1st of Frost, 122
"It's been a wild ride huh?" Claudia remarked as she took a puff of the cigar that Dino offered. It hadn't even been one second since she inhaled the smoke before coughing it out. "W…what the fuck was that, shithead? It tasted like goblin's ass." She waved her fist at Dino.
Both Axel and Dino burst into laughter. "Even I don't know what a goblin's ass tasted like." Dino snickered while giving her a knowing look.
"It's a fucking metaphor ya…….argghhhhhh, dammit!" She yelled as she threw the cigar, missing a few inches from Dino's head, smashing on the wall behind him and sending sparks of lit ashes flying around.
Dino stood up and quickly brushed the embers away from his neck and hair; he then looked at Axel pleadingly.
"Don't look at me, you started it." Axel chuckled as he raised both his hands. He took a deep breath and stood up, "Besides, I'm curious too about how goblin's ass tasted like." He said mockingly
"Just you wait, when we landed, I'll shove both your heads so deep inside a goblin's ass that you'll never forget what a goblin's ass tasted like." She threatened.
Dino laughed and tossed a box of the regular cigarette on the crate, "You gotta find a goblin big enough to fit both our heads then."
Claudia raised her fist before grabbing a piece of cigarette. Claudia shifted her body weight and sighed.
"A wild ride indeed….." Dino commented
Axel leaned on the ship's hull, "Not as wild as goblin's ass." A remark which was replied to with Claudia's raised fist.
She took a long drag, "Alright then. So, what's next? And don't you dare say goblin's ass." She said, turning her gaze at Axel.
Axel coughed up smoke, "You're the one who said it first." He then took a deep breath. "We've almost hit the one-year mark, but the only accomplishment we got was receiving the key to the kingdom."
Dino chuckled, "Look at this bastard, the only he said." He took a drag, "How many shipping company within the Imperium that received the authority to operate in the name of Emperor and Imperium as officially recognized couriers of all manner of cargo?" he blew a cloud of smoke, "And on the same day it was established?"
"Well, we're still living in a small apartment in the Southside, and still around four-hundred gold short for our seasonal interest. I rather be skirt-chasing with death at the Zyth front than be on the OIR's naughty list." Axel lifted both his arms. "Even the rumored underworld kings of the Imperium never skipped on their dues to the OIR."
"As the saying goes, never messed with the OIR. Unless you're an inquisitor or the Palace." Dino chuckled. He then took another puff before looking at Axel. "So, any news from that white-haired chick?" He asked, referring to their first business partner.
"Kala? Nope. Since the eclipse started, I couldn't get in touch with her. And flying through Zaichaer's airspace in our current setup is just courting death." Axel replied and slapped the hull of their airship.
Claudia tossed her cigarette butt to the table at the center, "Heard they got flying chunks of lands over there."
Axel raised an eyebrow, "Floating buildings? Didn't know they got the tech for that. Thought they're just a bunch of anti-magic fanatics over there."
"The hole in the sky? The dead rising? Giant magic explosion? Ring a bell?"
Axel stared at Dino and slowly shook his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know about the hole in the sky. But what about floating buildings and the dead rising? Just like straight out of a storybook."
"That's the rumor around the airfield. Not that much of the rumor though, since almost everyone flying south from the North told the same story."
"Bet, it wouldn't take long before we send our boots there on humanitarian mission."
Axel chuckled, "Come on, the way you said it made us look worse than those Zyth pirates. The only nation that is desperately in need of humanitarian aid are those pigs from across the sea."
"But those pigs have oversized flying lizards as their mounts."
"……and we have dreadnoughts." Dino shrugged
"Still, what if they have an oversized flying lizard as big as a dreadnought?"
"If they have, they would've retaliated ages ago."
Axel and Claudia nodded in agreement. The three sat in silence, blowing up a cloud of smoke.
Claudia took a long drag and then sighed. "So, Axel, what's the plan for staying off the OIR's naughty list?"
"Well….." Axel looked outside the window and sighed, "We need financial support, manpower and better ships."
"So, when will the re-enlistment ceremony be?" Claudia replied as she took another drag. "What? You think I wouldn't know what this bastard is thinking after being married to him for four years already?"
Dino chuckled and raised his hand.
Axel turned around and winked at her, "As soon as we land. I really do miss shooting down Zyth airships." He paused and held the necklace tightly "and besides I still got a score to settle with those pigs and their oversized flying lizards."
"Not till you're in command of at least a dreadnought. She wouldn't want you to throw your life away recklessly."
