Sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have just bailed on you like that without a warning, but... I wasn't feeling right. It's been a rough couple weeks and Liberty's really just getting to me. Just the constant bullshit - the obnoxious hunters and freelancers, the pathetically incompetent agencies and navy, the god damn terrorists. It felt like my head was going to explode if I spent another second among that miserable, degenerate scum. Even the Taus were less mind-numbing than Liberty.

But, I've gotta be honest with you. It's not just Liberty and its sad excuse for denizens that's grating my nerves. It's the past. It's almost like it decided to come after me all of a sudden, haunting me day in, day out. First the Taus, then the Kepler affair, then Omega? Christ, give me a break. I can't seem to outrun it anymore. Which, honestly, is why I'm sending you this message. I promised to tell you about it all weeks ago. To finally open up to you and explain why you're so important to me - why I get so upset when you get yourself hurt doing your job.

Yeah, it's time I tell someone.

Like I told you, I used to live in the Taus. Grew up on Freeport 10 in Tau-37 and lived there till I was 20. It wasn't the most pleasant life - my family didn't have a lot of money, my father died when I was just 2. It was really just my uncle who kept us afloat until I turned old enough to start flying. And that's what I did. The folks on Ten liked us, so they were more than happy to loan me a fighter. God knew they needed every escort pilot they could find. And I was pretty good at it. Rarely lost a transport or freighter and never lost an entire convoy.

I had a younger brother, too. Robert. We were like glue, always sticking together. So, as soon as he turned 16, he joined me on the job. He was just as good at it as I was and we made a bit of a name for ourselves. Our mother was always worried about us, though, always afraid something'd happen to us. A pirate raid we couldn't deal with, an engine malfunction, something like that. She was... is a sickly woman, so she was always worried about others' health as well. Before every job, she'd pull me aside and tell me to look out for myself and my little brother. Like, being the older sister, only I could take care of Robert. But he was perfectly capable himself.

One day, we got hired on a bigger job. A large ore convoy was heading out from IMG's Falkland Station and they'd hired every escort in the system to take care of it. Of course Robert and I jumped at the opportunity. The promised paycheck was bigger than any we'd earned before. It started off fine, everything going nice and smoothly. We were all relaxed - well, as relaxed as one can ever be in the Taus. I was just kicking the crap with Robert and some other pilots we knew over comms when, suddenly, everything went to hell.

We'd expected some sort of attack, of course. No pirate worth their salt would just ignore a convoy like that. But... we didn't expect it to be so many. It was like half the Maltese navy had shown up to raid us. Honestly, I want to say we hung on well. That we gave them a proper fight. But we didn't. We were completely overwhelmed, escorts fell like flies, transports got disabled left and right. Robert and I were on the innermost perimeter around the haulers. It was our job to intercept any attacker who got through the outer wings. Problem was... after just a few minutes, there were no outer wings. They were overrun. So it was just Robert, me, and a couple brave souls who hadn't been shot down yet or fled against dozens of Outcast fighters and bombers.

We tried. We really did. Robert and I weren't about to abandon the convoy to be manhandled by that sniffer scum. So we fought. And fought. And fought. Until...

Until Robert died. There were just too many of them, we got separated in the asteroids, and I couldn't get to him anymore. I couldn't protect him. So he got shot down. No ejection. Just careened into a rock and... blew up. All I could do was watch from miles away. He didn't even scream.

It was right around then that the Miners' Guild's reinforcements finally arrived. The few of us who remained actually managed to send the raiders running with their help. Too late, of course. Most of the convoy was trashed. And Rob was gone.

When I got back to Ten, my ship was a mess, barely flying. Same with me, for that matter. But instead of heading to the infirmary, I went straight to our apartment. Told my uncle and mother what had happened. Mom broke. She broke and yelled and screamed. I hadn't done what she'd told me to do. I hadn't looked after my little brother.

I left the freeport not too long after. Thought I'd try my luck outside of the Taus. Away from my family - what little remained of it. Away from the memories. And I vowed not to let it happen again. Not to get attached to someone I fly with. Hell, if possible, not to fly with anyone at all. Because odds are, I'd just lose them the same way I lost Rob.

And you know what? It worked. I got around, saw a lot of Sirius, made a decent living. Sent money back home to help my uncle and mother. Had some rough times, of course, but that's a mercenary's life, I guess. The war with Gallia. Getting stuck in the Omegas for too long. It wasn't always fun, but it worked. I was good at it. And then I came to Liberty. All I wanted was a change of scenery, some new jobs, maybe make a few contacts.

And then I ran into you. And, somehow, despite my best efforts, we connected. It's like I have a little sibling again, one I have to look after and protect. And... And it's hell. Because I can't let ten years ago happen again. Every day I worry that I might never see or hear from you again. That I browse the neural net only to find your obituary.

I know you're capable. I know you can look after yourself and I know you've promised to be careful since that time I yelled at you. But Rob was also capable. And he's gone.






So. There you have it. You always wanted to know and now you do.






