Theobald leaned back into his chair, having just finished his message to DSE. He knew the people of Baltimore were gifted with OS&C vessels. He just hoped they were not too expensive when working off their station.
Franklin rubbed his eyes. Although being tired he felt restless. Something was not right and he felt more closed in than ever before. he needed to get out. So he droped his uniform and put on more casual clothes; jeans, an old t-shirt and his worn but trusted leather jacket. He practicaly ran to the docks and only minutes later he zoomed out in his old but trusted Arrow Interceptor, callsign The-o-Bolt.
For hours he just zig-zaged around the Omega Systems, dodging through the asteroid fields or sitting outside nebulae, staring into the nothingness. He even took a look around New London, altough when some Mollies showed up, he returned. He hasn't felt so alive in days and he relished to be out and about for the shear joy of it.
When he felt a bit back to his old self he turned the Light Fighter around and headed back. Just as he dropped out of the trade lane near Freeport 1, a glare caught his eyes. He steered his ship closer. It was coming from the Reverie. He inhaled sharply as he saw the exhausts of the Liner activating and test firing. The picture was so unexpected, that his mind needed a moment to realize what he actually saw.
After several minutes hanging in space, mouth agape, Theobald snapped out of it and activated his comm. "Stev, is it true?" he asked to the comm-unit. "What, boss?" the voice of his chief engineer asked slowely. Theoabld has clearly woken him. "That these junkers managed to install the new engines? Why else would I call at this time?" Theoabld asked, a bit annoyed that Stevan was not able to read his mind through a comm-unit, "I just saw her test-firing and it looked good!" "Well, the last thing I heared and saw was that the Junkers are nearly done with the ship. They worked like madmen to be done as quick as possible," Stevan stiffled a yawn, "why don't you talk with Commandant Howler? I guess you will find him at your bar. At least I saw him walking towards it before I went to bed." "Thanks, sleepyhead," Theoabld chuckled, "continue with your beauty sleep. You do need it."
Stevan ended the call with a grunt and left Theoabld alone in his Arrow again.
A quater of an hour later Captain Franklin strode into his usual bar, still waering his jeans and leather jacket. He had been to anxious and has simply passed changing into his usual attire. He spotted Ian sitting at the exact same spot the last time he himself has been sitting.
He strode up next to him, sat down and said: "Two more, Sandra, please," he gesticulated for him and Ian next to him. Then he turned and grinned from ear to ear at the Commandant: "it seems I need to congratulate you, Commandant."
