Secret Meeting Onboard Sparta Station, Omicron-74

[Petitioner]

Schnee thinks for a second. "Yes, you can count on me. The preservation of the Zoner way of life... it is very important to me. Let us go find your friend, then."

Schnee puts away the holopad and laser pointer, stands up, and refills his cup of coffee.

---

[sadtranslation]

Bernard notices the cup in Schnee's hands, smiles, then asks him to wait for another second, fills his own cup again. He picks up his touchpad and opens the door.

- After you, Doctor.

They leave the room and take their way in the direction of elevator.

---

[Vape]

Moments later, the elevator doors opened, revealing a small conference room with white walls. On the other side of the room sat a figure wearing a black uniform.

"Evening Gents" The figure said

"I am the "friend" Bernard alluded to" He continued.

"I am Colonel Kell Tainer of the Order, and we have some things to discuss" He finished

---

[sadtranslation]

Bernard hardly noticable smiles while shaking hands with Kell.

Indeed, mister Tainer. And I'm pretty tempted to call this discussion one of the most important ones for the last time. I got everything we need here, - he gestures to the touchscreen he has in hand, - and here, - he points to his forehead, - Well, since me and Doctor Wilhelm von Schnee, - Bernard nods, - made the acquaintance of each other, I'd like to hear more about you. If this is not secret, of course.

---

[Vape]

Kell glanced at Bernard and Von schnee and gestured for them to sit down. As they took a seat, he took a sip from the cup he was holding.

"I'm glad you two could make it" Kell began. "I can tell you a bit about myself, I am the Second in Command of Order Intelligence, better known as the 'Wedjat'" He continued. "Aside from that, my service record is highly classified" He finished.

---

[sadtranslation]

Well, I'm sure that you already know more then enough about me then, - with the lights in the room, Bernard's face was a bit more pale then usual and shadows under the eyes weren't looking that tragically, he just looked older then he is, - so there is no need to tell a lot. To observe etiquette I'll say that I'm Bernard Finch, Zoner Defence Force captain, leader of Exploration Command. Maybe, the last one who still keeps the ZDF flag.

He pauses, looks at von Schnee and adds:

And this is her von Schnee, formerly a medical officer upon Freeport XV. Now he is another man who is not going to give up here. And I'm glad to see him today.

---

[Petitioner]

Schnee nodded and took a sip of his coffee, accepting Tainer's invitation to sit and smiling. "Yes, I am Dr. Wilhelm von Schnee. As herr Finch says, I was once a medical officer onboard Freeport XV, though with all of the chaos, the supplies necessary to ply my trade there were no longer available, and I thought I might be of more use to the Zoners elsewhere.

"I do hope that I have made the right decision, my friend."

---

[sadtranslation]

Well, - Bernard looks over those present, - I have invited both of you, so it is my duty to explain things a bit. Here, - he holds his touchscreen to Kell, - is the example of navigational database collected by Zoner Defense Force Exploration Command. It includes most of the known space, provides information concerning activity in the systems, analysis of local Neural Networks - everything we could collect for the time being. And I am pretty ready to share it with Order in exchange of some urgent help. You can see, we're in trouble and we need to survive hard times.

Bernard sips his coffee and starts to explain his plans on the future work and the current troubles. He adds that after the disintegration of Zoner Alliance and therefore Zoner Defense Force, Exploration Command was let without any source of supplies except information trade and no base to operate from except Livadia Shipyard, but for the last time, Consortium started to perform strange, somehow isolationist politics and with his reputation of ZDF officer as well as with reputation of the whole unit they have no idea what everything will turn into. At the end of his speech Bernard already understood that he gone too far and there was no need to explain many things, but he finally had his say and now turned his questioning eyes on Kell.

---