STORY TELLER'S NOTE: There are two versions of this tale; the "real life" version, and the Second Life version.  Both are very nearly true, and both are somewhat amusing.  But first, a little background history.

The Kingdom of Irukandji

For those who aren't familiar with Irukandji, it is a string of tropical islands and coral reefs located in the South Pacific.  After 150 years of British rule, it gained nationhood in 1975, and the Kingdom of Irukandji returned to self-rule.  Following a brief and final civil war four years later, the reigning elder decreed that the nation would become a kingdom without a king, and instead be governed by a representative council of elders from each tribe. 

Headed by the benevolent elder, Prince Xay, the Council of Princes was formed, and its members are known simply as the Princes of Irukandji.  They govern from the nation's capital, Tamita Island.

Irukandji society is gay themed yet utterly inclusive.  Everyone is welcome if they respect each other's rights.  To Irukandji's residents, the lifestyle is utopian, and many believe that it is too good to be true.  And alas, they are right, for Irukandji is only a digital place, a virtual world on a chessboard grid of servers located somewhere in a San Francisco basement.  But to its residents, Irukandji is very real.

Irukandji was built for those seeking a better way of life, an alternative to more harmful distractions like booze and drugs, so that people could be part of something they cannot find or belong to in the real world.

Here, people can be real, the true selves they dare not face in RL, or they can be unreal and build an alternative life to escape the one they live.  People's reasons are as many as the stars, yet unimportant. 

No one has the right to judge in this magical kingdom.  Our motto is simple: Peace - Freedom - Integrity.

The rest of it doesn't matter.  Now, on with the story.

The Liberation of Kalamat

Early 2008: Due west of Irukandji on the Second Life grid, lies another cluster of sims owned by a French banking consortium.  The owners have been vocal about their displeasure at being located next to a gay themed estate, and have even resorted to running about Irukandji like a God-squad espousing homophobic rhetoric, then run away again before I had a chance to prevent it.  I was angry as hell, but not scared.  In my true militant fashion, I decided I would harass them back.  I would build more sims, filling the void between our estates, and intimidate them with Irukandji's size.  Simultaneously, the novelist surfaced within me ...
Another unprovoked attack by the French in the west.  They seem to want to continue on where our former British masters left off.  Unwise.  We are defended now, a small nation but with a strong military, and French Kalamat is a long way from Paris.  We will fight if need be, but first we must plan strategy.  We need to strengthen our borders and establish new garrisons, particularly in the northwest.

I purchased eight new simulators and placed them northwest of the French consortium.  Not joined to Irukandji on the grid, it appeared to be a separate owner.  I named this estate Jillaroo.  The eight sims were Jackaroo Island, Mantaray Shoals, Barramundi Bay, Tuvalu Straits, Yeppoon Atolls, Great Keppel Island, Captain Cook Reef, and Tanawayo Bay. 
I have despatched Lady Andhesaid to Jackaroo Island to meet with the local elders.  The Jillaroo tribes opted not to rejoin Irukandji after we gained independence thirty years ago, and I know they are the worse for it.  Poverty and crime are widespread.  

I terraformed the sims to make them liveable and unique, and settlers began to move in.  I am debating whether directness is the best option, i.e. join the two estates so the French can see our intent, or whether to maintain the secrecy and encircle them south of Jillaroo.  Either way, I've began building an obvious presence in the Jillaroo sims.  It isn't hard to tell it's really Irukandji from the architecture. 
The arrival of Lady Andhesaid has met with suspicion from the Jillaroo elders, but support from the people.  Six of the eight elders have capitulated and Andi has gained consent to establish garrisons throughout the region in return for financial aid.  Whispers abound that the Jillaroo people wish a referendum on seeking statehood.  I have instructed her that this course must unfold.  I am sending Prince Rah to oversee the construction of an all-tide sea bridge to join distant Coraki Lagoon to the Trans Irukandji Causeway at Boyfriend Beach.

I have purchased two more sims, Byron Bay and Coraki Lagoons to bridge the two estates.  A lot of teamwork and the Trans Irukandji Causeway is weaving its way through the ten new sims, and the submarine channels are progressing well too.  A lot of reports that the French are visiting Jillaroo, no doubt suspicious of what we're up to.  One attempts to make dialogue with me, but as he has ignored my attempts in the past, I return him the same courtesy.  A friend gives me a French submarine and chains it to the docks which makes me laugh.  Our first catch :)
Prince Icon is seeing to the dredging of the WW2 submarine channels beneath Boyfriend Beach and Hephaistion to hasten access to the west.  Meanwhile, Andi will remain on Jackaroo Island.


As predicted,   are joined now Byron Bay.sent the Royal Engineers Corp to clear


 




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