Fort Akton, month of Crys, 350 AC
The weather gets frigid. Winter storms hit the badlands over and over. Travel is exhausting as snow covers everything. There are no recognizable roads, save for a thin track of footprints between the fort’s market and the village, and another from the village to the river and the ruins of Maimed Nerd. NET-Co employees and designated army units are trying to recover scrap metal and other valuables from the ruins. The snow makes it slower work, but better that than the razor sharp shlack, which would actively slash and jab people in warmer weather. Most of the travel this month is by the army’s spore pod, which acts as air reconnaisance and occasional transport for diplomats between communities.
The alzwellian craftsmen create new houses within the village for some of the citizens who used to live in the fort. Groups of citizens can live together, or those with prestige and money can buy their own (Trade Secretary Silas, his wife Senator Miata, and their newborn son move into one).
The department of R&D cleans, catalogues, and experiments with salvaged parts from the town. There is plenty of raw metal and a metalsmith to create new parts when needed. Crazy Dave is trying to repair corroded parts on his robots, and get the robotrooper chasis in tip top shape, even though it lacks a head/CPU. Travis is establishing a computer database of artifacts, and trying to transfer Nulbo the Gardiner’s chaotic notes onto a data file. Dr. Zeebo has the opportunity to either catalogue Nulbo’s crops (scientific classification of unknown species), or to work with the mushrooms (edible and poisonous from the Stoo shroom cave), or a project of his own choosing.
Queen Lexanna of the Lex tribe arrives at Akton to discuss her tribe’s position within the alliance. She is a friend of Akton, and her tribeswomen have goodwill towards the community. Their concerns are that they are a mobile group who hunt, survive, and skirmish with rival tribes and the Ukrul badders. They do not earn money for their work, so wouldn’t be able to pay taxes, etc. They do not want to be forced to stand and fight in other’s wars, as the entire tribe could be cut down in a defeat. The Presidents try to negotiate a working formal relationship within the Alliance. However as the moon waxes, Ragnor becomes erratic and impatient, and the insulted Queen departs.
The Healers establish their hospital within the Champion Tower. Arvak uses his planar portal to travel back to Sanctuary, in order to recruit more healer staff. With colorful descriptions of the Alliance (storytelling talent) and John Trapper’s requests, he is able to bring back a traveling Healer (Em Zury), another assistant (Sara), and a qualified Healer’s Guard (Karl).
While Arvak is away, the full moon nears. Ragnor becomes stir-crazy, trapped inside the fort with ice and snow surrounding him. Maniacally, he orders his troops into full combat mode, driving them through the snow at night towards the village of Big Ax. He is determined to slaughter the evil chowzers, choo wops, and hoops of the village come hell or high water. Any officers who try to reason with him, or offer advice, are assaulted into submission or “relieved of duty”. The army unfortuately learns that chowzers (huge intelligent vicious hamsters with glowing eyes) can run on snow without sinking, and burrow through it without much effort. They are surrounded, and pummeled from all directions from their more mobile rivals. In addition, unseen enemy archers lob arrows down onto them. The army flees back to Akton, leaving a crazed Ragnor who “monsters out” and battles them until he too must retreat.
Horrified by his recent actions, the Senate puts Ragnor to a “vote of no confidence”, and, similarly to President Cal, he is voted out of office. The election for a new President (for a 3 year term) is held a fortnight later. Prior candidates Mother Enya (Radioactivist leader), Dr. Zeebo, and Dedrick X all contend, but in the end, Captain Ramil of the army is elected the new President. He resigns his army commission, and accepts his new position. He promotes Tik-Tok the Brutorz to Captain.
President Ramil meets with the Guildmaster of Alzwell, and arranges the following: Alzwellian recruits are brought into the Akton army, effectively doubling the size of the military. They are trained, equipped, and mixed into the various squads. Former sergeants Bran and Mar are promoted to Lieutenant. Many of the old veteran soldiers are promoted to sergeants of the new squads. If for any reason Alzwell is denied full membership into the Alliance in the spring, the recruits will be discharged back to Alzwell.
President Gaal Lont meets with Queen Lexanna again, and creates the new designation of “Tribal Ally”. This allows Akton forces and merchants to travel through a tribe’s land (roads shall be maintained by Akton), but not allowing permanent settlement within those lands. (Under a former agreement, the Lex can collect a toll, which they have done at the bridge over Thunder River just south of the village of Akton) The Presidents or Captain of the army can call upon the tribe to supply auxillary warriors, but they will not be under direct control of the federal army. The tribe can appoint or elect a Representative to the Akton Senate, who is allowed to vote (basically a Senator in rights, but with a slightly lower prestige, and only 1 per tribe as compared to 2 for a full member).
Soon after, the Klintok tribe is offered the same status, and their council of elders accepts.
Finally, a hearing has been scheduled for the captured Enforcers who were loyal to the Deacon. They surrendered towards the end of the battle of Conquered to spare their lives, and have been imprisoned at Akton for the past few months. They are charged with kidnap, torture, and murder of various badland citizens (especially towards their own citizens at Conquered). The Tribunal will hear testimony from various victims of their regime (including the norfo fishermen who were ambushed, resulting in the death of a young girl), and the defense of the accused. Based on the needs of the tribunal, and from the experience of Calibraxis’s trial, they realize the alliance needs the services of two laa’yers, to gather the various witnesses, and formulate their arguments as a whole. The tribunal starts looking for worthy candidates.