JAS Jennifer Saxon launches

CEREMONIES were held today in Colisin, Jagera, to commemorate the launching of the Jageran aircraft carrier JAS Jennifer Saxon.

The vessel is the first of its class to be named after a non-Jageran, a gesture of solidarity following Ferveo's alliance with Jagera during the Exordium Crisis. The ship, a Bevakare-class light carrier, was christened by its namesake in accordance with traditional Jageran ceremony.

"Words cannot describe how privileged I feel at being honoured in this manner," Saxon stated, following the christening. "Such a break from Jageran tradition, for a politician from a country as young as Ferveo, on a ship class as symbolic, powerful and downright huge as the Bevakare-class," she said, chuckling gently, "simply defies my belief. All I can say is thank you, one and all, and I am sure that all Fervean people will feel just as honoured by this unprecedented favour as I do."

Bevakare Angela of Jagera also delivered a speech from her eponymous vessel, the JAS Angela, as it received its commission, saying, "It is such a fortuitous circumstance that allows the two ships, Angela and Jennifer Saxon, to sit at anchor side by side in the harbour as resolute as our two allied nations." The Bevakare continued, saying she believed it was a "symbol" of the increasing unity between Ferveo and Jagera.

The FSC Tempest, fresh from its own launch and commission, put in an appearance as well. The vast cruiser fired a seven-gun salute at the end of President Saxon's speech. This was followed by a spectacular overflight by twenty-one f214/c fighters from the Veðrfölnir and Niðhogg.

The Jennifer Saxon will receive its commission in late September, whereupon its first destination will be Ferveo City. Its namesake, however, stayed in Colisin for some time before returning to Ferveo City, with a hungry media in her wake.

Mass disappearance in Springback Forest

A TOURIST excursion into Springback Forest on Exordium Island has vanished without trace.

The expedition, consisting of seventeen civilians from all over Ferveo and the IDU and their three local guides, were not heard from twenty-four hours after setting foot into the woods on what was intended to be a four-hour hike.

According to a consortium of cellphone companies, the signals of all eighteen cellphones present on the trek disappeared within seconds of each other. The surrounding land seems to provide no explanations, such as tyre tracks or footprints leading away from the forest that have not already been traced and identified.

Several search parties sent out have turned up no bodies or living people. The EIPD has enacted a full-scale investigation into the disappearance of the hikers, involving hundreds of personnel.

Conspiracy theories have already begun to sprout, ranging from alien abduction to foreign interference to even mutated carnivorous plants.

Regional Police Chief Toby Wise called for calm yesterday in a press conference, and reassured the public that the police were doing "everything in [their] power to find these people".

FSC Tempest launched

THE SECOND in the line of Nimbus-class cruisers was personally launched today by President Saxon.

The line started life as a project conceived by the late Gabriel Seismos and actualised by the Nimbus, the vessel which famously took part in the raid on the FVF fortress in June and carried President Saxon into Ferveo City on June 2.

The FSC Tempest has a force comparable to the strongest battleships in the Fervean Navy and is powered by two nuclear reactors and a surface of photovoltaic cells. Its heavy armament is complemented by thick armour, and an alarmingly high top speed of 487 knots, considering its huge size.

Speaking to the thousands-strong crowd at Foxtrot Airbase on Terminus Island, Ms Saxon said "I hope you will join me in congratulating our aeronautical engineers on this incredible feat of technology."

"I beg you not to worry about our priorities in this time; the Tempest was almost complete at the time of the June 2 bombings, and our efforts remain as ever on the recovery effort, education, welfare and healthcare."

When asked about rumours that the Tempest is carrying experimental technology, Ms Saxon replied, "The contents of the Tempest are, regrettably, confidential in the interest of national security."

"But," she continued with a rare smile, "I can see you don't want to hear me waffle on about statistics and the like." She moved on, formally naming the aircraft. The flight crew gave the crowd a short demonstration of the Tempest's speed and manoeuvrability, before ending the event.

The ceremony was marred, however, by a large demonstration by the Pacifist Organisation of Ferveo. The protestors made no attempt to block the events taking place; rather, they somewhat loudly made their presence and opinions known to onlookers.

