They say that if you want to write, first, read every day, and second, know what you're writing about. Guess I'm doubly screwed here! In any case, these are meant to be background tales by which to flesh out this character, and so general writing advice is desired. Also, I will attempt to adhere to the lore as best I am able, and have access to EVE: Source, but appreciate instructive criticism there as well.
The Feast of Vultures
Preface
(Ed. Intercepted transmissions from the subject to the point of contact Ligne Estemaire. Due to the nature of the encryption used, which was likely developed in tandem with other project members, the message metadata is rendered irretrievable. Thus, at this time we are only able to compile those messages originating at the trace source. Work on locating the corresponding replies has already commenced.
The following messages are assembled in what are likely to be chronological order, numbered and annotated with possible physical and temporal markers.)
1]
Ligne… this is Niscoir. Sorry for contacting out of the blue. You’re probably confused as to why you’re receiving an encoded mail from an old classmate. Hopefully, you remember me… they were... wild times, as I recall. We took a few units of political philosophy together… ‘Morals & Ethics’ with Tisou, ‘Essentials of Government’ with Stenier-Tian. We hit a few parties together, too… seems like a very long time ago.
Listen, this is a little unexpected, but I’m wondering if you ever did get that internship you wanted with the Scope, you mentioned it once or twice before third year. I hope that it’s worked out the way you planned. While I haven’t heard about a big break yet, I’m sure you’ll make it happen, you were always ace at finding those references.
Hey, in case you aren’t too uncomfortable with the idea, drop me a line if you’re free sometime. Would be nice to talk shop with some of the old familiar faces, even if it’s only via Neocom.
(Ed. We place this message at some point between October and December YC 114. Very little outgoing traffic from this account makes pinpointing a date unlikely.)
2]
Hi again… it’s nice to hear back from you, too. Have to say I didn’t expect very much. I’m glad you’re onboard at the Scope and are enjoying your work, and don’t worry, you’re just on the proving grounds right now. Alliance sovereignty is an enormous driver of commerce, and there are a huge number of variables within each nullsec entity. [TS] must trust your ability to keep a crew alive, at least, so your foot’s already in the door. The brass ring that puts your name on the byline, can’t be too far behind.
My family… the same as ever, and thank you for asking. That’s life outside the frenetic crush of news, commerce, and politics, I guess, but that is the way they prefer it. Simple, predictable. My health is fine, too, I think I just recorded that last message a bit too early in the morning, and work has been keeping me up late.
I had actually already looked into contacting a few of the others from the old study groups, but so far no luck… seems like they’ve gone quiet, or maybe I’ve just gotten the Neocom IDs wrong. You’re damn right about a reunion being in order, though.
Keep in touch, I’ll be around.
3]
Naturally, you’ve already found half of our cadre of troublemakers. Figures that Aurica and Sigel ended up together, but I’d be a little concerned about them going into business together, since freight can be fairly high-stakes. Time will tell, I guess. And Miles is now manufacturing for FDU… I suspect he’s living quite comfortably, shrewd man.
There was that one aide from ‘Democratic Power and Federation’ with Dr. Lenelluc… Arnaud en Chalune. He was one of the casualties on Caldari Prime I hear… damn shame. I feel for the family, to have the promise of the future pulled out from under you. Unconscionable.
Yeah, I guess I don’t say much. Life’s pretty routine. GalNet traffic analytics is a very dull affair, what else can I say?
(Ed. It appears that here 20 or more days went by between replies. We believe this was some time during April YC 115.)
4]
Sorry, things have been busy the past couple weeks. New project for backend optimization across 15 systems in Everyshore. Couple of the bigwigs have second and third homes in the quiet corners, have to make sure they have the most sound and secure connections first, right?
Appreciate the Egone mix. I’ve got it playing now.
(Ed. Again, it appears that at least 15 days went by between replies. We believe this was some time during May YC 115.)
5]
Once again, you’ve caught me in the midst of some painfully routine workweeks. The problem is the team I lead are relatively new to the work, so I’m doing double duty on every issue. Shaking my head here, but it is what it is.
Let me get back to you shortly, we’re almost through this optimization cycle.
(Ed. Estimate early June YC 115.)
6]
First, I understand why you’re angry. I don’t blame you for being angry. You have every right. Second, let me stress that I am the man you attended UC with, and I’m not lying when I say I am that man. But the reasons you can’t find any record of a GalNet analyst by my name, or records after graduation… are complicated.
