Intergalactic Summit

Yes we have and we are beginning to do that very thing. We are a bit hesitant to expose the Matriculants to the dangers of our work. Today, pressed that home for me. A little carelessness on the capsuleer's part or a lack of skill in his piloting, and the crew might lose their lives. Our crews only have one body in which to live out their lives. Some of the former slaves we have freed have crewed space vessels before. Most of these have been Amarrian vessels so additional training is needed for Caldari, Minmatar and Federation ships. Only those who know the risks and can knowledgeably take them are brought on board as crews. I believe Manwe will crew part of his Blockade runner with former slaves. Cloaking enable us to transport with former slave crews with greater safety and freedom.

The most important function that former slaves have on our rescue ships is that of tending to people who are rescued. Seeing a brother or sister on board to welcome you and to calm your fears has been a great service.

I would like to see some of our Matriculants tested to become capsuleer pilots themselves. I kno many of them would far exceed my abilities and could perhaps do a better job at rescue ops that I could.

Also...

A little later today I rescued another 10 people. This time I was a bit more alert.

Wall of Shame

Wakiya 10 lives

“Welcome on board the Redemption,” I said to Elder Verin before preparing to re-connect to my pod and prepare for the trip from Eldulf back to Matriculation Center #3. Welcome on board were the words spoken to the 341 others who accompanied her. I am usually in pod by this time of preparations for most journeys. This time, I wanted to greet those who would journey with me as they came on board. It also gave me one last chance to look over this brand new vessel. Other than one short orientation flight, this was the first real test of the Blockade Runner class vessel, we had designated, “Redemption.” I enjoyed the hum and distinct smell of massive CPU’s running. Cloaking technology requires enormous Computer resources. Once everyone was on board, I interfaced with my pod and began to make underway.

I felt that the most dangerous part of the trip would be undocking and getting to warp to the first gate quickly. Station proximity prevents immediate cloak, but usually one can warp before scanned by customs. Today, the station perimeter was swarming with customs ships and patrols, but we got to warp and before gate arrival, I cloaked. All went very well and we almost cleared Republic space, and then it happened.

I must have passed within close range of another ship as we approached the Abudban gate, because the ship decloaked. I immediately hit the jump command but not before I was scanned and tagged. Here is the weird part…I thought we were toast, but something very strange occurred. I will describe it in as much detail as I can; perhaps a reader or two can explain it.

The gate activated at exactly the same time as the customs notification and warning appeared. I did not respond to the Customs alert note and it left my com screen. The nav registered our ship as having jumped, but there was a lag of at least 20-25 seconds where nothing happened. We did not materialize in Abudban in the proximity of the gate. During that time, I received a customs notification declaring penalties that had been assessed to me. It appears below as I received it:

Contraband Confiscation
From: Minmatar Republic
Sent: 2011.12.12 15:10


Empire: Minmatar Republic
Solar System: Avesber
System Security Level: 0.8

Found Contraband:

Slaves, Qty: 342
Standing Penalty: 0.50
Fine: 2,565,000.00 ISK
Response: Confiscation

Total Standing Penalties (ideally): 0.50
Total Standing Penalties (actual): 0.10
Total Fines: 2,565,000.00 ISK
Summary Response: Confiscation

I panicked. What happened next is very strange. The Nav finally registered us as having arrived in Abudban, but not near a gate. We were in the middle of nowhere. When I think about it, there had been a strange lag at the Abudban gate when we came out of cloak, the jump command did not respond quickly and we seemed frozen in space for a moment. That same lag happened at the moment of gate activation. There was a sort of special rift that was visible as my crew and I could see the Abudban gate from the perspective of Avesber yet were not actually there. When we finally arrived in Abudban we had emergency warped to some location in system without having normally appeared near the Avesber gate in Abudban.

I cloaked and immediately checked our passenger quarters 342 passengers were still there. They had not been confiscated, but sure enough, I had been fined 2,565,000 ISK and had lost standing with the republic. My heart recovered. We continued our journey and managed to make it out of Republic space and into Empire space. Once in High sec, we were able to travel uncloaked. How ironic we all felt to breathe a sigh of relief in making it out of republic space in into Empire space. More on that will be reported in the DSTON log in this forumn.

Passengers made it to Center 3 and were greeted at the dock by Elder Gladius. Elder Verin bowed low to Gladius and Gladius in like form to her. This was a true joy to behold.

This is the first time we have been caught. Usually, the instant we come out of cloak, we jump. This is the one and only time it has been otherwise. In our limited experience, the time differentiation between coming out of cloak and gate activation is so minute, that customs doesn't lock on. This time, an anomalous "lag" got us.

Earlier today, I had a conversation with the new Elder that came from Eldulf; Elder Verin. She said, "For the Matari, self-sufficiency and traditional arts go hand in hand with technology." "Not everything should be bought." "Somethings should be made." Which leads to her request for a supply of polytextiles for the Matriculation Centers. Handcrafting would be the goal, so that families can personalize the provision to meet their needs. Sounds like a good idea.

