Summary part 1

It has been over a year since I started my search. So, it is time to take stock, and review where my investigations stand, and summarize what I’ve learnt. The report is a bit long, so I'm going to break it up in parts for my logbook.

Part I – Early history

The Ametat and Avetat disappeared from the Imperial Palace roughly 400 years after Emperor Amash Akura’s death.

If God sent the Sefrim to retrieve these gifts and bring them back to Him, then my quest would be pointless. Yet, I am devoted to the vision that I received, and must continue.

So, I assume they were moved from the Imperial Palace. If one translates the oldest reports - from the Court Chamberlain - in a strictly literal way then the only things they say for sure is that the Ametat and Avetat were no longer in the hands of the Imperial Family. 

At the time, the only entities with the power to remove them from the Imperial Family, would be the Council of Apostles and the Speakers of Truth. Petty thieves would stand no chance on the long run. Back in these early millennia, the Apostles and the Speakers had as their main role to keep the power of the Emperor in check – the concentration of power in the Throne that we know today is fairly new as it dates from the Moral Reforms.

The Ametat - the Sceptre - gives power and vigor, and its natural extension would be the Council of Apostles. They wielded power and continuity then, and elected the Emperor from their ranks. The Avetat - the Crown - gives wisdom and acumen, and its natural place would be with the Speakers of Truth, who dealt with justice. It makes sense that the trinity of Throne - Scepter - Crown , which in Amash Akura was unified in the Emperor as it is today, used to be split among the Emperor, the Council and the Speakers. 

Ancient jewelry represented this as three interlocking gold rings - they interlock in such a way that if you remove one ring, the other two also fall apart. Before the moral reforms, such trinity rings were inscribed with IMP - SEN - IUS (for Emperor, Council, Justice), and "UNITAS" at the center. After the reforms, these rings still appear, but the three rings are inscribed with "Scripture", "Grace", and "Faith". The message that remains is: leave out one ingredient and all falls apart.

Ah, but I'm digressing, and this was meant as a review. So, I should simply state that it is my firm belief, not proven but corroborated, that the holy relics were still sound and safe in the halls of power, except not with the Imperial Family. 

However, all that changed when Amarr took to the stars.

Gamdis III

My visit to Gamdis III was in the end rather inconclusive for me. 

I did not find what I came looking for, and as potential archeological sites are not accessible any more, there was little in the way of artefacts or other hints that could be retrieved to help me on my quest.

However, the trip did help to answer questions that I had, and in doing so to close a loose end in the investigation, at least for now.

The sand sea

I'm working on an official report today that I promised to make for the reverend mother Sisyriana Kahoudi on the Gamdis trip. 

She won't be interested in the descriptions of local fauna and flora and sightseeing. So that is something I can share here. 

The interesting thing about the sand on Gamdis III is that acts like a liquid - you could not walk on it without sinking in. It forms a sand sea, and the rocky outcroppings are the only places accessible for settlement and exploitation. To travel accross the sand, you need a boat. Luna's family has a sand sailing business, and we got a sailing boat to travel to our destination, a mountainous ridge that rises out of the sand seas and is owned by Luna's family.

The sand sea is also home to some remarkable creatures. There are sand skates, which look like manta rays and can dip out of the sand. They followed the sail boat for a while. There is also a sand lion, it makes a kind of bowl in the sand, a funnel of huge proportions and with a web in the center. Our ship almost got dragged into it. I had a little moment of panic, but Luna and the sailors were able to steer clear from it.

Curiously, there are also places with water, and the usual fish, on 'land'. 

I wonder how the sand fish taste and if it's different from the usual fish like rockjaw....

Another first

Another first, but definitely less impressive that helping a baby into the world.

Lunarisse is enjoying motherhood leave for a few days, and there was a potential member for the Societas who needed an interview during my usual day cycle. So, Lunarisse asked me to do the membership interview.

I still remember my own interview, when I joined our corporation. But I've never been the interviewer, so that was something new. The interviewee is an interesting lad, Anjio Siwalin. A Gallente native, who joined Amarr and our faith long ago and did some spying for the Empire while he was still in the Federation. Those days seem over, so he is now joining as an Amarrian loyalist and faithful.

I was glad Therese showed up - she's a Preafecta (a high rank in our corporation), and she could keep an eye on how things went. I think I did well. And I think mr. Siwalin didn't notice it was my first interview. He was accepted as a member, in the end, and I hope that he will do well.

Miracle of birth

I have returned from Gamdis III. While there during the last several days, I was unable to update these logs. I traveled through rather inhospitable terrain with no good connection to galnet. So, I'm going to record the logs now.

I'll start today with the best news! During the very last day of our hike, Lunarisse went into labor and gave birth to a wonderful baby girl. I was there to help this beautiful baby arrive into our world. It was a bit of an emergency childbirth - certainly it was out of the hospital - and I had to muster all the knowledge I had from the field medic classes. Luckily, while this little miracle was being born, Aria and dr. Jamika and a medical team arrived and made sure everything was fine. Franco was also there, he was beaming.

I've never experienced anything like this - and I've investigated many miracles during my time in the Theology Council.

I will never be a father myself, that is something I came to accept. But Lord, I do feel connected to this child, down to the very roots of my soul. I want to make the universe a better place for her.

Preparations

Lunarisse has promised to bring me to Gamdis III in the next few days. It's a place that I really want to see. Various archeological expeditions have gone there and ended badly. In fact, these doomed searches on Gamdis were what first brought me to Lunarisse and it is how I got to SFRIM. Wars, Kybernauts, militia trouble, and other leads meant that our trip was often postponing, but it looks as if this time it  might actually work.

The MIO is also still investigating the lost expeditions. I've had a discussion with a representative of the ministry, on Amarr, a while ago. So there could be things I will not be allowed to disclose in these public logs. Hopefully there will be enough that I can still write down for future reference.

I need to go back to this shop for hiking and outdoors gear for clerics, the Missionary Adventures. I already got some gear there, but probably it is good to discuss with a professional what is necessary for a warm, arid climate. Gamdis III has sand seas with rocky outcroppings, I have not been to any place like it before.

Unfinished business

The "loot" of artefacts from Bersirym has now been catalogued and identified. It consists of objects all of more or less the same time period, and probably a common origin. So, I think they also have a common historical source in that system, rather than being gathered from all over and brought to a abandoned mining depot for storage by the Blood Raiders. What that source is, is not yet clear. I think I have to go back.

The assassin is captured

The snakewoman assassin got caught! I am glad that my mistake didn't derail Aria's plans to capture the killer. 

Maybe she let herself be captured? She knew there was a trap, but she was caught anyway. If I am right that she wants to be redeemed, then maybe this is a step she took voluntarily.

Lord Anderson seems keen on trying to help her. 

He cannot escape his true nature. 

