General Assembly
Security Council
Governor: 
The United States of Weccandia
WA Delegate: None.
Founder: 
The Kingdom of Tales of Perdition
Last WA Update:
Embassies: the Plains of Perdition.
Tags: Human-Only, Minuscule, Modern Tech, Offsite Chat, Password, and Role Player.
Lightbound contains 4 nations.
Today's World Census Report
The Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector in Lightbound
World Census special forces intercepted crates of smuggled weapons to determine which nations have the largest arms industry.
As a region, Lightbound is ranked 24,439th in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector.
 | Nation | WA Category | Motto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  The Ostlantic Admin of The Eternal Imperials | New York Times Democracy New York Crimes So-Called Democracy | “There are no miracles. There are only men.” | |
| 2. |  The Republic of Lightbound Dispatch Office | Liberal Democratic Socialists Ivory Tower Reality Disconnect Zone | “Read the rules!” | |
| 3. |  The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council | Democratic Socialists Hell | “Continuity, not compromise” | |
| 4. | The United States of Weccandia | Moralistic Democracy Ordinary Decent Hardworking People | “Blue skies always” |
Regional Happenings
- : The United States of Weccandia updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The United States of Weccandia updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The United States of Weccandia updated the World Factbook entry.
- :
The Ostlantic Admin of The Eternal Imperials updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
- : The Irish Republican Army of Continuity Army Council updated the World Factbook entry.
Lightbound Regional Message Board
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Elþing grants permits, services to immigrants after uncertainty regarding their states' futures -- Björnvílk Teðinn -- Gelmínn Öðngelmaðsdottir | 8/22/2043
BJÖRNVÍLK -- Just this afternoon, the Elþing of Bjornifjordaland released a statement regarding the tumultuous lives of immigrants within its borders and uncertainty regarding the status of some immigrants' former nations. The Elþing stated that it has, since that point, ceased all cooperation with any questionable nation to facilitate the deportation of its citizens back to those nations. As there was no longer a body overseeing this process of deportation, Bjornifjordaland cannot in good conscience continue to send any immigrants with the lack of understanding regarding their former nation's stability. As such, a statement was released by the Elþing, confirming new measures to support the immigrant population which now finds themselves stranded in Bjornifjordaland for better or for worse. For all immigrants in good standing with law enforcement, the Elþing provided them with appropriate documentation as well as paperwork enabling their access to resources including employment support, healthcare benefits, and university and public schooling eligibility; all services at one point only available to citizens. Spokespeople from the nationally recognized League of Bjornifjordalandic Immigrants (LBI) announced their support for the new measures, stating that this is finally the kind of progress immigrants want to see from the government that they "thought had abandoned them." One immigrant from 
Ferganistan, who has chosen to remain anonymous, stated, "Both my mother and father are dead, killed while crossing the border, I wish they were here to see me at this moment."
Alas, some members of the immigrant community have expressed dissatisfaction with the new measures, some having stated what they believe is "actually there". One opponent submitted a complaint to an approved council, stating "How am I supposed to feed 3 children and my own mother and father in their eighties on 250 krönr per month? But my friend Þoðmogr has five kids and her husband doesn't work, but they can afford to live in a massive house in Eiverð (a wealthy part of Björnvílk) because they were lucky to be born here and I wasn't? What is this blatant racism, бастурда?" Authorities later removed the person for questioning after they made comments related to High Jorl Jenssonr's beliefs about foreigners as well as his father's policies on immigration. They state she was later released with a warning. The Jenssonr Estate did not permit comments and has maintained neutrality regarding this incident. HJ Jenssonr later posted on Gjábok, stating "this is a new era of cooperation and unity between two peoples of two nations. We trust that those who have suffered or are suffering will get the help that they need. This package is the first of its kind in our history and we certify that it is all that is needed to begin a new life here. Öðn be with you."
Blast Kills 13 at Village Pub
A bomb exploded last night inside of a crowded pub in Coalisland province, killing thirteen and injuring over 40. The Ennisti National Liberation Front said it was responsible.
The bomb exploded around 11:30 PM at the Water Well pub in Alata village. About 100 people were inside, many of them off-duty Army soldiers from the nearby Cantaru Barracks. The blast wrecked the bar and brought its roof caving in.
Of the dead, eight were Army personnel while five were civilians. All of the civilian casualties were ethnic Etarris, the majority population of Alata. One of the dead was a woman married to one of the soldiers.
