Code Ready Gelhan, Part 34

Previously, on MinerBumping... Mission Ready Mining was bump-drunk after weeks of being pummeled by New Order forces in the Gelhan system. Though MRM had hired several mercenary groups to come to their aid, they somehow managed to alienate The Marmite Collective, which went to war against MRM. A wild rumor took hold among the half-mad miners: The Marmites and the mighty CODE. alliance must be in cahoots!

Agent TheInternet TweepsOnline TheInternet returned to Gelhan for another day of doing what he'd been doing from the start: Bumping non-compliant miners. Now, however, MRM "intelligence" was convinced that these actions were part of a wider conspiracy.

MRM spymaster Slypher Hekki believed that there was no longer any doubt about the matter. The Marmites and CODE. were guilty of colluding with each another.

TheInternet tried to ignore the chatter, focusing instead on bumping an unlicensed Hurricane. Yet the scandalous charge of collusion cast a pall over Gelhan. Everybody was talking about it now.

According to MRM propaganda, CODE.'s alleged mercenary contract was a violation of the Code. Slypher argued that it's illegal to bump or gank unlicensed miners for pay. TheInternet knew that his motives were pure, so he ignored the conspiracy theories and went about his work.

However, the collusion story wouldn't go away. Agent Georgia B Dixie entered Gelhan only to find that yet another discussion about the Marmite-CODE. connection was already underway.

From Agent Georgia's perspective, the whole thing made no sense. Marmites are mercenaries, so why would they hire mercs themselves? Wouldn't it make more sense to accuse CODE. of hiring the Marmites? Also, the miners' timeline was way off. The Marmite wardec didn't occur until, what, two dozen parts into the story?

Nevertheless, the miners went along with the conclusions of MRM's top analysts: The New Order was intervening in Gelhan for the purpose of helping the Marmites win the war. New Order Agents were obviously getting some kind of payoff, and that made all of their bumping activities illegitimate.

There was one problem with the story that made some MRM members uncomfortable. Ever since the days of the Guiding Hand Social Club, EVE players have had a fascination with mercenaries. Granted, the heyday of the mercs is long past, but some element of it remains. Paul Kirk didn't like the idea of calling Agents mercenaries, even if it was the party line. In his eyes, it would raise their stature.

Over the following days, more MRM members were caught mining just outside Gelhan. They no longer believed in victory; they were deserters. Gankers intensified their patrols in adjacent systems.

Of course, non-MRM miners were also ensnared during these operations. They were duly informed that all mining activities in the Gelhan neighborhood carried heightened risk.

Miners don't like being kept informed, though.

Agents Kalorned and Georgia occasionally spotted tanked miners and subjected them to enhanced bumping techniques. Because so few MRM members dared to undock, it was easier to concentrate on correcting individual miners. At times, a single miner might find himself bumped for an hour at a time--or even longer. Slypher once again threatened to get CCP involved.

Just then, Gelhan received a special visitor. It was the return of Gai Heiyuu, the CEO of Mission Ready Mining.

To be continued...