Indeed, it is the nature of Holders to want to take charge of the wayward and the weak, to lead them to their redemption. This is accomplished through the Holy mutual compact between subject and master: those who are held are duty-bound to offer service and loyalty, and those who hold are duty-bound to offer protection and guidance. Although maybe in this case it may be the Holder who is in need of protection.

A mistake

Yesterday, I met a contortionist sex-crazed assassin, and lived. Of course I did not know she was an assassin: she had convincingly disguised herself as a janitor.

This creature is believed to be able to snake her way through small air vents and cat flaps, and paralyzes you during your sleep to have intercourse with you or to kill you. Or both. She was mentioned during the "welcome to Nasreri" party at Gottin's lamp bar. I was convinced it was a legend, a story about one of the Yoiul clones. They are fictitious demons and thieves that are right now used in the InterBus's newest campaign for safety on board ships. So, it did not cross my mind at first that a Chapel janitor could, in fact, be the killer snake-woman.

To me, this janitor seemed to have some mental problems - this is more common than most people think. I though she suffered from acute delusions. In trying to convince her that Yoiul clones are not real, I made a horrible mistake: I inadvertently spoke about plans Aria and Lord Anderson made to catch a snake-woman, which I thought was some sort of joke. I was slowly goading the conversation to a point where I could propose that she talk to some therapist, but I got derailed all the time and before I got to that point, something startled her and she vanished. 

Her last words matched with Lord Anderson's story, she had no way of knowing that. That's what made me suspicious, and I alerted Aria and Ishta came to help. By then the janitor had left.

I think she came to the chapel because she needs confession. And because she is trying to become a better person. I hope they can help her when they catch her. I'll do a proper confessional then.

Continued investigation

I have started sorting and studying the relics retrieved from the mining outpost in Bersirym. They appear authentic, and collected from various sources. The majority of the stash seems to be of a related origin, early Takmahl empire (although after the Talocan influx of technology). A scholar from Hedion is coming over to see my discovered treasure and help out. I'll allow him to ship most of it back to the university with him. But I do want to keep selected items for my museum.

Meanwhile, I've reported my find to officer Yazdegerd. He confirms that the investigation on the ground is still somewhat stalling, mostly because Boulette and his gang have gone into hiding. My personal effects have been released to me, also the stuff I collected on Odra Capital at the agricultural fair. 

I've been asked what should be done with my corpse. To be honest, I'm not sure. I'm leaning towards incineration but being a capsuleer is weird.

Inauguration

It has been busy over the weekend. There was a welcome ceremony to prepare, with a service in the Chapel to pray for God's blessing for our new home in Nasreri. 

The chapel has been completely re-assembled in the new location; it is the only part of the Lamp which is not modular and which therefore cannot be transported as a whole. The wooden structure had to be dismantled, plank by plank, then tagged and transported and put back together. Given the complexity of the task, a few glitches were expected and have indeed occurred, but the overall professionalism was amazing. Even small(ish) corrections right before the service were made, in time. Too bad Ishta cracked a wooden slat by accident.

After the service, there were ship blessings to attend to. I have to admit I really enjoyed this part. Seeing people's favorite ships pass by, hearing the names of the vessels, and doing the blessings using Imperial Crown fireworks. It is a habit that has gotten a bit out of use for capsuleer ships (these tend to last not very long), and I am glad we could re-instate it. It is also good for the morale of the ship crew.

The evening ended in the bar. That was fine, except that the story did the rounds that a contortionist sex-crazed assassin lady is prowling about in the station. Apparently, she can break in through cat flaps and kill men with her flexibility and grip. 

It did get me worried at first, I even closed Mitten's cat flap for the night. But now I think it's probably some sort of urban legend, like the Yoiul Clones. Probably imaginations are flaring up with all these raunchy sedevacantist movies and that "Sonic Sabik" music nowadays.

The artefact depot

I knew, of course, that LUMEN consists of magnificent people, but I didn't quite realize the extent to which this is true!

Ah, how the old principles of chivalry are upheld! The paladin knights of pre-spaceflight Amarr swore to take up good causes whenever the opportunity presented itself, and to protect the weak and defeat evil. Gaul Arel still possesses this nobility of soul! As soon as I had explained my plight to him, he took up his sword (nowadays that means buying and fitting a suitable ship in Amarr) and came to my aid, without accepting coin for it.

My investigation of the unusual concentration of Takmahl artefacts in Bersyrim had led me to a not-so abandoned mining outpost in the system. The outpost was guarded by a Blood Raider fleet. Even the Indigatrix, my exploration vessel, would not be able to sneak past them and enter the facility. It would be far less able to attack the Blooder fleet.

Gaun Arel, a valiant man who takes on fleets three times larger just for breakfast, had no problems taking out these guards. The journey to this lowsec system was the hardest part, apparently, as one has to be wary of highwaymen and pirates. Once there, the Blood Raiders were trounced in a matter of minutes.

I was able to dock at the outpost, while Gaun kept watch in case reinforcements would appear. As the sensors had shown, there was still a small part of the asteroid mining structure that was powered up and in use. Idesbald, my new cloak technician, came along and brought a gun from his collection (yes, he collects firearms, and usually I worry about that because he also likes Nakrean brandy). I had protested, but I am glad that he insisted, since we were fired upon almost immediately after disembarking.

Idesbald was able to take out the gangsters, but was wounded in the process. It is severe enough that he will be incapacitated for at least two weeks, but he'll recover fully. Several other blooders or gangsters that were in the facility took a shuttle and fled. 

The outpost turns out to be a depot for Takmahl stuff, there are containers full of it. I took as much as I could on board to investigate it further. I couldn't stay long enough to thoroughly search the place or ferry everything to a safe location. I had to bring Idesbald to a medical facility, and I was in constant fear of another attack. 

Gaul Arel, true to his chivalrous nature, offered to escort me back to Nasreri, granting his protection through the lowsec travel.

Many questions remain - why did Blood Raiders collect these artefacts and bring them together in this system? Is the outpost some sort of treasury or repository they have for this stuff? Do they sort their loot? This must represent more loot than can be found in relic sites in this system alone. Are they developing an academic interest in understanding the society and the lives of those that came before them in a blood cult? But then why disassemble these valuable witnesses of the past to make illegal implants and drugs with them?

Hopefully closer inspection of the artefacts I brought back (over 180 cubic metre of them...) should answer some of these questions.

Eyes in system

Just a few days ago, there was an announcement on Amarr Certified News that our Empire will continue to respond with deadly force against any incursion, as well as raid Triglavian held systems aggressively.

Yesterday, lord Gaven Lok'ri led LUMEN forces against Triglavian raiders that were operating in Patzsha. I think it is the start of a renewed campaign again the Triglavians and their Kybernaut lackeys, much in the spirit of what we heard on the news.

