Intergalactic Summit

This thread is where the Disciples of Ston will post their musings and ponderings involved in their work and mission in this Cluster. As the Founder and CEO of the Corporation, Disciples of Ston, I have been asked to take the administrative duty of opening this thread here on the new forumn. While I am not a Disciple myself, I will from time to time report here as well. The current Disciples are Ston Momaki, Manwe Todako, and Dawn Aranu.

How did I come to be the founder and CEO of this corporation? I began my career as a champion of the minmatar cause and was eagerly running missions for Minmatar corporations and groups. Then I became disillusioned at the lack of integrity in the agents I served. They asked me to engage in senseless and meaningless acts of violence that violated my conscience. I quit my last mission before completing it.

I began to wander in Caldari space, not really knowing what I wanted to do. I ran across this pilot in Piekura name Ston Momaki. He was doing the strangest things; stealing little things then talking to the pilots he stole from about such things as greed, possession, and violence. At first, I thought, "who is this "space Buddha?" Then I got to thinking about the pressure in this cluster on capsuleers to do certain things certain ways. I thought about the "expectation of violence and accumulation." I struck up a friendship with Ston. I asked him if he was interested in organizing his work via a corporation. I always wanted to start a Corp but never had and idea of what it would do until then.

Since Ston could not start a corp himself, I said that I would do it for him and help finance his work within limits. He could set the rules for membership as long as he understood that I wasn't cut out for his degree of non-violence and non-accumulation. He agreed. I also insisted on picking the name of the Corp. Since he always seemed to invite harassment from others, I thought I would help him along by naming the Corp "Disciples of Ston." The name itself gives him a whole set of issues to deal with in relating to other pilots. That has been fun to watch.

We have one office, our HQ located in the House of Records in Korama. Located there is also the Clone body return service. Ston can tell you about that. Manwe has worked primarily in Minmatar space but has also been involved in stellar core research. He can give details. We operate on very little ISK; just what we need to pay the rent, train the Disciples and marginally equip them. We have receive donations, for which we are grateful and I provide ISK from time to time from my own pocket.

That's it in a nutshell

Dear Captain Khross,
Thank you for your sincere sentiment. I most heartily agree. Our most productive relationships are found in the atmosphere of disagreement with civility. As it is said, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." much peace to you Captain Khross.

P.S. The company you are helping in your new corp has always shown the Disciples the most courteous hospitality. We began with our HQ in their Peace Corp Assembly plant in Piekura. They were a most cordial people. May your efforts help bring peace and security to this Cluster.

WOULD THAT ALL WARS BE AS THIS ONE


Rosie's Chub Club Retracts War Against Disciples of Ston
From: CONCORD
Sent: 2011.09.07 02:33

The war between Rosie's Chub Club and Disciples of Ston is coming to an end. Rosie's Chub Club has retracted the war against Disciples of Ston. The war will be declared as being over after approximately 24 hours.

I want to thank Ms. Goodman for doing more than perhaps she realized. Your declaration of war and our meeting in the stellar core of Piekura was more than just a part of a unique encounter between people, but a lesson to the whole capsuleer community.

This was a "war" where no shot was fired and the sides enjoyed conversation not killing. Would that all wars be like this war. Would that the declaration of war be simply an invitation to conversation and a dare of one party to be trusted by the other. Imagine if wars were to take this form.

Imagine a society so at peace and so adverse to violence, that even its wars were peaceful.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

Ms. Goldcore,

I appreciate that your parable represents one of those most difficult quandaries we find ourselves in as humans. However, I also know that you are a woman of faith and that your faith is probably the single greatest asset you have in overcoming fear, even the fear of death.

You and I have differences that to those without faith might see as sufficient for war or violence. But I believe in hope that both of us would be willing to give our lives for each other in spite of those differences. Greater love has no one than this, that he give his life for a friend, but even greater love is shown that while yet enemies, one would give his life for another.

I think the greatest power we wield as a culture is not our theology of war, but our theology of peace.

I like your parable, because it affords the reader an opportunity to place him or herself within it as one of the characters. What do you think Thgil Goldcore and Ston Momaki would do if they were the characters in your parable?

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

and...the stranger may become a friend and friends may become strangers...

Your question raises a topic of the deepest grief and joy that still resides in my heart even after these many long ages. I will tell the full story at some time on these pages, but for now I will share that I have long been bereft of my family. My dear one T'Pring and our progeny long ago faded into the eons of time. We were pioneers of space travel and exploration even before the changing of all things. Even longer has been the time when I enjoyed a mentoring, loving, wise father and mother. I am the last of my family line. Who they were is a big part of who I am.

I have family yet that is not blood but brothers and sisters by adoption, if you will. My faith identifies even an enemy as a brother or a sister if not actually, then potentially. This present family brings both the joys and the sorrows that any family relationship might bring.

You too, I consider a member of my human family; a sister of potential becoming, Ms. Goldcore.

SECOND CEREMONIAL CREMATION

Today I performed our second ceremonial cremation in the beautiful bright blue star of Jita. It was a tranquil experience in a system that can be anything but tranquil. Just moments after the ceremony was concluded, I was heading back to Jita 4-4 when at the exit bay, there was another clone body, spinning and tumbling among the exiting traffic. What a sad and undignified way to see this remnant of humanity. I collected the body. It will remain in quiet repose until its final disposition is decided. We are glad to say that every pilot whose body we have recovered and who permits communication has been contacted. Some pilots do not permit us to send a message. These pilots have been listed in our log from time to time.

I am currently waiting to be contacted by the pilot Manwe mentioned above. He is not currently available, but I will wait here many days before moving on. This is a potential opportunity unprecedented if it works out.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

A SEMINAL DAY

The happenings of the last couple days, culminating with the opening of the Emancipation and Matriculation center have opened the door for our organization to make practical strides in fulfilling our ideals and values.

We have recently heard reports of slaves being jettisoned in containers on the borders of free and Empire space. These slaves are left to die or to be picked up by unscrupulous traders or... they are rescued by pilots brave enough to care for these unfortunates until they can be matriculated into free society.

415 former slaves who entered our center today were well cared for by the pilot who brought them. He had fed them well, clothed them well, and taken care of their medical needs. There are people of deep values in this cluster. We met one today.

Our hope is that others will follow in his steps. We also hope that free sovreignties will provide the mechanics needed for organizations such as our to liberate rescued slaves and legally change their status so that we can transport them without being considered slave traders by customs officials.

The Gallentean and Minmatar governments need to put actions to words on this sooner rather than later.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

SECOND CENTER OPENED

We have opened a Emancipation and Matriculation center in a second location and have enrolled ten former slaves there. We anticipate steady growth in the number of residents in this center. We continue to work on the frustrating problem of bad government policies that make Matriculation procedure difficult. In spite of these challenges, all of the slaves we have freed are just glad to be alive at this point.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

CHILDREN, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, ALL OF THEM BRAVE

Today, we rescued 38 slaves from a single jettisoned can. I was flying only a frigate and had room for only 23 passengers on my first run. The structural integrity of the container was unknown. I had to decide who would go and be brought to safety and who would stay until I could return. What happened next was amazing. All 38 immediately volunteered to stay. This included children. It was a moving sight. Three generations were represented in this group as well as a group of single male slaves. The problem was solved when the Elders of the group, the grandparents, pulled rank and said, “The Elders and the single men shall stay behind.” 23 were delivered to our center in an adjacent system. Thankfully, the container held together and I was able to return for the 15 that had stayed behind. We now have a total of 48 at our second location.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.