Pushing some buttons

A recruitment holovid one of our pilots created more than a month ago came to the attention of a Scope reporter this week and he wrote a rather scathing article concerning it. I have a few impressions about the outcome.

First, my thoughts that The Scope is mouthpiece of the Gallente government seem to be confirmed once again. The reporting here, in addition to being shoddy in general, was clearly biased from the headline through the last paragraph. Their standards seem low and show no signs of improving.

Secondly, it is clear that our message struck a cord with some of the people who have seen it. Jake Lanks, the pilot who did most of the work on the vid, deserves a good deal of credit. He put together some compelling images and music that set off the importance of the message.

The vid has been a big hit with our members and the fact that the ardent Federation flag-wavers bemoan it so would indicate that its message is certainly pushing some buttons.

Patience, I tell myself. Patience.

I'm not sure why the Kapdans feel such an allegiance to the Gallente. Their system, sitting on the Federation's doorstep, is one of the worst-hit by pirates. Ostingelle's gates are legendary for their camps. I've even felt the sting, losing my first Hyperion as a rookie battleship pilot.

I don't know that I'll ever fully understand it, but regardless, Zheet Chandrark has proven true to his constituents and tabled the secession bill once more.

I'm told that because the hearings were closed I could be found criminal liable for disclosing what I said or heard during them. Suffice to say, the panel of "experts" on the matter was, in my opinion, hand-picked for their loyalty to the Federation. I'm surprised I even made the list, but I suppose a few token separatists and radicals had to be thrown in for authenticity.

There seems to be little hope of any further action during the current term, but there is still hope for the future. Chandrark has stated publicly that he is retiring after this session and returning to Kapda. Maybe his successor will be less heavy handed with the idea of secession and allow it to the full Assembly for an open debate.

Just on the other side of the line

I have never sought fame or popularity. I have never gone out of my to seek recognition of my peers. But for some reason there is one pilot who I have always hoped to reach and yet I cannot.

I'm not sure what it is about this Simon Coal that captures my imagination, but I think that if I could convince him of the true nature of our cause he would be a great ally.

I sense in him a love of people and our traditions. But the indoctrination into the Gallente myth is strong and he has roundly criticized our actions. However, I do not think he is so far over the line to be a lost cause.

The Assembly moves

I received a notice that I am to appear today before the Intaki Assembly's Interstellar Relations Committee to provide testimony in a closed-door hearing.

The summons does not indicate what the hearing is concerning, but the rumor on the street is that the secession bill is being moved off the table. I cannot describe how happy this makes me feel.

If the Intaki people are ever to have a hope of enjoying the liberty of a free and independent state, the first steps must be taken by the Assembly. It is only by a measured and determined bid of the Assembly for full resumption of its sovereignty that we can even consider a secession without conflict. Anything less would lead to years of conflict and an unacceptable loss of life.

An offer I can refuse

I have been contacted several times by Chairman Renjith Prabeaux of the Federal Social Democratic Party. At first I was hopeful that he might be persuaded to see the reasoning in our arguments and to be an ally in negotiating for a peaceful separation.

I am growing to believe that first impressions were wrong, however. It seems increasingly that he is an appeaser and Federation apologist. He seeks to make amends for past wrongs with token condolences and petty reparations.

He now wants me to consider withdrawing my call for secession in exchange for some gesture of reconciliation with the Intaki of the Syndicate. I agree that the Syndicate Intaki should be brought back into the fold, so to speak, but I do not believe that this gesture will go any appreciable way toward achieving that.

Having considered the matter, I do not think that I will be withdrawing my call for secession any time soon.

A call for action

I know that I am but one man and my voice carries no more weight than others will give it, but I must cast now that full weight once more in calling for secession.

I have been content this last year or so to work quietly toward our economic and security goals without calling on the Assembly to break away from the Federation, but given the rancorous views of this would-be king Octirant, I can no longer stomach the idea of living within a Federation that not only gives birth to his intolerance, but rewards it a chairmanship.

