– by DonSailieri

I had always wanted to see the stars. I never had. Not once in my life, until now, had I seen that promising glow of eternity; what I believed to be out of anyone’s reach.

When I was born, almost a century ago, the sky had already turned “blind”; or so I was told. The old folks used to tell us kids stories about the stars. Adventurous stories of the chosen few that were given the privilege to embrace eternity. Some of the elder claimed to remember the stars. My mother said they were lying, no one had seen the stars in a millennium. She found it hard to believe stars existed at all.

–

When she died, they took her up into the sky. Beyond the barrier. I was told she would be among the stars, completely free. I envied her so much. Not that I wished to die right there – I just wanted to see the stars.

They took all the dead beyond the barrier, that dreadful veil that separated us from “radiation and space debris”. There was no hunger, war or disease on our world and we were told this was only due to the barrier. I didn’t believe them.

–

There were others that didn’t believe, either. And there were those, like my mother, that believed everything they were told, everything they should believe. Those who openly refused to believe were swiftly taken care of. They vanished from their houses, overnight, and were never seen again. Even talking about those that vanished could get you into serious troubles.

So, I kept my mouth shut. For all these years. I am not going to tell anyone about what I am seeing right now either, because they would not believe me anyway. Besides… I will not live to tell the tale. That was part of the promise.

Keeping my mouth shut and being the devoted fool I am got me far. I worked diligently all my life, never complaining about the grimmest of all injustices. Keeping my mouth shut. At least that’s what I thought made all the difference.

–

They say you must live life forwards, but that you can only understand it looking at it in reverse. Like looking in a mirror. Looking in the mirror of my life, now that it is over, I can finally comprehend how the strings were pulled, how everything fell into place. I don’t believe in it but it’s hard to find another explanation than fate for it.

Fade, coincidentally, was the name of the man that made all the difference in the world. Before he closed the door to the airlock he confessed to me what promise he had given to my mother on her deathbed. He had given a lover’s promise, one that can’t be broken, no matter how hard you try.

“Make him… see… the stars…”, he said, were her last words. Thinking of her, even decades after her death, pushed a tear down my cheek.

–

“This solar system was once called Old Man Star” he explained to me in the elevator.

“How many planets like ours are there, in this system?”

“None. They have long since vanished”

“Where did they go?”

“They were destroyed. Dismantled to the core, refined, they became part of something else. Something bigger and more powerful.”

Our world had, long before my time already, become artificial: a gigantic superstructure that sphered the sun of Old Man Star.

There was no barrier and there had never been one. But there has never, in my lifetime, been a planet either.

–

When we arrived at the airlock, none was said. Everything was understood.

He opened the door, and I stepped in.

When the airlock opened, I was blown out into space. Into the stars.

And in that moment, albeit only a second or two, that seemed like an eternity, I saw the stars.

Then, there was darkness – the stars were gone. Again.

– by Hortaka

Death has been the ultimate equalizer. One day that changed. No one can remember when it happened. These new gods die and are reborn with a regularity like that of a child losing interest in a toy. Moving between the stars in behemoth collections of steel and nano-fiber with star fire plasma burning inside magnetically stabilized hearts. Seeing the wonders of the galaxy from distant worlds untouched by human kind to fissures in space time. The only constant is that each trip out could end in being re-birthed from a metal womb. Death only an inconvenience.

For the rest of us who toil and struggle to survive on these distant worlds in New Eden these immortal creatures only come up in stories of some grand battle in the remote voids of space. The thousands of worlds we occupy are territory to be conquered and claimed. The capsuleers are like dragons of old, mythic creatures of terrifying power that only impact us peasants when they grow bored with their piles of treasure. Their world and ours, separate universes.

One day that changed. I remember it well. Living on this desolate rocky world that only supports life through the use of atmospheric water collectors and hydroponic domes, has made all of us survivors. Each day is a harsh struggle to maintain a balance of our food production, energy harvesting, and wishes and hopes for the next generation born into our struggle. As tough as life is, I endure, we endure, together.

