Bretonian Armed Forces Defense Intelligence Staff (DIS) (iRP) (AO)

[pbrione]

[The Officers' Mess at the BAF HQ, and a news article from Liberty suddenly grabs the attention of all officers present]

==NEWSFLASH==
--Bretonian Embassy in Liberty Attacked, Severe Casualties Feared-

Today in the skies above Manhattan, a most tragic and terrible event has occured. The Bretonian Embassy ship, the HMS-Britannia, has been attacked by a force of suspected Lane Hackers and Outcasts. The attack comes only hours after the Bretonian Ambassador, Lord William Henri Braterford, hosted a major diplomatic summit onboard the Britannia. The summit had been preceded by a sumptuous dinner party at which many senior Liberty and Bretonian officials attended, and which had been warmly received by the Liberty community. At the dinner party Lord Braterford gave a speech to the people of New York, in which he praised the close relations between the two nations and expressed hopes of closer cooperation on many key issues, which received heartfelt applause from all present. Only hours later, however, the luxurious Bretonian Royal Liner Britannia lay in smoking ruins on the surface of Planet Manhattan, after crash landing following a sudden and unprovoked attack from Liberty terrorists.

=Camera zooms in on an image of the burning wreck of the Britannia, in the midst of a Manhattan district with many buildings succumbing to raging fires=

The attack was totally unexpected, with the Liberty Navy having to rush to the scene to help defend the stricken Embassy. They succeeded in destroying many of the attackers, but it was too late for the helpless Britannia, which plummeted towards the planet's surface and crashed into a major residential district. Official figures released put the number of dead currently at 27 from onboard the Britannia; 15 crewmen, 7 Bretonian officials as well as 3 visiting Liberty citizens, an ex-convict seeking a Royal Pardon and a journalist from Rheinland. Of the Bretonian officials dead the most senior was the Hon. Robert Walker, Parliamentary Secretary of State for Industry. He was visiting Liberty as part of a BMM and Bowex trade delegation.
The Bretonian Government has reasured citizens of Liberty and Bretonia that the Ambassador himself was unscathed in the attack, being jettisoned in a specially-designed escape pod shortly after the attack commenced. He is currently recovering from shock and is being housed at the residence of Liberty President James Powell. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the most senior Bretonian officials present for the dinner and conference, including Bretonian Admiral Whittlington and several Ministers, had set off back for Bretonia onboard a Liberty Navy ship only minutes before the attack began.


A Photograph of the attack taken from a Manhattan sattelite

Her Majesty Queen Carina of Bretonia has issued a statement on behalf of the Bretonian government. It reads as follows:

Her Majesty wishes to express her severe regret at this most tragic of incidents. We strongly condemn the unprovoked attack upon an unarmed vessel with Diplomatic Immunity, and wish to point out that the diplomatic nature of the Britannia has meant that those killed and injured have been of many different nationalities, not just Bretonian. Attacks of this kind strike at the very heart of international diplomacy and peace efforts, and that perpetrators of them demonstrate their lack of all moral decency, sacrificing any sympathy the public may have had for their causes. Her Majesty also wishes to express her gratitude to the Liberty Navy for their swift response, and the Manhattan authorities for their vital aid in rescuing surivors and minimising casualties. The next day has been declared a national day of mourning for both Bretonia and Liberty.

==End of Broadcast==

[The officers stare at the now blank screen in absolute shock. One Leuitenant is heard stuttering disbelief at the news, whilst a Commander is seen openly sobbing]

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>