The Gallente quirked a brow as she slid an envelope across the desk filled with ISK.
"That should cover the resettlement of this last group," Shalee said as she settled back in her chair, lighting up a cigarette.
"You are generous." Blume smiled, showing off a row of crooked teeth.
The pair had met when she joined the Amity Project the previous year, on organization that helped relocate newly freed slaves deep into the heart of the Federation. Mostly the organization was legal, buying slaves off the markets. Slavers usually didn't care where there stock ended up as long as they were paid.
And sometimes they took it one step further by doing raids, rescuing slaves while they were being transported into Amarr space. It was dangerous, illegal, and could land her in a world of trouble if anyone ever found out, but she usually took the risk.
She shrugged as she blew out a mouthful of smoke, "Just doing my part. Anyhow I can acquire it easily enough."
"But still," he said as he started to tally the amount she'd given, entering it into the database under her alias, Red Angel. "This is more than enough."
"Then use it elsewhere."
"As you wish."
"Also, I've another deposit to make, but this isn't from me."
His brow quirked again, "Yeah? And who is our generous benefactor this time?"
"It's from the one who helped me free them. A capsuleer." She settled back in her chair, "A Minmatar Militia capsuleer."
"Oh. Another one, huh," he said, thinking of Kuan.
"His call sign is SilenceIKillYou." She grinned.
"Ah, right, I think I've heard of him."
"He helped us once before, in Auga, when the system was under lockdown and we were in Industrials. We were stuck, pretty much. There was already heavy fighting on the gates back home, and the rest were camped by pirates. It was like they knew we were coming.."
"You think we have a spy or something?" He asked, suddenly worried.
"In the organization? No, probably not. Auga is where most of the Minmatar Militia base, and next door in Amamake is where the pirates live. It was a risky move on our part anyhow. Our scouts reported the way clear but by the time we were able to make it in, the situation changed. Fleets were rolling out, etc. It happens."
"Ah okay. You had me worried. So. Your new patron..." He tapped his fingers against the desk, "Needs an alias. Any ideas?
"Crazyheart," she said as she gave him another envelope with unmarked ISK, "Because he is both crazy in the sky but has a heart of gold."
"Crazyheart it is," he said as he counted the ISK then entered it into the database under the new alias.
"Oh...so I have a new recruit, maybe." She handed him her datapad with the Imperial profile of Alexander Audaci.
"A Crownie?" Something he called the Knighthood pilots.
"Yeah. Do a background check first. He flew with 1PG and you know what kind of zealots they are. He disappeared for a few months and now all of a sudden he is back, and in our corp."
"Suspicious?"
"I don't know. Maybe. I want to trust him...I think I can. But. Well. It's hard to trust anyone in this line of work, right?"
"Yeah. No kidding. You don't know how many times we tested you before you got a real job."
"What?" She feigned outrage.
He laughed, "No offense. But here you were, a Crownie waltzing in off the spacelanes with kill board stats that made us believe you were some kind of plant. I mean really who flies with the militia, fights as hard as you do to preserve the Empire but in secret you're out freeing slaves. With Holder blood I might add. You're a walking contradiction."
"I still believe in God and Empire, Blume. I do. I just think it can be better. And it wont get better until people work to make it so."
"Yeah yeah, I've heard your spill before kid. 'Fighting not for what the Empire is, but what it can be'." He quoted her with a soft chuckle.
She grinned affectionately.
"So. Audaci. I'll run him through the system, see what we can come up with. If he checks out, maybe you can take him along on your next raid."
"Yeah okay."
"And what about Raphael?" he inquired.
"What about him?" she asked.
"He still snooping around?"
She shrugged. "Something is up with him...just don't know exactly what. I do think if he had half a chance he'd be the first to tie me to a pyre and watch me burn."
"...but weren't you engaged to him once?"
"A long time ago, yeah. But he's different now. He's changed. I guess we all have." She stood up and tipped her finger to her brow, giving him an informal salute. "I'll be in touch."
"Take care out there."
"Always."
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Entry 131: Kathetel Returns
Moonlight fell through the windows, casting a soft glow across the room. A fire burned in the fireplace, occasionally crackling.
The door creaked open then closed quickly, followed by the sound of the lock clicking into place.
She continued to brush her hair as she waited for the intruder to reveal himself.
Kathetel stepped out of the shadows, coming up behind her. He smirked as he looked towards the mirror she sat in front of, his gaze meeting hers.
"And so we meet again."
"I had almost forgotten about you," she said airily. She hadn't seen the Imperial Agent since he'd met with her at the Opera.
"Tsk. I am almost offended. Almost."
"Why are you here?" she asked, dreading a new assignment. Anytime Kathetel came around it meant trouble in some form or fashion for her.
"Oh, you know. Checking up on you, and all of that. How are you?"
"Fine." she said, looking at him skeptically.
"And your last assignment? I trust it is completed?" He asked though he already knew the answer.
Her blue gaze locked on his, "...yes."
He took the brush from her hand and stroked it through her auburn hair slowly, "We knew we could count on you."
"Anything for the Empire," she said in a soft tone, trying not to remember the details, forcing herself to keep it locked deep away.
"Shalee..."
"Yes?"
"For what it's worth, I am sorry that it had to be by your hand...but you were the only one who could get close enough."
"Don't be. He deserved it. He deserved his fate," she said softly, her gaze breaking from his.
He laid the brush onto the gilded table in front of her, "It's been many weeks, how are you holding up?"
"Are you asking if I'm haunted by it?"
"I remember ...when you killed your brother. You were..." he said.
"Out of my mind?"
"Something like that, yes."
"I'm fine. He's not the first person to die by my hand, Kathetel."
"No, but he is your Father."
"Was."
"Yes. Was. Did you ever love him?"
"Once upon a time he was my whole world. He was greater than God in my eyes. He was...." A tear slid down her cheek as her body tensed. "He was a liar. A murderer. He killed my Mother."
His brow arched, "I didn't know."
She nodded very slowly as her thoughts drifted to the past, "She was so young, so beautiful. When he married her, he was already a widow with three sons. But he wanted her, despite her being Ni Kunni."
"Do you think he ever loved her?" he asked.
"Yes, in his own fucked up way. Or maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was obsession. He wanted to possess her. She was only seventeen when they married. And she was twenty four when he killed her."
"Why do you think he did it if he loved her so much?"
"Because she didn't love him any longer, if she ever did. She must have known what he really was, I can only guess. I'm trying to piece together those years of her life, but I was so young. However, I do remember when I was betrothed to Charles... I was only six...but there was a grand house party to announce it." Her voice faded away as her brows furrowed. "I..."
"Go on," he urged.
She stared into the mirror, remembering. "I only vaguely remember it, I was so young. But...I remember how beautiful she was that weekend, how her face seemed to glow. She was so happy. I later found out exactly why."
"Why?"
"Because she met a young poet at the ball who swept her off her feet. He was barely eighteen at the time, or so. They must have fell in love and ...the natural course of events happened after that. I guess he never knew that he got her pregnant."
"Pregnant? What happened to her child?"
"My Father found some letters that the poet wrote to her...and...he was beyond furious. Her betrayal would shame him, shame the family. But I think it was also the fact that he lost control of her. She was going to leave him."
"How do you know all of this?" he asked.
"I found some of their letters, her journal, and my eldest step-brother filled in the rest."
Kathetel nodded, "So your Father murdered your mother in a jealous rage? And her unborn child?"
She whispered, "Yes."
"And the poet? Did you ever find out who he was?"
"...yes."
"Are you going to enlighten me?"
"It's my CEO. It's Aldrith..." She exhaled a soft breath, "Aldrith was my mother's true love, and she died because of it."
The door creaked open then closed quickly, followed by the sound of the lock clicking into place.
She continued to brush her hair as she waited for the intruder to reveal himself.
