Ein langer Weg .. ( a long way)

[Schattenkralle92]

Wichter Station, Sigma-15
November 26, 835 A.S.

Slowly, the Behemoth transporter moved into the docking clamp of the ALG station. Several indicator lights flashed wildly, but Lutz ignored them with a calmness that suggested this was a completely routine procedure for him. He gently maneuvered the steel colossus into the correct position, directly in front of the clamp. The AI-controlled docking module responded to the ship in position and closed the docking clamp with a loud metallic creak. Thus secured, the Behemoth transporter drifted through its geosynchronous orbit together with the station, which was several hundred times larger.

Lutz checked the main control panel one last time before shutting it down with a press of the power button. Through his helmet's integrated intercom, he could hear, slightly distorted, the voice of the board control boring him with all kinds of new instructions and finally asking him to come to the office of the supervising manager.

After leaving the ship through the loading lock, Lutz paused briefly at the railing. Two years, that's how long it had been since he left the Omega Systems and returned to Rhineland. Two years that he had considered this ship his second home.
He breathed deeply and calmly as he took one last look at the hull armor, blackened by space and toxic waste. The identification lettering “ALG-Strassenfeger” was barely legible. Further back were the four main thrusters, which had their little problems every four months, as punctual as clockwork. With a heavy heart, he tore himself away from his thoughts and made his way to the station's office wing.

The waiting room in the manager's area was really comfortable and elegantly furnished. The tables and chairs were anthracite, while the walls were painted in a cozy cream color. As decoration, a stucco molding with the ALG logo was installed just below the ceiling and again at about hip height. The subdued lighting and the large glass cube with an internal waterfall created a muted atmosphere that was rather unusual for a corporate environment such as the ALG station.
“How much did it cost to bring these rare plants here?”
Lutz wondered to himself as he shifted nervously back and forth on the dark blue couch.

“Herr. Berger?” The young receptionist's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “You are expected now. Please go to the second office on the left.”
He nodded to the lady to indicate that he understood and got up from the couch. He slowly made his way to the office in question.

He seemed to have little interest in the formalities of his termination. Instead, his gaze wandered out of the frosted window to observe the hustle and bustle outside the station. Smaller ALG transporters were being unloaded or setting off in formation with escort fighters toward the Rhineland.

“That's all there is to discuss regarding your offboarding, but we do have one more request from ALG.”

Lutz looked puzzled at the face of the approximately 40-year-old lady. The corners of her mouth hinted at a polite smile, and she seemed to be eagerly awaiting his reaction.
He swallowed briefly and then replied as disinterestedly as possible.
“What kind of request would that be?”
“Your file states that you were once a fighter pilot with the Rheinland Military Defense Force. We have one of our older escort fighters that urgently needs to be flown to Hamburg to replace a defective one. Would it be possible for you to travel back to Hamburg on this ship instead of taking a shuttle? We would, of course, pay you 15,000 SC for your trouble.”


Lutz thought about it for a moment. 15,000 SC was not a small amount, and since he was essentially unemployed, he could use the money.
“Yes, I'm in,” he replied.

“Very well, I'll have one of our logistics staff pick you up right away. He'll explain the details to you and take you to the ship. Thank you again, you're helping us a lot.”
With that, the lady stood up, signaling the end of his offboarding interview.

---

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

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BUND|Schattenkralle -|- BUND|BTs-Steinbrecher -|- BUND|BFr-Schiller -|- John.Lugan