Chapter 22
Sub-Admiral Alexander Hardt /// private residence
Dinner went well enough, his wife had made a decent linguine, and his two sons were atleast being civil. His grandchildren always competed to try and be the center of attention much like his two sons, he couldn't help but chuckle at their competitions and how much it reminded him of his own sons when they were growing up. Of course this particular dinner was requested, his granddaughter who had by all accounts entered the moody teenager phase of her young life, plates clinked and metal rang as his family finished. His wife and his two daughter in laws moving to clean the plates, whether this habit was built into them via his wife, or they had similar peculiarities about dinner plates he never knew. The room was warmly lit and inviting the family he had always wanted.
The sudden burst of movement while his sons sat back talking across the table to one another was its own unique chaotic dance. Alexander simply sat back, waiting, he knew before long the center of attention would fall back on him, whether he wanted to discuss the topic or not. Desert came and went, with coffee following soon after. The younger boys slowly fell asleep and were left in adjacent rooms, and with the final sensitive piece put away, he looked towards his granddaughter.
“So your mom told me your school projects about our family?”
“Yea, but like not this family, our history… from back on earth”
A silence fell across the welcoming dining room.
“Well thats not exactly easy to explain, but ill try… how much do you know about Earth, the nations and the history of the world?”
“Uh just what they teach us in history class. So like the big stuff I guess.”
“Alright… Well, historically our family comes from all over Europe, even into the old Russian and Ottoman empire in some areas. I can't really tell you too much past my grandfather, and grandmother, so you’ll have to take with a grain of salt that historically we come from everywhere.”
Both of his sons, and daughter in laws looked towards the admiral not quite reverence but respect as he dictated the life of their ancestors.
“My grandfather, was born somewhere along the Rhine, a river in Germany during world war 1, spent most of his young adult life under the boot of French militarist and German Nationalists. So as you can imagine he was conflicted, never really having any home nation to claim as his own. My Grandmother was born in 1911 on the Western Black Sea’s coast, her family being primarily fishers, in a poor underdeveloped area of the world, where tension was unbelievably high. Most of her younger years were under the crippling economic depression caused by the credit spending of the United States.” Alexander paused letting his granddaughter dictate her notes like a journalist getting a huge scoop.
“I don't know too much about their younger years, my Grandmother learned to survive on nothing and it influenced her and her children heavily. My Grandfather only really mentioned some of the more dire warnings he learned during his youth but never painted a picture. Both would find and marry my other grandmother and grandfather, i never met them and only know vague stories about each of them, so im not really going to mention to much. During world war 2 my grandfather defected to southern france, and fought against the rising nazi regime as best he could. In his own words, he got lucky. My Grandmother worked as a triage nurse, in the backlines of the war, if you know anything about World war 2 or the area were discussing you'll understand why im sparing you those details, but needless to say both families came through to the other side of the war. But after the war ended both families found a new home in the newly liberated Germany, not Berlin but out in the countryside. This is where my mother and father met, my Aunt taught my father in school and eventually introduced him to my mother. According to both of them my father asked my mother to marry him after only three weeks.” a chuckle slipped from his lips remembering back to another family meal in a whole other world.
He looked up “sorry, my mother was a banker, and my father was an engineer, both born during the East and West Germany days. Constant interrogations and fear, needless to say, my parents were hesitant to bring any children into the world during those days. it didn't stay that way in time the wall eventually came down through diplomacy, tragedy, and economics. My Father took myself and my brother to see it being torn down, people screaming and cheering. Such a strange day, and with kids there it was even weirder. After the wall came down, both my parents…” he tried continuing but his granddaughter interrupted
“Wait, I have a great uncle?”
“Hmm?”
“You said you have a brother, do I have a great uncle?”
“You did, not anymore… Earthfall… took a lot from everyone.” Alexander said being evasive
A moment passed as his granddaughter made another note in her book, Alexander shot a look to his two sons, letting an unspoken ruling be conveyed. The gloomey looks they gave in return conveyed their disapproval but he knew they wouldn't dare question his decision.
