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Magnifico, The Restored First Republic of Ridnez

A building with an elaborate neoclassical façade is located in the city of Magnifico, designated as the Adelberto J. Ricci Psychiatric Institute. Within these halls are located several wings dedicated to various purposes: research, therapy administration, pharmacy, and patient wards. One ward in particular is placed under 24/7 maximum security surveillance, known as Ward 47-B. The cells here are reserved for those considered by the Zendirist regime to be "sufferers" of the most irremediable psychiatric disorder: dissent against the state, promulgation or apologia of forbidden ideologies, and mere belonging of any of numerous categories reserved as "congenital defectives" by simple fact of their birth. The occupants of this ward are not expected to have any hope of a remedy for their "disordered" thinking, but are rather kept in uncomfortable 4x4 concrete boxes until such time as a convenient lab rat is needed for the human trial phase of biomedical experiments. In truth, many of these experiments are trial runs of programs drafted by the Directorate of State Security to accomplish cognitive and behavioral engineering through psychoactive drugs, operant conditioning, lobotomy, electroconvulsive therapy, or some combination of the above. Today, a new transfer of a few hundred "patients" has arrived to occupy Ward 47-B. An accident of fate and geopolitics has condemned them to a life of eternal suffering. Not a week ago, they were honest, loyal citizens of the republic. Now, as far as the state is concerned, they are less than animals. Their properties have been seized by the state and auctioned off to well-connected business enterprises. The state always takes pride in rewarding its own at the expense of the other.

Centro Nuovo, The Restored First Republic of Ridnez

Gregorio De Marco, Director of Diplomacy, rushes down a hall in the presidential palace with a hastily drafted diplomatic letter in hand. It is a cordial request for the opening of embassies between The Republic of Ridnez and Holy land of germania, an unprecedented move since sources indicate that Germania has never accepted a foreign embassy request before. Bombardone hopes that Ridnez can broadcast her cultural influence better throughout the Confederation by such a move, but it requires the acceptance of the Germanian government to move forward with this move.

Meanwhile, Bombardone is distracted outside the palace by yet another press concert. This time footage is to be broadcast throughout the whole Confederation and not throughout Ridnez alone. He begins:

"Along with the esteemed Senator Whittfield of Cryptonnia, I make this announcement today to confirm that the Pact of Steel is united in support behind the Imperial Prosperity Party this election. To justify our action in few words, I cannot say that my confidence in The Democratic Republic of The Yeetusa and her Senator Richard Desmond is any greater than it was when I used to embark on winding anti-establishment tirades, nor do I renounce my position that the IPP is the centerpiece of the establishment which it has been the stance of the Pact of Steel to seek to overthrow. However, in light of recent developments, it appears that there is a greater battle to be fought here, and that battle is one to ensure the treacherous statelets whose peoples and representatives have conducted themselves irresponsibly in the conflict over Vocryae must be disciplined more firmly and harshly than any agency with power in its grip is willing to do. I do not expect Senator Desmond to enact a revanchist policy upon these member states of the Confederation if he is indeed elected, but The Yeetusa and the affiliates of the IPP represent one of the few factions which are not blatantly treacherous. The Socialist Unity Front unite around the vile doctrines of socialism and Marxism, which constitute the prevailing ideological trend of the accursed 'Traditionalist' rebellion which consumed so much of our Confederation's best men and resources and brought ruination to the entire land. As for the Nationalist Authoritarian Party, it can be plainly observed that they are a middling force in the Confederation, having lost the majority of the affiliates who once had faith in the NAP's organizational potential. Only Senator Hazelwood's grudges keep the remnants of the group barely incorporated. Of course, I should also not fail to remind how the NAP paramilitary Stormguard initially allied with the Red Sword traitors against the Jocospite liberation forces until Hazelwood's lieutenant Senator Loenther refused his edict and the raw magnitude of the Shadow Cult's undiluted power was summoned to pressure Hazelwood's 'realignment' with good sense. Neither Whittfield nor I am in any position to take the presidency of the Imperial Senate, and as I previously elaborated on at length, to do as much would be to court desolation and despair, as the inevitable failure to rally sufficient popular compliance with our programs at this juncture would give the Pact of Steel's enemies a invaluable source of rhetoric and propaganda with which to dissipate our burgeoning potential for the foreseeable future. I hope this all explains my motives adequately. Hail the New State. Hail the Confederation. And good day to you all."

HAIL THE CONFEDERATION!