TMP- News Stories

From the White House Press Room

"The FBI is here at the White House Press Room to make an announcement over the arrests of several Chinese nationals off the coast of San Francisco earlier this week. Let's go straight to the briefing now."

cuts to White House Press Room as a tallish man walks behind the lectern

"Thank you. On Sunday a Chinese freighter radioed for help three hours after it left the Port of San Francisco. When the U.S. Coast Guard boarded their disabled ship in U.S. waters to render assistance, the ship was discovered to have thirty-three children on board and clearly against their will. While the exact nature of why these children were on this China-bound trip is under investigation, there is no doubt of how they got there. At this point I'd like to turn this briefing over to the lead investigator from the New York field office, Special Agent Laura Jarron."

A bleach-blond woman steps behind the same lectern

"Thank you, sir. Let me start my comments with this: While the freighter is flagged under the People's Republic of China, we do not believe the government of that country had or has any knowledge of the nature of the cargo. To date, the whereabouts and remains of sixty-one children ranging from three to late teens have been recovered. We are discovering a significant number of the children we have discovered in this an another instance were not kidnapped as their loved ones claimed."

"At this time, over one hundred agents nationwide are bringing in for questioning those parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents who are suspected to have sold their small children. We are continuing to develop leads as we discover more of the scope and nature of those responsible for funding this trade."

"With the caveat that I will not comment on specifics of the current investigation, I'll open the floor to questions."

Q: "How many children do you know were kidnapped as opposed to sold?"
A: "We know for certain four sold for profit. As the questioning of those allegedly involved in this trade is not complete, we have no solid numbers."

Q: "How are you sure these weren't private adoptions?"
A: "Without getting into details, there marked are inconsistencies between these cases and an adoption."

Q: "How many people are being questioned?"
A: "No comment."

Q: "Can you give us an idea of how many children in total may be involved?"
A: "No."

Q: "What were the children going through on the ship captured?"
A: "The ship was not captured. The crew radioed for help after an incident on-board. After a routine inspection by the Coast Guard discovered the cargo. Only at that time was FBI called in."

Q: "What happened to the crew?"
A: "We're still determining that."

Q: "Do you know who called in the ship's distress call?"
A: "We're still determining that."

Q: "Were any children abused?"
A: "No comment."

Q: "Were any of them sexually assaulted?"
A: "No comment. One more question, then we'll have to wrap up."

Q: "Are you worried about the effects on the accused parents arrest to their other children?"
A: "We're not arresting anyone until they have been questioned. If it's determined they did sell a child, I'd prefer they not have an opportunity to repeat the crime."

"We're not seeking to prosecute those who have legitimately lost a child. The questioning is being done in a careful manner of all those being held. We're simply looking for answers. To the friends and neighbors of those people we are taking in for questioning, please remember they are not suspects; many of the children recovered were kidnapped through no fault of their caregivers or themselves, and we're hoping to reunite these families as quickly as possible."

"We will continue to develop leads in this case and follow them to conclusion. Thank you."

Unidentified Corpse Leaves Investigators Clueless

Law enforcement officers are puzzled over a recently discovered murder in Manhattan’s upper east side. The victim, a Caucasian male appearing to be in his mid-thirties, was found shackled to the wall of an abandoned apartment complex in an almost ritualistic manner. No form of identification was found on or near the body and pre-mortem removal of the victim’s teeth has made dental identification impossible. Evidence of other torture was found as well, but none so severe as to indicate this as the cause of death. Actual cause remains uncertain, as the body seemed free of any mortal wound.

Adding to the puzzle is the almost bewildering lack of evidence of any perpetrator. Forensic evidence has been entirely inconclusive. No trace of fingerprint, fiber or DNA was left at the scene.

“It’s infuriating,” revealed one investigating officer. “It’s like no one was ever there and there’s no evidence to the contrary except for a dead body.”

as seen in the Edmonton Globe and Mail (02.05.2032)

Edmonton emergency crews were called to the Fukiyamo Restaurant today for a reported explosion and fire only to discover the bodies of seventeen people in the building.

According to a source inside the police department speaking under the request of anonymity, "... this wasn't a fire or a shooting. It was an execution." Other sources report several explosions and local officials have tagged over forty spent shell casings at the scene.

While autopsy results are still pending on some of the victims, Thomas Yatashiko, purportedly the head of the Yatashiko crime family, is known to be among the dead. Other alleged members of the Yakuza clan are also reported killed in the gun battle.

Police report the investigation is ongoing and refused further comment.

March's train service disruption ruled terrorism

May 05, 2032

New York City, NY (AP)

The under-harbor train service disruption that fouled commuting between Manhattan and New Jersey for three weeks in March and April has been ruled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be a terrorist attack.

An anonymous spokesman for DHS reports, "The method of the damage as well as the scope leave little doubt it was a planned event and not a power surge as first reported."

The DHS press office had no comment.

House fire leaves one injured

May 09, 2032

Police were called on the scene to a house fire on 107th street early this morning.

According to arson investigators at the scene, it appears that the victim had been checking the stove. A pack of opened cigarettes and a box of matches in the victim's pocket lead to the possibility a lit cigarette caused accidental combustion of the older model stove's pilot. Detective Marshal Fredericks, co-lead of the investigation, is quoted as saying,. "The investigation will continue but it appears to be a simple accident."

The old Victorian-style house had been on the market for only a month and had even been recently remolded and painted. Neighbors say that the house had "many prospective buyers" and "it's unfortunate that the house was lost." A witness, Miss Jane Truedel, said that she had seen the realtor enter the house only an hour before the whole house was engulfed in flames.

