Thors rebirth

[Cellulanus]

Section 2

The fists

Gov. Gruenwalds armoured transport,
on approach to Schatten Research Facility


"This is Shatten Research Facility to Rheinland Armoured transport convoy, submit you clearence code immediately or leave the area at once."

"This is Rheinland Police Alpha One, submitting clearance code now."

"Received your transmition, what is your business here?"

"We are transporting a high ranking government official to an important meeting."

"Copy that, docking bay three will be ready for you, but your escorts will have to wait outside, you are cleared to enter the minefield now, we are sending you navigation information that will allow safe passage."

"Thank you, Police Alpha One out." The pilot turned to his co-pilot, "You'd better go back there and tell her we are no approach, you know she wants to see the ship"

The co-pilot nodded and got up, taking the small ladder to the cargo bay, its a well know fact that an armoured transports interior can vary from anything from a room fit for a King or the inside of a water tank, this was leaning more to the former.

"Ma'am, we are almost there"

Gruenwald simply nodded and followed him back up the ladder, they were just entering the pocket, Schatter stood as a stark giant in the empty space, largely built out of the remains of a secret shipyard built by the nomads during the war, it was an impressive structure and a Scientists dream. One of its most promenent features was two dry docks, one had an assortment of Liberty Defenders, Rheinland Valkyries, Kusari Dragons and a handful of Rheinland Gunboats, all in assorted states of destruction and all enhanced by the Nomads during the war. The other dry dock held something much more impressive however, a Rheinland Battleship, its hull scorched by multiple laser and torpedo strikes, turrets still poised to fire on the targets they had been tracking over a decade ago before they lost power.

The pilot was making his approach slower then normal to allow Grunwald plenty time to soak the sight in, on the very front sides of the ship one could barely make out the lettering "Thor", this was her project, but the ship was over a decade out of date even if it hadn't been extensively damaged, the ship lacked shields or armour beyond its standard hull which had become standard on all new ships, all of its reactors were in a non-functional state and more so it needed a crew, she knew that she would have to collect a crew before she could even begin to think about the re-construction process. She wasn't here for the ship, she was here for a member of the crew.

The ship finally docked and Gruenwald left without her usual escort, they would hardly be welcomed here.

A short ways away there was a tall, large man dressed in a military hazard suit with a Daumann Shredder at his side. Farther off there were about six other men dressed in regular uniforms, all of them carried a rifle that she could identify as Daumann Devastators, both were the best weapons one could buy in Rheinland.

The large man snapped into a salute at her approach and said "Lieutenant Wilhem, at your service."

"I am not a member of the Military or police, so a salute is hardly necessary"

"Sorry ma'am, its just that I'm not used to Governors arranging to have meetings with me, so whats all of this about?"

"I would rather we discus in private."

"Of course, if you will just follow me."

They both walked a short ways down a hall into an empty bar, none of the troopers made a move to follow, they knew he was in no danger from her even if she was an undercover LSF agent.

"No one ever comes to the bar at this time, everyone is always either sleeping or on assignment so we should have a good deal of privacy here, now my question still stands of course."

Gruenwald meandered slowly over to a window, "You are aware that things are bad in Rheinland, the economy has recovered a little bit but whatever money there is to spare is always being sent to the military or police thanks to Liberty aggression and increasing pirate activity, and we will need to cut costs where ever we can."

"I see, but what does this have to with me?"

"As I understand the Battleship that is currently residing here, the Thor, is virtually combat ready. It survided the battle for New Berlin because early in the fight some lucky torpedo hits damaged its reactors causing them to shut down, with very little damage to the rest of the ship. Infact as I'm told all it needs are new reactors and some retrofitting and it will be able to go toe to toe with a modern Rheinland Battleship."

"I still don't see what this has to do with me."

"I need a crew to man it, I need a chief of security and you were the perfect candidate."

"I'm not so sure, after all I am needed here."

"Honestly, when was the last time anyone boarded this station? This station has so many defences that you just end up sitting around and wasting space. Liberty is going to send its best commandos to the front line and we will need to send our best out there to counter them. You will be going head to head with Libertys best and I know they won't stand a chance against you."

"Will I get to pick my own security staff?"

"Of course"

He paused for a moment, thinking, "Okay, I'm in."

"Excellent, you won't regret it. Start to make preparations for your transfer but don't pack in your bags just yet, I still need to gather the rest of the crew."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"No, thank you. Now if you would be so kind as to escort me back to my ship?"