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Schattenkralle92 · 12-06-2025, 09:46 PM,

Wichter Station, Sigma-15
November 26, 835 A.S.

Slowly, the Behemoth transporter moved into the docking clamp of the ALG station. Several indicator lights flashed wildly, but Lutz ignored them with a calmness that suggested this was a completely routine procedure for him. He gently maneuvered the steel colossus into the correct position, directly in front of the clamp. The AI-controlled docking module responded to the ship in position and closed the docking clamp with a loud metallic creak. Thus secured, the Behemoth transporter drifted through its geosynchronous orbit together with the station, which was several hundred times larger.

Lutz checked the main control panel one last time before shutting it down with a press of the power button. Through his helmet's integrated intercom, he could hear, slightly distorted, the voice of the board control boring him with all kinds of new instructions and finally asking him to come to the office of the supervising manager.

After leaving the ship through the loading lock, Lutz paused briefly at the railing. Two years, that's how long it had been since he left the Omega Systems and returned to Rhineland. Two years that he had considered this ship his second home.
He breathed deeply and calmly as he took one last look at the hull armor, blackened by space and toxic waste. The identification lettering “ALG-Strassenfeger” was barely legible. Further back were the four main thrusters, which had their little problems every four months, as punctual as clockwork. With a heavy heart, he tore himself away from his thoughts and made his way to the station's office wing.

The waiting room in the manager's area was really comfortable and elegantly furnished. The tables and chairs were anthracite, while the walls were painted in a cozy cream color. As decoration, a stucco molding with the ALG logo was installed just below the ceiling and again at about hip height. The subdued lighting and the large glass cube with an internal waterfall created a muted atmosphere that was rather unusual for a corporate environment such as the ALG station.
“How much did it cost to bring these rare plants here?”
Lutz wondered to himself as he shifted nervously back and forth on the dark blue couch.

“Herr. Berger?” The young receptionist's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “You are expected now. Please go to the second office on the left.”
He nodded to the lady to indicate that he understood and got up from the couch. He slowly made his way to the office in question.

He seemed to have little interest in the formalities of his termination. Instead, his gaze wandered out of the frosted window to observe the hustle and bustle outside the station. Smaller ALG transporters were being unloaded or setting off in formation with escort fighters toward the Rhineland.

“That's all there is to discuss regarding your offboarding, but we do have one more request from ALG.”

Lutz looked puzzled at the face of the approximately 40-year-old lady. The corners of her mouth hinted at a polite smile, and she seemed to be eagerly awaiting his reaction.
He swallowed briefly and then replied as disinterestedly as possible.
“What kind of request would that be?”
“Your file states that you were once a fighter pilot with the Rheinland Military Defense Force. We have one of our older escort fighters that urgently needs to be flown to Hamburg to replace a defective one. Would it be possible for you to travel back to Hamburg on this ship instead of taking a shuttle? We would, of course, pay you 15,000 SC for your trouble.”

Lutz thought about it for a moment. 15,000 SC was not a small amount, and since he was essentially unemployed, he could use the money.
“Yes, I'm in,” he replied.

“Very well, I'll have one of our logistics staff pick you up right away. He'll explain the details to you and take you to the ship. Thank you again, you're helping us a lot.”
With that, the lady stood up, signaling the end of his offboarding interview.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-06-2025, 10:05 PM,

Open space, Sigma-15
November 26, 835 A.S.

He still couldn't quite believe it all. First, they had dismissed him from his post as transport captain due to a shortage of orders, and now he was on his way to Hamburg as a messenger boy with a Falcon-class escort fighter. The agile fighter was a welcome change from the otherwise sedate steel colossus that Lutz had flown through the Rheineland and neighboring systems in recent years.

The Falcon had been equipped with all kinds of innovations, such as an improved tracking system and new Venomspitter tachyon cannons. Since his time in the Rheinland Military Defense Force, a lot had changed in terms of combat systems. He didn't like to think back on that time; too many painful memories, too much death and suffering, and far too many friends he had lost. Sometimes he wondered what it had all been for.

