Intergalactic Summit

Consider the source Pilot Roesburn and then studiously ignore it as I'll be doing from now on. Constantine's MO on the IGS has been the same for years; to employ tortured logic, ignoring of any facts not convenient to her arguments, dodging of questions and turning questions around onto the person who asked them in order to impugn their integrity. This is normally done in an overly verbose, pseudo-intellectual style designed to make herself look superior.

In other words Constantine is in love with the sound of her own voice and her ego is the size of a constellation. It's a true pity that such a noble cause is being led by one as arrogant as her. No wonder so many longtime SF pilots have chosen to flee in recent months. They had to leave before the sound of Constantine continually blowing her own horn drove them mad or made them deaf.

Psh. I'm not afraid to admit I agree with Jade on some things. Just not all of them.

I'm honestly not sure we are disagreeing about anything at all you and I. As mercenaries for your employer you have a job to do and that may well involve spreading disinformation about your enemies. You correctly note that it has sometimes been the role of the anarchist revolutionary to play psyops against the tyrant also. Only difference would be one of idealism really - to fight for pay is not the same as to fight for principle or freedom however similar the methodology may sometimes be.

But don't misunderstand me Sophia. When I have spoken of potential hypocrisy here I do not mean to label your organization. Nor so I say you are particularly wrong or "criminal" to adopt the rules of engagement you have. We disagree obviously on the role of NBSI in these matters - and I'll note some in your organization seem to agree with me partially by their comments asking why the heck your people are squandering their sec level in piracy when they should be focusing on the enemy you are declared against!

But really.

This is a conflict between an unknown 3rd party who has hired mercenaries against Obsidian Front and to remove their lowsec tax offices. Who that employer is we may never know. Perhaps its Unknown and Beyond, perhaps its somebody else - all we do now is its an entity who is not confident in their own fighting prowess and needed outside help - not something they need to be ashamed of.

Where there is difference though - is this matter of the EM standings. Several EM pilots have come to this thread even and spoken of the "crimes" that FRONT have committed in order to "earn" their red standing. Thats fine, its their policy. But where it is now clear that similar "crimes" are being overlooked when it is the FEARLESS mercenaries that are committing them rather than FRONT - well, that does look a bit dodgy.

But you are right to spread disinformation and psychological confusions Sophia - its your job!

And while I'm trying to resolve the historical animosity between FRONT and EM for what I perceive to be the benefit of neutral commerce in Matari lowsec you obviously must oppose me because peace is not in your interest and might even cost you your contract bonus!

Nailed it. You sir are awesome. ((+1 Internets for you))

Sure. My name is Ivan 'Crazy Vania' Dvergar, and I think you are doing a terrible job at mediating this issue. Somehow this conversation has turned from an Obsidian Front standing order change announcement to a monologue about your pet peeve with EM.

Am I wrong, or is this one of the most common IGS thread template:

Party A says "We are cool"
Party B says "We don't like you"
Jade Constantine says "BLABLABLABLABLABLABLA"

You are welcome to the opinion but I think you are mistaken. There has obviously been some debate over the recent EM blue standings with FEARLESS and that is to be expected, especially because the very things that EM posters have accused FRONT of doing in the past to "earn" their red standings are being done right now by FEARLESS who happen to be set blue by EM. Its not a complicated argument really.



You are wrong. But well done for speaking in your own name with a recognizable history.

I feel I must bring you up on this point Arkady Sadik. Electus Matari as an organization is extremely proud of its claimed integrity and principles. You have a history of judging others by your principles and you operate a public standings list that you encourage others to follow. This means in my eyes you have a responsibility to behave equitably and with transparent honesty in such matters.

It is not an "attack" on your integrity and principles to ask you a question about a potentially dubious decision. Nor is it an "attack" to point out that you have listed a piratical organization as blue while using the term "piracy" to justify a continuing war against another.

You in Electus Matari claimed the high seat in the sphere of Matari space ethics, integrity and principles Arkady Sadik. You have lectured others on these principles often enough.

Discussion is not "attack", "debate" is not warfare. Questions are not always malign. You should consider for a moment that your diplomatic identity and reputation is being taken seriously else nobody would bother asking these questions they would simply assume it was all nonsense (as it is with a majority of capsuleer corporations).

So please put aside a faux-outrage and mock hurt that anyone would question you on these matters.

You run a public standings list. You publicise the rules and principles that govern it. You cannot be surprised when people ask questions when the decisions made appear in contradiction of your stated policies.

Now. I speak for myself. I am an anarchist and a free captain. At present the Fraction sees Electus Matari as a government-auxillary force (bad) but with hearts generally in the right place (good) and previously you have done nothing to hinder the development of lowsec prosperity and personal independence in Matari space (good).

That was until I saw you cooperating with FEARLESS. I must say it surprised me. I don't know if it was a couple of your rogue pilots or a considered political decision but for the first time I have seen Electus Matari aligned with overt NBSI/piratico-mercs committed to shooting neutrals in lowsec.

I find myself wondering if this is a glitch and terrible mistake or a sign of things to come. As an anarchist I believe that governments and hierarchical authority corrupt all levels in the dominance equation. I distrust anyone who would name themselves the arbiter of my decisions. So I'm wondering if this business with FEARLESS is the moment when the mask comes off and future wars involving EM will be less about principle and defending Matari ideals and more about EM's influence and economic interests in the cluster.

But truly this time I hope I am wrong.

Why do I get the impression somebody let the unhousetrained attack dogs off the leash.

Keep trying Jade...

In the same sense that if you keep an infinite number of monkeys with datapads tapping away for an infinite amount of time one will produce the Pax Amarria if you keep writing your pages and pages of labourious prose and rhetoric you may have a valid point.

FEARLESS. has been contracted to wage war on FRONT and -SF- space assets in and around the Hek area (I see that you have managed to neatly dodge this by transferring your POCOs to a neutral corporation, something which will be dealt with in time). Hardly an unprovoked war. That makes all pilots flying under those banners (and those who provide them with aid) legitimate targets.

I won't bore you with our lengthy RoE but I have given my pilots free reign within the Aemen pocket so as to prevent infiltration by 'neutral' pilots who seek to learn our disposition and those who we suspect of using the remaining Customs Offices which belong to our targets. Note that Aemen is part of the Gallente Federation and not the Minmatar Republic.

On the Customs Office issue. We are not particularly concerned with taxes and income from them for now. Any that we have claimed and still hold at the end of our contract will be turned over to our client. He can then do with them what he pleases.

Our arrangement with Electus Matari is, quite frankly, none of your business. We have abided by and will continue to abide by the terms and conditions they presented to us.

What's wrong Constantine? Did I strike a nerve?

By the way, and for the record, I'm no one's "sock puppet". If you look at my corporate employment history you'll see that I'm not new to the capsule and that I've been employed by capsuleer organizations in the past. I withdrew from my last position nearly 2 years ago due to the extremely limited amount of time I'm available for piloting. I've had offers to join other corporations but, it would be unfair of me to do so given my circumstances and time constraints.

I was asking a legitimate question and you chose to be snarky so, I responded in kind. I know you won't answer this but, I'd still like to know why you've inserted yourself into this conflict? Obsidian Front are a small-time bunch of pirates who get ahead by ingratiating themselves with larger organizations so as to use their reputation, assets, etc in order to further their own aims. So, I'd like to know Constantine, are you simply blind to the Front's methods or, just too damned arrogant and naive to believe that you could ever be taken in by these bandits?


Signed,

Nick Bete
My own man and following my own counsel since YC 111