'I thank you all for your support and spirits in this never-ending battle between the people and PHLOX Inc. I believe that with our combined efforts, we will defeat this company.'
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Info
This article (and series) is set in the A.D. 1998 canon. If you're not familiar, here is a brief overview with everything you need to know to understand this series. Please see the hub for more information.
The primary feature of the canon is SCP-1710-JP in which the 'Chopin-Godzilla' destroys much of Poland, breaking the veil in 1998.
From here, much of history plays out the same. 911 happens, but is far more destructive, devastating Manhattan.
However, history bends too. Columbia ascends into a spiritual gestalt. Spaniards become otters. Japan's Kanto Region is ravaged by an anomalous earthquake.
Despite all that, the central theme of 1998 is hope. Hope for a better tomorrow against the onslaught of the absurd.
This series is a departure from that perspective. Governments always machinate to the backdrop of disaster, small travesties are excused as long as the pundits can discuss a bigger body count. In sordid corners, monuments to madness are built just outside of the public eye.
For in the onslaught of the absurd, there is only so much hope to go around.
PART I: Rise of the Wave
newsUnlimited
| guardian.co.uk |
'Furious' protests over PHLOX Inc's development
Oscar Knowles
Tuesday March 23, 1999
A wave of 'furious' protests has developed over PHLOX Inc's Dorset scheme.
PHLOX Inc. is a subsidiary of Prometheus Labs interested in developing a highway connecting the United States of America and the United Kingdom together through a pocket dimension called the 'Three Portlands'.
After the Dorset Agreement between Dorset Council and PHLOX Inc., the PHLOX scheme would introduce a highway connecting the Isle of Portland, Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine together.
This connection, if made, would potentially see a steady rise in the economic prospects of Dorset by virtue of tourism and ease of transportation between the USA and the UK.
Alan Smith, economic advisor for Dorset council, said this plan would be 'mutually' beneficial to the future of Dorset and the growth of PHLOX Inc.
However, waves of protests throughout Dorset after the agreement have called into question the potential risk the plan would introduce and have delayed the plans for the new highway.
The group of protesters - The Unda Movement - have condemned the PHLOX scheme, calling it a 'threat' to British culture and identity within the region. They also called the scheme a 'detriment' to the locals, claiming it would increase the noise and environmental pollution in the area.
Furthermore, the Unda Movement has been putting increasing pressure on the Dorset Council to retract the agreement and prioritize the local British population first instead of 'shady' companies.
The head of the Unda movement, Wyatt Cooper, said, "We can clearly see how this plan will work. While it might be good for the economy in the short term, the long-term damages outweigh any good it might do.'
Adding on, one of the locals of the Three Portlands, Sidhe Anna Linsky, expressed her doubts and fears about the highway, indicating that the influx of foreigners would 'throw [her] home into a state of unneeded disarray'.
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Portland Press Herald
Democratia
◍ Floods of protesters fill Portland to the brim as they battle against PHLOX's highway proposal
By Jillian Wilkinson
Portland Press Herald
PHLOX Inc. - a subsidiary of Prometheus Labs - plans to develop a highway connecting America and England through a pocket dimension called the 'Three Portlands'.
Since the Dorset Agreement, PHLOX Inc. has tirelessly pressured the Governor of Maine, Angus King, to accept the proposal, with talks currently proceeding.
These talks between the Governor and the company will end within one week, with the critical decision happening on Friday, the 16th.
When we tried to contact Angus King, he refused to comment, saying only that 'all of this will be dealt with soon.'
Meanwhile, James Pensa, a spokesperson for PHLOX Inc., said that the plan would be a 'quid pro quo' for both the state of Maine and the company itself if accepted. But can we trust this company's demands?
Portland City Hall, where the discussions are taking place.
The Unda Movement thinks not, as they have turned to the streets to voice their anger at PHLOX's attempts to 'destroy' the home of the Portlands, saying that this will lead to 'more harm' than good.
This movement, led by Wyatt Cooper, started shortly after the Dorset Agreement was signed. Many people joined its cause - from Europe to North America - attempting to stop the highway from being built. The popularity of the movement is increasing steadily throughout the UK and the USA.
Several different leaders of the movement have appeared, one of them being Police Officer Dorian Keller - leader of the American Unda movement. When we approached him, he gladly answered our questions.
When asked about the highway proposal, he said that the road would 'opening Pandora's box to gods know what.'
'Think of the chaos it will cause. Illegal immigrants will get a new way to sneak into our country, and our enemies will get an easier chance to strike at the heart of America. I say: we need to stop this as soon as possible and secure our border.'
'After all, it's our home, not a lawless gateway.'
The Weather
Temperature will rise from 29°F to 51°F at 12PM, from there it will steadily decrease. Meanwhile, wind speeds will have spikes from 6/mph from West-North-West until reaching 17/mph from the South. Finally, there is an unlikely chance of rain throughout the day.
The Amplifier
Spread around the world
| West Linn High School | April, 1999 |
Put on the pressure; the boiling point approaches
After constant backlash and political pressure, John Kitzhaber has postponed talks with PHLOX Inc.
By Crispin Hunt
After constant political pressure and backlash, Governor John Kitzhaber has postponed talks with PHLOX Inc.
What started two days ago as optimism with Kitzhaber inviting PHLOX Inc representatives to discuss the highways has sparked the ire of the Unda movement.
Once online forums leaked the talks between Kitzhaber and the representatives, people took to the streets, enraged at what was going behind closed doors.
Anti-PHLOX posters were plastered all over the streets as Dorian Keller led the march with 50,000 protesters following behind him, chanting: 'Death to the highway.' Some parts of the Unda movement, and other protesters joined the march.
