Saint Mark

Jelena Bridge Competed
After years of construction and setbacks, the long-awaited cable-stayed bridge connecting the northeastern part of Teralyon to the southern part of the country has finally been completed. The bridge, which was overbudget and faced multiple challenges during its construction, is now open to traffic, providing a faster and more convenient way for travelers to move from one part of the country to another.
The Jelena bridge, which spans across the strait of Jelena, has been in the works for over a decade. The project faced numerous obstacles, including budget overruns, construction delays, and environmental concerns. However, despite these setbacks, the bridge has finally been completed, and its opening marks a significant milestone for the country.
With the completion of the bridge, travelers will no longer have to take a long drive around the strait of Jelena or wait for a ferry to cross. The bridge now fully connects the freeway networks in the northeastern part of Teralyon to the southern part of the country and to the border. This means that travelers can now reach their destination much faster and more efficiently, without having to spend hours on the road or waiting in line for a ferry.
The bridge is also expected to boost the economy in the region by providing a more efficient transportation system for goods and services. The improved connectivity is expected to attract more businesses and investors to the area, which will create more job opportunities and boost the local economy.
Despite the challenges faced during its construction, the completion of the Jelena bridge is a testament to the resilience and determination of the people of Teralyon. The opening of the bridge is a momentous occasion for the country and a significant step forward in its development.
Overall, the completion of the cable-stayed bridge is a cause for celebration for the people of Teralyon. It represents a major infrastructure achievement and will have far-reaching benefits for the country's economy and people.
 
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Tiber refuses to comment on jet sale

Teralyon's President Anton Tiber was recently asked to comment on the controversial sale of Zoranian fighter jets to Kalmach, a country currently engaged in hostilities. However, Tiber mostly side stepped the question and called the situation "unfortunate."
The sale of fighter jets to Kalmach has raised concerns about the escalation of the ongoing conflict in the region. Tiber's reluctance to comment directly on the sale suggests that the situation is a delicate one, and that Teralyon may be navigating a difficult political landscape.
The president's statement underscores the complexity of the situation and the challenges that Teralyon faces in balancing its international relationships with its commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region. It remains to be seen how the sale of fighter jets to Kalmach will impact the situation on the ground, but Tiber's comments suggest that Teralyon is aware of the potential risks and is working to address them in a thoughtful and strategic way.

New Zoradia, Zoran
12 April 1423
A broom closet
5:00 PM Overtime
Yenuha Aditsi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is sitting in a makeshift meeting room in a broom closet of the temporary government building. He sent a message out to the other ministers earlier today to call them together to discuss the Queen’s…unusual behavior. Albeit he did not explicitly state this in the message for fear of driving them away but he cannot deny that the Queen’s recent actions have been uncharacteristically hostile and irrational lately. He specifically told her to deny the DG Corporation’s request to make an offer to Kalmach for the international backlash she would receive and, in an uncharacteristic move, ignored his advice. Then, when he talked to her about backing down and apologizing to the international community she just glared at him and walked away only to make that speech.
There is obviously something going on in her mind that is making her like this. Normally she is level headed but now…I am not certain.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when the door to the broom closet opened and Director Soyohata entered the room along with Minister Waholi and Ministress Lanesa of the Ministry of Justice.
“I will admit, a bit of an odd place for a meeting, don’t you think?” Minister Waholi asked, “Not too much space in here.”
“It was the only room that I know of that would not have too much traffic moving through it.” answered Yenuha, “Do any of you know if the other ten are coming?”
“Not one clue, you were very vague on what this meeting was on, Yenuha.” replied Lanessa,
“It was cryptic even for me, and I work with cryptic messages for a living!” said Soyohata,
“Trust me, this is a meeting that needs to happen. I will reveal everything once a majority of us arrive.” The three of them looked at each other with an uncertain glance before taking a seat at the makeshift table, suspicion heavy in the air. Over the course of a few minutes, the other ministers arrived in the room, all with the same suspicious attitude as the first three members. Yenuha took a deep breath before beginning the meeting,
“Thank you everyone for coming on such short notice, I know I have not been exactly forward in my reasons for this meeting but it is one that is necessary. We all have known Atsil for a good number of years now and I believe we can safely say that her recent actions have been…out of character.” The other ministers gave him a curious look, clearly interested in where he was going with this speech, “This whole Kalmach business is something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place, you were all at the meeting where I advised her against approving DG’s request to make a deal with Kalmach and you all know that she always takes our advice to heart and yet for the past few days she has been hostile towards the majority of us and has been disregarding what we advise her to do. After her speech this morning I cannot sit back and watch her destroy the positive reputation this country has been trying to cultivate with this deal and I call you here today to discuss what is going on with the Queen and what course of action we should take.”
The whole room went silent for a moment, tension filling the void left by Yenuha’s words before Ministress Lanesa spoke up,
“I agree with you, Aditsi, the Queen has not been acting like herself recently. Something is going on and if we do not stop it she might bring this country crashing to the ground. Just this morning after the speech, I wanted to ask about some ongoing court cases when she told me to leave her office before I even said a word.”
“Indeed!” proclaimed Ministress of Commerce, Scatchwah Wakusa, “I approached her about the economic repercussions of the proposed Nieubasrian sanctions around noon today and she just blatantly told me to take my data and leave!”
The whole room erupted into conversation about Atsil’s uncharacteristically rude and irrational actions as of late all except for Director Soyohata and Minister Waholi, the later of which slammed his hand down on the plastic table and exclaimed,
“You are all delusional, there is nothing wrong with the Queen! This whole meeting could be considered treason!”
“Minister Waholi, you must be mad to believe that this is normal for Atsil! How many times have you seen her act like this?” said a baffled Minister of Labour Scolaguta Tlonumi, “She barely put herself together for the speech this morning, her office is in shambles and she has barely been eating the past few days!”
“She is fine, she is just working hard to defend our nation from those salty aristocrats in Polaris!” roared Waholi, “You are all just looking for an excuse to overthrow her! I bet half of you were swayed by those Fujansk socialist hippies that provided humanitarian aid during the Revolution!” Fighting and shouting broke out in the cramped broom closet that the ministers well all in and despite Yenuha despairing at how off quickly the meeting has derailed he could not help but notice the slight guilt that is forming on Soyohata’s normally cheerful face.
“ALL OF YOU, CALM DOWN!” yelled Yenuha, to which all attention had returned to him, “What’s the matter, Soyohata? You have been unusually quiet the past few minutes, what do you know?” Soyohata jolted at the sudden call out, eyes darting around the room nervously.
“Uh…I-I may know what has put the Queen in a…mood, hehe.” he stammered, “Uhm, a few days ago one of the agents in Dalimbar kinda got handed a message by someone and was told to get it to Atsil…and you know it was an o-”
“Quit rambling, Soyohata!” interrupted Yenuha furiously,
“Alright! Alright! The note was given to her after the cypher was solved and she got really pissed and hurt after she read it, yelled at me to leave the room, and since then has been in a reaaaaaaally pissy state. Whatever that message was very much affected her and with all the stress she has been under the past three years working without a break, I think that put her over the edge and has broken her.”
The whole room went silent, no one was sure about the latter half but no one had any doubts about the note’s existence,
“Soyohata,” began Lanesa, “Why have you kept this from us all this time.”
“I,” he sighs, “I was scared. I had never seen Atsil so furious and I worried that spreading news about it would make things worse. I-I’m sorry.’ he hung his head in shame as the words came tumbling out of his mouth. The ministers were silent, some annoyed and others sympathetic, but the question still remained about how they were going to stop Atsil from continuing the downward spiral of the country internationally…all except for gung ho Waholi,
“For all the years I have known her, Atsil is fine. She has recovered from worse, she is clearly taking the sta-” He was abruptly interrupted by a punch to the face from Minister Yenuha, knowing him flat on his back. Yenuha shook his hand in pain before saying,
“That’s enough, Minister Waholi. We were never supposed to be yesmen, Atsil told us that three years ago, we swore an oath to stop the Queen should she ever spiral out of control and now is the time to uphold that oath.”
Waholi took a minute to get up from the ground, scowling at the group when he was on his two feet. They all gave him a challenging look, daring him to take action against them until he caved in,
“Very well, what is it that you all propose we do about the ‘rouge’ Queen?” he asked,
“Well,” started Minister of Health, Dr. Hiawassee Quadala, “if her behavior is caused because of the contents of the note that Soyohata mentioned, then his hypothesis on her stress finally catching up to her could hold weight. Removal of the queen would be out of the question, we do not need another power struggle like we saw in the first year after the revolution.”
“Agreed,” said Minister Tlonumi, “what we could do though is force her to take a long vacation and manage the country while she is recovering, maybe sign her up to see a therapist and a psychologist while we are at it.”
“I like the sound of that, but how do we get her to agree to take a vacation?” asked Minister Lanesa,
“We write a letter asking her to take a vacation and deliver it all together to confront her about her behavior. If she doesn’t comply we just stop the ministries we run and talk her down.” said Yenuha, “We all need to stand united against her here, now is not the time for cowardice. The state is on the line and the lives of millions could be damaged if we allow her to continue down her path. Is everyone in agreement?”
The whole room voices their support for the plan and they get to work writing their objection to her behavior and their demands for her to temporarily step away from ruling in order to focus on her issues. 