He was abruptly torn from his thoughts when the ship was suddenly jerked from cruising speed back to impulse. With a sense of foreboding creeping over him, Lutz immediately checked the systems. Several flashing warning messages indicated that the travel engines had been hit and deactivated by an interceptor missile. Only a few milliseconds later, the owners of that very missile appeared on the sensors. There were three Corsair ships, which presumably thought they would have easy prey in a single ALG fighter.

Quick-witted, Lutz activated the automatic emergency systems, sent an emergency call to the local authorities and activated the weapon control system. Not a moment too soon, as the first Corsair fighter was already preparing its attack. Although it had been some time, the combat reflexes honed through rigorous training took control of Lutz's body. Before he knew it, he had already fired several salvos at the attacker and skilfully evaded enemy fire with his manoeuvring jets. The Falcon was more manoeuvrable than the heavy Corsair fighters, which were apparently already loaded with all kinds of loot.
After two more volleys, one of the enemy's wings broke apart, the sparks-spraying debris hit the main thrust nozzle, and the Corsair fighter exploded in a fireball.

Unfortunately, this small victory also had a downside, as the other two comrades-in-misfortune now knew that they were not dealing with an inexperienced newcomer but with a battle-hardened veteran. They had apparently decided on a coordinated approach and attacked him alternately so that Lutz would have no opportunity to counterattack. He therefore focused on using his greater agility to evade as many attacks as possible, hoping that the alerted Kaiserliche Polizei ships would arrive soon. This spectacle, which resembled a dance performance with deadly stakes, dragged on for several agonizing minutes.
Suddenly, one of the Corsair fighters landed a hit and the Falcon's shields collapsed after a final struggle. The two Corsair`s now sensed their chance and threw caution to the wind. They launched their next attack impetuously, unwittingly giving Lutz a chance to do the same.
While the Falcon took hit after hit, the attackers fared no better. The improved tracking systems now showed their effect as the second Corsair fighter also ended in a fireball.

The remaining attacker now gave it his all and continued his attacks. With his last salvo, he managed to hit the Falcon's engine and cause an overload of the H-fuel injectors before he too went up in a fireball. The last thing Lutz saw was the blinding flash of fire from the last exploding Corsair ship and a shrill alarm.
Then he was ejected from the Falcon by the emergency escape system.
Pressed firmly into his seat, he lost consciousness under hellish G-forces and the sudden loss of atmospheric pressure inside the cockpit.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-06-2025, 10:15 PM,

Freeport 8, Sigma-15
November 27, 835 A.S.

Lutz woke up in the medical ward at Freeport 8, a Zoner station in Sigma 15. Apparently, a passing Zoner convoy had received his distress call and witnessed his unwanted exit from his ship. Friendly and helpful as most Zoner pilots are, they had picked him up and handed him over to the medical staff at Freeport 8. After dutifully paying the 500 SC treatment fee, Lutz made his way to the canteen to find a much-needed drink and, if possible, a ride back to Hamburg.

The bar at the free port was a hub of activity. Large and spacious, with many alcoves where the tables were located, hidden from prying eyes to allow for less legal business.
A large window front offered a view of the adjacent Crow Nebula. Countless people milled about at the tables, in the aisles, and at the bar. Bounty hunters, merchants, freighter pilots, and even pirates were represented. Despite this explosive mix of people, everything was peaceful and everyone treated each other with polite indifference. No one dared to violate the Zoners' declaration of neutrality and thus possibly be excluded from the diverse offerings of the freeports.

Lutz knew only too well that many parties depended on supplies from these free ports. He also knew that the best information could be obtained from the bartenders, so he made his way to the bar. A young man with brown hair, probably in his late 30s, was in the process of pouring a few drinks. Lutz raised his right hand to signal that he also wanted to be served. The man nodded briefly and finished pouring before making his way over to Lutz.
“What can I get you?” he asked in a polite but not particularly friendly tone.
“I need a strong drink, for starters.”
The man nodded again, reached up to a hidden shelf, and pulled out a blue bottle. '"Liberty Ale Quantum" he said briefly, but Lutz just grimaced.
“Uh, no thanks, do you have anything else?”
The man nodded and put the bottle back on the shelf. He took out another one, which looked similar to a Sidewinder-Fang, and quickly poured a glass.
He kindly pushed it over to Lutz, who took a somewhat hesitant sip.
Surprised by the pleasant, almost slightly sweet taste, he took another larger sip before putting the glass down and resuming his conversation with the bartender.
“I also need a ride to Hamburg. Any ideas?” he asked, then drained his glass.
"Hamburg, hmm, we Zoners don't have any business there. You could ask some of the Junker pilots over there. They usually only fly to New Berlin, but maybe one of them has something to do in Liberty and will be passing through Hamburg.
Then there's that pain in the neck. The guy in the fancy suit at the back left of the table. He always has a small entourage with him. He's always whining about how the bars in Hamburg are so much better equipped and whatnot. Seems like he's from there, so maybe I'll get lucky and he'll disappear back there."

