-> TFP)

[Dusk]

incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: pennsylvania system
establishing secure connection...
playback initiated

---

from: Locksmith
to: H.Kramer
subject: The Why

---

"Kramer."

"I can't say I've had a message from Xenos that didn't contain boring threats and tiresome bravado on my daily bingo list. Even after listening to you while I was on the Arondight. Unusual. But nice for a change. Suppose I'll take the bait."

"I imagine we all have our own reasons for this war. And Erie is one of them. Many of us have people there who matter to them. Family, friends, loved ones. Herded into camps for those Liberty wants to forget. Slowly dying while the top brass of this rotten state doesn't even know their names."

"So, in short, it's about people trapped there. Or... at least about justice for them. As little as this word means in our world."

"Why now? Well... It's no coincidence. You could say the stars are aligned. Growing tensions with the Kusari, the rise of the Militant movement, even the Bundschuh dropping in... It all creates a pretty good mixture that just needs a catalyst. Which, I imagine, we, with at least some capital vessels in the process of active rebuilding, can serve as."

"What next, if we happen to achieve our goal? I don't know. I'd like to survive long enough for starters. However, my hunch is that Liberty is unlikely to accept defeat. We're neck-deep in this war, and I don't think we can hope to see a true end. So we'll fight for this small patch of freedom with everything we've got. While the flames still burn."

"And, to be perfectly honest, to make sure some of your people don't bring in the Maltese plague."

"Speaking of you and yours. I didn't live through the whole Hesperia thing, but I've heard a lot about it. Do we have any reason to believe that this time things will be different? It's hard to work when you're constantly expecting to be stabbed in the back."

---

connection terminated