When they came, the capsuleers, it was almost as if everyone on the planet held their breathe at the same time. Everything stopped as we all crowded to the observation decks and portholes to see these immortal creatures descend from the bleak sky. Their ships ripping red hot streaks in the heavens. All of us watching gripped with the fear and awe of the appearance of a god into our meager lives. Hoping that this new deity brings some compassion to this world greatly in need of new hope.

—-

Our fears are greatly relived after our the initial parley with the capsuleeer. We learned that though she may be an immortal being without the fear of death, she has a shrewd business nature and promises to bring our world a new purpose. Even though her plans seem to be beyond any of our imagination, the gears of progress are turning. A new mine and ore reprocessing facility are under construction. My career experience on this world have qualified me to be a foreman during the construction of the new space port. This new industry bringing enormous wealth and benefit to our world. Now my youngest son is starting to tell me how he wishes to be a capsuleer one day and fly his own battleship. Even my own heart soars to think that I might have the chance to visit a neighboring star system on a vacation.

The work has been difficult, as we’re expected to keep to a rigorous schedule to make the quick deadline to start operations. The visitor has given this world a new life and new meaning. We are now able to import some of the things we struggled to collect and even some things which are pure luxury. The holo-reels from across the galaxy have been eye opening and I’ve even been able to acquire a few bottle of some spiced wine through the new black market. At the end of each day I’m still tired, maybe even more tired than before but, now it’s different. I know that tomorrow will be the beginning of a new era. An era of productivity, of profit, of possibility.

– by MadMuppet

My stuff is packed and the shuttle is here to move us to our new home. I will miss this place, but not the work. No more grass bug bites either. Momma says they don’t live in the area we are going to.

Daddy is smiling again, but I can tell he is still embarrassed with how it all happened…

Huh? Oh you didn’t hear? Yeah, we are moving to a new home by the city…

Yes we can afford it! See those three grave markers over there? Just shut up a minute and I’ll tell you the whole thing.

Four days ago a shuttle landed in the field, its thrusters burned down two weeks of feed hay for the cattle. Oh was Daddy mad at that one! He grabbed his rifle right off the mantle and marched right up to the ship.

That night at dinner Daddy said that the devil himself, with horns, tattoos, and scars came out of that ship and started to raise his hand and speak. But before it could so much as mutter a minor oath Daddy killed him.

The body tumbled down the ramp and hit the ground like a pile of wet dish towels. Daddy buried him under the first grave marker you see…

No! CONCORD doesn’t care about that kind of thing way out here and you know it. Even the town Marshall said it was in self defense of livelihood. Now let me finish alright?

Three nights ago, while I was setting the table, another shuttle landed next to the first one and this time it damaged the water well with its landing leg. Daddy stomped out of the house again with the rifle and stood at the bottom of the landing ramp.

When the hatch opened a head popped out from the corner and yelled “OW! Don’t do tha…” BLAM! Daddy is a good shot. The body fell out and hit the ground with a sickening wet thump.

We ran out to see what the devil himself looked like, but without a head it just looked like one of the Marshall’s hangings gone wrong, again. One strange thing, well at the time it was strange, was all the wires and computer parts that we sticking out of the neck wounds.

Daddy buried him under the second grave marker. The local scrap man came and took the two shuttles. Daddy said the money would buy him a new wheeled hauler truck for market this fall.

Two days ago a third shuttle landed in the field where the first two had landed. Daddy was waiting for them this time though, he said ‘he had a feeling this would happen again’ and was sitting on the lot fence oiling the rifle stock.

The hatch opened on this one and when Daddy saw that face again he fired and the mirror he hit exploded in to a million pieces. The head popped out from around the corner and said “HA! You missed! Now listen friend, you and I have got off on the wrong foot and I would like to…” BLAM! Whack! Thud! Daddy has a double-barreled rifle.

