The Curious Case of Captain Ziegler's Mystery Sweetheart

Astrid Ziegler was a woman of great charisma and endless mystery. Always playing her cards close to her chest, never revealing more information than necessary about herself, either personal or professional. So when her letter to an unnamed individual surfaced, everyone wanted to know more.

Many people asked her directly, which was met often with a laugh and the wave of a hand. Astrid remained elusive about the letter until her very last breath. Some people took less than legal measures to try and dig up the truth. Being in a digital age, it made their jobs easier, but even with the information her private data provided, there was still no definite recipient to the letter.

Popular theories put forth Henrich Carlton - medic turned eventual General of the Cerberus Fleet - but counter arguments debunk this because Henrich was a medic for the Falcon II. Others believe the intended recipient to be a school friend, but have never managed to narrow it down.

To this day, the letter has been framed and kept in the Chalauvaire Museum on Chatau’s Landing. Perfectly preserved for all to see for the low price of a 15 credit admission fee. A good portion of Terrans think that the display is in poor taste since the letter was very obviously supposed to have been a private message between Astrid and the intended recipient. The current generation of Zieglers are more than happy to keep it on display though, so the majority of Terrans think it’s fine.

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STAR-GZ PRI-LZER

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Wish I’d never written that damn letter. How did those fucking vultures even get a hold of it?

Fuck them. All of them. Every single last damned reporter on this side of the galaxy. Fuck, every reporter on the other side of the galaxy too.

It was meant for you… Did you give it to them? No, you wouldn’t do that. I know you wouldn’t - that was stupid of me. Maybe someone stole it. Maybe you threw it away. Maybe you should have burnt it - would have made my life easier. Then again, I never exactly made your life easy, did I? Least I can do is handle this situation. Ride it out until those vultures get bored and find a new piece to write about.

Because if they’re focused on me, then they still don’t know about you.

I… fuck, I’m sorry Genevieve. I’m so, so sorry.

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The Curious Case of Captain Ziegler's Mystery Sweetheart

Hey… um, wow, worst way to start a letter, huh?

How did they do this in the old days? Dear… no, too formal. Uhh, maybe I should just go straight into it (why am I even writing down my ramblings anyway? All of that could have just stayed in my brain and - uh, nevermind)

I… well, you know I can’t stay. This - intergalactic travel? - it’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I can make a future for all of us, all I have to do is take the first step and take that jump. And you’ve known me since we were stupid teenagers, looking up at the stars and wondering what direction our lives would go in. I can’t pass up on this opportunity. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

You could come with me though.

I know, I know - we’ve had this conversation before. But we’ll need medics when we make the jump! All you’d have to do is sign up for the medic position on the Hercules V and you’d be set. They’d accept you in a heartbeat - with your credentials they’d be stupid not to - and I’d get final say on your placement. You have a position waiting for you on this ship - for the jump. If you want it.

Just think about it. You and me against whatever dangers there may be out there in this other galaxy. Side by side, like we always have been. We’d be unstoppable.

I can’t imagine making this jump without you... So please, just consider it?

Love you, always.

Astrid.

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Type

Text, Letter

Medium

Paper

Authors

• Astrid Elisabeth Ziegler

A Handwritten Letter

The fact that it was Atrid Ziegler - first jumper, General for the Cerberus Fleet, ace pilot of the ever adored Hercules V - already meant that the letter was thrust into the limelight the moment it was found. But for the message to be a handwritten letter on paper? The public went haywire over it. People never wrote on paper anymore; everything was digital, so that fact gave it an extra boost. It also gave it an extra romantic edge. Paper being a luxury and all meant that obtaining it was a rather expensive endeavour. For Astrid to have gone through so much trouble, just to write out a message to someone she cherished, again added to the letter’s rise to infamy.

When anyone tried to inquire about why she chose to write the message on paper, Astrid became unusually quiet. Noticeably so, considering how often her charming interviews had been plastered all over the news.