Hasta La Victoria Siempre Arc
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Hasta La Victoria Siempre
This is the overview and timeline page for the Hasta La Victoria Siempre Arc which began on October 7th, 2023 and pertains largely to Biesellite lore.
It is centred around the climax of the Peacekeeper Mandate on Mictlan.
Below is a summary of the arc's applicable news articles, and additions.
Quarterly Minutemen Report Shows Worrying Increase in Terrorist AttacksNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato After taking over the Foreign Legion’s peacekeeping duties on Mictlan, the Minutemen have released their first quarterly report to the public. Containing mostly data from the Foreign Legion’s deployment, it shows an increase in terrorist attacks across the planet, with a dramatic increase in terrorist attacks occurring in urban centers. Unlike previous attacks which were mostly targeting the Foreign Legion, Minutemen, or other Biesel institutions, these attacks have been focused on unaffiliated civilians.. Usually these attacks make use of small explosive devices , which typically target government buildings such as courthouses or jails, and are timed to explode several hours after they are placed. So far very few of these attacks have been committed in comparison with others, but are rising at an alarming rate over the past months. The Founding Movement, a terrorist organization with roots in the anti-corporate “Founding Movement” political party, has begun to take credit for many of these attacks. “All who stand by in the face of oppression are as guilty as their oppressors,” said a statement from a Chirper account for the group before it was banned yesterday. “When we take action to rid our home of our oppressors, anyone who stands in our way must go the route of the enemy.” Biesel Security Services Bureau has taken the statement as an implicit threat against the populace of the planet. The office of Defense Secretary Nathan Trasen has put out a statement condemning the attacks, and that Mictlani law enforcement will receive full support from the BSSB to combat the terrorist threat. “This has gone on long enough,” Secretary Trasen’s statement read. “The organization known as the ‘Founding Movement’ has terrorized Mictlan’s populace alongside the Samaritans for too long, and peace deserves to be in the hands of the people of Mictlan.” Bombings are not the only type of terror attack on the rise. Targeted killings, ambushes of armed patrols, and gun violence all saw a sharp uptick in the past three months, as the insurgent organizations on Mictlan used the switchover period between the Minutemen and Foreign Legion to gain purchase and develop their terror campaign in the continent of Huitzilopochtli further. While the Founding Movement is primarily active in the cities of Lago de Abundacia, Sikunda, and Arequipa, the Minutemen have been engaging in skirmishes on Huitzilopochtli, where the paramilitary insurgent group the Samaritans dominate the area. The Minutemen have requested backup from the Secretary of Defense in order to increase their effectiveness in fighting the large insurgent force; Secretary Trasen is said to be currently considering the proposal. “We had hoped the Minutemen would prove to be our ‘silver bullet’ in the insurgency matter,” said Za’Akaix’Maki Zo’ra, a Tau Ceti Armed Forces officer. “It’s becoming more clear that we’ve allowed the issue to expand too far. With time and support, our troops will be able to decisively finish this battle and return home safely.” The situation in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is currently developing, and we at the Orion Spur Oracle intend to continue covering updates as they arise. Date: 10/07/2465 Bomb detonated in Valtas Square outside MDF Headquarters, hundreds dead and many injured; Founding Movement claims responsibilityNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RESULTS OF TERRORIST BOMBINGS. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. Today at approximately 5pm local time, three explosions at Valtas Square in Arequipa, Mictlan killed at least twenty people and injured over 100, shattering glass tunnels and catwalks and sending heavy smoke over the center of the city. The explosions were centered around the Mictlan Defense Force Headquarters, with two of the bombs in backpacks, and one car full of plastic explosives detonating in the parking lot at the center of the square. The glass bridges connecting the MDFHQ to the rest of Arequipa were heavily damaged, raining glass across Valtas Square. At least twenty people were killed by the blast radius or because of the fall from the shattered tunnels. Hundreds are injured, with others suspected to be buried in the rubble of surrounding office buildings and residential areas. A ten-year-old boy was one of the victims of the attack, with a fourteen-year-old girl at Saint Valentina Hospital in critical condition. Most of the known casualties are government workers or employees at the businesses surrounding the square who were leaving work for the day. Emergency services have requested support in identifying bodies, and ask anyone to come forward with information regarding the deceased or missing persons. Some photos of identifying features are available on the website of Saint Valentina Hospital morgue, though viewers are advised photos may be graphic. The official death toll is as of yet undetermined. The blast has also partially collapsed the Sandinia Avenue LRT tunnel, with the Blue LRT railway currently out of order from Sandinia going west to Seguerra. Prime Minister de Santos, during a briefing in Parliament, said; “This terrorist attack is the act of cowards, against a civilian population, no matter what excuse they give themselves. My heart is with the people of our capital city, who have undergone so much violence in the last years. I can promise those responsible for this reprehensible crime will be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law.” Evoking the national motto, de Santos added, “Mictlan will endure once more. We are still here.” The Founding Movement have already claimed responsibility for the bombing, putting out a prepared statement mere minutes after the explosion. “Today we have struck a blow against the Bieselite collaborators and their masters,” read the statement in part. “The damage can be rebuilt, but the results remain.” The office of the Mictlan Defense Force Headquarters has issued a statement claiming the damage is largely superficial, owing to its reinforced walls, and can be repaired within the week. In solidarity with the victims of the attack, the headquarters has elected to remain in its damaged state until the rest of the rubble is cleared from Valtas Square. Date: 10/08/2465 BREAKING: Secretary Trasen Approves Further Deployment of Forces to Mictlan; People’s Protection Funding Act PassedNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Following the bombing of the Mictlan Defense Force Headquarters yesterday, Defense Secretary Nathan Trasen has announced that he has approved the deployment of more Minutemen forces to Mictlan. In a statement released by the Defense Secretary’s office, Trasen claimed that the insurgency and terrorism on Mictlan was a major threat that needed the maximum response. “Earlier this week, more than thirty people died and many more were injured,” said Trasen, “because we as a nation did not do what we needed to protect them. Mictlan is a planet of the Republic of Biesel. When I took the oath of office I swore to protect all of our citizens, on all of our planets, no matter what issues may befall them.” In addition to Minutemen Forces, the Bureau of Defense has also allocated more funds for hiring specialized corporate mercenaries to increase intelligence operations to predict and prevent further terrorist attacks. Financial analysts report that the additional funding allocated to the Tau Ceti Armed Forces is becoming “stretched”. In light of this issue, congress convened in an emergency session yesterday to pass the People’s Protection Funding Act, which