HoloNet News ISC President 'reported missing'.

Voren Dhur

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President Thorne of the ISC has been reported missing today, following reports of kidnapping in Coruscant.

A statement issued by the ISC earlier today spoke of the Government "deep concern" following the disappearance of the President last night. President Thorne was understood to have been attending a charity event on Coruscant when he was grabbed by a street gang.

The Government of the ISC said that "the Security team was caught unawares, but our immediate concern is on the safe recovery of the President".

"It is with great concern that the Government of the ISC can, this morning, confirm that late last night the President was kidnapped by an as of yet unknown group on Coruscant. We are working with local authorities, and the ISC military, to secure the safe return of the President. At this time, we have not received demands from the kidnappers."​

It is understood that the Secretary for Defence has been recalled to the ISC Capitol to oversee the rescue operations, and will not be taking questions from the media until after the President is returned safely.

Other Governments have quickly condemned the kidnapping, with senator Cal Starros of Lothal stating that the Presidents safe return was "a top priority for all" going on to say that "we cannot allow criminals to act in this way unpunished".

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Underworld Police on Coruscant said he "is working around the clock to question witnesses, and to pull in the usual suspects in the Coruscanti underworld".

The ISC has encouraged anyone with information that could lead to the safe return of the President to come forwards. In a statement, they said "the ISC urges and encourages those with information that could help in the resolution of this case to come forward"

ISC Security Forces said further announcements would be made "in due course".
 

Carrick

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The worst day in ISC history and he just so happened to be the person that the public wanted to turn to in order to resolve it all. As much as he was an important figure within the ISC government, he believed that protocol actually dictated that the Secretary of State would be the de facto head of the government while the President was in danger. But, well, the public didn't care about who was going to be running the government - they cared about who was going to be finding their President.

Moving up to the press podium that had been opened in front of the capital building, Carrick didn't make any effort to present his typical smiling demeanor for the crowds. Cameras flashed and questions were asked but Carrick remained entirely silent and stone faced until they got the message and quietened down for him to make his announcement.

"President Thorne of the ISC is missing and, as of yet, we have received no demands from the kidnappers. We have begun Ranger operations to facilitate a rescue operation and, at this time, have arranged for multiple teams to be dispatched."
he reported bluntly, "To this end the ISC is offering a reward of 1 million Crowns for actionable intel on the whereabouts of President Thorne that leads to his rescue. Information for how to get in contact will be displayed on the holonet."

He gestured to the first reporter.

"Secretary, do you believe this to be the work of Sith infiltrators?"


"At this time we do not believe so, though we are not excluding the possibility that this has been a government sanctioned attack. The investigation will be thorough."


"Mr Secretary that seems to suggest that you believe that the New Republic or FWA could have had a hand in this. Do you believe that they have?"


"What that actually suggests is that we will not ignore any leads, no matter where they take us. We will not ignore evidence just because we wished the conclusions it leads us to to be impossible."


"How closely will the ISC be working with the New Republic law enforcement agencies in this investigation?"


"That depends entirely on the Chancellor and New Republic senate. I do not believe they would oppose a joint task force but if they do, the investigation will need to be adjusted but it will not be halted."


"Mr Secretary, if a ransom is offered, would the ISC pay it?"


A key moment in how the ISC would react to future aggression and a question he wished the President himself could be here to answer. In the end he could only give the answer that he had been thinking of since the entire event had started.

"The safe return of the President a priority. But the ISC prides itself on not giving into intimidation and terrorism."
he admitted before giving the final answer, "Sometimes pride can be swallowed for the greater good. But I urge those who hold our President to remember that our patience is thin and the noose around them is tightening - it is in their best interests to return the President, unharmed, as quickly as possible."

He nodded to the crowd of reporters and left the stage, the information on how to report intel for the Rangers being presented by every major news outlet in the Galaxy.


@Mockingjay
 

Voren Dhur

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Once again, Voren Dhur was back in a press conference, pass around his neck and datapad in his hand. He had taken his seat when the conference started and scribbled away notes as Secretary Carrick delivered his statement.

Finally, his chance to ask questions came up, and he stood up and cleared his throat.

"Secretary, my first question is one that I think many people in the ISC, and quite possibly the wider Galaxy, would like to know the answer to. It cannot be denied that President Thorne is an exceptionally powerful politician, and played a leading role in the AMS Vaccine rollout and much more. In his absence, should it prove temporary, who is filling his role as president?"

He would pause before being getting the go-ahead to ask a second question.