This isn’t the venue for a convenient explanation. Give me two hours. I’ll come up with a way to give you more, but it might be a little rusty.
7]
Alright, hopefully you’re getting this. Matari encryption is all I had on hand, no time to whip anything up.
Listen, you and I both needed you to find this out on your own. Think about why I would approach you. Think about how you would react if something like this was just laid out in front of you. Would you believe it?
The Niscoir Grancoeur you remember? He’s alive and well. He didn’t simply stop after we left university, in spite of what the ‘records’ say. It was during third year, in the midst of all the capsule acclimatization we went through, that a couple suits named from back in Villore came knocking. Louess and Schoun, but I can’t back that up. Apparently some of my papers had turned some heads in the department administration, and they pushed my name through the channels. I had a chance to work into something with the FIO, and they said I could get a free ride plus placement after graduation, with only a couple stipulations about capsuleer status. I said yes.
I don’t have time to make a full production out of this. Especially if you won’t listen. So I’m leaving the next step up to you. If you contact me again, make sure to secure the channel.
8]
I’m glad you’re up for this, because at the moment neither of us have many options outside of one another. If we can’t be friends now, maybe our past friendship is enough.
Getting things straight… I did a lot of work for the FIO after the enhancement training at the Navy. A lot. Eventually had regular dealings with their Regional Bureau Chiefs. HUMINT, op install, extraction, wetwork, you name it. The suits said I was building a skillset, something to take forward. Turns out they had something specific in mind.
We have been very fortunate, born into the Fed. We have all the liberty and safeguards afforded by the Constitution, and if we want for something, society provides the means to acquire it. But out on the Verge, there are a lot of remnants who are not so fortunate, refugees who still hunger, and that hunger can be exploited. The FIO wanted to use that hunger, and I was going to be the facilitator of that particular remedy.
Ligne… we’re a long way from Caille out here. Might be just a handful of jumps for you or me, but for many they might as well be in null space.
I’m going to stick with this formula. You verify what you have to, and if I hear from you again, I can answer your questions. But sooner or later we have to know where we’re both going with this.
9]
Okay, we can operate like that if that works best. The goal here is that someone outside the program knows something about who was involved in this mess. That’s a goal we can both agree is worth pursuing, and benefits us both. Fair enough?
We were set up in Aeschee, one jump from the CEWMPA nonsense, one jump from the President. Since we thought we were FIO, after having been set up by FIO, it made sense. We had access to FDU territory and access to the systems along the edge of Amarr space, it was a nice buffer zone to get acclimated and roll out the program.
They wanted Minnies, Sebiestor mostly, in the cockpits. Sebbies in labcoats too, though we didn’t handle the technical recruitment. Hell, other than the manifests and conference requests, I was simply told that they’d get what they requested through project liaisons directly, bypassing us altogether. They were the MSA, Tech Dev, Engineering guys. We did deployment, mission debrief when it was done.
Here’s where it really falls off the rails: when we were doing recruitment, around the eighth week, there was an advisory panel who would sit in the information briefing while we covered the candidates, and there were two Deteis of all people. Deteis, in an FIO grey-ops staff meeting of all things. I don’t have to tell you how wrong that felt.
But what did they tell us? We’re the project leads, jocks who train jocks based on the program. We’re providing a technical edge for our border pilots and possibly the rest of the Federation Navy.
Anyway, we need to change the encryption again. I don’t know how much time is left to operate, we’re coming up to a decision gate here.
10]
Yes. But here’s the thing, the more we pushed ahead with the program, which they called Wayfarer, and the more contact we had with Louess and Schoun, it became apparent just how little contact we were having with anyone else in any official capacity. No one from Navy, FIO, the Republic or Tribes, any of them. The more I think about it, this isn’t about Hawks versus Doves at all.
Listen, this is getting to the point that I don’t trust our SIGINT to provide clean comms anymore. We need a sit-down, and I can give you real details to work with. I won’t have a substantial window, maybe 18 hours, maybe less. Onne III, mid-morning, one week from today.
In case things go dark, here’s a little insurance: Laraert, Reitufung, and the DSC.
11]
Alright, as long as you give me some time, we can work out a place more to your liking, but ignoring me isn’t productive. Just think about what we’ve discussed and choose carefully, yes?
Don’t wait too long.
{GNSP Error 018: Unresolvable address. No such ID. Please check the ID and try again.}
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{GNSP Error 018: Unresolvable address. No such ID. Please check the ID and try again.}
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(Ed. Contact neutralized 14 August YC 115)