[RK2] IRRK: Borealis: Three years into Omni-Tek occupation.
October 29, 29483 - [Rimor]
IRRK – Selcha Doree – Borealis - Over three years ago Omni-Tek forces invaded the town of Borealis in a surprise move to start its occupation. After all the time we'll take a look at the effects to both the neutral and omni citizens.
The original “reason” for Omni-Tek's move was to protect the communication relay above the town. The supposed strategic importance of the dish has not been explained further than being something to do with the Goliath Battlestations - Which as you may remember were originally meant as an aid against the continued Kyr'Ozch invasion. None of the alien attacks on Borealis, however, have so far included the dish. It seems the aliens are simply not interested at all.
Through the years many people asked the same question: what is the real reason for omni presence in Borealis? This question remains unanswered to this day.
There are many reasons for neutrals' bitterness about the whole affair. First is the simple fact we consider the place to be neutral. It was neutral for years. We cared for it and developed it into a thriving settlement. If it has any value to Omni-Tek today it is us who put it in this place with the labour of our hands.
Of course, Omni-Tek bureaucrats will tell us that rightfully they can take whatever they want on the planet. It is the right of the thief, the oppressor, however. Even if it's sanctioned by ICC, whose motives are not clear on the matter, the moral implications are the same: the labour of our hands, the homes we spent our childhoods in, the place we took pride to live in was taken from us by force of a common bully.
Through the years, Borealis has been a hot spot for protests and riots. There were so many of them that most citizens simply lost count. A lot of them were reported by press. Some of them were:
OTPC: Rioting in Borealis prompts a response by Administrator Lonare, IRRK: Freedom Fighter demonstrations lead to rioting in Borealis, Newland City Press Release: Newland´s stance on the Borealis Freedom Fighters, Freelance: Engineers Plot Illegal Takeover and many more.
Borealis Freedom Fighters have become a prominent group in this struggle because of their numerous attacks on Omni-Tek personnel and spreading of anti-occupation propaganda. They are not alone in their efforts however. Citizens have taken initiative more than once to protest during the past years. Not long ago there was a protest which turned into a small skirmish in the streets.
“The main purpose? Well, as you can already see, its to show Omni-Tek once again, we are not going to stay silent, as they wreck, loiter, litter and ruin our home!” was the mission statement of one of the attendees, Ownkind "Iamown" Nanomage.
The bully was successful. Other neutrals are constantly worried about Omni-Tek troops marching into their cities too. A Newland City Council minister, Beta “Foosball33” Cross commented recently about the latest riot:
“Well I don't think it's the right way to go back to a neutral city... All this does is piss off Omni... they're really not ones to cower or back down cause of some shooting... how long have they been at war with the clans now?” After a moment he added: “But don't get me wrong... I'm not really sure how to get Borealis back to a neutral controlled city.”
It seems that Omni-Tek gained nothing by taking Borealis over, except resentment of the neutral population.
Is it worth it? Is it worth the trouble of occupying a city against the very will of the city's citizens? What justifies all the trouble and effort of holding a city with only dubious and murky strategic advantage? Is it only the corporate pride of CEO Zora and the Directors that forces this whole situation onto everyone? Or is it just a mistake nobody wants to admit, so the corporation spends astronomical amounts of money to keep the city while it could be directing their effort into something more reasonable?
One of the Omni-Tek employees, Aystosha “February” Earnshaw provided some insight into the feeling on the matter of the corporate personnel:
“On the one hand I'm firm on the idea that our occupation of Borealis is for the bettering of the city. Especially with what happened in Newland recently. Our job here is to protect everyone's interests in a time where neutral security is still in its youngest stages.
“But on the other hand, (again with recent happenings) we're seeing more evidence of Neutrals able to fend for themselves. I can't say what the higher-up's opinions are, but my personal beliefs really stand in the middle. We're here to protect, but I think we should give Neutrals a chance to defend their own cities for a short while, at the least.”
Dear Omni-Tek Directors. Please learn from the wisdom of your very own employees and help to turn Borealis back into what it had been: a thriving place where both neutral and omni citizens peacefully and happily coexisted together.
Selcha Doree,
IRRK.