CNS - Rheinland Plunges into Civil War

[Colony News Service]

RNC Karlsruhe fights off elements of its own battlegroup after a failed Imperial mutiny

	827 AS - Rheinland Plunges into Civil War
	827 AS - Federal Government evacuated; fighting continues on Planet New Berlin
	827 AS - Urgent Travel Advisories Issued by Houses following Rheinland emergency
	827 AS - Early reports of militia-led massacres on Planet Hamburg
	827 AS - Bloodiest day of violence yet on Planet Stuttgart as casualties reported
	827 AS - Mass detention of federal government officials reported
	827 AS - Federal Government decries 'violent coup', will defend 'Rheinland way of life'

Rheinland Plunges into Civil War

NEW BERLIN - Following weeks of escalating political tensions and sporadic violence, Rheinland has plunged into civil war. After last month's federal elections, Chancellor Neumann successfully retained control of the government by entering into a minority coalition with the United Democratic Foundation. The radical reformist party secured a number of concessions and promises in exchange for their cooperation. Violent protests and counter-protests erupted across Planet New Berlin and Hamburg after officials mooted the legalisation of the Bundschuh movement as the coalition's first formal motion. Federal authorities had been accused by the Rheinland Imperial Party of perpetrating a brutal crackdown in response, and repressing their supporters arbitrarily. Government representatives accused Imperialist activists of domestic terrorism in return, vowing a proportionate police response. This cycle of public disorder and reprisal has led to an escalating succession of violence, ultimately exploding into open civil war over the course of the day. Intercommunal conflict is now rife, having spread to all of Rheinland’s major planets. This has culminated in Imperial sympathising politicians and officers declaring that the current Federal government is illegitimate and instituting their own administration. This attempt to seize power has revealed stark divisions across all Federal agencies. Large numbers of Rheinland Military and Federal Police officers have pledged allegiance to the Imperial coup, with opposition from state intelligence agencies and a number of elite Military formations. It is known that the Federal Government and many senior officials were evacuated from New Berlin by intelligence personnel as Imperial militias closed in, and are now mustering in the Thuringia System. It is believed that Imperial forces have largely secured Planet Hamburg as a base of operations, and are rapidly gaining ground on Planet New Berlin. Federalist objectives so far appear to focus on regrouping and consolidating after the shocking uprising, with their forces concentrating in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Thuringia. Planet Stuttgart has also become a critical focus for both factions, with the Imperials aiming to prevent the Federalists from inflicting another embarrassing blow by evacuating senior government officials. Transports are being rushed to the breadbasket world in order to ship in weapons and secure valuable personnel. It is currently unclear how this situation will develop, with both sides reportedly firing on civilian vessels supporting the other's activities.

With thanks to @Karst for graphics, and @Shaggy for getting shot at by the Karl.