Hack completed...
Location: Westnebel, Stuttgart
Encryption: High
Message Begins...
Hello, Mr. Spire. I hope this message reaches you in good health.
Well, not exactly... If I'm being truly honest, I hope this message reaches you while you are in extreme pain, mere moments away from your death. But let's not get hung up on matters like this...
Allow me to introduce myself; My name is Richard Hastings. I'm a revolutionary. Through my various... operations... I've managed to bump into either yourself or your associates on numerous occasions. Most of the time, those occasions ended with me putting a rather large hole in your associates ship's hull. But let's put that behind us. Your comms officer... Bloody hell, what's his name? I can't bloody remember... Something wierd. Anyway, he was a decent chap in combat. Good form, especially when piloting that lump of scrap you call the Kusari Explorer. Anyway, the bloody chap just couldn't shut up when speaking your praises, saying you "had a dream" of some sorts. Some sort of plan for a united Rheinland. Well, you've peaked my interest. So tell me, what is this 'dream' of yours?
Also, please note that I do not represent my organization, or anyone besides myself in these communications.
-A young man stands in front of the communications screen, holding a rather neutral demeanor. He seems to direct some people behind him as with his enviro-jacket
Hello Richard, this is Adam.
I seem to deal with individuals and not such parties as yourself unless I feel the time is right. A lot of things have created time constraints and pushed events into motion and I can only hope for the best.
Now, if I go and tell you my dream it may not come true, if you had your way. I honestly wouldn't want that. I put a lot of time and effort into what I did and I really don't savor the idea of my own kinsmen out to put a stop to it.
I'm also sure Mr. Marshal didn't appreciate you damaging his ship and pride, but he's been around long enough to know you cant win them all. David and I talk a lot about the ideas I have and I much enjoyed him giving your forces a sound punch to the face in Dresden when you attacked the General.
Win some lose some.
I do wonder what a moot break-off bastard faction like the AGS want with unity anyway?
You seem to be pretty hell bent on making alliances with anyone willing to burn Rheinalnd out from the inside and build it back from the ashes.
So now here you are, a group huddled together in a band of angry men and women who's shout and guns will win the day. Horary for freedom.
-He finished with an angry sarcastic tone. Pausing for what seems like a long time, he ran his hand into his hair, looking away trying to compose himself.-
A unified Rheinland. 'He began with another pause-
How can I possibly explain that to the likes of you? You've redefined freedom into some gaudy banner of war, covered in anger, and supported by the fallen bodies under it. It's so damn easy to be angry.
If you want to know what I'm trying to do you have to understand me a little better than you have so far. Let me start with reason and see how that works.
You may or may not know that my father is Rheinalnd born and my mother is from Bretionia. Not an odd mix considering the times. They both left their home systems over thirty years ago to live in the Colorado system on planet Denver. They both made a living fixing transports and putting together civilian ships that were sold planetside and I eventually took on the trade myself. I was educated there, kept up with the events of Rheinland though the political and economic screen of Liberty and the goings on in Bretonia from traders. That was my life. I eventually went freelancing, trying my luck with local trading, escort missions and eventually saw something that changed my life forever. I'll never forget it.
Transport ships and miner ships, must have been a dozen of them, facing off a Corsair raiding party. I've never seen Corsair ships that huge before, almost blocking out the system's own star. It was an old story, the mighty and powerful, preying on the weak. Yet those transports and miners stood their ground and did not surrender. To every demand, they simply said, no. Eventually, shots were fired, some trade ships were torn apart, but eventually the Corsairs just left empty handed. They had counted on weak and easy targets that became more that they could handle. In the end, most of the miners and transports were beaten and damaged but still survived and in their own way, won. They were the IMG. The IMG, I remember.
He said rather slowly, reflectively.
So I joined them, met some good people, worked hard, made contacts, even became the head of their research and development team.
Then I learned my next big lesson. Though we had held our own against the enemies from outside who tested our mettle, something ate us away from the inside that I didn't see until it was too late. There was a ship that entered Tau 23 system, some unknown ship with markings no one knew of. A freelancer brought them to my attention and I watched them. They were the first signs of the old Coalition that crept back into our lives, demons from the past. See, my father was a study of history, and I mean Sirius history. Way back when the sleeper ship picked their homes and started all over again. Even separated we were still, one people united to strive, to live, to make a better life.
The Independent Communist Miners Guild. The ICMG were, mostly members of the IMG who finally wanted to take matters into their own hands. And the SCRA give them every excuse to. Once solid members of the IMG wavered in their stance to remain truly independent and took more aggressive actions against other miners, and made more use of the Colonial Regiment. Little things happened, small changes. That's how it always starts. Finally the IMG I knew was falling apart. I took what I could and ran, I think that was a mistake. Seeing how things are now, I believe it was the best thing I could have done. I went back to Planetform, spent another year with them and headed back to a place I had never really seen with my own eyes. Rheinland.
-He leaned forward and tapped the monitor as if to predict the viewers reactions-
Are you still awake? I'm not boring you am I?
I and the miner who tagged along with me started working with Kruger. Then war broke out and I found myself smuggling my parents to Rheinland while the borders were still porous.
