– by Malrock

It was a beautiful morning. Khelin has just finished a morning meal with his family and now standing on the porch he was looking over the fields. He was glad that Daren has given him new harvest drones, he had a lot of work to do. Harvest needed to be collected and processed before trade ship arrived and there was only one week left, if he misses it then he will have to wait another 2 months for traders to return, and he needed that money now. Marden, the village manager had sent out a message just few days ago. It seemed that State had passed new tax laws, demanding more money even from such remote places as Yoma XI.

Yoma was a small system on the fringe of State space, it was mainly known for its ice fields, given the proximity of lawless space capsuleers liked to use it for ice harvesting to power their stations and warships. Yoma had no stations or other points of interest aside of ice and being just a waypoint for travelling ships.

This how ever did not stop State demanding its tribute. State was in the war and during such times everyone was forced to commit in one way or another. Khelin did not have the money he was demanded to pay, if he missed the deadline he would eventually loose his lands. Produce of the fields was used to make spiced wine, for years he wanted to scrape together some money to open his own distillery so he could make a little more than the pitiful handouts the traders offered him. They always told him that Spiced Wine price is low and demand is lacking, that he should be grateful to sell produce at all. He was born on Yoma XI and had never been in space, besides, even if he would know different he would still have to trade with them – no one else ever visited the small village sized settlements on the planet, they weren’t important enough for anyone to care.

He drank quickly his tea and walked in. Ahena was feeding Lena and looked up as he entered the room.

“You will be away for a whole day today?” She asked.
“Yes, I have to calibrate new drones and I thought to test them on northern fields. If they work as well as Daren is saying we should have all fields collected in two, maybe three days.” He replayed.
“Will it be fast enough? Maybe you should reconsider and accept the loan from Laiden, maybe traders will pay a little more this time…” she said.
“You know as well as I that those greedy bastards won’t pay more, no, we will have to pull through, we can’t afford that loan, besides, i don’t trust Laiden.” He said while picking up his data pad and walking to the door. “Just send Jelin to bring me some food later, we will be all right, don’t worry.”

He stepped outside and started walking to the garage where 7 new harvest drones waited to be released on rich fields.

***

Daren was in his office, looking at the militia officers reports. Before he moved to Yoma XI he served as security officer for Ishukone on Isinokka VI –moon1 logistics support station. Job was lousy, pay even worse.  After some troublesome fighting he decided to ditch the job as fast as possible. Through lucky even he met a couple of space traders running a small line to Yoma and made arrangements to leave the station quietly. Small village colony was just perfect for a fresh start. But he didn’t manage to ditch his career choice. His skills were noted after he kept resolving some bar brawls and when Gheina finally resigned as security manager for the colony Marden offered the post to him. Pay was still bad but at least he didn’t have to dig in the mud all day long – so he accepted the job. Most of the days he had nothing to do but to spend some time in local watering hole, things were quiet and he liked it that way.

“Sir, we have unknown ships entering planet orbit”.

Daren frowned. This was something new – traders who made the run weren’t due for another week, and even so they used only one busted up Badger I as it was enough for them.

“Do we have ID’s on the ship types and to whom they belong?” he asked over communicator.
“No. Our scans are being deflected and it seems they are jamming all communications.”
“All right, sound the alarms and assemble our men.” He sighed as he stood up and went to weapons locker to take out his body armour and a rifle.

***

Arwin stood in the middle of a landing platform. It was small and not in a very good shape. Marden assigned him to over watch some basic repairs so platform would be ready for the trade run next week. Few workers he had did the best they could but colony was small and everything they had was worn and mostly useless. He had just yelled on two man team who were responsible for fuel cable repairs when colony alarms went off. It was actually the first time he had ever heard them, colony was worthless and nobody cared to attack it so there was never any need for defence. He was shocked and intrigued at the same time, he looked up somewhat eager to see what had caused the need for the alarms.

There were 5 fiery trays moving on the horizon heading toward the landing platform, one big one in the middle and 4 small ones, 2 on each of the side for the big one. He recognized middle trail, it belonged to industrial class of ships, but traders never used escorts before. Nor were there any need to sound alarms when they approached. He turned his eyes down and started running toward colony control centre. Men who were assigned to him were half way there already. He had managed to enter through the doors when 5 ships touched down on the landing platform; he turned to take a look but doors closed to block the incoming shockwave of dust and hot gasses from the engines.

***

Daren took a lift down and walked through a corridor leading out from command centre. As he was half way through a team of local militia men armed with basic rifles and light armour joined him, they looked nervous.

“Sir, who are they? Are they Gurrista or Gallente?” Asked one of the younger men.
“We don’t know son, just keep cool and let’s try to find out who they are and what they want from us.” He replayed trying to look confident, there was no need for panic, not that it would help anyway.

Automatic locks clicked open when dust and hot gasses from ship engines dissipated and he led his men cautiously to the landing platform. Those weren’t the traders; he understood it as soon as he saw the ships, on the pad stood Impel escorted by two Claws and two Hawk’s. Ships were in perfect condition and seemed heavily armed. He had seemed glimpses of such ships on his time in the station but he couldn’t stop wondering – what prompted 5 capsuleers to land on such remote and pointless planet? They were gods, barely aware of other small people around them, controlling wealth and power above any imagination of planet dwelling people. While space station workers managed to get glimpses of them they were almost never seen on the planet side; space was their domain and concord rules prevented them meddling in planetary affairs.

With a loud hiss of decompression cargo doors opened on the Impel. After secondary doors opened Daren saw officer in front of a very large squad of space marines. Daren’s face went white as he looked at the number of marines now marching down from the ship, there were thousands of them! All heavily armed and armoured. If they are hostile we have no chance of survival, he realized.

Officer walked up to Daren. “Are you in charge here?” he asked sharply.
“I am Daren Kurin, security chief for the colony.” He replayed.

“Take me immediately to colony manager” replayed the officer not even acknowledging his presence.
“Right this way”, he replayed and started back on the path he had come few moments ago.

***

Marden was sweating. Unknown ships, industrial escorted by military ships, marines pouring out of the industrial vessel, no markings. Could it be that he missed some note from State, could it be that the colony had broken some law without him knowing or was it some power struggle for the mega corps? Such displays of power dint mean to end well, not for a remote colony on some worthless system. He saw the officer walking away with Daren and entering the building, whatever it was he will know soon.

He tried to calm himself down and took a seat. Doors to his office opened and tall officer in dark leather uniform entered the room.

“Hello! I am Marden Uldrine, manager of the colony here on Yoma XI” he blurted jumping up and rushing forth offering his hand for a shake. Officer stopped, he had no intention to offer his hand and instead he stared directly into Marden’s eyes and said in a sharp commanding tone.

“You have one hour to assemble all men, women and child below age of fifty years on the launch pad for immediate relocation. If anyone thinks to resist we will use deadly force to enforce it.” Then he turned around and walked away.

Marden stood silent, he felt like he just had suffered a hard blow to his head, he looked at Daren, who stared him back, both men knew – something really bad was about to happen, but what?

***

Half an hour later most of colony grownups were assembled in main hall of the structure. Marden had just finished conveying the message from the unknown force now standing in full glory around the ships. There were around 1 000 marines, escorted by a hundred of heavy combat vehicles; force that could easily wipe out this whole colony. People stood silent while listening, and then they stood silent looking at each other.

“This can’t be happening! We are Caldari, State won’t move us in such a manner, we need to contact Concord or State and ask for help, this cannot be allowed to pass.” Sounded a shout “We can’t contact anyone, all communication is jammed” replayed another. “Then we should try and fight, maybe if we manage to damage that industrial ship the jamming field will drop and we can send out a distress, or maybe we can rig something to send it out on orbit?” suggested another

“Are you crazy? Fight? Have you seen what firepower stands outside? We don’t have a chance, not even a remote one” yelled another one. “Still, not all of us need to fight, and if we use buildings for cover we may cause big enough of a delay for help to get here” said Daren. People turned toward him “But how do you plan to get the signal out? Where we will send our families and how long can you keep the fight up?”

“We have some survey probes and a launcher, we can modify one of the probes to become a beacon and the gate is not far from here, if we fire it toward stargate we may have a chance – it is always patrolled to keep capsuleers under control.”

“So,” Marden spoke up “How many men will you need to make big enough distraction?” he asked.

“I’d say maybe a hundred or so, rest can help to hide our people into the caves”. For a while there was a myriad of low voice conversations between people and then slowly some men started moving toward Daren, there were about 40 of them, others were just too scared of the force outside.

“So be it” Marden looked at the few who stood by Daren, he hoped it would be enough, “Awrin, please take some engineers with you and go deal with the probe, we are running out of time, the rest of you – follow me, we need to move quickly”

***

Mjorn Lene was looking toward the colony control centre. People went there a while ago but the time was running out. There was about 15 minutes left for the deadline he announced to the manager. He hoped that terror factor was enough and people would come quietly so they can leave this piece of rock and move on. He looked over the assembled force, all of the men were battle hardened, running on best gear possible, pod pilot who sent them was generous but why he needed so many people? Mjorn hoped that it was not something sinister, then again, given the money he was paid he didn’t care much. Time was running out, soon they will load them into cargo ship, one way or another.

***

Daren looked through the window. “Everyone ready?” he asked over radio. “yes…” came replay from all the men he had positioned behind make shift fortifications, ready to break windows and open fire on soldiers down on the landing pad.

