![[arkangel-riot.png]] *Added to the Codex on* ***March 19th, 2024*** --- ### Quotes "We will not be silent. Stand with the Brotherhood of Night this Monday when Arkangel Corporate arrives for an inspection of their thievery."[^1] - Violeta "El Alicanto's community had always been one of peace. It took the Arkangel Riots for that to change."[^2] - Blasco "All they had to do was listen. Instead, the GDP justified the Brotherhood's whole existence when the first shot was fired." - Crawford <br> ### Description The [[Shearwater Lithium Industries]] depot in [[Haven|El Alicanto]] was fraught with controversy, going all the way back to the project's approval in late 2044. While results claimed the public voted in favor of the Chilean Lithium Expansion Project Referendum, materials leaked to the press suggested the project had been approved regardless of the vote - part of the arrangement with providing Chile with its own Shearwater weather satellite. Despite public protest, the construction of the SLI depot was completed by May 2045. [[Arkangel]] attempted to alleviate tensions with the Arkangel Lithium Compensation Package, an annual stipend for all citizens affected by their operations. Enrollment in the program remained low, however, with the "blood money" being soundly rejected by locals. Tensions began to rise between the [[Guardia del Pueblo]] and [[Brotherhood of Night]], a contingent of protesters who'd taken up arms and declared themselves "Protectors of the Desert." They were heroes to their community, but were branded as "criminals and thugs" by the GDP. However, for all the trouble they caused, the Brotherhood's disorganization made them more nuance than threat. That would change after July 2045. With news that an Arkangel delegation would be visiting, Violeta O'Higgins, Brotherhood member and community leader, organized a peaceful protest to coincide with their arrival. It was unclear who fired the first shot, with both sides accusing the other of violent escalation. However, within sixty minutes, four GDP officers, and six protesters, including Violeta, had been killed. The incident was dubbed the "Arkangel Riot of '45" by Chilean media. The death of Violeta drove a sudden mobilization and militarization of the Brotherhood. She became a symbol that united the disparate group, who believed the only path to peace was through action and violence. Now led by [[Bernardo O'Higgins]], Violeta's brother, the Brotherhood was invigorated with renewed purpose. It may have been a singular moment in El Alicanto's storied history, but the Arkangel Riot of '45 was the first shot in a bloody conflict between the GDP and the Brotherhood of Night that would last for years. [^1]: Taken from [[Violeta's Speech|Violeta's Speech.]] [^2]: This is one of Blasco's loading screen quotes.