Shockball! The Truth Shines Bright!
Posted by Avalon Kartane on Year 5 Day 289
Location Unknown
After hearing news of a potential scandal with the Shockball wagering the Shadow Enterprise News Network sent out a SENN representative to gain an exclusive interview with some key members in the Trade Federation. First lets check in with Shelrus Terklan who has gained an audience with Duceroy Nereus Eruresto.
Shelrus: Good Day Duceroy I would like to ask you a few questions in responce to the anouncement by the Empire into illegal activities as well as some other concerns about the Shockball league if you don't mind?
Nereus: Certainly, as I am more than willing to aid the Empire in this unneccessary audit, I would be glad to speak to you
Shelrus: I guess the first question that everyone wants to know is simply is the Shockball League really bankrupt?
Nereus laughs.
Nereus: Certainly not. As almost all of the claims in the Minister's 'report' it is entirely false and preseumptuous. The Minister is speaking from guesses. Regrettably at the expense of innocent citizens and gamblers. For example, the statement " different caps are given to different gamblers " is entirely false. What merely happened is that Emperor Vodo was informed by myself personally of the rules for Shockball beginning the 2nd week. All those involved in the bets that it would have affected last week were informed personally. However, Vodo reacted quite unexpectedly to the news and overreacted in demanding an audit, in order to assure all galactic citizens of the honesty and integrity that remain in the Shockball League. I fear the overreaction continued in the Minister's GNS announcement as he distorted the truth and occassionally flat-out lied. What disappoints me most is that the tax credits of the innocent civilians are paying for this audit and galaxy-wide announcement. What a waste to accuse the longest standing pillar of honest trading and business of petty criminal charges over a personal dilemma of Emperor Vodo
Shelrus: So contrary to the Ministers charges of these wager caps being different for everyone they are all uniform and not just levied against the citizens of the Empire?
Nereus: Of course. The Trade Federation and the Shockball League has always treated all citizens of the galaxy equally. I fear the Minister's statement was a careless exagerration, which I assumed a Minister of the Galactic Empire would be careful enough to avoid.
Shelrus: It has been noted that The Trade Federation has not renewed it's license, What can you tell our viewers about this situation?
Nereus: As he mentioned in the GNS post, it is pending. I have been attempting to contact the proper Minister for weeks now. However, he seems to have disappeared or decided that he did not wish to return my calls. Recently, Minister Kaldreon has picked up the slack and has been appointed to arrange the acquisition of this liscense. The Trade Federation has been trying its best to comply with the Empire's desires, but it is the Empire itself holding it up!
Shelrus: It is mentioned that this action is due to recent complaints, how many complaints has the Shockball Legue itself gotten? Or if all of these complaints are comming from citizens of the empire to the empire have any proof of complaints been handed to the Shockball League so that they can properly respond to them?
Nereus: Sadly, as far as the Minister has been able to prove to me, the only complaint has been from the overreaction of the Emperor himself. I fear that the galalctic citizens are being terribly misrepresented and misinformed by this Minister's innaccurate Announcment.
Shelrus nodded softly and then looked over his notes for a moment before continuing: We all know the Trade Federations past with criminals and pirates, I am sure noone will forget how the thief Ace Menshue was delt with so I have to ask, Do we have any idea what prompted these rumors of laundering money for pirate organizations?
Nereus: Yes, my faith in the citizens in the galaxy is what keeps me optimistic about this whole ordeal. Although the Minister may tell erroneous information to the galaxy, I know the people of the galaxy are smart enough to recall and acknowledge the Trade Federation's spotless record in trading. No Trade Federation member has ever stolen while working for the Trade Federation. Never. The only thing that I can guess would prompt these rumors is the Emperor's own personal greivances.
Shelrus: Thank you for taking the time to set these terrible rumors straight, do you have anything else you would like to say to the galaxy?
Nereus: Its my pleasure to give some truth to the sentients of the galaxy on a medium that is normally dominated by exagerations and distortions. The last thing I would like to say is: If you fear anything while placing your bets on Shockball, speak to any of those who have participated before, our record is spotless! And I wish all of you out there good luck and happy betting.
Shelrus: Once again Duceroy thank you for your time, we now take you to Gensalith Bract who has Larbac DarkClaw with her who is the sponsor for the DarkClaw Jets for the second year now.
The picture faded to one of a pretty alien talking to the Arcona who leads the Techno Union, Larbac DarkClaw.
Gensalith: Director DarkClaw as the sponsor of the DarkClaw Jets can you tell our viewers at home what you think about these accusations as put forth by the Empire?
Larbac: Honestly I am dismayed and Angered at the slander the Empire has subjected the Trade Federation and the Shockball League to. I was fourtunate enough to become the sponsor of the Jets last year and have renewed my sponsorship this year and I could not be happier. Not once have I regreted my decision to sponsor a team or to make bets on the games. In my personal opinion I think a wager cap is a good thing, it stops people from taking advantage of the Trade Federations good name. When people start betting 20, 30, 40 million or more on games with a 5:1 spread then they stand to gain a lot if they win. However the Trade Federation and Shockball League Coffers are not endless, so why should the rich try to break the coffers just to make themselves richer. This is for everyone to have fun and maybe if they play their cards right make some money off of it. Its truly sad to see that some would try and take advantage of this fine sport. I stand behind the Shockball League 110 %
Gensalith: Thank you Director DarkClaw, we now return you to the regularly schedualed program, already in progress.
