Clarification of State Repatriation

Fiction Portal Intergalactic Summit
1

Saisa Summit,

I am busy putting out several fires at the moment and don’t wish to bore you with private details that aren’t of particular relevance to the topic at hand. No need for me to get on my soap box or for purple prose, just soliciting information from fellow immortals.

Let’s say a private military contractor was abroad for roughly one decade in the Republic, outlying Republic territories, and in regions of Placid. Perhaps they were engaged with non-state entities, or unrecognized regional powers as contracted paramilitaries. I think that’s a valid hypothetical, I mean I don’t think anyone would argue that several State-affiliated corporations do this all the time right? Under the State’s general repatriation order, State citizen are expected to return from overseas in support of the greater Caldari national project. Infomorphs are not bound to this order as independent sovereign entities, of course, but the expectation is that any true Statesman would return to support its people in this time of need. Regardless of what activity an infomorph might have engaged with in the pursuit of independent business, it is commendable for them to return home in support of this repatriation effort. Doing so wouldn’t even necessarily have to mean the end of their prior business arrangements so long as they assisted in safeguarding the interests of the State from its enemies.

So let’s say this private military contractor is also an infomorph. Let’s say over the course of their overseas career they’ve amassed a wealth of information on both unrecognized powers, non-state entities, and rival foreign governments. Certainly Caldari Customs has eased restrictions on the transfer of private property, capital, and equipment to assist all Statesmen in returning home. Tell me, to the best of anyone’s knowledge here does that apply to information and intelligence as well? What measures, if any, are in place on the assured transfer of information assets for repatriated citizens? Are there any amnesty policies in place? How does the CEP’s ongoing dispute with the DED over sovereignty and jurisdiction impact this process?

It’s just I work in intelligence, so this seems like answers I should know. So many questions. The world wonders.

Rikaato.

1 Like
2

Contract 36-A, Form B-1, Sections 17, 21, and 63, Mr. Eskola-Fae. Just a reading suggestion… I’m sure Ms. Edifice would be inclined to remind you as well.

1 Like
3

I have never once, at any point, now or in the future ever read the terms of a contract before I sign it. That is why I have the eggheaded rubes here on the summit explain things for me like I’m holding court. Except the person reading this right now, your input is valid and I appreciate the contribution.

Rest assured though if it’s a Non Disclosure Agreement you can tell Eddie there’s no need to worry. I’m just asking questions. Also, I’m a professional spook but I’m not a snitch.

4

You’re quite welcome.

3 Likes
5

I’ve yet to read of Caldari Customs agents confiscating someone’s brain for Knowing Too Much.

So you should probably be OK.

1 Like
6

Well. Never say never. People talk every now and again in hushed tones about what happens when Red Troop intercepts a warclone consciousness and puts you on ice.

In fact, yeah, that’s right everyone. Valerie asks a very good question and makes a very good point! What would happen if, say, State repatriation would potentially conflict with an entity like Red Troop? Given Red Troop’s history of using their operations as a cover to violate State sovereignty and interfer in the development of advanced technology? Didn’t they just try to forcibly seize the State’s research data? What if a returning citizen had information that would potentially provide a strategic and technical edge to the State much to the chagrin of the DED or SARO?

That’s a very good question, Val, thank you for asking that!

7

Pilot Galm Eskola-Fae

Saisa.

Be confident that the state will take of itself, no matter the temporary inconvenience.

Secondly, prove your worth, and isk, and non-prescribed outlands activities can be appropriately classified on relevant documentation.

Why do you want to return?

1 Like
8

Liar. :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
9

First of all I appreciate you’re candor and willingness to give your professional advice, fellow statesman.

Tragically, by circumstance or fate I was separated from the Caldari State during the course of the Triglavian Invasion. Since then I have been the victim of a harrassment campaign by the Black Eagles and the SDII including open conflict during the Athounon campaign. With offers of State repatriation, its my intention that I might return to offer my technical knowledge and experience to work together again against our common enemy-- The Federation.

Is this something, in your professional opinion, that you think are suitable grounds for repatriation? Based on your background, what are your thoughts on State Repatriation for citizens lost or separated during the Invasions?

Hmm. Ehm. Meh. What can I say, I’ve mellowed out a lot lately.

1 Like
10

Explain.

1 Like
11

Must I?

Alright, I was involved in a bit of a quagmire dealing with the government of the Minmatar Republic. At the time, mind you, the Republic were formal allies of the Federation and thus enemies of the State. After a period of prolonged conflict against hostile military and intelligence service, wouldn’t you know it the damned star system I was in got pulled into Space Hell.

It took a long time to dig myself out of that pit but here I am, at the very moment where the state is… lets say refining its clarity of purpose and in need of experienced soldiers to combat our true enemies.

12

Translation: He and a bunch of other warclones decided to set up their own little fiefdom in Skarkon and insisted they weren’t subject to the lawful administration of justice by the Republic, because :Thukker: reasons. Hell, at one point he was personally sponsoring attempts to assassinate high-level officials of the nation he resided in because he took exception to being required to obey the law.

