Author: Vladimir Korff

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The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part IV

Ammatar Holy Dome

Of Quiet Nights Long Past

Devoid region — Kisana constellation
Lisudeh system — Planet IV — Moon 4
Theology Council Tribunal station — Dr Canius’s office

5 September YC 127

“What?” I said, feeling the blood rushing to my face.

I was incredulous. I was frustrated. I was angry. That son of a bitch lied to me!

I moved menacingly towards the Doctor with my fists clenched. I was closer than ever to resorting to direct physical violence. Probably, the Doctor saw that in my face, as he tried to raise his hands in a placating gesture. Then he realised that he still held the statuette in one hand and that it looked like he was threatening to hit me with it. Canius hastily placed the statuette on the desk and babbled. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part IV”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part III

Ancient Tomb Dig Site

Recovery

Devoid region — Kisana constellation
Lisudeh system — Planet IV — Moon 4
Theology Council Tribunal station

5 September YC 127

Yesterday, I didn’t rush to complete Doctor Canius’s mission. Instead, I rented a room at a nearby hotel for the night and asked Aura to arrange installation of the relic analyser provided by the Doctor in place of the kinetic shield amplifier.

This morning, refreshed after a good night’s sleep in a luxurious bed, I entered my dock and froze. For a few moments, I glared at an ugly protrusion on Kaukokärki‘s side and then called Aura on the commlink. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part III”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part II

Theology Council Tribunal Station

New Friends

Derelik Region — San Matar constellation
Tanoo System — Planet V — Moon 1
Ammatar Consulate Bureau

4 September YC 127

“It’s done,” I said walking into Dovirch Anselm’s office. “Now, tell me where I can find Dagan.”

I was pretty annoyed by Anselm’s so-called mission — it made me feel guilty. I was sorry that I unknowingly killed an innocent person, but that was an honest mistake. The agent said as much but nevertheless he pressed me into delivering Mizara’s doll to her parents as if it was a penance. I deeply disliked the man and wanted to conclude my dealings with him as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Anselm deemed it necessary to regale me with Mizara’s life story, intermingled with many pauses and thoughtful stares. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part II”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part I

Mizaras Parents Home 2

A Matter of Decorum

Derelik Region — San Matar constellation
Tanoo System — Planet V — Moon 1
Ammatar Consulate Bureau

4 September YC 127

My last mission was not really urgent — as Keita Eslin said, by the time I reached the Ammatar agent, he would already know that I was the one who killed Mizara. Nevertheless, Keita made half the payment conditional on my delivering the message within six hours. I had a suspicion that she simply wanted to get me off her station as soon as possible, which was understandable after Aura’s glorious, and successful, attempt to crack mercenaries’ encrypted files that paralysed the whole station. Whatever Keita’s motives were, I didn’t have any reason to stay in Hek any longer, so soon enough I was on my way to Tanoo. En route, I followed the agent’s advice and made a fresh infomorph backup at one of Sisters of Eve stations. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: A Breach of Trust — Part I”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part XI

Certificate of Death

Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Planet IV
Krusual Tribe Bureau

4 September YC 127

I may sound like a broken record but I am fresh out of polite words which can describe my circumstances. So please bear with me while I am repeating myself: I hoped to finally get information on the whereabouts of Dagan today; instead, I’ve got another mission. If you think that was a joke, wait until you hear what mission Keita Eslin prepared for me. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part XI”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part X

Recruitment and Training Facility

Thwarting the Succession

Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Planet IV
Krusual Tribe Bureau

1 September YC 127

I hoped to finally get information on the whereabouts of Dagan today; instead, I got another mission. I tried to contact Keita Eslin several times in the morning but her commlink just gave me an auto-reply, informing me that its mistress was extremely busy and would get back to me as soon as she could find some time in her packed schedule. Frustrated, I made my way to Keita’s office and confronted her. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part X”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part IX

Marked for Death

Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Mission location

31 August YC 127

“Wow!” I exclaimed when we arrived to our destination.

It was the first time I saw an Amarr Tactical Outpost. Despite its military designation, it was as pretty as a bonbon box, sharply contrasting with the rugged looks of the Minmatar station I had just left.

Amarr Tactical Outpost
Amarr Tactical Outpost

“Beautiful,” Aura agreed.

“It will be a shame to destroy it.” Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part IX”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VIII

Krusual Tribe Bureau
Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Planet IV
Krusual Tribe Bureau

30 August YC 127

In the end, I had to have a serious conversation with Aura. It was clear that Keita Eslin did not believe for a second that Aura’s software was unmodified. The agent let it slide because it was not in her best interest to kick up a stink, but next time we might not be that lucky. We agreed that in future any Aura’s actions which could be interpreted as a behaviour of a rogue AI should be explicitly approved by me with a certified command record on my commlink. Such an arrangement not only gave me better supervision over Aura’s riskier endeavours, but also protected her from persecution. It might look like I was taking a bullet for her, but in my experience, the powers that be had much more tolerance to capsuleers’ antics than to AI’s shenanigans, what with rogue drones being a constant reminder of the consequences of an uncontrolled AI evolution. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VIII”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VII

Krusual Tribe Bureau
Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Planet IV
Krusual Tribe Bureau

30 August YC 127

Keita Eslin put her commlink on the desk and dialled a number. A holo of a dishevelled Krusual guy appeared above the desk.

“Hi, Harkul. How are you doing?” Keita greeted him.

“If you are calling about the computer malfunction, I am already on it. It’s a Sev 1 incident, everything is down,” Harkul said without looking at us.

“Oh, right. Yes, I was calling about the array. I am glad that it’s your shift. We are in safe hands.”

The guy scoffed, “I wish I had your confidence,” and terminated the connection.

“Who was that?” I asked. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VII”

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The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VI

Krusual Tribe Bureau
Metropolis region — Barvigrard constellation
Hek system — Planet IV
Krusual Tribe Bureau

30 August YC 127

Seeing that I was in a company of Keita Eslin, Aura assumed a blandly polite expression and said in a neutral tone, “Good morning, Captain. How can I be of service?”

Hiding my smile, I said, “You may be of great service if you help us understand how these files,” I pointed at the screen, “appeared in my combat logs.”

Without batting an eye, Aura said, “Unfortunately, I am not aware of the circumstances in which they were produced, Captain.”

I stared at her for a few moments and said, “And now answer this question as if we were talking privately.” Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Shifting Foundations — Part VI”

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