Lutz nodded understandingly, placed his finger on the neurolink, and paid for his drink before setting off in search of this nuisance. As described by the bartender, his potential ride, dressed in a fine three-piece light brown suit, did not appear to be alone in the canteen. With his back to Lutz, a stocky older gentleman sat at the same table and the two were engaged in lively conversation. The older man's voice sounded unexpectedly familiar to Lutz, but he quickly dismissed the thought to concentrate on his actual goal. When he had approached the table to within half a meter, he spoke up.
“Please excuse me for interrupting, but...”
Before he could finish his sentence, the older man spun around and stood up. Lutz now looked him straight in the face. A deep scar under his left eye, bushy light brown eyebrows, and a hooked nose.
“It can't be. Karl? Is that you?” Lutz asked incredulously.
It took a few seconds, but then the man's stony face changed into a delighted smile.
“Lutz? Lutz Berger? Man, I haven't seen you since Dresden! What are you doing here at the freeport?”
“I ended up here by chance, or should I say I was stranded here.”
“Why don't you join us for a moment?” replied the man in the light brown suit, who soon introduced himself as Emil.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-06-2025, 10:21 PM,

Open space, Sigma-15
November 27, 835 A.S.

The small freighter slowly made its way through the asteroid field. Karl had agreed to take Lutz with him, but first he had to deliver his cargo to the Bielefeld base.
The two had settled into the cockpit while the ship was on autopilot, following a pre-programmed flight route.

“You're working for the Bundschuh now?” Lutz asked in surprise before sinking into the comfortable co-pilot's seat.
"Well, I have to make ends meet somehow. The Reinwehr has no use for an old veteran with democratic roots anymore. Times have changed since the civil war. The Bundschuh pays well and the work is fun. It's still better than working for Daumann or Kruger, and much better than a pirate's life with the Hessians."
“Yes, you're right, but it still surprises me. We used to shoot down the Bundschuh together, and now you're transporting their goods from the freeport to their base. The damn civil war has thrown a lot of things off course.”
“Tell me about it. I assume that's also the reason you quit ALG. Since the Holstein Accords and the restructuring into the Empire, ALG has been withdrawing more and more from Rheinland. The Bundschuh is also losing more and more members who at least believe that it still makes sense to oppose the Empire. After long struggles, most are weary of war.”
“Well, we fought so long for democracy. It's hard for me to accept that there's now an emperor in charge.”
“Ha, who's talking like a Bundschuh now?”
“Stop joking around. How long will it take to unload the stuff?”
“A day at most, then I can fly you to Hamburg.”
"That's very nice of you. But what am I supposed to do there for so long?"
“Get to know the people. They're always looking for freighter pilots for supply flights. It's a good job, as long as you keep your distance from the Imperial Police and the Reinwehr, of course.”

Slowly, the small depot came into view and Karl prepared the docking maneuver.

“Well, we'll see how it goes, I guess.”

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-14-2025, 11:24 PM,

Bielefeld Depot, Sigma-15
November 27, 835 A.S.

After docking, the unloading process began and it got pretty crowded on the small cargo ship.
With a smirking and the words:
“Go on, find some new friends,”
Karl had practically thrown Lutz off board, since he was just getting in the way anyway.

So he made his way to the cantina to have a drink.
As he walked across the loading deck, he let his eyes wander.

Bielefeld Depot was an old Kruger mining base that the Bundschuh had converted into a small space station. Instead of large plant components and smelters, smaller stands with various items had been set up in the large central hall.
The hustle and bustle almost reminded Lutz of the freeport.

