Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III

Over the years we have done a lot of Shipping, some that have worked out (Stefhoni, Beniki) and others that haven't (LouZella), but one of the people that we haven't shipped is Jo who has been described as a "Nordic Goddess".
This wedding will bring Jo in contact with a virtual (insert Scandinavian word for a large buffet style meal) with some of the World's Most Eligible Bachelors who might show some interest in her.
 
If we go back to how the relationships that the Mischner men has developed, it is the women who have taken charge of them.
First with Hans as it was Helene who made the first, second, and all other subsequent moves until she told the Kaiser that Hans was his Intended without Hans knowing it.
With Stefan it was Nzhoni von Horst who first asked him to dance when he was a lowly Sodat, and she has been leading ever since then.
Now with Young Manfred, Suse Rosa has been in charge of the pace of the courtship.
If Gretchen really wants Niko, she MUST tell Niko things like “The movie starts at eight and we are going to get something to eat first”, and having Mischner DNA in him, he will just go along with it.
And let's not forget it cleaves to the female side of the family too. Doug's courting of Kat proceeded exactly at the pace and timing that Kat was comfortable with and Doug was prepared to deal with that.
 
Part 137, Chapter 2361
Chapter Two Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-One



21st March 1975

Breslau, Silesia

It had been a lovely wedding so far. It was a crisp spring afternoon which was perfect as the wedding party made its way through the streets of Breslau. No one was sure how the tradition had reached Germany, but a brass band playing Berliner Jazz was leading the parade. It made an interesting counterpoint to the Martial aspect that was inevitable considering the families involved.

With the large number of notable people present, it was hardly a surprise that Martin J. Hillenbrand would find himself lost in the shuffle as the Wedding Parade made its way from the Church to the reception hall. As the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, he had a duty to observe everything that was happening so that he could brief the President if called on to do so. There was also the added bonus of his wife being delighted to have been invited to what had become a major social event.

Now though, it was incredibly awkward in that he found himself in the limousine that was following the one that the German Kaiser was in, one that had prominent members of the German Government riding in it along with a few of their aides. That included the man who he knew was an agent in the pay of the CIA. One slip on his part and an operation that had been years in the planning and execution would be undone in a heartbeat. That entire operation was “Need to know” and Hillenbrand had found out anyway because people liked telling their stories, CIA Officers being no exception. He wasn’t any happier with that knowledge because he understood the implications if the whole thing went south.

The Parade was moving incredibly slow, only at the pace of the brass band that was marching with the main wedding party. Hillenbrand could see that a young man he recognized as Nikolaus von Richthofen was on a horse that was trotting next to the Kaiser’s limo wearing the red and blue dress uniform of the Cavalry Unit he was a part of. The description of Nikolaus in the files provided by the State Department had made him sound like if he were still a child. The young man he was seeing looked formidable. The State Department had also provided analysis that suggested that Albrecht von Richthofen wasn’t seen as the same force that his father was. Were they not paying attention to the fact that Albrecht was an Admiral in the German Navy who had been a Fighter Pilot and the head of the European Space Agency? Anyone working off that assumption was in for a rude awakening.

Looking at the weapons that a Cavalry Officer typically carried, and the fact that he was doing that in the presence of the Kaiser suggested that young Nikolaus was also someone who was badly underestimated. Hillenbrand just wished that he were doing it somewhere else and not a few feet from America’s most valuable resource in Germany.

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“I am sure that you will do your best Niko regardless of where your grandfather’s ambitions land you” Freddy said to the boy who was riding his horse next to his car.

“I know, Sir” Niko replied, though his eyes were watching the rooftops ahead of the parade and scanning the crowds of people who lined the street. “Thank you, Sir.”

It seemed that Niko was already aware of his grandfather’s plans, how he was about to be named the Prince of Breslau. He had volunteered to join the 1st Guard Uhlans and 2nd Life Hussars today in providing the protection detail for the Emperor. It was the sort of act that drew respect and even if Niko was still considered a half-trained Officer Aspirant, he was taking the job extremely seriously as he moved out of easy talking distance with Freddy.

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Eventually, parade spilled into the public square that was the destination. The guests, many of whom had been transported by a different route ahead of the parade, had mostly acted as spectators as the doors of the reception hall were opened and the two couples who were supposed to be the center of attention were the first to enter. Ina had half-jokingly asked Suse what Karl Marx would have made of all of this. She had just shrugged and said that old conman would have been more interested in where he would be seated during the meal. The fact that seating by social rank, above or below the salt, even the idea that Kings, Dukes, and Counts were still a thing wouldn’t have entered his thinking until after the last drinks were served.

