Lightbound

South Creek, Fulton
1:30 AM

In the middle of the night, five masked men approached the Federal Police barracks in South Creek.

They were all in their twenties, and were part of the Holy Army of The Prophet, a militant group seeking the secession of Fulton from Pazill Ran and to enact theocratic rule in the state.

"Be careful, don't want them feds catching ya", Agent 2 spoke in a hushed tone to the other agents. Agent 3, meanwhile, was setting up the remote activation bombs that would be placed in tactical locations to cause as many casualties to the Federal Police.

Agents 4 and 5, meanwhile, were near another part of the barracks, and they started a distraction with a fire near the main entrance of the barracks.

Agent 1, meanwhile, set up decoy bombs in another part of the barracks.

An hour later, the attack was set up, and Agent 1 first activated the decoy bombs. Within a few minutes, the main bombs were activated as well, exploding and killing seventeen officers and injuring thirty more.

Tarnopol, Northern Kalixia–

June Ausla sits in her small hotel room, on her bed, alone. In one hand, a small smartphone, flashing lights across her face and noises into her ear. In the other, a bottle of wine, a cheap Kalixian brand, for which she cares little and paid less. Her thumb flicks:

“--Eliminated. After all the praise and attention, promises of a “rising star”, June Ausla got out in the first round, sending Saginian chances into the gu–”
A robotic voiceover proclaims, over pictures of her disastrous performance. Her thumb flicks:

“Guys, guys, this is crazy; but like, literally, the rest of the cycling team is holding its own, slaying and kicking serious ass, while the star hasn’t been seen in days–”
A young woman with fake eyelashes and manicured nails blathers into the camera, her voice lacking any genuine emotion. Her thumb flicks:

“--FAILURE!! I put down twenty-kay on this woman, right, promised a sure payout, and what does she do? SHE FAILS?? Compqueens, bro, bro, I need my money back, this was not fair, like bro, c’mon–”
An aggressive young man with the wisps of a weak beard – that still fails to hide his lack of chin – shouts into the camera. With a huff, she throws her phone across the room, where it bounces off the wall with a soft “thunk.” For a moment, she stares at it, then, as if a great weight were placed upon her, crumples onto the bed, emitting a soft cry of anguish. “Failure,” she thinks to herself, “that’s really all I am, huh? I mean, for the love of Astor, they were counting on me, and I don’t even break the first round? I-I was supposed to lead them, the girls, they were counting on me, and I failed them…they’re doing so well; how am I supposed to face them? Kat and Anya have been together this whole race, and like, I’m so proud of them, but-but–”

Tears begin to roll down her face, her body convulsing with the force of the emotions that have brought them, but her wallowing is soon interrupted by a soft knock at the door. She bolts upright, scrubbing the tears off her face with her sleeve. Trying to hide the wobble in her voice, she calls out: “Come in…?”

A thin, lean face, framed by jet-black hair peeks in; it belongs to Farah, the youngest member of her team. The young woman speaks, keeping her tone light, though the undertone of concern is unmistakable: “H-hey, June! Sorry to bother you and all, um, buuut, the team was wondering if you’d maybe wanna come give a little pep talk? We, um, missed you, yesterday, at the hotel?”

The cycling star forces a smile, weak though it may be. Farah is right; she’s already let her team down, the least she can do is not abandon them to doom-scroll and feel sorry for herself. “Yea, of course, Farah. I’ll–I’ll be down in a minute, alright?”
The younger woman nods, says something vaguely positive, and leaves the room. June sighs softly, rubbing her eyes, and tries to compose herself. She stands, and stumbles to the mirror, trying to make her recent sobbing at least a little less obvious, desperately rubbing her red, puffy eyes. Eventually, she accepts defeat, and heads for the door, hoping she may yet be of some use to her team.

Tarnopol, Kalixia

The three teammates stared at their fourth member in silence, as he sat with his head in his hands. Finally, after an agonizing length of time, David spoke up.

