The Ascendant News Service

[Karenina]

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~ The Ascendant News Service ~
A N S
~ The National Press ~

Forward with the People
through
Unity, Utility, Stability, Safety

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Office of the Secretary of Logistics // Media & Propaganda Branch



​

~Feel free to leave IC responses in the comments below // diplomatic, behind the scenes, etc., where applicable.

 

[Karenina]

~ The Ascendant News Service ~
A N S

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​

Oct. 21, 1969

‘Hello and good evening my fellow Tarts,’ a broad-shouldered news reporter smiled into the camera, ‘this is your nightly Ascendant News. I’m Emmanuel DuFeu and here with me is Samantha Weis.’

‘Thank you Emmanuel,’ the auburn haired woman smiled at the camera.

‘Of course Samantha; and, may I just say that, you are looking absolutely ravishing this evening,’ the man said, placing a hand on his cohosts’ shoulder for, perhaps, a moment too long.

Clearing her throat, the woman smiled at the camera once more and laughed, ‘well, it’s not every day we get to announce something so festive.’

‘That’s right,’ he said in an almost condescending tone with an equally so nod. ‘Glad you brought it up; the suspense has been killing me.’

Continuing, Emmanuel turned his attention to a slide reel of images projecting onto a cream canvas to his right. ‘Tarts, we here at ANS are happy to announce the grand opening of the first, nationalized Ascendant State Conservatory and Natural History Museum.’

Spoiler

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‘The Conservatory features an outdoor and indoor garden that houses indigenous plants as well as a beautiful greenhouse filled with foreign and unique flora.’

‘The Museum has a vast collection of fossilized plant and animal remains, among other exhibits.’

‘That’s right,’ Samantha smiled, turning back toward the camera after glancing back at the slideshow.

Spoiler

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‘I almost forgot the best part,’ she continued, ‘the Conservatory will also be selling tickets to their enclosed, ‘opening month’ aviary menagerie.’

‘And just in time for the chilly weather, too.’ Emmanuel added, as if to get the last word.

Maintaining her smile, Samantha added, ‘the conservatory has reached out to the Ascendant National Zoological Society and their facilities to barrow some of their feathered friends and some of their well-trained and knowledgeable ornithologists to present and teach for the extent of the menagerie’s pop-up event.’

‘The Conservatory will be selling tickets to the menagerie the day of the grand opening and for the entire month.’ Emmanuel winced slightly at the thought of not being able to end the segment.

‘Tickets for children under the age of ten and adults over the age of seventy are able to get in for free, while those in-between-ers will have to get theirs for §2|50 ($2.50) soieries or, families of five or groups larger than ten will be able to get into the menagerie for §1|20 ($1.20) a person.’

‘Let’s not forget our young scientists,’ Emmanuel smirked, ‘grade school and high school classes can attend for §0|15 ($0.15 cent) a student.’

‘Worth every penny, if you ask me,’ the woman smiled.

‘Agreed,’ Emmanuel nodded with a subtle gesture to the stage manager and camera crew. ‘But unfortunately, that brings us to the end of tonight’s broadcast.’ He quickly cleared his throat to have the crew begin the ten second wind-down.

‘On behalf of the Ascendancy and the Ascendant News Service,’ the news anchor tilted his head slightly to his left, where his cohost sat,’ this is Samantha Weis and Emmanuel DuFeu wishing you all a goodnight.’


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[Karenina]

~ The Ascendant News Service ~

A N S

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Oct 23
Oct. 23, 1969

‘Hello and good evening my fellow Tarts,’ the same auburn-haired woman from the other day smiled brightly at the cameras. ‘I’m Samantha Weis;’

‘And I’m Emmanuel DuFeu;’

‘And this is your nightly Ascendant News.’ The two hosts finished together, as if they had rehearsed.

‘We’ve just caught word from Secretary of Logistics Evangeline DuBois, and her office, that she and the Secretaries of Justice and Defense – Marius Kaas and Justin Keller-Sutton, respectively – have come together to create a safe and easy way for all of Tartian society to live, learn, work and play no matter where you are in the Ascendancy.’ Samantha spoke with a pleasant lilt in her voice.

Nodding along, Emmanuel smiled coolly as his cue came. ‘The three Secretaries, under the guidance and aid of the Ascendant Security Service ( ASS ) have taken us a few steps farther into the future with the making of the Ascendant Identification Database System ( AIDS ) and the new National IDs that are accompanying its creation.’

