Just over two months ago, the Newland City Council announced its intention to remove the Warr mercenaries from Newland City and allow Clans back into their city. The Warrs had been invited into Newland as a reaction to of the Sentinel's banning neutrals from Tir and Silverstone's threats about taking over Newland itself.
At the time there was much debate as to whether by unilaterally backing down the Newland City Council might be able to restore better relations between Clan and Neutrals or whether it would be taken as a sign of weakness by the Clans. You can read Neutral Détente Revives Debate over the Sentinels’ Occupation of Tir for more details.
In the light of the Sentinel's overwhelming support within the new Council of Truth (9/20 Clans supported the Sentinels on the Atlanean Chamber), it is clear that Newland City's gamble has failed. The Clans have indeed interpreted Newland's unilateral gesture as an unconditional surrender. Without the Warrs enforcing a ban on Clanners in Newland City, the Clans have no more incentive to remove the Sentinels from Tir.
What is perhaps most disturbing is that specific Clans once viewed as Neutral friendly have now sided with the Sentinels. Clan Arion has sided with the Sentinles, despite its leader, Fixerben, is one of the most outspoken critics of Silverstone and has often gone into battle against the Sentinels in Tir.
Fixerben went on the record as recently as Feb 19th stating:
"As I stated in other threads I am firmly against most of the beliefs that Silverstone and his men hold. I also have gone as far as to send back to reclaim or otherwise incapacitate his lackeys for various reasons. While some people could call me a traitor to the Clans, I feel as if I am doing exactly what the Clans set out to do. "
Likewise First Light declared for the Sentinel, when only two months ago its leader Lyricia claimed about Silverstone:
"I think he is an extremist who wants the galaxy to see him as the only government of the clans. He really needs to be out of Tir and back in his crater in Mort.” And went on to say she'd support any move to remove the Sentinels from Tir in order to “Give Tir back to the peace-loving clans.”
The fact of the matter is that while for many months now various prominent Clans spokesmen have been condemning the Sentinels actions in Tir against the Neutrals and doing their best to make the rest of the world believe that Sivlerstone is not supported by most Clanners, the vote shows a very different picture.
These look like very dangerous times for the Neutral communities on Rubi-Ka. And if you think I am a lot of fuss over nothing, let me leave you with a quote from Simon Silverstone himself:
"“I have absolutely no tolerance for people who lack the guts to have an opinion, and stand by it. It’s cowardly, weak, and completely dishonorable. I loathe the neutral, even more so than the Omnis. At least they believe in something.”
This sentiment echoed by Daimoness in chilling statement "We also believe that Neutrals no longer have a place among us. They have been sitting on the fence for too long. The time is now to decide - either they will be with us, or they are with the enemy."
Neutrals, beware.
Savoy