New teams mean new team leaders. Ritchis isn't replacing Mullens, just "learning the ropes with Mullens to guide him" honest guv.
Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
"Wife? But we gave you a rifle. And grenades! Not to mention C-rations!!"
Said Cooper, around the butter in his mouth, that was stubbornly refusing to melt.
Part 109, Chapter 1774
Chapter One Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Four
31st December 1966
Rural Silesia
The crunch of frozen snow under his boots was a reminder of just how cold it was this afternoon. Rust was padding along at his side. The big dog having been bred to live in this sort of weather, his fur and face gave him the deceptive appearance of being like a big plush toy. Manfred had seen displays of Rust’s true nature at times and knew that he was in his element here. Like always, Manfred was carrying the 9.3mm double that was almost an extension of his arm after so many years.
It being New Year’s Eve, most everyone else was celebrating. Manfred didn’t have a whole lot to celebrate year and the stark monochrome of the forest in the deepest part of winter perfectly suited his mood. Whenever he looked around his house, he saw reminders of Käte’s presence though she was gone. He had not been able to spend another moment there. Käte had slipped away a couple days after Christmas, her last wish being able to spend the holiday with family. She had succeeded in that, but it had hardly made matters easier. Christmas itself had been an awkward affair where everyone had done their best to pretend that everything was normal. They had been unusually subdued for obvious reasons.
Manfred knew that Käte would have hated the big production her memorial service had become. She was the wife of the Prince Elector of Silesia, two of her children were making profound changes to the world, Albrecht as an Explorer and Helene was in the Government as the Minister of Education. Sonje Louise and Caecilia led quieter, though no less important lives. Their choice had been to be wives and mothers echoed Käte and Manfred didn’t look down on them for it, he had just come to realize that Helene’s rejection of traditional roles had probably been the correct one. Because of all of that the service had taken place at St. Christopher Church in Breslau with many notable people present. Käte would probably not have liked that very much. There in the church were Kings, Archdukes and even the Emperor himself, their presence had been an acknowledgement of the heights that Manfred had risen to, with many of them having to address him as an equal. She had despised those sorts of games. There had also the thought at the back of his mind the entire time that after a lifetime of advancement and gathering power, Manfred couldn’t have the thing that he most wanted at that moment.
For Manfred it felt like a violation of the natural order of things that she had gone first. He had spent his entire life taking risks and in pursuit of his ambitions while Käte had patiently maintained his household during the absences that he had come to realize had been far too frequent over the last five decades. Now she was gone, he was still here and that wasn’t sitting well with him. It should have been the other way around, a thousand times over. Trying to find solace in the forest seemed like it was a better choice than spending the afternoon listening to others tell him that he had their condolences…
Wrapped up in his own thoughts, Manfred was hardly paying attention to the forest around him until he heard Rust’s warning growl. Twenty or so paces ahead, a large boar stood with its breath steaming in the frigid air. The posture of the animal suggested that Manfred had somehow taken it by surprise, a difficult thing to do on purpose. He barely had time to get the double level to get off a snapshot as the boar charged, it went wide. A heartbeat later he lined up the second shot and fired hitting the boar in the chest, to limited effect. As the boar came charging at him Manfred caught a glimpse of a red and white blur as Rust met the boar head on. He was big for an Akita at sixty kilos, but the boar outweighed him by a considerable margin, so Rust was sent sprawling but not before he managed to stop the boar’s momentum. Breaking open the action on the double and ejecting the spent cartridges, Manfred fumbled to reload cursing how the cold made his fingers clumsy.
Manfred was surprised when another shot rang out, a spray of blood and grey matter spreading out across the snow. The boar’s movement stopped, and it stood there for a long minute before collapsing dead. Rust limped back to Manfred. His shoulder had a wound that was bleeding where one of the tusks had caught him, which meant that the dog had earned himself a trip to the vet for his loyalty though he didn’t seem to be in danger of dying. He deserved a better reward than that.
