VOICE OF THE REPUBLIC	STAR OF THE PLAINS         NOVEMBER 4, 2503      METROPOLITAN EDITION
HALE SWEEPS TO POWER IN THE WAKE OF THE MORTON SCANDAL
London, Federal District (EP) – Bruce Hale has been elected as the next President of the Orion League carrying 63% of the popular vote. President-elect Hale carried Terra-Sol by a much narrower 51% to 46% margin, and actually lost at the polls in the ROP by a 54% to 43% margin. The Morton Bioresearch scandal’s continual erosion of President Trigard’s credibility is credited by most political consultants with the dramatic shift in power between the two candidates over the last six weeks of the election.  President Trigard held a 10-point lead as recently as September 21st.   The last six weeks of the campaign have been filled with new revelations (see, Morton Scandal article in this issue) and charges and counter charges by both sides.  President Trigard conceded around 10:15 last evening from her election headquarters on Jagger.  Saying, “I’m proud my term in office and the things we’ve managed to accomplish.  Lower taxes, stabilization of the credit and reintegration of GWII veterans, are things that no scandal which my administration had a part in, can take away.  President-elect Hale, also	speaking on Jagger, said in his acceptance speech, “Let there be no mistake.  While we Orion’s may contend with each other most vigorously at election time, we are a united nation, and will vigorously defend our borders.  This comment is obviously in response too recent Union of Sol attempts to convince four coreward starsystems to succeed in favor of joining the Union.  MORTON SCANDAL London, Federal District (EP) –  In news surrounding the Morton scandal; federal investigators report they have evidence that biological experimentation on the civilian population may have taken place on at least three other planets with the Orion League.  Officials refuse to identify what other planets may have been involved, saying they do not wish to incite panic until they can confirm the facts. The special prosecutor’s office has announced that they issued a warrant for the arrest of OSS official, Dr. William Harl.  Dr. Harl surrendered to authorities shortly after the announcement and is being held without bond at the Tower of London.  Dr. Harl is reputedly the OSS official responsible for the OSS’ contracts with Morton Bionetics, and was aware of the ongoing	research.   All the members of the Morton Bionetics senior management have now been taken into custody except security director Andrew Balance.  It is feared that Balance may have fled off planet. ASSAULT ON OSS, LONDON OFFICE A terrorist attack was conducted on the main London office of the OSS during the early morning hours today.  No immediate information was available on the motivation for this attack, but early speculation centers on the Morton Bionetics scandal.  The assault was repelled by security personnel of the OSS.  No casualties were reported among the OSS personnel, but the terrorists suffered four.  Reports out of St. Annes where the injured parties were taken, were that three arrived DOA, and the fourth was in very grave condition.  Eyewitness reports stated that two of the terrorists escaped the scene and a massive manhunt is underway in London’s east end.  The escapees were a Weren and a human male.  The human appeared badly injured.