AP (Associated Press), Rutgers
Recent developments in Tracona, a small nation
bordering Arulco and Hellandia in South America has left it's bloody toll. A
major coup de tat by the military in support of the Ricci Family from New York
has succeeded in ousting former President Santos and has placed Armand Ricci as
the new President and his wife Lora as the First Lady. The Ricci's head a
billion dollar conglomerate corporation responsible for intense mining
operations in this part of the world. Hundreds are presumed dead or missing.
Tracona is best known for it's rich mining
resources, it's unstable weather and the friendliness of it's people. It has
been a frequent tourist hotspot in the past. Tracona has also been a safe haven
for major druglords from neighboring Colombia and a virtual treasure hunt
location for gold looted and buried by the Spaniards in the 15th century.
Tracona is a poor nation but has strong and well
equipped Armed Forces. Each male citizen is required to enlist an the age of 18
for four years. Rumours that it's comanding generals were "bought" are
strenuously denied.
The first action of the newly proclaimed President
was to declare Martial Law and enforce
a curfew throughout the nation. Thousands of refugees have been fleeing the
countryside and have crossed into Arulco for sanctuary.
Newly appointed leader of neighboring country
Arulco, President Miguel Cordona has accepted the refugees and given
humanitarian aid plus temporary accomodation to several thousand people. Arulco
itself is just recovering from a devestating civil war.
Unconfirmed reports state that notorious
international terrorist Richard "Slay" Rutven, best known for
political assasinations worldwide has been hired by Prime Minister Enrico
Chivaldori to "deal" with President Ricci. These rumours are however
consistently & strenuously denied by Chivaldori.
Also in unconfirmed reports is the crash of a
helicopter carrying retired Captain Sam Garver and co-pilot-photographer Tony
Lorenz.
Lorenz is best known for his pictures of the dying
celebrity fashion tycoon Doreen Harrows and is currently facing charges of
neglect to assist at the scene of an accident. Lorenz sped off to the nearest
all night photo development lab then reportedly held a telephone hookup auction
involving several newspapers for rights to the pictures. He is also under civil
action from the Ricci's for publishing explicit photographs of the now Princess
Lora Ricci taken when she was a camera club & art class model in college
plus violating the Balime Tavern's strict "No Cameras" policy on Wet T
Shirt competition evenings.
Capt.Garver is a highly decorated USMC veteran and has strong ties to
the banned mercenary corporation AIM (
Association of International Mercenaries) and a close personal friend.
US intelligence reports the recent formation of an
organization called Tracona Liberation Army headed by former Arulco electronics
shop owner Franz Hinkle, an original native of Tracona who's family was killed
by the Tracona Army in the Civil War. Clashes between the newly founded Rebel
group & army have been one sided. The billion dollar Ricci Corporation has
provided state of the art weaponry from Libya and Yugoslavia to the Tracona
military.
Also in the reports of US intelligence officers
was the sighting of controversial
author Ernest Hemmingway. The writer is wanted by the authorities in Tracona for
allegedly inciting riots and filibustering. He has been charged by the
government for writing propaganda articles and television scripts under a
different name for the TLA. His whereabouts are unknown.
Reports also indicate the presence of AIM mercenaries hired by
Chivaldori. These mercenaries were mainly responsible for the ousting of the
former dictator Queen Diedrianna of Arulco, a close friend of the Ricci's. After
contacting the AIM main office in Los Angeles, reports of their presence was
denied. This reporter has been in Tracona for a several weeks now and has seen
no indication of any mercenaries from AIM or from it's downmarket competitor
MERC.
On a sad note several exotic Bloodcats only found
in this part of the world
escaped from captivity then devoured dozens of
tourists visiting a Bloodcat Research Centre just outside the city of Cordona.
Apparently a child tampering with a switch
released the vicious felines. The military have sent
troops to investigate & round up the cats.
Bloodcats have been experimented on by the former regime of Queen Diedrianna in Arulco where scientists discovered that powderizing their sperm can develop an aphrodesiac ten times stronger than Viagra which also produces euphoric effects similar to cocaine. The Ricci Corporation who operate this centre declared through their spokesman in Tracona City that research being conducted there was "aimed solely towards discovering a cure for the common cold" and vicious rumours to the contrary were simply scandalmongering by jealous rival pharmaceutical firms.