Kathetel stepped out of the shadows, coming up behind her. He smirked as he looked towards the mirror she sat in front of, his gaze meeting hers.
"And so we meet again."
"I had almost forgotten about you," she said airily. She hadn't seen the Imperial Agent since he'd met with her at the Opera.
"Tsk. I am almost offended. Almost."
"Why are you here?" she asked, dreading a new assignment. Anytime Kathetel came around it meant trouble in some form or fashion for her.
"Oh, you know. Checking up on you, and all of that. How are you?"
"Fine." she said, looking at him skeptically.
"And your last assignment? I trust it is completed?" He asked though he already knew the answer.
Her blue gaze locked on his, "...yes."
He took the brush from her hand and stroked it through her auburn hair slowly, "We knew we could count on you."
"Anything for the Empire," she said in a soft tone, trying not to remember the details, forcing herself to keep it locked deep away.
"Shalee..."
"Yes?"
"For what it's worth, I am sorry that it had to be by your hand...but you were the only one who could get close enough."
"Don't be. He deserved it. He deserved his fate," she said softly, her gaze breaking from his.
He laid the brush onto the gilded table in front of her, "It's been many weeks, how are you holding up?"
"Are you asking if I'm haunted by it?"
"I remember ...when you killed your brother. You were..." he said.
"Out of my mind?"
"Something like that, yes."
"I'm fine. He's not the first person to die by my hand, Kathetel."
"No, but he is your Father."
"Was."
"Yes. Was. Did you ever love him?"
"Once upon a time he was my whole world. He was greater than God in my eyes. He was...." A tear slid down her cheek as her body tensed. "He was a liar. A murderer. He killed my Mother."
His brow arched, "I didn't know."
She nodded very slowly as her thoughts drifted to the past, "She was so young, so beautiful. When he married her, he was already a widow with three sons. But he wanted her, despite her being Ni Kunni."
"Do you think he ever loved her?" he asked.
"Yes, in his own fucked up way. Or maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was obsession. He wanted to possess her. She was only seventeen when they married. And she was twenty four when he killed her."
"Why do you think he did it if he loved her so much?"
"Because she didn't love him any longer, if she ever did. She must have known what he really was, I can only guess. I'm trying to piece together those years of her life, but I was so young. However, I do remember when I was betrothed to Charles... I was only six...but there was a grand house party to announce it." Her voice faded away as her brows furrowed. "I..."
"Go on," he urged.
She stared into the mirror, remembering. "I only vaguely remember it, I was so young. But...I remember how beautiful she was that weekend, how her face seemed to glow. She was so happy. I later found out exactly why."
"Why?"
"Because she met a young poet at the ball who swept her off her feet. He was barely eighteen at the time, or so. They must have fell in love and ...the natural course of events happened after that. I guess he never knew that he got her pregnant."
"Pregnant? What happened to her child?"
"My Father found some letters that the poet wrote to her...and...he was beyond furious. Her betrayal would shame him, shame the family. But I think it was also the fact that he lost control of her. She was going to leave him."
"How do you know all of this?" he asked.
"I found some of their letters, her journal, and my eldest step-brother filled in the rest."
Kathetel nodded, "So your Father murdered your mother in a jealous rage? And her unborn child?"
She whispered, "Yes."
"And the poet? Did you ever find out who he was?"
"...yes."
"Are you going to enlighten me?"
"It's my CEO. It's Aldrith..." She exhaled a soft breath, "Aldrith was my mother's true love, and she died because of it."
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Entry 130: Kuvakeian Dreams
System: Lantorn
Constellation: Hed
Region: Heimatar
Security: 0.3
She was floating, suspended in a pod of ambotic fluid as she slept, safely docked up in the Expert Distribution station in Lantorn, still inside the ship she'd been fighting in the previous night.
It had been such a long, tiresome night that she couldn't even muster up the energy to fly back to Huola, the Amarr Militia home system, despite it only being a few jumps away.
Streams of data and intel flowed like a river across her subconscious mind as she had drifted off to sleep, too tired to even disconnect from her pod.
Floating...
Drifting...
Dreaming...
The familiar voices of militia and corp members melded together, joining the not-so-familiar ones, lost in the current of data. The constant chatter comforted her while she slept.
In the liquid flow of voices, one whispered to her.
"Do not be afraid. We are coming for you. I am coming for you."
Something inside her protested. I am dreaming.
"Follow me, children of New Eden, my chosen ones."
I...am...dreaming...not real...
"It is your time, your destiny. Do not fight it. Surrender yourselves so that you may be saved. Follow me..."
...dreaming.
A jarring, discordance of sound interrupted the soothing flow, forcing her awake. Klaxon alarms rang through the station, filling the corridors and docking bays, filtering through the station's comm channels. A constant, restless ringing. She recognized that alarm and knew that it could only mean one thing.
The Sansha had come. Attack imminent. The incursion was underway.
Sudden awareness unnerved her as she fully awoke, listening to the intel as it started to pour in.
System after system under attack, the entire Hed constellation.
A feeling of dread settled into the pit of her stomach as she thought of all the lives that were being stolen away in that moment.
"Shalee?" Eran commed her.
"Yes?"
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Lantorn..."
"Fuck. I thought so. I'm coming okay? You need eyes, you'll never make it through the gates alone, they have quick tackle on most of them. I'll scout you back to Huola."
"Alright. I'll give it five then undock. The system is mostly quiet, though I doubt that it will be for long." She hesitated a second. "Eran?"
"Yeah?"
"Be safe, okay?"
"Yeah. See you soon."
Minutes later she undocked and waited for Eran as local started to swell. The capsuleers were out in full force, ready to retaliate against Kuvakei's army.
A new channel for Hed opened up, combining enemies and allies alike.
Lukka must have noticed her presence in the channel and initiated private comms with her. She accepted as she checked her d-scan, waiting for the go ahead to warp out. Lukka lived in Amamake along with the rest of the Heretic Army clan.
It occurred to her that Amamake was in the Hed constellation and was probably under Sansha attack as well.
"Yeah Lukka?"
"So...you think I'd be welcome in Huola were I to take a sudden vacation?"
Constellation: Hed
Region: Heimatar
Security: 0.3
She was floating, suspended in a pod of ambotic fluid as she slept, safely docked up in the Expert Distribution station in Lantorn, still inside the ship she'd been fighting in the previous night.
It had been such a long, tiresome night that she couldn't even muster up the energy to fly back to Huola, the Amarr Militia home system, despite it only being a few jumps away.
Streams of data and intel flowed like a river across her subconscious mind as she had drifted off to sleep, too tired to even disconnect from her pod.
Floating...
Drifting...
Dreaming...
The familiar voices of militia and corp members melded together, joining the not-so-familiar ones, lost in the current of data. The constant chatter comforted her while she slept.
In the liquid flow of voices, one whispered to her.
"Do not be afraid. We are coming for you. I am coming for you."
Something inside her protested. I am dreaming.
"Follow me, children of New Eden, my chosen ones."
I...am...dreaming...not real...
"It is your time, your destiny. Do not fight it. Surrender yourselves so that you may be saved. Follow me..."
...dreaming.
A jarring, discordance of sound interrupted the soothing flow, forcing her awake. Klaxon alarms rang through the station, filling the corridors and docking bays, filtering through the station's comm channels. A constant, restless ringing. She recognized that alarm and knew that it could only mean one thing.
The Sansha had come. Attack imminent. The incursion was underway.
Sudden awareness unnerved her as she fully awoke, listening to the intel as it started to pour in.
System after system under attack, the entire Hed constellation.
A feeling of dread settled into the pit of her stomach as she thought of all the lives that were being stolen away in that moment.
"Shalee?" Eran commed her.
"Yes?"
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Lantorn..."
"Fuck. I thought so. I'm coming okay? You need eyes, you'll never make it through the gates alone, they have quick tackle on most of them. I'll scout you back to Huola."
