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Traudel Habermeyer · (This post was last modified: 01-03-2026, 06:46 PM by Traudel Habermeyer.)

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...KKS-Sprotte...

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...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

"... -liere den Verstand wenn das so weitergeht!" A heavy sigh follows, before a surprised and stressed woman in a Rheinwehr uniform stares at the recording device that had just flickered to life. "Hah! Well, would you look at that. Here we are again, you are working old girl! I knew you could do it. Never doubted you for a second." Desperation and tiredness wash over Traudel's face. Behind her nothing but the bleak and martial dark green metal of a Rheinland vessel's interior. "It has been months we last had contact with any supply vessel. Kertz believes the time for even stricter rationing has come, reliable contact a luxury no longer in our grasp. Repairs were an issue before, but we managed with the spare parts we had. These are all but used up." Blue eyes, dark circles below them, dart to the side as she rubs her temples, shoulders sinking. "Now we work on what is left to be repurposed. A recent ion storm fried parts of the sensor array and what i took to begin repairs may have been a step too far. Rerouting this much through wiring never intended for that amount may bite me in the a-..." Abruptly cut off by a male voice, Traudel jolts up in her chair. "Habermeyer, komm'se ran hier! Time for another hands-on lesson in engine and reactor maintenance." Straightening her uniform once, Traudel composes herself. Stoic facade betrayed by a hint of lingering exhaustion. "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun! On my way!"

An empty seat remains in focus, while the sound of footsteps draws further and further away. Distant voices, various metallic clangs and the whirring of tools from another compartment soon the only thing recorded for well over an hour...

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Traudel Habermeyer · (This post was last modified: 01-03-2026, 06:45 PM by Traudel Habermeyer.)

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

Another man walks past - stops and turns to look at the active recording. "Left it running again, mh? Typical. Am Arsch der Heide aber schön Reserven verbraten..." With a sigh he runs a hand through messy, blonde hair. Attention turning right at the recording device. "Tsk, Habermeyer. I know it has been years at this point, but come on. That is no reason to start slacking. Especially not you. I need all the juice over at whatever is left of sensors and scanners. And you decide to have your diary record Sprotte's insides. Footage truly worthy to be left to posterity." He reaches for the console but stops as footsteps can be heard, followed by voices."... it starts to make more sense, Herr Kaleun. Vielen Dank." "You will get there, Habermeyer."

"Ah, Frau Oberleutnant höchstpersönlich." Schneider delivers a mocking bow before straightening his back again. Lifting his hands in a defensive and appeasing gesture. "Do not give me that look. I was not prying, i was about to turn it off. Because you left it on, you genius. And, as you may recall, what little we do have is needed at at least two spots at any given time." Traudel steps into frame, gloved index finger raised at her colleague and about to retort. "Enough you two. Not only the ship has to conserve energy. Same goes for us. Anyone got an idea if it is time yet?" Both turn towards the voice off-screen, adjusting posture and shaking their heads. "Negative. Internal chronometer rendered useless after that ion storm. We are lucky it did not affect more than that." "... that we know of." "Very well. We will have to make do with what we got. Prepare and meet me on the bridge."

Schneider watches Traudel walk off, sighs and rolls his eyes. Turning to look at the recording device as if it held the answers to his colleague's lack of focus, then reaching out to turn it off.

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Traudel Habermeyer · (This post was last modified: 01-03-2026, 08:33 PM by Traudel Habermeyer.)

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

The recording shakes before stabilizing. Someone's hand retreats, likely the device had been placed elsewhere. Traudel can be seen walking over to a seat on the bridge, two men already present. One a good decade older than the other. Part of the viewport was in frame, allowing a glimpse to the outside. Swirling nebula, murky and obscure to the naked eye. At times bigger chunks of... something become visible when flashes of light illuminate the entire cloud. Those familiar could quickly identify the cramped nature of an Oder-class' bridge.

"Sie ham die Musik vergessen, Habermeyer." "Verzeihung, Herr Kaleun. My mind is... i am on it." Kertz nodded with a faint smile, hints of worry hard to entirely hide. Schneider can be seen rubbing his forehead, leaning over. "She does not sleep. You might have to order her to again, sir." "I know. After this is done. Thought we worked that out last time, but he-..." Familiar tunes to any Rheinländer filled the air.
Joining both men again, glasses are handed out before Traudel sits down once more. "Bitteschön." "Zugehört! We may not know if this day is the day or any other. We may not even know if we missed it by a week or more. What we know is that we have a task to complete. Same as last year and the year before. Same as the year to come." Towards the latter half of the statement Traudel can be seen blankly staring ahead, then eyeing the nebula. "One year comes to an end while a new one dawns... or has dawned already. Ein frohes neues Jahr Ihnen. To many more successful operations for von Herzsprung and the Rheinwehr." Glasses clink, the small crew sharing a short moment of enjoying meager rations and whatever beverage they had on hand.

