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Greetings to all of you fellow Zoners. I am Travis Breaux, currently piloting the Independent Zoner Transport Kalisto.
My background is unfortunately grim, my parents were most likely Zoners who fell victim to Corsair opression on Freeport 9. After they were murdered I was forced to raise myself and although it was painful I had no choice but to eventually become one of captors. My passion and knowledge about drive technology and all manner of space craft, I slowly garnered their trust, until I was allowed to join them on patrol missions in Omicron Theta.
On my third patrol mission, the squadron I was a part of spotted a Zoner Convoy travelling from Planet Pygar to the Sigma-17 Jump Hole. They refused combat and we pursued, once we entered the Orinoco Cloud their fighter escorts turned around in a heroic effort to save the convoy transports. They were outnumbered but once our formation closed, I cut my engines and released a volley of javelins into the rear of my squadron, half of them did not even have time to react from the concussion before they were cut down by Swatter mines. The Zoners immediately understood the situation and we made short work of those bastards. The shock in the flight leader's voice when he saw his wingman explode before even making contact, the anger, and then the fear, and the pleading, ah something I had recorder on my flight computer and engraved onto a golden disk I keep hanged in my cockpit.
After the battle I immediately surrendered and was taken to planet Pygar where after a lengthy interrogation, I was approached by a Colonel of the Zoner Militant organization. He was sympathetic to my plight and impressed with my grit . After a few days of back and forth discussions, I formally adopted an Militant IFF and traded that hideous Gladiator for my first ship, the trade vessel MacarenaruL. After a few months, I was forced to change IFF and ship as well due to my ... libertarian approach to commerce.
Being a firm believer in freedom and inviduality as fundamental values of our species I made quite a few enemies among the House Authorities and Corporations whose overly protectionist and sometimes despotic attitude clashed with my own beliefs and in truth, direct practices. I am still grateful to the GNI operative I met while flying the MacarenaruL through Gallia carrying questionable cargo. He was sympathetic to my philosophy but in the end ... the law is the law. I lost some cargo but in the end, gained a friend. After this event I even dropped my affiliation the Militant faction and joined the Zoners under the IFF Kalisto and have been doing independent humanitarian supply runs to the Order and Zoner bases in the far fringes of the Omicrons where the only important conflict in the Sirius system is being fought, the war against the Nomads and their thralls.
And that's the gist of who I am and what I believe in. I will always help out anyone I am ideologically aligned with and will oppose anyone with whom I am not (sometimes to the detriment of my reputation within the Zoner community). I oppose all Royalists (Gallic Royalists, GC) or Communists (be they Bundschuh, Sirian Coaltiion) although I admit I maintain a tedious relationship with the Red Hessians due to their near monopoly on the Hessian Tears trade.
My desire to join your organization is a simple one. I was apalled at the massacre that took place in Omicron Mu and am terrified of the resurgence of the Nomad threat and even worse, the Wild which I consider to be a far greater threat. I am still engaged in commerce operations but have set a tidy sum aside to buy an Osprey Mk. II and some modern hardware and prepare to put my life where my beliefs lie. I am willing to protect research / commercial convoys or engage in hostile action outside inside and outside our borders, wherever the threat to humanity may be.
[Almost inaudible comment] Curious ... looks like you can take the Pilot out of the Militants but you can't take the Militant out of the Pilot...
I eagerly await your decision. GOOD LUCK! To all of you!
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Communism is only a small setback on the long road to Freedom.
