Intergalactic Summit

SLAVE MATRICULATION PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

The Disciples of Ston announce the most exciting news since the formation of our organization. Long have we planned for and dreamed of this day. Today, we received into our newly established Emancipation and Matriculation program, 415 rescued slaves, all eager for freedom and yearning to become free citizens where they can enjoy the blessings of liberty.

A few days ago a pilot contacted Manwe and told him that he had rescued a large number of slaves and wanted to give them over to our care, knowing that we were prepared and committed to the process of matriculation leading to productive citizenship as free members of the society of their choice. We call this pilot a hero. He took substantial risk to make this happen. We hold his identity a secret and will not reveal who he is unless he gives us permission. We are proud to call him a friend and a benefactor for freedom.

Our philosophy of matriculation is a long term commitment to helping escaped and rescued slaves become free citizens.

The process
1. Emancipation: Slave becomes Matriculant
2. Matriculation: Matriculant becomes Citizen

We are keeping the location of our matriculation center a secret for the protection of these recently emancipated persons. Part of our new training program will provide means by which we can more safely and secretly transport liberated former slaves to locations outside the Empire. We will honor the wishes of any rescued slaves including any who wish to return to their holders. We take the principles of emancipation most seriously.

I do not believe I have ever seen so many smiles or heard so much laughter in one place in my life. It is best described as “joy unleashed.” There is much work and still much danger ahead, but these brave souls have already endured much danger. The laws of free space will treat us as slave traders if we are caught transporting these individuals to new homes in free places. This is a great irony and something that needs to be corrected by the governments involved. But, we are committed to take every risk we need to take to honor the desire of every emancipated former slave to live as a free citizen.

We also invite other pilots to join this first pilot and help us help the slaves you rescue in space. There are 415 people who love this pilot more than words can express. We will take any who want to be a part of our matriculation program. They are welcome.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

FIVE ADDITIONAL SLAVES RESCUED

We have been able to rescue five additional slaves and they will soon be en-route to our Emancipation and Matriculation Center. We are considering opening multiple centers in the Cluster to facilitate rescue and emancipation of slaves.

This fight needn't be fought alone. I am with you, Ston. if you need help with any step of matriculation or citizenship for these now free people, I will do so happily at my own expense. I have links for those that wish to become citizens in the Federation, or the State.

Mr. Shakor asks very important questions. First, there is no qualifier between step one and two. Matriculation is a service we provide, not a requirement. Those we rescue are free to go where they wish. We want the transition to be positive, so we provide education, training and networking. Already here, we have offers for places of employment. That is why we offer matriculation as a service to rescued slaves.

Now to the other questions. Here is the problem. There is no legal means to change the status of slaves to free citizens. They have to be smuggled to where they are going. This is frustrating for us and risky for our pilots and potential employers. We are treated as slave traders if we try to transport these freed slaves through Republic or Federation space. How ridiculous is that? In order to do the right thing, we have to break the law. I am posting another thread on this subject today.

For those of us who will employ these freed people comes the continuing responsibility to protect them and provide covert transportation. Is that real freedom? Government policy needs to change or our matriculation program will never really achieve citizenship for these people. This is sad. Thanks for your questions Mr. Shakor and thanks for your support Mr. Galente and Mr. Khross.

Dear Ston,
I am going to think outloud if you will for a few moments. All of the slave that have entered the Matriculation program were rescued from situations where they were within 2 hours of death. There is trauma. You have described the Matriculation process as volunteer and long term; potentially long term, that is, if the freed slaves choose to stick with the program. Lack of positive governmental support and policies limit your options and theirs. Transport is dangerous and some former slaves may not want to take the risk.

What is needed is to offer a greater sense if self determination. One of the ways to do this is to provide the means by which they can establish their own communities. These communities could be places where Matriculation really does its work and men and women begin to help themselves in community. It might sound ideal and maybe impossible, but wait.

When I began Planetary mining and manufacturing colonies, I entered the enterprise with little know how and education. I depended on the expertise of the those who manned the colonies. I have been talking with the good folks who work on my planetary colonies about this situation. We have come up with an idea. Tell me what you think.

My managers are prepared to shut down one of my volcanic colonies and move the whole workforce (willing) to a temperate planet in Amarr space and establish a colony where matriculants can come, train, manage, raise families and run the colony. Those willing may stay as long as they wish. They would establish there own communities.

Like I said, I am thinking outloud, but this is something I am willing to do for the cause. I think it could be an option especially while you wait for governments to change policy to allow slaves to actually change their status so they can move about freely. Your thoughts are appreciated.

I see, well that clears that up then, Captain. Thank you.

This work is an unclouded good for the Disciples of Ston. Moving my abolitionist convictions from the page to the lives of people left to die gives a focus that better defines my beliefs than the most successful debate on the subject. I can best honor freedom by serving those we rescue.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

I wanted to give a basic time table for the establishment of a planetary colony as part of the Emancipation and matriculation program of the Disciples of Ston. First I need to complete the current project I am on. When that is done, I will return to Piekura, where I will set up one last run for Robotics. After that, I will begin shutting down two of our Planetary bases in preparation of establishing one or two in locations close to rescue operations. Word has it that some of the rescued people have experience and are anxious to help. How will they respond when they find out that they will get paid a living wage for their work? Matriculation will also involve learning to be financially responsible without being greedy. They will learn how to share what they earn with others and to become generous citizens. These are exciting days for all of us associated with the disciples of Ston.

I have begun to search border systems for rescue situations. The task seems daunting. There are too many systems to cover and how can one possibly be at the right place at the right time within two hours of an given jettison? I am convinced that is the Disciples are so save these people, divine guidance is most assuredly needed. We could also use the guidance and help of other pilots. This task began with a pilot helping us. Other pilots are needed too. If you come across container with slaves in them, rescue those slaves, contact one of us Disciples, and we will conduct them safely to one of our centers.

May the One who created us all, aid us in this recsue endeavor.

39 former slaves were rescued tonight from two separate containers. Their stories and mine are quite interesting. While rescuing 10 slaves from a second container, I came attack by the pilot who had not jumped out of system. My adrenaline overcame my good sense, and I neglected to check to see if the pilot was still in system. The Aleithea is a very fast ship and I was able to get out of range and warp to safety with only shield damage. He left system and I returned and finished the rescue operation.

Bu the real story is the first container... When I came upon it, I jettisoned a fresh container as there was not room in my frigate for all the slave. Here is where the interesting part begins. In the container were 29 slaves, 5 slavers, and 2 slaver hounds. Now the story gets thicker. The whole group was jettisoned together when the pilot realized he was jumping into Caldari space. Why is the interesting part. The slavers had booked passage and the former slave owner had included two slaver hounds to help the slavers keep control until the slaves could be sold on the black market. The big surprise to the slavers was that the slaver hounds had been tamed and adopted by the very slaves being transported. While on board, the slaves had taken over the habitation compartment and taken the slavers hostage. When the pilot got to the border, he jettisoned the lot.

When I got there, I rescued who I could while the rest and the slaver hounds stayed behind and guarded the slavers until I returned. The rescued former slaves have requested permission to keep their "pets." What a remarkable story.

Now, what do we do with the slavers?