George was running with purpose down the hall from one of the moors on Lancaster Trading Centre.
Muttering under his breath as he ran to the nearest casualty listings. "Please no not them."
He was almost in tears as the news was still fresh in his mind. "I need to know if the Gauls got their transport."
Out of breath as he reached the listings he scanned the lists looking for any Antiochs, fortunately the name is rare enough that it did not take very long.
When he found that there where non he said to himself. "Thank god, they are still alive, or have they not been found?"
He checked his watch to see if the listings are up to date.
It wasn't.
He almost collapsed to the floor in shock.
with his head in his hands he absently said out loud. "No it cannot be, I talked to them yesterday they said that they where safe, unless?"
He checked his watch again and found out that it was set to Stuttgart local time.
With a big sigh he steadied himself and checked the listings again. "Please I need to know, at least Helga is safe."
A very familiar voice made George jump. "Need to know what George?"
George spun round almost reaching for his handgun but he left that on his firefly. "Father, what have I told you about doing that, and anyway I thought that said that you where never leaving New London again?" "Times change George, after the loss of Leeds I was told to come here." "I see but have you heard the news?" Yes George I'v- "They are dead I can feel it." "George-" "Half of our bloodline gone, what are w-" "GEORGE!"
William George's Father had to shout to get his attention make heads turn as a result. "George they are fine, I sent them to Sprague, they are waiting for you there, but before you go there you need a drink and some sleep you have been up since god know what." "I have only been up for 36 hours I don't ne-"
He yawned. "You where saying?"
The look that George gave his father could blow up a Rhienland Battleship. "Come on I have a bed for you, and don't look at me like that."
George's alarm sounded after 7 and a half hour of sleep. "Uh, what? oh!"
George rubbed his face with hands brushing some of his blonde hair out of it. "Lights, LOW!"
The lights turned on with the intensity of a supernova then dimmed to a reddish glow. "Uh come one George, time to get up."
George sat up cracked his neck and proceeded to get up from the bed. "Right, where is the shower?"
After looking round with no avail. "Why can't the blinking shower be in the same blinking place on every blinking station?"
He found it after a good few minutes. "Right then lets see if I can do in E minor?"
George proceeded to have a shower singing The British Grenadiers in E minor.
After messing up the second line of the third verse. "Damn it, why can't I do it? I can do it in E major."
He then got dressed in his usual black. "Right, where is the tea?"
As he started to started to make his morning brew he started to think about breakfast.
After looking round but only finding Synth Paste. "Great it's coming out of a tube, again."
After his he poured his tea, he grabbed a tube of Synth Paste.
"Right what is the news today?"
He flicked to the CNS and saw what had happened to Munich.
He recoiled in shock. "Holy mother, I was planned on moving there."
He looked at the picture of his wife Helga. "You are going to be rightly miffed at this. I hope It does not stresses her too much."
He took sip of tea, then saw what some of the radiation victims.
Gulping down his tea "Ouch, it looks almost as bad as when a mining vessel went though one of the smog banks with a hull breach."
Suddenly a message maker flicked onto the screen, it was from Helga. "Oh no this will be fun."
Picking up the head set and flicking to the message he started with. "Hello dear, I presumed you have heard the news?"
A image of a young woman appeared backed by the rising Stuttgart sun appeared her belly was slightly swollen with pregnancy. "Hallo George, Ja I have heard die news and wir where planning to move there to." "I am not letting you anywhere near the system, not in your condition." "Stop worrying George I am not going anywhere, I did hear what happened is everyone okay?"
Sighing slightly as he said it. "They are on Sprague, I will have them moved to Stuttgart by the end of the week, if I only I could convince my Father to leave Bretonia but he says he has too many thing to do with BMM first." "How is your vater anyway?" "Oh he is in his element, we loves it when there is something big that needs sorting out, particularly after we lost Leeds, oh how are you and er the little one?"
