Eliza Daniels, Senior Correspondent to Republic Navy HQ, RNN
CH'TAALA, L'NHRAEI - Capital of the L'nhraei Commonwealth of Planets (23 December 2502): The Commonwealth won the coin toss and elected to receive, and receiving is exactly what they have been doing for the last three days as Commanding Admiral Joshua Underwood presses the cause of the people of the Republic.
Admiral Underwood arrived on L'nhraei on Saturday to the cheering of the populace and has been pressing the matter of the merger deal with the Commonwealth Parliament since he arrived on the planet. Parliament has yet to vote on the matter, and it is said that it will be done after Christmas Day, but before New Year's 2503, which has been unanimously decided upon as the official dissolution date of the Republic.
The Commanding Admiral is scheduled to address Parliament for another day, after which he will press them for the vote, as time is running out for the Republic. Unless the Commonwealth - the only real ally of the Republic - were to send humanitarian aid to the nine Imperial-shattered systems, according to the well-standing theorists and RDR-watchers from all over the Beta Quadrant, the entire Reydovan Democratic Republic would be destroyed from within in less than six months.
In other news, Chancellor Jeremiah Neill declared that a new election would be held on New Year's Eve to decide who would lead the Twelve Systems into 2503. Neill spoke to Jeremy Armarndis, the Senior Correspondent to the Republic government, earlier this afternoon.
Jeremy Armarndis, Senior Correspondent, RNN: Chancellor Neill, we have received word that you plan on putting your leadership on the line on New Year's Eve. Can you tell us why, sir?
Reydovan Chancellor Jeremiah Neill: Put simply, we need to decide who will lead the systems of the former Republic once we enter the Commonwealth. I am the last Republic Chancellor; this does not mean I am the last Reydovan Chancellor.
Armarndis: I am still confused as to your motives, Chancellor.
Chancellor Neill: There are some who deserve equal chance at leading our people into the New Year, and I will give them that chance.
The current candidates for the Chancellorial election are the reigning Chancellor Jeremiah Neill with Deputy Reydovan Chancellor Daniel Longstreet, and his opponent Commanding Admiral Joshua Underwood with Minister of State Jonathan Armistead as his DRC choice. The votes will begin tomorrow, Christmas Eve, and will continue for one week.
