RECV EDC:    30NOV2018
COMM MODE:   DSN REFLECT
CODED ABST:  D/M/C
CRC:         1425755899      3431
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I intended to send another transmission sooner, to outline 
the events that brought me to this planetary system where 
I've been hiding, but it appears that I'm more valuable to 
the Corporation than I originally believed. In the interest 
of time and security, I'll summarize:

My capture and incarceration were a banal sort of abuse, 
carried out with an almost blasé indifference by the unit 
guards. Our outfit was accused of resource skimming- an 
absurd accusation- and was tried and sentenced by the 
Corporation, the sole legal entity in our remote region. At 
first I thought it was just another profit play; that my 
main credit account would be drained through fabricated 
legal fees, and that I'd be made to serve some congtrived 
work sentence. I'd dealt with similar abuses previously, and 
was prepared to weather it.

However, after the mock trial, the work sentence did not 
take me back to my unit as I had expected. Instead, I was 
transported to a secure facility, where Corporation 
scientists and doctors proceeded to have their way with me. 
You'll forgive a bit of intentional evasiveness on my part 
here, as I don't have the luxury or security to go into 
details at present. What happend in those labs is critical 
to the object of these transmissions- I will transmit 
more on this as soon as feasibly possible.

Clearly I escaped from this imbroglio, which was no small 
feat. My break was due in large part to an understanding of 
the experiments that were being carried out. Darius is to 
thank here, with his incalculable interest in the 
metaphysical, and his propensity to babble on. The rotations 
we spent piloting together were rarely free from his 
rambling. I'm grateful, looking back, for the things he 
filled my head with.

After my break I couldn't really do anything but lie low. 
The Corporation doesn't like escapee's, and I knew my 
designation would be flagged. I needed a place to 
re-designate, re-identify, and start fresh. Dense systems 
generally had sufficient corruption to provide me with the 
needed avenues for such a venture, and they were perfect 
cover to avoid showing up in scans. I had credits and other 
tradeable goods stashed away, which I recovered before 
coming on planet. 

I thought I'd be OK. I'd done this sort of thing before.

Maybe the Corporation can read my mind, I don't know. They 
haven't gotten far with QE, but perhaps my experience was 
tied up with something of that nature. It remains to be 
seen. Somehow, though, they know that I'm here. I've made 
friends in the local underground, and they're keeping me 
safe for now, until I can secure passage off planet. This 
transmission will have to be smuggled out and reflected 
through some creative channels before posting. I'll probably 
be in space before you read this.

Everything has changed for me. I alluded to that in my prior 
transmission. I don't wish to be coy, but for the first time 
in a long while, I am afraid. Running isn't an issue. Hiding 
isn't an issue. Going underground isn't an issue. These are 
all things a contractor is used to, and they no longer 
bother me. But what happened in those labs has shaken my 
core. I wish I could find Darius. If the Corporation 
continues to dog me, I don't think I'll have any other 
choice.