Helga rolled her hand across her slightly swollen belly. "I am fine, and the doctor says that it is developing as normal, you seem a little strained is everything all right George?" "It's nothing just a little tied as all, I have to leave soon Fathers got a shipment the needs moving, love you!"
As he blow a kiss. "Love you hopefully we will see you soon in Vaterland, Auf Wiedersehen!."
As the screen went back to the news. "Goodbye my love."
He looked at his data slate, the shipment was for drill bits. "He wants me to move drill bits, of all the things that need shipping."
He got up and winced as he put too much weight on his left leg. "Ah! This leg is going to kill me one day."
He look at the data slate again seeing that his ship was unnamed and it's log empty. "I need to both name my ship and start a log."
He left a note to his father and then left the quarters.
As he left he bumped into his father. "I am going to do that shipment then I am off to Sprague." "Ok, take care out there son."
George then left for his ship.
The shuttle thundered though Sprague's atmosphere making vapour trails that lasted no more than a few short seconds.
Inside the packed cabin there where over 40 people most of them refugees and the bulk of them escaped Leeds. The smell to George a New Londoner, was almost unbearable.
He was speaking to the pilots as knew both of them.
"How can you stand this smell, do these people ever wash?"
The co-pilot turned to face George who was leaning into the cockpit. She said to him "You get used to it after a while and I don't think they do."
Suddenly the pilot exclaimed. "Heads up wind shear!"
George turned and shouted into the cabin. "I would advise you to strap yourselves in, it is going to little bumpy."
Muttering under his breath as he grasped a hand hold. "Like that would help against Corsairs."
As the wind shear hit the shuttle making it shake which made the children in the back scream.
George shouted to the pilots. "You know if you dropped our altitude then the winds should be lower." "Agreed." said the pilot to the left of George.
George felt his stomach enter his mouth as the shuttle lurched downwards.
And just as quickly as it started the shaking stopped. "Oh good, now how long to till we land?" "About 20 minutes or so." "All right then."
* 20 minutes later *
George leaned into the turn that the shuttle had to make to get to the main camp. "How much longer?" "We are just coming in now." "Oh good I need some fresh air." "Don't we all?"
The main camp came into view, a large mass of tents, people but mostly sand. "Is this the future of Bretonia? At least I have a home, on Stuttgart." "Why have yo- oh right Helga, how is she?" "She is, um expecting." "Congrats, how far is she?" "About 12-13 weeks." "How about a drink? I'll pay." "Some other time I have so business to finish." "All right then George."
The shuttle landed and the passengers disembarked.
Two guards kept order.
George was looking round for an official, when he spotted one he went up to him. "Excuse me?" "Yes, what is it?" "Can you direct me to the main office please?" "It's the big tent in that direction." The official pointed to George's right. "Thank you." "NEXT!"
George had given up dusting the sand off.
It was sticking to his normally black suit. "Will I ever get this suit clean again?" He sighed as he walked though the collection of tents that made up the camp that his father said contained the rest of the Antioch family. "How much farther?" "About 5 or so meters George." Said a very familiar voice.
Turning George saw his younger sister Annabel. "Annabel, where is everyone?" "At our tent, apart from Juliet who is getting some food and water." "Not for much longer, I am taking you to Stuttgart where I know that you will be safe."
Annabel looked around. "Well it is better than living here, but we need to fill the paperwork before we can do anything George."
George sighed, he knew only too well how much Bretonia loved paperwork. "That could take days, unless?" "I wouldn't bother the queue is way too long for it to be done today." "I don't need queues, I only need to see one guy who knows I am coming." "Well good luck with that."
George turned to go the the main office tent and said with an intentional Rhienlander accent. "I'll be back"
*One hour later* "Well that was easier that I thought." "Hello George, so when do we leave?" "As soon as everyone gets their things in order."
Juliet the youngest of the Antiochs appeared from inside the tent. "Hey George, how are you?" "I am a little peeved due both the sand and the heat. "Yes, it can be very annoying. When are we leaving?" "As soon as Matilda gets here." "She is waiting at the landing pads with a shuttle." "Great, lets go then."