“Right so speaking of my brother, and my father after the wall came down my father was hired by an american tech company, and he took my brother along with him. I joined them later but my mother refused to leave germany, and the house they had built together. Despite the distance i swear my parents loved each other so completely they didn't even notice the actual mileage.” Alexander continued covering how his father later became one of the engineers of the mobile wifi chip, how his mothers banking career ended in 2007 and she transitioned to teaching, how his brothers constant in and out of prison was only amplified by his own personal issues, how Alexander himself joined the UN, as a peacekeeper, starting with anti poaching. Covering the key points as much as possible , he crosse decades in sentences with broad sweeps.
“During the Domion days, my brother was already arrested so he was pressed into the convict corps… my father… my father was shot for sedition, for trying to appeal my brothers sentence.” Alex felt the warm tear pool in the bottom of his eye. “Dad.. we can stop” his son Joshua siad
“No it was a long time ago, its just… it’ll never get easier. My mother, killed herself not long after finding out about my dad. My brother was married with children, they were killed in the urban assaults, and my brother was forced into the convict corps for the rest of his life, he spent fighting against the enemies of the dominion. First as a shock trooper, then later as a combat drop pilot. He saw just shy of 70 combat missions before his death…” his voice quivered slightly pain and memories flooded across his face like a tidal wave.
His grandaughter stood up, walked over to him and hugged him tightly, he reciprocated the hug, before the rest of the family descended on him. He took a few moments to hold this family close, the bond they shared meant more to him than almost anything else in the universe. After a pause the family returned to their seats. He steadied himself “your grandmother, father, and uncle i sent off world during the second wave Solar settlers, they were actually part of the first graduating class of Titan. To which im still proud of them for graduating and making history.” a warm smile across the table to his two sons. “And as for me, well after the initial days of serving as anti poaching trooper, i was moved to peace officer, taking a position along northern Ukraine, trying to limit the damage as best i could. During the american dominion wars i was leading troops deep into moscow to enforce the d'armement treatise, which during that time i earned recognition and exceptional service for helping stop the coup, at least in my official capacity, really all i did was talk to people until they backed down. But cant complain to much. After that i was assigned a field commission for the vanguard wars and was given command of at first only a single company in norway, but as the war dragged on i received over 7 field promotions until i was the brigadier general of all forces in northern Europe.” he said as his granddaughter scribbled as quickly as he talked.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Well thats most of our history in general terms… any questions” he asked her
“Actually yea, i have alot but for this project let me start with….” she began asking the more academic questions but even as he answered, even as painful this white washed family history was, he was glad for what he had. Alexander smiled looking at his Granddaughter, this family was worth the pain, and lies he thought.
Pyotr Dregenhardt /// Hospital Observation Ward
Pyotr stirred his dreams perturbed under the weight of the painkillers in his veins. His eyes opened slowly, the itching raw pain of dried eyes met him as he awoke.
“Pyotr!” T said enthusiastically in his head.
“Hey T” he responded slowly, the words forming over several seconds.
“You know your lucky i was there, i got you out, but the doctors took a look Pyotr you are gonna be out for awhile.”
“Pfft, my luck sucks and you know it”
Before she could respond the door opened, a nurse walked through. Her eyes locked with Pyotrs before saying quietly “oh your awake good.” before continuing through stopping at the edge of his bed and checking his chart.
His instincts well honed for whenever someone has tried to kill him kicked in, he started looking closer. 2 arms 2 legs, pale skin, blonde hair, female, but Pyotr couldn't place exactly what but something felt off. She walked in like she belonged, but something, the way she stopped, the way she looked. It was like looking at one of those weird infinite staircases, were just looking quickly you can tell yourself everythings fine, but if you look closer you notice how wrong it is. Damn these drugs it was slowing him down badly.
“T?”
“No idea, but your right, shes not reading your chart… priming your arm.”
“Thanks.”
“Well Mr. Dregenhardt, your charts look good. Your making a speedy recovery.” the not nurse said as she rounded the bed towards Pyotrs head.
“Im just going to check your reactions, by shining a light, please follow it with just your eyes.” she said as she pulled out a small flashlight from her pocket.
She got closer wrapping her off hand around his head, her fingers brushing past his AI socket.
