Hi I am David Grau and my story and the story of the Brennt Family is one that saddens me, but I feel it must be told.
The Brennt Family is an interesting family from Hamburg. Their story begins with the love displayed by Dagomar Brennt and Elizabeth Leota. Elizabeth was well known for her beauty and love for others. After knowing each other for only four months the two were wed.
Dagomar was the captain of a transport for Republican Shipping and Elizabeth was a teacher on Hamburg. Despite his having to be away for long periods and the risk of him dieing the two remained steadfast in their love for each other. After two years of being married Elizabeth gave birth to their first son, his name was Dieter Brennt. The child grew up well and at the age of eight he was given a brother. The brother's name was David Brennt. All seemed to be going well and the family was happy.
As time passed David grew and was now four years old, and Dieter 12. Feeling that they would be safe Dagomar took his family with him for a trip to Battleship Rio Grande with Military Vehicles. His plan was to leave the family on the ship and then afterwards visit Denver and Manhattan with his family. As the cargo was being transferred some liberty navy officers searched the ship to make sure all was in order. Everything was fine, and once the cargo was unloaded the family headed to Denver.
The children were tired and where going to spend the night on Denver. While the kids slept Dagomar went with Elizabeth to check on the ship. Once they got there they were met by two members of LPI. One of them offered to accompany Dagomar on the ship to do the inspection while the other agreed to stay out with Elizabeth, however all was not as it seemed.
These two LPI were the ones that checked their ship when they landed and the one had taken a great interest in Elizabeth's beauty and it could not be contained. Once he felt he was alone with Elizabeth he grabbed her and confined her and had his way with her. Hearing her scream Dagomar began to run to her, but was shot by the other officer with a stun gun. He was unconscious for a while. After the other officer came out, he too did what he wished with Elizabeth. Once they were done they left her to lay there in pain and humiliation. They thought that they had gotten away with it for they saw no one.....but I saw them.
My heart burned with anger at what I saw. Such action is common for some pirates, but these are to be the police, the enforcers of the law! I did not want to let them get away, but if I had fired my weapon others would have come, and accuse me of this whole crime. Once they were out of sight I ran to the ship and found Dagomar regaining consciousness in his ship. His first words were the expected, "What happened!" and "Who are you?"
I told him my name and what happened. He could not believe it and he ran out to look for his wife. When he saw her he ran to her and embraced her. For the first time in my life I began to shed a tear...I know it is unusual for a Junker, but being a Junker doesn't mean I don't have a heart. What I saw that night would stick with me forever....Elizabeth died in her husband's arms.
I went over and placed my hand on his shoulder and offered my condolences. He stood up and thanked me with a lowered head. As he raised his head he saw something in the distance. He then grabbed my gun placed on my side and ran. I began to run after him and at which point he pointed the gun at me and shouted, "STAY BACK!!"
I then saw where he was running. The two LPI were coming back. He got behind a cargo container and heard them talk about how they would hide the evidence. When they rounded the corner they looked in horror as he was aiming right at them. He said something, but I could not hear what it was. With that he shot them both.
Quickly alarms sounded and I ran to him and said, we need to get out of here and for him to come with me. We began to run to my CSV when he shouted, "I can't leave her!"
"There is nothing we can do, they will come here and they will see the dead police and kill you!"
He agreed and got in, and after we took off he said, "MY KIDS!! You have to get them." He told me where they were and we went there to get them. Once there, he ran in and woke them up and brought them out.
I remember the words of David that night as he asked in his language, "Wo ist Mama?" or "Where is moma?" Dagomar could not come up with an answer and I got them as quickly as I could to the safety of Rochester.
When we arrived I got out, as did Dagomar. He told his kids to stay in the ship for a moment; then he told them he loved them. About that time my wife came up to me, not expecting me back so soon. Before she could say anything, Dagomar looked at me and said, "Take care of them," and before I could stop him he pulled my gun from his side and fired under his chin through his head.
