///OPEN COMMUNICATIONS///
///CONNECTING///
///START OF TRANSMISSION///

RECIPIENTS: ALL OPEN COMM CHANNELS, ORDER OF THE SHADOW SECURE COMMS, SHADOW NAVY SECURE COMMS

“This is Commander Jack Carrigan of the Shadow Navy. I have been engaged against the Sansha Incursion in the Kakol Constellation, and despite best efforts, have been able to push them back only so far. I am piloting a Drake-class Battlecruiser registered 0-157, named Embla. My navigation systems have failed, and I fear that I am far off course. I heard of the Incursion while checking local channels in the Metropolis Region of the Minmatar Republic.

My fleet took substantial losses, but we managed to destroy a Vanguard-class Sansha Mining Colony before everything went wrong. If anyone receives this, I am making my best attempts to return to Eram to keep things in line. My Aura unit is unresponsive and I fear for the integrity of my cloning process. I have a request if I cannot return. Do not let Sansha Kuvekei establish a foothold in Eram, or Algogille, as both of those places are like home to me. Keep fighting until your very last breath, and make those bastards suffer as those who have fallen victim have.

Should this be my last transmission, do not shed a tear for me, as I have learned what immortality is. It is flying at full throttle into the gaping maw of the abyss, and living to tell about it. It is feeling your blood run hot as you approach a Revenent, and cut loose a salvo of Heavy Assault Missiles while enemy fire rocks your ship. It is feeling the searing pain as your hull rips apart, only to watch from your capsule as the enemy is torn apart by the final volley from your guns before they fell forever silent. It is launching into a battle you know you can’t win with your closest friends on your wings, and smiling as you see the sun through your viewport. It is doing whatever is necessary to ensure that those you love never suffer at the hands of a tyrant.

I am an immortal, as even long after my demise, I shall live on, in the thoughts of my dearest loved ones, and in the nightmares of my most hated enemies. I am Commander Jack Carrigan of the Shadow Navy, and I am a Capsuleer.”

///END OF TRANSMISSION///

It was two days later that I had received his transmission. By the time my team was able to track down the originating point of this transmission, I knew what we would find.

The battlefield was a junkyard of littered ship debris, stripped by scavengers for reselling; nothing of value was left. I slowed my Rifter, and the SNR shuttle flying with me did the same. It would be my responsibility to scan for any incoming and potentially hostile ships for the next few hours as the search and rescue teams deploying from the shuttle meticulously searched for any signs of life.

Hopefully, it would just be some peace and quiet while we did what I required for my friend, though I honestly didn’t expect to find him alive. My NeoCom beeped.

From: Mizara Del’thul
Re: Call to Action

Ah right, yes. The ‘noble’ Gallente who attempted to enslave our entire people through cultural obliteration and assimilation into their collective which is nothing more than corruption, tyranny and annihilation of any heritage that’s not directly Gallentean. Let’s go sucking their body-modified fifth extremity again, right.

The Gallente Federation can burn for all I care after their insiduous attacks on our very spirits and ways. They’re as bad as the Empire, only better at hiding it under a veneer of ‘democracy and justice’. At least the Empire and State are honest creatures.

I will have nothing to do with this. You’re suggesting taking away the resources and effort needed to deal with the Empire and freeing our people in order to defend other nations and races? We have our own troubles to deal with. Leave them to their fate because we have one of our own to concern ourselves with.

But then, why should I be surprised by this? You’re the one who’s aimed for the annihilation of our ways and identity through breaking down the principles which make us Minmatar.

Go ahead… I will remain Matari, not some simpering Gallente whore.

Breaking down the principles? What booster was this pilot on? Even though it was frustrating sometimes to deal with people who were as thick-skulled and opinionated as me, I wouldn’t trade the straightforward, speak your mind approach we all shared for duplicitous double speak that never helped quicken a solution. I tempered my reply, knowing that our corporate directors monitored these correspondences.

Two things, if you please:

1. I am not suggesting in any way that K’S be pulled from the front lines of the war against the Amarr; just as I would not suggest we ask U’K proper to come out of nullsec and assist us. What I am suggesting is that since we’ve been loosely allied with the Federation against the Caldari and Amarr, that perhaps we take advantage of this common enemy to build a little bit of good will with the Gallente we can use later.
2. I have never comprised the principles of my Brutor heritage, nor the ways of our people. I am proud in all I do, knowing that I walk the walk without blemish. I can only assume you have me confused with someone else.

Again, it’s just an invitation, with no judgements on my end if you want to play the racism card to hide your cowardice.

Always your brother,
Roc

That ought to get a rise.

The hours passed by without event, the teams keeping in touch with me, and with one another. There were no signs of life, no signs of survival. It was complete annihilation.

My NeoCom beeped. My guess was Mizara had replied.

Cowardice, is it? Call it what you wish. I have more important matters to attend to, like the third of our people still kept chained in the Amarr Empire.

My reply was straightforward this time.

I don’t disagree with your decision there. The freedom of our people is always our priority. I look forward to flying with you against the Amarr every opportunity we get.

The search teams wrapped up shortly thereafter, and after a brief report, I headed back to Rens. If you’re still alive, Jack, I hope you let me know.

I hated saying goodbye to friends.