Personal Log, Svetlana Scarlet
Captain, Buzzard-Class Frigate Lonely Hunter
Rapid Assembly Plant, Hatakani System
I have finally emerged from the wormhole I have spent much of the last week in, where the system's magnetar secondary was playing havoc with my onboard systems. The magnetic interference and constant high-energy radiation bombardment prevented much in the way of extensive exploration, but it present a spectacular sight I'm not likely to see in any of the inhabited systems of the cluster.
There was little sign of Sleeper presence, but I did find one outpost in the system. Again, the Sleeper drones prevented a close inspection, but from what I could tell, this was some sort of scientific outpost, quite likely to study the unique phenomenon that the nearby neutron star presented. I find it somewhat heartening that the Sleepers -- and perhaps all the old races -- were not nearly as all-knowing as some would have us believe. The universe is a mysterious and complicated place, and it seems like hubris to think anyone could unlock all its secrets. I do not doubt that the Sleepers were more advanced than us for now, but I do not think they were so far ahead that we will not see similar technology emerging from laboratories in the State and elsewhere before the middle of this century, especially now that we have their relics to reverse-engineer.
After two weeks of this journey, however, I still feel lost. When the only wormhole leading out of the magnetar system led to Hatakani, it was as if I was opening the windows of a country home on the first warm day of the year. The constant buzz of radio chatter, the clusters of ships at the gates -- wormhole space may be good for introspection, but you are constantly aware of just how alone you are. Here, along the main route between the State and the Federation, you are always aware of how widespread humanity has become over the last millennium.
Hatakani also brings back memories. The memories I have of the Reserve, and when I fought in wars where I truly believed we were in the right. When we fought to prevent the escalation of regional conflicts and to keep the Federation from supplying violent malcontents here at home. When we fought Phoenix Wing and the Acheron Federation, I had no doubt that what we were doing benefited not only the State, but the entire cluster as a whole. Now, our nation fights for the exact wrong reasons -- out of malice, for territorial conquest, destabilizing the status quo because of one man's mad obsession. It is easy for me to understand why my friends in the Reserve have become disillusioned with this war and with our leaders. No wonder they left to fight in nullsec, where they at least have control over what they fight for.
And yet, I still can't bring myself to leave the State behind. It is my home; it is the land I have fought and died for, and I still believe its values are my values, and the only ones worth fighting for in the cluster. This current war is not about those values, however, and being here in Hatakani only reinforces that. What has happened to those fights? The ones I felt proud to win? Today, even a victory against the Gallente seems hollow; the Distinguished Blade on my uniform feels more like a mark of shame rather than a decoration.
The Provists are foolish to think that we can win a long-term victory against the Federation; our "victory" over the disputed territories last year only drove them to fight harder, and coalesce into a stronger fighting force. Our own forces have become largely discouraged, and do not see the point in defending territory that isn't ours, aside from a few holdouts. As the FDU pushes closer to our systems in Black Rise and elsewhere, I wonder what will happen if the situation is reversed. I feel the need to defend my homeland, but to do it on behalf of a man who has made himself king...
Captain, Buzzard-Class Frigate Lonely Hunter
Rapid Assembly Plant, Hatakani System
I have finally emerged from the wormhole I have spent much of the last week in, where the system's magnetar secondary was playing havoc with my onboard systems. The magnetic interference and constant high-energy radiation bombardment prevented much in the way of extensive exploration, but it present a spectacular sight I'm not likely to see in any of the inhabited systems of the cluster.
The Lonely Hunter drifts in the light of a magnetar.
There was little sign of Sleeper presence, but I did find one outpost in the system. Again, the Sleeper drones prevented a close inspection, but from what I could tell, this was some sort of scientific outpost, quite likely to study the unique phenomenon that the nearby neutron star presented. I find it somewhat heartening that the Sleepers -- and perhaps all the old races -- were not nearly as all-knowing as some would have us believe. The universe is a mysterious and complicated place, and it seems like hubris to think anyone could unlock all its secrets. I do not doubt that the Sleepers were more advanced than us for now, but I do not think they were so far ahead that we will not see similar technology emerging from laboratories in the State and elsewhere before the middle of this century, especially now that we have their relics to reverse-engineer.
A Sleeper scientific outpost, still studying the magnetar perhaps.
After two weeks of this journey, however, I still feel lost. When the only wormhole leading out of the magnetar system led to Hatakani, it was as if I was opening the windows of a country home on the first warm day of the year. The constant buzz of radio chatter, the clusters of ships at the gates -- wormhole space may be good for introspection, but you are constantly aware of just how alone you are. Here, along the main route between the State and the Federation, you are always aware of how widespread humanity has become over the last millennium.
The Lonely Hunter emerges from a wormhole into the Hatakani system.
Hatakani also brings back memories. The memories I have of the Reserve, and when I fought in wars where I truly believed we were in the right. When we fought to prevent the escalation of regional conflicts and to keep the Federation from supplying violent malcontents here at home. When we fought Phoenix Wing and the Acheron Federation, I had no doubt that what we were doing benefited not only the State, but the entire cluster as a whole. Now, our nation fights for the exact wrong reasons -- out of malice, for territorial conquest, destabilizing the status quo because of one man's mad obsession. It is easy for me to understand why my friends in the Reserve have become disillusioned with this war and with our leaders. No wonder they left to fight in nullsec, where they at least have control over what they fight for.
Hatakani's Rapid Assembly plant, once headquarters to the Reserve.
And yet, I still can't bring myself to leave the State behind. It is my home; it is the land I have fought and died for, and I still believe its values are my values, and the only ones worth fighting for in the cluster. This current war is not about those values, however, and being here in Hatakani only reinforces that. What has happened to those fights? The ones I felt proud to win? Today, even a victory against the Gallente seems hollow; the Distinguished Blade on my uniform feels more like a mark of shame rather than a decoration.
A pair of Charon-class freighters approach the Kassigainen gate in Hatakani.
The Provists are foolish to think that we can win a long-term victory against the Federation; our "victory" over the disputed territories last year only drove them to fight harder, and coalesce into a stronger fighting force. Our own forces have become largely discouraged, and do not see the point in defending territory that isn't ours, aside from a few holdouts. As the FDU pushes closer to our systems in Black Rise and elsewhere, I wonder what will happen if the situation is reversed. I feel the need to defend my homeland, but to do it on behalf of a man who has made himself king...
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