IRRK: Rubi-Ka Feels the 1st Neutral Rights Day
Rubi-Ka Feels the 1st Neutral Rights Day
August 16, 29481 - Brad Talamer [Atlantean]
IRRK - When the history books about this lifetime are written, July 21st 29481 should become of note. What had become a typical day became the day where those staying out of the conflict proved what they have spent years showing - That neutral parties are organised, that they're strong, and that they've finally had enough.
People from all sides came together as they descended upon the first Neutral Rights Day, an event designed to highlight the erosion of rights for neutral citizens. One of the largest events to date for the promotion of the neutral cause, the day's events became the brainchild of multiple organisations including Third Faction, the Nanomage Liberation Front, the Mists of Avalon, Wolf Brigade, The Defiant and the Newland Council among nameless others. And in the middle of it all was this journalist, reporting on all the day's events.
The day officially started with the crowd meeting outside Neuter's R Us in Newland. Starting with a meet & greet for the gathering crowd (with the Newland Militia in trademark green armor not too far away), the day started with the obligatory introduction by Third Faction's president, "Nohva", and a series of speeches by the Newland Council. First off was Newland's Mayor Zephrem Toog, who after failing to climb onto the makeshift podium welcomed the crowd to the city before admonishing both sides for firing at each other rather than focusing on the Kyr'Ozch invaders. "Stop pointing your guns at our planet, start shooting the stars instead," requested the Mayor. "Here I stand in the middle of peaceful Newland, one of the last safe places on Rubi-Ka, and invite everyone to come together to fight the foreign threat. To come together to make peace, to trade and to work for a better future."
The choice of podium for the speeches could have been thought of better - Speaking from the counter of the local Bronto Burger stand would make idle minds think that the brand was sponsoring the speeches. Regardless, most of the speeches from Newland's ministers were predictable - Defence Minister Vincent "Boltgun" Delage focused on the action (and lack of) of the ICC in recent years in regards to the neutral community. Foreign Affairs Minister Angel "Berael" Wolf, a spitting image of a battle-hardened Mary Poppins with dual pistols, decided to explain her role in the Council while promoting the diversity of neutrals. However, the award for most memorable speech without a doubt went to Dr. "Kozlorre" Felanski, the city's Science Minister, who used the event as a public platform to reveal details of a Clan conspiracy involving a takeover of Borealis. The only pity is that General Hekkat didn't get the memo - Because as if by clockwork, Dr. Felanski was fatally shot by a Clan assassin halfway through his speech. Despite what happened, the assassin was soon caught and the General later denied rumours that the militia were munching through Bronto Deluxe meals while the Clanner was taking aim.
After the speeches were finished and the crime scene cordoned off, the crowd moved to the main square of Borealis, which became the official meeting point during the day's proceedings. Despite the little downtime between events, the crowd had little chance to be bored due to DJs Tarryk & Veldron of Gridstream Productions streaming music live from the Main Square as well as acting as a real-time news service for the day. "While GSP is not officially involved in any protest or faction-specific statements, we support those who support us - an easy contract to live by," explained the radio station's CEO. "We're here to party. If they throw a protest into the mix, we cannot complain."
Despite the music, little time was available as a protest soon started in the clan stronghold of Old Athen. Within a short time, a small crowd of 30 including members of The Union & the Mists of Avalon held a sit-in protest around & over the city's main grid terminal to make a statement about the treatment & slaughter of neutral citizens by the Clans. The reaction literally took seconds to appear as clanners heavily dependant on the Grid started acting like mechdogs being held away from a nearby lunch. Miss Ladyariadne of the Mists, acting as the protest's spokesperson, managed to hold her ground while delivering a press release on behalf of the protestors. Despite the aggression from both sides, the protest remained civil albeit not as long as originally planned.
Soon after the protest at Athen came another protest at the ICC base in Andromeda, held by The Kindred & the Wolf Brigade. Unfortunately, what was meant to be a confrontation with a representative of the ICC soon became a rabble thanks to ignorant hardliners from both factions. In a typical case of each side picking neutral areas to fight their own battles, ICC's Mr. Reichstain seemed to find it hard to make his points known above a crowd more interested in arguing below. Despite the noise and the bodyguards flanking him, the representative held a flat yet admirable speech that echoed Toog's words about all sides uniting to fight the Kyr'Ozch menace, before spoiling it by showing what the ICC's view of Rubi-Ka's best use is: "producing Notum and provide it for not only this world but thousands of others". Likewise, the ICC showed their best use - Proving that old habits die young.
