### Present day - Office of the the RSI Spokesperson

As Gerald puts a lump of bread in his mouth he could not help but to think back about the events of roughly 4 weeks ago and the gruesome journey that followed. When the shooting started panic struck the masses on the town square. As the chaos erupted Gerald Veron only real option was to run for safety. With the protest turning into a firefight he instantly knew the Ereatian government would start looking for in order to blame him for the tragedy. Fleeing Congolo was really the only option for any opposition leader that became a target of interest. 

Veron looked at the desk Jeanette Joures was sitting behind. He was looking for the right words. A way to start the conversation and tell the story from the start. "I am grateful you where able to receive me on such a short notice. The situation in Colonga has gone completely out of hand. Many people have died and the Governor has put up very strict curfews' and prohibited any gatherings in public places. The military arrests everybody who violates the regulations and put them into prison camps without any form of trial. Probably thousands have been arrested already. Also anyone suspected of being involved with opposition groups have been arrested, homes and workshops have been raided and heavily armed soldiers patrol the streets. The repression was never been this bad. Everything changed since the last demonstration" Gerald Veron paused a bit as he just realized that he started with the end of the story and not the beginning.


He as he looked up to ms Joures he continued his story. " There has always been many forms of resistance against the Ereatian oppression of my country. Some groups use violence while UCF believed we could solve this matter in a peaceful way. I believed that there was a maximum lifespan to any colonial system and that we just had to raise our voice when a favorable government would come in control over the Ereatian Empire. In Ereatia itself is also a lot of opposition against their colonial adventures and with during the past 3 election round the hardcore imperialists lost ground in their parliament. I believed that through demonstrations and strikes we could pressure the Ereatian government into starting the decolonization but my believe has been shaken since the events." 


Gerald thought once more about the events. His mind went back to the start of the demonstration. " We always notify our comrades through our movements newspaper Red Rebel for any upcoming demonstration or strike. Four weeks ago was no different. The dockworkers, Factory workers, Oil workers and Iron workers all showed up but they weren't the only ones. Johnny DeWade, leader of the Usonian Liberation Front had gotten notice of our demonstration and rallied his supporters to join. The ULF never had joined our rallies before and generally discard us as communist cowards for our lack of violence. In the past I've asked them numerous times to join but they had always refused. The numbers of people marching doubled this demo and everything went fine. Usually we march to town square, where the governor's office is located and scant our discontent about the situation. Sometimes the disgruntled youth starts throwing rocks, bottles and molotiv cocktails and the demo turns into a riot. The security forces then respond with battons and shield until the youths have been chased away or arrested. Most get released after a week or two. But on the last demonstration in went all different. As we arrived at town square we marched towards the Governors' building and then shots were fired. First one, then quickly followed by more. I could not see who was hit or who was shooting but after the first few shots the Ereatian security forces went all out. Shooting with their side arms in the crowd until their magazines where empty. I saw the people fall on all sides of me"


Gerald hesitated as he remembered how many of his friends died that day. Anger took over his previously tired face as the pictures flashed before his eyes. "Everybody panicked and ran for safety into the many small alleyways of Uson (the usonian name of Colongo's capital and largest city). As the crowd fled from the town square fights broke out all over the city. I watched how security forces drove in with truck and tanks. Arresting every Usonian they encountered, shooting anyone who resisted on sight. Many of my people fought with whatever they had but some also had rifles, pistols and hand grenades. I've never seen the Usonians so angry. I watched how a group of Usonian Youths dragged an Ereatian women out of her home and beat her to death with iron pipes. Manny Usonians went to target Ereatian immigrants and Ereatian hold possessions. In the next days the violence spread to other cities as word of the towns square massacre spread throughout Usonia. I saw hundreds of my fellow countrymen lie death in the streets. All butchered by Ereatian soldiers."


Gerald clenched his hand into a fist as he tried to fight his anger. "I saw my friends, comrades and my son all lie death in the streets. All shot. Those bastards killed my son while he was unarmed and barely 18. They shot him, in the streets as he tried to flee from the violence. We raised our voice and the Ereatians used rifles to shut them"










### Ereatia, Government hall

Prime minister Steven Wilde sat down at his desk after the meeting looking down at two diplomatic messages his government had received. One was from the Ventians and the other from his Malassakian allies. Both where about the recent events in Colongo. Slowly details about the severity of the violence were leaking into the world. The press blackout was clearly not effective enough. As he thought about the situation, a man in a tight suit entered the room without knocking. Prime minster Wilde looked up and quickly nodded "I hope you bring good news, Mr. Smith"

Mister Smith is what people would call a trusty. Some would even consider him the prime ministers man. Mr Smith was not affiliated with any formal agency of the Ereatian empire and yet all doors opened up to him. The prime minister had personally instructed him to investigate the Colongo riots and the man was here to bring out his report. "Would you like to hear the most positive story or the actual facts, prime minister?" Asked the man.

Steven WIlde pointed to one of the seats in front of his desk  and nodded "Start with the actual  facts. After that I will listen to what you believe would be the story we should tell"

Mr Smith didn't move. "You know I prefer to stand, Steven. But I will tell you what I've learned. Soldiers from 32nd marine battalion all testified that they started shooting after their CO was shot. In fact, they all confirmed that the first victim was commander Rogers. All soldiers that died from shot wounds in the first 30 minutes where all officers of the 32nd marine battalion. During the autopsy on the officers the bullets where retrieved from the bodies. All officers have been shot with a large caliber long distant rifle"

Steven Wilde looked up. "You're stating that someone deliberately targeted the chain of command of the security forces present at the square, Mr Smith?"