“We’re so f__ked.”

Ana glared at him. “Hey! Don’t talk about our teammate like that!”

“No, he’s right,” Damir muttered, still mostly into his hands. “We’re f__ked.”

Aleksandr said nothing, merely glaring at the wallpaper as if it had been the one who had knocked him off his bike, instead of the long-since-escaped rogue mountain goat. If he looked closely enough, David could swear the paint was beginning to blister and peel from the force of his gaze. The effect was only slightly ruined by the large cast wrapped around his left leg.

“Come on, don’t be like that,” Ana hesitantly tried to encourage. “You’re in the top 10 overall. We just need to-”

“I’m a poet, Ana. I entered this contest on a drunken dare and was randomly selected as a propaganda stunt about the New Kalixian Man. How, by the ancestors, am I supposed to compete with someone like Robert Eyderweg or Kirk Chiphead? This course eats riders of Aleksandr’s caliber for breakfast! I’ll be lucky to finish with all my limbs!” Damir slumped back into his chair, the energy that had fuel his outburst dissipating.

“No,” said David, intensely, “you’re going to give your ancestors-d_mned best effort, and you’re going to cross the finish line in Stoberg if it’s the last thing you do. Because we’re going to get you there. You can do this, Damir. You’ve improved your time on each stage. We just have to train you to within an inch of your life.”

“No. It’s hopeless. I’ll never be able to-”

“They’re laughing at you,” Aleksandr interjected.

“What?”

“Your friends. They’re laughing at you. They can tell you aren’t up to it and you’re going to lose the dare.” Each word drove the point in harder.

A terrible light bloomed in Damir’s eyes. “Those sons of b___hs. How dare they. I’ll show them. I’ll show them all! No one laughs at Damir Shultz! I’m going to win this f__king competition if it’s the last thing I do!”

“That’s the spirit!” David slapped Damir on the back. “Now c’mon. Are we gonna sit around all day like sad sacks, or are we going to make you the best d_mn cyclist Kalixia’s ever seen?”

Damir raised his fist above his head. “The second one! Now let’s go, we don’t have a minute to waste!” He stood up and dashed out the door. Then he came back in with a sheepish expression. “Er, uh, let’s go once Aleksandr’s ready.”

Aleksandr glared at him, then pointedly rose to his feet on his crutches. Teammate acquired, they all headed back outside and towards the velodrome. Outside, a light dusting of snow began to fall.

International Cycling Tour Kalixia

STAGE 4 - Tarnopol to Stavrovny

Stage 4 result

 1 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     6:10:51
 2 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         6:12:16
 3 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    6:19:01
 4 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              6:21:38
T5 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               6:21:50
T5 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  6:21:50
 7 Anya Cyral (Saginia)                         6:22:07
 8 Damir Shults (Kalixia)                       6:22:53
 9 Feline Sol (Choppyhausen)                    6:22:55
10 Sognakí Áðforjasdottir (Bjornifjordaland)    6:24:03

---

General classification after stage 4
Top 10

 1 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         24:53:25
 2 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     24:57:42
 3 Robert Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)               25:00:47
 4 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               25:06:59
 5 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    25:17:01
 6 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              25:20:35
 7 Damir Shults (Kalixia)                       25:22:11
 8 Feline Sol (Choppyhausen)                    25:32:31
 9 Sognakí Áðforjasdottir (Bjornifjordaland)    25:36:05
10 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  25:36:07

11 Engi Mögnagassonr (Bjornifjordaland)         25:39:44
12 Anya Cyral (Saginia)                         25:40:51
13 Adam Matotis (Sentinopolis)                  25:41:44
14 Uðgir Koljagirssonr (Bjornifjordaland)       25:41:50
15 Kat Nyer (Saginia)                           25:46:20
16 Gabriela Masarska (Azropa)                   25:49:54
17 Michael Ellis (Goanya)                       25:49:54
18 Orsu Romani (Etarria)                        25:50:29
19 Farah Buqu (Saginia)                         25:52:45
20 Magumettu Geronimi (Etarria)                 25:59:00
21 Zacharias Tavoularallis (Sentinopolis)       26:09:24

