Arsia and Ishta

I had the pleasure of talking to many capsuleers over the last few days, but two of those encounters left a particularly strong impression. Neither of those two meetings was with another scholar! In both discussions young women with a great strength of character were my interlocutors. 

They not only share this inner strength, sadly they also share a history of hardship. But despite these similarities, one of them fell, whereas the other rose.

The fallen one is Arsia Elkin. She was for many years a loyal Amarrian capsuleer, a captain of the Praetoria. She exposed corruption amongst the militia working with the 24th Imperial Crusade. She decried war profiteering and was a whistleblower on agreements on the division of spoils between mercenaries of both sides of the war. And yet, these righteous actions were met with only lukewarm support from other Amarrian capsuleers, and with a lot of vitriol from detractors. In our discussion, she also fulminated about the meddling of House Sarum in the war, accusing the Sarumites of purposefully stoking the flames of an endless conflict.

This put a thick black veil of anger over Elkin's soul. She left the Empire and joined Electus Matari, a terrorist paramilitary group that was not involved in the corruption (the other large terror organisation, Ushra'Khan, appears to be involved). During our discussion she tried to taunt me like a child would, by mocking God and pretending she'd attack Him with a sword. And yet, I could also see shimmers of the light of kindness through her veil of anger. She has not closed herself fully to faith: she still listens to The Good Word, and talks to wandering Amarrian monks. And I am grateful she shared her thoughts on the Amarr capsuleer corporations, knowledgeable as a former insider and speaking frankly as an outsider.

The one who is rising is Ishta Maleto. She is a slave belonging to House Pitorjee, but she is given exceptional leeway in SFRIM. She can follow capsuleer training, and she is involved with  security tasks. Not only within the confines of the station, I guess. I suspect she went undercover as an employee of Native Freshfood corporation a while ago. To be granted this much responsibility and this much trust is exceptional. She must have completed a major part of the journey to God under Lord Esna Pitorjee's enlightened supervision.

She came to this high station from a dark past. Her previous Holder, now stricken from the book of records, was a blood bishop. He is still alive and sent an assassin after Maleto not long ago. The assassin gained access to the SFRIM offices, and was stopped and killed by Maleto herself. She does not have the looks of an amphetamine-pumped bouncer, but I bet she has the skills to kill me in an instant using only her pinky. Useful, of course, for undercover missions. Also, this assassination attempt explains the nervousness of security personnel around here.

I must conclude today's log with a caveat. As the past has taught me, first impressions can be misleading and one can never claim to truly know their discussion partners. All I can do is to try to sympathize and record without (too much) judgement what I think I learned.

More on the Goners

I have had the pleasure of conversing with many capsuleers in the past few days, from all over the cluster, including our Gallente and Minmatar adversaries. These discussions have been most helpful to get a better understanding of the LUMEN and PIE alliances and how they are perceived outside of Amarr. I will report on these discussions later, first I must summarize my research on the Goners.

I tried to locate these Goners, but thus far I have not found any of them. But, I did find quite some information on them and their beliefs. The Goners, also known as "The Foundation of Truth", are a pacifist congregation that believe in the existence of "Earth Mother", a heavenly planet on the other side of the Eve Gate. Their goal is to reach it.

They also believe that, when Amarr was not yet capable of space flight, a creature called "Goner Father" arrived in our cluster after having activated the Eve Gate from the other side. The key to activate Eve Gate is called the "Anticipator", an octagonal device the size of a room.  

After having arrived in New Eden, the Goner Father got into a fight with an unknown enemy. As a result, his fleet had to make a crash landing on Athra. They claim the Goner Father shared technology with us and taught us spaceflight. He then left Amarr, and they have reconstructed the route he has taken, leading through Citadel and Metropolis towards to Jovians. They are convinced he, and the Anticipator, are hidden in an asteroid belt in one of the Jovian systems. 

The curious beliefs of heretics never cease to surprise. And yet, they claim they have many unique records from around the early space age. If so, they may have useful information on Sabik cryoship expeditions.

