The King stepped onto the Royal Carpet that had been prepared for him. He was a fit person, and hence could easily walk the 2 miles required to be recieved by the Governor of the Region.
Security was a concern, earlier, and hence he doubled the number of guards surrounding him from 7 to 14. It was well known that the region was bent on religious fanaticism and that his Confucianism was not acceptable. Still, he had to maintain royal authority over the area and the best way to do this was to march freely upon the city of Chicago to demonstrate that, by virtue of his own person, the Imperial Authority still had control over the area. Religious intolerance and violence would not be tolerated in the area.
Hundreds of thousands of people had come out in the sweltering heat just to catch a glimpse of him. His majesty and his authority had an immediate and positive effect on all that that he encountered. The crowd was screaming and music was playing and people were dancing and laughing...
Of course, everyone attending had been screened in order to ensure that they would recieve the King positively, and no protest was permitted on that day.
But it wasn't enough.
As the King passed the old residential district, a man far in the crowd pulled out a weapon. It was a rather large weapon, anagulous to the old sniper rifles before the unification of Earth. People near him screamed, but their screams were drowned out by the rest of the celebration. As the man fired, the King was punctured in his bulletproof vest.
"LONG LIVE JESUS! DOWN WITH APOSTATES AND NONBELIEVERS!" The man shouted as those around him immediately pounced to defend their sovereign.
The King's guards began to swarm around to protect him, and medics were immediately called as the crowd began to stampede and panic.
One man did not move with the crowd, however. One man simply stared at the fallen King and the mass of bodyguards around him as he pushed his way through the crowd.
"I'm sorry sir, this is now a restricted area." one guard told him as he approached. Not that it mattered, of course: His mind was not focused on the guard or his words. His mind was focused on only one thing: Revenge. Revenge for all the centuries of chaos and pain that the desposism of the Imperial Family had wrought down upon his nation, upon his people! The people of Rome, of that once proud nation destroyed by the debauchery of the King...it was for them that he did this thing today. It was also for his mother, and his father, and the rest of his family that had been sent to Antarctica on Royal Order of "Subversion of the State", and for those who consequently died in the ice camps.
He would make sure that the King would regret that order. He would make sure everyone would regret that order.
"I'm sorry sir, this is now a restricted area."
He opened his jacket, and detonated.
====
And elsewhere on radio....
We, the National Salvation Military Council, will assume provisional control of the Empire until further notice. All troops are ordered to remain on full alert until given further orders from us.
====
select newspapers
PRAVDA - The Empire's #1 For the Truth!
THE KING IS DEAD!
Approximately 24 minutes ago, PRAVDAs Central Office in the Imperial City recieved what purported to be footage of King George being shot by an unknown assailant in the Ecumenical Confederation of Humankind. Numerous holovision stations began to air this footage on their networks. As PRAVDA was working to confirm the authenticity of this footage with its Chicago Office, communication with the PRAVDA Chicago Office was lost entirely due to an unknown reason.
PRAVDA has now recieved a report indicating that there was a large release of energy in the Presidential district of Chicago where the King was last sighted to be greeting tourists and loyal citizens.
Satellite reports indicate that the type of energy released was consistent with that of an old-style nuclear weapon. It is well known that our modern economy is founded on the principles of nuclear energy - from our cars to consumer electronics. Our analysts indicate that the size of the explosion, however, would have required the support of a large organisation with access to raw nuclear materials. At this time, the Order of Lenin is suspected. The Imperial Police have declared a Planetary Emergency and have declared martial law, though without the authority of the King to back them, it remains to be seen how all the people of the world will react.
These satellite reports indicate that the explosion was centered near the last known location of the King, making his survival and that of those around him extremely improbable.
We urge our loyal readers and viewers to remain calm and loyal at this point in time. A national tragedy has befallen us on this day, but by sticking to the values that make our nation great - unity, rationality, imperialism - we will rise up stronger than ever before!
WORLD EMPIRE LEADERLESS
With the assasination of the King, the question of succession inevitably comes up in any discussion. Already the military apparatus (styling itself the "National Salvation Military Council"), the Queen Katarina, and several reformers within the government have claimed the mantle of succession. With no suceeding children, there is no clear successor and history provides no examples of Kings being assasinated, much less the legal order of succession.
