795 A.S.
New Berlin System
Civilian Transport Geschick
-------------------------------
"Come on Klaus, it's time to go to bed now... you've been up so long!"
"I don't want to! I want to watch the pretty stars!"
"Just like your grandfather, you are. Fine, you can stay up five more minutes, on the condition that you will then go to bed. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Klaus Schneider, you can do better than that. You're a five-year old now, be a well-behaved one. What do you say?"
"Thank you mother."
"You're welcome. Ooh, do you see that one?"
"Yeah, that one's pretty... hey, what's that over there?"
"I'm not sure... wait... oh no..."
ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS. WE HAVE INCOMING UNIONERS. DO NOT PANIC. REPEAT: INCOMING UNIONERS, DO NOT PANIC.
"Mom, what's that shiny thing it dropped?"
ALL PASSENGERS BRACE FOR IMPACT WE HAVE INCOMING TORPEDOES! REPEAT, BRACE FOR IMPACT!
"Klaus get away from the window NOW!!!"
Klaus woke up to the face of a man in his twenties. He could tell he was being moved, and suddenly let out a cry.
"Hush little one, we've got you. You're safe now."
"Looks like he's alive after all."
"Yep. Good thing you shot down that last torp Alex, it would have hit right over there... no way he could have survived that."
"Wow. You are one lucky kid, you know that? What's your name?"
Klaus managed to squeak out his name.
"Atta boy. Are you feeling okay, Klaus?"
"I'll be fine."
"That's the spirit. We could use more of that in the military, seems a lot of new recruits are a little green."
"You would know, Alex."
"Shut up, you would have been scared too-"
"You guys are military? Like, you get to fly around in the cool ships and beat up bad guys?"
"Yeah, pretty much. It's days like these that make it worth it, though."
"You mean shooting stuff?"
"Haha, no, I mean helping people. It's why we're here; to save people like you."
"Wow..."
After losing himself in the many badges on their uniforms, Klaus suddenly remembered what his mother told him about being polite.
"Thank you. You saved my life. Thank you."
"Not a problem. It's what we do. His mother here yet?"
"She's coming..."
798 A.S.
Planet Stuttgart
Contest Grounds
-------------------
Klaus fired one last shot, and his opponent was no more. He had really done it; the title of Stuttgart Junior Fighting Simulator League champion was his. The audience thundered with applause, and his family ran up to hug him. Everyone was there; well, almost everyone. His grandmother Helga was in the hospital on New Berlin, and his grandfather was there with her. That was why he was here; with the prize money he had earned, they could afford to send her the medicine she desperately needed for her heart.
The money arrived in the Schneider family account later that day, and Klaus's father Sebastian returned with a fulfilled prescription the day after. All that was left was for the shipment to arrive by Republican.
The medicine never arrived. Republican went through a group of court cases against those who claimed to have been cheated, and many of their employees were fired. Between this scandal and brewing suspicious activity in the Rheinland Government, Republican grounded all transports for three days while they arranged a backup transfer. Helga didn't make it past those three days.
806 A.S.
Rheinland Common Neural Net
Public Announcement from Daumann Heavy Construction
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"To the honored citizens of Rheinland
Today there has been a great tragedy. It is with great regret that we inform you that three asteroid miners near Leipzig Station in Dresden have exploded with lethal consequences. From our analysis, it appears that several pressure valves in the reactors of these miners were faulty and were further damaged by radiation. Our crews attempted a new power scheme today, and the damaged components were unable to cope with the strain. Two of the miners blasted apart immediately, and the last leaked explosive fuel into the nearby area, where it ignited upon the lava asteroids in the region. All of the miners working on these stations were killed. There names are as follows.
Franz Bischof
Maria Danneburg
Erik Leitner
Sebastian Schneider
Vanessa Weber
We offer our condolences to their families, and firmly believe they do not grieve alone.
To all our dedicated customers, know that operations will be in no way effected. The glorious economy of Rheinland shall move on, though we will not forget those who have died for our prosperity. Replacement miners have already been sent to the Dresden system, and staff have been reassigned to run them. The faulty equipment has been isolated from the main production, and fresh valves have already been implemented to prevent further loss of life. Though we mourn, tomorrow is another day, and we must go on."
