.:Incoming Transmission:.
.:Comm ID: Rick Tiltman:.
.:Topic: All Good?:.
I'll shoot you straight Sandra, things are getting bad. Bering is embargoed, We lost a station in New London, and Liberty government is being their usual selves in regards to us Junkers. I just wanted to touch base with you to make sure you're doing alright. I know I invited you here and you jumped on the offer, but I just want to make sure your not feeling pressured to stay. Just let me know if there is anything you need.
Rick Tiltman,
Arbiter
*Airing Voice Broadcast. . .*
*Signal Origination: Planet Houston, Texas System*
*Correspondence from Sandra Carter*
*Subject Matter: Not so Good...
Rick, I'm glad 'ya gave me a shout. I appreciate 'ya checkin' in with me.
I'm gonna level with 'ya - Things ain't "All Good" with me. Honestly, they're probably the opposite of good right now. More'n more lately, I've been askin' myself why I've been tryin'ta stick with bein' a Junker an' tough it out.
The first blow to my certainty of bein' a Junker was probably that full-of-themselves claim the Alster Union made regardin' salvagin' military tech in Bering. I thought that maybe postin' a speech about it in the Congress Message Logs would spur some folks in'ta tellin' the Union 'ta screw off. But at the end of the day, most Congressional Junkers seemed interested only in playin' along'ta make their credits without contesting the claim. We're the salvage experts - What the heck do a bunch of thieves care what we do with scrap metal and maybe-half-functioning hardware?
The second ding on my gung-ho Junker attitude was that rookie, who got herself caught by the darn Chief o' Police three times in one dang day. It's bad enough refusin'ta stop fer any member've the force, but she had'ta go an' be carryin' loads've-- What were they, Xeno Relics? Yeah. Anyways, she ended up payin' some fine an' doin' community service, so I was willin'ta jus' let that go.
I reckon the next big ding on my radar was somethng you-yerself said, back when I was haulin' fer the Blood Dragons. A few've us Congressfolk were in a group-comm together, jus' passin' the time 'ta make the route feel shorter. I don't even remember what exactly ya'said anymore, jus' that it was.. Somethin' along the lines've piratical groups bein' some sort've "necessary evil" or somethin'. I'cn dig my logs up if 'ya really want, but I can't check 'em right at this moment. In any case, it wasn't somethin' I agreed with, Rick.
'Ta better iterate where I'm comin' from: I'm a Houstonite, Rick - Born and raised. I was raised'ta think that Liberty is the Land of Freedom, an' I also like'ta think I got a pretty good sense of Right an' Wrong instilled in me, growin' up. Here lately, I-- I don't feel Right, Rick. I keep catchin' hell from my sister fer what the rest've the Congress does, an' while she won't outright say it, I'm certain she thinks that I'm an idiot fer continuin'ta fly Congressional Colors.
Bit've a rant, here: I can't even float around my home planet's orbit without getting the cold shoulder from a lot've folk. Some Ageira hot-shot security pilot even called me a criminal, just fer bein' a Junker! Oh, I wanted to tear into his ear right then and there, but soon as I get started, the sad-sack up an' runs off!
Oh, but that wasn't even the half of it. Noo, this battle cruiser captain've the navy, decides that he's goin' 'ta imply I'm treacherous and dastardly, 'cause all I did was try an' have a friendly conversation!! The Got'dang guy said I was stallin' him so that some criminals from the Alster Union could ditch the lane towards Bering an' make a retreat! The very nerve of the idea still makes my blood boil!
*There is a sound of a sharp intake of air, before air is blown into the microphone.*
Sorry. I don't always fly off the handle like that. I just-- I can't keep doin' this, Rick! I can't keep tryin'ta play the part've "Lawful Junker" anymore. It's just... It's too much. I can't in good conscious continue working for a group that supports a faction like the Unioners via capitulation, or Corsairs via smuggling, or any else've 'em I could name.
I'm honestly glad 'ya reached out 'ta me though, Rick. I really don't.. feel like I'm true Junker material. If I can't trust even my fellow Junkers, how can I ever be truly comfortable where I am?
I apologize fer draggin' on like this, but I've had a lot on my mind, and I felt like it needed 'ta be said. This's been an enlightenin' experience an' all; I reckon I ain't so Black an' White anymore. But I reckon I'm still a lighter hue than anythang else.
D'ya happen'ta know where I might find work somewhere else? Somewhere, y'know, more straight an' narrow? Preferably with Liberty, but I'll take somethin' else if'n I reckon it's a good fit.
Lemme' know, Rick. I appreciate yer time. An' uh..
.:Incoming Transmission:.
.:Comm ID: Rick Tiltman:.
.:Topic: All Good?:.
Jeeze Sandra,
I had no clue you felt this strongly,
I can see now maybe inviting you into the Congress wasn't a great move. I thought you had Junker material and that if you saw those who you know as Criminals in a different light maybe you might be able to change your perception. I see now I was trying to change you, and for that I am sorry.
I want you to understand I am not angry, it takes serious guts to tell someone the truth like you have, and I appreciate when your open. I would rather know this way than have found out you disappeared with out a trace one day.
I want to apologize for anything I said that may have made you uncomfortable and I hope you understand that you can still trust me.
Lastly, I have an offer, I know a guy who might be able to help you. Let me give him a call and see if I can hook you up with a position.
*Airing Voice Broadcast. . .*
*Signal Origination: Planet Houston, Texas System*
*Correspondence from Sandra Carter*
*Subject Matter: Not so Good...
I appreciate the response, Rick.
Eh.. Sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that. I guess I should'a said somethin' sooner. Mainly I reckoned I'd give the other Congressfolk a chance to prove themselves as decent folk. I'm just-- Well, most've 'em seem A-OK with smuggling, an' a few even hinted at wantin'ta raid the odd-Freelance transport occasionally. That's.. Not really somethin' I condone, especially since smugglin' alone ought'a be lucrative enough.
While Junkers as a whole are right decent people, they're a bit too.. Shady, I guess. The biggest problem ain't exactly the people that are Junkers, but moreover, it's how other factions see us. I can't stand bein' thought've as a criminal, myself, an' I've come across too, too many folks that seem to feel that way, both openly and by suggestion.
Granted, I think I see now why there are so many who resort 'ta piracy. Bein' a Junker helped any highwayfolk I ran across to stay relaxed. Some've 'em are what I'd label as "good people in a bad situation."
Anyways... I appreciate the apology, Rick. I've trusted 'ya this far, and towards me, ya've never treated me wrong. I guess our ideals just don't quite match up - Otherwise, yer good company, Rick.
And, really? I'd be much obliged if 'ya could hook me up with somethin', thank 'ye! Although, I do have a question..
Can I keep my Wrecker?
I've sort've grown attached 'ta the thing, an' there ain't no other vessel like it out there. I couldn't stand how inefficient the Salvager was at solo-operations in scrap fields. I understand I can't jus' hold onto everything Junkery I've scooped up over time, but.. I guess I jus' wouldn' mind a memento that also happens'ta be pretty practical. There ain't no other vessel with mining capability that combines the blend of cargo capacity and defensive armaments out there!
But, I'll understand if that's not possible. I ain't plannin' on shootin' anybody aggressively with a Wrecker, if that helps - jus' if they give me trouble, or in the case've pirates, if they demand an unreasonable tribute (I'm talkin' 11,000,000+ amounts, here).
Or if they're rude. I don' like rude folk.
Again, sorry fer blowin' up on 'ya like I did. I've been a bit.. Stressed, I guess, lately. I feel better now, though.