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Ascendant Security Service HQ -- Svartelandet Directory; Innsjøhøyder District
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‘With the help of this database the entire nation is just a card-swipe away,’ the woman smiled and turned back to her cohost.

‘Anyone with a personalized, Secure Identification Card ( SIC ) will be able to use any of our nation’s public transportation networks, nationalized institutions and a plethora of government programs; such as state banking, state income reduction, retirement aid, expanded healthcare and many others.’*

‘Not to mention how easy it’s going to make my bookkeeping,’ the woman added. ‘All of my grocery money will be all tied up and secure so only my family and I can use it.’ She leaned in and held up a hand to mime keeping a secret, ‘– and maybe I’ll even keep some fun money for myself.’

‘Hey!’ The gray-haired man next to her made sure to give a hearty chortle at the scripted joke. ‘Though,’ he continued, ‘all joking aside, we shouldn’t forget about the education of our little Tarts.’

‘Or our lifelong learners,’ Samantha added quickly; giving the man a brief pause in his spiel – she had clearly gone off script. ‘We should all remember that you -can- teach old dogs new tricks.’

‘Ah, uhm, yes!’ the experienced reporter bounced back quickly enough. ‘No matter your age, with your SIC in hand you’re already a member of every public library, recreational center, daycare, state-sponsored lecture hall, museum, zoo and historic park.’

‘Well cheese and whiskers, I can’t wait for that daycare membership!’ The woman cringed at the sexist prompts being thrown her way.

‘I’m sure you are,’ his chuckle made her queasy, ‘those little rugrats of yours must be a handful.’

The auburn reporter did her best not to roll her eyes. She didn’t even have kids.

‘Oh! That reminds me,’ the man turned to his cohost, ‘the best part is that every Tart can use the benefits created by this new program thanks to our diligent Secretaries and their staff.

‘All we need to do is report to our local Union Hall and queue up with the Logistics Office personnel and answer a few, simple questions.’

Samantha sat up a little bit straighter, their broadcast was coming to a close. ‘We should head out first thing in the morning to register for our own SICs!’

‘You’re right about that; the Ascendant Security Service has announced that having a SIC will be mandatory for every citizen by the start of the new year.’

Chuckling, the female reporter bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself on script. ‘I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t want to sign up for their very own SIC; but if anyone at home still needs a little convincing, the Information Distribution Department, our brothers and sisters here at the Media & Propaganda Branch, have already sent out informational pamphlets and if you haven’t gotten yours yet, you will in the next few days.’

The man smiled back at the camera after his cohost had finished her bit and moved to finish their broadcast, ‘and with that, on behalf of the Ascendancy and the Ascendant News Service, I’m Emmanuel DuFeu and this is Samantha Weis wishing you all a goodnight.’

--------------------------------------------Official Documentation--------------------------------------------
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On behalf of the Ascendancy and the Secretariat,

Below you will find information regarding the newly implemented Ascendant Identification Database System and how it will affect you.

It is federally mandated that once you obtain your Secure Identification Card, or SIC, you must have it on your person at all times as it will serve as the only form of identification that will be considered legitimate and accepted by government and state services throughout the Ascendancy; with the exception of official, letterhead bearing, birth certificates. These must be stamped by both the Directory of birth - and, if you move, the Directory of your new address - and the Registries & Databases Branch and the Labor & Housing Branch of the Offices of Logistics and Stability, respectively. However, please note that an official birth certificate is not a suitable replacement and will only ever be asked for in special situations. ( For more information regarding the uses of birth certificates contact your local Union Hall and queue up with the Stability Office personnel and request the local Interior Branch )

Benefits of having your SIC in hand:

• access to first response systems, services, facilities and institutions
• access to all public transit
• access to all public spaces; libraries, museums, zoos, historic parks, etc.
• access to state-sponsored lecture halls and all subsequent events
• access to state-sponsored theaters, opera houses, ballet productions, cinemas, etc.
• access to secure state-banking and state-trading
• access to free, state-sponsored childcare
• access to expanded or universal healthcare
• access to expanded or universal education
• access to retirement aid

For a full list of benefits and, or more information regarding said benefits, please contact your local Union Hall and queue up with Stability Office personnel and request the Interior Branch.

There will be several, unique versions of the SICs being distributed, be sure to know your ID type and the differences between them.