Despite there being a considerable break between events back at Borealis, quite a few set off early for the next event at the Notum Export Facility in northern Clon****. Why the Nanomage Liberation Front chose the venue soon became apparent as they revealed that the facility's cannons had been rigged with explosives. After a fairly long communique where the NLF lambasted all sides for supporting Notum mining, the expected detonation started an unexpected series of events which sent the charges hurtling towards an overpassing ship, sending the ship on a crash course towards the NLF leaders. It is a small shame that the Front as it know it burned in the wreckage...but on the plus side, chances are the events will inspire a future episode of your favourite slapstick comedy.
After the Darwinian-styled result at Clon****, the crowd met back at Borealis for the conclusion of the day's events. As the crowd gathered for the usual speech thanking everyone for coming and to remember the rights of neutrals...something happened. Either Nohva hadn't bothered to read the Newland Guide to Pacifist Speeches, or he had just thrown the book away...as what took the expected speech's place was a rallying cry for neutrals to stand up and fight for their freedom. "Your neutrality...nay, your existence on Rubi-Ka, can be preserved and protected," proclaimed the Third Faction leader. "Only if YOU are willing to stand up for it. Only if you are willing to fight for it!"
Consider the presence of Borealis "administrator" Jessica Lonare at the speech, consider a large crowd frustrated with Omni-Tek's hold on the city, and consider a heavily-armed Omni-Pol riot squad trying to force the crowd to stand down and disperse. Now consider Nohva's call to arms becoming a catalyst - You don't need a picture painted as to what happened.
For the next hour, Borealis became a war zone as Clan attacked neutrals attacked Omni-Tek. Neutrals & clan sympathisers ended up fighting the riot squad as well as Omni-Tek employees from the crowd, while simultaneously clan opportunists decided to attack while backs were turned. Not even the rooftops were safe, with an unidentified sniper in black armor seemingly taking shots at anyone attacking the neutrals. As all three sides fought with each other, the body count soon racked up as those sent to reclaim got back up and charged back into the war zone while also bringing in reinforcements.
Even non-combatants who moved to nearby cover did not leave the fight unscathed, as stray gunfire hit a number of people including Gridstream DJ Veldron. Funnily enough the two resident DJs acted as a comic foil to the carnage, providing many of the battle's quotes - When a nearby bystander apologised to Veldron for blocking his view, the Director soon replied with, "Hell if you're blocking me from fire...stand there."
As the riot squad were eventually picked off one by one by strategic fighters, the Omni-Pol forces and supporting employees were eventually eliminated. However, fighting carried on for a short while after as neutral & clan forces continued fighting. Despite the Clan's aggression, the neutral forces were left standing in the end, with the end of the battle being announced with cries of "Free Borealis!", "Neutral for Life!" and "Omni go home!". For a short amount of time, Borealis once again belonged to the neutrals.
In the end, not much has changed - Even after the day ended and the crowd dispersed, Borealis was still under Omni occupation. We know little about the Clan conspiracy, but what we have was paid for by Minister Felanski's death. And Reichstain shows us that we have little to hope for with the ICC. But then, here's a unique thought - Maybe the whole point of the Neutral Rights Day wasn't to bring sudden change. The ICC could later today enforce full rights to those who wish for neutrality, and they would still be taken away by hardliners. This weekend could see borders being drawn to give the neutral community indisputable territory, and within a year those lines would disappear due to conflict. Immediate & large changes to benefit neutrals will fail while their rights are disrespected, and it seems that the organisers of the day understood that as well. The aim was never to promote immediate change - It was to put the seeds of change into the many of all sides. And judging by the attendance, that aim may well be a success.
In a way, Rubi-Ka has learnt some very important truths - The perception of neutrals being weak, pacifist fencesitters is broken. The neutrals are prepared to fight Omni-Tek for Borealis, and the Clans if the conspiracy is to be believed - But they will hit where & when it hurts the most rather than attacking mindlessly. And whereas Omni-Tek & the Clans both considered neutral forces a necessary annoyance - And the ICC considering them a group of disgruntled citizens that need constant placating - They may have to see the neutrals in a new light.
To quote the de facto spokesperson of the Neutral Rights Day - "For neutrals, I hope they come away proud. Proud knowing that their own brothers and sisters fought to protect them, and confident knowing that gone are the days of the fence sitter, the pacifist - If pushed, we will push back."