All of the Antiochs left for the landing pads.
George and two of his sisters where making their way to the landing pads, discussing past events. "So your transport was hit by a Warwolf?" "No it hit a fighter but crippled the transport." "Ouch, then then the Valor tried to ram you?" "Yes just before the HMS Darby rammed it, we where thought that we was doomed." "Oh so they sacrificed themselves to save to convoy before reinforcements arrived." "It seems so." "So then the fleet got to you and towed you to Lancaster." "Yes then father greeted us and you know the rest." "I cannot fathom why he did not try and get you out sooner?" "Neither do we."
They made it to the landing pads and joined with their middle sister Matilda. "Hello Matilda, where is the shuttle?" "The shuttle is coming down soon we will take it back up George." "Oh good I cannot not stand this place any longer." "Don't we all, the sooner it arrives the sooner we get back to civilisation." "So where are we going?" "Helga's parents ranch on Stuttgart I have heard that the Blue Jillies are in bloom at this time of year." "Oh, you know I have issues with German." "Well you will have plenty of people there to teach you."
They heard the shuttle was coming into and the sand was starting to be kicked up. "Ah it has arrived, now how long before we can get to my ship?" "About 30 minutes George.
The shuttle landed and the 30-40 refuges disembarked almost without incident although one puked his guts up. "I am not going to be able to clean this suit ever again am I?" "Stop think about the suit and help us load the shuttle."
George glances to the stuff that his sisters have which amounts to less than 15kg. "Fine, if it gets us off this ruddy rock."
George lifted the boxes then swore as his leg gave him issues, as he and his sister boarded the shuttle took off very quickly pinning them to their seats. "Well I told you it will be quick." "George have you started that log that you said you was going to do?" "Um? No I was busy trying not the run into Gauls I will start it later."
Portrait: ERROR 404 FILE NOT FOUND..........................................................
Personal details:
Full name:George Andrew Antioch
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 23rd of September 797AS
Place of birth: Unknown. Registered on Planet New London, New London system.
Relations:
Father: Sir William Alexander Antioch 763AS - N/A
Mother: Victoria Charlotte Stephanie Antioch nee Vickers (Deceased) 774-808AS
Siblings: 4 1 (Deceased)
Twin Brother: Charles Samuel Antioch (Deceased) 23rd of September 797AS - 808AS
Sisters: Annabel Margaret Rose Antioch 799AS-N/A, Matilda Elizabeth Fiona Antioch 800AS-N/A and Juliet Mary Victoria Antioch 801AS-N/A
Martial status: Married to Helga Bertha Antioch nee Weber 799AS-N/A (Married 4/3/819AS)
Children: N/A Expecting one possibly two children in early 821AS
Religion: Agnostic Christian / Rhienlandic
Physical description:
Hight: 190.5cm
Weight: 80kg
Eye colour: Blue
Hair colour: Blonde
Ethnicity: White Brentonian with distant Rheinlander ancestry on maternal side.
Scars, tattoos or other marks:One large scar on left leg and a smaller one on his back.
Biography: George was born into a rather privileged family on one of the dryer places of New London but it sill rained most days, he and his twin brother was almost inseparable until they started school where the where put into different class, he was the more gentlemanly of the two who always lets girls go first and also held doors for them, his childhood was a happy one till one fateful day in 808AS when his family was going to Cambridge for their annual holiday and Corsairs attacked their transport.
In the attack a bulk head collapsed trapping both George's mother and twin in a burning compartment, a piece of shrapnel this size of ruler was embedded in George's left leg an injury that still plagues to this day. His twin managed to free their mother form the compartment but before he could escape the compartment wall collapsed trapping him in his tomb as it was also vented into space, his mother died later that same day do to both shock and internal bleeding. from that day he has sworn vengeance against the Corsairs.