The National Salvation Military Council has been confirmed to be made up of a group of 5 influential Generals, the only known figure among that being General Sheryl Ikanaka. It is estimated that, under their command is approximately 70% of the Army, 47% of the Navy and 100% of the Air Force.
The Queen, who has reportedly fled the Imperial Palace, has also released a statement claiming succession to the throne on the basis that the wife is the most trusted and loved advisor to the King. However, there is no historical basis for females sitting on the throne.
The last group apparently vying for succession is the "Order of Democrats", calling for the establishment of a "Parliament" and for "elections" to take place. The Order is made up of highly influential and successful businessmen, mostly from the Mercantile Union of South America.
It seems that at present, the NSMC has de facto control over much of the Empire. What remains to be seen is whether their authority is accepted.
FOX NEWS - Fair and Balanced, Your #1 for News!
Council of Merchants Must be Punished!
The Council of Merchants, by advocating treason against our dear King George, must be punished harshly for their slander of his good name! Fox News calls for a boycott of all South American goods.
God Save our Nation
The news that our beloved King, who has led us through prosperity and triumphs, is dead is something that affects all of us here at Fox News very deeply. Those terrorists whom seek to destroy our freedoms and to destroy our great Empire have propelled us into a great time of uncertainty. We must all remember fondly everything the King and past Kings before him have done for our people and for humanity.
Now is not the time for rebellion and panic, but instead for greater unity. Like a Phoenix risen from the ruins, we shall turn toward the future as one people!
HM Imperial Region of Pacifica Australis
Government Begins Safeguarding Environment
The Government Friday announced new plans to take better care of the environment.
"We have noticed a certain change in our monitoring of various habitats and, while we must continue to grow economically, we must also be good stewards of this Earth that we have inherited from our forefathers and will give to our children." a government spokesman said in a statement.
The plans call for greater study of the area and greater measures to be taken, and it is suspected that this will help fuel employment and economic growth.
MinLoy Officials Arrive in Sydney
Officials from the Ministry of Loyalty arrived in Sydney Wednesday in order to help coordinate with Australia's own police force in order to help better aid the stability of the Empire.
Measures included training exercises and sharing of intelligence on various threats to the stability of our Union.
Human Rights Groups Applaud Decisions on Gay Marriage
Human rights groups across the region have praised a recent government decision to allow gay marriage, hailing it as a sign that Australia continues to push on toward a bright future.
"Australia remains the forefront of the world for progression, both social and technological." A spokesman for the Equal Rights Now! campaign told the Australian.
The Rising Sun Congovernorate
Program for Gifted Poor Begins
A program to help the gifted poor benefit the Rising Sun and the Empire has begun. The program will involve testing children for certain natural aptitudes which, if found, will allow them to move to educational institutions more suited to their talents.
"This will help all children, regardless of economic circumstance, be all that they can be."
Rising Sun Cybernetics Corp Founded
In an elaborate opening ceremony Monday, the Rising Sun Cybernetics Corporation officially recieved its Imperial Charter to operate within the Rising Sun Congovernorate.
"The Rising Sun is indeed rising on this day. Soon, we will be expanding the horizons of technological development for the benefit of all."
This marks a new trend in the Rising Sun Congovernorate of increased emphasis on education in all spheres of public life: Schools are now being encouraged to develop the sciences and philosophy, and the prestige of such professions as mathematician are rising.
Magadan Protests Surpressed by Tear Gas
Protests in Magadan over the ownership of water were met with reasonable force on Tuesday as police fired into a crowd of 500 with tear gas.
"They are disrupting the influence of the Empire, which is unacceptable!" police responded. Critics say that the crowd was peacefully protesting, but this paper maintians that there is no difference between so-called "peaceful" protest and outright treason.
Black Falcons? Rumours Run Wild
Rumours are rapidly spreading around the community of a secret organisation commissioned by the government called the "Black Falcons", a supposedly highly elite and trained police force . While not officially confirmed, many cities have decided to attempt to create their own counter-force due to the rumours.
Some, however, are more skeptical, saying that rumours such as this are floated every day - they reference to the "tin foil" phenomena of 5 years ago, where tin foil production was temporarily increased to meet a massive spike in demand following rumours that the government had a mind-reading device.
Imperial Principlaity of Greater New Wales
Testing Standards Improve
Testing standards have improved following attempts by the government to ensure that biases do not creep into the caste-determining process.