"Alright. I'll give it five then undock. The system is mostly quiet, though I doubt that it will be for long." She hesitated a second. "Eran?"
"Yeah?"
"Be safe, okay?"
"Yeah. See you soon."
Minutes later she undocked and waited for Eran as local started to swell. The capsuleers were out in full force, ready to retaliate against Kuvakei's army.
A new channel for Hed opened up, combining enemies and allies alike.
Lukka must have noticed her presence in the channel and initiated private comms with her. She accepted as she checked her d-scan, waiting for the go ahead to warp out. Lukka lived in Amamake along with the rest of the Heretic Army clan.
It occurred to her that Amamake was in the Hed constellation and was probably under Sansha attack as well.
"Yeah Lukka?"
"So...you think I'd be welcome in Huola were I to take a sudden vacation?"
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
OOC
My blog is officially an EVE fan site. How awesome is that? Thanks to Kuan Yida for recommending that I submit it.
Blogs you should read:
Miner Inconveniences
This blog belongs to Raphael, a member of KOTMC and an ex fiance of Shalee.
Captain Raine
This blog belongs to Charles Raine, a member of KOTMC and the ex husband of Shalee. (arranged marriage, they since had it annulled). Charles is new to EVE and wants followers so go follow/read her blog!!
And, this link will take you to something I'll be posting on from time to time. It is Red's logs.
Also, I'll be opening my OOC blog up in the next day or two. Check the side bar of this blog for it.
Thanks everyone for reading! ♥
Blogs you should read:
Miner Inconveniences
This blog belongs to Raphael, a member of KOTMC and an ex fiance of Shalee.
Captain Raine
This blog belongs to Charles Raine, a member of KOTMC and the ex husband of Shalee. (arranged marriage, they since had it annulled). Charles is new to EVE and wants followers so go follow/read her blog!!
And, this link will take you to something I'll be posting on from time to time. It is Red's logs.
Also, I'll be opening my OOC blog up in the next day or two. Check the side bar of this blog for it.
Thanks everyone for reading! ♥
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Entry 129: Saying Goodbye
Mercy's Keep Security Files
Location: Exterior
Date: 2.14.113
Time: 7:02
He had asked her for a private word, and the pair had stepped outside the Keep. Around them tiny snow flakes fell upon the slight breeze, twirling around them. It was dark out save for the firelight flickering in the the braziers that lined the path. She pulled on her gloves as she turned her gaze to him, "Is everything alright, Pred?"
Predator Elite paused and rubbed his hands together as if to ward off the cold, "Nothing ever is," he said as he looked to her.
"What's the matter? Tell me?" she asked.
"I...just wanted to let you know that I have dropped roles, and will be gone from militia in less than twenty four hours," he said quietly.
She quickly looked away, starring ahead at the landing pad in the distance. She had heard the rumors but hadn't believed them because she hadn't heard it from him. Apparently the time had come. A chill of unease settled upon her and for the moment she thought she'd be sick. "I see....who are you taking with you?"
"No one...why? Do you want to come?" he said hopefully, searching her face.
"You know I cannot leave..." she said heavily.
"Then why did you ask?" He frowned ever so slightly.
"I was just wondering if you were taking anyone with you."
"No... I feel that I have to move on," he confessed.
She nodded, "We do what me must do. If you have to go...then go."
"Alright. So... no hard feelings?" he asked hopefully.
Shalee shrugged, saying nothing.
"If something is wrong, tell me."
"Why?" She started to walk away, kicking her way through the snow.
"Because I care," he admitted.
"About what? What do you care about, really?" she asked, feeling as if her heart was shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.
"I care about living my life."
"Fine. Go live your life," she said in a chilly tone.
"What do you think I'm trying to do? Hell I can't even stay in one spot more than six months," he said with a hint of frustration.
"You've been in militia for longer than that..." she said as she turned around, standing a few feet away from him.
"Because I liked the people here and what we did ... but no more." he conceded.
She tensed ever so slightly. "Yeah. Okay."
"What do you want me to say?" he asked.
"Nothing at all. You've already said everything you needed to, right," she retorted.
"I'm not trying to say anything I'm just trying to make sure everyone is okay with me leaving."
"You know I am not but what can I do? What can I say? You're going to leave anyhow." she declared.
"Why aren't you alright with me leaving?" he asked, searching her eyes, as if waiting for her to say something important, something meaningful.
"Because I don't want you to go. We need you. I need you," she insisted.
He closed the space between them, "You don't need me. You are fine and strong without me," he said tentatively.
"But I'm not," she argued.
"I dont define you, I dont make you stronger or weaker," he tried to reason with her.
"But you do. You know you do," she continued to argue.
He put his hands on her arms, staring intently at her. "You have to look at what you have been through, those choices make you stronger or weaker. If you feel that I make you stronger you are just making your self weaker."
"But you make the militia stronger."
He chuckled, "Did you not see what happened tonight?"
"I see that you tried desperately to save Arzad."
He stared at her.
"I see that you risked, and lost one of your most expensive ships for the cause. I see that pilots followed you into a losing battle because they believe in you," she argued passionately as if willing him to understand.
"You are sweet to say that but I know myself that it was wrong and I'm paying for it now, might be better just to ride this one out."
She sighed. "And so just like that you leave. I hope it makes you happy."
"I have made too many mistakes and certain people aren't letting that go. By me staying here and in this militia, it wont help. It will only make matters worse, Shalee." He smiled softly, "I'm just trying to make things right."
"Do you honestly believe that? Because I don't. And I know there are many, many who do not believe that either."
He shrugged.
"Do you think you'll be happier?"
"I don't think I could be happier then when I'm talking to you," he whispered.
She leaned her head against his chest, "I'll miss you."
He pulled his arms around her, "I'll be missing you too." He held for a long while before letting her go, saying nothing as he walked off towards the landing pad.
"You could have stopped him."
Shalee turned around quickly at the sound of the soft spoken voice. A child's voice?
"You could have made him stay, you should have! He wanted you to say you loved him. He wanted you to make him stay, to give him a reason to stay."
"Who's there?" she called out in the darkness as her head throbbed. She rubbed her temples, feeling emotionally drained and physically sick.
"You know who I am," the child said as she appeared before Shalee out of no where, wearing a long red velvet gown, her hair a mass of curls. "You know everything you just don't want to think about it. And you know that you should stop him! Don't let him leave!"
"I can't stop him...he's going to do what he wants to."
"He wants you."
"He..."
"He loves you, you know he does. But he doesn't love the Empire like you do, he doesn't fight for it like you do...but he could. If you asked him to. You could make him believe in it like you did Eran! All you have to do is try!"
"I can't do that! I can't make someone believe in something they don't!"
"But you made Eran!"
"Stop..." She blinked several times as everything went blurry. The snowflakes bled into long strings of white light. Her nose started to drip blood. She wiped her gloved hand across her face as she stumbled, falling to the ground.
The child's voice faded as everything went dark.
***
Mercy's Keep Security Files
Location: Medical Bay
Date: 2.14.113
Time: 10:03
"Commodore Lianne?"
"Yes?" she blinked several times as her vision adjusted to the harsh white artifical light inside the med bay. "Jonathan?"
He nodded, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay...I think. I just..." Her brows scrunched up as she looked at him, remembering. "I fell?"
He nodded again. "I was called in a few hours ago. You've been asleep. I think you'll be fine, we just need to do a few adjustments with your implants."
"I saw her. Again."
"The little girl? The one from Eytjangard?" he asked.
She nodded, "Am I losing my mind?"
He sat down on the edge of the bed, "No. It's just the way you deal with problems. The mind is a remarkable thing you know. People often work out problems in their dreams, it's a natural thing to do."
"But most people don't turn themselves into child like holograms while they sleep and visit other people."
"True enough. I've never heard of such a thing happening, but it is fascinating all the same. To stop yourself from having nightmares, your mind has worked out a way to let you 'stay awake' in a sense. It keeps busy, engaged, so that deep dreaming never occurs."