Edaine is our production man so I will defer to him. Can we set up polytextile manufacturing for our centers with the planetary colonies that we have now?

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace and welcome to the folks from Eldulf.

Pins and needles. That was how the trip to Pator was today.

For some time, The Disciples of Ston have been secretly planning to plant communities of former slaves in central systems in the free nations of our cluster. As our Matriculants gain back a sense of identity, there is a growing aggravation with the refusal of the free governments to give them legal access to free space and to change their status so they can be legally free. Goups of former slaves have formed small sub-communities within our Matriculation centers and have volunteered to travel to different places to establish communities against the law and in protest of the injustices of the Republic, Federation, and State. These governments claim to be anti-slavery, yet make it more and more difficult for rescued slaves to live free lives in their territories.

That was big reason for the timing of the Voluval last night. Several in our group went through the ceremony as a confirmation that they are destined for this risky and important act of bravery.

It was logical to begin in Pator. The connections that have helped us in Empire space are helping us in Republic space. We will not say who they are or exactly where we have established out presence in Pator. But, let these former slaves be an agitating presence under the noses of the bureaucrats in Pator until they take action.

121 members of M-Center #3 began the journey. On the way, we ran into two death cans from the same pilot. The first had 9 slave traders on board. We rescued them. What a surprise on their faces to see 121 former slaves to greet them as they boarded. They will soon be on their way to Korama. The second can contained 71 former slaves. We explained our journey to them and asked if they would first like to be brought back to the M-Center before we resumed our trip to Pator. This group of young Brutor men and women all decided that they also wanted to become a part of the new community in Pator. So, 192 men and women made the journey to Pator.

Unlike the last journey aboard the Redemption, this one went completely smoothly. There was great tension and alertness on board at each gate. We passed through State, Federation, and Republic space. The only time we were at ease was through low sec space where there were only pirates at the gates; ironic. Every other gate had a variety of Customs officials and most had one, two, or even three high ranking Customs Commissioners in their capital ships. We were not scanned or targeted, but I for one was nervous the whole time until we docked. Thanks to some Minmatar people of influence, we are being provided free living space for our community in Pator.

We now have communities established in Republic and State Territory. Next on the list are the hypocritical Gallente central systems. The Gallente supposedly value personal liberty above all else, yet they refuse to give rescued slaves legal status as free people. We will establish a community of these persons under your nose to remind you of your hypocrisy.

Wall of Shame:

KIRA Bukandara 9 slavers, 71 former slaves (separate cans)

Continued Wall of Shame:
Republic, Federation, and State governments who refuse to give means to reclassify rescued slaves as citizens and legally release them to go on as free citizens where they so choose.

We recently had one of our contacts inform us about a pilot selling people on the open market. We contacted their corp and asked them if they supported slavery. The said no, they don't, apologized profusely for the actions of their pilot, and promised that this will not happen again. Diplomatic victory.

Have the Disciples ever contacted the corporations of the pilots they catch committing these actions?

Having heard of your exploits i would like to offer my aid to any unfortunates you find that follow the Sani Sabik faith as i know the Amarrian loyalists love to enslave those they deem "Heretics".

If you wish to discuss my offer in further detail please do not hesitate to evemail me.

35 former slaves rescued. I have been spending a little more time on duty as both Manwe and Edaine are away on business and Ta Pang and Aranu have notben active for a while. My crew has become proficient and well prepared for rescues. They do most of the work until we get back to the Center. Elder Verin was called and was ready back at the center as there were women and children in need of care.

News of Manwe's upcoming Voluval has reached the Centers. Many blessings are being spoken even now for a meaningful mark that will help guide his destiny.

Wall of Shame:

Stratop Amad 35 lives

The Disciples of Ston have opened an extension office for all seven divisions of our corporation in the system of Egbinger. Ston Momaki envisioned at the beginning a presence of the Disciples in lawless places. This system provides for us a base from which to begin working in 0.0 and wormhole space. We will start by staffing extension services of our vocational, acedemic, and development centers. Eventually, we will open extensions of our clone body return service, detention center and homeless shelter. General operations will have a liaison in the new office as well to oversee finances, etc.

We anticipate that many our Matriculants will want to relocate to Egbinger or nearby systems. This is home territory for many of those we have rescued. The facilities in Korama are great, but it isn't the same. Caldari space is, well, Caldari.

The Voluval has confirmed and re-energized my commitment to this work.

Sankofa

This is the first rescue since returning from Eldulf and the Voluval. 84 were rescue a while ago. May these find new direction, purpose, and productivity as free people. I am encouraged to share my destiny with the other Disciples of Ston and the many other pilots of other organizations and of all races who are part of rescue operations of various sorts. The Sankofa is fulfilled through the efforts of many.

Wall of Shame:

mollymaguire 84 lives