SENDERID: Tycho Diogenes Bradbury
SHIPID: Fortuna, Pirate Transport class
Greetings, Congressmen. My name is Tycho Bradbury, though I tend to go by the name of Dio for short. I'm writing to you because I have an interest in joining the Junker Congress.
I'm a Junker born and raised. My entire life has been led on one ship or another, seeing the sights and making a living wherever it is to be made.
I was born on a Pilgrim to two honest Junker parents like yourselves. I was raised to value a life beholden to no particular authority - only the shared obligation to a common root, to a common kin.
When I could tell the difference between a capacitor and an air scrubber, and could service a vehicle and a crew of my own, I set about to earn my own wings on board the Fortuna - a vessel which I have come to see as both my home and my way of life.
Since then, I have sailed the cosmos, searching for prospects and sights worth seeing. In that time, I've done my fair share of smuggling, legitimate trading, and even extortion when I could get away with it. My travels have taken me to wonderous places with new experiences; I've made drinks from the ice crystals of Taormina in Omicron Eta and roasted marshmellows in the fires of Omega 11's Red giant. This isn't to say that everything has been only peachy - far from it. During my time flying under my own whims, I have seen a galaxy of hatred towards us, the Junkers.
It seems that we who support the citizenry quietly from below are subject to condescension and hatred for the mere reason of being bound by a common blood. The persecution has gotten to the point that we junkers are not only united by our unbound living, but a common burden of unjustified hatred.
I am writing to you because of my blood obligation to others of my shared heritage. Too often have I been on the receiving end of the help of my bretheren when the going got tough - not enough have I been able to repay the kindness.
I am writing to you because I no longer wish to fly for my own benefit, but for the benefit of us all. I wish to become an instrument of the Congress, a discreet mover of vital supplies, a mouthpiece for words that must not be squelched, a hidden dagger for the hearts of those who would seek to harm us.
If you would have me, I wish to serve and protect the birthright that has protected me for so long.