"Why don't I ever remember doing these things?" she asked in a tired voice.
"You're not ready to remember. 'Red' typically ends up seeking out people that you're upset with. She tries to fix your problems, so to speak. She is ahead of the game in that way. You on the other hand, are not ready to make ammends or accept certain truths."
"Do you see her often?" Shalee asked, feeling strange to be talking about herself as if she were another person.
He nodded, "Quite."
"Is there any way I can control it?" she questioned.
"I haven't the foggiest idea, to be honest. Since I've been tracking her I-"
She interrupted him mid sentence, "How do you track her?"
"I follow your digital footprint so to speak. Sometimes she ends up in virtual world, but most often she uses the holodrones. I've kept a log of which she accesses."
"Oh."
"Like I said, it's quite fascinating. The people she interacts with, they all seem to know it's you- or some younger part of you, but seem reluctant to talk about it with you. Until Eran told you, I think it was probably one of the most well kept secrets in the Empire."
"I wonder why people wanted to keep it from me..."
"I would gather it's because ..." he paused thoughtfully, "because they wouldn't want you to 'fix' it. Talking with 'Red' is an easier way to connect with you, to find out what is going on, what upsets you....to find out your secrets. She has quite a little mouth on her, you know."
"Is there anything I can do to stop it from happening?"
"Nothing that I know of. The implants allow you the technology to access virtual world and holodrones...so unless you're willing to give up your life as a capsuleer...you'll have to live with this 'side affect'."
Location: Exterior
Date: 2.14.113
Time: 7:02
He had asked her for a private word, and the pair had stepped outside the Keep. Around them tiny snow flakes fell upon the slight breeze, twirling around them. It was dark out save for the firelight flickering in the the braziers that lined the path. She pulled on her gloves as she turned her gaze to him, "Is everything alright, Pred?"
Predator Elite paused and rubbed his hands together as if to ward off the cold, "Nothing ever is," he said as he looked to her.
"What's the matter? Tell me?" she asked.
"I...just wanted to let you know that I have dropped roles, and will be gone from militia in less than twenty four hours," he said quietly.
She quickly looked away, starring ahead at the landing pad in the distance. She had heard the rumors but hadn't believed them because she hadn't heard it from him. Apparently the time had come. A chill of unease settled upon her and for the moment she thought she'd be sick. "I see....who are you taking with you?"
"No one...why? Do you want to come?" he said hopefully, searching her face.
"You know I cannot leave..." she said heavily.
"Then why did you ask?" He frowned ever so slightly.
"I was just wondering if you were taking anyone with you."
"No... I feel that I have to move on," he confessed.
She nodded, "We do what me must do. If you have to go...then go."
"Alright. So... no hard feelings?" he asked hopefully.
Shalee shrugged, saying nothing.
"If something is wrong, tell me."
"Why?" She started to walk away, kicking her way through the snow.
"Because I care," he admitted.
"About what? What do you care about, really?" she asked, feeling as if her heart was shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.
"I care about living my life."
"Fine. Go live your life," she said in a chilly tone.
"What do you think I'm trying to do? Hell I can't even stay in one spot more than six months," he said with a hint of frustration.
"You've been in militia for longer than that..." she said as she turned around, standing a few feet away from him.
"Because I liked the people here and what we did ... but no more." he conceded.
She tensed ever so slightly. "Yeah. Okay."
"What do you want me to say?" he asked.
"Nothing at all. You've already said everything you needed to, right," she retorted.
"I'm not trying to say anything I'm just trying to make sure everyone is okay with me leaving."
"You know I am not but what can I do? What can I say? You're going to leave anyhow." she declared.
"Why aren't you alright with me leaving?" he asked, searching her eyes, as if waiting for her to say something important, something meaningful.
"Because I don't want you to go. We need you. I need you," she insisted.
He closed the space between them, "You don't need me. You are fine and strong without me," he said tentatively.
"But I'm not," she argued.
"I dont define you, I dont make you stronger or weaker," he tried to reason with her.
"But you do. You know you do," she continued to argue.
He put his hands on her arms, staring intently at her. "You have to look at what you have been through, those choices make you stronger or weaker. If you feel that I make you stronger you are just making your self weaker."
"But you make the militia stronger."
He chuckled, "Did you not see what happened tonight?"
"I see that you tried desperately to save Arzad."
He stared at her.
"I see that you risked, and lost one of your most expensive ships for the cause. I see that pilots followed you into a losing battle because they believe in you," she argued passionately as if willing him to understand.
"You are sweet to say that but I know myself that it was wrong and I'm paying for it now, might be better just to ride this one out."
She sighed. "And so just like that you leave. I hope it makes you happy."
"I have made too many mistakes and certain people aren't letting that go. By me staying here and in this militia, it wont help. It will only make matters worse, Shalee." He smiled softly, "I'm just trying to make things right."
"Do you honestly believe that? Because I don't. And I know there are many, many who do not believe that either."
He shrugged.
"Do you think you'll be happier?"
"I don't think I could be happier then when I'm talking to you," he whispered.
She leaned her head against his chest, "I'll miss you."
He pulled his arms around her, "I'll be missing you too." He held for a long while before letting her go, saying nothing as he walked off towards the landing pad.
"You could have stopped him."
Shalee turned around quickly at the sound of the soft spoken voice. A child's voice?
"You could have made him stay, you should have! He wanted you to say you loved him. He wanted you to make him stay, to give him a reason to stay."
"Who's there?" she called out in the darkness as her head throbbed. She rubbed her temples, feeling emotionally drained and physically sick.
"You know who I am," the child said as she appeared before Shalee out of no where, wearing a long red velvet gown, her hair a mass of curls. "You know everything you just don't want to think about it. And you know that you should stop him! Don't let him leave!"
"I can't stop him...he's going to do what he wants to."
"He wants you."
"He..."
"He loves you, you know he does. But he doesn't love the Empire like you do, he doesn't fight for it like you do...but he could. If you asked him to. You could make him believe in it like you did Eran! All you have to do is try!"
"I can't do that! I can't make someone believe in something they don't!"
"But you made Eran!"
"Stop..." She blinked several times as everything went blurry. The snowflakes bled into long strings of white light. Her nose started to drip blood. She wiped her gloved hand across her face as she stumbled, falling to the ground.
The child's voice faded as everything went dark.
***
Mercy's Keep Security Files
Location: Medical Bay
Date: 2.14.113
Time: 10:03
"Commodore Lianne?"
"Yes?" she blinked several times as her vision adjusted to the harsh white artifical light inside the med bay. "Jonathan?"
He nodded, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay...I think. I just..." Her brows scrunched up as she looked at him, remembering. "I fell?"
He nodded again. "I was called in a few hours ago. You've been asleep. I think you'll be fine, we just need to do a few adjustments with your implants."
"I saw her. Again."
"The little girl? The one from Eytjangard?" he asked.
She nodded, "Am I losing my mind?"
He sat down on the edge of the bed, "No. It's just the way you deal with problems. The mind is a remarkable thing you know. People often work out problems in their dreams, it's a natural thing to do."
"But most people don't turn themselves into child like holograms while they sleep and visit other people."
"True enough. I've never heard of such a thing happening, but it is fascinating all the same. To stop yourself from having nightmares, your mind has worked out a way to let you 'stay awake' in a sense. It keeps busy, engaged, so that deep dreaming never occurs."
"Why don't I ever remember doing these things?" she asked in a tired voice.
"You're not ready to remember. 'Red' typically ends up seeking out people that you're upset with. She tries to fix your problems, so to speak. She is ahead of the game in that way. You on the other hand, are not ready to make ammends or accept certain truths."
"Do you see her often?" Shalee asked, feeling strange to be talking about herself as if she were another person.
He nodded, "Quite."