   Name (Country) ----------------------------- Stage 1  Stage 2  Stage 3  Stage 4 - Total time
 1 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         6:11:13  6:15:01  6:14:55  6:12:16   24:53:25
 2 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     6:20:13  6:16:24  6:10:14  6:10:51   24:57:42
 3 Robert Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)               6:10:38  6:11:54  6:13:19  6:24:56   25:00:47
 4 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               6:13:15  6:19:39  6:12:15  6:21:50   25:06:59
 5 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    6:21:21  6:21:02  6:15:37  6:19:01   25:17:01
 6 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              6:19:49  6:21:50  6:17:18  6:21:38   25:20:35
 7 Damir Shults (Kalixia)                       6:21:22  6:20:45  6:17:11  6:22:53   25:22:11
 8 Feline Sol (Choppyhausen)                    6:24:17  6:23:37  6:21:42  6:22:55   25:32:31
 9 Sognakí Áðforjasdottir (Bjornifjordaland)    6:23:50  6:21:34  6:26:38  6:24:03   25:36:05
10 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  6:23:57  6:37:30  6:12:50  6:21:50   25:36:07
11 Engi Mögnagassonr (Bjornifjordaland)         6:13:40  6:36:39  6:19:24  6:30:01   25:39:44
12 Anya Cyral (Saginia)                         6:21:37  6:27:07  6:30:00  6:22:07   25:40:51
13 Adam Matotis (Sentinopolis)                  6:30:05  6:30:03  6:11:33  6:30:03   25:41:44
14 Uðgir Koljagirssonr (Bjornifjordaland)       6:23:09  6:18:36  6:30:02  6:30:03   25:41:50
15 Kat Nyer (Saginia)                           6:25:32  6:22:24  6:28:21  6:30:03   25:46:20
16 Gabriela Masarska (Azropa)                   6:26:57  6:30:00  6:22:54  6:30:03   25:49:54
17 Michael Ellis (Goanya)                       6:29:59  6:22:55  6:26:56  6:30:04   25:49:54
18 Orsu Romani (Etarria)                        6:21:57  6:28:24  6:30:05  6:30:03   25:50:29
19 Farah Buqu (Saginia)                         6:22:40  6:30:03  6:30:02  6:30:00   25:52:45
20 Magumettu Geronimi (Etarria)                 6:28:53  6:30:01  6:30:04  6:30:02   25:59:00
21 Zacharias Tavoularallis (Sentinopolis)       6:30:05  6:30:05  6:30:05  6:39:09   26:09:24

Eliminated

 — Obi Nagasi (Croblade)                        DNF
   Pyetr Kovalenko (Ostrovskiy)                 DNF
   Kirk Chiphead (Ostlantis)                    DNF
   Irenea Guerrini (Etarria)                    DNF
   Lucy Johnson (Pazill Ran)                    DNF
   Patrick Radermann (Choppyhausen)             DNF
   Jane Wells (Pazill Ran)                      DNF
   Lera Urde (Saginia)                          DNF
   Artur Maxadu (Surpantaria)                   DNF

