A transport ship flyes through an asteroid belt, carrying workers and higher ranking member. Its course is set to vector B6 in the Kansas system. Transport is being escorted by Hellfire Legion remaining pilots, their ships heavily damaged from combat.
Legion pilot: " Captain Brax, this is pilot Rangus speaking. Our fleet sustained heavy damage, is everyone on board your ship well and safe??
The DSE transport designated Constellation has just cleared the asteroid field. People on board are still in shock to what happened just half an hour ago, they are reluctant to even talk to one another. Captain Brax opens the comm link to the Hellfire Legion pilot:
" This is captain Brax. Yes pilot, everyone is alive and well, although people are in shock. We saw you did your best out there but it looks like we were heavily out numbered. Pilot Rangus, i express my condolances for the lost lives of your dear friends, you cant imagine how this makes us feel. "
Pilot of the burning fighter craft is silent for a while, no doubt recolecting memories from just a few moments ago: " Roger captain Brax, it is hard indeed and i thank you for understanding, the bastards were just too many, but they will pay for this some day, mark my words, they will pay. Over and out."
Captain Brax and all of the crew remain silent. No one can grasp the terror they were subjected to. And no one dares to speak about the situation at hand.
A few minutes later, Constellation and all of its escort enters vector B6 approaching the jump hole.
Captain Brax opens a comm link to all decks: " This is captain Brax addressing all hands!! Prepare for space jump, i repeat, prepare for space jump!! All decks, status report. "
The crew is busy for a few moments reporting the captain about the ship's readieness.
Navigator Hannah: " Captain! All decks report ready for space jump. My scans indicate a 97% jump hole stability. We are ready as we will ever be. "
Captain Brax: " Roger that Miss Hannah. Bridge!! Prepare for space jump in 10, 9, 8, 7..... steady as she goes...6, 5, 4, 3, 2.......................
With a flash of blue neon light, the ship is pulled in to the unknown. The Lansing cause is lost, and the DSE has to look forward in to the future but recent past will linger heavily upon their tired bodies and restless minds. For just a single moment captain Brax hopes this day was just a bad dream, just for a moment...................
2 weeks earlier
Mr. Gunsmith is pacing his office with a glass of Sidewinder Fang in his left hand. He stops by the window and looks at the asteroid concentration. A brief moment of memory passes him and as he turns around he notices a slight smile on his friends face:
" What are you smiling about Lourens?? "
Mr.Lourens: " Oh, nothing in particular Dan, i was just wondering how long will it take. Not everything is on you, you know.
Mr.Gunsmith: " Always with the mistery ah my dear friend?? What do you mean??"
Mr. Lourens: " Come now Dan, i mean your constant worrying about everything, well you know all this, wa talked about it many times. You need to let it go. You havent had a good night sleep in...well i dont know how long but its been a long time. And not everything.......
Mr.Gunsmith: " But it is on me Louren, i am the one who should have anticipated what is going to happen. I was second in command for crying out loud. I should have known the Communes next step way before then i did."
Lourens gets up from his chair and grabs Dan by his shoulder:
" Dan, all im saying is that you cant carry this burden on your shoulders any longer. It is what it is and thats that. Not to sound emotionless, but you did the best you could, and so did we all. Turn to the future ahead, just take a look at everything we accomplished here, in our new home. Plus i have been recieving preliminary reports that DSM is growing exponentialy. The workers are happy, business with other companies is flourishing, you made Hellfire and Crayter talk for the first time in years. You did good, we all did. Stop blaiming yourself.
Thats all im saying.
Mr.Gunsmith smiles slightly: " You know what?? Sometimes i forget why your second in command, but your logic and reasoning never fail to remind me my dear friend. You are right as always."
With this notion both men sit down and drink their Fangs. Both bewebbed in distant memories and bright new futures.
" Now Dan, i think its time for you to make that formal communication we discussed earlier, the path is prepared, people are eager to see a delegacy of that magnitude aboard Elysium."
Mr.Gunsmith: " Yes, its been long overdoe."
President Gunsmith gets up and walks to the computer on his office desk. He sits down and thinks for a moment. With the last sip of his Sidewinder Fang, he opens the comm link to Communitation's officer Norton: " Officer Norton, please open a secure channel to Hellfire High Command. Put me through to the Fleet Admiral Smith please. "
Officer Norton: " Yes sir, rght away sir."
Communication is established. First part consists of President Gunsmith reporting on Elysium work and contacts with Hellfire pilots, an over all integration in the Commonswealth society. Personal experiances are shared aswell since both President Gunsmith and Fleet Admiral Smith made it to became friends in recent time. Afer the personal talk Mr. Gunsmith makes it official:
" Mr.Smith, at last i have to inform you. The preparations have been made. Your arrival is expeced in 3 days as we agreed in our prior comm, i think you will find it most pleasing. "
Fleet Admiral Smith: " No special preparations were necessary Mr. President, i am a sodier after all, but i thank you for the gesture anyway. " He smiles slightly, " We have much to discuss Mr. Pesident, my arrival will be as agreed upon, please have the quarters ready for my men, since we have also decided to accept your 2 day invitation. Have a good day Mr. President. "
Mr.Gunsmith: " Have a good day Fleet Admiral. "
Mr. Gunsmith looks at Lourens who is still smiling slightly, he canot resist not to smile back.
He pours himself and Lourens another glass of the sweet-bitter Sidewinder Fang...............
Three dayslater a shuttle, escorted by two prosecutor class fighters, arrived at Elysium. The shuttle along with the two fighters headed for the main hangar while the shuttles radio operator contacted the shipmaster onboard the station.
