**We will return**

[farmerman]

Thea Bauer sat in the interior of her Loki, staring out at the inside of the docking bay at Bruchsal. The recent communications she had received from Josef were quite unlike him. She hoped what she had merely misinterpreted his message, but deep down she feared it was true.

How could this happen? she thought to herself. How could he get mixed up with... them?

She couldn't keep this to herself any longer. She needed to tell someone, but who? The Volksfront? No, she didn't want to get them wrapped up in this; they had enough on their plate as it was. Perhaps one of her former Junker colleagues? Catalina might understand, but she still didn't trust her completely and getting her involved could compromise security.

As she launched her ship, she had a thought. "Bruchsal, this is Thea Bauer. I am proceeding to Darmstadt. I must speak with Herr Steinlaufer there," she reported over her comm system.

From the start, Thea knew this was the only solution even if she had tried to persuade herself otherwise. She had never met Johann Steinlaufer in person, but had heard about him from Josef, who had said he was a trustworthy man. Thea hoped it to be true.

I just hope I'm not too late with this... Thea thought as she landed on Darmstadt and began to look for Johann.

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Faction info links: Samura Heavy Industries : LWB : Watchers