The Tiacken Tribune

Hello readers old and new. Our secondary shareholder, Sylos, convinced us to open up the presses again, and so we have returned. If you’re a Tribune fan, you have him to thank. If you aren’t…well…explain your presence, read the archives, and become one…then thank Sylos. As a note, we’re going to be trying something a little different at the Tribune as I rank for admiral. We’re going to offer to pay our contributors (and all of you shareholders thought I absconded with the money). The Tribune will take donations in the form of credits or talent. Please contact our editor-in-chief, Eldritch, or our new managing editor, Zardoz, for details. That aside, we present to you this week’s rather brief edition of the Tribune.

An Interview With Zeris (Lord Steel)

TT: So what made you part ways with QI and are you still on good terms with them?

Zeris: I left to create Penumbra and try out a few ideas. Quinto Imperio was easygoing for me, but in the end, I wanted to do something other than just work the usual statistic grinding. I just went out and did it. I am not really comfortable discussing what I’m trying to accomplish though in the long run. However, I do not mind discussing some of my short-term projects and goals.
I left on good terms with QI. We squared away the debts and parted ways. I still have some friends from the “good old days,” and I like to write them a few messages now and then to keep in touch.

TT: You talked about a war with Red Cell. have you been in a lot of fights and if so what one are you most proud of?

Zeris: Relatively speaking, I have not been in a lot of fights. I did ambush for bounties, ambush for “pirates,” participate in a couple of minor military operations and was in the attack on Beethti. I got used to fighting in groups and I usually wasn’t the guy scoring the kill. Some people sneer on the idea of acting in a “pack” as being “newbish,” but they can suck on it.

My proudest fight was when I contributed my Doomstar to the invasion on Beethti. The Mooninites were not well-liked and I think a lot of people where happy to see them leave Beethti. The sheer turnout of fighters was quite the spectacle, as archived pictures can attest to. The war also proved that fully-maxed MO’s weren’t nearly as invincible as previously believed.

TT: Do you have a lot of foes? any one person stand out to you as” just in need of killing”?

Zeris: While I never was celebrated for my argumentative nature the way the retired Grimjack was, I did like giving people a piece of my mind now and then. But for the most part, this didn’t really create a lot of long-lasting enemies.

As for the second question — I’ll just stick to an answer so politically correct that it won’t even offend the person I single out. That person is Bobo.

Bobo does not play the same game that most pilots play. Instead, he presents a façade, plays on other people’s fears and insecurities to get them to act irrationally and then laugh about it afterwards. It amuses him because he’s not as strong or powerful as people assume he is. His fighting skills are pretty weak and his lifestyle earns him a lot of enemies. I suspect that he’s not nearly as confident or cocksure as he pretends to be.

For the most part, I just assume whatever his intentions are on the surface, he’s out to screw me. So just kill him on sight. Bargaining with him just gives him leverage to screw with you over later and I pity anyone who thinks that there’s anything to gain by sheltering Bobo.

TT: What are your thoughts on the three factions?

Zeris: They’re all basically the same. This is not something most Admirals would be caught dead saying in public, but I happen to be a cynic.

People love the idea of an omnipotent nation-state, but nobody really feels obligated to work at making their factions a better place. In practice, I don’t really believe factions behave in the best interest of their members. Seems like the biggest hypocrites are the ones who talk the loudest about how noble they are.

Patriotism is also usually just a means to end to the powerful and influential pilots. The short-sighted misers use patriotism to squabble over money. Other people use patriotism as an excuse to kill for sport. Other people will latch onto anything that will create a cohesive story of their supremacy. The one constant thing about the three factions is that they will all use spin to cover the fact that people basically suck, regardless of color or creed.

TT: What are your thoughts on slaves?

Zeris: I’m neither for them nor against them. Apathy best describes my position.

TT: I see you run Penumbra. Whats their “claim to fame” if you will?

Zeris: As we are still a new alliance, I don’t really have much of a “claim to fame.” Things can be tough from the get-go but I’ve been pouring a lot of my own effort and money into making Penumbra work.

We operate mainly out of Nex Kataam at current and are looking to expand our “territories” later. While NK is an open-sector economy, in some ways, it really does not seem much different from a nooked economy. Our buildings have been relatively “pirate”-free and the sector is better off now than it has ever been.

In addition, I have a lot of great and dedicated members. Good help is hard to find, so any real leader should appreciate what they have.

Thinh has been a fixture blowing hot air into GC for some time, and he and I hit off pretty well. He can be trusted with large sums of money and that’s always a plus.

Alvin is Thinh’s cousin and he joined shortly after Thinh did. It’s pretty useful to hand a message to one cousin so that they can relay it to the other. They can also be counted to work together.

Viyeni is a charming and intelligent young lady, as evidenced by her profile. I loaned her money, although she was only still a new member at the time, and she was quick to pay me back on it.

Power Player is a dedicated “supporting player.” He does not mind augmenting other people’s powers instead of hogging all the glory for himself. He’s given up a lot of his free time to help make the alliance work.

