Out-of-character notice: Due to circumstances, all mentions of the nation known as Shen and posts pertaining in whole or primarily to that nation are no longer considered canon.

*

Council of Kerlile Chamber, Grapevale, Kerlile
23rd November 2019 – 10:20pm local time

“Councillors, this is an emergency.”

Councillor Lia Chiu stood in front of a television that had been wheeled into the Council Chamber especially for this occasion. Partly due to tradition, partly funding and partly paranoia about foreign spies meant the Council tended to be rather old-fashioned, and conducted their meetings with the minimum technology necessary in the room. Today, however, they were all staring in horror at the screen.

“I will play the clip again, Councillors,” Chiu said. Everyone but Letitia Greenwood and Electra Georgiou, both still in Shuell, was present. Chiu pressed a button on a remote and stood aside. “Pay close attention.”

A man and a woman appeared on the screen, a familiar pair to many who watched the news… but not in Kerlile. Rather, the pair were Lauchenoirian. They sat, their expressions grim, though to the assembled Councillors they looked almost smug. As if they seemed almost happy to be about to reveal the information they were.

“Good afternoon and welcome to the 10 o’clock news. We bring you breaking news: further documents leaked from the Matriarchy of Kerlile have revealed the approximate number of individuals part of the so-called “Aurora Programme”, an alleged Kerlian sleeper agent programme set up to infiltrate other countries. This is the third release of classified Kerlian documents on the subject, following on from the initial revelation of the programme during the peace talks in Haven, Sanctaria and a further leak on the 30th October 2018,” the woman on the screen began.

“The first series of leaks revealed the existence of the programme, and that former Prime Minister Charissa Clarke was a Kerlian sleeper agent, born Amanda Cartwright in Kerlile. It is widely thought that Councillor Carmen Robinson, a pro-reform member of the Council of Kerlile, was responsible for this set of documents being sent to Lauchenoiria during the war. The second set of documents focused on the organisational structure of the alleged programme, naming the Pierre family as the masterminds behind the programme, and the commanders of it today,” added the man.

“The Matriarchy of Kerlile has repeatedly denied the existence of these sleeper agents, claiming that the “Aurora Programme” was an educational initiative for female orphans, aiming to increase their social mobility. However, this third set of documents suggests that the Programme was set up in 1969, training orphan girls from the age of three to be sleeper agents. They also suggest that approximately 10 of these “Auroras” have been deployed each year since 1980 and are presently living under false identities in a number of nations,” the woman reported.

“The documents list a number of countries as being “targets” of the Kerlian government, where so-called “Auroras” have been sent. They do not, however, specify the number of sent to each country. The countries listed include: Lauchenoiria, Shuell, Laeral, Libertas Omnium Maximus, Eiria, Zamastan, Trive, Essena, Shen, Gardavasque and Anglia-Saxia. A full list of countries mentioned in the documents is available on our website.”

Councillor Chiu paused the TV, and stared around at the Council. They had not moved since the first time she had played the clip, and this was the third time. The Councillors were frozen in a state of shock, staring at what had to be the single largest security leak since the foundation of the Matriarchy. The first two leaks had been horrendous. But this? This was so much more detailed, and so much more dangerous.

“How the hell was this allowed to happen!?” shouted Chiu. There was a pause, like nobody wanted to speak, nobody wanted to attract the attention of the others in a room so filled with rage, horror and fear. Eventually, however, someone shifted, and the Councillors all spun around instantly to face each other and away from the screen.

“Upon my life, this wasn’t me,” Carmen Robinson said, urgently. “After… everything, well, I swear I would never betray the Matriarchy. Well, again.”

“It was not Carmen, I have had her watched,” Pauline Pierre growled. “As much as I would like the excuse to interrogate her, that will not help in this matter. Someone has had access to the Council records. And I do not understand how.”

“The records are very secure, aren’t they?” asked Jennifer Hale. “To access them you have to be present in the records building, and given how dusty it was last time I was there, I don’t think we let many people in there. Even cleaners.”

“They should be secure. This should have been impossible!” Nirmala Patel hissed, her voice becoming more and more high-pitched and panicked. “And the only hacker in the world I would consider to even have a chance is currently in a Lauchenoirian hospital thanks to persons unknown.”

“You don’t think the assassins in Lauchenoiria employed Jessica Cassidy to do this and then killed her – well, tried to – do you?” Rosemary Arnott piped up. “And it wasn’t about the Xiomeran selection at all?”

“No, it was not Jessica Cassidy,” Hale said with certainty.

“How could you know that?” Rosemary asked.

“Well… I trust that no action will be taken against me if I admit this?” Hale asked the room, surveying the looks of the assembled Councillors.

“Oh, good Goddess, you reformists will be the death of us!” exclaimed Nirmala. “Go ahead, Jennifer. What new treasons have you committed beyond getting my mother locked up!?”