“Pyotr, I think she's…”
“I know”
Her fingers pushed on both the top and bottom of the socket as the light flashed in front of his eyes. In a single fluid excruciating movement he grabbed her neck with his top left arm and pulled her towards his cybernetic one a razor sharp blade shooting out stopping only cm’s away from her eyeball. She stopped dead fear radiating out through her gaze, as she slowly let go of his AI socket.
“Mr. Dregenhardt i understand your confused, but im only here to help”
“Bullshit…” barely more than a hoarse whisper but considering he had 5 inches of titanium danger close to her eye, he was sure it had a more impactful result.
She pulled back, but even weak as he was, he had her the crook in his arm ensuring she wasnt just fighting him, but gravity. After a second of dancing back and forth at a knife edge literally she gave up the immediate struggle.
“Well… seems ive been caught, what now?”
“who….*gasp*...are…you”
“Melisa Riley, its on my name tag” she said her fear turning slowly now she could talk.
“Will…kill…you”
“Im serious, my name is Melisa Riley, have your Ai look me up.”
“T?”
“Working on it” T responded he could feel the warmth as her cores spooled up to handle new tasking.
“Would you mind letting me go, since im not going anywhere, you can always stab me later.”
“fffuck….*gasp*...you”
She shrugs “worth a try”
“Pyotr… shes Corpo” T says over there internal link
Pyotr took a few extra seconds to compute that new information, before looking a this not nurse and asking “the… mhmm… fuck…you… want” he said in between waves of pain
A grin like the fuckin chesire cat spread across her face “glad to see combat AI’s are still effective even after a decade… our servers flagged a email you sent to your brother, and considering we have it on file that you hate your brother…” she didnt finish that sentence as Pyotr clocked her with his Cybernetic arm punching her head down into his bed hard as crimson blood pooled out. He was tilted out of his bed with the sudden explosive movement and sent toppling to the floor, he felt a numbing crack echo through his torso
“Fucks sake Pyotr, calm down” T shouted in his head, as Pyotr climbed atop this snake and wrapped his cybernetic hand around her throat.
“I…Dont hate my brother.” he screamed in her face as her pale skin shifted from white, to red to purple. Her eyes began to bulge, tears streaming down her face.
“Pyotr… please” her voice not T’s his wifes echoed in his head for a moment before he let go of his grip. His hand slowly relaxing as the cybernetic carbon fiber muscles un flexxed.
Both parties now forcefully fucked up, Pyotr leaned back against his now flipped bed, his chest heaving as even breathing took a decent concentrated effort. Looking over to his victim/assailant she rolled over groaning in pain. Well at least she was still alive.
“Alright, ill update the file” her sarcasm dripped in disdain. As Pyotr continued to look at her intently, he watched a light barely noticeable begin stitching her newly cut open head. “Nanobots, this isn't just any corpo Pyotr.” T said with concern.
Her eyes locked with Pyotr, noticing his gaze checking out her quickly patching wound. She pulled herself up, and continued with more caution this time. “Anyways, the email said you had some classified intel, my bosses bosses bosses boss found that a subadmiral getting classified intel they didn't have from a free navy captain concerning. So i don't suppose you'd share that classified intel? And before you just tell me to go eat shit, i’ve seen your diagnoses, we might be able to help with that whole cancer issue.” as she finished she made a general wave to her head which had already closed completely.
“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck” Pyotr thought
“Im so sorry Pyotr, i just..” T started
“I know T, you get a pass on that one since you've already pulled my nuts outa the deep fryer” he finished
He looked back at his now sitting not nurse, “well… fuck… help…*gasp*... me up… and…. Well talk”
“About?” she prodded
“Gen 2….*urgh* Swarm drones….thousands” he said, as he finished her eyes practically lit up like a starry night.
Agent McFea /// Highway 6
Koval had given the green light, McFea, and his squad were in final kit check as the wheels sputtered and breaks hit hard. As the tactical team poured out of the APC, weapons raised McFea goes live across the radio
“Alright boys, don't forget this is an extraction, deep cover agents were last seen here, so clear corners and check fire. Most importantly eyes up, were deep in Wraith's turf.”
The squads safeties clicked off, as the clad in black troopers descended on the target of their raid, a for closed hotel
“Weapons live, op is a go” Koval’s voice comes over the radio clear and the hunters descend into the darkness.