Eliminated in previous stages

 — Doreen van Goren (Choppyhausen)              DNF-3
   Nathan Drake (Goanya)                        DNF-3
   Maria Polyanska (Ostrovskiy)                 DNF-3
   Eryk Brzyszkiewicz (Azropa)                  DNF-3
   Alisandru Forrnendo (Surpantaria)            DNF-3
   Scott Broomhead (Croblade)                   DNF-2
   Lydia Tassea (Sentinopolis)                  DNF-2
   Olga Warczyk (Azropa)                        DNF-2
   Aleksandr Losevsky (Kalixia)                 DNF-2
   Janusz Krasiński (Azropa)                    DNF-2
   Eduardu Acquaviva (Etarria)                  DNF-2
   Djoko Prasetyawan (Sidoarjo Raya)            DNF-2
   Patrick Hamilton (Goanya)                    DNF-2
   Juanni Cosmo (Surpantaria)                   DNF-2
   Hiðugir Uðoðssonr (Bjornifjordaland)         OTL-2
   Anastasia Fanina (Kalixia)                   DNF-2
   David Zonov (Kalixia)                        DNF-2
   Pauline Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)              OTL-2
   Rodney Howard (Goanya)                       DNF-2
   Fordorrico Verdo (Surpantaria)               DNF-2
   Marvin Feder (Choppyhausen)                  DNF-2
   Alexander Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)            DNF-2
   Felix McCyclebrick (Choppyhausen)            DNF-2
   Örmi Engissonr (Bjornifjordaland)            DNF-1
   June Ausla (Saginia)                         DNF-1
   Rinata Rocca (Etarria)                       DNF-1

Saginia National News – Protests Against Big Tech Rock Major Cities
Downtown Junea, mid-afternoon:

On a small flatscreen, behind the glass of a storefront display, ads give way to a soundstage. Behind an oak desk, a young woman, with a familiar face and long, black hair in a ponytail. It is the face and voice of Voneka Rhan, head of the Saginia National News agency. It takes a moment for her words to become clear, as the television is drowned out by chants of “AI will not replace us” and “Save some water for the people” roll in waves down the street, following their sign-holding, flag waving sources.

Her voice clear and measured, the newswoman speaks: “A rare unity emerged across the Saginian political spectrum today, as protests have erupted across most major cities. Spurred by the recent announcement made by the pro-business administration of High Sage Ashenya to allow for the construction of AI data centers on Saginian land, the protestors have thus far put forward no concise demands or clear leader. They have, however, found support in both the leftist party People’s Host, and the Saginian Orthodox church, both of which have put out statements in condemnation of the recent agreement, and have each played a role in helping to organize the otherwise largely grassroots protests.”

The TV cuts to videos of the protests, much like the one happening outside. Throngs of furious people occupy major streets and thoroughfares. Some wave flags of red and gold, others candles and Astorian sigils, all express a deep displeasure. Then, closer up, a camera on the ground, observing the people. Some are singing, others dancing, yet others chanting. Their voices are clear and passionate, and their faces are largely serious. The TV cuts back to Voneka.

“High Sage Ashenya held a press conference this morning, seeking to address the protestors.”

The TV cuts again, to a small man with thinning hair, standing in front of a podium, drowning in a sea of cameras. He speaks: “I understand that there is a great deal of frustration and displeasure at our recent decision to allow for the construction of data centers in our country. Despite this, I truly believe that what we are doing is for the best; Artificial Intelligence is the future, whether you like it or not, and not only will opening ourselves up for data-center development put Saginia at the forefront of that future, but it will create jobs across the country, while–”

A chunk of asphalt flies through the window, smashing right into the television. A young man, already reaching for a second, cries, “F*ck off, you fascist pig!” A couple of his comrades offer shouts of assent, and the group moves on, rejoining the greater mass of protestors. The march continues.

SPECIAL REPORT: Etarrian Anarchists Fight for Azropa
_{Free Press Etarria}

Last week, a video circulated online of several masked gunmen announcing the formation of a foreign volunteer unit to fight against the fascist regime in Azropa. The men stated that they would be fighting under the command of the Reformist Workers' Army, Azropa's main leftist rebel faction, though their volunteer unit would retain its own identity. Foreigner fighters have been on either side of the Azropan conflict since it began, but this time it's different: they are Etarrians.

The video, first shared on encrypted messaging channels associated with the Etarrian anarchist movement, announced the creation of the "Stefanu Cardi Internationalist Revolutionary Brigade". Its fighters are Etarrian anarchists, largely drawn from the two anarchist paramilitary groups: Resistenza and the National Liberation Armed Front (FALN), although they claim to have non-paramilitary members as well.

