It was a cold winter day outside, the sun had just risen, but was covered by the clouds; as described by my father. There I was born, the infamous, Planet New Berlin. I was the only child in my family, and my birth brought joy to my father and mother faces. We weren't part of the wealthy, or the middle-class, we were considered poor. My father worked as a mechanic on Oder Shipyard, and therefore, most of my childhood was spent without seeing him often. My mother couldn't find a job, and ever since my birth, she couldn't get a job because there would be no one to take care of me. You would expect that I went to school at a early age, to be honest, so did my mother. As I grew older, I refused to leave to go to school, and instead helped my mother around the house. I didn't quite understand what I needed to go to school for, until my mother finally made me go. Since I missed a couple years, I wasn't the best student; infact, you could say I was the worst. I didn't know more then half of what the other children knew. I was made fun of, even by the teacher.
Months later, I left school once again, this time determined not to come back. Years have passed, and my father was fired from his job. It was a heartbreak for my mother, since we had no income of money. I was twenty years of age at the time. Finding a job without education was much harder then I thought, and when I did get hired, I was fired weeks later because there was someone 'better' for the position. I didn't know what to do at this point, my father couldn't get a job because of his age. I was the only one who was to provide for the family. After even more months of searching for a job, I found none, but instead, I stumbled upon a flyer. The flyer was about recruiting for the Rheinwehr, and the need for pilots in the war with Liberty.
I came back home that day, with news my parents never wished to hear. I argued with them, telling them this would provide enough for our family...they were still against it. That night, I left the flyer on kitchen table, with a note attached to it, saying any of my last words I would say before my death. I grabbed a duffel bag and headed out, determined to join the Rheinwehr. When I arrived to the recruiting center, I was barely accepted. I mean really, who wants some kid who hasn't even went to school. I was more of a 'Oh well, let him in, he won't last long anyways. Might as well be bait for the others' seen type of guy. I went through some basic training, simulation and hand to hand combat, and was sent to the front lines.
Four months later, I was given the privilege to prove my worth. I was given command of a wing of fighters. Our duty was to sabotage one of their Recon-gunboats, giving the Rheinwehr the ability to push the Navy back a little. With great success, the wing of fighters managed to bring down the gunboat with a couple torpedoes to the engine systems, blowing them out and taking the crew as hostage. I was then promoted to Gunboat Captain, and led a small strike force. Using my great skill of critical thinking, and common sense, I began to be looked at differently. The man who told me I was bait for others, applauded me as I walked by on board an 'Elbe' class carrier. I began to realize, this could be my future, that I so dearly sought to find.
Years later, bad news struck me again. This time, a more personal manner. My parents, haven't seen them in such a long time, have been killed by Corsairs in the Omegas, as they were moving towards Bretonia. Before this, I have earned enough money to buy them a shuttle, and money for them to live on, so they could move to Bretonia to live in peace. I saw that as my own fault. For years, I have blamed myself, swearing the day I meet the dirty cretin that did it, I would make his life a living nightmare.
With the war coming to a draw, I was promoted to Admiral of the Rheinland Military. The thoughts of the past have long left me, and I was headed for a brighter future. There I stood, being announced as the new Admiral, a kid with no education, being laughed at, and told how worthless I am. It was time those have realized to not judge a book by its cover.
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