Year 26 Day 61
While conflict continues to erupt throughout the galaxy, violence becoming commonplace, and many find their lives destroyed, yet the taste for bloodshed seems to becoming more common with it. Many eyes have turned to combat sports for entertainment. Organized fighting events have sprung up throughout Confederate Space over the last few months, much to the pleasure of the masses. Rules vary between regions, but most matches are not to the death, ending instead when one party submits. The most prominent of these, dubbed the “Hassaria Fighting League” (HFL), is particularly violent and has been gaining viewers faster than any other sporting event in the region. This past weekend, a match even had more viewership than the weekly news summary from the Head of State.
This is a trend that is unlikely to slow down, as several deep-pocketed investors have cropped up, eager to associate their names with the surging rocket that is the HFL. Several prominent members of society have also participated in some of the events, adding to the excitement.
As the sport becomes more commonplace, some conservative representatives worry about its influence on younger viewers. The Shadowfeed asked the public for their input on their holosite, receiving a surprising amount of feedback.
Most respondents were not in favor of combat sports, claiming they promote violence. One parent posted on social media, “The HFL involves repeated striking techniques that can lead to head injuries and concussions. For kids, whose brains are still developing, this poses a considerable risk. They will mimic these stars!” Another registered voter said, “It is bad to watch wrestling if you’re a kid. It teaches children that the best form of retribution against your superiors is a Piledriver!”
Other registered voters, with potentially more progressive views, responded as well. They claimed that while HFL is based on violence, it is not with malicious intent. It is a sport and should be treated as such. Another claimed that there is limited evidence showing exposure to combat sports begets violent children, especially if the children are educated on what is socially acceptable prior to exposure.
There has been an large uptick in Bacta use, directly related to the increase in minor and major wounds from the fighting clubs. At the monthly meeting of investors, one Ministry of Health (MoH) manager raised concerns about the Ministries supply of bacta refills. Stocks appeared to be dwindling and the representative felt that the MoH need to aggressively adjust projections or they would likely run into problems over the next quarter. It is unclear if these claims are grounded in fact or just speculative at this time.
One thing is for sure: the new investors are eager to continue reaping the rewards of the newfound popularity of the HFL. Registered merchandise has found its way to the holonet and local stores, including a limited edition Siejo “The Stone” Kutol figure for sale on the holosite.