The Portside Embassy

[TheOrangeButterfly]

Letting out a small smile he took off his glasses and wiped them with his shirt before putting them back on his face..

"My name is Herman. What is yours?"

He finally put his glass down and looked directly at the man, unflinching.

"Change is the only hope that brought me here, commander."

---

[Petitioner]

Klaus watched the scene with Freya and the Ambassador with some distaste. He had grown rather fond of the ape, and was never too fond of excessive yelling. He chuckled in spite of himself, knowing that some people never changed - even in the Volksfreiheitspartei, Frey'as reputation was legendary.

The former Partei Chairman rose from his seat in the corner and approached the bar, resting on it delicately. "Say, Dutch, what gave you the idea to change the nightclub into... all this?" Klaus gestured around himself, as if to emphasize the point.

---

Recruitment | Task Force Prometheus | ICN FIRESTORM

[LunaticOnTheGrass]

"This story again", Erich thought to himself, glancing out the window again. He wordlessly rose and ventured over to the bar, bringing back a pint of lager for each of them. Taking a sip, he began speaking:

"I'm no soldier, Kommandant Eistocher. I am just a scholar and student when it all comes down to it, that is what I used to be."

Erich took another sip, rubbing his forehead.

"I was an excellent subject of the Kanzler, even when I was a child. I..." *Erich chuckles nervously* "I had beaten up a child who didn't salute the image of Kanzler Steller when I had been in Kindergarten. I had what I thought was a bright future ahead of me, you know? I enrolled at Cologne University on Planet New Berlin. It is rather prestigious."

Erich takes yet another sip, downing his lager to about one-third.

"In my second year, I had... I had learned that I would not have the money to afford my fourth term unless I took on a full-time job. As you can imagine, that left me with no spare time to rest or relax. I chose a job at Republican as a Transport Hand. It wasn't what I had thought my History degree would get me, you know?"

Erich slumps his shoulders, evidently awaiting a reaction or response.

[TheJarl]

Freya sighs.

"Believe it or not, but one and a half year ago I was a student as well. Studied politics. Ah but I was never loyal to the Kanzler, my parents have always secretly supported the Bundschuh. During my time as a student I saw why. Injustice is everywhere. I can't stand that."

She chuckles.

"I guess that urge to stand up against injustice got a little out of hand.

But hey... you still didn't explain how you ended up here."

---

[Croft]

Dutch patted 'Bas on the head as the ape made a rude gesture to Freya's back. Still wearing a smile he turned to Klaus. "What made me change that awful neon mess into a touch of class? Well I've never been too fond of nightclubs, they're occasional things and not very relaxing. I wanted this place to be welcoming, some where we can all unwind and escape from the harsh realities."

Dutch got up, walked around the bar and sat down at the piano "Plus I've always wanted to tickle the ivories in my own bar." He played a little jazz number, even taking a sip of brandy without skipping a note. He met the smattering of applause with a nod and took his place behind the bar once more.

---

Jimmy The Rat | Croft's Feedback | The Rat Pack

[LunaticOnTheGrass]

Erich sighed. "That is where everything began to change. My job was horrible. Criminally low pay for such hard, menial work..." He rubs his forehead, setting his near-empty lager aside. "Then I would hear about the 'record profits' of Republican and that sort of thing, you know".

He pauses a moment, before beginning to speak again; evidently his making eye contact with Freya is a luxury. "My final graduate thesis was to be on the 'terrorist movements' of Rheinland, particularly the Hessians and the Bundschuh. I researched all that I could on the topic... But I clearly did not write it the way that the college expected me to."

"So I was expelled, placed on a watch list, along with my family. I have never been so frightened and afraid in my life. I suppose that fear may have ended up coralling me into the Bundschuh. And at last I had seen the truth."

"I haven't heard a single word from my family since that day. I don't know whether they are still on New Berlin, or if they are at Vierlande, Omega-Eleven, or elsewhere. I prefer to keep that deep down inside, though."

Erich rolls his shoulders, going silent.

[TheJarl]

Freya puts a hand on Erich's shoulder.

"If you want, I could figure out where they are and if they are still on New Berlin, I might get them into safety."

She smiles.

"We've got one big advantage over the Hessians and Unioners and that is influence among the population. We've got plenty of contacts who are willing to help. Hiding your family would be no problem... unless they are imprisoned."

---

[LunaticOnTheGrass]

Erich's shoulders hunch as he is touched, though he quickly brushes it off. "They had never made any further attempt to contact me after I ran away from home. It's very likely that they're both dead by now."

He peers at the floor, frowning. "What else have I to lose."

[TheJarl]

"Little left to lose perhaps..."

She shrugs.

"But we've got a lot to win, Genosse."

She grabs her sidearm and points it at Erich.

"And it are people like you who are gonna win. You gotta fight for your rights!"

She puts back her gun and smiles.

---

[Eberhardt_Kämpfer]

The man, Michael Hermann, walks towards the bar, taking out a tissue and wiping some sweat off his forehead. He had just sent the crew of the Wallgau away for the night so they could get some rest and Michael himself does feel a little tired from a day on the good ol' ship. He is in full military dress, as it is custom for a commander of a gunboat, even in the more relaxed aktivist rank of the VWA. He puts the

As he walk in he recognises the group with Kommandant Eistochter and makes it his target, but then he does end up getting pulled towards the bar first. Michael does look rather confused and clumsy as he changes direction twice, undecided where to go first. He finally ends up at the bar. "Abend, Barkeep', would you pass me a vogtland Weiss please. In a little hurry dutch, we will talk later. Really wanna catch the story time in the corner over there. "

As he gets his beer he wizzes off towards his usual spot; actually next to the table leaning against the window, looking out of it. It normally gives him time to think and plan as he looks at the light blue giant Holstein.

As he approaches the window he tips his hat towards the Kommandant and then leans back to enjoy the story. "Oh, Erich's story it is tonight; so very similiar to mine" he thinks to himself.

Michael takes a sip and finally feels a little refreshed. He waits for the conversation to finish so he can come in with one of his quirky one-liners that his crew loves him for or maybe he should just ask what the conversation topic is first. "A smile from Kommandant Eistochter, thats a rare sight" he thinks to himself again.

---

VWA Aktivist Michael Hermann