MIA: Major Wilhelm Schulz

[Rubber_Duck]

Chapter 6 - The returning

After having been in the collective for several hours, enjoying the safety he felt in there, Wilhelm broke connection. The thoughts he received were clear.

** proceed .... gathering ... data **

He logged into his terminal, applying his personal data pad into the data exchange bay.
"Zhis won't take too long, I am sure. Time to grab everyzhing I can get."

He entered his personal security code again.
Martha-Emil-Friedrich-Xaver-Siegfried-2-6-3

With a silent beep, the console acknowledged his clearance. "Let me see, where are we... Ah. Zhis is it. Zhis is what we will need, and what will save zhe lives of many of us."

He switched to the "Streng Geheim" folder, checking the last entries for "alien activity" and "locations of alien encounters". Wilhelm slowly copied them to the data pad. Right after, he searched for the point "Fleet deployments" and "Military Hardware" and also copied them to his data pad.
Once the upload was finished, he re-entered the data sheets "alien activity" and "locations of alien encounters", setting the timer for auto deletion to 15 minutes, and locking them with a password.

"I hope zhis time is enough. I need to return home now."

Quickly heading to the hangar, and trying to avoid contact to anyone, due to the rush and the danger he felt inside, he took large steps on his way, but also trying not to seem hasty to other people, that might cross his way. His thoughts began to seek for the collective again, but he forced himself to ignore them. Now. "I just need a little more time... just a little. I am nearly done..." Wilhelm has safely arrived at the hangar deck, meeting just a Flieger on his way, who greeted in the regular old Rheinwehr manner.
Feldwebel Walter was heading towards Wilhelm, saluting. "Herr Major? I didn't expect you here, may I..." Wilhelm interrupted him. "I don't have time to explain now, Feldwebel. Is my ship ready for anozher urgent travel?"
"Jawohl, Herr Major. As always." Feldwebel Walter answered quickly.
"Gut. I don't know when I will be back, in fact, I have never left. You understand, Feldwebel?"
Walter just nodded silently, while Wilhelm made the way to his Mjölnir.

Wilhelm quickly turned on the engines, and left the hangar bay. His direction was clear. Heading home, as fast as possible. He just hoped, nobody would have realized the missing data, or even worse, the deleted files about **their** activity. Not as long as he arrived at home.
He was quickly rushing through the systems, not recognizing what was around. Some trade convoys passed, and greeted him, but he didn't even respond. His thoughts already headed home, and he was glad that his ship had the typical, highly sophisticated Autopilot Rheingold-MkV, that didn't force him to concentrate on his flight. New Berlin, Stuttgart, Omega 11. He headed towards the jumphole to his home, and passed it as quick as possible.
The known bright view appeared, for which he knew, that it was his home now. Nothing could stop him anymore now, and no need not to be himself anymore. He reconnected to the collective.

Everything became warm and bright, and he was feeling better than any time before. He was at home. And he could hear the thoughts in his mind:

** accomplished ... joy ... home **

---