The IPI has proven that there is a strength to be found within the Intaki people. We can grow our economy from within. We can make strides to improve our security without the assistance of a Federal navy.

Now is the time for a free and independent Intaki State!

Where does the time go?

What a busy year it's been. I can scarcely believe how quickly time goes by, or how little some things change.

After all the strides I thought we were making toward a peaceful understanding with the forces of the Federation, I have come to realization of just how far we have yet to go.

I know there are some, like the FDU pilot Hussain, who we will never reach. But his is a position of relatively small importance. He is a single capsuleer and has little to no following or support.

Much more disturbing to me is the new highly visible presence of Gallente political party chairmen. In particular, the Nationalists' chairman Alain Octirant is a troubling presence.

Disturbing news

When I first heard the rumor that the Federal Intelligence Office had detained and then summarily executed four people for connections to the Sansha incursions, I could scarcely believe it. Having little direct connection to the FIO, I spent the better part of the morning tapping my sources within the Navy.

To my utter dismay, it appears that the rumors are indeed true. Further more, I am deeply distressed to learn that one of those executed was Natasha Anchauttes. Natasha, was a member of the Intaki separatist movement on the Sajha colony. Although I did not know her personally, I mourn her as a sister.

I immediately condemned the act on the Intergalactic Summit, but in light of learning this new information, I will be pressing my senator to demand a full inquiry into these executions. Given their rash and shrouded nature, I cannot help but wonder if Natasha wasn't caught up by some anti-Intaki element of the FIO.

Homesick blues

My annual trip to Villore is scarcely under way and I am homesick already. This year, I am focusing my efforts entirely on lobbying the Supreme Court and developing my contacts there. The majority of the court is still against the idea of a separate Intaki State, but I believe there are a few justices who, on a philosophical basis at least, agree with the idea that a member of the Federation does ultimately have the right to secede.

I have tried to argue the position that the primary political right of the individual and of political communities must be to secede from any larger political entity, whether they were born into it, were forced to join it, or voluntarily joined it. If one denies or relinquishes that right, one is little more than a slave--and no agreement to become a slave can be legally or morally binding.

Secession of individuals and communities does not have to mean war and violence. It should be a natural evolutionary feature of all political entities. We suggest practical and nonviolent means by which such separation can occur and the kinds of networks and confederations that could be created to replace oppressive nation states.

But politics and secession are far from my mind tonight. Tonight I would much rather be in my garden, sitting by my pond and watching the goldfish dart about. In my quarters here in the Supreme Courts law school, it is cold and dry and metallic. Like much of the Gallente Federation, it is as far removed from Intaki as I can possibly imagine.

How do we support Intaki?

One question that I am often asked is how does the ILF support Intaki. We do it in a number of ways actually.

First, we patrol the spacelanes in around Intaki. We do our very best each and every day to fight the pirates who would do harm to honest travelers in the area. As our fighters grow more proficient, we repel more pirates each day and send others back to their clone vats.

But true to our Intaki nature, we do far more than fight. The Intaki Liberation Front is at the heart of the Intaki Prosperity Initiative, an alliance of corps working together to bring wealth and prosperity to the Placid Intaki.

In the few months since its formation, the IPI has already created a market hub at Intaki. More than 5 billion isk worth of merchandise is now available for purchase at the Astral Mining station in orbit above the homeworld.

All standard small and medium ammo is now available at Intaki 5-5, as are all T1 frigates, destroyers, and cruisers. The Intaki Trade Hub is currently the only low-sec Placid provider for the Augoror, Bantam, Bellicose, Breacher, Crucifier, Heron, Magnate, Navitas, Omen, Scythe, Stabber, and Vigil. There is also a plentiful selection of equipment and rigs for these vessels. A selection of industrial and mining vessels are also on the market in Intaki.