gave the armed forces needed funds short term. NanoTrasen has also offered to transport the newly assigned Minutemen to Mictlan free of charge. Outside of Biesel itself, a statement has been issued from the paramilitary insurgency group known as the Samaritans, suspected by Biesel intelligence to be working in tandem with the Founding Movement. The Samaritans have unequivocally condemned the bombing, calling it a “crime against our people”. In a short, minute-long video featuring former First Sergeant of the Mictlan Defense Force Xiomara Salvo, she demanded the cessation of the Founding Movement operations. “If [the Founding Movement] continues [...], the Samaritans will hold you in the same regard that we hold the TCAF. There will be no mercy”. Diplomatic experts have claimed the video is a sign of the insurgent groups on Mictlan fracturing. Some suggest that the infighting may contribute to an easier victory for the Minutemen, though outcomes and the nature of any infighting are unknown at this point in time. We will keep our readers updated as this story develops. Date: 10/12/2465 Leaked Minutemen Footage Sparks Protests on New GibsonNews Article Publisher : TRUTH FINDER Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Content Warning: This article contains violence, death, and military brutality against civilians. Further controversy has begun in regards to the Tau Ceti Armed Forces deployment on Mictlan has emerged today, and sparked a massive demonstration in Hengsha biodome, New Gibson. Protesters marched down Redfront Avenue earlier today, rallying against the Defense Bureau’s announcement of further Minutemen troops being sent in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Valtas Square, Arequipa. Many demonstrators also carried signs referencing the recent leak of a Minuteman soldier’s body cam, which shows a raid on a village on the continent of Huitzilopochtli, which is primarily under Samaritan control. The footage was not released by any mainstream corporate news, or if it was, heavily doctored. We at Truth Finder's have managed to obtain the footage in full, and have embedded it in this article. Viewer discretion is advised. [Beneath the article, the video is embedded. The video begins abruptly as if prior footage was edited out. The camera centers on a light-furred male Tajara in navy-blue Minutemen armor, with a scarlet red hand on the helmet, charging a power pack of a laser rifle. Cracks of gunfire and distant shouting sound in the background of the video. Two sharp bursts of gunfire tear through sheet metal, just above the cameraman and the Legionnaire’s heads. The cameraman stands, with the view briefly obscured as the operator hefts their own laser rifle and fires shots back. Laser fire arcs over the thin barrier, and the cameraman, evidently a red-scaled Unathi, crouches back down and rapidly swaps out their powerpack. Tajara Legionnaire: “Did they see them?” Camera Operator: “They’re behind the sssecond house on the right. Fucker is alternating corners they ssshoot from.” TL: “Second frrom the rright? Which side did they shoot frrom last?” CO: “Left.” Having finished swapping his powerpack, the camera operator turns to look at his Tajaran comrade, who has opened the breach for his underbarrel grenade launcher, and is loading a 55mm grenade into it. It has white stripes around the base, indicating that it is a white phosphorus grenade. TL: “Rright. Give him some coverrring firrre, and he will rrremove them frrom coverr.” They both stand. The camera operator begins firing with abandon towards what is now visible as a distant shelter built out of aluminum sheets. There’s a hollow thunk, and a streak flies toward the hut, cracking the thin sheet metal. Crack – a white cloud, spitting embers, billows out from the grenade. Distantly, there’s a scream of agony. From behind the impromptu structure, a figure stumbles out heedless of danger, and the camera’s microphone peaks as laser fire riddles the enemy. This occurs in the span of seconds. As the figure collapses, someone else screams. A woman, coming from the right of the camera, tries to drag the fallen soldier away; the soldier’s skin has turned an ugly, brilliant pink. From a distance, the woman appears to be wearing a blue shirt and jean shorts; no combat gear, no helmet, and no weapons slung over her shoulder. They make it a half step away from the hut before three laser blasts ring out, and both drop like stones. The Legionnaires leave their cover and begin to advance to a few small, blocky white houses to their right. The Tajara Legionnaire fires two more shots into the heap of two bodies; it is not immediately clear which he is firing at. The two quickly change out their powerpacks as they reach a door of one of the little houses. CO: “Ssstandard?” The Tajara just nods in response, before he can no longer be seen by the camera. The camera operator kicks in the door, knocking it off its hinges. Something is thrown inside– before the cameraman can move, a bang and a blinding light muffles the sound, obscures the sight. Given the muted bang, it’s obvious that someone has edited the sound to be quieter in post-production. When the audio returns, there’s a muffled shriek. The camera jitters; a person inside the hut seems to get knocked aside. The cameraman barrels into an adjacent room. There’s a large black stain of an explosion present on the wooden floor, and flames have begun to eagerly lick the curtains of a small window. The room’s only occupant is a disoriented-looking man, half-slumped against the wall, gripping a pistol in both hands. There’s the crackle of laser shots; the cameraman lurches forward and buries a combat knife in the man’s neck. He slumps, soundlessly sputtering and gasping before the operator turns around. The Tajara Legionnaire stands above a prone man with a face that is briefly visible as a burned red. TL: “Clearr in herrre.” CO: “Ssame.” The Tajara nods, and the two make to leave. When the camera reaches the door frame again, the scene is different. Legionnaires march through the razed town, filtering into the various houses and buildings, trudging through yards and fenced gardens. Every one of them is Unathi or Tajara, and all have somewhere on their armor, a scarlet red hand. In the center of the town, by a more stout structure of cement, several figures are being pressed against a wall while Legionnaires pat them down. One prisoner wears the green fatigues of the Mictlan Defense Forces, while the other two wear casual clothing. The camera sweeps to the left; a fire is visible in one of the buildings, flames crawling up wooden walls. A whistle is blown, sharp against the jungle sounds, and the platoon begins to fan out again. The camera turns, settling on a pair of soldiers standing over a pair of bodies. One takes out their PDA, aiming it at the corpses. A clear, Tajaran voice crackles through the radio on the cameraman’s armor. Radio: “All units this is 1-1 Actual. Clean sweep. Take photos, bag any evidence, burrn whateverrr we don’t take, and then head back to Rrrally point Orrul. Firre-Team Domino, he needs them by the concrrrete strrructure. Out.” At that last part of the transmission, the camera operator looks up at his comrade. CO: “Why’sss the commander need usss?” The Tajara just shrugs, and gestures for the camera operator to follow. The prisoners seem to have been searched but are still staring at the wall as two Unathi Legionnaires watch over them. A Decurion exits the concrete bloc. He is evidently a M’sai Tajara; half of his face is a mess of scar tissue, empty of his fur. On that same side is a glittering, evidently cybernetic eye. He hands off a bundle of paper to a passing soldier and looks to the pair. Decurion: “Wherrre’s the otherr two?” CO: “Ssstill in medical. They didn’t come on thisss one.” The Decurion nods his head. Decurion: [In Siik’maas] “Need them to handle these three.” TL: [In Siik’maas] “Please explain, sir.” DC: [In Siik’maas] “There isn’t enough space on the transport back for prisoners. They do not [unintelligible], and he’s not overpacking the