-Daumann Heavy Construction
806 A.S.
Private Communications
Daumann Public Relations Bureau to Schneider Family
--------------------------------------------------------------
"To the Family of Sebastian Schneider
We have looked into your case, and our records indicate that life insurance policies were paid out. If the funds are not in your account, then it is not the responsibility of Daumann Heavy Construction, its affiliates, or any organization in connection to it as per liability forms 217.A-F, and life insurance policy forms 439.K. We are sorry for your loss, but understand that sending a second payment would undermine Daumann's reputation as a fair and honest company."
-Daumann Heavy Construction Public Relations Bureau and Human Resources Council
806 A.S.
Private Communications
Daumann Employment Bureau to Klaus Schneider
"To Master Schneider
We have reviewed your application, and have agreed to accept you as a full time worker in our company. You are provided for by Daumann Legacy Policy 88.U-Y, and Rheinland Youth Labor Ordinance 13.E-(15-17). You are to meet with our representatives at our Stuttgart Offices, Employment Building, Room 24-A on Wednesday, 14, 8:00 A.M. for assignment. We look forward to working with you."
-Daumann Employment Bureau
811 A.S.
Dresden System
Leipzig Station
Klaus walked into the station control room, and a chill ran down his spine. He had hated the room for every second of the five years he'd worked with Daumann, and could never get past the feeling that its operators were somehow responsible for the death of his father and the ruining of his dreams.
"Good morning. Good to see you here on time."
Klaus only grunted.
"Sit down, will you?"
"Alright, what's this about? You know how much I hate being here, and the last time you dragged me out of the refineries to talk you docked my pay since I wasn't working. Make it quick."
"Huh, you sure are snappy for someone I can easily fire."
"Not really, see there's this little bit in the legacy rules, and since my father died here, good luck with that. Now will you tell me why I'm here?"
"Philosophical question really-"
"Shut up."
"Fine. We lost one of our transports in Omega-11 recently, and need a salvage crew to pull some equipment off it. Hessians probably picked through all the loot, but we want to grab what's left and pull it to the jumpgate for transfer. You've been selected to be on the team, seems there was something about you being a decent pilot awhile back."
"Right, so my reward for five years hard work is a suicide mission? Gee, thanks."
"Listen, this order didn't come from me. I know we don't like each other, but even I'm not enough of a cold-hearted bastard to order this. Tell you what, when you make it back I'll buy you a nice cold drink, how's that sound."
"Kindness? From you? Never thought I'd see the day. Alright, when do I leave, and what's the danger pay?"
"Err, see, Daumann and Kruger had a joint study done recently, and according to their tests, Omega-11 doesn't satisfy the government requirements for danger pay unless you stay out there for more than twenty hours at a time. Needless to say, everyone there now works nineteen hour shifts, and this operation will only take ten hours tops. Of course, they used full rad suits to test, and all we have is a few hand-me-downs. You'll feel sick for a few days after, but there shouldn't be any permanent damage. You meet the group on the landing deck in four hours."
"Hmph."
811 A.S.
Omega-11 System
Abgrund
----------
Klaus stared out the life pod, at what seemed would be his last sight; the desolate rock fields of Omega-11, lit by their crimson sun. He thought about what had happened three hours before, and how their ships were ill-equipped to survive the pounding of diamond debris in the fields. He thought about the dead friends lying next to him, slowly turning in space. As the last one amongst them left, and not long for the world, he turned his thoughts to his family, and to the Gottkanzler who had forsaken him, stranded in the void. He closed his eyes, and awaited oblivion.
About ten minutes later, the life pod's computer informed Klaus of incoming contacts. With great relief, it was a combined Daumann and Kruger escort group, accompanying a pair of heavily armored transports. Klaus turned on the comm switch, and desperately hailed the approaching group.
"Daumann employee requesting assistance! Please respond!"
"Go ahead. Where are you?"
"I'm stuck about... 2k from your position, floating in the Abgrund. Thank the Gottkanzler you've arrived, I wouldn't last much longer... transmitting coordinates..."
"We'll come pick you up, don't worry- hm? Hold on a second..."
"Won't go far..."
Klaus waited for almost a minute, then got another hail.
"Err... our VIPs are late for an important conference, and have ordered we not make any diversions... I don't like it, but they won't let us detach a group to help you- something about strong Hessian activity in the region. I hope another group comes by to pick you up... sorry..."
Despite the stream of curses and pleas that flooded the comm frequency, all Klaus got back was static as the ships passed into the distance.
811 A.S.
Omega-11 System
Outer Abgrund, half an hour later
-------------------------------
"Hey boss, think I got something on scanner..."
