I sat back in my chair, the lights dim. Most of the offices in the Federation Navy station were closed. There were few people walking the halls, most of them at the bars drinking away the day’s events. I watched the door anxiously and shook my head,
better to find something to occupy my time; a watched fedo doesn’t fart, I thought to myself.
Training my thoughts away from the door seemed to work, because it opened with a quiet
whoosh as one of my guests arrived, “Greetings,” I hailed.
He nodded and entered, a slender stick of a man whose height made me wonder if they had to make a special pod for him.
“I thought there would be more of you.”
“The rest are on their way,” he stated absently kicking back in one of the chairs across from my desk, “they should be here any minute.” His feet floated up and landed on the desk as he let out a sigh.
“Have you talked to them about what’s going on?” I asked.
“A bit, I figured you could fill them in on the rest.”
“What do
you think?”
“I’m excited,” his eyes gleamed, “I’m behind you 100%.” His lack of discipline reminded me that these were not warriors studied in ‘the art’, but merely men whose destiny it was to be capsuleers.
We chatted for a bit in the comfortable stillness. Vel had been a friend since before we had become comfortable in the void of space. His family and mine had traded in cattle, my family’s claim to fame, when we were just children. We had a long history together, which I suspected was the only reason my declaration wasn’t seen as a joke. He knew me better than most and realized my plan was more than just delirium.
The door opened once again and two more entered into the room, the light form the hall silhouetted their bodies. A glint off of their blasters at their waists made me sit up and for a brief moment I thought it was over before it began. However their movements were nervous, making me realize the rest of our guests had arrived.
“Greetings, friends,” I welcomed them.
“What's up?,” their CEO, Archer, walked in looking behind him to see the way was clear.
“Please, have a seat. I expect you know why you’re here,” I sat forward in my chair beckoning them to be seated.
Scar and Archer sat down beside Vel. Archer looked confident and comfortable, a definite contrast to Scar. Scar seemed unsure of his surroundings almost as if still in awe of where he was. His hair was trimmed short and his hand moved to the back of his neck. Then it stuck me, he was a fresh capsuleer.
"So what do you think about it?" I probed.
"Are you really going to take on CONCORD?" Archer asked, "Or is this some kind of joke?"
"I really plan on taking on CONCORD, we're also going to be staging an attack on the Amarrian Navy" I replied, confident.
"Amarr?" the tell-tale signs of his Amarrian heritage made me question if I had asked the wrong person to join in my quest for freedom.
"I'm not much on slavery. I think the whole point of this is unity. For
all races. The traditions of old can not be maintained for this to take place. There can only be discontent if the Amarrians are allowed to continue their slave trade. I know all about Empress Jamyl's release of all slaves of ninth generation and up, along with Minmatar academics and religious figures. It is not enough, in my opinion."
"Well, I guess I don't really mind fighting my people, I would like to liberate them from their own trappings as well. My only concern is CONCORD. I don't want to be seen as an outlaw."
"Some things necessitate going renegade, but I assure you this will be minimized as much as possible. We strike them first where it
should hurt them most; in their wallets. The first step will be finding those corporations who slovenly toil for nothing but their own greed, and dealing with them. We will offer them the chance to join our ranks, or die. Depending on the circumstances, we may extort from them large sums of isk in exchange for letting them be.
"CONCORD makes obscene amounts of money from each corporation, earning their money in brokerage fees and taxes. We will limit what they can take from us as much as the law allows. For others, we will insist on their submission to our cause... or they will perish."
"Why obey the law when it's clear you have no concern for it?" Vel asked.
I leaned back and looked at them individually, "We will use CONCORD's law to our advantage and work within the limitations set by them. I would like us to maintain our standings as much as possible, but for every action, there is an equal yet opposing reaction."
The three men looked at each other, their faces masked from emotion, "Suppose this works," Archer drew their collective thoughts together, "what's in it for you?"
"Freedom."
"And the Blood Raiders, and other organizations?"
"Once the collective governments have consolidated and risen together, they will no longer be an issue. We will embrace them just as we will embrace any who heed our call. Be they pirate, outlaw or otherwise."
"And you think this will work?" Archer's left eyebrow cocked up; the look I had received from many other pilots who had witnessed my declaration.
"We shall see. If we can rally enough support to us, what would make us any less capable than Tibus Heth?"
They all nodded. It was indeed an undertaking. I could see the realization on their faces. The fact was, once we began, there would be few allies and many enemies.
"We'll have to think about this," Archer declared.
"Of course. You know where to find me should you have any questions."
With that, they rose together and left the room. I was left alone to question myself about the entirety of the mission. Were there others willing to accept putting their lives at risk? I sincerely doubted we would be bringing in new corps under our wings. Though the option would be offered, I had a feeling a lot of blood was about to be spilled.
