A Regina NewsFax published by the Cole Group.

Volume 1977 Issue Number 15 185-1122

Regina's Salvation

They claim to know the secret power that has saved the Duchess, returned Regina to the Imperium, and brought the SuSAG monster out of the shadows so it could be destroyed. I received one of their mysterious messages out of the blue. No one had seen anything out of the ordinary around my surface mailbox, but here it was, a plain envelope of good paper without a stamp or address. It said that the Macenites had been impressed by the fairness of the Tattler and offered us a chance to hear their side of the story.

I arrived at the Ubi Foods on level six just as the nightcycle began. A silent, hooded man led me to a basement across the way. There I was blindfolded and led down a short passage. In just moments this reporter who has lived on Regina for years couldn't tell where we were going. Then I felt just a slight wobble in the gravity around me and heard my guide say "He leads us". I remembered all the whispered, fanciful tales that the late Joseph Maceneil dabbled with arcane and ancient alien artifacts; they didn't seem so far-fetched right now.

When my blindfold was taken off I couldn't tell precisely where I was. It seemed to be one of the lower levels, 14 or 15 perhaps, but I and a hooded robed woman, were in a warm ball of transparent light. Her voice was full and firm behind the concealing hood but unrevealing as to her age.

"Forgive our concealment," she said quietly, "but outsiders have hunted us who follow the way of the Mac. I am here in this place now to tell you of the things the Ascended One has done, not just for his followers but for all of his beloved Regina."

After that I am not sure how long we spoke. She promised that I would receive information about all the intercessions the followers of the late Governor claim for Joseph Maceneil. She told me of the ones that our readers are most familiar with and promised to keep the Tattler up to date. I was returned, again with those enigmatic words as we passed through the strange barrier to find myself on Level Five, near the Tattler offices. I worked through the wee hours of the morning to get this into our earliest edition.

According to the Macenites, Maceneil intervened in the celebrated duel of Corina Ling-Armstrong and Mercer Black. It was in the "place of Ascension" that the duel took place and Mac's spirit protected Corina long enough to get her into the hands of the unknown forces that healed her. His powers strong enough to hide his presence even from the staunch Berebaetens that Corina had surrounding the battlefield. The Macenites do not claim Maceneil healed her, only that he protected her and gave her guidance for the future while he did so. He also revealed the true force behind the miracle of Corina's healing to his followers, but they hold this knowledge until the time is right. I could not help but be struck by how similar this is to the incredible revelations from the Tattler's own seer and psychic, the Amazing Chadworth.