“Right, try to take out commanders, this will cause confusion and win us some time, now, be ready, 4… 3… 2…. 1… FIRE” he yelled as he squeezed the trigger.

His aim was still true, the tall officer at the landing pad fell, his head smashed by the round from Daren’s rifle. But that was the only casualty; heavy armour that soldiers were using reflected the civilian rounds that Daren’s men were firing toward them. Second’s later soldiers opened fire and Daren understood that this little diversion is useless. High calibre weapons that soldiers were using ripped structure apart, rounds passed through walls and make shift barricades killing most of Daren’s men in few opening salvos. Those who managed to run inside of the structure were quickly hunted down and executed. Daren and a small squad of 6 men managed to run away and headed toward second set of caves, trying to lead soldiers away from the places where colony people were hiding.

Soldiers were following them on vehicles, raining artillery fire around them. Only Daren and two men arrived to the cave that served as shelter from large hurricanes that devastated the land every 500 – 600 days, the door was a massive thick block of metal able to withstand the punishment of soldier’s weapons. Daren hoped they would leave soon as shelter lacked everything, there was neither food nor water, but at least there were a basic first aid supply so they could treat the wounds. Through external cameras they saw soldiers retreating and leaving the place.

Daren sighted “I think we won, it is better if we wait for at least few hours before we leave here” he stated to his remaining companions, they nodded, too tired and devastated to reply. And then there was nothing.

A big mushroom shaped cloud was rising up from where the shelter had stood in the mountain. Everything that was around it was wiped out and levelled.

***

Khelin had managed to get Ahena, Jelin and Lena into the second cave shelter, this one was older one and was weaker, but it was more hidden. They hoped that soldiers won’t pick up a trail and will concentrate on the few fighting militia men. There was no communication means with the colony or with the second shelter where militia men were supposed to fell back.

But at least they were safe. Out of a sudden everything started to shake like a violent earthquake, dazzled colonists were looking around, women and children were crying and some were yelling in panic. “What is going on” thought Khelin before inner sealing of the shelter collapsed on the people taking refuge there.

***

When the first shots were fired Arwin lead the 2 engineers on top of the colony centre and prepared to launch the probe. They worked efficiently and managed to remain unnoticed. He saw Daren running off with few men into the forest and heading toward the second shelter where they were supposed to hide, pursued by armada on invaders soldiers and being constantly fired upon. Artillery from vehicles was levelling most of the forest they were running through.

He hoped that they will make it and give him enough time to manage his job. About twenty minutes later they launched the probe and hurried to hide themselves as they soldiers still on the platform started running toward structure, alarmed by the probe launch.

They split up so they can hide in different places, Arwin choose a maintenance ventilation shaft that was big enough for him to crawl into. It also gave him a view toward the second shelter, he planned to keep eye on it and climb out of the shaft when Daren’s men would return.

Minutes passed and then he saw something felling down with a white tail, in the next moment a very strong explosion ripped apart the mountain that housed the second shelter, in his horror he watched as mushroom cloud was forming out of the impact zone and then the explosion shock rushed down the forest toward colony structure, few second later the automated defence doors sealed the shaft to protect it from impact. He felt as structure shakes violently but then stood still, the aftershock from the missile impact was over and shields opened again, only to show him a sorry view of devastation – sad remains of once beautiful mountain side.

He lost all sense, all reason, and when he climbed out of the shaft and wondered down he felt a sharp pain in the back of the head and plunged into darkness.

***

Khelin pushed himself upward through the debris of fine rock and dust, he dragged his family with him, he could barely see through all the dust around him, many lights were broken; he had glimpses of hand lights flashing around from men who managed to crawl out and were now helping others. Dust was everywhere making it hard to breathe, shelter door was broken open and survivors poured out of it, trying to escape and get some fresh air. He and his family were lucky, they had no injuries aside some bruising but many of the colonists were bleeding, he knew they need to go back to colony centre and get the first aid kits from there, otherwise many people would just bleed to death, they had no choice but to risk the capture, slowly a band of bloody and dusty stragglers started their march toward colony centre; only to be greeted by soldiers who without any mercy or compassion pushed them toward cargo containers packing them like some commodity. When they were sure that nobody was moving outside they marched up to the ship and sealed the containers. Few moments later ship engines began to roar and they flew up, leaving behind a ghost town.

***

They weren’t sure how much time passed. Few people, those who were badly wounded had died, but most of them were still alive. As the container doors opened they had to close the eyes as the bright white light was hurting the eyes. People in white clothes wearing medical masks and gear helped them out, they were taken to clean rooms, all injuries taken care of and it seemed unreal, like a dream and the survivors, quiet, unable to speak or comprehend, walked around like ghosts. They were guided to lie down and sleep, one by one all of them fell into deep sleep unable to feel anything – gas that was pumped in the rooms took away all the emotion they had.

***

“It is time”

Khelin opened his eyes. He felt good, really good, like he had a very long a fruitful vacation. He turned his head and saw Ahena waking up beside him, Jelina was still sleeping on the bed at the far end of the room and in the other corner there was a small crib where he could see Lena sleeping. He stood up trying to remember how they got here, but he couldn’t. All he could remember is that they are here.

“It is time – come to me” he heard again from the speakers in the room. The voice was soft, deep and compelled them to go. They woke Jelin and picked up Lena, then opened the door and walked into big room that looked like a big cargo bay, he saw people around them, all dressed in white like they were, some faces seemed somehow familiar but he couldn’t remember who they were. More and more people were coming. It seemed like there is tens of thousands of people here.

“Welcome children” they heard the voice again; it was coming from a platform above, all of them turned toward it.

There stood a man, he was dressed into black Caldari uniform, he was tall and seemed like he was glowing. To his right stood another Caldari man in a similar uniform, smiling gently while looking over the gathered people. To his left there was an Amarian woman dressed in red, she was observing people with much more reserved expression and seemed to hold a book in her hands.

“All of you are chosen, special.” He heard the voice, but the man in the middle did not move his mouth to talk, how could this be?

“While you were casted down to mud, you lost all knowledge of the God who brought you into this world, down in despair you lived you pitiful lives until God led us to you – and doing so helped us to rescue you” the voice continued.

“The universe has lost its way a long time ago, but the blessed union of Amarr and Caldari will cleanse it, we will wash away the taint of Gallente and Minmatar, silence the fires of the hatred and sin and bring peace to the eve.”

“But before we can do that we need to feed the hammer of the God, we need the resources, the technologies long lost and that’s why the God leaded us to you – so we can free you, enlighten you, and then take you to the worlds long lost through the gates of heaven that unbelievers mistakenly call wormholes – and claim what God has granted us.”

“The way is not easy – the unbelievers have crated demons that they call Sleepers to guard the cradles of Gods gifts – but we will destroy them, with your help we will build new colonies in those holy places and we will smite the taint that will try to deny us this.”

“Rejoice children of the god – as today we embark on the holy crusade to cleanse the galaxy of taint”

After those words the middle Caldari man raised his hand and Khelin saw a view of space in front of the ship they were in. Right in the middle of it was a pulsating sphere that looked like a bubble. The ship began to move toward it and then there was a flash of light.

When the flash dissipated they weren’t surrounded by the bluish hue of space they were before, now they were in the system with an emerald green hue that remained them a glow of forest, the ship went into a short warp and stopped by the planet.

He was out of breath, it was beautiful beyond words, they marvelled at this gem that was given to them by the God, and then they dropped to the knees and prayed to the three prophets who took them there – for they were made in the image of god – immortal, all knowing, all powerful – the masters of space and time – the Capsuleers.