He fell down dead in front of all of us. I covered my face with my hands as I shouted to my friends, "Get his body out of here! His kids are on my ship!" With that other Junkers I knew ran to help pick his body up. They removed it and then I had to do the hardest thing I have ever done. I had to answer the questions two kids had about where their parents were.
Years passed and my wife and I raised the boys as our own, but the damage was already done. Dieter understood it all so well and developed such hatred in his heart for Liberty. As he grew he swore revenge against them. I am not fond of Liberty myself but I know not all officials are corrupt. In fact, one of the officers shot that night lived and was forced to explain what happened. It was the officer who had stunned Dagomar on the ship. The other police quickly found Elizabeth's body and were able to confirm what had happened.
I learned that the officer who had lived was put in prison, and because he had been a cop he was killed by some rogues in jail. LPI offered its sincere apologies over the media, but it was too late. Dagomar was dead and Dieter swore to kill all of the LPI and anyone who stood in his way.
The ship that Dagomar flew was scanned and his name was listed as the pilot. LPI tried communications over the media to reach him telling him that he would suffer no penalties and that LPI was willing to try and compensate...but Dagomar was dead. I don't know if LPI knew his children were there or not, I am sure they did.
Dieter grew more and more hatred each day, and he took to calling himself "Dieter von Feuer" Feuer is Rheinland for "Fire" and he named himself that for this reason: From the fires of true love and passion his life began, but from the fires of obsessive passion and lust his life ended. He may be physically alive today, but by all other accounts he died that day.
He later joined the Liberty Navy for a little bit to learn all he could about Liberty...after he had earned enough to get a good ship he left liberty and was not seen for a long time.
He wanted to get as far away from there as possible. He found comfort in the Order and their cause of fighting the beings known as nomads. They welcomed him for he had obtained a good knowledge of Liberty. Fighting for the Order keeps his mind on things other than his loss, but from time to time he still remembers and will return to Liberty and kill whatever LPI he sees. In his mind all of the LPI are corrupt and evil. He will not hesitate to kill them or anyone who tries to stop him. He flies a ship he calls "Schwarz Pferd" It is named so for its strength and speed, and is known by many as Das schwarze Pferd
He is however seldom seen in the colonies, but when he is, most despise him. Rheinland, Bretonia, and Liberty have declared him enemies, while Kusari for some reason likes him. He respects the military and people of Kusari and will not lift a finger to hurt them. The same goes with Rheinland, but being as Rheinland hates him for being Order he stays away from there to avoid having to kill anyone. However Liberty....Liberty is a house he will never forgive.
As for his brother David, he is almost completely different. He was too young at the time of the murder of his mother to be affected as Dieter was. However he does know what LPI did, but my influence on him has been somewhat established - though he would show almost little to no shame for killing an LPI if he had to. Mostly he just avoids contact with them and goes his own way. He feels nothing he can do will really change the past. He was received well by my fellow Junkers and became one himself.
Today he flies a ship I gave him. It is a cruiser to use to research and explore the galaxy. Being as he knows he is of Rheinland roots he never wants to forget that and as such, named his ship the literal name in the language of Rheinland. The ship is "Forschung Schiff" and he and his 25 crew members fly the galaxy in hopes of exploring and understanding what is in this galaxy.
As for the brothers' relationship with each other, nothing is stronger. Dieter spoke well of his brother to his comrades in the Order; as such David has unrestricted access to their space, and being as, Dieter was brought up by a Junker, he is welcomed by them.
Through it all I have learned how one event, one moment can change lives forever. All I know is that what we do with the present is what matters. Their story, our story, is a sad one, but I feel it must be told if we are to understand these two. Both feel their story is too painful to remember and will not likely talk openly about it. They would rather forgetand be allowed to do so.
As for me..well I am still here flying my big ugly girlthe ole mining ship. I gave it a name of Rheinlands language as a reminder to myself of my part in the story of these two Rheinlanders. Not much of a story in itself, but you have heard enough stories for now I bet. I best be getting back to flying. The machinery to build stuff doesnt ship itself you know..