Intergalactic Summit

Yesterday was full of significant findings including one rescue listed below. The other was from the end of today's patrol duty. Some of my patrol duty time has been cut short. We found the mother of the pilot who I had mentioned earlier. Unfortunately the father was killed some years ago. I hope to arrange a meeting so that daughter and Mother can be reunited.

The rest of that story I would like to tell, but will wait for permission from those involved so as to protect their privacy.

I delight that those rescued are now same from harm.

Wall of Shame

Jeff Helento 5 slavers, 8 hounds, 19 former slaves
Klocker2003 10 former slaves, 10 former Elite Slaves

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SEPERATED BY SLAVERY, REUNITED LAST NIGHT
Yesterday was a day that defied hopelessness and brought sense of even greater purpose in our work. The Disciples of Ston were contact some time ago by Ms. Astrid Underking formerly Astrid Stjerna. Ms. Underking described to us how she had been taken captive as a young girl by slavers and haad not heard from her parents since that time. She ask us to make a search among our Matriculation Centers for any news, good or bad regarding her parents Ivar and Taryn Stjerna. Had they been taken as slaves? Were they dead or alive. When I receive this request, I held our little hope of success, but how could were refuse to try? Astrid gave physical descriptions of her parents including that her Mother shared the feature of her eyes. She also described their former village close to the Shrine of the Frozen Winds. I contacted the Shrine Shaman and requested that she make libations and meditation for the success of our quest. To this she agreed to do and we are thankful.

The search in our established Matriculation Centers was accomplished quite rapidly as was the relatively small daily influx through rescue work. What both worried me and gave me hope was the large number coming in through NUVOS. How could be possibly get the word out and screen that many to find possible connections? Then, a couple days ago, I received a dispatch from Manwe and my report to Ms. Underking that included with it. It was as follows:


Dear Ms. Underking,

I have news to report regarding your parents. It began with a dispatch that I received from Manwe earlier today. I will send this message both to you and your wife. I am concerned that you have the emotional support you need at this time.

Dear Ston,

The following account came from one of our Center administrators shortly after the Disembarkation of a group of passengers from Khanid space. I received it via subspace message from Dr. Paclor.

Administrator Paclor
To: Manwe Todako
Re: Situation of concern

A woman of Sebiestor descent was seen kneeling on the egress floor from the docking berth in open tears and weeping while raising her hand towards the large tri-screened public announcement system. Those around her tried to figure out what was wrong, but as she was crying so loudly, it was near impossible to hear what she was saying. Finally, as the tears somewhat subsided, she was heard to say, “My daughter, she is alive!” She kept repeating this as she pointed to the screen. Someone else said that they heard her repeat the word “astrith” over and over again. What this word is we do not know. The woman was helped to the medical facility for a checkup. I will update you as soon as we know her condition.

(end of report)

I immediately sent a message back to tell me what public announcement messages were playing at the time. It was the announcement that you requested to be played at the Disembarkment ramps in al our centers.The one about Astrid looking for her parents was part of the play list at the time. “Astrith” “Astrid”?? I sent back a message instructing the medical staff to replay the announcements to the woman after she had calmed down. She identified your announcement and began weeping again. They asked her for her name. This is what the Doctor said in the message, “When we asked her for her name, she closed her eyes tightly and said, ‘I hardly remember my given name as my slave-holders refused to let me use it, but instead gave me some vulgar Amarrian slave names. My name, my name is Taryn, wife of Ivar Stjerna.’ I asked her where her husband was. She began to weep again. Tears flowed from the most beautiful, striking green eyes I have ever seen. We told her to rest and that we would speak later.”

From all indications, this looks like news you have been looking for.
Sincerely,
Manwe

I immediately contacted Dr. Paclor for a more detailed account. He shared a bit more of his conversation with the woman.

Ms. Underking, your mother is alive. She is one of the slaves whose freedom was recently purchased by NUVOS from the sprawling Khanid slave markets. She told the med Center Doctor a story that I will try to summarize for you. Your parents were taken as slaves. Shortly after your parents were taken, they were sent to work in the volcanic mines. It was only one week into their captivity when they were both sent into the pit. There was an MTAC remote malfunction and the machine began to fire random mining laser bursts and several slaves were injured. Guards tried to subdue the machine with weapons designed for anti-personnel. Many slaves were injured or killed by poorly aimed fire from the guards. Your father, ignoring his own safety rushed to the wounded and pulled a half dozen to safety. On a return trip to help others, there was an explosion and fire. Ivar succumbed to fire and smoke. The mine owners evacuated those who could walk by force and left the wounded and the dead in the pit. There were no survivors from those left in the pit and the fire consumed both the dead and the wounded.

Your mother Taryn is alive, but I am so sorry, your father died in that mine. I obviously never knew your father, but it sounds to me like he was a man that would have been a pleasure to know. I rejoice with you and grieve with you Astrid. Taryn went from holder to holder mostly as a domestic servant. She happened to be with a group on Khanid Prime IX, Khanid Transport station that were up for sale. When Edaine (NUVOS) purchased the freedom of a group of 340,000 slaves, your mother happened to be part of that broker’s lot.