You see, I had come home to a people I hardly knew. Only from what my father taught me, reminded me about who we are. I witnessed Daumann attacking Kruger, Kruger attacking independents and competitors through Mercenaries, Military forces belittling the actions of the police, Police taking bribes and looking the other way while the whole thing washed rinsed and repeated.
What's the matter? You thought I was going to spout off how honorable and righteous they all were? Do you think I'm blind to the struggles Rheinland faces? The problem is, in the people's desperate cry for help, for vindication, for'¦freedom they placed their trust in you. A people dealing with oppression, and violence, with oppression and violence. How juvenile.
So now here you are, a group huddled together in a band of angry men and women who feel that a louder shout and more guns will win the day. Horary for freedom.
-He finished with an angry sarcastic tone-
With ever single capitulation of the people's hopes, you people sprang up to be their voice when they had none, their hope when there was none, and sung proud songs of a better tomorrow and freedom for all!
The only difference between you and that bastard Rorry is that he has no delusions of being righteous!
-Sitting forward he rubbed his eyes, calming himself down again-
Yes, a unified Rheinland. How can it be done?
All events of hardships and cruelty I have heard but I myself seemed to be spared from. So your argument will be, how can I possibly understand the plight of the people?
Here's a shocker, I can't. At the same time I know too well it exists. I too had a choice, join the Bundschuh be their little political spy and fight the fight for freedom, or not become fortune's little fool.
Here it is. Find a way to work with the existing model, and change it from within with the existing elements because it wants to.
It's that simple, and yet equally as hard.
First, my plan was to work with this element that the Unioners, Bundschuh, the Landwirtrechtbewegung, and of course Hessians hated ever so, to wonder the whole time, why?
Why were they all hated so much and yet the whole of Rheinalnd marches around them?
Was it their iron grip around the necks of the workers that squeezed the life out of the hearts and souls of the people?
Maybe the brute and uncompromising mindset of the military to whom so many feared?
Let me tell you a secret, its not. The model by which that system has accepted as the normal is the substandard for those not part of that model. Do you want me to say it again? Daumann, Kruger, Republican all are the engine by which the people suffer, so you believe. Your plan is to bring them to their knees, you take over and with the engine of Rheinalnd in your control you can accomplish your goals. Too bad you have already become as disjointed and oppressive as those you claim to fight against.
The next part of my 'dream' was to find one thing, just one thing every corporation can agree on and I found it, Nuremburg. You people were so busy blowing up transports and attacking us that you never really stopped to ask, why? Until now. Planet Nuremburg was a disastrous nightmare for Rheinalnd. It wasn't just the credits and resources lost that had hit us so hard, it was the futility those settlers, those citizens, those people, felt when they found out their Eden was a cursed land. So Rheinland, again, followed the only model that it knew. Nuremburg's mineral abundant foundation made that planet a perfect platform for more machines of war to be built. How Ironic that through Daumann, I purchased a modest plantation of land, and turned a bit of that curse into a bit of hope. You see, when I was with Planetform, there were those who were skilled in so many different forms of terraforming. One in particular, was Dr. Alex Durant. You want to understand the detail, you look him up. Bottom line is we found a way to grow food on the planet, the way it was originally hoped it could.
Change the working model from within with the help of the existing elements already in place.
Can you understand what I'm trying to do now? Do you have any idea what can happen, what can begin to happen if we continue this endeavor? We're talking about another earth, a whole planet that would make the food output of Stuttgart pale in comparison. With all my efforts my, plan, was with Daumann and Kruger to show Rheinland what we had accomplished together and then, offer the LWB the first chance to control that planets food production and growth. I'm sure everyone would be just waiting for someone to let their guard down and then strike! But if cooler heads could prevail'¦
It wouldn't stop there. The LWB with no reason to vindicate themselves against the oppressive Synth Foods could rather be an honest competitive corporation. They could take on the role Marshal and the rest of our Freelancers had done, protect Munich. The Unioners could then either beat their collective brains against the wall or realize the potential future Munich now had to offer, and choose a path of helping rebuild Rheinalnd's starving economy, and people. The Bundschuh would stop their political suicide and the Hessians'¦.well. The Hessians.
I thought I figured them out. Just pirates with military force. Yet I will never forget one Hessian captain protecting us from Corsairs. And when I say we I mean Kruger. Yea, surprised the hell out of me. They didn't stay for thanks, for questions, or even to stab us in the back. They just saved our lives, and left. So I honestly don't know what happened to that Captain. I don't remember ever seeing him ever again. I like to think that one day he woke up, saw a flag he had hated and fought against for so long being beaten again and again and saw a reflection of himself and said, No more.
-Taking a sip of coffee, Adam looked into the near empty cup and curved his hands around the warm edges, slowly continuing.
You do realize if you win, if the Military is crushed, the police scattered, the corporation begging for forgiveness, the other houses will see this. All of Sirius will see this and come swooping down on Rheinland like a vulture to a dying animal. Do you really think you can stop that? Do you think the suffering of our people now would compare to the suffering we will face then?
If this plan of mine works and to some degree it is, when we see there is honestly another way, when Rheinland remembers we were once united and can be again, I'll just simply go away. Just like that Hessian Captain did.
