Liberl News (Sky FC)/Special Edition

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* English
* Japanese

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> [Breaking Story] Coup D'etat Thwarted!
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> ◆Rescuing Her Majesty, the Queen◆
>     Yesterday at noon, a group comprised mostly of bracers and members of the Royal Guard stormed Grancel Castle. After rescuing Her Majesty, who had been placed under house arrest by the Intelligence Division, said group suppressed the Special Operations Unit of that division, thereby liberating the royal castle. ID commanding officer, Colonel Richard, as well as other high-ranking officers involved were placed under arrest and charged with attempting to incite a coup d'etat.
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> In this issue I intend to make a full account of the hidden truth behind this string of incidents.
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> ◆Message to the Readers◆
> I am sure there are many out there who are dumbfounded by the headings printed in this issue. Up until now, this magazine has withheld publishing information concerning major events which surrounded the occupation of the royal castle, placement of Her Majesty under house arrest, and other such circumstances of pertinence in an endeavor to uncover the Intelligence Division's dark conspiracy.
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> The Liberl News sincerely apologizes for the abrupt coverage, and in addition asks that the readers understand our decision in this matter.
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> - (Editor-in-Chief)
> ◆Alan Richard's Plan◆
>     The young founder of the Intelligence Division -- behind his humble facade, there lurked a calculating schemer enacting a carefully-planned coup d'etat.
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> Richard's plan all began through the utilization of the Intelligence Division as a personal recruitment tool to amass a group of senior military officials mired in corruption and illicit affairs. These actions allowed Richard to hold the heart of the Royal Army within the palm of his hand -- for a time, at least. General Morgan and other such incorruptible figures of importance, on the other hand, were forcibly bound, imprisoned, or otherwise restrained from interfering.
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> ◆Terrorist Incident Resolved◆
> In sum, the soldiers in blue uniforms were the perfect imitative deception with which to frame the Royal Guards. The goal of the incident itself was to secure certain test equipment and abduct Professor Russell, the leading specialist in orbment research, but the background surrounding this event is still under investigation by the Bracer Guild.
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> ◆Royal Princess Held Hostage◆
> After gaining control over a large majority of the army, Richard finally set his coup d'etat plan into motion. Placing Her Majesty's nephew, Duke Dunan von Auslese, on the throne in her stead, Richard assumed control over the royal family from the shadows. His plan was to press Her Majesty to abdicate the throne by taking Her Highness, Princess Klaudia, hostage, but the Royal Guard, led by 1st Lieutenant Schwarz, saw right through the machinations. A fierce battle ensued between the Special Operations Unit and the Royal Guard over Her Highness, the princess. However, being outnumbered, the Royal Guard's stand ended in defeat, and Princess Klaudia was taken captive.
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> Following the incident, members of the Royal Guard were branded as terrorists, and the unit was driven underground. With nothing standing in Richard's way, the success of his coup d'etat was only a matter of time.
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> ◆Unlikely Heroes Make an Appearance◆
> Amidst the chaos, an unheralded ray of light shone down upon the scene. A certain few individuals infiltrated the castle and slipped past the security of the Special Operations Unit. Moreover, they succeeded in meeting with Her Majesty, the Queen, who was under house arrest at the time.
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> I have refrained from writing these individuals' names in deference to the Bracer Guild's request, but suffice it to say, the guild itself, which had been in the dark due to regulations sanctioned by the Intelligence Division, was for the first time able to grasp the direness of the situation, thanks to information acquired by these nameless heroes.
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> After being apprised of the chain of events, the Bracer Guild would become a central force of opposition to the Intelligence Division.
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> ◆Liberation of the Queen◆
> The Bracer Guild rendezvoused with the estranged Royal Guard and set about liberating the Erbe Royal Villa through a joint operation carried out under the veil of night, and beginning with Her Highness Princess Klaudia, succeeded in rescuing the hostages. Then yesterday, using the tolling noon bell of the Grancel Cathedral as a cue, a rescue team primarily made up of bracers and members of the Royal Guard pressed forward with a plan to storm the castle in a three-pronged attack from air, land and the underground. As rangers of the Royal Army under the command of the Intelligence Division fell upon the liberating group, a deadly battle with the Special Operations Unit erupted within the halls of Grancel Castle, and even spread to the lower levels. The struggle finally came to an end with the safe rescue of Her Majesty, Queen Alicia.
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> At roughly the same time, a unit of the Royal Army that had come within sight of the castle ceased its advance after being persuaded to lay down arms by General Morgan, who had escaped from captivity and rushed to the Royal City. The coup d'etat plan which had been crafted by Richard and the Intelligence Division had been, without a doubt, thwarted at the narrow brink of no return.