Looking at the boar. Manfred could see how the kill shot had been a neat piece of work. Through the back of the skull, destroying the brainstem and instantly killing it. Like turning off a light switch. He doubted that he could have made a shot like that even in his prime, Manfred had no doubt who had fired it. In recent years, his grandson had become something of a savant with a rifle.
“Your mother told you to follow me?” Manfred asked.
“Aunt Ilse and Aunt Katherine as well” Manny said stepping out from the trees. He was carrying a rifle that was familiar to Manfred, the FN prototype from his collection chambered in 8x57mm that was the basis for the Mauser G31 and FN33 that had both been chambered in 7.92x38 Kurz. Not that Mauser would ever admit to having ripped off the Belgian design, but Manfred had been the one who had suggested that they do it. He had heard that FN was pissed about the recent actions of Brno and remembered the previous incident. They were claiming that the Vz.60 was too similar to a design of theirs. The fact that the Vz.60 could use G44 magazines as well as belts of ammunition had blown the legal case out of the water. It was an odd feat of engineering that Manfred had yet to see personally.
“Well, thank you” Manfred said to Manny who just smiled. Even as he said it, he knew full well that his daughter and daughters-in-law would give him an earful over what had happened.
31st December 1966
Rural Silesia
The crunch of frozen snow under his boots was a reminder of just how cold it was this afternoon. Rust was padding along at his side. The big dog having been bred to live in this sort of weather, his fur and face gave him the deceptive appearance of being like a big plush toy. Manfred had seen displays of Rust’s true nature at times and knew that he was in his element here. Like always, Manfred was carrying the 9.3mm double that was almost an extension of his arm after so many years.
It being New Year’s Eve, most everyone else was celebrating. Manfred didn’t have a whole lot to celebrate year and the stark monochrome of the forest in the deepest part of winter perfectly suited his mood. Whenever he looked around his house, he saw reminders of Käte’s presence though she was gone. He had not been able to spend another moment there. Käte had slipped away a couple days after Christmas, her last wish being able to spend the holiday with family. She had succeeded in that, but it had hardly made matters easier. Christmas itself had been an awkward affair where everyone had done their best to pretend that everything was normal. They had been unusually subdued for obvious reasons.
Manfred knew that Käte would have hated the big production her memorial service had become. She was the wife of the Prince Elector of Silesia, two of her children were making profound changes to the world, Albrecht as an Explorer and Helene was in the Government as the Minister of Education. Sonje Louise and Caecilia led quieter, though no less important lives. Their choice had been to be wives and mothers echoed Käte and Manfred didn’t look down on them for it, he had just come to realize that Helene’s rejection of traditional roles had probably been the correct one. Because of all of that the service had taken place at St. Christopher Church in Breslau with many notable people present. Käte would probably not have liked that very much. There in the church were Kings, Archdukes and even the Emperor himself, their presence had been an acknowledgement of the heights that Manfred had risen to, with many of them having to address him as an equal. She had despised those sorts of games. There had also the thought at the back of his mind the entire time that after a lifetime of advancement and gathering power, Manfred couldn’t have the thing that he most wanted at that moment.
For Manfred it felt like a violation of the natural order of things that she had gone first. He had spent his entire life taking risks and in pursuit of his ambitions while Käte had patiently maintained his household during the absences that he had come to realize had been far too frequent over the last five decades. Now she was gone, he was still here and that wasn’t sitting well with him. It should have been the other way around, a thousand times over. Trying to find solace in the forest seemed like it was a better choice than spending the afternoon listening to others tell him that he had their condolences…
Wrapped up in his own thoughts, Manfred was hardly paying attention to the forest around him until he heard Rust’s warning growl. Twenty or so paces ahead, a large boar stood with its breath steaming in the frigid air. The posture of the animal suggested that Manfred had somehow taken it by surprise, a difficult thing to do on purpose. He barely had time to get the double level to get off a snapshot as the boar charged, it went wide. A heartbeat later he lined up the second shot and fired hitting the boar in the chest, to limited effect. As the boar came charging at him Manfred caught a glimpse of a red and white blur as Rust met the boar head on. He was big for an Akita at sixty kilos, but the boar outweighed him by a considerable margin, so Rust was sent sprawling but not before he managed to stop the boar’s momentum. Breaking open the action on the double and ejecting the spent cartridges, Manfred fumbled to reload cursing how the cold made his fingers clumsy.
