====== The Time of Struggle ======

If the 2010s were thought paranoid, then 2023-24 taught the
world the true meaning of the word. Nobody was safe. Children left for
school - when their mothers allowed them to leave - swathed in
antibacterial wraps and wearing facemasks. Every headling brought news
of some fresh biological scare, some terrifying claim from nation or
government about the inevitability of mutual destruction or the
terrible plans of the others.

Rumours abounded of Naki - and human sympathisers - being snatched
from the streets by shadowy organisations for "experimentation" or
"processing". Despite formal protest lodged by several Naki embassies,
these occurrences persisted. A series of medical scares featuring
supposed plagues, viruses or chemical agents wracked the world. Cases
of amnesia, mysterious post-viral fatigue conditions and brain damage
skyrocketed. Among these, what became known as "sleeper syndrome" - a
dementia-like condition affecting the young and healthy as well as the
old and sick - became a perennial concern and news story, suddenly and
randomly striking to turn the healthy and successful into mumbling,
shuffling ghosts of their former selves.

Medical corporations, meanwhile - much of their core business rendered
obsolete by the Naki's astounding medical technology and the yearly
dropping rate of cancer, AIDS, malaria and the other legendary killers
- silently raced to be the first to discover "assisted citizen
interface" technologies which would allow governments to render their
population more passive, more obedient, more productive. Some of the
more unscrupulous used real populations as test-beds. The nightmarish
October Riots in Rekjavik will not soon be forgotten, as the
population literally tore itself apart across sectarian, political and
cultural lines which had almost been too faint to spot the week
before.

Conflicting publicity about the nature of "magic", its risks, the
truth behind it and its links to the anti-Naki movement, continued to
muddy the waters. Some sources denied all knowledge of this
superstitious nonsense while others conceded that unusual or even
"paranormal" activities seemed to be manifesting in increasing
numbers. The Jakarta embassy explosions, never traced to any mundane
explosive or accelerant and with remarkably little loss of civilian
life, were often held up as an example of "magical" involvement in the
insurgency movement.

Publicity and propaganda from both sides of the issue saturated every
media outlet, until it was nearly impossible to browse the web, turn
on the television or even buy a coffee without being bombarded by
opinion pieces and new "groundbreaking research" favouring the Naki or
their opposition. The issue became highly politicised, with the 2024 UK
general election effectively polarising parties as "pro" and "anti".

After lengthy deliberations and much passionate rhetoric, the United
States and Russia jointly declared that the Naki embassies were not
welcome on their sovereign soil. Response from the international
community ranged from admiration to outright hostility, with the UN
hotly debating sanctions against both nations.

Tensions continue to rise throughout late 2024. Finally, a
surprise attack was launched against Nibiru; using tactics that had
previously proved effective during the La'Kao Atrocity, the nuclear
arsenals of both nations were aimed and emptied at Nibiru. Rumours
that the nuclear assault was being used as a cover for some more
sinister or more effective attack were rife, with some even claiming
that extraterrestrial technology of a non-Naki origin was used.

Tens of thousands of Naki civilians died in the chaos. Embassies were
closed, medical stations went into lockdown and those nations who had
liked to consider themselves "neutral" on the matter were rapidly
forced to choose a side. The repair efforts were dogged by constant
denials that there had been any attack or infiltration committed
against any Naki "underground facilities", or indeed that such
facilities existed.

Shortly following the election of President Oladimeji Nwude to power
in Nigeria, a number of West African countries united to create a firm
bloc of support behind the Naki. With such a show of unity, and
outraged international condemnation of Russia and America's unilateral
action, it seemed that the great powers had a tough fight on their
hands.

All that changed at the turn of the year. Senior Russian military
officials occupied the Kremlin and overthrew the government in the
name of "peace and unity", vowing to bring the previous administration
to justice for war crimes and atrocities committed against the Naki
and sympathisers among their own population. Retaliation began in
earnest.