"Hold your shit together, at least until I get off station Coop!" my archangel trumpets in his loudest library voice.
"Too...late!" I think to myself as I force myself to continue watching the holoreel which is laying out confirmation of my suspicions. --I hadn't noticed the modern art I was creating on the floor, from blood rivulets leaking through both clenched fists. I then get a cramp in my neck from clenching my jaw like a space door sealing an airlock.
Apparently watching everything you believed in, Bushido, The Corporation, One Universal focus and one thought, one direction and might make right... Decades of sacrifice and commitment out the window as my cough...Leadership figures are falling prey to our their most basal impulses.
CALDARI NAVY OFFICERS in coordination and willful disregard for not only human decency but also acting petty, self serving and ... Horrific.
My Wallet was throbbing. Pounding on the doorway of my mind. Reminding me over and over that the betrayal is real.
The long and short of it is the Caldari State had not only violated public trust by covering up the actions of one, their arrogance of raising tax rates slowly... draining off bit by bit our work and telling us it was "for the cause". 11% now? however the crimes against the tourists, slaves were just too much. My own friends children, forced into slavery and sold to the highest bidder, for Technetium? Platinum? Lives above minerals, period. ISK comes and goes, the people caught up in the chaos blinded by their greed, not to mention the sexual behavior of an arrogant mentor and worse yet, his management not dealing with the allegations when they were brought to leadership.
The footage I am seeing with my own eyes tells me that the institution I've dedicated my life to serving has been no better than a booster junkie looking for its next fix or worse.
I tell my Agent "Look. I only know how to address these issues two ways. 1) Ignore it and pretend
I didn't just watch the most decorated, lionized bronzed leaders cover for
each other, instead of cooperating with CONCORD and turning that piece of shit over to authorities."
-or-
2) "put Scorch pulses in their eyes and a rocket up their asses."
My agent can only shrug helplessly because he knows which of the two are part of my DNA.
"Can't say I blame you Coop, you revered this institution at one time, however' I have an idea...The Faction Wars are heating up all over New Eden and the Gallente Could use someone with your talents..you...well you know, not just popping Serpentis members ad nauseum but really making a difference."
"That's actually an interesting proposition, let me think about it, I can't make this kind of move lightly. However if you know any good pilots hiring in Placid or Gallente space, shoot me a mail and I'll talk it over with my buddy Nath and we can review your suggestions."
Nath Blazek being the last Minmatar in space I would trust to cover me with a pistol but if I needed ANYTHING fixed, manufactured or running shield boosters, or need an Orca to dock for repairs, I can always go to him. He's even been known to run a salvage op or 10 with me, taking time out of his day from making little rocks out of big rocks.
"Listen, I'm sorry I had to show you this, but your persistence and my distaste for the whole affair, has really put our own agent coalition in an uncomfortable, untenable position. There are more like-minded people than you may realize right now, Caldari who swore to defend the Nation but it seems the worst enemy is within. The only way now, it seems to change hearts and minds is with sunlight as disinfectant."
It's been a few months since that event first unfolded and now my mind was set. Not being one to plan out every move in advance as the offers came in one stood out in all the chatter online.
AIderon Robotics had always been in the back of my mind as an admirable group, professionals who value tech, organization, time and friendship without a lot of the political garbage, at least that's how it appears from an outsiders vantage point. When they moved to announce they were spinning up Combat Operations for the Federation Navy (Gallente Ops against the State) It seemed like the perfect time to make what some might see as a Betrayal of my own, and perhaps I may have some bridges to mend in Jita and Lonetrek when all is said and done, but for now, I look forward to dispensing my own justice and bringing some firepower to Aideron Robotics and revisiting AD23,248
-Coop
aka "Rocket Scientist"
YC-114.07.19
