Chapter Two Thousand One Hundred Seventeen
22nd January 1972
Munich, Bavaria
“There is nothing anyone can do” Kiki said as she hugged Vicky, “I’m sorry.”
Vicky didn’t trust herself to reply without starting to sob again.
Looking at the form of her newborn son, Ludwig. Vicky felt it was a small mercy that someone had wrapped cloth around his head so that she didn’t have to look at the deformation again. He essentially had no cranium and his brain had hardly developed. According to the Doctors, he was blind, deaf, and incapable of feeling pain, so he wasn’t suffering. Still, it felt to Vicky that him being born this way was the most unjust thing she had ever witnessed.
Vicky felt terrible about what had happened, but it was exactly like how Kiki just said it was. There was nothing anyone could do. As was protocol in situations like this, her second son was christened Ludwig Karl von Bayern minutes after he was born. The public outside was waiting for news so that they could celebrate the birth of a new Prince, in a few minutes an announcement would be made that end that would change all of that as Ludwig was not expected to live for more than a few hours. Vicky had known this was coming for the last couple months since a scan had revealed something terrible. The term NRD had been whispered by the Technicians who were conducting the scan, not realizing that Vicky was studying for a Doctorate in Psychology. She had understood instantly that it meant a neural tube defect had been detected and had realized even before her Doctor had explained it to her that there was little hope of survival. When Ludwig had been born, the silence made it clear that something was very wrong, even before Vicky had seen his malformed head.
Vicky and Franz had tried to keep the matter a secret from the public, but Albrecht, Franz’s father had found out somehow. For him this was troublesome, he had the upcoming Olympics that were supposed to showcase Bavaria on the World Stage. He was planning on attending the Opening Ceremonies and other events with his family. Having Vicky present with his latest grandchild was exactly the sort of picture that he wanted the world to see. Instead, he was going to give a carefully worded statement, managing the public perceptions by telling them that all families experience tragedies and his own was no exception. He had done his best to offer Vicky his sympathies, but at the end of the day he had to play the role of King of Bavaria and everything he did had to be seen through that lens.
Charlotte, Suga, Kiki, and Ria had dropped everything to come be here for her after she had finally called them and told them what was happening. Charlotte had debated bringing Nella and Nan but had decided that having pair of twelve-year-old girls asking questions, getting bored and causing trouble was the last thing this situation needed. They had remained in Berlin, and Vicky was grateful for it.
Kiki’s own daughter had been left in the care of her husband and Nanny in Kiel where Kiki had been studying to be a Ship’s Pilot. That sounded strange, but it was perfectly in keeping with who Kiki was. Ria was running Galicia and Ruthenia in a way that few others could have. Recently, she had created a bit of a public uproar by formally acknowledging the key role that Gypsies and Jews had played in that new Kingdom’s formation. Ria’s public response was that she was simply telling the truth, if people had a problem with that then it spoke volumes about them. Charlotte and Suga had been continuing Charlotte’s efforts on behalf of the poor and destitute in the major cities. That included those who society would normally ignore because they were difficult to help for a variety of reasons. Suga was also preparing to leave for Japan so that she could play an important part in the Winter Games that were set to start in only a couple of weeks.
Franz and Anna were gutted by having this happen. They had all been excited when Vicky learned that she was pregnant again. Max was going to have a little brother or sister and they would have another addition to their unconventional family. All Vicky could do was cry and then she would have to get on with her life. Somehow that last part seemed to be particularly sad.
Pacific Ocean, Off Isla Campana
SMS Z66 “Schwertwal” was steaming south to resupply after weeks of frustrating blockade duty off the coast of Chile. They had operating under rules of engagement that caused the situation. They were to stop and search ships that were suspected of hauling war materials into Chile. The issue was they were not allowed to force compliance with American flagged vessels, because no one wanted to risk a wider war with a Nuclear Power. It was something that the U.S. Merchant Marine knew perfectly well as they had swanned in and out of Chilean Seaports. They barely acknowledged the German and Argentine ships that were patrolling the area. There had been a few operations where they had shelled those same seaports and had come under fire from shore batteries. The Chilean Navy hadn’t sortied, but everyone knew that they didn’t need to.
After New Year’s things had changed.
Rumors had floated around about what was happening and they had spotted few American ships. Mostly, word was that the war was coming to an end, and no one wanted to take any risks.
For the Schwertwal, having to steam south for the Strait of Magellan was matter of practicality. The fuel bunker was running low, and food was in short supply. The Captain had left Louis Junior in charge of the ship while he slept.
That was why Louis was on the bridge when the message came in and as he was reading it, he knew that it was welcome news indeed. Ceasefire has been declared as of 1300 hours local time for all Forces in South American Theater of operations. All Forces are to hold in place and only fire if fired upon.
“I need you to go wake the Captain” Louis said to the nearest Sailor who gave him a look of trepidation.