The Pride and the Passion: Counter Revolution in the state formerly known as New Babbage

Since the start of the Recent Unpleasantness in New Babbage (now known as Obolenskidonia, our correspondent, Beq Janus, has been sending dispatches from the front line. In addition, Miss Saffia Widdershins has managed to obtain interviews with an individual known only as T, a leading member of the Resistance, and with the de facto ruler, Doctor Obolenski himself. Photographs by PJ Trenton

Part 1: The Resistance Fighter
We had communicated for several days through obscure means before our arrangement meeting took place. I wore white pearl ear-rings had we had agreed, and T unerringly made his way through the cafe towards me. A relative newcomer to the former state of New Babbage, T has nevertheless made the city his home, and the cause his own.


It was clear that he had been living hand to mouth. We both ordered coffees - and I added a tray of delicious pastries. While I nibbled delicately at a slice of Battenberg, he fell on the sticky buns and cupcakes like a starving man. His clothes were stained with soot and blood - something that is, perhaps, less worthy of comment in the industrial streets of the region fomerly known as New Babbage than elsewhere, but even by Babbage standards it was apparent that something had Gone Wrong.

There had recently been an encounter, it seemed, with some of the metallic robots in the likeness of Doctor Obolenski in the commercial streets, and popularly (or perhaps notoriously) known as 'smashitrons'. According to T, they had been engaged in an attack on a leading citizen, one which had not only failed, but had led to the destruction of some five or six of the coonstructs who had literally lost their heads.

"I imagine it will be discussed as a malfunction," T told me. "I do not (believe it) ... for they fought with too much intensity ... but I will maintain the ruse ... if nothing more to allow Dr. O to maintain a low level of respect for us citizens."

T went on to speak with some passion of a disrupted and angry citizenry, children enlisted as spies, streets filled with grotesque iron images of the new leader, commerce endangered ... but was concerned that there seemed to be little done to save the city.

"I am new to the city," he explained, "just a couple of weeks under the stewardship of this clockwinder....a fine fellow as I can tell....with an odd taste in drink - frequently seen laying accross that very hearth behind you ... quite lost in his sour milk dreams. Then the announcement ... that he had been spirited away ... and the dark curtain of oppression falling upon the city."

T may be a newcomer to the city, but vehemently denies the charge that he is acting as the agent of a foreign power. He is proud of the democracy that the old New Babbage formerly embraced, for he believes that the people are the state, not the leaders alone (a view that might occasion a raised eyebrow from the Doctor).

He took me to see the devastation in Loner's Lane, where the attack that he had spoken of had happened. There, while T faded unobtrusively into the background lest his secret identity be suspected, I was able to speak with some of the cituzens and see for myself the outrageous assaults on the citzenry that are apparently taking place without restraint, with young (and irresponsible) children being armed with dangerous weapons which they have not hesitated to use.

I was able to speak with one citizen who had, to her great distress, been shot by a young girl. The girl seemed to feel no remorse and - indeed - revelled in her status as one of Doctor Obolensky's Youth Movement.

What will happen in Babbage? Will Doctor Obolenski succeed in his plans for his new city state? Perhaps it was time for find out just what his plans are.

Read Part 2 tomorrow.

Life in Obolenskidonia

This correspondent has spent some time assessing the impact upon the lives of the residents. Many of the social leaders have been removed or have gone into hiding, there are no official numbers being given for civilian/militia casualties with the regime showing scant regard for those who rebel against them.

"We didn't count anything... just dumped what we could in the canal... and yes Obolenskidonia is holding strong.", claimed General Kuroe when questioned about the attack on the HQ of the militia.

Yet in many quarters life is carrying on, the urchins are still at large, they are a constant thorn in the side of any authority democratically elected or otherwise so for them it is business as usual, however, this correspondent fears that the cost to those who push their luck too far may be somewhat higher than a spell in the school house and a clip round the ear.

There are still social gatherings, and the bars and coffee shops are still busy though suspicions are rife and the hushed tone of whispers is more common now than the raucous laughter familiar to those who have lived here for some time. The regular popular balls held by Miss Breezy Carver are still taking place despite the occupation and the difficulties that that imposes, some guests it is said were deliberately becostumed in order to conceal their true identity.