In their bid to reach Earth Mother, they may have found what they think is the Anticipator, because they have set off towards Eve gate. In YC 115, a Republic fleet tried to catch up to them, but failed. I could not find any information on what happened to them after that.

Career agents

I have returned to Mehatoor, to the comfort of the library. Lord-consort Shutaq-Newelle has not returned my message yet. 

I made several stops on the way. I talked to a capsuleer from Gallente space who had heard about SFRIM, and who praised them for their engagement in the fight against the Triglavians. I was surprised to hear their fame had reached to the Federation, and they are respected there.

I also performed some more work for the so-called career agents, in order to obtain funds for my mission and for the repairs to the Indigatrix. Career agents! What kind of careers do they offer? Only ones that involve getting ISK or killing people. Are there theologian career agents? No. Are there teacher career agents, or medical career agents? No. Capsuleers seem to be thought of as mercenaries or industry magnates only.

The pirates of Code

During my return to Mehatoor, I attempted to take a shortcut via low secutiry systems but I was soon set upon by capsuleer pirates in Huola. The Indigatrix barely managed to escape, shields and armor depleted and well into hull.

From the safety of a station in the system I contacted my assailant to inquire about safe passage. I always carry trinkets with me, beads and glassware, to trade with barbarian warlords. The pirate was fully delusional, telling me that his corporation, Code, was the ruler of the cluster and he required unreasonable amounts of ISK for a mining permit. The fool was not even aware that I am exploring, not mining! The Indigatrix is a Magnate class frigate, not a Venture!

The folly went deeper than delusions of importance. He was convinced that I was not really a friar but I was merely an actor playing a role in a fake universe. I did hear about a philosophy that denies reality and claims we can never know whether it is all an elaborate dream, but the man was not making a philosophical point. 

With such homicidal nutcases allowed to roam freely in low security systems I must reroute and limp back through concord patrolled space. First, I have to wait for repairs to complete and for the psychopath to grow bored at waiting for me to undock.

Return to Mehatoor

After the very successful and useful discussions with professor Valate, I am making my way back to Mehatoor. On the way, I have sent a message to Lord-Consort Aldrith Shutaq Newelle, the contact person of Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris (PIE). I am curious of his opinion on the characters of Aspenstar and Nauplius and on his opinion of their quarrel. But most of all, I hope to find in PIE fellow archeologists. This corporation is amongst the oldest in the cluster, and their members must know about recent academic efforts and research on ancient cultures beyond just the Takmahl.

Prof.dr. Valate interview

Today I met with professor Valate, in Munory. She took the time to answer my questions and educate me about the Takmahl. She showed me her publications, containing a wealth of information on Takmahl history. I will carefully study it.

She dates the Takmahl departure somewhere between 21290 and 21450. I would argue for the end of that range. 

We discovered the Ealur in 21423, and before that time the Reclamation was a distant memory. Athra was fully conquered in 20544, so the planetary Reclamation was complete almost a millennium before we met the Ealur. Everything indicates that during this millennium, as we were the masters of the world with nothing left to reclaim, we became much more tolerant. Moderate Sani Sabik could do their thing relatively free of persecution. 

But the discovery of intelligent life outside of Athra changed all this: it revived the idea of a Reclamation, now on an interstellar level. We became much more zealous in our faith, and started to drive out sects. This must have been the moment when the sect members chose to leave in their cryoships. The religious zeal also led to internal turmoil in our own Empire, culminating in the Moral Reforms four centuries later.

The cryoships would travel at about 5 to 10% of light speed, and the gate network was not competely active (its status is not clear). Given the distance of 4.5 lightyears between Amarr and Aphi, as the photon flies, it means a trip of about half a century to a century. This is likely to be an indication of the extent of the diaspora of the Sabik. The Takmahl settled in Aphi and the surrounding systems, probaby around 21500. Their reach never extended out of the Araz constellation, so they most probably did not make it to Gamdis.

The Takmahl empire collapsed 800 to 1000 years after its foundation. We discovered the warp drive in 22821, and this kicked the expansion of the Empire into higher gear. My estimate is that the Empire would have reached the Takmahl heartlands three to five centuries after the collapse of their empire. Probably the Takmahl planets were still inhabited that long after the collapse, but the culture had reverted to a primitive form, like we did after the collapse of Eve gate.

