Twenty-six Syrikos hounds found poisoned - culprit still at large
Nannaras X
December 20th YC 120
A Zaibatsu kennel facility housing a portion of the Syrikos Hounds rehomed in Hoiyori has reported the fatal poisoning of twenty-six of the hounds.
The Syrikos Hounds, given to the Zaibatsu by the UNF in late November, have received a less-than-warm welcome in Hoiyori. Not only have colonists expressed their distaste of having this species integrated into Zaibatsu society, but Chief Fabricator of Salvaged Fortunes Industries, Viokoro Velan has also weighed in once again with her disapproval with the Zaibatsu’s direction. Colonists of Matari origin cite that the Syrikos Hounds have become symbolic of cruelty and slavery, and claim that the Zaibatsu’s goal of giving a new reputation to the species is foolhardy. Animosity is growing to the point where a protest broke out in front of a kennel facility near a residential district only a week after the hounds arrived in Hoiyori. ZANIE would like to establish make clear this protest was peaceful and ended before curfew with no injuries or arrests. For the unaware, the kennel facilities serve as containment for captured wild animals that wander into populated to be released. For strays to be returned to their owners, or in this case to hold onto the large amounts of hounds until more permanent housing can be arranged.
With collective disapproval appearing controlled and organized, rogue elements have clearly been working in the shadows and have taken extreme actions–the poisoning of these twenty-six hounds is evidence of that. Ohrion veterinarians have determined that this incident is no accident, but the result of an unknown suspect’s malicious intent.
Ohrion veterinarians assigned to the kennel examined the corpses, and found traces of a foreign chemical compound having been ingested. On learning this, they immediately examined the food the hounds were eating and found the same compound. The Syrikos hounds are given straight meat to compliment their carnivorous diets. This meat is that of the native Soog species, a plump creature that is commonly kept as livestock on the ranches and farms of the Kresh Root Society.
Investigators of the Peacekeeper Division have already been called in and are in the process of hunting down a suspect. The entire logistical chain is in the crosshairs as the poison could have been planted at any point on the meat’s journey from the slaughterhouse to hounds’ stomachs. Butchery is done on-site at the ranches, and the meat transported from there to its designated delivery point by personnel of Clear-Minds Caravans. Thanks to well-kept documentation of shipments by Clear-Minds, finding the ranch the meat came from and the crew that handled transportation was as easy as asking.
The contaminated meat has already been handed over to Ohrion specialists, so that they can study the poison further. Already they have found something alarming: they have determined that the the poisonous agent shares similarities to that present in kresh roots. Roots of the kresh tree contain potent toxins that can be fatal to anyone not of Caldari ethnicity. Not only is this poison deadly to Skyrikos Hounds, but also to good portion of the Zaibatsu’s population. While only one kennel facility has reported contaminated meat, the Ohrion Board of Health and Wellbeing has ordered all such facilities to immediately destroy all Soog meat stored and request a fresh shipment. The Board of Health and Wellbeing has also ordered the immediate inspection of the food stocks of both restaurants and warehouses. Any food considered remotely questionable will be disposed of.
The use of kresh root in the poison also raises a concern of its own, separate from the murder of the hounds. The kresh tree is in no way a native plant to Nannaras X, but due to the Kresh Root Society growing their own here in Hoiyori for ceremonial purposes, it’s obtainable locally–even by those wishing to weaponize it, as this poison attack proves. This attack has created fear that this same poison could be unleashed on the non-Caldari population of the Zaibatsu, that said while the Caldari may have a higher tolerance, but still vulnerable if the dose is potent enough.
The Raata Zaibatsu, with the spiritual help of the Windchime Order, has taken a stance to be more representative of humankind as a whole, rather than simply of a singular ethnicity on a single planet in the Maker’s universe. As such, Hoiyori and future colonies are homes to not just those of Caldari decent, but to of all breeds of humans that were born into the universe. Relevant to this, is the criticism some members of the Kresh Root Society have had about their own name. If the Zaibatsu stands to represent non-Caldari, then why have the society named after something only the Caldari can consume without falling fatally ill? Requests to have the Society’s name changed have already been made, and only time will tell if they will be accepted.
For now, investigators of the Peacekeeper divisions are screening personnel at the kennel as well as anyone apart of the logistical chain. Currently the Investigators are some way away from nailing a precise suspect, but have the documentation to know who was working what shift at what time and make this a process of elimination. The attack being aimed at the hounds suggests the suspect shares the sentiments of those opposed to the integration of Syrikos hounds, making the possibility of a biological attack against the human population less likely. That said, the Peacekeeper Division is determined to track down the culprit, regardless of their target.
ZANIE will be on standby until an update on the situation arises.