Every sale we make in Intaki generates taxes which help fund government programs and enrich the lives of the Intaki people. But what's more is that many of the goods for sale in Intaki are made there or at stations orbiting nearby Intaki colonies. These factories put Intaki people to work in good-paying jobs that elevate their standard of living significantly.

Finally, we operate the Intaki Cultural Center, a repository for Intaki history, art and other culturally-significant information. We hope to make the center more open to foreigners and Intaki born off-world so that the universe will remember forever who the Intaki people really are.

A return

It has been some many months since I posted I addressed the public through this medium. My abduction by Serpentis forces and a protracted war with Moira. gave me reason to curtail my public presence.

The time has come, however, to resume public discourse on the matters affecting Intaki. I am pleased to share the details of two events that have transpired in the last few months.

First, the Intaki Liberation Front has banded together with a number of other corporations to create an alliance dedicated to improving the condition of Intaki Space and the lives of those who live there. The Intaki Prosperity Initiative currently has six member corps with two additional applications under review. The group is increasing its abilities to fight piracy and has also created a market hub in Intaki. All manner of capsuleer goods are now available there and the hub is a one-stop shopping experience for pilots of small and medium vessels.

Secondly, the Intaki Cultural Center destroyed by Serpentis terrorists has been replaced by a bigger and better facility. The grand opening ceremony was a wonderful event, attended by many of our friends and supporters. During the ceremony I was afforded the opportunity to offer the following speech:

This center is a testimony to the tenacity of the Intaki spirit. Despite her beauty, no one ever said Intaki was an easy place to survive. But survive we do and not only survive but thrive.

This center will serve as a means for us to preserve our cultural heritage for future generations, but also a means to educate visitors about what makes Intaki special and why we fight to defend her.

Federation forces have gained the upper hand in the current factional conflict, but the threat of war still looms overhead. I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is independence. Independence in spite of all terrors - Independence, however long and hard the road may be, for without independence there is no survival of the Intaki culture.

There are people who ask me whether I am the same man that I was three years ago, or whether there has been any change in me. You are right in asking that question. Let me, however, hasten to assure that I am the same as I was three years ago. I have not changed in any fundamental respect. I attach the same importance to non-violence that I did then. If at all, my emphasis on it has grown stronger. There is no real contradiction between the present resolution and my previous writings and utterances.

Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a non-violent fight for Intaki’s independence. In a violent struggle, a successful general has been often known to effect a military coup and to set up a dictatorship. But a non-violent soldier of freedom will covet nothing for himself, he fights only for the freedom of his people. The Intaki Prosperity Initiative is unconcerned as to who will rule, when independence is attained. The power, when it comes, will belong to the people of Intaki, and it will be for them to decide to whom it placed in the entrusted.

[During this part of the speech a single voice rose above the rest. It called out clearly for “death to the Gallente.”]

This is not the first time I have noticed that there is hatred towards the Gallente among the people. The people say they are disgusted with their behavior. The people make no distinction between Gallente imperialism and the Gallente people. To them, the two are one. This hatred would even make them welcome the Caldari. It is most dangerous. It means that they will exchange one slavery for another. We must get rid of this feeling. Our quarrel is not with the Gallente people, we fight their imperialism. The proposal for the withdrawal of Gallente power did not come out of anger. It came to enable Intaki to play its due part at the present critical juncture.

I know the Gallente Government will not be able to withhold freedom from us. We must, therefore, purge ourselves of hatred. Speaking for myself, I can say that I have never felt any hatred. As a matter of fact, I feel myself to be a greater friend of the Gallente now than ever before. One reason is that they are today in distress. My very friendship, therefore, demands that I should try to save them from their mistakes. As I view the situation, they are on the brink of an abyss. It, therefore, becomes my duty to warn them of their danger even though it may, for the time being, anger them to the point of cutting off the friendly hand that is stretched out to help them. People may laugh, nevertheless that is my claim. At a time when I may have to launch the biggest struggle of my life, I may not harbor hatred against anybody.