The Cantina at Tinkers Haven

[FynnMcScrap]

Fynn laughed while sitting down and nodding over to Zettsu.

Funny to hear somebody bicker about smugglers, but I know what you mean.
Well, I won´t have any Cardamine or Slaves around the Haven.
Long story as you said. Short version is I nearly got sold as a slave to the Hogosha in my jouth, and all to finance the Cardamine addiction of the man who was supposed to be my parental support. So I take that quite personaly, and I gave my word to the man who saved me never to allow such around my crews.
Perhaps you will see him around here some time, a middle aged Zoner with a unmistakeable exotic winged snake always around him, name of Flinx.

He smiled, being distracted a little by the fine aroma evaporating from the wine glass in his hand. Some of the tension seemed to be leaving him, and he settled down with the two Vigilantes for a chat.

The wine is actally... well, not really contraband, but smuggled you could say.
A gift from a dear friend and worthy of some consideration.
You see, we have a tradition here at the Haven. Deeds count, not words.
A tradeable good sold openly at one point might be a damnable contraband somewhere else, and a high priced delicacy at a third port.

He opened his hands, stopping Seraphs angry retort and speaking on.

This is no illegal trade good in Liberty, but the Gallic military certainly would not greet any trader flying down to Liberty with a load of this wine as a friend.
And If we were interested in trading it onwards to Rheinland from here we would be breaking the libertonian side of the currrent trade embargo. We are licenced here in Liberty, and would not do such a thing.
But let me point out an exemple with this wine , please : My friend , an ex Council member, flew here from the Champagne with this bottle, and with perhaps a crate or two more. He sold us the lot for a good price, and those who know him think of him fondly every time we open a bottle.
We do not see it as a tradeable good, even if everybody could buy a bottle here.
No law broken at the Haven, no Libertonian interest hurt.
And Gallia... well, we are not neutral to Gallia. Are you ?

As Seraph hesitated again, Fynn smiled and pressed on

Most of my Junker crewmates have run a blokade now and then, and even Zettsu here helped us break one. Against Gallia again, rescuing refugees from Leeds and transporting urgently needed food supplies to there. We cherish the knowledge of the Jump holes and the ability to take a risk without getting careless that our Junker pilots have.
And to be true... most of our Freelance pilots too.
The original idea to run the Leeds way came from Tukker himself, not from me.
He arranged a licence from Bretonia for the medical supplies, and he took overr coordination in the background while I escaped my bureaucratic burden for a few days to fly my CSF to Leeds with the rest.
You see... these refugees are no trade commodity for us like those poor Slaves took over to the Gas Miners Guild or the Hogosha. They are people, with their own rights, needs and sorrows. So... as an excemple : If I fly from here to Rheinland, with a full SRO Liner carrying some necessary supplies for the trip, and refugees to be relocated... to I smuggle ? Do we break a law ?
Or do we cherish the wine, the life we lead and better.... the intent of the regulation ?

Fynn was getting earnest again, looking directly at the two Vigilantes :

Thats our point of view. Do not break the true meaning of a law.
Except if you are prepared to fight and die for it, because then you have chosen your side.
But if you chose at least to be neutral, or if you pick an ally : stay true to your Intent, too.
Everything you do is worth to be done fully, gladly, and with full responsability. And smuggling Cardamine or selling Slaves, even carrying those alien Artefacts is nothing I am prepared to take any responsibility for.

The joung Junker Foreman saluted the equally joung libertonian pilots, speaking loud enough for some of the surrounding tables to hear his words. And drawing several aprooving nods and one or to affirmative catcalls.

So let us drink this fine Gallic wine, drink it as free people not willing to take nonsense at gunpoint. And willing to say that a glass is a glass and a bottle a bottle, eh ? Cheers !

As the cheers from the surrounding tables calmed down, Fynn bent towards the two Vigilantes, speaking less loudly now.

So... if a Smuggler pays his fine and lets his toxic load be destroyd, but returns as fast as possible to his primary port and lands at your doorstep again the very next day, calmly calculating odds and prices to make a profit without caring about the suffering he causes... do you follow the law to the last word, Seraph ?
Or do you pick a side, staying true to your Intent and being careful not to break a law yourself while doing what you see as right ?

Fynn grinned at both pilots, showing sharp, perfect teeth.

We cherish Integrity here at the Haven, more than lawful conduct.
Even if we are only grimey Junkers, scrap running and jump hole creeping.
And I always try to teach newcomers the first and most important rule :
You only have one word, one reputation... one name. So whatever you do, do it right.

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FynnMcScrap, Foreman of Tinkers Haven