Sekitz Metropolitan Police Report
Date: April 11, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Kalmach Consulate, 82 Mohrenstrasse, Andereik, Sekitz, Mittelland
Reporting Officer: Detectivin Anke Becker
Details:
At approximately 9:00 AM, we received a distress call from a concerned resident in a building opposite the Kalmach consulate in Andereik on Mohrenstrasse. The resident reported seeing a group of armed individuals enter the building and heard gunshots shortly thereafter.
We immediately dispatched a tactical team to deal with the situation. Upon arrival, negotiations were initiated with the group.
During the negation phase, the group demanded several things to secure to release of the hostages:
Temporary closure of the Kalmachian embassy and consulates within Sekiya until the end of the war. Public condemnation of the war and the arms deal with Zoran. Government support for an embargo against Kalmach. The creation of a movement to suspend Kalmach from the NCC. Following a deterioration in communications with the group, task force Echelon-6B was dispatched to assist in reestablishing communication and preparation to retake the building.
At approximately 11:00 AM, the situation escalated when shots were fired from within the consulate, killing one of the hostages. Echelon-6B breached the building shortly and engaged the group in a firefight. By 12:00 PM, the building was fully under control of the Sekitz Metropolitan Police.
During the rescue operation, Consul-General Torschten Urmager was located and rescued with minor injuries. He was immediately transported to Andereik Army Hospital for urgent medical care.
Five Kalmachian staff members were killed by the attackers, as well as 2 Kalmachian tourists and a Sekiyan student seeking to study in Kalmach.
One member of the task-force remains in intensive care, and 3 others have minor wounds. All 16 gunmen were killed, with 3 taking their own life.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the group responsible for the attack was an international radical anti-war group that sought to end the ongoing conflict between Kalmach and Garahun. It is believed that the recent agreement between Zoran and Kalmach to sell arms may have triggered this attack.
Following the incident, security measures at the Kalmachian consulate in Eisenhaustad and the Embassy in the capital, Neuersekitz have been massively increased.
Our department will continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic missions and their personnel. We will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to diplomatic missions or individuals who may pose a threat to public safety.
 

The Kalmachian consulate building in Sekitz.

Private Residence of the Marshal
”… and before we adjourn to head to Garrison, I just want to confirm if you’re absolutely serious about this, Valerian.” Marshal Briand was having quite the morning, between the barbarians playing war, the Zoranians cosplaying being a civilization, the Rugby World Cup, and now his Far-Eastern Control Zone commander indicating his desire for retirement. 
 
“Yes, my Marshal. Situation in the Far-East has been stable for a while now and my doctor is getting more concerned about my heart. In his words, it’s time for the dacha.” replied Valerian Viktorov. 
 
“Fine, fine. In that case, a toast to your health and retirement.” Despite it being 10 in the morning, the Marshal pulls out a bottle of his favourite Dalimbari vodka and pours a shot for himself and the Field Commander. 
 
“Vashe dorov’ye! Urra Dalimbar!” both men shout as they take their drink. 
 
“Now, I better get ready for tonight. We will talk in the coming days about transition planning for the Far-East. I don’t want the hill people being happy at losing one of their main foes. You know how the Vostochii can get.” Briand chuckled and dismissed Viktorov. 

Squadron 77 of the Teralyon Air Force ADP division, better known as “The Spooks' ' Flying their modified airframe Perun fighter jets are en route to join up at a small United Adaikes island base flanked by the Teralyon Navy and UAD Navy located in the Mille Mer Sea.
 
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: "Good evening aviators, this is Windoe, Were almost there ladies and gentlemen, all jets check in."
Captain, Rajo 'Prisky' Fedoruk: "Prisky, all systems nominal."
Captain, Kisha 'Rake' Trifonov: "This is Rake, I'm getting some slight turbulence, otherwise all green."
 Lieutenant, Vladmira 'Downtown' Hubik: "Downtown, everything looks good from here."
Lieutenant, Krastyo 'Retro' Piwowarski: “Retro, all good on the waves”
Lieutenant, Zawisza 'Couch' Volinin: “Couch, all green”
Lieutenant, Larya 'Jewels' Kraykowski: “This is Jewels, everything is optimal”
Lieutenant, Kole 'Mudbug' Sedlak: “Mudbug here, all good”
2nd Lieutenant, Vjekoslav 'Bat Bat' Czjzek: "Bat Bat here, everythings copacetic just feeling a little nervous about landing at the UAD base Sir"
2nd Lieutenant, Vena 'Jive' Litauer: “Jive here, you'll be fine Bat, just like the home strip”
2nd Lieutenant, Ognian 'Shoplift' Milosevic: "Shoplift, All green, and me too Bat. Never tested on a strip this small before."
2nd Lieutenant, Zora 'Trendy' Volinski: “Trendy reporting all good, come on you two, you heard jive just like the strip, dont think too much about it or if you'll rip your jet apart from the chains
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: "This is Windoe. I know some of you are feeling a little nervous, but you're some of the best and we've trained for these types of landings. Remember, our mission and our objectives. Keep your focus on that, landing is just the boring part before the fun anyway"
2nd Lieutenant, Ognian 'Shoplift' Milosevic: “Roger that, sir."
2nd Lieutenant, Vjekoslav 'Bat Bat' Czjzek: “Copy that."
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: "Good now let's maintain chatter to a minimum from here on out. We're about to start our landing approach."
 
10 minutes later The Spooks start their descent towards the United Adaikes  island  and the FOB of Pandora’s Judgment.
 
