EVE General Discussion

Part 7: Against All Authorities – The barbarians of New Eden?

With the full weight of my new found corporation behind me, a masterful vision laid out before me and the self assured confidence of a tourist within me I plotted this course to head full tilt towards Against All Authorities. At this point I still mistakenly believed that their pilots had podded me previously and this had rankled me, thus I had three objectives for this trip. 1) To seek the truth, are they really against all authorities 2) to secure docking rights in their stations and 3) to take a picture of their home station.
Route to the Barbarians!

Unfortunately I was waylaid several times on the journey. Thus:

Part 7: Opportunities Missed

The first occurred while jumping out of a system owned by the 'Mildly Intoxicated'. A rather attractive lady hailed me, her speech was slurred and I'm sure I saw her ship hit a billboard, but she was a fan!. Not wanting to miss the chance to meet a member of the adoring public, who so happens to be female, I spun my shuttle around and jumped back. I was disappointed to learn that while she was a fan, she was not 'that kind' of fan. Though on one hand the resultant conversation confirmed one thing and on the other provided me with an excellent tourist hotspot to visit.

It was confirmed that there is indeed a universe wide gagging order in effect, handed down by the corporate elites to stop their minions from harmless chatter. Our chat on the open channels quickly faltered and my burning questions went unanswered, which were 1) Are you all alcoholics? 2) Do you support the evil barbarians? She then contacted privately and both explained and did not explain what happened.
Corporate secrets

Is this a personal gagging order aimed at me? To disrupt my adventures and prevent me from sharing them? Perhaps this is a directive issued by Against All Authorities, who in fact, rule with an iron fist. Publicly they eschew all other authority while enforcing their own oppressive laws. My resolve doubled, I would get to the bottom of their shenanigans.

Back in the present, Rhetaku was informing me of a little gem to be found, only 34 jumps away.
A mysterious, but important relic

I was first struck but the existence of some newfangled network for sharing information on which I could search for whatever I needed. I then disregarded this revelation as utterly irrelevant. Secondly though, I had the location of an exciting piece of history; for those who are unfamiliar with what awaits in that system, the surprise shall remain. I added this location to my now extensive to-do list and flew onwards to the barbarians of New Eden.

I was sidetracked once more as a faint memory of a proposal reached my consciousness. A member of The Kadeshi alliance had mentioned that perhaps the CVA fleet was not as impressive as I had thought. When I questioned him further he provided this system as the source of the unstoppable Kadeshi fleet. I noticed that the space I was currently in belonged to these intergalactic behemoths, so I swung about once more and made for I-NGI8 for seeing a mighty fleet is always worth a detour

I landed, warped to the station, promptly took my picture and hung it up with the others.
The station of The Kadeshi?

No, wait. Something was not quite right. I looked at it again.

Perhaps you didn't see it the first time, I didn't either. I picked it up, turned it this way and that. Finally, only after holding it upside down, standing 2.5 feet away and squinting did I finally spot it.
Something fishy?

Still not got it?

Check the corner. The top left one. Or the bottom right one if you're still holding it upside down like a moron.

No? I'll be more specific then. The alliance.

It's the wrong damn alliance!

My suspicions were confirmed when I spoke to the local pilots.
Denial

That wrapped that up nicely, bow and all. Apparently I had been sent here to either 1) die or 2) be made a fool of. Fortunately, I covered my foolishness by accusing them of being secret Kadeshi members and fleeing the system. There was no grand fleet awaiting my arrival, ready to wow me with titans and astound me with carriers; I was left feeling rather disappointed

what I really want to see is someone re-play Battlestar Galactica. A dreadnaught and 50 some-odd indy and mining ships, along with shuttles and stuff. Start out in 1.0 space, then run through the drone regions to another highsec.

I dunno. I think it'd be neat. Of course it could also be animated, Clear Skies style. But what's the fun in that.

Poitot is indeed fun. As well as Stacmon area as well as the illustrious "6-c" which has a little of everything npc null has to offer for the young adventurer!

I read the entire thread and blog shame it ended with his disappearance.

I anxiously await the next update in this story... as I am in it :D

We really enjoyed your presence in the deep south, perhaps you can visit again some day.

Part 8: Against All Authorities – The barbarians of New Eden?

As a tourist I am neutral by definition. See, explore, learn, understand and take pictures - that is the first line in every tourist handbook. However, I fear these handbooks were not written for the lawless back alley's of New Eden where I find myself; it is increasingly difficult to maintain my neutrality. Against All Authorities had podded me (or so I believed at the time). Now you would be forgiven for grabbing your screen and yelling “welcome to null security. What did you expect?” But it isn't the fact that they podded me that rankled me, no. It's their name, their stance, the very thing they stand for. Against ALL Authorities. I mean, do they not know about the New Eden Tourist Board? How could anyone be against their authority to issue passports?

Thus when I entered their system I opened like so:
Laying down the law

I opened politely, followed with the critical issue (rage disguised as a question), slipped in a cheeky photograph opportunity before challenging the very foundation of their entire alliance. Dropping it like it's hot, as they say.