I'm in Shikoku now. There's a little freeport hidden away in one of the clouds. Some peace and quiet, away from all the crap. Well, not quite, I guess. Seems bullshit follows me wherever I go, with Kusarian forces now apparently attacking Colorado? Jesus. I'm just gonna pretend like that's not happening. The bar here is nice and I don't want that latest development to suck the last bit of fun out of my life. But then again, what choice do I have but to head down there? After all, you'll be there, fighting on the Chief's orders, as usual.

I just need some time first. I'll keep in touch.

Thanks, Isla, for listening to all that and... understanding. I gotta admit, I thought it might be a bit much to dump on you all at once. And I know you mean well with what you said but the truth is, nothing anyone can say will get me over it. That's a battle I've gotta fight on my own, as I have for the past decade. But I'm grateful to know that I've got you to keep me going when I'm faltering. Thank you.

And you're right. I remember your promise and I know you'll be fine, even without me there to watch your back. So yeah. I'll stay here for a bit. A few days, at least. If I get itchy, I can always hop in the Sutinga and have a swing around Shikoku. Maybe pick up some useful intel to share with you. Other than that, I'll just keep having a good time here on this dinky little freeport.

And Isla? Don't force a smile. It doesn't suit you if it's fake.

Those jackasses in the Navy have no idea what they'd do without you. Without the LPI and you in particular. They just think that because they serve Liberty directly instead of working for a security firm as employees, they're hot shit. And the LSF - as much as it is a joke - is the same but worse. Don't let it get to you. You know you're doing good out there. The LPI knows it. Liberty knows it. I know it, too.

As long as you keep doing your job and doing it well, whatever those shit those bastards hurl at you doesn't matter. Their words don't matter, their opinions are meaningless. You're out there, risking your life everyday, protecting the people of Liberty. That's all that matters. The next time those useless loudmouths try to give you shit, tell 'em to take their big mouths and wrap them firmly around each other's assholes. Because that's all they are good for.



I'm having a surprisingly good time up here in Kusari. Sure, this little freeport's a piece of shit, an eternity away from the nearest trade lane and stuck in the middle of a small but dense nebula, but I've been exploring the systems a little and I gotta say, it's nice here. Beautiful scenery. And the people are such a breath of fresh air compared to the scum down in New York. Ran into two pilots of the Naval Forces the other day and had a nice chat with them. They realized I was a newcomer and gave me a pleasant introduction into Kusari and a warm welcome. Good folks here, it seems.

I... might stay here a little longer than planned. Maybe find some work. The pilots mentioned that there are plenty of criminal organizations to hunt. But for now, I'll just keep relaxing. Maybe you can join me up here for a little vacation when the Colorado situation is taken care of. If it gets taken care of instead of another war breaking out. But let's not assume the worst.

Well, I'll be damned. You actually made it! I told you it was just a matter of time before Holiday finally realized she needed you in the upper echelons. Though it would've probably happened sooner had you actually bothered filing some paperwork once in a while...

We'll have to get together and drink to celebrate soon! But... not too soon. To be honest - and this is why I'm so late in replying - I've been enjoying Kusarian drinking culture a bit too much. They may be very uptight and formal during the day, but boy, they sure get crazy at night if you offer to buy a few bottles of sake. And man, this rice wine stuff sure is good. I'm gonna need to spend a day or two sobering up, I think.

I still can't believe you have to pay for repairs to your ships out of your own pocket. Doesn't the LPI have any kind of insurance policy? Not even for their own capital ships? How're their employees supposed to make a living if they have to spend their life savings on just keeping their gear in working order? I guess that's what Liberty's unhinged capitalism gets you.

But hey. You've got yourself a promotion and, I assume, a pay raise now. And a whole precinct to yourself, right? Which one did you get?




Oh, and about looking angry? Well, it's hard not to when Liberty is involved.

Sorry for the silence, I was a little busy up here. The Hogosha run a spaceborne casino in Shikoku and I just couldn't help but try my luck there. I'm not big into gambling, usually, but once you're in a place like that, you really lose track of time. Anyway, I ended up breaking even, so apart from losing a day or two, there was no harm done.

But that's not all I've been up to in Kusari in the past few days. Guess whom I ran into a couple days ago. Your buddy Silverstone and, as luck would have it, Haze. Now, I don't know who recently stepped on Silverstone's tail, but he really went out of his way to be a particularly huge prick that day. Haze, on the other hand, I actually... got along with? So well, in fact, that we decided to grab a drink on New Tokyo.

I know, I know, she shot us both down once or twice each and is a professional killer hired by criminals to hunt Libertonian law enforcement. I haven't forgotten. But she and I are both hired guns - to an extent, it's always just business for the likes of us and as a professional, I have to respect that. Not that I forgive her, though. Anyways, we spent some time at a café, talked about a few things, and, honestly, she's not that bad in person. A bit odd - she's really into speaking in metaphors and analogies - but alright. At the very least, we were able to share a drink without trying to gun each other down, which is more than I'd expected.

Who knows, maybe this'll keep her from going after you in the future, too? Wouldn't count on it, slim chance. But hey, here's hoping.

I think I'll be wrapping things up in Kusari soon. I can't leave you hanging around all by yourself down in Liberty for ever, after all. But I'll definitely come up here more often. It's just too nice a change of scenery and company to pass up. Hopefully you can come along next time.