Who is probably setting up a base in an extinct volcano while stroking a fluffy white cat.
Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread II
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
Who is probably setting up a base in an extinct volcano while stroking a fluffy white cat.
While there has been comparisons made about GHWB and Blofeld, there is not going to be any secret lairs.
Bush is basically running an one man operation using local talent wherever he goes, he might have some other help for things like banking but it is not going to be the secret army of evil henchmen like you see in Bond movies.
I watched The Spy Who Loved Me on DVD with the commentary on and they were talking about hard it would be to actually build a secret lair and raise an army of evil henchmen before a bunch of governments got interested and start investigating.
So the question is where does Bush show up next?
My bet is the Middle East with apparently ITTL it is more divided than it was OTL and the oil fields are less developed and more unexplored.
There are a lot of oil companies that want to control the oil there and are willing to finance the various tribes to act as proxies to fight over them, and Bush is the Man to See for getting arms and ammunition.
As for arming the Scots-Irish in Ireland, the British will help the Irish government because they don't want to have any part in creating an unstable situation next door to them.
Bush is basically running an one man operation using local talent wherever he goes, he might have some other help for things like banking but it is not going to be the secret army of evil henchmen like you see in Bond movies.
I watched The Spy Who Loved Me on DVD with the commentary on and they were talking about hard it would be to actually build a secret lair and raise an army of evil henchmen before a bunch of governments got interested and start investigating.
So the question is where does Bush show up next?
My bet is the Middle East with apparently ITTL it is more divided than it was OTL and the oil fields are less developed and more unexplored.
There are a lot of oil companies that want to control the oil there and are willing to finance the various tribes to act as proxies to fight over them, and Bush is the Man to See for getting arms and ammunition.
As for arming the Scots-Irish in Ireland, the British will help the Irish government because they don't want to have any part in creating an unstable situation next door to them.
Well, yes. Most of the comments I've made about that were in jest.
That said, I'm seeing India as more of a potential hotspot. If Pakistan didn't happen, great. If it did, well, they've always been at each other's throats. Though there has been more foreshadowing with regards to the middle east, I think that it would also bring a much harder response. Germany has interests in the middle east, none in India.
Part 70, Chapter 1029
Chapter One Thousand Twenty-Nine
14th August 1953
Jena
“There is not a whole lot that can be done this minute” Lang said, “What is happening today is the result of policies put in place when I was still Chancellor.”
Sophie had shown up at his front door after she had received an outraged call from Helene von Richthofen. Helene’s husband had been deployed to Greece in response to the earthquake and she was unhappy that this was the third time that he had been called away in the last year. The first time had involved spending months in Mexico.
Lang understood the reasons for that and why. Following the end of the Second World War the standing Army of the Heer had been cut back to levels not seen since just prior to the First World War because there wasn’t a hypothetical enemy in Europe. Sophie knew that there were many in the Reichstag who felt that the current force levels were excessive considering that a few States within the German Empire had Armies of their own, plus what the Kaiserliche Marine and Luftwaffe were doing with specialist forces. When Lang had set the numbers, it had been because funds had to be redirected for use domestically before there had been any more disasters on the scale of the Schöneberg derailment where dozens were killed, and hundreds more injured.
He had not realized the larger role that the Heer would play in the new order. Certain Divisions like the Panzer Infantry and Gebirgsjäger were getting run ragged as their status as elite forces had them responding to natural disasters and every bushfire war that the German Government felt obligated to be involved in. The part that Lang was having to explain without much success was not only that these were problems that had been years in the making. Of the service branches, only the Pioneer Corps wasn’t seen as a black hole sucking large amounts money across the event horizon. The Luftwaffe and Kaiserliche Marine could point to scientific advancement and the Joint Medical Corps had become one of the most highly regarded organizations anywhere. The Heer had become the odd man out.
This was also happening in a world that was growing less predictable by the hour. The British were finding themselves in a real pickle in India. They had spent years preparing their withdrawal from the Sub-Continent that they were planning on using as a model to be used elsewhere. Now the British were finding themselves neck deep in inter-communal violence and the people who had demanded that they leave only months earlier were now demanding that they do something else. The Middle East, long a festering sore was becoming a new version of the Great Game as Corporations with private armies and local proxies were angling to both exploit the wealth under the sands of the Arabian Desert and prevent others from exploiting it. As the Chairman of the LN Lang was finding himself having to grapple with these problems.
