Sender:A. Carter Recipient:Aaliyah Errai, Eliyah Errai Source:Jakarta Colony Priority:Medium Subject:Volunteering
I was never any good at filing paperwork or putting in for transfers, so I'll keep this brief and save myself embarrassment. You two seem to run a tight wheelhouse and I haven't seen any with the IMG in a while. We've been dealt bad hands one time too many and consecutively. My background might not be the most legit, this is true, but I know my way around a ship and I think that could be useful. Besides, I'm sure that lumbering wedge of a ship has a couple spare docks for birds.
So if it's alright with you two, I'd like to sign on as part of the crew, serving as one of your strike or escort pilots. My old squad is defunct, so I'm leaving my new callsign up to you as well. Just as long as it's nothing silly, but alright that was all I wanted to say.
Sender:Aaliyah Errai and Eliyah Errai Recipient:Andrew Carter Source:IMGF-Sabik, Planet Curacao Priority:Medium Subject:Re: Volunteering
May a thousand suns light your path, mister Carter.
We are glad to hear from you again, and gladder still of your wish to join us; you have conducted yourself valiantly during our encounter, brief as it was, and people of experience and character have always welcome in our group.
And even more so now.
Fortune's favour has indeed seemed to have abandoned the Guild no less than it did us, as we are coming to realise.
We thought ourselves star-crossed when the Sabik alone returned from the farther reaches of the Edge Worlds a smouldering husk, with nary a trace of its accompanying exploratory fleet or their personnel - or indeed their leader and former chieftain, our venerable father - and doubtless we are, but the Guild has suffered much as well.
Unfortunately, its woes reflect on us as well, as the incident at Aland Shipyard in Omega-3 makes even us independents as something of a persona non grata in Liberty. We are working to rectify that, mind you, but this matter has caught us by surprise and for the time being, we appear to be barred from utilising IMG technology in the house.
You will forgive the digression. You have candidly admitted to a 'not quite legit' background and deemed our 'wheelhouse tightly ran', and we think it only proper that you be informed of our situtation: Kith Errai stands greatly diminished and so does the Guild, but we endure and we do intend to prosper once again.
Rest assured that we do have sufficient liquidity to ensure a fair pay for your services, and that the Sabik has ample - if admittedly somewhat cramped, due to the construction and refining machinery - space for your 'bird'.
But, enough about us.
We would like to hear more of your background, and what is it that you seek precisely - from us, and perhaps in general.
We eagerly await your answer, mister Carter.
Until then, may the brightest sun light the way home.
Sender:A. Carter Recipient:Aaliyah Errai, Eliyah Errai Source:Jakarta Colony Priority:Medium Subject:Volunteering
My background, right. Might want to sit down for this one if you aren't already seated.
I was, and I guess still am in certain respects, a Knight of Labor. It's an organized contingent of raiders operating under the Xeno Alliance, which in turn is a small part of the much larger Xeno movement in Liberty. During the attempted annexation in Coronado, direct intervention is something we deemed as necessary. But we were smart enough to realize that deploying ships to assist openly would only cause the Guild more trouble.
So a call was put out for volunteers willing to embed themselves as independent Guild pilots and provide support that way. I'm one of those volunteers, probably the last one that hasn't either died or gone back home. I don't really know why I've stayed out here, but it's a choice I've come to terms with. And if I'm being really honest, I've got no expectations of you either. I just want to be part of a unit again, so whatever form that takes I'm game.
This is definitely a lot to process, but I wanted to be straight with you. Best clear it up now rather than later, to avoid hurt feelings and complications.
Sender:Aaliyah Errai and Eliyah Errai Recipient:Andrew Carter Source:IMGF-Sabik, Planet Curacao Priority:Medium Subject:Re: Volunteering
The Libertonian Xeno movement, you say?
To our understanding, as formed by our usually well-informed Nav and what is available on the Neural Net, it appears to be an exceedingly fierce group of unlawfuls devoted to the forceful eviction of all foreign influences on Liberty's space to the supposed benefit of its people.
It also appears to have made enemies of the vast majority of Sirius as a result, with a few notable exceptions - one of them being the Guild.
Indeed, this would all point to a less-than-legit background, one that would make associating with you or yours difficult - not least because we are typically on the receiving end of raiders.
However, you have also mentioned coming to the aid of the IMG despite it being a foreign entity to Liberty, by all accounts.
Clearly, we are missing something.
Is this an initiative of the Xeno Alliance specifically? If so, why intervene? What do they, and you, stand for?
Sender:A. Carter Recipient:Aaliyah Errai, Eliyah Errai Source:Jakarta Colony Priority:Medium Subject:Volunteering
Asking me to state what an entire movement stands for is a bit beyond my abilities.
From what I know there's always been some element of an understanding between the Xenos and the IMG. Same way it is with the Zoners, you were never really seen as a foreign organization because the "I" in your name does stand for something. Hard to recognize a group with no House allegiances as foreign, all the more when your management of the old Freeport that used to sit in Magellan was as reasonable as Ames. In the end, that's what I was told about why we were getting involved and I believed it, still do. It was about independence and genuinely foreign military alliances trying to take what isn't theirs. But to make this a case of "me and mine" is a bit of a stretch. Last call to go home was a long time ago.
I don't see how my background would do you any harm if I was discreet about it though, unless this was a bit too much of a surprise, and in that case I get it.
Sender:Aaliyah Errai and Eliyah Errai Recipient:Andrew Carter Source:IMGF-Sabik, Planet Curacao Priority:Medium Subject:Re: Volunteering
Independence.
If that is what the Xeno stand for, then they have our respect - and perhaps our attention.
No, given what you've said, your background is quite alright with us.
The harm your past would have caused would've been 'limited' to matters of principle: yes, the Errai of eld valued independence and force (be it of will or arms) even in those who would rival them, but they never associated with those who would wield said qualities solely to rob and extort others of their hard-won efforts, be it common brigands or rapacious barons. To do so would mean admitting to a lack of both and discrediting the Kith's founding precepts no less than its history.
Upholding principles in this day and age may appear naive or senseless, I concede, but to us (and my dear brother in particular) principle and tradition are the cornerstones upon which one's character and endeavours stand: as such, we take these matters seriously.
Now, leaving that aside for the moment and returning to your offer - if you still have a mind to join, we will gladly welcome you among us as "Thueban", or "Serpent" in the old tongue.
We thought it fitting, given your former allegiances, but if you dislike it do say so freely; there will be ample time to come up with something more to your taste, as you settle in aboard the Sabik.
Sender:A. Carter Recipient:Aaliyah Errai, Eliyah Errai Source:Jakarta Colony Priority:Medium Subject:Volunteering
The name suits me just fine, it's almost too fancy but I like it.
Guess I'll be seeing more of you two now, let me know if my "services" can be of use to you. Wouldn't put it past all the scum in the Taus to take advantage of the Guild's current situation to try and make territorial or political gains. And I'm not picky when it comes to targets, if it's for a cause then I'm happy to fight.