A Heinous Crime

[TheShammySocialist]

[b][OOC: Linked to subsequent events stemming from the attack on USC AWACS Aircraft; http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=100353&view=findpost&p=2678437][/b]

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[i]The image of the waving Union of the Southern Cross flag appeared on television sets across the nation, right as many people had returned home and were sitting down to supper.[/i][/center]

As the visual faded, the grim figure of the Governor General of the Union of the Southern Cross, Robert Abel, was seen as he stepped up to the podium, from which a flag of the Union of the Southern Cross hung.

"My fellow brothers and sisters of Australia, I come before you tonight, bearing grave news, a little over an hour and a half ago, four aircraft of the Southern Cross Air Defense Force were shot down. Details of their destruction are still being forward to my office, and search and rescue crews are attempting to look for survivors. As of right now, all eighty members of their crews are being presumed as mission in action," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "Three of the attacks occurred over land, and the wreckage has been found and secured, we have aviation accident experts and SCADF personnel en route to those sites. One of the attacks occurred over the ocean, and civilian emergency vessels are proceeding to those locations as we speak."

Abel cleared his throat softly, heaving a sigh, before beginning to speak again, "There is significant reason to believe the origin of the missiles that attacked these aircraft came from our neighbors in the nation of Pihana. We cannot confirm if this was an accidental launch, or not, at this time, but the systematic destruction of four aircraft all at once is highly unlikely an accident. These aircraft had not, in any way, penetrated the border with Pihana, or left USC, or international airspace, yet they were attacked for no reason, whatsoever. This country, is willing to give the benefit of the doubt in this matter, but we will not stand for any destruction of our property, either by accident, or more sinister design."

Abel's voice cracked slightly, "We," he paused, "We in the Union of the Southern Cross will not tolerate this incident, evidence has shown that these missiles clearly originated from the territory of the nation of Pihana. We ask that the government of Pihana turn over any and all evidence of what went wrong here, and any of the personnel that may have perpetrated these acts. While we know there has been some ongoing internal strife inside the nation of Pihana, that is [i]no excuse[/i] for our nation's aircraft to be the victim of violence. This is your warning, Pihana, [b]get a handle of your country[/b]; hand over any evidence of this matter to the Union of the Southern Cross, and arrange for any perpetrators of this incident, whether by accident or design, to be handed over the the Royal Australian Mounted Police, the national police of the USC.

You have forty eight hours to effect a release of these demands, or action will be taken to ensure that they are brought to justice for the crime that has left eighty of our servicemen missing, and four planes destroyed. We spoke only a short while ago of resisting further violence on this continent, of moving forward to stopping such bloodshed to occur. Now our planes are destroyed without a word of warning, and eighty men and women may never return to the warm embraces of their families. My fellow Australians, we must show restraint in this matter, a vigilant restraint, more blood will not be shed, but we will see justice through."

[center][i]The screen faded out to show a number of pictures of one of the crashes, and the response to them.[/i]

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[Zoot Zoot]

Great Britain supports this message whole heartidly and our thoughts go to the families of the lost aircrew.

[Triyun]

The United Federation of the East supports its ally.

[supercheese]

Pihana is horrified that such a thing has happend. Investigations are underway but we are certain that the attack were not of Pihana origin. We agree to all demands.

Evidence:
At (input time here) Visual sightings suspected an unkown aerial object was flying threw Pihana territory. Leaving nothing to risk we launched some aircraft to investigate these claims and confirmed them. Unfortunatly we could not stop it in time nor do we know where this originated.

Let it also be noted that Pihana does not have much of an surface-air weapons. Especially missiles.

Let it also be noted that several missiles did hit capital buildings inside our capital Darwin.

Any further information required let us know.

[Triyun]

Your government is incapable of preventing advanced weapons from seeping through your borders and being used to attack foreign military aircraft? This is rather disturbing news.

[supercheese]

Well if you can understand our concerns were focused at another matter at the time.

[Triyun]

Your concerns seem to be on rebels, which well could have used the craft. From what I have heard these rebels are something of extremists and fraudsters, both claiming to have part of Australia being affiliated with islands thousands of kilometers away AND having absolutely fraudulent british credentials. It sounds to me like you have some sort of terrorist or criminal syndicate operating in your backyard who likely shot down a USC aircraft. This seems a rather pressing concern for all of us in the region.

[supercheese]

You seem to know somthing we dont. Since we never detected a craft.

[TheShammySocialist]

"So you are saying that your government did not launch those missiles, or even has enough border security to notice four long-range surface-to-air missiles being transported in and fired off? Where are your priorities good sir?! Yes, you may be busy with an outbreak of violence, but there is no reason you cannot stop these weapons from being able to be brought into your country and loosed off at us.

How do [b]WE[/b] know that your government did not shoot those missiles off yourself?"