“You made some mistakes?” Sophie asked, it was both a question and to Lang himself a damning accusation.
“If I said I didn’t I would be lying” Lang replied, “I’ve told you that there are times when you have to make the least bad choice. You are concerned because this directly effected the life of a friend this time.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“What have your votes been surrounding this issue?” Lang asked in reply, “As far as funding was concerned.”
Sophie wasn’t thrilled to have that brought up by Lang, that she might be a part of problem. Her career was only getting started so she wasn’t in a position to make those decisions, not yet.
Zakynthos Island, Greece
Stepping off the plane was like stepping into another world. That was how Stefan had described his prior experience when he had arrived in Mexico. This time was different with everything levelled. The Local Government and Greek Army had been shocked when the 4th Division had started arriving on the island. They had been hard pressed with the calamity that had happened, suddenly they had a lot more help and they swiftly found out that they were despised by the very people they were supposedly here to help. To the people in these islands Germans were tourists to be fleeced and then sent home. There was also the issue of the rumors that had floated around during the Soviet War that the Greeks were more concerned with the Turks than the Russians. Now, to have the German Army here it was calamity squared and the earthquake had shoved the resentment out into the open. It made coordination of rescue efforts a bit difficult. Having Jost in his tent completely covered in dust seemed to emphasize that.
“Fucking mess” Was what Jost said, “We spent the last two hours digging out one who was already dead.”
“Did you hand the body over to the family?” Hans asked.
“Yes Sir” Jost replied.
“Good” Hans said, “Have the men started searching for the next one?”
“Yes Sir” Jost replied again.
“Anything else going on?” Hans asked.
“Problems with looting” Jost said, “The business owners want us to do something, but we know that the instant we do it will be asking for trouble.”
“No, shooting, unless they are stupid enough to shoot first” Hans replied, “Use clubs, someone gets their ass kicked in a fair fight and usually no one cares.”
Jost seemed pleased with that answer. Hans had basically just told him to do what he wanted to do anyway.
“And Stefan?” Hans asked.
“He listens, which is what his job is” Jost replied. Jost knew better than say it aloud but he was less than thrilled to have another former subordinate surpass him. Especially in light of what had happened with his father.
“Good then” Hans replied.
14th August 1953
Jena
“There is not a whole lot that can be done this minute” Lang said, “What is happening today is the result of policies put in place when I was still Chancellor.”
Sophie had shown up at his front door after she had received an outraged call from Helene von Richthofen. Helene’s husband had been deployed to Greece in response to the earthquake and she was unhappy that this was the third time that he had been called away in the last year. The first time had involved spending months in Mexico.
Lang understood the reasons for that and why. Following the end of the Second World War the standing Army of the Heer had been cut back to levels not seen since just prior to the First World War because there wasn’t a hypothetical enemy in Europe. Sophie knew that there were many in the Reichstag who felt that the current force levels were excessive considering that a few States within the German Empire had Armies of their own, plus what the Kaiserliche Marine and Luftwaffe were doing with specialist forces. When Lang had set the numbers, it had been because funds had to be redirected for use domestically before there had been any more disasters on the scale of the Schöneberg derailment where dozens were killed, and hundreds more injured.
He had not realized the larger role that the Heer would play in the new order. Certain Divisions like the Panzer Infantry and Gebirgsjäger were getting run ragged as their status as elite forces had them responding to natural disasters and every bushfire war that the German Government felt obligated to be involved in. The part that Lang was having to explain without much success was not only that these were problems that had been years in the making. Of the service branches, only the Pioneer Corps wasn’t seen as a black hole sucking large amounts money across the event horizon. The Luftwaffe and Kaiserliche Marine could point to scientific advancement and the Joint Medical Corps had become one of the most highly regarded organizations anywhere. The Heer had become the odd man out.
