[Noram]

The Principality of Hesperia is pleased to announce the launch of it's first interstellar vessel, the RHSS Principality.

The Principality is the lead ship of the newly designed Principality-class, and will be serving as a testbed for further refinement of the design. In addtion, the Principality will be serving as a training ship, preparing Royal Hesperian Navy ratings and officers for service on the forthcoming RHSS Sovereignty and RHSS Ascendancy.

[Dentari]

Caprica applauds Hesperia on the launch of its first interstellar vessel. The sleek figure of the Principality certainly makes it an astounding feat of engineering and no doubt a formidable ship. We are looking forward to the future additions to Hesperia's fleet!

[Noram]

Election season has begun in earnest here in Hesperia, and the Hesperian Broadcasting Network will be here to bring you all the latest on this critical time for the nation.

This marks the first time representatives from Manticore and the Duchy of Gryphon will be elected, as well as the entrance of the Manticoran and Gryphonic peers to the upper house, something that is sure to cause an upheaval in the long established political landscape of Hesperia.

HBN has decided to launch a series of reports and profiles relating to both major players in the upcoming elections and issues likely to come up during the campaigning. Stay tuned!

[Noram]

We begin our election coverage with a profile of the second most powerful man in the nation, the First Lord of the Assembly, Baron David Cromarty.

Some background first, however. The position of First Lord is the highest legislative office in the Hesperian government. As such, they are charged with overseeing the internal affairs of Hesperia, Manticore, and Gryphon. In order to become First Lord, one of the members of the Assembly of Peers must hold the support of a majority of members of the National Assembly, both the upper and lower houses.

As for the First Lord himself, Baron Cromarty began his service to Hesperia as Ensign Cromarty of the Royal Hesperian Navy, where he soon made a name for himself as an astute tactician and reliable compatriot. Cromarty's naval career would end 9 years later however, upon the death of his uncle, the previous Baron Cromarty.

While it is not unheard of for peers to serve in the Hesperian military, in Cromarty's case the decision to focus entirely on his new role as a member of Hesperia's upper house would prove to be sound. Within a few years Cromarty had leveraged his status as holder of one of the oldest titles in the Principality to find placement on several influential committees, and used his congenial attitude and moderate political views to gain a significant following, culminating in his rise to leader of the Centrist party.

It wouldn’t be until later that the baron’s political career reached its summit however, when his personal influence and force of personality united the most of normally fractured Crown Loyalists behind him and take command of a slim majority.

Cromarty’s time as First Lord has been marked by far reaching changes in Hesperian society. From the end of Hesperia’s isolation and entrance on the world stage in 2012, to the annexation of Manticore and the Manticore Urbanization Project, to Hesperia joining the Confederacy of Sovereign Utopian Nations early this year. However, for all the good done during Cromarty’s tenure, there has been controversy as well. The very decision to end Hesperia’s isolation was met with vocal opposition by Conservatives, and Hesperia’s entrance into a foreign commonwealth further inflamed isolationists. The Manticoran annexation, held by many to be Hesperia’s leap from backwater to world power also attracted opposition, from both Liberals and Conservatives, as well as some native Manticorans. The bombing of the Manticore Foreign Relations Center and following crisis and police action nearly brought an end to the Cromarty government before finally being resolved.

Today, however, Hesperia is at peace and prosperous, many will say, because of the influence of David Cromarty. His opposition in the Liberal and Conservative parties will both have their work cut out for them if they hope to challenge his commanding stature in the minds of the voters.

[Noram]

Breaking News

In an uncharacteristic act of temerity First Lord Cromarty, backed by High Admiral Winton and speaking on behalf of the Prince, issued a demand for the Imperial warships anchored off the Hesperian coast to vacate Hesperian waters immediately. High Admiral Winton followed up by announcing that a division of Sentinel-class figates would be deploying to the area to hasten the Imperial withdrawal

This comes as the first public diplomatic exchange between Hesperia and Imperial Rawrtony since Hesperia withdrew from the Imperial Commonwealth earlier this year.

[Noram]

Baron Cromarty gave a press conference this morning from the main lobby Tremain Centre, urging immediate intervention in putting down the military coup that took place in Caprica late last night. We have one of the highlights for you now:

That our brothers and sister in Caprica should be subjected to a military junta is a tragedy! It is our obligation, not just as compatriots in the Confederacy, but as friends to justice and the rule of law, to take action to right the wrongs taking place in Caprica.