The emergence of the Brigade is the first recorded instance of Etarrians fighting in Azropa. The Etarrian military regime refused to join the anti-fascist IFSA coalition and, until recently, embargoed both factions in the civil war. It is no surprise to the Free Press that individual Etarrians would join the anti-fascist struggle in Azropa given their so-called government refused to do so. It is no secret that the military dictatorship is pro-fascist, but international pressure has thus far kept the regime distant from the Azropan junta.

To better understand the new anarchist volunteer outfit, Free Press reporter Ghjuvanna Moracchini traveled to rebel territory in Azropa for an exclusive interview with the Brigade's spokesman, a man only known as "Aceddu". Her journey took her to Raków, the only city fully controlled by the rebel coalition. In a dimly lit hotel room, she met Aceddu, who was accompanied by a masked guard armed with a rifle originating from Kalixia.

Somewhere in Tagaslavl Province, Kalixia

Southern Kalixia was a beautiful place, despite its harshness. For the discerning traveler, it offered stunning mountain vistas, stark tundra, and an open empty sky that stretched in every direction. While not as popular among internal or external tourists as the more temperate northern region, it still attracted a respectable crowd every summer, as the more adventurous headed down for a more hands-on vacation.

Damir Shultz did not feel especially like a discerning traveler right now.

The wind was whipping up blowing snow in his face, and his breath was fogging his glasses so bad he could barely see the cyclist in front of him. His legs were killing, begging for the extended rest he hadn’t had the time to give them since they’d left Stoberg, what felt like an eternity ago. What the hell am I doing here, he thought to himself. I should be at home, sitting in my comfy chair and cheering Aleksandr and Ana and David on. But he wasn’t. They were the ones watching and waiting, and he was the one out pedaling in the cold. And all because of a series of events so unlikely he still could hardly believe had happened.

It had all been so going well, during Stage 2. Aleksandr had been near the head of the pack, Ana not far behind, and he and David were keeping in a respectable middle area. The first sign of trouble had been when puddles had started appearing on the route. Those puddles had gotten wider and wider, and closer and closer together, until finally David had hit one at a bad angle and slid straight into a barrier. He was okay, but out. And then, just as if they’d been sent to haunt them, the puddles had stopped.

The next incident had been more mundane, but just as incapacitating. One of the other riders, he wasn’t sure who it had been, had gotten tangled up with Ana. There was a collision, and, well, that was that. They were both out of the race as a medical precaution.

But it was the final, terrible, bizarre accident that still boggled Damir’s mind. They’d been riding through the rolling hills of Dravika, which were dotted by grazeland for various animals. And apparently, some goat farmer had been doing a little breeding project to make his goats smarter. And he’d just happened to have forgotten to lock his gate. Which the goats figured out how to open and escaped through. They had proceeded to get scared by the farmer’s truck backfiring, stampeded down the road, and gone right through the bike route. Aleksandr had been knocked clean off his bike and into a fence, breaking his leg in the process.

And now Damir was here. Kalixia’s final contestant, the one the nation’s hopes were resting on. That was part of what kept him moving forward. But another part was spite. Spite at all the people who hadn’t believed he could do it. Spite at whatever force seemed to be trying to knock Kalixia out of the race. Spite at this f__king tundra. He was going to finish this godforsaken leg of this godd_nmed race, and he was going to finish in the top ten, or he was going to die trying.

Damir paused. Well, maybe not die. But until I can no longer continue! He nodded in resolve, and pedaled onward, leaning against the freezing wind. Just a few dozen more miles to go.

This RP is best read in the dispatch version:

A conversation about the ICT

by The Democratic Republic of Choppyhausen

"Do you remember the ICT?"

"That cycling tour over in Kalixia?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"It's already going into its fifth stage."

"Okay."

