From: Hunter Wolff, on assignment at Pacifica Base, Bering System To: Katherine Pennybrooke Subject: Our meeting and discussion Encryption: Heavy
Dear Katherine:
I am deeply grateful for our chance meeting in New Berlin yesterday, and for your decision to join me on Kreuzberg for a drink. Although I wish I could say it was your company that I found most charming - and don't get me wrong, it was - it was the information you provided, the insight into Nomads, that I valued most.
I appreciate your faith in me, and I apologize again if I came off a bit self-deprecating. I'm determined to make something more of myself than the humble start I was given in life, and the knowledge that you shared will help empower me. From the nature of our conversation, I am guessing that you are very outspoken on the topic of Nomads. You're the first person I've met who discusses them openly, and has no fear in her voice when she speaks of them. I admire that.
To that end, I want to know more. I do not know how often you find yourself in Rheinland, but my standing orders do not limit me only to Unioner-interest systems. As evidenced by a flight into the Sigmas a few days ago, I am free to go where I wish. I want to learn more of the Omicrons you speak of, and I must repeat my request to meet a Nomad if possible. If they are as empathetic and understanding as you say, I would wish to witness it for myself. It's not that I do not believe you, but to see two so varying reactions to their existence - violent fear and apathy from my Outcast ally, and open-hearted friendship and allegiance from you - I must make my own decision.
Please, if you are in touch with the Nomads directly, consider forwarding my request. Until then, I will be happy to speak with you regularly and learn whatever information you have to share about them. Thank you so much for everything you've shared so far. I am grateful for you.
I wish we had had a somewhat more private place to talk than the previous chaotic meeting, to be topped off with some trigger-happy Maltese.
There's no need to apologize, least of all for your own self-doubt - in fact, combating uncertainty very much requires you to drop your apologetic stance towards imaginary transgressions you believe you've made.
I would very much like to tell you more about what I know, if we can find a better place for that again. I'm sure we can arrange it somehow.
From: Hunter Wolff, on assignment at Pacifica Base, Bering System To: Katherine Pennybrooke Subject: The Maltese and the battleship you saw Encryption: Heavy
Dear Katherine:
I was as surprised as you were to run across you in the Galileo system. I can't get into much operational detail, but the Union was conducting some engine testing that ended up not going as planned. I know you peeled off shortly after we entered Kusari territory, but I hope you found yourself well and away from things. Thankfully, in the end, there was no conflict between us and the Maltese. In fact, they got rather distracted by a Kasuri battleship that decided to enter the area. We simply turned and returned home - albeit not without having to watch our backs religiously the entire way through Liberty territory.
I too was disappointed that we could not speak more. I know I was distracted keeping command of the two other escort fighters, but the conversation I did manage to pick up between you and Admiral Shultsky sounded strained. I've come to learn that many of the Union's senior command types seem to love to hear themselves talk, sometimes about nothing at all. I don't know what went on between the two of you, but I hope you will not consider it a judgment on my own behavior. I continue to want to speak to you, and learn more about the Nomads and what their presence in Sirius means to humanity.
That being said, I must be blunt - I have been warned off further investigation into the Nomads by a...let's just call him a colleague. He has warned me that they are dangerous and not to be trusted, near impossible to communicate with and...Katherine, I don't know if this is true, but he tells me that they have the ability to occupy a human being, to take them over down to their very core, and then act as if they are that person. The idea is...frightening, to say the least. Do you know anything of this? Is this true at all?
I must learn more. Every time I hear someone tell me not to investigate something, it only makes me more curious. I can only hope you will continue to assuage my curiosity...but please, always be honest with me. I may be a young, backwater Rheinlander...but I can take it.
Thank you for your continued trust and openness with me.
From: Hunter Wolff, on assignment at Pacifica Base, Bering System To: Katherine Pennybrooke Subject: They are absolutely beautiful - and deadly! Encryption: Heavy
Katherine:
I do not know quite how to describe everything that happened today. I am so grateful to you for acceding to my wish to meet the Nomads. I only wish that it had gone better. You were right - they seemed non-violent and curious about me, until John Silverstone opened his mouth. I only hope that you and Nycto were able to get out of there safely. As it was, my ship was nearly destroyed and I had to flee back to Freeport 11. I made it safely, and they repaired me enough to make it back to Pacifica.
Good or bad, Mr. Silverstone found me at Freeport 11 and escorted me back to Pacifica. It wasn't forced, but our conversation the entire time was...awkward, to say the least. I don't know your history with him, but I did overhear the absolute rage that you spoke to him with. I'm sorry that he was able to tag on to our little trip. His presence irked you quite badly, and I regret that. It seems that whenever you're in my company, some third party tends to ruin it. I hope you'll forgive me. He had a lot to say - including threatening my life if I ever pursued speaking to the Nomads again - but that's only made my curiosity stronger.
But perhaps what I hope for more is a chance to try again. I don't know if the Nomads believe in second chances, or understood that I wouldn't fire on them and that I understand they are sentient life that is to be respected...but if possible, I would still like to communicate with them. The one or two sentences I did manage to sputter out in my awe probably didn't impress them, but I want you to know that them firing at me did not scare me off. We invaded their home territory, and perhaps that wasn't the right first approach...but I understand why they fired, and do not hold it against them.
Regardless, please tell me you are alright. Please tell me you and Nycto made it out of there. We can talk more, and I want to continue this journey of learning more about the Nomads. Though, maybe not in their company again too quickly. We'll see. Wishing that you are safe in your travels until we meet again.
I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you are doing well. I ran into Nyctophilia, who I believe is a friend of yours, recently. She was in Bering, believe it or not. I bumped into her again on another occasion, and we discussed you briefly. I hope she passed along my message.
I remain curious about the Nomads, though I have no desire to go back to them so directly any time soon. I'm hoping you and I can meet again and discuss, but I know you're busy. I recently obtained a large quantity of data on the Nomads from a Zoner friend, and I'd like you to validate it.
I am also busy at home. This war in Bering is getting worse by the day. Stay safe, keep well, and perhaps I will hear from you soon.