The Winter of '64. ("Singapore Slinged" Sneak Preview)

Your eyes are glued onto what is happening on Holo-Hub Channel 14, and so are the hundreds standing with you in Hookers' Pub at Lower Desker Road. The stink of sweat permeates through the suffocating stale air, but no one seems to care.

There has to be a reason why the taps ran dry and the electicity shut down two days ago. Shortages like these were frequent ever since the Workers' Party came into power in 2062, but never have these been island-wide. 

Rumors of surgical nuclear EMP strikes from the doomsday terrorist cult Winternight that were said to have crippled vital Matrix resources in North America/Europe have been going rampant for the past few days, wreaking havoc on the Sporean Stock Exchange and putting paid to the highly-anticipated launch of the Novatech IPO.

You snap out of your random thoughts, as blurry images of massive riots near City Hall protesting the virtual stoppage of the economy is being broadcasted overhead. The newscast proceeds to show images of crazed Demi (Orks and Trolls) smashing windows, fences and grabbing whatever foodstuff/furniture/items of value in the affluent residential districts of B.T.9 (formerly known as Bukit Timah) and the Tri-Zonal East Enclave (Tampines-1, Pasir Ris, Little Simei).


Yes, this is the real thing, only worse. 


The whole f'kin island is in full-loot mode.

Suddenly, the newscast come to an abrupt end. In its place, a familiar figure appears on the bluish holo-screen. A small Chinese humanoid in a tight white skin-suit steadies himself. He gingerly presses his right palm onto the screen in a forced effort to engage the public. A meek voice heavy with a Canton accent fills the pub.

"Hail all Sporeans, I am your interim Prime Administrator — Mr Robert See Seng Juan. I do not have much time to speak, as this emergency power source, kindly sponsored by AdmerEALty Industries™, *crackle* will *crackle* last only a few minutes…

In this time of darkness, (ahem) I have to say that we will have to be patient as we ourselves do not know the source of this *crackle* madness. Rest assured that we are not the only ones. I have received reliable information that this phenomenon is in fact happening -worldwide-.

I say, and I repeat, that all existing electronic data have been wiped out in our fair city; and past government records erased from our archives. The recovery process will be long, but it is *crackle* underway.

For now, we have set up an Emergency Identification Process (EiP) whereby all Sporeans will have a week's grace to walk or hovcycle to City Hall before curfew hours; to re-register *crackle* themselves as a legitimate citizen and show us proof of your assets if available. Failure to do so will deem you as an alien *crackle* and subject to *crackle* the city’s laws without question.

I conclude this announcement with my assurance that *crackle* ..."