– by Casparian

It’s a god damned backwater, some shitty planet in the nether regions of nowhere but it was now our shitty planet. Corp orders are secure the planet , subdue all native resistance by any means necessary and make secure for mining ops, a walk in the park on some shitty backwater hicksville that no one has ever heard of, sheesh we coulda got a planet closer to Jita, theres one sexy ass dancing girl in Jita I want to blow my pay for this op on, and man she knows how to move her fine ass.
In the drop ship Garz from A company realises hes left his friggin helmet in the hangar and is offering big bucks for anyone willing to sell him theirs , no one is that fricked in the head to take him up on his offer ,even tho this is gonna be a walk in the park. Oh so holy Bish is coming round offering religous comfort for all and sundry , hes still avoiding me, that bastard , he owes me 50 credits from his very own piece of ladyboy ass last week and im guessing hes gambled away whats mine, I will sort that fag out after we get the LZ secured.
Last check of pulse rifles before we go , its sounding quiet at the LZ so there shouldnt be much work for us to do, the cannon fodder has gone in first, so for us it should only be clean up.
Bish went down first , half his chest blown away, jeeeesus, what the fuck is this.were all hitting the deck , one of the newbs is too slow and dissapears in a red cloud, no sound , no shit , just a mushroom cloud of blood and bone,WTF.Chiefys screaming at us to find cover, Nosy and I start scrambling along the ground to a ridge five feet away, man my sphincter is clenched tight.No wonder its so quiet , whatever weapons these backwater shits have they kill silently,I turn round to use Petey boys com set, just as his head dissapears,Oh My Fuckin God, I aint sticking my head up for no friggin man, WTF is going on here, I cant even see no shitting natives to friggin kill, more drop ships are touching down and more fuckin marines are getting wasted in this shit zone.Master chief scuddy from recon is crawling down the line , his friggin amazin advice is ” keep your heads down and dont make any fuckin noise”, no shit sherlock.
Five minutes later someone back at the Orbiting command ship has obviously got the friggin message and the drop ships stop coming, we still dont know whats taking us out, twenty second later we do, some freakin nightmare from hell glides out of the forest , wouldnt of seen it if it hadnt shimmered when it moved , it was almost friggin invisible. I open up with my pulse rifle , I swear I hit the bitch 6 maybe 7 times and it still jumps out of here like its not even touched, I glance behind me and Nosy’s got his god damned head up looking at where I was firing, newb!!.Three lights like a triangle appear on nosys face, Targeting reticules, shit ” Nosy get your fuc……” too late , frickin noob.
Chiefys right next to me pulling me down, ” What the fuck you firing at Durex?”
“who fuckin knows chiefy, some wierd ass thing was right there , could hardly see its ass , only noticed it when it moved as it shimmered like a freakin ripple in the air, and I swear man ,I hit that bitch 6 maybe 7 times on full charge , shoulda dropped it like 3rd grade French but that mother just kept on moving and man was it fast”, Master Chief john Garnet , Chiefy to us in the 2nd, slams his hand across my mouth and pulls me to the side just as a shimmer in the air shoots past destroying half of a tree as it goes, motherf..
” you owe me Durex , dont you forget that now boy” , yeah I owe Chiefy more than I can count from more places than I can remember, hes a frickin hero who never collects, ” yeah Chiefy , I owes ya again”
“WTF is going on here Chiefy” and try as I might I cant hide the fear In my voice
” Looks like the natives aint gonna be a cakewalk Durex, this friggin backwater is looking like a bloody nighmare right now”Chiefy points at a ridge about 10 yards away ” rest of the 2nd are hiding their asses behind that and setting up a perimeter, password is FUBAR , get your ass over there now marine”
Four hours later we got ourselves a safe zone with perimeter patrols out and a command structure set up, we lost almost 70% of the marines who came down on our wave so just 200 or so of us left, Chiefys away with the C.O trying to work out a way of getting us outa this alive and im sat on my ass shitting myself, ten minutes of shitting myself and Chiefy is heading over to whats left of the 2nd and I join him” whats the buzz Chiefy?”
” hold on a mo Durex , I only wanna say this once ” Chiefy raises his voice ” Gather round 2nd, any other fuckers who aint in the second, and are listening to my dulcet tones fuck off and find your own unit, if your units dead welcome to the 2nd”
” OK ladies this is the story on this shit storm we’ve stirred up, were pulling up sticks and getting out of dodge, dont look at me like that boys, we aint running ,some fucking puke back at corp HQ has fucked up big style, this aint even the rock we were meant to take , this here shit hole is on the exemption list and we shouldnt even be here, first off because its full of killing machines and aint safe to colonise, never o guessed that one, and secondly were getting off because if we dont get back to the ships in one hour there gonna fuckin leave us here or CCP will shoot em down for Invading a planet on the exemption list, any questions”
“Wheres the extraction zone Chiefy?”
“you’re sitting on it Durex, in 10 minutes there will be 5 drop ships here and were getting off this puking shit hole, now lets man up and make sure this area is secure for the next 10 minutes unless you ladies want to stay around and get ass raped by the locals”, even though it wasnt funny it got a few laughs
” OK I want men every 5 feet , keep your heads in the grass and your eyes open, when that drop ship lands pull back in order and dont fucking turn and run or I will pop your ass myself, now hold tight and dont fuck this up ladies and we’ll be out of here in 5, you know what to do, now do it!”with that Chiefy turns away and walks off towards the C.O.
Im eating the ground not 10 feet from where Chiefy gave us his pep talk when the drop ships come down, for the first time in 4 hours I start to feel like I might get outa this with my ass in one piece, as soon as the ship hits dirt our sentry line gets up and starts moving back to the doors in order , its then that I notice a shimmering in the air not 10 feet away, I open up with everything the pulse rifle has and I swear it just shrugs it off and turns to stare at me, i’m putting as many rounds into that thing that I can and so is the rest of the 2nd, and it just keeps on coming, were 3 feet away from the drop ship when Manny goes down in a cloud of blood, everyone seems to get hit at the same time, fountains of blood and bone going off up and down the line as more men get popped, just as my feet touch the ramp I feel myself being ripped off my feet and slammed onto the floor, a shimmer shoots where I had stood and ricochets of the drop ship, some damn hand grabs the back of my top and drags me into the hold, throws me across the floor and stands over me in the shade,and from that dark horrible shadow I hear.
” you still fuckin owe me Durex , now get yourself clamped in and redy for evac”
yeah thats fuckin Chiefy and man do I owe him , for more things and more times than I can count.

– by Jack Carrigan

It was like any other spring day on my grandfather’s farm. I couldn’t have been more than six years old on that fateful day. A warm breeze blew through the orchards, carrying the scent of ripe oranges to my grandfather’s rickety wooden farmhouse. We didn’t have much, but we did the best we could with what we had. The sun warmed my face as I looked up into that blue-green sky, my eyes adjusting to the light as I had stepped out to welcome the day. My grandfather and grandmother had risen early to check the orchards, and repair the irrigation system, which never worked for some reason. Large white and grey clouds rolled in, signaling a spring rainstorm. I ran to the orchards to let my grandfather know that there was a storm coming when the rain started. A loud crack of what we thought was thunder echoed through the orchard as I reached my grandfather. “Grandpa, you and Gram need to go inside, it’s going to rain, and I don’t want you to get sick,” I said innocently. He stood up and wiped sweat from his brow as he looked down to me, “Well Tarish, I think you’re right,” he smiled. “Launa, come on, let’s go get some tea and watch the rain,” he called to my grandmother. As we walked back to the house a deafening boom echoed across the farm, which we all thought was thunder. My grandfather and I sat on the porch, and watched as the rain started to pick up, while my grandmother went inside to make fresh tea.

Another series of loud booms echoed across the farm, but when I looked up, in the middle of that blue-green, shearing through the wispy grey clouds I saw three large balls of fire. “Grandpa!” I shouted, “What is that?” My grandfather looked up, and cocked his head to the side, “Maybe it’s a meteor.” Suddenly, a loud shrieking noise put both me and my grandfather to our knees as heat washed across the farmhouse, and then was suddenly gone. Some kind of metallic monster screamed past us before circling back around. It looked like a metal ball, with blade-like protrusions extending from the center of it, and a ball off to the side. That wasn’t the only break in the quiet solace of a spring rain on our farm. Three gargantuan metal behemoths soon appeared in the sky, appearing as a giant ball of metal with two great arms extending forward, and hovered over the orchard. My grandfather scooped me up in his arms, and carried me inside, slamming the door behind him. He grabbed his old hunting rifle, and walked out on the porch. It was strange seeing my grandfather standing there in his blue coveralls, clutching that rifle like it was going to save us all from these monsters. I was scared, but at the same time curious, so I carefully looked out the window. A deafening roar suddenly filled the air as huge bolts of fire radiated from the metal behemoths, sending dirt up into the air, and ripping entire rows of orange trees down in their wake. My grandfather swore loudly as he watched the orange grove erupt in flame, only to see these metal beasts come down to ground like some predatory bird on prey.

Metal retracted on the sides of these monsters, and men wearing uniforms and carrying automatic rifles poured out of them. These men organized themselves quickly, and began sweeping outward. A shot rang out, and one of the men fell to his knees before slumping over, blood and bone fragments erupting from a wound in his head as my grandfather reloaded his rifle. I heard them screaming orders amongst one another, but couldn’t make out what exactly was said. Just then, one of the men whom had emerged from one of the monsters approached my grandfather. He wore a black wrap about his face, and carried a pistol. In a strange language, he yelled something at my grandfather, who then dropped his rifle on the porch as three of the uniformed invaders advanced on him from the side, weapons pointed at him. I wanted to cry out, but my grandmother grabbed me, and pulled me into the back room of the tiny farmhouse. I was terrified, and could no longer hold my silence when I heard a trio of gunshots, and then footsteps coming into our home. The ancient wooden door of the back room erupted into splinters as one of the men kicked it in, screaming at my grandmother in some strange language. She was pulled out of the room, and another trio of gunshots erupted, that chilling sound echoing through the farmhouse.

I was next it seemed as I was dragged from the room. Grisly images were forever imprinted on my mind as I saw my grandmother slumped over the table we had eaten dinner at so many times, bloody wounds across her back, her life pooling out across the table, and dripping onto the floor. I began to cry and scream, kicking at the man which tried to restrain me. I immediately fell silent when I was dragged out the front door, seeing my grandfather’s lifeless body laying on the ground, face down in his own blood, dirt sticking to the wounds. I wanted to fight them, but a black bag was pulled over my head, and I remember getting suddenly sleepy, and then nothing. I woke up in a small metal room, which I found out was in the belly of one of these monsters which had destroyed my grandfather’s farm, and killed my grandparents. I sat on the bench in there, and quietly cried until a man wearing a black face wrap approached the room. I could see him through the window that was on the door of the room. I quietly pleaded for him to go away, but the sound of the lock catching quickly silenced me. I huddled back as far in the corner as possible as he entered the room. He removed the wrap which covered his face and placed it on the table in the opposing corner of the room. I’ll never forget that face as he had a long scar which ran from his left ear to his nose, and had another which went across his right eye.