"You record that, Habermeyer?" "Ja, i do." "Why... ? That is not mission relevant. This is us not knowing when the new year began." "Schneider, i don't expect you to understand. This is for if we return." "... was? If?" "She means when, Schneider. When we return." "Nein, i thi-..."

"Oberleutnant Habermeyer. It is late and you need rest. That is an order." "Zu Befehl! Gute Nacht." Kertz closes his eyes as Traudel steps away, exhaling in silent frustration. "Turn this off, Schneider." The recording ends as one of the men gets up with a concerned expression, nearing the recording device and reaching out to it.

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Traudel Habermeyer · 01-04-2026, 06:51 PM,

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...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

A tight crew compartment comes into view, comparably sparse with little consideration for additional comfort or recreation. Traudel, tossing and turning, eventually gets up again and sits down on the side of a cot. Neither rested nor refreshed a blank stare towards the recording device follows. Other sleeping spots around her repurposed as storage, holding various crates.

"Another year. How many has it been already?" Sluggishly her gaze drifts to one side, then the other. An idle shake of her head, hair messy and all over the place. "We are stuck out here. Stuck! Captives of the nebula. Ghosts moving from field to field. Haunting others while being haunted ourselves!" Burrying her face in her hands, Traudel begins to silently sob for a while. Abruptly stopping after minutes of rocking back and forth, head jolting up and forcing a smile that fails to reach the eyes. "For von Herzsprung and the Rheinwehr. We have our orders. We have our goals. Ja, we have direction. We are not lost. We are the nebula. We do as told. Orders are orders." Breath quickening, she gets up. Walking up and down the sleeping quarters or what was left of them. Hands fidgeting nervously before grabbing nearby tools and some circuit boards from containers around the room. "Orders... are... orders. But if i cannot carry one out i must be of service another way. Worry not, my dear. I will make you better again. I will make you better, i promise." Desperation seeps into her expression, intimately intertwined with a manic undertone, as she gently caresses a random wall with the back of her hand. "... make you better. Promised."

Log Entry Submitted

Traudel Habermeyer · 01-05-2026, 06:46 PM,

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

"That's not it, try again!" Another rumble, the interior lights flicker to life only to fail right away. A frustrated grunt emanates from the darkness, then a loud thud combined with a pained gasp. "Augh - scheiße!" Not long after the emergency light kicks in, tinting everything in a dim shade of red. Schneider and Traudel look at each other, former rubbing the back of his head while the latter has wires upon wires flung over a shoulder and across her chest. Couple of seconds pass, before both break out in unhinged laughter. Slumping against tight corridor walls, exhaling in collective annoyance and amusement. "Listen, i picked the right cable and fuse. You just suck at inputting the right sequence." "Well not anymore, that fuse is gone, too. Whatever we have going through it by now clearly is far too much. We should split that up again and run an entirely separate line instead. What difference does it make by now if this becomes even more patchwork than it already is. The Sprotte needs to be as operational as we can get her. I swear this ion storm got us harder than you think."

Quickly sorting through cables of different size Traudel scoffs once. "You and that ion storm. We cannot blame everything on it, you are aware of that ja? Here... this one ought to do it. Had no need to cut it up yet, should be long enough so we can have it run through here without becoming a tripping hazard." "Oh, klar. Because there is so many people left that could trip. Health and safety first. Not that we had tons of other risks right out there to worry about." With a glare she picks a chunk of cut cable and tosses it at him. "What little we have left must be protected. You are such an Arschloch at times!" Getting up with a half-hearted smile Schneider offers a hand, helping Traudel up. "How about this time you turn that thing off yourself? Protect what little we have left - mainly power. Kleinvieh macht auch Mist."

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Traudel Habermeyer · (This post was last modified: 01-06-2026, 06:50 PM by Traudel Habermeyer.)

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

The feed shakes, appears to be recorded by a bodycam. Quickened steps lead through rows of cramped corridors, into rather empty supply compartments and to heavily worked on parts of the vessel. Replaced wiring, mismatched compoments and an assortment of haphazardly tossed together spares to be spotted at sites of maintenance. Notes are taken on different parts of the erratic journey before it abruptly stops, heavier breathing audible. Sounding more and more irregular and with an undertone of fear. The person sits down, gloved and delicate hands coming into view, holding their own knees. The words frantic. "Siesindweg siesindweg siesindweg. Dasisnichecht!" Whimpering a little longer before the shakiness of the recording subsides more - then it shuts down entirely only to jump to a different scene back on the bridge. Device once more placed on a stable surface, showing most of the ship's command center.

