Special Report: Terror Attack at WC2 Decommissioning Leaves 150 Dead

MARS MEMORIAL OBSERVATION POINT - Tragedy struck yesterday at the ceremonial decommissioning of the Imaginos dreadnaught Warchief II. Shortly after the dreadnaught was destroyed by planned demolitions charges, two additional blasts struck near the Saturnus Coalition cruiser "Apotheosis". The twin blasts tore breaches into both the port and starboard side hulls of the ship. Over 100 crewmembers were immediately exposed to explosive decompression and were lost to space. An additional fifty or more were killed by injuries related to the detonations or died afterward. It is believed that Proclaimer Aramis the Just was one of the alleged victims of the blast, however, representitives of the Coalition refused to comment on the identities of the deceased or wounded.

"It is an incredible, shameful loss of life," remarked Grand Marshal Elisse Stingray, who was on the scene. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who were lost this day."

The death toll may have been higher if not for the actions of the crew of the Imaginos' newest flagship, the Astolpho II. The Astolpho II made a surprise visit at the ceremonies, fully two months ahead of its scheduled completion. The ship was the closest vessel to the Apotheosis, and therefore, was the first able to respond to the disaster, opening its hangar bays to the rescue shuttles ferrying over wounded.

"We are grateful to the assistance of the Imaginos and the crew of the Astolpho II," Proclaimer Theobold the Black said in a press release from the Saturnus Coalition earlier Sunday morning.

Sources report that a previously-unknown terrorist organization known as "Anomie" has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Imaginos CENTCOM Press Office has declined to comment on the identity of the attackers until the matter has been investigated fully.