This was also happening in a world that was growing less predictable by the hour. The British were finding themselves in a real pickle in India. They had spent years preparing their withdrawal from the Sub-Continent that they were planning on using as a model to be used elsewhere. Now the British were finding themselves neck deep in inter-communal violence and the people who had demanded that they leave only months earlier were now demanding that they do something else. The Middle East, long a festering sore was becoming a new version of the Great Game as Corporations with private armies and local proxies were angling to both exploit the wealth under the sands of the Arabian Desert and prevent others from exploiting it. As the Chairman of the LN Lang was finding himself having to grapple with these problems.
“You made some mistakes?” Sophie asked, it was both a question and to Lang himself a damning accusation.
“If I said I didn’t I would be lying” Lang replied, “I’ve told you that there are times when you have to make the least bad choice. You are concerned because this directly effected the life of a friend this time.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“What have your votes been surrounding this issue?” Lang asked in reply, “As far as funding was concerned.”
Sophie wasn’t thrilled to have that brought up by Lang, that she might be a part of problem. Her career was only getting started so she wasn’t in a position to make those decisions, not yet.
Zakynthos Island, Greece
Stepping off the plane was like stepping into another world. That was how Stefan had described his prior experience when he had arrived in Mexico. This time was different with everything levelled. The Local Government and Greek Army had been shocked when the 4th Division had started arriving on the island. They had been hard pressed with the calamity that had happened, suddenly they had a lot more help and they swiftly found out that they were despised by the very people they were supposedly here to help. To the people in these islands Germans were tourists to be fleeced and then sent home. There was also the issue of the rumors that had floated around during the Soviet War that the Greeks were more concerned with the Turks than the Russians. Now, to have the German Army here it was calamity squared and the earthquake had shoved the resentment out into the open. It made coordination of rescue efforts a bit difficult. Having Jost in his tent completely covered in dust seemed to emphasize that.
“Fucking mess” Was what Jost said, “We spent the last two hours digging out one who was already dead.”
“Did you hand the body over to the family?” Hans asked.
“Yes Sir” Jost replied.
“Good” Hans said, “Have the men started searching for the next one?”
“Yes Sir” Jost replied again.
“Anything else going on?” Hans asked.
“Problems with looting” Jost said, “The business owners want us to do something, but we know that the instant we do it will be asking for trouble.”
“No, shooting, unless they are stupid enough to shoot first” Hans replied, “Use clubs, someone gets their ass kicked in a fair fight and usually no one cares.”
Jost seemed pleased with that answer. Hans had basically just told him to do what he wanted to do anyway.
“And Stefan?” Hans asked.
“He listens, which is what his job is” Jost replied. Jost knew better than say it aloud but he was less than thrilled to have another former subordinate surpass him. Especially in light of what had happened with his father.
“Good then” Hans replied.
The Heer should be large enough to rotate the position of first responder to allow a reasonable break between deployments. Always sending the same personnel is a recipe for burnout and poor retention.
Edit: To clarify - the rotation should be in terms of entire units, not individuals. For example the 4th Division then the 5th Division then the 6th division on down the line until it wraps back to the 4th Division.
Edit: To clarify - the rotation should be in terms of entire units, not individuals. For example the 4th Division then the 5th Division then the 6th division on down the line until it wraps back to the 4th Division.
Last edited:
Sorry, but yes I knew it it, it was just that they are so funny that it reminded me of The Spy Who Loved Me DVD commentary.
It seems that we are going have to keep guessing on where the next hot spot is going to be as there are quite a few hints that were dropped.
Sophie Scholl has just learned a lesson from the Master about the realities of the limits of idealism and how budgets dictate strategy.
In the US after a natural disaster, the National Guard is called upon. Is there not a similar organization in Germany at this time?
Unfortunately the THW ist a child of constitutional changes imposed OTL after WW2, disallowing the employment of army personal inside Germany. So instead of pioneers from the Heer a civillian organisation had to be created for interior use. So back to square one, the Heer.
well, there is the question to consider if Lummitsch founded the Technische Nothilfe ittl. it would certainly have had a very different beginning ittl and of course, not been taken over by the nazis. though the question is if it would have been founded in a world where germany is unconstrained by versailles and avoids the unrest of the otl early 20's..
