Dumfries Times - 1706 AD
Scottish peacekeeping forces moved quickly today to restore order in Avalon today after the rioting which has gripped the Avalonian capital since 1704 continued into its second year and started spreading to other cities in the developing nation.
The island nation of Avalon has long been troubled by discontent over its well established system of state slavery, which has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of slaves, especially in some of its more remote island cities where production relies heavily on the forced labour of its citizens, who often work in brutal conditions. Mortality rates are extremely high. Eventually, Scottish Royal Marines intervened at the request of the Babylonian government, after rioting in the capital spread to the nearby island of Mico, threatening Babylonian commercial interests and shipping lanes.
The cities have now been turned over to the Agarthians, who have offered to act as peace keepers until democratic elections can be held.
Major General Hamish McBalls, tank commander of the much decorated 'Prince of Scotland' regiment, spearheaded the peace keeping force in Caledonia, Avalon's troubled capital. He praised the professionalism and restraint of his men and commented: "We didn't arrive a moment too soon. The entire city was in anarchy. Shops and businesses were burning, slaves were rioting in the streets - it was total chaos. Fortunately our troops are well trained in crowd control and we were able to restore order with minimal casualties or damage to private and government property."
In a statement released by Bute House today, the Scottish PM, First Mininster Munro said it was "regrettable" that a peace keeping mission should still be necessary in the modern age of the eighteenth century, but praised the restraint of his men and noted: "At least some good will come of this, now that the Avalonian people are rid of the blight of slavery and oppression, and can enjoy a new life of new freedom and dignity under Agarthian administration."