"Yes, I have also confirmed that those shots were not fired from the crowd. A sniper has been firing from one of the apartments on the other side of the square. Somebody deliberately targeted the officers in order to create chaos. I have .....questioned the owners and renters of the apartment but they came out clean. I am positive that they were not involved in this case. Analysis of the bullets and cartridges found made me believe that the shooter used a sniper rifle produced in Alleghany. It is most likely bought on a black marked and smuggled into Colongo. As the shooter continued to target the battalions officers, the soldiers returned fire to where they believed the firing came from, the crowd of protestors. The shooting resulted in a massive panic from both the security forces and the crowd of protestors. Tens of thousands Usonians tried to flee the scene and many of them where simply overrun. Analasys of the retrieved bodies shown the following figures. 27 marines where shot with the same rifle. 23 of them where officers or non-commission officers. Another 15 marines where beaten to death by protestors when they got isolated from the rest. 247 Usonian were found on the square who had died gun fire produced by Ereatian firearms. 2785  Usonians where crushed to dead as the crowd panicked." Mr Smith paused and walked towards a cabinet containing various drinks of the Alcoholic kind and poured two glasses of whiskey.

"This is going to be a long night prime minister and you look like you could use a drink" Spoke Mr Smith as he put the glass on the desk. "Somebody wanted to egnite the powder keg in Colongo and succeeded. What followed directly after the town square shooting was that many groups of angry Usonians targeted everything Ereatian in sight. They released their rage on women, children, shops, homes, churches and where met with brutal repression by the army. Some of the usonians believed that the revolution had started and grabbed their hidden weapons in order to fight. In the next 4 days there would be violent clashes between mobs of angry Usonians and your military throughout the colony. It is needless to say that the high civilian dead toll is bad publicity for the empire. Such violent oppression had not been seen for over a decade. No wonder the Ventians call for an investigation and the Malassakians are worried about how your administrations actions will reflect on them due to the alliance."

Steven Wilde looked slightly worried. He could not risk the alliance with the Malassakian alliance nor did he want to put a strain on the relations with the Ventians. Not now there was a chance to get valueble trade agreements with that country. "You are as informed as always Mr. Smith. How did our security forces deal with the situation? Did they follow the protocols about the use of violence against civilians?"

Mr Smith smiled. "Yes, Governor Richard Meanor had followed all the protocols to the letter for when the Usonians would get violent. Those protocols include a complete media blackout and coverup."

"Who, wrote down those protocols?" Replied the prime minister 

"Have you forgotten Steven? You wrote them down 15 years ago. You are the architect of all the security protocols for stabilizing the then newly formed colony of Colongo. It was of course approved by a former administration, but can you imagine what the damage would be if the international public would learn that the current Ereatian prime minister designed protocols that would call for shooting civilians in case of massive civil disobedience ? I suggest we move on to the story part" 

 Steven Wilde face became bleak as he listened to Mr Smith. It was true. 15 year ago Steven was working for the ministry of defense and was charged with writing and reviewing all security protocols for maintaining order. "What do you suggest, Mr. Smith?" 

"That depends on what your interest is Steven. Do you want to do what is best for your country or for you?" 

The prime minister knew that he was in a tight spot. All credibility of his country would be lost if the world found out that he was responsible for the security policies and could still be in office. The other side of the story would be that he had to step down, become subject of investigation and face trail for his role in this incident possibly under international law. That could well mean life in prison or worse. The government would fall and new elections would be held. His party would most likely lose the power but the Empire would save face internationally. The prime minister looked at the man in front of him with a determined look on his face. "Cover my involvement up and create a scrapegoat"

Mr Smith bowed done slightly and spoke. "As you wish my prime minister".

Later that night Prime Minister Steven Wilde appeared in a passionate radio speech. Explaining that terrible violence had erupted in Colongo and many Usonian and Ereatian lifes had been lost. He also told the public that the Governor and his administration violated all the protocols on how to handle and that the governor had ordered his forces to use a disproportionate amount of violence in order to restore order. Over 300 soldiers, officers and Governor, General Richard McMeanor had been arrested for their involvement in the incident.

At the same time all evidence that current president Steven Wilde had written the protocols where erased from the face of the earth.






### Malassakian capital.

Colonel Kensington Richards made his way from the Ereatian embassy towards the one of the Malassakian Republics government buildings. He had received orders to deliver the official investigation report on the Colongo crisis to Archon Antiochus Sotar as soon as possible. The report explained how a sniper targeted soldiers and officers who where policing the demonstration and that the soldiers believed they were shot at by the crowd. It also told that the governor ordered the use of excessive force against the demonstrators and insurgents and that he abused his power to order a media blackout and tried to cover the incident up.

As Colonel Kensington entered the building he introduced himself to the lady at the desk. "Good afternoon, my name is Colonel Kensington Richards, ambassador of Ereatia. I have an appointment with Archon Antiochus Sotar"




### Telegram to the Tsardom fo Ventium

To his majesty , Supreme Commander, Tsar Voltus Ventus,

A great tragedy has befallen the citizens of Colongo. The loss of life is irreplaceable and our first thought go to the families who have lost their loved ones in the crises, regardless of their cultural or racial background. 
The string of events have been under thorough investigation and we are happy to share our findings with you. We can assure you that anyone who played a part in the incident will be persecuted and will be held accountable for his role. Justice will be served. 

Ereatia strives to be a transparent nation. Therefore we are willing to share our official investigation report to whomever desires to read it. I will make arrangements to have the report send to as fast as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Prime Minister Steven Wilde of the Ereatian Empire