In one corner of the hall, some Bundschuh seemed to be busy getting an ore sorting station back up and running, but their attempts seemed clumsy and unsuccessful.
The machine appeared to be running externally, but the input interface for ore extraction was flashing wildly back and forth, which probably signaled an incomplete or incorrect input.
Without the correct settings, the machine would hardly be able to separate the ore-bearing chunks from the otherwise useless rubble.

Lutz watched the various people's attempts for a while before resuming his way to the cantina.
It seemed less inviting than the one in the freeport. About seven round metal tables were set up in front of the large space window.
At the front wall stood a rather archaic-looking counter.
Once there, Lutz struck up a conversation with the bartender.

“Not much going on here, huh?”
“No. It's always like this. Bundschuh don't drink much and come here more to debate or eat.”

The bartender pointed to a small group that had taken a seat at the farthest table and was engaged in lively conversation.
A man in a brown three-piece suit immediately caught Lutz's eye.
He ordered a beer and paid as usual via NeuroNet, then immediately made his way over to the group.

“Hallo, allerseits.”
The conversation seemed to fall silent as the four men turned to him.
Emil greeted him with a welcoming gesture and Lutz took a seat at the table.

“Did you have a good flight here?”
“No problems so far. Karl and some of your people are unloading the boxes right now.”
“Very good. We urgently need the supplies. We'll distribute them from here. And how are you? Have you recovered from the effects of your unwanted space walk?”
“I think I'm back on my feet, Ja.”

“We have a problem here,” one of the other men suddenly interjected.
He appeared to be in his mid-to-late 50s, as his hair was already distinctly gray. He was rather tall and strongly built, like Karl, but didn't seem to be quite as fit.

“What do we want to do about the situation on New Berlin? We can't just send a ship without getting into even more trouble with the Empire, and none of us knows our way around New Berlin.”

“That's right, maybe Lutz has a brilliant idea?” Emil interjected.
All eyes were now on Lutz, and he seemed very uncomfortable.
“What exactly is your problem?” Lutz replied hesitantly.

"Some young whippersnappers, students and the like, have founded a new association. The Alliance of Independent Democrats and as if that weren't bad enough, they have also publicly distanced themselves from the Kaiser and the empire. Since these are quite wealthy families, the Imperial Police would intervene and give them a slap on the wrist and some house arrest. Unfortunately, the Empire has noticed that the group is in contact with the Bundschuh, and now the Marinenachrichtendienst is on the case. This could be dangerous for these guys and possibly also for our contacts, but there's little we can do from here."

“How much time has passed since this announcement?”
“About one to two hours. Why?” Emil asked.

“You should hire an independent ship to fly the group out of New Berlin and take them to a safe place. The MND will still be mobilizing. I would estimate that you have about three hours until the orders to intervene are issued.”
“Hmm, that's a good idea. There's a jump hole to Frankfurt from here. A quasi-legal ship could get to New Berlin pretty quickly via the trade lanes.”
“Exactly. Do you have any idea where the group is currently located? Depending on how quickly you can reach them, you could disappear again without being detected.”
“Yes, we have a transponder code to find them on New Berlin. How well do you know your way around there?”
“I was stationed there at the military headquarters for a while,” Lutz replied rather routinely to Emil's question.

“That's good, when can you leave?”
“Wait a minute!” Lutz almost spilled the rest of his beer in shock.
But Emil seemed to have already set everything in motion, and the men around him rose from the table.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-14-2025, 11:30 PM,

Open space, Sigma-15
November 27, 835 A.S.

It took less than 20 minutes for Lutz to be back in the co-pilot seat of the freighter with a smirking Karl next to him.

“I knew you made friends quickly, but that's a new record even for you. And how fast they unloaded my ship.” Karl grinned cheekily at him.

“I'm not in the mood for jokes. Scheiße! It could get dangerous. What were they thinking, dragging us into this without a second thought?”
“Oh, come on. Playing the savior to a couple of young students, maybe even some girlies. How hard can it be?”

"That's easy for you to say. The Empire will guard New Berlin like the apple of its eye. It'll be hard to get out of there."
“Well, we'll manage. I think the jump hole is within reach.”

