To: Head of the Phantom wing of the Xeno Alliance

[Reeves]

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To: <"Hell if I know, nobody uses their real name anymore, so whoever's behind the call-sign Phantom">
""<Your Offer>""


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So I gave it some thought and I've narrowed my mind and hesitation down to a few bullet-points.

Now part of the reason why I didn't leap at your offer is because movements are all the same at the end of the day, you want something, you want me to work and potentially die to help you get it, where do I factor into that equation? And why should I be obligating myself to a cause? There's a reason I do my own thing, it's because I don't want to be obligated to anyone or anything, I look after myself.

Moreover, I do occasionally like stealing things that interest me and extorting a few fat-cats that can afford to spare the change, I'm not sure what your "movement's" policy is on that sort of thing. Though the way I see it there is a compromise to either joining you or being at odds with you.

If you aren't able to offer me what I currently enjoy or eventually begin to not see me as a proper fit for your Movement, then we could just continue down our current route, we ignore each other. I target coordinated organizations and not small pockets of people such as yours, if there are terms required to be met in relation to such ignorance, go ahead and tell me what they are.

I think that clarifies things.

""Bye""

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[Evo]

**Incoming Transmission**


Recipient: D:/Pose

Sender: -ERR-

"I think you know how you would factor in, what we do is no secret. There are certain.. complexities we take on and different methodologies in our wing, yet general operating procedures are similar. You would first undergo training at one of our sites, then likely be deployed for intelligence gathering and destruction of key targets. There are other assignments, but those are for our more seasoned operatives."

"As to why you should join.. I think you know you don't fit where you are currently. You aren't one of those basket-case tech nerds with cheesy puff dust covering their neck beards that we know as the Lane Hackers. You're a smart one that's picked up on at least two of the many tragedies facing Liberty that we fight against. And yet, even with your.. condition, shall we call it, you stay in Liberty despite the difficulty it presents."

"That tells me one of two things. One, you wish to be an agent of change yet find yourself unable to be it. Or two, you're simply a headstrong, stubborn bastard. Perhaps a little bit of both. People join our Movement for many reasons. People like myself.. I think you've earned a little bit of personal information. I used to fight for the opposing side, until the dirty money could no longer assuage my conscience. Looking at the prospects of a political approach, I determined that to be an option with little to no favorable outcome. There's too much money in exploiting those that don't know better; that only stops when it isn't as profitable to do so or someone ends it."

"Criminal organizations that start as a result of this usually get distracted by the pursuit of credits. The Hackers are one of the ones in this category. What could have soared high, instead scrapes along the bottom with the rest of the scum, satisfied with the scraps dropped on the floor in hope of better days that will never come to them. We are different, we seek profit as a secondary objective and not a primary one. The Movement strayed once already and quickly fell as a result. We will not make the same mistake twice, for we will likely not come back from it a boon to Liberty rather than a detriment."

"If that satisfies your ideological needs, more material needs are met well for those who prove themselves. As I've said, we will provide for your.. condition.. so long as you keep it out of the general rank-and-file. Being an operative, you may arrange deals or tips on specific targets to hit after a time. It requires work on your behalf, yet the potential to earn more than you know what to do with is there. We're not simple thieves, you may stay where you are if you wish to be a common highwayman demanding pittances at gunpoint."

"I await your final decision."

**Transmission END**

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[Reeves]

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To: <"Hell if I know, nobody uses their real name anymore, so whoever's behind the call-sign Phantom">
""<Your Offer>""


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You sure you weren't just some suit in a corporation before you grew scales and started spitting venom at people? Pretty convincing pitch, enough to sway most people. Most people ignore my tolls anyway, so I often-times have to get creative..

I don't have ideological needs, but I do know a good deal when I see one. Though I want one thing in return, being an addict isn't a god-damn condition, stop calling it that, there's nothing wrong with me, at least not any more than there might be with you. Taking my doses is a lot like peeing, I'm not going to do it in public and in front of your people while they eat. I dose myself privately and never share.

Unconventional recruit you've made out of me, a cardamine addict among the Xenos killing things for the heck of it, at least it's not predictable, and at the very least, it'll be fun. I'm in. I'll ditch my vindicator back on some Hacker base, move myself out to Ames and we'll go from there. If I ever feel indoctrinated in the slightest, I'm packing a bag and leaving. I like my freedom, don't tread on it.

""Bye""

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