Bank Run!
As a result of terrorist activities in the Elemental Plane of Wind and Metal, a large percentage of crystals owned by the Central Bank of Ayaru have ceased to be able to summon Elementals of the Wind and Metal variety. J.S. Gojko and Sons Inc. is one of the world-leading firms that specializes in selling options and other financial instruments that are leveraged against these Elementals. Adam Gojko, the Chief Executive of said corporation, has stated: "Our capacity to fulfill the text of our contracts is diminished." The firm is threatening to default on its promises if the Ayaruan Air Navy is unable to recover the assets in the Elemental Planes of Wind and Metal. The sudden devaluation of J.S. Gojko and Sons Inc. has led to a run on the banks. The Central Bank of Ayaru has released the following statement: "Pending a shipment of working crystals from our allies in the Federation of Kanti, we are unable to provide egress of funds from our vaults for many customers at this time." Full story on page B3.
Century-Old Pilot Shot Down!
Bertrand Vike, a one-hundred and one-year old pilot, who is best known for scoring no less than sixteen kills against enemy combatants during the popular Hawks tournaments in the city of Kanti, has been slain in the Elemental Plane of Metal, by no less than the Ghost of Taisia, sources from within the Ayaruan Air Navy verify. "He signed up as a mercenary on short notice," an anonymous commander of the Air Navy said. "He followed another fighter into the portal on his own accord. The operators of our high-magnification telescopes saw the entire fight."
Mr. Vike bravely chased the Ghost of Taisia as she fled to fire her missiles at other Air Navy targets. However, the veteran pilot with eight decades of flying experience was bamboozled by the cheeky young woman, who caught the man in a "two-circle" fight against his better judgment. Experts say that her maneuver was very shocking even to veteran pilots. "She pointed her nose at the ground and used her rudder to slip the nose up over the horizon. Our best pilots would not attempt such a thing," Admiral Zef of the Ayaruan Air Navy told our senior correspondents. Our contacts in the Air Navy agree that this should be impossible.
"She must have some advanced new fighter jet," Zef continued. "One where the rudder behaves like a naïve pilot would anticipate." Mr. Vike was said to have entered into a side slip using his own rudder, but the enemy shot him down with a Fire-Hunter missile of the Imperial design. Our correspondents in the Federation of Kanti have decided to not comment on this revelation. Full story on page A6.
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Taisian Air Raids!
The longtime neighbor and rival of our Great Nation of Ayaru, the snowclad wasteland known as Taisia, has been reported to be the culprit behind the recent attacks on the city of Jelka. Sources inside the Ayaruan Air Navy confirm that the surface-to-air missile trucks stationed inside the city were not enough to prevent this disaster. The new and very expensive military installations inside the capital city, which required the demolition of many ancient and well-respected buildings, have all been destroyed.
"The people of Jelka are strong," King Teodor said. "We will endure these attacks and retaliate ten-fold." Our sources inside the Ayaruan Air Navy contest this statement, citing the almost total loss of the fleet in the Elemental Plane of Water not a fortnight back. Full story on page B2.
The Keymaker Believed to be an Imperial Princess!
Senior correspondents that specialize in investigating the High Council of the Federation of Kanti have revealed disturbing new reports. The individual who names herself "The Keymaker," who allegedly provided keystones to the various Elemental Planes during the ongoing conflict with Taisia, is "more probable than not" to be a member of the Imperial Royal Family, Great House Maryy.
"Whereby the only power in the world that benefits from the destruction of the Central Bank of Ayaru is the Heylin Empire, and... whereby Princess Vaska of House Maryy is closely associated with a new terrorist organization which names itself the Order of the Ten Skies and... whereby Lieutenant Colonel Ervin Dren of the Ayaruan Air Navy is alleged to have been captured by Vaska Maryy before returning to Jelka and allegedly spying on said Air Navy, and... whereby the Ghost of Taisia is confirmed to our spies to be involved in corrupting and subverting our agents serving in the Elemental Planes, the members of the council unanimously conclude that, more probable than not, the Keymaker is none other than Vaska Maryy herself."
Vaska Maryy is a controversial figure even in the Heylin Empire. Alleged members of the Heylin Foreign Intelligence Authority (FIA) have allegedly stated (paraphrased): "the Princess repeatedly sidesteps our organization, taking into her own hands the role of spymaster." Vaska Maryy was trained in the science of aeronautical engineering at the University of Heylin, and is reported to design specialized aircraft to achieve her objectives. Full story on page A2.