"And there's still two Choppyhausenians left, even though nearly two thirds of all competitors have already been eliminated."

"Okay."

"And they're both in the Top 10 overall!"

"Okay."

"I mean, Robert Eyderweg was obviously the best CCC racer but it's really impressive that Feline Sol is still going. She's been consistently below 6:25 every race. Even during the Great Spiny Mountains crossing!"

"Okay."

"You don't really seem thrilled."

"I never really got professional cycling. You just go in a circle. Wow. Impressive."

"Except that that circle is the entirety of Kalixia."

"Still a circle."

"It's not even a circle! It's more of a... uh... blob."

"It's obviously a hand gesture! A bit like this: 🤟"

---

"Uh, no? It's obviously a dino?"

---

"Pfff. I don't see it."

"It's a bit of a stretch, I'll admit."

"But it definitely looks like Felix McCyclebrick."

"What?"

"Oh my god. You could probably get arrested in Kalixia for that."

"Well, good thing I'm not in Kalixia."

Read dispatch

"Do you remember the ICT?"

"That cycling tour over in Kalixia?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"It's already going into its fifth stage."

"Okay."

"And there's still two Choppyhausenians left, even though nearly two thirds of all competitors have already been eliminated."

"Okay."

"And they're both in the Top 10 overall!"

"Okay."

"I mean, Robert Eyderweg was obviously the best CCC racer but it's really impressive that Feline Sol is still going. She's been consistently below 6:25 every race. Even during the Great Spiny Mountains crossing!"

"Okay."

"You don't really seem thrilled."

"I never really got professional cycling. You just go in a circle. Wow. Impressive."

"Except that that circle is the entirety of Kalixia."

"Still a circle."

"It's not even a circle! It's more of a... uh... blob."

"It's obviously a hand! A bit like this: 🤟"

[Picture, that you could see if you read the dispatch]

"Uh, no? It's obviously a dino?"

[Picture, that you could see if you read the dispatch]

"Pfff. I don't see it."

"It's a bit of a stretch, I'll admit."

"But it definitely looks like Felix McCyclebrick."

"What?"

[Picture, that you could see if you read the dispatch]

"Oh my god. You could probably get arrested in Kalixia for that."

"Well, good thing I'm not in Kalixia."

International Cycling Tour Kalixia

STAGE 5 - Stavrovny to Mytilyovsk

Stage 5 result

 1 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     6:10:45
 2 Robert Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)               6:13:08
 3 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              6:13:15
 4 Zacharias Tavoularallis (Sentinopolis)       6:13:31
 5 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    6:17:21
 6 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         6:22:14
 7 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  6:22:25
 8 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               6:23:47
 9 Orsu Romani (Etarria)                        6:28:19
10 Adam Matotis (Sentinopolis)                  6:28:49

---

General classification after stage 5
Top 10

 1 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     31:08:27
 2 Robert Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)               31:13:55
 3 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         31:15:39
 4 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               31:30:46
 5 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              31:33:50
 6 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    31:34:22
 7 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  31:58:32
 8 Feline Sol (Choppyhausen)                    32:02:33
 9 Sognakí Áðforjasdottir (Bjornifjordaland)    32:05:39
10 Adam Matotis (Sentinopolis)                  32:10:33

11 Kat Nyer (Saginia)                           32:16:23
12 Orsu Romani (Etarria)                        32:18:48
13 Michael Ellis (Goanya)                       32:19:59
14 Farah Buqu (Saginia)                         32:22:50
15 Zacharias Tavoularallis (Sentinopolis)       32:22:55