Grunks is the former leader of the Babylon Rogues they were merged into Penumbra. He has been eyeing Nex Kataam as a place to settle down, so his goals happened to coincide with mine. He too, has given up a lot of his time to help supply labor to whatever task needed doing.

The Tribune would like to thank Admiral Zeris for the time he took to give us this insight into his alliance. We’re confident that Penumbra will fulfill both its short and long term goals, though the latter remains shrouded in mystery.

The Tiacken Tribune Presents! (Tribune Staff)

We’re on to our 3rd installment of the top 100 series, where we will break down the top 100 pilots in Pardus. We apologize for the delay, but uncovered a grisly scheme involving waffles, cupcake frosting, and several dozen million credits being extorted from the hard working oasis owners of Zirr. Anyhoo, all of that intrigue aside, we proudly present this installment of our continuing series. Congratulations to all pilots who made the list!

#80 Keekoo - Best known for his legendary scam involving Wit, Keekoo rocketed through the ranks of the galaxy’s richest pilot to sit squarely atop the pile. Nobody has been able to knock him from the spot yet, but since Keekoo has been seen roaming the universe in a hawk, we’re sure he’s hard at work spending Wit’s hard-earned credits.

#79 Kaiser Sose - Leader of the Sindarin Trade Society, the alliance that basically controls the economy of most relevant spots in the west Pardus Rim, Ms. Sose deals with bloodthirsty mercenary neighbors to the south, and long time moonie presence to the North. Sandwiched between these two violent neighbors, Kaiser Sose has still managed to lead STS into fruitful sector management. Also makes dynamite cinnamon rolls.

#78 Squire Jack - What list would be complete without the edition of the long time, oft-reincarnated Squire Jack. This visionary began the Pardus Radio Station (now defunct), and his legendary prowess to stir up trouble by simply entering a sector is second to none. Squire Jack is perhaps most famous for his economic disruption skills, and for the fact that in a BBB he managed to defeat a Z-16 Fighter.

#77 Arkridge - Son of the Union, former Slaver, and former wealthiest pardusian, Arkridge earned his money the old-fashioned way…through the suffering of others. Arkridge was the single richest member of the former Tiacken Slave Traders, widely renowned as the single richest alliance in Pardus history. Word on the street is that Arkridge has turned the skills he learned as a member of TST on his crew members. The result is a pilot in a scorpion that few should mess with.

#76 Solourus - Though this member of the Free Trade Syndicate largely keeps to himself, he is perhaps the oldest known active denizen of the universe. This alone earns him a spot on the list. Solourus has seen things that very very very few others have. Just stay off his lawn.

#75 Oneeyedshooter - The leader of Stuffz is a force to be reckoned with. Legend tells that he lost his left eye during a duel with the legendary Paradis, but no real evidence suggests to support that claim. Other, more lewd definitions of his name’s origin can be found scrawled on bathroom stalls on Tiacken I.

#74 Pvt Stash - Pvt Stash was the long-time owner of Triad City, a Starbase near Sol that helped the human core become what it is today…well…what it was in its prime at least.

#73 Vorenus Shepherd - Vorenus Shepherd was one of the founding members of the Union, and served in several alliances before striking out on his own. Where his travels will take him now, none can say.

#72 Daishine - Pronounced Day-Shine (if he really likes you), Daishine has long been one of the Emperor’s finest. A complete listing of his virtues would encompass far more room that is allowed for his number on the list, so if you want to know more about this pilot, the Tribune encourages you to undertake your own research…you people can’t be spoon fed everything you know.

#71 Tsunami - Tsunami’s long service in the Empire has earned him numerous awards, and, we’re told, a personal commendation from the Emperor. Yet Tsunami abandoned the life of servitude to a figurehead and replaced it with life in service of awesomeness. Enter Nemesis. We’re told that Tsunami fits right in there and is continuing to make his enemies fear encounters with him across the spacelanes.

Coming Soon…the NEXT INSTALLMENT!!! Did YOU make the list!?

Warship Down!
A story involving the Kevorkian/arthurv destruction of the Lucidi Warship was meant to go here. I met arthurv shortly after the epic encounter. The universe shuddered around us as the newswires buzzed. Yet only the Tribune had the clout to get the story from the horse’s mouth. So we sat down, over a very expensive dinner of skaviar and champagne imported from Keldana II, to discuss the truth behind the encounter. I’m told that MERC billed some unsuspecting customer for the spread…the Tribune thanks whoever that was. Anyhow, as we sat there, I noticed that arthurv was making little sense. After the third time he directed the potted plant to our left to bring more drinks, his eyes glazed over and he fell, twitching, to the floor. Obviously, this reporter has been around long enough that if a MERC drops convulsing at your feet, the prudent move is to beat feet. So I did. And thus, I have no story…I am told, however, that arthurv is recovering well and plans to recount his experience to the Tribune once he is able.