Sergi sits quietly in his office, sipping slowly from a large glass filled of ice-cold Vodka. It has been a long day, tending to those whose minds have been broken, possessed or unduly influenced.

He knows he is good at what he does, but people often expect ‘miracles’, but these ‘miracles’ take time and effort if they are going to last.

Then he is hit by It. A feeling of something very, very wrong followed by a cacophony of familiar voices. Overwhelmed briefly, he drops his glass and it smashes sending Vodka, ice and shards of glass everywhere.

Regaining his senses, ‘Enough, already’, he screams at no-one in particular.

Sergi gets to his feet, takes a sharp intake of breath and allows himself a few choice swear words in Russian, before taking a large swig of Vodka straight from the bottle.

“Cicada, my Dear..”, he begins to say and she is there. A brief yet tender embrace is shared before he continues. “We need to go. I think there is a big problem.”

A Pilot tendril appears and the pair are gone.

Further reports from Edwardiana indicate that while there has been no further lightning raids for well over 6 hours, there are reports of  a major invasion on the Russia’s Pacific coastline by Federation Wolfe Forces. These forces are landing in large numbers at Vladivostok and also further up the coast at a number of uninhabited sites. These fleets consistent with cutting edge World War II are landing thousands of troops in good order and with a well though out plan. These fleets do not seem to have sailed across most of the intervening Pacific Ocean on their way to the Russian coasts. They seem to have turned up just over the horizon from the coasts and immediately started the barrage and landings.

Shortly after that, a fleet appears in the Baltic, another in the Black Sea, and another in the Bering Sea. It would appear they are going to try the same tactic as they did in Vladivostok.

In addition to this,  sources reveal that there many enemy Gou’ald spaceships in system above Edwardiana. They have been identified as ships belonging to Satet, Montu, Sekhmet and Wadj-wer.

In St. Petersburg, the situation has stabilised somewhat. Some members of the Imperial family first thought killed in the initial attacks have been found alive, most notable is the Tsarina and two of her younger daughters. This said the news had the Tsar, the Tsarevich and as well as other of the Imperial Household have been confirmed dead. At this time still one or two family members are missing though.

Prince Aleksandr who was by chance out of St. Petersburg at the time of the attacks has taken temporary charge of the defence of Russia, and his radio messages have done much to restore order.

Reports are coming in the a group of revolutionaries lead by Lenin have begun to stir up trouble in the wake of the attacks and some clashes with the army have occurred.

 

Reports are coming in of an unprovoked series of assaults carried out by the Federation rebel forces on important buildings and people of Russia on Edwardiana. This is seen as a clear and blatant act of war as Russia thus far had remained neutral in the struggle between the rebel forces of the Federation invasion led by one Colonel Igraine Wolfe and  an alliance of Western European countries. Until now, all hostilities had been confined to the North American continent.

Attacks by covert forces that witnesses claim ‘came out of nowhere’ have been reported on the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin in Moscow, and in the Russian Home Ports of the Baltic and the Pacific Fleets.

While sketchy, the current news from St. Petersburg is the Tsar, the Tsarina, and the Tsarevich have all been killed as well as some other members of the Royal Family including other children of the Royal Household.  It is not clear how many of the Royal Family are dead as others are missing and cannot be accounted for.  Parts of the Winter Palace are still on fire at this time.

The attack on the Kremlin in Moscow has seen the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary and other members of Governments also killed.

With so many members of the Royal Family and the Government murdered in the raids, it is not clear who now rules the country. There is panic and pandemonium on the streets as the Russian Army struggled to maintain order.

The attacks on the ports have lead to the sinking of a number of ships in both ports with an unknown loss of sailors lives.

One of the radio stations in Saint Petersburg was temporarily captured by the raiders where a broadcast was made by one of the Federation commandos proclaiming the futility of opposing the military might of the armies of Colonel Wolfe. Russian troops have recaptured the station and the broadcast was ended.

As yet no explanation or motive  have come to light for these cowardly attacks against a neutral state.

No doubt more details of extent of the attack will emerge and we shall see how Russia plans to response to this act of aggression.

(Apologies to Sir Humphrey)

“Ah, Humphrey, I’ve been meaning to ask you about the department’s latest set of
proposals.”

“But of course, Minister. Anything in particular?”

“Yes, I was wondering if you could give me a general summary.”

“Well, the proposals cover the implementation of the new departmental designation
procedures for Objects of Significance.”

“And they are?”

“Well, Minister, once an Object of Significance is discovered, it can be given a
designation of being a Thing or an Item. You see the first set of objects are to
be designated as Things as opposed to Items, and the the second set of objects
are to be designated as Items rather than Things.”

“So explain to me, why we have to do this.”

“Isn’t it obvious? If we didn’t, we could end up with Things believed to be Items
and visa versa. One simply shudders at the chaos and confusion that would cause
within the Department.”

“I see. So what’s the difference? I mean between Things and Items”

“Things are quite obvious Things and well, Items are Items. The staff in the
Department are quite please with that definition.”

“And that’s it, Humphrey? After several departmental reviews, a special committee
and extra staff taken on to handle all the work, that is all you can come up
with?”

“Not at all, Minister. Also within the guidelines of the proposals, we have also
have set aside a further contingency that an object may be given the designation
of being an Item of Power.”

“Ah, that sounds more like it. But let me check, it is just Items of Power, no
Things?”

“Quite so.”

“And how are we defining those then?”

“Well, an object is deemed to be an Item of Power when it has a greater
significance than either an Item of Significance or a Thing of Significance.”

“A greater Significance? A greater Significance to who?”

“Everyone, Minister”

“Everyone?”

“Well, to anyone who matters.”

“Look, Humphrey. This simply is not good enough. We need to come up with a set of
guidelines that can be implemented by our agents in the field. Next you will be
telling me, you have come up with ways to define Things of Beauty.”

“Alas, Minister, it is beyond our power here at the D.A.A. to designate something
as a Thing of Beauty.”

“Good, glad to hear that some things are sacred.”

“Things of Beauty come under the remit of the Department for Culture, Media &
Sport”
_______________________________________________