[Axolotlia]

The PRA is appalled that such an act has been committed, and at the Pihana Government affirmation of diverted attentions. Regardless of internal strife, a government should remain responsible for at the very least attempting to prevent unrest from spilling over to neighbors. Should a "spill-over" occur, The PRA would request international assistance to deal with the internal strife, but that is just what we would do. You are free to act as you wish, but also except the given consequences.

[Triyun]

I use craft as a generic term for whatever shot down this plane. I could use UFO if that is less confusing for you whether it be an unmanned or manned platform which used the weapons against them.

[supercheese]

Well would you like to point at one of our weapons and say "you could of stopped them with this".
My priority at the time was to figure out why Darwin was attacked. And dealing with pirates. AND dealing with a revolt.

[supercheese]

[quote name='Axolotlia' timestamp='1301264687' post='2678527']
The PRA is appalled that such an act has been committed, and at the Pihana Government affirmation of diverted attentions. Regardless of internal strife, a government should remain responsible for at the very least attempting to prevent unrest from spilling over to neighbors. Should a "spill-over" occur, The PRA would request international assistance to deal with the internal strife, but that is just what we would do. You are free to act as you wish, but also except the given consequences.
[/quote]

We did attempt to stop the attack.

[Triyun]

If your government is unable to control its own borders, perhaps it should not be assuming responsibility for such a large area.

[TheShammySocialist]

[quote name='supercheese' timestamp='1301264801' post='2678530']
Well would you like to point at one of our weapons and say "you could of stopped them with this".
My priority at the time was to figure out why Darwin was attacked. And dealing with pirates. AND dealing with a revolt.
[/quote]

"As a nation, [b]YOU[/b] are responsible for the integrity of your own borders, it is [b]YOUR[/b] responsibility to delegate sufficient manpower to ensure that your borders and weapons are properly guarded. It is [b]NOT[/b] the responsibility of the Union to maintain your borders for you, and it is certainly [b]NOT[/b] our responsibility to have to suffer because of your own misfortunes. It seems that we have to [b]SUFFER[/b] for your lack of responsibility in trying to maintain your borders, and we don't even know if that is what happened either!

You can claim that you don't have these weapons, but that is just what that is, [b]A CLAIM[/b], so how do we know that your government didn't launch those missiles themselves."

[supercheese]

What do you want me to do to prove it to you? You are more than welcome to hold has much of an investigation has you wish.

[TheShammySocialist]

"The problem is, you seem to take no responsibility whatsoever for this attack, instead, you blame internal strife and distractions with that. Rather then assuming responsibility for actions that were perpetrated inside your borders, you instead deflect attention to problems of your own. How cruel can you be? Seriously, our government has to answer to our people, and the families of the fallen, and your government is saying that yes, we can conduct an investigation.

Why is Pihana a nation if it cannot at least take responsibility for actions taken inside of its' nation, and furthermore, how can it be a stable member of the Australian community if it can't even delegate proper manpower to keep its neighbors from having to feel its instability. [b]We will not tolerate violence spilling our borders.[/b] As the PRA said, you can deal with internal problems by yourself, but do not think that your neighbors will look favorably on you if these internal problems spill over the borders.

Do [b][i]not[/i][/b] test our already threadbare patience in this matter."

[supercheese]

Yes the missiles came from within our borders. Yes it should not of happend. But we DID NOT fire the missiles.
When im blaming the internal strife im blaming it on the reason of why we werent prepared. It shouldnt of happend and we are deeply sorry it did. We have agreed to your demands and will get to the bottom of what happend.

[Triyun]

Your government's inability to keep terrorism out of its own territory is just as big a problem as if you fired it yourselves. In the absence of your state being able to exercise a monopoly of force within its own borders, perhaps others more capable should step in to restore order.

[TheShammySocialist]

"How do we know that your government will not allow this to happen a second time? With the self-perpetuating violence and disorder that seems to be emanating from your country, how do we know that our planes won't get targeted again?

What next? Will there be armed gangs rolling across our borders and walking down the streets of the frontier towns and gunning people down?"

[supercheese]

Because if this was to happen again next time we will be prepared to handle the threat.

[Axolotlia]

[quote name='supercheese' timestamp='1301267330' post='2678570']
Because if this was to happen again next time we will be prepared to handle the threat.
[/quote]

But you are still dealing with all the issues you said you were dealing with before, which prevented you from preventing it the first time. In what way will things change?

[supercheese]

Because last time we werent expecting it. But the rebellion threat has died down and we believe the pirates have left the area.

[Axolotlia]

[quote name='supercheese' timestamp='1301267557' post='2678574']
Because last time we werent expecting it. But the rebellion threat has died down and we believe the pirates have left the area.
[/quote]

That is convenient isn't it?

[supercheese]

What are you getting at?