I was also given the opportunity to inspect a statue of a Takmahl deity, a beautifully preserved relic. It is quite angular, and depicts a figure standing on an octagonal base. It has two carets or horns on its chest, and its head is pentagonal.

I am grateful and indebted to professor Valate. Although many in SFRIM frown upon her because she is Sabik, she is not the blooder caricature that some told me, but an academic mind trying to understand our history. Oh, and she confirmed the Aratake Research Consortium as the successor of the Arek'Jalaan, as a learned society with an archeology section.

From monk to friar

I have undocked the Indigatrix, and I am taking it to Munory in the Araz constellation. I plan to meet dr. Valate at the Ducia Foundry Mining Outpost there. I made a stop on the way, in Amarr, at the Theology Council Tribunal, to bring paperwork in order.

I have been given permission by my congregation to go leave the monastery and pursue my quest. However, this needs to be registered and ratified by the Theology Council Tribunal. The whole process takes a while, and to complete it I needed to do some administration at the Theology Council.

I am now officially a friar and no longer a monk. The subtle and theological difference is that a monk lives his scriptural counsels in the confines of a cloistered community, whereas a friar works among laypeople and is not bound to any particular place. To laypeople my new status is best described as a “wandering monk”.

To you who reads this, this change may seem a trifle. But to me, it is a momentous change. I have lived in the monastery, in the same cell, for over sixty years. The brothers, and father Abbot, have been my family, my anchor to humanity. I miss them so much. I have now, formally, by a stamp of some Theology Council clerk on a document, been severed from them. It affects me more than I ever thought possible. I am an orphan now. My new family will be the laypeople that choose to adopt me. I hope it will be the people of Aspenstar’s organization, they have reached out for me. I think they are fine people, and this would be my family of choice. But I am afraid they will not bond with me, because I am too old-fashioned, because I lack social skills and because I am too out-of-touch with what happened the past sixty years. And most of all, because I am investigating them.

The Goners

More encounters at the library! 

First, Lunarisse Aspenstar came by with two young children - Maria is a lot older, is she from another marriage? That would be unusual for an Amarrian woman. Anyway, I did grill her a little bit on Gamdis, as I get the feeling she is not completely truthful about this, but this was to no avail. I also informed on the possibility of making myself useful as either librarian or chaplain and she was open to that. She did require a kind of job interview. I think I will apply when I return to Mehatoor from some of my own investigations. I do feel at  home in both the chapel and the library, a job in either place would be nice.

Then I met two other corporation members that dropped by the library. There was Rebechia Goldwin - she was inquisitive, I think she does security. She had me valuate a vase and it felt like a test. She pretended it came from Molden Heath, but it was not a tribal artifact at all. Also Loai Qerl showed up, a miner, and a name I had encountered in the IGS forums. 

Loai gave me a piece of information of great value. Besides the Takmahl lead, I am still investigating the Ilash Toth lead. Kernher kindly gave me access to her records, and I can now see the close similary between Toth's writings and Kernher's manifesto. Both advocate the same things, holder accountability and renewing the push to place the spiritual above the material. I understand why Toth antagonized the powers that be. Besides these teachings, there are indications that Toth's expedition got lost somewhere between the New Eden star and the Eve gate. And Loai told me that there is a group of capsuleers called the Goners that travel subwarp between New Eden and the gate! I must contact the Goners and see what they know. Apparently, they have an office in the Theology Council Tribunal at Zorast.

But first things first. Dr. Valate has answered my mail and agreed to meet me in Araz. I will leave as soon as I can and try to set up a meeting in the Ducia Foundry Mining Outpost orbitiing Munory VII 9.

Encounters at the library

I have had some interesting meetings while studying in the library. First, Maria Daphiti solved the mystery of the Daphiti/Aspenstar dual names. It turns out Daphiti is the real family name - Maria is Lunarisse's daughter - and Aspenstar is the callsign. Also, the library and I guess the rest of SFRIM's offices have moved several times. This is why the ceiling depicts the sky over Bavaisi rather than Mehatoor where it is now. 