Manfred was surprised when another shot rang out, a spray of blood and grey matter spreading out across the snow. The boar’s movement stopped, and it stood there for a long minute before collapsing dead. Rust limped back to Manfred. His shoulder had a wound that was bleeding where one of the tusks had caught him, which meant that the dog had earned himself a trip to the vet for his loyalty though he didn’t seem to be in danger of dying. He deserved a better reward than that.
Looking at the boar. Manfred could see how the kill shot had been a neat piece of work. Through the back of the skull, destroying the brainstem and instantly killing it. Like turning off a light switch. He doubted that he could have made a shot like that even in his prime, Manfred had no doubt who had fired it. In recent years, his grandson had become something of a savant with a rifle.
“Your mother told you to follow me?” Manfred asked.
“Aunt Ilse and Aunt Katherine as well” Manny said stepping out from the trees. He was carrying a rifle that was familiar to Manfred, the FN prototype from his collection chambered in 8x57mm that was the basis for the Mauser G31 and FN33 that had both been chambered in 7.92x38 Kurz. Not that Mauser would ever admit to having ripped off the Belgian design, but Manfred had been the one who had suggested that they do it. He had heard that FN was pissed about the recent actions of Brno and remembered the previous incident. They were claiming that the Vz.60 was too similar to a design of theirs. The fact that the Vz.60 could use G44 magazines as well as belts of ammunition had blown the legal case out of the water. It was an odd feat of engineering that Manfred had yet to see personally.
“Well, thank you” Manfred said to Manny who just smiled. Even as he said it, he knew full well that his daughter and daughters-in-law would give him an earful over what had happened.
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Did anyone else notice that Kat is included under the daughter in-law label. I think its sweet that despite all the conflicts between Manfred and Kat they do care about each other and consider each other family.
My father hit a boar (wild pig descended from feral domestic breeds) with his ute years ago (late 70s). Damn thing bounced, got up & trotted off into the bush as if nothing had happened to it. The ute just sat there with a shattered radiator & broken steering linkage, waiting for a tow truck.
When I first read the update I thought that the Graf was giving up on life but I think that he just got a jolt that made him realize that he has a lot to live for.
First he is now an Elector with the power to choose the next Kaiser, he has his grandchildren both biological and otherwise that he can enjoy sharing nature with.
I always enjoy the updates of the Graf with Frost, we have from the timelines that Manfred von Richthofen really loves his dogs but he has shown that Frost is his favorite and as a reward for saving his life Frost now gets to "Pull a Rauchbier"
First he is now an Elector with the power to choose the next Kaiser, he has his grandchildren both biological and otherwise that he can enjoy sharing nature with.
I always enjoy the updates of the Graf with Frost, we have from the timelines that Manfred von Richthofen really loves his dogs but he has shown that Frost is his favorite and as a reward for saving his life Frost now gets to "Pull a Rauchbier"
Part 109, Chapter 1775
Chapter One Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Five
2nd January 1967
Silesia
The Doctor that Manfred’s daughter had insisted look him over said that he was in good health for a man his age, just he needed to admit that he wasn’t as young as he used to be. Rust had ended up with a couple dozen stitches and had a great deal of fur shaved off on his right flank. The vet had placed a plastic cone around his head to keep him from worrying at the stitches and that had to be one of the sorriest things that Manfred had seen in his life. He had sent a letter to the Emperor of Japan detailing Rust’s valor and loyalty in a dangerous situation. The Japanese went for that sort thing and Rust’s sire Aki was a gift from the Japanese Emperor to the German Crown Prince. While he had not said so directly, Manfred knew that perhaps it was time for Rust to have a companion or two, so as to continue the bloodline. If Hirohito responded than Manfred would broach that topic at an appropriate time.