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Axel took a deep breath as he adjusted his peaked cap and brushed the wrinkle on his uniform. It hadn’t even been a year. He thought to himself and stared at the wooden door.
“Relax, we’ve done it before.” Claudia comforted him.
The soldier on his right nodded and opened the door. Axel and Claudia entered the room. It was a small room, smaller than where he was sworn in as a recruit. Two uniformed officers were seated at the table in the middle of the room, the flag of the Imperium on the flagpole to their right.
“Please take a seat.” The man sitting on the right gestured at the chairs before them. He then took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m Major Jack of the Intelligences Division, and this is Lieutenant Reinhardt.” Jack then flipped through the papers in front of him.
Jack picked up the stack of papers and began flipping through it. “Axel Steinsaltz, formerly the Lieutenant Colonel of the 175th Imperial Fighter Squadron. Promoted to Sergeant Major of the 175th on your second tour of duty, graduated from the Imperial Officer Academy shortly after. Promoted to the rank of Captain shortly after graduating, and due to your outstanding contribution during the operation in the Zythura front, you were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was honorably discharge last arc.” Jack flipped through the papers, looked at Axel, and then back at the papers. “Established the White Stallion Shipping Co., which was granted the authority by his greatness, Emperor Abelard Fürsten, the authority to operate in the name of Emperor and Imperium as officially recognized couriers of all manner of cargo.” He paused, then picked up a different stack of paper.
“Claudia Rechcigl, formerly Captain of the 175th Imperial Squadron. Promoted to Master Sergeant of the 175th on your first tour of duty, graduated from the Imperial Officer Academy shortly after. You were promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant shortly after graduating. Due to your outstanding contribution during the operation in the Zythura front, you were promoted to Captain and honorably discharged the last arc. The granddaughter of the Ace of the 87th and the daughter of the Ace of the 159th."
He then leaned back on the chair and crossed his arms. “Oh right,” he then took out a piece of letter from his pocket. “Is this letter written and signed by you?” He showed the letter to Axel.
“Yes Major. Those are the terms of agreement that Colonel Klugman had agreed to.”
Jak then looked back at the letter to Lieutenant Reinhardt, took out a piece of recording lodestone and placed it on the table.
“I, Major Jack of the Intelligences Division, as the representative of the Ministry of War. On this day on the first of Frost of the year 122. The individual, Axel Steinsaltz, had made a petition regarding his reenlistment. As follows:
The individual’s request as the owner of the White Stallion Shipping Company for the company’s base of operations to be relocated to the Joint Imperial Legion Headquarters is approved on the condition that all employees should be former military personnel which the Intelligences Division had vetted and special civilian access would only be granted on a case-by-case basis.
The request for Frau Creuzberg and Fraulein Creuzberg’s special civilian access has been approved and granted till the end of the season and will be reviewed for further extension.
Failure to comply with the terms will be followed by military trial and would be subjected to an Inquisitorial Review.”
“I, Axel Steinsaltz swear to uphold the terms of agreement. If I fail to fulfill the terms or breached the terms in any way, I would be put under review for military trial and also be subjected to an Inquisitorial Review.”
“I, Lieutenant Reinhardt of the Ministry of War, served as a witness.”
“I, Claudia Rechcigl, served as a witness.”
Jack then pressed the recording lodestone and pocketed it. He then stood up, “Well then, please stand up, raise your right hand and take the oath.”
Axel and Claudia then took the paper before them, raised their right hand and faced the Imperium flag. “I Axel Steinsaltz; Claudia Rechcigl, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Imperium against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. For the Emperor.” They both then lowered their right hand.
“Lieutenant Colonel Steinsaltz, Captain Rechcigl. Welcome back.” Jack smiled and saluted him, followed by Reinhardt.
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“Herr and Frau, Steinsaltz.” The Geraet greeted the pair as they exited the building.
Noticing the mask and the tattoo, Axel and Claudia bowed in reply. “How can we be of service to the Palace?” Axel asked.
The Geraet took out a letter with the seal of the emperor himself. “The details are written inside the letter. Due to the decision of the Palace, His Greatness the Emperor has lent the service of the Geraet for the White Stallion Shipping Company. A business Geraet will be assisting the White Stallion Company until it is deemed unnecessary.” The Geraet paused momentarily, “And the ‘White Rook’ sends his regards, congratulations on your re-enlistment.”
“Damnit Jack,” Axel muttered under his breath.