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> ◆The Face of This Nameless Paramilitary Unit◆
> As is evident from the information presented in this article, the ambitions of the Intelligence Division were not shattered by the strength of a lone hero, but by the combined courage of a host of unnamed individuals, who in the end wielded the strength necessary to bring down the curtains on this intricate scheme.
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> It has also been rumored that a number of civilians stood shoulder to shoulder with the ranks of the Royal Guard and bracers in this endeavor. During this final struggle, the forces gathered together on the liberators' side were, in fact, put in a situation which many would agree was insufficient in terms of strength to combat this foe. However, it was the courage of these civilians that compensated for this deficiency.
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> As a reporter caught up in the mix, I was also one of those individuals who found themselves being borne up by this incredible energy. Among those who gave me the strength to carry on were two junior bracers in particular, to whom I owe a special debt of gratitude; for without them, penning these articles would have been an impossibility.
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> As we come to the end of these tumultuous events, I am once again overcome with feelings of reverence and thankfulness. The two individuals of whom I have spoken are scheduled to be awarded with their long-awaited status by the Bracer Guild at any moment. Please forgive my use of the following space for a personal message in consideration of the heroes who saved Liberl Kingdom.
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> My heartiest congratulations to the both of you -- and if you're ever in the mood for curry, it's on me. -(N)
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> [Society] Royal Guard Reinstated
> The Royal Guard, which had been branded as terrorists and forced underground, has had its honor restored. The Army Strategic Operations Headquarters also decided today that the Royal Guard will be officially reinstated, and it is expected that 1st Lieutenant Schwarz and all of her fellow officers will be returning to their former unit.
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> [Society] General Morgan Promoted
> The coup d'etat plan was carried out by a division of the military that should have served as a protective shield to the public. The Royal Army itself, unable to forestall this serious incident despite the threat it posed to the nation, will refocus its prime objective on restructuring and reorganizing in order to prevent such future tragedies. To head that movement, the Royal Assembly has already proposed the leadership be awarded to General Morgan. The Royal Army has shown signs that it will comply with these demands, and General Morgan is expected to accede to the office of Commander of Strategic Operations.
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> In addition, it was announced that former colonel Cassius Bright, who acted as the general's right-hand during the Hundred Days War, will be making a return, this time as an adjunct to the commander. The former colonel had, after the war, resigned from his post and transferred his considerable talents to the Bracer Guild.
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> [Society] Mystery at the Tetracyclic Towers!
> Yesterday afternoon, numerous reports came in from all over the kingdom in witness to a mysterious light. It has been said that a beam of light shone from the tops of the Tetracyclic Towers. We are presently awaiting an investigation into the matter, as no further details are known at this time.
