Everything is a tinder box
03 Nov 2020Aequfire
Hey Dad,Things are looking like they are coming to a head back home. Now that Princess Aisling has effectively welcomed Hadrian back into the Empire by coming to his aid, it seems like the battle lines are being drawn for an inevitable war. I don't see the rest of the royal family resisting this show of power by Aisling, she is far to popular even among Federation citizens and she has effectively shorn up the a weak point for the Empire. No doubt every Federation wartime strategy included a plan to goad the Nova Imperium to attack the Empire in a bid to weaken their position. It's what I would have done, but with Aisling's show of good will and statements trying to unite her family, the Empire has become a far more formidable force. The Marlinists have only succeeded in galvanizing the Empire instead of causing further division and now the Federation has given them a focus for all that anger.
It is going to get bad back there and as much as I know how you and Mom worry about me, I have friends back there that are going to need my help. I have a lot of disagreements with the Feds and no love for the Empire but I did pledge to Aisling once upon a time. It may have been a ruse for access to Prismatic shields but I still have friends there and I agreed with a lot of her positions. I am not about to take a position but I know that a lot of people are going to get caught in the crossfire and are going to need help getting away. And there are plenty of people out there just itching for a war between the Imps and Feds so that they can have free reign to spread their own chaos and destruction. I can do a lot of good and help a lot of people so I need to get back and try.
So, anyways, that means we are headed for Colonia a head of schedule. The tinder box hasn't gone off yet so we are making a couple of sightseeing stops along the way. I know that Sally was disappointed that we are cutting the trip short so I zigzagged us up to the core and we've seen some impressive sites. We finally got into Explorer's Anchorage late last night and soon we will head over to Sag A* and I will knock that 'explorer right of passage' off the list. I think Sally is excited to start fresh in Colonia and see you two again and considering what is about to kick off back home, I am glad we decided to leave when we did. I feel a whole lot better about this mess knowing that all three of you will be safe and far away from it.
I already know what you are going to say and I will try and head it off at the pass; no I won't stay in Colonia until this is all over. I have people that rely on me back home. I spoke with my crew pilot AnneMarie the other day and she is itching to get back into the swing. I am sure she hasn't minded her cut of the exploration data I have been turning in but I can understand the feeling of sitting around when you should be out flying. In any case, I'm not just going to drop off Sally, give a quick hug and blast off for home. There are a few people I need to talk with out there so I will be hanging around for at least a couple days. I have an invite to a couple engineers in Colonia, perhaps you can come along and ride shotgun. It will be like old times, except now I give the orders... I know fat chance.
I'll see you both soon,
Your son,
Jake