transport for grunts. Take them back [unintelligible] but get rid of them before you arrive.” The Tajara simply nods, and turns to the camera operator, leaning in to whisper. TL: “No rrroom on the [inaudible]. Ourrr turrn to deal with it, he guesses.” The camera operator moves over to the first prisoner, roughly grabbing them off the wall and pushing them to the left. CO: “Move. We go back to the transsport.” The first prisoner stumbles slightly, as the camera operator turns away to grab the second, giving them the same treatment. The third by this point understands what’s going on, and has begun moving without needing to be pushed. In a single file line, the prisoners begin to move into the jungle, away from the village. The group walks, prisoners in the front, for a few minutes. The camera operator taps the Tajara on the shoulder, before gesturing towards the prisoners. The Tajara nods, and in unison the pair raises their weapons towards the unaware prisoners, opening fire. They quickly fall to the ground, and as one groans, the Tajara legionary walks up to the p rone body and pumps a shot into their head. The camera operator chuffs, turning away. CO: “When they get out of medical, the other two are gonna do it when it’sss our turn.” TL: “He wouldn’t mind that, but at this point is just another day in the Bloody Centurry.” At this point, an informational slide on the right of the video pops up, with the following information. The Bloody Century 4th Century, 1st Infantry Legion, 2nd Division. Known amongst the TCAF for being comprised of mostly Unathi and Tajara Veterans from the respective species wars over the last 100 years, the root of the name. Considered to be the Minutemen's most experienced frontline unit, and widely known among the Mictlani freedom fighters and civilians for brutality and ruthlessness. There have been multiple calls within biesel congress to dismantle the unit previously, due to rumors of rampant atrocities. Members can be identified by a scarlet red hand on their armor. CO: “I hate that name, it’sss sstupid.” The Tajara gives a chuckle, as the camera cuts out and the video ends.] Date: 08/07/2465 Founding Movement’s Propaganda Continues; Faked Videos Showing Armed Forces Make WavesNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Faked viral videos of Tau Ceti Armed Forces have sparked protests across New Gibson’s biodomes, including the capital biodome Hengsha, and Xoikko. The faked videos in question include footage of alleged TCAF troops executing civilians, using excessive force against surrendering terrorist forces, and burning homes. Zavodskoi Interstellar cybersecurity experts point out the discrepancies present in the footage, such as battlegroups and fireteams being referenced that do not exist, and soldiers involved that do not match the physical profiles of any known member of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces. Despite official statements from the Bureau of Defense and the Biesel Security Services Bureau categorically refuting the authenticity of the video, riots have overtaken Hengsha’s Main Street. The protests primarily consist of students and New Gibson University’s Young Syndicalists Movement members. “We’re here because we want to show our support to the victims of imperialist aggression,” said one anonymous protestor. “This is an unjust war, and the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is something that never should have existed.” Business owners in Hengsha report several incidents of storefront displays smashed, looted goods, and fires set to trash cans and police cars. Presiding Speaker Åke Torvald has declared a state of emergency in the capital and is requesting backup from other police forces from other biodomes to contain the growing unrest. “Protesting is a New Gibsonite tradition, the freedom to express one’s opinion,” said Torvald in a press conference today. “However, over the past few days, among those exercising that right are those seeking to spread fear and disorder. These few people represent a threat to our capital and the groups they have embedded themselves in. For the safety of all, I have requested reinforcements for our local police. I have no desire to disperse those exercising their rights.” The original video, depicting alleged abuse of power by a primarily Tajara and Unathi TCAF fireteam, received over one hundred thousand re-Chirps on social media before being removed by Chirper moderators for the reasons of violent and slanderous content. Hengsha Police Department has recommended residents remain in their homes and exercise compliance with law enforcement. We will keep our readers updated as the story progresses. Date: 10/16/2465 Samaritans Attack Fort Ilhutical in Lightning Strike, Release Statement Asking for End to ViolenceNews Article Publisher : TRUTH FINDER Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato In a daring pre-dawn raid, a suspected battalion-sized force of Samaritans launched a surprise attack on Fort Ilhutical, the forward operating base used by the TCAF as a staging ground for its excursions onto the continent of Huitzilopochtli. Made up of mostly veterans of the Mictlan Defense Force, the Samaritans attacked with military precision - engaging those standing guard with suppressive fire while a crack team sprinted towards their objective, the many hangers housing the aircraft of the 7th Air Legion, also known as the “Firestarters”. The guards were quickly overwhelmed, and the Samaritans were able to penetrate the base to assault communications. This communications bunker was critical for the Minutemen to keep in contact with their many roving patrols across the Eastern Continent. One blogger, a Callistean who had served in the Solarian Army, compared post-raid photos with his own personal ones taken at a range day years back, and remarked that the blast marks looked similar to the throwable demolition charges issued to many Solarian PDFs. It is suspected charges of this caliber were repossessed by Samaritans after many soldiers’ defection from the Mictlan Defense Force. Beyond the communications bunker, several aircrafts, their hangers, and other structures were heavily damaged. The TCAF released a statement soon after the raid saying no aircraft were damaged; however, leaked photo evidence shows several planes burning on the runway. Other photos suggest an explosive was detonated on the asphalt of the runway itself. Shortly after the raid, the general of the Samaritans, Xiomara Salvo, released a public statement posted to several sites across the extranet, including Chirper and 64tan. Quote; “Our strike this morning was not for our own gain,” said Salvo, filmed in front of a concrete wall bearing the flag of Mictlan. “The planes of the 7th Air Legion have devastated whole towns with their bombardment. What I have witnessed with my own eyes was a deliberate targeting of civilians because they happen to live on the wrong continent. Our own air defenses are not everywhere, and there are many places outside our defenses that are helpless against air raids. There is no reason to target these people. This violence must end, and it will only end when you are gone from this planet. Until then, the Samaritans will always stand in your way. We are still here, and we will always be here.” The Republic of Biesel has not acknowledged the statement, or issued one of their own. Truth Finders is fully committed to the truth of Biesel operations within Mictlan space, and we can only hope that one day Mictlan will be free to choose independence for itself. We will continue to report on the conflict in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone as developments occur. Date: 10/21/2465 Riots Sparked In Wake of Mictlan Defense Force Crackdowns on Founding MovementNews Article Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Early yesterday morning, columns of Mictlan Defense Force trucks rolled into major population centers across Mictlan, as part of what officials are calling the largest military assisted law enforcement operation since the Solarian Collapse. After