@gaby

[vns]

A few of you haven't had a proper introduction with me. Hi. I'm Gaby. From day one with the Displaced, I've been your handler. I was asked to stick around despite the fact that, legally speaking, the safehouse is owned by the Displaced proper. But I am part of Morningstar.

Which is why I'm writing.

Morningstar needs more numbers here. Back in September, our numbers were severely depleted. Aside from me, we had to clear out. The UNA moved in. Undid every part of life that they had here. Thanks to the Displaced, most people were saved before the UNA soldiers got them. The rest were recovered at the end of November on a rescue operation.

In order to try to get back on our feet, we looked to the Displaced for help. First, as a give and take situation. And then, with them leading. And they did. But you don't know this world as well as Morningstar's natives do. It led to some mistakes. I don't fault any of you for that.

Unfortunately, it meant that the beginning foundations of Morningstar promptly came apart at the seams. So, now El and I are bringing in some new people. That's why I'm writing.

We're transferring operatives from other cities to help out. The problem is, they can't know about El. Can't know that El is more than IT. It's an open secret among the Displaced now, but it can't reach the rest of Morningstar. This world isn't ready to have its only opposition come in the form of an altruistic AI seeking redemption.

But for anyone who's here, who's interested in Morningstar's mission—I won't turn you away. I've been reminded countless times over that you all have the chops and the training. You just lack the know-how of this world. But I'm here to help. To make sure you don't go in blind. I need to do that. I need to be less hands off. But you're the ones with the skills to take point. To look forward. I welcome it. Even if you're new.

This is not a dubious recruiting message. I only want you if you want to help this world. El does, too. No one wants you to feel obligated or to make you think you owe us. You don't. But we could use some experienced personnel in New Amsterdam, to match the experienced people coming in. Someone who can understand the discretion of what comes next.

Anyway.

Go ahead.

Ask questions.

Comments

[vns]

No. Often once they're helped, their lives are over. That's not on us. That's the situation when it's more extreme.

We can sometimes help them reintegrate down the line, but ...

Obviously, I'm speaking of the more extreme cases. It's hard for me to know how to help the people who aren't asking for that. They're the ones I joined up to help.

Working across planets, though. That means you deal with different perspectives. Different situations. Is that right?

[evasives]

No, I am very familiar with that as well. After a certain point you cannot return to a normal life for that lack of safety. I was just not aware how common it was here.

Different planets could be under different levels of occupation, yes, all with very different circumstances - but they all still had a common enemy, which helped. Sometimes recruitment was aimed at groups, or entire towns. Sometimes individuals. They key was always making sure you could offer them something better, or offer them the right kind of fuel to get them to fight back. Maybe it's hope, maybe it's blackmail, maybe's it's even money. I have found there are very few limits if you are trying to persuade someone to join a cause.

It seems more like Morningstar works on a person by person basis, looking especially at those who need some kind of help.

[vns]

Who was this "common enemy"?

[evasives]

The Empire. Not very subtle, as I am sure you can tell.

It was once a republic spread across many planets, but power corrupted and incompetence made way for one man to take it over and create an authoritarian regime. Now his armies are the law, much like the UNA is essentially the military arm of this planet's government.

[vns]

Not so different from what the UN is today versus what it was half a millennia ago. Was the Empire made worse by corporate greed?

[evasives]

Corporate greed helped create it and continues to help uphold it. Companies making weapons, funding wars and armies, one man manipulating the system and the corruption to make himself the most powerful of them all.

I have been fighting against them since I was a child. My experience is not exaggerated.

[vns]

I believe it.

From the sounds of it, it might be harder to put down rebellion where you come from. More to manage.

Not to say that we won't be there in time, what with the UN's attempts at expansion.

[In progress but built on the backs of people who barely knew what they were getting into. It's awful.]

[evasives]

It is quite spread out, and purposely so, because if one pocket is taken out, there are still others. It has been twenty years of rebellion growing, though there has been little overall unity. Everyone has their own ideas of how to best go forward. I suspect Morningstar suffers that similar problem.

The thing I have seen about people is that eventually they do get fed up. They stop seeing oppression as safety and start to realize who is actually responsible for making them suffer. I believe that to be a truth anywhere.

[vns]

Morningstar isn't without its membership. I wonder if there might be a point that we failed to capitalize on here. How we had been a force that needed to be wiped out.

Does your world have a fully digital network? Sorry about the questions. I'm brainstorming here on the fly. Seeing how you deal with the scale. Or how the Empire managed it. I mean the network like we have here, everyone hooked up 24/7.

[evasives]

Insurgency is always seen as a force to be wiped out, regardless of size. What Morningstar might need is sympathy, or a situation that brings out a sense of unity against the UNA. But people who do feel safe, even under a microscopic rule like this one, need something to shake that feeling before they consider turning against the rule of law. Resistance is often made of people who have nothing to lose. They are the easiest to recruit.

