To: Zoners, Corsairs, the Order

[Starr]

###incoming transmission###
###source: Paladin's Wake###
###subject: The Omicron Situation###

Fellow denizens of the Omicrons. My name is Diana Starr, I'm the captain of the Conference-class gunship "Paladin's Wake".
I'm not a representative of the Confederation of Freeports, nor any other organized group.
Rather, I'm a simple scavenger. The word has a negative connotation with many, but that's not something I've ever really concerned myself with.
Being able to make a living from salvaging equipment we find, hunting aliens and selling their organs, or simply trading information for money has always been a way of life in the far Omicrons.

But the situation is different now. There is a group opposed to our way of life, opposed to everyone else's way of life in the Omicrons. A military corporation intent on subjugating the Omicrons to their will, to their "laws". I'm sure I needn't spell this out for you.

For my fellow Zoners in particular: The Core are the antithesis of everything we stand for. Their autocratic authority is the exact thing we sought to get away from with our choice to live outside the houses.
They try to claim us as subordinates, as subjects to their authority, the exact opposite of how we chose to live. They shoot us if we do not bend to their will, and mockingly resupply at our Freeports after.
How long are we going to tolerate this? They wish to bring the authoritarian nature of the houses to our Edge World homes, with even less accountability.

I am tired of this situation. I don't want to be forced to run to our Freeport, which they buy supplies from, to avoid destruction after defending one of our ships.
They claim we are the aggressors when we defend our ships, when they accuse us of breaking their laws.

I, for one, do not recognize their authority.
I do not recognize their laws. If I wanted to subject myself to a martial authority, I would not be a Zoner.
They think of us as sheep, and pacifists. With no disrespect to those of us that chose such a path, I am not a pacifist.

I believe there is a need to counteract this trend. The Core are a common enemy to all of us, if we are Hispanics, Order, or Zoners - though they pretend not to be.

This isn't an isolated occurrence.

To all Zoners, I wish to collect more information on the Core attacking us. I know there have been countless incidents of this. And I suggest to you, if you travel to the eastern Omicrons: Arm yourselves. Prepare your ship for combat. And be ready to engage the Core at any time.

To the Order and the Corsairs, I bid you increase your presence in the far Omicrons, especially Delta. Our Freeports are open to you. We require more pilots, more ships, and more firepower to counter the Core menace.

The Core have no allies. They have managed to antagonize everyone around them; the pilots that have left them tell horror stories of their disposition. It is time for them to pay the price.

I am appealing to all of you to complete the following:

1.) Finally remove docking rights for Core ships on Freeports
2.) Take an aggressive stance and fight back against the Core
3.) Drive the Core from the Omicrons

While the Omicrons were never peaceful, things were different before. There was a certain balance before, between everyone that lived there. Help us re-establish this balance.

###end transmission###