Intergalactic Summit

Now that I understand how PIE's reputation works, I think Odelya's banking on them NOT hiring mercs. Why would the grandest and oldest alliance in Amarr need to hire mercs for a smalltime band like the Crows? If they do, they look weak. That and who knows what Amarr feel like towards mercs. But if they go chase off the Crows, Odelya's free to make a reputation for her group and capture systems. What's PIE gonna do then? Shoot the people claiming space for her Majesty?

....THIS IS BETTER THAN PRIME TIME HOLOVIDS!!!

I have a feeling that PIE won't shed tears if someone else is putting their backs into the work they're doing in the declaration zone. I don't think PIE's reputation is going to ever be marred by someone else showing up to do the work. They've done too much already to really lose that reputation. Besides, if Odelya wanted the reputation that goes along with taking over bits of space, I'm pretty sure she would have bit her tongue and played nicely with PIE. It's better to have less red than more in lowsec, I imagine.

The idea of mercenaries in Amarrian service is mixed, from what I know. The idea of getting someone to do your dirty work isn't exactly something that's totally out of our range, obviously. The problem is that you don't generally get credit in the Amarr Empire for the work someone else does on your behalf. So while hiring mercenaries might further Odelya's ends somehow, it's definitely not going to be for her reputation.

Unfortunately for her, the best outcome from this is that her mercenaries do minimal, but sustained, damage in order to annoy PIE. If they do nothing, she gains nothing. If they succeed beyond her wildest dreams, she is going to be blamed for essentially damaging Imperial defenses, whether PIE is really that important or not. PIE's image is too respectable compared to her own.