Industry however has been diverted. A look out upon the docks sees a fleet not of mercantile clippers and trading ships but of threatening ironclad war vessels. Indeed the port, in the past a ribald and lively part of the city, is all but deserted. In a recent open letter to the citizens of Obolenskidonia, The overlord announced that productivity in the factories was up by 7%. No information as to what was being produced and how this increase was achieved is available. The Primgraph can reveal however that the new regime has plans however with an ambitious scheme to create a pioneering new factory producing scones, on the site of the old town hall. A more ominous prospect, the Primgraph can exclusively reveal is the secretive "Aether" project,
which will apparently expand the borders of Obolenskidonia.

I will report more on the trials and tribulations of life in Obolenskidonia in coming days but for now this correspondent is gonig to return to a bar, for research purposes.

your faithful correspondent
Beq

New Babbage, New name, Welcome to Obolenskidonia

New Babbage, the independent city state, that has stood out for is brash rebuffal of past attempts at political and military interference has fallen under the control external forces.

The Primgraph, your ever diligent news journal has asked this correspondent to report from the city and relate events as they unfold. News has been slow to emerge, with fears of control measures to kerb the freedom of the press and yet, since my return to my home city, yesterday, I have not found evidence to support these claims, indeed a full interview with general Kuroe will follow in the comings days.

As this correspondent has herself been away from the events I shall first attempt to briefly capture the events that have brought us to the present situation.

What happened to this once proud City? Who is the new ruler?

The City Of New Babbage was last in the headlines earlier this year with the hotly contested election of a new Mayor. An election that was concluded with a democratic majority voting for Mossoveno Tenk. Mr Tenk assumed office In late February but in recent times rumours of weaknesses, an over indulgence in a certain alcoholic beverage, have persisted with alleged photographic evidence being published in the more popularist journals such as the Canal Street Snitch.

For a long time the mercantile strength of New Babbage has been an attraction to both Merchants and Brigands and it was not long before the apparent weakness of the new leadership saw in increase in the number of incursions into New Babbage Territory. These were rumoured, but never proven, to be linked to one Doctor Obolenski, an eccentric and fanciful character, with an inclination towards theatrics.

The local militia, an ill-prepared band of citizen soldiers, was assembled in April with no real expectation that they would be required to act. What else could be expected of a state whose unofficial motto is the ever optimistic "What could possibly go wrong"? Yet with typical Babbage pluck the militia has rebuffed many attacks, including bombs, gas mines and mortars. However, on no occasion was the leader, a pirate known locally as Ashiko Kuroe, successfully apprehended and detained.

Finally in early June, it seems, the odds tipped in the aggressors' favour. Mr Cleanslate, the mayor's deputy, left town around the 3rd of June, publicly stating that he was heading on diplomatic business to the steam lands and the neighbours of Babbage. The aggressors saw their opportunity with the sober deputy otherwise engaged a mechanical army was seen to descend upon New Babbage overnight on June the 9th. Supported by Captain Kuroe and a cohort, Capt. Lupindo, the army was triumphant. The very next day a new state of Obolenskidonia, ruled by the Overlord Doctor Obolenski was announced to the nation through aerial paper drops, martial law was imposed and the new regime took hold. Captain Kuroe, was hailed as General of the air corps, with Captain Cadmus Lupindo, put in charge of the naval blockade, both sharing the overall policing of the state. the metallic soldiers, known locally as "clanks" now patrol the streets.

The fate of the mayor had remained unknown but a few days later propaganda started to appear claiming that the Mayor's addiction had been his downfall. He was it is clear abducted and his fate is as yet unconfirmed, though the propaganda of the new state claims that he was seduced by his addiction, sealed in a bottle and set afloat on the currents of the Vernian sea.



In the days since the occupying forces made their presence known, there has been a growing underground movement, a resistance. Initially this was confined to misdemeanour and high profile protests, with the iron clanks being dressed in garlands of flowers and cuddly toys alongside other statements of a typically Babbagian nature, such as protest notices in the form of street graffiti.


In more recent days the protest has escalated, in one audacious assault Miss Mara Razor and an as yet unidentified white haired co-conspirator were seen to make an attempt to assassinate the overlord, but their bows and arrows proved powerless and they are now sought as enemies of the state.

The resistance is not limited to just these two, as an increasing number of assaults would seem to support. Indeed, General Kuroe admitted openly that this vexes him.

"I have people with guns shooting at my men. I would rather focus my attentions towards them."

I can, through my own observations confirm that gun fire can be heard ringing out from the streets at night, and many citizens are left stranded in their houses.

The apparent triumph of the new rulers is beginning to look somewhat tarnished.



Your faithful correspondent - Beq Janus