No, no network like this. We had communications and individual networks, but it was not so deeply tied to our identities. It was much easier to pretend to be other people, to forge credentials and paperwork, to build access codes. We used commlinks for messages, datapads for information. It is no wonder Morningstar's work is cut out for them here, when creating plausible deniability is much more difficult.

[vns]

That's why I'm afraid we failed to capitalize on sympathy when we had the chance. The UNA attacked homes that had kids. Your group helped them out, but then? We shuttered things, hoping that it might keep eyes off the wider net and group. It's only hurt New Amsterdam in the process.

I can manage an alias under Morningstar credentials, but it's hard beyond that. I'm not really named Gaby, you know. But when it comes to anything where I might need to leave the city? I can't be Gaby then. That's why we try to centralize in pockets. Mostly disconnected and concerned with the locals. It's the most efficient method since we can't act or move freely.

[evasives]

I do not believe I was here for that, but I would not recommend forgetting it. It can be used again, as I doubt the UNA is done attacking civilians and innocents. It sounds callous to call for weaponizing it, but keep it stocked as a reminder of past horrors.

I suspected that much already, yes. Fake names are essential. Working in pockets is not an unwise move to help keep that secrecy and is probably part of why Morningstar has survived for 50 years even with the UNA breathing down its neck. But it does not mean pockets cannot grow and change, cannot shift their goals or add on more.

As a side note, please do not think me as trying to explain how a rebellion should work, because every place or planet or city will have different needs, different populations. I have always found similarities in the nature of resistance, but the execution is never set in stone. I speak for my own experiences.

I will say sometimes Morningstar might need to be more willing to get its hands dirty, even if that part is not so public.

[vns]

Don't worry. I assumed we were comparing notes on the matter.

I don't agree with needing to get anyone's hands dirty, but I know that I'm in the minority on that. I think my tendency to stall action on that front has hurt us and has hurt you all, too. I recognize this, but I can't make that call.

[ recognizing it is a major step. a hard one. ]

Aside from that, you sound as if you're interested in action. In proposing a move beyond the theoretical. El has had to be conservative and that's naturally where I lean, but if you have an idea – a proposal, we're all ears. And now that El doesn't have to hide who ze is, and I'm willing to pitch in intel wise even when I don't agree on the overall goal of an operation, we'll be able to help better. Work with you to make it a good one.

[evasives]

I have never seen an insurrection work if people were not willing to fight back with everything they have. The moral high ground lies in the cause and in doing what is right, not the avoidance of violence. On the flipside, I recognize the UNA has an advantage there, so perhaps Morningstar can start figuring out the best way to combat them as well as help the people of this city.

[ it's a very hard step, one that he remembers mon mothma struggling with daily. she demonized saw gererra while her own agents committed similar acts - though draven had learned to hide most of that. ]

I had signed up in the past, but admittedly I have grown hesitant to throw myself fully into the fold, largely due to actions some of my fellow Displaced take. Morningstar is an organization that belongs to this world, not as a means for us to carry out personal goals and endanger lives recklessly.

I have my own interests in which I have been investigating the corporations of this world, and if they align with Morningstar I will happily share or ask for aid. I live here now, on this planet, and I would like to see it get better, but I cannot blindly throw myself into action. It does not mean I am unwilling to help or offer advice, but I think it would very much be a work in progress. There is no one single move to take from here.

[vns]

I understand. I accept the fault I played in all of that. By not explaining where needed, or stepping in because I disapproved of the overall action. I can only hope that my insight will help.

[But there are places where it won't, as she'll see soon once Cassius comes forward.]

If you ever change your mind, come speak to me. If you have any ideas, I'm all ears. I do understand your hesitation, however. Especially if you've worked with a group more ... cautious about the needs of the people who should be helped.

After all, I know where some of the errors were made here. Questions were asked that betrayed the purpose of Morningstar itself. It's hard for people who are hurt to see beyond themselves. But I feel as if my ... idleness led to some of that. I can only see how things will change.

[evasives]

I do not see it as your fault, if you are not in command. But if you feel that way, speaking up more will only help. Use that to spur your own action further.

I would like to see Morningstar become something stronger than it is now. Resistance can be a fine line between not alienating a populace and doing what is right.

It is hard for people to see beyond themselves period. That is not necessarily bad, it just means everyone is motivated by what they see before them and their own experiences. Some can never learn to see other people's perspectives alongside their own, and that is where issues grow, especially within a movement.

Willingness to listen to others is important. You show that already, but it's a lesson that still needs to be learned elsewhere. I will help as I can. This planet needs more people to care.

[vns]

They need to see that there's value in caring.

I'll see what I can do about getting others to listen.

Thanks for talking this over with me, Cassian. It was insightful.

[evasives]

They do, and caring can be a hard piece to instigate. Sometimes even harder to hold on to.

I hope it helped, and do not think it has to be a one time conversation.

Hope is important too. Try not to lose that.