Jill was certainly impressed by the seniority and authority of all those at the table. Now, more than ever she felt that she had to say something even though she still felt it wasn't her place. Yet the feeling to add her views to this conversation grew more by the minute and when Rackham sat down and she saw that the attendees processed his words she stood up, with determination and stature and as she did she saw the Doc look up at her...
"My dear friends, I have kept quiet for I had the feeling that just being welcomed to the Zoners it is not my place to speak yet, while thinking that I do feel the need to speak my mind if you will allow me"
As she looked around the table she saw the faces of some attendees become slightly amazed as others reclined and sat back as if to say "Speak up...".... She subdued her pride and made herself just a little more tall as she stood upright.
"Most of you know that I come from the corporate, house controlled sector yet, the Doctor Holliday has put his trust in me when he hired me. That trust is the very strength I see here today in each and everyone of you.
I believe that to preserve and maintain our way of living, trading and moving through space we need to protect that which we so much feel needs to be preserved and coming from the corporate sector I know this cannot be done by diplomacy alone."
As she paused she became more relaxed for the eyes across the room seemed focussed in a certain way which made her feel at ease.
"For our survival and to avoid any 'hostile takeover' it is necessary we help each other. And not just with supplies and friendly words no, we need to be ready to strike a punch to every 'bully' who disapproves with us or threatens our way of life, our sovereignty and our freedom. We need to unite and as the Zoner community we need to ensure that a threat or an attack on one of us means an attack on all of us.
Does this mean we need to confront every aggressor in a violent manner? No, we keep doing what we do best and handle things the Zoner way as to ensure we avoid any violence, bloodshed or the mere fact or implication of choosing a side. We do however, need to make a stand when opposed as to let our opposers know we are ready to defend what we feel needs defending."
And as she was about to sit down she quickly added:
"As a medical professional I am bound by an oath 'to do no harm' but I do remember my experiences in the military where we did go into a combat area wearing our sidearm and this, to protect what we wanted to preserve most, proved to be a welcome thing when being opposed by someone who disregards whatever you hold dearly.
So I propose that we become even more united and invest in mutual defence as to preserve that which means the most to us, our autonomy and independence"
And after letting this last sentence settle in on the attendees she took her seat again... Wondering whether she hadn't sealed her faith or upset the Doc with this talk... Being confronted with a pirate never felt more welcome than awaiting a reaction from the conference attendees....
![[Image: MFE-Sig-Jill-Xi.png]](https://i.ibb.co/J3xGckM/MFE-Sig-Jill-Xi.png)