In Memoriam

Region: Genesis

Location: Pakhshi IX – Moon 20 – CONCORD Bureau

Date: 12.05.117

Time: 15:22

A loud chime sounded in the room, rousing Sahriah from her sleep. She rolled over slowly, arching her back and stretching. The beds here were stiffer then she was used to, and her back was aching, the result of a restless sleep. The chime sounded again, this time seemingly louder, and she propped herself up in bed hitting the dismiss button on her neocom. The time read ‘15:31’. 

The Pakhshi Peace Conference had been running for three days now and so far with mixed results. Run by The Honourable Dr. Arkon Sarain, its aim was to develop, support and pursue an honest discussion regarding a path to peace. In addition it sought to cultivate a plan, through the use of various commissions proposed by the delegates, to de-escalate tensions between capsuleers and provide a workable roadmap for reconciliation. 

As with all high profile events, this one had attracted an assortment of politically and emotionally driven participants each peddling their own agendas beneath the cloak of co-operation. The first official conference, which had occurred two days ago, had been set aside for delegates to provide an introductory speech stating which entity they represented (if any) and why they were attending. Naturally the conference, which was scheduled for a total of two hours in duration, ran for five, and in addition to the general conversations that followed afterwards, most had not returned to their quarters until quite late. The second day was focused on the creation of commissions which would serve as the basis for identifying and discussing issues deemed vital to peace. Delegates were permitted to put forth a statement on why a particular commission should be created and in turn the rest of the room was able to comment, amend and finally vote on its creation.

Sahriah picked up her neocom, calling up the previous days notes. Thirty-one delegates along with two special observers comprised the committee that would attempt to hash out a mutually agreeable roadmap for the issues ahead. In addition, various press and members of the public were authorized to sit in on the debates and although not allowed to speak during the chamber sessions, were able to interact with the participants before and after each conference. 

She scrolled down her list of notes slowly, recalling each delegate along with their affiliations and stated goals. It was a large amount of information to memorize and it would grow each day the conference continued, but this was her speciality. As the minutes for each session were recorded, Sahriah periodically shifted her attention away from the speakers and to the inaudible interactions of the other delegates. From the congregation of Ammarians quietly whispering in the corner of the room, to disapproving frowns, quick glances and late comers: each told a silent story on the politics at play around her. Who were friends? Who were enemies? A good hunter always understood her prey.

She had avoided using the personal computers provided to each member during the chamber sessions, instead using it only to transfer the meetings minutes across to her personal Necom. Trust was a scarce thing these days and with the conference being held inside a CONCORD station she was sure the lines of communication would be monitored.

A number of delegates had caught Sahriah’s attention during the opening speeches and three in particular shared goals in line with her own. Davlos, a representative from the alliance Mercenary Coalition clearly recognized the threat CONCOND represented to the cluster and the disruption it caused to the natural progression and dissolution of war. Emmaline Fera, of the Interstellar Expeditionary Group, specifically addressed the Drifter threat and called for a serious discussion on the role that capsuleers must play in it, and finally Esna Pitoojee, a delegate representing the Tash-Murkon family and the Amarr empire, spoke on the termination of petty conflicts between the factions and urged the cluster to focus on the true emergent threats of our time, including the Rouge drones, Sleepers and of course, the Drifters. 

Exercising the diplomatic skills she had picked up during her time as a mercenary, her own speech had been tailored to a very specific purpose as well. The empires negligence in managing CONCORD and had resulted in the entity becoming a fully self-sustaining police force that often made its own laws and enforced them with no need to explain itself. More recently however the DED had completely ignored the fact that Eifyr & Co had purposely withheld a video that contained critical information on an amassing Drifter fleet in Anoikis and even went as far as to arrest those that liberated this information into the public view. If she could steer the delegates towards the call for dissolution of CONCORD as an entity, or at the very least raise serious concerns about its legitimacy, she would.

There were of course many others which sought to drag the conference down to petty infighting. To her surprise the main organizer of the event and the Chair of the General Congress, Dr. Arkon Sarain, swiftly and diplomatically diffused and separated the agitators before things could devolve too far. CEO of the Kor-Azor Roving Tribunal and Ammarian by birth, Dr. Sarain forwent the usual self-righteous stereotype of the Faithful, instead leading by example through his level-headed and compassionate nature. Although only having known him for a short time, Sahriah had quickly grown to respect Arkon, who had proven to be resourceful and charismatic leader, and she looked forward to speaking to him in the coffeehouse after each days proceedings.

After scanning through her notes, Sahriah made a quick effort to check her mails for contracts and other correspondence. The conference had taken most of her time away from her normal business activities, but she felt the potential for networking was too great to miss. Her eyes rested on one particular mail that had received no reply.

Jacob, 

I know it has been a long time since we've spoken. If you have some time, I would like see you again. I hope I’ve done nothing to permanently damage our friendship. 

Always,
Sahriah

Sighing, she flicked it off the screen and onto the Intergalactic summit and began to get dressed. Her petition to CONCORD to release The Scope employees had gathered momentum, but the DED continued to refuse the possibility releasing them before their ‘investigation’, whatever that was, was completed. Feeling a tinge of anger, she continued browsing through the IGS news, until something caught her eye that made her freeze.

Liam Antolliere : YC117 – 05 – 15:05 

It is with deep sorrow that I have the responsibility of making the following announcement: 

The Honourable Doctor Arkon Sarain, Chief Justice of the Kor-Azor Roving Tribunal and Chair of the Pahkshi Peace Conference was found dead in his private offices this morning. A thorough investigation by the security team and external forensics and investigative teams provided no leads on the culprit; there were no signs of forced entry, no forensic evidence left behind and the security footage is missing exactly sixty seconds of information, showing the doctor at his desk beginning to work at his console and then immediately showing the aftermath of the murder. 

For religious reasons, Doctor Sarain did not maintain a soft clone and so it is a great tragedy that such an outstanding and remarkable life has now been drawn to a permanent end.

Shock ran through her body as the words sunk in. They were in a CONCORD station, surrounded by not only DED security but by the conferences own personal guards and somehow the leader of a peace seminar was assassinated? Sadness slowly turned to anger as she threw her neocom on the bed, put her jacket on and stormed out of the room.

The rest of the day seemed to pass in a blur. On leaving her room she immediately ran into Aria Jenneth, a member of the press she had met the previous day. Aria sat slumped outside Arkon’s former quarters sobbing and the sight of her had immediately killed Sahriah’s rage. She had sat down beside Aria for a short time before returning to her room and sleeping the rest of the day away. At 22:00 the normal conference session was replaced with a memorial reception and although many beautiful things were said, it was of little comfort. The remainder of the night passed slowly and as she lay in bed, unable to sleep, she could hear Zenariae’s tribute to him like an echo in the back of her mind.

“Ever watch over us...

High voice of the lands and skies...

We preserve your memory...

In the roots of the world...

And foothills of our minds....

Winds carry you, dear Arkon."