Talk with Isilanka - 2
15 Nov 2019Isilanka
The Isilanka cooperative is a small space travel.hauling/exploration company owned by its pilots and workers. The contents of "Talk With Isilanka" are from our members but do not engage the cooperative as a whole.Since the Isilanka cooperative temporarily set foot (so to speak) in the Upaniklis system following the Golconda's plea for help, we knew that we'd have, one day, to discuss wether or not we'd engage in the political quandary involving the Empire and the Federation over the generation ship.
Some people in the cooperative, mostly the Dolphin crews, consider that we have to remain neutral, that we are an apolitical collective of ship pilots and star sailors. This is pretty ironic, really, coming from them of all people. The crew of Starmoth, our Diamondback Explorer, could have a point : they spend most of their time out there in the black, far away from the Bubble. That might change when we get their SRV to good use on the surface of inhabited planets, but out of all the people in the cooperative, they are probably the ones with the best claim to apolitical attitudes.
But the Dolphin people? Have you looked at a Dolphin? That things screams "I'm an Empire ship" with every single centimeter square of its hull. It looks like it's been explicitely made to flex on space peasants. And I mean, when I get a look at how much some rich dudes are ready to pay for a lift between two stars, I feel it's exactly why the Dolphin was built. Given that we've been extensively using our Dolphin to ferry shady passengers in war-torn systems or recover black boxes among the still warm debris of blown-up ships, Dolphin pilots claming they don't want to get political is pretty bloody ironic.
Josephine, our Dolphin, up to absolutely, positively political activities in an Empire station.
But it is true that the question of our involvment is a good one. Not that I have any illusions on our capacity to actually change things, with three poor ships and a dozen idiots manning them. But it is a matter of conscience. All of us consider the Empire to be a dead end here in Upaniklis. They are slavers, they are oppressors, and they are pretty open about it to boot. The very way we function as a cooperative company clashes with the Empire's ideology on a fundamental level. We have no leader, and all and any actions we take have been collectively decided. This is clear and simple.
But is the Federation truly better? I know that the crews of the Diamondback support it, as well as some of our ground crew. I can see why. The Federation is...comforting, in a way. It's always been there. And will probably always be there for the foreseeable future. But I think I hate them even more than the Empire. This is not a case of "both sides". There is nothing that can excuse slavery, nothing that can justify the fact of owning someone else. On the other hand, we know very well what the Federation cares for : profit. Keep the money flowing, baby, that's how the world works. That's how it's always worked. No matter what. That's everything they see : can it turn a profit?
I don't envy the people on the Golconda. A few months ago they were alone in their little self-made paradise, and now they are suddenly taken between the hammer and the anvil. Talk about a rude awakening.
Ok, serious talk now. We need to decide whatever we do, between supporting the Federation or getting the hell out of this system. Debate and vote tonight at 6 p.m, Fozard Port time. I've requisitioned the cargo hull of our T6, Isi's Rowboats. There will be tea, and you can bring friends.
The meeting place. Bring cakes.
Aleia Masani, mechanist.