LEGATE POLEMIUS DECLARES UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE
Legionary commander declares unilateral ceasefire in Hibernia; Frumentarii continue assault on Julium; Prime Minister of War releases prisoners of war.
In a shocking development, the commander of all Imperial forces in Hibernia, Legate Julius Valerius Alexander Polemius, announced a unilateral ceasefire in Hibernia. The announcement, which read in part "
[a]ll Imperial forces in Hibernia are to cease martial operations against OMNI forces as well as Resistance forces." Eurasian forces have reportedly allowed free New-Zealander forces to enter occupied territory to extract civilians and wounded. However, Legate Polemius has ordered that Eurasian forces will not be retreating unless so ordered by the Prime Minister of War, the Proconsul Gaius Martius Julianus Preceptor, who is His Imperial Majesty's first cousin.
It has been reported by sources within the Legions that Frumentarii assaults have largely been repulsed by the superior numbers and training of the legionaries. Moreover, there have been sporadic reports of New-Zealander resistance aiding legionary forces against the Frumentarii. However, officially Eurasia is still at war with OMNI Enforcer.
PRIME MINISTER OF WAR URGES CALM
Proconsul Gaius Martius Julianus Preceptor, PM of War, confirms declaration of ceasefire; fighting continues in Julium; His Imperial Majesty reported safe.
The Prime Minister of War, Proconsul Gaius Martius Julianus Preceptor, first cousin to His Imperial Majesty, appeared today before the Empire today from an undisclosed location in military uniform. Stressing the importance of imperial unity, the Prime Minister denied rumors of His Imperial Majesty's capture by Frumentarii forces, as well as confirmed the unilateral ceasefire declared by Legate Polemius. The Prime Minister went on to offer to the President of New Zealand, as well as the Grand Pensionary of New Tarajan, the offer of an unrestricted and direct line of communication with the
"representative of His Imperial Majesty and of the Realm-entire." Meanwhile, fighting in Julium and across the Empire continues. The Ministry of Imperial Relations, acting at the behest of the Ministries of War and the Police, have confirmed that His Imperial Majesty has been taken to a safe location and is in full control of the Empire. Fighting in the Government Region continues, with the Legions joining the Police and Penitus Occulatus in shelling Frumentarii-occupied positions. Civilians have been evacuated
en masse, and it has been rumored that the College of Pontiffs has evacuated the temples of valuables to undisclosed locations.
BREAKING NEWS
Tonare Jovis system under Frumentarii control; Ministry of Civil Defense declares state of Imperial Justitium.
Editor's Note: The following message is reprinted at the request of the Ministry of Civil Defense.ATTENTION. A STATE OF IMPERIAL JUSTITIUM HAS BEEN DECLARED BY HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY EMPEROR AUGUSTUS IV IN THE FOLLOWING SUPERIOR PROVINCES: LAURENTINE ISLE, ASTICUS PENINSULA, GENEVEVIA, VESPERIAN SHIELD, MEDIOLANIAN PENINSULA, ARVEYRES, OUTER REGIONS. CITIZENS IN THESE AREAS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER IN A FALLOUT SHELTER. A POSSIBLE NUCLEAR STRIKE BY A HOSTILE ENTITY MAY BE IMMINENT. TAKE SHELTER AND REMAIN UNTIL ALL-CLEAR IS GIVEN BY THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL DEFENSE OR A REQUISITE AUTHORITY. VIVAT EURASIA, VIVAT IMPERIUM.
Approximately thirty-minutes-ago, the Ministry of Civil Defense suddenly announced that a possible incident had occurred regarding a possible nuclear accident. Then, within minutes, emergency sirens sounded across the Empire and a message flashed across televisions, radios, and cellphones. A possible nuclear strike may be imminent agains the Empire, with the targets unknown. All Eurasians have been ordered to take immediate shelter in one of the many fallout shelters constructed across the Empire. The entire Imperial Military has been put in a state of emergency muster, meaning it is now a capital offense to not report to barracks immediately and that every legionary, sailor, and airman throughout the entire Empire must be under arms within five hours.
The Julium Times urges all Eurasians to heed the warnings of the Ministry of Civil Defense immediately.
UPDATE
Sources within the Ministry of War have confirmed to
The Julium Times that the Special Weapons Legature, the branch of the Legions responsible for control of the Tonare Jovis system, has lost control of the weapons array. Tonare Jovis, built in the 1980s as the fourth part of the Empire's nuclear tetrad, remains the only nuclear attack system that is satellite-launched and remains in space permanently. The Empire has never decommissioned nor added to the system, but it has remained fully operational since. While exact schematics are unknown, it is theorized that the satellite is capable of delivering approximately twelve-sixteen megaton-yield nuclear missiles to any point on Earth.
It is unknown who possesses control of this apocalyptic weapon, but it is certainly no longer Imperial forces. It is possible that the Frumentarii have gained control given their loss to the Legions and the Police in Julium, however this is conjecture. What is known is that all Eurasians should shelter in nuclear-resistant bunkers until ordered to leave by the Ministry of Civil Defense.
The Julium Times did reach out to the Ministry of Civil Defense to inquire as to whether the missiles may be targeted against other nations, and whether their citizens should take shelter, to which the Ministry responded simply,
"that would be advisable."