Conflicting Loyalties
Korev Jurik
(IRRK) - When the Shadowlands opened, the realization that an ancient race known as the Xan existed within sent shockwaves through much of galactic society. And with rumors that some of these Xan have been pulling the strings of the renowned hypercorporation Omni-Tek, Rubi-Ka's rebel Clans have recieved a new influx of support.
"The fact that Omni-Tek has entered into pacts with these creatures...that is unacceptable," says Rachel "Blackpetal" Schuemann, one of the founding members of a group of Omni-Tek refugees calling themselves The Loyal Opposition. "The Unredeemed are nothing less than demons. They are the Fallen."
According to Blackpetal, humanity was created by the Xan faction called the Redeemed, and Omni-Tek has been controlled by the Unredeemed faction since its creation over seventeen thousand years ago. "Both the Redeemed and Unredeemed have documented their history quite thoroughly," says Blackpetal, "if one knows where to look."
Despite this, Blackpetal refuses to consider herself a member of the Clans, despite having taken sanctuary within their ranks. "As I keep telling people," she says, "I haven't joined the Clans. I will never consider myself to be anything but a citizen of Omni-Tek, regardless of my legal status at the moment." Seeing herself as "Omni-in-exile", Blackpetal has dedicated herself to reforming Omni-Tek, which she is convinced means purging it of the Unredeemed alliance.
The Loyal Opposition began with Schuemann and Associates, a group of Omni-employed lawyers whose leaders left the corporation after allegedly learning that the Unredeemed faction has been responsible for Omni-Tek's rise to power since its very inception -- a charge Starlight member Thanix thinks preposterous.
"No one controls Omni-Tek except Mr. Ross,", says Thanix. "I don't know who got that silly idea."
But no matter who got the idea originally, it remains out there nonetheless. The opening of the Shadowlands and the discovery of the Xan has and will continue to change how we see not only ourselves, but the Omni-Tek corporation. Whether Blackpetal is right that the Unredeemed are the evil rulers behind the Omni-Tek corporation, or Thanix is right that Phillip Ross is the only "puppetmaster" behind Omni-Tek of Rubi-Ka, the rumors that have been unleashed will transform Rubi-Ka politics for years to come.