I was pointed to the "roll of honor", a listing of medals that were awarded at all the events that the corporation was involved with. It also contains a description of the events and represents a record of what happened. It will be most useful for me to learn about recent events.

It seems there may be a job opening for librarian. That sounds like music to my ears, if indeed it can be compatible with my quest. It is something I will have to take up with Aspenstar/Daphiti.

Next, I met Akali Sharisa, of Khanid descent. Like Maria, she is also a warrior. Moreover, she is a liason officer to the "bouncing bunnies", the alliance's industrial branch. She is rather inquisitive, I recognise an investigator.

Today, I sent a missive to dr. Valate to see if she agrees to meet me. Our religious beliefs cannot be further apart - Sanism is the worst heresy. I hope that we have a shared belief in academic discourse that is strong enough to overcome that which divides us.

Symbolism

Texts are good sources of information on ancient cultures, but one must not neglect the images that survived, through art or architecture. And within imagery, symbols take a special place: they are often the distilled essence of a civilization and the key to understand them.

Every culture has its important symbols and icons. We have the Imperial Seal, and its rich meaning is taught to children at a young age. The Triglavians have their triangle, which tells us much about how their society is organized. At a “lower” level, corporations have their logo’s and also these are attempts at summarizing meaning and conveying it.

I have been examining imagery archives to find the symbolism used by the Takmahl. Not much survived. In what remains of architecture, octagons are a theme – however, this may have been a Talocan influence rather than a Sabik heritage. There is also the skull and the pentagram. The skull symbolized power over death, whereas the five pointed star resembles man, strapped and spread-eagled to be bled. It’s meaning may be nurturing, or protection through blood. The double-horned skull appears to have prevailed as a symbol in the Blood Raider offshoot of the Sabik. It can also be found in failed Sabik colonies that somehow survived the millennia in a primitive state but remained isolated from the rest of the cluster.

Reinhart Novan

 I must try to summarize Reinhart Novan’s efforts. 

His search for the Ametat and Avetat took place six years ago. He had become rich and powerful, but unsatisfied with his life. He went on a spiritual retreat, and this was where he first started searching for God in his life, letting Him in. In doing so, he found his calling: to use his resources to find the Holy Relics. I am happy for him: God is always waiting to be invited in our lives, but most of us are too busy with ourselves to see that he is in waiting in the lobby of our heart.

He also first followed the Toth lead. His conclusions are that the Toth expedition was most likely attacked by the Jovians, or by some forgotten colony or outpost. The trail seems to have gone cold for him.

And, again mirroring my own journey into this mystery, he next focused on the Takmahl lead. He mentions a research society focusing on the Takmahl, called “Project Revelation”. They are part of a group called the Arek’Jaalan, based in a place they call “Site One” in the Eram system, Metropolis region. By the time Novan reached Site One, the group was already in decline. Nevertheless, he obtained many records, and decided to focus on the Araz constellation. He mentions finding cryoship remains in the lowsec worlds near Araz, but the location is not clearly revealed.

Next, he mentions dr. Valerie Valate as a source for information on the Takmahl and the archivist of the Arek’Jaalan. My frist impression was that she was just vain when she called herself the greatest expert on the Takmahl, but she indeed turns out to be a leading scholar on the matter. I will have to meet her in person, but she is a heretic of the worst kind: a Sani Sabik.  She has texts and lost pieces of the Sani Sabik text, the Apocryphon, that could prove invaluable. But a researcher must be strong and overcome his loathing of heretics, especially Sani Sabik. Sometimes, you must reach trough muck to unclog a drain.

This was more difficult for Novan, as his actions reflect on SFRIM. Throughout his records, I found that his obligations to the corporation – especially given his wealth and power – were hampering and delaying his research. I understand now much better why Tal-Romon made me take the triple vows of poverty, non-aggression and celibacy. Only “Devoid of distractions” will my soul be “free to soar and be close to God” (Missions 42:5).

Novan’s final entries concern his trips to the Museum Arcana in Zimse and and the Labyrinth in Aphi. I have already reported on these places of interest before, and I am glad to find this confirmed by a separate source. 