"What'd you find?"
"Looks like a wrecked Daumann salvage ship... its hurt bad, and busted out in the Abgrund."
"Shiny. Do a scan, see if there's anything good left for us."
"On it... doesn't look like it, seems they got broken before hitting their destination. Wait a minute, I've got something."
"Cargo pod?"
"Life pods, must've been jettisoned before she got pummeled. Most are broken open, but one's got someone still alive. Signature's awful weak, boss."
"Go get him."
"Sir? May I remind you this is the Abgrund we're talking about here? Even if he's still alive, he was probably wearing a rad suit-"
"We Hessians aren't murderers. Well, we are, but leaving a man stranded that we don't got nothing against just ain't right. Go get him!"
"Yessir, Maximilian..."
811 A.S.
Omega-11 System
Freital Base
-------------------
When Klaus awoke, he found himself in a comfortable bed it what appeared to be a medical ward. He stretched his memory for what happened after the Daumann patrol, but could think of nothing. Whoever picked him up must have gotten him after he blacked out.
As he tried to get up, Klaus felt the full effects of the intense radiation damage. His muscles were weak, and he could barely move his arms. As he settled back down into the bed, a nurse walked toward him.
"Easy there. You got hit pretty hard by the radiation out there, and the medicine will take awhile to sink in. You should be fine in a few days though, don't worry. Good thing you had a rad suit on, otherwise you'd have been fried. Here's something to ease the muscle pain."
"Thank you miss. If I may ask, where am I? This doesn't look like any hospital I've ever been in."
"You're on the little piece of rock we call home. This is no hospital, we barely have space for the stuff we steal as is."
"Hessians?"
"The one and only. The commander who brought you in wants to talk to you, if you're feeling up to it."
"Bring him in."
As the nurse walked off to find his savior, Klaus pondered the strange turn of events that led him to Freital. He had not felt any antagonism when he realized he was on a pirate base, contrary to all the training and propaganda he had been exposed to, yet his heart burned with fury when he remembered how he had been passed up by the corporate patrol. His thoughts were cut short when a tall, red-haired man came through the door.
"How you feeling?"
"I've been better, but the nurse says I'll be fine."
"Shiny. My name's Maximilian, and you are one lucky man to be alive right now. You have a name?"
"Schneider. Klaus Schneider."
"Pleased to meet you, although I won't blame you if the feeling isn't mutual."
"As I understand it, I owe you my life. The pleasure's mine."
The two men smiled as they shook hands.
"Good to hear. Now, I'm of the general impression you won't go flying for Daumann again-"
"Like hell I will."
"-and as it is, we've been a little short staffed lately-"
"If you're asking me to fly with you, its the least I could do. When do I start?"
"Whenever you're ready. I don't need no new corpse because you didn't take your time feeling nice. Really, it won't help. You just get your beauty sleep, and when you're ready come find me. This l'il heap of rock isn't that big, shouldn't be too tough."
"Will do. Thank you again, Maximilian."
"Not a problem."
811 A.S.
Omega-11 System
Near the Stuttgart Jumpgate
--------------------------------
"Alright, boys, form up. It's Klaus's first day flying a Stiletto, so be nice, maybe let him have a kill. Everyone remember what we're here for?"
"Money?"
"More specifically, there's a major diamond shipment going through. All we have to do is knock out the engines and tow it back to the Little Rock. We shiny?"
"Sure thing, Max."
"You ready Klaus?"
"I think so."
"Good enough. There's our quarry, engage!"
Maximilian's squadron fell upon the transport and its escorts like a hot knife through butter. Between the radiation, well timed cruise disruptors, and their numbers, the transport was left powerless and defenseless in a matter of minutes. Within another few minutes, tow cables were rigged up to the ship, and the Hessian squadron headed home with their prize.
"Good flying out there, Klaus."
"Thank you, boss."
"Call me Max, if you would. We're friendly company."
"Sure thing, Max."
"Atta boy. Really, you'll make a great addition to our little squadron out here. Better company than the rocks we usually talk to."
Laughter filled the comms.
"My pleasure. Say, what are we doing with the pilots of the transport?"
"Hmm, usually we ransom them. You have a problem with that?"
"Not really."
"Shiny. There's Little Rock, we're home... Freital control, this is Lieutenant Maximilian, requesting squadron dock."
"Permission granted. Welcome home."