The conflicted mercenary

I rescued a slave girl once. A very pretty slave girl. She saved my life and didn't even know it. At least that's what I believed at the time.

Nothing is ever as it seems.

I shake my head to try and remove the unwanted intrusion, and the recollection of events past falls away as I store the powerful memory back into a locked chest I would much rather leave untouched.

With the memory suppressed my anger returns with nothing to distract it. Boiling and seething inside me at the goddamn feckin' arrogance of an Imperial Senator. Thousands dead and an oh so simple change of plans that wasn't telegraphed at the start.

Used, exploited, and discarded is how I feel and that should never, ever be the outcome of a mercenary contract. The slaves of Kui Hsien weigh heavily on my conscience.

Defaulting on a debt is no small matter, though knowing this the small colony of 30,000 people on Kui Hsien refused to accept a one sided rate increase imposed on them. All of this is normal for the business world of a wheeling dealing senator like Patreus. A debt only has meaning when it provides a return on investment.

That the entire colony is then crushed under the weight of a cadre of loyal or mercenary commanders is a text book response. All the commanders involved are looking for a profit and have been handsomely rewarded once the dust has settled. They probably don't look any deeper.

That Senator Patreus has expended huge amounts of money to achieve this makes little business sense though. Over 10 billion credits in combat bonds and probably the same again in personal reward. The interest increase and remaining debt could not have been worth spending all of that, could they?

Apparently so, for it has happened.

Yet this must have been foreseen as one possible or even desirable outcome, for it would not be a good business decision to have started the campaign otherwise. The asset foreclosure is also a normal part of business, and huge tracts of land are sold with a tidy dowry of slaves to a Senator who has a penchant for slavery as a profitable business.

The memory of the slave girl intrudes again unbidden, raising a dam against the flood of my emotions and changing their course.  The adrenaline rage struggles weakly before acquiescing again, and the memory tries to nudge me towards something I can't quite see yet.

A pretty slave girl is easy on the eyes and quite the distraction. There are many uses and some are even documented in the contract, and invited as an easier way of life than many of the alternatives out there, but...

A moments silence hangs heavily in the air as other recent events play back through my mind, and for the second time I put the memory of the slave girl back into the past where it belongs. This time it is different though: a connection has been made. The raging emotions that had clouded my mind are gone; replaced by a cold and calculating view of the universe that demands facts and evidence to go any further.

What I've imagined would be treason in the Empire at the highest level.

I'm stunned. Could a Senator be so bold?

It would be quite the powerplay for a senator in waiting. A young senator who is going places and isn't known for patience or compassion.

Signposted by the enslaved of Kui Hsien, a new path opens up in front of me.

[Note: the link back to an earlier blog entry is, at this point in time, an unfinished background story. I'll get around to writing the rest of it one of these days...]

Empire GalNet news and analysis (at 31-Dec-3300)

Story Arc:

The independent Durius system, unable to pay even the interest on the loans, has defaulted to the Empire's Senator Patreus. The Imperial Senator's forces have entered the system supported by mercenary forces. Governor Malachai has called for help from like minded independent governments for assistance.

The tension between the Emperor's disinherited granddaughter, Aisling Duval, and the slaver Senator Torval, has burst out into the news again, bringing the welfare of the Empire's slaves to the fore. "We have no beggars... they are down HER mines... starving in private".

Arissa Lavigny also pledged support for Excellency Chancellor Anders Blaine, the Emperor's right hand man for 5 decades, and promised to ensure continuity and stability for the Empire.

Analysis:

The actions of Senator Patreus once again raise the issue of the divide between the business interests of a single senator and that of the Empire. Durius is an independent system that has owed business debts to the Senator, what is not known is how many times those debts have already been paid off.

No doubt the ships bought by Durius under loan from Patreus are now being put into service against the fleet and mercenaries arrayed against them.

The Empire continues to struggle with its use of former members of society who voluntarily enter into slavery due to circumstance. The romantic notion held by some is that these slaves are "house servants" who provide for the smooth running of the great houses of the Empire as their path back to honourable society. What is forgotten are the numbers sent to work in the harshest worlds to mine resources as cheaper labour than machines.

Aisling Duval reminded Senator Zemina Torval of this, and that there was no clear rebuttal or denial was telling.


Link: GalNet news archive

Rebel secrets - Day 10 Slave uprising at Sorbago

In pursuing more intel about the uprising I have taken my eye off the ball. After failing to find a strategist who is prepared to talk, then intercepting rebel transmissions became the next logical step.

