Kaufmann Interstellar Freight - The History of a Rheinland Family

[Sabas]

Picking up where I left off with Alaric Kaufmann and a story to explain why he disappeared from the Rheinland Military. I also did some proof reading of the original story as well. Did some editing, I need to stop writing while intoxicated @.@.

Omega 7 - Sector 5D

"Dumbkopfs."'€Alaric swears to himself repeatedly as he bucks his fighter about, his head snaps back and forth looking over his shoulders. Pulling into a vertical climb he rolls his fighter over using his vector pedals at his feet. Squeezing the trigger his ship vibrates from the force as the heavy Tachyon horn vipers arc across the cloud of Omega-7 impacting on the hull of a Red Hessian Stiletto. Blazing past the enemy, Alaric feels his ship roll as a wing shears off from several laser blasts, his fighter going into a roll as its avionic suites engage and emergency disengage tactic. Clearing his head with several shakes Alaric smiles as his shield snaps back to life surrounding his ship in a protective energy envelope. Moments later the shield is ripped apart again as the banks are depleted from heavy rounds accompanied by the sound of the ship's hull popping through his vessel, the noise ringing in his ears deafens him.

Several lights on his HUD begin to flash as Alaric stares at the gauges; thereactor plant begins to flat line, swearing profusely Alaric dumps the core's power plant in a last ditch attempt to save the craft. It detonates in open space, the shockwave slamming into his vessel before he blacks out.



Feeling his boots being dragged across a deck; Alaric slowly climbs out of the abyss of blacking out as his head rolls from side to side. Turning his head from one shoulder to the other he looks up at a pair of rather rough looking people as they pay him no heed, his vision blurs as Alaric blacks out once more loosing his battle for consciousness.

Alaric looks at himself in a mirror, slowly focusing on his hands as they fade in and out of focus. His mind flashes back to the fight as he flinches before looking at his hands again. Feeling the gloved material on his hands he looks up at the people gathered before him; the mirror is gone but his family is there in its stead. Alaric's father steps forward, Gere Kaufmann, "Alaric my son, we are so glad you are home, please come sit down." He gestures toward several seats and a sofa. Removing his military dress cap Alaric walks with his family toward the seats, reaching the sofa he turns toward his family smiling happily. His eyes focus as only his father is there. "Alaric, I am proud of you. You have brought our family honor in ways that the business never could."'€Alaric nods as he listens, glad to hear his father speak. "With the great victory you brought the House of Rheinland in the war with Liberty the people are demanding you be the next Kanzler, Rheinland loves you my son you are the symbol of our Nation!"'€Alaric beams as he listens to his father praise him, he jumps up, hugging his father in a strong embrace. "Father I did my best, I fought hard for my family, I am glad I helped finish this war and our Nation is at peace!"

His father chuckles as Alaric looks up at him quizzically, "Father why do you laugh?" His father begins to fade around Alaric; the laughter still ringing in his ears, slowly it is replaced with thunderous applause as he stands in the full dress of the Kanzler on the Bundstag before thousands of Rheinland Citizens as they cheer for him. He looks up into the sky to see a flight of Wraiths scream across the sky their green contrails in their wake as the machines rocket into outer space. Stepping forward Alaric waves at the people his medals and campaign badges glimmering in the light as the applause and cheers reach a new height. Picking up a microphone he pans the crowd. "People of Rheinland, today we are at peace!"'€The crowd cheers once more a wide smile crosses Aleric's face.

In a flash, people begin to scream and run as the sounds of fighters break overhead, a wing of Unioner ships blaze across the sky racking the assembled crowd with tachyon fire, people vaporizing on the spot before they have a chance to escape. Alaric's face turns a deep blood red as he roars in anger at the people dying before him; he reaches into the sky grabbing a fighter from the air with his hand and brings it down toward his chest the ship now fitting into his palm. Pulling open the ship he yanks out the pilot and holds him between his forefinger and thumb as he looks directly into his eyes. "Why."'€He mutters at the small man dangling in front of him.

The small man laughs as his voice grows deeper and deeper, he begins to grow larger as well till he is the size of Alaric. "The Unioners will never bow to a dog of the Military like you." Punching him hard in the face Alaric falls backward his lip split in the bottom right corner. Tackling the Unioner, the pair tumble over the Bundstag's railing and fall.



With a start Alaric lurches up in the bed he is in and looks about his face pouring sweat as he looks around the room. Sighing with relief he looks down at the tattered uniform of the Rheinland Military and lurches out of the bed as he makes his way toward the door with a groan.

Grabbing his helmet off the table by the door, he works the handle and the door opens with a hiss; Alaric looks at a man in a IMG uniform, both staring each other square in the face. Alaric raises a hand as he starts to wobble "To the Bundstag my Rheinland Ci-"'€ collapsing Alaric falls over onto the deck the IMG miner more perplexed than ever as the Rheinland pilot referred to him like he was the Kanzler himself.

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