Part 70, Chapter 1030
Chapter One Thousand Thirty
3rd September 1953
Berlin
The lecture was about history, very boring history at that, and because the Professor made sure that all of this would be included in the examinations Zella needed to pay attention to all of it. She had discovered a large portion of studying involved deciphering her own notes and that added to the difficulty. Kiki had no problem, with either paying attention or with taking notes. It was the only thing that Zella was jealous of when it came to her friend. She had seen how Kiki had delighted in the novelty of things like produce in the markets or drying dishes. If Zella had learned anything from being around Kiki it was that being a Princess just meant that you didn’t actually have anything of your own.
Today on the way to class today Zella had noticed that something in the air felt like autumn. It was looking like it was going to be a warm sunny afternoon, however she could feel that the seasons had shifted. Even after how it had been a disappointing summer it had still seemed like the time had flown. Her parents had thought it was amusing when she said that she wished that time moved more slowly. Her mother had said that if Zella had stopped aging a few years earlier it would have certainly made their lives easier. Zella had not found that remotely amusing.
Last weekend she had gone with her father to her Grandmother in Jena. It was thrilling, riding in the sidecar as he had opened up the throttle reaching top speed, just over ninety kilometers an hour. Uncle Peter had not been there, his work had taken him out of town. Her Grandmother had been wonderful, she still treated Zella exactly the same unlike nearly everyone else in her life. However, Zella had overheard her grandmother and father talking once they had thought that she was out of earshot. Her grandmother was nearly eighty and was having difficulty maintaining the house in Jena even with the help that her father arranged, other arrangements were going to have to be made. Then her father had joked that he was having the difficulty of sharing the house with Zella and asked if she wanted to trade. Her grandmother had laughed with him but had admonished her father. She said that Zella was living through a difficult age.
There were all kinds of things wrong with that conversation. Was that what being an adult was? Endless pretense? Saying one thing while thinking another?
“Fraulein von Holz” The Professor said, Zella realized that she was talking to her, “Perhaps you can share with us what is more important then today’s lecture?”
“My father and grandmother” Zella said lamely.
The Professor looked at her with an unreadable expression. Of all the things that Zella could have told her, the truth wasn’t what she was expecting.
“Well, we are obviously not covering either of them in this class, Fraulein von Holz” The Professor said, “Now, if you could please pay attention.”
Warsaw, Poland
For Regina Klimek, life had gone from bad to worse over the last two years. She had only wanted to help her father who had been imprisoned for fraud, she had informed on the Polish independence movement because she had been promised that he would get better treatment if she did. So far, only one of her handlers with the BII had been nice. That woman had disappeared from her life only to reappear months later in a photograph printed in an underground newspaper with a different name. It said that she was a dangerous agent of the German Empress, it also said that she had babies. That was the logical explanation for what had happened.
In the following months, Filip had stupidly talked his way into getting arrested for the cause which had been a relief to Regina. It had been that expression of relief had caused Leo to distrust her. After that, Izzy had gone on to greener pastures and Leo had in theory moved on to a new cell. Regina still saw Leo around occasionally, but he had lost interest in having her be a part of it. Regina had still passed whatever information she had along to the BII but in the end her father had still died in prison. She was forced to conclude that the BII had moved on and she had been left behind, forgotten.
Having completed University, Regina had come to the grim conclusion that there was no future for her in Warsaw. All the jobs were in the factories that wouldn’t hire a woman with a University education. It was her own mother telling her that she needed to get out Poland before it consumed her that had forced her to act. Still, packing her bags had been a bitter pill and now this…
“Going somewhere Regina?” Leo asked, he and a few thugs were waiting in the train station
“Just away” Regina replied.
“Away?”
“Yes, away. Anywhere but here.”
“You know how this looks” Leo said, “Like you are off to collect thirty pieces of silver.”
“You can’t still be on about how I didn’t fuck Filip” Regina said bitterly, “That just proves that I’m not stupid.”
“It has nothing to do with that” Leo replied. Regina knew he was lying.
“You know what the problem with the entire movement is” Regina said, “How you view women, children, the vast majority of the people you claim you want to liberate. Like they owe something. If you had your way, we would have your boot on our throats instead of the Germans. Either way it’s not something I can stand to watch a minute longer.”
