Issue #59
Welcome back! The Tribune staff has returned from a much needed vacation, and is happy to present you with the latest issue of the Tiacken Tribune. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those pilots who have submitted stories and submitted to interviews. Without all of your help, the Tribune would barely get off the ground. Now, onto the news.
Exo Crabs Assault Polaris, Citizens Flee in Terror…
As many readers are aware, I took a short vacation last week. Where did I go? I was in Polaris, just flying lazily around lane, doing some mapping, when SMACK… something rammed headfirst into the cockpit of The Lash. My initial impressions were that a misguided Ska’ari had been jettisoned. On closer examination I realized that the exocrab scourge had reached the Lane cluster. Apparently no field of exotic matter is safe from the infectious brutes.
This, of course, is only half of the story. With the exocrabs came a slew of medium-skilled fighters, looking to hone their skills or claim a few crab kills. Misplaced aggression towards the Ska’ari is the most oft cited reason for the vast influx of pilots. With the pilots, however, come the pirates. Tribune sources indicate that pirates love the gatherings around the exocrabs. Thus, those pilots hoping to bag their first exocrab often become someone else’s prey.
The Tribune would like to caution all pilots flying near Polaris. Beware of the exocrabs…and the company they keep!
The Inquisition
I had been flying for days in search of the mysterious Inquisitor Vorbis – he had agreed to grant me an interview for the Tribune, and the growing number of Inquisitors had intrigued me. I flew under a flag of truce, and was presently intercepted by an Inquisitor I did not know. He blindfolded me and ushered me through a seeming labyrinth of passages until we stopped. I was told to sit, and did. Surprisingly, given the spartan nature of the inquisition, I found that I was seated in a rather comfy chair in the midst of a dank dungeon. The blindfold was removed and I was told that Inquisitor Vorbis would be with me presently. When he arrived, he lost little time in letting me know that he knew my past misdeeds. I shrugged it off and launched into the interview.
Tribune: Hello Inquisitor.
Inquisitor Vorbis blinked and grunted his response.
Tribune: I’ve heard rumors that the Inquisition is making a resurgence. Is there any truth to this? If so, what prompted it?
Vorbis: Indeed, the Inquisition is growing again. Just a few months ago, the entire fighting force of the Inquisition consisted of a piranha and a VDC, but we have grown in numbers, skills, and equipment. Our activities will not be frequent, due to the ongoing need to train, but we work tirelessly; we cannot be stopped forever. Nothing specific prompted our growth, only the opening of a few pilots’ eyes. These pilots’ continuous training will guarantee our steady growth in power.
Tribune: Why do you feel the Inquisition is a necessary organization in our universe?
Inquisitor Vorbis: Slavers are destroying our people. No race is safe from their insatiable greed. You should know this better than any.
Here, Vorbis gave me a particularly menacing look. A retort sprung hotly to my lips, but I swallowed my pride. He who seeks the lion’s den should not bring steaks…
Tribune: Ahem. How does one go about becoming an inquisitor?
Inquisitor Vorbis: Joining the alliance is not difficult. If you have a history of pirating, or dealing in illegal goods, then you must publicly denounce these activities and take reasonable steps to make amends with people you have offended. Once in the alliance, you must, of course, abide by our published code of conduct. Becoming a fully trusted Inquisitor requires much more, but I will not elaborate on that here.
Tribune: I see. So there is a chance at retribution for all. Is there a new crusade on the horizon?
Inquisitor Vorbis: I am not Thomas von Mistont. I respect everything he did, but I have my own form of leadership. Circumstances have changed as well. We will fight in the way that will best help end slavery.
Tribune: Well thank you for your time Inquisitor. I know you are very busy.
I stood to leave. Vorbis also stood and motioned for someone to come and blindfold me again. As we were waiting, Vorbis looked at me once more. “Before you go, I would like to recall a brief report on me this week by GNN. They claimed I had defeated my first slave trader, and I would like to let everyone know that this report was a lie. I assure you he was not my first, and is far from the last.”
This time the Inqusitor’s look was venomous. I knew me welcome was spent, and spent several of the tensest moments in my life being escorted, sightless, down seemingly endless corridors. The Inquistors, however, were true to their word. I found myself at The Lash once again, and lost no time in setting the autopilot to the South Pardus Rim.
Announcements:
Good luck nickpan!
Tyr Vek placed an ENORMOUS bounty on nickpan’s head this week. We at the Tribune are sure that every bounty hunter in the galaxy is heading after the 554,687 credit reward, and would like to wish our publisher the best of luck in evading the collection efforts.
Slaves of Lahola, tremble in fear. Your doom is descending once more. We have doubled our efforts and discovered great interest in our cause. But our resolve has not faltered. You will learn to value your lives. You will learn that the only course available to you is revolution. You will know what it means to suffer. Understand these things. Make the right choice or perish.
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March 28th, 2006 at 4:23 am
When would you guys change the name to Lahola Tribune?
March 28th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Hopefully never…and where can I get some information about CASH?….