After a very deep depression that almost sent him mad, he restarted school without his tougher brother to protect him and as such George was bullied, but that all change when he moved to a public school (A private school in Non-Brentonian English) where he learnt the arts, music, the sciences and the art of language. By the time he was thirteen he was an accomplished pianist, a good shooter, was adept at painting and was fluent in German and had a grasp of Latin. At the age of fifteen, he had finished learning Latin had then learnt about pre-war history and had the chance to go on a student exchange program to Stuttgart a choice he has never looked back on, he was sent to live on a small ranch on the southern hemisphere where he met his future wife.
The ranch had a large domed Blue Jillie plantation which George loved to visit as he had only seen the beautiful flower in books and photos, it also was humid as his native New London which never saw as much sun since before planetfall. He met Helga when he first stepped onto Stuttgart and said to her in perfect Latin. "You are most beautiful girl I have ever set my eye on." before gently kissing her hand. She returned the the compliment with some very sweet words. They have been very close even since. He studied under some of the best professors that Rhienland had to offer as his IQ was at genius level.
After his year on Stuttgart was over he was offered a place at Cambridge to study economics, Brentonian history, pre-sol-war history as well as having Japanese lessons which he excelled at with almost inhuman levels of study. All that changed when the Tau-war started and most young people started to be drafted, he with this old leg injury could not serve but his father now a MP took him to show him the workings of the Government and when he was 17 he joined the Royalist Party as a junior aide, George a life long admirer of Royalty was interested in how it all worked. But one day he learnt that the Royalty had enemies the hard way.
As he was stabbed in the back by a communist supporter. But his father had pulled strings and George turned the guys head into a not so fine red mist with his large Daumann custom handgun. The knife wound left him a small scar and a reminder of who don't want in power. After the Gallic minefield was opened and the lost house was reviled to the rest of the sector, he and his father foresaw the coming war with the ancient enemy, but none in the parliament believed them, due to that and the fact the the Brentonian Government was slow to react they both resigned when it did finally happen.
George could not return to his studies due to the war and the fact that he was not fit for duty, he started to look for work in the economics of war as his father also did but as his father said that he would never leave New London again it was George who was sent to Newcastle to work at Lancaster. but he wanted to try and make a difference so started to save up for a Clydesdale.
While all that was happening he kept in-touch with his beloved Helga, and any-time George had some time to himself he contacted her via video-link so that they could see each other. Whenever he could he went to Stuttgart to see her, but she was usally too busy to see him due to the harvests. On her 20th birthday George proposed to her. The wedding was a relatively quite affair as there was wars going on. And on the 3rd of August she announced to him that she was expecting their first child.
His career in freelance trading start as soon as he could afford a Clydesdale and he started moving mostly industrial materials to and from BMM bases, when he got his Percheron he started moving ship hull panels to Southampton, but he also transported gold to and from Liberty which he dislikes due to the way they treat the poor and needy. When he could afford he got his now trademark Firefly and he now tries to help the war effort the best he can as well as helping the needy at it.
Faction and political relations: ERROR 404 FILE NOT FOUND..........................................................
Personal relations: ERROR 404 FILE NOT FOUND..........................................................
The intra-planetary shuttle landed at the Weber family ranch, George and his sisters where greeted by Helga, who seemed very upset by something. "What it is dear?" "It's die WVS they want to recall all of Vater's debts but we cannot afford to do so."
Helga started crying on George's shoulder. "Calm down my dear I will solve it one way or another." "They want 1.2 million credits." "I have nearly 100 times that it should not be a problem, now could you see to it that my sisters get a room till I solve our accommodation for them." "Of course mein love."
Helga and George's sisters left for one of the other buildings, while George went towards the main farm building.
"HALT!"
A guard was blocking the door to the main office. "Let me though, I am Albrecht's son-in-law." "No visitors only family."
George flashes a $10,000 credit card, the guard moved aside. "Sorry sir."
George hands the card to the Guard saying "You say that you found that on the floor."
George entered the office as two men where trying to make Albrecht George's father-in-law sign his ranch away. "Nien, I will not do that! You Synth Food lapdogs shal- oh hallo George."