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: “I see the strip, they have us on approach, it'll be a interesting landing so Pilots full focus, RIO's you take care of comms for your birds, trust the deck crew land and get out of the way"
Captain, Kisha 'Rake' Trifonov: “I see it too. It's a tight landing zone, form up boys and girls"
Captain, Rajo 'Prisky' Fedoruk: "I'm starting to line up for the approach."
Lieutenant, Vladmira 'Downtown' Hubik: "I'm right behind you."
2nd Lieutenant, Vjekoslav 'Bat Bat' Czjzek: “ Now this is where the fun begins, here we go,  almost there."
 
The pilots concentrate on their landing procedures, adjusting their jets to the carrier's movement. The UAD personnel  watch the jets as they make their landing approach.
 
2nd Lieutenant, Vjekoslav 'Bat Bat' Czjzek: “I'm on the ground"
2nd Lieutenant, Ognian 'Shoplift' Milosevic: “I'm down too."
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: “ Great job everyone. Let's get to our briefing and get to work."
 
The pilots taxi their jets to the designated parking area on the carrier's deck. The UAD personnel start to secure the aircraft.
 
Lieutenant, Zawisza 'Couch' Volinin: “all systems shutdown."
Lieutenant, Larya 'Jewels' Kraykowski: “shutting down."
Squadron Leader, Domaslaw 'Windoe' Slonimsky: "everyone, debrief in 2 hours, get grub and get ready"
 
The pilots exit their jets and head to the mess.
 
2nd Lieutenant, Ognian 'Shoplift' Milosevic: "That was intense. Not a fan on landing on a runway smaller then my driveway at home."
2nd Lieutenant, Vena 'Jive' Litauer: “Yeah, don’t tell Bat but it was a little nerve-wracking. But we made it. Hope the Adaikes have some good food, I'm starving"
 
 

Silence gripped the Ostronian locker room. Even here, encased in concrete, buried deep below the stands, the team could still hear the echoes of the crowd packing into Garrison Stadium above them. They would’ve preferred the smaller Nadu Naval Stadium they started their stunning record in. Then, at least, there wouldn’t be 81,000 Dalimbari above them pounding their feet and cheering for their opponents: the Dalimbari national team itself. The echoes of the crowd made these players feel like condemned men about to be led to the gallows.
It was the first time Ostronia would play one of the Big Four teams. And on their match record, the Ostronians somehow stood on equal footing with the Dalimbari: 4 wins and 1 draw. But they hadn’t had the same success in point differentials so far, and with the home field advantage factored in—the potential shame of losing in front of everyone he knows will make any man play his hardest—all the watchers of the Cup so far said Dalimbar would win this match.
Erik Tafa, team captain and oldest player, knew all this. He dreaded this moment just like everyone else in the room. But even as his stomach churned, he got on his feet and fixed a determined gaze on his team. Even more than their coach, he was their leader. As leader, he had the duty to encourage his men before the battle.
“Gather ‘round. Listen very carefully to me.”
He paused to let downcast eyes rise and meet his. Even poor Alex Uchechukwu, the kid with plenty of strength but a dire lack of confidence, lifted his head.
“There’s a lot of speculation out there. There’s a lot of people saying we’ll perform this way or that. There’s a lot of people out there saying that we’re about to lose this match, that we can’t defeat Dalimbar.
“But those people are not here in this locker room. Those people are not going to be out on the pitch playing this match. We are the Ostronian team, and we will play as well as we decide. A commenter way up in the announcer booth won’t be down in the scrum. He won’t know what’s going on until it’s already happened. He’ll get to comment on history, but only after we make it.
“We are all skilled and talented rugby players. That’s why our people chose us to represent them here. We’ve already shown the world they chose wisely. We’ve qualified for the knockout stage, whether we win tonight or not.”
He leaned in close, a sly smile spreading across his face. “But here’s the problem: I want this victory. I want to show the Big Four—I want to show all 81,000 Dalimbari in the stands up there—I want to show everyone watching at home—that Ostronia in the east, the poorest of the poor Nuran countries, plays better rugby than any of them.
”But frankly, it’s not going to come down to our skill and our talent alone. It’s not going to come down to our opponents’ skill and talent alone, either. This match is about who wants this victory more, who will do more to claim it for their team. We’ve won so far off our ability. Tonight, we are going to go out there and win off our desire. We’ve already proven we can win. Now we will win because we want to, because we—and no one else—decide how we play.”
 

Prince Marcarius pressed his signet ring into the warm, red wax of the envelope. It was old-fashioned, of course, but he felt it was the right touch in this case. The letter he had just written to Queen Atsil would be delivered in the diplomatic pouch overnight. It had taken all evening to compose. He had a lot of respect for the young queen, not to mention a not-so-small amount of affection for her personally. Her arms sale, however, was wrong in several ways. First, Kalmach was clearly the aggressor, with no motivation other than expansion, as far as anyone could tell. Saint Mark had turned its back on that wicked path many years ago and had never strayed from the doctrine laid out in the Beatus Lux Covenant. Second, the queen was spending a lot of international goodwill in doing this. She had earned the world's admiration, but this sale could turn world opinion against her and against Zoran. Finally, to be honest, the ZF-2 just wasn't very good quality. If it proved to perform poorly, all the world would see potential weakness in the Zoranian military.
He had tried to present his case gently and with respect, as one friend to another. He hoped it might persuade her to reconsider, and offered a little prayer as he handed it to the courier.
 
 

Prince Marcarius pressed his signet ring into the warm, red wax of the envelope. It was old-fashioned, of course, but he felt it was the right touch in this case. The letter he had just written to Queen Atsil would be delivered in the diplomatic pouch overnight. It had taken all evening to compose. He had a lot of respect for the young queen, not to mention a not-so-small amount of affection for her personally. Her arms sale, however, was wrong in several ways. First, Kalmach was clearly the aggressor, with no motivation other than expansion, as far as anyone could tell. Saint Mark had turned its back on that wicked path many years ago and had never strayed from the doctrine laid out in the Beatus Lux Covenant. Second, the queen was spending a lot of international goodwill in doing this. She had earned the world's admiration, but this sale could turn world opinion against her and against Zoran. Finally, to be honest, the ZF-2 just wasn't very good quality. If it proved to perform poorly, all the world would see potential weakness in the Zoranian military.
He had tried to present his case gently and with respect, as one friend to another. He hoped it might persuade her to reconsider, and offered a little prayer as he handed it to the courier.
 
 

Three Months Earlier:
Archbishop Lumendei sat in an ornate, gold-cushioned chair in the large receiving room at the Palatium Sanctae Lucis in central Sanctus Leo. Although elegant, with frescoed ceilings by Caraluccio, the room in the ancient palace was sparsely furnished and a bit drafty. The middle-aged prelate, a close advisor on religious matters to His Serene Highness, had been awaiting the arrival of his boss, The Holy Heirophant, Leo XVI. It was now forty minutes past the appointment time. Just then, the large, carved mahogany door opposite him swung open. Monsignor Radcliff, His Holiness' aide, stepped through first, followed by the elderly Heirophant who walked briskly into the room. The Archbishop stood.
"Holiness, it is good to see you again. His Serene Highness sends his regards," the Archbishop said with a warm smile as he approached the Hierophant and bent over his outstretched hand, taking it briefly in his own.
"Likewise, Lumendei," the Hierophant replied with a smile.
The Archbishop remained standing when the Hierophant was seated.
"Lumendei, as you know, these rugby games in Dalimbar give us an opportunity to open a conversation with that nation regarding the works of our missionaries there. We have had very limited access and would like to see if there is any chance that may improve. You have reported that His Serene Highness will be attending a state dinner with their Marshall. Perhaps the Prince will include you in his retinue?"
"I'm sure that can be arranged without difficulty, Holiness."
"Excellent. Please make arrangements to meet with Abbott Invetore to go over what our goals are."
"Of course, Holiness."
"Now, you must try these macarons. The sisters use an ancient recipe and ingredients from our own almond trees."