I was able to contribute, as well as to explore a new role in fleet. There are not many roles that are compatible with my vow of non-violence. I have already tried logistics, but yesterday I tried to make myself useful in another way. I used the Indigatrix's cloaking and scanning ability to be the "eyes in the system" for the fleet. This means tracking down the wormhole entrance to Pochven, and the movement of neutral fleets and of Triglavians in the system itself, calling out around which planet the Triglavians were hiding. 

Although my help was probably superfluous I do like to think it made the operation run somewhat more smoothly.

 

The fleet of Paladins and Apocalypse class battleships was magnificent, and obliterated the enemy invaders. The puny Triglavian vessels were disposed of so quickly that it must have appeared as a celestial fireworks for the inhabitants of the planets below.

Nasreri

I am so relieved the move operation went well. On the first day of the new year, both the library and the chapel (and the rest of Gottin's lamp) were shipped to our new home, the Amarr Trade Registry Bureau Offices station in Nasreri.

I've been walking around the station anxiously during the entire day, hoping and praying that nothing would go wrong, that pirates would not attack the transport freighters that would bring the modular structures of the Lamp. Scaffolding was ready and waiting to receive the modules in Nasreri, and to kill time I inspected that at least a dozen times. 

What a wonder of engineering! Not later than half a day after the freighters had docked, the basic structure was already up, and the movers and the library assistants were unpacking and placing valuable items back in their spot. It will take a bit longer for the Chapel, as it had to be dismantled more thoroughly, but a small army of carpenters is putting it together and soon it will be operational, with just the last detailed woodwork that still need to be placed back. The living quarters were the quickest to be functional again, and as I do not have much stuff I am already settled back in. Mittens has approved of our new home.

I hope these kind of moves won't happen any more for a long time, this has been somewhat nerve-wrecking.

Lunarisse showed me some new places close to Gottin's Lamp. Places where LUMEN members can mingle with capsuleers from all over the cluster. Given that we're close to concord space we'll have more international visitors. The wheels of diplomacy need to be greased by drinks offered in fancy bars, good food, and dancing. I do hope that the faithful will use the chapel as much as they will use the new party venue.

New year's eve

New Year's eve. 

Bersirym will have to wait a bit - I've reported my findings back to officer Yazdegerd and promised him I would come back in the new year. 

I have returned to Mehatoor. The move of the library must take precedence at the moment. All seems to be packed, secured and ready to move. I do not have a lot of personal belongings but I do have a collection of artefacts in my hangar, the result of my first year's worth of exploration.

A new start is upon us. Not merely a new year, but a new home. My prayers and new year's wishes are for LUMEN and all its member to prosper. May the light of faith continue gaining terrain on the darkness, so help us God and Empress!

Blood Raider hidden outpost

I got the green light to track down the shuttle belonging to Boulette's organisation. There was an MIO raid on Boulette's hangars, but it did not yield any substantial proof, the place had been emptied. There were a few arrests "for impeding the MIO's operations". This means the guards of the hangar have been detained for serious questioning.

I undocked and waited for hours until the shuttle finally left Odra and appeared on my sensors. I didn't see where it took off from, I was not attentive enough during the long wait. I probed it down and followed it. It warped to what appears at first sight an abandoned mining station. Broken mining drills and equipment is scattered about, and there are still some precious ores in nearby asteroids. The mining station was built on one of the asteroids, and although the refinery part is clearly derelict, the landing pad and control tower were powered. Sensors also indicate the internal structure of the station, dug deep into the asteroid, is powered.

The shuttle docked at this outpost, and stayed there for about three hours, after it left again to Odra, making planetfall at the main spaceport of Odra Capital, rather than Boulette's private lauch pad.

Probably Boulette gets his materials from this outpost. But, I could not explore the "abandoned" outpost in more detail... I was not alone and was lucky that the Indigatrix was cloaked! A flotilla of Blood Raider ships patrols the outpost. I counted three battlecruisers and three destroyers. On the picture, you can see the outpost and a Blood Raider damnation class vessel in the foreground.

The Indigatrix, even if I would fit it for offense, is no match for this Blooder fleet. I need to ask for help from corp members. This help will not be easy to come by since LUMEN is again on the war path, dealing with the "Black Flag" pirates at the moment. Moreover it is in the middle of a move operation. And to make matters worse, Bersirym is in low-sec, and I've seen roaming gangs of "No Forks Given" hoodlums around...

A mission without a mission agent

The information they obtained from my murderer provided the Odra police inquisitors with the necessary missing pieces to connect the dots on their own surveillance of Boulette's gang. The gang has been the subject of surveillance for a long while before I showed up. Apparently, my appearance and subsequent murder has "stirred sh*t" as officer Yazdegerd formulates it. For better or for worse, the local authories feel they should make their move now.

Boulette controls a private shuttle landing pad in the industrial district of town, and his goods arrive by shuttle from an unknown off-planet location. The police inquisitors and the local MIO branch are still discussing who has the authority to set up a raid, and officer Yazdegerd thinks this bickering will give Boulette enough time to move all contraband away from his hangars.

Capturing the shuttle itself, that's another matter. Neither the local police, nor the local branch of the MIO has any jurisdiction off-planet. They also do not have space vessels in their fleet. Their interplanetary counterparts have been notified, but the matter is not high priority at the moment. Customs police that control the jump gates could confirm that the shuttle has not ever jumped out of system, but of course they cannot rule out that it uses wormholes.

Officer Yazdegerd agrees with me that this is typically a matter where capsuleers are contracted for help, and when I offered my help for free, he reluctantly agreed. He informed me of the shuttle's identification number. The Indigatrix's combat scan probes should have no problem locating and tracking a smuggler's shuttle given that it stays in-system. I was only asked to wait, to coordinate my actions with the raid on the ground.

An offer

Neither the shop manager nor Boulette are anywhere to be found - for the latter this seems to be normal. 

So, I decided to take initiative to meet the man.

I wrote a note and put it under the door of Tacky Parts. In my missive, I explain that I am just a simple friar and that I am not after his business whatever that might be. I only pursue academic knowledge, which ultimately benefits all of society, including monsieur Boulette himself, even if the returns are not immediately tangible. 

And, if contributing to historical research would not be enough of a reward to the man, I also kindly offered to take confessions and explained that this is necessary to get any chance of remission of his sins (after all, since he is Gallente, he might not know about the rite of confession). As a reference, I mentioned that I have had the honor of being confessor to the Duchess of the entire Fekhoya constellation, Lady Ithiria Deritan.

Officer Yazdegerd was not pleased with my initiative and forbade me to try and contact Boulette again. He did not explain to me why, as he was rather upset.

Thinking it through, I admit I should have provided another reference. Shortly after the confession, the Dutchess fell out of grace with King Farokh and vanished. I do not see how Boulette might think someone insignificant as myself can have anything to do with that. Boulette must be a very sensitive man and in the future I will refrain from writing him about powerful people that coincidentally vanished after I met them.

