An Eye for an eye.

[Stoat]

“Yellow Alert! All crew to battle stations. Fraulein Hock, engage security protocols. Fraulein Malas, set course for Freiburg station. Vector away from the trade lanes, full cruise.” Waap paused briefly to hear the acknowledgements before standing. “Herr Baum, you have the bridge.”

He saluted his crew and left the bridge, and headed for his quarters. Once there he seated himself and patiently waited for the manoeuvres to begin. Two hours later, as he felt the cruise engines disengage, he rose and headed out. He walked the many corridors of the Stahlauge, taking a roundabout way for environmental control. He sensed the roll of the vessel as thrusters were used. The manoeuvres had begun. The few crewmembers he saw acknowledged him as they hurried about their tasks. Reaching his destination, the doors hissed open at his approach. The single occupant snapped to attention as he saw Waap enter.

“Kapitan!”

“At ease, Feldwebel. You are relieved of your duties for ten minutes. Do not report my presence here. On your return, you are to resume your station. You are dismissed.”

“Yes, mein Kapitan!” The feldwebel saluted smartly and left, and Waap quickly got to work. First he set a cargo bay decompression simulation to occur. Next he reprogrammed the life support systems of the escape pods, and set a non-lethal level of 3-Metylfentanyl to be introduced to the air supply. This reprogramming he then set to be activated solely at an instruction to come from his command console on the captains’ chair on the bridge. Finally he set a hull breach decompression scenario to occur on decks two through six.

Finished, he left the control room and headed back for the bridge. The first combat exercise was being completed as he entered.

“Hauptmann Baum, report.”

“Kapitan. We have just neutralised two Hessian gunboats in a simulated attack. We suffered minor damage to the drive section when our shields were temporarily disabled. Zero casualties.”

“Very good, Hauptmann. I have the bridge. Hauptman Malas, resume our course for Freiburg……”

And so it continued, various simulated attacks by various configurations of Hessian, Unioner and Liberty Navy vessels. The ship and crew performed admirably, unfazed by any odds faced, retreating when necessary, pressing advantages when apparent. Even the decompression scenarios timed to occur in the midst of the most challenging fights failed to faze the crew. Waap alternated his presence between the bridge and his quarters, allowing his officers plenty of opportunity to perform both in his presence and without it.

Freiburg was reached in due time, where the crew took a few hours of R&R, before returning and the process began again as the Stahlauge headed for Ulm Border Station, and Omega-7 beyond.

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