My name is Jack Swift. They call me Swift because my real surname has been lost with years, and in the time I have spent navigating asteroids, whether in a fighter or a transport, my collisions are few. I was once a trader.
Alone and struggling. I had a family, but we fell apart because of my mothers drinking problems. Needless to say, I struggled against the larger companies. I started from the lowly starflea, but after much perseverance I eventually made my way to purchasing a transport. Then, it seems, that the Ageira began to consider me a threat.
I was taking goods through Colorado, when I came across an Ageira patrol. One of the pilots picked an arguement with me. Soon, it became more violent, and their fighters turned their guns upon my transport. I tried to flee, not wanting to fight, but there were too many. Their corruption was too deep-seated. They even began to fire Cruise Disruptors upon me, despite my trying to escape peacefully.
As my shields were destroyed, and my hull began to drop, I ran for my pod, prepared for death. However, it was then that I noticed another blip on my scanners. Sidewinder.
He came out of nowhere. He took out two fighters in his first run. The third went down before he knew what happened. The transport saw it happening and tried to escape, but Sidewinder was soon upon him too. As he went down he managed to broadcast his coordinates in a gamble.
The fight was over. I braced for impact, expecting Sidewinder to turn his guns on me too, but as I watched, he left. Whether running from the authorities, or permitting a merciful act, I still do not know, but I am in his debt.
When the authorities came, all they saw was me, sitting in the middle of a pile of wreckage. I attempted to explain what had happened, that the Ageira had tried to exterminate me as a possible competitor, but they did not listen. They seized my ship and cargo, and the only reason they did not arrest me was that they could not prove I was the one who destroyed the Ageira ships.
I had some funds set aside from my trading, and once I was released I purchased a Starblazer, then started researching the Xeno, attempting to find a way to contact Sidewinder. I heard rumours of a faction by the name of Xeno Alliance, and rumours of a base named Ouray, located somewhere in Colorado.
The Liberty Police learnt of my attempts to research the Xeno Alliance, and combined with the false accusations of the Ageira Tech pilots, managed to put me behind bars, awaiting trial. It was there that I met a young Xeno pilot. He never told me his name, but he told me how I might escape from prison and contact you.
The corrupt Liberty Government, and all those paying its bribes, have taken everything I have from me. They have ruined my reputation and accused me of piracy, terrorism, treason, and any other crime you would care to name.
While any other man would be determined to prove his innocence, I have seen that the government of Liberty is corrupt, with its hand in the pockets of many foreign companies. If Sidewinder is anything to go buy, even as terrorists the Xeno are honorable, fair and merciful pilots, and as I have witnessed first hand, they corruption they are fighting against exists.
If you would have me, I would fight by your side, whether in a Starblazer or a Destroyer. When they took my reputation they took my life. I have no partner or family, and therefore nothing to live for. I will fight your enemies to the death.
Now you know my story, do you have a need for me?