Indeed, I have not heard back from Boulette.

Boulette

The Tacky Parts shop is closed for now. A note on the door says the shop manager is on extended sick leave.  

I would have been stuck with investigating my death if it were not for the police inquisitor, officer Yazdegerd. He has been very helpful, and has taken me under his wings, allowing me to follow the investigation. 

The good man has heard of LUMEN and knows that it is a capsuleer alliance of "PIE and the other guys". He is a big fan of capsuleers and always plays LUMEN characters in some sort of hologame that is the current rage. I must remember to write a letter of commendation for him to his superiors.

Officer Yazdegerd explained to me the background of Boulette, the gangster who apparently corners the Takmahl biodrone and biofluids black market on Bersirym. He's a Gallente thug that started his career as a bouncer for a club frequented by notorious local Blooders. He took a bullet protecting one of these Blooders, and that got him noticed and earned him respect. With good connections for his supplies and the trust of the blood raiders, he became a local gangster boss.

He carries that bullet on a chain around his neck, and nicknamed himself "Bullet". When people take pride in talking about themselves as a third party object, you know something is amiss. Anyway, he was always a bulky man but after he became boss his muscles turned into fat. To make fun of that, and of his thick Gallentean accent, he is now called "Boulette" behind his back. It's a Gallentean word for "meatball". A gangster pun.

Seeing me dead

When I arrived back at Odra, my body had already been found. The dead body, I mean. I went to the police station to identify myself in the morgue. It is a very unsettling experience. 

They put the argicultural brochures and my "Udder Chaos" mug in a plastic bag next to me, but I wasn't allowed to take it back with me. It's evidence now for a murder case.

I've been shot!!

Unimaginable! Me, a cleric from the Empire, chaplain and librarian, the victim of cold-blooded murder? What manner of evil creature would do this and condemn their soul to the fiery pits of hell?

The police investigator told me it was Harry the Hulk.

He's a henchman working for a local gangster kingpin called Boulette. He shot me at point blank range in a dead-end alley close to the restaurant I was going to. He panicked when he realized that the man he shot was actually a capsuleer. He ran as fast as he could to collect his bug-out bag and get off planet. He was arrested using false papers at the spaceport, and after enhanced interrogation admitted the murder in exchange for protection.

He'd been ordered to take me out because had been showing too much interest in the source of the biodrone material at the Tacky Parts store. Apparently, it is common knowledge that the shop sells not only biodrone parts but also rare drugs based on Takmahl phrenic appendix fluids. There is too little hard evidence to prove the drug sales at the moment. Boulette feared I might be a scout for a competing gang trying to take over his market by going for his supply chain, and wanted to make a statement.

Rude awakening

This evening, I woke up in my backup clone, with no recollection of the past two days. At first it didn't dawn on me that I had lost two days, I thought something had gone wrong while making a backup clone in preparation for my trip to Bersyrim.

The technicians and medic explained to me that nothing had gone wrong, on the contrary, everything had worked perfectly, and I had been gone for two, almost three days. 

There can be only one conclusion: I have died.

I am glad I keep a logbook, it is proving its usefulness now to reconstruct the previous days. This led me to believe it must have been something I ate at this restaurant or pub I was going to, The Four Stomachs. I do react very badly to spicy food, but I've never died from it before.

I contacted the authorities on Odra and notified them of my death. 

I contacted the authorities on Odra a second time after they hung up on me the first time, thinking it was a prank. They don't deal with capsuleers often.

They had not received any reports of a dead capsuleer, but would look into it and send someone to my hotel. To be honest, I think I've only been dead for an hour or so. The officer got a bit nervous when I mentioned I was going to The Four Stomachs to dine with the store manager of Tacky Parts. Perhaps this restaurant has a reputation of kitchen hygiene problems that the police officer is not allowed to tell about due to privacy regulations. But they were going to look into that as well.

Meanwhile I think I'll take the interbus to go back there, the Indigatrix II is still docked in Bersyrim.

Sights of Odra Capital

Odra Capital is a city that grew slowly and sequentially and with very little planning. And so, it is a bit of a maze. I like to wander about in such cities, to get a sense of the place, and I don't mind getting pleasantly lost. 

I did get lost. 

I was searching for the implants market, instead I ended up at a trade fair for agricultural machinery and ditto vehicles. The connectors on my neck revealed to any onlooker that I was a capsuleer, and since we are known as rich folk, I attracted a crowd of salespeople. I should not have mentioned our yaks in Mehatoor station. They did not let me go after that. I've been shown the newest models of agribots for milking and dung cleanup. I witnessed a demonstration of how cheap cattle TCMCs can help with herding and also read out the status of the cattle. I was explained that herding drones can also do that, and are equipped with scanners to detect sick cattle. I've received more brochures than I could carry, as well as a coffee mug that says "Udder Chaos Milking Corp", two pens (one has a small flashlight) and a miniature 3D puzzle of a argibot.

I'll give this to Aria on my return.

After a morning spent learning about the latest in cattle tech, I was finally able to find the cyber implants market in the afternoon. I put the hood of my robe over my head so that I would not be immediately spotted as a capsuleer this time around. 

The implants market is situated in and around a large square hall with a high glass-paneled ceiling decorated with wrought iron flowers and foliage. There's a central plaza bordered by colonnades, like a cloister, but three levels tall. The walkways under the colonnades give access to the shops, while the central plaza is for the market, with stalls and merchants arguing loudly about the offer of the day. I was surprised to see that most traders and visitors were armed.

It did not take much time to locate the source of Takmahl biodrone salvage. There's an outlet store for them! It's called "Tacky Parts" and private clients can't buy there, it is where manufacturers of implants would get rare parts. After I made a generous donation to the store manager's pension fund, he took me aside and promised me he'd reveal the source of his valuable stock. He couldn't do it in the store, but he agreed to meet me tonight, alone, in a pub called "The Four Stomachs".

I dread there will be more cattle stories.

Bersyrim

Preparations for the move are now at full speed in Mehatoor. Many of the most precious items have been packed, and my instructions are being followed very professionally by the moving team. I even feel I'm standing a bit in the way.

There's not much to do in Nasreri yet, luckily the volatile ice storm there is subsiding somewhat. I'm not sure what this kind of space weather does to books, and must talk to the haulers to install additional armor plate on their ships.

Feeling a bit restless, I decided to leave for a trip to Bersyrim, the Kadorian system where the reports from Arek'Jalaan indicate a high density of Takmahl biodrone salvage, that is used to build rather rare cyber implants sold on the local technology markets. 

