Yesterday, a contingent of Texas Rangers was attacked and defeated in a fierce air battle with Navajo Nation militia forces. The Rangers suffered heavy losses in the engagement, which took place in the treacherous Canyon De Chelly region. Navajo forces—led by the infamous Soloho Salawa—struck without warning, crippling the Rangers' carrier zeppelin, the Republic's Pride, and reportedly destroying six Texan fighters.

The Ranger element was on special assignment, tracking notorious Texan criminal, "Marshal" Bill Redmann. Two days earlier, Redmann and his gang hijacked a shipment of gold, payroll for Texan military forces stationed in the Oklahoma protectorate.

Navajo Nation

The pursuit of Redmann carried the Texan forces across Arixo, before moving up into Navajo territory. The Uing Sotu squadron, spearhead of the Navajo militia, intercepted the Texans and launched an ambush in the pre-dawn hours.

The crew of the Republic's Pride have been returned unharmed, but, according to Milton Bluehorse—the Navajo representative to the League of Nations—the "hostile military force from Texas was treated as we would treat any invader." Six of the Texans' Mockingbird fighter planes were destroyed, three of them by Uing Sotu squadron leader Soloho Salawa.

Ironically, "Marshal" Bill Redmann was not apprehended by the Texans, nor was he engaged by Navajo militia forces. "In the confusion, that snake Redmann must have made his way to Free Colorado...or maybe into one of the disputed Western states," said Paladin Blake. Blake, founder of Blake Aviation Security, has been called in to consult with the Republic of Texas government, to assist in the location and capture of Redmann (and to act as a liaison between the Rangers and the Navajo government).

Redmann's whereabouts are currently unknown.