A young woman comes into sight from below the screen.
" 'Ello...
'Ow to start? - My name is Elaine Lacoursiere, I was born in 717 AGS - 'dis is 801 AS for Sirians, I think - on Planet New Paris in the Ile-de-France System... in Gallia.
Six months ago I filled moi mama's shoes and joined the junkers. Now I am the last "active" one of our bloodline..."
Elaine sighs.
" I 'ave spend the most of 'dose last months to save up credits for a Sirian vessel to maybe be able to visit Sirius without attracting any attention...
Why? I am just interested in it, I feel 'drawn' to it - if 'dat makes any sense...
I mined scrap, I traded with all kinds of people... and I did other things, I am not proud of... But I did never 'urt anyone!"
The girl slides back and forth, looking uncomfortable.
"After trading in moi Tournez, I was able to afford a small Sirian Surveyor. I waited for it to arrive on Beaumont Base and when it finally came, I was so excited and 'ad to explore every centimeter of it! It is small and not special, but fast and maneuverable. I 'ave to admit, It is probably not worth the price i 'ad to pay, but 'dat comes with importing a Sirian ship secretly, I suppose...
Soon I will make moi first attempt to enter Sirius, I wonder 'ow the people are and 'ope the maps in 'dis ship's database are 'elpfull enough to make it... Oui!"
The screen turns on again. The Gallian looks rather exhausted and shook up.
"Today I made it to Liberty..."
Her voice trembles slightly.
"...after a long journey through unknown systems, which I 'ad never seen before.
It was very interesting to see all 'dese Sirian ship types on moi way. 'Dey look so different.
I did not really speak to anyone... I was to scared of 'dem and 'ow 'dey 'ould react..."
The junkress breathes slowly in and out.
"When I arrived in Liberty's core system - it is called New York - I got stopped very quickly.
'Dey asked moi what I was doing 'dere and I answered 'dem 'onestly. 'Dey said I was not welcome and said I should leave. With all 'dat work and 'ope I put in going to Sirius I tried to convince the people to let moi enter - 'dey reacted with deshielding the ship I was sitting in with a single shot!"
Elaine nods thoughtful.
"So I 'ad no choice 'dan to make moi way out of Liberty, but the short time I was 'dere - it seemed so different and interesting.
I stayed a while in the next system - California - and was told to leave too... so I made it to Planet Los Angeles as suddenly the ship's engines malfunctioned... after all it was old and it 'ad a long and 'ard journey. So I stopped and tried to fix it - I am not a mechanic...
The Liberty people came again and were very angry with moi. I tried to explain 'dem what the problem was, but 'dey said I 'ad ten seconds to leave! I tried to dock on the next trade lane towards the jumpgate to the Cortez system as the docking module malfunctioned as well..."
She sighs again and a soft cough comes out of her throat.
" I did not know what to do.
'Dey pressured moi to leave, I tried to explain again, but in the end I was forced to fly with a speed of 30 to the Cortez jumpgate, while being escorted. I 'ave to admit after all 'dat 'ostility towards moi, I was surprised 'dat 'dey defended the Surveyor against some rogues who attacked moi in such defenseless position.
At the gate I still could not dock... 'Dey offered to give moi some spare engine components and other things to fix the problem tentative, Dey also offered I could do some things for 'dem in exchange for 'aving the possibility maybe to visit Liberty - 'supervised and escorted'...
I was not sure about it, but in moi situation... I accepted. I got the ship fixed for the moment and I am now on a station called Barrier Gate... I do not want to stay 'ere any longer than necessary..."
The stranded girl looks sad and slightly scared for a moment.
"People spit at moi or even say 'dey kill any Gallian, when I start to speak to 'dem, while looking for someone to get the ship ready properly... I really want to leave 'dis place..."
This time it seems to be a mobile device Elaine is looking down into as the screen turns on. Loud and muffled noises of buzzing people are to hear in the background.
"Phew... today something very weird 'append.
After a few days on 'dis station in Coronado moi ship was finally fixed and I could finally leave. The ships database 'ad a Sirian junker base in New London marked on it, I thought maybe I could make it 'dere, so I took off and thanks to the maps I could reach it un'armed.
I visited the station... It was not a nice place either, but I was able to find some nice things I could add to the collection of Sirian things I was able to make back in Gallia: some music and a silly shirt labeled with 'I 'eart Liberty' - I like it very much!"
A short, amused giggle escapes her lips.