When I say that I do, I do for Rheinland, I hope you understand, I'm also talking about you. I don't pretend to imagine this will be easy, but if there is to be this brave new world, we have to remind ourselves its not such a new idea at all, and the world we build will only be as free as the people make it.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
Hack completed...
Location: Westnebel, Stuttgart
Encryption: High
Message Begins...
Guten Tag, Herr Spire.
Forgive the lateness of this reply. I had matters to discuss with my revolutionary comrades, and by that time, the polizi had found the worm I had planted in there system and removed it from the network. However, the Hackers were nice enough to sell our friends this new little comms-tracker. Neat peace of work, really...
Anyway, I digress. I'm going to cut strait to the point. You've got a lot of nerve, acting all high and mighty, considering you've tried to shoot down my brothers the last five times I've seen you or your gang. I find your tone belittling... and I HATE condecention. For years, the LWB has been treated as children. We do not have large ships or massive bases to gain respect on the dark side of the law, and the fools in the Reichstag either dismiss us as terrorists, or laugh at us for being farmers. There is nothing wrong with a hard days work, nothing shameful about getting your hands dirty during a day of planting. You must always remember to visit your little 'colony,' lest you get lost in the stars and forget what it's like to do a hard day's work in the field.
At least I can say of you that you are not some corporate fool. You worked for Kruger, ya? And the IMG? Well, it's not secret that Kruger are willing to kill for profts, and as for the IMG, well, you may not know this, but I hail from Bretonia as well. I was raised on Cambridge, and had lived there before certain events drove me to seek out the LWB and join their ranks. I have expereince fighting in the Tau war, and I know all too well the backstabbing veil that the IMG hold up and claim as "neutrality." So, your corporate life does not impress me. Still, you have left that behind you. And I am a big beleiver in putting your past behind you.
As for your dream, I say that it is foolish. Foolish and naive. To expect those who have extorted others to simply lower the knives they have at our throats and welcome us with open arms is utter stupidity. But... *Laughs* You knew I would say this already... These are the same arguements that have been fleshed out, over and over, by the Rheinsvolk for over a century now. To resist... To work within the system... Each of us has our modus operandi, and each of us thinks the other is a fool for not doing things the way we think is best.
So, howsabout something... diffrent. Bet you wern't expecting that *smiles*. That little piece of land you have intruiges me. You worked at Planetform, yes? Top notch producers when it comes to taylor-made nitrogen boosters. I will assume that you're at least compitent when it comes to tilling and maintaining a patch of land. So here's what I want to do. I want to grow things again. You see, for the longest time, I've been in space. Away from my home, away from my farm back in Cambridge. Man, I miss the flowers that bloomed this time of year. Sometimes, you've got to stick your hands into the dirt, just to stay sane amongst the stars. Still, the best we LWB have are a few hacked biodomes and a closed-circut hydroponic garden on our bases. It reminds the old timers of their roots, but does little to actually bring back the livlyhood that so many of my comrades are fighting for. There are many faces to the LWB, herr Spire, most of which you will never see. Pilots like me only make up a small portion of our movement. We have operatives on Stuttgart, rehabilitators aboard Kaiserslauten, and thousands upon thousands of refugees just sitting on our bases, their homes burned down and their livleyhood destroyed, with nothing to do but sit and wait until the day we reclaim what rightfully belonged to the Rheinvolk. It is high time that those people got out and did something to reclaim their lives.
Here is my proposal; I will rent out a plot of your land, and use it to farm the strains of Stuttgart grain that the LWB has preserved over the years. They take longer to grow than Synthfood's alge, but are twice as nutritious and four times cheaper to produce. If you have a grainery of your own, you can process these plants yourself and sell the flour for less than the fake stuff those Synth bastards make costs. It will be a bit hard at first, but after the third harvest the crop will have payed for itself. I will supply you with these grains, and you will manage the farm that I rent in my stead. You will hire a number of these refugees that are currently waiting aboard our bases to help you with the farming. You will pay them a fair wage, feed them, shelter them, and make sure they and their families are well taken care of. Treat them as humans, herr Spire, that is all I ask.
Getting the grainseed to you will be tricky, but I beleive I can get it done. I will have a friend of mine swap out a few Food Ration crates with active, liveseed variants of the diffrent crops I want you to raise. Once you get these to your settlement, a decoding sequence will tell you where the seeds are hidden within the rations. You should be able to pick up the Food Ration crates on Bonn Station in New Berlin. Even with the bloody battleship the Rheinwehr has placed on their front door, we still have a few friends there that would be willing to cooperate. The real tricky part will be getting the refugees from our bases to Nuremberg. The Polizi has a pretty solid file on most of them, and any affiliation with the LWB will set off red flags all over immigration. I think I can get a friend of mine to smuggle them in, though. He'll move them in small groups alongside Beryillium shipments from Bretonia, and they can pose as dock workers. That should get them through without question. After that, I'll have one of our operative planetside find them and lead them to your place. They'll be your responsibility from that point on.