The FSNE claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to a local news station and later followed it up with an email communique. The group referred to the civilian dead as “consorts” and “collaborators” while claiming to have warned the bar owner not to serve Etarrian soldiers.
“We believe that it is only attacks of this nature that bring it home to people in Etarria and the military regime,” the statement read. “The shooting of an individual soldier, for the people of Etarria, has very little effect.”
Politicians across the political sphere have come out to condemn the attack. This included members of the pro-autonomy Island People’s Party.
“Terrorism of this kind is an affront to our people’s struggle for rights,” said PPI councillor Ruairí Ó Conaill. “Why would massacres like this ever bring about autonomy or independence?”
"One-way ticket"
SSS Shifting Winds, international waters
Batu’a sat in his bunk, tense and grimacing, as he fought to calm his frayed nerves. It had been three weeks since the declaration had been made, and he had gotten on this accursed vessel a mere week ago. The ship swayed, its gentle rocking reminding him just how far from home he was. He shut his eyes, and held on tighter. Before this, he’d barely heard of Azropa, a faraway land with faraway problems, occasionally gracing his news feed with reports, but nothing more. He hadn’t so much as thought of visiting the place, but now, he was being sent there to die. He still couldn’t believe any of this was happening, the army hadn’t been sent to war for decades! Just a few weeks ago, he had been home, planning his future, the idea of a mobilization never even crossing his mind. As he sulked, he let himself sink back into his memory, feeling its embrace pull him in –
– It had been a dim and gloomy morning in Nerevy when it happened; the clouds were low, the color of freshly-fallen snow, though darkness in the distance promised a fury to be released on his home once more. He had been content to sit by his window and watch them, indeed, he had been about to doze off when his wife burst into the room, her face the color of the sky above and her strained voice asking him to come into the other room. On the screen of their television, across the bottom of the news ticker, in block letters, it read: “SAGINIA JOINS AZROPAN INTERVENTION – MASS MOBILIZATION DECLARED.” Everything after that was a blur, the voice of the news anchor became background noise, his surroundings a fake stage upon which he was naught but a performer. His last clear, real memory was the feeling of her arms around him, of her tears on his shoulder, nothing else was really happening, nothing else was real, it couldn’t be –
– Batu’a snapped back to reality. He heard a card game happening somewhere deeper in the deck, the idle chatter of men, and the other sounds that had been the background to his life for the past few weeks. He sat up, sighed, and walked off to entertain himself. If he was a doomed man, he thought, he may as well spend his final days doing something other than moping about it.
Bloody Feud Threatens to Destroy the ACC Once Again
The Times of Corte
The two men who were shot dead on the Novacita road in Zonza last night were the latest victims in an escalating feud within the paramilitary Clandestine Communist Army (ACC).
The bloody internal violence began a month ago, when a breakaway faction calling itself the ‘ACC Military Council’ (MC) carried out the murder of Gregoriu Santarelli. Since then, at least seven people have been shot and five have died including last night’s shootings.
The killings on the Novacita were claimed by the Military Council’s rival, the so-called ‘General Headquarters’ (GHQ) faction. Paulu Santini, a 27 year-old from Centuri, and Ghjucamu Albertini, 25, of Zonza’s Mir Road, were gunned down as they stopped at a red light.
Their deaths were retaliation for earlier killings claimed by the Military Council faction. Sabetta Castelli, 22, of Zonza’s city center, was shot and killed two weeks ago by gunmen who broke into her home. She was said to have been an important supporter of the GHQ’s leader. Her death followed the killing of Dariu Renucci, another important member of the GHQ faction, by the MC just a week prior.
The violence appears to be the result of a power struggle within the organization that began after the jailing of senior ACC leaders last year. Military Council faction statements have named their goal as the removal of the existing ACC leadership, while the GHQ faction has denounced them as traitors.
According to police reports, after the arrest operation tensions within the organization began to grow. Reportedly, the ACC’s new leadership had subverted the organization’s rules and took control violently. This angered many of the jailed paramilitaries, who conspired with other factions to forcefully remove the new leadership.
The ACC since birth has been involved in violent feuds both internally and with other paramilitaries. The group itself was born from a violent split in the Armed Revolutionary Front in 2014. In 2026, an internal conflict led to the formation of the National Liberation Armed Front. If this pattern continues, this latest feud may see the birth of yet another paramilitary faction.