The small freighter prepared to pass through the jump hole. Although travel through jump holes was relatively common, a certain residual risk could never be ruled out.
The ship set course directly into the anomaly and disappeared within seconds.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-19-2025, 10:58 PM,

University district, New Berlin
November 27, 835 A.S.

Karl and Lutz crept cautiously and quietly through the dark, rain-soaked alleys of the university district. There was hardly a soul to be seen, and they had to be careful not to attract attention.
Just as Lutz was about to check their position again with the tracking device he had received from Emil, Karl suddenly pulled him into another side alley.
Barely visible in the pale light of the billboards, a patrol of the Imperial Police had turned into their alley.
Both crouched behind some trash cans and waited until the patrol had passed.

“Das war Haarscharf,” Lutz whispered, still crouching behind the trash can, slightly shaken.

“Let's keep going. If we keep searching around here, they'll find my ship,” whispered Karl, who had already stood up and was ready to continue.

For a few more minutes, the two scurried through the empty, dark alleys. They hurried from cover to cover so as not to be spotted by the Imperials.
Finally, they arrived at their destination, and Lutz put away the tracking device.

“It seems to be here,” said Lutz as he stepped up to the small side door and knocked cautiously.

A few seconds later, a puzzled-looking girl opened the door.
“Ja, bitte?”
She was obviously expecting someone else. Lutz pushed her aside a little roughly and entered the dark room. He immediately regretted his decision when he heard a metallic click and then a slight whirring sound from behind him on the right. Then he felt a blaster barrel pressed against the back of his head.

“What... What do you want?” stammered a young man's voice.

“If we wanted to catch or kill you, we would have already. We're here to take you with us,”
replied Lutz in a calm tone.

The young man now stepped out of the shadows and tried to close the door with his free hand, which turned out to be a fatal mistake. Karl had been waiting for this moment. He pushed the door open again with force, grabbed the young man firmly by the wrist, and simply lifted him up. The young man dropped the blaster on the floor in shock.
Suddenly, the room was illuminated and a woman's voice shouted at them.
“Everyone! Please calm down!”

The lady who had just turned on the main light in the room now stepped out of an adjoining room.

“Emil sent you, didn't he?”

“Yes, he did. We don't have much time. How many of you are there? We have to get to our ship,” Lutz replied in a cold tone.

"There are about 10 of us. But I'm not coming with you. Just take the students and go. I already have other plans."
The Lady hastily told Luzz and Karl a bit about the group and what had happened, while they waited for everyone to gather.
After a few minutes, the nine students, two girls and seven young men, followed Lutz back to the alley.

“Our ship isn't far from here. We have to be careful that the Imperials don't see us, otherwise they'll arrest us or worse. Keep a low profile and follow Karl. I'll bring up the rear.”

No sooner said than done. The motley crew hurriedly made their way back to the freighter's landing site.
As they turned into the last cross street, it suddenly happened.
“Ihr da! Halt in the name of the Emperor!”

“Scheiße. What now?” Karl called back to Lutz, who was already pushing his way through the group standing in front of him.

“Let me handle this. You'll know when it's time.”

Two Imperial police officers approached the group with their blasters raised.
Lutz raised both arms, palms facing out, and walked toward them.
“Meine Herren, this seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“Halt! Stop! Who are you?”

“Oberleutnant Lutz Berger, Rheinwehr Special Forces. I was instructed by the MND to assist in the search for these fugitives. This is Karl, mein Kamerad.”
Karl, who also raised his hands, now moved forward to stand next to Lutz.

“Rheinwehr here? I haven't been notified of any other units in this section. I'll have to check with headquarters!”
The Imperial standing directly in front of Lutz turned slightly to the side to reach the radio transmitter on his helmet. In doing so, he lowered his blaster, and Lutz immediately seized the opportunity.

He lunged forward and knocked the Imperial's blaster aside with his left hand, using the momentum to land a direct hit with his knee to the man's stomach.
Doubled over in pain, the man fell to the ground and landed on his back.

His colleague had no time to react, as Karl quickly grabbed him and threw him against the nearest wall. He, too, would not pose a threat for quite some time.
“Los, hurry!” Lutz shouted loudly, and the group hastily made their way to the ship.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-19-2025, 11:25 PM,

Old Trading Port, New Berlin
November 27, 835 A.S.

