Loyalist?

The frown on Raphael’s face was lit by the dull glow of the security screen, playing the feed from the Public Hall. Once finding out about such organizations as Electus Matari having agents visit the Public Hall, Raphael had made it a point to make sure the security systems were top-notch, that even if certain people weren’t kept out, they’d be closely monitored, their every move within the Keep documented. He’d even made himself somewhat of a security chief, using his capsuleer status and position within the Knighthood to get reports from the security details, and greasing the palms of those who could not be persuaded on status alone.

The feed playing on the screen has from the previous night, and it showed Shalee Lianne, Divine Commodore of the Amarr Militia, conversing in the Public Hall with a minmatar capsuleer. Facial recognition software identified him as Kuan Yida, Talon Commander of the Tribal Liberation Front. It also brought up a link to a data stream put out by the Commander himself. Curious, Raphael brought it up to look it over as he watched the silent feed from the night before.

The information found sickened him; numerous accounts of meetings and exchanges between the Commander and the Commodore. He got engrossed in the information, and once he had finished it he had to rewatch the security feed. He didn’t like what he saw: friendly conversation, sharing drinks, and a seeming pleasant encounter, with Yida being treated as if he were not an enemy of the state, but an ally.

Raphael considered all the information he had just absorbed; the two times Shalee and Yida had dinner together, the shared, friendly exchanges of mails. He sat in silence as he wondered why a loyalist such as Shalee would engage in such. Then he scoffed. In what way did ‘loyalist’ even apply to her, anymore? Sure, she was currently fighting in the 24th Imperial Crusade, but many pirates and degenerates did the same. She drank and palled around with VETO pirates. She involved herself with a Minmatar General, Eran Mintor, and seemed on track to do it again, with Kuan Yida. She had more friends among pirates and dissidents than she did among loyalists and crusaders.

He sank into his chair, his stomach tying itself into a knot whilst concurrently attempting back flips. He thanked God he hadn’t had a chance to eat that day, lest he’d taste it a second time now. He stared at her image on the screen. Shalee Lianne. He had once been engaged to this woman, and even now, after all she had done to him, still loved her. She had been his real reason for joining the Knighthood. He had hoped to rekindle things with her, and it was all the easier now that Eran had betrayed her several times over. However, dark thoughts now crept into his mind. What kind of woman was she now…and did he really want anything to do with her anymore?