Defending the Delta

[Sombs]

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These log entries are created in secret and aren't available to any other entity.

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Log - Ezrael Vertiga

CAMERA-BRIDGE-04-M, PLAYING FOOTAGE| There is static for a moment before Maren's voice sounds from the comm. Unlike before, the voice was not morphed by audio-tools. "And now you." The camera shows the bridge of the Apahanta. One of the older variants of the AP-609 "Mako"-Class, yet not less representing the origin of this ship. The classical dark design elements, something the Mako was known for, as it was the first APM ship that choose black over the old BHG-related blue and grey, were theming the bridge. The bridge crew was focused on their work, leaving Ezrael alone with his thoughts as he bend his upper body forward in his commanding seat, his hands at his mouth, one of them a fist, the other holding it, both hands slightly pressing against his mouth and his nose. Adrenalin was rushing through his body, more than in anyone elses on the ship. His second in command, Sherry Aguilar was sitting next to him, trying to be calm while she looked between him and the main screen, which showed the fading Wraith with the designation "Unschuld". On the smaller screens, pictures of Cayman, Omega-47 and Omicron Gamma were visible, all of them showing the little Wraith in the distance. "I know you were there. At least partly." The voice was a bit quieter than before, and yet Ezrael refused to say something, staring at the ground, twitching although he tried to suppress it. "Captain, shall I-" Sherry sounded with her soft voice, as she didn't know how to react to this, yet Ezrael interrupted her, looking at her with his eyes wide open. "I will head back now." Seeing how the little Wraith was almost merged with the space around it, using an alien cloaking system powered by the same power cell that also hindered the Apahanta's mighty sensor array to get a clean scan from the Wraith, Ezrael leaned back, looking at the main screen while one of his hands pushed a button on the console right next to his seat. The bridge suddenly was more illuminated, as the Apahanta deactivated its own cloaking device, rendering the ship visible to the one person that never needed to see them to be aware of their presence. Still slightly shaking, Ezrael took a deep breath, looking at Sherry's hand gently touching his arm, then looking up at her concerned face. "And?" His other hand moved over the console, pushing another button on the holographic display. "And what?" he asked her, cold. When he ended the short question, he lifted his finger from the console, cutting the audio Apahanta-sided. Through his nose, he took a deep breath, and after only a few seconds, Unschuld answered. " Let's go." Instantly, Ezrael put his finger back on the button, looking at the main screen, where the jump hole anomaly to Omicron Kappa was whirling around in the distance. "I'll stay here." A few seconds of silence were the result. "And do what?" He stared at the screen, as he had the feeling he knew exactly where she was positioned at that moment. She was close. Very close. It took him a while to process his thoughts. The disappointment. The concerns he had during the last hour. He felt his body pulsating with his heartbeat, and the adrenalin rush, on a second peak right now, was causing him to be unable to focus and sort out the thoughts. "Thinking." For a moment, both ships remaind silent. She was close. It felt like the weight of her Wraith was falling on him. Turning his head to Sherry, he gave an order. "Nav, set course for Livadia." "Then think about the possibility of all this being for you." Defeated, Ezrael narrowed his eyes. There was a feeling in his chest, like a cold punch, and it was like a chill running down his spine. His vision went blurry. His voice was indicating his resignation when he put his finger back on the button. "I hope it is, Agent Unschuld." Lifting his finger to cut the audio, he continued. "Sherry, you have the conn. Bring us to Livadia. Tell everyone to keep silence about this until I will talk to the crew. I don't want them to come up with conspiracy theories." "Shall I call Lindsay for a mee-" "A counselor is the last thing I need right now." He closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat, rubbing his forehead while the Apahanta entered the Peloponnese Edge Nebula, with smaller asteroids bumping against the shields while the navigation manouvered the Apahanta through the gaps between the bigger asteroids. "She could have died. Auxesia would have killed her and I couldn't have done anything about it. Fruck it." The console next to him beeped, one of the secondary screens showed new contacts inbound. Two snubs. "Commune fighters, Captain. Navigation, full cruise towards Livadia. Boost forward shields and engines." There was a conversation on the public channel, as the Skywolves of the Commune reacted to the Mako in their sight. "Contact," one of them called, just to be followed by a voice-morphed " Ignore" from the neutral-ish voice of Unschuld. "Very well." During the mext minute, the Apahanta was slowly moving out of audio range, fighting it's way through the nebula, heading for the Zoner Shipyard. The bridge crew however heard the conversation. "Skywolf two, I agree with you. Just take it and begone. Make sure to not drop it." "Very well. Skywolf One. Let's move. Engage cloaking device." "Take ca-e, agent. Our gratit--- is etern--." "- will -- sure to cash -- on ---" And then, silence, when the Apahanta left the audio range.