The freighter was in sight and Karl had already gone ahead to start the engines.
Lutz hid behind some crates with the others to assess the situation one last time. Several minutes had passed since the encounter with the Imperials, and they had surely raised the alarm.

The freighter stood at the end of an old loading dock that rose above a ledge. The metal structure was built right at the edge to make the most of the sloping terrain, and therefore overhung the precipice by a third.
A reinforced metal grid was installed around the perimeter to prevent workers from accidentally falling.

Below stood simple houses, belonged to workers and dockers who carried out their daily work in the nearby new commercial port.
The new, large loading cranes were clearly visible on the horizon, still in motion even now in the dark of night.

Several stacks of large shipping containers were lined up on the square, providing some good cover. Behind them lay the old depot. The rather dilapidated-looking building seemed abandoned, and Lutz could not see any Imperial troops.
“Go! Go!” Karl shouted to them from the rear ramp of the freighter, waving his arms wildly.

So the group set off. Just as they were about to pass the last stack of transport containers, the square was suddenly illuminated by floodlights from the old depot.
Blinded, the whole group crouched down, and a figure emerged from behind the transport container.

Lutz tried to recognize her, but his eyes needed a few seconds to overcome the shock of the light.
A person with short brown hair, holding a blaster pistol and dressed in the typical brown and black Marinenachrichtendienst uniform, approached him.

The steps were short and graceful, the outline of a woman. She raised the blaster pistol and aimed it at Lutz, who was slowly standing up.
“Well, well. Lutz Berger on behalf of the Marinenachrichtendienst, I presume? Very interesting story.”

That voice. It seemed unexpectedly familiar to Lutz. His eyes still couldn't make out her face.
“I never thought I'd meet you again as a fugitive.”

Now it finally dawned on him.
“Gloria? Gloria Fuchs. Is that you?”

“Ah ha! So you haven't forgotten me. Too bad I have to arrest you here. Männer, Seize him!”
Immediately, more Imperials approached the group.

“Fraternizing with enemies of the Empire, assaulting Imperial Police officers, and illegally entering a restricted area. How low have you sunk, Lutz?”
“You don't understand. They're just children. Kinder verdammt! Not enemies of the Empire.”

Gloria stared piercingly into the faces of the students crouching on the ground behind Lutz.
Karl now approached the group, escorted by two more Imperials.

“So what? They surely knew what they were doing. Everyone must answer to the law.”

One of the men escorting Karl stood next to Gloria.
“Agent Fuchs. The fugitives are in custody, we've taken over the rest. Many thanks to you and the Marinenachrichtendienst for your assistance in the hunt.”

Lutz pulled himself up.
"Gloria, please. They're students. You've told me so many times how you used to engage in endless debates about freedom and democracy with your professors. Were you so different from these kids? Is it so wrong to want a better world for the future?"

“Shut up, Bundschuh scum!” With a violent blow from his rifle butt, the Imperial knocked Lutz back to his knees.

“Enough now, you want to take them to HQ alive and unharmed, don't you?”

“Alive? They are traitors and, according to our orders, are to be shot immediately.”
The Imperial mob laughed maliciously, the man prepared himself, raising his rifle and aiming it at Lutz.

“Gloria! Come to your senses, please!”

Gloria now also raised her blaster pistol and took aim, then fired. The square was briefly illuminated by the greenish glow of the plasma flash. Time seemed to stand still. A second became an hour, a millisecond a minute.
Just a moment ago, the Imperial's face had been twisted into a malicious grin, but now it was blackened by the plasma wound on his temple. It took a moment, then his lifeless body slumped and he fell to the ground. As he did so, he dropped his already loaded blaster rifle.

Lutz's survival instinct took over. He threw himself forward toward the blaster rifle, his military training causing him to tense his back muscles. As he moved forward, he grabbed the rifle and immediately rolled over onto his back. Kneeling on his right leg, he came to a stop, the rifle already at the ready and aimed at the next Imperial.
He fired immediately, hitting him in the shoulder.