His final leads concern the links between the Takmahl and the Talocan, he surmises that the latter may have caused the end of the Takmahl empire and that the Takmahl rose to prominence because they found Talocan data. This seems to undercut the Takmahl lead, since it would mean they did not have to rely on the Avetat to give them their wisdom. 

The cluster was undergoing great changes at that point, as Catherine’s Star appeared. He then seems to have taken leave from the corporation. I guess he did this to focus more fully on the search. But, it also entails that the records that the corporation kept end there. I hope one day to meet this adventurer, I get a strong feeling that our paths will converge at some point.

New leads

 I was in the library, working through the records of Reinhart Novan’s search, when Aria Jenneth quietly approached me. She is Aspenstar’s assistant and retainer, and kindly inquired whether I needed anything. I am touched that SFRIM is treating me with such kindness and creates the perfect conditions for research. Ora et labora. 

I took the opportunity to ask ms. Jenneth some questions she might know the answer to, by virtue of her position in the corporation.

Unfortunately, she joined the corporation at about the same time as Novan left, so she did not know him well. As for a possible contact in PIE, she suggested Lord-Consort Aldrith Shutaq Newelle. I must first find out how to properly address him without causing offence.

The most interesting part of our discussion was about organizations devoted to the search of relics or to archeology. The Arek’Jaalan is one such organization, that rose to some fame a while ago. They are also mentioned by Novan. However, it went defunct. I will report more on them in the summary I am preparing on Novan’s search. 

The director of Arek’Jaalan, dr. Hilen Tukoss, was killed. It appears that an impersonator used Tukoss’ position to collect Jove DNA, and soon after Drifter battleships appeared and his corpse was found. Dr. Valate seems to have escaped this shocking incident. Although ms. Jenneth was apprehensive of dr. Valate, she still described her as “the least horrid Sabik” she knows now. 

The research work of the Arek’Jaalan was continued by the Arataka Research Consortium alliance. The name sounds familiar, I may have heard of them before, but I do not remember when. It is a multinational coalition – indeed, science is usually the first part of society that transcends borders between nations. The contact person there is Lasairona Raske and the research director is Haria Haritimado. The current research focuses on present threats – ah, now I remember: I did read several publications of the Arataka Research Consortium on the Triglavians. That war seems to be in some sort of strange stalemate, and I did not pay much attention to the matter. I should revisit these works.

I am grateful to have such an abundance of leads and a long list of persons of interest to investigate.

Kernher's reply

Joy! Kernher has replied to my message. She writes:

"Mr. Savnar,

I have been busy planetside and only seen this mail now. It is a pleasure to make your acquiantance. I appreciate that you have read my writings, and not dismissed them out of hand.

I cannot agree with you on the Ametat and Avetat, however. It is a common mistake in our culture, so obsessed with relics and trophies, to feel that some physical trinkets are out there still waiting to be found. And, so having found them, that we will be elevated among our peers, perceived as bastions of piety and enlightenment. Maybe the originals still exist out there, but whatever we find will be hollow, empty things, divorced of the divinity God bestowed on them and left as just what they are: a crown, and a scepter, fit only to sit on display in an Imperial palace. No amount of scouring worlds will find Ametat and Avetat until Amarr has been made right with God again. It is God that chooses when and how we will find them, and for Him to do so requires that we prove ourselves worthy of them. Do you believe we are worthy of them, today? 

I can share Toth's writings, such as I have been able to find, but little exists. Most of it has been removed from history by his detractors in court. But it is not his expedition that should be your focus, rather it should be his teachings. His quest was not successful, or if it were, only such that he and his followers were taken from this world to be reunited with God. It is a spiritual path that we must follow, not a physical one.

Regards,
Samira Kernher"

I have thanked her and expressed my gratitude for agreeing to share her archives. As for her question, I agree that the Amarr I see today is undeserving of God's gifts. The goal of being truly deserving, just as the goal of finding the artifacts, may be unreachable. But then maybe God meant us strive for these goals anyway: often the journey matters more than the destination.

