14 December 3301--Galactic Time 14:38 @ Abraham Lincoln
14 Dec 2015Rosomond
When I started out as a pilot, I vowed to stay true to myself and my morals. Deep space travel provides little accountability when no one is around. But I broke my vow. During my many cargo haul runs out to Sothis and Ceos, I was approached by the local cartel. They offered me upwards of 2 million credits for a slave smuggling operation. Blinded by greed, I accepted. I accepted the runs more than once. I am ashamed. I am ashamed as a member of the Federation, as a captain, as a human being of the 34th century. I earned most of the credits from these runs with legal cargo but a fair portion came from the slaves. I don't understand my actions. I have always thought that I respect human rights. I do not come from a history of people who were enslaved but we were oppressed. There was a time when I was not allowed to love those who I loved. For some reason it was deemed "immoral" by the dominating religion at that time. The religion is still around today but, blessedly, they have evolved with the times and it is now a non-issue and it has been for the last nine centuries.
When I took on the cargo, I looked into their eyes. These people were not of a different species. They could have been my brothers and sisters. And I betrayed them. Even the Imperials have a less barbaric view of slavery. They sell themselves into the system to pay off debts and keep their honor intact. Though I do not agree with this either, at least they have a say in the matter. I sit in my new Python. How fitting that I bought the ship named after a snake. The thoughts of what I have done choke me like the creature does to its prey. I also sit in the Abraham Lincoln. Checking the local history reveals the origin of the name. He was a president during the early ages of the American government. Most credit him to ending, ironically enough, slavery in the country and stopping the bloodiest war that country had seen since birth.
I am selling the Python. The credit loss is not important. I will protect that which I set out to protect.