Some analysts disagree, however, and instead believe the feud will only weaken an already small group. Instead of breaking off into micro-groups, it is possible that the conflict simply causes the ACC’s own dissolution.
Undisclosed Location
Inner Zimniye Islands
The wind is whipping the water below them into a white froth, as Project Lead Vasil Minkovski and Chief Supervisor Kliment Pyanykh leave the warmth and safety of the base to step out onto the helipad. Above them, the sky is grey and cloudy, the view broken up only by the swiftly growing shape of a helicopter descending towards the island. As they stride towards the edge, workers are hurriedly pulling the camouflage tarp away, exposing the painted white H that is the only thing that betrays the helipad as more than a flat stretch of rock on a seemingly deserted island.
Pyanykh squints up at the approaching aircraft. “I thought we weren’t scheduled to get any replacements until the start of the month?” he shouts over the wind.
“We weren’t!” replies Minkovski. “This is some higher-up who wants to inspect the project in person!”
“And you couldn’t tell me that beforehand?”
“I had orders not to! He wanted to see what really happens here, not the spit-and-polish inspection view!”
Pyanykh sighs and puts a hand on his face. “Everytime I almost manage to forget you’re a civilian, you remind me. Whoever he is, he’s not a god. You could have let us at least clean up a bit!”
“I’ve seen the project floor, you’ll be fine! Now shut up, he’s almost here.”
On cue, the hovering helicopter begins its final approach, dropping down to land gently on the pad. The rotors slowly come to a stop, and as they do a hidden opening in the nearby cliff face yawns wide, ready to accommodate it. A side door swings open, and a greatcoated officer steps out and walks over to them. They both salute him.
“Admiral Lazarov, sir!”
“At ease. Save the formalities for later, let’s get out of this cursed cold.”
“Right, follow me sir.”
They hurry back to the hatch and clamber back into the warmth and (relative) quiet of the base, followed by Lazarov and a younger man with a wispy mustache who Lazarov introduces as his aide. Both of them look glad to be out of the biting air.
“Right then,” Lazarov announces, “give me the tour.”
“Uh, yessir! We’re in accommodation right now, this is where the workers and the garrison sleep and relax off duty, up there was the helipad, which you already saw, of course-” Minkovski guides the Admiral through the twisting maze of corridors, keeping up a steady stream of slightly nervous commentary. The walk sees them pass through Electrical and Administration, before they arrive at a thick door marked СУХОЙ ДОК (dry dock).
“And now we’ve arrived at the main attraction! Kliment, if you would.” Minkovski gestures for the Chief Supervisor to open the door, and takes the opportunity provided to furtively wipe the sweat off his brow. The door swings open to reveal a cavernous chamber, by far the largest they’ve been in so far. It leads out onto a metal catwalk, which they head out onto, looking down at the work going on below. Beneath their feet, showers of sparks arc from welding torches, and the sounds of hammering and shouting echo through the cavern. Taking shape in the dry dock is the long, cigar-like form of a submarine, one far bigger than any in service with the Kalixian Naval Guard.
“There she is,” Minkovski says proudly, “Project N-425. She’s really coming along nicely, eh?”
“Hmmm,” Lazarov humms. “I’d say she’s a bit too behind schedule for me to say that.”
The Project Lead swallows. “W-well, it’s not easy building a nuclear submarine in a cave, using shipments from repurposed fishing trawlers. We’ve faced setback after setback, it’s a testament to our efforts that the delays haven’t been worse!”
Admiral Lazarov raises an eyebrow. “I see.” That is all he says.
Minkovski determinedly presses on. “She’s nearly done at this point, anyway. Hull assembly’s nearly complete, and we’ve already got the reactor installed. Most of what’s left is smaller internal assemblies. A few more months, and she’ll be ready for sea trials.”
“That’s good to hear, I suppose. The SVBK are pressing us on better ways to deliver covert agents to places like Etarria and Sentinopolis. Take care your efforts do not compromise secrecy, however. The next time an Ostlantean sub comes sniffing around our territorial waters, I want them to get a hell of a surprise.”
“Don’t worry, sir,” interjects Pyanykh, “We’ve been taking all possible precautions. With any luck the first word that Ostlantis gets that Kalixia has a nuclear sub will be when we force one of theirs to surface.”