The third body went under the third grave marker you see there and Daddy…

Yes, I was getting to that. Yeah that burnt out shuttle in the field was Daddy’s way of saying ‘Don’t come back.’ That and the scrap man didn’t have anyplace to park a third one yet anyhow.

Last night at supper time a frigate, yes a real warship, landed back in the field over in the dry spot there. One cannon turned and pointed at the house. A second cannon pointed at the barn. The third cannon pointed nervously at some nearby bushes.

A voice boomed from the ship. “Sir! I will pay you one thousand isk if you will please not kill me again! Would you please come out of the house so that we can talk?”

“Always during dinner!” Daddy grumbled. He pushed back from the table and stomped out of the house towards the ship, not even bothering to grab his rifle this time.

The cannon threatening the bushes whipped around and drew a bead on Daddy. It was scary for few seconds and then everything went quiet.

“What do you want?!”, yelled Daddy.

“Just to talk.” boomed the ship. “Oh, and not to get shot again please, my implants are very expensive.”

“I’m not going to talk to a ship, you moron. Get out here and do this face to face or I’m going back to my dinner.”

“Sir, with all due respect, that is what I have been trying to do for the last three days but you keep removing my face before we have a chance to interface about a busin…”

“Interface? Son, what in the heavens are you going on about? You wanna talk or not?”

The cannons on the ship turned away and a landing ramp dropped from the ship.

Daddy just stood there.

A hatch opened and a trembling mirror popped out and scanned the area nervously.

Daddy put his hands on his hips and tapped his boot in the dirt.

A twitchy, tall, skinny, Minmatar inched down the ramp. I think if a dustbladder frog had croaked just then the guy would have exploded on his own from fright. After what seemed like all night the strange man walked over to Daddy and dropped a small bag at his feet.

Daddy starred at the man for a good ten seconds before he picked up the bag. The credit chip inside it flashed one thousand isk. Pocketing the card Daddy said, “Alright stranger, you have my attention.” Daddy had already thought of names for the two cattle he was going to buy with it.

Breathing again, the strange man explained, “Sir, as you may or may not be aware, CONCORD has begun permitting the use of planets under its protection for the import and export of their natural resources. To that end I wish to propose a mutual busin…”

“You want to propose?” Daddy snarled.

Sighing heavily the man started again, “Sir, I want to buy your farm so I can set up a factory on it.”

“Why should I move away from my home? I have fields! I have fifty head of cattle! I have a family! And you come down here and want to just take it all from me!?! I don’t think you could put a price on what I do here!” barked Daddy.

Checking to make sure his head was still attached the man then produced another credit chip and handed it to Daddy. Daddy looked at it, and froze.

He looked at the barn. He looked at the house. He looked at all of us gathered on the porch. He looked at the land around him. It was his land, with its thin struggling plants, the sickly cattle that seemed to sway in the wind. He knew his dinner was getting cold.

He looked back at that credit chip. Daddy started to say, “I don’t know stranger. I have been here a long time and…”

The man handed Daddy two more chips, both just like the last

Daddy swallowed and continued, “As I was saying, I think I can have the family packed by morning, but I need to find a place to live.”

“I will have a shuttle here in the morning with a moving crew. There is a nice large house, 450 kilometers from here, just off the Eletar River that is already paid for and we will transfer the deed to you in the morning.”

Daddy shook the man’s hand and that was it.

So, I’m going to go now, I’ll write to you once we’re settled. Oh, one thing the man told us not to bother ever coming back since once the factory and the extractors are built nothing will look the same and he says a biomass refining station can be kind of smelly. How bad can it be?

– by Nomzi Nomnialli

3

Lush blonde hair blew in waves as she stared across the field of pale blue grass.  Everywhere she could see sprouts of flowers, all colors and blazingly bright in the sun.  Hers was a planet untouched by ruin, a planet of aching beauty.  A planet taken for granted.

