Outlaws

Pirate. Never had the term been so open for debate, so unclouded until the night 3 carriers belonging to the Vera Cruz capsuleer alliance tried to take on the Amarr Militia, and disappeared in bright blue flashes. Several members of the TLF had also shown up on the scene, attacking the carriers as well, to ensure their names were put on the CONCORD rosters for those responsible for the kill. It was commonly referred to as ‘whoring,’ and was a common practice for those who obsessed over their ship-to-ship combat statistics.

A member of a groan-inducing capsuleer alliance had also shown up, and was buzzing around the militia fleet in his Angel cartel designed Dramiel-class frigate. Once the carriers were down, the FC gave the clearance to engage the Dramiel at will to remove his blight from our presence. Several pilots shot at him, myself included. With no ‘official’ war against this alliance (at the moment, it’s common enough for them to stick their nose in militia affairs that they are Kill On Sight to the entire militia), the pilots that did engage were tagged by CONCORD with a Global Criminal Countdown (GCC), giving us fifteen minutes of outlaw status.

At the time, there was a capsuleer corporation known as ‘EVE University’ patrolling the area. EVE University functioned as an advanced form of the basic capsuleer academies; instructing its pilots in the subtleties of capsuleer combat and industry. The University never engages without allowance by CONCORD, instead relying on either pirates to engage them or seeking outlaws. Those of us who had fired upon the Dramiel were ‘outlaws’ now for disregarding CONCORDS strict rules of engagement, even if the target had been a long-time enemy of the militia and the Empire.

EVE University no doubt saw the GCC tags placed on us by CONCORD, and set about looking, their prey rather scarce otherwise. Captain Condor Amarr, a longtime Praetorian in PIE Inc, sat in a ‘safe spot’ deep in space, waiting off his countdown, his Apocalypse-class battleship already a bit battered by the previous engagement with the carriers. With no TLF in the system and friendlies all around, I’m sure he felt safe. Even all the pirates in the system had been scoured from space by our fleet. Only the ships of EVE University shared the Kourmonen system with us.

Suddenly, however, his scarred battleship was beset by numerous Battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, and frigates. In his shape, and against such a great number, he stood no chance. The twenty-one ships of the ‘EVE Uni’ fleet soon destroyed the Apocalypse. Our fleet was furious, and we demanded answers as to why EVE Uni would fire upon a vessel belonging to PIE, a known Amarrian loyalist and anti-pirate organization. Their FC’s reply came simply:

“We’re hunting outlaws, and we destroyed one.”

Captain Amarr had been tagged by CONCORD as an outlaw; the same CONCORD that lets the self-declared anarchist alliance that the Dramiel belonged to roam free throughout space. However, to anyone who knew anything, Condor was no outlaw. No piracy had taken place, his aggression against the anti-Empire Dramiel completely justified. CONCORD disagreed, and so, it seems, did EVE University. Our fleet rapidly regrouped and began pursuit, but the University, facing an actual fight, fled, and took safe haven in high security space, where CONCORD vessels would have made short work of our fleet. They wanted to hunt outlaws, and had they faced us, our entire fleet would have been marked such by CONCORD. They wanted no fight, however, and fled like the cowards they are.

‘Pirate.’ The incident made me realize just how open to debate the word can be. To EVE University, anyone with the GCC tag was an outlaw. It makes me think about those I’ve seen with the tag. Were they truly pirates, or were they merely engaging enemies of their corporations that weren’t officially sanctioned by CONCORD, as the Captain and I had? Had I ever engaged someone with the GCC tag, aggressing them because I thought them pirates, when they had only been practicing the common Rules of Engagement known as ‘NRDS,’ Not-Red-Don’t-Shoot?

Regardless, I shall continue on as I have operated before. Under the banner of NRDS, and engaging those with the GCC tag that I believe to be pirates. However, unlike EVE University, I know the politics of the area, and will make informed decisions. I know the pirate organizations, and I will engage when needed. CONCORD allows all sorts people into their space freely, even anarchists who wish to see CONCORD burn. Sometimes, I can sympathize with that attitude, especially now.

With no apology and no reimbursement from EVE University for the PIE vessel they destroyed, PIE itself has set them to be KOS for their pilots. Many militia members, outraged by the event, view EVE University in the same light. I used to balk at engaging them, believing them to be naïve pilots who only wish to learn and do what’s right. After this incident, their naiveté has been confirmed; their will to do good, denied. I shall hesitate no longer.