This marks the first time First Lord Cromarty has publicly urged military intervention since his rise to power, though it is widely accepted that he supported both blockades of Tropico, as well as other, smaller military actions from behind the scenes.

Analysts have remarked on the timing of this speech, as well as the marked change of tone from First Lord Cromarty, with many from both ends of the political spectrum writing it off as mere posturing in an attempt to garner support in the imminent election.

It's obviously a stunt. Everyone knows that the First Lord doesn't make military decisions. The Crown does. Still, for some reason the Prince respects Cromarty's opinions, even when they're obviously against the best interests of the people. It's hard to say whether the Prince will agree with him this time, but he'll definitely give it thought.

You were saying you think it's a stunt? To what end?

I was getting to that. The fact that he's urged action so early means that if we do intervene, people will think it was because he advised it. And then, when we've won, which we will, he and his coalition be associated with that victory in the minds of the voters. However much I may disagree with Cromarty's policies, he knows how to play the game, and he's doing it now.

[Noram]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for a special message. Please standby for His Majesty, the Prince Regnant of Hesperia

---

My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,

It is expected that I address my people on this day. In the past my addresses have been I will admit, minor affairs filled with the trivialities and platitudes expected from a monarch on his birthday.

Not today. The events of the past week trouble me far too deeply for that.

Today I call on my people, and on all people, to stand beside me in support of peace and justice. A tragedy has been unfolding before us. A good and honest man has been driven into exile by the delusions of grandeur of a madman. Even now that madman tightens his hold on his ill-gotten power, and then claim to be responding the outside threat. Our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in a family of nations, have been subjected to the whims of a tyrant, and I will not stand for it. As of this moment The Principality of Hesperia declares war on the self-styled Emperor of Caprica.

So do I speak, so do I intend, so let it be done.

[Noram]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for a special message. Please standby for His Majesty, the Prince Regnant of Hesperia

---

Ladies and Gentlemen, citizens of Hesperia and beyond, approximately two hours ago vessels flying the flag of the Thaan Dentari's rebel movement, the so-called Empire of Caprica, moved to engage the Hesperian Fourth Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Arthur Sarnow, as well as the CS Nebuchadnezzar.

As you are no doubt aware, the Fourth Fleet is charged with defending the Hesperian Straits and policing sea access to Gryphon and Hesperia from the east. Following the Thaan Dentari's rebellion the Fourth Fleet was placed on alert status one and reinforced with the battlecruisers Hesperides and Aegle, and later the as-yet-unnamed CVH-01. I have ordered further reinforcement by forces deeper in Hesperian territory, as well as the emergency deployment of ships currently docked in the Manticore Fleet Base.

When it became clear the rebel forces intended to engage the Fourth Fleet, I granted Admiral Sarnow complete authority in dealing with this threat to Hesperia and the Confederacy, with three exceptions:

The First, that his forces endeavor to take the stolen vessels intact for return to their rightful owner, the Republic of Caprica, so long as doing so does not endanger the lives of his sailors.
The Second, that the officers and crew of any vessel which strikes it's flag be treated as prisoners of war with all the rights and protections entailed.
The Third, that the officers of any vessel captured through force be treated as criminals apprehended in the act of piracy and dealt with accordingly.

I hope you will all join me in praying for the safety of the men and women of the Fourth Fleet and the Nebuchadnezzar as they stand in defense of our nation and Utopia.

[Noram]

---

With the conclusion of the Caprican conflict and the stage set for long term peace in Utopia, the Principality of Hesperia must turn it's attention to the stars.
To that end, the Royal Hesperian Navy Bureau of Ships is pleased to announce the completion of construction on a prototype vessel, designated Alcyone.

After nearly a year of evaluation, BuShips, along with the Bureau of Planning and Bureau of Weapons determined that the RHSS Principality and the Principality-class were ill-suited for large scale deployment. With that in mind BuShips began development of a more function focused design. Alcyone is the first fruit of that process. The Alcyone will undergo a full battery of trials, the results of which will be used for design improvements to the forthcoming Realta-class. Current planning envisions the Realta as a multi-role class, operating independently, in divisional strength, or as support for larger vessels in a taskforce.

Meanwhile, the Principality will be permanently transferred to the Bureau of Training, which intends to maintain the ship as a training vessel for the Royal Naval Academy.