She recalled the tale of how they came to be here centuries ago.  A people who sought to live closer to God and nature her father told her.  We who rejected dominance and the pursuit of war in the hopes of living a more pure life.  Over time they lost touch with technology, but they were no Luddites, no in fact they used high technology to ensure balance with their beautiful homeworld.  As she sat in the soft grass watching the trees swaying in the breeze, the deep green sea out further, the soft pastel walls of the village, could any place in this universe be better.  She smiled as she saw him coming from the village towards her, he was a vision to her, the one she hoped to someday marry.  At only fifteen they were both too young yet for such talk but that didn’t stop them from stealing away for time together when they could find it.  Laying in the grass as the sun went by, as the moon and stars went by, as life proceeded ever forward in bliss, her hands slid through his hair and dreams of the future filled her.

2

There were only a few small towns of her people so most knew of each other, if not knowing each other.  It was important to them and a deeply felt part of their spirituality that they all care for each other and the world around them.  So it was strange the day the elected Governor of all their villages came to hers with some documents from offworld.  Despite having long ago given up space travel and pursuit of war her people were not dullards and knew full well they were not alone in the universe and that others passed in the heavens above them.

Papers from the Amarr Empire it was said.  Amarr was pursuing a peaceful resolution for the obtaining of certain minerals from deeper in the planet.  As children of God they sought to find a way to obtain them and maintain the locals way of life in the process.  There was much debate over the subject, while no one here pursued riches, they knew trading in a few goods from offworld would definitely help them.  But they also knew the warning and desires of their founders, that they reject contact with those offworld, that they live in true balance with their world.  No one could read the papers but the Governor and he continuously assured everyone that it was all in order, that they would hardly notice the presence of any offworlders or their machinery.  Days became weeks but in time all the elders of all the villages had signed the papers.

1

The day was marked out on the calendar, everyone knew when it was to be and everyone waited with trepidation and excitement at what it may bring.  Offworlders coming here to their planet.  She hoped it would be as promised and she would never even know they were here.  Going about the chores of the day her eyes drifted up towards the sky again and again until at last she saw the firey jets of a ship coming down to the surface.  They were here.

She moved to the landing ground along with so many others and felt her heart beating as she saw the smooth armored curves of gold.  The ship was truly spectacular and it was opening, doors slid to the side as a ramp came to the ground.  A woman in robes of white and gold strode out with a cadre of armored men to her sides.  If ever she had seen an authority figure this was her, the womans face was stern and her eyes steel, power seemed to radiate from her as she raised her hand and spoke to them.  “Your sacrifice will not go unnoticed by God, your assistance to the glorious Empire will not be forgotten.  Perhaps in time you will rewin your freedom as noted in the documents.”

The Amarr woman motioned to the Governor of her people and he walked up to her handing her the papers signed by her elders.  The Governor turned towards them his eyes filled with tears as he mouthed the words forgive me before turning and entering the golden ship.  She watched all this frozen in shock, what was happening exactly she wondered.  Where was the Governor going, why did the lady say rewin her freedom, she was already free.  It did not take long for her to learn the answers to those and other questions.  The men in armor and bristling with weapons were upon her people and it was over quickly.

0

Her fingers slid through his hair the same as always only this time there was no grass and there was no more life left in him.  Eyes burning with tears she looked across the field at the charred ground from so many landings, at the skeletons of dead trees, at the blackened walls of her village.  Only a year earlier she lay here with her love dreaming of the future but never did she think her future would come to anything like this.  It would not be long before they saw her love was dead and they drug his corpse off.  What point was there left in living for her now.

She mouthed the words of her peoples founders as she stood and opened her arms towards the heavily armed guards across the field.  “Who will have the strength to live as a protector, who will have the wisdom to understand the beauty of life, and who will have the heart to live as one with God and to respect his creation.”  Her vision blurred from the hot tears as she heard shots ring out.

She once again saw the blue grass, the colorful flowers and her love walking towards her.

– by Agraemas

Diary Entry: TDCFU +14

Finally, I feel I can write down what happened the day concord fucked up. If for no other reason, than to begin a testament to the lives lost. The dreams crushed. Entire societies that were devastated.