"While I purchased 'dose things I was contacted by a ship named 'Khonsu'... I was asked, if I could make a 'delivery' to Freeport Four. I decided 'dat it 'ould not 'urt to make some credits, after the people in Coronado took almost all moi credits for the repairs the ship needed...
I met with the ship... I docked and people with weapons formed a circle around the place where I stood, 'dey loaded a crate into the ship and I was told to leave.
On my way to Freeport Four the crate started to move and 'someone' suddenly started to cut his way out of it with a blade!"
The young woman's eyes widen.
"I told him to stay in the crate, but I was not able to stop 'dis person. He asked moi not to deliver him to the Freeport, because he was going to prison, but instead to take him to Gallia.
I said 'non', but he answered 'dat by putting the blades's edge against moi throat. It was so terrifying! I almost got cut, because I was startled and jumped a bit when he did it. He did not seem to want to 'urt me, but 'dere it seemed like he might kill me...
So I took him with moi to Planet New Paris. He promised to repair the ship - apparently the people on Barrier Gate did not really put much effort in 'deir work... Now I am 'ere to get him some modifiable ID's and the parts he wrote down he 'ould need for the repairs - His name is 'Daerune Custos' "
"Hm. Right now I am in the Orbit of 'dis station in Baffin and wait for Daerune. He said he would come to 'elp me.
I did something the Libertonians asked moi for. I delivered some Gallic munitions to Freeport Six.
I took a hit which breached the 'ull. The people on the Freeport fixed it slightly, but I did not want to stay longer in Tau 29. It is very 'ostile space.
So I left as soon as I could. Now Daerune is coming to fix the ship - again."
The screen turns black, leaving a small white point in the middle for a moment.
"He arrived and showed me 'ow to fix the 'ull. I 'ope I can remember all of it.
Right now I am making some test flights to see if everything is fine. He remained in Baffin as far as I know - He is really 'ard to judge and predict. I was able to find some Synth Paste - I wonder 'ow it tastes. And some other Sirian things. Even some Bretonian sweets!"
Elaine looks excited and claps her fingertips quickly together.
"And I could even afford some exotic trinket in Baffin. It looks nice!"
She concentrates back on flying and turns the screen off.
"Hm. I got another message from Madame Perry...
'Dis time she asked moi to deliver Gallic lane parts to Monsieur Blair. She thinks 'we' stole the plans from ''dem'. I doubt 'dat...
So, I will meet up with him and get the papers which will make it 'opefully easy to purchase the parts back in Gallia."
She smiles.
"I am looking forward to add all 'dese things I found in Sirius to moi collection at 'ome."
" 'Ello... I do not know 'ow long I will be able to do 'dose things for the Libertonians. It is so dangerous..."
She whispered the last words.
"My next plan is to try to reach Rheinland and see 'ow things are 'dere. Maybe the people are a bit nicer 'dan at the places I visited so far...
Now I need some sleep. 'Dis will be a long journey."
The young girl yawns blatantly, before looking ashamed and very slightly blushing.
"I just met a pilot on the way to Rheinland. 'Er name was Yeva. She was actually surprisingly nice, but 'den again I did not mention where I was from...
Anyways, she taught moi a Sirian term for 'friend' - 'comrade'. 'Comrade'..."
She repeats the word playfully thoughtful while recording ends.
Elaine looks annoyed into the camera and lets go a long sigh.
"Today I sold what was left of the Surveyor. It seemed like it could not 'andle the Gallic technology anymore... Back to moi Tournez 'den, I suppose. In the end the Surveyor did not 'elp in any way anyways..."
She puts a finger to her chin.
"Actually I was thinking about to try to get moi 'ands on a Collector. It fits scrap mining better and if I continue my work for Adrienne it might not be the worst to withstand a 'it more 'dan one less... Oui."
A big pleased smile crosses her face as the screen turns on again.
"I met someone named 'Ans. He was so nice to sell moi some Sirian tea - finally! He said it was not from Bretonia, but from ... hm... Curacao? I think.
It is tasty."
She shows a cup and takes a long slurping sip from it.
"Mhhh.
I also got something called 'strudel' from him. It is de-li-cious! It seems to be something special from Rheinland. I really 'ave to get more of 'dose things!
'Den 'dere was Aelita... She...hm... 'ad some problems she needed 'Ans' 'elp for to solve.
I 'ope he was able to 'elp her."
Her face clouds.
"And 'dis unfriendly artificial intelligence thing... hmph... I rather left instead of letting 'it' insult moi more...
Oh! And note to moiself... 'comrade' can be perceived as an offense as well, as it seems... Sirius."
Elaine sighs and lets her hand fall on the 'off' button.