I reviewed the general information on the system. It is neither new nor really old: the system has been colonized over five centuries ago (note that by then the Takmahl empire had already collapsed). The largest ethnic group is Ni-Kunni. Bersyrim is now a rather backwater system, but it used to be an important Kador fiefdom due to its large agricultural exports. The exports suffered from the trade agreements between the Empire and the State, and from the resulting competition by Caldari traders. 

The second and third planets have a sizeable population. They are temperate worlds with large land masses consisting of alluvial plains and grassland. The center of imperial administration is on the second planet, Odra. Outside from the capital city, the land is divided up between large landowner Holder families. Towns are built close to the Holder citadels, and are rather far apart if one travels by land. However, I think the local peasant population doesn't travel much. There are nomadic brigands called the Chikra that sometimes make a nuisance, but apart from them these worlds are by and large peaceful.

I've booked lodgings in Odra Capital, in the district where the main technology markets are. The hotel room can be described as quaint.

Museum plans

I am positively impressed with the professionality of the movers who take care of the chapel. There's scaffolding now and slowly each piece is delicately removed and tagged and wrapped.

There was an opportunity to start discussing my museum plans with Lunarisse, and she pointed me to the architect for plans. Apparently, the LUMEN offices are much larger than I imagined. maybe the humble amount of space that I need can simply be incorporated in the offices. 

I knew the housing part was large, but there is also an immense cargo space down. And I don't mean the cargo containers in the hangars for the ship. No it is storage for more... sensitive cargo, old collections from previous wars and missions. Most of it off-limits.

I've also told Luna I would like to collaborate with prof. Valate on this, and investigate if we could give her free passage based on the scholarly nature of the visit. She didn't refuse flat out, but it is not going to be easy. There are a lot of tensions in the Amarr capsuleer community, and appearances and diplomacy matter. Well, that's okay. It will probably not be before late spring that I can really work to the fullest on that project.

Checking out the new home

I went to check out the new home station. It's in a volatile ice storm now, which makes it look quite nice and... luminous. 

This is our own structure, one jump away from where the trade bureau office station is that will house Gottin's Lamp library and chapel. I've also visited that station, and the office rental overseer tells me there is space for rent adjacent to where the library should come. I've taken an option to a 10000 square meter hall for my museum plans. There's possibilities to expand it, but for now it should be more than enough. The hall is completely empty now, but can be fitted walls to section it in exhibition rooms. It's got a high ceiling, so it will be able to display the three meter high gilded statue of Emperor Queron that I recently purchased.

Logistics and standings

Two weeks ago, I was bemoaning the dismal status of my capsuleer standings with the Empire, notwithstanding my lifelong devotion as a baseliner. God answered my prayers - yesterday our alliance has organised a day of missions for the Emperor Family, to boost standings! Well, they are not quite Amarr Imperial standings, rather they are those of the Empress, but still. 

I had to participate, even though I am not well versed in combat. I bought and fitted an Augoror class frigate for logistics service, and I managed not to have it blown up. And, on several occasions, I found myself giving armor reps to fleet members who would not have sustained the onslaught without me - that much was clear from the rate they were taking damage. The role of repairer feels good and right for me - it confirms the goal I set myself in fleet operations for our corporation.

Tomorrow, I will head to what is to become our new home system, to have a look at the space that was hired. I'll see if there is extra space that I can hire for my museum plans.

About our new home

It's official now, all LUMEN members got a notification by the directors, so everybody knows that the Chapel and the library are going to find a new home. And it has also been revealed where we are moving to!

I'm not too unhappy about our new destination. A Theology Council station would have been even better, but at least we're going to be near the record keepers of Amarr trade. This will facilitate research into old merchant ships and wrecks: whenever an identification number can be pulled off the wreck it can be traced. The trade records have been rather meticulously kept for at least two millennia, and there is also information that is older, although it is more patchy. It is conventient to request copies of these old records and have them scanned from central archives and forwarded to local offices.

Yes, I am quite sure the new home will be more conducive to an academic atmosphere than the old place, a station that we share with the 24th Imperial Crusade.

Another benefit is that the new place is much closer to historically interesting constellations! That means less travel time to get to places where I can investigate my favorite ancient races.

Opportunities

Maybe this move is also an opportunity. I've been thinking about the design of the Takmahl history museum. There is some office space available in Mehatoor's 24 Imperial Crusade station, space that I could transform into museum rooms, they are not quite connected to our library. Perhaps this could change when we move, as we could find space that allows for my little expansion. I'll have to talk to Lunarisse about it.

I'm seeing it as a complex with four large display halls, through which the visitors could wander, and one entry hall that also has a museum library - collecting the works on the Takmahl and allowing for lectures. The four rooms would center on Takmahl Origins, Talocan Influences, Takmahl Society and Customs, and The Downfall. 

One small problem I see is that it would be nice to involve the cluster's expert on this - actually I already have a Takmahl statue on loan from her. But, prof. Valate is a Sani Sabik. I must still think how to solve that issue...

Moving

So, I finally know why there are workmen taking measures in the chapel. Apparently, we're moving it. And the library too! Within... about three weeks. I fell of my chair when Luna told me. 

I don't know why this is necessary. Perhaps the recent falling out between LUMEN and the Amarr militia makes it hard to stay in a station of the 24th Imperial Crusade. Perhaps there's some other deep strategy being hatched out by the fine admirals and paladins of LUMEN - not my business, and that's all right.

Now, it is important to realize that our library holds some very rare and old books, scrolls and maps. The kind that one can only touch with immaculate gloves and watch under dimmed light in a room with environmental controls. To move them would require special casing and transport experts familiar with treating delicate works of art. I just can't see how it'll be done in three weeks. I was told that at least the library structure is modular, and the shelves and storage cabinets can be sealed off and the whole thing moved as a whole. Last time I heard of something that brutal was people using orbital mining lasers for archeological digs... I must hurry and work with Aria to make sure the most precious items in our collection are secured properly. In just three weeks. Madness.

The Chapel appears to be even more difficult to move. It is an architectural masterpiece made of wooden panels and beams that interlock into a magnificent and light-filled space that directs one's spirit upwards to God. It will have to be carefully dismantled plank by plank and moved. Altar and relics will probably move separately. 

To think all of it will be exposed to danger out there, in space full of gankers and pirates and Triglavians... it makes me shudder.

A deepening divide

Since the incident where the militia attacked a Lux Invicta structure, relations have been deteriorating between the militia on the one hand and LUMEN on the other hand.

Khimi Harar, with SFRIM and PIE at its core, is now by far the largest alliance of Amarrian loyalist capsuleers. The militia, in particular Local is Primary (LiP) under the command of House Newelle, opposes the cooperation between Khimi Harar and Electus Matari and Phoenix Naval Systems. The Throne supports limited collaboration in the context of EDENCOM - but for House Newelle, and house Yassavi, the collaboration is going too far and threatens their operations in the warzone. 