"Status report!" "Propulsion down to 60%. Hull is holding. Shield emitters remain operational at 80%. Reactor seen better days, sir. But she will do as told. We lack power to utilize the Brummbär, unless we reroute a whole lot more for it. Left pulse cannon acts up at times, do not count on it. All Vierlings are performing as expected. Long range sensors still out, but we are no longer entirely blind. With the new rationing plan we can hold out for an additional two weeks, but then it will get dire. Chances are we need to leave and hunt, unless you have some new year's miracle for us and got a supply vessel inbound. Fuel remains an issue, if you want me to i can see about decreasing Sprotte's hunger by lowering engine output as a whole. That is also less strain on... well - everything, sir." "Look at you, Habermeyer. Did the lessons pay off now?" "We will see once i am done, but i remain confident." "What else?" With hesitation in her voice Traudel straightens her posture. "Crew size remains identical to last census. Operational capabilities limited, we remain underman-..." "I am aware of that. We all are. To work with you. We sat in here long enough. Orders are clear - Jagdzeit. Schneider, find us a suitable piece of debris or rock to lay low next to at the outskirts. Keep it portside. Once Habermeyer is done we get into position and lower our own readings as far as possible." "Jawohl Herr Kaleun!" Schneider is seen sitting down as Traudel nears the device before the feed shakes and then cuts off.

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Traudel Habermeyer · 01-07-2026, 08:22 PM,

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...KKS-Sprotte...

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...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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Several tools litter the floor, right next to blown parts and circuit boards of various size and make. Traudel sitting in the middle of it all, going through different pieces. Hands shaky at times, motions jerky. She reaches for something out of frame, turning out to be a small pack of stimulants. With a flicker of hesitation they are regarded before two are taken. Rubbing her face and squinting her eyes shut for a couple seconds. With a strained and long exhale she returns to work. Humming to herself while occasionally speaking to someone or something. "... alright love. Time to put you on a bit of a diet, mh? Our remaining fuel cells got to last just a bit longer. Here, i will be gentle. You... you just rest a bit more. Take it slow, ja? Like all of us should. Heh. Turn this one... dial down intake rate, adjust compensation value... ... ja. Now to this one over there..."

The recording jumps forward by an undefined amount of time. Three figures staring at their respective instruments on a barely illuminated bridge. Silence reigns until familiar sounds ring from a nearby console. Kertz, Schneider and Traudel look up - then at each other. Nothing but low background noise of the Sprotte and the new signal to be heard. A moment passes before Schneider looks back down at the screen. "Contact! IFF... none of ours, sir! Prelimenary scans indicate heat signature above snubcraft. Bearing 075-mark-60... they will be passing by here!" Traudel swallows once while Kertz stares at the readings in front of him. "Komm schon... komm schon..." "Freighter! No additional signals. No escorts. Pirate signature. We are lucky today!" She takes a deep breath, slapping her face several times to wake herself more. "Prepare! No warning, we got one chance. With our engine troubles they could very well outrun us. Ammo count!" "Ten hornets, sir!" "Intercept course. Full speed ahead on my mark. Time to see how well your work holds up, Habermeyer." Tense hands fly over input consoles as bridge lighting turns slightly brighter while the gunboat groans back to life. "Vorwärts!" "Jawohl! Come on old girl, time to make us proud. You are as good as the newer models, i know it." What is visible of the nebula through the bridge's viewport becomes less and less until telltale reddish blue engine trails draw the attention of all three. "Vessel adjusting course. They try to avoid us. It's a Mule. No read on the cargo, sensors can't get through even out here. Firing solution... ... ready!"

