Genesis region — Ekrin Constellation
Sheroo system — Planet X — Moon 3
Sisters of EVE Bureau station — Alpedurch Soulobert’s office
15 September YC 127
Alpedurch Soulobert was a forty-something, red-haired Intaki with an earnest demeanour and a firm handshake.
After greetings and introductions, I said, “So what’s burning, Mr Soulobert?”
“Our investment, Captain Korff,” replied the agent. “A few months ago we hired a group of talented scientists to work on an important project. They were on a verge of a breakthrough when they were kidnapped. If we don’t rescue them, not only we’ll have to restart the project, but our adversaries will get a head start.”
“Interesting,” I said somewhat acerbically, “that a representative of a charitable organisation such as Sisters of EVE did not mention the scientists’ wellbeing as a cause for concern.”
“I didn’t because it isn’t,” Alpedurch Soulobert said calmly. “The scientists and their work are so valuable to our enemies that they will be treated with utmost care.”
“And who are they — those enemies of yours?”
The agent took a moment before replying, then sighed and said, “They are known as Equilibrium of Mankind.”
“What?” I jumped from the chair, horrified. “Those motherfuckers?”
Alpedurch gave me a sad nod, “Indeed.”
Equilibrium of Mankind was a religious sect which believed that their path to salvation lay through the total annihilation of everyone else in New Eden. They didn’t have any allies, and there were kill-on-sight orders issued against them by every faction. Purging the cluster of that filth was a duty of every capable person. I was about to accept the mission, regardless of the rewards, when a thought occurred to me. EoM’s sole goal was destruction. Then, why did they need scientists from Sisters of EVE, a faction known for its benevolence?
“Tell me, Mr Soulobert,” I said narrowing my eyes , “what exactly your scientists were working on that could interest EoM so much?”
A smile touched Alpedurch’s face, “It is ironic, isn’t it, that two organisations with completely opposite goals may have same interests or, rather, the same object of interest. Tell me, Captain, why is a missile like a commlink battery?”
I frowned, “Is it a trick question?”
“Not at all, they do have one important thing in common. What is it?”
I’d seen missiles and I’d seen batteries — there was no similarity between them. They were even made of different materials, as far as I knew.
I spread my arms in defeat, “I give up.”
“Energy,” said the agent, “or, more specifically, concentration of energy. Not many people realise or even think about it because they are more concerned about the application of that energy — for some, it’s communication, for others,” he pointed at me, “destruction.”
“I don’t use missiles,” I grumbled, “but I catch your drift. Every benign technology can be weaponised and vice versa. So what is that object that both you and the Equilibrium are so interested in?”
“It is the most powerful artificial object in New Eden.”
I furrowed my brow, “What, a Titan? Are Sisters working on their own model?”
“No, think again.”
I thought for a few seconds, “A star gate?”
“Correct but not just any star gate.”
The penny dropped. I should have guessed it straight away — I was talking to an SoE agent, after all.
“Of course! It’s the EVE Gate!”
The EVE Gate was a giant jump gate in New Eden system, and was the main object of Sisters’ research. They believed that the Gate was a gift from God who lived on its other side. They also believed it was God’s will that they should study the Gate and unlock its secrets. That mixture of faith and science made Sisters of EVE rather unique among religious organisations.
“Yes, the EVE Gate,” confirmed the agent. “A technological artifact which produces an amount of radiant energy comparable to that of a small star.”
“Right,” I nodded, “and Equilibrium of Mankind, naturally, would be interested in laying their hands on the source of that energy. Wait, are you saying that the kidnapped scientists were about to uncover the secret of the EVE Gate’s power?”
“Oh no,” Alpedurch smiled, “we are a long way from that discovery. The radiation emitted by the EVE Gate protects its secret. No spaceship was able to stay near the Gate for any length of time. The ones which made a close flyby did not get any meaningful observations as the radiation simply overwhelmed their sensors. But our scientists were working on a technology which would allow to absorb and divert the incoming energy. That would serve two important purposes: first, a ship could stay near the Gate as long as needed, and second, the sensors would receive only a fraction of the emitted energy making observation possible.”
“So, you are afraid that EoM will be able to find the way to study the Gate and will take control of it before you can?”
“That’s a concern,” admitted the agent, “but a remote one. No doubt it will take generations to fully understand the EVE Gate technology. Unfortunately, there are also some near-term repercussions which we would like to prevent.”
“Such as?”
Alpedurch Soulobert clasped his hands and stared at them, “For one thing, the energy absorption technology, if developed, will enable a new type of defence, making ships virtually invulnerable to energy weapons like lasers. Understandably, we don’t want Equilibrium of Mankind to research and develop such a technology.”
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. “I haven’t thought of it but you are right. If that technology becomes public, Amarrians won’t be happy, for sure. Minmatars will rejoice though.”
“We are not concerned about Empires getting energy absorption tech. In the grand scheme of things, their struggles are localised and do not threaten the survival of the human race. EoM, on the other hand…”
The agent made a pause letting the implications sink in.
“I get it,” I nodded. “So you want me to rescue the scientists from the Equilibrium’s clutches?”
Alpedurch shifted uncomfortably and said, “It’s one of the ways to achieve the objective of this mission. The preferred way.”
I looked at the agent in surprise and asked, “Then what is the mission objective?”
He took a long moment and finally said, “The objective is to ensure that those scientists do not end up working for EoM… by any means necessary.”