Exarch Redburn Halts Trial of Grievance 7/10/3132
INN - Interstellar News Network
GENEVA, TERRA—Today, Exarch Damien Redburn ended the ongoing tension
between Prefect Kal Radick (Prefecture IV) and Legate Tara Campbell (Northwind),
not with a clash of BattleMechs, but with the voice of reason. In response to what he
perceived as a challenge to his authority recently, Prefect Radick directly challenged
Countess Campbell to a “Trial of Grievance,” military contest of arms.
“Prefect Radick and Countess Campbell both understand that the stability of the
Republic must always take precedence,” Exarch Redburn said in a brief statement to
the press. “Personal conflicts should never be allowed to disrupt the rule of law and
justice.”
This “personal conflict,” as Exarch Redburn described it, began with Kal Radick’s
statement in front of an assembly of planetary leaders. In this statement, he implied
that the Republic must someday give way to a return of the historic Star League.
Countess Campbell took issue with this idea, and events escalated from there as press
releases flew back and forth between Tikonov and Northwind. Prefect Radick
challenged Legate Campbell to a Trial of Grievance, a Clan tradition by which injured
parties settle their dispute in single combat.
“No matter what her stated intentions,” Kal Radick said in one of his interviews last
week, “Legate Campbell has undermined my authority.” Throughout their verbal
sparring match, Prefect Radick refused the Countess her noble title, always referring
to her military office.
Countess Campbell’s greater decorum lasted until four days ago. “Prefect Radick
voiced his own political view, and I voiced mine. That is what happened. But if he
wishes to challenge our right to free speech in the Republic of the Sphere, I’ll be
happy to meet him in Trial and show him what Highlander dedication and patriotism is
all about.”
Kal Radick’s subsequent demand that she travel to him, on Tikonov, for such a match
was refused.
“By his own traditions,” Countess Campbell noted, “the challenger is only allowed to
set the terms of actual combat. Augmented, with BattleMechs, or unaugmented hand-
to-hand with a weapon of his choosing. The challenged party sets the venue, and I
prefer to bring Prefect Radick here to Northwind.” The local MechWarrior Academy
Proving Grounds were to be set aside for any contest. “I think that future soldiers and
officers of the Republic would benefit from such a display.”
Prefect Radick agreed. “The consequences of insubordination should always be swift
and easily understood,” was his public reply. Countess Campbell’s following press
release clarified her earlier statement, calling it a “display of apparent insecurity.”
The Trial of Grievance was set to go forward by the end of this week. Media requests
to cover the Trial flooded government channels, including requests from corporate
sponsors on Solaris VII, the Game World, which wanted to negotiate exclusive
gambling rights to the event. Shortly thereafter, the office of the Exarch stepped in
and negotiated a private end to the public dispute.
Neither Prefect Radick or Countess Campbell have issued statements concerning the
aborted contest, leaving all press matters to Exarch Redburn’s staff. A confidential
source within the Exarch’s staff paints a less-than-rosy picture of the situation.
“Prefect Radick and Tara Campbell both accepted a light dressing-down,” the source
confirms. “No permanent marks will appear on their records, though. All they have to
do now is stay quiet until it all blows over. That’s all.”
Solaris odds are running at three-to-one, against.
INN - Interstellar News Network
GENEVA, TERRA—Today, Exarch Damien Redburn ended the ongoing tension
between Prefect Kal Radick (Prefecture IV) and Legate Tara Campbell (Northwind),
not with a clash of BattleMechs, but with the voice of reason. In response to what he
perceived as a challenge to his authority recently, Prefect Radick directly challenged
Countess Campbell to a “Trial of Grievance,” military contest of arms.
“Prefect Radick and Countess Campbell both understand that the stability of the
Republic must always take precedence,” Exarch Redburn said in a brief statement to
the press. “Personal conflicts should never be allowed to disrupt the rule of law and
justice.”
This “personal conflict,” as Exarch Redburn described it, began with Kal Radick’s
statement in front of an assembly of planetary leaders. In this statement, he implied
that the Republic must someday give way to a return of the historic Star League.
Countess Campbell took issue with this idea, and events escalated from there as press
releases flew back and forth between Tikonov and Northwind. Prefect Radick
challenged Legate Campbell to a Trial of Grievance, a Clan tradition by which injured
parties settle their dispute in single combat.
“No matter what her stated intentions,” Kal Radick said in one of his interviews last
week, “Legate Campbell has undermined my authority.” Throughout their verbal
sparring match, Prefect Radick refused the Countess her noble title, always referring
to her military office.
Countess Campbell’s greater decorum lasted until four days ago. “Prefect Radick
voiced his own political view, and I voiced mine. That is what happened. But if he
wishes to challenge our right to free speech in the Republic of the Sphere, I’ll be
happy to meet him in Trial and show him what Highlander dedication and patriotism is
all about.”
Kal Radick’s subsequent demand that she travel to him, on Tikonov, for such a match
was refused.
“By his own traditions,” Countess Campbell noted, “the challenger is only allowed to
set the terms of actual combat. Augmented, with BattleMechs, or unaugmented hand-
to-hand with a weapon of his choosing. The challenged party sets the venue, and I
prefer to bring Prefect Radick here to Northwind.” The local MechWarrior Academy
Proving Grounds were to be set aside for any contest. “I think that future soldiers and
officers of the Republic would benefit from such a display.”
Prefect Radick agreed. “The consequences of insubordination should always be swift
and easily understood,” was his public reply. Countess Campbell’s following press
release clarified her earlier statement, calling it a “display of apparent insecurity.”
The Trial of Grievance was set to go forward by the end of this week. Media requests
to cover the Trial flooded government channels, including requests from corporate
sponsors on Solaris VII, the Game World, which wanted to negotiate exclusive
gambling rights to the event. Shortly thereafter, the office of the Exarch stepped in
and negotiated a private end to the public dispute.
Neither Prefect Radick or Countess Campbell have issued statements concerning the
aborted contest, leaving all press matters to Exarch Redburn’s staff. A confidential
source within the Exarch’s staff paints a less-than-rosy picture of the situation.
“Prefect Radick and Tara Campbell both accepted a light dressing-down,” the source
confirms. “No permanent marks will appear on their records, though. All they have to
do now is stay quiet until it all blows over. That’s all.”
Solaris odds are running at three-to-one, against.
| July 10, 3132 |
