?Mirage was sitting at a bar, the same bar she and Erich had frequented on Quadi while they were both involved with Splinter during the previous timeline. This time around, Splinter had been lying low… After all, without roping Erih into their business, they had tried and failed to assassinate the instructor at the Naval Academy.

Because of this, they had alerted the authorities to their presence. And Butcher had yet to realize that his criminal organization had been infiltrated by the IIS. Mirage was sighing heavily as she twirled her finger around the top of the glass.

She had not in the least expected a decorated war hero like the “legendary” Erich Jaeger to sit down next to her, and thus she was surprised when he did so. Erich spoke to the woman in a friendly tone, as he asked her what was the best that this local dive bar had to offer.

“Pardon me miss, but do you mind telling me if there is anything safe to drink in this tavern?”

Mirage was not in the best of mood. After failing to catch the would be assassin in the act, she had been demoted back down to the rank of agent. She was extremely pissed that Butcher had pulled on over on her, and felt like she was losing his trust.

She was also angry that because of this, she would continue to have to exist in this mutated form until her job was complete. Thus, it was understandable, if one knew these circumstances why she would snap at Erich and his snide remark as he sat down next to her?

“If you don’t like it, go somewhere else! Why would you even- Oh **…. I’m so sorry Field Marshal I was way out of line!”

Erich leaned in close and whispered something that sent a chill down Mirage’s spine as he revealed her identity on the spot. Luckily, he had done it in a voice so low that nobody else could hear them.

“Is it not customary for an agent of the IIS to salute a general when she meets one?” Googl search ovel(ꜰ)re.nt

Mirage quickly looked around to see if anyone else had heard Erich’s words, before sighing in relief when she noticed nobody had reacted. She then punched the man in the shoulder and called him an ass to his face for daring to play such a cruel prank on her.

“Asshole! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!?!”

Mirage had acted on instinct, and forgotten in the moment of her fury, that she had just struck a general of the highest rank. She practically pissed herself in fear when she came to this realization, that is until Erich laughed it off.

“You’re cute when you’re nervous, you know that. Mirage was it?”

Mirage blushed when she heard Erich call her cute. She had obviously known who Erich was, as did pretty much everyone else in the Empire. The propaganda about his “repeated victories in border clashes with alien civilizations”, were now widespread.

In reality, even an agent of the IIS like Mirage did not have access to the truth of what Erich had been up to over these past few years since gaining his second attempt at life. Or that his entire service record in this life was entirely falsified.

But Erich did not actually care about this “stolen valor” because what he had accomplished in the previous timeline was far grander than what the Empire said he had done in this one. Thus, he acted as if he fully deserved his rank and honors, because he did.

Still, Erich introduced himself to the woman properly, if not simply because it was the correct thing to do as per social conventions.

“The name is Erich… Erich Jaeger, but I’m sure you already knew that. So, is there something you would recommend off the menu? Or should I just order recklessly?”

Mirage finally recovered her wits, and was quick to point out her favorite drink, which Erich was already aware of. He then ordered it and drank in excess with Mirage while questioning her about her “life” or that of her cover. After all, he was deeply interested in what had happened to Splinter in this timeline.

Mirage, of course, only said what she was allowed to say, though Erich may have security clearance to read all of her reports. She couldn’t openly say what she had been up to in a criminal bar. Thus, Erich simply became reacquainted with the woman.

The two of them drank, and spoke of many things, getting to know one another the best they could while all eyes were watching them before Erich said farewell. His excuse for visiting the bar was that his fleet had just come back to Quadi for repairs, and he was in desperate need of a drink after his last campaign..

This was of course all in line with the actual happenings of the task force he was officially currently leading. And thus, when the criminals investigated his claims it would all come back as legit. As for Mirage. She had decided to go out and find Erich in her proper form once she had finally completed her mission with a splinter.

In fact, this meeting with the legendary Hero of the Empire was the kick in the pants she needed to actually do her job properly. Thus, despite having just been sulking prior to contact with Erich, the blue-haired beauty decided she would now give it her all into bringing down Splinter and the criminal element altogether.

Thus, once more Erich had made a far superior first impression on one of the many women who he needed to make things up to in this second chance at the life of his. Perhaps this time around there would be no mutual hatred between Mirage and Erich, like they had endured and moved beyond during the past timeline.

If that were the case, the two of them might have a far more healthy relationship in this life, or at least that was Erich’s hope.