107-2509 Gateway News Service- New Caledonia/New Ireland
A small kerfuffle broke out which rapidly escalated to a brouhaha, thence to a full scale Donnybrook in the Green Field region of the capital, when the crew of the Free Trader Rebel Moon ordered "black and tans" at a local pub; The Shining Moon. After being told, at first politely, then with a bit of asperity that such drinks were not available on New Ireland, the disagreement escalated from words, to insults, thence to fisticuffs. The crew decided that they had worked hard for their drinks, and demanded the pub keeper provide them with said beverage, and when he refused, things rapidly escalated.
The locals were on the verge of victory when additional crew members from other Free Traders showed up, having been alerted, just as the locals were warming to their rebuttal, and deciding that the odds were a bit one sided, the other crews joined into the altercation bring the brouhaha up to a full scale Donnybrook. After quite the impressive destruction of the pub's furniture, glass, and three enterprising crew members attempting to drink beer from damaged spigots which were spraying the amber nectar across the floor, making it especially slippery, causing both sides to appear as if they were walking on ice, there ensued a battle for control of the beer taps, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.
The locals objected to the control of the beer taps, and as things escalated, local constables arrived, and were forced to resort to alternative means of persuasion, after truncheons were unable to stem the group from enjoying their shared sporting activity. At some point the crews and locals decided that the constabulary was attempting to break up the Donnybrook, and banded together to take on the constables who were forced to retreat and call in reinforcements from surrounding stations, having been disarmed of several of their truncheons by various revelers. At this time, both sides agreed to an equitable distribution of the beer, and those pitchers which remain unbroken were filled and then were passed around, as all present needed to hydrate before additional recreational activities commenced.
As the beer finally ran out from the broken taps, some enterprising sportsman started passing around bottles of a higher octane beverage, and the combatants decided to move to another pub where there was still beer to be had. As the now larger crowd left in search of a non-wrecked public house, they were met with the full force of the now outraged Constabulary, who, employing means both fair and foul, set the party goers to rout. Approximately 47 persons were taken to the local station where they were locked up to sober up.
As the crews and locals were sober, albeit exceptionally hung over the next day, they were taken in front of a magistrate, where each was fined 50 pounds and made to sign an agreement to reimburse the pub owner for the damage caused to his establishment. The crew of the Rebel Moon had their ship impounded until the damage to the pub was paid for. Since the Rebel Moon was under contract to New Loch Lomond Distillery, the captain agreed to pay the full cost of repairs so they could get their cargo of fine beverages to Gateway. After making the payment, the ship was released to the captain, who then left for Gateway.
