Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or mentioned in this draft, and am most certainly not making any profit off of it.
Chapter 11
Jess was sitting at her desk looking through the journal she had found in Seymour's desk. It had several logs that didn't have much to do with anything important. Most of them were simply daily reviews of the missions he had led and various personal logs he had felt that he needed to write down. She wasn't looking for anything in particular; though she was interested in finding out more about this "Raven" she had heard about. She hadn't found anything more than a few mentions here and there. Finally giving up on the journal, she turned her attention to the entry that had been ripped out: the one about her. I wonder what he had said about me. Nothing bad, I hope. She unfolded the paper and began to read it.
"Concerning my new tank commander Jess
I have been in command of the Green Earth Western Fleet for only a year now, and am already finding it difficult to get good subordinates. Or so I thought before I met Jess. She is a very talented commander, specializing in armored warfare. But there is something else about the red head that intrigues me. Her skill in tank warfare rivals my own. It is as if she too has the ability to detect weaknesses in enemy equipment. Currently, she is only a squad leader, but I have sent an application to the war committee requesting permission to issue a promotion. If it is approved, Jess will join my command staff. From there, I will watch her from afar. She has great potential, and a strong spirit. I am confident that she will not disappoint the War Committee, Green Earth, or I. Who knows? She may even become part of my personal command crew. I would take great joy in mentoring the young woman; she has some spirit and attitude that I would enjoy having around the command center."
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Seymour was standing in an emergency airport. There was an evacuation seaplane docked in a waterway. There were some metal crates lying around the area. Seymour leaned against one of them and pulled out his pipe from his coat pocket. As he stood there, he checked his Lugers. He wanted to make sure they were both fully loaded and were ready to fire. Unless he missed his guess, Hawke and Henson will come looking for him. They will want to know where he was and what he is up to. Putting his guns back in their hiding spots, he looked around the airport and tried to take in every detail. There were some stairs that lead to a catwalk which reached over to the other side of the airport. Below the catwalk was some very deep cold water. That made him think of home. Off the cost of Green Earth, the water was quite brisk. No, actually it was freezing. He missed his home. When this nightmare with Sturm was over, he would go back, and never leave. He missed his home, his family, and most of all, his precious Raven. He would make seeing her again a priority.
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After Hawke left, a silence fell over the room. It was just Henson and Lash. Lash didn't like the way Henson was attacking Seymour's character. She respected the TA, and felt he was trustworthy, but then again she didn't know anything about him. He had an interesting accent that hinted toward him being from Green Earth, but she didn't know anymore than that.
"He was just trying to get you to trust him. He is working for Sturm. I bet that he is contacting him this minute," Henson said.
"You're wrong; he would never betray Black Hole. If there is a traitor, it is probably Hawke."
"Why would Hawke, a native of Black Hole betray his country? The answer: he wouldn't. Seymour is the traitor, and I'll hear no more of your misconceptions. Now Hawke is going to confront Seymour, place him under arrest, and take him to face his punishment for treason. I should go and help. I look forward to yanking those sunglasses off his arrogant face and looking him in his cowardly eyes. The look on his face will be delicious when he finds that we learned about his plot." Henson left the room to go find his mortal enemy.
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Hawke entered the service elevator and pressed 'A' for the service airport. He saw what looked like part of a seaplane on the security monitor, so he assumed that Seymour had gone there. As the elevator started down, he pulled out his Mauser Red 9 and double checked that it was loaded. He also checked his pockets for three extra ammo magazines. He was afraid of what he would have to do. The TA had been what Hawke tried to be: a mystery. Hawke was constantly trying to keep his intentions to himself, but they were slowly beginning to leak out. He knew what he had to do. He didn't want to. The advisor was too good of a man to simply shoot dead and leave rotting on the cold steel floor, but he was a liability: one that could cost Von Bolt everything. The lord had contacted him in the middle of the night just before they went ashore. His words still burned Hawke's ears as he ran them through his mind once again.
"Kill him WHEEZE dead. Don't give him a chance to ruin our plans, HACK WHEEZE don't hesitate. Do it for Black Hole!"
Hawke didn't relish the thought of having to do this, but it was for the best. When he got there, he would shoot out the security camera so the admiral and the young girl wouldn't see it.
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Seymour was thinking of what role Blue Moon would play in these deadly mind games. Sturm is one to prepare for such things in advanced. He had probably already spoken with Olaf and set up a payment schedule. His concerns then drifted back to his home: Green Earth. For years, he had worked behind the scenes in order to secure everyone's freedom. Then the time came for him to stand up and defend his fellow countrymen directly. He poured everything he had into his job. He always wanted to serve the country that he grew up in; patrolling the seas he was raised on. It was his life's work to defend his land. But he was betrayed. Not by mutineers. Not by one he called friend. It was the very country he lived to die for that turned its back on him. But he wasn't one to hold a grudge. Even now, he risked life and limb to protect Green Earth from a madman that would bring about the end of the free world. Even now, as they turn their back on him, he fights the battles that they can't just so that the people of Green Earth can sleep soundly; even if for only one more night. He has woken up to the sounds of cannonfire, bombs, rockets, and machine guns many a night, and it was not something that he wished for the children of Green Earth. They deserved better than to live in fear of the open sea and skies. Even if they didn't want his help, he would give his life willingly to save them. That was a responsibility he undertook when they pinned that fourth star on his chest… and he accepted it with pride.
Everyone was suspecting the other of treason, and were more than ready to tear each other's throats out. He couldn't help but feel that there may have been a misunderstanding. Maybe there was a way that wouldn't result in the death of Hawke or Henson. Neither were pleasant to be around, but he didn't with them any ill will. However, there was the communiqué from Sturm. Some of the crewmen overheard what sounded like Hawke speaking with Lord Krauserhauff Von Bolt. Further investigation of the signal showed that it was from one of Sturm's underground bunkers about three kilometers away. Sturm was no doubt using his voice manipulator to converse with Hawke in disguise. Sturm wanted him dead. This didn't bother Seymour in the slightest. For the better part of his career, he was shot at. Enemy planes would swoop down on his command deck and fill the room full of gunfire. He had been shot in the arm, leg, shoulder, and knee; the most painful of all. He had even more near misses. On more than one occasion, he had the very cap shot clean off his head. He was used to people wanting him dead. That is why he became such a proficient marksman. He wasn't sure of what kind of firsthand experience Hawke had with having to face mortality. The sound of an elevator opening brought back his focus. Tapping his pipe against a metal crate, he pulled out one of his Lugers from its holster.
"Alright sweetheart, lets you and I get the drop on Hawke. It's time to get this show started."
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Whoa; things are starting to turn ugly here. I'll be taking bets on who is the last one standing if you're interested. Only joking; I wouldn't really be that stupid. Who is going to win this fight? Did Hawke know that he was talking to Sturm? Hmmm…