Intergalactic Summit

Those not participating in the war seem to desperately want to cover their eyes and pretend it isn't happening, milord.

One might say Kador's invasion of Solitude was a hostile act of war (thus contradicting your point) and that Her Majesty the Empress Sarum decision to permit Federal units into Kador space was both an act of rapprochement to ensure no new front was opened along the Solitude-Genesis border between the Empire and Federation due to public pressures on either side.

Fighting a two-front war can be difficult for any military and I think the resolution was on the basis of it not being in the interest of either the Federation or Empire to open one, rather than there being a recognition of friendship and ideological parity.

You sound very sure of yourself on that one.



Those still participating in the "war" seem to desperately want to cover their eyes and pretend that their actions and mere existence is somehow meaningful, some might say.

A matter of perspectives.

It wasn't though. It was nothing more than House politics. He attempted to show he was a competent military commander (which failed) and supposedly, to serve as a distraction while he moved a large number of assets.



It wasn't just an act of rapprochement. There are many ways she could have made things even. Compensating us probably would of done enough, especially considering our forces suffered few, if any losses.

You have to remember, not only did she let our forces raid Amarrian space, but they let us raid Kador Prime. That's one of the most politically, socially, and economically, significant cities in the cluter! Let alone just the Amarr Empire! It would be like if the State let someone raid Jita or if the Federation gave military access to Caille.

She didn't have to let us commence a raid either. I'm sure if she didn't want to show how amicable she was willing to be, then she would of had Amarrian forces capture Eturrer and bring him to the border themselves to be transferred to Federation custody.

I know Caldari Patriots such as yourself don't want to believe that there are people who are willing to cooperate with the Federation, but the fact is that the Amarrians are one of them, or at least

I might say the compensation was in permitting the Federation to perform a limited strike into Kador Prime to apprehend Eturrer which also accomplished the additional benefit of humiliating Uriam Kador in public as punishment for his failing to recognize the authority of the Imperial Throne in military matters. Since as I already said, a necessary act which was mutually beneficial for both the Empire and Federation to prevent the possibility of having to fight a two front war neither desired.

My original point still stands: An Imperial House was willing to conduct, what most military experts would call an invasion and act of war, into Federal territory which contradicts your previous assertion that the Empire and Federation have honoured an agreement to never go to war along their mutual border. Unless you consider a territorial violation by a military force as not being an act of war?

I would consider it an act of war, and one that found its amicable resolution due to military and political considerations, nothing more.



Notice that I never made mention of the CEWMPA war and high or null security space together. I stated that it had an impact on the region that it legally covers under CONCORD treaty, and one which you have illustrated yourself in your expressed sentiments.

Are you trying to be contrary just for the sake of it?

Kador is an Imperial House. Vicarious liability can apply to interstellar affairs just as much as the workplace. The Kador invasion into Solitude would have been during a time of peace, an act of war against the Federation. During the official state of war as signed into being by CEWMPA between the Federation and Empire it was an unsanctioned strike by Kador where the onus of responsibility still lay with the Empire and its lawful representative of God, Her Majesty the Empress Jamyl Sarum.

As such, one can say the confiscation of the Kador Fleet was not because it invaded Federal territory during a time of war but because of the lack of consultation and disrespect shown by Uriam Kador as a representative of the Empire in not displaying the due deference owed to the sole and only representative of God in New Eden.

That might be, though I think it was really what Fred has suggested. Kador committed an act of war and expected that he could draw back behind lines and draw the rest in. That isn't how it worked, which is where I'm not entirely disagreeing with you. If the Empress had ordered Kador in, it might have been different. However, the attack wasn't sanctioned, especially as the attack severely counteracts imperial interests.

I think the simple fact Fred is trying to get across is that an element of our Empire attacked the Federation. The Federation took our word for it and did not blame the entirety of the Empire, but those who had violated our treaties and laws. The Empire allowed the Federation to move military assets to one of our most prized worlds, deep in our space, with the understanding that the Federation would do what it said it would do and leave. And the Federation came, did what they said they would, and they left without molesting anything else in our space, even given the opportunity.

Given the copious amounts of backstabbing, grandstanding, sabotage, and outright ridiculousness that tends to define inter-imperial politics, the fact that that sequence happened as it did is absolutely astounding. I think, regardless of whatever else was involved, it speaks well of the Federation. Regardless of the sometimes nebulous relationship we have with them, I have to call that a high water mark in cluster politics. In a time when our own allies are very often angrily eyeing us, our supposed enemies and we had a perfectly civil arrangement honored by both sides to avert an escalation.

