MNN INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE: SARGENT BANKS SPEAKS ABOUT THE LYNCHING

I was able to catch up with Sargent Banks of Lone Star outside a Court Facility in Renton. I asked him a few questions.

Gavin: "Will the body of evidence against Renaldo be released post-mortem?"

Sgt. Banks: "It's interesting that you asked about that. You see all the information that we've been collecting about Mr. Joganic turned up missing the other day. Including our backups. On top of that, the Hospital records are missing as well..."

Gavin: "Where did the records go?"

Sgt. Banks: "Lone Star's official position on this, is that someone or something is deleting these files. Possibly another Technomancer or a skilled hacker."

Gavin: "OK, then how about the physical remains?"

Sgt. Banks: "Well, those remains were shipped off to be examined awhile ago. I'm pretty sure they're in cold storage at this point."

Gavin: "Also, are there actually DNA tests to determine if one is a technomancer?"

Sgt. Banks: "From what I understand, Technomancers have abnormalities in their DNA that we can test for. However, in this case, the hospital indicated that Renaldo had AIPS, which is typically associated with Technomancers."

Gavin: "Who was responsible for the chain of custody of Renaldo's body?"

Sgt. Banks: "Lone Star is typically responsible for the body until an investigation is closed."

Gavin: "So Lone Star's ineptitude in chain of evidence protection and sanctioning of Vigilante Justice is just going to go unpunished."

Sgt. Banks: "Our Internal Investigations unit is already looking into this."

Gavin: "Who heads up your Internal Investigations Unit?"

Sgt. Banks: " Max Scardina heads up that division, now if you don't mind, I've got an appointment to keep."

Gavin: "Thank you for your time, Sargent."

Later that day, Max Scardina refused to grant MNN an interview.

Sgt. Banks written by Joe Veen.
Gavin McConellroy written by Mike Underhill.
Artwork by Mike Underhill.

MNN NEWSBRIEF - VIOLENCE ON COUNCIL ISLAND

An Amerindian Pow-Wow was disrupted late this afternoon on Council Island by unknown armed assailants assaulting a common street vendor, and stealing an unidentified artifact from the vendor.

Pohapkee-mo-migwich and his son, Daniel were operating a booth selling Native Artworks such as bone carvings, beadwork, talismans and paintings to Pow-Wow goers. Pow-Wows on Council Island occur the second to the last Wednesday of every month, and are populated with food vendors, dance competitions, Native craftspeople, drummers and cultural storytellers. The assailants were accosted by armed Council Island security personnel and two attackers were killed by Security in an exchange of gunfire.

It is unclear how many attackers there were, but Council Island suggests that it was possibly a go-gang. Three members of the attacking party escaped by unknown means, and are still at large at this hour. Council Island is closed at this time, trying to catch any more would-be assailants, and a search of the grounds has commenced.

Pohapkee-mo-migwich is being treated for a gunshot wound to his arm and is listed in stable condition at this hour on Council Island at an undisclosed location.

This is Gavin McConellroy, Metahuman News Network.

Artwork by Mike Underhill.

MNN EXCLUSIVE REPORT - BRIN ACKART FOR METROPLEX ATTORNEY GENERAL

I was lucky to catch up with Brin Ackart at his palatial Bellevue

home and estate grounds this morning, with exclusive coverage on Mr. Ackart’s announcement for candidacy for Metroplex Attorney General.

“Mr. Ackart…”

“Call me Brin, please.”

“Brin, just where does your campaign office stand on current lawmaking and what are some of the major platforms you’ll be running on?”

“We’ve got a strong belief in Seattle’s citizens. Sure, we’re dealing with crime, but we’re also dealing with people, my whole newly-assembled team at the campaign headquarters were specifically chosen as those who have real interest in seeing socio-economic change through law enforcement. I’ve got some great people in my campaign charge. I’m not about bigger government, I’m not about the push for new laws, if I were, I would be running for Mayor. No, we need to enforce the laws on the books as they stand, and really that’s our first platform, enforcement.”

“Brin, how do feel about current levels of misappropriation and corruption in the court system today?”

“It’s out there, it’s real, but it also ebbs and flows like a tide. I really think we’re at high tide and it’s going to get better from here on out. I’m taking a stand for fairness, for removal of protections for the lawmaking elite and for adherence to current code. We’re asking Lone Star to enforce our laws, but we’ve got lawbreakers leaking out of the courts without receiving punishment. That won’t stand under my administration.”

“How do you feel about running for a position only ever held by humans, you would be a first, does that seem like a difficult task to overcome?”

“Sure, I’ve got concerns, but integrity is integrity, and justice can be meted out by any person of color, ethnicity or social status if they have it in their hearts to truly be a public servant. I care about the people of Seattle, especially the humans because I’ve got the opportunity to be an ambassador for my race here, and that’s an honor.”

“What would you like to tell voters, before we go?”

“Get out there and vote. Be a part of the democratic process, believe that we can better Seattle Metroplex, and I believe strongly that I can benefit the full range of all species of Humanity. Consider it time for change, to make a move toward prosperity.”

There you have it folks, a champion of the people. Hold onto your hats, because this is going to be a great election ride.

I’m Gavin McConellroy, and this has been a MNN exclusive report.

Artwork by Tim Keller.

