Taking a last moment to run a hand through his short, gelled brown hair, a fairly young man enters the Biergarten. His passing by some of the patrons elicits glances of recognition, followed by pointing and muttering amongst those sitting adjacent.
The vast majority of the Biergarten carries on its typical celebrations, however. The young man reaches the bar, evidently having chosen a seat next to the woman in the dress. He states to the bartender:
"Ein glas Wasser mit Zitrone".
He then turns to the woman in the dress, clearing his throat. "Are you Sarah Braun"?
Sarah turns her face towards the stranger pushing a strand of hair to the side in order to give a clear view on the young man. Suprised, she glances at him and shakes his hand.
"Erich! Nice to meet you personally. Admittedly I've been a bit sceptical at first, whether this is a good idea, but it's always great to see old friends."
She smiles mischievously and amicably at the same moment while smoothing of her dress. She tilts of the head in his direction and continues talking.
"I'm curious - why did you agree on this meeting? Am I an exceptional case in your eyes? You know - I've always been some kind of a 'problem child' in other's view, and my always changing perspectives often brought me into serious trouble. See - even the fact that I'm being so honest with you, who ought to be an enemy of state, shows that I remained naive and unmatured to a degree. And yet I don't care much. Call it an internal crisis which makes me restless and double-minded like a teenager in her puberty. Do you know those rebellious feelings - when you're unsatisfied with everything and the universe? I can't stand it any longer. Where's my place? What am I supposed to do?"
She sighs and throws a penetrant view at him, indicating to comment on her words.
Erich laughs passively. "Ironic how I never really was the same way as you in my youth. I am certain that we will be exchanging our own life stories long before this conversation is over, but it is truly a pleasure to meet you in person for the first time, Sarah."
He adjusts his collar, part of his relatively "business-casual" dress, sans a tie.
"You are an 'exceptional case' to me in some ways, but this is not the first of such meetings I have held with a former member of the Rheinswehr. And somehow, that one was slightly more tense than this one seems to be--" Erich gestures at the fairly raucous surroundings.
"I have been unsatisfied with these kinds of things ever since I found the Bundschuh-- Or more precisely, when the 'enemies of the state' found me. Perhaps you're interested in hearing how my potentially bright future as a possible Bundestag member was dashed to pieces?"
Erich sips from his drink, downing nearly all of it; evidently he's thirsty. "Never let anyone tell you what your place is, Sarah. Not Admiral Weissman, not Kanzler Rheinhardt, not a member of the Bundestag, not me, and certainly not yourself."
He sighs a moment, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "Apologies for being impassioned there. I mean only to tell you that were more individuals within Rheinland more... 'rebellious' like yourself, things may have been far, far different for millions of people".
He drinks again, offering Sarah a moment to speak or inquire.
Sarah bites into a warm Butterbrezel with pleasure and pauses for a moment to enjoy the taste of it.
"The same way you say? Are you born in Stuttgart by chance? That'd explain a lot. And hey - I'm truly no fine exemplar of an ex-Feldwebel and possibly 'political incorrect' aswell - but after all I enjoyed my freedom the last months. Whatsoever, it's not something like the Bundschuh I'm much interested in..."
She finishes her Butterbrezel and orders another one.
"Not even the Landwirtrechtbewegung seems to be the right choice for my future life. They're friends for sure - but in my opinion one shouldn't mix his business with his private life. Speaking of 'future' - tell me about your past dream of becoming a member of the Bundestag."
She turns her head into the kitchen's direction and absorbs the delicious smell of freshly-backed Brezeln.
Erich frowns a moment, developing a somewhat faraway and pensive look.
"My family is-- Was a fading example of a middle-class wealth demographic within Rheinland. I was born on Neu Berlin and was a top student at Cologne University there... I had the wealth and the... Political connections to be a decent candidate upon my graduation."
Erich orders a beer this time, rubbing his forehead as he drinks, then continues speaking.
"I did a report on the Bundschuh and Hessians, specifically, their history and motives. But I endeavored to be truthful. At the time, I legitimately thought they were the entire reason that Rheinland was in crisis. But... My findings challenged that view profoundly to the point where my finalized thesis was a scathing criticism on the Bundesrepublik's regieme."
"To make a very long story short, I was imprisoned at Vierlande for at least three months, before I was put on a transport without being told where it was going or why. I was put in a stasis pod... And the next thing I knew, unfamiliar men were dragging me out of it. They were Hessians, and they had freed me and as many others as they could. I was later told that they stopped the transports within Stuttgart; they were headed to Omega-11."
Erich looks up at her, brow furrowed.
"I never could have imagined that those events would lead me to where I now am; leader of the Vereinigte Widerstandsarmee. I never could have been myself becoming a Bundschuh. Nor would I force such a thing upon you or attempt to coerce you into helping us. No doubt you do not fully trust me."
He then glances back to his drink.
"If you do ever change your mind, I will always be available to offer an ear. Unless I've been captured or killed."
"My girl? Possibly angry and my wife most definetly is, but whatever...I can call them later. Right now i need a beer. A good Rheinland one of course..."
Paul Richter arrived at Darmstadt Depot after a testing Session in Omega 7 with the LWB fighter called Sichel. "Now that's a ship..." he thought "...but still, i love my Thor"
Paul walked from the docks the gangway down to the Biergarten. After he entered the Bar, he noticed quite a few famililar looking faces.....