Jeremy Armarndis, RNN Senior Correspondent to the Republic Government
The sun sets on Joshua Underwood's ending career.
FIRST CITY, REYDOVAN PRIME (28 November 2502): Perhaps the total reconstruction surgery didn't sway the people enough. Reydovan Chancellor Joshua Underwood was defeated by Deputy Chancellor Jeremiah Neill yesterday in the first free elections in the Twelve Systems in over two centuries.
Underwood had held onto the worlds of Reydovan with an iron fist, keeping the Republic safe from its enemies, but the militaristic outlook on Republic politics was soon replaced by Project Reconstruction, the systematic rebuilding of the Republic's shattered worlds. With the impending elections in the Commonwealth Parliament on L'nhraei, according to Chancellor Underwood, "it seemed it was about time to drop the martial law, seeing as we are safe now." The Chancellor, despite his shock and disappointment, remains in good spirits. He has since retired to his villa on Belle Terre and declines further comment.
Chancellor Neill was sworn in this morning at 11:30 Reydovan Standard Time. The new Republic law on elections was written last week by the Senate and sent directly to Chancellor Underwood's desk. It reads, "The elected Chancellor shall be sworn in the day after the election, no later than noon Reydovan Standard Time." General Daniel Longstreet of the Republic Army was Neill's running-mate, while Underwood picked Admiral Dietrich Schaeffer as Neill's successor.
Chancellor Neill, shortly before Underwood retired for the evening yesterday, asked the former Chancellor to serve as his senior advisor and Ambassador to the IAP, seeing as the new Chancellor was somewhat new to his position and needed help guiding the Republic in its final weeks before the elections in the Commonwealth next month. Chancellor Underwood agreed, on the condition that he be reinstated into the Navy as Admiral, just as he was before he created the Republic. Neill accepted the former Chancellor's terms.
The two matters heavily on the people's minds at this moment are the sudden rash of Tzenkethi attacks in the Occult system and, of course, the merger deal with the L'nhraei Commonwealth. As the starter of this deal, Admiral Underwood will supervise the agreement, and address the new Commonwealth Parliament next month when they meet for the deals.
Joshua Underwood's 206-year leadership of Reydovan Prime has ended - the end of an era. Perhaps the Chancellor will run for President of the Commonwealth in the next election.