Manfred’s prediction about his daughter’s reaction to what had happened proved unfortunately correct. She had tried to forbid him from leaving the house until he was in a better frame of mind, as if he had been looking to do himself harm, “By putting himself in a situation that would have been profoundly dangerous for a man half his age” as Helene put it. There were times when he realized that she had turned out a lot like him and it wasn’t a flattering experience. He hadn’t gone looking for the damned boar, but Helene had stubbornly refused to believe him.
This had come at a time when he had needed to escape the house because as the new year had dawned, the implications of him being a widower had come with it. All across Lower Silesia there were a great many widows and spinsters who felt it was tragic that a man of Manfred’s stature and wealth should spend his twilight years all alone. Käte would have laughed her head off because it had always been her contention that a man alone was nothing but trouble. That seemed to be something that the older women in this region agreed with. Manfred the Younger had laughed about it, saying how funny that at seventy-four Opa was suddenly quite the catch. Manfred had shut him up with a reminder about the last thing that Käte had said to him, that he needed to stop being so pigheaded and apologize to the girl. Manfred knew that was referring to General Knispel’s daughter, who was by all accounts a good match for Manny until the boy had messed things up. That was dirty pool, but he had seriously not wanted to hear about this turn from his grandson.
It had been Katherine who had come up with a compromise, Manfred could take a walk, but he couldn’t go alone. What that looked like in practice was him leading a group of children bundled against the winter cold through the forest. They made so much noise with their bickering that any wildlife for kilometers around had fled. Manfred didn’t mind because in many respects they reminded him of himself, Elisabeth, Lothar, and Wolfram when they had been children decades earlier.
Nikolaus imagined himself the leader, something that both Marie Alexandra and Sabastian disagreed with vehemently. Anna Gertrude, Sabastian’s little sister, didn’t venture an opinion but had kicked Niko in the shin to make her feelings known. Anna was still at an age when she worshiped her big brother, when she wasn’t fighting with him herself that is. While she was a mousy girl and a direct reflection of what Nancy Jensen must have been like at that age, her attitude towards life seemed to be that of the Schultz family. God help anyone who thought that she was a pushover. Manfred couldn’t help but notice that Sabastian stood noticeably taller than Niko, his hands and feet had grown, like the paws of a puppy that was going to grow into a large dog. While he looked to have inherited the lanky build of his father, there were several aspects of him that were clearly echoes of Johann Schultz. With any hope, being a conniving bastard wasn’t one of them. While Anna and Sabastian were not blood relations, they had spent much of their lives here and Manfred had always been Opa to them.
Marie was getting older as well, not necessarily a child anymore. While the copper colored hair proclaimed to the world who her mother was, her face was starting to tell a different story, becoming heart-shaped and leaning towards her father’s French-Canadian background. Her appearance was starting to remind him a bit of the women he had seen in France in his youth. The fact that she was perfectly willing to get up in Niko’s face and tell him that he was being stupid though, that was a valuable trait that she had inherited from both her parents.
Niko’s appearance reflected those of Albrecht and Ilse. If Manfred had to guess, he was probably going to be the perfect size to be a Cavalry Trooper. His desire to lead was evident, though he would need to do that with a less fractious circle in the future. Of course, Manfred understood that leadership needed to be challenged at times. Who better than cousins for that?
2nd January 1967
Silesia
The Doctor that Manfred’s daughter had insisted look him over said that he was in good health for a man his age, just he needed to admit that he wasn’t as young as he used to be. Rust had ended up with a couple dozen stitches and had a great deal of fur shaved off on his right flank. The vet had placed a plastic cone around his head to keep him from worrying at the stitches and that had to be one of the sorriest things that Manfred had seen in his life. He had sent a letter to the Emperor of Japan detailing Rust’s valor and loyalty in a dangerous situation. The Japanese went for that sort thing and Rust’s sire Aki was a gift from the Japanese Emperor to the German Crown Prince. While he had not said so directly, Manfred knew that perhaps it was time for Rust to have a companion or two, so as to continue the bloodline. If Hirohito responded than Manfred would broach that topic at an appropriate time.