“That’s the dream. Ah, if I were thirty years younger…but my days in the silent service are behind me, sadly. I’ll have to live vicariously through the crew. Thank you for the tour, Project Lead Minkovski, Chief Supervisor Pyanykh. I believe we can continue the inspection tomorrow. The flight was rather fatiguing, both for me and my aide, so if you could show us to our quarters…”
“Uh- of course, right this way, sir! If you’ll just follow me, we have some spare officers quarters for just this kind of situation-” Minkovski turns and hurries off, Lazarov and his aide following at a more sedate pace.
Pyanykh lingers by the rail, gazing down at the great bulk of N-425. His eyes linger on the eight torpedo tubes cut into her bow, the knife-like shape of her sail. She is long and sleek, almost shark-like. A predator of the deep. He sighs. Look at me, getting all poetic.
Then his eyes fall on something else. “Dobrynin! Vasilyevykh! What the hell are you two doing with that blowtorch!?” he shouts, and dashes for the ladder to the floor.
Etarria, Zonza Province
1:35 AM
on an isolated stretch of country road, on a wet and humid night, two men sat in the bed of an aging pickup truck. They were agents of the M.S.T.I, sent on a clandestine mission to supply the FRA with new high-powered sniper rifles, fresh from a Sentonian production line. The rifles in question were hidden inside unassuming wooden crates, tied down to the truck bed with rope.
"They should have been here by now," said Agent Nassiadis, narrowing his eyes and peering off down the darkened road. "What is taking them so long?"
"Relax, Dimos, we just arrived here ourselves. They'll be here. The FRA needs these guns," replied Agent Vassou, placing a hand on Nassiadis' shoulder. "No need to get paranoid yet."
Before Nassiadis could reply to his partner, the dirt road was lit by oncoming headlights. There was no doubt it was the FRA. The vehicle pulled up behind the truck, and four men climbed out with rifles in hand. Their faces were obscured by ball-caps and bandanas, making each one of them practically identical in the harsh light cast from their SUV.
"Show us the hardware," one of the FRA soldiers said, nodding their head towards the truck. He seemed to be the leader, judging by the way he spoke and how he stood in front of the others.
"Of course," Agent Vassou smiled, turning his attention towards the crates in the back. He quickly untied the ropes securing the crates, then dragged them to the edge of the truck bed.
Agent Nassiadis retrieved a crowbar from the backseat of the truck, then pried off the crate lids to reveal the rifles. They were bulky, imposing things, with colossal muzzle brakes and equally large magazines positioned behind the trigger. Rails adorned the top of the weapons to mount the specially designed adjustable scopes, which were neatly tucked beside the rifles. Along with the scopes, extra magazines and ammunition were packed inside as well.
The FRA Leader wasted no time examining the rifles, immediately lifting one out of its crate to test it. He pulled the bolt back for a moment, then slid it home with a metallic click.
Vassou cleared his throat, then began to explain the weapons’ capabilities.
“That’s the new M50 Anti Materiel rifle, fresh off the assembly line. It’s got a 10x adjustable scope, 5 round detachable box magazine, and an effective range of over 1,800 meters. They performed excellently in their initial trials, but you’ll be the first using them in the field. Any questions?”
“No, no questions. We’ll take them now,” the FRA Leader said, before turning to the soldier on his right. “Corall, bring these men their payment. The rest of you, load up the rifles.”
In an instant, the soldiers sprung into action, grabbing the crates and lugging them into the truck of their SUV. The man called Corall moved to the passenger side door of the SUV and retrieved a large black briefcase. He presented it to the agents, opening it to reveal an amount of cash that would take hours to count out.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” Vassou said as he took the briefcase. “Nassiadis, let’s get out of here before someone comes sniffing around.”
Nassiadis wasted no time climbing into the driver’s seat of their pickup. Vassou joined him in the passenger seat, and they began the long journey home.
A paper hits the door of a small farmstead with a soft thump. The wind rustles through a field of wheat, a flag of red and gold flaps and billows. A young woman, her face a-glow with the fire of passion, opens the door, and picks up the paper. It reads:
New Dawn Weekly
Saginia’s foremost revolutionary news-source.
Saginian Youth Flock to Western Communes
By: Nüd Dawe
Gazar, Salkhitai Pytern – At the break of dawn, work begins for a recently settled farmstead on the outskirts of the sleepy village of Gazar; the cock crows, and nearly a dozen young comrades begin the chores upon which they have agreed. One of them, a young woman by the name of Sege, directs the others on their way, before turning her intense, clear gaze upon me for a moment.