I think that's nonsense. Lord Lok'ri and our young Kor-Azor diplomat, Amicia Cora, have explained LUMEN's motives and refuted the allegations leveled against us thoroughly. To no avail.

The tone of the debate has become ever more harsh, and standings have been reset. It looks like we are heading for an Amarrian capsuleer civil war. Of course, the ones to benefit most from that are the Kybernauts and the radical Matari, and they are egging on the feud.

I pray the Empress or the privy council would intervene...

New cloak technician

In preparation of another expedition, I have advertised a vacancy for cloak technician. My previous cloaker, mr. Gerulf, passed away during the expedition Deklein, and having a technician around just saves a couple of precious seconds so it is well worth it in a dangerous environment.

I don't like taking job interviews. I never know what to ask. Most people that apply will have a decent CV and some solid references from people I don't know. I tell them a bit of how I like to work, and if they're ok with it then that's fine for me. I don't have them take tests, I prefer to trust my instinct, that's been fine thusfar. 

So, now mr. Idesbald Eggeward is my new cloak technician. He's worked with covert ops cloaks before and his previous employer stopped her business and retired, going planetside. He's familiar with the Anathema, the Helios and the Pilgrim, but not that much with Sisters of Eve ships. He enjoys Nakrian brandy. Hopefully not too much.

Pezarba constellation

I've been concatenating project Theseus' description of their Takmahl artefacts with my own growing collection. The cross-referencing allows me to catalogue and identify most items. I keep track of the location of the findings, too - even though my pentagram constellation theory seemed to fail.

So now, in my database, I can plot the density of finds by system and by type of artefact. Playing around with that, something interesting came up. 

Most relics have the highest density of findings in the Araz constellation. However, cyber implants derived from Takmahl technology like biodroid enhancements and biodroid controllers, are unusually prominent in the nearby Pezarba constellation, also in Kador, and in particular in the off-the-main-pipeline Bersyrim system. 

Maybe someone in system is a fervent but anonymous collector of Takmahlia, or there is an ancient connection with the Takmahl empire. Either way, it's worth exploring.

Remodeling

What is this? I go into our chapel, and I see workmen, taking measurements and climbing up some ladders to scan stuff? And no-one can tell me exactly what is going on, the workers tell me I should contact the contractor? Why, don't worry about me, I'm only the chaplain, no need to tell me if our chapel is going to be remodeled. I can hold mass in the gym, if needed.

On top of that, in Gottin's Lamp bar I saw a scrap of paper at the bottom of the vending machine. I bent down to look at it. I could only take in a glance before a draft swept it deeper under the vending machine, out of reach, but I am certain of what I saw: some pagan witchcraft symbols. I am being tested.

Standings

Not only the Cardari archeological dig sites require standings. Also here in the Empire, you need to have high standings with Amarr. To my dismay, these are capsuleer standings: no matter whether you spent a lifetime as baseliner in service of God and Empire, you start out with zero standings. That is horrible! My standings are too low... What a drudgery now to get them higher through capsuleer services, this will set me back months.

I will write a letter of complaint about this state of affairs to the Theology Council. At least they can take one's pre-capsuleer life somewhat into account! 

While I'm gaining "standing", I can try to calm my mind by focusing on a local project, long in the making: the museum of Takmahl history where I plan to show my collections and educate the masses about our past.

More Site One records

The other projects in Arek'Jalaan seem to focus strongly on either understanding Anoikis or understanding rogue drones and trying to communicate with them. Wormhole space is since then much better explored, even though there is as yet no regularity found in how the wormhole links appear. The discovery of such a regularity would make the wormhole routes predictable and be a true breakthrough. However, most scientists agree that the routes appear randomly, at least to a certain extent.

It would seem the Talocan were early masters of wormhole physics and established travel hubs. They interacted with the Jove - for the best or for the worst. I wanted to travel to the Okkelen constellation to look at the Talocan relics for myself, but I was told that this requires very good standings with the Caldari. I would have to do missions for them! Carry who knows what industrial things around. I'd better find myself some high echelon Caldari friend in the Society if I ever want to visit the Devil's Dig site.

Schism

I haven't slept well. Yesterday Luna told me about the Lux Invicta defeat in Pochven. The multi-national alliance, in which LUMEN participates to fight against the Triglavians, lost its staging Astrahus in Angymonne. 

Smokey was the battled and battered fortress from where the allied fleets won the first Pochven war half a year ago, and stood as a symbol of collaboration between the four core Empires in the fight against the invader. The Kybernauts could not bring it down, and try hard they did. 

Something far more insidious needed to happen to bring down Smokey. 

The Amarr militia and crusade -as far as it falls under the Sarum military circuit- are effectively under the command of Lord-consort Aldrith Shutaq Newelle, as was recently made very clear by his excellence Lord Qatib Olacar xer Sarum. In particular, the militia group "Local is Primary" of sub-commander Mikal Vektor falls under the command of Newelle. 

This militia group attacked Smokey, the EDENCOM staging station used by Amarrian loyalists to wage war in Pochven. Their force, combined with the Kybernauts, managed to overcome the station's defenders. The motivation for this attack is that Smokey's day-to-day operation is handled by the Republic, in particular Electus Matari. Indeed, Electus Matari are known terrorists, but facing a common enemy, lord Ardishapur speaking for the Throne has urged temporary collaboration. This has never been accepted by the militia, nor by the crusade. Rather than focusing on their mission in the war zone, they ventured into Pochven to sabotage the alliance of convenience between the Empire and the Republic. Their heinous act of agression has caused a major EDENCOM defeat in Angymonne.

I do not know how this will evolve, but I am very worried for a schism between Amarrian loyalist capsuleers. I also worry for the fallout on Lord-consort Newelle, whom I appreciate on a personal level. He is blinded by his hatred for the Minmatar, his soul still bleeding from Floseswin, and his heart condemning all of LUMEN for not following him in his bloodthirsty folly. Even if he did not order the attack, he condoned it and was complicit.

The only ones who gain from this schism are our enemies: the Triglavian sympathizers who feel victorious, and our enemies in the Republic who rejoice in seeing us divided and weakened.

Project Theseus

The Theseus project had as one of the goals something I planned to do myself, but have been unable to. There is a famous Takmahl ruin in the Aphi system, a labyrinth made with ancient jump portals. 

One of the more interesting parts of the Theseus project is that they planned to investigate the spatial layout of the labyrinth to see if that holds some clues, maybe to other hidden pockets or to the Talocan-Takmahl link in general. I am very hopeful that this may give useful clues.

The labyrinth is however heavily camped by rival collectors and pirates, and for a pacifist explorer as myself there is no getting through. At some point I'll need to ask the help of others in LUMEN to mount an expedition over there...

