Empire State President Fiorello LaGuardia issued a public statement condemning a recent spate of air pirate attacks. President LaGuardia warned, "these ruthless marauders must cease their operations within the borders of the Empire State or face the guns of the best pilots old New York can muster."
In one month, there have been six confirmed pirate attacks, the borders of the Empire State, hindering commercial shipping and the ability of local militia forces to sortie fighters. There are additional unconfirmed reports of at least three other pirate attacks.
Some observers, such as Professor Edward Rosenthal of New York University, believe that President LaGuardia's comments are intended "only to allay the public's fears that air pirates may travel as they please, when in fact, they move unopposed through the Empire State."
Local militia spokesman, Bryce Crawford, report that the air pirates have been able to operate largely unmolested. Their attacks against both air and ground targets are precise and well planned. Consequently, the State militia has been unable to mount an effective resistance.
One unnamed Empire State official stated, "It is almost as if the pirates know exactly where militia air patrols are at any given time, giving them ready-made windows for their own attacks They must be getting their information from the inside."
Professor Rosenthal echoes these concerns. "There is a justifiable fear that these pirates are being assisted by someone within the militia or State government." President LaGuardia refused to answer any questions about this possibility, but a spokesman for his office, Mark Skulnick, dismissed these concerns as "paranoid ravings." Instead, he made it clear that "the President's Office and the militia have already taken extraordinary steps to ensure that this reign of terror end immediately."
Rosenthal quickly pointed out that "this is a standard tactic of the President, choosing to forego the usual military channels and rely on privateers operating under letters of marque." Residents of the Empire State and beyond realize there can only be one privateer capable of such a monumental task - the Black Swan and her squadron. The Black Swan - who has seen a great deal of combat recently against the militias of both the Industrial States of America and the Confederation of Dixie- could not be reached for comment.
Both the ISA and the Confederation of Dixie are sworn enemies of the Empire State and have suffered greatly at the hands of the privateers who have allied with LaGuardia. Bryce Crawford (public spokesman for the Broadway Bombers air militia) stated yesterday that "the recent attacks are clearly privateers in service to our enemies. But such cowardly raiders will likely fall when faced with the professional air soldiers in service to their country."
Professor Rosenthal agreed. "The ISA and Dixie have plenty of reason to sponsor strikes against the Empire State. Theyalso have the resources and influence to do it. Even if they are not directly involved, it is more than likely that they have a hand in their planning and execution."
Professor Rosenthal also reminded us that the marauders responsible for the recent attacks belong to no known pirate band. "Setting up a new band is not something you can do overnight. It takes time and money to acquire and modify the planes necessary to succeed in such an undertaking.."
Pilots from the Empire State militia who engaged the pirates in aerial combat noted that their enemies used heavily modified Curtiss-Wright J2 Furies. Professor Rosenthal believes the use of this craft only confirms his thesis, as it is one of few planes used by both the ISA and Dixie.
Not everyone agrees, however, with Professor Rosenthal's assessment. Professor Sheila Camp of Columbia University made it clear that the J2 Fury is a popular aircraft. In addition to Dixie and the ISA, both the Empire State and the Black Swan's Squadron make use of this deadly craft. She called Professor Rosenthal's thesis "understandable, but a bit naïve. The fact remains that, until one of these pirates is apprehended, we won't know who they are."
Senator Joseph O'Malley, a frequent critic of President LaGuardia, was even more dismissive of the Professor's position. O'Malley suggested that these air pirate raids "were arranged by the President to justify his continued association with disreputable sorts like the Black Swan. Without the fear of attack by 'air pirates,' there'd be no need for the Empire State to dirty its hands with the likes of her kind." Senator O'Malley declined to give any further explanation of his comments, but Presidential spokesman Skulnick stated that they "were the usual mudslinging and unsubstantiated rumor-mongering which has typified Senator O'Malley's political career."
Whatever the truth, it is clear that the LaGuardia administration has been dealt a stinging blow. While confidence in the President remains high, pirate strikes - should they continue - can only erode LaGuardia's popularity over time. LaGuardia scoffs at such a possibility, however. "We'll find them. It's as simple as that. We'll find them and rid our skies of these cowardly vermin."
-Bryant McCormick, AWN Manhattan Correspondent