“It might seem harsh, but I swear, we all want to be here!” She says, before laughing, and joining her other comrades in their work. She is but one of many young people leaving major Saginian cities in droves, seeking opportunity and community in the rural west, oftentimes in farming communes such as this.
Settled in early 2043, this particular homestead, going by the name Dolgiontoi övs, or Wavy Grass, is part of the larger movement made possible by the “Pytern Rejuvenation" bill championed by Attek Walinaar and the Peoples’ Host, passed in parliament at the beginning of the new term. Since its passing, land across the west has been made available for young comrades, who are now facing an increasingly hostile job market, with a youth unemployment rate of 20% across major cities. Meanwhile, those who do find work find themselves increasingly tired of the endless grind of the evermore influential capitalists, and now seek a communalist, free life, like that of their ancestors.
“Honestly, I’m happier than I’ve been in years. I went to school for years, put out hundreds of applications in my field, only to work as a grocer for 14 hours a day. Here, thanks to the work of Ata[Attek Walinaar] and Sege, I have a roof over my head, comrades that I can trust, and steady work.” Said 24 year-old Khamin Ahn, a recent addition to the övs homestead.
Thousands of homesteads have sprung up across the West in recent months, further spurred on by the increasing popularity of leftist ideals amongst the youth, along with policies intended to make land ownership more realistic for small landowners, and significant support from the rural working class.
The young woman smiles, blushing with the pride of her newfound popularity, and goes into the collection of prefabricated homes, shouting excitedly.
Ostlantis, Kalixia, Etarria, and Sentinopolis
Top Security Headlines in Etarria
Another Killed in Escalating ACC Feud
The Times of Corte
A Bastia man shot to death in Zonza last night was reportedly a high-ranking member of a faction of the Clandestine Communist Army (ACC), according to police reports. The paramilitary ACC has been embroiled in a violent internal feud since March that has seen six deaths.
Marcellu Costi, 33, was drinking at the Bar le Valinco alongside some fellow members of the ACC's Military Council (MC) faction. When he stepped out to smoke a cigarette, two gunmen lept from a parked car nearby and opened fire. Costi was shot seven times, killing him instantly. According to police reports, he was a leader of the ACC's Bastia Front and had traveled to Zonza to participate in the feud.
A statement from the ACC-MC's rival, the General Headquarters (GHQ) faction, accused Costi of being involved in the killing of Sabetta Castelli. Police reports listed Costi as a possible suspect in the murder, which was claimed by the Military Council faction. The reports also suggested Costi was one of the main leadership figures within the ACC-MC. For their part, the Military Council eulogized the slain Costi in a statement that threatened retaliation against the ACC-GHQ, which they described as "usurpers".
Pizzolo Prison Warden Killed by Sniper
Etarrian News Network
The chief of Pizzolo Maximum Security Prison was shot dead by a .50 caliber sniper rifle as he drove to work this morning, according to a statement from the prison administration. The far-left Armed Revolutionary Front (FRA) is claiming responsibility for the attack.
Damasiu Martelli, 47, was struck with a .50 caliber round as he stopped at a red light on Masseria Boulevard. The shot is believed to have been fired from a nearby parking garage. The shot shattered his windshield and killed him instantly. His police escort attempted to intercept the sniper, but the gunman escaped before they could complete their search of the garage.
The FRA claimed the attack was in support of paramilitary prisoners and demanded the restoration of Special Status for those convicted of terrorist offenses. It also accused the prison administration of involvement in torture and beatings, something the administration denied in a statement. Martelli is the highest-ranking prison officer to be killed in nearly 30 years. The last time a prison warden was assassinated by paramilitaries was 2014, when the FSNE killed the director of Adros Special Maximum Security prison.
Gunmen Kill Two in Coalisland
All-Islands Post
Two people were killed after gunmen broke into their apartment in Emyvale, Coalisland province last night. At least one of the dead was listed in police reports as a member of the Ennisti National Liberation Front (FSNE). The right-wing National Resistance Commandos (CRN) has claimed responsibility.
Ezechiellu Ó Conaire, 26, and his girlfriend Niamh Mhic Fheargail, 25, were watching television in their living room when gunmen — believed to be four in total — burst through the front door. They opened fire with pistols and submachine guns, killing the two as they attempted to find cover. Ó Conaire was an FSNE volunteer in the group's Coalisland Brigade. Mhic Fheargail was not involved in paramilitarism but reportedly attended Ár Saoirse events.