days of gathering intelligence following the bombing in front of the MDF headquarters, the Defense Force assisted Biesel Security Service Bureau agents alongside local law enforcement in a mass arrest of suspected Founding Movement collaborators. The MDF has claimed their assistance to local law enforcement was due to the potentially dangerous nature of Founding Movement collaborators, and soldiers were needed where police would not suffice. However, social media posts and some footage captured by PDA shows usage of excessive force by military personnel. One video from Lago de Abundancia shows a woman sustaining a head injury after attempting to push away a soldier from arresting her husband; the video received over ten-thousand re-Chirps, and was circulated on 64tan. Claims of extrajudicial executions have also been spread, but no evidence has risen to suggest any detainees have been killed in the process of arrests.. In the hours that followed the morning raids, citizens began to assemble in several cities across the continent. A massive demonstration took place outside of the city hall of Arequipa, the Mictlan capital, demanding release of those arrested. In the aftermath of a riot in Sikunda, a group of 200 locals managed to gain entry to their local police station, freeing several detainees in custody. At the moment, no deaths have been confirmed as a result of the protests. Carlos Juarez, a spokesperson for the Mictlan Defense Force, condemned the unrest and stated that the arrests were a precautionary measure. “We’re trying to rule out any possible criminal associations,” said Juarez. “We have been stretched so thin within the past few years; enough is enough. To unequivocally defeat the Founding Movement, we have had to take desperate measures. I advise all citizens to remain calm, shelter in their homes, and cooperate with law enforcement as much as possible. When we have confirmed the detainees have no affiliation with the Founding Movement, they will be released.” Many have speculated that MDF authorities used Founding Movement activity as an excuse to conduct arrests against anti-corporate and anti-Biesel occupation actors. Truth Finders, an online news forum, has supposedly obtained leaked communications between Republic officials pressuring the MDF to conduct the round up, and adding certain groups and people to the lists of those to be arrested who they wished silenced or discredited. We at the Tau Ceti Times have been unable to verify this, but recongize it is not outside the realm of possibility. Prime Minister Ladislao de Santos also released a statement encouraging cooperation with authorities. “Our light of liberty has been threatened; because of this, we’ve needed to investigate thoroughly. Please, let cooler heads prevail.” Demonstrations have also occurred in Mendell City, Ashton, and Belle Côté, as well as continuing unrest in Hengsha on New Gibson. Protestors have been seen waving Mictlan flags, with a heavy police presence. The MCPD in particular expect protests to swell in number over the coming days, as activist organizations plan large events in the capital to protest the ongoing violence. Date: 11/02/2465 BREAKING: Mass Protests Grip Mendell City, Blockade Zhèngfǔ DistrictNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Public protests consisting of estimated millions of Mendell City residents occurred in Zhèngfǔ District today, in response to recent news that the Mictlan Defense Force assisted the Biesel Security Service Bureau in mass arrests to scout for Founding Movement members. Sister protests have also occurred in Hengsha biodome on New Gibson, compounding further unrest that occurred after an allegedly leaked bodycam video showing excessive force by the Minutemen. Security experts have dismissed the video, alleged to be filmed in the village of Xochi on the terrorist-occupied continent of Huitzilopochtli, as likely staged or heavily edited. Protestors of multiple species gathered in front of City Hall, many displaying signs relating to the freedom of Mictlan, decrying what is seen as the illegal occupation of the planet, and demanding the freedom of the suspected Founding Movement members. The crowd has been estimated to be around 3 million strong, which would make the demonstrations the largest in the history of the independent Republic. The Mendell City Police Department, according to a statement from their office, was apparently expecting a large protest, but was quickly overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. Demonstrations have stretched from Zhèngfǔ District to the surrounding districts of Phoenix Park and Xinghua Prefecture. Bureau of Defense experts say that the propaganda of the Founding Movement and Samaritan, both organizations known to use Extranet and social media to spread their message, have contributed to the current state of unrest. “They’ve essentially turned terrorists into victims,” said Kevin Darichuk, a psychological operations expert with the Bureau of Defense. “Their videos, this edited footage, managed to sway millions; and this is after the government of Mictlan took what were very reasonable measures.” Darichuk advised caution in news sources that did not come directly from government sources, and encouraged citizens to be distrusting of footage posted anonymously on the Extranet. “Anyone can edit these, basically.” Some protesters have stated their intention to remain within Zhèngfǔ District indefinitely, until what they claim as the Republic’s “unlawful occupation” on Mictlan has ended. Secretary of Defense Nathan Trasen condemned the protests. “As I have said before, when I took my oath of office, I swore to protect this Republic and all of its citizens. Sometimes this means making hard choices. The demonstrators today haven’t seen what I and Prime Minister de Santos have seen when we consider our options. These claims and doctored footage do not just insult our efforts to protect our people, they insult those lost to the vicious attacks from the Founding Movement and the Samaritans. I can say this; the Peacekeeper Mandate will continue, until the job is done.” We will keep our readers updated should any further developments occur. Date: 11/03/2465 Zhèngfǔ District Protests Continue, Nathan Trasen Reaffirms Confidence In Peacekeeper MandateNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Earlier this morning Secretary of Defense Nathan Trasen held a press conference at Mendell City Hall next to Zhèngfǔ District Square, still occupied by thousands of protestors who have refused to disperse since a week ago. Organizations involved in the protest, such as Cetians for Sapient Rights and the anti-corporate group Syndicated Union of Laborers, have made agreements with the Mendell City Police Department to permit continued assembly in certain sections of the square. Residents of Zhèngfǔ District have already made complaints to city bylaw offices about trash, noise, and harassment by protestors. MCPD is permitting protestors to assemble for three more days, after which they have been warned they will be dispersed by force. During the press conference, Trasen was proud to announce that information was obtained which led to the routing of a Founding Movement cell planning another attack from the city of Medeyre. Medeyre is a known frontline between the TCAF and insurgent forces. Secretary Trasen also reported that further counter-operations were underway against the Samaritans, and that control could soon be restored to Huitzilopochtli, the continent under Samaritan control. Rajinder Singh, a reporter from the Tau Ceti Times, questioned Trasen’s claim at the press conference and claimed that this was the third time in the past month that the Defense Bureau had made claims of progress against the Samaritans. “The operations currently ongoing on Huitzilopochtli are making progress,” Trasen responded. “The Foreign Legion, unfortunately, couldn’t have made the kind of steps that we were looking to take previously. It’s been a long road, but the Minutemen have done so much for us in getting rid of terrorism on Mictlan, and