To: Nicole Hayes

[Amy West]

Incoming Transmission

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ID: Admiral Amy West

Recipient: Captain Nicole Hayes

Subject: Personal Gratitude

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Loading Message

Captain,

First and foremost, I'm well aware of the conflict of affiliations here. I'm sure you likely hold no end of animosity towards the Insurgency or anything that preceded it, just as I have no love whatsoever for the institutions that Liberty protects. However, besides the simple hope that you now understand some of the grievances we've had with Liberty in the past, I won't try and use this to spout ideological nonsense.

Quite frankly, this pretty much blindsided much of the intel staff I have left on Veracruz. While we've been aware of growing tensions between Liberty and the Zoners of Erie for the last couple of years, and even more recently with independent news outlets speaking of the measures Liberty seems to be taking, we had mostly assumed that Liberty's focus on curbing our influence would prompt the corporate police to conduct crackdowns, instead of a full-scale military-intelligence operation. I don't suspect that Zoners of all things will put Liberty in its place, as many of my guys are ex-military and we're being ground down to a fine paste over here, but I suspect that with the information you've provided, and yet may continue to provide, that Veracruz and Erie will only be the beginning of real civil issues going forward, which frankly this House needs.

On top of this, you have my gratitude, whether you like it or not, for standing up for the refugees on Erie. While it pisses me off that we only got them out of harm's way only for Liberty to come down on them again, and without any mode to aid them, knowing that there are those on the inside that aren't standing by the status quo is refreshing. Many of them are hard non-combatants, with some who were catalogued as still dealing with after-effects from Leeds, while the rest are likely former Commonwealth citizens, neither of which have any combat experience whatsoever. If, and I do mean 'if', any Insurgency personnel did make it to Erie, then quite frankly I don't care what happens to them, but I do know that even if they do exist, they wouldn't be able to spark a rebellion even if they really tried.

Regardless, and I'm probably speaking for many of those refugees and Zoners on Erie, you have my thanks for doing the right thing. I really do hope that you don't plan for this act to be a one-off.


Libera te ex Inferis.

West, out.

Transmission Ends

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"The truth's always harder to swallow than a simple white lie.."
Join the Fight

[Goddess Astra]

****INCOMING TRANSMISSION****

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COMM ID: Captain Nicole Hayes
TARGET ID: Admiral Amy West
ENCRYPTION: MAXIMUM
PRIORITY: CRITICAL

Admiral West, hello. The message is expected, but the contents are a welcome surprise.

There's no conflict of affiliations. The fight was never personal for me, so don't worry about that. Still, I can't help but admit it's taken me a long time to understand why people disliked Liberty so much. Maybe I could have done more if I had realized it sooner, but I'm here now. Nevertheless, I'm relieved that you're not using this to try to sway me to any side.

Rest assured that I don't intend for this to be a one-off event, and I intend to make Liberty pay for every life that they take in Pennsylvania, whether on Erie or in orbit. They've caused enough suffering as it is, and I will not stand for it. You're right that the Zoners can't win this battle--I think everyone knows that. And that's exactly why I had to speak. To hear your gratitude here only encourages me. I'm grateful for your show of support.

I expect there will be a lot more work to be done in the future. I can't make any promises about anything right now. You probably understand why. But leave the channel open.

Hayes out.

****TRANSMISSION TERMINATED****

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