"Is there any way I can control it?" she questioned.
"I haven't the foggiest idea, to be honest. Since I've been tracking her I-"
She interrupted him mid sentence, "How do you track her?"
"I follow your digital footprint so to speak. Sometimes she ends up in virtual world, but most often she uses the holodrones. I've kept a log of which she accesses."
"Oh."
"Like I said, it's quite fascinating. The people she interacts with, they all seem to know it's you- or some younger part of you, but seem reluctant to talk about it with you. Until Eran told you, I think it was probably one of the most well kept secrets in the Empire."
"I wonder why people wanted to keep it from me..."
"I would gather it's because ..." he paused thoughtfully, "because they wouldn't want you to 'fix' it. Talking with 'Red' is an easier way to connect with you, to find out what is going on, what upsets you....to find out your secrets. She has quite a little mouth on her, you know."
"Is there anything I can do to stop it from happening?"
"Nothing that I know of. The implants allow you the technology to access virtual world and holodrones...so unless you're willing to give up your life as a capsuleer...you'll have to live with this 'side affect'."
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Entry 128: Imperial Traitors
"Oh god, I was just going to teach him a lesson....not fucking murder him!" Shalee screamed hysterically as she looked to the blood splattered across the dungeon cell wall.
In the center of the room hung the limp corpse of Adde Helecton, former Amarrian Militia pilot who had turned traitor over the past few months.
He had shown up at the Keep earlier, speaking of wanting redemption, saying that he was sorry. She didn't believe him, thinking he was there to make a mockery of the Knighthood and her beloved militia.
It was the last straw.
In an act that showed little mercy, she had the guards arrest him and drag him down to the dungeons below the Keep, a place seldom used, if ever. Eran followed her, ready to help. A few other Knights followed as well, some protesting, others urging her on.
She had Adde chained by the wrists, arms suspended above his head and asked him if he would consent to lashes. She told him he needed to suffer, needed to feel pain, to carry the marks of what he had done physically.
He had agreed.
Minutes later, Invelious had entered into the cell. She and Eran got into an argument with him over Adde's capture and before she could order his removal, he pulled a gun to Adde's temple and pulled the trigger.
"It's not murder," he said as he calmly put away the weapon. You can't really murder one of us now can you?" He pointed to Aldrith. "It was also protection, for us. The political spin on this would be immense. At least this way Adde wont remember shit."
Aldrith Shutaq agreed, "Yeah, how do you think it would have looked if he went crying to the IGS with a bunch of lash marks screaming,'The Knights did it!'"
"He asked for it," she said quietly.
"Exactly," Invelious countered.
"Ever stop to wonder why?" Aldrith said.
"To repent."
"No. To entrap. The only redemption is on the battlefield." Invelious said. "Eran is proof of that."
"Yep. He'd have to fight for us again." Aldrith agreed.
Shalee pulled her cloak off and laid it on the floor. "Whatever. Just help me get him to the incinerator." As gently as possible, she undid the handcuffs, guiding the body as it fell.
"How did you get the gun by security?" Aldrith asked as he leaned a bit to look at the splatter mark on the wall, looking slightly impressed.
Invelious watched him, "Years of service with the Ministy of Interal Order will teach you a thing or two about weapons concealment."
"Noted. Don't do that again though, nearly wet myself. And I was going to stop it myself, by the way." Aldrith said.
"I wont, and I promise," Invelious said.
She wrapped him up as best she could then grabbed his feet, leaving Invel to carry the head...or what was left of it. They moved down the corridor towards the end and tossed him into the flames.
"Sillyness... Shalee and Eran have so much pent up anger is ridiculous. Acting like anmials... really," Aldrith muttered as he watched Invelious and Shalee dragging the body away.
After they disposed of the body, Invelious left, leaving Shalee to clean the cell. She hosed it down with icy cold water, watching the water turn red from blood. Bits of brains hung up on the drain, clogging it. She shoved them down with the toe of her boot.
"I'm really getting way too used to this..." Aldrith said as he watched her from the cell's entrance. He gave her a judgmental glance, then sighed. "Hope you're proud of yourself. I honestly think you just wanted to whip someone. But hey... I've been there."
"He asked for it. I wouldn't have killed him, but he needed to be taught a lesson. We are far too easy on traitors." She towelled off her freezing cold hands.
"Doesn't matter. Torture is torture," he countered.
"Yes and murder is murder and betraying is betraying." she said with annoyance as she tossed the towel to the side, her ice blue gaze scanning across the holding cell critically.
Aldrith said, "A traitor can only teach himself. Especially a capsuleer one. What did you expect was going to happen? You make his back bleed and he suddenly understands everything he's done wrong? If only it worked like that..."
"No but he would feel the pain. He would carry with him the memory of what he'd done. But whatever, it doesn't matter now."
"He'd probably have just stuck another knife in our backs and called us all cruel, evil bastards. Have you ever been tortured, Shalee?"
She flicked her gaze to him, her expression cold, saying nothing.
Aldrith smiled a little at Shalee's look. "If you have, you'll know what you mean when I say it's very hard to forgive one's tormentor, no matter who they are or if you have consented or not. The very fact that person is even capable of torture makes them irredeemably evil in the sufferer's eyes. Like Vincent. Like Reimei. And like Verone."
"You're not one to preach to me. You are capable of much evil too," she said with a hint of defiance.
He laughed, "So is everyone else, you know. Point is not to fall to it. I've been trying. We all should be trying. Since the whole Amaterasu ordeal I think I've been doing a fairly decent job. I've only bopped Verone in the head once and I accidentally got Vincent shot."
Shalee threw her hands up in the air and sighed, "Why didn't you kill him? When he came here you should have killed him...I wanted you to," she said in a hushed whisper.
He gave her a droll look. "But I didn't want to."
She frowned deeply. "You should have."
"Even the devil has his purpose. Verone needs to be resisted in spirit, and that's what I tried to do that night. Damn... I nearly shook that evil shit's hand. Ew."
Shalee sighed again, seemingly having lost the mood to talk about him. "I don't care."
He glanced at the bullet hole in the wall. "This world really is confusing sometimes. Who to punish.... who to forgive... who to hate... who to love..."
She nodded, "Yeah. Everything is confusing."
"It all seems rather stupid in the end though, knowing we could have peaceful lives if we just gave up on this pod idiocy and disappeared to some nice planet with a warm sun and lots of trees..." He smirked. "You know Mitara is getting us a bloody mansion on Oris to 'retire' to."
"You're retiring?"
"No not yet. I sure as hell want to sometimes though. And once it's all too much, I'm sure I will. This is not a happy life, Shalee. I don't think God ever meant for humans to have as much power as we do."
"Of course he didn't," she agreed.
"All this power and none of the responsibility... it creates devils like Verone out of people such as us."
"We have too much power and theres no repercussion for evil." She looked at him intently, "That's why I think we should take matters into our own hands..."
"Shalee, the idea you had to punish evil here, tonight, in these holding cells would have required you to become evil yourself. People are not redeemed through suffering unless they bring it on themselves. Hence why I wanted that Adde child to do it himself."
"It was to teach him a lesson."
"He would have taught himself the lesson if he was really repentant. I've done it, actually...back in the Ordo I did some... questionable things. I used that flail almost every week..."
She shrugged, "I've done it too."
"Then you understand."
"If you say."
"What then, you whipped yourself for fun then? Or were you just going through the motions or something?"
"Of course I meant it, Aldrith."
"Well there you are. So, I have another question. When you were about to whip that traitor... are you sure you didn't want to whip yourself?"
"Of course I didn't."
"Are you certain? You are not burdened by any guilt at all? Or anger?" he asked.
She shook her head, "No I don't feel any guilt." Glancing towards the incinerator, she whispered, "Anger, maybe."
He nodded slowly, "Yes, and you have good right to... but that is not something you should bring with you when you bestow a punishment, otherwise it just becomes simple vengeance."
