First Baffin Zoner Zummit at The Zenarch, Malaclypse Freeport

[n00bl3t]

Tobias Parked hobbled to the stage slowly. His walking cane propping him up as his pattern of three footwork announced his location to anyone not watching. He made it to the stage.

He stood in front of the lectern and microphone, breathed in, and then sighed outwards.

"My name is Tobias Parkes. I am the Administrator and representative for Freeport 11." He began his introduction formally.

"Freeport 11 was for many years run by Elizabeth Tate, who I believe is currently moving between the Theta and Omicron 74 systems for her research, and Marvin Ophelia who went missing some time ago. Since his disappearance, life for us out on the frontier has been even more chaotic. When I return to Omicron Delta, I have my work cut out for me." He gave some history and context of his situation.

"At Freeport 11, we keep the peace between The Order, The Core and the Corsairs. We defend daily against nomad incursions. Ships go missing regularly, supplies run low and we're on the edge of known space. This is our life. The life we chose to be the furthest away from houses whilst advancing the Zoner way. It's a far cry from the bourgeois, if that's how you say it Mr d'Autoine, that I see here; luxury food and drink and a hall that would probably rival the last few budgets our station has made." Parkes continued, whilst looking widely at the architecture and taking it all in.

"This is not to say that such luxuries have not been earned. I am sure you have, with the choices you made. I am very honoured to be welcomed to such a a place. You have made a great home and are great hosts." He closed his eyes slightly and nodded to Dr Mojo and Dr Holliday.

"But that is not the way we do things at Freeport 11. We get by on necessities. Frugality is our modus operandi. It is how we survive. Such is the difference when you're in the Edge worlds I suppose." He wanted to make clear what the situation at the frontier was.

"I have heard many voices in this meeting. I have heard stories of loved ones lost, stories of war and strife. The mistakes of the past, the paths for the future. Tales of hostility by the Gauls and tales of neutrality and trade with this newly emerged house. It is difficult to see what the path is for the future." He looked from Commander Matok, to Sarah John-Kane, from Dr Holliday to Thomas Henrikson, from Dr Van Mojo to Robert d'Autoine before continuing onwards.

"I have heard personally that the intention of Dr Van Mojo is to call the confederacy into action should a Valor ever jump into Baffin. I understand that fear, standing here now, where your home is made. But before I consider any invitation for Freeport 11 to join the confederacy and join them in such an action, you should know this. The only thing that Freeport 11 could offer are the redirection of medical supplies from it's own deliveries at great risk to itself, and space for a small amount of fleeing Zoner refugees. That's it. I put this out there for all of you to know at the forefront, so you know I am not hiding anything." Parkes stopped speaking after this for a moment. His throat was dry and he reached for an empty glass from a nearby table, poured himself some water and sipped a bit of it slowly.

"My apologies, the Gallic wine seems to have left me a little flushed." He laughed nervously.

He cleared his throat and continued, "As I can only give so little, I think it would be unfair for my station to join the confederacy. I have little to offer, and at this stage a lot to gain from the protection of the confederacy. The admission of Freeport 11 at this stage would weaken this new organisation."

"I will for now however, before I decide, weigh in for opinions from the representative for Freeport 2, Sir Isaac Porter who is yet to speak and for other representatives staying quiet." Parked finished his first speech, and hobbled down the stage and back to his seat. He thought he saw Dr Van Mojo returning to the podium in the corner of his eyes, but his eyes were old and could be deceiving him.

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Anything I say is not intended as offensive, and to try and deliberately misinterpret it as such would be an attempt at trolling via misrepresentation.

It's not a conspiracy, it's localised bias. They're not intelligent enough to form a conspiracy.