Erich merely nodded twice, a neutral expression upon his face. "Make no mistake, I will only consider it a victory if the Kanzler enacts sweeping reforms, then abdicates. A fat chance of that happening all on its own."
"I will fight until my last breath to break the Fatherland's chains, Kommandant."
She places her arms on the table and turns to look at Michael Hermann, but she doesn't say a word. She just stares at him. She has a slightly angry look, but that might very well just be a her normal face.
Michael looks back at her and nods at her again. Those eyes that seem to know everything that is going on inside you make him really curious and he definately wants to find out a lot more about her in a little private conversation with a drink at some point. But for now he wonders if he should say something or It's the kommandant for ****s sake, say something he thinks to himself.
He looks at her for a little longer, but she seems to be waiting for him to do the first step. He walks towards the table and gives Erich a good, approving tap on the back"So Kommandant, we have another good man fighting for us until his last breath, isn't that exactly what we are made of. How come you don't get yourself a good Vogtland Weissbier or some other treat of Dutch. I think you could use a little relaxation after such a busy day. Switching off from time to time might do you some good, as long as you know how to control yourself and not end up sleeping in a pile of spare parts, but I sure know that you are strong enough to control yourself. "
Michael thinks to himself, that if she doesn't feel like casually talking, he might as well give her another option, so she can choose what she wants, so he starts to strike up a conversation that he knows Iain and Erich will have fun with. He does know that Freya might just start the conversation up with him and then leave and he is prepared to follow her to another table for a little chat about life, the universe and everything."Also one other question Kommandant. I am sure that you have received my reports about the increased activity in the Westerwald cloud. Our surveys have shown that the Military is not only patrolling the cloud but we can also detect a fair bit of explosives in it and I see tranports and repair teams going in and out, so it does look like they are supplying something big in there and not just a jump hole survey team. What are we going to do about it, do you think we should go in deeper with our scouting?"
Wondering if any of this was even useful or if he just made a total fool of himself he relaxes his stand a little and finally has time to breathe.
She sighs and she's not too enthusiastic to explain about the Westerwald cloud. Boring topic.
"There's a research facility in the cloud. We know that, we know that it is big, we know that it is well guarded. More than one attempt has failed too breach the security there and not by us, but by the much better equipped Hessians. I heard even the Corsairs tried once."
She sighs again. She's a strange one, only basic emotions like anger can be read from her face, but right now, it is completely impossible to determine what goes on in her head.
"Could you go and get me a water, Hermann. I've got a dry throat."
Erich rummages in one of his shirt pockets, drawing out a small datapad. After having pressed a few buttons on the screen, he holds it up for Michael to see:
"Here is an intimate look at what's going on in the Westerwald, or at least as intimate as I could make it. Luckily the Bayonet got me both in and out of the defenses without a problem".
Michael is satisfied. He clearly started a conversation about Westerwald and it looks like it won't even be too boring. And the Kommandant even noticed him. Still that "impossible-to-read" look on her face that really intrigued Michael. "Nice Erich. You are truly as brave as I thought you were. Now how did you get through the security? They won't just let you in? I think we're all interested so you can start while I go and fetch our lady her water" Michael nods towards Freya and then walks away to the bar after giving Erich another good tap on the back.
"Well barkeep'. A water please and put it on my bill. I am paying this one for the Kommandant" how has that monkey not killed anyone or destroyed anything yet? Michael thinks to himself as he watches the monkey while he waits for the water.
Once Michael gets his water he promptly returns to the table, passes the water to Freya and takes the seat next to her while trying not to disturb Erich's story.
Erich chuckled, albeit somewhat nervously. "Nein, of course they did not merely let me in. I evaded incoming fire from the Battleship Koblenz, the station itself, the stationary defenses, and the fighters scrambled to repel me. Need I also state that the entire facility is within a radiation pocket."
Erich is quiet a moment, before adding. "I obviously could not have remained for long."
Freya faintly smiles at Hermann as he passes her the glass of water.
"Danke."
She puts the glass to her mouth and listen to what Erich has to say and sighs once more.
"Exactly and there are more fleets around who can spare some of their ships to aid the station if for example the Hessians would send in a large attack force. Whatever is in there, it is verdammt important to the government.
The only possibility to ever access it would be if the Liberty Navy manages to advance into the Frankfurt system, then either their defensive forces will be send to reinforce other locations within the system or the navy will launch a direct attack on the station, in which case we'll also probably be excluded."
She leans backwards.
"If you ask me, we should just leave it alone. We can only lose valuable men and women there."
Despite flying with him many times during his time in Rheinland, Jamieson had not known a lot about Kluggman's past. It was good to learn of his motivations now though.
Still relatively new to the precise details of Westerwald's history, he was content to listen to the conversation while enjoying his beer. However, speak of its (lack of) use to the cause did remind him...
"I havnae had the guts tae fly deep into that cloud ae death like Erich here", Iain said, with a respectful nod towards his drinking partner, "but even the outside holds some benefits for us. Erich and I managed tae change the mind ae one ae your fine citizens after a view ae the minefield. When ye see somethin' like that, slavery and political prisoners ain't much ae a stretch ae the imagination..."
Feeling that he'd said enough for now, Jamieson quietened down to listen once more, taking another gulp of his beer.
Michael is thrilled and happy about the fact that he actually just got a smile from Freya, however faint it was. It can be considered a success knowing that Freya hardly ever changes facial expressions out of the angry to concentrated range. "Absolutely nice Erich. Breaching their defences and not getting shot down. Just try not to get yourself killed, losing you wouldn't be a great day for the cause"
He turns towards Freya " Good point but I do see multiple uses for the whole situation. Lets say The Libertonian Forces were to breach the Kanzler's defences in Hamburg, we could lead the Libertonians to that jump hole that we all use to get from Frankfurt to Hamburg and back. The Kanzler would have pulled most his forces back to protect New Berlin, because Hamburg is so close, and what he doesn't realise is that the Libertonians actually just jumped right into the Westerwalde cloud, where we lead them to the path through the minefield. After a rather short fight (because Rheinlands forces are focused in the NB system, or just because there are too many Libertonian ships) the station is left in our control as part of the exchange and Liberty progresses to roll over Frankfurt. By then they will have 2 bordering systems of New Berlin under control. Sounds kinda ridicolous, but it could be something like a plan.
Michael also nods towards IainAnd yes, of course it is a great example to show some people who listen to us, where all of their tax money is going and what unimaginable things happen on the other side. The people really do get surprised when suddenly a thousand hostile Military contacts appear on their radars. Very effective idea.
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