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.