while I cannot elaborate further at this time, I do believe we’re in our final hour.” “We as a nation have a duty to protect our citizens,” Trasen continued. “And when our duty is done, we can finally allow Mictlan to open up the next chapter of its own history. Even if it’s hard at times, we cannot waver in this, or we are not a nation worthy of respect.” Secretary Trasen’s statement confirmed what many analysts had suspected, that the Republic is prepared for a long and protracted engagement on Mictlan. We at the Orion Spur Oracle stand with Secretary Trasen, and his unwavering commitment to the long term security of the Republic’s citizens. Date: 11/10/2465 Leaked Minutemen Documents Reveal Relaxing of Rules of EngagementNews Article Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Another scandal has rocked the Tau Ceti Armed Forces as the war against insurgency on Mictlan continues. Classified Mictlan Defense Force briefing documents, containing top-secret information about the tactics of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, have been leaked to multiple news sources, including the Tau Ceti Times and the Mendell City Bugle. Most notably, the document details a loosening of the rules of engagement for all Minutemen forces deployed to Huitzilopochtli. “Samaritans will often use civilian dwellings to mask their advance, or use unarmed scouts, as they have realized forces are restricted from countering these tactics,” one section of the briefing claims. “Henceforth, all Tau Ceti Armed Forces personnel may assume reasonable suspicion of any non-combatant outside of urban areas, waiving Section 2.5 of the Forces Code of Conduct. Usage of artillery outside of designated FOB areas on Huitzilopochtli has been cleared, waiving Section 2.6 of the Forces Code of Conduct.” Also mentioned in the document was permission for police, as assisted by Mictlan Defense Force personnel, to detain any civilian suspected of “terrorist sympathies” within the confines of an urban area. The document also details the Minutemen’s continued campaign to secure a hold on the beach of Raposa, Huitzilopochtli. Samaritan air defenses restrict jets and shuttles to movement over water, restricting supply access to the rest of the continent and forcing TCAF boats to remain a distance away from the shore. Within this section was a briefing on the amount of “ghost towns” rising near the continental coastlines, as the local civilian population began evacuating from areas where fighting occurred and continues to occur. Previous leaked footage of Bloody Century engagements across Mictlan, which consisted of white phosphorus usage, firing on civilians, and extrajudicial executions, has indicated previous disregard for rules of engagement. However, there is now confirmation that the Armed Forces has officially sanctioned engagement with civilians. No official statement has been released by the Secretary of Defense, Nathan Trasen, or the Defense Bureau. A letter from the editor: As the situation on Mictlan grows more intense, the Tau Ceti Times would like to continue its commitment to unbiased, truthful reporting. That we have been honored with the opportunity to reveal the scale and unprecedented brutality of military operations on Mictlan is not just a mark of trust, but an obligation. It should not, and it should never be, illegal to stand up for what is right. We hope and pray for a solution that allows Mictlan to recover in peace, democracy, and security. Until then, we will continue reporting for all galactic citizens. - Scott Sheen, editor-in-chief, Tau Ceti Times Date: 11/15/2465 Tau Ceti Times Reporters, Editor ArrestedNews Article Publisher : TRUTH FINDER Writer : La Villa Strangiato In the aftermath of classified document leakage providing evidence that the Tau Ceti Armed Forces relaxed their rules of engagement to include civilians, a raid conducted by Mendell City Police Department was launched on the offices of the Tau Ceti Times and the Mendell City Bugle. Yesterday evening officers in riot gear forcefully entered the building of the Tau Ceti Times, arresting reporters Rajinder Singh, Selena Anjaparidze, and editor-in-chief Scott Sheen. Also taken into custody was Verona Falk, the former Mendell City Bugle reporter who won the Carrier Pigeon Prize for Journalistic Excellence in 2463. Video footage taken by an employee who wished to remain anonymous shows officers kneeling on and forcefully shoving Singh and Sheen, despite no visible attempts from either to resist arrest. Several employees have expressed that they believe the arrests were carried out for the Tau Ceti Times’ opposition towards the continuing military occupation of Mictlan. Still others have openly wondered why the MCPD, allegedly strained to its breaking point after the massive protests, took time to conduct a raid on the news offices. As always, Truth Finders is fully committed to the truth of Biesel operations within Mictlan space, and we can only hope that one day Mictlan will be free to choose independence for itself. We will continue to report on the conflict in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone as developments occur. Date: 11/20/2465 Minutemen Launch “Operation Jakali”, Massive Offensive on HuitzilopochtliNews Article Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Three days ago, the Minutemen began a massive offensive against Samaritan forces on the beach of Raposa on Huitzilopochtli, code-named Operation Jakali. According to Armed Forces spokespersons, operational security dictated secrecy up until the beginning of the offensive. Early this morning, more than seventy thousand legionnaires crossed the channel between Fort Ilhutical and Huitzilopochtli, with the aim of establishing a beachhead to the west of the mountainous center of the continent. “The primary objective of the operation was to quickly overwhelm the Samaritan defenses,” Legate Kiernan Finley explained in an interview over video call today. “We intend to strike to the heart of the continent and disable as much of their combat prowess as possible.” Legate Finley elaborated that secondary objectives included capture of Samaritan leaders and routing of supply lines. As of today, a beachhead has been established on Raposa, with intelligence provided by the Zo’ra’s Chosen unit allowing a corridor to be cleared in the Samaritan air defense network. A beach head was quickly established and reinforcements moved onto shore without issue. The elite troops of the Bloody Century and Zo’ra’s Chosen, two units known for both ruthlessness and combat efficiency, lead the way on to the beachhead. However, the following troops quickly found themselves bogged down, with the offensive quickly devolving into a stalemate. Currently, Legionnaires battle entrenched Samaritans deeper into the jungles of Huitzilopochtli. Roughly one-hundred casualties have been reported so far; it is suspected the number will increase as the offensive is ongoing. Shortly after the publicization of the offensive, Secretary of Defense Nathan Trasen permitted a press conference in the Mendell City hall. Tau Ceti Times journalist Kelvin Truong asked Trasen for his perspective on the length of the stalemate, and if he had confidence it would break. “We encountered a lack of intelligence in regards to the strength of the Samaritan force, and the speed of their response was unexpected,” Trasen stated. “Our forces have ended up engaging with a lot more terrorists than we’ve expected; our current intelligence is that there are Founding Movement members reinforcing the Samaritan defense as well.” Trasen’s statement that Founding Movement forces were joining with Samaritan militants was unexpected, given the Founding Movement is a primarily civilian-centric group without a military organization like the Samaritans, and Samaritan leader Xiomara Salvo previously denounced the Founding Movement’s bombing of Arequipa’s Valtas Square. Trasen did not respond to later requests to elaborate on this comment. He went on to say that while the stalemate was “unexpected”, he had “complete confidence” in