Prince Marcarius pressed his signet ring into the warm, red wax of the envelope. It was old-fashioned, of course, but he felt it was the right touch in this case. The letter he had just written to Queen Atsil would be delivered in the diplomatic pouch overnight. It had taken all evening to compose. He had a lot of respect for the young queen, not to mention a not-so-small amount of affection for her personally. Her arms sale, however, was wrong in several ways. First, Kalmach was clearly the aggressor, with no motivation other than expansion, as far as anyone could tell. Saint Mark had turned its back on that wicked path many years ago and had never strayed from the doctrine laid out in the Beatus Lux Covenant. Second, the queen was spending a lot of international goodwill in doing this. She had earned the world's admiration, but this sale could turn world opinion against her and against Zoran. Finally, to be honest, the ZF-2 just wasn't very good quality. If it proved to perform poorly, all the world would see potential weakness in the Zoranian military.
He had tried to present his case gently and with respect, as one friend to another. He hoped it might persuade her to reconsider, and offered a little prayer as he handed it to the courier.
 
 

Prince Marcarius pressed his signet ring into the warm, red wax of the envelope. It was old-fashioned, of course, but he felt it was the right touch in this case. The letter he had just written to Queen Atsil would be delivered in the diplomatic pouch overnight. It had taken all evening to compose. He had a lot of respect for the young queen, not to mention a not-so-small amount of affection for her personally. Her arms sale, however, was wrong in several ways. First, Kalmach was clearly the aggressor, with no motivation other than expansion, as far as anyone could tell. Saint Mark had turned its back on that wicked path many years ago and had never strayed from the doctrine laid out in the Beatus Lux Covenant. Second, the queen was spending a lot of international goodwill in doing this. She had earned the world's admiration, but this sale could turn world opinion against her and against Zoran. Finally, to be honest, the ZF-2 just wasn't very good quality. If it proved to perform poorly, all the world would see potential weakness in the Zoranian military.
He had tried to present his case gently and with respect, as one friend to another. He hoped it might persuade her to reconsider, and offered a little prayer as he handed it to the courier.
 
 

Prince Marcarius pressed his signet ring into the warm, red wax of the envelope. It was old-fashioned, of course, but he felt it was the right touch in this case. The letter he had just written to Queen Atsil would be delivered in the diplomatic pouch overnight. It had taken all evening to compose. He had a lot of respect for the young queen, not to mention a not-so-small amount of affection for her personally. Her arms sale, however, was wrong in several ways. First, Kalmach was clearly the aggressor, with no motivation other than expansion, as far as anyone could tell. Saint Mark had turned its back on that wicked path many years ago and had never strayed from the doctrine laid out in the Beatus Lux Covenant. Second, the queen was spending a lot of international goodwill in doing this. She had earned the world's admiration, but this sale could turn world opinion against her and against Zoran. Finally, to be honest, the ZF-2 just wasn't very good quality. If it proved to perform poorly, all the world would see potential weakness in the Zoranian military.
He had tried to present his case gently and with respect, as one friend to another. He hoped it might persuade her to reconsider, and offered a little prayer as he handed it to the courier.
 
 

BREAKING NEWS: Queen Atsil Responds to AU Pressure
Transcript of Speech from the Press Conference:
It has been brought to my attention that certain foreign actors are displeased with the recent arms deal with Kalmach. My response to this is simple, we will proceed as planned. 
While Nieubasria and the AU have our utmost respect and thanks for their assistance in rebuilding the Zoranian state, this witless response is disappointing, particularly from Nieubasria. Although the Zoranian-Astorian Union Provisional Working Group is invoked, I reiterate my representative’s statements that Zoran will not be confined in its economic recovery. We are protecting our national interest and avoiding reliance on foreign arms, this was made clear at that discussion. 
With the much-advanced ZF-1 Empyrean the Astorian Union has been content to facilitate the development of weapons platforms in Zoran. Yet when we demonstrate independent success with our entirely native ZF-2, an AU member seeks to belay us. The existence of a Zoranian arms industry is clearly not the issue. 
It must also be said that the deal with Kalmach has put Dalimbari interests at risk, which should be a perceived boon to the AU rather than a threat. Furthermore, we would like to exhibit the innumerable cases in which nations procures arms only to then go and use them. One example is the Cambrian sale of naval craft to Varanius only a couple years prior to near-conflict in the Darkesian sea. Is the seller of arms responsible with what is done with them or not? If you are unsure, I suggest you look to your own actions.
If they feared a Zoranian arms dealing banana republic, then the AU should revert to the logic that led them to support us against the Corporatists. My Government is dedicated to the stability and economic prosperity of the people of this nation and we are confident Zoran is already in a stronger state than it would have been under a crony capitalist kleptocracy. The corporates were bent on wholesale imperialistic conquest of neighboring countries in the Darkesian, which doubtless would have caused greater instability in more nations than a single transaction amounting to less than one third of a percent of Zoranian GDP. The war plans and the self-serving policies of the corporatists are open for all to see! 
Thus I ask the AU this, make a choice, are we friend or are we foe? We will not be treated as both and we will not tolerate double standards.

Thank you to @Aelitia for their assistance with this post.

A Pretty Intense Wait
Ryxtylopia wins over Kalmach in MD5, but drops to 3rd in MD6
Rivaldo Daxivarra
 