I'm in my room right now, while Sherry is taking care of the crew. The shock has lifted, mostly, but I doubt I can talk with Lindsay to it, so I'll talk here about it.

It's still night on Curacao, or better said, on the island where we are for the next days. The girls had their own day, going shopping and what not in a mall and later they wanted to go to a club, although I believe they had other plans. Leon, Sombra and I had our own fun day at the beach, surfing, diving and just relaxing a bit. It was... I mean, it didn't happen much in the recent days. Still no message from Bretonia, so I guess there won't come anything. Which is good. We also didn't have any auxesian trouble lately, which is fine as well. I wish they could stop with sticking their noses in everything. I don't get why they can't leave Maren and me alone...

Anyway. I wanted to see Maren this night, as I thought I sneak over to her and surprise her in bed. However, before I was able to enter her rented cottage, I saw her leaving the house, heading for the landing pads. She was there with her Prosecutor, and left the planet. Using the Hoffnungsschimmer, I followed her, with just enough distance to not get spotted, which was basically bullshiet, as Valery can feel my presence anyway when I am around. Yet Maren didn't stop. Instead, she moved to Canaria and after a quick pitstop, she moved towards Cayman, to Omega-47. And there, she lead me to a jump hole I never noticed before. Not even the Apahanta had it in it's database...

Omega-58, according to the navigational systems. Covered by a purple nebula, high background radiation coming from the dark-matter nebula on the othe side of the system. A big planet somewhere, a second one probably swallowed by the nebula, yet the sensors were able to pick up gravitational pulls from there. A shipyard in the distance, something big in the bay. Wasn't able to scan much with the Hoffnungsschimmer. I'll probably take the Apahanta later to get a full scan of the system.

There where to installations I passed by when following Maren.

Both had something in common, as they had a... something attached to it. Something nomadic. Obvious nomadic technology, the sensor readings have confirmed it, but what then happened was proof enough, as Maren landed the second installation, to switch her Prosecutor to a Wraith.

The MND Wraith, designation "Unschuld". The thing she stole when she left Rheinland. She still has it. She lied to me. More often than I thought, probably. She is still Unschuld. She never stopped being it...

I followed the Wraith to Omega-47, lost it in the big nebula, but found it again when entering Omega-9. She was meeting there with Commune and Oracles. And then the party crashers arrived, both Auxesia and the Red Hessians. I... I don't know, but I think I'll try to get in touch with them, just to find out how their stance to Auxesia is. Maybe they can be helpful against them. Anyway...

Unschuld told the Commune and the Oracle to scatter, and I followed her, to Omega-5, where even more people came together and everyone was chasing each other. And then one ship with a cloak disruptor appeared. Thankfully I was out of its range, because otherwise, Auxesia would know about what Valery did with the Hoffnungsschimmer's cloaking device. So I had to stay away from the jump holes, as it would have been too risky to use them, with their ship just waiting for the cloaker to arrive.

They moved to Omega-47 again, while I moved to Omega-41, trying to enter the system from the other side, yet I was too slow. I lost them in O-47, without a clue. That was the moment where I called Sherry, ordering her to bring the Apahanta asap. And she did. Using the Apahanta's sensor array, we scanned the area for any traces, which lead us to Cayman. I left the Hoffnungsschimmer there and moved over to the Apahanta, taking command over it. We found Unschuld again, moving back in the general direction of Omicron Delta, so we followed her. 47, Gamma, then Kappa. Cloaked, we tried to catch up, boosting the engines. And there she was, talking to the Oracle, as they were parting. And then...

"And now you."

And now me.

I have no idea what to do right now. I'm mad at her, for lying at me, again. She always demands me trusting in her, but she keeps lying, and it's busting my balls. I love her, I'd fight for her. Hell, I was about to uncloak and get the Auxesians off her back...

"Then think about the possibility of all this being for you."

How can you say that, Maren? Unschuld? I did so much for you, and for Valery. I gave her freedom. I gave you a reason to live. Fruck, I don't get why you be like that to me... I hate that. I really hate that. I feel like I can't go home right now. She'll be on Curacao and act like nothing happened, will spend her time with Nancy, and maybe Leon and Sombra join her, and I sit here and I just can't get over it. I can't go home now. Not after this. She is still working for them, making deals with the Commune, hanging out with Laguna, and she get's herself constantly into trouble, and I try so hard to keep her away from all that trouble. Fruck!

Maren, I love you... don't throw it all way...

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