Intergalactic Summit

Can confirm I have never done so.

This is sarcasm right?

Whoa, whoa. We don't do THAT in Pyre Falcon. That OR sarcasm.

*wait for it*

Seeing how things have developed, it's probably good that I left when I did.

... I do miss them, though.

We miss you too, Aria. But really, we're shooting the same TLF and Pirates that we ever were.

Pirates will be pirates.

Now see, this is an interesting point. I started my career as a through-and-through idealist and small-p patriot and back then it was VERY important to me who I worked for and why. I used to vet my every action, act and thought to make sure it was contributing to what I saw as the 'big picture'. The big picture turned out to be a lie. I learned that I was the tinfoil wrapped around the Militia program, that my service and all my heartache was nothing more than a front for a brutal organisation that existed pretty much solely to funnel State funds to violent opportunists with no love of country, honour or vision.

So, we switched sides - so that if we couldn't fight FOR the State at least we weren't lining the pockets of monsters who were actively trying to pull it down. There we found that the patriots of the Empire couldn't even be bothered to treat their hirelings civilly - for awhile it was enough that we brought in money.

After a further pause to reflect and think we realised that all we were doing was not hurting those who supported us. We weren't supporting those who supported us to the utmost of our ability. Fighting on behalf of the Amarr certainly wasn't maximising stockholder potential, it wasn't maximising revenue and the people we were killing were certainly not any more deserving of death than the people we were helping.

How could we fix this - and after your experiences, how can you claim that the Minmatar are particularly deserving of our brand of violence and the Amarr particularly innocent?

Serving in the Crusade meant supporting the unsupportable and abandoning friends who'd stood beside us - so we solved the problem. Now we can work with Val's people with a clear conscience, without feeling that we're sidling around the Rules of Engagement. Did you expect us to sign up with the Gallente to do that, Aria?

So, who are we hurting? Nobody who isn't in line for a bit of pain, in my opinion. If you're ship crew and you wandered into low security space, then what were you thinking was likely to happen? Here there be monsters and monsters have to eat too. In short Family/Friends > Corp > MegaCorp > State and I honestly couldn't care beyond that.

Does that make me a pirate or does it make me independent? Check the progression listing above to see whether I care about your opinion.

I miss having you as wingman, Aria. Maybe you should try feeling less sorry and embrace more professional pride. I do know that this would suit you very well.

And while you're right about the joy of the hunt you're mistaken about chaos. Order would be much more accurate, although a very specific type of order, coloured black and red. There are some underlying loyalities on a corporate level that have and will never change.

... you seem to have forgotten a little, or maybe you didn't understand to begin with:

I don't, of course.

There's no one in this world I especially want dead, Pieter. That's been true as long as you've known me. That hasn't stopped me from killing them, though.

It'd be nice if you didn't try to moralize to me about it. That's Aldrith's game, and Miz's. I can understand wanting to be closer to Val. I'd note that you're both killing and flying with her people with a clear conscience, though, and I'm closer to someone she hurt than to her, these days, anyway.



If I don't count as family or friend, then presumably no.

Once, I did, though, I think. I sort of thought I still did; maybe that's presumptuous. Aphoxema tried to kill me the other day. She missed, but maybe I should have taken that more seriously.

Only, you've gone to some lengths to persuade me of your position. So maybe you do care.

Either way, I guess we're not on the same side right now.

That's okay. You flew with Val longer than with me, so....

I guess, for now: thank you for the lessons, Teacher.





Okay, but-- that's not a loyalty I share, or have ever shared. I'll be interested to see how it all develops, though-- if it's even visible.

Please be well, Des.

... I do remember my promise. I'd be grateful if you didn't put me in a place where I have to choose between promises, though.

It does beggar belief. That's part of why I don't believe it.

If you assume that the "sick joke" is purposeful, intentional, planned (by someone in a position to arrange it), things look a little different.