Good afternoon readers! We experienced issues a few days ago, so today we'll cover both MD5 with MD6, starting with MD5 where Ryxtylopia achieved a major victory against Kalmach 3-24 at an away game, retaining 2nd place for the time being, the match seemed equal at first before the Ryxtylopian team took the advantage on the 2nd half, ending in a one sided match, this made Kalmach drop to 4th place, behind Fujai, who won their match against Arifiyyah, while the Aftokratorian team despite riding a morale high after their win against the A.R.R lost to the United Adaikes in a very intense match that ended in a 14-20.
With the scores for MD5 being; UA leading the group, followed by Ryxtylopia, Fujai, Kalmach, Aftokratoria, Dilber, and finally Arifiyyah, in this Match Day, UA became the first team from group D to qualify to the next round.
For the other groups in MD5, starting with group A of course: Ostronia became the first team to qualify in group A, after their win 3-25 against Ionia, who sits 6th, while the Dalimbari hosts beat Sekiya 7-23, Dalimbar in 2nd place in group A, while Sekiya is in 5th, and the third placed team: Teralyon, who beat the last place team, Larxia, 30-14, while the then 4th place Hertfordshire and Jammbo didn't play on MD5.
In group B, we see the first team eliminated from the tournament, with Apexiala bearly loosing to the 3rd place Saranzio 20-17, now with no hope of making it to the next round of the tournament sitting in last place of their group, while first place Zoran beat Rivafiume, 12-31, pushing them to 5th, and the 3rd place Saint Mark did the same with Varanius 7-17, pushing them to 6th place, while Giovanniland didn't play in MD5, sitting comfortly in 2nd place for group B.
Finally for MD5 Libterraria won against Einherfell in a very close match 14-15, Einherfell eliminated from the tournament, Libterraria in 5th place while Cyrylic lost to Cambria 17-24, Cambria becoming the second team in group C to qualify, while Cyrylic is in 6th place, the first team to qualify from group C is of course Overthinkers, in MD5 beating Peourouin 3-14, Peourouin in 3rd place, while Nieubasria didn't play on MD5 and sits on 4th place.
That covers all the matches in MD5, Ryxtylopia getting out of its precarious position after the Aftokratorian defeat, with Kalmach now in risk of not making the group, while Fujai and the UA continue going strong.
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For Matchday 6, Ryxtylopia didn't play against anyone, they had a rest day, this lead to Ryxtylopia dropping to 3rd in group D after Fujai won against Aftokratoria by a narrow 3-0, jumping to second, and becoming the second team in group D to qualify for the next round, while UA, After defeating Kalmach 18-0, retains 1rst place. Kalmach retains 4th place, with Aftokratoria dropping to 7th, even if they win their last match they still other results to go their way. Unforunatley the same is not true for Arifiyyah who become the first team from group D eliminated from the tournament since they dont play on MD7, they get to go home early, still in 6th place, while for Dilber, if they win against Aftokratoria, and Kalmach looses or ties their game against Fujai, they still have a reasonable chance of making the group.
Ryxtylopia has almost assured qualification, and depending on the performance against UA in the next Matchday could either jump back to second, stay in third or drop to fourth depending on how other teams do.
Now lets move on to the other groups, starting again with group A; Dalimbar beat Ionia 20-12 and take first place in their group, followed by Ostronia in 2nd, both teams having assured qualification along with the 3rd place Teralyon whom beat Hertfordshire and Jammbo 14-19, H&J in risk of not making the groups as they sit 5th, while Sekiya sits in a very precarious position in 4th place after beating Larxia 3-11, Larxia now eliminated from the tournament, being at the bottom of group A, as it seems it will be a battle between H&J and Sekiya for the last qualification spot in group A.
Meanwhile in group B; Zoran retains first place beating Saranzio, who drops to 4th, Saint Mark doing the same with Rivalfiume, who's now hanging on a thread at 5th place, but the match we all waited for finally came this day, the showdown between Giovanniland, and Varanius, the Giovannilandian team achieving the victory 17-0, and eliminating the Varanian team from the tournament, Varanius settling down on 6th place.
And finally group C; Overthinkers (1rst) Cambria (2nd) and Nieubasria (3rd), keep the lead and qualify for the next round, while the battle for 4th begins between Peourouin, Libterraria, and maybe even Cyrylic, with Peourouin currently holding 4th, tied in points with Libterraria, while Cyrylic requires other results to go their way as well as a victory to qualify, Peourouin's position is uncertain after their defeat to Cambria 34-13, Libterraria beat Cyrylic 14-3 keeping their chances alive, while the eliminated Einherfell lost 8-0 to Nieubasria, whom with this victory qualifies on to the next round.
And thus end Match Days 5 and 6, Ryxtylopia may qualify but anything could happen at this point, at their next match is against a tough opponent, so the team will aim for a draw at least, but this will mark the end of our journey through the groups as we advance on to the next round of the 4th Rugby World Cup.
 
Adilíenti Ryxtylopia! A Vyncer!

Kaisah, Dalimbar — The Giovannilandian Rugby Report is at full steam! Welcome once more, I am your news correspondent Madalena Vindemia here at Dalimbar and today I'll be talking about our national team's performance in the latest matchday against Varanius, and what our victory means for the future of our team in the compeition.
Matchday VI: Giovanniland 17-0 Varanius (Halftime: 10-0)
Penalty: Terentia Antone-Gilvo (36')
Try & Conversion: Kornelio Fabio-Lauro (10'), Fausto Tavallani (55')
After two matches against our Auran neighbors in Zoran and Saint Mark, the Giovannilandian team turned its attention to its Andolian neighbors Varanius! It was a very high stakes match for both teams, with Giovanniland having the possibility to ensure qualification with a win, and Varanius needing a win to stay alive in the competition, aside from historically and current negative relations between the two nations. 
As such, the match was full of attempts and opportunities for both teams to score. It was our team that took the initiative ten minutes in, with loosehead prop Kornelio scoring the first try of the game and converting it as well, and tighthead prop Terentia adding to the score with a penalty to make the score 10-0 for Giovanniland at halftime. Last but not least, in the second half, openside flanker Fausto cemented the Giovannilandian win by achieving a further try-convert, scoring 17 points for our team to match the same amount of points scored against Saint Mark two matchdays ago (however, in the occasion, Saint Mark had scored 12 points as opposed to none from Varanius).
Elsewhere in Group B, the big news is that Giovanniland has now confirmed qualification!! Depending on the result of the last match against Rivalfiume, we will confirm our second place if we win, while a loss could see us relegated to third by either Saint Mark or Saranzio, depending on which one of them wins. Meanwhile, Zoran continues their undefeated streak by winning against Saranzio and have now confirmed their first place qualification. The other match in the group was Saint Mark against Rivalfiume, won by our Auran neighbors, increasing the chance of Markan qualification while putting Rivalfiume in a tougher situation as they face our team next. Meanwhile, Varanius joins Apexiala in the list of eliminated Group B, with no matches left to play and a sixth-place finish.
Overall, it has been a good group stage for Giovanniland, and the team has recovered from early hiccups such as the draw with Saranzio and loss to Zoran. King Giovanni VI, which is visiting Dalimbar and will meet with the Dalimbari and Saint Markan leaders for a state dinner soon, also praised the team for its performance and wished the team good luck in future matches. This is reporter Madalena Vindemia signing off, as our TV channel will move on to non-sports news. See you in two days for the Rugby Report about Matchday 7!

As the sun went down over the Dalimbari horizon, it cast long shadows over a large rugby stadium, leaving the top seats still beautifully illuminated. Down near the entrance in which athletes emerged from the changing rooms, stood a young, handsome man. The man breathed in deeply, letting out a sigh of relief just a couple moments later. The next morning, this would be where the man stood again, but instead at the front of a line containing the players of Aftokratoria’s national rugby team, as the captain.
     Rankampi Kepatanios looked around. The stadium was empty aside from a janitor cleaning up seats on the far side of the field. It was silent, but if you listened closely enough, you could hear the bustling noises of locals and tourists celebrating in the distance. The crisp evening air reminded Rankampi of his home in eastern Aftokratoria. Despite feeling at peace, deep inside him there was a fear that had been there since his team had lost their first international game. Tomorrow they played Ryxtyltopia, the nation currently at the top of their group’s standings, while Aftokratoria was at the bottom of it. The rest of his teammates were confident overall, and even if they weren’t, they were positive and enthusiastic. Rankampi trusted his team to do well, but he could not explain why he still felt this constant worry.
     A few days ago, he had sent a letter to his mother back home, but she had not yet replied. He knew logically that either his letter had not gotten there yet, or hers had just not gotten to him yet, but that was another factor often on his mind. Ryxtyltopia would be a difficult challenge for his team, but he still felt they could do it, as it was himself that Rankampi wasn’t sure would be up to the task.
    Rankampi remembered a few months ago, when he and his teammates had found out they had made it into the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the pride and accomplishment that he had felt. He was so much more lively and brave then, but as of recently there had been a decline in his traits that made him deserve to be captain, or at least Rankampi thought there was. He felt that everything was so much different now, though it really wasn’t.
     The sun had almost entirely set now, so Rankampi took in one final breath of the refreshing, cool air, an extra gaze at the rugby field he would soon be returning to, and turned to walk back to his hotel room. He would certainly need the rest.
(seperate rp post)
 