the Armed Forces, and that it was “only a matter of time” before Samaritan forces were routed. Civil unrest on both Mictlan and within Tau Ceti continues in the aftermath of the operation’s launch, particularly after the recent arrest and release of several Tau Ceti Times reporters, including editor-in-chief Scott Sheen. Casualties of the Huitzilopochtli offensive are returning home for burial. Military analysts predict that Jakali will be the deadliest engagement for the Minutemen so far. We will continue to keep our readers updated as the offensive progresses. Date: 11/22/2465 Founding Movement Leadership Isabel Alvarez Found Dead In CaxamalcaNews Article Publisher : ORION SPUR ORACLE Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato Isabel Alvarez, the original founder of the anti-corporate terrorist political movement the “Founding Movement”, was found dead yesterday after a riot in Caxamalca by Minutemen special forces. Alvarez’s body was found hanging from a lamppost after a riot, believed to be incited by the Movement, broke out two days ago. Minutemen personnel state that her body shows signs of prior injury, though until an autopsy is performed it is difficult to be sure. Alvarez, along with her circle of collaborators Leon de Rosas, Corazon Santanas, and Miguel Maia, established the Founding Movement after her graduation from Medeyre School of Law. de Rosas surrendered to Biesel security forces in 2464, while Santanas and Maia remain at large. Corazon Santanas, a leader of a Founding Movement cell believed to be operating out of Lago de Abundacia, issued a statement today that analysts have considered celebratory of Alvarez’s death. Whether or not Santanas had any direct involvement in Alvarez’s death remains uncertain at this time. “TRAITORS are meant to be hung,” read the statement translated from Tradeband, posted on Santanas’ independently-hosted website. “While I regret that Isabel had to be taken care like this of she was not hard enough to face reality!!!” The statement went on to deride Alvarez’s perceived lack of commitment to the Founding Movement, with Santanas claiming she was “too soft”. Alvarez’s death comes as the Minutemen are progressing an assault on Raposa Beach on Huitzilopochtli. So far, she is the first major leader of the insurgency movements to be eliminated since the start of the Peacekeeper Mandate. Previously, she was a member of the Mictlan planetary parliament, though she was expelled after charges of treason against the Republic of Biesel were levied against her. Alvarez had been evading law enforcement for several years after the beginning of the Mandate. Currently, Biesel Security Services Bureau is investigating Caxamalca and the area around where Alvarez’s body was found, hoping to find leads on other leaders of the Founding Movement. BSSB agent and criminal psychologist Min-sik Kim suspected that Alvarez was the victim of a coup, though not one necessarily ordered by Corazon Santanas or Miguel Maia. “I believe it’s a message. Firstly it’s saying, ‘this is how serious we are, and we’ll kill you as well if you get in our way’.” “I also believe it was very spur-of-the-moment, done in anger. It could have easily been someone else, but Alvarez was an easy target, because to them she wasn’t extreme enough.” Alvarez’s death has sent shockwaves through the Founding Movement. BSSB reports that several smaller cells have either been arrested, or surrendered themselves, citing Alvarez’s death as the reason. The Orion Oracle wishes the BSSB luck in rooting out the remainder of terrorism on Mictlan, and stands with the Republic of Biesel as always. Date: 11/28/2465 BREAKING: Xiomara Salvo and Samaritans Negotiate Surrender With Government of Mictlan and Tau CetiNews Article Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES Writer : Triogenix and La Villa Strangiato At 9:38 this morning, Xiomara Salvo, leader of the Samaritan insurgent forces on Mictlan, surrendered herself to the Minutemen Redsnout Unit alongside an estimated twenty-thousand Samaritans on Raposa beach, Huitzilopochtli. The surrender was observed by Prime Minister Ladislao de Santos and Secretary of Defense Nathan Trasen in person. Upon Salvo’s surrender and being taken into custody, the prime minister issued a formal pardon and parole for all crimes committed by Salvo and her top lieutenants, under the following conditions: # Salvo et al. were not to take up armed conflict against the government of Mictlan or the Republic of Biesel again. # Salvo et al. were not to run for political office within any territories on the planet of Mictlan or any future territories within the system of Sankta Tereza, or any other territories within the Republic of Biesel. # Salvo et al. were not to politically lobby for any past, present, or future candidate for political office within the territories of Mictlan or the Republic of Biesel. Political lobbying could be defined as; promoting a political candidate using their status as a former leader of the Samaritans, sending out flyers, individually campaigning for a candidate, or making public statements to the press or media. After the ceremony of pardon, Santos stepped up to address the assembled crowd, which consisted mostly of Minutemen and Samaritans alike, as well as some of the population of Huitzilopochtli. [In the article, a video is embedded. Ladislao de Santos, a middle-aged Mictlani man with graying dark hair and a thick, well-groomed mustache, steps up to a hastily-constructed stage on Raposa Beach. The wind is picking up, with hair and clothing buffeted by it. He stands in front of a crowd of blue-suited Minutemen, camo-wearing Samaritans, and suspicious-looking civilians. Each seem to be clustered into their own little groups, with the population of the villages of Huitzilopochtli and the Samaritans lingering close together. de Santos looks slightly disheveled, wearing a fleece over his wrinkled button-down shirt and tan slacks. To the viewer’s right is Nathan Trasen, contrasting the prime minister’s rumpled appearance; Trasen wears a prim, dark blue suit, his black hair slicked with pomade. His expression is unreadable as he watches de Santos. And just to the right of Trasen is a collection of Samaritans, surrounded by Minutemen Redsnouts in their distinctive blue and red hardsuits. These are clearly the leaders of the movement; they are not restrained in any way, but the mood is tense. At the group’s head is General Xiomara Salvo herself, her long black hair unbound and whipping about her stern visage. Her eyes are constantly darting; first to de Santos, then to the crowd, to the Minutemen guard, to Trasen, then once at the camera. de Santos begins to speak in Tau Ceti Basic. His voice is warm and pleasant, his Basic tinged with that distinctive Mictlani lilt. “When I was elected as prime minister, I never expected to see the collapse of Solarian authority, and everything that came with it.” de Santos clears his throat and continues. “Mictlan has suffered, in these past three years. From the lack of assistance from Sol, to the fighting that has gone on. It is time–” he pauses, perhaps for dramatic effect, “to end this. The fighting is no longer tenable. I have been in talks with Secretary Trasen and President Dorn, and we have all agreed that peace, first, should be pursued. I am happy that First Sergeant Salvo–” Briefly, someone in the crowd cries out. “General! General Salvo!” de Santos is undissuaded. “–has also agreed that peace should be our first priority. To that end, we have pursued a settlement. It is not perfect; democracy is never perfect. But with this settlement, we hope to end this conflict. I ask that you hear me out.” de Santos reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded square of paper, which he unfolds and begins to read from. “The terms of the armistice between the Samaritans and the Tau Ceti Armed Forces are as follows.” “Section one; terms of surrender. All surrendering members of the Samaritans will be put on lifelong parole, with specifics depending on their rank and station within the organization. Violating