It was Suse Rosa’s cynicism that was at the forefront of Ina’s mind as she watched the hundreds of guests file into the reception hall. Her cousin Niko had said that the problem in Silesia was the same one that he had encountered in Argentina. There were just too many interests and that without a strong enough leader at the top of it, everyone went about feathering their own nest at everyone else’s expense. This entire wedding had instantly become a display of exactly who was in charge. Suse had known this the entire time and had resisted getting married for a long time. Ina’s big brother Manny, bless him, had understood, and would have eloped with her if she had wanted to, but Suse had understood that her mother and Manny’s grandfather would never allow things to be so simple. Not in a thousand years.

As the toasts started, there was mention of how Suse and Manny got together originally with her as his math tutor, so there was no question about who the smart one was. That brought laughter, but it was obvious from the fixed smiles that it was probably a misreading of what had actually happened. The talk changed to Christian’s courtship of Ina, how he had often made the long trip from him from Brandenburg to Silesia and had somehow avoided incurring the wrath of Ina’s grandfather.

Finally, the moment that everyone of the guests had been waiting for. The one that the wedding had been incidental to for far too many of the guests. Ina’s grandfather started to talk, thanking the Emperor for attending such a momentous day and how today marked the beginning of so many things beyond two young couple’s lives together.

Then Manfred von Richthofen mentioned the Kingdom of Silesia by name. It was the culmination of a lifetime of scheming and ruthless application of power. That drew an immediate response from the room. Even as Ina heard this, the thought occurred to her that her grandfather had conquered a world that was already passing into the history books.
 
I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Warsaw is definitely NOT going to like this speech...

What can they do though? Didn't get they split anyway because of how belligerent they were to their German immigrants (or am I remembering that one wrong?)

Like, at this point, they don't have much in the way of political capital or credibility. Not to mention they weren't willing to work within the 'alliance' to secure their interests. Aka playing politics like grampa manny did.
 
I wonder how the `Big` picture of relations from CIA stacks up against reality. The programm should have been abandoned long a go, but given the inertia of goverment agencies and keeping a steady paycheck, it still be a thing in some basement in Washington
 
So apparently Niko is going to be the next King of Silesia, after all he is the most qualified for it.
Those qualifications just happened to be that his is the only male grandchild that has the von Richthofen name.
 
So apparently Niko is going to be the next King of Silesia, after all he is the most qualified for it.
Those qualifications just happened to be that his is the only male grandchild that has the von Richthofen name.
Isn't Vicky or Rea, (can't remember which), the current Queen, or is that a different part of used-to-be-Poland?
 
Rea is the Queen of Galicia-Ruthenia which was part of Poland until the Polish Nationalists decided that they wanted to kick out all the non-Polish people who immigrated there.
Silesia is a German State that used to be part of Prussia.
There was a reform of the various States and Prussia was divided into a number of different States such as Berlin, Brandenburg, and Silesia as some examples.
The Kingdom of Prussia apparently doesn't exist as a separate legal political entity but more as a historic designation to the collection of States that used to be part of the Kingdom of Prussia.
It seems to me that all that is really happening is that the State of Silesia is just renaming itself as The Kingdom of Silesia and replacing the elected Minister-President with a hereditary monarch as the Head of State with the real powers going to someone called First Minister, Premier, Prime Minister, or any other variations of titles.
 
So apparently Niko is going to be the next King of Silesia, after all he is the most qualified for it.
More like everyone knows that Manfred the Elder is finally retiring after this for real. His time as "King of Silesia" will be brief and he will defer to his son Albrecht upon his resignation, which will leave Niko as the designated heir and Manfred the Younger as the alternate.
 
Part 137, Chapter 2362
Chapter Two Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-Two



21st March 1975

Breslau, Silesia

After the toasts and Manfred von Richthofen’s bombastic speech where he basically declared himself the König of Silesia to much applause, everyone had settled in for a meal, followed by cake and light entertainment in the form of dancing as well as a few other amusements.

It was delightful watching Manfred and Suse Rosa dancing before they were joined by Christian and Katherine, Ina to those close to her. Marcella Böhler-Strobel had seen a lot of weddings during her life, but this one was that of her grandnephew and grandniece. She had to wonder what her husband Klaus would have had to say if he had lived to see this.

