Where in the World is (was) Henry Radiman?
By Christian E. Fuquay
16:00 July 30, 29476 RST
Take one Council of Truth leader (missing), one desperate attempt at peace (failed), a game of chess between two heads of state (stalled), and a vociferous bunch of clanners (irate). What do you get? The latest crisis to befall an already beleaguered Council and yet another reason for Omni-Tek employees to wonder just what the hell is going on across the border. Christian E. Fuquay investigates.
On Friday July 26, Henry Radiman - the besieged and absent leader, spokesperson, and elder statesman of the Council of Truth - released a written statement to UniClanCast after months of total silence. Quoting an obscure author from pre-winter Earth, he made light of the rumours of his parting with the Council, and cited a private "pilgrimage" as the major reason for his silence. Fellow clan-members were not impressed:
"To me it makes no difference if Radiman is back," says Redruum, President of Clan Anarchist Syndicate. "(We) will carry on our plans for things in the future that are already set in stone. I also feel that Radiman will not be able to rally the clans as he thinks he can."
For others, it's hard to reconcile what they see as an apologetic, weakened Radiman with the strong and opinionated leader who instigated a ground-breaking dialogue - and tense chess game - with Philip Ross last year. They see this as another sure sign that Radiman's long leadership of the Council may be coming to an end.
President Barchus of the West Athen Militia: "A leader needs to be seen and heard by those (who) are being led. Mr. Radiman (as well as) the rest of the Council are neither (seen nor heard). They are hopelessly out of touch with the needs of the clan community."
And then there are those who see Radiman's silence as indicative of the overall political situation on Rubi-Ka, rather than as a measure of one man's ability to lead a disunited people. Omni-Tek's CEO Philip Ross has also been unusually quiet these past few months, since the clashes in Sabulum and the Dust Brigade's departure from the headlines.
It may appear, as some have suggested, that both leaders have pulled back to lick their wounds after several highly publicised, and embarrassing, political and military fiascos in the wake of the complete collapse of the peace negotiations.
But while Philip Ross is no stranger to silence, it's much more unusual to hear Radiman confess that he's been "weary and disheartened", and that he needed "time away from the world." Even die-hard Council of Truth supporters may find it hard to swallow that the man they've grown to respect - perhaps even love - shows himself to be so vulnerable.
But even this may have been a forgivable offence. After all, in politics, human weaknesses aren't always a measure of political strength and resilience, and often the former weakness can help support the latter strength - after all, more politicians ought to show signs of humanity at some point in their careers. Some clan-members, however, have questioned Radiman's timing (Rederon, President of Knights of Sacrifice, replies that he is glad Radiman has returned "but the circumstances, I am not happy about... It had to come to the eve of a coup for him to say anything."), and others ask where their leader has been for all this time.
They had assumed that the Council was still in operation, silently, behind closed doors. It appears that they were wrong. It may even look as though the Council of Truth-affiliated clans have been leaderless for some time now, contrary - or so they claim - to their knowledge.
As for the Council, it appears more concerned with looking ahead than accounting for Radiman's absence and whereabouts, which - if su****ions voiced by both clan-members and Omni-Tek employees are correct - is a good way to avoid embarrassing revelations.
But there are rumours. There are always rumours.
A source - who wishes to remain anonymous - claims that Radiman's departure is a symptom of a growing power-struggle within the Council itself, instigated by both the collapse of the peace negotiations, and the Dust Brigade's actions against civilians, fuelled by Simon Silverstone's - the leader of the extremist clan Sentinels, and not a member of the Council - pressure for a reformed, and militarily strengthened, Council, under a new leadership (presumably Silverstone's). The same source quotes existing members of the Council as being disillusioned with Radiman's direction, and his relentless insistence on cooperation and diplomacy.
There are certainly clear signs of the more moderate clans' rapid move towards increased confrontation and violence as a substitute for political negotiation. The hard-liners are fast gaining the upper hand, and this is a trend that appears certain to continue, despite Radiman's return:
"If he decides to lead us to victory we will support him," says Rorie - President of Opposing Force, and a vocal clan-member - "(but) if he chooses to be silent and do nothing, we will replace him."