Reports have reached the Sumpfalls Rag of another brutal battle in the small settlement of Tatterenda. Caine's gang seized the settlement some time ago and beat off two previous attempts by the erstwhile owners, The Red Army Faction, to regain it. In this third attempt they have been succesful, with the aid of the pit slaves Gorg's Avengers.
Caine's gang was driven out by this "Freedom Alliance" after initially catching the pitslaves off balance with their firepower. Outnumbered, the attackers started to pick off Caine's men one by one. The two hired guns also went down in some unexpectedly stupid moves. Caine's eventually fled Tatterenda. Apparently rumours of a "relocation" plan for the people of the settlement had sparked this latest attacked.
The Red Army Faction released a communique, and Caine has also commented on the outcome. Both sets of information are quoted below, and it looks like Tatterenda will be in the news again sooner rather than later. Slippery Jim - AKA The Stainless Steel Ratskin - was quoted by regulars of the The Sumpfalls drinking dens as saying he had quit Caine's after this latest battle and was heading out into the underhive to build his own gang from fellow Ratskins. Whenever the next battle for Tatterenda happens, you can be sure that we'll report it.
Communique to the people of Tatarenda from the Red Army Faction.
The Executive Committee of the Red Army Faction gives thanks for the welcome they received upon their triumpant entry into the village of Tatarenda. The people, who have suffered long under the oppression and exploitation of Caine's capitalist-fascist Company, can rest assured that their liberation is complete. The village of Tatarenda once again flies the twin banners of the Red Army Faction and the Freedom Coalition. Viva el Revolution!
Refusing to abandon the workers of Tatarenda, despite the formidable fire-power and resources of the fascist oppressors, the Red Army Faction (indivisible vanguard of the workers' revolutionary movement) and their firm allies, Gorg's Avengers (the Underhive's Mightiest Heroes), met the serried ranks of Caine's jack-booted green-shirts outside the village. Although the Freedom Coalition sustained some casualties in their determination to free the people of Tatarenda, they fought on together, demonstrating the iron solidarity for which they are renowned. Once Caine's cowardly recruits witnessed the unshakable courage of the guerrillas and their comrades, they fled, proving that 'Imperialism is a paper tiger'!
The Peasant Association, Village Co-operative and RAF Youth League, after being mercilessly suppressed by the capitalists, have been restored. Aid is soon to arrive from Free Habanna to restore what was lost in the ravages of Caines disasterous 'Free Market' experiment.
Although we have triumphed in this battle, let us not forget that this is but one episode in the class struggle which will inevitably decide the future of the Underhive. A future which can only be realised by following the shining path to socialism and communism!
Venceremos!
Interview with Caine, in The Bunker...
Reporter: So you lost Tatterenda, how come ?
Caine: Well the forces of the shadow operating in the underhive moved their evil conspiracy against me in more numbers than expected. Taken off balance, we were stretched too thinly against superior numbers.
Reporter: But you went down fighting ?
Caine: Oh yes, we know these devious scum from before and Abel took out a fair few before he had to chuck his heavy plasma gun away and engage in hand to hand with one of the pit slaves. It was an expensive day, but at the end of it I made an executive decision to cut our losses and make a tactical move to higher ground.
Reporter: Sounds like you intend to have a go at retaking the place then ?
Caine: We certainly do, the workers in the settlement deserve better, safer accommodation in one of the strategic hamlets closer to the main part of our territory where we can keep an eye on them.
Reporter: It sounds like you don't trust them.
Caine: Certainly don't, one of them stole some of my jelly and ice cream. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't one of my gang because I checked through all their belongings, and those traitors Icarus and Axel are long gone. Must be part of the conspiracy against me. I won't forget this, I WILL find out who stole my jelly and ice cream...
Caine: My dog loves me.