Of course, Klaus had always been close to Hans, so today would have been extra special for that reason. He would have adored Suse Rosa just had he had Kattie, he would have pointed out that Suse was Kattie’s goddaughter, so she was a good one even if he didn’t understand Suse’s mother Gerta most of the time. He would have called Christian a solid man with excellent prospects and that Ina could have done worse. In many ways, Ina was the best parts of Hans and Helene

She smiled at the memory of the lens through which her late husband had viewed the world through. Then he would have wanted to have talked about fishing or Football. As the other couples took to the dance floor, Marcella saw Nikolaus and Gretchen taking part as planned, but there was still a frostiness between them. Over the course of this wedding, both of them had revealed that they had a long way to go when came to growing up much to the exasperation of the other. Marcella knew that Gretchen had quietly had a crush on Niko for years and that Niko regrettably saw her as like a little sister. When he had shown interest in another young woman and was apparently too thick to see what was going on, she had let him have it. There was some question as to what might happen now that everything was out in the open. There was also Sebastian and Anna, Gretchen’s older brother and sister. They had been paired with another Junior Attendant of the wedding, but there was no personal history or chemistry. Once the celebration began in earnest, it was clear that they were going to swiftly part ways. The second dance included a chance for the respective parents of the brides and grooms to have a moment in the spotlight. It was bewildering for Marcella. Seeing that Generaloberst Kurt Markgraf von Knispel, introduced as the Marshal of Bohemia and the large number of medals that he wore and then when Hans was introduced, he more than matched the Bohemian General.

Another amusing thing to watch was Josefine and how she had men falling all over themselves to have her as a dance partner. She had been introduced as Suse Rosa’s dear friend and confidant, which was true. Few people seemed to believe that she was a School Teacher who taught University Courses and Continuing Adult Education on the Military Base in Wunsdorf. She also was dismayed by Suse Rosa moving out because they had shared a house in Wunsdorf-Zosen since they had returned from Argentina. It was strange to hear, but Jo had apparently never lived alone and was sort of frightened by the prospect…

“Tolle Tante?” Marcella heard a child’s voice ask, distracting her from her observations. Looking down, she saw Nina staring up at her. It was no surprise that Kiki had encouraged her to use a term like that in addressing Marcella.

“What are you doing away from your mother and father?” Marcella asked.

Nina just shrugged. “They don’t know I’m gone” She replied.

Looking across the hall, Marcella saw that Kiki and Benjamin were having to take part in the social aspect of the reception. She knew that by her nature Kiki was not normally inclined to interact with people like this, she was already looking exhausted and that would get worse as the evening wore on. It was the perfect setup for Nina to sneak off and Kiki really did need to acknowledge her present condition, she should have been taking things easy. Instead, this was what she was doing.

“It was rude of you to sneak off like that” Marcella said, “Your parents will be worried…” When they finally notice you’re gone, Marcella didn’t say that aloud for obvious reasons.

“They are always on about Louis Bernhard” Nina said, with a tone suggesting deep annoyance.

“Can you tell me who that is?” Marcella asked as she led Nina to the portion of one of the tables where the meal and desert had just concluded. There were a few people still seated there enjoying drinks.

“Well, Louis is Louis” Nina replied as she climbed onto the chair next to Marcella as if that explained anything. The wait staff was quick to give her a fresh glass of Champagne for Marcella and a glass of sparkling apple juice for Nina. Gerta and Hans were really getting their money’s worth in this event, as over the top and unbelievable as it was.

“I gathered that much” Marcella said. She remembered the conversations like this with Kattie long ago. Kattie had also made the same assumptions about things she deemed self-explanatory. “Where is this Louis?”

“Inside Momma” Nina replied, “What he’s doing in there? I don’t know.”

“So, they have picked a name and Louis Bernhard is going to be your little brother” Marcella said with a smile. That really was a wonderful name, both of the boy’s grandfathers.

Nina made a face though. “I’d rather have a bicycle” She said.

It was hardly a surprise that Nina was unaware of how her relationship with her little brother would be one of the most important in her life. If Marcella told her that, Nina would probably think that she was pulling her leg.

“Is that a fact?” Marcella asked and Nina nodded.

“I see Zoey riding all the time and that looks fun” Nina said, “She goes real fast.”
 
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Louis Bernhard is going to be your little brother” Marcella said with a smile.