• Grade A -- members of the People's Union Party* // full access to all benefits
• Grade B -- primary residents** of the Ascendancy // full access to most benefits
• Grade C -- secondary residents*** of the Ascendancy // limited access to most benefits
• Grade D -- tertiary residents**** of the Ascendancy // limited access to some benefits
• Grade X -- foreign born, non-residents of the Ascendancy // reduced access to all benefits

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Below you will see a representation of the new SICs and more information about them specifically.

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// When you receive your actual SIC, it will not display your Personal Security Number of the barcode on the front of the card and only the first two ( 2 ) and the last four ( 4 ) digits on the back of the card in the following fashion:
--ex. 00-123//4

// If you cannot remember your full twenty ( 20 ) digit Personal Security Number and require it for official government or legal reasons you can bring your SIC to your local Union Hall and queue up with the Logistics Office personnel.
--Doing so will flag you with the Ascendant Security Service to ensure your identity has not been stolen.

// If you lose your SIC you can request a new one by going to your local Union Hall and queue up with the Logistics Office personnel. There will be a two part interview and a mandatory course on Public Responsibility as well as a fine of §5|75 ( $5.75 ) soieries.
--Doing so will flag you with the Ascendant Security Service to ensure your identity has not been stolen.

// The Ascendant Security Service reminds you that the creation and implementation of the AIDS and SIC programs are for the benefit of everyone in the Ascendancy and that it will be a criminal offense to not have your own SIC on your person at all times by the start of the new year -- January 1st 1970

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Thank you for your compliance.

Guillaume Boissieu,
Commissioner of the Ascendant Security Service
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PS
NOTES:
Primary residents**
- Citizens born in the Ascendancy to two primary resident parents
Secondary residents***
- Citizens born in the Ascendancy to one primary and one secondary resident parents
- Naturalized citizens that have held residency in the Ascendancy for at least ten ( 10 ) years and have renounced their citizenship to their other nation(s)
Tertiary residents****
- Foreign born nationals ( that have not been naturalized ) that have held residency in the Ascendancy for at least ten ( 10 ) years and have not renounced their citizenship to their other nation(s)

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OOC:
~Feel free to leave IC responses in the comments below // diplomatic, behind the scenes, etc., where applicable.

 

[Karenina]

~ The Ascendant News Service ~
A N S

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​

Nov. 13, 1969

‘Good evening my fellow Tarts,’ Emmanuel DuFeu began the evening news. ‘Tonight we’ve got a rather interesting story to share with you.’

Samantha nodded toward the camera with a brilliant smile. ‘You can say that again, Emmanuel,’ she snickered. ‘It seems the nation’s underground is clawing its way to the surface of mainstream media.’

‘I see what you did there,’ Emmanuel chuckled and nudged his cohost with his elbow a little too aggressively – the gesture went unnoticed by the crew but shouted behave, as far as the woman was concerned.

‘But in all seriousness,’ the graying man continued, ‘it seems as if the nation’s youth is listless as they step into the working society, alongside us.’

‘Recently we’ve seen, or rather heard, an increase in odd and abrasive music stylings,’ the woman continued. ‘The learned professionals of the Offices of Stability and Logistics have deemed this musical styling as harmless, and youthful expressions, of a general sense of adolescent malaise. They have explained that these groups are nothing to be concerned over other than the cacophony they spread.’

The man next to her laughed, ‘I’ll say, my neighbor’s boy has been blasting some sort of horrendously depressing tune for the past few days.’

Samantha nodded with a thin line between her brows. ‘We’ve taken note of a few groups in particular rising in popularity among Ascendant teens. Croquet With Heads, Witch On The Rise, Duchess’ Dirge and Cracked Casket, being at the forefront of the charts.’

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Album Cover :: Avant la Mort | Après la Vie :: Croquet With Heads​

Emmanuel crinkled his nose, ‘rather shocking names, don’t you think?’

‘Though I do agree with you, I believe that these groups are attempting to draw attention to the issue of widespread depression, self-harm and suicide rates among teens and young-adults within the Ascendancy.’

Giving a slight cough, the man shook his head at the crew and glanced over toward his cohost, ever so faintly. ‘I’m not sure the Office of Logistics has collected any data that suggests such; but everyone has an opinion, I suppose.’ DuFeu cleared his throat.

‘Chart topping songs, among our youth, titled Kiss the Dashboard and Selfless Knife Fight seem to be rather blatant in their meanings.’ Samantha responded pointedly.


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