“Jessica Cassidy hacked the database on my orders.”

“What!?” several Councillors yelled at once.

“I… well, even we are not allowed to meddle with that database. I wanted… well, in the end it became unnecessary…”

“Talk,” hissed Pierre. “Or I will make you.”

“I was preparing a false identity for my daughter Amelia so I could smuggle her out of the country to Josephine Alvarez if I had been given a prison sentence by the TRC.”

“Oh… that is less bad than I was expecting,” Lucia Viallamando snorted, clearly slightly amused. The amusement didn’t last long, however, as a grim expression crossed her face once more and she turned to face Chiu. “If it was not Jessica Cassidy, and it was not Councillor Robinson, then who was it?”

“That will need to be determined,” Chiu said. “That is not, however, the most pertinent question we ought to consider at this juncture.”

“I agree, we will need to immediately institute increased security measures. I would humbly propose that we scale back some of these “reforms” until the security of the Matriarchy can be guaranteed,” proposed Pauline Pierre.

“On the contrary, now more than ever we need to show we have abandoned the old ways or we will be open to an invasion with the invading country using the Auroras as a casus belli,” argued Jennifer Hale.

“If they invade us, we all better pray for a miracle,” Natalia Hart interrupted.

“Councillors, we are not here today to debate reform. And it is now clear we do not know who was behind this leak. So, given that we cannot answer that question, we must consider this one,” Councillor Chiu said, her voice carrying around the room and immediately silencing her assembled colleagues.

“What will the patriarchal countries do with this information?”

Hello friends!

Forest's fifth annual Photo Contest is beginning, and as has been the case in past years, submissions are open to anyone from our embassy regions. We'd love to see some submissions from y'all!

You can find more information here:
https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1286188

Happy photographing!

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN AUNISTRIA

On the 12th of November 2019, the capital of the Federation of Legionas was officially moved from Bayview to Aunistria, a more central location, to make it easier for the population to travel to the capital. For almost ten years Aunistria was developed into the dream that former prime minister Don Ruto envisioned. Today, although the capital is only ten days old, majestic structures dot the skyline and iconic buildings give the city an almost timeless feel. In five images we will show you the areas that you most definitely need to visit.

1. The Parliament Square


Situated on the East bank of the Tyria River, the building is a masterpiece of Legionite architecture. Designed by a conceit of Legionas' best architects who designed probably the most beautiful building in Aunistria. Hailed by many as a living example of the greatness of Legionas, few can dispute that notion.

2. Saint Louis Cathedral


Designed by Pierre Siampos, this imposing structure is one of the most beautiful churches in Legionas. A nearby park and restaurant will make your Sunday's an interesting experience.

3. Two Rivers Mall


The monumental 250,000sqm shopping center consists of medium density residential homes, office blocks, a shopping center, as well as a three-star and a five-star hotel which offers a wide range of family fun activities including a dancing fountain,theme park, and a fascinating skate park.

4. The Needle


The mixed use development set in the city center allows elite residences the epitome of urban opulence, crafted to exude luxury in a private sanctuary yet beckoned by a world of glitz and glamour at their doorstep and bringing versatility to business at the precipice of the city center.

5. Freedom Gardens


If you're looking for a place to unwind after a long day of work, Freedom Gardens is your best bet. Located close to the city center, the 500 acre urban park is one of the most serene places in the city. Your best bet is to have a walk around while sampling the diverse flora and fauna.

Greetings from [nation]Gardavasque[/nation], your Associate Cartographer.

Developing a regional map that adequately meets the requirements of member nations, facilitates national development, promotes role play, and contributes to a satisfying experience for all involved will require input from as many members as possible. Your Cartographers are interested in your suggestions and opinions and will endeavor to be as responsive as possible to as many as possible. As a democratic region, we will occasionally be gathering feedback by asking you to vote on certain issues when no clear consensus is apparent. In time, this thread will be used for submitting applications for map placements as well. This SOAP (Suggestions, Opinions, Applications, and Polls) thread will be used for gathering input from member nations and as a place for debate.

There is a separate thread "OFFICIAL MAP 2019" by [nation]Zamastan[/nation], Regional Cartographer, that will be used for codifying map policies and for accessing the map itself. The thread is currently locked as the map creation is still in its infancy.

Suggestions for Geographic Names
Have a suggestion you would like to propose for inclusion on the map? Use this link to submit your ideas.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing

Applications Process
For the time being, the application process will be kept relatively simple. To apply for a place on the map, please first familiarize yourself with the map policies on this thread: https://theidu.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2088.
Then submit a reply in this forum that includes your nation(s), capital city name(s), and single-sentnece description of where you want to be placed. If you are requesting a space that borders another nation(s), ask the other nations(s) to indicate their consent by commenting "Yes."

