Carpe Aurum / CARPEAURUM

The Black, a dark ocean of limitless space and limitless possibility. At least that’s what they sold us.

With the launch of the Artemis our hopes and dreams left our blue prison, broke our shackles in indelible contrails destined for freedom; true freedom. Freedom from the weight of bureaucracies tramping those who ascended them in an unending hunger for power. Freedom from the few deciding the fates of the many. Freedom from the lies of duty, sacrifice, honor, state, and Gods. Her loss was a setback, but the dream lived on. Once Croshaw proved jump points not only a reality, but viable for travel, the dream once again felt real.

Our forbearers were sold the same. With the age of sail and the discovery of the new world; many believed they could shed the same restraints of the old world. With the great blue between them and more land than would ever be needed; our ancestors set sail to establish a new kind of life; forging a new creed to which our charter is crafted today.

Still, THEY followed. The same inexorable THEY demanding reform; demanding these brave men conform. Claiming freedoms in the new world while cashing in on the sale of lives, on the crushing of souls to due THEIR bidding. Those that came before us raged, fought, and died in pursuit of true freedom. To make their own choices, for their own good, for their own prosperity. However, the seas seemed to shrink rapidly as the march of progress tramped them down. This blue prison confined them, and eventually quelled their spirit.

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. From the cruelty of the Messers to the blinding greed of the MegaCorps, all who dare to stand up get crushed by the boots of progress.

The Tevarin, the Xi’An, humanity, and all other sentient beings all fall prey to THEM. While THEY take different shapes, with different names; THEIR lust for greed and thirst for power are all the same. Enough is enough, and WE will learn from the mistakes of our forbearers. WE shall break the systems of oppression and forge OUR destiny, OUR prosperity. The will of the people, the mind of the individual are paramount. Be that mind Human or Tevarin, Xi’An or Banu, WE shall be the force THEY cannot conquer. Our cries now turn to rage.

The acts of the few, can change the will of the many. WE strive to end the tyranny of the empire, of the MegaCorps, of any that oppose free will and self determination. WE are the few, but OUR voice echoes across the black. WE will stalk THEM in the corners of the galaxy, near THEIR homes where THEY feel safe. WE will strike at THEIR God…money. WE will take from them by piece what they have stolen en masse. WE will take THEIR safety, THEIR security, and THEIR well being like THEY have done throughout the ages. The time is now, THEIR strength is stretched, and WE ARE AT THE GATES.

I. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other pirates, that is, No prey, no pay.

II. Compensation is provided the Captain for the use of his ship, and the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who mended, careened, and rigged the vessel. A sum for provisions and victuals is specified. A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest.

III. A standard compensation is provided for maimed and mutilated buccaneers. Thus we order for the loss of an arm, leg, eye or hand the same reward.

IV. Shares of booty are provided as follows: The Captain, or chief Commander, is allotted 2 portions to what the ordinary crew have; the Master’s Mate 1.5 ; and Officers proportionate to their employment. 2 portions are set aside for the Syndicate; after whom they draw equal parts from the highest even to the lowest mariner; by reason that, when they happen to take a better vessel than their own, it is the duty of the lowest mariner to set fire to the ship wherein they are, and then retire to the prize which they have taken.”

V. In the prizes taken, it is severely prohibited to every one to usurp anything, in particular to themselves. Yea, they make a solemn oath to each other not to abscond, or conceal the least thing they find amongst the prey. If afterwards any one is found unfaithful, who has contravened the said oath, immediately he is separated and put to the airlock.

VI. Every man shall obey his commander in all respects, as if the ship was his own, and as if he received monthly wages.

VII. No man shall open, or declare to any person or persons, who they are, or what designs they are upon; and any persons so offending shall be punished with immediate death.

VIII. No man shall go planetside till the ship is in readiness to put to the black.

IX. Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship’s company shall think proper.

X. Any man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company think fit.