Project Infernal Spade

Here's an interesting passage in the files of Project Infernal Spade:

The appearance of Talocan ruins in w-space has put a renewed focus on this civilization. Very little was known about the Talocan before their ruins appeared in w-space besides that they once had a presence in the Okkelen constellation, an area now claimed by the Caldari State. Despite being overrun by rogue drones, the Devil's Dig Site deadspace complex in the Otitoh system held archaeologists' interest for some time, mostly due to its housing some of the only Talocan relic remnants still available.

As I mentioned before, Talocan ruins are also present in Aphi, in the Araz constellation, in the heartlands of the Takmahl empire. Their empire prospered many centuries in part because of the Talocan technology. 

The Talocan were using wormhole space to travel through the cluster and maybe beyond, but it is not clear whether the Takmahl deciphered or mastered that part of their technology. If they did, then they may have spread and created colonies in Anoikis, much as we do today.

Antiquus

I am visiting the Arek'Jalaan archives at the "Site One: Antiquus" facility in Eram. There are few (or no) capsuleers around, so there is no influx of new research from field work. The field work that has been done during dr. Tukoss' time is very well preserved and archived, and a lot of academic work on the materials collected from that time is still being done. There is probably enough material to analyse for scientists for decades to come.

The Antiquus research complex is impressive to behold. There are nice quarters for visiting scholars, close to the main spire but set apart from the main stations that are not accessible for visitors. Although there weren't any capsuleers visiting, there are many baseliner ships in and around the complex - it is bustling with activity.

The archives are accessed via the different storage platforms, one for each research division of Arek'Jalaan. Book copies of abstracts are automatically uploaded to the cargohold upon approaching the platform. 

Two projects in particular draw my attention. Project Infernal Spade, formerly led by a capsuleer named Myyona, investigates the Talocan. This ancient race is linked to the Takmahl - many believe that the meteoric rise of the Takmahl is due to the fact that they stumbled on Talocan artefacts and gate technology, and were able to reverse-engineer them to some extent.

Even more to the point is Project Theseus. It specifically investigates the Takmahl and their relics. Its lead researcher is a familiar person to all those interested in the Takmahl: prof. Valerie Valate. I talked to this Sani Sabik before, as she is maybe the cluster's leading expert on the Takmahl. Here I can dig deeper into these archives, and I am excited to compare my own limited findings to that of other field researchers.

Arek'Jalaan archives

I have been reviewing my expedition to Deklein and rethinking my theories on the exodus of the Sani Sabik during Queron's reign. I am still convinced that the key to finding ancient artifacts lies in understanding the pattern of their cryoship routes. But I have to admit that I was wrong about the pentagram symbolism driving their choice of destinations.

In the Imperial History Museum there is almost no information on the routes the Sani Sabik took. Talking to other scholars there and following up references in works on this topic, it seems some information can be found in the archives of the Arek'Jalaan in Eram, in the Republic. They investigated many subjects, and ancient cultures was one of their research topics. And, since the organisation was capsuleer driven, they could do field work that no-one else could before.

I've encountered that organisation earlier in my searches, and was told it is more or less defunct since the death of its director dr. Hilen Tukoss. However, the archives are still accessible in the "Site One" institute in Eram.

Logistics experience

I was happy to contribute, a couple of days ago, to LUMEN's efforts against the Blood Raiders. My vow of non-agression restricts me to logistics, but this is a valuable fleet role, and a while ago Lord Garion Avarr suggested I train these skills. Lord Utari Onzo helped me train logistics in practice rather than in theory. Not so long ago, I would never even have dreamt to be mentored by persons of such high station!

The operation against a Blood Raider station went unopposed, so I did not have to send remote repairs to anyone. Nevertheless it was a good exercise for one as inexperienced in fleets as I am.

Back home

I travelled back to Mehatoor, after a stopover in Amarr to sell off stuff that I found while exploring in Deklein. With the loss of the Indagatrix, I had to use my funds to replace the ship. The sell has helped me replenish my ship replacement fund.

Lately, there are too many wars and battles to follow. Having witnesses the eviction of RHP and the destruction of their magnificent Keepstar structure by the Volaens, I stumbled into yet another warzone on my way back from ROIR-Y. Two erstwhile allies, Brave and Test, were bashing eachother to death in the Black Rise region, a sad spectacle. Meanwhile, in the civilized world, LUMEN has been gloriously successful in defeating the Kybernauts in Eruka, and the Blood Raiders in Girani-Fa. 

It was nice to see Mittens again, who practically jumped on to me as she saw me. I think mr. Jensen is glad he could hand his charge back to me, he looked somewhat frayed.

Expedition's end

I have to admit failure. I find more Takmahl relics than here on a bad day in Araz by lifting a random stone and looking under it. I've been out here exploring now for a while, but the expedition has had no success. On top of that, the new local warlords associate me with the Ancien Regime, and I've escaped their attacks narrowly a few times.

Moreover, news has reached me from LUMEN headquarters that war broke out again with the Kybernauts. I'll be needed in the chapel in our Mehatoor, if not for the capsuleers then for their crew or their crew's family. And I plan to continue with the chronicles of our alliance's wars, and want to get first-hand witness reports.

I'll be heading back first the ROIR-Y, to tally up my relic and data site findings, and to pick up my crew. Then, we head back to Mehatoor. The expedition was no success, unfortunately. But I learned from it, and adjust my theories.

Doubt

Still no success. I deployed combat probes this time, hoping to find ancient ships or structures easier. Apart from some hidden modern infrastructure, there was nothing. Or rather, at some point I found a derelict unidentified ship.

Could it be a cryoship? I warped to it, and it looked like some ancient vessel, or at least something made with simpler technology. It had been shot to pieces, and there was nothing useful left to salvage. I analysed the hull remnants, and found that it had been attacked by Guristas. So, the timeframe is wrong. It is probably a recent vessel from some backward planet abandoned colonists that got blown up.

I am starting to think I may have been wrong.

The wheel of fortune

Another day of exploration without success. Perhaps I was wrong about Sabik cryoships heading here...

On my way back to RIOR-Y I stopped by the place where the RHP keepstar was. It is gone. Nothing left but small rubble, the larger pieces have been removed already, and of course any useful loot is long gone. It is humbling to see how such a large structure, that put me in awe of its large hangars and endless spires just a week ago, has so quickly been evacuated, abandoned, and destroyed. How quickly the new order brings down what the once-mighty built!

Hah, to think that I was offered ownership of the doomed edifice for 235 billion! I felt in my bones that it was a ripoff. It was partly an offer to involve Amarr in their lost war, and partly a way to get cash to help them rebuild in Impass, where they planned to flee too. Of course, I was protected against any foolishness by my vow of poverty, praise be to St. Tal-Romon.

Continued exploration

The nullifier device worked as a charm. The Blobbites has set up a camp in the 8S28-3 system, and plastered the gate grid with interdiction bubbles. I was able to go straight through and land on the gate without harm coming to me. The only drawback of the device is that it has a relatively long cooldown time before it can be reactivated. For that it is still nice to have a safe spot to park and hide while it gets ready to work again.

