Bosh-Garratt Slavers Apprehended

DATELINE DESHAD

The Royal Corps of Gendarmes has confirmed the success of a covert operation last night in the Bosh-Garratt Swamp chain, aimed at a group of criminals operating a slaving ring. Major Tor-Fil-Fithi, spokesman for the Gendarmes on Deshad, declined to discuss specifics of the action, but stated that all Zyked captives (the majority of them younglings) were freed without casualties, and all slavers present were captured or killed. Tor-Fil-Fithi confirmed that the Gendarmes' Emergency Response Team performed the hostage rescue with the assistance of the Order of Keltrayu. The surviving slavers are being detained at an undisclosed location while the Royal government assembles charges against them.

While Tor-Fil-Fithi refused to comment further, and Prefect of the Order of Keltrayu Aria Nikina declined to comment save for confirming that "Centurions were involved", a source close to the operational planning identified the involved Centurions as Rajj-Yo, a Zyked himself and famous for his exploits in the Empire's military campaigns, and an unnamed Chiss. Expert Order watchers believe the Chiss to be Vos'elk'eetash, the only Chiss known among the Order's members and a former Royal Guard to Queen Rin. The source wished to remain unnamed because it is not authorized to speak on the record.

The Gendarmes are still in the process of identifying all of the captives in order to reunite them with their families, but many Zykeds crowded government centers, eager to reclaim lost relatives. Though some expressed frustration with the pace of the Gendarmes' reunification efforts, sentiment was overwhelmingly positive toward the Gendarmes.

"Thrig-Thee thought she would never see her younglings again," said Thrig-Thee, who lost three of her creche to a slaving raid and was reunited with them this morning.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice have not yet stated whether the accused will be tried on Deshad or on the sector capital of Mezlagob. While charges are still being prepared, most of the gang are expected to be charged with taking, selling, or keeping slaves, each of which carries a mandatory sentence of death.