Interviewer: Good morning Aftokratoria! Today I am here with the players of Aftokratoria’s national Rugby team. Actually, for the first time ever, they are an international team! These skillful players,
Filotimos: *interjects* And proud!
Interviewer: These skillful, and proud, players finally made it into the prestigious Esferos rugby tournament, which is being hosted in Dalimbar. I have gotten the chance to interview them for an exclusive one-time broadcast. First off, have any of you been to Dalimbar before?
Filotimos: I have! I have travelled to many countries actually, but nothing ever beats home. I could not be more honoured that I get to be one of our great nation’s representatives here.
Tetartos: I have as well. I like it here, it is nice. I am ever so slightly disappointed that I can’t visit more of the country on this trip, but of course playing for my country takes a huge priority.
Interviewer: Interesting! For the rest of you who haven’t, what is it like, being in such a strange, new environment, and having cameras and rugby fans on you so often?
Pedio: It is a bit unnerving. We had literally just walked off the plane when there were three people who had found out which flight we were on, waiting at the gate for photos! Unsurprisingly, more well known and popular teams such as United Adaikes’ and Cambria’s get a lot more paparazzi and media attention, but there are still a decent amount of our own fans. I am glad we don’t have to be the ones getting all that.
Rankampi: I agree. Even the amount of attention we do get is a bit too much for me personally. It is weird, you don’t recognise anything, but so many people recognise you.
Interviewer: Makes sense. A bit ironic, since this interaction we’re having right now is media attention. Anyways, let’s move on to actual sports talk. So far, you guys have lost two for two games, one against Arifiyyah, and one against Kalmach. What points do you think you did well at, and which aspects do you think you could improve on?
Omadiki: Good question. I think our teamwork and cooperation is really good! I’ve seen some very skilled players on other teams, but they lose because their collaboration is so chaotic. That is definitely one of our strong points. Especially amongst our defensive players. Communication is something we have worked quite hard on improving the past few years, and I say it has been a success.
Podosfairo: But just like any team, anywhere, ever, there are lots of things we can focus on fixing. While we are quite fast and strong, and being aggressive is no difficulty at the start since lots of our training is from football, though a bit later on in the game we should be more pushy. We do fail to score a lot of points throughout, because even if they aren’t pushing us back, we aren’t attacking them forcefully enough either. It’s a lot easier to prevent goals than make them, for our team specifically, so we do need to improve that.
Interviewer: Fascinating! It is good that not only are you able to pinpoint your strengths, but also acknowledge your weaknesses. Next question, what are your thoughts on the future of this team? Short term, long term, anything.
Nikitis: Positive thoughts! I am confident that we will play better than we ever have before in our next game against Ryxtyltopia!
Paizo: I do think we will do well! Even if we don’t win, we made our country proud, and ourselves as well. But that’s not to say I don’t think we’ll win, because I do.
Tinasso: We got this!
Syllipsi: Yeah! We can do it!
Konos: Af-to-kratoria! Af-to-kratoria!
All: Af-to-kratoria! Af-to-kratoria!
Interviewer: You sure are a close and uplifting team to be around. Before we end the broadcast, I do have one last question. Amyna and Adikima, are you two related?
Amyna and Adikima: Yep!
Adikima: That’s why we have the same last name.
Amyna: Our entire family has always been rugby enthusiasts, so what else could we do other than both become professional rugby players?

Interviewer: I thought so! Well, it has really been a great time talking to you all, but I’m afraid our booked airtime has come to an end. Thank you all for coming, thank you to all you viewers watching, and finally, Af-to-kratoria! Af-to-kratoria! Wooh!

EARLY TSUNAMI WARNING Emergency alerts. This is an early emergency alert. Aibuz cliff section collapsed into strait; buoy sensors have detected tsunami waves. Up to [2 meters] for: Coast of Ethoem and Coast of Peoourgogne. Up to [1 meter] for: Coast of Celatata. At most [0.5 meter] for: North-Coastal Mais. Elevated surf for: Coastal Apexpol. The Sekiyan coast is not forecasted to be affected. Waves may reach the southern coastal areas. Please evacuate now. Follow evacuation routes and follow authority orders. When life is in danger, save as many as you can. Please evacuate now.

A Day's Rouse
Buchiav, recount
Me, Aaron, Kaaia, and Connor all go to the sauna where we see a few of our group either sprawled out, video calling their families, or crying because they can’t bring their SO’s to Dalimbar. Well, if you want to be confined in a solitary cell barely bigger than a ventilation shaft, go right ahead. All over a “special” blue card.
We walk into the spa where we finally have a moment to clear our minds over that loss with Overthinkers. 14-3 loss is painful. Just like the 10-7 loss in the first match. That word, loss, it just has some negativity. We don’t want negativity.
“Hey,” Kaaia nudges me out of my trance, “you doin’ alright?”
“I don’t know,” I lied, “Just bummed. We trained like hell too.”
“Not all things will come so easily,” she exhaled, “Our style is +1, and versus a style +3.1, it’s not that surprising.
“Don’t beat yourself up about it either. Even Krasna and Carlise had trouble keeping them back.”
I sighed. It was terrible and I just wanted to get through the process and talk to people. “Hey, if anyone needs me, tell them to text but don’t expect me to answer.”
“That my boy,” she poked.
-----
Aaron and Lukash were always attached to the hips, I envied their closeness. Something I would never think of when someone said to describe myself.
“Bonne annee, Maja…,” some romance-speaking tourists here. Jealous, envious, I wanted that.
Time I check up on the… what the- Tsunami!...

Aftokratorian News at 6:00   
     A recent survey in the South-Eastern town of Genikosiville has Aftokratorian rugby fans living there furious! It was revealed when the mayor was interviewed as the final contributor to the survey that he was the only person in the entire village not cheering for our national team, and was in fact supporting and cheering for the Dilberi! In the interview, Dimarko Prodotis, the mayor in question, mentioned that he had even made a $50 donation to the foreign team and had $175 on the line in a bet with a councillor in the town.
     Though it sounds like something small, 17 protests, ranging from 15 to 64 participants have sprouted in the past 3 days, with local residents calling for a re-election. No wonder Genikosiville was voted the “Most Odd Town in Aftokratoria” last year!
     “Mr. Prodotis is a traitor to our nation! Send him to Dilber, since we don’t want him or Dilberi people around here!” said local racist, Topikos Ratsistis, who attended 8 of the protests.
    On the other hand, a Dilberi-Aftokrator in a nearby village said “I can be a loyal Aftokrator and also support my home country’s team!”. She was soon punched in the face.
 
And that’s Aftokratorian News at 6:00.

Regarding the Zoranian Sale of Fighter Aircraft to Kalmach
April 10, 1423
We, the government of the Kingdom of Cambria, express our grave concern over the recent reports of Zoran's intent to sell of ZF-2 Stormhawk fighters to Kalmach for use in an armed conflict with Garahun. This act threatens the principles of peace that both our nation holds dear.
It is alarming to note that this decision appears to be a continuation of Corporatist policies that were prevalent in Zoran's previous government. We believe that the sale of military aircraft to Kalmach for use against Garahun is not only a threat to regional stability but also poses a risk to global security.
We urge Zoran to reconsider this decision and instead work towards promoting peace and stability in the region. It is our firm belief that the only way to ensure lasting peace is through dialogue, cooperation, and respect for the common good. We hope that Zoran will join us in this endeavor and take steps to demonstrate its commitment to these principles.
We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with Zoran to address this issue and find a mutually agreeable solution that upholds the principles of peace and stability.

