[font=Palatino Linotype] [color=#FF0000]"You live, you love, you forget."
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I was born on Denver. My birth name is Jonas Nune. However, I find names to be rather pointless, simply a way between persons to diffientriate from each other. Shouldn't you be able to tell the difference with your eyes? Or maybe by a persons actions. I am no judge, but I do tend to sort my fellow man by his or her deeds. On that regard, you may call me, the Wandering Gentleman.
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We are not so different you and I. We both wake up each morning and put on our clothes in a similiar fashion. (Yes, even you mad'am.) We strap on our wings, and then we fly, breathing in the cosmos in her infinate beauty. It is our choices that define us during these moments, and yes, even pull us apart. You see, while you fight for whatever honor and duty that your faction expects, I tend to look at the scene with an objectivity. Many in this era have forgotten how to live. They wake up, they go to work, they go home, they fall asleep. Each day exactly the same, held together by imaginary chains, the strands that hold your fabric together.
Yet, what if? Bear with me hear my good sir, because one day this will happen to you. It does to all of us, for we are only human. On this prescribed day, you will find yourself looking back on all you have done. Your deeds flanked by your misdeeds, your choices paving the path behind you. You will see your path as forked lightning, or the branches of a bonzai tree. You might look back on those choices and wonder, what if you had done something differently? If you hadn't met that person, would you be a pirate? A mass murderer? An officer of the law? Would you be fighting for freedom if at that one pivotal moment in your life you found yourself all alone?
The answer, dearest of all my friends, is quite simple. If you had made that fateful choice, it would be a different person looking back at a different set of questions and choices.
We only live once my friends. Live in the moment, and you live forever.
-New London
-New London Jump Gate
______________________________
"Sir Buchanan?"
Shaking off that ever familiar feeling of too little sleep, and too much flying, you hit the reciever on your transponder. As the vid screen lights up you recognize a familiar face. She's blonde young, and your secratary back in the main building. Rubbing at your eyes a bit you give a sort of grunt. Too much time staring out the cockpit.
"Sir Buchanan, listen, about the applications?"
Blinking several times you lean back in the pilot's seat.
"Applications."
The repeat of the word affirms the fact, what applications? Your face probably gave it away, as Julie quickly gives a playful scowl.
"Sir if you spent more time behind a desk and less time dodgin' pirates you'd know we've had several more applications in the last few hours."
"Indeed."
Your scowl isn't nearly as playful.
Just two more jumpgates and you could drop off this Boron and head home.
"Well sir, one of them is a vid message, should I put it through?"
Why not? Its not like you kept your eyes open the entire way there and back. Its a skill... really.
"Sure thing Julie, just the one."
You havn't even finished speaking when the screen flashes black and then the recording starts to play...
He's a young man. Looks to be in his early twenties. He's got a goofy looking hat, the beginnings of a rather fine beard, and a bright smile. Also, judging by the cockpit he's probably flying a Camara-class heavy frieghter.
"Oi' Sah! The name's Jonas Nune, like you, I walk the trade lanes, deliverin' goods an' dodgin' pirates. Now, your first question is probably how much experiance do I have flyin'?"
He leans forward rubbing at his chin, a gleam in those eyes. Raising a finger to his lips, the young man speaks.
"Nae' very long thats for sure. I bought a rhino about a week ago, and then a Dromedary a few days ago, now Ive got this fine beaut' "
He gestures around the cockpit.
"Bu' I havn't had a single credit given to me. Worked hard for every single ship and turret. Neve' done a convoy before, but I lioke the idea."
The grin still dances across the young man's features.
"Na'i aint afraid of anything. You send pirates, I'll just move faster. I don't cheat either. None of that contraband an' such. You need pilots, an Ive got the experiance, been workin' out of Bretonia this whole time. I dunnae' what the Diamond Trail is, but I learn quickly."
He leans back, its not really a confidence as much as a practiced movement.
"Now, I could work with Express and get a large bonus an' ae pretty ship. Truth is, I heard your company was better. Better Morals, Better Service, Training, Security, and most importantly better people. Now, I may need training, but again, I learn fast. You gae' me a chance, you won't regret it."
At this point a red light on one of the panels starts to blink. Then what sounds to be an alarm going off. From the rear of the cockpit a concerned woman steps forward. She looks rather irate.
"Captain....what is that alarm?"
"Err....nothin' ma'am. Don't you worry, I'll have you in the New York System before you can say Molly."
The woman raises her eyebrows. Staring down her nose at the young man.
"Why would I say Molly?"
Giving a sort of sheepish grin, Jonas moves to turn the camera off. As he does his voice can still be heard for a second.