Paradoxes of the faithful

Why is it that our people, those chosen to serve God, the only in the cluster to base our entire government on His edicts, are so prone to such flagrant and terrible abuses of his word?

I've been contacted by Ciarente, of all people.

Someone using Amarr-built power armors has kidnapped one of her crew along with a number of ex-slaves they were transporting. Within the Empire's borders, too. In the middle of high-sec, for that matter. How much more blatantly defy the laws of the Empire?

M'ser, you and I disagree on some things. But you've never been dishonest with me.

I suppose I should be thankful that she trusts me... but lately, between Tavrook, Mehatek, and whoever is responsible for this... It seems lately no one cares about slaves besides getting more of them and using them for personal gain.

No one cares about them being slaves, not mindless automatons. Slaves, but still human slaves.

And if my worst fears are true, no one cares what happens to them or where they go. Given the information Ciarente has provided me, I've assembled enought to trace the transport her crewmember was last seen on to Avair. Avair... Liela constellation. Asoutar, Avair, Clarelam, Ebo, Porsharrah, Rayl and Tastella. Every low-sec system in there has its moons full, and for a damn good reason.

I need to move fast. If she was taken to Avair, she could be gone quite quickly. And for he same reason we used to - I used to - deploy out of Liela, tracing exactly where she'd gone would be difficult in the extreme. Tracking down and cornering her would be... hell, near impossible if they're as smart as I am. Which, given who we're likely to be dealing with here, is quite likely.

And if it's Providence, or CVA... I don't care to have dealings with them again. Not until they pull their act together and deal with the abuses and rot in their core. Hell, at the moment Providence would be easier to slip into. I might even... *Esna chuckles softly.* I might even end up working with the 'Khan. Or at least Eliza. She's probably the only one willing to listen to me.

Anyhow, I need to move out now.