I'm not asking for your charity for the poor little farmers; I'd be willing to pay up to 10 million SC a month for the rights to operate this farm on your land. All you have to do is get the disguised Food Rations off of Bonn and to Nuremberg... We'll need about 7000 crates per month to get a sufficient starter crop. From there, just run your settlement well and treat your workers fairly.
Now, I'm not saying we should get all 'buddy-buddy' all of a sudden. I want you to know that this operation is not sanctioned by the LWB high council; this is my personal piece of work, and as such, the LWB will still consider you a hostile target. If we meet each other in space, we'll get to the traditional 'pew-pew' and such. This isn't a peace treaty. This is simply an experiment... To see if you... nay, both of us... actually beleive in all the stuff we've been saying over the years.
Oh, and one more thing; should you choose to accept this agreement, you better make damn sure that Synthfoods doesn't get a whiff of our deal. You have to keep the Rheinwehr and the Polizi out of this, as they're both on Synthfood's payroll. Kruger... Daumann... Heck, even ALG might rat you out. Make all the purchases yourselves, and be sure as hell to leave no trace between you, the workers and the LWB. Because, if Synthfoods does decide to run a bioscan on your foods and finds out your using old Stuttgart strains, you can expect a bomb under your bed quite quickly. They will come after you, and everyone you know. If you even SUSPECT that Sythfoods has found out about this transmission, gather your whole family, your closest friends, and hide in the nearest nebula for the next twenty years. Because they will kill you. Don't make the same mistake that the WVS made and underestimate them.
So, tell me, herr Spire... Are you willing to do something crazy? Are you willing to stand by your words, or was that all just talk?
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: Relayed from Munich
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
I apologize for the delay in my response.
I was weighing the options of finding you myself and killing you or read your communication about five times to find some maturity of character within it.
What I am finding is a galactic hypocrisy that believes a Freelancer must be some unethical, unprincipled, self-serving, pirate with delusions of godhood.
Why bother when you and your friends seem to hold those principles as their foundational values?
You insult me with the skillfulness of an SCRA politician and chide my efforts in some vaunted attempt to change an unchangeable system when I've been doing it for months now.
In addition, perhaps if your friends didn't take to incinerating Rheinland transport that came their way, I wouldn't be so willing to return the favor.
The best part is only after you insult me, you THEN ask me for a plot of land that I have paid for, worked on all year long, converted two transports to plow and devised a safe and effective way of making them remotely usable just so you can plant your crap on it?
You want me to go behind the backs of the people who have given me that land on a near military instillation, let known enemies of the STATE on to that planet and not even tell Synth or anyone I who have been overtly working with because I might get attacked? Been there. Done that. Old news.
What a bunch of paranoid, conspiracy theories you're spinning.
Don't come to me with some make or break proposal as if this is some free for all undercover operation you can just introduce yourself into.
I expect that type of underhanded approach from the Hessians or IMG, not from people wanting to make a difference.
Are we done with this verbal tennis match to see who's cord twangs first or do you actually want to listen?
This project of mine is to give LWB what they have been after for decades, a fair chance. You can't offer that with a foundation of lies, backdoor negotiations, and secret deals.
Synth already blew their money on the planet and they haven't given it a second thought. They neither care or have anything to do with the Nuremburg project and they wouldn't risk a Military reprisal or waste time putting a 'bomb in my bed.'
Daumann may be a greedy profiteering corporation, but even they see the potential for expanded growth.
Even if they try some policy swipe to take the fertile land from me they wont have the process to make it work and it will become a public relations nightmare for them.
IN addition, with talks going on to develop the Frankfurt system and getting the co operation of companies, outside of Rheinalnd, the stake Daumann is putting into this, prevents them from stabbing us in the back.
Do you see how this is working without your secret plans to make secret crops in secret?
Now, perhaps showing a bit of respect to a lowly Freelancer whos made more change than guns and warships have so far would be a good idea don't you think?
I will not be some tool you can experiment with to gain some political edge because I desire to help my people.
Now that this lowly Freelancer has something tangible to offer, I'm not going to sell it to the highest bidder.
This goes beyond Nuremburg and beyond Munich, or do you think half the Freelancers working with me come from Bretionia because I'm such a nice guy?
More on that bit later.
Now this is MY proposal.
Keep your grain seed. Dr. Durant doesn't need another altered hyper growth whatever to unbalance what he's doing.
YOU back the hell off for now, stay in the shadows all you want, and let me talk to an LWB representative who actually has a direct stake in the matter.
Let the Nuremburg project continue into the next growing season, unhindered.
WHEN a substantial growth allowance is reached I will contact the LWB directly.
They WILL choose either to approach Rheinalnd directly or go the hell away.
IF they can stomach the communication with Nuremburg control, Daumann and Republican THEN I will act on their behalf to allow them FIRST rights on the planet.
LWB will then control that portion of dirt and get the hell out of Stuttgart. It's nothing but bad memories and stolen dreams there.
WHEN their operations are setup on Nuremburg, Dr. Durant will provide the process to selectively remove the Gimeni worms and their equally harmful enzymes from the soil.
They can then work unhindered to do what they have been prevented from doing, and surprisingly, without firing a shot.
The key to this is timing, not political espionage, not lightning attacks in space, and not -you- telling -me- that without -you-, I'm a hypocrite.
