[Special Feature] Comment from Speaker MacDowell
We had the unique opportunity to briefly interview Speaker MacDowell on August 31, the day before the start of the war. Addressing the residents of Crossbell, he had the following to say:
'About a year and a half ago, on January 14, seventy years of Crossbell history as an independent country came to and end. We were not able to prevent that, despite the love we harbor for our homeland. Powerless as I may be, even I can imagine the complex, rueful sentiment my fellow Crossbell citizens have lived with since that fateful day. We've found ourselves at a dead end, and the more we look for a way out, the more hopeless it seems. No doubt many of us are exhausted from treading this seemingly endless path of harship. But we must not forget about those who stood strong when we could not--those who continue to fight for our cause. They are still out there. We can yet find the strength to overcome the barriers that rebuff us and think together about what future we want for Crossbell.'
On the subject of Crossbell, starting today, access to Tangram Fortress and the surrounding area is restricted.

[Events] The Stars of Arc en Ciel Shine Again!
Arc en Ciel's long hiatus came to and end on, August 30 when the troupe staged an exclusive rehearsal performance, boosting morale on the eve of all-out war.

◆Dazzling Dancer & Stage Surprises◆
In the absence of two members from the troupe's main ensemble, a new star rose in their place--Sully Atraid, who debuted as the Starlight Princess only two years ago, dazzled the audience last night with her beautiful dancing. Heimdallr Opera House's top performer, the formerly-missing Vita Clotilde, also made a surprise appearance. Captivated by these two stellar performers, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.
Most of the seats were occupied by military personnel who received free tickets to the show, but it was also broadcast live on truck-mounted monitors throughout the city's streets, courtesy of Speaker MacDowell, so everyone could enjoy it.

[Incident] Bizarre Phenomenon in Erebonia
While the air was rife with positive energy in Crossbell thanks to the Arc en Ciel show, a disconcerting phenomenon occurred in Erebonia. Five giant spires appeared all over the country, along with a massive floating structure in the skies above Heimdallr.
The government announced the latter of these objects to be the Empyreal Fortress, the ultimate weapon to be used against the Republic of Calvard, while the spires seem connected to it in some way.

[From the Editor] Till Our Flag Flies Again
Looking at an old issue of the Crossbell Times, I let my thoughts drift back to the wintry day when we became Imperial subjects. Do we still have the strength to imagine a different future for Crossbell? If someone were to ask me, I'd answer 'yes' without skipping a beat--not because I'm putting on a strong front, or getting lose in some pipe dream, but because I know many others who share that same belief. We will always hold the spirit of Crossbell in our hearts. One day, we will proudly fly our flag again.
(Grace)