Cerberus Daily News - June 2010

Cerberus Daily News delivers daily news about the Mass Effect universe via the Cerberus Network. In universe, these news reports take place in 2185. They are not given with headlines, but ones are provided here for easier navigation.

The following is an Archive of Cerberus Daily News reports from June of 2010. This archive is preceded by Cerberus Daily News - May 2010.

06/01/2010 - Taetrian Capital of Vallum Attacked by Aircar Bomb
"The Taetrian capital of Vallum came under attack again today as a turian male crashed an aircar bomb into the kinetic barriers outside the Sevnis, a building serving as emergency government headquarters. Packed with explosives, the aircar struck the barriers and exploded, killing the driver. That driver was Alsadrus Tertius, a former sanitation worker with ties to the radical separatist group Facinus. Sevnis guard Titrinus Machaera counts himself lucky. 'He [Tertius] clearly didn't know about the barriers. If he had, he'd have aimed for the gates and maybe gotten some of us guards or the crowds outside'. War Minister Uvalum Septimax did not downplay the incident. 'We face a determined enemy', he said, 'and we cannot afford to relax our vigilance'."

06/02/2010 - Facinus Leader Condemns Taetrian Air Campaign
"The separatist group Facinus released a video today condemning the colonialist air campaign against targets in the Diluvian Wildlands. 'The cowards of the Hierarchy have betrayed the turian people, first in their appeasement of the humans, second in their oppressive taxes to support their agenda to weaken our empire, and third in the bombardment of their own kind to support their archaic institutions,' said Kihilix Tanus, nominal leader of the separatists. 'Their General Partinax is a craven murderer. This bloodshed could be avoided with a simple duel between the two of us, yet he would hide behind his conscripts.' Asked for comments, General Partinax said simply, 'I don't hide.'"

06/03/2010 - Hierarchy General to Duel Separatist Leader (1)
"Citadel space is abuzz with the news that highly esteemed General Partinax has accepted separatist leader Kihilix Tanus' challenge to duel. General Partinax has survived seven duels, five to first blood and two lethal; Tanus' record is unknown. Negotiations continue at this hour as the general's staff narrows down a list of weapons. The general favors a turian sword called a mexta, saying it's harder to cheat in swordplay than with firearms. Tanus, on the other hand, favors a type of pistol duel known as a barrier room fight. Despite the excitement, the duel may only minimally impact the war strategy. General Partinax says the air campaign will continue during the duel: 'The prize here is the life of one enemy, not the entire course of the war.' It may not be merciful, but the general says it is the only condition upon which the Hierarchy would permit him to risk his life." See also: 06/04/2010, 06/06/2010, 06/07/2010

06/04/2010 - Hierarchy General to Duel Separatist Leader (2)
"As reports of strafing runs and bombardments filter in from urban centers across the Diluvian Wildlands, all eyes are on General Partinax. Negotiations have ended in agreement upon a barrier room duel between the general and Kihilix Tanus in two days' time. In this duel type, combatants armed with pistols enter a room with an opaque retractable wall dividing them. When the wall is dropped, the duel begins. Representatives from both sides will monitor the proceedings, which will be recorded on visual media. Per turian custom, the records will not be made available for public distribution. The general's staff must now locate a neutral meeting place that is unlikely to be an ambush site for either side -- trust is difficult to come by in this conflict." See also: 06/03/2010, 06/06/2010, 06/07/2010

06/05/2010 - Taetrus Declares War on Separatist Group Facinus (6)
"Stories of civilian casualties on Taetrus pour in at this hour, following an attack on the city of Iratiana. Mass accelerators have destroyed apartment blocks, hospitals, train stations, and markets, killing dozens or hundreds with each hit. Colonialist forces appear unswayed. 'Military emplacements on the continent of Eluria were built in easily defensible population centers during a civil war a few decades ago', explains War Minister Septimax. 'Consequently, bombardments cause high loss of life. If I can give any advice to the people of the wildlands, it is to get into bombardment shelters and as far away from military targets as possible'. General Partinax's response was more direct: 'We have a saying that hopefully translates appropriately', he said. 'There is no such thing as a turian civilian'." See also: 05/13/2010, 05/21/2010, 05/25/2010, 05/27/2010, 05/28/2010

06/06/2010 - Hierarchy General to Duel Separatist Leader (3)
"The duel of the century is on hold tonight as senior Facinus representatives refused to accompany colonialist forces to the predetermined duel site, suspecting a trap. 'There were no journalists there, no witnesses, and planes were screaming overhead', said Facinus separatist Janus Pagasi. 'They had tanks and armor units nearby; they clearly meant to capture us'. General Partinax, for his part, said at his daily press conference, 'It's not in our interests to meet the enemy unprepared. However, we acknowledge the lack of trust between us, so we must guarantee that no unfortunate accidents will befall the Facinus delegation. Media were present today; tomorrow, they will be more clearly visible so we can get this over with'." See also: 06/03/2010, 06/04/2010, 06/07/2010

06/07/2010 - Hierarchy General to Duel Separatist Leader (4)
"The duel between General Partinax and the Facinus separatist Kihilix Tanus is over. After the separatists were picked up and driven to an undisclosed location, the combatants spent a short time testing their weapons before entering the barrier room. Video, covering the event from six angles using high-speed image capture, clearly showed that neither combatant used a kinetic barrier. Tanus fired first by about two-tenths of a second, but missed. The general did not miss. Partinax's shot knocked Tanus off his feet; as he continued to advance, he shot until his weapon overheated, by which time Tanus was dead. Tanus' inner circle and bodyguards reportedly had to be restrained after the duel, though no additional bloodshed followed. After the cameras were deactivated, the separatists -- and Tanus' body -- were returned to the pickup location unharmed."

See also: 06/03/2010, 06/04/2010, 06/06/2010