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.

               

  Ret.Col.Gus Tarballz USMC