Maltrox
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Posted - 2006.02.20 19:40:00 -
[2]
What follows is my sole opinion and does not reflect the views, policies, procedures or beliefs of any individuals, groups of individuals, corporations or alliances be they player controlled or game-coded.
Any resemblance to any individual living or dead, place or event is purely coincidental.
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I remember a time of peace. It was in my home starter system of Ryjindorn (or however that blasted place is spelled). It was there I first learned how to defend myself, and it was there I lost my first ship to a "neutral."
In more recent events, an acquaintance of mine in a small Gallente-built industrial transported my goods across the vast coldness of space. Even in a high DED security system, one "neutral" had the nerve of steel to destroy the ship and hope the cargo carried was worth the suicide of his Armaggedon.
It was.
Since the loss of our cargo, both myself and my acquaintance have been firmly rooted in the belief that no place in EVE is safe; this applies to planet-side excursions on the lovely Jita IV and station jogs inside some of the most beautiful Gallente stations this side of New Eden.
I value my life although my clone suits well in an "accident". I value my cargo at all times and the mass of engineering, material and thrust I call my home that carries it.
If at any point in time my navigation computer detects a target lock and I have inbound missiles or hybrid shells begin claning off of my shield, I will, without hesitation, return fire.
0.0 or no 0.0, I will defend myself.
That said, I value the routes I use to travel along for whatever purpose, be they illicit reasons far from DED prying eyes or for hunting a player such as myself, also shipping with darker pretenses in mind.
In this spirit, I observe erratic and odd behavior close to my home as suspicious and potentially threatening and my alert level is raised as a result.
At any given time, should I deem the situation fit to do so, I may or may not pre-emptively engage a "neutral" after careful consideration.
Too many times a "neutral" has been a scout.
Too many times a "neutral" has deployed a warp bubble long after I have passed him or her to set up a hostile gate camp.
And too many times a "neutral" has been given free reign in front of my crosshairs to more or less do as they please, until one day that same "neutral" is working for the opposition.
I keep my friends close oh dear Band of Brothers and Jericho Fraction, as I am sure you do as well.
I keep my enemies even closer, under a constant target lock and one crisp command away from hostile engagement.
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