"Are you finished with your lecture?" she asked impatiently.
He grinned at her impatience, "I need to get podded soon; all of my hairs are turning grey because of you..." he muttered as he ushered her towards the exit, locking up the dungeon behind him.
Mercy's Keep Security Files
Location: Dungeon, Cell 1
Date: 1.19.112
In the center of the room hung the limp corpse of Adde Helecton, former Amarrian Militia pilot who had turned traitor over the past few months.
He had shown up at the Keep earlier, speaking of wanting redemption, saying that he was sorry. She didn't believe him, thinking he was there to make a mockery of the Knighthood and her beloved militia.
It was the last straw.
In an act that showed little mercy, she had the guards arrest him and drag him down to the dungeons below the Keep, a place seldom used, if ever. Eran followed her, ready to help. A few other Knights followed as well, some protesting, others urging her on.
She had Adde chained by the wrists, arms suspended above his head and asked him if he would consent to lashes. She told him he needed to suffer, needed to feel pain, to carry the marks of what he had done physically.
He had agreed.
Minutes later, Invelious had entered into the cell. She and Eran got into an argument with him over Adde's capture and before she could order his removal, he pulled a gun to Adde's temple and pulled the trigger.
"It's not murder," he said as he calmly put away the weapon. You can't really murder one of us now can you?" He pointed to Aldrith. "It was also protection, for us. The political spin on this would be immense. At least this way Adde wont remember shit."
Aldrith Shutaq agreed, "Yeah, how do you think it would have looked if he went crying to the IGS with a bunch of lash marks screaming,'The Knights did it!'"
"He asked for it," she said quietly.
"Exactly," Invelious countered.
"Ever stop to wonder why?" Aldrith said.
"To repent."
"No. To entrap. The only redemption is on the battlefield." Invelious said. "Eran is proof of that."
"Yep. He'd have to fight for us again." Aldrith agreed.
Shalee pulled her cloak off and laid it on the floor. "Whatever. Just help me get him to the incinerator." As gently as possible, she undid the handcuffs, guiding the body as it fell.
"How did you get the gun by security?" Aldrith asked as he leaned a bit to look at the splatter mark on the wall, looking slightly impressed.
Invelious watched him, "Years of service with the Ministy of Interal Order will teach you a thing or two about weapons concealment."
"Noted. Don't do that again though, nearly wet myself. And I was going to stop it myself, by the way." Aldrith said.
"I wont, and I promise," Invelious said.
She wrapped him up as best she could then grabbed his feet, leaving Invel to carry the head...or what was left of it. They moved down the corridor towards the end and tossed him into the flames.
"Sillyness... Shalee and Eran have so much pent up anger is ridiculous. Acting like anmials... really," Aldrith muttered as he watched Invelious and Shalee dragging the body away.
After they disposed of the body, Invelious left, leaving Shalee to clean the cell. She hosed it down with icy cold water, watching the water turn red from blood. Bits of brains hung up on the drain, clogging it. She shoved them down with the toe of her boot.
"I'm really getting way too used to this..." Aldrith said as he watched her from the cell's entrance. He gave her a judgmental glance, then sighed. "Hope you're proud of yourself. I honestly think you just wanted to whip someone. But hey... I've been there."
"He asked for it. I wouldn't have killed him, but he needed to be taught a lesson. We are far too easy on traitors." She towelled off her freezing cold hands.
"Doesn't matter. Torture is torture," he countered.
"Yes and murder is murder and betraying is betraying." she said with annoyance as she tossed the towel to the side, her ice blue gaze scanning across the holding cell critically.
Aldrith said, "A traitor can only teach himself. Especially a capsuleer one. What did you expect was going to happen? You make his back bleed and he suddenly understands everything he's done wrong? If only it worked like that..."
"No but he would feel the pain. He would carry with him the memory of what he'd done. But whatever, it doesn't matter now."
"He'd probably have just stuck another knife in our backs and called us all cruel, evil bastards. Have you ever been tortured, Shalee?"
She flicked her gaze to him, her expression cold, saying nothing.
Aldrith smiled a little at Shalee's look. "If you have, you'll know what you mean when I say it's very hard to forgive one's tormentor, no matter who they are or if you have consented or not. The very fact that person is even capable of torture makes them irredeemably evil in the sufferer's eyes. Like Vincent. Like Reimei. And like Verone."
"You're not one to preach to me. You are capable of much evil too," she said with a hint of defiance.
He laughed, "So is everyone else, you know. Point is not to fall to it. I've been trying. We all should be trying. Since the whole Amaterasu ordeal I think I've been doing a fairly decent job. I've only bopped Verone in the head once and I accidentally got Vincent shot."
Shalee threw her hands up in the air and sighed, "Why didn't you kill him? When he came here you should have killed him...I wanted you to," she said in a hushed whisper.
He gave her a droll look. "But I didn't want to."
She frowned deeply. "You should have."
"Even the devil has his purpose. Verone needs to be resisted in spirit, and that's what I tried to do that night. Damn... I nearly shook that evil shit's hand. Ew."
Shalee sighed again, seemingly having lost the mood to talk about him. "I don't care."
He glanced at the bullet hole in the wall. "This world really is confusing sometimes. Who to punish.... who to forgive... who to hate... who to love..."
She nodded, "Yeah. Everything is confusing."
"It all seems rather stupid in the end though, knowing we could have peaceful lives if we just gave up on this pod idiocy and disappeared to some nice planet with a warm sun and lots of trees..." He smirked. "You know Mitara is getting us a bloody mansion on Oris to 'retire' to."
"You're retiring?"
"No not yet. I sure as hell want to sometimes though. And once it's all too much, I'm sure I will. This is not a happy life, Shalee. I don't think God ever meant for humans to have as much power as we do."
"Of course he didn't," she agreed.
"All this power and none of the responsibility... it creates devils like Verone out of people such as us."
"We have too much power and theres no repercussion for evil." She looked at him intently, "That's why I think we should take matters into our own hands..."
"Shalee, the idea you had to punish evil here, tonight, in these holding cells would have required you to become evil yourself. People are not redeemed through suffering unless they bring it on themselves. Hence why I wanted that Adde child to do it himself."
"It was to teach him a lesson."
"He would have taught himself the lesson if he was really repentant. I've done it, actually...back in the Ordo I did some... questionable things. I used that flail almost every week..."
She shrugged, "I've done it too."
"Then you understand."
"If you say."
"What then, you whipped yourself for fun then? Or were you just going through the motions or something?"
"Of course I meant it, Aldrith."
"Well there you are. So, I have another question. When you were about to whip that traitor... are you sure you didn't want to whip yourself?"
"Of course I didn't."
"Are you certain? You are not burdened by any guilt at all? Or anger?" he asked.
She shook her head, "No I don't feel any guilt." Glancing towards the incinerator, she whispered, "Anger, maybe."
He nodded slowly, "Yes, and you have good right to... but that is not something you should bring with you when you bestow a punishment, otherwise it just becomes simple vengeance."
"Are you finished with your lecture?" she asked impatiently.
He grinned at her impatience, "I need to get podded soon; all of my hairs are turning grey because of you..." he muttered as he ushered her towards the exit, locking up the dungeon behind him.
Mercy's Keep Security Files
Location: Dungeon, Cell 1
Date: 1.19.112
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Entry 127: Darkest Days
"Do you have any news of Yulai?" Commodore Shalee Lianne asked as she entered into the main hall of Mercy's Keep. She'd been out on patrol with militia when they received news of the incursion. By the time they had made it back to their home system, comms were overflowing with intel of Kuvakei and the Sansha.
She decided upon a short break, gather up what intel she could verify and then decide where next to go.
"None, I'm afraid." Karmilla answered as she stood to greet her.
"Last I heard there were over a thousand capsuleers in system." Shalee said as she activated her datapad, the neon blue screen illuminating her face in a soft glow.
