“You’re just wrong. How else can I put it so that you understand? Really, it’s not that hard a concept.” I said sarcastically, my temper only just starting to boil.

“And you’re a hot-headed, stubborn fool of of an oaf that thinks he knows better than everyone else!” Feint snapped back at me.

Involuntarily, the muscles in my shoulders and arms tensed up, and I knew I needed to calm down before saying something I regretted. Jared Feint was a colleague now, a friend of a friend, so to speak.

When I had visited the Gallente Federation months before, and encountered former pirate Hallan Turrek, we had secreted a meeting before our time together had passed.

“Look, Roc, like I said, I don’t support this personal war you have against pirates. Things aren’t black and white; there’s a lot more to piracy then ransoming ships and breaking laws. Piracy offers something for those that think they have lost everything. It gives a sense of identity, of family, to those that thought they would never have those things again. I’m not trying to take the moral high ground and say piracy is good, but at least they abide by a code of conduct not unsimilar to your own!”

He backed down slightly then as he saw me tensing up, knowing I was getting angry. It wasn’t out of fear on Hallan’s part, rather he really wanted to impart something of importance to me, and knew if my mind was clouded with anger I’d miss what he had to give.

“I have a contact in nullsec.” Hallan began, and my curiousity was piqued, diffusing my anger. “He specializes in the Minmatar/Gallente designs, the same ones the Angel Cartel use.”

Hallan definitely had my full attention.

“He says it’s rumoured that the designs of these ships were originally reverse engineered from Jovian tech, and given the way the Cartel hoards technology, I’m inclined to believe him. Anyway, Roc, here’s his info.” Hallan transferred some data to my NeoCom quickly and discreetly.

“I’m not betraying my own people.” Hallan said, standing fully erect, speaking loudly. “I simply believe that all of us, together, can make the needed difference in this universe.”

I had no idea what he was on about, but assumed we were being watched, or tapped, or under surveillance of some kind, regardless of whatever Hallan had done to buy us the short time we had.

I saluted him, and we had gone our separate ways that day.

After having arrived in nullsec only one day prior, I had immediately looked up Hallan’s contact, one Jared Feint. He was difficult to find as I struggled to maintain a low profile, but eventually my inquiries had made their way back to him, and he found me.

After the initial distrust was overcome, we actually got along pretty well. In some ways, he reminded me of a younger version of Sam, but where Sam focused on the science of I’m not sure exactly, Jared was all about his ships, and his talent equaled his passion.

The first thing I had purchased from him (probably for far too many isk, but I didn’t care), was a Dramiel frigate. It’s sex appeal rivaled the Republic Fleet Firetail I so loved, at least in my opinion, and it was of utmost fascination to me to be educated in the nuances of the ship design.

Jared took his time showing me where the Minmatar tech had been combined with Gallente design. He would go over schematics, tear open panels, dismantle entire sections of the ship to show me how it worked. I particularly found the propulsion core systems interesting, as they were completely alien to me in my limited experience, though Jared swore  the technology was Jovian.

I scoffed, brushing away his claims as hubris, which led to our current heated discussion.

“The Jovians aren’t even real! They’re a children’s story meant to frighten, a religious figmentation meant to give hope to those unable to think for themselves.” I was finished with this conversation.

Jared was red in the face with rage. His body shook, his arms stock still at his sides. A single vein wormed its way to the surface skin of his forehead, looking close to escape. I wasn’t worried. He weighed 50 kgs, if he was lucky.

He lifted one hand, pointing a single finger at me, and opened his mouth to speak. After a silent moment, he clamped his mouth shut, turning his head away.

“Look, I’m not knocking what you believe, kid. I’m just telling you that as cutting edge as this frigate looks, it’s just an illusion. A beautiful illusion I’m glad you’ve shared with me, but that’s it.”

Jared Feint walked away, and instinctively I followed. I was just warming up on my rant, and didn’t appreciate my audience cutting me short.

He was quick for such a small man, and I had to skip/shuffle every few steps to keep up. He was on a determined march, and I knew I had hit a nerve.

He rounded a corner, and I saw dozens of technicians working on a draped ship. At a guess, I would’ve said cruiser sized, and while I understood the need for privacy, I would’ve thought being in a private, high security hangar would’ve been enough.

Jared yelled at the crew foreman, waving his arms to get his attention.

There was some gesturing back and forth, but finally it looked like Jared got his point across. The canvas drape fell and what I saw before me shook my beliefs to my core.

It was a Jovian ship.

Jared was beaming from ear to ear, his hands proudly on his hips as he breathed in every moment of my shock. His expression said “I told you so” without ever having to utter a single word.

“How… how is this?” I couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

“It’s a Cynabal, Colonel.” Jared said with pride. “Minmatar pride, Gallente style, Jovian powered. It’s the crowning jewel of the Cartel fleet. I’m risking all our lives showing you this.”

I knew I had to have this ship. It was perfect for the next stage of my mission into pirate infested nullsec territory.

“How much?” I said, unable to pull my eyes from the ship.

Jared waved his arms at me, shaking his head from side to side. “No, no, not for sale. I was just illustrating a point. I wanted you to see for yourself that…”

“How much?” I repeated, more sternly this time, making sure Jared understood that I wasn’t as much asking a question as I was politely telling him to make a profit while he still could.

The smart boy finally picked up on my meaning.

“190 million isk.” Jared said, obviously picking an arbitrary number. To a non-Capsuleer, it was more money than could be imagined. To many capsuleers, it was more than they might have ever seen in their own account though they knew it wasn’t a large amount in the grand scheme of things. To me, it was isk I was happy to part with.

“Done.” I said, and watched with my own smug satisfaction as Jared’s mouth fell open. He, and his crew, and their families, and their friends families, were now all set for life.

“Now”, I said. “Teach me how to fly it.”

“By Wensley’s balls, you’re serious aren’t you?” Jared said, as I put my arm around his shoulder, the two of us walking towards the Cynabal.

Dead serious, I thought to myself, smiling the entire time, Jared and his crew already celebrating their good fortune.