Outcast destroyer - Krak des Chevaliers

[.:Polarkreis:.]

*voices.... distant voices.... silent whispers...* /a dream?/ - '€žNaaah'€œ Miguel Cordero pressed his face deeper into his pillow. He was already awake, about an hour. He couldnt sleep well for a long time. Clock display glowed red into the dark and showed 04:34 in the morning. '€“ '€žtime to wake up it seems...'€œ he said to himself and turned in bed around. He was lazy to stand up. After next 15 minutes he finally decided to move out of bed, while he took his uniform from the wardrobe. A shiny captains uniform. He pushed a button to open a window and prepared his daily portion of cardamine into inhaler. With a silent sound the window moved into the roof. It was still a night, a cloudless night, there could be seen flickering lights of traffic and some shady and tall city buildings till the horizon. Cold air filled the room.

Miguel Cordero walked down the street to the mass transit. The MagLev station was really close to his flat. He didnt liked to travel like the other navy officers, in private luxury ships with armed escort. Train arrived soon and he entered a wagon. '€“ '€ž...ah man, these junker transports, i hate them really, till we finally unloaded those one yesterday... you can imagine my headache after the slaves left the cargobay, and the stench...'€œ said an older bearded man, dressed in a dock worker uniform. Miguel Cordero enjoyed to hear other people to talk about their little problems while travelling to the docks. The train stopped. Automatic
voice annouced -'€žstarport, docks'€œ and the door opened. Cordero stepped out of the train.

The '€ždocks'€œ was a immense military controlled installation at the edge of the city. Many capital vessels of the Maltese fleet were stationed there, along with a numerous fighter squadron. Miguel Cordero passed the checkpoint by the entrance and waved to the guard standing at the door. '€“'€žMorning sir, can i have your id card please?'€œ answered the soldier. His Navy ID card slided through the scanner. '€“'€žall right sir, have a nice
day'€œ said the soldier again and opened the door.

After he walked into the building, a large docking bay revealed to his sight. He already could see it! His ship was docked and quietly hovered over a remote platform. '€“'€žMorning Captain, again the first here uhm...?'€œ said in hurry a suntanned young girl wearing a pilot uniform. '€“'€žSeems so, what about you?'€œ answered Cordero. '€“'€žWell, my fighter wing has today an early departure... you know one of these secret missions again, wish me luck...'€œ smiled the girl and ran away. Cordero remained a while near the banister and looked at his ship. It was a '€žStorta'€œ Maltese Destroyer. The ships name inlaid with silver reflected in the shine of the hangar lights. '€žKrak des Chevaliers'€œ was its name.

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