Statement by Rear Admiral Aleksey Klement, Chief of External Affairs, on behalf of Stavka of the Free State of Dalimbar
"While the Free State is attempting to foster peace through sport, bringing together rivals and foes from across Esferos together for friendly competition, Stavka is deeply concerned regarding multiple actions occurring in different parts of the globe at this time.
We are monitoring the situation in the Mille-Mer and note that while piracy remains an issue within the high seas across the world, we find it peculiar that states which often demand "peace and and dialogue" to resolve conflict are instead seemingly building up a task force to potentially invade a neighbouring sovereign state. While outside of any Dalimbari areas of interest, we are hopeful that operations remain confined to anti-piracy and does not develop mission creep, especially into any Dalimbari areas of interest.
We strongly denounce the sale of 69 fighter jets from the barely functioning Zoranian regime to Kalmach. While Stavka was starting to explore potential trade relations with Kalmach, they have made their intentions clear that they would rather have shoddy products from a backwards state than the tools needed to complete their agenda. We condemn both the Zoranian and Kalmachian regimes for their flagrant disrespect of the peace of sport. We further are encouraged by the statement released by Nieubasria regarding this situation.  
We would like to note that the repatriation of the criminal Nazer Ablaiev from the Kingdom of Cambria back to the Free State is complete. He has been sentenced of committing the crime of treason against the Free State and shall be incarcerated at a labour camp in District 15 and shall remain there for the rest of his existence. We thank Cambria for their cooperation on this matter.
Finally, we are pleased that the leaders of Giovanniland and Saint Mark will be joining Marshal Briand and the rest of Stavka for a state dinner at Oborin Palace here in Saint Andreisburg. More details will follow."

Vaadatablog - April 10, 1423 Dispatch
From the perspective of Nieubasria, the announcement of Zoran's entrance into the international military aviation market and the sale of fighter jets to Kalmach raises concerns about regional stability and the country's own strategic interests. The Kalmachian invasion of Garahun, cannot be ignored however and we will revisit this in our ongoing series Nurean "Cooperation". 
Nieubasria may feel pressure to take a stance on the issue, whether it be in support of its allies or in opposition to their actions. However, it is also possible that Nieubasria will maintain its neutral stance and continue to prioritize its own economic and political interests above taking sides in conflicts that do not directly threaten its security.
Regardless, Nieubasria's leadership will need to carefully consider the implications of its allies' actions and balance the potential benefits of involvement with the potential risks of being drawn into a larger conflict. It may also need to reassess its relationships with Zoran and other nations entering the international military market to ensure that their actions do not compromise Nieubasria's strategic interests.
 
 

 
Statement by the Estates-Ministry of Nieubasria regarding Zoranian Arms Deal with Kalmach
Nieubasria strongly condemns Zoran's decision to sell arms to Kalmach in the midst of their conflict in Garahun as the foundation from which it will rebuild its war-torn economy. It is unacceptable that Zoran would choose to fuel ethnic tension and further conflicts in Nur in order to bolster its own economy.
Nieubasria stands firm in its belief that the unchecked proliferation of arms only leads to greater violence and instability, and we will not stand by while Zoran continues to profit from this cycle of destruction. Therefore, the Sovereign Estates stands ready to impose strict sanctions on Zoran, including an arms embargo and freezing of assets of Zoranian companies involved in the arms trade.
Nieubasria calls on Zoran to immediately suspend all arms sales and to work towards building a sustainable and peaceful economy through means such as those promoted within the Zoranian-Astorian Union Provisional Working Group. Nieubasria stands ready to support Zoran in its efforts to rebuild, but we will not tolerate the destabilizing effects of a nation surviving solely on the perpetuation of violence around the world. As a nation with Tamaric values, we cannot support actions that only lead to further escalation and metastasization of local conflicts.
If Zoran does not commit to pausing arms sales and re-engage with the Astorian Union on state-building aid, the Estates-Ministry of The Prince's Peace has prepared the following sanctions to take effect: 
Seizure and ban on Zoranian defence-related imports, including materiel and manufacturing components, Suspension of defence-related exports to Zoran, including material, precursor chemicals and compounds, and manufacturing components,  Reinstating freeze on the assets of Zoranian arms manufacturers or related industries as designated by the Estates-Minister of the Overthere, and Freeze on any Basmarc- or Cambrian Crown-denominated transactions suspected to be related to the production, sale, or transportation of Zoranian arms or defence-related items processed by Basric financial institutions.  To support the case where sanctions must be employed, defence-related exports not approved as of April 10 will be held at ports of entry, Basmarc-denominated transactions of the DG Corporation (Dawisgali Gosdayi (Arrowhead) Corporation) and known affiliates in the production of ZF-2 Stormhawk platform will be temporarily frozen, and Basric nationals in Zoran are requested to report their presence in Zoran to their nearest Astorian Union embassy or consulate. 
The Sovereign Estates is assured that other nations will join us in taking strong action against Zoran to demonstrate that such behavior will not be tolerated in the international community. The Estates-Minister of The Prince's Peace states that expanded sanctions may be put in place at a later date. 
Furthermore, Nieubasria does not condone the actions of Kalmach in Garahun. We urge Kalmach to seek peaceful resolutions to their conflicts, and to refrain from using arms from fragile states to further their military objectives.
Nieubasria remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the world, and we will not hesitate to take strong action against those who threaten it.

Three Months Earlier:
Archbishop Lumendei sat in an ornate, gold-cushioned chair in the large receiving room at the Palatium Sanctae Lucis in central Sanctus Leo. Although elegant, with frescoed ceilings by Caraluccio, the room in the ancient palace was sparsely furnished and a bit drafty. The middle-aged prelate, a close advisor on religious matters to His Serene Highness, had been awaiting the arrival of his boss, The Holy Heirophant, Leo XVI. It was now forty minutes past the appointment time. Just then, the large, carved mahogany door opposite him swung open. Monsignor Radcliff, His Holiness' aide, stepped through first, followed by the elderly Heirophant who walked briskly into the room. The Archbishop stood.
"Holiness, it is good to see you again. His Serene Highness sends his regards," the Archbishop said with a warm smile as he approached the Hierophant and bent over his outstretched hand, taking it briefly in his own.
"Likewise, Lumendei," the Hierophant replied with a smile.
The Archbishop remained standing when the Hierophant was seated.
"Lumendei, as you know, these rugby games in Dalimbar give us an opportunity to open a conversation with that nation regarding the works of our missionaries there. We have had very limited access and would like to see if there is any chance that may improve. You have reported that His Serene Highness will be attending a state dinner with their Marshall. Perhaps the Prince will include you in his retinue?"
"I'm sure that can be arranged without difficulty, Holiness."
"Excellent. Please make arrangements to meet with Abbott Invetore to go over what our goals are."
"Of course, Holiness."
"Now, you must try these macarons. The sisters use an ancient recipe and ingredients from our own almond trees."