For thousands of years, Concord held us safe. Some said the Capsuleers were programmed when they went thru their conversion processes, others believed them to be honorable gods, immortal, too far above the daily concerns of a planet, while others, simply hid, fearful of ever causing them to take notice of us. As we found out, they were programmed, and why Concord changed the programming modules, none of us know. We have felt the repercussions of the action for some time now, and we will never be the same again.

I remember the day. So clear. So vivid. Burned in my mind like the afterimage of a bolt of lightning in the dark. Sitting with my wife under a small tree, enjoying the sitting sun, holding hands. Our two children, Muriatta and Ametae, happily playing down by the pond, in the southwest section of our small farm. As we gazed into the setting sun, a low, rumbling hum could be heard. With puzzled looks, we squinted our eyes, and gazed towards the west, into the fading light, and slowly we discerned several small jets of flame, from the landing carriage of a large spacecraft, descending thru the sky. Gradually, it became a defining roar, and too late did we realize it’s path.

Shrieking with fear, my wife ran towards our daughters. It took her precious moments to locate them, they had hidden in the underbrush from the defining roar. I looked on, frozen in shock. Pleading to all the gods I knew of, and any others who might listen, to help them. With a suddenness born by the hundreds of tonnes that made up the spacecraft, it crashed down upon the land near the pond. Killing my family with a coldness that could not be imagined. I ran screaming towards the craft, ready to rip it bolt from bolt with my bare hands in my rage. Inside I knew I could do nothing, but when we rage, we lose sight of all that is reasonable, yes?

When I finally approached the craft, I started beating my loss and frustration out on the side of it. After a while, when the tears of pain started to dry on my face, I saw a display panel at eye level a few meters away. I shifted to the left to get a better view of it. It said simply, in a flashing amber colored text “Survey drone Epsilon 4592. Unmanned Mineral Analysis Device. Analyzing Data…”

It was a fucking data analyzer…

– by Varlerian Ti’kihli

A short story about growing up, change, and the dignity that unites us all

War. Despite what you may hear, war is not what some fanatics may proclaim it to be. War is devastating, unmerciful, relentless, and cruel. It usually results in the gain of one, and the horrible loss of another. This is something my family is aware of all too well unfortunately, all too well…

———-

A bittersweet spell of nostalgia clouded the mind of young Tarcupe Inenheikio as he sat drearily in a 10×10 cabin cleaning the ash and dirt off the only toy he was capable of saving. He longed to be outside in the sunshine with his young friends, playing and running around the schoolyard; he wished to be with his adorable crush, Thecilia, and best friends, Jaikanen and Dentaurias. How could he though, Tarcupe saw for himself the merciless obliteration of the school as he barely managed to escape.

Tarcupe peered out the small, circular window of the speeding luxury yacht and saw a gloomy canvas no child should ever be exposed to. On this gloomy canvas was a weeping planet, Caldari Prime, being horrifically bombarded with balls of subatomic particles and slugs of metal traveling at hypersonic speeds. The canvas was lit with explosions on both the planet and it’s atmosphere as desperate Caldari forces tried to protect their home. The Gallenteans, supposed bringers of peace, were brutal and unrelenting in their assault of the Caldari home world. This would be an image forever imprinted on Tarcupe’s mind, and would scar him to the very deepest abysses of his soul.

Tarcupe turned away from the window slowly, and leaped onto his bed. Upon doing so, he was struck with the sharp pain of a wound he received on his upper left arm. Images and feelings immediately swelled his mind of his father screaming in pain as he covered Tarcupe and took the onslaught of metal shrapnel piercing his back; he was killed almost instantly.

At the time, Tarcupe had no time to take in what had just transpired. His mother desperately dragged him towards the hangar bay and into the ship. The family’s chauffeur wasted no time in lighting up the engines and making their way out of the city and off the planet. Expertly, the chauffeur evaded most of the incoming missiles, particle blasts, and metal slugs. He masterfully guided the average-sized vessel past the atmosphere and towards the dark side of a moon to assess the damage. The damage was minimal and the ship followed caravans of fellow compatriots making their way into safer space.

