SHORT STORIES : Liberation of Kalamat

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©2012 Andrew Thompson.  A tale from the Irukandji virtual world.

This is a different kind of tale, for it has a factual side and a fictional one.  Both however are militant.  If ever a real war was waged to protect one's territory on the Second Life grid, then this was it.  Both are very nearly true, and both are somewhat amusing.

Early 2008: Due west of Irukandji on the Second Life grid, lies another cluster of sims owned by a French banking consortium.  I dislike all the French people I've met there to date.

They seem arrogant and rude to me.  In the real world, I confess I'm a little jaded towards the French after seeing first hand how poorly they treat the natives on New Caledonia.  My distaste is proving difficult to budge.

Back in SL, our neighbours to the west did nothing to help the cause.  They had not spoken to us since day one, perhaps hoping we wouldn't last.

Lately their owners have been vocal about their displeasure at being located next to a gay themed estate, and are even resorting to running about Irukandji like a God-squad espousing homophobic rhetoric, then run away again before I have a chance to catch them.

I was angry as hell, but not scared.  In true militant fashion, I decided I would harass them back.  I would build more sims, filling the void between our estates, and intimidate them with Irukandji's size.  Simultaneously, the novelist surfaced within me ...
Another unprovoked attack by the French in the west.  They seem to want to continue on where our former British masters left off.  Unwise.  We are defended now, a small nation but with a strong military, and French Kalamat is a long way from Paris.  We will fight if need be, but first we must plan strategy.  We need to strengthen our borders and establish new garrisons, particularly in the northwest.

I purchased eight new simulators and placed them northwest of the French consortium.  Not joined to Irukandji on the grid, it appeared to be a separate owner.  I named this estate Jillaroo.  The eight sims were Jackaroo Island, Mantaray Shoals, Barramundi Bay, Tuvalu Straits, Yeppoon Atolls, Great Keppel Island, Captain Cook Reef, and Tanawayo Bay. 
I have despatched Lady Andhesaid to Jackaroo Island to meet with the local elders.  The Jillaroo tribes opted not to rejoin Irukandji after we gained independence thirty years ago, and I know they are the worse for it.  Poverty and crime are widespread.

I terraformed the sims to make them liveable and unique, and settlers began to move in.  I am debating whether directness is the best option, i.e. join the two estates so the French can see our intent, or whether to maintain the secrecy and encircle them south of Jillaroo.  Either way, I've begun building an obvious presence in the Jillaroo sims.  It isn't hard to tell it's really Irukandji from the architecture. 
The arrival of Lady Andhesaid has met with suspicion from the Jillaroo elders, but support from the people.  Six of the eight elders have capitulated and Andi has gained consent to establish garrisons throughout the region in return for financial aid.  Whispers abound that the Jillaroo people wish a referendum on seeking statehood.  I have instructed her that this course must unfold.  I am sending Prince Rah to oversee the construction of an all-tide sea bridge to join distant Coraki Lagoon to the Trans Irukandji Causeway, thus joining our nations together.

I have purchased two more sims, Byron Bay and Coraki Lagoons to bridge the two estates.  A lot of teamwork and the Trans Irukandji Causeway is weaving its way through the ten new sims.  The submarine channels under Boyfriend Beach and Split Rock Mountain are progressing well too.  Reports are trickling in that the French are visiting Jillaroo, no doubt suspicious of what we're up to.  One attempts to make dialogue with me, but as he has ignored my attempts in the past, I return him the same courtesy.  Kep gives me a French submarine and sinks it in the Baie de Citron with smoke billowing from its engines.  I laugh.  Our first catch :)
Prince Icon is seeing to the dredging of the WW2 submarine channels beneath Boyfriend Beach and Hephaistion to hasten access to the west.  Meanwhile, Andi will remain on Jackaroo Island.

Stay tuned.  More to follow.