Forcing the hand

Well, they finally got to me.



Was on a regular patrol in Providence, and had been running fine all day. After a brief break to reload and refuel, I returned to patrol.



I didn't notice that all external communications had ceased to function. That I wasn't recieving any incoming comms. Including the intelligence channels.



So I didn't know about the large Triumvirate fleet waiting dead ahead.



A new ship, gone. A new clone, inhabited.


I checked later on. Subsace comm relays had ceased to function several minutes beforehand. However, self diagnostics reported that they were functioning. Which means someone was fooling with it.





Whoever this is intends to force my hand. To push me to the point where getting this Insorum would be to great a cost.

I'm not going to let them. Oh, yes, they've forced my hand, but not in the way they expect. Electus Matari has not responded, and I am not going to give this up. I am going to be forced to find another source.

Aside from the Matari, there are only handful of others I know of who might have Insorum. The Jove aren't going to respond to me. The Elders, really the Republic... they would never trust me. Or would demand far to much to gain that trust.

That leaves criminals. Not a group I favor dealing with, except to enforce the law. But then, we are capsuleers, a law unto ourselves.
The Cartel would be my next option. They are the only others who might have a sample of Insorum... and be willing to deal with me.
A few more days, and then I'll have to make a choice I really don't think I'm ready to make.