I shut my eyes, and prayed that this was just a horrible dream, that I would suddenly wake from, with my grandmother comforting me. My attention was suddenly grabbed when I heard a voice full of gravel, speaking clearly in my language. “Listen kid,” he said calmly, “Nothing personal, it’s just business. If the old man wouldn’t have taken a shot at my men, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, and maybe he would have been compensated for the loss of that orange grove.” I looked up at him with tear filled eyes, “They were all I had. I never knew my daddy, and my mommy got really sick last year.” “Touching story kid,” the man chuckled, “But you know, maybe this will teach you about the dangers of making rash decisions.” “It’s not funny,” I shouted, hitting the man in the chest, but was only met with a stinging face as he had slapped me prior to walking out, slamming the door.

I got up, and looked out the window of the tiny metal room. I saw a great expanse of space with numerous vehicles, war machines and heavily armed men leaving the large opening in the metal behemoth’s side. I grabbed the door handle, and pulled down on it, but was not prepared when the door opened. I slowly crept out of the room, and started running for the opening. When I got there, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. A giant metal turtle descended from the sky, and when it sat down, massive doors opened on the side of it, and what appeared to be a building was unloaded from it. I was grabbed from behind and heard that voice again, “Don’t bother running kid. No one is going to help you, since they’re all working for us now.” I wanted to argue, but I saw my grandfather’s friend Jerel helping the men unload equipment. To think, if only my grandfather hadn’t have been so stubborn and bitter, he would be alive today. Jerel quickly walked over to me, and told me to go to his home and wait for him. I ran to his house as quickly as I could. His wife Elle took me in, helped me get cleaned up, and made me a meal. Despite how my grandfather had been killed for his bitterness, I couldn’t help but be bitter. The only family I ever had was taken from me, and more metallic monsters arrived by the minute. I walked outside after eating, and saw the first metal monster I had seen, the one with bladed protrusions, screaming toward the old farmhouse. I saw two metal tubes come flying out of it with fire behind them. A matter of seconds later, a deafening boom echoed as the ground shook, and my grandfather’s little farm house erupted in a shower of flame and splintering wood.

I fell to my knees as I saw this, the only home I ever knew was destroyed before my very eyes, adding more sting to the loss of my grandparents. When Jerel returned from working, he sat me down. “I want you to know I am very sorry for your loss,” he said softly, “But this is going to be a big opportunity for us to make a name for this Podunk rock we live on.” “I don’t care,” I yelled back, “They killed my grandparents, and burned down my house.” “Well, accept it, because it happened,” Jerel said, “And there ain’t no way to undo that. So you are going to work for these men until you are old enough to decide otherwise.”

I bit my tongue, and bided my time for twelve years. Twelve long years of backbreaking, nearly slave labor. Twelve years since those Megathrons destroyed my grandfather’s orchard, since those men took the only family I had, and since that Nemesis destroyed my house. Twelve years ago, today, an Obelisk dropped off a Planetary Control Center on my planet. On the land that used to house my grandfather’s farm are numerous harvesting sites, which rob the land of its resources all to turn a profit. Well you know, Jerel said that I could work for them until I was old enough to decide otherwise. Well today is going to be the day that I teach these invaders a lesson. I am going to teach them that they just can’t invade the homeworlds of innocent people, and break their spirits, crush their wills, and take their lives.

It was a spring day, eerily similar to the same spring day where the invaders took my home from me. Well, I planned on taking everything from them. Their lives, their homes, their profits, everything. It was one of my granted days off, and I planned on making the best of it. I sat in my basement, which was secured by a two inch steel door, working quietly on a project of my own. Numerous demolition charges were hanging in satchels along the wall, and I spent the majority of that day putting them together. It was nearly nightfall, and I packed everything in my old work truck. It was a barely functioning hover truck which I had acquired when I was sixteen, and had fixed up. I climbed into the truck, and powered it up, and slowly drove up to the bluffs which overlooked the Planetary Control Center. I knew there was a service elevator there, which I utilized every day to get to the maintenance tunnels which I was forced to work in. I also knew that the only people working right now were the logistics officers, the PCC Foreman, and security. Security at the PCC was nothing to mess around with, as they were all mercenaries working for the highest bidder which controlled the center, and the majority of them were former Special Forces, and still had itchy trigger fingers.

I took the time to camouflage my hover truck with branches ripped off some nearby bushes, and an old camouflage netting which I used to tarp it when I was at work. I slung the satchels, and took the service elevator down into the tunnels. I looked around cautiously as I made my way toward the centralized maintenance storage center which rested right below the core of the Planetary Control Center. I pulled out a pry bar, and pried the power box open, placing a satchel in it, but not before priming it, and arming it. It wasn’t long before I made my way to the fuel stores, and placed another charge, burying it behind the fuel storage tanks in a pile of tools.

I was walking through the tunnel which led to the shaft that permitted access to the PCC’s elevator when I heard something. Footsteps, approaching quickly from the rear, at a jogging pace, and then I heard a voice, “HALT! PCC Security! I need to see your badge,” the voice called. I froze in my tracks, and reached into my pocket, pulling out a PCC Maintenance Worker badge, and held it out for the man to see. He was much taller than me, but roughly the same muscular build, but he was armed with an automatic rifle, and I was unarmed. The man coldly looked at my badge, and then asked, “What’s in the satchels, kid?” “Specialized tools and equipment to work on the elevator,” I said calmly and showed him the contents of the one satchel that didn’t contain a demolition charge. “Alright, well don’t mess that thing up again, I got stuck in it last week,” he said before walking away. I breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away, and continued until I reached the access hatch for the elevator shaft. I looked in to ensure the elevator was shut down for service, which it was. I climbed through the hatch, and up the ladder which led to the PCC. However, that was not my intended goal. There were large structural supports within the shaft, which helped maintain the structure of the PCC and maintenance tunnels. I carefully stowed satchels in the I-beams which ran across the shaft, and then began to climb down. I exited the shaft, being sure to re-activate the elevator prior to continuing on.

I made my way through the tunnels quickly, my pace nearly at a run. I came across the storage area for the oxygen tanks we utilized when we had to work inside the fueling system. I placed the last charge behind one of the large tanks, and then started heading for the service elevator. I stopped outside of it, and waited for it to return to the tunnel level. I stepped on the service elevator, and rode it to the surface. When I got there, I noticed two PCC security members standing near my truck. One stepped forward, while the other raised his rifle, “What are you doing here?” “Woah, I’m just doing some work on the elevator, since it was sticking again,” I replied calmly. I swallowed, and hoped that they believed me. “Let me see your badge,” the man standing before me said with a commanding tone. I reached into my pocket and produced my badge again, and handed it over to him. “Working on the elevator,” he said, almost a questioning tone, “Well, that’s good to know. Hopefully it’ll stop sticking at floors.” He handed me my badge back, and his partner lowered his rifle. They both started walking back toward the shack which was up on the bluffs, utilized for breaks for perimeter guards. I removed the tarp from my hover truck, and powered it up, driving off quickly. I watched the gauge readout of my distance from the structure, and pulled a small detonation device from my tool satchel. I removed the safety pin, and squeezed down on the hand plunger.

That simple action sent a remote-frequency electronic signal to the strategically placed satchel charges throughout the complex. It would be approximately five seconds before the charges detonated, the fuel supply and oxygen stores detonating first, and then the charges in the elevator shaft. At this point, numerous workers were showing up for work, but the detonation disrupted the entire operation. The tunnels and shaft explosions caused the ground to shake violently, and the Planetary Control Center to collapse into the hollow space below which the ground had collapsed. As it collapsed, it crushed numerous mercenaries and contracted workers, their death falling from above in the form of hundreds of tons of stone and twisted metal. Alarms sounded throughout the security outbuildings, and armed mercenaries rushed from the buildings to the site. I watched from a distance as lights flashed on and the last bits of the fiery structure collapsed into the hole, sealing the fate of those trapped within.

The next few days, the mercenaries which had overtaken my homeworld began hunting me like a dog. The only thing I ever took from them was the lives a few of their buddies, some building materials, and a lot of ISK. Friends are doing their best to hide me while I plan to get off this rock. These men had taken my liberty, my life, my family and my homeworld. I had gotten vengeance for what they did to my grandfather’s farm, but that had only made matters worse. My friend Katarine had given me the idea of stealing a transport shuttle, and fleeing to space. Flying them wasn’t that hard, as I had used them to transport goods for my grandfather. She walked into her basement, where I had been staying, and leaned up against the doorframe, “Hey Tarish, word is there’s a shuttle at Jerel’s farm, it’s kept in an underground hangar.” I nodded, “Accessed through the hydroponics station, and then a maintenance shaft that runs along the east perimeter of the farm.” “It’s not going to be easy,” Katarine said, looking away to hide the tears in her eyes, “And they’ll probably kill you on sight.” I looked at her and sighed, “I know, but I still want you to come with me.” She gasped, “Why would you want me to come with you, knowing we could be killed?” “Because you’re all I’ve got left,” I said.

Under cover of darkness, we entered Jerel’s farm, and made our way to the concealed shuttle hangar. It was an older model, of Minmatar design. It honestly looked like a bucket of rust, but it was our ticket to freedom. Katarine looked at me as I strapped myself into the cockpit and she strapped herself in beside me, “Are you sure you know how to fly this thing?” “Yeah,” I replied coldly as I flipped a series of switches, the shuttle reacting with a low whine as the engines came online. I pulled out a handle and turned it, which caused the lights in the hangar to go black, and the massive doors above us to open. I took a deep breath as I punched in a set of coordinates which would take us to a trade hub in the Jita system. The shuttle rose from its berth on the hangar floor, and then took to the night sky. I killed the marker lights as I maneuvered the shuttle into an escape vector.

