The following is an interview from AESCC correspondent, Abeni Adelakun, speaking with celebrated Propaganda Star, Jitendra Sharma

Abeni: I’m here today with Jitendra Sharma: famous actor, sex symbol, and political activist. Known to many as the “Star Among the Stars.” Jitendra, thank you for coming on my show.

Jitendra: Good morning, Abeni. Thank you for having me, and thank you for your kind words, especially about my being such a famous sex activist.

Abeni: (smiles) Well, I’d be remiss in my duties as a journalist if I didn’t point out that your agent paid me specifically to introduce you with those exact words.

Jitendra: (fakes outrage) Oh! Abeni! I was told you were fiery! And I would be remiss in my duties as a celebrated celebrity if I didn’t point out that your broadcast station paid me specifically not to flirt with you.

Abeni: Well, let us hope that they paid you enough. Now, if I may, can we start this interview by discussing your career’s varied history, in particular your tendency to switch faction loyalties?

Jitendra: Oh, Abeni, no, no you may not.

Abeni: But you began your career with the ADN, isn’t that true?

Jitendra: Of course that is true. I was born in Alpha Centauri, so why wouldn’t I work with my beloved ADN?

Abeni: Yet, now you’re under contract with the FSR, the heated rivals of the ADN.

Jitendra: And I hold the beloved FSR with equal tenderness inside my large heart.

Abeni: (frowns) Let me try a different approach.

Jitendra: By all means.

Abeni: Your first big hit was “Epsilon Found” the story of Amanecer, the Jump Ship that was lost en route to Epsilon Eridani. Was it not?

Jitendra: It was. But big hit feels like an understatement. I was quite magnificent in it, was I not? And handsome, too?

Abeni: (smiles, dispite herself) Yes. Very. And in that production, you play an ADN captain who not only finds the missing ship, but also saves every soul on board.

Jitendra: Captain Jack Fireheart! A true fictitious hero, if there ever was one.

Abeni: But in that same production, Mr Sharma, you all but blame the FSR for being directly responsible for sabotaging the Amanecer and causing it to become lost.

Jitendra: Oh Abeni, the Federated Sovereign Republics had nothing at all to do with the sabotage of the Amanecer. If you remember correctly, the villains of that piece were the Republicans Federation of Sovereigns. A completely fictional faction.

Abeni: The RFS.

Jitendra: Yes.

Abeni: So not the FSR.

Jitendra: Correct.

Abeni: (sighs) Let’s move on.

Jitendra: Please do.

Abeni: Your highest grossing production, Descub Deception, was the also your most controversial, was it not?

Jitendra: Ah. Yes. And I completely understand the controversy. My accent it that was quite inconsistent. (holds up his hands and laughs) I have gotten better now. Don’t worry.

Abeni: (pauses) Well, no. That’s not the reason at all. The reason is the obvious accusations made within that production. You were working for the ITF then, correct?

Jitendra: The Interstellar Trade Federation, yes, I hold them beloved in my heart.

Abeni: And they paid you an immense amount of money to portray an SAP captain, of the retired war vessel Descubrimiento, which was decommissioned and converted into a research vessel, but which, in your production, you claim is actually a vessel for espionage, and which committed several horrendous acts of sabotage against the Bharat Republic, the Galactic Pioneers Corporation, and the Coalition of Interstellar Nations. Needless to say, the SAP were not happy.

Jitendra: Are the SAP ever happy?

Abeni: About being accused of committing numerous illegal acts and subsequently suspended by the SGA and IBS while investigations were being carried out? Well no, I would think they would never be happy about that. Wouldn’t you?

Jitendra: Ah, my beloved Stellar Alliance for Progress, how could you say such things about them? Firstly, the name of my spy ship was the Descubini, nothing at all to do with the Descubrimiento. And the SAP was not ever mentioned. I was part of a purposefully unnamed faction who did these awful things, for the message that we are all capable of such acts, which is why we all need to work so much harder to keep this peace. Isn’t that so?

Abeni: Well while we’re speaking of peace, and the potential to lose it, let’s finish on your newest production, shall we? The Heroic Captain Harte.

Jitendra: Oh Captain Harte, is he a hero or a villain, will we ever know?

Abeni: Well since this is being funded by the FSR, you will be portraying him clearly as a villain, as the man who started the Interstellar War.

Jitendra: Which simply serves as contrast to the widely held ADN belief that he was the hero who discovered Beariliumite and brought about this golden age of technology in which we all live.

Abeni: The ADN has threatened war if this production is released.

Jitendra: And would there not be greater damage done if my handsome tale was not released for all to see?

Abeni: But Jitendra, surely–

Jitendra: Look, Abeni, darling, the Heroic Richard Harte is a privately financed production purely for broadcast within the FSR. It will contain no slander of any factions or historic figures. It is art, and so should not be censored. (stands up). And is that not something for which the AESCC stands? (turns to face the camera). And to my beloved Administration for Economic Survey and Colonization Cooperation, keep up the good work, because I am open for business. This is Jitendra Sharma, your Star Among The Stars!