Eventually, they came upon a terrestrial planet in the system called Korama, the only one— Korama I. It was a lovely planet; Korama I had near perfect weather, beautiful landscapes, diverse animal life, and, most importantly, it was far from the scarful images of Caldari Prime. This planet would harbor the new beginnings of the Inenheikio family, or what was left of it anyway.

Starting anew was tough. The Inenheikio family had lost it all, everything, during assault on Caldari Prime. They lost their large sum of riches, their personal belongings, their friends, their livelihoods, all they had ever worked for and cherished. And, as with Tarcupe and his childhood, the family lost the thing most dearest to them— their home. Being on a relatively quiet planet in a relatively quiet system meant trying to gain back what they had lost was a feat best to be left in legends. So, the Inenheikio family settled for a more solemn way of life—farmers.

———-

Now here we are, a couple centuries later still living the same peaceful way of life. I would always ask my mother to tell me the story of how we got here, it helped me to go to sleep when I was a child. I grew fast, however, and I found myself soon spending most of my teenage days working on the fields helping my mother.

Whenever a Gallente would appear on a show while we watched the holoreel, my mother would immediately stop what she was doing and lock herself in her room. What she did in there, I would never know. The very sound of the word “Gallente” would be enough to make my mother cringe with discomfort and, I think, hate.

This was something I was quite accustomed to, however. It seemed to be quite the norm for people on not only my planet, but pretty much all of Caldari space. The assault, occupation, and loss of our home really seemed to strike in the cores of those who were descendants of people who lived on New Caldari at the time of the war. Caldari seemed to hate Gallente just for being Gallente as a matter of fact. It was all I could do to share the same hatred and malice towards Gallente; as to why I shared this hate, I did not know.

On days which I didn’t work in the fields I would go out with my friends. We would wrestle, gossip, and annoy the neighboring folks. Occasionally, when we could summon up the money, we’d head to the capital and buy ourselves a delicacy our parents would scold at us for eating— starcake. Life as a farmer wasn’t terribly exciting, you could barely buy the luxuries the more prominent would shower themselves in, so we learned to enjoy every moment of being able to experience “the good stuff.”

Sometimes, my friends and I would beat up a neighboring Gallente boy for no reason; his family was also dearth of money, as were most of us in our small town of Keisho. I’d occasionally hesitate to beat him up when I was young, this hesitation quickly dispelled the older I got. Like I said, hatred for Gallente was strong in my community; besides, no adults ever stopped us from bullying him so we thought nothing of it.

I liked to get away from it all at times and, with my mother’s consent, I would head off toward the Kazashten Plateau. It was a bit more inland than Keisho, and it’s monolithic height offered an impressive view of the land below. Atop it’s lush green-covered flats, I could see the zigzag fields of Keisho surrounded by the tall and thick Xeioda Rainforest. About fifty miles northeast of Keisho were the glimmering skyscrapers of our province’s capital city, New Icousa. The beautiful shoreline was snuggled closely around the rims of New Icousa and made it’s way all around our small island-continent of Leikukaven.

Strange as it may sound, I enjoyed the slow life of a farmer; I didn’t, however, enjoy the fact that I could never live a life of lavishness. Selfish as it may sound, I wished to be rich and to have money to travel and engage in all the frivolous activities that I saw rich people do while watching shows on the holoreel. Then I remembered my prominent family ancestry, and was quickly overwhelmed with hate for what the Gallente caused to my ancestors. Shortly thereafter those thoughts, a visit to our neighboring Gallente teenage boy would come to pass.

———-

My teenage years whisked by fairly quickly, and I found myself a young adult on this quiet blue world. I had grown accustomed to this precious greenish-blue marble by now; I had memorized the Kazashten Plateau trails down to the smallest rock and traversed the many paths of the Xeioda Rainforest. This was my home and I was to make my way on it.