There was a long silence hanging in the cockpit of that small craft, and then Katarine spoke, “Tarish, I’m afraid. What if we don’t make it?” “Nothing’s going to stop us,” I replied confidently. I looked through the view screen, and saw raindrops hitting the transparent canopy. I swallowed hard as I pushed the throttle forward, the vessel jolting violently, a shudder going through the frame of it before gaining altitude. I pushed the throttle to maximum as the shuttle climbed through the clouds. I looked over to Katarine, her face dimly illuminated by the red emergency lighting in the cockpit. “I just hope that the deal I made can get us safely away from here,” I said with a worried sigh. “I hired a pilot to transport us from Jita to Eram, where we’ll be working for him as hangar maintenance crews until we can learn how to fly something more useful than a shuttle,” I continued. Katarine looked at me, “You hired mercenaries? How could you afford that?” “I sold a little bit of information to some rather shady individuals for a lot of ISK, and this guy seemed pretty honest,” I said very calmly. “He’s going to be escorting us from here to Jita, and so far, he says it’s pretty clear out there,” I said, in hopes of alleviating her fears. Katarine sighed, “Why do you want to become a capsuleer?” “I want revenge for the subjugation of our planet,” I replied before looking out the viewport at the thinning atmosphere. Katarine looked very concerned at this point, “What if they turn us over to the mercs on the planet?” “They won’t,” I replied.

As the shuttle cleared the atmosphere, my eyes grew wide with terror, and Katarine grabbed me and started crying. I looked out the viewport and four Maelstrom battleships and a plethora of frigates. The comms came to life on the frequency I had been given, “Minmatar Shuttle, this is Assault Ship Einherjar, throttle up and cut right through the center of the formation, we have your back.” I followed the instructions, and I saw an Enyo-class Assault Ship drop out of warp, and a matter of seconds later, a pair of Nemesis-class Stealth Bombers decloaked and launched bombs and torpedoes at the ships closest to the planet before cloaking again. The Enyo screamed through the formation, its guns shredding frigates that came too close, and the ones at range fell to the missile launcher. I had to bank hard to avoid being struck by part of a frigate which had been sheared free by one of the explosions from the bombing run. The bombers decloaked, and ran up the midline of the lead battleships, launching torpedoes and bombs before vanishing again. “Shuttle, Einherjar, start your run to Jita, I’ve got a pair of Myrmidons waiting for you at the gate, we’ll cover your escape,” the Enyo pilot’s voice echoed through the cockpit of the shuttle.

I followed his instructions carefully, and soon met up with the pair of battle cruisers, and Katarine finally opened her eyes. She saw the engine wash from the battle cruisers, and a few minutes later, an Enyo and two Nemesis bombers. “Shuttle, Einherjar, as soon as you get to Jita, we’ll transfer you to another vessel, and head for Eram,” the Enyo pilot said. Katarine looked at me, “Tarish, should we trust them?” “They got us this far,” I replied, “So I think they’ll honor their word.”

Hours later, we arrived at Eram by way of a Bestower, and found ourselves in a darkened hangar, surrounded by capsuleers. The man who had been piloting the Enyo approached Katarine and I, “So, you risked your life, and hers to gain your freedom. You can bed down in one of the spare offices, and I’ll have you start working tomorrow.

As more time in the service of these rough pilots, I learned tips and tricks along the way. Katarine gained employment working as the Trade Liaison for this corporation, and I became a pilot. My name is Tarish Hardin, I am husband to Katarine, father to Lena, but I am a capsuleer, a mercenary, and I will have my revenge against them. I will take everything from those who subjugated my planet, killed my family, and destroyed my home. I am hunted still for the things I did on that planet, but with the knowledge and skills I have been granted, I will make that planet’s rivers red with their blood.

– by Creetalor

—- Beginning Transmission of—–

>>Public Diary of Markus Onan<<

Logged: 112.05.19 Yoma IV

Saisieni Suuolo,

I remember the first days of the massive expansion well , we heard an Announcements from Concord how planets where having there recourses plundered by thousands upon thousands of ships. The images and video’s reaching us were being broadcast into every corner of New Eden, they where awe inspiring, huge and small ships alike where all orbiting planets like a swarm locust ready to devour everything in their paths.
We sat at home watching everything coming in on our make shift Communications system that we had built after coming to Yoma IV trying to start a new life in one of the more inhospitable planets.
We heard the horror storys of huge structures being shot at the planets surface from space, it made no difference on whom or what they landed on.
Large amounts of troops came down to secure the structures and build further ones such as
huge machines that dug into the landscape, sifting through rubble to find valuable resources, and sending them through transport links to huge warehouses.Their where further stories of people, innocent civilians being executed or just killed ruthlessly for not adhering to the governing body’s request for them to relocate.
We watched the heavens day and night seeing nothing but the stars and moons and our pink star going through the same cycle as it always has done, we thought we had been spared the horror and the torments that we had heard so much about.

Logged 112.05.20 Yoma IV

I had just woken up when I heard a small wizzing at first I thought it was one of the computers overheating again but slowly I came to senses and noticed it was more of a hovering sound something I have not heard for some time , it was the sound of a drone. I woke up moving outside of our small container home seeing something small moving around across the landscape, I took the gun I had brought with me when we settled here in our container home.Through the sight I looked at it all of a sudden it turned the lens looking at me and I felt the like something was looking through me, and giving me the feeling of being so small and insignificant.
All of a sudden it shot straight up into space and disappeared.After what seemed a eternity a ship popped up probably having uncloaked and releasing a huge structure dropping to were the machine had been.The impact shock the ground and as the star started to rise on the horizon the ship became more clear and I saw small drones shooting around the structure moving stuff here and there.I took my gun and started moving towards the structure expecting the worst.
As I reached the structure I felt my blood rushing out of my face and my knee’s shaking.
The drones seemed to finish their work they all retreated through a small doorway in the structure.I was just about to step forward again when I heard a voice. Soft and gentle voice coming from the dark doorway “Saisieni ” as a tall women stepped out of the doorway with long hair and a optical implant over her right eye, she was visibly Achuran .I stepped forward and greeted informally this unknown woman asking for her name she told me its Talor. “Saisieni Talor-Haani” I repeated formally after this she came closer to me walking down the ramp followed by 2 armed men which appeared out of the dark doorway without a sound.

She spoke loud and clear explaining that was part of a large Corporation and was going to start Extracting the minerals under this site and nicely asked me to leave.I explained I had nothing but my family here and I can not leave ,but I said with her here means more will come to the planet, my voice trembled at the thought of more coming and the reports of the brutality flashed through my head.I looked up at her and she returned with a small smile, I think she felt my fear and my worries , but I think she did not smile out of satisfaction of my misery it was a reassuring smile, a smile telling me she understood and feels for me like I thought someone Immortal never could.She told me to head home and remain there and told me not to worry overnight she had some plans to make and would return shortly.

Logged: 112.05.21 Yoma IV

It was close to the middle of the night when I heard a knocking on the steel door, I opened and she was standing in front of me. I welcomed her into my humble home and told my wife to get some water. She came in saying she really needs to start her expansion on the planet but a smirk in her face, reassured me not to panic. She had come to me with a offer ,a offer that would change my small life forever. She gave me to opportunity to either take my family and move on the station and get housing and work, or to take my family with her to the stars ,going where no person has ever settled before and expanding her reach to the untapped planets maybe waiting for more….. Wormhole Space

Logged: 112.05.22 Space Yoma System

I am now headed to a place I have never even dreamed of going or ever reaching and being able to step and build a life in a region dangerous but most fruitful …. a new beginning of a shattered life on a old planet left behind and not ending unwillingly for thanks to Benevolence.

Logging out for now Markus Onan

– by Chiana Moro

i

Things are changing in our world. We, the Amarr of Insmother, who have lived peacefully in our small part of space, are seeing change. Change unheard of since… we know not. This is a total violation of our sovereignty, our land, and our ways of life. We are accustomed to the constant fights going on in space above our heads. We have heard that the capsuleers of our skies use to make up their own laws and punishments. They have their own ways of intrigue and conspiracies, much like we have ours. But we don’t meddle in the ways of the immortal, as they have not meddled in the ways of our people. Now this is changing. People are talking about resistance. I know not how this will end –
but I know how it began.

ii

Some time ago, according to uncle Sani it was only a fortnight, we woke to heavy flashing in the skies above, we woke to find downed space craft in our fields, or what remained of them. We gathered in the fields to view these flying contraption. Some vaguely recognizable as Amarr designs, as stylish all our constructions and vehicles, even in the state of destruction. Some of the exotic, haphazard design of our recently freed slaves. And others utterly alien and unknown, looking more like balls of metal of unknown propulsion.

All these were scattered richly around the fields of ours, for miles and miles and miles the wrecks and pieces of craft and undetonated missiles went on. Our fathers said something about a war in the skies, their grandfathers remembered stories of the Jovian war. Everyone felt unease. This had not been heard of in our generation.

iii

Arbjan and I ventured into the fields to salvage the electronics of the space craft to keep in store, for use on the days our own machines break down. Arbjan is one of my best friends and of the newly freed, and while privileged to have been given a higher education and a good position in society, still slightly superstitious. As the Minmatar of his race tend to be, no matter how much education they get. We of the Amarr have seen
through all this and found the only path – I will talk no more of this. Let me continue with the beginning.