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL MAP

Hello, everyone! I am [nation]Zamastan[/nation], the [region]International Democratic Union[/region]'s Cartographer. Along with the Associate Cartographer, [nation]Gardavasque[/nation], we intend to use this map as a way to bring a new sense of enjoyment and immersion to our region! The map is still a work in progress - there is a lot to be done! Plenty of additional features will be coming soon!

To apply for a spot on the map, please click on this link and place a reply in the forum that includes your nation(s), capital city name(s), and single-sentence description of where you want to be placed. If you are requesting a space that borders another nation(s), ask the other nations(s) to indicate their consent by commenting "Yes."

Some of our map details:

• FOUR CONTINENTS

• Constantly updating for additional:
  ISLAND CHAINS,
  COASTAL INLETS,
  LAKES,
  and other GEOGRAPHIC FORMS

• Inclusion of CAPITAL CITIES

Sorry for taking so long to post this. It's been sitting on the back burner for a while.
[box]The Judicial Foundation Act
A by-law to establish the Judicial Branch of the IDU, and to regulate said branch in accordance with the IDU Charter.

Recognizing that the current IDU laws and By-laws, though short, cover a lot of ground and form an excellent foundation for regional law,

Noting that, even though the Charter mentions the creation of a Judicial Committee, it doesn't set many specifics on said committee, and leaves that up to further legislation.

Further Noting that The Judicial Committee's primary purpose should be to uphold the law of the IDU, in such case that it must be upheld

Believing that the establishment of a Judicial Branch of the IDU is crucial to grant member states a fair trial and ensure due process of Justice,

Stating that the Court of The IDU is a place where respect is paramount, resulting in the need for a code of conduct that clarifies what is acceptable in Court Chambers,

Hereby Resovles the Following:

§1: The Judicial Committee
1. Establishes the Judicial Committee, comprised of three equal Judges, each tasked with upholding the laws and by-laws of the IDU to the intent of which they were written.

2. As stated in the second section of the IDU Charter, The Judges shall be nominated by the Delegate, and Confirmed in the State Assembly via a majority vote. Judges should have a calm demeanor, as well as being active participants in regional affairs and Roleplay and must also have the ability to fairly see both sides of an argument.

3. Each Judge, if appointed, shall have a seat for two years, unless they either cease to exist in NS and the IDU forums, resign, or are Impeached.

4. If a Judge ceases to exist, but reappears within two weeks, they shall retain their position.

4A. Defines ceasing to exist as disappearing from forum and/or discord activity for an extended amount of time without explanation. If someone disappears with an explanation, it shall not be considered ceasing to exist.

5. In the event that a Judge breaks IDU laws or abuses their power, they may be impeached.

5A. To hold an impeachment trial, a motion of impeachment will be brought before the Delegate, who decides if it has merit. If approved, a trial takes place.

§2: Court Proceedings and Judicial Jurisdiction:
1. To uphold the law of the IDU, the Committee may hold a trial if the IDUSA has voted to accuse a nation of breaking one of said laws. The Speaker, or a Proxy, would serve as the prosecutor, with the Defendant either representing themselves or having a Proxy represent them.

1A. After the closing arguments of both the prosecution and defense, the judges will adjourn to discuss and to come up with a verdict, which is reached with a vote between the Judges.

1B. The IDUSA is obligated to come up with Penalties for breaking IDU regulations for the Judges to uphold.

2. If a Judge faces a conflict of interest that would interfere with their duty to fairly judge a trial, they have a duty to relinquish themselves from that case.

3. If a tie occurs, which could only happen if a Judge relinquishes themselves from a case, it falls to the remaining Judges to come up with a unanimous decision.

4. As stated in the Charter, additional Trial Procedure shall be regulated by the Judicial Committee.


§3: Trials of Elected Officials

1. If a trial of an elected official who would be regularly involved in a normal trial occurs (i.e the Speaker), a proxy will fill their place.

2. If the accused elected official is a Judge, and the motion for an Impeachment Trial has been approved by the Delegate, The accusing party will serve as the prosecutor, the Judge or a proxy as the defendant, and the Delegate as the Judge, with the Delegate and other two Judges reaching a verdict.

§4: Appropriate Court Conduct

1.All Parties involved in a trial are expected to politely listen to everyone, especially the judges. Any attempts to protest out of turn, outside of an objection, will result in a warning.

2. While participating in a trial, everyone is also expected to exhibit proper trial behavior.

2A. Defines proper trial behavior as refraining from swearing or making obscene or threatening comments, while respecting all other trial participants.

3. If a participant has broken proper behavior once, been told to stop by a judge, and has continued to be disrespectful, a judge may hold that participant in contempt, resulting in a minor punishment.

3A. A Judge may also decide to spare the disrespectful participant of a punishment, but still hold them in contempt on record.
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