the terms of parole, should you decide to surrender, is an automatic capital offense for insurrection. All those who surrender, regardless of station, will have the condition on their parole of never taking up arms against the government of this planet, or the government of the Republic of Biesel, again.” Murmuring, amidst the crowd. Salvo shifts to cross her arms, and a few sharp looks are given her way by the Redsnout guards. de Santos continues. “Those who held commissioned ranks, either in the Mictlan Defense Force before joining the Samaritans, or within the Samaritan organization, are also additionally forbidden from running for political office or joining a political organization for the remainder of their lifespan. Similarly, they are forbidden from joining an armed organization, such as a police force or the MDF, for the rest of their life. This does not apply to those who held, or hold enlisted ranks.” Here he taps the paper for emphasis. “The Republic of Biesel has generously agreed to pay those who served in the Mictlan Defense Force during the Solarian Collapse from November 2462, their due back pay, as during the months before the establishment of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, many soldiers went unpaid. This backpay will terminate at the date a former soldier went AWOL, or deserted. Lastly, all crimes beyond the charge of insurrection, which will be the subject of parole, are to be pardoned by both the Mictlani government and the Republic of Biesel.” de Santos looks up from his paper, briefly scanning the crowd. The crowd’s murmuring grows louder. The prime minister wets his lips, and speaks again. “To put it simply, should you surrender by turning yourself in to the nearest Armed Forces outpost, or through contacting the outposts should you be unable to physically present yourself within seven days, you will be able to resume your life as a civilian. Those of you who were, and still are, enlisted, will be free to rejoin the Mictilani Defense Force. You can work any job besides ones which involve being active in, or part of, the political theater. All who served within the MDF before deserting will receive the pay deserved for their service to Mictlan during the months following the Solarian Collapse.” He takes a deep breath, and returns to his paper. “Now, section two; agreements between the Republic of Biesel, and the government of Mictlan.” “First, the Mictlani Government, duly elected by its people, reserves the right to allow its people to decide which Federal level laws are applicable within its territory, which is defined as its system, through a democratic process of popular vote. Laws that must always be applicable are Biesel Legal Code Section… ah, I can barely read that.” There is a ripple of nervous laughter in the crowd. The tiniest of smiles is briefly visible on Xiomara Salvo’s face; Nathan Trasen doesn’t share the expression. de Santos continues; “Basically, the big ones like insurrection, piracy, murder, terrorism, and similar.” “Second; Mictlan and its territory will be recognized as a special economic zone within the Republic of Biesel, and be free to determine its own economic policy, and laws regarding it.” This gets a louder reaction. There are a few cheers, a couple whistles. “Third; both the Republic of Biesel and the government of Mictlan agree to all of the above points from section one, and points one two, and four from section two, and sign this document with awareness that it is legally binding– with the caveat of section two, point five.” “Fourth; the people of Mictlan, through their duly elected Government, reserve the right to enforce its own laws within its territory, unless already covered under federal laws which cannot be unapplied.” “And point five; the above points are nullified if a percentage of greater than thirty three percent of the current Samaritan strength refuses to surrender.” de Santos stops, lowering his paper; at this cue some of the crowd begins to clap. Some of the civilians and Samaritans begin to cheer, and Salvo’s smile widens just a bit. Nathan Trasen, with no change in his stony expression, begins to clap. de Santos briefly flashes a winning politician’s smile. “And that is the treaty, in simple terms. We have already secured signatures from most involved, and should you choose to surrender, you will be given your own copy of the full terms. I hope that today will mark a new dawn for Mictlan. As the fifth point says, this is meant to be a new dawn for all of us. The purpose of this treaty is to make peace between us, and there can be no peace if a majority refuses. With that, I leave it all in your hands.”] By 11am Arequipa Standard Time, the sixty six percent surrender threshold needed for Section 2 to be applicable was passed after thousands of Samaritans either surrendered through remote contact with the Mictlan Defense Force with confirmation they would arrive at a base to be processed in the coming days, or presented themselves at the outposts. Following the success of the peace deal, Secretary Trasen announced that as the insurrection was officially over, TCAF and Minutemen units would begin returning home to Tau Ceti, and duties of planetary defense were officially handed over to the Mictlan Defense Force. Impromptu celebrations began across the planet; many have taken to the streets to celebrate Mictlan’s new peace and self-determination. “We never thought that something like this was possible,” said Carmen Jacinto, a student at the Tupac Amaru University. “It’s great that this all meant something, that we can start to work on building Mictlan up again.” Date: 12/01/2465 Mictlan, One Month LaterNews Article Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES Writer : La Villa Strangiato My guide leads me down a dirt road, indicating the construction site at the top of a hill. Right now, a hangar is being dismantled, and most of the blunt, square building is wrapped in plastic. Workers mill around the area, and an excavator is digging out a trench for more foundations to be laid. This was Fort Ilhutical, one of the forward operating bases for first the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, then the Tau Ceti Armed Forces. Hastily constructed in the aftermath of the Peacekeeper Mandate, its sleek aircrafts, cargo shuttles, and Legionnaires are long gone. I am told that when construction is finished, this will become a shuttle port operated and owned by Idris Incorporated, and then subject to new scrutiny after a series of environmental protection laws have been passed by Mictlan’s parliament. One month later, it feels hard to imagine that this was one of the many places the Armed Forces waged war against the Samaritans. The last shuttle carrying the Minutemen back to Tau Ceti’s gravity well left exactly 13 days ago, from this very base. On it was General Meredith Trent and the remainder of her 2nd Division, along with her personal guard, Decurion Za’Akaix’Ruko Zo’ra. They were the last Legionnaires to leave Mictlan. The duties of planetary defense have fallen to the Mictlan Defense Force. Later that day, I visit Arequipa and the Mictlan Defense Force headquarters in Valtas Square, where just two months ago a bombing by the Founding Movement damaged part of the building, demolished some of Arequipa’s glass skywalks, killed 24 people, and injured hundreds more. Once inside I’m greeted by Vitoria Correia, a recruitment officer. “We’ve had so many enlistments ever since the Samaritans were disbanded,” she explains to me. “It’s enough that we’ve had to start up a queue, check everyone’s credentials. We’ve actually managed to encourage a few of them to start officer training, working out how they could afford pursuing a degree. It’s been a lot more effective than I imagined.” Even many Samaritans who were never part of the MDF to begin with have decided to enlist. In the headquarters I speak with Soledad Dutra, a former Samaritan, who is waiting to discuss her options with a recruitment officer. “I don’t have any real skills,” says Dutra, a 28-year-old former resident of Lago de