To: Siara

[Geno]

NNTRANSMISSIONCLIENT.bmexe

Z-NET ACCESS 4.0 | S E C U R E | BETHLEHEM version 0548.81915211L Copyright Alex Maccabelli, 832 A.S., Confederacy of Freeports - You are using FREE edition. nnprotocol: authenticating... OK nnprotocol: connection_handshake... OK nnprotocol: data_relay_gateway_handshale... OK transmission metadata information: media type: znet-COF-transmission (nncompliant, ver 4.0) source: 43a22caa-1119-003p-rank-a1111lqccb33aa target: 00984787-eacb-sciss-ors6-pp5o000000000 bandwidth type: stnd_znet_encr bandwidth delay: 9 min bandwidth packet loss: 3.039992 MiB additional encryptions: N/A SENDER ID: Veronica Akemi Bennett RECEPIENT ID: Siara SUBJ: Hi Hey, I just got this thing to work. You were so right. Sleeping in a cockpit is bound to disintegrate your spine. Uhm, this is a little silly, but I've been in space for a couple of days, and once I fully ran out of fuel, I decided to land on Bethlehem. I'm really pining to go back to Erie, but... you know how it is. So, I'll ask plain and simple. What now?

[Goddess Astra]

$Solatra@NinthWind >> neuralnet comm priv "vabennett@Bethlehem"
Neural Net Protocol: Searching...
Neural Net Protocol: Channel located.
Neural Net Protocol: Initializing stream.

Hey there, Akemi. Glad to hear from you. Yeah, cockpit chairs are designed for high-g maneuvers and burns, not for sleeping. They get pretty uncomfortable if y'try and sleep on them.

For now, Bethlehem is prolly pretty safe. But if y'wanna do anything with yourself, apart from helping people out around the station, then you're gonna have to think a little harder about how y'feel about everything that's going on. Like I told you, what's been happening to you is happening to lots of other people on Erie, and it's only gonna keep happening as long as Liberty stays involved.

If y'wanna help people without fighting, y'could try running cargo for people, getting involved with relief efforts. Even if y'don't run blockades to Erie, y'might be able to do some good. Space is always gonna be dangerous though, and you'd need to be prepared for that--even if it ain't Liberty, there might be pirates or others tryin'a hold you up.

If y'just wanna start a new life, then there's Gran Canaria. You'd be on a planet, like y'were on Erie, and you'd be surrounded by Zoners just like home. But the culture wouldn't be the same, and I think 's more metropolitan out there. Y'might not know anyone out there. But it's undoubtedly the safest place for you and 's far away from the influence of Liberty.

If y'wanted to stay close by but not get involved directly with anything that might look like "terrorism," then y'could stay on board the Voidstag with the New Dawn. We've got plenty of civilians on board, and people who started their lives on Erie but ultimately had to flee. Being on Voidstag would mean y'weren't exposed directly to any fighting, and y'wouldn't have to contribute to anything militia-related unless y'really wanted to. We're also planning on making a new home for ourselves, so y'might be able to move there once we get it ready.

Finally--and I offer this understanding that y'prolly won't wanna do this--y'could join with the New Dawn militia. We aren't terrorists, we're freedom fighters. We don't target civilians, and we're doing everything we can to try to make sure that events similar to this one don't happen to anyone else ever again. I know you're scared of this, though, and that y'don't wanna be involved with the fighting. I'm mostly just saying it because it would be a chance for you to try to protect others, if that's something y'care about.

There might be other options. Joining other organizations, or just heading out as a freelancer. Living your life on one of the Freeports. Any of them might be viable, and no matter what y'wanna do, I wanna help you get on your feet. I won't ask you about fighting again, whatever the case may be.

Stay safe. Hope to hear from you soon.

$Solatra@NinthWind >> return
Neural Net Protocol: Process terminated.
$Solatra@NinthWind >> logout

---

Freelancer Reimagined: Complete Music Overhaul