Even if relations break down, I can't fault the Gallente for that moment in our relations. It turned a potential treaty-breaking attack by one of our own into a criminal act that the Federation asked for, and received, due justice in compensation. They proved good to their word.

You are probably right that some people took some pleasure in seeing Kador dutifully served up for justice for betraying his position. It is very disrespectful to start a fight, retreat, and then expect the Empress to do your will.

It's no trouble at all. These things happen.

All I can say is that this is why I don't have what you might consider to be a traditional church in Caldari space (thought I suppose very little of the churches in my diocese are what you might call traditional). Not only doesn't it work, it's counterproductive. One of the things about Caldari culture is that, while they may resist and dislike you even for politely trying to talk about your religion to them, Caldari aren't necessarily against learning about it. The odd thing is, my operation, such as it is, in Caldari space exists as a repository for Scripture I try to upload and keep refreshed, the contact information for my organization, and some staff to maintain the former two.

If you go to the Caldari, you'll only make them more suspicious. Let the Caldari come to you. They ask questions, you answer them as best you can and then you be silent. You let them know who and where you are. Simple as that.

It's amazing how Caldari will come to you with their questions, concerns, and so on once they see you're not there trying to tell them what to do. I think it might be part of the competitive streak. Everyone is looking everywhere for an edge; some find it in the Scriptures if not always the faith. You wait for invitations, you keep your head down, and you make sure (as in every culture) that you talk about what a person's beliefs can do for them. Try to be just a cleric at their service.

If a Caldari can fit it in his or her cultural worldview, they'll voraciously devour any bit of information they can get their hands on. Caldari ministry, if you can call what I do for the Caldari that (I think I'm usually referred to as a "motivational speaker" or a "guru") taught me to try and let people learn themselves. Let people arrange their own spiritual shelving and see how it fits into their lives rather than telling them how it should fit for them. In short, Caldari don't hate ideas; they aren't a willfully ignorant people. They're just very self-driven. You don't meet them halfway, you come to where they are. Sometimes those connections seem obtuse.

I was actually hired (yes, take the money or it makes them feel uncomfortable) by a regional bank manager to have a discussion with his executive team about cooperation, which seems a far cry from a temple altar service. In the end though, it isn't; those boardrooms and meetings serve the same function: places to share and come up with new ideas. I think it was only then that I realized how humbling that experience was. So I did what I had learned the best way to communicate face-to-face with Caldari was, I tried to be as forthright as I could, made sure I never told anyone what to do, and I only mentioned the Empire in passing. It's only within the last year that's happened and I suppose it was a hit, I have those popping up a bit more regularly on my agenda.

It's just important to understand how absolutely essential it is to leave your racial and imperial identity at the door, no matter how tempting it might be to keep. Caldari don't tend to be very interested in the "Reverend" in front of my name on the stationary, they want to know what the knowledge I have can do for them and theirs. I admit, at first it seemed a bit brisk, essentially making me a dinner speaker. But where that sort of indicates relatively benign entertainment at an Imperial ball, I was being summoned to essentially speak at a place of Caldari decision making.

I don't think it was until a month or so ago that I realized how humbling that is. These appointments, however benign they may seem, are really important. Essentially, I'm being asked to stand before the Caldari and set Scriptural theories up on the board for scrutiny. People are taking those ideas and comparing them to those at hand, seeing if they help the corporation in any way. They're being tested on the marketplace of ideas, so to speak. Strange as it sounds, it's very touching to be invited to speak at a Caldari business luncheon. I don't know anyone else in my profession who has ever done one, so it must be rare to be trusted not to veer too far off topic.

I'm perfectly happy to check my more traditional methods at the door for that honor.

I have no idea which part of known space you hail from, but speaking for whichever militia dedicates itself to protecting the space you live in, we have neither the time nor the inclination to explain ourselves to a woman who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that we provide, and then questions the manner in which we provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you fit up a Condor, and stand a post.

Either way I don't give a damn what you think is or isn't meaningful.

My kirjuunen have a saying - it's not a saying that's universal to all Caldari, but it's fitting, I think. It translates as "go sailing after breakfast." Make your decisions in moments of peace and thoughtfulness, then act with decisiveness afterwards.

That you were invited to speak is a great honour, but no great surprise. You speak well, and always have interesting things to say. I suppose that the disappointment of the encounter must have been that your food was cold when you got to it!