"I'm not surprised."
"Surely with that many they were able to stop any abductions. I pray, anyhow."
"Attention pilots." Julianus Soter's form appeared holographically. "Nation is establishing a permanent portal within the Promised Land system, Genesis, Amarr Empire. This portal connects to Stain. The Amarr Empire's conventional forces are being prevented from interrupting this effort."
"Oh god..."
"The Amarr Empire is becoming a conduit for the arrival of Kuvakei's final assault. That is all." Julianus Soter's hologram switched to standby mode.
"It appears my dinner will have to wait." Karmilla headed towards the shuttle bay, nodding her head to Shalee, "Commodore."
Major James Silva's hologram flickered to life."James? What can you tell me?" Shalee asked, her expression worried.
"The Nation has the technology to create permanent wormholes it seems," he answered in a heavy voice.
Soter's form animated again, "Two super carriers, a hundred sympathizers in support ships. Kuvakei himself is overseeing the operation. Imperial Fleet Command has been paralyzed."
"What the...." Cold chills snaked down her spine. The Imperial Fleet Command paralyzed? How was that possible?
Soter's holo flickered off as Silva spoke, "In less then eight minutes they created a wormhole from Stain to the Promised Land to Yulai. I'm en route to Yulai currently, but I think my subsystems are damaged. My cloaking system says it's working but when I went to an engagement, I started taking precise laser fire."
"I heard that there were over a thousand pilots in Yulai....were they able to stop the abductions?"
"There were no abductions at Yulai. There were over fifteen hundred pilots in system."
"That's a relief, at least....but this wormhole technology...oh god. How is that even possible?"
"I don't know Shalee, but now we have to deal with this new threat," he said grimly.
Althea Ekran of Moira activated the hologram system. "Nation portal generator established, conduit complete. Next phase of Sansha Operation about to commence." The hologram flickered, "Kuvakei has left..."
Shalee glanced to Althea's holo form, her expression pale and etched with worry. "He left the Promised Land?"
"Kuvakei has published a new transmission." Althea said, activating the recording.
"It is done, my children. We have our path to the Promised Land. Soon, the rest of New Eden will wither under the firepower of my armada, but you, capsuleers, you are my chosen ones. I will share the glory of my Nation with you. In the coming months, when the days are darkest, look to the Promised Land for guidance. Find the conduit that remains and you will be rewarded."
"Oh God how is this even possible?" Shalee whispered to no one in particular as she paced between the holograms, arms folded, her boots thudding across the stone floor. "Any idea what is to happen next?" she looked to James.
"Open warfare, larger than anything we've seen with Nation's incursions before."
"Larger?! We have a hard enough time as it is fighting him."
"So it would seem."
"Are you in Yulai yet? How is it there?" she asked.
"I'm in Yulai, I'll show you what's here at planet two." The screen of her datapad flashed with an image.
"And that takes you to the Promised Land?"
"Only their ships." He answered.
"So they can control who goes through the wormholes too? Amazing..." She sent a message to both Predator Elite and Eran Mintor, forwarding the image.
"James, though we've just come in off of a Bleak's patrol, I think we can rally another fleet. Where are we needed most?"
"Start off in Araz. Get your fleet there as quickly as you can....and Shalee? Be prepared for any and everything...this is nothing like you've ever seen before."
She decided upon a short break, gather up what intel she could verify and then decide where next to go.
"None, I'm afraid." Karmilla answered as she stood to greet her.
"Last I heard there were over a thousand capsuleers in system." Shalee said as she activated her datapad, the neon blue screen illuminating her face in a soft glow.
"I'm not surprised."
"Surely with that many they were able to stop any abductions. I pray, anyhow."
"Attention pilots." Julianus Soter's form appeared holographically. "Nation is establishing a permanent portal within the Promised Land system, Genesis, Amarr Empire. This portal connects to Stain. The Amarr Empire's conventional forces are being prevented from interrupting this effort."
"Oh god..."
"The Amarr Empire is becoming a conduit for the arrival of Kuvakei's final assault. That is all." Julianus Soter's hologram switched to standby mode.
"It appears my dinner will have to wait." Karmilla headed towards the shuttle bay, nodding her head to Shalee, "Commodore."
Major James Silva's hologram flickered to life."James? What can you tell me?" Shalee asked, her expression worried.
"The Nation has the technology to create permanent wormholes it seems," he answered in a heavy voice.
Soter's form animated again, "Two super carriers, a hundred sympathizers in support ships. Kuvakei himself is overseeing the operation. Imperial Fleet Command has been paralyzed."
"What the...." Cold chills snaked down her spine. The Imperial Fleet Command paralyzed? How was that possible?
Soter's holo flickered off as Silva spoke, "In less then eight minutes they created a wormhole from Stain to the Promised Land to Yulai. I'm en route to Yulai currently, but I think my subsystems are damaged. My cloaking system says it's working but when I went to an engagement, I started taking precise laser fire."
"I heard that there were over a thousand pilots in Yulai....were they able to stop the abductions?"
"There were no abductions at Yulai. There were over fifteen hundred pilots in system."
"That's a relief, at least....but this wormhole technology...oh god. How is that even possible?"
"I don't know Shalee, but now we have to deal with this new threat," he said grimly.
Althea Ekran of Moira activated the hologram system. "Nation portal generator established, conduit complete. Next phase of Sansha Operation about to commence." The hologram flickered, "Kuvakei has left..."
Shalee glanced to Althea's holo form, her expression pale and etched with worry. "He left the Promised Land?"
"Kuvakei has published a new transmission." Althea said, activating the recording.
"It is done, my children. We have our path to the Promised Land. Soon, the rest of New Eden will wither under the firepower of my armada, but you, capsuleers, you are my chosen ones. I will share the glory of my Nation with you. In the coming months, when the days are darkest, look to the Promised Land for guidance. Find the conduit that remains and you will be rewarded."
"Oh God how is this even possible?" Shalee whispered to no one in particular as she paced between the holograms, arms folded, her boots thudding across the stone floor. "Any idea what is to happen next?" she looked to James.
"Open warfare, larger than anything we've seen with Nation's incursions before."
"Larger?! We have a hard enough time as it is fighting him."
"So it would seem."
"Are you in Yulai yet? How is it there?" she asked.
"I'm in Yulai, I'll show you what's here at planet two." The screen of her datapad flashed with an image.
"And that takes you to the Promised Land?"
"Only their ships." He answered.
"So they can control who goes through the wormholes too? Amazing..." She sent a message to both Predator Elite and Eran Mintor, forwarding the image.
"James, though we've just come in off of a Bleak's patrol, I think we can rally another fleet. Where are we needed most?"
"Start off in Araz. Get your fleet there as quickly as you can....and Shalee? Be prepared for any and everything...this is nothing like you've ever seen before."
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
OOC
I've launched a new site that will operate like the old FWReport, though I will focus more on interviews and the players behind FW.
If you are interested in writing for the site or just wish to relay news or give ideas for articles, please shoot me an eve mail.
http://sovereigntywars.wordpress.com/
Please show some love and link the new site on your bios for a while to get the word out there.
Love yall ♥
If you are interested in writing for the site or just wish to relay news or give ideas for articles, please shoot me an eve mail.
http://sovereigntywars.wordpress.com/
Please show some love and link the new site on your bios for a while to get the word out there.
Love yall ♥
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Entry 126: Eytjangard part 5
Everything was spinning.
Colors bled away until nothing was left but a swirl of black and white shadowy figures moving in perfect rhythm with one another.
She could hear soft music, as if someone had opened a music box across the far side of the room. She felt a hand against hers, another at her waist. "Dance," he commanded softly.
Her gaze met his as he pulled her to him, leading her to the center of the room. Around them, other couples swayed, elegantly floating across a ballroom floor. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, their crystals reflecting shards of light across the room, giving off a fairytale atmosphere.