Death toll of June 2 bombings released

THE GOVERNMENT has released figures for the June 2 atrocities.

According to the figures, a total of 4,573 people were killed as a direct result of the blasts and the buildings brought down by them. A further 312 died as a result of respiratory failure and other complications caused by dust and smoke bringing the death toll to a staggering 4,885.

5,459 people were moderately or severely injured but have since recovered or been pronounced "stable", while 279 are either comatose or still in a critical condition. At least 6,500 people were mildly injured, and 157 people remain unaccounted for.

President Saxon addressed the nation outside her residence in Ferveo City today.

Visibly shaken, the President said, "The sheer scale of this tragedy is horrifying. That any group could murder almost 5,000 people simply beggars belief.

"But these terrorists, the Fervean Values Force, their leaders have been either killed or arrested by the finest soldiers in the region - Fervean, Jageran and Pagemaster. Though the threat is not over, the perpetrators of these monstrous crimes have been or will be brought swiftly and summarily to justice.

"What these people want is instability. In many other nations tragedies of this magnitude have destroyed democracy and brought in fascist régimes. We cannot allow this to happen, not when we have seen first-hand what this ideology can do."

Surveying the crowd, Ms Saxon continued, "I am not going to mince words. These attacks were not only politically motivated, they were also religiously motivated. Specifically, motivated by fundamentalist Christians.

"These people are the remains of a movement which started and ended with the Unseen Master himself. We simply cannot allow them to gain any power, or we risk another Great Holocaust.

"As President it is my duty to keep this nation together at this time. Do not judge me by my age or by my gender; I want the best for this nation, and I will listen - and have listened - to its people. To you.

"We are the future. We must move on from this tragedy and turn our grief into fortitude, a national strength that will not be eroded by clumsy terrorism. We must turn our faces to these monsters and say, 'No! You shall not destroy everything our people fought and died for!

"Peace through politics. Thank you."

Windows smash in Terminus Island riddle

HOUSES near the secretive Research Site 19 on Terminus Island had some of their windows smashed simultaneously last night, as eyewitnesses described hearing a  "buzzing" noise.

Residents within an approximately 4-km radius reported seeing some windows, glasses and even old spectacles shatter into "hundreds of tiny pieces". A number of related injuries have been reported at Ayyubids Hospital in Port Collins. The number of incidents increased the closer to the site, but the area is sparsely populated.

No response has yet been made by the government; however, Home Secretary Logan Birch is expected to make an announcement later today.

Saxon's shooting shock

THE FERVEAN Observer can today exclusively reveal that President Saxon has been taking marksmanship lessons.

A government insider informed us that Ms Saxon had been taking instruction in the use of handguns and submachine guns from retired military personnel.

The insider stressed that the lessons were paid for out of Ms Saxon's own pocket, and were to supplement her previous position in the FCPD before entering her career in politics.

Speaking outside her residence in northern Ferveo City, a spokesman told the press that, in light of the attacks by the Fervean Values Force on Saxon's predecessors two months ago, personal firearms knowledge could be vital.

"In today's climate of terror and intimidation, it would not do for the leader of a country to have no combat capability," he said. "It would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

Saxon reopens borders

ACTING-President Saxon today issued her first high directive, reopening Fervean borders.

The order was made to respond to the expulsion of all Pagemaster citizens and the unilateral closing of all borders by former President Gabriel Seismos two weeks ago.

Speaking outside Parliament, Ms Saxon also issued a formal apology to the Commonwealths of Pagemaster and Jagera on behalf of her late predecessor.

"We do not know exactly why Mr Seismos closed the borders, as all his closest advisers were executed by the Fervean Values Force. However, my administration wishes to extend their most heartfelt apologies to the Jageran and Pagemaster governments, due to the disruption of international trade and the loss of thousands of our soldiers."

Addressing international TV cameras directly, Ms Saxon continued, "Hundreds, thousands, of all our soldiers and citizens were killed in the operations, and the bombings. I give my condolences to the families of the deceased; Fervean, Jageran and Pagemaster. I hope that in the future the bond between our nations will strengthen and thrive.

"We must strive to keep the unity of the International Democratic Union stable."