Intergalactic Summit

*Broadcast from the steps of the Tal-Romon Cathedral, Dam-Torsad, Holy Amarr*

To the Warriors of the Twenty-Fourth Imperial Crusade!

Brothers. Sisters.

It's been a long, brutal war.

Since the outset of this Crusade, we have danced intimately with disaster.

After grueling years of establishing the grinding line at Fortress Kamela, and the brutal, seemingly never-ending stalemate at Kourmonen, the Great Wall cracked. Not five months ago, Tribal forces, already holding the advantage, broke through, swarming over all Imperial defenses almost unchecked. Even mighty Kamela fell.
Every remaining strength was focused on our final remaining stronghold, our last point of refuge, Sahtogas.
The wolves circled eagerly, hungry for the kill.
They would go hungry.

*He waits for the cheering to subside*

The defenders of Sahtogas held despite all odds, a glory that can never be taken from those brave few.
A flurry of resurgence then followed, but the lines would again stabilize along the familiar scorched battlements.
Wanton destruction and terror remained on the doorstep of the people of the Bleak Lands.

Until now.

Imperial forces finally made their breakthrough as the new year dawned. As our Allies in the State saw their defenses buckle, Crusader forces blindsided the Tribals by taking the TLF HQ at Dal.
We did not stop there.

While still pushing the Front Line back, a new offensive began last week, starting in deep enemy territory.
Aset. The Heart of the Euglidi Constellation.
This would be the true test.

Today, I was honored to take part in a long-awaited Triumph.
Today we give thanks unto God.
Today, all of Euglidi is pacified.

*Delighted applause and yelling breaks out*

My pride at the incredible perseverance of Crusader forces cannot be understated. The 24th has always been vastly outnumbered, hounded by the horde, surrounded on all sides, and doing battle from the back foot. Throughout it all, against all odds, the spirit of the 24th has maintained.

To my fellow Crusaders, I say this:

At last, the crushing tide is weathered. Drink deep the fresh air, give thanks to the Lord, and take pride at your accomplishment.
Then, steel yourselves once more, for the task at hand is not complete.

The Greater Amarria is vast, and many who fight devoutly do so for many different reasons. Some take the Crusade because our Empress demanded it, some come to further the Great Reclaiming, still others come for revenge, and many even for the simple love of profit made possible by the war effort.

Our foe is not weak. The Tribal moves swiftly, and in force. His cunning and his numbers have brought untold slaughter unto the devout.
What he does not possess is the unwavering foundation of our belief, in the righteousness of our cause, in Our Lord, in our Empress, and in each other.

The end to this conflict seems unbelievably distant at times. Even the strongest faith can find pause in such limitless destruction. No matter your order, your belief, your motivation, remember why we are here.

There Once was Peace. The Tribal Annihilated It.
They must never be allowed to threaten the Innocent again.

Ever.

The Lord's Blessing upon you. Fly in His Light.
Amarr Victor!

*He turns and enters the cathedral to cheers, ending the conference*

Once, there was a Statist. He took every system that belonged to the Federals, and he pronounced victory.

He was wrong.

Once, there was a Federal. He took every system that belonged to the Statists, and he pronounced victory.

He was wrong.

Now, there is an Imperial. He took a handful of systems that belonged to the Tribals, and he predicted victory.

He will be wrong.

Congratulations on the rewards for your hard work. Every conquest against a superior enemy force takes an immense amount of effort and tactics. If you've been taking systems, it truly is because you've been fighting harder.

This indeed is something to celebrate.

As Cardinal Graelyn states, our work is far from done. The Bleak Lands and Devoid remain under very real and constant threat from the Shakorites and their associated terrorist groups. We must continue our work in the defence of Empire space.

It is an honour to fly alongside some old friends who have returned to do what they can against these terrorists and heathens. I look forward to many more reclaimed systems and, who knows, maybe even the return of the feared Golden Fleet.

I couldn't care less for the rhetoric. I and many other capsuleers have sweat blood for this change in the winds. I am not convinced it's anything but a brief pause in this eternal conflict.

I'm not stopping, nor should anyone else. We have stretched thinly and we must make sure we do not go too far in mind as well as on the field.

Amarr Victor!

We have made so much progress as of late it is astounding. Not over till its over yet. I expect the TLF are already working their hardest to develop a counter strategy. I pray we will be ready.

I have to agree with Andreus. The CONCORD-sanctioned proxy wars essentially give loyalist capsuleers regions-wide playzones to fight in. If they've not been abandoned by baseliners long ago, they will continue to be evacuated. How frustrating is it, I wonder, for any one particular side to take control of all the warzone only to be stopped at that last gate into "enemy" hisec?

Your deeds, although earned against great odds, are temporary at best. I pray for a day when these mindless wars come to an end and real meaning begins. The future demands it.

You missed the line: Once there was a lot Tribals who declared victory over the Imperials before it was won, they were wrong and a lot are now working for us.

The sheer amount of what I can only call glory hunting militia hoppers is staggering. The amarr public militia channel is swelling with capsuleers that seem to be recently ex-minmatar militia.

It follows a trend that large numbers of mercenary pilots join the militias just to earn isk from the rewards provided by capturing military objectives. They do not care for the reason behind the war and then artificially force sovereignty control beyond what the militia should be truly capable of.

Over the last 7 days I have watched as Gallente militia stop fighting their own warzone, move over to metropolis and murder minmatar militia while attacking the systems recently taken by the amarr.

In Taff, Gukarla and Ualkin Dark rising have attacked both minmatar forces and the forces of the COA while using the strategic capture locations as a source of income.

A sorry state of events and one that won't end.

So yes, I'll welcome this brief time of plenty when it comes to rewards for my work but I shall be saving my LP rewards for when times are hard again. They will be, it's just a matter of time.

All these talks about "Minmatar Blood" and other blood flavors are seriously starting to sound like Blood Raider oenologists mundane discussions.