I constantly strived to find a decent job so I could live the lifestyle I wished to live, but with little success. I became very frustrated with life, and directed all my anger towards the nearest Gallente I could find. I had not seen our neighboring Gallentean for years now, rumor has it that he committed suicide long ago— sucks to be him. Had it not been for them, after all, I would be on Caldari Prime living a prominent life of goodness and luxury; damn them Gallenteans, damn them all.

It was on a midnight of a typical tropical summer on Leikukaven that I found myself contemplating on what I should do. Alone on a open patch of land in the Kazashten Plateau, I lay in deep thought. Then, it happened. Far above in orbit, I could see a titanic battle taking place in those deep endless voids which I had never traversed.

Earlier that week there was a news report about CONCORD lifting the Planetary Prohibition Act on Capsuleers. I assumed the pilots in the two large fleets before me consisted of these so called “demigods.” Demigods. Psh, whatever. I could care less about the affairs of these immortals; prominent and wealthy enough to enjoy the lifestyles of traveling space, owning masses of luxury goods, having the gift of clones, and whatever else a Capsuleer had that I did not. I quickly went back to my contemplating and got the gift of a lightshow, and even a meteor shower or two of falling debris. Soon, however, a spell of drowsy sleep was cast over my body, and dreams soon danced around my mind.

A force greater than all that I could possibly imagine shook the plateau. This tremendous force was accompanied by an thunderous roar that nearly gave me a heart attack as I woke with the speed of striking lightning. As I apprehensively scanned the horizons around me, all there was to see was a thick trail of white-grey smoke that lead to a giant plume of dust about a quarter mile away from my position on the Kazashten Plateau. Cautiously, I made my way through the thick jungle brush and towards this fallen object not knowing what to expect.

I was thoroughly horrified by what I was witness to. It must have been decades, or so it seemed. I imagined it only took about fifteen minutes to reach the crash site, yet as I pushed back the jungle brush that obscured my view, a huge structure was unfolding before me. Quite a large portion of the structure was already assembled and it’s metallic superstructure was already gleaming well into the heavens. Dozens of swarming constructor drones and mechanical arms made good use of themselves as they rapidly built all sorts of hangars, factories, power generators, and God knows what else.

How could they? The nerve of these damn Capsuleers to invade my home world, and destroy it’s natural beauty with their foreign machinery and structures. My heart sank as five distinct booms echoed through my ears; I looked up in pure terror and saw huge rectangular modules, which I assumed carried similar structures to the one before me, land near and far on my planet. A torrent of hate, confusion, and fear flooded my mind. This was my home, and I wasn’t about to lose it the way my ancestors had lost theirs.

Onward I pressed, with a tread I was unaccustomed to; it was not me that was moving my body boldly towards the entrance of the silver superstructure. What force drove me to charge forward, I didn’t know. The march, however, seemed to last an eternity. I pondered upon who I would meet, and an ice cold chill managed to find it’s way creeping down the very deepest crevasses of my body.

As I neared the entrance, half a dozen armed militants had burst out of the thick metal doors and swarmed around me. They yelled at me, put me to the earth, and stuck their military-grade rifles at my head. I was almost certain they would kill me right there and then, but their intentions were halted by the entrance of a man wearing a business suit.

He was a tall slender man about my age, and strode forward with beaming professionalism and elegance. His glossy brown hair was smoothed back in a wavy fashion, and his face was clean-shaven. The suit he wore was sharp as can be, and the shoes were more polished and pure than that of the best water in the well of Keisho. I kneeled there in awe of the man for centuries it seemed, for peculiar cloud of familiarity drifted over him the longer I stared. The man made quick gestures and the enclosed circle of militants opened up and released their aim on me. He stood there, patiently. My heart was racing as the man looked down at me, observing and judging; apparently he could sense my extreme fear because he chuckled to himself quietly. The man extended his arm down to me.