I quickly learnt two things:
Yes, they were actually specifically against me and the Tourist Board, for Professor firebolt clearly knew my ultimate intentions, showing that they have been following me closely.
He then went on to show that Against All Authorities do indeed rule with an iron fist of laws, protocol and authority even as they stamp it out across the galaxy. 500 million for a photograph!

So I did the only sensible thing. I flew right up to that station and took a photo. For free. Yes, you heard me. For free.
A photo worth 500 million ISK

Unfortunately there were some scary looking individuals sitting outside so I took a hurried snap and quickly fled the vicinity. But it appears that once these vagabonds know that I will not kowtow to their demands they became more forthcoming. I delicately enquired about my third objective, docking.
Detective work

It ended up being a mini quest all of it's own, I waited eagerly for the commanders reply. It took about 5 minutes for me to realise he had not replied. A further 5 minutes and I began to think he was ignoring me. 5 minutes after that he disappeared from the system.

However, it appeared that my heroic act of defiance had created a stir within their ranks. My persistence had won some of them over to my cause and I was invited to the station, perhaps I would finally be able to dock!
Welcomed by AAA

While Liviy and my new friend firebolt were inviting me to their humble abode, no doubt unwrapping numerous plates of cocktail sausages and standing by with the beer; Thumernlife was spouting off about imminent death.

Turns out Thumernlife was correct. And there were no sausages.

Now. It was at this point I realised my previous assertion was incorrect. On examining previous kill mails it turns out that Against All Authorities had not in fact podded me before. However, they had definitely just blown my shuttle up. So I felt justified in maintaining the same level of incomprehensible rage.

I decided to demonstrate my resolve and perfectly prioritised priorities. Thumernlife responded by detailing the harsh realities of null security space.
Definitely going to die

Not only could I not dock without being set to 'blue', but I'd also be hounded, hunted and shot! Fortunately for me, I really was winning them over, though I was slightly suspicious of some of their motivations.
Curious offers

I wouldn't have it said that Twoflower Octiron falls for the same ruse twice, so I steadfastly refused. It appears that this show of moral fibre was the final test andshowed the locals my true strength. This time, they truly accepted me as one of their own; we chatted about my travels so far. I often get asked two things wherever I go:

Why do I not fly a covert ops ship?
What am I training?

Allow me to answer here so that I may forever more be free of them! I fly a shuttle because I am a poor tourist and shuttles are pretty expensive out here – plus the shuttle is the epitome of neutrality. Secondly, I neglected to purchase any skills books on my departure so have spent lazy days reading about navigation. I hope this adequately clears up these areas of intense debate. Also the name Goonswarm was raised once more, allegedly they are the fearsome leaders of a vast confederation of alliances – known to be full of ruthless, nefarious, scamming dirt bags who will pod first and ignore questions later. Luckily, they are on my list to visit!

Talking of shuttles... I was rapidly forgetting my anger at the pilots of Against All Authorities and was quite enjoying my conversation with them, right up until this happened:
An act of kindess

For I fell in love with Against All Authorities. Or perhaps just with Ralyn Longs!
True love?

I was so buoyed with the elation of the moment. Perhaps I did not need to dock at all? I could have friends in all corners of the universe and they could bring me ships like offerings to the great shuttle god. I would fly amongst the stars, sponsored by the alliances of New Eden. So caught up in the moment was I that I decided to take the plunge and ask the ultimate question, to put my new friends to the test:

“Want a group shot outside the station?” I said...

This is really interesting and you put a smile on my face.

Come and visit a system where "Biggest battle in EvE was fought", current capital of FA, Fountain. 6vdt.

Gl, keep it up

Ahhhhh I am still waiting :) I update every day and haven't seen a post in almost a weeeeek :P

Part 9: All the way to the bottom (via Steve) and then onto the silent guardians. (2)

The longest gate jump in the universe. There was one problem though (well actually, there were two, or three, but we'll get to those in a minute), the other end of that jump would take me to Goonswarm space. I had heard things about Goonswarm and I was not sure I was ready to face the multiple poddings, hazings and general unpleasantness I was inevitably going to experience.

So I did what any sensible man would do. I set a course and I made the longest gate jump in New Eden:
It's a long, long way...

Going in:
Head first

Coming out:
Arse first

I saw the words 'Goonswarm Federation' in the corner of my HUD, fled to the gate and jumped back to safety. But I had done it.

Then disaster struck. Problem number two and three to be precise. That was not the longest jump in New Eden, nor was it the second longest. It is third, at best. Here are numbers one and two:
Trickery with maps

I felt cheated. Those jumps on first glance stop at a system in the middle, appearing to be two jumps. The cartographers are clearly hiding something. Perhaps they are in league with Inver Brass? Against All Authorities? Or even Goonswarm! Then I noticed the systems that they bypass, that is Jovian space. These jumps must be a crucial element on the path to enlightenment and I will be taking them.

I thought back on my day's adventure. I had begun with a realisation that I was merely bouncing from one comfort to another, visiting alliances and seeing nothing of the real New Eden. I had set forth on this day to visit some authentic space and marvel at the hidden delights. I had not been that adventurous though, but I felt that I was on the verge of some discovery, some universal truth.

I resolved that next time, next time, I would peek over the edge.

No. I would leap over it.

But for now I was to head towards empire space and sample some of the delights to be had there.

Dude havent seen you flying around in a while, when you coming our way?