Abundacia. “I was raised in an orphanage, I lived on the streets for a bit when I turned sixteen, and then I finally got to live with my friends right before the Collapse. Then I didn’t have anything. I don’t think I’m good at anything but being a soldier, it’s what I’m trained for.” “I think she’s too pretty to be a soldier,” says Correia. It’s meant to be a joke, and Dutra laughs, but later she tells me it’s the second time Correia has made a similar remark. “She’s not as funny as she thinks she is,” Dutra says, before offering me a cigarette. I decline, but I give her enough credits to buy lunch, which she appreciates. When I leave the headquarters, I find myself at a memorial at Valtas Square’s fountain. It has become not just a memorial to the dead from the bombing, but a memorial to all those who have been caught in riots or caught in the crossfire of fighting. Candles on the rim flicker in the breeze, and flowers plastic and real choke the base of the fountain. Pictures of the dead sit between offerings, and more than once I see someone crouch to lay an offering at the memorial. On occasion I see the obvious non-Mictlani, dressed in suits and ties, ascending and descending the stone steps to the headquarters. These are Biesel Security Service Bureau agents, here on business. Despite the almost universal surrender of the Samaritans, the Founding Movement is still a lingering presence in the background of the planet’s newfound peace. Most hide out, making statements on their Chirpers (quickly banned by moderation), some show up to protest. A recent incident involved four people who identified as members of the Founding Movement, throwing a molotov in a residential area; when arrested, they claimed to be against the peace treaty, saying that it was proof that the Samaritans had fallen under Biesel stewardship. But the movement’s day has long passed. A day later, I sit in the Caballero restaurant in Saladas; on the side of the concrete building is a painting of Marie, the main character from the Konyanimation Believe~! In the time, wearing an apron and frying taco meat. I’m served a heaping plate of tortilla chips and spicy green salsa as I wait for my next interviewee. He shows up right on time; he’s a man of slight stature and a quiet, almost nervous disposition. He is the same age as Isabel Alvarez is, and in fact attended college alongside her. His dark hair is streaked with gray, and his eyes have deep shadows under them. He is Leon de Rosas, the last of the original leadership of the Founding Movement, when it was a political party that had a decent presence in Mictlan’s parliament. After the Peacekeeper Mandate in 2462, he surrendered to the Biesel Security Services Bureau, in contrast to his former college friends. He was imprisoned on Biesel for three years, and has recently returned to Mictlan after former General Xiomara Salvo petitioned for his pardon and release. I try to keep things lighthearted. Three of his old friends are dead; Isabel Alvarez was infamously found hanged from a lamppost, and Corazon Santanas and Miguel Maia, both leaders of the Movement’s more violent adherents, were allegedly found dead by BSSB agents. Skeptics pointed out that Santanas and Maia were found riddled with multiple bullets, and no autopsy results have been released to the public. I ask de Rosas how it feels to be back on the planet after years. “It’s not something I ever expected would happen,” he admits to me. “When you’re in prison, you become very used to monotony. It’s a tactic; it wears you down, makes you easier to control. Some people can’t handle it, but I was always considered a model prisoner.” To my surprise he tells me that he considers us kindred spirits. In November I and some of my co-workers, including my friend Rajinder Singh, my fellow reporter Selena Anjaparidze, and my boss Scott Sheen, were detained and held for three days after Scott appended an open letter to the reader base of the Tau Ceti Times, openly calling for freedom for Mictlan. Of course, we were there for only three days, and as harrowing as it was we had ourselves for company. We managed to break the tension with jokes and reassurances; de Rosas was alone, with limited news of the Mandate and Mictlan managing to trickle in. When I tell him I think his circumstances were worse than mine, he waves it off. “We were threatened for the views we chose to express,” he says. “So were a lot of people. It doesn’t matter who had it worse. At the end of the day we wanted the same thing.” Caxamalca is a city nestled in the heart of the sertão, a part of the planet referred to as the “backcountry” of the continent of Llactapata. It is arid and cold, mostly mountainous, marked by thick brush and cacti that make it difficult for even the most well-equipped vehicles to cut through. It is an industry city, largely funded by Hephaestus, and its position and relative isolation from the rest of the planet has left it largely untouched by war. I make my way to the city graveyard on the west side of the city; on Mictlan, places for the dead are far from soberly decorated. Flowers, candles, offerings of fruit and candy, little drawings, paintings, and sculptures adorn shrines. At an unmarked grave, I meet and shake hands with a woman. With some humor she apologises that she does not look the same as the many, many photos of her. “They edited one of my pictures, that one of me a few years back, to have eyeliner,” complains former General of the Samaritans, Xiomara Salvo. When I ask her why she did not move back to her hometown of Saladas, she claims it was starting to become a tourist trap. “Am I allowed to say that I think they’ll have Idris restaurants there in a matter of months, or does that go against my parole?” The terms of her parole, as decided on by Prime Minister Ladislao de Santos, prohibit Salvo from running for any political office within the Republic of Biesel, or making political statements in support of or opposed to any political candidate within the Republic. I tell her that regardless of what she says, our interview will be judiciously checked for any public statement that could violate the terms of it, without her being subject to legal action. She asks me if that “pisses me off”, and I tell her it’s part of the job, which she scoffs good-naturedly at. Salvo tells me that she has come to pay her respects, as she does every week. This grave bears a portrait photo of Isabel Alvarez, whose body was rejected by the remainder of her extended family and the family of her ex-husband, Bernardo Guerra. It took weeks, but in the aftermath of no claims from her next of kin, Salvo was able to have it buried here. “People are saying that everything’s cleaned up now,” says Salvo. “That we’re finally free, that it’s over, that this is our new beginning. I’m a cynic, I’ve always been a cynic. All I can think of now is how many people didn’t live to see this.” “You can edit this out later if it’s not allowed, but what happened to her was a tragedy,” Salvo remarks, ‘her’ referring to Alvarez. “It really was. I get a lot of credit for being a peacemaker, but she was a peacemaker. She was so damn nice she died rather than fight back.” “That’s not something I would have done, or even something that I think is always an option,” she continued, “but it’s principles, and she was committed to them.” I ask Salvo how she feels about her reputation. In Arequipa and Sikunda, murals and graffiti of Salvo have begun to crop up, and many celebratory signs and flags bear her face. “Oh Jesus,” she says. “Signs? Really?” I confirm it, and she shakes her head with a grin. “That happens. It’s my cross to bear. I think it’s supposed to feel good rather than embarrassing.” I ask her, if she was allowed, if she would ever run for office. There are rumours that many voters are contemplating writing in Salvo in the next election, as opposed to any of the current potential candidates. “Fuck no,” she says immediately. “That’s over with. I hope Mictlan never needs me or someone like me again.” Date: 12/31/2465 |
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