So there was that one Day, where Vitha had to export weapons, produced by Republicans Industries down on Planet Nuremberg, deep into Kusari Space.
Everything went as planned, and while the ground crew filled her Uruz Class Transport up with all sorts of light arms and military vehicles, Vitha Brand - a Captain flying for Republican Shipping, responsible for In and Export of Munichs goods - went through her squak sheets, checking the procedures for hauling such sensitive Cargo. One of the most important points was the establishement of Long Range Communications with local police authorities, requesting escorts for Systems out of Rheinlands influence. So she hailed the Kusari State Police, and they soon dispatched a Gunboat to Akita Border station waiting for her arrival to bring her freight safetly to New Tokyo. With that point done, she finished the remaining paperworks and finally left Nurembergs docking pads headed toward Akita to rendevouz with the Kusari Captain. It was a safe and calm flight and as the silhouettes of the fortress guarding Honshu's entrance to Sigma-13 and the loitering Gunboat beside it became bigger, she knew the rest would be a walk in the Park.
Unfortunately she was wrong. As she closed in on lag-free short range communications distance, the Kusari Officer had bad news for her. The Kusarian Officer informed Vitha that he is picking up Corsair movements within the system on TLAGSNET, and that they should get on the move quickly. So Vitha gave her workhorse the spores and began an exhausting run toward new Tokyo. Even though they both reached New Tokyo unharmed the constant pressure of running on maximum thrust gave the "Praterstern" - Vithas old retrofitted Uruz Class Transport - the rest. The engine soon began to stutter and malfunctioned a few seconds later, bringing the old vessel to an abrubt stop as the emergency thrusters engaged and kicked out the remaining energy to prevent further uncontrolable drifting.
In this situation tho, Vitha wished that she would have disengaged that security system in time so she could have used the momentum the Praterstern already had, to gain more distance between her and the corsairs who would for sure love to have such weapons captured. Thankfully the Corsairs were not aware of her, and the precious cargo. Although as a sitting duck, it was just a matter of time, until they would have found her.
So there she was: Ideling in Space just a few clicks away from the destination of her trade-run, unable to advance and corsairs roaming around just a short jump behind her. The only thing what prevented Vitha from completely panicking, was the fact that there still was this Kusari State Police Gunboat, waiting right next to her, wondering what just have happened.
This was the first time Vitha met Kate Golanska. A person who, in the opinion of Vitha, soon should become her personal guardian angel.
kate, a freelancing woman living on Gran Canaria, did not hesitate and immediately began supplying the Praterstern with the much needed brand new engine components, and therefor reduced the exposure to danger to a minimum. Vitha soon was able to restart her Thrusters and managed to continue to the safety of New Tokyo's mooring points, where she began to unload the Rheinland built weapons, and soon prepared for her route back home. Even tho the Kusarian Police Gunboat already left the szene toward Honshu, Vitha still was somewhat concerned about traveling through systems with reported corasir activity. What if the Kusarian Forces did not manage to drive them out yet? What if the Corsairs have defeated the defenders? The only way back to Rheinland, leads her through Honshu or even more dangeours places. She wished that she would have an escort again, and silently hoped for the Freelancer still being in the vicinity when she left Tokyo again. Luckily Kate was still around and accepted the escort Job on which they both got to know each other.
2 Days later, they've met again under a similar dangerous environment.
Vitha just exported a load of cigars from Nuremberg to New London as she got forced to retreat into the firing archs of Kings Cross Station because a Gallic Ship, operating behind enemy lines, closed in on her. To her amazement, just as the threat appeared, Kate Golanski - In Vithas opinion, from now on her personal guardian angel - jumped into the system and did not even bother to move away from Vitha until a Bretonian Destroyer appeared and destroyed the Gallic Ship.
So it came that Kate again escorted Vitha back home. And just a jump later, in Cambridge System, she successfully drove off a Molly pilot who was after some quick credits from Rheinlandish traders, efficiently creating enough room between Vitha and her foe, that even a fresh recruit would have been able to escape. As no further incidents happened and they've reached Nuremberg safe and sound, Vitha had the idea to invite her Guardian Angel down to her appartement for a coffee and a small chat.
Looking around if everything is in place, Vitha examined her home. The appartment was in the 45th floor in on of the few skycrapers of Nurembergs Capital, not far away from the Docking Pads. It was a small apartment featuring only a small bedroom, a slightly bigger mutlifunctional room, serving as both, kitchen and living room and a small balcony with a nice view over Nuremberg. Therefor it was somewhat easy to keep everything in order, even though the the rooms often do not get that much attention, since the timespans where Vitha actually is at home, usually are very short.
Anyways. Nothing had changed since the last time she left Nuremberg, and all she had to do is to open the doors leading to the balcony to refresh the air, and wipe off some dust here and there.
[color=#CCCCCC]"I hope Kate noted the Adress right, she landed just after me, it shouldn't take her that long to arrive here."she thought, waiting for the doorbell to ring.
Standing in the elevator with a view on the city through the glass, Kate looked upon landscape of Nuremberg. With a wry face briefly realizing height of it while it was just 20th floor she decided to not think about it. Kate's mind was occupied with other things to avoid looking down or perhaps she hates heights, considering space and flying is much different than being in a metal cage moving up and down with actual gravity present. Massacre of Interspace convoy just outside Aland was in center of her attention, considering she was there fighting. First transport went down so fast that nothing could have be done about it, going down in fire under brutal Hessian attack. No request or statement of intention, just collection of accusations and unavoidable bloodspilling.