Shuttle 25639 requesting permission to proceed into the main hangar bay along our guards. Permission granted, proceed to platform 5
The ships proceeded to their platform, setting on ground in the exact formation they entered the hangar. The shuttles ramp slowly opened, opening the sight on Fleet Admiral Smith, an old man with laughing lines but a serious look to his face, along with two younger men, both of them armed, even though their guns were holstered.
The three men Walk down the ramp while the CEO of this operation, Dan Gunsmith, arrived in the hangar with his men. Smith headed straight to him, not paying attention to the security guard trying to catch the attention of whoever could allow him to check the inside of the shuttle.
Once the two groups reached one another the CEO and the Admiral begin some smalltalk about how the journey was and the qualities of one or the other brand of ale, while the group moves towards the meeting rooms of the station.
While the 2 men were walking to the Conference room, preparations have been made. Table was set and arranged with exotic foods and drinks from various planets and stations. Red Carthagia flowers were also brought, just for this special arrangement, since Hellfire people love that particular flower indeginous to Planet Gadalajara. The lights were adjusted for a soothing-formal conversation. A special brand of the finest whiskey was brewed and set for the arrival of Hellfire representative - Mr. Smith.
Mr. Gunsmith and Mr. Smith sat down comfortably. 2 Hellfire Legion guards were also present, right at Mr. Smiths side. Dan personally poured a glass of whiskey to himself and Mr.Smith:
" Well first admiral, what do you think? " Dan made a gesture with his hands implying on the looks of the Elysium base.
Mr. Smith takes a sip of his whiskey:
" Please Dan, cut the formalities, we know eachother for ..... " coughs hard" ay ya ya, what in the name of Hellfire did you put in this whiskey, its strong as Hellfire. "
Dan couldnt help but to laugh as the old man, who is also his friend, was coughing.
" I'm sorry Smith, you did tell me to get something with a little more kick in it. So i contacted this...... well a certain individual, and he provided me with this "
Mr.Smith: " yeah i did, but i didnt mean something so strong to put us under the table before we finish this conversation." Smith smiled as he put down his glass
" Now, Dan, you have invited me here, and i see the food looks good, the damn whiskey is ...phew.... Tell me, what can we do for you? "
Dan took a sip of the whiskey and started talking: " Straight to the point eh Smith? Thats what i like about you, efficiency first, fun later. Well, let me start by saying......." coughs as hell ".....
Now Mr. Smith and his 2 security officers coudnt resist to laugh hardily. Smith looked at Dan with a big grin on his face and said: " Please continue Mr. President, you were saying? "
Dan got a hold of the coughing and continued: " Now then, this whiskey is....how to put it? Its damned strong. As i was saying, with your generosity, our base has made many progress in the past 3 months since we arrived at your home system. The workers are happy, there aro no tenssions, the Commonswealth folk have been our guests more frequently than before. All in all, reports show we have made great progress in terms of relations with you and Comonswealth.
So in light of this situation i propose a betterment of the currently very good standings. Directly, we would like to walk freely on your bases as well as you can walk freely on ours. A more diretc relations approach. What do you think Smith??
Mr Smith was smiling all along, although he wasnt sure was it the whiskey or just good company, but probably both:
" Well Dan, to tell you the truth, i thought you'd never ask. We have been having this conversation amongst ourselves in the Hellfire Legion Headquarters sime time ago. And we reached this conclusion. We had zero negative reports from our people. No incidents with any of the DSM people. Quite frankly this proposition of yours is long overdue. We have agreed to let you use our facilities, but you will have certain restriction for the time being. Never the less, i think this is a giant leap in term of our relations. Satisfied??
Dan smiled: " More than satisfied my friend. And as always Smith, you are a step ahead of me, you actually had this all prepared and waited for me to make a proposal?
Mr.Smith:" Dan my friend, the Hellfire Legion is always prepared for the future, its what kept us alive in these dark times. "
Mr.MacRea, the DSM Vice President poured 3 glasses of whiskey: " I gusess this concludes the formalities gentleman, we shal eat and drink now. "
Dan: " Right you are MacRea, have at it gentleman! "
The 3 men then had a good meal, along with remenesing about times passed. Music was introduced to their ears by Mr. MacRea, who prepared a California Minor symphony by Rene Troly, a renowned Liberty musician. Hours passed and the second bottle was already half empty.
" Eeeey Dan, you still have that Havoc in here somplace?? I'd sure like to take it for a spin if you dont mind. And by the way, this table isnt set straight, fire your engineers and ill send some of mine, they can make you a good straight table... " FLeet Admiral stood up and hit his foot in the table.
Dan: " Oh no you dont.... " hic " ya cant go rascaling in a Havoc now Smith, your drunk as Hell.....
All 3 men looked at each other, then unanimously said:
" Fire "
The room burst in laughter:
" Damn we have a good name Dan, right??
Dan: " You sure do Smith!! The Hellfire Legion, it sound so strong and poetic, like a death coming your way, and " hic " so cool and catchy.....and.....damn i forgot what i was saying " hic".....
The men were laughing so hard. 2 security officers were just looking at eachother and also glanced at the 3 drunk men. They didnt know what to make of it.
2 hours later MacRea was sleeping on the table, Dan and Smith went station dwelling in search for company and ended up in the Metro bar. Needless to say they made a complete mess in the bar, laughing and drinking all night, untill finaly Mr. Smith was literally so drunk, he fell asleep in one of the Metro bar girls lap. His security personel took him to his room.
Dan got lost in the hallways and ended up in engineering. There he made himself a bed by placing Reinforced Alloy sheets on the floor, convinced he was in his quarters, and fell asleep like a hog.
..............
MacRea woke up first, he glanced around the conference room only to find empty bottles all around. He slightly smiled and thought to himself: " Damn this was fun.............."