Empyrean Iris Story Collection Vol. 4

Presidential Pardon

GEN Nightly news at 7:00

"Breaking news tonight as reports flood in front Mid Mericanda out of the city of Orion where the void outbreak has officially stalled, and the void next has been officially destroyed, Jim has more on that."

"Thank You Ella, right now I am standing outside what once was the small quaint city of Orion just miles from the epicenter of one of the largest void outbreaks on Earth. As you can see here the entire ground is completely sourced, the city looks like soemthing out of a post-apocalyptic movie poster with crumbling houses and bullet holes in the sides of buildings. Now we weren't able to go to the nest cite of the void, but from what we have been told, this void outbreak was the result of poor government oversight, and poor UNSC control and known and active void sites. From the information I have gathered, the void growth was using the walls of the void site to conceal itself before growing in power. This suitcase was found abandoned on the side of the road next to the burnt-out husk of a UNSC military vehicle. The UNSC has forbidden me to show it, but the suitcase is actually a firing platform for a "Gomorrah Missile" meaning that the Hunt administration was aware of the void outbreak and actively trying to destroy it during the time of the invasion, to little affect, when this all began."

"Thank you, Jim, going now to Acting Defense Director Naila Ahwan, tell me director, what is the current situation and how should be expect it to change over the next few weeks."

"Thank You for having me, and this is a question we have been looking into thoroughly over the past few days. As far as the current situation goes. All the active void sites have stalled or are shrinking. The Orion site has been completely eliminated and others are on their way. UNSC jets are being used to spread anti-void antidote throughout the atmosphere. Right now, our scientists are working on better ways to disseminate the void antidote, so this cannot happen again. As far as what the future holds, that is uncertain, however we do believe we will be able to rebuild and move on, though the infected void areas will take some time to recover. From what I understand the void sites are behaving in a similar way to land that has been taken by fire. Hopefully we can recover."

"Director, I know this is maybe perhaps a bit of a disheartening question, but what are the casualty numbers we are looking at. This was a massive tragedy, but what exactly are we looking at?

"It's a bit early to say, but our estimates range somewhere approaching 50 thousand. In comparison to Earth's current population I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but this has been an absolute tragedy."

"In your opinion do you think it was preventable?"

".... I think the best answer to that is hindsight is twenty-twenty. Looking back on it there are certainly things the UNSC could have done, but none of that matters as of now."

***

The Alexandria International

ADAM VIR PARDONED BY PRESIDENT HUNT: ALEXANDIRA ADMINISTRATION ADMITS FAULT

In a shocking turn following the events of this week's void invasion and outbreak president has announced his decision to pardon Ex Admiral Adam Vir, who had been listed on the IBI most wanted list for almost three years since the death of Acting president Tala Kelly. Hunt administration claims new information has come to light surrounding the events of that day which has proven Admiral Vir to be innocent despite what the Hunt administration claimed only a few years before.

This announcement comes shortly after President Hunt's desperate plea to intergalactic sources for assistance in training the outbreak and Adam Vir was the only intergalactic source to answer the call. In the operation which has been named "The iron storm." Adam vir and several thousand enhanced soldiers led the charge against the void sites succeeding where the hunt administration failed. Recent opinion polls show President Hunt's approval ratings at an all time and historic low leading some to believe that he will not be elected for a second term. Some have even gone as far as to place full blame on the president for the events surrounding the void invasion.