Around midmorning on the second or third day, we saw, in the distance a rectangular object, with a glossy center piece, surrounded by black metal.As we approached we couldn’t fail to note that is stood on the border to an area we both hold sacred as it is a field dedicated to the great Saint Junip, the protector of planets. It has been graced with copious amounts of the matter that goes into our luxury products, like our personal adaption sleeping spaces (I can not divulge the information of exactly what this material is – as it known only to a few). As we approached the object is sprang to life showing a text of alien design as Arbjan was getting closer to it. When I got up close to Arbjan it also brought forth – as I guess – the same text in Amarr. Looking around we noticed several similar objects sprinkled about a vast area. Regardless of how amazingly advanced this contraption must be to recognize the cultural makeup of ourselves, what caught our attention was the message itself.

*** Attention sentient beings of Planet II in the Z182-R solar system, IV-LWJ region! ***

This, and the surrounding areas within the area delimited by the information buoys are being claimed by, and as the private property of, Celestial Ventures of the ACME alliance, according to the registered contract pII-i67-1. All occupation within the claimed area is strictly forbidden and venturing into the claimed area is from this time not   recommended and solely on the risk of the sentient beings of Planet II. All contact regarding this venture should be channeled through the Celestial Ventures representative at CV-1 Z182-R. *** ***

Needless to say, we were taken aback at such insolence. To confirm our suspicions we continued on to the next “information buoy” only to discover the same behaviour and message in this contraption. The words, the unimaginable arrogance, the violation of our hereditary claim to our own planet! I think you, dear reader of these words, can imagine the total confusion, anger and bitterness in our discussions as Arbjan and I, as fast as we were able, returned to our homes to report the bizarre incident.

iv

If we were upset and in turmoil, it was nothing of what the rest of our community was when we reported our findings at the Conference of the Elders. A long heated discussion ensued, after which the youngsters thought the only just cause of action was to destroy “the stupid signs”, disregard idiocy imposed upon a sovereign people and deal with any consequences that might follow as it (may) happen. The elders on the other hand thought that we should be bring the matter to the Celestial Venture representative mention in the information. Me, I thought this was an utterly foolish idea, of the old school of democratic thinking, as the tone and inference of the message already delivered clearly indicated that the outcome of such a trip could only be one. Disappointment.

Nevertheless, the Elders, in their infinite wisdom, decided to give the “Celestial Venture representative” a chance to explain what was going on and why they were claiming parts of our planets for their own without previous contact or negotiations on their part. A  voice coms communication with the representative was arranged. It, however, came to the generally unsatisfactory conclusion that they thought it was “their sovereign
space and they could do with it as they pleased”. All logic reasoning (among that that sovereign space didn’t reasonably include already inhabited planets) failed to bring common sense to their minds.

v

Then came the machines.

vi

Shortly after the unsuccessful outcome of the contacts with the representative we started to see a higher activity of space travel around the field. Various bits of housing and machinery were somehow brought to the location Celestial Ventures had claimed for theirown. Exactly how this was achieved remains a  point of discussion amongst those who saw, or thought they saw, or like to make others think they saw how it was done.
Suggestions range from teleportation, to magic, to people actually landing space craft on the ground, bringing stuff out and physically building the things on the site. The latter seems most likely.

And then there were machines …

It should be said that defeatist creeps among us, at the point of the buildings going up, thought that maybe it was not too bad after all. That “Maybe there will be jobs for our young to be had.”. Any such naïve notions were quickly squashed when it was abundantly clear that the only workers on the site would be remote controlled machines and drones. No “sentient beings” would be invited to gain anything from the venture on
our land. So, to add insult to the theft of our lands, only Celestial Ventures would be involved in the robbing of our resources.

vii

The installation grew, the activity increased and noise and pollution reigned supreme across the neighbouring several kilometers from the site. Our peaceful life were shattered due to the arrogant invasion of the immortals. Finally even the most naive amongst the elders lost patience and called an assembly to decide what should be done about the unbearable situation. After many hours and equally many hotly debated points of
opinion, it was decided that we were to try to grab their attention at their base station. A delegation of people were to travel to their industrial “outpost” and demand a meeting with someone from Celestial Ventures. Yet another voice communication was attempted before the delegation leaving our home planet.

CV made it clear that they didn’t really want us out there in the “their” space at all, that nothing we did could change their plans, but if we really must visit to travel them, they would secure a spot in their industrial alliance – the ACME alliance – for us for the visit. Considering the implications of this (a tacit acceptance of the planet side venture) we respectfully declined to – even temporarily – take a seat in theirgroup of likeminded. We continued to assemble a ship, someone had an old Hoarder laying about – I don’t remember who, and it really doesn’t matter as the pilot will not be missing it, selected the delegation and off they went. They never returned.

We do not know exactly what happened but the offer of a temporary seat in the alliance did, and this is my guess, include free and safe passage to their outpost and back. By declining this, we – as we have now understand their laws – aligned ourselves with the enemies of Celestial Ventures and the entire alliance. And as Concord do not uphold the universal security of space around our planet for some unknown reason or other – the
ACME alliance is free to deal with their enemies however they wish.

viii

And the planet venture site grew with more machines, more buildings and more drones.

ix

And the bitterness towards Celestial Ventures and the ACME alliance grew. Not once did they regret the loss of our delegation. Not even did they compensate the families of the missing. Not once did they show any trace of humanity, but kept referring to their space traveling policy, and the fact that we declined a  safe passage to the outpost, a policy which, as it seems, all corporations of their amoral ilk  share. Not once did they, in fact, show any respect towards, or care about other beings than themselves. We had failed to grasp the enormity of their amoral rules – and it was our loss, and the first of our lessons.

The bitterness turned to hatred. The hatred turned into action. And a a willingness to contribute in any way possible in a campaign against the invaders. We are assembling the funds for military training, and   we are assembling the funds to contract mercenaries willing to evict the intruders from our home planet. We will strike back where it will hurt the filthy bastards the most.

I know not how this will end – but I have told of how  it began. .

– by Sajarus

The elders are the keepers of knowledge. They told us stories when we were little, tell us stories now. They tell us stories they heard from their elders, and from their elders’ elders. They told us of the Original World, of Matar. They speak of lush fields, clear water, bright sky. They speak of wealth and prosperity. They speak of all this, until the First Invasion came. During the First Invasion, the sky was darkened by demons, and rained Minmatar blood. The waters turned brown and murky; the fields made fallow by death and pestilence. This was the Day of Darkness.

The Elders told us that these Sky Demons were known as Amarrians. The Amarrians enslaved us, made us work their mines, their fields. The Amarrians made us their oxen, made us work until we died. They tried to break us, but the elders kept us strong. The elders told storied of Matar, kept us free in mind and spirit. Eventually we threw out the Amarrians, reclaimed our honor as a people. We showed that the Minmatar were strong, that we would not be oppressed. That we would be free.

Now, the elders speak of the Second Invasion. They tell of our world, of home. They tell of green grass, blue water, white clouds. They tell of peace and serenity. They speak of new evil. The sky is darkened again, not with demons, but with gods. Immortal beings who command ships that stretch further than you can see. The sky rains, not with the blood of the Matari, but living, breathing men and women. The sky rains Matari. They come to steal, say the elders. They come to kill the planet. To destroy its beauty. They come with their machines, their factories, their guns. They come for our lives, say the elders. To make us as we were under the Amarrians.

We have never doubted the elders. Now, though, we know that they are wrong. The sky gods come not to enslave, but to seek our help. They come for our supplies, our resources. The sky gods want us to work, to produce implements of war to be used against the Amarrians, those that enslaved us, made us beasts of toil. They want us to work, and we answer the call. The work is hard. It is dangerous. We know, however, that it is nothing compared to those on the front line against Amarr. Our toil in the mines and the factories ensures their success, and for that, we work.

The elders have told us many things, but now we tell them. They tell us to admire the planet, to fight those traitors that would take the beauty from us. To revolt against the betrayers who would enslave their fellow Matari. We know that they are wrong, and we tell them. We tell them that, should we ever hope to defeat the true enslavers, the planet must reveal its treasures. The sky gods must come, we must work. We tell them to look beyond the planet, to look at the sky. We are not citizens of our planet, we tell them. We are citizens of The Minmatar Republic. We tell them that this is what must happen to defeat the enemy they have told stories about, but they do not listen. So we ignore them now, let them hold to their beliefs. They will be drowned by the truth, and then we will tell them. We will tell them that it is our duty as Matari.

We will tell them, and they will listen.

– by Ethan Bellator

It was a simple contract, believe it or not. We were contracted by some capsuleer’s handler to go live on and work at some planet on the edges of Empire space. No real problems, we figured. My family and I, me being the eldest son of a single mother now managing three kids, were ready to make a better living. This job managed to pay nicely, at least my part did. I was around twenty, struggling from bar-to-bar playing a little song now and then to get a few credits to bring to Mom so we could make it through another week. This contract promised us something that we’d never been promised before, and we leaped on it.

ISK. Cold, hard, ISK.

The money of the demigods.

We took that ISK, which added up to way more than enough to pay for a nice home and to get me to a school that would get me a job. Hell, with this kind of paycheck maybe becoming a pod-pilot wasn’t such a bad idea?

Well, now that things have been so warm and fuzzy, I’ve decided I’ll stay. Why would I follow my silly ambitions?