You people just want to blow things to hell and claim a victory while still clinging on to ashes.
I still believe that with the leeway a common Rheinland citizen has gained, the profit Daumann will receive from the planet's renewed popularity, and increased shipping rights with Republican, and LWB finally being able to make a fresh start, the other 'revolutionaries,' may find out there are other ways to win battles then endless pointless negotiations and military conflicts.
I'm a Freelancer who has come home to find it a mess. I'm not about to screw it over just to make you happy. I work with people, not for them. There is a better good here than seeing Rheinalnd's fleets in ruin and all your revolutionary friends with their flags held high.
This planet has a chance to be a point of historical irony Sirius has seen and possibly a really chance to bring my people back together.
I'm sure I'll here from you soon.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
Hack completed...
Location: Westnebel, Stuttgart
Encryption: High
Message Begins...
A second chance is something the LWB can never have. Too much blood has been shed, too many of our comrades dead... The flag of the LWB is stained red with the blood of innocents.
Such is the reason why your dream, in its current state, can never be.
But, perhaps, a new dream can take its place. You say you want to give the LWB a second chance. I am here to tell you that I do not care about the LWB. There is not a single pilot amongst us that cares about the LWB, or the WVS, or even the great ranch families of old. Titles, names and useless history. What we care about is people, and their way of life.
If those who once worked the land of Stuttgart can live the way they were born to live on Nuremburg, then perhaps they can have the second chance that I, or my brother, or even the LWB as an organization, can not have. If you can take on those people that I have talked about, give them work and a fair wage, and protect them, then you will have contributed to true change in Rheinland. I have people stranded on a station, mien herr, slowly going out of their minds. You have a piece of land to call your own and the potential to allow these people to live the way they wish to live. We can both get what we want out of this.
You don't want our seeds? Fine. You seem to favor the genetically altered stuff. No matter. So long as it doesn't grow in a vat and have "SynthPaste" written on the side, I am fine with it. But your land needs to be tilled, mein herr, and for that you'll need people. You could use some sort of machine, I am sure... But why would you, when you could get the same work done and fufil the dreams of a small group of displaced rheinvolk?
These people, these civilians aboard out stations, who themselves have never lifted a finger to harm another man, and who's wretched circumstance was brought about only by Synthfood's greed, need a place to live and work. Life aboard one of our stations is no good. They need fresh air, mein herr.
I ask you this... *Richard gulps* with humility; If I can arrange to have these people dropped off on Nuremburg, these people who are not pirates, not the LWB, but simple civilians who have had their lives torn away from them and have sought refuge in the protection of our movement... will you grant them the means to live life as they wish?
As I have said in the past, I do not hold the autority to make an agreement on behalf of the LWB. I can only speak for myself, and for the hopes of these people. I do not wish to futher the LWB, to use it as a tool to gain power, to set ourselfs up as a competitor to Synthfoods. I do not... nay, none of my comrades want to see the LWB set up as a powerful organization. Our dream is that one day, it's work completed, the LWB may fade away into the mists of history, leaving behind the people that we have fought for, with the hope for a better future. But right here, right now, the people that I speak of need your help to even glimpse that future. Will you accept these wayward souls into your care?
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: Relayed from Munich
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
Am I talking to a completely different person? First I was insulted, then given ultimatums and now you're borderline pleading for me to help you.
Look. Its all too easy to be angry and accuse when things like this start.
Since my dealings with my home, I have been pressured, asked, questioned, and requested in a variety of flavors and fashions to just join the ranks of the Military or police or become a Mercenary or Hunter. I wont, I'm a freelancer, I think I always will be.
We don't work with Synth Foods and I never have. I have no idea where that notion came from. We don't use genetically altered seeds, from what I understand, they are as close to the generic strain as Planetform could offer from their stock. We couldn't risk introducing an altered growth product into a situation that demanded utmost precision. The plants grew from typical fertilizers and we even got a small crop from the growth late in the Nuremburg season.
You talk about shed blood, yea, funny thing about that. The victors use the blood of martyrs to portray their valiant struggles to victory and prosperity while the defeated use the blood of the fallen to embolden acts of rebellion and shout claims of freedom for all. It's an old old story. I recognize the fallen, the heros, the valiant and the victors, but I believe that eventually, they would want us to move on. To dwell on them for the sake of some future in their names would all but diminish what they hoped to strive for.
I'm sorry you do not care about the Rheinlanders who have suffered and found their only recourse to join a repetitive conflict serving to cost them more in the end. I do. I just don't hold to the idea that blowing the hell out of everyone will secure the peace and freedom sought after. I understand the LWB have had a rocky past to say the least. I don't want to have synth wiped off the face of Sirius only to have them replaced by a group of men and women who could, eventually, be just as corrupt. That is why they both need to exist.
Rheinland does not like to be asked to do, or requested to act. It's a different animal than most care to understand. Things must be done to show them that your actions, will in the end, benefit them. A group of starving, huddled, pent up people don't strike me as those willing to help anyone.
If these people are indeed stranded on a station, may I ask which one? I'm a bit stunned you haven't asked the Zoners or any local Freeport for help. Though hearing from the evacuations from Leeds, places to go to have been reduced or at best, diminished. How many people are we talking about? Ten? Ten thousand?
