Morva Free Channel
Your best source for local, planetary, and galactic media entertainment and information. Serving the civilized people of Morva with pride and a smile.
Morva Free Channel Evening News Update
"Good evening, lords, ladies, and people of the greater Morva area. I'm your host, Pa'Sallet."
"And I'm your hostess, Li'Moran."
"Good evening!"
"The people of Morva are shocked as a result of tonight's surprise drive-by shooting near Danstul' Station. A group of Hergoth youths was approaching the station when apparently they came under slug-weapon fire from a passing vehicle. Here on the scene is local correspondent Mai'Doppel. Mai?"
(Cut to on-location broadcast at Danstul' Station. There are a number of anxious-looking people milling about in addition to the usual pedestrian traffic.)
"Thank you, Pa. We're told that the Hergoth youths were all members of a local school hal'br'im team and were on their way to the Central District to celebrate a match victory when suddenly tragedy occurred. Witnesses say a single shooter opened fire on the group with a slug-thrower pistol, apparently at random, from a passing vehicle. The vehicle, a dark-colored Lemarvi (Foldorian-made wheeled car), was apparently stolen from a nearby parking lot and has been recovered by the police."
"Has there been any information on the attackers?"
"Well, witnesses say only that the shooter was wearing a visor, and that no one got a clear look at his face. It all happened rather quickly, and it's likely that the shooter was wearing a mask of some kind. There has been a bit more concrete witness information on the driver of the vehicle, however. Witnesses say it was a woman who was definitely neither Foldorian nor Hergoth. She was apparently a foreigner of a more large-bodied species."
"Were any civilized people injured in the attack?"
"No, they weren't, fortunately. The attack was concentrated only on the Hergoth. Two of the Hergoth are reported dead, and a third was seriously wounded but recovering at the witch hospital. The others appear to have been unharmed."
"This is all really...scary. I mean, attacks like this aren't supposed to happen! When was the last time there was a drive-by shooting of any kind in Morva?"
"Li, it was about eight years ago, and it did happen here in Ekr'im District, but it was a more gangland-related attack. A shooting like this directed at unarmed youths on a sidewalk has never happened in the history of the city."
"It doesn't give one much faith in the ability of the Ergothei Peace Force to keep us secure and civil, does it?"
"Well considering the Peace Force was unusually active today here in Ekr'im, it does have a lot of people wondering."
"I can imagine. Thank you, Mai'Doppel."
"Thank you, Pa'Sallet"
"And speaking of the Peace Force being strangely active in Ekr'im yet strangely lax in their duties, we go now to local correspondent Fon'Beloh in Artists' Square. Fon?"
(Cut to a view of Artists' Square)
"Thank you, Li. This is Fon'Beloh, Morva Free Channel News. I'm reporting from Artists' Square in Ekr'im District, where officers of the Ergothei Peace Force have been keeping people on edge all day."
"Could you please tell us more?"
"Certainly, Li. From early this afternoon officers of the Ergothei Peace Force on flier bikes maintained an unusually strong presence in the Square."
(Cut to shots of the officers on the bikes)
"No one knows why the officers were there. Some people believe it might be related to an incident this afternoon at a local cafe in which there was apparently a confrontation between Foldorian customers and a Hergoth gang. Apparently one of the Foldorians, a civilized local, was forced to fire a warning shot, and that ended the trouble. Rumors about that incident are already going around the Square. However, all indications are that the Peace Force officers started their stepped-up patrols even before that."
"Is there any chance that there's a connection between the incident at the cafe you mentioned and the shooting that happened over at Danstul' Station?"
"Um...I really don't know, Pa, but it doesn't seem likely."
"Alright. But what about these stepped-up patrols? How are they affecting the people?"
"In many different ways, Pa. If you look around me, things may look normal here in the Square, but there's a lot of tension in the air, Pa. Not only have the officers been hovering around on their bikes, but they've actually been attacking people."
"Attacked? Could you please elaborate?"
"Certainly, Mai. Well, first of all witnesses are saying that an officer shot and stunned a woman of uncertain nationality, apparently in the back. People are saying that the woman and a local punk had gotten into a fight, and a Peace Forcer just came up behind the woman without any warning whatsoever and shot her. A patrol car then came in after that and took the woman away. There's no word on what happened to the punk. But that's not the worst of it."
"What is the worst of it, Fon?"
"Well, we've had all kinds of reports that Peace Forcers pursued, cornered, harassed, and threatened a lord of the Manager caste in one of the exotic ethnic shops here."
(Cut to image of Mon'Fargret being interviewed in his shop, no audio)
"Lord Manager Mon'Fargret, seen here in the shop he maintains with his Annuitis servant in the Square, was apparently minding his own business in one of the many alien shops here when at least two Peace Forcers approached him in a threatening manner, held him at bay with drawn weapons, and proceeded to interrogate him while others in the store looked on. The lord says he was completely humiliated by the whole affair and suggested we ask the local constable for a full accounting of the matter. However, at the same time, he had this to say:"
(Audio fades in)
Mon'Fargret: "It would not be appropriate to comment other than to say that this is not the time for stark conclusions. Now, as much as I enjoy talking with you, I must get back to work."
(Cut to Fon'Beloh's sunny, highly-polished smile)
"One can't help but be moved by such stoic pride and civility even in the face of such barbaric treatment! Fon'Beloh, Morva Free Channel News."
(Cut to Li'Moran cooing with delight) "Our city is indeed blessed to have such excellent examples of true civilization!"
"Indeed! The Ergotheia haven't driven it out completely, have they? Not that they don't seem to be trying..."
"And speaking of trying, have any of you been wondering what has happened to all those people that earned Second Chance passes at the Yonba Talent Round-Up? Oh, come on! You know you have!"
"Well, look no further! The Free Channel is getting ready to release a special compilation showing the Second Chance pass winners performing as promised at prestigious venues here in Morva! There will be a special showing here on the net, and, for those that are interested, there will be a video release as well. In fact, the producers are saying that the video offers some extra-special entertainment that won't be on the broadcast showing!"
"Ooh, doesn't that sound exciting? Some of the Second Chance pass holders were pretty interesting! It would be nice to see what became of them!"
(There follows the usual promotional drivel for the Talent Round-Up)
