A Zoner for Liberty

[GrnRaptor]

Name: Alan Polstari
DOB: 795 AS
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Grey
Affiliation: Liberty Navy
Origin: Planet Erie, Pennsylvania System

Born a Zoner on Planet Erie in the Pennsylvania System, Alan Polstari was the second of four children born to Mark and Mary Polstari. Mark Polstari operated as an independent trader under a Zoner license, while his wife Mary worked to instruct and raise their children. Taught by his parents from an early age to love freedom and justice, Alan was always looking for ways to make things right amongst his friends and classmates. He would often stand up to bullies at school, even if he was on the losing end of a fight. He would also be the first in being a true witness to help exonerate his friends when they were falsely accused of misconduct.

While many Zoners would consider it limiting, if not enslaving, to work for a house military, an event occurred in the Polstari family that changed Alan's perspective of what providing for freedom really meant. While flying a regular trade route carrying Neon from Bethlehem Station in Pennsylvania, Mark Polstari's Rhino freighter was jumped en route to the New York Jump Gate by a dozen Liberty Rogues in Bloodhounds. While hardly a worthwhile target for such pirates, communications indicated that the Rogues were intoxicated either on alcohol or Cardamine at the time. Disregarding any attempts to discuss terms for passage, the Rogues began strafing runs on the freighter. While a good portion of the fire missed, the sheer volume of firepower that did hit quickly overwhelmed Mark's shields, and his vessel began taking damage. Alan, his brother and two sisters, would have been fatherless, and his mother a widow, were it not for the timely arrival of a Liberty Navy patrol flying Defender Heavy Fighters. Quickly tearing into the intoxicated Rogues they blasted five into scrap metal on the first pass, taking another three as they swept around for another go. Seeing so many of their compatriots destroyed so quickly the remaining ships engaged their cruise engines and headed for the Appalachian Asteroid Field, where one ship exploded as it crashed into a rather large asteroid. Expecting condescension, Mark was surprised by the courtesy extended by the Liberty pilots as they escorted him back to Bethlehem Station. Alan took particular note of this when the story was later related to him back on Erie.

These events began a chain of thought in Alan's head about what providing for freedom and justice really meant. Coming to the conclusion that liberty is provided for by those who fight to defend it, Alan came to the conclusion that while it was not an ideal solution, the protection of the Pennsylvania system by the Liberty Armed Forces provided a greater sense of liberty and justice than would be achieved without their presence. Wanting to help provide such services to his home, Alan decided that the best course of action was to join the Liberty Navy. His family was understandably shocked at first by his announcement, but Alan could see an understanding in his father's eyes, and a genuine sense of pride from his mother with respect to his line of reasoning. Departing Erie he traveled to Manhattan in the New York system where he signed on to be a pilot in the Liberty Navy. Receiving a commission as a Warrant Officer in the Navy, Alan Polstari can be seen on duty flying in Liberty space in his Executioner in defense of liberty and justice, and off duty studying laws and regulations as he prepares himself for submitting an application to the elite Primary Fleet of the Liberty Navy.

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