The fact that I had known this man didn’t give me any relief at all, it merely instilled more penetrating fear into my already fragile body. We continued to stare at each other for moments longer in awkward silence. I reflected upon all the cruel acts I’d committed upon Korsavius when we were young; I shivered slightly in fear wondering if he would return this treatment ten times worse, since he had the power to. And he most certainly had the power to end my life right there and then should he have the ill will to do so. I vented my thoughts to him shortly, thereafter.

“Heavens, no”, responded Korsavius immediately. “Sure you and your friends may have made my young life hell…but after putting myself in your skin and walking around in it, I could understand where you were coming from. I’ve waited a long time to say this but, I’m sorry.”

I was simply star struck. To hear the very person who I had pretty much tortured when we were younger utter those words from his mouth brought warm streams running down my cheeks. Never before in my life had I ever been so confused with such emotion. To hear Korsavius, a Gallentean, say he was sorry to me, a Caldari, was so surreal. After I managed to regain my composure, Korsavius invited me inside the gleaming superstructure.

Inside, we grabbed a seat at the luncheon and talked about our lives from the point where rumors started spreading of him having committed suicide. Hours drifted by, and this is what he told me. Around the time we were eighteen, Korsavius was offered to join the Capsuleer program while on a visit to New Icousa; he applied within a heartbeat. His employers then immediately sent him on a shuttle speeding towards their training facilities on a nearby station. After some months of training he was well on his way towards becoming a prominent demigod of the cosmos. About a year or so later he founded the Aegis Defense Foundation, a corporation which provided top-of-the-line security services to those whom could afford it. A couple years later when CONCORD lifted the Planetary Prohibition Act on Capsuleers, Korsavius made arrangements and preparations to secure Korama I as his own. His intentions were true and pure, however; he only wanted to set up a few mining settlements on Korama I which wouldn’t cause significant damage to the planet, and he wished to create dozens of new large cities which would attract tourists and boost the economy.

When I learned of these plans, the only thought that ran through my mind was “Bless his heart.” Korsavius was going to beautify my planet— our planet. In a matter of hours, decades of being raised to despise Gallente and never forgive them had been beautifully transformed into the acceptance and understanding of a race which I had never given a chance to understand…to walk around in their skin and see the world through their eyes. It all seemed to make sense to me now. Hearing all the propaganda of this universe being a place of cold hatred, prejudice, and evil simply melted away in my memory for I knew. I knew this universe was cradle to love, tolerance, and good in a handful of bright individuals, and Korsavius was one of them. I felt as though I had joined the ranks of those individuals at that moment of realization.

Shortly thereafter, Korsavius hired me as Director of Planetary Operations. I was a bit surprised that he entitled me to such a prestige position within his corporation despite the fact that we had only recently caught up with each other. I suppose it had to do with the fact that it seemed like we knew each other for centuries after our conversation.

Months passed and our dream of living on a beautiful paradise to call our own became a reality. Korama I was our home, our thriving home which fate had conspired us to walk and breathe on. I even got my wish to become filthy rich, but I found little satisfaction in the extreme wealth so I donated the majority of it to charities and construction projects that further beautified our planet. Within about nine months I had joined the ranks of the demigods, and embraced it.

———-

War. Despite what you may hear, war is not what some fanatics may proclaim it to be. War can be destructive, unmerciful, relentless, and cruel. Yet throughout my lifetime war is the thing that has shown me it could be a miracle force which creates, imposes reform and change, reveals unexpected benevolence, and mandates optimistic dreams. War was the force which killed a countless amount lives on Caldari Prime in the past, and the force which had moved my ancestors into poverty. Out of the darkness from that fate, however, a retribution of flourishing life and prosperity arose on an entirely different world. A retribution which was spearheaded by a man of the very race which conspired against my people. War is like a pendulum, if you will. It precariously swings back and forth between the fragile borders of beaming benefit and dark uncertainty. War can result in the terrible loss of one, and the triumphant gain of another; I have experienced the results to be a loss of many and the rebirth of that loss, only all too many times greater. This is something I’m aware of all too well fortunately, all too well…

The End

– 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.