"We are really proud of our system, and I personally am proud to help make it better." said Brandon L. Marakov, Head of the Committee for Testing Standards.
One Big Union
Zyme Scandal Causes Religious Leaders to Resign
A massive drug scandal has cauesd nearly all religious leaders in the Principlality to resign their positions, and churches across the Union are in chaos as large ranks of leaders is now unfilled.
However, it has been promised by those in power that these positions will be filled shortly.
Meanwhile, 5 tons of Zyme were caught at the border, enough to provide millions of hits for our citizens.
Imperial Province of Siberia
No News!
Other than the occasional cat stuck in a tree, there is no news to report on from Siberia.
Tri-River Company
Local Healthcare Plans Scrapped
In response to the Empire's new national healthcare plan, the Tri-River Company announced yesterday that it would be discontinuing its own plan.
"Now that the Empire is providing healthcare for its citizens, we may use this money elsewhere to improve things such as our schools or roads or other things dear to the people."
Of course, all citizens have the freedom to also remain with their private plans purchased from Imperially Chartered Corporations, or to remain without a plan.
Atheist Honoured for Contributions
The late Doctor Singh Mehmed was honoured on Monday for his contributions to the Empire and to the Company as he recieved a full state funeral.
"It is God, praise be to Him, not one of His creations, that decide the fate of every person. It is disgusting and sinful to take matters in to your
own hands." Mordechai the Primus said in a speech before the Imperial Anthem was played and Dr. Mehmed was laid to rest.
Science Convention in Baghdad - Public Input Needed
The government has called for a science convention in Baghdad to address the costs and benefits of privitising Social Security and of finding alternative energy sources and making them less polluting.
"The entire public is free to come. There are drinks, food, and entertainment, and it is a chance for your voice to finally be heard." an organiser said to us on Thursday.
Construction on Science Museum Begins
As part of a recent campaign to revive the sciences, the government has sponsored development of a new Science Museum to encourage the promotion of science, especially to children. It will focus on the space program, terraforming, and things like nuclear energy and physics.
"It is exciting, for this shall not only be a state of the art museum, but a state of the art capital for the new centre of science in the world - Cairo!"
School Construction Begins
Schools of all varieties have begun to pop up around the nation as part of a government-sponsored effort to increase the general education quality and level of the nation. Education in the Tririver Company is compulsory, but many still cling to old agrarian lifestyles and violate the law. It is hoped that, by building these schools in accessable places, they will begin to send their cihldren to school.
"These facilities will be state of the art, with everything you would expect from a nation as rich and intelligent as ours!"
Taj Mahal in TriRiver? Yes!
Construction has also begun on a state of the art resturant, the Taj Mahal. With the finest of Indian chefs and cuisine simply waiting to be cooked, the Taj Mahal (a smaller though proportional replica of the original) will also serve as a cultural embassy of the people of the Indian country to the people of the Tri-River Company.
Taxes Cut!
Taxes have been cut for small industries and businesses.
Ecumenical Confederation of Humankind
State of Emergency Declared
A state of emergency has been declared. Please remain in your homes until further notice.
Contact Lost with Chicago City
Contact has been lost with Chicago City. Please remain in your homes until further notice.
Mercantile Union of South America
Imperial Troops Occupy Region!
Our government, responding to a gracious invitation by King George, has allowed Imperial troops to provide for the defence of our union.
Of course, this offer has nothing to do with recent controversial comments made by the government regarding the King or democracy. Nothing at all!
Crime Increasing, Foreign Intervention Suspected
Crime has been increasing rapidly, and analysis of immigration patterns suggests that a massive criminal emigration is taking place from the One Big Union. This emigration appears to be aimed entirely at the Mercantile Union.
Europa Corp.
Economic Indicators Grim
While an extremely small amount of time has passed since the assasination of the King, indicators suggest thta the economy of the Empire and all regions therein are under extreme threat.
In a classified report released on Wednesday, the Europa Corporation projects GDP lossses from 5-50% in varying areas of the Empire, especially those without government control over industries and in those areas highly dependent on investment, such as technology. The report advises the Corporation to act as a financial stabiliser to hopefully prevent a worldwide depression.
California Worldwide Entertainment
Recent Thriller "Death of a King" Becomes Largest Flop in History
With a projected loss of over $4 billion, the unfortunately-timed release of "Death of a King" will go down in history as the biggest entertainment flop ever.