The CRN claimed responsibility in a statement emailed to several news outlets, including the Post. It stated the killings were in retaliation for the Water Well pub bombing and asserted that Ó Conaire was involved. In that attack, eight Army personnel and five Etarri civilians were killed when the FSNE detonated a bomb inside the crowded Alata pub. Experts are warning that recent violence in the Islander Regions threatens to escalate tensions between the Etarri and Islander communities into another period of bloody sectarian violence.
"Fate - Part Five"
Scipio exhaled another cloud of smoke, as he leaned against the railing of his balcony. From his home in the hills outside Artemkogrod, he could see all the lights of the city below and hear the muted roar of the traffic that snaked through the streets.
The city was beautiful, especially at night, but Scipio's mind was elsewhere. Tonight was the night he would strike back at the so-called Democratic Socialists of Sentinopolis, before they could spread further. Agents were already in position at suspected rebel cells across Sentinopolis, and all Scipio had to do was give the order to engage.
There were other things on his mind as well, of course, like Chárnton still at large and coordinating intelligence efforts for the Azropa war, but stamping out dissent had to take priority. After all, Chárnton likely died at sea or was apprehended by whatever nation he washed ashore on. There was no real way for him to continue to pose a threat.
Cursius stamped out his cigarette, then pulled out an encrypted personal radio to communicate with the agents in the field.
"It is time, men. Root out the rebels once and for all. I will not tolerate capitalist pigs in my country."
"Yes, Director. It will be done," came the reply, from Sergeant Cato, leader of the operation.
"Excellent," Cursius said, closing his radio and putting it away. He leaned against the railing and looked down at the city. He already knew exactly how the news outlets would portray these raids. The Sentonian People's Militia would take the credit, and the D.S.O.S would be portrayed as drug-toting terrorists. Scipio lit another cigarette and smirked.
Sentinopolis World News - Over 40 D.S.O.S Members Arrested in Citywide Operation
Last night, the group known as the 'Democratic Socialists of Sentinopolis' were completely disbanded following a coordinated operation led by the Sentonian People's Militia, who received valuable intelligence from an unnamed informant.
More than forty suspects have been arrested, including the leadership of the rebel cell. In addition, several firearms and illegal narcotics were confiscated from the homes of the suspects, which were believed to have been intended for terrorist attacks.
All of Sentinopolis can rest easy tonight, now that this terrorist group has finally been put to rest.
Armored Truck Robbed on Calvio Highway
The Times of Corte
Five gunmen — apparently terrorists — staged a daring midday robbery of a Silvani armored truck yesterday, shooting out the windows and tires to stop the vehicle on Highway 10, about 20km from Igilessa, police sources told The Times.
The heist took less than two minutes. Witnesses say the gunmen, who wore black balaclavas, took 15 to 20 bags from the vehicle. According to police estimates, some ₷4 million was stolen.
The robbery took place on an uphill portion of the road, which forced the truck to slow down. One car carrying robbers overtook the truck while another pulled up close behind it. They then shot out the vehicle's tires, forcing the vehicle to stop. They then hopped out and opened fire on the vehicle. This caused the surrender of the three guards, who were taken and held at gunpoint on the side of the road.
The gunmen left road spikes behind as they fled. Police arrived on the scene a few minutes after the robbers made their getaway. Later, members of the Tactical Branch joined officers of the Intelligence Branch in a search assisted by helicopters. Unfortunately, they managed to escape the police dragnet.
When asked who may be behind the robbery, police were hesitant to say for certain, but named two suspects: the Etarrian Liberation Army (ALE) and the far-left Armed Revolutionary Front (FRA).
"The FRA is the only terrorist group we know to be active in Calvio in the last five years," said police spokesman Lucca Baldi. "However, we also believe that the main ALE cell is based somewhere in the region and damage to the truck matches firearms we know they possess."
If the ALE cell of Casimiru Peretti and Conor Leca was behind the robbery, they were now in possession of enough money to support their activities for years on end. The appearance of five gunmen would also suggest that the two student terrorists may have recruited new members. This incident would also mark the first major ALE-linked attack since the assassination of Tactical Branch Sergeant Anghjulu Negroni last year. Since then, the ALE has only been linked to sporadic acts of arson and vandalism, largely in Bastia and Magnu.
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