[ensign edwards]

Truth for Andoria!
Sashren - Andorian Free Information Group
8 May, 2157

Today marks the beginning of a new day for Andorian media. We have broken away from the Imperial News Service because we can no longer work under the restrictions placed upon us by the government. The government has always placed guidelines upon the media's reports, but since the beginning of the war with Romulus, reporters have faced increasing pressure to twist, spin, or outright conceal the truth. In the last few years, the INS made great strides to become a fair and balanced journalistic organization, but the last few months have erased that. We cannot in good conscience continue to be a part of such practices.

Now, standing independent of the government, the Andorian Free Information Group can bring the real story of the war to the Andorian people. We will bring to light the stories that the government has kept hidden, beginning with the greatest of all.

The most important secret buried by government censors is the fate of the fleet launched by our world and Tellar Prime at the start of the war. Neither planet's politicians have released any information on it, and the families of those dispatched have had to deal with the heartache of not knowing what has become of their loved ones.

Many months ago, a group of reporters at the INS uncovered the truth about that fleet, but they were forbidden from bringing that knowledge to the people. Now, as members of the Andorian Free Information Group, they can release what they learned. It is time for the truth.

One hundred and one hours after their launch, the fleet reported contact with a Romulan defense fleet. The exact size of the Romulan fleet was never determined, but it was estimated to be nearly the size of the joint Andorian/Tellarite fleet. A pitched battle between the two forces ensued, during which the Romulans made extensive use of their cloaking device and the natural cover of a nearby asteroid field.

As of the fleet's final received broadcast, the Romulans were beginning to gain an upperhand, but the precise resolution of the battle was never conclusively determined. Thirty-seven minutes into the conflict, the Romulans began to jam communications channels, and the fleet was never heard from again.

Some time later, the Andorian government dispatched a reconnaissance mission to determine the fleet's fate. It was repelled by Romulan forces, but it did manage to detect debris at the fleet's last known location, though not enough to account for every ship. The Andorian and Tellarite governments declared the fleet to be lost or captured.

We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families of those who served in the fleet, but at least now they can feel a sense of closure and begin the grieving process.

The government claims that this information was withheld to prevent a public panic or loss of confidence in their leaders, but we believe that the Andorian people deserve to know the truth, even if it is frightening or causes politicians to lose face.

The Andorian Free Information Group has a number of contacts within the INS, the Imperial Guard, and several off-world organizations and media outlets, and we will work to gain further sources of information. For so long as we are able, we will continue to provide pure and unbiased information on the war and all other matters of importance to the Andorian people. Those who value truth should continue to follow our reports.

This Dispatches from the Romulan War report was submitted by ensign edwards.

[Aussie Trekkie]

The truth often hurts doesn't it?