Oh, No ! I am sorry if my words where inappropriate, General.
The trader seemed genually shocked, and paused for a moment as if to rethink his words.
People will always condemn or deny what they do not know, and use denouncing words as propaganda against what they can not ignore. And I am sure you fully recognize that history is written by the winner in a conflict, not by any neutral observer. I will not try to soften my unwise words through an advocats trick of redefinition, but you deserve an answer.
They where sitting down now, at a big visiglass window facing towards the rugged and beautiful outer shell of the Goddess Geode, and the trader pointed out towards the distant gas and dust clouds.
Out there it counts what you do, not what some media broadcast or governmental decree proclaims about you. I have never heared a single message about Council forces attacking a trader or firing at civilians, and I have met a fair lot of fugitives personally while fleeing from the onslaught of the gallic attack on Sirius or later on while building up the SRO relief project with Mr. Walker. There is no hipocrisy with your strategy and tactics, General LaFlamme. You fight a harsh and unforgiving war against a mighty enemy showing no remorse when breaking civilized conduct and ready to wreak genocide if his plans are furthered by it. And jet you stay civilised yourself.
He sounded very earnest, and was clearly picking his words with care now.
There are and always will be decisions to make, sacrifices to risk or chances to take that will question your resolve and your will, General. That is the burden of any leader, especially so in wartime situations. The difference between a soldier and a terrorist is not the side he chooses, but the means and methods he will bear to use. Not the uniform you wear makes the difference, or the amount of resources you can throw at an enemy. Not the discipline or the military protocol. It is the simple fact that a terrorist will always find an argument to justify any means he uses, to point at the "enemy civilians" he has just killed, bombed, detroyed... "terminated" , and will then tell you it is their fault, because they did not meet his demands. A soldier takes responsibility, a terrorist will not.
The voice firm, the eyes steady... Tukker was poised and concentrated, this was clearly something he had said before. And total conviction coloured every word and gesture while he continued.
I have had the luck to meet some dear friends and earn the respect of some very decent people, or I would probably still be circling Sirius with my old friend McKannon, without any home to call my own or any cause to fight for. But I met an ex- military pilot and his bunch of followers a few jears ago and that friendship has enabled me to build up all that Tinkers stands for. We do not hesitate to negotiate with anybody who will at least listen to us or respect us enough to negotiate, but we refuse to be intimidated by force or violence. In short : we will not bow down to terorrism, be it a small organized group of professional agitators, asassins and special operatives like the Lane Hackers, be it a larger and more populistic group like the Xenos, or some form of corporate or governmental force. This might proove to be our vulnerability one day, but up to that day we will always try and support anybody sharing one main ideal with us : That things can be better.
Looking around at the table with fine, assorted foodstuff and wines Tukker seemed to have lost his appetite, and picked his glass to fill it with water, not wine.
The choise always boils down to a simple formula : to build or to destroy. There is no totally evil or totally good choice, only the personal responsibility everybody should take. Do you know this ancient Philosopher named Kant ? "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction." If I look at Council regulations, you act as a lawful but militaristic opposition to an inhumane, totalitarian and fully terroristic entity. And I can not say the same for any of the groups labled as "terrorists" in Liberty. And to be honest : I have studied them carefully.
Leaning back in his seat, sipping at his water from time to time, Tukker continued to talk.
I have a responsibility as a human, even if I am not a King or a President, as soon as I can gather enough resources to master my life and ensure the more biological imperative of survival and procreation. I might choose to create art, or to enhance mankinds knowledge as a researcher or explorer... or I might just dedicate my time to humanitarian aid.
He grinned, clearly remembering something, and saluted with his glass towards the window and the cold space outside.
I met a lot of people who I call friends, but as I met Fynn and his ragtag bunch of scrappers and junkers and then realised they where not after fast cash or big profit but where trying in their very own way to better life, step by step and day by day, I realised that all they needed was somebody for the paperwork and for contact with Investors. That I can do well.
Still grinning he emptied his glass and refilled it, this time with white wine from Champagne.
And as for the Apfelstrudel... I am part Rheinland and part Bretonia in my Heritage so I will be delighted to swap recipies and comment on the virtues of delicacies with you. I suggest we start caring about our lunch so we can add some frommage to the list of Apeterifs we should discuss afterward, and I will entertain you with the story of the red Hessians and their blood diamonds as topic at the table in the meanwhile.