During this, Kitzhaber was hounded by the movement, being called a 'filthy opportunist,' and a 'heartless' man who had abandoned the people of Oregon. Similarly, the PHLOX representatives were chased during the riots and harassed by members of the Unda movement.
After Kitzhaber and the representatives of PHLOX escaped the flames, we tried to contact them, but they refused to comment.
However, Dorian Keller made a speech, and said: "I thank you all for your support and spirits in this never-ending battle between the people and PHLOX Inc. I believe that with our combined efforts, we will defeat this company."
So far, the only announcement Kitzhaber has made is that he is 'postponing' talks with PHLOX Inc., with no planned resolution for the matter.
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| Monday, May 3, 1999 | THOUGHT: SOMETHING FISHY |
The Unda Movement suddenly collapsed,
WHAT CAUSED IT?
BY EDWARD SNYDER
and PHILIP WU
The once famed Unda Movement, formed in opposition to PHLOX Inc.'s highway plan has suddenly collapsed without any explanation.
Once the Maine Plan was drawn up by Governor Angus King and PHLOX Inc., the upstanding movement against the company increased its valiant efforts by spreading its slogan: 'Death to the highway' through the USA and UK.
The increased effort was led by British leader - Wyatt Cooper - and American leader - Dorian Keller - of The Unda Movement as they both sought to stop the plan through growing political pressure and protests in the Isle of Portland, Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine.
MISSING … Dorian Keller
They initially saw success as their efforts put a hold on the Maine Plan and Dorset Agreement. Furthermore, the protests succeeded in halting talks between the Governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber and PHLOX Inc. The movement appeared nearly successful in causing the breakdown of the PHLOX Highway.
Both leaders had previously stated that if the highway were destroyed, it would be a 'victory for the people'.
But without warning, the British leader - Cooper - was killed yesterday in a car accident, whilst the American leader - Keller - was reported missing today.
Last Speech … Wyatt Cooper delivering a speech.
This also extends to other leaders of the Unda Movement, like Rose Beckham and Sarah Johnston, who were known for working together to rally their communities against PHLOX Inc. The pair vanished similarly to Keller.
Adding to this mystery, an 'anti'-Unda movement was formed on April 18th. This group aggressively criticized the Unda Movement and shockingly began gaining more and more support, even rivaling the support of the original movement.
The anti-Unda movement is called the Halitus movement, led by Alexandro Wright, a government official from the Three Portlands. So far, he has been a vocal critic of the Unda movement, calling it 'narrow-minded and prejudiced'.
When we asked for further comments, he declined to answer.
However, when talking with one of the members of the Halitus movement, Ricky Smith, he said: 'I'm glad we started this movement, since the Unda Movement is preventing progress and holding us back from the future.'
Without the Unda Movement's vital leadership, compounded with the relentless attack of the Halitus movement, support of the Unda Movement has been rapidly declining at an unusual rate.
Which begs the question, is foul play involved? Has the decline of the once high-minded Unda Movement been orchestrated by higher forces? And more importantly, who is funding the Halitus Movement?
So far, we have had no comments from the Halitus Movement itself, and they have been very secretive about their agenda and connections. Further research into the movement has led only to various dead ends.
Despite this, all we can do is hope for a resolution and explanation to the Unda Movement's sudden collapse.
£100M Jackpot! Win 100 tickets, see page 8 & 24
The New York Times
"All the news that's fit to print."
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1999
PHLOX INC. PLANS FOR A HIGHWAY, TO BE DEVELOPED FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE OF THE OREGON SCHEME.
With the Dorset Agreement, Maine Plan, and the Oregon Scheme signed, there's nothing that can stop PHLOX Inc.'s new highway.
BY BARCLAY ALVARADO
With the signing of the Oregon Scheme, there's nothing that can stop PHLOX Inc.'s highway proposal to connect the USA and the UK with each other.
Billie Johnson/USACE HQ
Governor John Kitzhaber overseeing the signing of the Oregon Scheme.
PHLOX Inc. - one of the subsidiaries of Prometheus Labs - proposed a highway connecting the United States of America and the United Kingdom together through the 'Three Portlands' - a pocket dimension.
This was met with backlash from the Unda Movement, rising from the Dorset Agreement, who wanted to stop the proposal from being enacted at all costs.
The now deceased Wyatt Cooper was the main leader of the movement and was widely accepted and popular among the majority of Britons. Meanwhile, his American counterpart, the now missing Dorian Keller, saw similar success in America, attracting vast public support.
Due to this, they were able to halt the progress of PHLOX Inc.'s plans and were close to stopping the proposal.
But after the death of Cooper, the disappearance of Keller, and the rise of the Halitus movement, the Unda Movement went into rapid decline and was quickly disbanded.
With it's main opposition gone, the Oregon scheme was quickly signed by the Governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, and PHLOX Inc., thus bringing the proposal to life. After the signing of the scheme, Kitzhaber made a public announcement, saying this would bring 'a golden age' to the state of Oregon.
Similarly, James Pensa, a representative of PHLOX Inc, said: 'Today is the beginning of a new age for both America and Britain. With the agreements now signed, we can bring new opportunities and prospects to the Portlands. We're so thrilled at the recent outcry of public support. I especially want to thank the Halitus movement for helping the public come to the right decision. We couldn't have done it without you.'
However, the construction of the highway will take an estimated six years, and there may be new challenges faced by the company in the future.
From ideas to innovation, join Prometheus Labs!
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Interested? If you are between the ages 19-60 with prior credentials in the sciences, please contact us at +1215 444-6547 or visit PROLAB.org.
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