How to make a revolutionary

[Smokey.]

'From our schooldays they have told us we must yearn for independence'

That's what they told us in school, drilled things like... 'Yearn for independence' and 'Stand up for freedom' into our minds. Now where am I? Sitting in a jail cell. Nothing to do but dwell on the past and think about the events that brought me here...

---

BIO-
Name: Howard Tanner
Age: 31
Born: Planet Los Angeles, California
Parents:

Father: Joseph Tanner

Mother: Christine Tanner (Joyce)

Last Known Location: Huntsville Prison Station, Texas

---

A mixed history

My story... I guess my story begins on Planet Los Angeles. I was born October of 793AS to Joseph and Christine Tanner. My father, Joseph, was a decorated man, he'd served in the Liberty Navy in his youth after training at Cambridge university and went on to own a series of stores on Planet Los Angeles. My father also enjoyed three successful terms in office as Mayor and chaired several important committees. He was a man with a lot of influence in the community and had an air about him that, although he never asked for it, demanded respect. My mother however, ah my beautiful mother, She had quite a different story... Raised on Planet Cambridge, where she first met my father as a teen, her parents were revolutionaries who fought in secret for the freedom group known as 'the Molly’s'. When it was discovered in the autumn of 778AS that her parents were operating as 'terrorists' against the Bretonian government they were forced to flee with their daughter to the Molly stronghold in Dublin known as Arramore. It wasn't until 9 years later that my mother would once again come in contact with my father. Following in her parents footsteps she was working with a contact from the Liberty Rogues who was Intent on bringing some order and diplomatic structure to the chaotic group. My mother had been invited to Liberty to meet with the then crime boss Harry 'The Cannibal' Hannibal. Though fate had different ideas, while navigating through the California system, a place she'd never ventured before, her ship had become lost. It was only by sheer luck, or sheer bad luck in another sense, that she came across a Liberty Navy vessel, a Liberty Navy vessel that was captained by my father. He, using his 'discretion' of course... Immediately decided it was not in the interests of Liberty to make an arrest and, instead, offered my mother refuge at his home on Los Angeles. Well... Let’s just say, she never did make that meeting with Mr Hannibal, luckily for me I guess or I wouldn't be here to tell this story.

Strong beginnings

Growing up with parents that shared an intense love but such different political views was at times stressful. My father would belittle my mother's opinions as nothing but political propaganda and she, in turn, would give him the digs over his time in the Navy. As a young boy one usually looks up to his father as his main role model... But not me... The fire and passion my mother had for the common man was something that imprinted on me from a very early age and she wasn't afraid to let those feelings be a part of who I was becoming. Of course, both being Cambridge graduates my parents insisted on me following in their academic path and so at the age of 18 I set of for Bretonia. Not only did it mean I was in a completely different system from my parents back in California, it meant that I could study the courses that interested me rather than what I was told to. I enrolled on two courses, a degree in political science and another in socioeconomics, subjects that I was passionate about. I was at an integral point in my life, if I’d have known then what I know now, maybe things would be a lot different for me.

How to make a revolutionary

It is while in my first year at Cambridge that I met Ronnie Kavanagh. Kavanagh's parents were both political prisoners of Bretonia. He had lived with a foster family from an early age and was a student at Cambridge thanks to them. Ronnie, much like myself, had very deep rooted views on political rights and so together we formed the Cambridge activist group 'Students for Action'. At first we would meet up once a week and discuss ways and means of approaching the board of governors to enable more power to the student bodies... Petitioning and holding awareness events to gain momentum. However, this timely and pretty much fruitless endeavour soon became a bore to myself and Ronnie so, tired and downbeat from the constant knockbacks, we decided to form another group... a secret group that, instead of discussing and petitioning, would actually take action and force the people who held power to change policy. That group was called the SAF, or, the Student's Action Force. We used income from our legitimate group to finance two fighter vessels and intercepted many corporate transports and diplomatic ships. It was just fun... we were just kids trying to make a difference...

And so it ends where it begins..

Well, against all odds I managed to complete my studies at Cambridge. I stood around for a while but, as I’d not returned back to California, my parents were threatening to cut my allowance. Robbing transports was all good fun, but that's all it was... fun... even after 5 years of our 'activism' we weren't seasoned criminals and so weren't in a position to sell on the goods we captured. It was at this point me and Ronnie came up with a plan, a plan that would see us either take 500 million credits each... or a jail cell for the next 30 years. It was decided... I would return to California and begin on the preliminary tasks and Ronnie was to stay in Cambridge, recruiting for our cause.

No going back

Being back in Liberty with my parents was amazing, it felt great to sit down for a family meal once again and enjoy the simple things, things that I’d taken for granted before. Although my euphoric feeling of homeliness was soon to be spoiled by grief... shortly after my arrival back home In 816AS my mother and father were both involved in a hostage situation while attending a community event and.. After the incompetent LPI's tragic attempt at negotiating a hostage situation turned into a full scale massacre they, and another 38 other innocent people were killed. I was crushed... I threw myself into the work myself and Ronnie Kavanagh had begun and started to gather Intel on our target... We'd planned to kidnap a senior government official and ransom his freedom for an attractive sum. But I was young and naive, my methods sloppy... My enquiries and movements were soon picked up on by the police and I was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 7 years hard labour at Huntsville for conspiracy to kidnap.

I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered!

And so this brings me to the most current part of my story. Release day. 7 long years I’ve been here... I'm tired, but not defeated... I've still got a lot of fight in me. I've learnt a lot in these walls... made many connections... connections with other, like-minded, but... shall we say, less focused people. They call themselves the Liberty Rogues, the very same people my mother was supposed to meet all those years ago... Fate again? I guess only time will tell

---

[Smokey.]

'Freedom'

As i sit in the holding cell among several other inmates due to be released i read from a pamphlet given to me by a guard, it's title in bold letters reads; 'Freedom'.. yeah right, freedom from what exactly? this government cares more about its war machines and corporate fatcats than it does the poor, long suffering people.. what good is their version of freedom when it's at the expense of those at the bottom of the chain. The pamphlet continues.. 'Congratulations on your release from a Liberty penal facility, we at DSE would like to be the first to offer you a new life, free from crime and persecution'.. Okay thats enough of that bullshit, i screw up the pamphlet and throw it across the cell, missing the overfilled trash can completely. As i sit back against the cold metal wall in a hump i hear the guard call my name and number '476987B Tanner, you're up'.. i get up off the bench and make my way to the release sergeant's desk.. 'sign here' he says.. the document is a release form, documenting all my personal items and, of course, the obligatory waiver stating you won't attempt to sue the Liberty Government after leaving the system. I let out a little sarcastic laugh as i sign the form, the sergeant, who's most likely seen it a thousand times showed little reaction.. 'move down the corridor to the right where a transport will take you to Planet Manhattan'... as i walk away from the desk i feel a sigh of relief, this is it, i'm finally out.. im final free!