...continued from previous post...


We are tending to your mother’s medical needs right now. I am on my way to the center to meet her, but have sent news ahead to tell her that her little daughter, now grown, is very much alive and anxious to be reunited with her mother. She is in Dresi at the Freedom Extension Retail Center (Dresi II). I wish beyond expression that your father had survived and that I could say that both your parents live.

I will contact you again to arrange for you to receive your Mom and take over her care. We have covert transport, so we can likely come to where you are or you could come to our center here, though that might be dangerous for you, we don’t know. We will work that out. Peace to you.

Sincerely,
Ston

Last night Taryn Stjerna together with myself and one of our Administrative assistants made our way to Republic space for the joyful reunion. The Disciples of Ston share both the deep joy of a Mother and Daughter reunited and the deep grief over the loss of a beloved husband and Father. How many more stories like this could be realized, we do not know. We do know that the work is worth the effort and sacrifice. It is worth the criticism we receive and the judgement of our motives that we endure.

One small addition to the story: On the way to meet Astrid, we stopped off at one of our M-Centers to move from the shuttle I was piloting to one of our rescue ships with a full crew and better accommodations. I told Taryn that we would passing through a rescue patrol area and that our journey might be delayed by a rescue. This did indeed happen. We were able severy formr slaves, a couple slave traders and some hounds.

Mrs. Stjerna was delighted and excited by the rescue. She told us that the last days had been confusing and that she wasn't sure if she was free or just what was happening. She said that the watching the rescue and returning to the Center helped her understand our work and how she become a part of it. We continue our journey. There was much rejoicing when we crossed into Bei and into Republic space. We finished our journey to Hakeri and Astrid was waiting for her mother their. How do you describe that kind of scene. You can't. You can only experience it.

Wall of Shame:

Sheeana 2 slavers, 9 hounds, 8 former slaves.

Another rescue today, 145 people left to die in a leaky container. They were running low on air when I pulled along side. When I contacted Zoe Eyes to ask why she just left them there to die, all I recieved in reply was a smile.

Wall of Shame

Zoe Eyes

145 Slaves

I left a jump clone and our blockade runner "Redemption" in the Ammold system while I wait for an opportunity to meet with a pilot and transfer liberated slaves. In the mean time I clone jumped back to a patrol area to resume rescue work. So far today, 21 lives have been rescued from one death can.

Wall of Shame:

Brian D'Illusion 21 lives

Rescues continue both by DSTON pilots and other independent pilots for who we are grateful. 12 were rescued at the beginning of this morning's patrol shift. All aboard were shaken, but OK. Now back at the M-Center, they are receiving medical checks, food and fluids.

Wall of Shame

Aedron 12 lives

I am in our facility in Fahruni right now, where I just got done meeting with Edaine. We have received over 90,000 additional residents here. Most will stay at this facility, others may go to Dresi. I also had a good talk with Edaine. We covered things we agree about and disagree over. The rest left in Ammatar space are in low sec and will be transported out over time by covert means. That will take time, so we will need to bring supplies for temporary facilities there. Edaine will tend to that, since he has the experience of administrating an M-Center when he was with DSTON. Freeing the masses from low sec is one thing, getting them out is another. Welcome to Administration, Edaine.

DSTON does not allow the purchase of slaves even for the purpose of freeing them, but we accept residents so purchased by those outside our organization. Edaine knows this and has pursued what he was not allowed to while part of our organization. He also knows that we would not refuse to take any that he asked us to take.

That is where we are at. As a result, our programs have grown exponentially overnight. We we warned that this might happen some time ago and have had time to prepare. Our planetary colonies are producing well and that is helping a lot.

Manwe has instructed me to train for blockade runner ASAP. OK. Its gonna take a while.

Five people will sleep in the warmth instead of dieing in the cold tonight, just because I said, "just one more minute." I was preparing to wrap up my patrol time for the day but decided to fly one more orbit. It was then that someone dumped five former slaves out to die. Tonight, they live; tonight they eat, sleep, talk, maybe laugh. Tomorrow they ask many questions of what their lives will become now.

Wall of Shame:

Cathe Eki 5 lives

Quite often, we discover death cans when we arrive at a location. Less often, we we witness the jettison of people into space. Today, however, that was the case. I had just noted that Manwe was finishing up his shift on patrol, so I gulped down my last bit of morning coffee and podded up to head out on patrol. I arrived on location and set my gate orbit to about 2500m. Less than one obit around, a death can appeared on the scanner. 39 people were on board. It took less than a minute to get in range and begin the rescue. We wish we could catch each and every can every time.

Wall of Shame:

Andy Deckard 39 lives

An early morning rescue brought 35 people to Matriculation Center #1. The Elders there have commented on the growing community of former Elite slaves, those slaves that have been most brutally worked physically. They share a common experience that bonds them together after they are freed.

Jorel 10 former elite slaves, 25 former slaves