   Name (Country) ----------------------------- Stage 1  Stage 2  Stage 3  Stage 4  Stage 5 - Total time
 1 John Baxter (Pazill Ran)                     6:20:13  6:16:24  6:10:14  6:10:51  6:10:45   31:08:27
 2 Robert Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)               6:10:38  6:11:54  6:13:19  6:24:56  6:13:08   31:13:55
 3 Lionel Adam Sepedaan (Sidoarjo Raya)         6:11:13  6:15:01  6:14:55  6:12:16  6:22:14   31:15:39
 4 Victor Sullivan (Sentinopolis)               6:13:15  6:19:39  6:12:15  6:21:50  6:23:47   31:30:46
 5 Lyublyana Kravchuk (Ostrovskiy)              6:19:49  6:21:50  6:17:18  6:21:38  6:13:15   31:33:50
 6 Bill Goodwin (Pazill Ran)                    6:21:21  6:21:02  6:15:37  6:19:01  6:17:21   31:34:22
 7 Alexander Martin (Croblade)                  6:23:57  6:37:30  6:12:50  6:21:50  6:22:25   31:58:32
 8 Feline Sol (Choppyhausen)                    6:24:17  6:23:37  6:21:42  6:22:55  6:30:02   32:02:33
 9 Sognakí Áðforjasdottir (Bjornifjordaland)    6:23:50  6:21:34  6:26:38  6:24:03  6:29:34   32:05:39
10 Adam Matotis (Sentinopolis)                  6:30:05  6:30:03  6:11:33  6:30:03  6:28:49   32:10:33
11 Kat Nyer (Saginia)                           6:25:32  6:22:24  6:28:21  6:30:03  6:30:03   32:16:23
12 Orsu Romani (Etarria)                        6:21:57  6:28:24  6:30:05  6:30:03  6:28:19   32:18:48
13 Michael Ellis (Goanya)                       6:29:59  6:22:55  6:26:56  6:30:04  6:30:05   32:19:59
14 Farah Buqu (Saginia)                         6:22:40  6:30:03  6:30:02  6:30:00  6:30:05   32:22:50
15 Zacharias Tavoularallis (Sentinopolis)       6:30:05  6:30:05  6:30:05  6:39:09  6:13:31   32:22:55

Eliminated

 — Engi Mögnagassonr (Bjornifjordaland)         DNF
   Damir Shults (Kalixia)                       DNF
   Uðgir Koljagirssonr (Bjornifjordaland)       DNF
   Anya Cyral (Saginia)                         OTL
   Gabriela Masarska (Azropa)                   DNF
   Magumettu Geronimi (Etarria)                 DNF

Eliminated in previous stages

 — Obi Nagasi (Croblade)                        DNF-4
   Pyetr Kovalenko (Ostrovskiy)                 DNF-4
   Kirk Chiphead (Ostlantis)                    DNF-4
   Irenea Guerrini (Etarria)                    DNF-4
   Lucy Johnson (Pazill Ran)                    DNF-4
   Patrick Radermann (Choppyhausen)             DNF-4
   Jane Wells (Pazill Ran)                      DNF-4
   Lera Urde (Saginia)                          DNF-4
   Artur Maxadu (Surpantaria)                   DNF-4
   Doreen van Goren (Choppyhausen)              DNF-3
   Nathan Drake (Goanya)                        DNF-3
   Maria Polyanska (Ostrovskiy)                 DNF-3
   Eryk Brzyszkiewicz (Azropa)                  DNF-3
   Alisandru Forrnendo (Surpantaria)            DNF-3
   Scott Broomhead (Croblade)                   DNF-2
   Lydia Tassea (Sentinopolis)                  DNF-2
   Olga Warczyk (Azropa)                        DNF-2
   Aleksandr Losevsky (Kalixia)                 DNF-2
   Janusz Krasiński (Azropa)                    DNF-2
   Eduardu Acquaviva (Etarria)                  DNF-2
   Djoko Prasetyawan (Sidoarjo Raya)            DNF-2
   Patrick Hamilton (Goanya)                    DNF-2
   Juanni Cosmo (Surpantaria)                   DNF-2
   Hiðugir Uðoðssonr (Bjornifjordaland)         OTL-2
   Anastasia Fanina (Kalixia)                   DNF-2
   David Zonov (Kalixia)                        DNF-2
   Pauline Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)              OTL-2
   Rodney Howard (Goanya)                       DNF-2
   Fordorrico Verdo (Surpantaria)               DNF-2
   Marvin Feder (Choppyhausen)                  DNF-2
   Alexander Eyderweg (Choppyhausen)            DNF-2
   Felix McCyclebrick (Choppyhausen)            DNF-2
   Örmi Engissonr (Bjornifjordaland)            DNF-1
   June Ausla (Saginia)                         DNF-1
   Rinata Rocca (Etarria)                       DNF-1