Reminded about insignia on her jacket, unknown to most if not everyone on this planet. Many people she met were not aware of her occupation. Truth saying freelancer papers were just an excuse to move around freely, exploring Sirius while on regular breaks from frontlines. An Angel of Devil Wings squadron, on first thought completely uncompatible combination in fiery red was her source of pride reminding of what her fight is about. Bandaged right fist was giving her little pain but at least she could have move the fingers freely, otherwise she would be grounded. Sigh followed by memory of what caused it.
Elevator has stopped, abruptly halting her torpor. Reflection on the window revealed her face. Red hair reaching shoulders alongside green eyes gained her own attention for a second before leaving elevator. Determination and arrogance is what Kate saw, aware of her strenghts and weaknesses. While cruising around entire sectors is what she enjoys, invitation would be one of few occasions to stop and relax for at least a momenth more. Aproaching doors matching adress she has been given rings the bell. Last gaze on landscape. This was not her world, if there was any.
Vitha had finished the cleanup and was about the set up the coffee as the door rang. With the water bowl still in her hand she yelled toward the door: [color=#99FF99]"I'm coming"
Even though her kitchen featured one of those modern coffee machines using capsules, she still prefered the ancient method of brewing coffee, because the taste of the imported fresh coffee from Curacao was just so much better than the usual metallic coffee of Rheinlandis brands . Luckily she had found one of the very few remaining conventional coffee brewers in a antiquities shop at New Berlin.
She hastly poured the water in the brewer, turned it on, and went toward the door checking the video feed on the doors interface. The red haired woman behind the door matched Kate, and so she hit a button, and the doors automatically opened in a hissing sound dissapearing into the walls.
[color=#99FF99]"Hello Kate, very glad to finally meet you in person, come in." she said in a friendly tone and pointed toward the living room.
Kate smiled as moved into Vitha's apartment. "Good day, always better to meet somewhere else than space." Seeing modern interior of it comments "Nice place you got yourself here. In my neighbourhood we do not have such a tall skycrappers either. Just a quiet town sized colony within mountains."
While accomodating in living room, her attention brought coffee machine. It reminded her about some of the shops. Kate decides to mention it to her. "If you like things like it, you may want to check in Gran Canaria if you come across this planet. Different cultures and customs mix there. Allthrough your ship may use escort to get there due to recent events." Kate sighs. "Path is no safe anymore."
as Kate made herself comfortable in the Living Room, Vitha returned to the Machine and rummaged around in the Kitchen, gathering everything needed to serve the fresh Coffee.[color=#99FF99]"Thank you, Kate. It took me quite a while to find a solution to fit a functional interior into such a small appartment, yet keep the furniture harmonizing at least somewhat."she replied to Kates first impressions. And after she returned her smile into a somewhat concerned countenance she added: [color=#99FF99]I've heard of what happened. Oh you mean the Blockade of the Omega Jumphole in Dublin? I've heard about it. Those damned Mollies! I really would have loved to visit Gran Canaria after all the good words i've heard from you. But i guess, i won't go there for a while.
She gathered the tableware, poured the finished coffee back into a Bowl, and went toward the couch. "How will you manage to get back home after all this?" She asked as she placed everything on the small table and took a seat for herself.
Kate took a coffee for herself and after a momenth of thought she answered. "Standard run through Omega systems..." After that she started to explain what systems are beyond trade lane network. "I would start from Omega 7 to avoid irradiated part of galactic east of that sector. From there to 'Crossroad of Omega' - Known as Omega 5 in star charts, it is place full of useless asteroids and literally nothing of value besides biggest number of jumpholes to move around. Once I pass minefields, so obsolete that poses no major threat to modern shields I will reach '47 jumphole. That system connects directly to '49 where Gran Canaria is located." Kate tasted coffee and drank a bit of it. "Red Hessian territory until the end."
as Kate got herself a fresh coffee, Vitha followed her example while she listened to Kates explanations. The further she went, the more shocked Vitha was. Although she knew Kate was very versed in space combat, at least in her opinion, she wondered why she stayed so calm during the illustration of her only path home. To Vitha it sounded like a trip through hell, just to return to heaven. Something she would definately not consider to try, if Nuremberg was blockaded under similar circumstances.
[color=#99FF99]"A Standard run?"she gasped as Kate was finished.
[color=#99FF99]"My dear, please! I know you don't seem be scared from such trips. But ... "she stopped a second to take another nip from the coffee. "... but i highly recommend you find a place to stay until that blockade got destroyed. Don't get me wrong, i believe in you and your skills to make it pass those systems without being harmed, but .. well " she sighs and stays quiet for a second. "You may have done it a few times, without problems.. But ... It's just.. so much could go wrong on such a trip. Even the best, can have bad days where everything screws up, you know?"
'My home is there, within sometimes centuries old wrecks and monotonous rocks filling half of Omegas. Sure it is dangerous but you have very same people in there that raid Rheinland, yet there are some bastions.' Kate drinked for few seconds and continued. 'There is way worse route. For example if one would want to enter Corsair homeworld... fastest route from here will lead through most hostile to life system I know about. Omega 41 is no man's land with minimal presence of Corsairs and Zoners. Two stations of both factions use monstrous in size asteroid field as a cover, remnant of what used to be planets there.' Kate changed her tone in attempt to deliver seriousness of the situation. 'The only stellar body left is dead star, devouring everything that enters the system at alarming rate. Only most dedicated and mad people settle on heavily shielded outposts there but they are still only slowly dying. That is what you want to avoid in edge worlds. Bless the fact that modern anti-radiation pharmaceuticals are enough to negate effects if you are just passing through in safe zone. Nothing returns from asteroid-free zone in direct neighbourhood of what is left of star.' Kate looked on Vitha, awaiting reaction on the fact such things exist in Sirius.
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