“Where are you going then?” Leo asked.
“Prague” Regina replied.
“You seriously think Bohemia would be better?”
“It’s not here” Regina stated, “That is a point in its favor.”
“We can stop you” Leo said.
“To what end” Regina replied as her train was announced over the loudspeakers, “Are you going to make a mockery of everything you supposedly believe by blocking me?”
“It’s something you once believed” Leo said.
“I didn’t change” Regina said, “You did.”
With that Regina pushed past them and walked to the train platform, Leo staring at her until she boarded.
3rd September 1953
Berlin
The lecture was about history, very boring history at that, and because the Professor made sure that all of this would be included in the examinations Zella needed to pay attention to all of it. She had discovered a large portion of studying involved deciphering her own notes and that added to the difficulty. Kiki had no problem, with either paying attention or with taking notes. It was the only thing that Zella was jealous of when it came to her friend. She had seen how Kiki had delighted in the novelty of things like produce in the markets or drying dishes. If Zella had learned anything from being around Kiki it was that being a Princess just meant that you didn’t actually have anything of your own.
Today on the way to class today Zella had noticed that something in the air felt like autumn. It was looking like it was going to be a warm sunny afternoon, however she could feel that the seasons had shifted. Even after how it had been a disappointing summer it had still seemed like the time had flown. Her parents had thought it was amusing when she said that she wished that time moved more slowly. Her mother had said that if Zella had stopped aging a few years earlier it would have certainly made their lives easier. Zella had not found that remotely amusing.
Last weekend she had gone with her father to her Grandmother in Jena. It was thrilling, riding in the sidecar as he had opened up the throttle reaching top speed, just over ninety kilometers an hour. Uncle Peter had not been there, his work had taken him out of town. Her Grandmother had been wonderful, she still treated Zella exactly the same unlike nearly everyone else in her life. However, Zella had overheard her grandmother and father talking once they had thought that she was out of earshot. Her grandmother was nearly eighty and was having difficulty maintaining the house in Jena even with the help that her father arranged, other arrangements were going to have to be made. Then her father had joked that he was having the difficulty of sharing the house with Zella and asked if she wanted to trade. Her grandmother had laughed with him but had admonished her father. She said that Zella was living through a difficult age.
There were all kinds of things wrong with that conversation. Was that what being an adult was? Endless pretense? Saying one thing while thinking another?
“Fraulein von Holz” The Professor said, Zella realized that she was talking to her, “Perhaps you can share with us what is more important then today’s lecture?”
“My father and grandmother” Zella said lamely.
The Professor looked at her with an unreadable expression. Of all the things that Zella could have told her, the truth wasn’t what she was expecting.
“Well, we are obviously not covering either of them in this class, Fraulein von Holz” The Professor said, “Now, if you could please pay attention.”
Warsaw, Poland
For Regina Klimek, life had gone from bad to worse over the last two years. She had only wanted to help her father who had been imprisoned for fraud, she had informed on the Polish independence movement because she had been promised that he would get better treatment if she did. So far, only one of her handlers with the BII had been nice. That woman had disappeared from her life only to reappear months later in a photograph printed in an underground newspaper with a different name. It said that she was a dangerous agent of the German Empress, it also said that she had babies. That was the logical explanation for what had happened.
In the following months, Filip had stupidly talked his way into getting arrested for the cause which had been a relief to Regina. It had been that expression of relief had caused Leo to distrust her. After that, Izzy had gone on to greener pastures and Leo had in theory moved on to a new cell. Regina still saw Leo around occasionally, but he had lost interest in having her be a part of it. Regina had still passed whatever information she had along to the BII but in the end her father had still died in prison. She was forced to conclude that the BII had moved on and she had been left behind, forgotten.
Having completed University, Regina had come to the grim conclusion that there was no future for her in Warsaw. All the jobs were in the factories that wouldn’t hire a woman with a University education. It was her own mother telling her that she needed to get out Poland before it consumed her that had forced her to act. Still, packing her bags had been a bitter pill and now this…
“Going somewhere Regina?” Leo asked, he and a few thugs were waiting in the train station
“Just away” Regina replied.
“Away?”
“Yes, away. Anywhere but here.”
