Personal Log, 18 December 3303
20 Dec 2017User78245
Dammit. I told anyone who would listen they were kicking a nest they didn't want to kick. Now look what happened. Three stations in the Pleiades aflame, and thousands dead. The call went out over the Pilots Federation public channels: every available pilot to the Pleiades to assist in emergency aid and evacuation.I'd been occupied with my own contracts. Materiel transport to support some petty conflicts taking place coreward of home. It was technically war profiteering, but at least it was a good cause this time. Suppression of piracy, that helps stifle my conscience. It took some talking but the Pilots Federation granted me a short leave of absence from my contracts to support the evacuation. No more than three days or risk disciplinary action and possible disbarment. I left that night.
I arrived at Titan's Daughter early third shift the next day, bringing in 112 tons of aid supplies with me. The auto-loaders were offline so we unloaded the Esmaya by hand. When we were finished, a station crewman grabbed my by the shoulder and asked, "How many can you take?"
"Fifty six," I answered. "I can take fifty six."
Civilians filed out of the evac station, tired, dirty, bleeding, in shock. I recognized that look on their faces, the thousand meter stare. I'd been there before. A group wearing Aegis idents filed past into my ship. Reap what you sow you bastards, I thought to their backs. I hoped after they had taken over Thargoid research out here things would be different, but they somehow managed to make it worse. How naive I was. The Pleiades haven't changed a damn bit. Everyone convinced of their own superiority out here, utterly convinced that the awful thing they have their hands in is how things should be done.