More on the Aspenstar interview

I spent the day in the library, reviewing expedition logs. But I must also write down some notes on the interview with Lunarisse Aspenstar, now that it is still fresh in my head.

We met two days ago, in evening, when she was ready with her tasks. I was invited to the offices of SFRIM – as I learned, the corporation ticker refers to the Sefrim. It should have been obvious…

As tense as I was, I think at first Aspenstar was even more tense. I had to pass security screenings and these guards took their jobs very seriously. There is security personnel everywhere, and I think that was not a display just for me. 

We held our discussion in the corporation’s chapel, a most beautiful place that invites meditation. It turns out that, unfortunately, Bathana’s archives were lost during the attack that took his life. This is a setback. But, as I reported yesterday, I was offered a new lead, namely the research of Reinhart Novan. 

I asked about the attack on Nauplius’ expedition. She says she attacked him because he is a heretic who is wasting people’s lives on his expedition. She also mentioned that he has a case pending for the Theology Council, which Nauplius failed to mention to me. I did not press the matter, as it seemed to irritate her. Also, their personal conflict is not of interest to me in my quest. My gift to her, a holoreel copy of a lecture her father gave a long time ago, took away her irration and she graciously offered me the use of the corporation’s library.

Although I miss the expertise of the librarian at the Imperial History Museum, I can access most of its collections from the SFRIM library. And on top of that is has information that is not in the IHM, such as telemetry and flight records of Novan’s expeditions. But what I like most is the tranquility of the place, in sharp contrast to the hectic bustle in Amarr.

It is a good place to work.

Aspenstar meeting

I had it upside down.

Lunarisse Aspenstar is not against archeological investigations, on the contrary, she has been most helpful and even allowed me access to the research done by her corporation. They have not only done purely academic research: one of their capsuleers, Reinhart Novan, ventured out on a quest for the Ametat and Avetat and kept meticulous records. This treasure trove of information was shared freely, spontaneously and in the spirit of advancing science. On top of that, I can use their library, a hidden gem.

Grateful for all this openness I decided to reciprocate and share my own research with Aspenstar. This may be naive but I choose to trust my instinct after our meeting.

And let it be a lesson to me – distrust galnet forums and impressions gleaned from the press, even from IGS discussions. Meeting people in person is the only way to judge their character. I had thought Nauplius was the scientist and Aspenstar was only out to possess the artifacts, after my meeting I have come to believe it is the other way around.

I will write more about the meeting, but I am eager to spend the day in that library and study their records.

Nauplius interview

Last evening, I waited till nocturns, reviewing my archives and reading. There is always a stack of “to read” papers ensuring that I do not lose time by idling. Aspenstar contacted me briefly to say that there was an emergency with one of her pilots requiring her attention. She did not return that evening before I went to sleep. 

Today, again Aspenstar seems busy. But, once again I saw Nauplius docked at the station. Today, I took the opportunity to talk to him. He kindly answered all my questions. Firstly, why Gamdis III? His only reason was that Aspenstar was digging there. He did not do research; he just picked the spot that others were investigating. And thus, he could give me no additional information that can explain why Gamdis III is of interest. I think he is an opportunist rather than a real archaeologist.

Then I asked him why his expedition was attacked. He tells of the official claim: Khimi Harar attacked him because the slaves doing the digging were illegally acquired. I don’t get it, why did they not use the official institutions for that? Why attack an expedition? His explanation is that they are after the relics themselves. Under the cover of a “family business” in sand sailing on Gamdis, Aspenstar continues the excavations.

I also wondered at him being in the same station that Lunarissa Aspenstar proposed to meet. He says it is coincidence, he lived here a long time. Finally, he accused not only Aspenstar but her entire corporation of heresy: wanting to free all the slaves, regardless of whether they are ready. He says she wants to use the Ametat and Avetat for that wicked purpose. But he also said: “She is pretty secret and equivocal about her abolitionism”. Yet another heretic on my path to Ametat and Avetat? But why then does she accuse Kernher of heresy? Maybe heretics accuse each other of heresy, just like madmen can call out the madness in each other but not recognise it in themselves?

