An open letter to the DHV Magellan

Dear honoured colleagues of the DHV Magellan,

I have been made aware of recent complaints regarding the ongoing presence of Dollman aboard our beloved vessel. Quote unquote “anonymous” concerns that in refusing to take Dollman with me on deliveries I am depriving myself of a valuable tool in Dollman’s scouting capabilities. I put it to you, then, comrades: do you sabre rattle on my account, or do you yearn for peace and quiet?

Do not mistake my question for accusation. I understand we are all invested in my mission to connect Australia to the chiral network, we all lobby every advantage to be used in the field. But it seems to me these concerns might be located in your own desires to relieve yourself of Dollman’s “advice” as it were rather than any real concern for my well-being.

I realise I am not in charge - I defer, as ever, to Commander Fragile - however, out in the field, I call the shots. I would like to remind everyone that I was the person first to slay a BT. I connected the chiral network in the US and Mexico. A feat hereto unimaginable without my dedication, grit and determination. I think we can all agree I am irreplaceable on this team, and that I carry with me an invaluable and singular skillset. So, respectfully, I put forward that if I refuse to use Dollman, that is my prerogative. If you’ll provide me a moment of your time, I will explain.

First, on the battlefield of this new country, silence and stealth are paramount. Marauders squat in the hills and by the rivers while timefall announces the presence of ever more dangerous BT’s. The ability to be unnoticed is a foundation of my success in the field. And yet, with Dollman, I cannot endure any moment without commentary. His endless fountain of expository nonsense is both unhelpful and dangerous. Take, for example, a close run-in with bandits a week since. As I prepared an ambush of a particular general to complete my contract, Dollman, unprompted, blurted out “be careful, Sam”, and, startled, I erroneously discharged my rifle. Now I will admit my own reflexives could improve - I share a portion of the blame for the melee that followed - but I refuse to continue this avoidance: Dollman almost caused our deaths to remind me of a fact plainly obvious given the situation.

Second, a Commander’s prerogative is to set the strategy, and for the soldier to execute on this intention with the tools at their disposal using their own judgement. My role is to reconnect Australia. This includes building infrastructure like bridges, roads and, of course, watch towers. As you are all no doubt aware that as I strengthen the Chiral network these structures can be used by other Porters. I put to you this: is not each use of Dollman a blow against my fellow Porters? Am I not robbing them of a watch tower? Why should my lack of planning punish my colleagues?

And so I encourage each of you to interrogate your own heart as you read this letter, and ask yourself: do you take a care on my behalf, or are you perhaps hoping to spare yourself Dollman’s presence in the bridge? I leave you to think on this.

Respectfully,

Sam Porter Bridges