Intergalactic Summit

I was like you once: idealistic, determined to save my people, angry at Amarrians in general. It doesn't do any of us any good to tar everyone with the same brush.

My wife has never owned slaves, and she crossed the border in protest of her government's treatment of slaves in the Empire. She helped me realize that my anger was misdirected, at least as far as the individual Amarrian is concerned. We fight for the same cause, but come at it from different angles: she wants to end the mistreatment of slaves, and I want to end slavery entirely.

I hope that you don't let your anger get the better of you.

The fact that you, a "righteous" man, were utterly ignorant of the impacts of Vitoxin on its victims, and the frequency of its use, is sad in ways that I cannot find the words to adequately describe, yet you spew your rhetoric about the "Glory of God".

See you in space, Cresthill.[/quote]

You are right.
Change "righteous" to "brainwashed" and "presumptuous." And "spew" I did. And if you meet me in space, God would be just to allow you to blow me into space dust. Earlier I said that I had access to the RSS document on vitoxin. That was true. What I didn't tell you was that I never read it until three days ago. I dismissed it as the rhetoric of our enemies, because those I trusted said so. Shame on me for that. I am not a righteous man.

In the last three days at X-7OMU, I have begun to discover how unrighteous. My biggest shame is that I thought I understood the ways of Arzad Hamri. Now I have begun to read the lost fragments. There is so much we were never told or taught. Your anger is justified Ms. Starfire.

You give me hope, Captain Cresthill. Your ability to change your mind when evidence presents itself makes you one of the best of us; it is a rare and enviable trait. I may not agree with you on everything but you have shown that you care about the truth instead of preserving false beliefs. Thank you and best of luck in your search for truth, I hope that you share your findings.

Scherezad.

Report from X-7OMU research trip.

First on my agenda was to read the RSS report on Vitoxin in its entirety and verify the specific claims of the report. There is unspeakable malice engineered into Vitoxin. No “loopholes” within the law can account for its widespread use within the Empire. The authorities of the empire have the power to stop its use and eliminate its presence in the Empire. If ever there was a viral manifestation of hell, it is vitoxin. There is nothing of God in it or in its use. To read about it is to sicken the very soul. Perhaps the most damning evidence is the ability of Amarr researchers to know the exact formulation of Vitoc for every mutation of vitoxin. Also damning is the silence of Our Empress regarding the evil of vitoxin. Why hasn’t she spoken to condemn those who use it and justify its use in God’s name? I am ashamed to be associated with this massive injustice.

Second on my agenda was to research the origins of the Hamrite branch of the Amarr faith. While our estate had kept as complete a record as we were able, my uncle Theokrator told me that the Sisters had in their possession, fragments of history giving greater detail that would perhaps change the way we believed if they were known. Indeed!

Prior to the Sham trial and brutal butcher of Saint Arzad, he had begun to be educated in Starkmanir spiritualism. Before the end, there was melding of his own Amarr faith with the Starkmanir beliefs that he had grown to appreciate. Arzad saw no conflict between the two, but rather a God-made harmony. As the time of the end came, Arzad granted self-determining authority to the Starkmanir people and leaders within the Starkmanir were appointed. The Hamri family, in essence, became one with the community they were once over. Part of this can from Arzad’s early life where he learned to value working with rather than over others.

The Theology council killed him before the full vision could be realized. But, this was not the end. Even though the Amarr authorities did all they could to to expunge all references to Arzad Hamri and his ways from Amarr history, fragments of documentation survived and Hamrite communities of Amarrians survived and developed, though incomplete in their knowledge of the full vision of Saint Arzad. My family, the Cresthills was one such community.

The last words of Arzad Hamri, spoken to his Starkmanir friend Maak complete the vision of Arzad Hamri. These words are as follows:

“The fire in our hearts burns for salvation, redemption, and grace. May the Word of God grant you the courage to save yourself and your people.”

In these words is Arzad’s identification with the Starkmanir. “Our Hearts” In these words is a focus on grace as that which should characterize our faith. “”Our hearts burn for salvation, redemption and grace.” Finally in these words is the final piece of the puzzle and directive from Arzad Hamri that the Starkmanir people were to be self-determined and not slaves. “May the Word of God grant you the courage to save yourself and your people.” It was this truth that threatened the Theology Council and the political powers that saw their own wealth and prestige at stake. Once the Starkmanir were thought slaughtered, the powers of wickedness thought the story over. Then, the Sisters discovered the Starkmanir in Ammatar.

What are the implications for Amarr?

1.The Amarr Empire has abdicated its right and role as a representative of the salvation of God among the people of New Eden. Arzad Hamri was moved by God over time to reject slavery as a tool to bring salvation, redemption, and grace to people. The empire killed him for this belief. Amarr is not called by God to enslave others in the name of God.
2. The sin of vitoxin will continue to bring God’s judgment on us as a people until we repent of it and right that wrong.
3. The vision of Arzad Hamri is to bring the Amarr love of God to other people not as a replacement of their spirituality, but as something to share to make both better. Arzad Hamri and the Starkmanir people understood this and lived it. The Starkmanir of today are still living it, even though they are opposed sadly by both the Amarr and the Minmatar.
4. All slavery must end if the Amarr people are to recover their integrity as a people of God. I believe that the best way is for us to embrace our faith as followers of Arzad Hamri.

Personal implications

1. I have resigned my commission with the 24th Imperial Crusade.
2. Through the brave and selfless help of my uncle Theokrator, we have freed the 100 Cresthill Estate slaves, plus 20 additional slaves from another estate who are betrothed to 20 of the Cresthill Slaves. In addition I have freed my 41 personally held slaves.
3. I have embraced the fuller vision of Arzad Hamri that includes a belief in religious and personal liberty. I commit to respect those who believe in one God, many Gods/Spirits or no God.
4. I am returning the insignia dogtags that are in my possession and with the help of the Matari Military, I hope that they will be given to the surviving families of those I have killed.

Words of Appreciation:

Thank you to all who kept trying to chisel though my thick headedness.

Thank you, especially, Ms. Underking. Your words of cool and self-controlled reason were greatly influential in my decision to travel to X-7OMU on this quest.

Finally, thank you God for showing me my pride and presumption. Thank you for breaking my spirit that you might remake it.

I have no idea what to do now. My uncle Theokrator is dead at the hands of the Theology Council of Oris. My family has disowned me for betraying them. I hope they will one day understand but for now I have no home. I have alienated many people through my words of stupidity so carelessly spoken on this thread. I am a heretic, no doubt in the eyes of my own people.
(continued below)

It's laudable that you've finally acknowledged and apologized for your part in crimes against humanity. I also see that you've taken concrete steps to begin making amends. You have paid a high price for your former empire's failings. I wish you well on your new path.

I hope those you wronged against will also hear your words.

If you need temporary shelter across the border, there are many Matari organizations that hire defectors. It is not an easy path by any means, but it is doable.

Elsebeth

Good grief. That drastic change of attitude took all of what, two weeks? I see my charges of you being a "diet-Quafe" Amarrian were 100% accurate.

You weak, weak little man.

No, no, see, for amarrians, your strength is determined by how much you can ignore the injustices of your government. But Theobar, good work. This must have taken some courage and I applaud it.

I am disappointed by this turn of events, but not particularly surprised.

You should take care not to further damn yourself by your words or your actions, Cresthill.

Seems I have to find a new playtoy.

Ah well, enough people still hiding. And nothing as much fun as peaking holes into a cover.
I think I will go for a zealot from the opposite side of the fence this time.

We do need balance.