Heep-Heep; Disgruntled Homesteaders or Just a Simple Misunderstanding
Year 22 Day 024
Word of a new conflict in the Outer Rim spread amongst the rumor mills this week after the activation of the Third Confederate Fleet to the Nijune Sector. Several months ago, the planet of Zrak signed the Articles of Confederation and became a sovereign state of the Ciutric Hegemony and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As promised by CIS leadership, there has been extensive development and modernization in Zrak, including defensive stations, mining encampments and activation of defense shields. While many galactic citizens would see this as a good thing, apparently some more backward sentients may not see it that way.
Conflict is nothing new to the region. Disagreements between clans is nothing new for the Heep Heep. Like many indigenous populations, leadership is usually based on position of strength. The recent interclan peace on Zrak has only been in place for 2-3 cycles of the planet’s revolution around the system star. With the recent assistance from the CIS, the Heep Heep have seen a leap forward in regards to access to technology and have been able to now travel the starts. Not all had been good news before this week as several of the other members of tribal society see these advancements as a curse, quoting sacred text and warning of impending doom.
A meeting last month between Confederate representatives and Heep-Heep leadership held a meeting which was broadcast throughout Ciutric Hegemony space for transparency. The Heep-Heep cannot speak basic, and have to depend on a rusty old protocol droid to translate. During the meeting, frustration grew do to mistranslation. The droid tried to interject that it was able to interpret over 10 million forms of communication, but it was cut off by the Heep-Heep shouts of “SACRED TEXT”!
Since then, progress continued on the planet surface with the blessing of the Heep-Heep leader, Headman Pro’mese. Per recent rumors, after the establishment of the mining settlement by the Haven Corporation just off the coast of the Karz Ocean, tempers suddenly spiked. The new city is located near the spiritual hub of the Heep Heep Jisack. One of the smaller rival clans attacked and seized those at work building the city.
While many initially feared an open conflict, a resolution was quickly found due to the quick thinking of a clever Confederate Foreman who had been hard at work in the system. In the end, it was determined that this rival gang was actually upset due to the desecration of a sacred tree during a recent build project. This Fertility tree was thousands of years old and had been trampled by demolition droids. The rival Heep-Heep refused to stand down without the tree, living or not. Unfortunately, after being knocked down, the tree had been removed and heavily carved and was residing in the hall of the Confederate Magistrate in Hibtorburton City. Shaped like a large vegetable, the carving was representing the favorite dish of the Magistrate. While some claim he has no taste in art, others praised the carving for its simplicity.
After some convincing, and a visit by the Confederate Head of State, the 12 foot tall cylinder shaped carving was returned to the natives. After the carving was returned to its rightful place, the disgruntled Heep-Heep gladly released the captive workers. Open War was averted and the settlement continues. The fertility festival should go on as planned.