Nuremburg is also entering into a winter climate that can reach a low of-12c (10F) which is not the most ideal conditions to make a new start. Frankfurt is a better option, but there is a problem. There is no land. Most residents reside on makeshift rigs and the major ones are already crowded. Moving them from one hole to another ocean based station or cold and arid land would equally be problematic.
I also have to respect the bounds by which I have established a relationship with Rheinalnd on the Nuremburg planet. I can't just let people move there, not yet. I'm sorry.
On the other hand, I look at the whole picture, not just he here and now. If we can survive the Coalition in sleeper ships and start all over again, then those people have a chance. So, here is, again, an alternative plan. I can deliver supplies and food to these people, maybe spread them around a bit until events fall into working order to make Nuremburg a better option. Problem is, we'd get shot the moment we came into range of some of these rouge stations and bases. Again, with no idea where in this cloud you people are and how much there are, my extended efforts to offer assistance fail.
Perhaps a bit more information would help?
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
Hack completed...
Location: Westnebel, Stuttgart
Encryption: High
Message Begins...
To answer your first question, Yes, in a sense, you are talking to a diffrent person. I have seen things that have... changed me as a man. So, in a way, I am a new person. But this is not important; You want to know about these people who are stranded out here, amongst the stars. Let me see what I can tell you...
*Richard leans back and flips through a stack of papers*
Hmm... I have around 230 refugees sitting on a rock in New Berlin. I've got at least 5 families living in a safehouse on Stuttgart, waiting for a chance to sneak off-planet. I've got over one thousand unemployed farmers living on a secret base in the middle of a desolate system, most of whom were left to starve when they Eninburg farm closed two months ago. I've got 60 ex-Slaves sitting on a Hessian base in Dresden, who have been given their freedom, but little else, and worst of all I have 23 old men, 5 women and 12 children stuck on a freighter that has been floating around the Westnebel for about a week now. And these are just the people I have been able to get records on. In some ways, the LWB is, as you say, a gang of theives, and gangs of theives arn't exactly known for their ability to keep paperwork together. There could be thousands more floating around the network, ghosts with no home and no one to take care of them. I have been alongside comrades that have opened the airlocks to supposedly 'abandoned' stations, only to find them full of huddled people. I have... I am rambling. I am sorry, it's just... *Richard sighs.*
The point is, I don't know how many people are living on our stations. However, there are alot, and there will only be more as time goes on. In a little while, the LWB may be forced to choose between housing these refugees and operating our rehabilitation program in New Berlin, which, beleive me, is a choice no-one in this organization wants to make.
Now... *He flips through some more papers* Ah! Now, I am a believer that the best way to solve a large problem is to get started on something small, so here's what I know; I've got a smuggling convoy headed to Kreuzberg Depot in New Berlin... It's that little Junker hole in the scrap field behind Dortmund. There's a bit of space left on one of these ships... Enough to fit in around 600 civilians over a short distance. Given time, I think I can fill those seats with 'clean' refugees - civilians that have a clear criminal record and no proven connection to the LWB. That is, if they have a place to go.
The weather your describe on Nuremburg does indeed sound harsh. I don't think I will ever get used to Rheinlandic weather. Put simply, if these 600 people were not given stable shelter and sustinace once they arrived, I do not think they could survive a season there. Most are old, and the only job they know how to do is farm. As such, I do not think I could relocate them to an area where they would have to find work on their own. From what you are saying, it does not sound like you can support a sudden influx of 600 people. However, it sounds like you known some areas where they may be able to stay, even if just for a short while. I am in desperate need of a wayhouse, a place where people transfering from one side of the law to another can stay while they get everything in order to start their life anew.
*Richard sips some coffee*
I need a man of ideals, herr Spire. I need someone with a dauntless, naiive, optimistic view for the future. I need this because I am a tired old man who is surrounded by tired old men, all of whom are sick of looking into the eyes of bright young boys and knowing that one day, they will be like us. I need a light to look forward to, herr Spire, even if I know that light will never shine on my own self.
I know its... *Richard pauses, then begins to chuckle* You know it's a miracle we are even having this conversation, right? Beleive me, I am not a good man; I am not the kind of person I would imadgen is part of a greater scheme of things that will bring a better day for the Rheinvolk. Yet, still, something about this converstaion... and at times argument... that we have been having gives me hope. And as valuble as that is, I still have to concern myself with the matter at hand, naimly those 600 passengers with no destination.
I am open to any and all suggestions as to where these people can go. You seem to know your way around a few of the lesser-known parts of Rheinland. If you can think of a place for these people, even if they only can live in it for a month or so, I can meet you within a week around Kreuzberg Deput. I would greatly appriciate it if you could come up with a plan of sorts, because, put simply, I am out of ideas. Then, maybe, we can talk about the weather, about seeds, and about a future with both Synthfoods and farmers.
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: Relayed from Munich
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
Well here it is.
