OTPC Freelance: Newland and Crime - The Troubled History
July 28th, 29488 - Andrew Phillips
As Turms Falon emerges from prison, a man jointly culpable for making Newland a fief of the Shadow Compendium's criminal empire, we take the opportunity to examine the turbulent relationship Newland has had with crime since its independence in the Tir Accord.
The Mercenaries
Seven years after Newland was granted Neutral Status, the city invited a mercenary group led by Loren Warr to defend the Newland. The mercenaries controversially proceeded on a shoot-to-kill policy against all Clan members, sparking rumours that this had been called for by the city government in retaliation against previous incursions.
Connections soon emerged between Warr and the Dust Brigade, and after a spate of attacks the mercenaries were removed by the Newland Guard Initiative with cross-faction support, to which CEO Phillip Ross made personal contributions.
Mayor Bombs Omni-1
Elections held after the mercenaries' eviction confirmed Zephrem King as the Mayor of Newland, and hopes were high for his tenure. However, two years later, amid discussions around the Neutral Identity Chips, an emotional King carpet-bombed Omni-1 HQ with pests using his personal shuttle and was duly summoned before the Board to explain his actions.
The Mayor issued an apologetic statement the following morning.
Shadow Compendium
The summer of 29483 saw much instability for the city when Mayor King and Guard General Anthony Hekkat were both missing from the June meeting of the City Council, when a Iaskel Nendas, shadowed by his enforcer Turms Falon, announced his takeover of Newland, claiming that the Mayor was indisposed.
It soon emerged that King and Hekkat were being held in captivity, while Newland was turned into Nendas's personal fiefdom, a rule which he managed to maintain for three months until finally being overthrown by a band of citizens in October that year.
'The Why Not'
Shortly after the removal of the Shadow Compendium a group of smugglers led by Elzevir Brode rose to prominence, offering contraband goods courtesy of his ship The Why Not. Brode and his crew frequented the city and often used Newland as a base from which to set up business connections.
When the scheme was uncovered, the city government resolutely refused to aid in searching for the crew despite mounting evidence, and it took an intervention from the ICC for the smugglers to be brought to justice.
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Newland has often tried to tread the fine line between laissez-faire and willful blindness in its attitude towards crime and criminal groups, with varying consequences for the city.
Turms Falon has recently returned from imprisonment after his expulsion in 29483. When asked, Minister Leileena Chan refused to condemn Falon and his new associates, claiming that more evidence was needed before reaching a view.
Let us hope it does not prove too late to save Newland from another criminal takeover.