"And secondly Sir, if the disappearance of the President proves to be more permanent, what arrangements have been made moving forward for the ISC leadership?"

With that, he resumed his seat. Voren was interested to see who was in charge in Thornes absence, as this move would open many doors for possible future stories speculating where the power within the galactic organisation lay.

@Nefieslab
 

Carrick

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Well it seemed that he had been a touch premature - it seemed that someone did care enough about the running of the government in order to actually ask who would be running it on a more day to day basis while President Thorne was unable to do so. Thankfully it was a question he had a fairly simple answer for.

"With his absence, the ISC Executive Council will be working together to ensure all of his duties will be covered. No single individual will be assuming the presidency, even temporarily, at this stage."


A more permanent absence was not something Carrick wanted to think about really.

"We are not currently entertaining the idea that President Thorne will not be returned to us. However, should the unthinkable happen an interim President will be selected from the Executive Council and a vote for a new president will be held as quickly as is reasonably possible."
he answered, "Though I will reiterate the stance of the Executive Council and ISC as a whole; we have not lost our President for good. He will be returned to us."


@Nor'baal
 

Emil Ro

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Emil received the news in his office and immediately called for the press to assemble outside the Senate Building in the Federal District. He had only one official visit with President Thorne, not counting the numerous times the two leaders had seen each other at meetings of the Galactic Senate; but the Chancellor had a great deal of respect for the Consortium's president—even if the man's government wasn't too fond of him at the moment.

At the podium outside the Senate Building, Emil was confronted by a flashing mob of cameras and the dull roar of questions issuing from a host of reporters that had answered his call. He ignored all of them and silenced them with a glance that cut across the crowd. "Moments ago, my office was informed of the outrageous kidnapping of the Independent Systems Consortium President Emryc Thorne," he said into his mic. "I have also been briefed on the ongoing attempts by Secretary Carrick to pay the president's ransom. This is a travesty that cannot go unanswered by the galactic community. Moving forward, the New Republic will make available any resources the Consortium needs to carry out its investigation. I will also direct Republic law enforcement to begin sharing intelligence with the relevant Consortium agencies, and will petition the New Republic Senate to authorize a stronger response if such a course becomes necessary."

"Recent events at Firrerre and Denon have laid bare the fractures in our galactic community, where disagreements are strongest, and where politics have gotten the better of commitment to standing united against all formsof injustice in the galaxy. But I personally hold the Consortium president in high esteem, and I know many in the Senate that see him and his government as the Republic's strongest ally in the continued fight against the AMS plague. The kidnappers must return President Thorne safely to Christophsis, or the response from the New Republic will be as brutal as it is swift. Thank you all."

Anticipating the storm of questions that would accompany the end of his statement, the Chancellor motioned to a nearby aide. The wordless command was clear. Get Secretary Carrick on a secure channel pronto. Emil had never been fond of the man; but this was the greatest opportunity the Republic had to build a good relationship with the Consortium and he wanted to seize the moment before it was gone. The aid nodded, command received, and vanished as the Chancellor returned his attention to the gathered journalists.

"Chancellor," one voice broke through the masses. "What do you say to rumors floating around the HoloNet that the New Republic was behind President Thorne's kidnapping?"

"Preposterous. It has always been the stance of my administration that President Thorne and the Consortium are our allies, whatever our disagreements. The New Republic will be tireless in its aid to the Consortium until the president is returned safely to his home."

"Will you order a military response similar to the attack on Denon?" asked another reporter, this one a blue-skinned Twi'lek.

"The rescue of President Thorne is a delicate matter I would not hope to interrupt by sending in the New Republic military," Emil replied. "The two situations are incomparable. And besides, the Consortium actually appears to be taking swift action to recover their leader, unlike Denon which was left to fend for itself for months after the initial Sith invasion."

"Have you been in touch with any representatives of the Free Worlds Alliance since the first reports of Preisdent Thorne's kidnapping?" a third reporter asked.

"I have not," Emil said. "The Prime Minister of the Alliance has been missing in action since the last session of the Galactic Senate and the individual worlds of the Alliance are too disconnected and unreliable on their own for any contact with them to be meaningful. I do hope someone over there has contacted Secretary Carrick and offered aid, but that would be a question for the Secretary, not me."

And with that final question, Emil spun on his heel and stomped away from the podium. That did not stop the hail of questions that peppered him from behind, but he ignored them. He had a call to make to Secretary Carrick. There was still more work to be done.
 
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