“Ok, good. You’re all here.” Cytral began, looking at the Officers of Freeform Academy seated around the table. There was one empty spot, mine, but a small holo projected a miniaturized version of me to the those assembled.
“Well, Roc is here virtually at least.” Cytral continued, a small chuckle rising from a few of those gathered.
“Cy,” I said, my voice sounding a little garbled from the subspace transmission. “You know I’d be there if I could.”
“Roc, let me make one thing clear to you and everyone else present.” Cytral said with his voice of authority, the telltale sign that a grand monologue was forthcoming.
“The corporation appreciates all the efforts you make in New Eden. Whether it’s for the Republic proper, or for FFI, you have always had our support. We might not say it as often as I’m sure you would like to hear, but thank you. You’re an integral part of our operations at home and abroad, and we’re proud to have you with us.”
A murmur of agreement sounded from the voices around the room.
Cytral continued,”You are our Fleet Commander. You are the Combat Training Officer of our new Academy. You have shown loyalty, aptitude, and time and again been nothing but a valuable asset to the cause of all Matari. I’m ok not knowing where you are all the time, or what you are doing, because we all know that no matter where or what, you always have the best interests of our people at heart.”
More murmurs of agreement arose from the group.
Doc Gigawatts spoke up. “And one day, we’ll even get you mining!” A chorus of laughter ensued. Once the merriment had died down, Cytral continued.
“You’ve committed to this Academy, Roc, as have you all. The only question I have for each of you today is to reaffirm that committment to this venture. If you want out, now is the time to say so.”
Everyone grew silent and introspective. We had all worked hard towards this Academy, this training mechanism for our new recruits. Some had worked harder than others to lay the foundation upon which we would build, but all of us had put in our ideas and energies to get this off the ground. I couldn’t think of any that would walk away now.
Cytral started the affirmations with his own verbal statement. One by one, around the room, each Officer of FFI swore his oath anew. I was the final one to re-confirm his dedication to the direction we were taking, and yet I hesitated for a moment.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do it. I had already prepared several practical lesson plans for my rookies. I was eager to teach them the harshness of survival in New Eden, anxiously looking forward to ripping some of their frigates out from under them to teach them how fast and chaotic combat could be. Yet still I hesitated.
Was I really in a position to commit to this? Was I really able to say when and where I could be with certainty? My military orders were given with little to no notice, and I always served the Republic faithfully before all else. Was I truly reliable?
“Roc,” Cytral began. “You having signal issues there bud?”
What if I failed? What if I let them down? What if I turned out to be a lousy fleet trainer? I suddenly found myself full of self doubt, full of insecurity.
Maybe I myself needed training still. There were always new things to learn. Who was I to put myself in the position of “Master” when I was continually losing ships myself? There had to be a solution.
The silence in the room was growing uncomfortable for everyone.
“I’m good, Cy.” I said. “And I’m still committed one hundred percent to this.”
Cytral nodded, then carried on discussing various aspects of the Academy project, but I found myself lost in my own thoughts.
Who did I know that could test me? It would have to be someone I’d flown with before; someone that I could at least trust to not take advantage of the opportunity to boost his kill record with my name. I thought of the various pilots I had flown with in the war, General Sasawong, General Fist, Stoogie, and many others. None of them felt right, though I held each of them in high regard. I kept running through names in my mind, searching for the perfect fit to this puzzle.
Suddenly, the solution dawned on me. There was a man, the best Rifter pilot I’d ever flown with, a fellow Matari whose heart cried for freedom for our people as greatly as my own, though his methods were a stark contrast to my approach. Still, it would work.
Shhhhhh, be very quiet. I’m hunting frigates. It’s Wensley season.
ROC'S RAMBLINGS 
DUN DUN DUH!
Oh right, very quiet.
Watch out. I’ve heard these Wensley types can be pretty elusive 🙂
Wensley types can be deadly these days, I’ve heard. Can’t wait to read about it when the Wens gets found…or turns the tables and brings the fight to Roc.
I can help you out if you don’t find Wensley. I’ve committed some crimes against the Republic (http://www.minmatar-militia.org/kb/?a=pilot_detail&plt_id=46347) plus I’m jealous of your relationship with Mynxee.
I will have to keep that in mind. I like your humour already.
Just because you’re losing ships doesn’t equate to poor piloting. Hell, losing ships means you’re risking something, and that places you in the best position to learn new things.
I’ll be around Friday and Saturday evening, anywhere around 4-8pm PST if you’re still game for that meetup. See you in space.
Haveing not flown with you I couldn’t possibly comment on you’re FC’in style but how many times have you had 5-10 titans, 50-100+ caps, 200+ BS’s and a whole bunch of support under you’re command?
Thats the kidna fleets nul sec FC’s fly with on a regular basis, ok the kinda pvp you do is kinda different low sec and FW but could you handle the responsibility!?
The largest fleet I have commanded to date was a 100+ sub-capital militia fleet. It was also the first fleet I commanded. Could I handle commanding what you suggested? Tactically, I would like to say yes, but knowing next to nothing about capitals and their support wings, I would most undoubtedly fail in the logistics department. Of course I also would like to assume I am a quick study and would gain a solid understanding through experience, as I have with small fleet faction warfare.
Just the same, I will freely admit nullsec capital engagements are currently out of my league, and give full respect to those commanders that balance billions of ISK in assets in each battle they must endure.
Wow this is exciting! Ex-cit-ing!
Then maby Roc should venture into nulsec ops to get a flavor of what goes on down there? I for one would love to see you’re oppinions of those kind of fights even just being one of the ‘little guys’ in such an engagment is very educating! And it would be a damn sight better than running missions!
Tell you what I’ll do, since it really does sound like an excellent educational opportunity.
If you, or anyone else that happens to read my blog, is involved in a nullsec alliance, and would be willing to make me blue for a little while, I would be privileged to come and experience one of these types of battles, as the little guy.
You’re not missing out on much. Nullsec combat is extremely cut throat, and generally does not favor individualism. There is small gang and solo combat to be had in nullsec, however generally it is carried out in guerrilla fashion.
From roughly two and a half years of nullsec experience, it boils down to a wearing place to dwell in, and a fun, exciting location to visit and roam through.
I would have to talk to my CEO but I could probably get you membership in our corp if you’d like, for as long or short a period of time as you’d like, as for setting you blue with a coalition such as ours, it is pretty much impossible.
Also just to clarify; Don’t excpect huge engagemnts everytime but they do happen, you would have to base down where we are.
The offer is on the table.
Yeah, joining your corp would be a no. I am faithful to Freeform. However, I would be willing to bring a ship down to where you are, and leave a jump clone. I guess the difficulty is setting me to blue. If it can be done, and I still get killed, I’m not gonna be pissy. I am sure it’s part and parcel of nullsec operations. It just might allow me to live long enough to participate in such a battle.
Let me know please.
I’ll be honest getting you set blue to every little allience and corp would A) Be a pain, B)I don’t want to explain to everyone in the coalitoin why you would be their and not to mention people would likely call foul, thing you are a spy etc etc, but hey if you ever get bore where you are 😉
Well you really have piqued my curiousity, so I might just contact you ingame and come on down and get shot at by both sides. Wouldn’t be the first time. I started my life in New Eden stealing canisters from large PVP battles, back just before Revelations came out.
Hehehe feel free, but if you’re neut i’ll be shooting at you aswell! 🙂
You’d most definitely be welcome among the Ushra’Khan.