Three weeks later, on the 35th of Uien, the hum of electricity had become an almost forgotten novelty, seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life. The citizens of Alpine, once hesitant, now embraced its myriad benefits, their lives undeniably made easier and more efficient. The "small storm" of technological integration had passed, leaving behind a newfound comfort and progress. But for Owen, this calm was merely the prelude. The true tempest, the one that had fueled his every innovation and driven his ambition, was about to break. It was time to ban slavery.
He strode into his office, the familiar weight of the task settling upon him. This wasn't merely about writing a decree; it was about tearing down an ancient evil, an institution that had stained humanity for millennia. With a determined breath, he began to write, each word a hammer blow against the chains of injustice:
AN ORDINANCE FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORY OF ALPINE
Issued: The 1st Day of Zuphion, in the Year of 1442
By the Authority of the Governing Council of Alpine, Owen Alpine
WHEREAS, it is a self-evident truth that all persons are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
WHEREAS, the practice of chattel slavery, whereby one human being is made the property of another, is a profound affront to the dignity of the human spirit, a violation of natural law, and a stain upon the conscience of any just society; and
WHEREAS, the continued existence of slavery within the Territory of Alpine is incompatible with the principles of justice, morality, and the prosperity of a free people;
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE TERRITORY OF ALPINE, AND IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAME, AS FOLLOWS:
Section I. Abolition of Slavery:
From and after the date of the issuance of this Ordinance, the institution of slavery shall be and is hereby forever abolished within the Territory of Alpine. No person shall be held as a slave, nor shall involuntary servitude exist within these bounds, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Section II. Immediate Emancipation:
All persons currently held in bondage within the Territory of Alpine shall be, from the moment of the issuance of this Ordinance, declared free and emancipated. Their chains are hereby struck off, and they shall henceforth enjoy all the rights and protections afforded to any free inhabitant of this Territory.
Section III. Prohibition of Slave Trade:
The buying, selling, or trading of persons, whether within or across the borders of the Territory of Alpine, is hereby strictly prohibited. Any person found engaging in such nefarious trade shall be subject to the fullest penalties of the law.
Section IV. Enforcement and Penalties:
Any individual or entity found to be in violation of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to severe penalties, including but not limited to, imprisonment of oneself for 10 years to life, significant fines equating to ten times the act of purchasing, and confiscation of property whether within or outside the borders of the Territory of Alpine. It shall be the duty of all Government officials, Military personnel, and all private and public citizens to uphold and enforce the terms of this Ordinance.
Section V. No Compensation for Former Slaveholders:
No compensation shall be provided to former slaveholders for the loss of their asserted "property" in human beings, as such claims are inherently unjust and contrary to the fundamental principles of liberty.
Section VI. Future Generations:
This Ordinance shall apply to all persons born within the Territory of Alpine from this day forward, ensuring that no child shall ever be born into slavery within these lands.
Section VII. Effective Date:
This Ordinance shall take immediate effect upon its issuance on the 1st Day of Zuphion, in the Year of 1442.
Given under our hands and the Seal of the Governing Council of Alpine, this 1st Day of Zuphion, in the Year of 1442.
Prime Minister Earl, Owen Alpine
Ministers of Justice, Nathan Owden
With the final word penned, Owen personally dispatched the document to the Minister of Justice, Nathan Owden. Nathan, understanding the gravity of the declaration, signed it with a firm hand and affixed his ministry's seal—a clear indication of his unwavering support and that of his entire department. The document, now bearing the official endorsement of justice, was returned to Owen.
Owen then added his own signature and pressed the Territory Seal—a stark red triangle—onto the parchment. With that final act, the ordinance became law.
Now, all that remained was the preparation. Owen immediately drafted letters to the Ministers of Defense, Justice, and Interior. They were to ready their respective forces: the Military, the Police, and the Press. He knew the news would ignite fury among some, and riots were inevitable. However, Owen had prepared for this. The military, though seemingly small at 30,000 personnel, was equipped with advanced technology that made them as formidable as a force of 200,000 average soldiers. Even with half their numbers protecting against persistent border skirmishes with neighboring territories, the remaining 15,000 soldiers were more than capable.
The police force, numbering 15,000, was also exceptionally trained in riot control and crowd management, making them the equivalent of 100,000 average soldiers. Combined, the strength of Alpine's security forces was overwhelming, more than enough to quell any dissent. The storm was coming, but Owen was ready.
The dawn of the 1st day of Zuphion arrived with a tense quiet that belied the monumental shift about to unfold. Owen, ever the strategist, had orchestrated the reveal with precision. In the pre-dawn hours, carefully chosen newspaper publishers had received sealed copies of the Ordinance for the Abolition of Slavery. By the time the first rays of sunlight touched the cobblestone streets of Alpine, the presses were already roaring.
As the morning light strengthened, newsboys fanned out, their voices ringing through the crisp air, shouting headlines that would forever change the Territory. "SLAVERY ABOLISHED! FREEDOM FOR ALL IN ALPINE!" emblazoned across the front pages. The ink was barely dry, the papers still warm from the press, when the news began to spread like wildfire. Shock, disbelief, jubilation, and outrage rippled through the populace.
Just as Owen had anticipated, the calm before the storm was fleeting. Within thirty minutes of the newspapers hitting the streets, the first tremors of unrest began. Small clusters of angry, disenfranchised slaveholders gathered, their murmurs quickly escalating into shouts. In the bustling market squares, once-ordered crowds began to swell, a volatile mix of the newly freed embracing their liberty with tears and cheers, and those who saw their wealth and way of life dissolving before their eyes. The air grew thick with tension, and then, almost simultaneously across the major towns, the riots began. The initial shouts turned to angry roars, isolated incidents of defiance exploded into open confrontation, and the true test of Owen's vision and Alpine's prepared forces was about to begin.