Interstellar Age
Chapter 70 The Black Sun Rises



Erich and Erika continued to live each day of their lives while barely making contact with one another. There were a multitude of reasons for this behavior, but chief of which was the fact that Erika was quite perturbed that she had been forced to retire from her career so early in order to play the role of a dutiful wife for her new husband. While Erich simply could not get over the fact that this woman had once cost him his relationship with his mother. 

The couple was married in name only, for they had neither consummated their marriage, nor held any significant feelings for one another, except for perhaps animosity. Thus, Erich's peaceful life away from the military went by in a flash of an eye as he lived out his days in a cold and loveless marriage. 

Before Erich knew it, two years had passed. During this time, he had mostly lived in his beachside mansion in the tropical world of Teutonia. The peaceful environment did wonders for his grieving heart and his shell-shocked mind. And after a while, he had managed to gain control over both of these things, at least to the point where, when called upon, he would be able to perform his combat duties once more. 

Erika spent almost all of her time drinking wine and watching the news. Life had moved on without her, and the pop group she once was once the front woman of had replaced her with a newer, younger star. And before long, the Empire had seemed to have forgotten about her altogether. This only created further resentment within the pink-haired beauty's mind, especially towards her husband, who she blamed for all of this. 

And while Erich and Erika were barely interacting with one another, and instead pursuing their own interests while living in the same house. The Empire had undergone a massive reconstruction effort. With the aid of the Alfheim dominion, those fifty worlds which once housed Germanic life were slowly but surely restored to a habitable state. 

Though it would still be many years before the Alfheim Dominion could do the same for the Dvrakian Worlds, which were now little more than barren rocks, this was not an immediate major concern for the Empire. Who had, over the past two years, bred trillions of new citizens artificially through the technology that the Light Elves had gifted them. It would take another eighteen years or so for these tank born offspring to reach adulthood, but when that happened, the Empire would have regained much of its devastated workforce. 

To repay the Alfheim Dominion for their generosity, the Empire had announced a new conscription effort, to force trillions of young men into the armed forces to serve on behalf of their Light Elven masters, who continued to squabble with their Dark cousins over their disputed borders. 

It thus came as no surprise when Erich finally received the call from the Navy to return to service within the newly reconstructed 13th Fleet of the First Armada. With a heavy sigh, he adorned his dress uniform, which he had not worn in years, and left his home with a bitter smile on his handsome face. 

Erich did not even bother saying goodbye to Erika. Instead, he left a note on the kitchen table for her to read. After getting in his personal starship and flying to the Industrial world of Quadi, where the First Armada lied in its full glory, Erich finally returned to active service. 

Perhaps the most surprising thing that Erich faced when entering the starship was the thunderous applause of all of his new comrades. There were few recognizable faces among the crew of the Carrier, but they all knew who Erich was, and were quick to sing their praises for the man who was considered the Germanic Star-Empire's most decorated war hero. 

"There he is!"

"Way to go Commander!"

"You are my hero, sir!"

Erich was not accustomed to such praise, but for some reason, the memories which had haunted him for the last two years did not immediately surface, instead the calming sound of the ocean's waves filled his mind.

Thus, Erich was able to wear a smile for perhaps the first time in two whole years as he saluted the crew of the Carrier which he served upon, before shouting the most common battle cry that the Empire's warriors chanted while charging into battle. 

"Hail victory!"

The blonde and red-haired men of the Germanic Navy responded to the Commander's salute with one of their own, before chanting his words back to him.

"Hail victory!"

After which, there was a loud slow clap which was coming from a middle-aged man who Erich recognized to be an Admiral by the uniform he wore. Once this man had garnered the attention of those crew members who were gathered in the hangar of the ship, he spoke in a rather prideful voice as he welcomed Erich aboard his ship. 

"Commander.… Let me be the first to congratulate your return to active service. I now I speak for many of us here, when I say that your presence aboard this carrier has done wonders for our morale. It is truly the honor of every man present, including myself, to have you among our ranks. 

I am sure you will be happy to know that during your absence, this ship has received many upgrades. Ones that I hope you will replace enhances your tenure aboard the fleet. With that said, I look forward to serving with you, Commander Jaeger, and I hope to see the Black Sun back in action before long. After all, the Centennial War Games are just around the corner. And the Empire will need its best pilots front and center if we wish to intimidate the enemy!"

Erich simply smiled and nodded towards the Admiral, who did the same before leaving the Hangar without saying another word. It was only then that Erich was introduced to his pilots. Unlike before the war with Terminus, every man who stood at attention within the hangar was dressed in the signature black flight suit of the Black Sun. Just when Erich was about to inquire about why this was the case, a young officer stepped forward and explained the details. 

"Sir, I was informed to tell you that the Black Sun Squadron has now been expanded from a single elite fighter squadron to the size of an entire Carrier Air Group. As the new CAG, it is your responsibility to lead us all. So, what are your orders?"

Erich took once glance around the entire flight deck of the carrier and smiled as he reflected on his military carrer up until this point. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had entered the Navy as little more than a fighter pilot. Yet in just a few years he had come a long way, and was now the CAG or the Commander of the Air Group, which meant he now reported directly to the Admiral in the command of the ship. 

Erich was beginning to think that Emrys' promises weren't so full of shit after all. Thus, he sighed heavily before giving his first orders as the new CAG of the Black Sun. 

"Be prepared to take off immediately. I want to see what you young blood are capable of!" 

After saying this, the hundreds of pilots saluted their commander and responded in the affirmative. 

"Yes, sir!"

Erich would then spend the rest of the day running flight drills and simulated operations with his new Air Group. Anyone who was short of his standards would be forced to undergo extensive training to make up for their lack of skill. And before long, the Black Sun would rise from the ashes of its destruction, to become the spearhead of this newly reformed Imperial Navy. 

---

Erika awoke not long after Erich had left their home. At first, she thought the man was just out on another one of his walks. If there was one thing she had learned after being married to Erich for the past two years, it was that he needed his space.

And because of this, Erika would commonly watch from the balcony of their mansion as Erich took long walks alone on the beach at night. Almost as if she were a sailor man's wife waiting for him to come home to her safe and sound. 

However, after several hours had passed, she realized that Erich was truly not present, causing her to freak out just the tiniest amount. She quickly approached one of the staff members whose job was to maintain the large mansion and inquired about her husband's whereabouts. 

"Excuse me, but have you seen Erich lately?"

There was a slight look of confusion on the maid's face. After all, her job was to look after Erich and Erika, and because of this, she knew the sad reality of the couple's failing marriage. But to think that Erich would not even inform his wife that he was leaving her behind that was truly a sad state of affairs. Thus, she felt compelled to tell Erika that her husband had left her a note. 

"Ummm.... I believe master Erich has left you a note on the kitchen table, though I don't know if it is still there. Hold on, let me check."

After saying this, the maid rushed about the mansion in search of Erich's note, until finally she came scurrying back to Erika, where she handed the parchment over to the woman. Erika took one look at the few words that were written on the paper before tossing it aside. As the paper fell to the floor, it revealed the contents contained within, which was nothing short of callous. 

"I have been called back into service. Don't bother contacting me. -Commander Erich Jaeger"

Erika wept silently as she made her way back to her bedroom, the one which she had shared with Erich for the last two years. She then lay down on the bed while muttering a single phrase which escaped from her pristine lips, before she passed out from emotional exhaustion. 

"Erich, you dummy...."