크로스벨 타임즈/특별호 (시작)

[Special Issue] The United Nations: Crossbell's New System of Governance
Four days have passed since the signing ceremony. In that time, Crossbell's political situation has shifted dramatically. Although communications and the flow of goods remain disrupted, we at the Crossbell Times would like to take this opportunity to better inform readers about what is taking place using information as verifiably accurate as possible under current conditions.

◆The New Center of Government◆
After declaring the establishment of the United Nation of Crossbell at the signing ceremony, a new government has assumed control of the region. The effort is led by Supreme Leader Rufus Albarea, who previously occupied the seat of governor general for two years. His sudden reemergence has come as a shock to citizens, as have some of the central figures in his new administration. Chief among them is Dieter Crois, Crossbell's one-time former president who led its previous independence bid. Joining him are Garcia Rossi, the former head of mafia syndicate Revache, which previously controlled half of Crossbell City's underworld, and renowned dancer Ilya Platiere, dressed in something far more sinister than her usual Arc en Ciel attire.
Myriad questions persis surrounding the circumstances of this patchwork of figures standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the supreme leader. When and how did Crois and Rossi emerge from their imprisonment? Likewise, the extact identity of the masked, armored figure lurking among them is still under investigation here at the Crossbell Times.

◆Legislature Suspended◆
Yesterday, the new government announced that it would be officially suspending the authority of the provincial legislature, arguing that with over half of its members missing, including Speaker MacDowell, the body effectively could not function. With central authorities now in full command of all governmental authority, it remains to be seen what, if any, power of the legislature had left. Similarly, the day after the aborted signing ceremony, the Crossbell Police and Guardian Force were also suspended on a semi-permanent basis, putting the new administration in effective control of Crossbell for all intents and purposes.

◆State of Alert to Persist◆
As of the signing ceremony, the entirety of Crossbell remains on high alert. City institutions, as well as St. Ursula Medical College, continue to operate, though Mishelam is closed to the public. By extension, the new government has stationed security forces, officially referred to as the Ebon Defense Force, at critical points around the region. Ominously, Zauber Soldats have also been seen operating among them.
According to the government's public relations department, the EDF is its most elite unit, its members highly trained and outfitted with the latest equipment to perform their duties. The Helmord, regarded as the latest Zauber Soldat model, is alleged to boast vastly superior power output and endurance compared to the traditional Sorge and Melgea models, as well as individual firepower several orders of magnitude higher than that seen in the Imperial Army's Panzer Soldat units. Such posturing could signal that the government is guarding against possible military interference from both the Erebonian Empire and Republic of Calvard.
Some sources additionally indicate that in neighboring regions outside of Crossbell City, intermittent resistance efforts against the new government are underway. Among them are rumored to be remnants of the officially dismantled Guardian Force.

◆Citizens' Reaction◆
Though some Crossbellans have criticized the way in which the United Nation government took power, a surprising majority appear to accept the new administration. Many citizens also express support of the government's proposed political course of action moving forward, perhaps due to their long-supressed dreams in independence reaching a fever pitch at last.
Partly as a result of this support, the turmoil that was expected to arise as a result of the dramatic takeover has been better contained than initially anticipated. Furthermore, as the state of alert remains in effect, a communications blackout continues to be enforced across the entire region, making it impossible to ascertain the current state of affairs in the outside world.Even so, one of our reporters who left Crossbell immediately prior to the signing ceremony is believed to be still carrying our her journalistic duties from abroad. Once we manage to reestablish contact with her, we'll be sure to give our readers the latest news about what's happening internationally.

◆Special Support Section Remains Missing◆
As for the Special Support Section and their cohorts--who were last seen resisting Supreme Leader Rufus' uprising at the signing ceremony--their whereabouts have yet to be ascertained. In these circumstances that bear a great resemblance to the independence bid made two years ago, all eyes are on them, both citizen and government alike, waiting for them to make their next move. The Crossbell Times will report their movements as such information becomes available.

