Interlude 145-146: Back to Zhongshan

0 views

Skip to first unread message

NorCal CBT

unread,

Mar 3, 2026, 2:42:27 PM (11 days ago) Mar 3

to norca...@googlegroups.com

Interlude 145 - 146: Back to Zhongshan

Date/Location:

March 15, 3065 / Alarion, Lyran Alliance (Class A)

Dropship Dotted Line, orbiting Alarion near Port Sydney, 14:51 local time

Three days had passed since her mercenaries had faced down the Black Marauder and Miss Black still didn’t know what to think about it. She had been trying to avoid thinking about it by planning AA’s next move, but the lack of good job leads didn’t make it much of a distraction. The First Lyran Regulars had pulled out of Alarion a day ago and the planetary governor had made a big shift in his public addresses at the same time, calling for “unity in this time of hardship”. Miss Black wondered if this was all just coincidence or if Dr. Maroon had visited the planetary governor and the Leutnant General after his mysterious appearance aboard her own dropship. Regardless, the result was that Doge and her rebels could stand down since military force was no longer required to make the planetary governor stop supporting Katrina Steiner. Thames would normally have been more chatty about all of this, but he had been quiet the last few days. Miss Black figured he was processing the events of the last few days just like everyone else–it had been unusually quiet onboard. Despite granting full shore leave for everyone, most had opted to stay. Despite his silence, Miss Black was sure Thames was plotting his next move. She still didn’t know much about him, but the one thing she had picked up was that Thames was a schemer.

Miss Black was shaken from her daydreaming by the incoming transmission at her computer terminal. When she accepted the transmission, she saw the visage of Duke Hildebrandt zu Zhongshan looking back at her.

“Hallo, Frau Schwarz, it is good to see you,” he said.

“Danke, Euer Gnaden. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

“I have business for you and your mercenaries, Frau Schwarz,” the Duke explained.

“You have my undivided attention, Euer Gnaden,” Miss Black replied.

“Very good. I’ve heard that the Fifteenth Lyran Regulars have recently forced Clan Jade Falcon forces out of Adelaide and are pursuing them as they retreat to Zhongshan. I’d like to hire your company to support them in their efforts.” He paused for a moment before asking “How soon can you get there?”