Capsuleer Cemetery

Dozens of graves surround a station in Molea

Editor’s note: This is a post about the original capsuleer cemetery. If you are looking for the Fallen Capsuleer Memorial next door, please see here.

Death is a constant threat for a pod pilot, and it has been on my mind even more in recent days thanks to the recent increased and worrying activity of the Sanshas. Thankfully, advances in technology also mean that, at least for us, death is only an inconvenience. A few million isk to set up a new clone contract, and more to buy new implants, and it’s as if our bodies had never died in the first place. Because dying is only a mere inconvenience for us, most pod pilots often shrug off a corpse like we would a used pair of boots, never giving it a second thought. When our very essence can simply be downloaded into a new body, why bother worrying about what’s happened to the previous one?

A grave for a pod pilot known only as Sorly

Not everyone gives so little thought to clones that pilots don’t need anymore, however. Around Moon 1 of Molea II, a small POS sits. Surrounding that POS is a veritable cemetery of pilots who have moved on to a new mortal coil. Painstakingly maintained by Azia Burgi, the cemetery acts as a final resting place for dozens of pilots. Each body sits in an individual plot, and marked with a name and a simple “RIP”. There the bodies sit, for anyone who wants to pay their respects for the departed.

The POS and its armaments guard the cemetery from would-be attackers

Surprisingly (or not, depending on how optimistic you are on humanity in New Eden), in the middle of the cemetery sits a surprisingly well armed station. ECM and gun batteries stand at the ready to protect the graves. Sadly, such protection is needed after some groups decided to desecrate the graveyard soon after the cemetery became public knowledge. However, that has not stopped Azia from continuing to provide these burial services. Why someone would want to attack a cemetery is not exactly clear. The attackers claimed that the cemetery defiled the bodies and put them on display to be gawked at, but that seemed like thin reasoning indeed.

A grave sits near the POS shields

I took the Professor out to the site. Even as I came out of warp, I was struck by the sheer number of graves. The graves sat in a small cloud centered on the POS and its shield. I was the only one present at the cemetery at the time, even the caretaker was nowhere to be seen when I arrived to pay my respects. I felt it was better this way, to let me be alone with my thoughts as I slowly made my way through the cemetery. I didn’t recognize any of the names that I saw on the graves, but that made the experience no less poignant for me.

The Professor slowly glides towards a grave

I couldn’t help but reflect on these graves as I made my way through the cemetery. What if I found one of my prior bodies here? I’m not entirely sure how I would feel about that. It would be an uncomfortable reminder that I have lost part of myself. We’ve all read the claims: as long as your clone is sufficiently advanced, any losses to a person’s essence- their memories and abilities- are negligible at best. But how could I be so sure? The scary thing was that I couldn’t be. It was a deep philosophical and metaphysical question, and one that I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to know the answer to. I spent a while at the cemetery, paying my respects to the fallen. As I left, I couldn’t help but notice the nearby moon. A somewhat inappropriate laugh came from me, as I was reminded of an old saying from when I was growing up: “Shoot for the moon, for even if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars.” How true that statement was. Basic Information:

• Attraction: Capsuleer Cemetery
• System: Molea II, Moon 1
• Security Rating: 0.7
• Region: Khanid
• Potential Hazards: If you’re below a -3.5 in security status, or -5 standing with the Amarr, you’ll have to deal with some rather unpleasant policemen.