All this happened in a fraction of a second.
The man who was hit screamed loudly and threw himself to the ground, seeking protection behind some crates.

Now time seemed to catch up with events again and the slowdown was gone.
Immediately, the square was plunged into a storm of plasma flashes as Gloria and Lutz engaged in a fierce firefight with the Imperials. Their excellent training was evident in their accuracy, but the Imperials had superior numbers and were already beginning to flank the square.

Meanwhile, Karl had correctly assessed the situation and, with the two girls under his arm, had already begun to retreat to the freighter at a run. The rest of the group followed him.

Lutz had meanwhile sought cover behind the last transport container with Gloria, and the two tried to slow down the advance of the Imperials as best they could.
A few seconds later, Lutz finally heard the redeeming sound of the cargo ship's engines.

“Go, I'll cover you!” Gloria shouted to him. Firing two more bursts, Lutz made his way to the ramp.
He had already reached it and the freighter was slowly beginning to lift off the ground when he heard a hiss and a loud scream behind him.

He turned abruptly and saw Gloria on the ground, holding her right thigh.
“Scheiße!” he exclaimed loudly.

"Fly away. I'll get her!" he shouted to Karl and jumped off the ramp.
Firing continuously, he ran straight towards Gloria. He dropped the blaster rifle and lifted the injured woman up. He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist and the other under her knees. He pressed her upper body against his and began to run towards the precipice.

The freighter had already taken off and, under heavy fire, had disappeared behind some billboards.
“You idiot! You should have left me here.”

“No way!” replied Lutz, who was moving toward the precipice at an ever-increasing pace. Plasma bolts struck left and right of them, and the Imperials slowly closed in on them.

“It's over,” gasped Gloria, slowly losing consciousness.

“It's only over when we give up.” Running forward, bent over, Lutz prepared to jump over the metal fence.

In disbelief at the sight before them, the Imperials ceased fire. He simply jumped into nothingness. Straight into the abyss. Without even flinching.
A few seconds passed, then the Imperials realized their mistake. When they heard the roar of engines and Lutz suddenly reappeared in front of them with Gloria in his arms.

He had jumped onto the roof of the cargo ship, which Karl had skillfully held in position below the ledge.
With a cheeky salute, Lutz said goodbye to the dumbfounded Imperial soldiers as the freighter flew away into the cold night sky.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-19-2025, 11:48 PM,

Sky above New Berlin, New Berlin
November 27, 835 A.S.

Lutz had entered the freighter with Gloria in his arms through the upper airlock.
Gloria was now lying on the small cot in the rear of the ship. Lutz was applying an emergency bandage to her thigh when one of the young students spoke to him.

“Da..Danke.”

“For what?”

“For risking your life to help us. Without you, we would all be...”

“You can make it up to me. Come here and press on her wound. She has lost a lot of blood. We have to get out of here quickly and I have to go to the cockpit. You stay with her and defend her with your life, is that clear?”

“Yes, of course,” replied the young man, trembling as he got up and went to the designated spot.
“And when we're done here, you'll tell me about this Bündnis Unabhängiger Demokraten, Ja?”

With that, Lutz made his way to the cockpit to take his usual seat in the co-pilot's seat.
“How is she?” Karl asked worriedly.

“She'll survive and soon give us hell because her bikini figure is ruined with a scar, believe me.”

“It's going to be a hell of a ride. They know we're coming.”

“That's how it looks. I'll get the turrets ready. Charge the shields and have the emergency batteries ready.”

“Are you serious?”

“About what exactly?”

“That it won't be over until we give up?”

“You know that.”

“Ja ja. Schon gut.” With that, Karl turned back to his instruments and Lutz pulled the targeting console toward him.

They now had to make it through the docking ring while evading half the Imperial fleet. Surely guard ships had already been ordered to the only exit with orders to shoot them down. The prospects were anything but rosy.
Lutz activated the small communication device Emil had given him for emergencies.

“Emil? Lutz here. We have her and are on our way back. Our cover is gone and we will pass the docking ring shortly. We could use the promised support now. Over.”

Soon, the “space elevator,” colloquially known as the docking ring, came into view.
Hundreds of ships buzzed around it like bees, either leaving the atmosphere or flying to their designated landing sites.