One person, presumably the realtor, was pulled from the house by a passerby; the unnamed victim was reportedly found in the kitchen where the fire had started.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released by the police, but is reported to be in critical condition at Manhattan General.

Caramia Acquisitions investing in technology and manufacturing industries

The New York City Business Charter - 10:05 AM EST Wednesday, May 09 2023 by Cindy Jonestone The New York City Business Charter

As we have reported previously, Caramia Acquisitions, a subsidiary corporation of the Derevko Group, has been working rather relentlessly since it was granted the privilege to do business on U.S soil. The corporation has not only bought several struggling realty ventures, but has managed to acquire businesses that focus on the technology and manufacturing industries.

What is rather interesting about this is that they have also applied for a federal contractor’s license, since they were able to acquire the technology firm, NovaTech Industrial and Sims Defense and Security Incorporated, both have strong ties with the U.S. Military in regards to research and development, weapons and hardware manufacturing.

There has been some protest from rival companies that a corporation owned by a foreign body might bring National Security questions, but thus far there have been no attempts by the Homeland Security or the SEC to stop said acquisitions from taking place.

The move to acquire manufacturing industries has only shown that Caramia Acquisitions is intensifying its move to establish foot holds in various areas of business. This can benefit the overall interests in either resale, or to enjoy a percentage of the profits each business does manage to make in the years to come.

Though many of these moves have been hailed as bold, many analysts think that buying too much, too quickly will stretch the corporation too thinly and in the long run they will falter under the pressure.

The manufacturing corporations purchased are as follows: Gevene Clothing, which processes clothing from jeans, to baby clothes and ShadeTree Lotions and Soaps, this company is by far the smallest of the previous purchases, but they specialize in handmade lotion making and other toiletries.

The search continues.

The authorities continue to search for one of the residents of South Haven Medical Facility. It is believed that an incident about a month ago involved the former inmate.

The female in question is 22 years of age, with long blue hair and blue eyes, and has some asian facial traits. She stands at a height of 5'2", and bears a necklace and bracelet that are permanently affixed to her body, with barcodes that match a tatoo at her left hip. She is to be considered armed and dangerous.

The reward has been tripled for information leading to the capture of the female. Do not approach the subject, but call the South Haven Security Department if you have any information.

Jane Peters
Lead Researcher
South Haven Medical Facility

May 17, 2032
New York City, New York

House in Brooklyn Burned to Ground

A house was burned to the ground today in what investigators are calling a possible arson. Fire fighters arrived on the scene as the old Victorian style house was up in flames in the early morning. The house, located across from Commodore Park, between Navy Street and North Elliot place on Flushing Avenue, was already on the city’s condemned list and has been for some time. It was also the scene of the terrible serial rape case, where over twenty young girls were killed over the course of more than a decade. Neighbours reported there was an increase in gang activity, and investigators are saying they are not ruling this out as a possible accidental fire caused by a meth lab accident. Though they state, due to the nature of the fire, this is highly unlikely.
Luckily, no lives or money was lost in the fire.

News

--WPDY News @ 4

“…in breaking news tonight, Central Park was the scene of a bold raid, staged by the NYPD and FBI, to what seems to have been a year old sting over some sort of ring that was present in our very city. Though details of the raid are still unknown, our sources inside have informed us that this ring was the epicenter of large information swapping organization dealing with state secrets. Though this all speculation, since the FBI has jurisdiction over domestic affairs, there have been unconfirmed reports of CIA field operatives within the two thousand foot police containment. We will have more news on this developing story at the top of the hour…”

*twenty four hours later*

--Underground News, somewhere in the worldwide web

“…as is the usual fashion of local government, suppression of information is rampant, but today it seems that this so called ring was nothing more than information exchange of some sorts. You heard it; it was a face to face, information exchange. From what we have been able to find out, its some sort of recruiting run… for what you might be asking? Here’s the part that wasn’t burned to a crisp:

‘...you’ve come to what we have called the crossroads, today is the day that you meet one of the recu... there are times when you will need to make contact, remember how you found us first, the boards will always be up…’

That’s its folks, if your interested, here’s what we were able to find out about these mysterious boards, they are IRC, old stuff, no password protection, its just a room with a bot, you use the !subscribe mission_impossible, once you have that done, the bot will ask you for some information, from the looks of it this is open recruitment for something, but be careful accessing this server, you never know who might be trying to listen into your private conversation. That’s it, you get contacted supposedly within 48 hours, let us know if you do manage to get in, that is if your not threatened with secrecy... and the needed information is below this article.’

( To all players OOC, this is your IC reason for any of your characters to inquire about recruitment into the Black Horsemen. Email me at anytime: g8trsaur[at]gmail[dot]com )

Methamphetamine ring broken

June 20, 2032

New York City, NY (AP)

FBI officials confirmed a multiple-agency operation in Commodore John Barry Park in the pre-dawn hours successfully took down a local gang and their distribution network with only one fatality among the gang members.

As one anonymous source commented, "While the suspects are still being questioned, there's little doubt in my mind this group is responsible for a significant quantity of the methampetamine produced and distributed in Brooklyn. It's been a good operation." The same source alluded to the house fire earlier this year along Flushing Avenue was caused by an accident with the same gang's lab. When questioned about the fatality, the source replied, "The victim was given a direct order to drop his weapon. When the victim raised the weapon, he was shot. End of story."

The name of the victim has not been released until surviving relatives have been notified.