The two men turned to face George one of them tried to say something before George interrupted him with. "You should invest better in your guards they are very easy to bribe, now what is this business that my wife told me about?" "We are trying to get the money owed by this farming establishment to the WVA."
George rolled his eyes. "Do not lie to me, I know that you want to turn this into one of the farms that produce that awful paste." "Nien we-" "Do you know why there is a such a thing as the Landwirtrechtbewegung? What you are doing now, so what is the damage?" "1.23 million credits, but I doubt that you coul-" "I could pay you nearly 200 times over."
Pulling out his data slate George did some form of dance with his hands. "Now I need your finger print here."
One of the men placed his thumb on the data slate. "Right now that is over, can you leave us in peace?"
The men nodded and left.
"Danke George, how will ever repay you?" "I already have payment."
They both chuckled. "Now I have to go and find Helga."
Helga was with George's sisters, she was still in tears. "Helga, I have sorted it out." "You have?" "Yes, it took less than two minutes."
Helga started to cheer up. "Now will you three I think that you should start to think about going to bed soon as you will otherwise suffer from lane-lag"
George's sisters left. "Now how about we go and have some dinner?" "Where?" "I know this place in Ludwigsburg."
George and Helga left for the restaurant.
*Three hours later*
George is helping Helga out of the air-taxi. "George, thank you for what you did today it means very much to me."
She looked at the main farm building. "This is all I have even known, I don't know what I would do without it." "I know what I would do."
And with that he picked her off the ground. "If I could, I would Terra-form a planet into another Stuttgart, seed it with Blue Jillies and name it after you, or possibly use our surname." "Planet Antioch? Why would someone name a planet after our family?" "Because Antioch was an ancient place on Earth that is why." "Oh, I never knew that." "Not many people do unfortunately." "George I am tired can you carry me to our bed?" "Of course my little flower, I will do anything for you."
George carries Helga to their bedchamber, where odd noises are heard well into the night.
George awoke to the sweet sound of birdsong.
He rolled to face his wife who was playing with his hair. "You're up late." She giggled.
George yawned. "Well considering that I am not from a farming family, this is relativity early for me." "He he, well since I was a- oh nien!"
Helga got off the bed and ran into the en-suite. "Having issues with the morning sickness again dear?" "Don't you start, it's getting better." "I was trying to make a joke about it, any so when is your next appointment?" "Either today or tomorrow, we might know if I am actually carrying twins." "That's good, now I will most lik-"
His data slate started buzzing.
"What is it know?" George said as he pick it up.
George had a message from his sister Matilda. "Why is she doing this, she should be here?"
George opened the message, it read. "Hello George it's me, don't worry I am on New London, I am looking to start my career as a freelance pilot, but I need the cash to get myself a fighter hopefully something big, so if you send me a few million that be lovely, and also don't panic about me I can take care of my self, see you later."
Another message popped up with a request for $12 million credits. "This has been an expensive twenty-four hours." He sighed as he confirmed the transfer. "What else to add- ah yes."
He added that she should try the Raven's Talon, a fighter that he heard stories about, after that he sent the message and the twelve million credits.
"Have you fin- WHAT NOW!" George said rather loudly as another message made the slate buzz again. "George pick up this is urgent!" His father's voice said rather quickly. "What it is father?" "I have a vid that will shock you that I have acquired from Leeds."
George watched in horror as he saw a Valor use it's main gun to destroy a passenger liner before it could even get into a climb out of Leed's atmosphere. "Holy mother, they did this?" "Aye, that's not the worse thing, George I have reason to believe that they have other things planed for if they captured Her Majesty." "Like what?" "Like that vid I showed you last week, only Sirius wide." "No, they will escape, before that." "I hope so or bad things will happen George."
Some background noise interrupted William from speaking. "I have to go, Gaul's are in the system."
Before George could say anything Helga said. "What vid George and bad things, will they involve us?" "One that is too distressing for you to watch, and I am not sure about the other."
Helga looked anxious for a moment but it pass quickly. "If the midwife can tell us what the genders they have do you want know?"
