16 years have passed

[Strichev]

One half of Planet New Berlin's was bathing in bright sunlight, the other was locked in a bitter winter. High above the famous Ring could be seen, resembling a faint reflection far away, distorted by atmospheric disturbances. A beautiful day, clear sky, sunlight and temperatures just above freezing. Amongst many other minute figures moving around, seemingly with no order a stream of men and women formed, all walking in one general direction, like a flow of a river with many smaller tributaries joining it. Like a journey of a tiny boat on a calm stream just before it reaches rapids, such was life on this cold inhospitable world of Rheinland in beginning of the year 800. Then suddenly an explosion somewhere far away turned this calm stream into a raging torrent.

Military build-up and repressive state machine have been had been something usual in Rheinland for centuries. Then, as the old century tipped over into the new one everything went into an overdrive. Vaterland will be once again great and respected as it once was. Ship after ship, man after man the glorious Rheinwehr grew. Admiral Schultsky died in New York. The Order was running amok and Kusari supported raids agains Rheinland's bases. However the mighty Chancellor didn't stand with his arms crossed, no. And so didnt the inhabitance of every Planet, base and rock in Rheinland.

A ship took off from one of many launch pads on New Berlin. It was a Humpback class vessel, quite old actually, built somewhere around 780. On board was a team of scientists, archaeologists. Mister sat in the cockpit, observing his home planet. In front of him Heinrich Selb found little time to rest his eyes on the view that was once reserved for gods, as the ship slowly passed by a giant battleship, pride of Rheinland. Huge mass of metal slowly eclipsed Fatherland's most important star and as it's shadow completely engulfed their ship, Maister felt a shudder. Everyone on that tiny raft named Humpback realised how small they are and how great their House is. They were part of something much larger and they were proud.

Suddenly a communication device situated in the cockpit woke up with an unpleasant sound of static.

This is RNC Wotan command, to all ships of the West Rheinland fleet. Set course to Omega 7.

Heinrich laughed while turning on the communication device.

To RNC Wotan, may I ask when did our our Fatherland's battleships become tiny armoured transports? Hell, where have we gotten to! And jokes aside, where are you, we can't find you on our scanners.

Potsdam!

Maister was quite used to such jokes. Actually it wasn't even funny any more. He sent a message to that armoured transport, piloted by Institut's greatest comedian.

Herr Karl, you have no sense of humour, I don't know how can Jutta stand being on that ship with

Horrendous, ear hurting high pitched whistle interrupted that lovely conversation.