No.

I’m lying through my teeth right now.

It isn’t that I don’t want to leave, it’s that we can’t. The planet we live in resides in a hot-bed of tension and brutality. Every day, our supply-lines run the risk of getting slaughtered in a cross-fire. At night, the fighting is pretty and has even let me get lucky with a very cute young lady, but deceptively so. The ‘shooting stars’ over the sky are nothing like the things I grew up dreaming of seeing.

People are fighting over this planet, desperately badgering one another in whatever form they can imagine. Why? I don’t know. There have been so many colonies shot up around here, the planet’s been sucked dry so fast. These pod-pilots are voracious: it turns out the pilot who signed us to jump down here was the first of thousands to jump on an opportunity of free ISK. Some pretty large names are dropping colonies on the most remote planets in the darkest holes of space. I’ve heard rumors that the big-wigs are throwing around colonies like crazy. Almost like every colony they get ready to drop down is a fresh syringe just filled with a new dose of narcotics, and every planet is another vein in which to inject it; ISK is the ‘high of highs.’

What I don’t understand, though, is that the pilots have no presence here. Asides from making it so that we need to make drills on how to react should one of those massive capital ships not burn up in the atmosphere somehow and crash into the surface, there is nothing here tying them to us. The only reason we didn’t up and leave after we had banked enough ISK to live forever in the upper echelon of the middle-class, was because the last group that tried to leave never left the gravity well. A stray hybrid round slammed into the side of the dropship they were flying, and it fell back to this damned rock as ash and fire.

These pod-pilots will be the death of the common man, it seems. I see the atrocities they create first-hand now. Sure, I understand the whole concept of capitalism, and I understand why they do these things. However, that doesn’t mean I have to agree with them. But, a twenty-something kid’s gotta eat too, and I need to feed my siblings and make sure my mom doesn’t die of stress. And there’s been talk of some kind of weird super-soldier being made. I don’t get the whole lot of it, but these guys are supposed to be the best of the best. The pod-pilots are going to use those to control a planet, like a private army, but more capable. I like this idea, actually.

They told me, growing up, I’d never get anywhere with my life.

Well, now I’m mining on some desolate rock. I got off the rock I was born on, and due to hearing of the news with these new super-soldiers, I have learned how to fire a weapon with confidence that it’s going to hit the target. Also, I am a strong and capable kid. I can build, but without any effort I can also destroy. Screw being an immortal: one shouldn’t fear a man who laughs at Death as they avoid him. No, they should avoid a man who does so without fear. One who laughs at Death without remorse, and without a guaranteed way to avoid him.

A man who laughs at death, knowing that he is still vulnerable. I am a man who does just that, as the days drag on. It’s come to the point where I know I’ll die on this rock. So, what I’m going to do, is I’m going to sign up to be this super-soldier. I’ll fight for my family, so that they can work and keep their paycheck and live with some comfort. But, I don’t plan on living for too long, as I’ve already given up and been broken. No boot camp necessary. I am ready to die, and sure as Hell able to kill another man.

Screw the immortals in the skies that throw lightning at each other.

I am what all men should fear: a mortal not fearful of death.

– by Perseus Kallistratos

Five Years Ago…

Victor sat on the living room floor in front of the holovid player. As he did every evening since he had turned 8 several years before, he watched the Interstellar News with rapt attention. The special report had him mesmerized, as a Concord representative detailed the new regulations concerning capsuleer engagement on worlds across New Eden.

“Grandpa, what does this mean?” he asked.

His Grandfather rested his hand gently on Victor’s head and looked over from his chair. Victor looked back at his Grandfather. His wide, bright blue eyes darted back and forth between his Grandfather’s eyes, not missing the scars on his Grandfather’s left cheek.

“Son, everything is going to change”.

His Grandfather’s stories of combat from forgotten wars were never far from his mind. His own father had died during the recent Gallenti/Caldari Empyrean War. Living with his grandfather and mother was trying at times; his mother was never home, the two jobs she held were barely enough to keep food on the table and pay for the rent that kept creeping upwards. Victor attended school at a run down building a few kilometers away, his free time spent reading anything he could get his hands on. It was never enough, and he craved more.

Victor would become entranced when reading about ships, battles, anything that involved the Immortal Capsuleers. He kept his thoughts to himself; his father had had the same visions of immortality when he joined the Caldari Navy. Those ended suddenly when the Drake Class vessel he was on went down with all hands (minus the Capsuleer of course) near Luminaire. Any talk of Capsuleers upset his mother greatly; his Grandfather had already made his position on interstellar conflict clear with frequent smacks to Victor’s head.

Victor looked back at the holovid while images of stellar battles danced in his imagination. His bright mind was already planning his future, which would get him off the backwater planet he currently called home

Three Years Ago

The past two years had gone by so quickly for Victor. It wasn’t long after that night in his living room that the Immortals came to his planet. His Grandfather had been right, everything changed for Victor the evening the sky thundered and the ground shook. A deep core mining facility set up near his small town. Every day a transport would come and take the minerals to the headquarters on the other side of the continent. Young Victor would sit on a hillside and watch as the transport came and went like clockwork. His Grandfather would have given him the back of his hand if he had known, but his health had slowly deteriorated and he was bed ridden more often than not. The mining facility had little impact on his hometown; the few workers were from off world and the facility was quiet with the exception of the daily transport run.

The routine all changed for Victor, as fate (or was it destiny?) had other plans for him. Victor was running the trail his feet had worn in after months of use that led to his lookout. He was running late today, his teacher had kept him after for not paying attention in class. In his mind, Victor had no reason to pay attention to the coursework. It was all too easy, and daydreams of huge engagements preoccupied his thoughts. Regions like Pure Blind, Tribute, and Deklein played across his mind.

As he neared his spot he could hear the thundering in the distance as the transport began its descent. He was going to miss the landing! His heart pounded as he frantically scrambled to get into position. The thundering slowly turned to a roar. It was so close! Victor turned his gaze upwards to see the giant ship as it neared. He didn’t see the fallen tree that crossed his small trail, entranced by the flashing lights of the transport instead. His right foot caught the tree squarely, and it sent him flying. His body stumbled and fell, his momentum carrying him off the path and down the hill. He tumbled, out of control, as various branches, rocks and bushes cut and bruised his body. He finally came to rest, yards from the fence around the facility. His vision faded in and out, his body burning and aching. He tried to move, but instead he screamed as the pain in his back sent white hot shards of pain through his body. The throbbing in his ears grew louder and louder, in time with the pain pulsating through his back. As he lay immobilized, his vision slowly turned red. The last thing he heard was voices and pounding footsteps before his vision turned black.

Victor woke up to an unfamiliar setting. He laid on a bed in a sterile gray room. The wall to his left was covered with instruements and monitors. The bed to his right was empty except for his clothing, which was tattered and splotched with blood. He was wearing a grey and black jumpsuit that was a little large for him, and made of an unfamiliar fabric.

Victor sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

“Son, you are lucky to be alive” an unfamiliar voice boomed from the doorway. Startled, Victor looked up to see two men glide into the room. One wore the same jumpsuit he did, and had calloused hands and grey hair. The other wore a black outfit that seemed to mold to his body, and had a piercing gaze that bored right into Victor.

“You’re back was broken and you were bleeding something awful, but our medical bots were able to fix ya up good as new,” said the grey haired man. He offered a hand to Victor, helping him to his feet.

“Names Ray, I run this mining site. This hear is Thorgon, he runs the transport ship,” offered Ray. Victor’s eyes darted from Ray to Thorgon, who only offered a short nod.

“Mind telling me what brings you out this direction?” asked Ray.

“I-I-I-I…” stammered Victor. “I watch the ships come and go” he finally managed the words.

Ray let out a deep chuckle, and Thorgon’s face curled, ever so slightly, into a smile.

“So you like the ships, eh?” boomed Ray. Victor nodded his head.

“Well you should be more careful running along them cliffs. Next time you may not be so lucky.” Ray motioned towards the door. “Lets get you home before your folks get worried”.

Victor cautiously walked into the hall with Ray close behind. The hallway was walled with plexiglass, offering a spectacular view outside. The transport vessel was even larger than he imagined, bots below scurrying hither and thither with canisters and crates. From the countless days of watching from afar he could tell the transport was about to leave.

“Would you like a ride?” said a deep voice from behind him. Victor quickly turned to see Thorgon looking down at him.

“A r-r-ride?” Victor responded, hesitation evident in his voice.

“Yes. I make the run to our command and control facility in less than an hour, from there you can see many more ships. I can bring you back later this evening in a shuttle,” Thorgon continued.

Victors eyes grew wide with realization. “Yes!!” he almost shouted.

“Follow me then” said Thorgon. Victor followed him through the facility to the crosswalk that led to the transport. He couldn’t help but notice the metallic gleam from the back of  Thorgons head. He had seen pictures, movies and read numerous books about the pattern he now saw. The mark of a Capsuleer! Once inside, Thorgon escorted him to an obervation room, with chairs and a massive obervation window.

“From here you should have a good view,” Thorgon commented. “I have to control the ship from elsewhere, but I think you’ll be fine.” Victor nodded, and Thorgon left the room. Victor turned his attention to the fantastic view laid out before him.