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> 【速報】情報部のクーデター計画潰(つい)える！
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> ◆女王陛下を救出◆
>     昨日正午、遊撃士と王国軍親衛隊を中心とする一団がグランセル城に突入。情報部による事実上の軟禁状態にあったアリシア女王陛下を救出し、同部特務部隊を制圧、王城を解放した。情報部司令リシャール大佐以下、同部の幹部はクーデター未遂の容疑で逮捕。これまで隠されてきた一連の事件の真相を、本号ではあますところなくお伝えする予定だ。
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> ◆読者の皆様へ◆
> 本号の見出しに驚かれた方も多いことだろう。
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> これまで本誌では情報部の陰謀をあばくため、王城の占拠、陛下の軟禁など、重大事の掲載をあえて先送りにしてきた。突然の報道となったことをお詫びし、併せて読者のご理解を乞う次第である。（編集長）
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> ◆狙いはクーデター　リシャールの陰謀◆
>      情報部を創設した若き改革者――その仮面の裏に潜んでいたのは、用意周到にクーデターを進める計算高い謀略家の顔だった。
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> リシャールの計画は、自らが率いる情報部を活用し汚職や女性関係など王国軍上層部の「弱み」を徹底的に収集することから始まった。この活動でリシャールは短期間のうちに王国軍内部を掌握。モルガン将軍ら清廉潔白な要人については、監禁など直接的な行動によって強引に動きを封じていく。
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> ◆中央工房のテロ事件も情報部の犯行◆
> 親衛隊逮捕の決定的な根拠となった中央工房でのテロ事件も、リシャール指揮する情報部特務部隊の犯行だったことが明らかになっている。つまり「青い軍服」の兵士たちは、親衛隊に濡れ衣を着せるための完全な偽装工作だった。事件の目的はある実験器材の確保と導力器研究の第一人者ラッセル博士の拉致にあったとされるが、事件の背景については現在も遊撃士協会が調査中だ。
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> ◆姫殿下までも人質に◆
> 軍の大部分を掌握したリシャールは、いよいよクーデター計画を実行に移す。アリシア女王陛下に代わって甥のデュナン公爵を王位につけ、自身はその背後から王家を支配する―――クローディア姫殿下を人質とすることで陛下に退位を迫るのがリシャールの目論見だったが、ここでユリア中尉率いる親衛隊が謀略を察知。姫殿下の身柄をめぐり、特務部隊と親衛隊の間で激しい戦いが繰り広げられた。だが、数に劣る親衛隊は敗北、クローディア姫を奪われてしまう。以後、親衛隊はテロリストの汚名を着せられ、地下に潜伏せざるを得ない状況に追い込まれる。もはや障害はなく、クーデターの成功は時間の問題となった。
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> ◆意外な英雄の登場◆
> だが、思いがけないところから光が差し込む。
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> とある人物たちが、特務部隊の警備をすり抜け城内へと潜入。さらに軟禁状態にある女王陛下と面会することに成功したのだ。遊撃士協会の意向もあり、ここで彼らの詳細を書くことは差し控えるが、ともかく情報部の規制により情勢がつかめていなかった協会は、彼らのもたらした情報によって初めて事態を把握することになる。そして以後、遊撃士協会が情報部に対抗する勢力の中心となっていく。
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> ◆エルベ離宮、そして女王陛下の解放◆
> 遊撃士協会は潜伏していた親衛隊のユリア中尉らと合流。まずは深夜の共同作戦によってエルベ離宮を解放し、クローディア姫殿下を始めとする人質の救出に成功する。
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> そして昨日、グランセル大聖堂の正午の時鐘を合図に、空中、地上、地下の３方から、遊撃士と親衛隊を中心とした救出部隊が王城への突入作戦を敢行。
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> 情報部に操られた王国軍の制圧部隊が迫る中、グランセル城内とその地下にかけて特務部隊との死闘が展開された。やがて、ついに遊撃士がアリシア女王陛下を救出。ほぼ同時刻、間近まで迫っていた王国軍部隊も、監禁を脱し王都に急行したモルガン将軍の説得により前進を停止しようとしていた――リシャールと情報部によるクーデター計画は、こうしてまさにぎりぎりの瀬戸際で阻止されたのだ。
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> ◆名もなき人々の力　突入部隊の素顔◆
> ここまでの記事から明らかなように、情報部の野望を打ち砕いたのは１人の英雄の力ではない。名もなき人々の小さな勇気の積み重ねが、最後には巨大な陰謀を阻止するだけの力を生み出したのだ。
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> 女王陛下を救出した突入部隊の顔ぶれも、そのことを強く物語る。親衛隊や遊撃士に混じって、中には幾人かの民間人の姿もあったという。実はこの最後の戦いにおいても、解放側に集まった戦力は到底十分とはいえない状態だった。その不足を補ったのもやはりこれら市民の勇気だった。
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> かくいう記者も、そうした勇気に支えられていた者の１人だ。中でも２人の準遊撃士には特別な感謝を捧げねばならない。彼らなしでこの事件を記事にすることは不可能だった。今その最後を書くにあたり、改めて感謝の念を強くしている。遊撃士協会によれば、まもなく彼らは待望の資格を与えられる予定だという。この先は記者個人の伝言になるが、王国を救った英雄たちに免じ、どうかご容赦を。
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> おめでとう！　心から祝福する――
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> カレーでよかったら何杯でもおごるぜ。（Ｎ）
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> 【社会】親衛隊の名誉回復　部隊を再編
> 反乱者、テロリストの汚名を着せられ、各地に潜伏していた親衛隊の名誉が回復された。軍作戦本部は本日中にも正式に親衛隊の再編を決定、ユリア中尉以下全員が原隊に復帰する見通しだ。
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> 【社会】モルガン将軍　作戦本部長に
> 市民の楯となるべき軍の一部部隊によるクーデター計画――国家の存亡に関わる重大事件を未然に防げなかった王国軍は、組織の建て直しが急務だ。
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> 王国会議はすでにモルガン将軍を中心とした再建策を提案。王国軍もその意向に従う方針で、将軍は近く軍作戦本部長に就任する見通しだ。またその補佐役として、《百日戦役》で将軍の右腕となって活躍したカシウス・ブライト元大佐の復隊も発表された。元大佐は戦役後に除隊、その後は遊撃士協会に活躍の場を移していた。
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> 【社会】《四輪(し りん)の塔》で異変！？
> 昨日午後、王国各地から「不思議な光を見た」との報告が多数寄せられた。《四輪の塔》の頂上から光線のようなものが発射されたという。現在は調査を待つ状態であり、詳しいことは分かっていない。
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