Reaching out to one of my contacts gained during my times as a slaver, to decrypt the transmissions, will hopefully reveal more. The slave trade was a dark time for me and I do not look back on it proudly.

External events move too quickly though for me to stay involved however.

Video link (YouTube)
Duration: 12:59

A conversation with General Evans - Day 6 Slave uprising at Sorbago

Day 6 of the slave rebellion at Sorbago. An unexpected connection with Mastopolos Mining.

The slaves have taken over most of the mines on the surface of Sorbago A1, while the combat in orbit is deadlocked into the 6th day. The swarm of vessels compete for control and any advantage, no matter how large or small, is fleeting and soon slips away. If combat does not contain answers then it is time to look elsewhere.

To the commanders. The leaders. The strategists. We need to meet.

We need to talk.

Video link (YouTube)
Duration: 12:43

The routing of Boudica - Day 4 Slave uprising at Sorbago

Day 4 of the slave rebellion at Sorbago. Senator Torval's capital ship Boudica has engaged in the pacification of the slaves.

A more personal report. I find myself drawn to the battle.

The combat in Sorbago continues unabated. Despite the weight bought to bear by the Imperial Senator Torval's forces, the independents continue their uprising.

Torval does not define the Empire and I will not blindly follow a conflict driven by the selfish business interests of a slaver.

As a commander of the Federation of Pilots it is time to make a difference.

Video link (YouTube)
Duration: 4:38

Combat report - Day 3 Slave uprising at Sorbago

The slave uprising in Sorbago has attracted Imperial interest. The forces of Senator Torval have been sent to assist in control of the slave uprising, however questions are being asked as to whether this is a business interest or the honour of the Empire at stake.

Visiting the system shows that there is open conflict, contradicting the news stories widely reported in the news media. Both Mastopolis Mining Corporation for the Empire, and the Liberals of Sorbago continue the civil war as proxy.

The Commanders of the Elite Federation of Pilots have shown an active interest in both understanding why the slaves have chosen to revolt, as well as support for the Empire in the form of the Senator Torval's suppression of the rebellion.

The battle continues. Sides have been taken, The reason for the conflict and open hostility is not yet clear...

Video Link (YouTube)
Duration: 5:42

Empire - story arc catchup

Story arc

The Emperor Hengist Duval has fallen gravely ill and the line of succession is unclear.

Having shunned the life extending drugs available to the nobility, and disinherited his son Harold for participating in drug excesses that have taken their toll, this has left the Emperor's grand daughter Aisling Duval without a clear line to the throne. While she does openly talk about her reformist views towards slavery, this is not welcome in many quarters.

In an attempt to provide a legitimate heir to the throne the Emperor is to marry his sweetheart and recognise their illegitimate daughter Arissa Lavigny. This is allowed by Imperial law, though the 30 day period before the wedding may be a challenge to the Emperor's ailing health.

The outspoken Senator Torval, whose riches are based on her slaver business interests, has openly criticised the attempts to ensure the throne remains within the Duval family. She has also supplied ships of the line to ensure the continued peace at the Sorbago system during a slave uprising.

Senator Patreus has embarked on his interests in the independent systems: supporting a rebellion that did not gain traction in Jera, and also calling in on the debts of Durius for arms provided by Patreus. That Patreus is popular is clear, and he has spoken out to say that succession should be determined by power and not family.

With the Sorbago slave uprising crushed, Torval has voiced support for the idea that power should be the basis for succession.

Analysis

The Empire is faced with a choice of a drug addled son who has been declared "unsound of mind" along with his grand-daughter who openly talks of dismantling the practise of slavery within the Empire. Or the late attempts to shore up the claims of the daughter of a noble lady tumbled in the Emperor's youth.

The Emperor's failings in ensuring the continuity and strength of the Empire are there for all to see.

That the Senator's Patreus and Torval are openly critical shows the contempt that they hold for the Duval line, though their own power struggles driven by their business practices, as arms dealer and slaver, are also in plain sight.

Senator Patreus has stepped out as an early candidate to start a new dynasty within the Empire, as a popular choice, though whether he is able to step up and take the best interests of the Empire at heart (rather than his own business interests) has still to be seen.

It has been commented that a populist choice has more in common with the way that the Federation elects its leaders, falling far from the Empire's traditions.

Make no mistake, although the political manoeuvring in public appears to be gentle words, there is a sharp knife here ready to gut its victim after one wrong move. Who holds the knife, where it points, and who will push it bloody deep is still to be seen.

The fate of the Empire is at hand, and something as simple as naively believing in the Empire may still mean supporting the losing side.