I have no issues, lifting off Civilians from New Berlin to another planet. Work like provisions can be a feast or famine even on our home. Two hundred and thirty people is a manageable amount. The only planet I can safely say is the best direction to go is Baden Baden. There is a surge of work and employment there due to the rise in Orbital Spas activity and it's a far cry from the cold conditions of New Berlin. Some may see it as a shock but a welcome one.
Here is my concern. Why are they in safe houses? Who 'are- the being kept safe from? You keep on saying secret. Sometimes that's another word for illegal. Damn if you're not putting me in a spot. The fact these people don't have a record with the LWB is a good start. This will be a lot easier when they are in the process of transporting from location to location. This is how I'm seeing the situation objectively.
There are 230 refugees sitting on a rock in New Berlin. Providing they are not criminals on the run, we'll lift them off planet-side to the location we agree on.
About those five or so families living in a safehouse on Stuttgart, waiting for a chance to sneak off-planet. I can only presume they are being protected from Synth food retaliation or aggression and I'll leave it at that. Again, no issues or big concerns there.
The one thousand unemployed farmers living on a secret base in the middle of a desolate system, most of whom were left to starve when they Eninburg farm closed two months ago. Remember that thing about secret? My knee jerk reaction is to find out more about them before I start transporting, possible, rebellion minded out-of-work farmers to, well anywhere. I'm presuming these are ex LWB farmers or something else?
The 60 ex-Slaves sitting on a Hessian base in Dresden, who have been given their freedom. We can get these people to a better location as well, I don't see an issue with that. Well one, and I'll address that in a moment.
Twenty-three old men, 5 women and 12 children stuck on a freighter that has been floating around the Westnebel for about a week now. We'll deal with these people first, getting them to a better transport then give them a medical once over.
My first choice and perhaps the best is Baden Baden. There is a surge of work and employment there due to the rise in Orbital Spas activity and it's a far cry from the cold conditions of New Berlin. Some may see it as a shock but a welcome one. I honestly don't see an issues. Maybe a quick contact to Orbital Spa and Cruise to at least prepare them.
Planet Frankfurt. It's still developing, lots of chances to rebuild but again, the major issue is space, or the lack of it. It's within range of most transports and there is plenty of work to go around. Just not what some would consider a fresh start considering Daumann is in control of operations there. They may see it as going from the fire into the pan.
Next would be Planet New London. This is a long shot, but with the influx of refugees from Planet Leeds, they already have emergency systems in place for the mass exodus taking place in their neighboring system. There may be animosity with having Rheinland citizens under the resources of Bretionia, then again, with the planet taking in so many, they either may not notice or give them a temporary port of call.
Lastly would be Grand Canara. I have '¦.a ship in that system and that planet is rather something else. Its big, and best of all its away from any war ir political issues, that I am aware of. Problem is, would the zoners allow people from different walks of life take refuge on their, I think, home world. Maybe opening a dialogue with them would give us a good yes or no to that question, but again, too much communication in this matter may open the doors to, how can I say, unsavory characters. It's an option but the last one I can think of.
In all of these issues I need to point out some things. Those slaves. I can only presume someone took out the tags in their necks some slavers put there to track them. I don't want a slaver coming to collect their lost 'cargo' only to put the others at risk.
Infection. I'd like them to be checked off before entering any general populace. Since the incident on the Hawaii Spa liner, most OSC ports have medical facilities, checking for any strains that might be introduced into the general populace. I have no idea what facilities Gran Canara has and Im also sure Frankfurt hasn't the facilities in place to handle a task of this measure.
Kreuzberg Deput you say? I know where that is. A rendezvous 10 k from there would work. We still have things to finalize before all is said an done. I'll trust you for now Richard, just don't disappoint me.
We'll finalize this bit and make one final plan and go with it. I'll talk with you then.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.
Hack completed...
Location: Westnebel, Stuttgart
Encryption: High
Message Begins...
Baden Baden, you say? I've asked around, and from what I hear, Baden Baden sounds both safe and secure. If the economy is on the up, as you say it is, then things will only be easier for these men and women; good jobs, and the ability to support their families, is as important as finding them a roof to live under. I also like the fact that it is in the Stuttgart system; most of the people I am talking about are Stuttgart natives, and it will be an easier transition for them if they remain in the same system.
As for why we are keeping these people in safe houses, or why we are keeping them hidden at all, the reasons are twofold. Firstly, we keep their locations hidden because we of the LWB must keep OUR locations hidden. We are, after all, considered to be a terrorist organization; there would be little use in opening our doors to those in need, only to reveal the locations of our bases and bring violence down upon ourselves and those we are sheltering. Those men that I talked about, the 1000 or so who were recently unemployed, well, they are being kept in a system that the LWB has taken great pains to keep secret and secure from all but our most trusted allies. Because this location in particular doubles as the seat for some of our organization's leadership, I am, as you say, secretive when I speak about it. Perhaps it is just my paranoia, but I would feel uneasy mentioning the specific locations of any of our bases over a hacked channel, even one as secure as this signal.