Now for the actual Match Day 6 submission.
WATCH: Interview with OT Rugby’s Lee Julius
By Byron Ronald | SPOT Staff Writer | 3 hours ago
Overthinkers’ national rugby team has stolen the spotlight on the world stage. They are the only team so far to remain undefeated through five matches (though Cambria, United Adaikes and Zoran are also 4-0 in group play), and they have held the largest point differential (+76) of any competitor. Dalimbar’s official Rugby Rankings rank the team a solid #5, behind only the “Big Four” of international rugby (Zoran, Dalimbar, Cambria and U.A.).
Related: See all scores and stories from Rugby World Cup 4 in Dalimbar.
Overthinkers has been carried in the World Cup by its aggressive, creative offense—a style that was a staple of Coach Ed’s strategy in the TRY RL.  But the big playmaker is a lesser-known face in the sport: left wing Lee Julius. Signed by the struggling Aurum Enigma two seasons ago, Julius had already displayed some flashes of brilliance, and many pundits wondered what they could do behind forwards who could actually block. They are wondering no longer.
Julius scored two tries in the first match against Libterraria and leads the team with 5 tries in the World Cup. Their flashy footwork makes them hard to catch once the ball is in their hands. As the team enters its bye day before gearing up for a daunting finale against Cambria, SPOT’s Peyton Cade sat down with Julius in Saint Andreisburg.
> Hide Transcript
CADE: So, at a surface level, how has it been playing in the World Cup compared to the TRY RL back home?
JULIUS: It’s been pretty insane. It’s not just how the eyes of the whole world are watching now, though that’s definitely part of it. But one of the things you keep hearing is how for the Dalimbari, rugby is a religion, and it feels like it. You can tell just how important it is to everyone here. It’s kind of a sacred atmosphere.
CADE: On that note, you and the rest of the team suddenly carry a lot of weight, representing the country in a place where there’s little to no diplomatic history. Has that impacted you guys at all?
JULIUS: It depends. I think for the most part we kinda roll with it. Coach Ed wants us to stay focused on the game, but the ambassador traveling with us is very watchful of how we behave. She scares the s— out of most of the guys. I think she’s pretty cool, personally.
CADE: I take it team morale has to be pretty high coming off five straight wins. Have there been any jitters at all?
JULIUS: I can’t speak for everyone, but for me not since Day 1. Coach Ed was hyping us up the whole way here, but you don’t really believe it till you get out and play. Pretty sure any worries I had were lost somewhere around the 22 on that first try. *laughter*
CADE: You’re leading the team with five tries in five matches. How does that make you feel?
JULIUS: Pretty humbled, believe it or not. A lot of the players I look up to are here with me—Theresa, David, Leona. Our whole strategy is playing to each of our strengths, and my team trusts me to play to mine when they pass to me. And we don’t talk about that one play against Cyrylic.
CADE: Well, you’re becoming a known name among fans of the sport back home, and some people are comparing you to greats like Mike Burger and Rory Fidel. What do you have to say to that?
JULIUS: Well, when I took political history at NUX, my professor always said that Overthinking law protects your right to be wrong.
CADE: *laughing* Okay, fine. Will you guys be doing anything different to prepare for Cambria in three days? 
JULIUS: Just training like hell. We’ve got spot 1 or 2 locked up, so the Cambria game is just about pride. We want to prove we’re the real deal—if we can’t beat them, we’re gonna make ‘em work for it.
CADE: I like it. Thanks for joining me today.
JULIUS: Thanks for having me.
Julius and the Kites will face the top seed of Group C, Cambria, at 0:00 Over Time (19:00 local time) on Thursday. This match will likely determine both teams’ seeding in the knockout stage. SPOT has moved the live broadcast to SPOT 1, but the game will be re-broadcast on SPOT 3 at 13:00 as usual. As always, all RWC matches can be watched live or on-demand on live.spot.ot or the HOTSPOT app.

Match Day 4 submission, republished here for posterity.
 
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See also: How Antenna TV Works >>
Analog vs. Digital Channels
TV networks in Overthinkers are required to apply for a permit with the National Telecommunications Authority before they are allowed to broadcast. When the permit is approved, the network is assigned a unique frequency (channel number). That channel number becomes reserved for that network nationwide. So Channel 19.1 is always VBS, no matter where you are in Overthinkers.
In 1409, analog channels were fully phased out in favor of digital channels. Analog channels are not as efficient. If a company wanted to maintain three channels, they had to apply for and reserve three channel numbers, e.g. 19, 32 and 47. But up to seven digital channels can be broadcast in the same bandwidth. Thus, the NTA required networks to consolidate—e.g. 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3. In other words, all the channels “19.x” are owned by VBS, even if they are branded differently. This freed up space for more companies.
Channels 1-12
Channels 1-12 are reserved for government use. Not all of these are in active use, but private networks are not allowed to use these frequencies. 
1.1 is the Public Service Network, which broadcasts public service announcements as well as emergency programming.
2.1 lists TV channels and schedules in the area.
3.x channels are reserved for local government use.
4.1 is 24/7 weather coverage for the area from the National Meteorological Authority.
5.1-5.4 broadcast government functions, such as the live Congress feed.
12.1-12.3 broadcast educational and cultural programming sponsored by the Department of Education.
Channels 13-18
Channels 13-18 are reserved for strictly regional broadcasts. A special regional permit is required and it does not reserve the frequency nationwide. Because of limited space, channels may share a top-level channel number (e.g. 13.x) that are owned by different companies. See a list of channels specific to your region.
Channels 19 and beyond
Channels 19 and up are available for use by all privately owned networks. The major nationwide networks are listed below. The “x.1” channels are typicaly the “main” channel of a network. See the full list of channels available in your area.
19.x - Vantage Broadcasting Service (VBS)
20.x - Overthinking Television Network (OTTV)
21.x - Leander Broadcasting Company (LBC)
27.x - Sports Network of Overthinkers (SPOT)
31.x - Voice of Overthinkers Enterprises (VOTE)
53.x - Religious Alliance Network (RAN)
 
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Three Months Earlier:
Archbishop Lumendei sat in an ornate, gold-cushioned chair in the large receiving room at the Palatium Sanctae Lucis in central Sanctus Leo. Although elegant, with frescoed ceilings by Caraluccio, the room in the ancient palace was sparsely furnished and a bit drafty. The middle-aged prelate, a close advisor on religious matters to His Serene Highness, had been awaiting the arrival of his boss, The Holy Heirophant, Leo XVI. It was now forty minutes past the appointment time. Just then, the large, carved mahogany door opposite him swung open. Monsignor Radcliff, His Holiness' aide, stepped through first, followed by the elderly Heirophant who walked briskly into the room. The Archbishop stood.
"Holiness, it is good to see you again. His Serene Highness sends his regards," the Archbishop said with a warm smile as he approached the Hierophant and bent over his outstretched hand, taking it briefly in his own.
"Likewise, Lumendei," the Hierophant replied with a smile.
The Archbishop remained standing when the Hierophant was seated.
"Lumendei, as you know, these rugby games in Dalimbar give us an opportunity to open a conversation with that nation regarding the works of our missionaries there. We have had very limited access and would like to see if there is any chance that may improve. You have reported that His Serene Highness will be attending a state dinner with their Marshall. Perhaps the Prince will include you in his retinue?"
"I'm sure that can be arranged without difficulty, Holiness."
"Excellent. Please make arrangements to meet with Abbott Invetore to go over what our goals are."
"Of course, Holiness."
"Now, you must try these macarons. The sisters use an ancient recipe and ingredients from our own almond trees."