Log Entry Submitted

Traudel Habermeyer · 01-08-2026, 06:47 PM,

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...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

First cruise disruptor shoots out from under the bridge, quickly gaining on the fleeing freighter. "Countermeasures deployed - no effect!" Kertz's face hardens as he keeps staring ahead, firing again - but no telltale cruise disruptor trail to be seen this time. "Failure on launch! Cycling through ammo." "Schneller! They are getting away. Habermeyer, thrusters. Now." "Sir, they are not tested with current config-... " "NOW!" Traudel slams her hand on a switch, both recording device and the three crew present are shaken as inertial dampeners struggle to compensate for a sudden jolt forward. "Dis-...ugh. Disruptor ready again!" Another one fired almost simultaneously to Schneider's announcement. "Hit! Vessel slowing down. We are gaining on them!" "Habermeyer, keep us on their six. Give me all she's got." "Sir, we lowered overall engine output, tha-" "Ja, exactly. More reliable time to chase. Once in range we still need time to dismantle our target. Schneider - i want a good lock on their engines as soon as we are in range." Yet another hornet's trail flashes from under the bridge's viewport right toward the freighter as Traudel stares at her instruments, fidgeting nervously and adjusting propulsion values. "In Reichweite, Herr Kaleun!" Seconds pass before both pulse cannons let loose, quickly followed by a hail of green projectiles rapidly descending upon the Sprotte's target, tearing its aft section apart and leaving it adrift. Cargo mixing with pieces of debris.

"Target immobilized, hull breach. Critical decompression. Energy readings plummeting." "Start picking up their haul. We will not remain out here for long. Habermeyer, i take your station. Go to the cargo hold and see what we got."

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Traudel Habermeyer · 01-09-2026, 06:52 PM,

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...KKS-Sprotte...

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...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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The recording starts in a comparably spacious area, likely the Oder's cargo hold. Traudel pushes around different crates on an anti-grav lift, taking stock of their contents. With a frustrated sigh one of the crates gets punched, quickly followed by a pained yelp. "Gah! This is all useless. Little food, plenty drugs. Of course they were, of course. What else to be found out here but that?!" Another crate gets opened, containing an assortment of different weapons. Some sidearms are taken out, examined and aimed at random spots before being placed back. Only one is kept on her, filling a previously empty holster on Traudel's belt. The next makes her pause in confusion. Nose wrinkling. "Eugh ... ja, why label things to begin with? Or properly store whatever this is? Industrial... solvents? This reeks." She hastily closes the container again, sighing. "Right. Last one." A look around the still largely empty cargo hold. "Wish me luck, old girl. Mama wants a bunch of new rations." Shaky hands open the lid - then abrupty slam it shut again. A low giggle follows, barely audible. Clapping hands join the growing laughter and not long after Traudel prances and dances through the cargo hold while applauding either herself or whatever was found. A particularly passionate pirouette gets interrupted by the grating sounds of the ship's internal communication system, nearly causing the woman to trip over her own feet.

"Habermeyer, back to the bridge. We have incoming!"

A rushed bow to nonexistent audience later and Traudel hurries over to the exit... returns to grab her recorder and double-times it back through the corridor maze.

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Traudel Habermeyer · 01-10-2026, 07:21 PM,

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...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

Submitting Log Entry

Hasty steps lead back through that familiar maze of tight corridors littered with various sites of on-the-spot repairs, recording device struggling to get any clear imagery. A sudden stop allows it to focus more as retching can be heard, followed by vomiting. No mercy nor break granted as right after doing so the sprint continues back towards the bridge. Arriving to Kertz standing at navigations, quickly making room for Traudel. "Bring me good news, Habermeyer. I have enough bad ones." "Full... urgh... crate of... huh... synth paste and water" "...mhmhmh... my favourite... " Someone scoffs as the recorder finds its usual place near her spot, showing bridge and part of the viewport. "We are going back into the nebula. Schneider picked up two contacts moving in fast. We either lose them or lay a trap." With a confused look Traudel stares at her instruments before getting to work. "Before you say anything - i am aware Habermeyer. She simply has to endure it. You will find a course already plotted." "Ja, i noticed. Draw on the reactor is higher than it should be, output constantly diminishing. Something is not right. I cannot say how long i can keep us going." "One way to find out. Bring us back, no point in a direct confrontation in this state." The disabled freighter wreck moves out of view, being replaced by a vast nebula. "Power down all weapons aside of our faulty pulse cannon. Reroute a third of power to overcharge it, a third to shields. Cut all power to sensors on my command." "Herr Kaleun?" "If they follow they will regret it, Habermeyer. Kertz knows what he is doing. I suggest you buckle up." Clenching her jaw Traudel stares back down at her station, adjusting allocated power as instructed. Finger hovering over the console. "Fighters right behind us, sir! Closing in fast." "The hunt is yet to end. Jetzt, Habermeyer!" Command given, order executed. Once again her hand slams down. "Sensors gone, we are blind." "As we should, this is going to get bright and painful. Brace yourselves."

The feed begins to violently shake all of a sudden, even more so as the device falls down from its usual spot. The bridge's viewport gets brighter and brighter. Someone topples over as the image's quality starts to distort - then cuts out entirely.

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