTY - Tourist
Gonzales Ramon (30) - BORDERWORLDS - Ex-Lane Hacker applying for Royal Pardon
Helena Friedman (32) - RHEINLAND - Journalist

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>

[guitarguy]

*Looks at news, sighs, and walks away* Even in New York a Royal diplomatic ship isn't safe. We really need some dedicated (possibly Bretonian) fighter escorts.

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[Dieter Schprokets]

Minister of Defense James Ralston fell back in his chair, in shock.

His brow furrowed with intense concentration.

Outcasts, attack the only House which treats them with some semblance of neutrality? Bretonia, the house that winks their way as they make things harder for Kusari?

No, something was amiss, here.

Very amiss.

This would require deliberation, and investigation. Not rash action.

The Lane Hackers who attacked?

Now THAT, was another story altogether..

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