Simon Marshall

[Niezck]

Four Years Ago ...

He awoke to the sounds of his mother sobbing. She was crying uncontrollably and had been for the past four hours. There was a strong light coming from her bedroom, through the ajar door and into Simon's bedroom. The silhouette of his mother was cast against the backdrop of her bedroom window.

“Mom? What's up?” He was still half asleep when he asked, not realising his own question. He knew what was the matter, the Cardamine had worn off again and she had realised what she'd done. It was always the same. Every time she came down from the high, she sobbed for hours until she finally collapsed in exhaustion.

“Hey, mom, come on, it's alright! You'll be fine. Don't worry, you'll get past it soon enough. Just keep trying.” He tried to comfort her but it was drowned out by her sobs. As he approached her bedroom he saw her sat on the edge of the bed, face in her hands, rocking slightly back and forth.

“I-I-I can't do it! I keep trying but I just can't! It won't stop! Help me Simon, please help me!” She bawled at him, begging. She had tried to quit many times before but had always gone back to it, she was truly addicted.

[Niezck]

Eva, honey, are you home? Roger Marshall walked into his Californian apartment, looking for his wife. He was a middle-aged man wearing a plain black suit, white shirt and black tie. His left hand gripped a black leather briefcase tightly before placing it down on the table to his right. Walking into his and his wife's bedroom, he saw a younger man sat next to his sobbing wife, arm around her.

What on earth? What's going on here!? Eva, this had better not be what it looks like! His eyes widened as he came to the realization that he had been away trading for over six months, his wife had needs, perhaps she had found somebody else? Just as he said this the man withdrew his arm and stood up, looking directly at him before looking down once more.

You know where to contact me, Eva, if you need me. The man's voice was gruff and his face showed many years of struggling and hardship. Roger had seen his kind before on video screens aboard his ship ... this man was a Rogue!

Get the hell out of my house, scum! Roger was now roaring at him, angry at the very sight of the man. He strode towards the man, rage filling up his face.

I'm leaving, no need to get angry. Oh and the next time you call me scum, i'll slit your throat. And with that he left, almost ran, out of the room. Seconds later the front door was heard slamming. Eva Marshall just sat on the bed, tears gone, looking down. In her hand she held a holo-card with the man's picture and name on it. It read:

Brian Richton, Crime Boss of the Liberty Rogues.
Communication information: Wouldn't you like to know?
Home: Alcatraz Depot

[Niezck]

They argued for days on end. There was no stopping them. The slightest remark or the wrong tone of voice would set them off at each other. Simon hated it.

After about two weeks, she left. His mother just abandoned him. The bitch. She just upped and left, no regard given to his welfare. Needless to say, he resented her. He blamed the rest of his horrible childhood on her.

Simon was forced to live on his father's ship with him in the following years. Naturally, however, he came to enjoy it - being in space and all. Eventually, when they could afford it and after many weeks of persuation, Roger bought Simon his first fighter. A surplus Defender.

He flew escort with Roger for a year before it happened. His father just broke down in tears one day, he never worked again. Simon had to fly the transport then, to keep his family sustained. Eventually, however, he decided it was time for a change. He wanted to do something. He wanted to be somebody - not just another transport captain. He applied for the Liberty Navy.

[Niezck]

The forms were filled out, his particulars described. He had submitted an application to the Navy.

####Incoming Transmission####

Comm ID: Defender Arcadia
From: Simon Marshall
To: Navy Command

As you may have guessed from my transmission information, this is Simon Marshall transmitting from the Defender Arcadia. I wish to apply for a position within the Southern Alliance and/or Liberty Navy as a whole, if such a thing exists.

My background, now that's an interesting topic. I began my life as many do as a new-born child on Planet California Minor. My father worked as a trade ship pilot, running light arms from Detroit Munitions to various Liberty Dreadnoughts throughout the sector. Having my father in a different star system made my life somewhat hard. Especially considering my mother was usually so high on Cardamine she couldn't even remember her own name.

Well, now she's joined the Liberty Rogues and my father is truly distraught. He just sits at home ... waiting. He doesn't seem to understand she isn't coming back. Hell, she probably isn't alive still. Well, i'll stop feeding you my sob story, you've probably hundreds of applications to read. My basic information is as follows:

Name: Simon Marshall
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165lbs
Body Type: Muscular
Religion: N/A
Combat Experience: 5 Years flying around California, fending off the occasional Rogue attack. My current job is as an escort fighter to trade convoys flying through the system. The Rogues and Hackers do sometimes assault us while going through the trade lanes but it's mostly a safe journey.

My experience is mostly in the Defender class of Heavy Fighter. However i'm almost certain that i could handle the next ship up - the Guardian. I also have a very small amount of experience in my father's trading ship, a Transport. After he was stricken with grief i had to run some routes for him so that we could keep up on bills. Because of this, i have some basic experience in commanding a small vessel and tracking fighters with some simple turrets.

Simon Marshall out, sir.

####End Transmission####

It was only a matter of time ...

[Niezck]

He got in! Fantastic!

Recruit Simon Marshall, Southern Alliance, 62nd Battlegroup, Gold Wing

His new holocard looked flashy, an exceptionally large Liberty insignia covering one side of it. This was such a proud day for Simon - his dream had come true!

Training was ... interesting. He'd never been spectacular in a fighter, but tried his best. Simulators found his abilities lay in the use of Capital vessels & manual gun turrets. Therefore his initial assignment was to the LNS-Hope, a Liberty Gunboat.

Naturally, he kept a Guardian like every navy personnel, but that's where most of his time was spent.