She said as she looked at the little bulge that contained their unborn. "Well um the family tradition is to wait until the big day." "Um I see, but you still want to know if we are having twins George?" "Yes, that's allowed, even though it could be but father did the same with me and Charles." "Hm okay George"
George and Helga step out of the clinic Helga was in a very cheerful mood while George was trying to hide a mixture of both happiness and dread, but he was showing the former. "So we are having twins after all, I really don't know what to say other than how happy I am."
Helga gave him a look of suspicion. "I know that you are hiding something George, you know that you cannot fool me."
George sighed and place a hand on his forehead. "It's just I don't like seeing you in pain, and my mother said that me and Charles was a painful birth." "Ja but you where not born planetside, even then I want a home birth." "I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it. Now where is-?"
A man walked up to them. "Are you George Antioch?" "Yes, do I know you?" George asked. "Nein, I am here to give you a message from the WVS."
"Yes what is it?" George snarled bitterly. "This." and with that he grabbed Helga by the arm and held it in an almost arm breaking position. "If you don't sign over the farm I will break your wif- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
George had spun round and put both hands round the guy's head and started to twist. "Now you listen to me, the farm is not for sale, it is not and shall not be for as long as I have at least part ownership of it." "George this hurts." Helga moaned. "Release my wife or I will snap you neck like a toothpick." "Nein, the farm will belong to-" *SNAP*
The WVS man fell in a heap and Helga fell into George's arms sobbing. "It hurt George, why are they doing this?" "I don't know but I will try and find out." "Did you kil-" "No he will be fine just he will wake up with a sore neck."
A RFP officer was walk towards them at a high rate of knots. "Oh bugger it." "HALT OR I WILL SHO-" The officer paused to read the transcript of the incident on George's data slate.
"Oh I see should I call an ambulance?" He said rather sheepishly. "I wouldn't but to be on the safe side." "Right, I still need to take statements from you two." "There is no need if you have a similar device, which I assume you do?" "Ja here." The officer hands George his data pad but George did a dance with his fingers and the data was transferred before the officer could react. "What, how did you do that so quickly and where can I get myself one?" The officer asked. "You cannot get one of these unfortunately I had this made for me, and as an accomplished pianist the hand movements aren't that hard for me." "I see, well I have to get this guy an ambulance, good day."
*Back at George and Helga's apartment*
George was making tea while helga was laying on the sofa rubbing her swollen belly. "George, I know it's early but have you though about names?" "Unfortunately I have not." George said as he stirred his tea. "I really want of have over and done with but I have now ideas, thanks" She said as George handed her some tea. "I will go over it with you later, now what to play?" George said as he sat down at his mini-grand piano. "What about some Mozart, Helga?" George knew Helga's second favourite composer only too well. "Um, how about something more Bretonian?"
George pondered for a moment. "Grenadiers it is then."
And George started playing the British Grenadiers.
After he finished Helga who was always interested in George's hobbies said. "George, as I can sort of play the piano but have issues with my handwork, would it be possible for you to try and teach me."
George looked at her and said. "I don't know if I would be a good teacher with my trader life style and your current burden." "Burden, what do you mean?" "It's a Bretonian thing Helga very hard to explain, now about the children's names?" George lead Helga to his office almost forgetting his tea and a a true Bretonian tea is very important.
George was not happy and as such he was playing the piano angrily. "I am going to kill her one day." George said as he beat the keys. "Kill who?" Helga said worryingly. "Not you, that rebellious sister of mine." "What Matilda?"
George missed played a note and tensed up. "Do not mention her name." He said bitterly.
Helga was stunned she had never seen George so angry. "Ew I have been shopping George I got you some new sheet music."
George's mood went from anger that can kill entire galaxies to one of mild confusion. "New sheet music, I thought I had it all?" "It's Gallic George." She stepped back a little as she thought that George was still angry. "Let me have a look."
George took one of the sheets and gave it a once-over. "I must admit they now how to write good piano pieces."
He put the sheet on the sheet stand and started to play the piece.