“You know how this looks” Leo said, “Like you are off to collect thirty pieces of silver.”
“You can’t still be on about how I didn’t fuck Filip” Regina said bitterly, “That just proves that I’m not stupid.”
“It has nothing to do with that” Leo replied. Regina knew he was lying.
“You know what the problem with the entire movement is” Regina said, “How you view women, children, the vast majority of the people you claim you want to liberate. Like they owe something. If you had your way, we would have your boot on our throats instead of the Germans. Either way it’s not something I can stand to watch a minute longer.”
“Where are you going then?” Leo asked.
“Prague” Regina replied.
“You seriously think Bohemia would be better?”
“It’s not here” Regina stated, “That is a point in its favor.”
“We can stop you” Leo said.
“To what end” Regina replied as her train was announced over the loudspeakers, “Are you going to make a mockery of everything you supposedly believe by blocking me?”
“It’s something you once believed” Leo said.
“I didn’t change” Regina said, “You did.”
With that Regina pushed past them and walked to the train platform, Leo staring at her until she boarded.
Last edited:
Part 70, Chapter 1031
Chapter One Thousand Thirty-One
6th September 1953
Potsdam
“A ten-day heatwave in the American Midwest has ended” Kat read aloud.
“That is all?” Kira asked.
“Yes” Kat replied, “I don’t know what you are looking for.”
“Renewed violence” Kira said.
“I don’t understand” Kat replied.
“It has to do with your interest in Doctor Salk” Kira said, “You want the Order of Louise to play a role but that puts us in an awkward spot. We are seen as an arm of the Government, which I don’t need to tell you that relations with the United States are not warm at the moment.”
“Polio doesn’t care about politics” Kat said, “I don’t see what that has to do with violence in America.”
“Because hate is like a drug” Kira replied, “Nothing has changed structurally in America, but violence is down. Ever wonder why?”
“They found a different source for a fix” Kat said, “Is that what you think?”
Kira looked at Kat, they both knew the answer to that question.
“The concern is that with how politics works in the United States” Kira said, “President Truman had a lot of his domestic problems evaporate when Mexico happened, now with this absurd scare he has kept it going. That is the sort of thing that works a little too well. The risk of a demagogue exploiting that is real.”
“I’ve met Truman a couple years ago” Kat said, “He didn’t seem the type.”
“Perhaps” Kira replied, “But what about the person who follows him? Do you have any idea who that might be? And if they have domestic problems they want to go away?”
“I see” Kat replied.
“And can you also see the risks involved?”
“Excuse me?” Kat asked in reply.
“Important research might be stopped out of spite” Kira said, “Ignorant people are capable of doing terrible things if a cynical monster is egging them on.”
“So, we aren’t getting involved?” Kat asked.
“I think that we have little choice in this matter” Kira replied, “If direct involvement is ruled out other means might need to be tried.”
“What have the hundred said?” Kat asked only to get a dirty look from Kira.
“If you had shown up, you would know” Kira said.
“I had other obligations” Kat replied.
“They think that we should handle this matter through diplomatic back channels” Kira said, “It would have been easier if you had been there.”
“I doubt I would have been much help” Kat said. What was she supposed to have done? She still had the occasional depressive episode, the prior Sunday that Kira was referring to she had been such an episode. This had been compounded by Tatiana crawling into bed with her and refusing to leave.
----------------------------------------------------------------
It was nice having Aki around, Freddy had a lot of doubts about that. When Suga had offered him Aki as a gift, not to replace Ueli, but to have him not be alone. Freddy had almost said no. Then Gräfin Katherine came back from Japan with Aki and Freddy had found himself in the company of the Ambassador from Japan informing him that he had been afforded a singular honor, Akita dogs were considered cultural treasures in Japan with the Government going to great lengths to preserve the breed. Then the Ambassador had told him the story of Hachikō and Hidesaburō Ueno. It was an astonishing story and Hachikō was an Akita like Aki. He had also been informed that if he had firm hand he would rewarded with a loyal companion. It was possibly the most Japanese thing that Freddy had ever heard.