Among them were surely ships belonging to the Imperial Police.
“This is going to be fun.”

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

Schattenkralle92 · 12-20-2025, 12:43 AM,

Orbit above New Berlin, New Berlin
November 27, 835 A.S.

“Watch out on the left!” shouted Lutz when he noticed the huge Colossus train on their flank.
“Ja, ja, I know,” shouted Karl back as he jerked the steering stick back at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a collision. Shortly thereafter, several plasma projectiles fired by their pursuers struck the transport ship.

More than ten 72-ARKM-G3 "Banshee"-class fighters were only seconds behind them, firing all their weapons at the small freighter.
With uncanny precision, Karl steered the ship through the crowded corridor, out of the planet's upper atmosphere and straight into more trouble.

Another squadron of "Banshee" fighters was already waiting for them and immediately greeted them with a barrage of plasma weapons.
While Karl was still busy with the evasive maneuver, Lutz finally realized the gravity of the situation.

“They've blocked the trade routes to Frankfurt and Essen with gunships. We need to get up to cruise speed quickly and get out of here.”
“Let me catch my breath first.” And then the next salvo of gunfire struck the shields of the small freighter.

At full thrust, they flew away from the docking ring and into the nearby asteroid field.
“I just can't get them online. These damn interceptor missiles keep interfering with the loading sequence. This is never going to work!” Karl grumbled as another salvo struck.

“Try to shake them off between the asteroids, maybe we'll gain a few seconds that way.”
“Yeah, I'm doing that. By the way, you can shoot back if you feel like it.”

“What do you think I'm doing here?” Lutz replied excitedly.
The smaller and more maneuverable fighters were not easy targets, and he was just managing to keep them at a distance.

After they had entered the asteroid field, at least the larger gunships gave up the chase, but the smaller fighters remained with them.
“Let's try the kleiner-Willi-270!” Lutz exclaimed before another volley lit up the shields and threatened to collapse them. Only the courageous use of some shield batteries saved them from this fate.

“This will be the end of us. There's a big one at 9 o'clock, that should do the trick. This could be interesting.”
“Less talk, more evasion.” replied Lutz as another salvo hit the ship.

Karl maneuvered the freighter on a direct collision course with a larger asteroid and gave full thrust with the afterburner. In order not to lose contact, his pursuers did the same.
Shortly before impact, however, the freighter dove downward to fly a parabolic loop along the asteroid.

It came dangerously close, so close that Lutz felt he could touch it if he just reached out his hand.
During the loop, the freighter lost speed and the pursuers were able to catch up. They passed the asteroid almost completely.

Now the aforementioned maneuver came into play. With a jolt, Karl pulled the freighter upward and shot past the asteroid again, pushing the engines to their limits.
The Imperial fighters had to do the same or they would lose sight of their target.

Lutz had been waiting for this and fired several mines from the rear-facing launcher.
As agile as the smaller fighters were, there was little they could do in the current situation to escape the mines.

Several explosions lit up the area and at least two of the fighters broke off the pursuit. A third, blinded by the explosion, flew into another asteroid and disappeared in a fireball.
Karl immediately used the precious seconds to put plenty of distance between himself and his pursuers.

Although he still couldn't get the cruise engines running, at least they had gotten far enough away to no longer be exposed to constant fire.
The small freighter fled deeper into the field for about six minutes when suddenly several unknown contacts appeared on the sensors.

“Achtung! This is Squadron Hermann to incoming Freighter. We are sending you new coordinates for a rendezvous. Change course to 11-3-10 and go full throttle, we'll take care of your pursuers in the meantime.”

Just a few seconds later, several TR4c-T0R "Sichel"-class fighters shot past Karl and Lutz, forcing their pursuers to turn away and engage them in a dogfight instead.
Now Karl could finally activate the travel engines and fly to the new coordinates.

With the start of the wildfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the death of a desire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
At the edge of the hellfire . . . its the end of an empire
In the line of the gunfire . . . its the end of an empire
again . . . again . . . again . . .
Through space and time . . . you can't escape this paradigm
At the close of a lifetime . . . its the end of an empire
this time
Another ending that's beginning to unfold . . . its the end of the Rheinland empire

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