11-06-YC124

Ishta and I made peace, fortunately.  I think she sees her error in judgement.  Whilst I had no personal cause or even desire to keep any and all information connected with Sanctity from her, I had my orders and she knows very well I shall never willingly neglect my duties.  I still do not think she understands that being loyal to the Empire and holding such a position of responsibility in it, I do not have the freedom that most capsuleers do.  So many of them think they are a law unto themselves, that they serve no higher power.  That is why New Eden is in the state it is.  Of course, the same could easily be said of many non-capsuleers, especially those who hold high office.

I do wish, however, that Ishta would control her impulses better.  It seems that she has "adopted" some under-station orphans into a make-shift family for her and Sasha.  Only they are not actually adopted, at least as far as the authorities would be concerned.  They are stolen and kidnapped from their lawful Holders after running away.

The usual story, as one might expect.  Abuse and mistreatment, and of a particularly vile kind in the case of two or three of them.  Law is law, true, but I simply cannot condone such despicable behaviour toward children.  What is done about that is really up to Ishta, with the Directrix's guidance, but I shall be more than happy to help care for the children until the right course of action presents itself.  How typical of Ishta to take advantage of my lowest resistance!

We cannot have them at home, though, for obvious reasons, so any assistance rendered will have to be from afar.  Ishta intends to keep them at Gottin's Lamp, and they are as safe, if not safer, there than anywhere else.  My part will have to wait until my return from Khanid Prime.

I have never been here before, and in all honesty I was not expecting my duties to bring me here, but we require some liaison between the Praetorians and Khanid Innovations and whilst I do need recuperation time from Sanctity I simply cannot sit idle.  So here I am.  I admit I was a little anxious about a welcoming ceremony involving yaks or some such cultural difference - and I cannot even think of that animal without bursting into giggles, they are such a strange creature - but fortunately it was just a simple greeting.  My tasks will be security related, but if I have time I should meet up with the LUMEN branch that is based here.  I forget how large and widespread this alliance is and how I have compatriots everywhere!  I hear Khanid have very nice tea.

I just very much hope there are as few yaks as possible.

 06-06-YC124

I should have stayed in Raravoss; at least the Triglavians inflict physical wounds.  Ishta has every right to be angry and upset, to be worried for Sasha and to be frustrated at not being informed of the situation, but to call me scum?  To hold this family in the same contempt as she holds slavers and unsavoury, abusive Holders?  Sometimes I think Nauplius is right, Matari can never change their spiteful, hate-filled nature.

Well, she need not worry for Sasha anymore.  There shall be no wedding now, of that she can be sure, and I shall be there for my brother when he wakes and his family, his real family, shall help him recover.  I do not know how he is going to react to being rejected and abandoned, not to mention having his daughter taken from him.  Felix shall miss the Little One as well.  No-one to read stories to every night.

I am sure she shall have plenty of people to take care of her in Gottin's Lamp, and I expect the Directrix will look after her.  I hope Ishta does not wound that caring soul.

I should have expected this.  I should have trusted my instincts at the start.  We are too soft as a family, too trusting and accepting.  Too forgiving.  I wish Ishta no ill-will, but to direct such venom and hatred at me, at us, is unacceptable after all we have done for her.

No more.  We must harden our hearts, as painful as that may be.  Strangely, though, as shocked as I was when she had her outburst, I feel no pain.  I do not feel anything at all, in truth, neither anger nor hate, nor sorrow.  Just a vague sense of loss, but mostly I just feel numb.  Yet what is there to do except pick up the pieces and carry on?

Just as we always have.

 04-06-YC124

I visited Sasha as soon as I got to Arx Garum.  He was sleeping, still recovering from his injuries.  The doctors say he is likely to require a replacement eye and hand, but other than that he should fully recover, in time.  Ishta was there, of course, but she barely said two words to me.  She is worried and afraid, which is understandable but sooner or later she will lose Sasha regardless.  Such is the price for immortality.  Major Natashova spoke to me regarding Ishta, telling me she had been tired and stressed.  For all her flaws and doubts, Ishta is quite a gentle, soft soul, deep down.

The team are stood down on Arx Garum until further notice.  They need time to recover and rest.  I, however, have no such luxury.  After seeing Sasha I immediately clone-jumped home to Nakri, then took a shuttle to the State.  LUMEN anti-piracy operations are under way and I must do my part there as well.  I am rather looking forward to being back in a pod, in all truth. It has been some time.

The vodka and bath shall simply have to wait.

 02-06-YC124

I write this sitting in the compartment of an armoured transport.  We are on our way back to Arx Garum after six months planetside.  It has gone rather quickly, I feel.

All in all, Operation Sanctity has been, to my mind, a success.  Enemy communications disrupted, materiel destroyed or rendered beyond use, key personnel neutralised.  We have taken casualties, some serious, but, God and The Eternal Empress be praised, no fatalities; and the number of enemy souls we have returned to the judgement of God is beyond counting.

The evacuation was precarious, I must admit.  The enemy had the area surrounded and we had to clear it before our transport could come in.  Not an easy task with two wounded, and Pankov and Idrisov had both been injured by the time we were lifting off again.  They will make it to Arx Garum, though, and they will recover.

The most important victory, though, is symbolic.  We have shown that the Empire does not simply surrender its sovereign territory to a merciless invader and their unprovoked offensive.  They may have temporarily taken these systems, but we will still strike back at them, wherever and however we can.  We have also shown that traitors, cowards, and collaborators will not escape our wrath either.  I cannot deny I would rather have simply executed that pitiful excuse for a Holder and his family as we pulled them from their bolt-hole, but Il-Khan Oniseki-Kley prefers that they stand trial and so shall it be.  It shows, I suppose, her worthiness to take the title, or at least that she meets the necessary standards of integrity more so than those who failed Her Imperial Majesty.

Ishta did not appear, so I can only assume she found out where Sasha is and went to him instead.  I shall no doubt have to face her when we arrive at the station.  I already know she will not see our Operation for what it is, but I care little, for my team, the 601st, they do understand, and as I look around the compartment at their faces, I can see that they know the value of what we have done, of what we do, and of the sacrifices we make.  Even Bordashevskaya, with her breathing heavy after the gas attack, looks contented with duty well done.

Once I have deal with Ishta, I am going to get a vodka and a bath.

Amarr Victor!