So far, trying to teach Aki how to fetch was proving to be a chore. Aki liked chasing the ball but getting him to bring it back, so it could be thrown again, he couldn’t quite seem to figure out. When Freddy went and got the ball himself for the third time the Kennel Master let Freddy know that his training by the dog was proceeding nicely.
Freddy laughed that off, but he had the latest letter that he had received from Suga weighing on his mind. Not at all what he was expecting, what their parents were discussing through the intermediaries. It seemed insane, he had always considered Suga to be a friend, nothing more. Now she was being discussed as being possibly more, a whole lot more. His father had said that it was only hypothetical at this point, and if Suga was the youngest sister of Queen Elizabeth of England it wouldn’t even be an issue because the decision would have already been made. Personally, Freddy was finding his parent’s attitudes to be an unpleasant surprise. When the press found out that Freddy had accepted Aki as a gift from Suga that had just added more fuel to the fire.
Wunsdorf-Zossen
It was surprising that the latest announcement had been greeted with grumbling. The 4th Division had been pulled from Rapid Response and replaced by the 14th Division. They were going to be in training and logistics for at least the next year. Hans had discovered that Helene was happy about that, so he saw no reason to object. He was finding out that Walter Horst had plenty of reasons to object, mostly it involved exactly what Stefan was doing regarding Nizhoni.
“I would think that you would be happy that they are taking their time” Hans said.
“Yes and no, Nina is concerned that while they appear to be taking their time. Things might happen in the background that might force matters” Horst replied.
Hans remembered his Brother-in-Law telling him the story about his mother trying to keep people from talking about his sister’s baby being born six or seven months after the wedding. He knew for a fact that wasn’t going to be the case here and not only because he knew both Stefan and Nizhoni.
“That isn’t happening because Stefan knows you would kill him if he did” Hans said, “And he also doesn’t want to be an irresponsible jackass like our father.”
“Just how do you know this?” Horst asked.
“He talked to me about this while we were in Greece” Hans replied, “Let’s just say that Nizhoni sent him the sort of letter that definitely gets a man’s attention, she is quite a writer.”
“And what did he have to say about that?” Horst asked.
“What I just told you” Hans replied, “And his intentions are perfectly honorable.”
“See to it that they stay that way” Horst said.
6th September 1953
Potsdam
“A ten-day heatwave in the American Midwest has ended” Kat read aloud.
“That is all?” Kira asked.
“Yes” Kat replied, “I don’t know what you are looking for.”
“Renewed violence” Kira said.
“I don’t understand” Kat replied.
“It has to do with your interest in Doctor Salk” Kira said, “You want the Order of Louise to play a role but that puts us in an awkward spot. We are seen as an arm of the Government, which I don’t need to tell you that relations with the United States are not warm at the moment.”
“Polio doesn’t care about politics” Kat said, “I don’t see what that has to do with violence in America.”
“Because hate is like a drug” Kira replied, “Nothing has changed structurally in America, but violence is down. Ever wonder why?”
“They found a different source for a fix” Kat said, “Is that what you think?”
Kira looked at Kat, they both knew the answer to that question.
“The concern is that with how politics works in the United States” Kira said, “President Truman had a lot of his domestic problems evaporate when Mexico happened, now with this absurd scare he has kept it going. That is the sort of thing that works a little too well. The risk of a demagogue exploiting that is real.”
“I’ve met Truman a couple years ago” Kat said, “He didn’t seem the type.”
“Perhaps” Kira replied, “But what about the person who follows him? Do you have any idea who that might be? And if they have domestic problems they want to go away?”
“I see” Kat replied.
“And can you also see the risks involved?”
“Excuse me?” Kat asked in reply.
“Important research might be stopped out of spite” Kira said, “Ignorant people are capable of doing terrible things if a cynical monster is egging them on.”
“So, we aren’t getting involved?” Kat asked.
“I think that we have little choice in this matter” Kira replied, “If direct involvement is ruled out other means might need to be tried.”
“What have the hundred said?” Kat asked only to get a dirty look from Kira.
“If you had shown up, you would know” Kira said.
“I had other obligations” Kat replied.
“They think that we should handle this matter through diplomatic back channels” Kira said, “It would have been easier if you had been there.”