Mehatoor

I spend the last few days in libraries and archives expanding my research files. I did see on several occasions Valate mentioned (or mentioning herself) as a Takmahl expert.

It appears that Takmahl were not the only group of Sani Sabik fleeing Athra during the Reclamation, they are only the most famous ones and the most successful. It stands to reason that the other  groups will have made it out about as far as the Takmahl using the primitive technology of the time (cryo-ships). So, within the cluster they probably settled within about the same amount of light years from Athra. This somewhat narrows down the search to about 200 systems. That is still many.

I have left Amarr system for Mehatoor, to interview Aspenstar. I am nervous for the encounter.

I arrived shortly after vespers at the "24th Imperial Crusade Logistic Support" station in orbit around Mehatoor VI. It is quite provincial in comparison to the stations in Domain. To my surpise, I saw that Nauplius is one of the people in local, moreover he is also docked in the 24th Imperial Crusade station. Apart from him, there are quite a few Khimi Harar members in the system

Lunarisse Aspenstar reaches out!

Lord, I was trembling and quaking, and now much later the trembling has not subsided yet!

As I was lurking in the comms channel "The Good Word", Lunarisse Aspenstar reached out to me and wanted to make contact! I had not planned to contact her for quite a while, but I had not understood that everyone is visible in these channels. She looked up my biography and obviously was triggered by my interest in archeology... 

I am not sure whether she wants to kill me or help me.

I will not copy the entire conversation here, but just summarize how it went. There was first a bit of chat about my vow of non-agression, a foul-mouthed girl called Ishta Maleto wondered at that. But soon after I confessed my interest in archeology, Aspenstar appeared to help. She sent me some basic stuff on Ametat and Avetat even though I had not mentioned these artifarts yet! I found that suspicious. It was information everyone can readily find, and I am sure she knows much more. She did confess having an interest in archeology. She also mentioned one of the first directors of her corporation was also involved in this search. I must find our who he is (male, since she uses directrix for a female). And, I must also find out whether he died a natural death.

Lunarisse Apsenstar then pointed me to Aridia and Genesis. She did not mention Kador, where the Araz and Kakol constellations are, as she must know very well. Is she trying to divert my attention?

She also revealed that Kernher was stricken from the Book by her Holder, became a heretic and is in exile somewhere in the Federation. That would explain why she does not answer my letter. However, she is still alive and remains a person of interest because of her Toth collection.

Finally, we agreed to meet in person. She proposed the chapel at the 24th Imperial Crusade station in Mehatoor. Apparently, that is the headquarters of her corporation. I will meet her there in two days time. If there are no log entries after that, then the finder of these logs will know who murdered me.

This first meeting was a momentous event for me. I would almost forget to add that I found another person of interest in the IGS comm channels: Valerie Valate. She is an archeologist and proclaimed on the channel: “Valerie Valate > what with me being the greatest sani sabik capsuleer philosopher of the modern era, and all that jazz.” 

Since the recent explorations focused all on the Takmahl lead, interviewing a Sani Sabik archeologist with vanity issues, could be useful, however revolting it may seem. Ah, why are so many of the persons of interest heretics?

Takmahl

Spending another day studying and digging in the Imperial History Museum's library has proven very successful!

I found a lot on information on the Takmahl, through scholarly writings of the "Signal Cartel" and the published works of Tertius Bathana. Here I summarize the most striking parts:

The Takmahl were a race of humans once part of the Amarr Empire. For reasons that remain unknown, but were very likely related to their Sani Sabik practices, they were exiled from the Empire, and lived for centuries in solitude. They were undoubtedly masters of Cybernetics and Bio-Engineering Technology.Takmahl relics can be found inside The Labyrinth, an anomaly near the central star of the Aphi system, and near the Museum Arcana in the Zimse system, both in the Araz constellation of the Amarr Empire. To enter the museum the Key of the Arcane is needed, that can be found in a relic container near the acceleration gate. Inside the museum the Key to the Labyrinth can be obtained from The Curator, which is required to enter The Labyrinth. 

I must visit Aphi and Zimse. And especially this Museum!