Manfred’s prediction about his daughter’s reaction to what had happened proved unfortunately correct. She had tried to forbid him from leaving the house until he was in a better frame of mind, as if he had been looking to do himself harm, “By putting himself in a situation that would have been profoundly dangerous for a man half his age” as Helene put it. There were times when he realized that she had turned out a lot like him and it wasn’t a flattering experience. He hadn’t gone looking for the damned boar, but Helene had stubbornly refused to believe him.
This had come at a time when he had needed to escape the house because as the new year had dawned, the implications of him being a widower had come with it. All across Lower Silesia there were a great many widows and spinsters who felt it was tragic that a man of Manfred’s stature and wealth should spend his twilight years all alone. Käte would have laughed her head off because it had always been her contention that a man alone was nothing but trouble. That seemed to be something that the older women in this region agreed with. Manfred the Younger had laughed about it, saying how funny that at seventy-four Opa was suddenly quite the catch. Manfred had shut him up with a reminder about the last thing that Käte had said to him, that he needed to stop being so pigheaded and apologize to the girl. Manfred knew that was referring to General Knispel’s daughter, who was by all accounts a good match for Manny until the boy had messed things up. That was dirty pool, but he had seriously not wanted to hear about this turn from his grandson.
It had been Katherine who had come up with a compromise, Manfred could take a walk, but he couldn’t go alone. What that looked like in practice was him leading a group of children bundled against the winter cold through the forest. They made so much noise with their bickering that any wildlife for kilometers around had fled. Manfred didn’t mind because in many respects they reminded him of himself, Elisabeth, Lothar, and Wolfram when they had been children decades earlier.
Nikolaus imagined himself the leader, something that both Marie Alexandra and Sabastian disagreed with vehemently. Anna Gertrude, Sabastian’s little sister, didn’t venture an opinion but had kicked Niko in the shin to make her feelings known. Anna was still at an age when she worshiped her big brother, when she wasn’t fighting with him herself that is. While she was a mousy girl and a direct reflection of what Nancy Jensen must have been like at that age, her attitude towards life seemed to be that of the Schultz family. God help anyone who thought that she was a pushover. Manfred couldn’t help but notice that Sabastian stood noticeably taller than Niko, his hands and feet had grown, like the paws of a puppy that was going to grow into a large dog. While he looked to have inherited the lanky build of his father, there were several aspects of him that were clearly echoes of Johann Schultz. With any hope, being a conniving bastard wasn’t one of them. While Anna and Sabastian were not blood relations, they had spent much of their lives here and Manfred had always been Opa to them.
Marie was getting older as well, not necessarily a child anymore. While the copper colored hair proclaimed to the world who her mother was, her face was starting to tell a different story, becoming heart-shaped and leaning towards her father’s French-Canadian background. Her appearance was starting to remind him a bit of the women he had seen in France in his youth. The fact that she was perfectly willing to get up in Niko’s face and tell him that he was being stupid though, that was a valuable trait that she had inherited from both her parents.
Niko’s appearance reflected those of Albrecht and Ilse. If Manfred had to guess, he was probably going to be the perfect size to be a Cavalry Trooper. His desire to lead was evident, though he would need to do that with a less fractious circle in the future. Of course, Manfred understood that leadership needed to be challenged at times. Who better than cousins for that?
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Picture the scene at the next family gathering:
The parents relaxing in the parlour, catching up & digesting lunch, while Opa Manfred and the younger children have snuck off to his library, where he plies them with treats and stories of his adventures. Suddenly, the parents realise that it has gotten suspiciously... quiet...
The parents relaxing in the parlour, catching up & digesting lunch, while Opa Manfred and the younger children have snuck off to his library, where he plies them with treats and stories of his adventures. Suddenly, the parents realise that it has gotten suspiciously... quiet...