"We"

[Balance]

New Berlin System

It was a simple request for help by a trader being attacked by Wild pilots near the Sigma 13 anomaly. For Grup-Hauptman Boeser Verraeter of the Rheinland Military it was routine--even if unpleasant--duty. Turning guns on those who were former comrades in arms was distasteful and even disturbing but he was well aware it had to be done.

The engine of his Valkyrie fighter roared to life and he and his wingman launched from planet New Berlin for the short trip to the jump hole so often and so stupidly used as a shortcut by cargo pilots. "Will they ever learn?", mused Hauptman Boeser. Weaving in and out of the small asteroids and keeping a sharp eye out for Hessian pilots, Bose and his wing closed on an obviously distressed "whale". A ship completely unsuited for combat or such a risky shortcut. Its cavernous hold was useless if it was blasted apart. Boeser wondered at the verdamnt captain's idiocy bringing such a ship here. Several Wild in Rheinland fighters with garish symbols painted over their old military markings were firing the eerie beams that signified they were using Nomad ordinance. The trader wasn't going to take much more before he was destroyed. "Watch my six Lieutenant !" barked Boeser as he thrusted towards the first Wild fighter which was shimmering in the distortion of the Sigma wormhole. He had just begun to fire when he realized something was wrong--very wrong.

The shimmering was a ship transiting the wormhole and it was not a fighter and not Rheinland. A massive volley of fire poured out of it and tore the wing, thruster and shield from Boeser's ship. To his further horror, he realized that the Wild fighters had passed right by him--catching his wingman by surprise. Boeser felt a surge of sorrow as his group member's ship exploded. He had no chance. With no thruster, Boeser too was now helpless in space. He contemplated drawing his service revolver to insure the Wild did not take him and as he looked back up there was a Rheinland fighter with its nose butted up against his own. The pilot was meeting his gaze from just two few meters away. Boeser was stunned and then realized the pilot was going to finish him. He raised his hand in a contemptuous salute--more for the memory of the man who was than the creature he now faced.

It was then the pain hit him, excruciating, mind-numbing pain. Boeser was unable to tear his gaze from the Wild pilot who had not fired or moved but simply stared. From his peripheral vision, Boeser could see Wild fighters clustered about his ship--one even had scraped paint from his remaining wing it was so close. The large ship that had disabled him was gone from sight--most certainly back to Sigma 13. Thoughts of hopelessness and a feeling of extreme fatigue began to wash over him. Boeser was still paralyzed and unable to move and the pain was causing him to begin to blackout. One single thought flashed through his mind--one not his own: "Good--it will be quick now officer. Do not fear."

His vision began to dim and at first Boeser was certain he was losing consciousness. It dawned on him then that the Wild fighters were gone and something else was blocking the light from New Berlin's star...the whale!

The pain in his head stopped and Boeser was suddenly able to move. As he turned his head to look for a way out, the Wild pilot who had locked his gaze was looking impassively at him from his two o-clock position, still close as before. With no other expression, he returned Boeser's salute and then there was a bump and clang as the whale swept him into its hold and Boeser was engulfed in darkness...and the beginning of total fear.

The combat officer on New Berlin noted the disappearance of the bogies from the planetary array and also saw the last military transponder beacon cease at the same moment. He made a quick entry into his neural net terminal and went back to gazing at his screens. "Another day in New Berlin.", he thought.

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