Rens – Organized crime and culturally motivated violence have become staples of life in the housing shanties dotting Rens and other systems taking in Minmatar refugees. The Sisters of EVE have admitted to difficulties maintaining order in the temporary settlements, and hope to launch joint efforts with help from the tribes and local law enforcement.

The mixture of Minmatar who still adhere to the Amarrian faith and Minmatar who possess staunch anti-Amarr sentiments has become a problem. Aggressive tendencies are evident on both sides, with members of the faithful minority sometimes coming into violent conflict with the anti-theists. “Escalation comes rapidly in these enclosed areas,” said SOE security spokesman Soger Neyd. “By the time police forces can mount a response, it is often too late.”

The Sisters of EVE admit that refugee housing has proved to be inadequate, but the organization blames the Minmatar tribal governments for the difficulty in relocating repatriated slaves. The Starkmanir and Nefantar, in particular, have had great difficulties navigating Republic bureaucracy due to the lack of tribal structure. Many refugee camps have also been pressed to accommodate Republic citizens fleeing the warfare that rages in the low-security parts of the Heimatar and Metropolis regions – especially in systems such as Siseide and Lantorn, which saw extended occupation by 24th Imperial Crusade forces before their liberation early this year.

In debating a solution to the hostilities, the Sisters of EVE have been supportive of plans to segregate refugees depending on culture. This solution has generally been met with resistance from the Republic government, while the refugees themselves are supportive of the plan. “We are already segregated,” commented Olaufin Jastl, a Starkmanir religious sage. “The difference here would be that I could meet my parishioners in streets and markets instead of bulkheads and secret shelters.”

Sages like Olaufin Jastl are a holdover from the Starkmanir slave society on the planet Halturzhan. Since they are clerics of the Amarr faith, their services have grown to become focal points for faithful Minmatar in these refugee societies. As a result, they are often targets of religiously motivated violence.

“Our brothers are afraid,” said Sage Jastl. “They think they have to throw away their faith for the tribes to accept them, and that they need to punish us to gain their affection. I love my tribe, and the Starkmanir accept me as I am. We know that we are together, because we stand with God.”

But not all Starkmanir stand on the faithful side. Alep Yivanikh is a Starkmanir who has decided not to stand with the sages. “I think the society we had on Halturzhan was designed to keep us in check. It’s nice that some have decided to maintain our culture from back then, but we’re in the Republic now. If we want to be taken seriously we’ll have to find a more modern way of life and focus on other parts of our culture instead.”

GERERIQUE – An Astral Mining ore hauler made a grisly discovery yesterday when docking for its regularly scheduled pickup. After the vessel had proved unable to reach anyone on the colony for over an hour, some of the crew were sent to investigate. They found every man, woman, and child on the colony dead, seemingly by their own hand. According to Lenz Kaaloaka, a Sisters of Eve Agent who was one of the first on the scene: “We’re not sure exactly how it was done, but it does appear as though they did it themselves.”

Kaaloaka cited notes found on the scene, as well as mails discovered to have been sent shortly before the hauler arrived. “They took the time to say goodbye to loved ones and generally described a state of despair, but didn’t give specific reasons. We don’t know what to make of it yet.”

HEK – The Matari Writers Association, a union representing writers of theatre and holovid pieces, today backed the MPT’s decision to produce the highly controversial play ‘Plantation.’ “While we do not normally condone the adaptation of works outside of their intended millieu, we also do not condone repression of freedom of any kind. We find the actions of those upset with the MPT’s decision to stage this play to be reprehensible,” said Koto Rydd, the group’s spokesman.

The play, written 600 years ago by Ammatar author Dekkameron, explores the issues of power among the powerless. Set on an Ammarian plantation, the play focuses not on the cruelty of slavery but the cruelty amongst slaves. The Ammarian slave holders, rather than being the antagonists, are portrayed as benign individuals whose good intentions are abused by those slaves who seek power over their own kind. Rydd explained “The play is not about slavery, it is about power. The juxtaposition between slave and slaveholder, which shows the latter to be basically powerless against a small group of slaves that effectively run the plantation, is a brilliant literary device that Dekkameron uses to great effect.”

Mekhios – From the hushed and pensive opening notes to the stirring triumphal finale, Khitian Maritak’s choral Sarum Symphony held listeners entranced for the entirety of its three-hour length. “I wanted to express [the Empress'] rise to power as the journey of her lifetime, to make the audience feel her experience,” the honored composer stated later in an open interview. Home viewers may not have received quite as powerful an experience as the attendees, but the program has been recorded to produce the closest possible facsimile and will be available next month for purchase.

Featuring the vocal talents of soloists Ameyn Jural and Louwi Kil, the Symphony presented an immersive experience incorporating subtle lighting to enhance moods and utilizing to their fullest extent the unusual acoustical properties of St Nhyron’s Basilica. The extensive twelfth movement, expressing the climactic battle above Mekhios, has already been called a “marvel” of precision composition, with singers representing both the Sarum fleet and the Minmatar Elder fleet passing around and amongst the audience in a recreation of the chaos and unpredictability of the fight, and culminating with the Elder fleet singers faltering and scattering from the Sarum singers’ concentrated sound. Members of the audience flinched from the blinding golden light which was projected from behind soloist Kil, filling the Grand Nave with radiance recalling the Empress’s finishing blow to the Elder fleet titan.

Impressions from the audience have ranged from “moving” to “breathtaking.” Privy Council member Arem Mecshilad enthused, “I have never heard — experienced — something so powerful. The five minutes of total darkness with the single soloist [Jural] representing Jamyl’s lost years was especially poignant.” No reaction has yet been issued by the Empress, though she and her retinue were in attendance in full formal regalia.

Composer Maritak appeared unconcerned by the lack of comment. “The Symphony was written of her, yes, but not for her. She was there, she does not need to experience it the way her people do.” Added Maritak, “this is the story of a remarkable woman who has had the Lord’s hand upon her shoulder, and we must all remember that.”

PATOR – The Minmatar People’s Theatre announced their new season today, drawing fire from media watchgroups outraged at the inclusion of what they call a “rascist” play. The MPT, who were the last group to receive funding from the now-defunct parliament, will stage a version of the 600-year-old ‘Plantation’ by Ammatar author Dekkameron. Though the play is considered by many a classic, at least one of the groups, Equality in Action, plans to protest the show. “There is no redeeming social value in this play whatsoever, and it is disgusting that government money would go towards perpetuating racist stereotypes” said Keinnan Bakkia the group’s spokesman.