"Vincent?" she asked with confusion as she felt him moving closer to her. "What's going on? Where are we?"
He merely smiled to her, saying nothing as he twirled her around.
She looked to the others as they swirled around her, Aldrith with Morwen, Raxip with Hitome.
The Knighthood with VETO, the Knights in white, VETO in black.
She opened her mouth to call out to Aldrith though her words faded into the music. He danced, oblivious to her, moving closer to Morwen. She could hear Morwen's beguiling laughter echoing around them.
"Dance," Vincent commanded again, trying to capture her attention away from the others.
"No...no somethings not right...you shouldn't be here, we shouldn't be here..."
The music grew louder, an eerie off key melody, a broken music box. She could feel her heart racing, thudding against her chest.
She broke out into a cold sweat as she tried to pull away from him. "Let me go..." she whimpered as she struggled, trying to free herself from his grasp.
"Stop fucking moving!" he yelled at her, yanking her by her hair as she stumbled to the ground.
Suddenly Raxip was in front of her, knife drawn, slashing through the air towards her exposed throat as he smiled sadistically.
Raxip's face bled into Galt Yasters and the ballroom faded to reality.
Sounds of the jungle, screams of guards dying, and explosions around the camp jolted her out of her shell shocked hallucinations.
"Hello Commander." said Kuan Yida, an officer of the Tribal Liberation Force, as he squatted above her. He smiled calmly at her as he sheathed his blade.
Gasping for breath, she stared at him as if trying to discern if he were real or not, then to the slain bodies around her. Severed heads spurted warm blood across the mud, some of it splattering against her bare arms.
She started to shake uncontrollably as she snaked her arms around his shoulders, burying her head against his neck, sobbing, "Are you really here?" she questioned, doubting her own sanity.
"Is this over? Can we go...oh god, Lora! I think they killed her," she sobbed, her voice muffled against his skin.
"She's okay. My men are leading her off now." He trailed a hand across the back of her head to soothe her as he gave a glance around, accessing the situation.
He bunched his fingers in her hair and tipped her head back, looking her in the eye. Her face was beyond pale with dark smudges beneath her glassy eyes. She looked exhausted and drugged. "Dammit," he muttered under his breath as he unhooked a medkit from his belt and found something that would counter what she'd been given. He broke a small vial and dribbled the liquid between her lips, "You have to drink this."
She nodded obediently and swallowed the foul tasting liquid as he hoisted her up and slung her across his shoulders. He carried her off into the shadows of a nearby building to wait for the antidote to kick in.
"What are you doing?" she asked groggily as she felt his hands around her waist.
"Arming you." He latched a shield-belt around her waist complete with stim nanites, a laser pistol, a pair of knives, and a few plasma grenades.
Several minutes passed as he traded intel over comms with the rest of his team.
After he finished, he knelt in front of her, his dark gaze questioning her, "Are you feeling better?"
She gave a quick nod as he tugged her to her feet. "Alright. Let's move out," he said as he moved to the corner of the building and pointed. "This area has been cleared, all hostages are heading to transports that'a way. The BT's still have a heavy presence there." He pointed in the opposite direction. "We need a major distraction to give them enough time to evacuate the rest."
Shalee nodded, "Alright." Her expression uncertain.
He side glanced, noting the doubt. "You've trained for this Commodore. You can do this." He gave her a quick smile. "On my mark."
The next few moments became a blur of explosions, fire, and blood. The pair of them methodically worked their way through the camp, tossing grenades into buildings and vehicles while taking down sentry guards in the process.
She paused to catch her breath, her back to Kuan as he conferred with his team over comms again. The stench of blood made her nauseated, her sleeves were drenched, hands and face sticky red. She wiped the blood-wet blade against her pants, mentally bracing herself for the next round.
"They need a few more minutes," he said as he took stock of what they had left. "How many grenades do you have left?"
"None..." she answered grimly.
"Alright. It's fine. We got this, okay? You trust me, right?" he said, turning to face another group of BT's that had neared them holding machetes and other crude weapons.
"With my life," she said wryly, "which, I might add, is probably going to be over soon."
"Just a few more minutes and it will all be over. You did inject the implant Nabole gave you?"
"Yup..." she said, having no idea what the implant did, only that he had sent it to her through the Vherokior spy.
"Perfect," he said as he lifted his blade. "Easy....easy..." he coaxed, staring at two Brutors as they arrogantly broke free of the group, charging them.
"Now!" In a fluid motion swift motion, twin blades arced through the air, slicing into the two Brutor's throats. Her boot slammed into her attacker's abdomen as his head rolled off of his shoulders. She kicked the body to the side and found her footing, ready for the next attack.
An eerie quiet settled over the blood traitors for a few seconds as they watched the severed heads roll across the muddy ground. As they came to a halt, a war cry erupted from behind them.
Another group was closing in on them, trapping them.
She pivoted around, her back to Kuan, blade raised, "Any bright ideas, Commander?"
"Yeah," he said a bit smugly, "Fight."
They slashed their way through the oncoming wave of bodies. Hands, heads, and arms fell around them as they fought with superior reflexes.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this!" she screamed as she ducked beneath a silver blade that swung towards her head, her knife slamming into the matar's gut. She yanked the blade up and out as he fell back.
Light flashed as tractor beams illuminated the thick dark smoke that covered the sky. Over comms, Kuan was given the good news. "They all have made it," he called out in an exhausted voice. "The rorqual is ready to jump."
"What about us?" she yelled out as she severed another head. Blood squirted, drenching her face, clotting her lashes. She blinked, unable to see clearly.
He didn't bother to answer her as he denoted an anti-matter grenade, one used for deep core moon mining. Everything exploded, the camps now leveled to nothing but a smoking crater.
***
She came to consciousness quickly as she felt hands pulling her from the cloning vat. Ambiotic fluid slid down her skin as she was wrapped with a towel.
Blinking open her eyes, she looked warily at the Vherokior pod tech.
"Who are you? Where is Jonathan?"
"I'm Lao." He smiled to her. "Jonathan?" he asked as he lead her over to the privacy showers.
"My chief pod tech..."
"I work for Commander Yida," he explained as she stepped into the stall. "You are aboard the Red Locus. We are just about to jump out of Eytjangard, I do believe."
"Wait...what?"
"Get cleaned up, Commander Yida is waiting for you on the bridge. "I'm sure he will explain everything."
***
Later that night she wrote in her journal:
Sometimes I question the purpose of this 'war', though I could never really admit it to anyone, not anyone I fly with anyhow. They have to believe that I believe.
I don't fight for what this Empire is, but what it can be. What it will be. I don't fight for slavery, but for God. In my heart I have to believe that God did not mean for humanity to succumb to such twisted evil, not in his name.
The Amarr are wrong and I believe the Empress knows this and that she will lead us out of this darkness. She is the one true beacon of hope in this chaotic madness.
It's not that I think all Amarr are evil. They are merely misguided, desperately clinging to the teachings of their pasts. Good men can do bad things without even realizing it.
And 'bad' men can do good things too.
Eytjangard taught me that much.
People like Admiral Newelle will have me think that people like Commander Yida are worthless, but had not Kuan saved me, I would still be there, I think. Trapped. Tortured. Sold, perhaps.
Captain Fierch would have me believe that men like SilenceIKillYou are wholly evil, but he risked his carrier to free thousands of refugees.
I cannot believe that any soul is inherently good or evil. I believe that we are the sum of many things, that we capable of both, but never truly one or the other. It's all a matter of perspective, anyhow.
On Eytjangard, I learned that good people like Lora can be brutally destroyed despite their good intentions. I learned that men can betray their own people for a simple sum of ISK.
But I also learned that some people, like Kuan, can and will go above the call of duty and the bounds of friendship, to do the right thing.
That is something I will never forget.
***
(( Kuan Yida's blog, Eytjangard Blues part 5, from his perspective))
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