And then the Trigvasion happened, and he threw in with the Trigs, hyping up the superiority of their cultural philosophy (cladistic proving), but now he totally thinks the State should trust him! Really!

I haven’t. :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
13

I don’t believe I ever said anything about trust. Not that I’m arguing.

Look, let’s not pretend every security contractor the State has ever worked with was entirely above board. I ain’t gonna deny my own work history, but you have to admit I’ve got the necessary qualifications along with my unique experience fighting in Pochven. Besides, as I understand things there’s a bit of an ongoing issue between the Empires and this Deathless Network. Who may or may not have been partially responsible for biting me in the ass for :Thukker: reasons to begin with. I already had my beef with Black Eagles, this is just another common cause.

Just. Keep my contact saved. Someday the State’s going to need soldiers that are faithful, effective expendable, and deniable-- and someone is going to tell you “we can only afford three.” I’ll be ready when you rule out faithful.

1 Like
14

A cultural note for foreigners (and maybe a few Caldari) without getting into the specifics of Mr. Eskola-Fae’s situation…

Mercenary work is generally regarded as a fully honorable profession in the State, so long as the mercenaries honor their contracts, don’t engage in double-dealing, etc.; it’s possibly the only culture in New Eden where that’s really the case. That acceptance comes with standards, expectations of honor and professionalism, which is why I’ve tended to prefer Caldari mercenary outfits for security work.

It’s understood that State entities compete and work at cross-purposes, and even most foreign contracts are still expected to be honored even if they bring the mercenary company into conflict with State entities (in that case it’s still in a way internal, one State business versus another, just, one’s stake in the matter is contractual).

Even Mordu’s Legion (which can be kind of taken as THE model for honorable mercenary work as far as most of the State is concerned) has been known to take contracts that put it in conflict with State entities and interests. This is an area where “nothing personal” and “just business” really do usually apply.

The glaring exception would be siding directly with the Gallente Federation against the State on … basically anything? That’s a jump too far for even generally-pretty-pragmatic Caldari outlook on mercenary contracts.

Not sure whether the Triglavian Collective might be added to that very-short list, but unless the work involved attacks on State assets, probably not.

1 Like
15

But can either the attempted illegal fiefdom on Skarkon, or the ‘we’re gonna throw in with the Trigs because they’re trying to kill the guy we want assassinated’ that resulted from it be considered mercenary work? Seems more like warlordism to me.

1 Like
16

Like I said, not getting into the specifics.

(But also warlordism isn’t necessarily an automatic bad for the State as long as it’s happening to somebody else. It could cross into guri territory pretty easily, but that’s still recoverable-- even if State assets/citizens might sometimes be targets-- as long as it doesn’t cross into full-on hnolku, which is typically less about who you’re doing it to than who you’re doing it for.)

(If you think about it in ancient Caldari cultural terms, a bandit can be more or less literally brought in from the cold and in time even become a trusted community member. A traitor, never-ever.)

1 Like
17

The Condotta had and still have a respectable position in Garouni culture.

1 Like
18

And embracing invaders who took Caldari territory wouldn’t make someone a traitor?

Anyone told the people yelling at Adams that?

19

I already addressed this.

To go into a bit more detail, though, there’s a gray area here that can run in two directions: operations against the State (usually understood as “just business”), operations for the Gallente (rare, leaves a bad taste, but generally not quite treason unless the target is …).

What gets really unambiguous would be “operations for the Gallente against the State.”

That’s straight-up treason. That’s Adams. He’s not just shaking hands with the enemy; he’s siding with the enemy against his kin. That’s what makes State-loyal Caldari get all snarly when he pokes his head up.

The Trigs snapped up a bunch of systems, but even then it’s perhaps not … personal, in quite the same way. The Caldari have hundreds of years of history with the Gallente and the Federation, and it’s the kind of history where the good bits seem to just make the bad more bitter.

We’ve had, what, five or six years with the Triglavians? Total? And actually for the Caldari their culture is even weirdly relatable? Mr. Eskola-Fae may not walk away from that relation with his reputation unscathed, especially if State assets were ever in his crosshairs on Collective orders. But it’s also a useful contact, and the Caldari are nothing if not practical.

It’s probably not something to just shrug off (the “bandit” analogy probably holds-- you might bring a bandit back into the community, but trust is going to be a work in progress). At a glance, though, I’m not seeing any absolute bar here.

(Actually come to think of it it could even work the other way. Caldari focus is on permanent community-level survival, remember, and pragmatic steps towards that are the overall Caldari guiding principle. If we ever manage to unweave Pochven and restore those systems to the State, the stories of any still-recognizably-Caldari surviving communities from those systems are going to be legendary, almost no matter what they had to do.)

(… unless it involved getting lazy, complacent, and decadent, but somehow that doesn’t seem too likely.)

1 Like
20

The attitudes expressed by the State Caldari in Adams’ thread toward the Raata Caldari on Home seem to argue otherwise. Opinion vs direct evidence, as it were.