United Press Wire - 29 April 2043

Devin Porter elected President of Goanya; Free Goanya gains supermajority in General Assembly

GONAN (UP) -- In a massive upset, the right-wing opposition Free Goanya party has achieved a supermajority of representatives in the General Assembly and achieved the election of their presidential candidate, Secretary of Military Affairs Devin Porter. This came in contrast to nearly every poll held by neutral pollsters prior to the election, which predicted a safe margin of victory for incumbent Carter Roland and the Liberal Democrats. A senior aide for the Roland campaign has told the United Press that Roland has already called the President-elect to congratulate him on his victory, and preparations are already beginning for the presidential transition, set to conclude with the inauguration of President-elect Porter on 1 June.

The first signs that something was going wrong for the Liberal Democrats was early in February. Regions which had polled heavily for the Liberal Democrats, especially in northern regions like Forterne and Imakandiland, were showing high numbers of votes cast for Free Goanya candidates. In exit polls, many Free Goanya voters cited concerns about the economy and international instability as their main issues for this election. Several voters, especially in Imakandiland, noted that the lack of action by the Roland government to deal with tribal conflicts in the north as a core reason for voting as well. This was supported throughout February in other states that consistently went for Free Goanya candidates. Despite this, Roland was still favored to win the presidential election, especially as many voters in the Wildlands and Arnland believed that Porter could place significant barriers to more self-government in those states.

Things were looking up for the Liberal Democrats in March and April, as many Liberal Democratic candidates were elected to the General Assembly in Arnland and the Wildlands. But, when the big election day came on 14 April, when almost 50% of the population of Goanya went to vote, the Liberal Democrats' fate was sealed as Free Goanya took almost 60% of the votes. This was just four days before the presidential election, and by then it was looking sure that Free Goanya would win. But the polls and prediction markets still showed Roland to win. And when the day came, it showed that perhaps the polls and prediction markets aren't always right, with Porter taking 68% of the votes, mainly in Goanya proper and the Suebiland.

Roland conceded the election on 20 April. Porter made his initial victory speech on 19 April, and made a full one yesterday at the Andrew Folk Freedom Center in Openford. His running mate, Chloe Nelson, made her speech today also at the Andrew Folk Freedom Center. In the 20-minute long victory speech, Porter discussed how he would improve the economy, increase Goanyan power projection on the world stage, increase the size of the military, increase the strength of the ounce-gold, eliminate the terrorist groups and tribal militias in Arnland and the Wildlands, and repair public infrastructure nationwide. Several major Liberal Democratic figures, including party leader Edward Lynch, have criticized Porter's speech, saying that no real solutions were given, but despite this, Porter's speech was still received well, even by those who did not vote for him.

Following the election, there were major protests in Parn, the Wildlands, and to a lesser extent in Arnland. Many of the protestors in the Wildlands were concerned that they would face racial persecution under Porter, although his campaign has repeatedly assured that there would be no racial targeting under the Porter administration. In a statement to the United Press, the Porter campaign said that "the allegations of racism towards Devin Porter are completely false," and, "President-elect Porter and Free Goanya are working to build a more prosperous and stronger Goanya for all Goanyans." Despite this, Liam Shuvon, the chair of the Wildlandic Freedom Party, the largest separatist political party in the Wildlands, wrote in a public statement that he was "greatly concerned for the people of the Wildlands under the administration of President-elect Porter."