“I doubt I would have been much help” Kat said. What was she supposed to have done? She still had the occasional depressive episode, the prior Sunday that Kira was referring to she had been such an episode. This had been compounded by Tatiana crawling into bed with her and refusing to leave.
----------------------------------------------------------------
It was nice having Aki around, Freddy had a lot of doubts about that. When Suga had offered him Aki as a gift, not to replace Ueli, but to have him not be alone. Freddy had almost said no. Then Gräfin Katherine came back from Japan with Aki and Freddy had found himself in the company of the Ambassador from Japan informing him that he had been afforded a singular honor, Akita dogs were considered cultural treasures in Japan with the Government going to great lengths to preserve the breed. Then the Ambassador had told him the story of Hachikō and Hidesaburō Ueno. It was an astonishing story and Hachikō was an Akita like Aki. He had also been informed that if he had firm hand he would rewarded with a loyal companion. It was possibly the most Japanese thing that Freddy had ever heard.
So far, trying to teach Aki how to fetch was proving to be a chore. Aki liked chasing the ball but getting him to bring it back, so it could be thrown again, he couldn’t quite seem to figure out. When Freddy went and got the ball himself for the third time the Kennel Master let Freddy know that his training by the dog was proceeding nicely.
Freddy laughed that off, but he had the latest letter that he had received from Suga weighing on his mind. Not at all what he was expecting, what their parents were discussing through the intermediaries. It seemed insane, he had always considered Suga to be a friend, nothing more. Now she was being discussed as being possibly more, a whole lot more. His father had said that it was only hypothetical at this point, and if Suga was the youngest sister of Queen Elizabeth of England it wouldn’t even be an issue because the decision would have already been made. Personally, Freddy was finding his parent’s attitudes to be an unpleasant surprise. When the press found out that Freddy had accepted Aki as a gift from Suga that had just added more fuel to the fire.
Wunsdorf-Zossen
It was surprising that the latest announcement had been greeted with grumbling. The 4th Division had been pulled from Rapid Response and replaced by the 14th Division. They were going to be in training and logistics for at least the next year. Hans had discovered that Helene was happy about that, so he saw no reason to object. He was finding out that Walter Horst had plenty of reasons to object, mostly it involved exactly what Stefan was doing regarding Nizhoni.
“I would think that you would be happy that they are taking their time” Hans said.
“Yes and no, Nina is concerned that while they appear to be taking their time. Things might happen in the background that might force matters” Horst replied.
Hans remembered his Brother-in-Law telling him the story about his mother trying to keep people from talking about his sister’s baby being born six or seven months after the wedding. He knew for a fact that wasn’t going to be the case here and not only because he knew both Stefan and Nizhoni.
“That isn’t happening because Stefan knows you would kill him if he did” Hans said, “And he also doesn’t want to be an irresponsible jackass like our father.”
“Just how do you know this?” Horst asked.
“He talked to me about this while we were in Greece” Hans replied, “Let’s just say that Nizhoni sent him the sort of letter that definitely gets a man’s attention, she is quite a writer.”
“And what did he have to say about that?” Horst asked.
“What I just told you” Hans replied, “And his intentions are perfectly honorable.”
“See to it that they stay that way” Horst said.
Last edited:
The discovery of the polio vaccine IOTL was a very big deal in the United States, and ITTL it would be seen as further proof that the United States is waking up from its long slumber.
With FDR apparently still alive, I can see him being part of the announcement and start of a push for national health care.
I don't know how Empress Kira can pull off her goal of being part of the solution, but she has to come across as the best friend that the United States has in Germany.
While Salk was denied the Nobel Prize in Medicine IOTL, I am sure that Kira has some quiet influence and will work behind the scenes and get Salk the Nobel Peace Prize instead.
A boy and his dog is something that transcends class, nationality, status, time and place
With FDR apparently still alive, I can see him being part of the announcement and start of a push for national health care.
I don't know how Empress Kira can pull off her goal of being part of the solution, but she has to come across as the best friend that the United States has in Germany.
While Salk was denied the Nobel Prize in Medicine IOTL, I am sure that Kira has some quiet influence and will work behind the scenes and get Salk the Nobel Peace Prize instead.
A boy and his dog is something that transcends class, nationality, status, time and place