Nina made a face though. “I’d rather have a bicycle” She said.
This looks like it was written by someone who has had a very similar conversation with a newly promoted older sibling...
 
Another amusing thing to watch was Josefine and how she had men falling all over themselves to have her as a dance partner. She had been introduced as Suse Rosa’s dear friend and confidant, which was true. Few people seemed to believe that she was a School Teacher who taught University Courses and Continuing Adult Education on the Military Base in Wunsdorf. She also was dismayed by Suse Rosa moving out because they had shared a house in Wunsdorf-Zosen since they had returned from Argentina. It was strange to hear, but Jo had apparently never lived alone and was sort of frightened by the prospect…
Is this Josefine this mystious CIA mole?
She is in Wunsdorf and close to Suse who has conections to the highest circles of Germany


Nina made a face though. “I’d rather have a bicycle” She said.
Nina, i feel with you my dear! ;)
 
Is this Josefine this mystious CIA mole?
She is in Wunsdorf and close to Suse who has conections to the highest circles of Germany
I think not:

Chapter Two Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-One


Now though, it was incredibly awkward in that he found himself in the limousine that was following the one that the German Kaiser was in, one that had prominent members of the German Government riding in it along with a few of their aides. That included the man who he knew was an agent in the pay of the CIA. One slip on his part and an operation that had been years in the planning and execution would be undone in a heartbeat.
 
Is this Josefine this mystious CIA mole?
She is in Wunsdorf and close to Suse who has conections to the highest circles of Germany
Doubt it. Josefine is one of the girls Kat took in, a daughter of one the subordinate gangsters of her father. While she has social connections to important people, it’s nothing in a capacity that would give her information that would be invaluable to the CIA.
 
That included the man who he knew was an agent in the pay of the CIA.
I stand corrected. She is no man.
dear friend and confidant, which was true. Few people seemed to believe that she was a School Teacher who taught University Courses and Continuing Adult Education on the Military Base in Wunsdorf.
While she has social connections to important people, it’s nothing in a capacity that would give her information that would be invaluable to the CIA.
Well she has access to Wunsdorf and as a teacher (and part time for adult education) myself, i can tell you you might be surprised what information you can get in that position.
 
Well she has access to Wunsdorf and as a teacher (and part time for adult education) myself, i can tell you you might be surprised what information you can get in that position.
Information for sure, but not nearly confidential enough to be considered such a valuable asset.
 
I think that the person we are looking for is someone who is in the room when the important discussions are going on and has access to the most sensitive documents.
IOTL around this time Willy Brandt (Herbert From) had an aide who was in the Stassi, and it was a big surprise as he passed several deep background checks.
The main problem is that there is no way in hell that the American Ambassador should have that information, and it is to his credit that he understands that.
What the Ambassador should do is take a "quiet" personal trip back home and inform the CIA director one on one that too many people have the information on who the asset is and getting them transferred quietly to other less sensitive posts including himself.
BTW Ambassador Hillenbrad was at this time the IOTL Ambassador to the FRG, also he was one of those professional career State Department officials who served the President no matter what party they were in.
 
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The dress uniform of the 3rd "Zieten" Hussar Regiment which Niko is a part of is based on the historic uniforms of the same Regiment. To give you some idea of what that looked like.
Zieten_Hussars_Trooper.jpg
images (2).jpg
 
I think that the person we are looking for is someone who is in the room when the important discussions are going on and has access to the most sensitive documents.
IOTL around this time Willy Brandt (Herbert From) had an aide who was in the Stassi, and it was a big surprise as he passed several deep background checks.
The main problem is that there is no way in hell that the American Ambassador should have that information, and it is to his credit that he understands that.
What the Ambassador should do is take a "quiet" personal trip back home and inform the CIA director one on one that too many people have the information on who the asset is and getting them transferred quietly to other less sensitive posts including himself.

BTW Ambassador Hillenbrad was at this time the IOTL Ambassador to the FRG, also he was one of those professional career State Department officials who served the President no matter what party they were in.
Hillenbrand is worried that he might let slip who their agent is, and rightfully so. However, I don't think he's quite reached the point of realizing that if the CIA agents stationed within his embassy have bragged to him, then there is a very real chance that they have flapped their lips to an unknown German counter-intelligence agent. Or that they are about to do so. Hell, considering the prank Bas is pulling on Ollie North, it's entirely possible for Bas & Niko to discover the "secret".
 
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