Interlude 140 - 141: Debts Repaid
NorCal CBT
Interlude 140 - 141: Debts Repaid
Date/Location:
December 3064 / Great X, Arc-Royal Defense Cordon (Class B)
Great X Supply Depot, 27th December, 14:17 Local Time
The pines swayed gently in the breeze outside of Miss Black’s office. The cold, gray weather only emphasized the gloomy mood of the past few days. After the funeral, she called Duke Hildebrandt and learned that he had busied himself with coordinating travel for all the other displaced nobles from the party back on Zhongshan. They would all be gone within the next few days, which meant that the Duke himself was not long for this place, despite whatever connection—friendly or otherwise—that he might have with Countess Widmark. There was just one last duty for him left to perform—the favor that he owed to Miss Black. That was the business that she had invited him over to discuss today.
A knock on the door preceded Everett Thames’ entrance. Just after him, Duke Hildebrandt made his own regal entrance. Miss Black rose from her desk to greet them.
“Thank you for coming, Euer Gnaden. Please take a seat,” she said as she motioned to a group of chairs gathered around a low table.
“You are most welcome, Frau Schwarz,” he replied as he took a seat. “You had mentioned you wanted to resolve our unfinished business. Please, tell me what I can do for you.”
“We want to know where to find your nephew, Wendelin, Euer Gnaden,” Miss Black answered with a smile.
The Duke froze and gave a cross look at Miss Black. “What is your business with Wendelin, Frau Schwarz?” he asked.
“It is not so much my business as it is my XO’s…” she replied with a nod to Everett Thames.
“I contracted with his unit in the past and was hoping to lend my talents to him again,” Everett Thames said calmly.
“What was your last assignment with him?” the Duke inquired.
“Ridderkirk, before the Invasion,” Everett Thames responded.
The Duke held his breath while his eyes flitted between Miss Black and Everett Thames for a moment. He let out a small breath then said, “Wendelin’s been assigned to Alarion. There’s a growing resistance movement to the Civil War there, apparently fueled by the planetary Duke’s actions against local protesters and his public support of Katrina Steiner. There’s also rumors that the Free Worlds League Military is providing arms and equipment to the resistance, so the First Lyran Regulars are being assigned there to crush this potential rebellion before it starts and root out any Marik agents that may be aiding them.”
“I see…” Everett Thames said as he stroked his chin, “in that case, I’d advise against letting your nephew know we’re coming. If House Marik has agents there, it’s possible they could intercept communications and prevent us from helping him.”
Duke Hildebrandt raised his steepled hands to his lips for a moment in thought before replying. “I understand,” he said.
“I appreciate you helping us with this, Duke Hildebrandt. I promise I’ll do everything I can to help your nephew on Alarion,” Everett Thames said with a smile.