The Huenyan government has passed a law annexing a small island off its northwestern coast, with the stated intent of protecting an indigenous people living there.
Itozuma is a small island in the Tenebric Ocean, 37 miles north of the Huenyan mainland. It is roughly 5 miles long and 4 miles wide, with an overall area of roughly 25 square miles. The island is inhabited by an indigenous people known as the tlen kualantok (or “angry ones” in Huenyan). The name that the people of Itozuma call themselves is unknown, as is much of their history, culture and language. This is due to the reclusive nature of the tlen kualantok. They choose to live in voluntary isolation, shunning contact with the outside world. The tlen kualantok often attack outsiders who attempt to land on Itozuma; such encounters have resulted in injuries and even deaths.
Through history, most people have chosen to allow the tlen kualantok to enjoy their state of isolation. Their island itself was small and offered few natural resources to attract would-be colonizers. The only attempt on record to do so was in 1883. A Xiomeran expedition led by a colonial administrator named Mazaco would spark such a hostile response from the tlen kualantok that then-Empress Camaxtica would call the entire effort off. Mazaco himself would later describe Itozuma as “a worthless speck of dirt not worth the effort”, and the tlen kualantok as “nasty, brutish people utterly without reason”.
Since then, the world has chosen to leave Itozuma and its indigenous people alone as they desire. But over the past three weeks, Huenyan naval and air patrols reported seeing multiple Xiomeran vessels and planes near Itozuma. The ships and planes were identified as belonging to the Imperial Cartographic and Exploratory Agency. The ICEA claims to be a purely scientific and documentary enterprise. However, it falls under the direction of the New Empire Program, the Xiomeran entity responsible for long-range planning of Imperial growth and development. The ICEA is thus believed to be a front for Xiomeran searching for annexable land.
The sighting of ICEA vessels near Itozuma immediately raised alarm bells in Chuaztlapoc. After an unusually quick debate within the normally fractious Federal Legislature, a bill was brought forth to annex Itozuma and declare it under Huenyan protection. The bill was approved with only 25 members of the 320-seat Chamber of Deputies voting in opposition. All four members of the Chamber of Executives also voted in favor. President Xiadani was quick to sign it into law.
“This bill was sent to me with near-unanimous support by the Legislature, crossing party and ideological lines. This demonstrates one thing – Huenyans are united in our determination to oppose Imperial land grabbing and enslavement of free peoples,” the President said after signing the measure. “The regime of Empress Calhualyana is so desperate to make up for losing Huenya that they are seeking to grab any piece of land they can, anywhere they can. They are so desperate to prop up Calhualyana’s fake image as someone who can grow their Empire that they would even be willing to force their designs on one of the last truly unspoiled places in the world, and the innocent people who live there and just want to be left alone. The Huenyan Federation will not allow this to happen – not on our watch.”
Under the new law, Itozuma and the waters within 5 nautical miles of it will be a Protected Federal Reserve. The Huenyan coast guard and navy will patrol the area, preventing outsiders from approaching Itozuma or contacting the people living there. The President left the possibility open that other nations “with the same goal as ours” could be invited to help patrol the area around Itozuma. She was also quick to affirm that Huenya itself has no intention of occupying the island. “No Huenyan will step a single foot onto Itozuma. Our only presence will be our offshore patrols to ensure that no one disturbs the people on Itozuma, or attempts to steal their home from them,” she said.
DTNS attempted to contact the Xiomeran government for their stance on the Huenyan action, but they did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