【特集】統一国――新体制下のクロスベル
　あの調印式から早くも４日、クロスベルの状況は大きく様変わりしてしまった。流通も通信も不完全な中ではあるが、本誌は出来るだけ正確な情報を皆さんにお伝えしたい。

◆新政府、その中心は？◆
　再独立調印式で統一国の成立を宣言し、クロスベルを支配した新政府。その先頭に立つのが総督として２年間クロスベルを統治してきたルーファス・アルバレア新総統だ。彼の再登場は多くの市民に衝撃を与えたが、彼に続くその他の新政府中心メンバーもまた私達を大いに困惑させた。　 　２年前の独立国事件を引き起こした元クロスベル独立国大統領ディーター・クロイス。かつてこの街の闇を半分支配していたマフィア《ルバーチェ》の元若頭ガルシア・ロッシ。そして装いこそ以前と違うが、クロスベルが誇るアーティスト――イリア・プラティエ。　彼らがなぜ新総統に協力しているのか、そもそも収監されているはずのディーター氏とガルシア氏はいつ拘置所を出たのか疑問は尽きない状況だ。また、彼らと一緒に現れた甲冑姿の男の素性については現在も調査中である。　

◆州議会、権限凍結◆　
　新政府は昨日、クロスベル州議会の権限を正式に凍結するこ 　とを発表した。マクダエル議長を含めた議員の大半が行方不明の状況にあり、議会が正常に機能しないことを理由としたが、現在、行政も立法も全て新政府が一手に握っている中で、議会に何の権限が残っているかは疑問である。　調印式の翌日にはクロスベル警察と警備隊の権限が半永久的に停止した。既に統一国政府はクロスベルを実質的に支配していると言えるだろう。　

◆厳戒態勢続く◆　
　調印式の日からクロスベル全域の警戒態勢が続いている。市内の各施設とウルスラ病院は営業・診療を続けているが、ＭＷＬは営業停止中とのこと。市内を含め、各要所に統一国保安隊 　（通称・黒の衛士）が配備されており、魔煌機兵の威圧的な姿も見られる。　新政府広報部によると、黒の衛士たちは皆高い練度と最新の装備を有しており、エリート中のエリート部隊とのこと。新型とされる魔煌機兵《ヘルモード》は従来の《ゾルゲ》、《メルギア》と比べ大幅に出力と耐久性が向上し、現行の帝国正規軍の機甲兵部隊より単機戦力が数段勝っているという。　これほどの態勢で臨んでいるのは恐らく、帝国や共和国からの軍事的干渉を警戒しているからと思われる。　また一部の情報によると、市の周辺地域では断続的に新政府への抵抗が続いており、既に“壊滅”と発表された旧警備隊の残党と噂されている。　

◆市民の反応◆
　市民の中では統一国新政府の強引なやり方を非難する声もあるが、意外なことに大半の人々が新政権を受け入れているようだ。２年間抑圧された独立への欲求が爆発した所以か、新総統が公表した統一国の今後の政策方針に賛同する人も多い。　こうした背景もあり、当初予想された政権交代後の混乱も想像以上に抑えられているようだ。しかし警戒態勢が続いている中、依然クロスベル全域に強力な通信妨害が発生しており、国外の状況を知ることはできていない。　なお調印式の直前にクロスベルを出た本誌記者の一人が、今も国外で取材を敢行していると思われる。彼女と連絡が取れ次第、皆さんに外部の最新情報をお届けする予定だ。　

◆特務支援課、未だ行方不明◆　
　調印式でルーファス新総統に対抗した特務支援課とその関係者たちの行方は未だ掴めていない。　２年前の独立国事件を思わせるこの状況下で、彼らが何を想い、何をしているのかは、新政府だけでなく恐らく市民皆が注目していることだろう。　こちらも情報が入り次第お伝えする。