As for why we are sheltering these people at all, and why we haven't used our own channels to relocate them already... Well, much of it has to do with the state of the economy. Things are bad on Stuttgart, very, very bad. Of course, I blame Synthfoods for driving the unemployment up so much planet side, but I also realize that other factors, such as the war with Liberty and the lack of planetary development on Stuttgart, have lead to what might be described as the beginnings of a depression. The state-run unemployment facilities were overrun many months ago, and are dealing with a greater influx of people than they can possibly process. So, where the government fails, we step in, providing shelter and supplies for those who cannot get them themselves. These days, if one does not have a job, homelessness and hunger soon follow, at least from what I've seen. We maintain a small network of offices that provide a place to sleep and basic necessities for the unemployed farmers of Stuttgart. However, our resources are limited and as our planet side offices are filled to capacity, we start trying to smuggle those people into space, where we can take house them on our bases. The conditions there are not very good, however, and unless we can start getting some of these people to places where they can earn a living, we will have to start turning away people who need help. The LWB was set up to be a militant organization, not a charity organization, and although we do our best to help those in need, we do not have the resources or the structure to deal with the sheer number of refugees that have been coming in.
It may sound like I'm trying to impress you, saying that the LWB is just trying to help the poor and oppressed, but I assure you, this isn't some recruitment speech, and I'm not trying to justify the actions of my comrades in your eyes. I am very much concerned with these people's well fare, don't get me wrong, but know that this isn't some PR stunt, and I'm not trying to pull any wool over your eyes.
As for the people I've mentioned, I have some good news. That freighter that was sitting in a nebula has been drawn into dry dock, and the people on board it have moved into one of our bases. As for the slaves, all tracking devices have been removed from their bodies, and from what I hear, they used to 'belong' to a group of Corsairs, so I can safely say that they will be out of reach of their previous 'owners' once they get planet side. One of the things I CAN do for these people is easily ship them from any allied base to an LWB outpost, but getting them on the ground on board an LWB ship is another story entirely. As such, we really need an independent third party to get them from a location in space onto a planet where they can find work. The LWB has tried working with a few smugglers in the past, but smugglers with morals are in short supply, and most were content to simply sell those passengers into slavery. I hope you see why we need someone who is on good terms with the Rheinlandic government to get these people to their new homes, because our status as an unlawful group makes it hard for us to do anything without putting the very refugees we are trying to help at risk.
A rendezvous at Kreuzberg would work out fine. I have attached a hard-link beacon to this transmission, simply download it and I will be able to contact you or one of your assistants any time you are in space. If you want to set a definite time for the meetup, that would be fine, otherwise I am content with waiting until I see you in space and working things out on the fly at that time.
Now... This 'Gran Carina'... I've been there once before. You seem a bit hesitant to suggest it as a place for relocation, but when I visited there, everything seemed good, almost Eden-like. I'm tempted to send a message to the Zoners there right away. Still, perhaps you could tell me a bit more about the place...
I look forward to hearing from you, and I am grateful that you are willing to trust me at this moment. I am, in a sense, a changed man, and want to do my best to make sure that this new state of mind that I possess goes towards doing a little good for the people around me.
Incoming Transmission
Transmission Origin: The Ring
Vessel ID: [FL]-FireHawk
Sender ID: Adam Spire
I will say sir I'm a bit, well, confused. You thrashed on about in a down casting light how you felt about the LWB and even your relations with them. But a lot of what we're about to do directly affects people, a good portion of them, that seem to have ties with the LWB. Now, I'm not going to burn the transports if for but a few righteous, but I got to have your assurance this isn't going to bite me in the ass later on. I don't want to hear about some undercover agents sneaking in and killing a VIP from Rhineland while he's sipping a cold beer on the black sands of a vacation planet, nor do I want to see the 'helpless' people all the sudden become an armed mob.
I'm a real big fan of 'if its not broke, don't fix it.' These people need help and I'm willing to do it, and I'm trusting you and your associates on this. I'm helping you. Orbital Spa and Cruise has given me permission to get those people off Stuttgart and various location and they can relocate, gather their wits, health, and strength and decide what to do from there on. Planet Gran Canaria will be an option after we settle the people on Baden Baden. I also expect the police will get wind of this...... In about 24 to 48 hours. Maybe less. I'll deal with the logistics and the paper work the moment they are ready to go. Another thing, I'm pretty damn sure the Hessians and Bunds already know about this. They can save their political titrates and forget about putting their seal of approval on this all they want. This is for the people, not them, not you, but for Rheinalnd, for its people. The second you disrespect that........ Just don't.
When those people are on the planet, I'll have two titanic loads of Food rations, one of Water and maybe some basic alloys to help repair any small mechanical equipment they may have with them. We'll keep all the ship use from our end to avoid making it look like we're building an army on a vacation planet.
I'm also giving the people a time frame. One month. Those who don't find suitable work or don't want to stay have to get in position to head on out again. I'm going to open a dialogue with Doctor Holliday and see if we can more permanently move these people to Gran Canaria. Perhaps a 30 day time frame, with no issues, will help to prove these people don't want to hurt anyone. Also the longer they stay on Baden Baden the more adapt someone will take advantage of their plight, or turn them to seek more conservative methods to die fighting. Time has a funny way of making a pencil pusher into a war monger.
When all this is done, and the seasons start to shift in favor on Nuremburg, we can make arrangements and see what more can be done.
I need to go, I have a lot of work to do.
Transmission timed out
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.