Green sundown

[Sturmwind]

[font=Century Gothic]Chapter 2: The serpent's venom

817 AS, Frankfurt system

The bridge of the RNC Hansa was as empty as it could ever be, the whole ship was filled with the minimal crew, spread accross the ship's six decks. Major Thomas Meyer, the man in command of the gunboat sat comfortably in his leather chair, placing his legs on a green console decorated by Rheinland flags. The Major was a man in his fifties, but he looked much older due to his whole face being covered in grizzled beard and wrinkles. The stress he had to bear during his years with the Military and the heavy smoking he continued had their effect already. Even now, he had a relatively oversized cigar in his mouth, which he smoked while he was looking through the plexiglass window of his command deck.

The RNC Hansa, currently assigned to the Frankfurt border guard fleet, the Grenzposten 3, was positioned near the Sigma-13 gate, to assist Border Station Fulda in the supervision of the traffic coming from and going into the distant nebula. Most ships passing through were Kusarian corporate convoys, mainly Kishiro and Samura ones, at that point shipping through the Sigmas was still risky for Rheinlanders due to the tensions between Rheinland and the Gas Miners Guild. Regardless of that, the Hansa was actually stationed near the jump gate to look for smugglers, that would have used the conflict between the two authorities to their advantage.

Now, a gigantic Kusarian transport jumped in from Sigma-13, along with it two smaller ones and a wing of escort fighters. The largest ship, a "Big Dragon" class transport was in charge of the convoy, on its nose and on the two tanks, the logo of Kishiro technologies was to be seen.

"Approaching Kusari heavy transport convoy, this is Border Station Fulda. You have entered sovereign Rheinland space, please state your identification and destination."

"This is the KTT Meiji to Border Station Fulda," came the reply from the gigantic Kusarian transport, "we are leading a convoy of researchers to Planet Holstein, in order to study the biosphere of the planet. We have approval from both Daumann and the Kanzleramt."

"Recieved and understood, KTT Meiji. Please stand by for a moment while we do the necessary paperwork. RNC Hansa, run a scan on the vessels' cargo hold."

Major Meyer, in commander of the Hansa, took his legs off the console, leaned forward and pressed a button that patched him through to the Radar officer, Feldwebel Gruenwald.

"Gruenwald, the usual orders. Run a scan through the cargo bays of the Kusarians then report your findings," the Major said.

"Jawohl," replied a calm, female voice.

The console, which monitored the Hansa's energy output aswell, now indicated the scanner coming online with full efficency. It took merely a few moments for it to start up, do the scans and shut down again. A professional device it was, directly with the purpose of monitoring traffic and it only got installed a few weeks ago.

"Herr Major, the cargo bays hold nothing but water, food, clothing, oxygen tanks and robotic components. Everything seems to be authorised, but I'll note that the large transport has tanks installed that I have never seen before."

"Gute arbeit, Gruenwald. Stay on the comms for orders update."

Following that, Meyer pushed another button, now a blue one with the word "Komms" written on it. A young, teenage voice started speaking.

"Schroedinger, communications. Standing by, Herr Major."

"Feldwebel, inform Fulda on our findings. Tell them they have nothing unauthorised on-board."

"Zu befehl."

The Major, with his job done placed his legs on the console again, lighting another cigar.

"KTT Meiji, this is Border Station Fulda. Your papers and cargo are in order, patrol wing Gelb-7 confirmed to be awaiting your arrival, you are clear to pass. Viel glueck."

"Arigato, Fulda. Initiating trade lane sequence."

The enormous Kusarian vessel and its company pressed themselves into the trade lane rings leading to Mainz. It took some time for the transports to position themselves adequately, then they all went out of eyesight under the duration of a brief glimpse.