Within a few minutes the ship thrummed as engines fired up. Slowly the ship lifted off the ground, the facility growing smaller. As forward momentum took over, the transport moved over the small mountain peaks Victor had played on all his life. He could even pick out the small spot he had watched from, so far below. His town flashed by as the transport picked up speed, chasing the setting sun westward. As it had done two years before, the world for Victor changed once again. Even the smack his Grandfather was sure to give him once he got home couldn’t change destiny.

The Present…

Victor’s face pressed against the plexiglass as the Merlin class frigate entered the atmosphere of home… another run, another 10,000 ISK in his pocket. He was getting good at everything spaceships, but inside he was never quite satisfied. The spaceport of Kiskonen appeared on the horizon and grew closer, lights glowing in the dusk.

A memory of the past surfaced in his mind. The memory was that of the first night he saw the spaceport on his home planet of Kiskonen, thanks to Thorgon. It made the daily transport run boring in comparison. He had been amazed at all the different vessels there, coming and going. But now the spaceport seemed so small and insignificant.

After hundreds of visits around his world, Thorgon was transferred to the Border Zone to take command of a military vessel. It was then that Victor started taking trips on ships operating between various planets in his system. His mother was too busy too notice, his grandfather was completely immobile. Victor watched, learned and took odd jobs on various ships. Every once and awhile Victor would get a message from Thorgon, but they were few and far between. His skills grew at amazing speeds as he soaked up all the knowledge he could. His eyes never strayed far from the stars, even whilst among them.

Shortly after turning seventeen, Victor was disembarking a small frigate on Kiskonen when a hard looking man in a nondescript military uniform approached him. His eyes were a dull blue, his face an emotionless mask. The setting sun cast a shadow over his face.

“Whats your name, boy?” the man asked in a gravelly voice.

“Victor, sir.” Victor responded, staring straight at the man. Years of life experience had drained away the timidness that he once had.

“My name is Major Lawrence. I was told I could find you here by a Capsuleer named Thorgon. I’ve been working with him for the past year. He recommended you as a candidate.”

“A candidate for what?” Victor inquired.

“To roam the the stars as a Capsuleer. Should you pass testing, you will bypass normal training and be placed under my command for Special Operations…” Lawrence paused for a moment before continuing

.

“Are you interested?”

Victors heart skipped a beat as his mind raced.

“Yes sir.”

“Good. Sort yourself and meet me in one hour,” Major Lawrence pointed across the tarmac to a vessel Victor immediately recognized as a Falcon Class Recon “in front of the my ship. Don’t be late.”

Victor nodded his understanding and the Major crisply turned and headed towards his ship. Victor felt like he was dreaming as he ran to his small storage locker in the spaceport hub. He emptied the contents into his duffel bag, which didn’t take long. He stopped on his way out at a comms unit, and left a short message to deliver his farewells for his Grandfather and Mother. He left them with a simple message detailing his absense for an unknown period of time. All was well, he told them, and would be in touch when he could.

Without further delay he raced through the spaceport to the proper terminal and walked out onto the spaceport tarmac. The sun had almost set now, and he raced through the various ships to the Falcon. As if on cue, a boarding ramp dropped as he approached. At the top of the ramp was the silhouette of the Major, waiting for him. Victor marched up the ramp into the Falcon, the ramp closing behind him.

He followed the Major to the command center of the Falcon. The command crew worked silently as they passed. Victor took a seat to the side out of the way, taking it all in. After a minute he looked over at the Major, who had been watching Victor.

“You can wait here,” Major Lawrence said. “The crewmembers will get you what you need during our journey.” With that he turned and departed, presumably to take up residence in his Pod.

Within a minute the Falcon came to life, almost silent in its operation. The starport dissapeared below them and the firey orange sky soon gave way to the now familiar blackness of space. The view shimmered as the Falcon’s cloak engaged, and the Recon ship aligned for warp. Victor didn’t look back at his planet; instead his gaze ascended to the stars as the warp drive engaged.

– by anonymous

Our home gone, our colonies destroyed, and our cites were bombed. Their attack came too swift to quickly for us to counter. And like locus they took everything. It will be a day I remember and a day I shall never forget.

My people and I were of Gallente origin and had lived on that world for generations. The sky was in a shade of dark blue with a hint of the most royal purple found not throughout New Eden. Our world was vibrant for it teemed with so much life! The trees were massive and had beautiful white bark. I think back of the times I spent with my little brother climbing to the canopies to pick their orange and red leaves to make the finest tea around. The deerdogs would yelp as we came down and their powerful hooves would gallop us home.

“Ma when will the drink come?”

“It’ll come when it’s ready dear child!” I was bored after coming home from the forest; I was craving the drink my mom would always make. So I turned on the Net and heard the most interesting of news.

“Today we report that Concord has permitted the capsuleers to exploit and control planetary resources. Shshshsh… Several Caldari ships are preparing to enter Gemenia space.”

“Who are the Caldari?” I asked my mom.

“My gods what would they want here?” She responded.

At that same moment the skies began to be littered with box like objects blazing like meteors. The sky turned into and ugly blackish yellow and then something left those boxes. Objects shaped like a common pencil with fire at their ends flew from them and went to different directions. I tuned to one and then it was gone but was quickly followed by a strange cloud. It was orange and shaped like the mushrooms I used to pick under my families house.

“Volcae away! Away!” My mother screamed and grabbed me. She took me and ran to the barn. I never ran so fast and never was so scared. I was scared shitless. Inside our barn was no animal or hay but a large spacecraft. She took me into the shuttle along with my brother and we took off. As I looked down from the shuttle, I saw my forests aflame.

In space a massive engagement was taking place. Our people’s ships though out dated but of many were battling the Caldari. Beams of light like the suns pierced space were everywhere and when they made contact with something, huge gaping holes were left on the sides of our craft. And then we jumped.

I Prince Volace a survivor among just a few hundred thousand is searching. Searching for a place to call home.

– author unknown

The day was bright the wind came from the west sweet with the smell of spring, it was early in the morning and the sun had just made it’s appearance and it would be a lovely day. Wex tilted his head and took a deep breath he smelled other things as well flowers, the damp smell of last nights rain and something else, something he didn’t recognize, being a curious fellow Wex decided to investigate.

First though he must get something to drink, he trotted off to a nearby stream knelt down and cupped his fur backed hands He scooped water and drank thirstily. After a few large gulps he sat looking at his reflection in the water, for a Krezdonian he was thought of as handsome with his large broad nose and almond shaped green eyes he thought to himself perhaps I am. His face was almost entirely covered with thick fur, well kept and trimmed. His fur was brown with light undertones of white which was rare in his tribe and gave him a rather distinguished look he thought. He was also rather tall standing about 4 feet in height making him a sought after mate in his tribe for he would provide strong off spring, he gulped once more from the spring and set off to investigate that strange smell.

The day really was beautiful, it always was after a good rain. Birds chirped happily in the trees small critters ran about on various tasks and Wex pranced along merrily following his well developed nose to adventure and discovery. After a little while the smell became stronger almost pungent and over powering but that wouldn’t stop Wex he was a brave adventurer everyone said so. On he went now heading through thick vegetation and tall trees the strange smell getting stronger all the time. He struggled on though bush and bramble he must be close now and finally the vegetation gave way and he stepped into a clearing and his large eyes went wide with astonishment and awe.

The smell was almost unbearable now and it came from a large structure in the clearing. Wex had never seen anything so large in his entire life it was silvery and had weird tubes coming out from all sides that stabbed themselves into the ground. More tubes ran from the back of the structure and sat above the stream letting a weird black liquid pour into the stream, Wex thought that was where the smell was coming from and he wondered if that new liquid would be good to drink.

No time for that now though he wanted to investigate. Halla back at the village would be so impressed with his discovery that she might even favor him with that kiss he had dreamed of for so long. Not only where the smells intense but the noise that came from the structure was almost deafening so many different noises it was hard to concentrate but on Wex went after all he was an adventurer.

As Wex approached the structure he began to look for an entrance walking along the side merrily, whistling a fine tune full of joy at his discovery he went on. The structure was massive and it took him a good deal of time to find the entrance, a large gaping hole in what he thought was the front of the massive structure, but once he found it there was no stopping him then and in he went.

Inside was like nothing he had ever seen before strange things moved and pumped liquid and made strange gasses into the air. The noise was even greater now and hurt his ears and the smell was also much worse.

Wex was brave though and he forged deeper into this strange place, he went on and on not understanding the strange things he saw but determined to see all he could. He finally came to a small entrance that lead into a large room, he entered it and saw that lined along the walls where strange rectangular things that stood a couple of feet off the floor. He approached one meaning to discover what is was. To Wex’s amazement there was a strange creature sleeping on it, a rather large strange creature. This creature was rather ugly in Wex’s op ion it had eyes to small for it’s face and a tiny nose and to his surprise no hair on its face none, not one bit, it had some on its head but not enough to serve any real purpose.

Wex shuffled his feet in confusion and the creatures eyes fluttered open with sleepiness, it looked straight at Wex and screamed an ear piercing scream that sent Wex to the floor covering his ears for protection. What happened after Wex really didn’t understand. More creatures came all yelling and screaming and pointing strange things at Wex he was so confused.

He had made these creatures angry somehow. Before he knew what was going on he was in a cage and being moved towards a strange bird like creature, well it kind of looked like a bird except it was huge and silvery then he was being loaded into the belly of the bird and he felt himself rising into the air. For the first time in a very long time Wex cried. He really didn’t know what he had done but it must of been really bad and he vowed to himself when he got home no more adventures for Wex.