I have been able to continue my exploration unhindered. However, I still did not find any hoped-for trace of the Takmahl. I did find a Tetrimon base, and relayed my thanks for saving my crew. They answered along the lines of "you're welcome but now shut up and don't use covert frequencies." 

Interdiction nullifiers

Every capsuleer death is a teaching moment. The unfortunate incident getting caught by an interdiction bubble has taught me about a device on the market to counter the effect of bubbles: the interdiction nullifier. 

The Indigatrix II is now equipped with one. The salesperson who traded it to me extolled its virtues and explained its use. Basically, I should activate it before warp, and then the warp interdiction bubble can't stop my ship any more. The only difficulty is that I cannot activate it while cloaked (unless it is a gate cloak). So, the order to activate the modules is: interdiction nullifier, warp, and cloak. Even if the nullifier deactivates before I reach my destination, the salesperson assures me its effect will carry me through. I will continue my exploration, hoping that this device works fine.

I am not taking the crew along for my next round of exploration in the pentagram subconstellation. So, I'll be somewhat more sluggish and will need more time doing some tasks. A couple of the most loyal crewmembers want to go back to their posts and are pushing the others, but I also sense hesitation in some of these others. That is very understandable so short after surviving the attack and waiting for rescue in their escape pods. So I stood firm, I do not want to risk any more lives, I will go alone. 

The crew's tale

I arrived back at the Sisters of Eve bureau in ROIR-Y. I met up with the survivors, and we visited my injured crewmember who is still recovering in the Sister's medical facility on station. There is a "worship room" in the hospital, a neutral quiet space suitable for any religion to pray and meditate. We held a ceremony there for the crew that passed away. 

After that we went to the station's food court, to the noodle place where the RHP diplomat took me. Ah, that seems ages ago now, in stead of days - is that the effect of clone death? Anyhow, they ate and drank and we talked about what happened. They told me a remarkable story. 

Their escape pods were not picked up by a rescue vessel from the Sisters of Eve, as I had imagined. Rather, they were rescued by warships of the Order of Tetrimon, that detected the Amarrian-type distress signal from their escape pods. Warships? I couldn't quite believe it at first. But they were adamant: the Order has bases in this region of space now. God knows why they establish outposts all the way out here! 

Of course, it is not my place to ask or speculate, but the crew offered a possible explanation that they got from their rescuers. It seems the Order knows about the Blooder presence and is hunting them also out here, at least for the time being. The crew received first aid by the Tetrimon, and the rescued survivors were then dropped off at the Sisters' station by a Tetrimon knight posing as a miner.

The crew also told me that the victory of the Voltans and Blobbites over RHP is now complete. A large RHP evacuation fleet has set sail: they are moving far away to the south, to the Impass region, with all their belongings. They will try and resettle there. Probably their spiritual needs came forth from facing adversity. Barbarians only pray to God when they need him to help.

As for the remaining missionary that came along with us, he was gone and took the scripture datapads with him. He has checked out of his quarters. He must have left around the time that the news broke of the Indigatrix's destruction. Whether he boarded a ship to go back home, or whether he left with the RHP caravan to Impass to preach the faith to them, I do not know. 

Disaster strikes

I continued my exploration of the pentagram pocket. The Voltans and their "We form Blob" allies are busy destroying the RHP structures, and left me alone. I still did not find any traces of the Takmahl, but to my surprise I found a Blood Raider data network node that is active. This is far away from the Blood Raider bases in Delve, so I see it as an interesting clue. Indeed, their presence can point to a historical connection with this remote area, corroborating my theory that Sabik cryoships arrived here long ago. I dismantled the node and took the evidence with me to bring back to the attention of the MIO.

I could no longer use the RHP Keepstar freeport in E3UY-6, as it is under attack and being evacuated, so I decided to return to my original base of operations, the Sisters of Eve station in ROIR-Y.

The war fleets in their cat-and-mouse games place interdiction bubbles at the warp gates, in the direction from incoming warp gates. So I avoided coming in from a straight line, and took care to warp to a safe or a celestial first. But in E-9ORY, a mere two systems out from my destination, disaster struck. There were interdiction bubbles also at unlikely angles to the gate, and my ship was stopped dead amidst hostile forces. I could not use the cloak, as the electrical storm was still raging. It took them a bit of time to lock me up, time used to try and get the crew to eject in the escape pods. But for me and the ship it was too late.

Moments later, I woke up in a new clone, disoriented and worried for the survival of the crew. My death had set into motion a chain of events designed to get me back in a ship as fast as possible. The insurance money was paid, and a business representative on Amarr received the message to activate buy orders of a list of equipment to be installed in a new Anathema hull. I got on board of a shuttle and flew over to Amarr making best speed.

While in transit to Amarr, I received the news that six of the eight crewmembers survived, and were now in the care of the Sisters of Eve in their station in ROIR-Y. One of the survivors is badly injured, the other five are shaken and somewhat bruised but for the rest OK. The remaining two of my crew are confirmed dead. Gerulf, my cloak technician, stayed too long onboard trying to overcome the interference from the electrical storm, and his brother Arnulf, a hangar worker, would not leave without Gerulf. My prayers are with them and their family.

Having reached Amarr and boarded the Indigatrix II, I am now flying over to ROIR-Y to meet up with the survivors.

It is not clear to what warring faction, if any, our murderer was linked. From his name, I would suspect RHP, but from the region he was in, it could be Volta. Or, maybe it is more likely that he is an assassin working for the Blood Raiders. While I did not have the gifts of technology for the barbarian warlords on board, nor the missionary, I did have the evidence I gathered on Blooder presence in the Deklein region with me. That precious intelligence data has been destroyed.

Change of power

I have started the exploration of the pentagram constellation, from my forward base, the E3UY-6 keepstar. The pentagram pocket is quiet, so I could look around and make some safe spots for hiding. However, I did not find any traces of Takmahl today. None of the five systems showed signs of their presence. 

There are some stations, but they are not accessible to me. However, now that I am in their space, it has become more easy to converse to leading members of RHP. I was able to talk to a warlord called Nelson Higgins, who is part of the leadership cabal of RHP. 

He was open to my requests, but said that RHP is leaving the region. They are losing the war against Volta, and are keeping up resistance for the moment only in order to evacuate their assets. The stations are either under attack or being dismantled. I am free to use the keepstar, but according mr Higgins it would make no sense for me to stay around long in it, nor one of their other stations in Deklein. Moreover he cannot make promises of safe passage while armies of both sides are battling each other and many opportunistic brigand or vulture are waiting to strike anyone left in the power vacuum.

So, it seems I will soon have to negotiate with new warlords, who will no doubt see me as an infiltrator collaborating with their old enemies...