MNN NEWSBRIEF - TWO ELVES DEAD IN DOWNTOWN GUN BATTLE

Two Elves were killed today in a tragic event in downtown Seattle at a restaurant called Run Run Shaw's. Gun violence has long plagued downtown, but to have two awakened brethern killed is a tragic event.

Authorities are pointing at "Yakuza", but it's really Lone Star's responsibility to keep these tragic events from happening. A number of other humans also lost their lives in the shooting.

A subsequent helicopter gunship chase of two vehicles ended violently as UCAS destroyed them, fortunately none of the victims in the savage UCAS attack were Metahumans.

A recent poll among Metahumans show that only 12% believe that Lone Star has the ability to keep them safe. 79% say that arming themselves is the safest, most effective way to stop violent attacks against the Metahuman community.

This is Gavin McConellroy, Metahuman News Network.

Artwork by Mike Underhill

MNN NEWSBRIEF - AWAKENED TWIN TODDLERS VANISH

Mystichild, Inc., a Preschool for awakened toddlers in Seattle’s Capitol Hill district has recently tightened its security systems and personnel with armed guards and weaponized drones.

Paula Pounderton, Preschool Administrator says, “After the incident, we just… had to, it’s sad that these things happen in nice neighborhoods.”

The incident she refers to is the disappearance of two children, identical twins, apparently vanishing in plain sight of Preschool Workers shortly after 9AM yesterday morning.

“They were there, and… then they were just gone,” describes Alicia Heart, who’s been employed with Mystichild since 2064. “I’ve never seen anything like it, but the place where they had been playing with blocks had a strange odor of sulphur after they were gone.”

The children, Reya and Greta Laviss, daughters of Karen and Roger Laviss continue at this hour to remain lost. Roger Laviss said, “After finding out they were, you know… special kids… we wanted the best for them, to be in an environment where they can, do their special stuff, now this. We’re offering good money, please; just help us get our kids back.”

A camera caught one of the two year-old’s feet and a pile of toy blocks as it completes its pan of the room then displays quick, blurry movement, but as the camera pans back, they are simply not in the room.

Lone Star officials say they’ve got a team of investigators working on it as we speak, Lone Star Representative Bill Ponderschmitt was quoted as saying, “Ain’t nothin’ natural ‘bout this, can tell you that.”

A 100,000¥ reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of their kidnapper or their safe return.

This is Gavin McConellroy, MNN

Artwork by Mike Underhill

MNN NEWSBRIEF - MEDICARRO BLOOD DRIVE

MediCarro will be in Seattle this week doing blood drives for metahumanitarian reasons. The Aztlan-based subsidiary of Aztechnology hopes to collect 35,000 BPU’s or blood plasma units from Seattle citizens to aid in emergency procedures. Donors will be given a simple HMVV test, using the Harz-Greenbaum blood series test.

Critics say that blood often does not go to emergency medical procedures, but rather to feed young vampires within the Aztlan state, unable yet to hunt for themselves.

CrashCart representative Kenneth Reckner from Yamatetsu Corporation was quoted as saying, “We get all our plasma from labs, it’s biochemically manufactured cheaply in mass quantities, all our CrashCart teams have Medical Personnel with training in synthesized plasma.”

Sometimes called “Sticktrucks” or “Mobile Suckhead Feeders”, MediCarro vans can be seen throughout the sprawl, usually doing collections among squatters and the downtrodden, lured by a few hundred Nuyen and the promise of a meal token or shelter stay.

MediCarro representatives were unavailable for further information.

Gavin McConellroy, MNN

Artwork by Mike Underhill

MNN NEWS COMMENTARY - DWARVAN UPRISING

Lone Star officials were called in to a construction site mid morning in Seattle Metroplex. Dwarven rights activists, the Charred Hammer and members of Dwarfirst, waved banners and signs protesting the construction of new Dwarf-friendly apartment units on the upper west side. Dubbed “Small Meta Efficiency Environs” or SMEE’s, these units make the most of available space and are quite economical, according to architect Dale Persons. “They’re just the right size for smaller Meta-humans,” said Persons.

“I’m not quite sure what they’re mad about,” said Construction Engineer for MetaErgonomics Dwight Farth. “They’re apartments FOR Dwarves, you know, with smaller appliances and lower countertops. They’re Dwarf sized rental units. The SMEE will have smaller rental costs too, because of less square footage and headroom. Instead of 9 foot stories in a building, we can make them five and a half feet.”

Dwarven protester August Smithee retorted, “Yah, they wanna shove us in these tiny ovens and cook us like Hansel and Gretel! We’ll have no part of this, we’re smaller, sure, but we do fine right now, why do we need special living spaces?”

Representative Bill Blanchard from Yamatetsu Corp., the financial backers of the project, was quoted as saying, “Let them protest, let them get their matchbooks and toothpicks out and make their teeny-tiny signs out of ‘em, who cares, we’re still building it.”

Several Dwarves were detained for throwing objects at Troll construction workers and Elven foremen, and the entire group was pummeled with non-lethal weaponry. It appears that some of the protesters wore body armor and were unaffected and continued to struggle; the remainders were gassed with a crowd-controlling agent that causes severe gastric distress.

“There’s a lot of Dwarf shiite about, but we feel we got our point across,” said an unnamed Dwarven source while holding his stomach and clutching the seat of his pants.

-Gavin McConellroy, MNN (Meta-Human News Network)

MNN logo by Mike Underhill