Intergalactic Summit

Since the militias started rewarding pilots for pursuing military objectives with tangible credit, the war has expanded into systems that previously saw none of it since the wholesale occupation in 111. The Caldari have begun taking Federal systems in droves. This is a problem particularly for Placid, which has been inhabited for hundreds of years now, lived in by people who see very little outside forces. Even in Black Rise, those exiled from the State make their home there, and they too will suffer.

Members of the State Protectorate will attempt to justify these invasions and occupations of the free worlds of Placid and other areas as a consequence of the fabricated propaganda of so-called Gallentean cultural warfare of years prior, but this is just a fabrication of the Provists. Within the Federation, the aberration of having an occupying force dictating your lives will be used as a justification to ruthlessly fight back against the invaders. Resistance under the more militant rule of President Roden will force the occupying megacorporations to tighten the noose harder. As a result, more people die.

What is the cause of this? Some of you will say that these innocent civilians will have deserved it, because the Federation is bad for some reason or another. Justifying the loss of civilian life due to fabricated propaganda is a criminality, and is a disconnection of reality that can only be associated with capsuleers.

But it's more than just a capsuleer, but the nature of the capsuleer world. Mjalnar Gessenier was correct in stating that the capsuleer society is a Gallentean one, dominated by a market-driven economy based on individual entrepreneurs who organize themselves into corporations. The way this economy is structured thrives off of conflict and war. The primary reason the State Protectorate has launched a large offensive is because of the monetary gains that can be made of it. It feeds the capsuleer economy, and feeds the violence. Hardly any contestable system is stable now.

There is another evil behind this, and it is still capitalism, but capitalism in the wider world. The Caldari corporations (with the arguable exception of Ishukone) are thriving off of this war. After all, Kaalakiota is an arms manufacturer first and foremost. Because the Caldari people are so tied to these corporations, they are indoctrinated with militarism, and that fighting the war is the right thing to do. It's only the right thing to do because it's damned profitable for those in control. That said, do not mistake me to putting sole blame on the State.

In the Federation, there are the vulturous corporations who equally are using the situation to their advantage. The great arms manufacturers are becoming just as wealthy as the Big Eight. However, because the people are not tied to the corporations in the same way as in the State, the people of the Federation can suffer to their benefit. Like their Caldari counterparts, they are merchants of death, and will profit immensely from any escalations of violence. The worst thing about it, is that President Jacus Roden is one of those merchants.

It's capitalism 101. Capsuleers are the same; a conflict will raise demand for ships and weapons, and there will be those who seek to supply that. Even outside of war, these capitalist corporations will always seek to spread their wealth at the expense of the individual. Caldari pilots who may say the State "just wants to be left alone" are ignorant of the fact that the Big Eight needs to expand into other markets in order to compete. They shut the universe out last time, and allowed the Federation to economically dominate the State, which put Executor Heth in power. And within the Federation, our corporations use structural violence to keep poor agricultural worlds under the heel of the rich developed worlds who the former are dependent on.

Rattle about ideology in this war all you want, but on both sides, all the propaganda is simply justification to hide the true reality that it is capitalism that drives the current war between the Federation and the Caldari State. The State megacorporations who will move in, occupy, and oppress their reacquired worlds do so for profit at the expense of a foreign population they do not care about. Similarly, Gallentean megacorporations will use this to fuel the political zeitgeist to fight back and prolong the war, all so they can profit more from it.

Ask yourselves; what are you really fighting for, and who is the real enemy? I can ask these questions, and retain my station because I am a Gallentean. I wear this uniform to protect the ideals of free will, self-determination, and justice. I do not wear it to fuel the greed of man, and serve the unelected plutocrats that think they are the real masters of society. I will make it my priority to ensure that every crewperson and officer who wears the eagle on their shoulder knows this, as well as the people that I serve.

It's gone back and forth, miss Hanaya. If you read my service record, you'll know my own achievements since it began four years ago.

If you think capitalism is just a scapegoat, you need a reality check. If you think this is down to the State's military, then you need to find out what a capsuleer proxy war is.

I do not intend to betray my country. I have a duty to my family, my people, and my uniform. All four of those exist independent of any corporate forces that seek to undermine them.

My days of being a pilot has been seldom active recently. I have fought this war for four years, with no end in sight. However, I am a capsuleer and a Gallentean. It's a good thing political activism is protected here, and it's another good thing that being a capsuleer offers a sort of unofficial immunity. Quite important, when the security services get irrationally paranoid that a Gallentean's words may be more than just rattling an empty can.

I will use my status to further the cause outlined above, but as I am still a soldier, I have my obligations. The corporation-run State is still an enemy, and they will remain an enemy as long as capitalism is at their core. One might say capitalism is also fundamental to the Federation but, last I checked, the ability to choose one's own fate is at the core of a democratic society.

That said, why not help take control of the destiny of this purpetual fight?

I have my own thoughts on how the wars should be played out. Perhaps you would like to hear them?

And how convenient that you've only discovered this when you're on the losing side.

I may have only been a capsuleer a month, but your 'change of heart' is the type endemic to the human race.

This is why I have so much more respect for the Matari than the Galletean. When things get harder for the Matari, the Matari harden up. When things get harder for the Gallente, the Gallente cry about the injustice of it all.

It never fails, general.

You point the finger at something essential to Caldari culture and society, vilify it and then use it to explain what is wrong with everything else. You point your finger directly at the State and then say "I don't blame only the State" when you should add "but I also blame everything that is at the core of the State!"

I will also point out how you consistently label State forces as "oppressive," "uncaring," and "strictly out for profit" in this war then (briefly) suggest that Gallente corporations also profit and use "structural violence" to keep people under their heel. You were also kind enout to state "there is another evil" as in "another one than just the State." Truly, it never gets old hearing that we're universally evil, oppressive, uncaring and ruthless profit seekers.

I too am fighting for principles that govern the State; those of honor, integrity, duty, service to community, communal accountability, diligence, dignity and the list goes on.

You blame propaganda and then preach it yourself.

As to your specific arguments: The people of Black Rise have been a part of the State since before this war began and Wiyrkomi Corporation (along with others such as Lai Dai) have been operating in that region for quite some time. Placid belongs to the Intaki and both our sovereign governments fail to recognize that entirely.

Come now, Mr. Khross, the good General may still have much to learn about stating opinions objectively, but he makes a good point in the end. I have hope for him.

This kind of thinking ought to be encouraged, and the innocent people all four nations have something to say about the endless nature of the militia wars. He sees one sizeable part of the problem, it is now up to us to see the rest of the picture and do something about it.

I may not have to kill you after all madam, infact I think I may have just fallen a little for you. Of course I am fickle and will most likely have a new paramoure within an hour or so (Susan Black is always pretty fetching), reguardless...I have decided, based on your words...to forgo my mission of pillaging your holdings.

As to the OP, stop being such a sissy and fight for your people good sir...there is no crying in baseball....or war for that matter.

War not going so well, eh Seriphyn?

Oh, Vikarion. You always know just what to say.