Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
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Part 110, Chapter 1801
Chapter One Thousand Eight Hundred One
12th June 1967
Washington D.C.
“According to the man the CIA says it has inside the BND, the Germans really put the screws to George Bush” Brent Scowcroft, the National Security Advisor said.
“What is our exposure?” President Rockefeller asked.
“Little to none” Scowcroft replied, “Any use he would have had to the US Government ended as soon as he fled the country after the Augusta affair came to light. Justice and State want to know if we will try to extradite him.”
“Why bother?” Rockefeller asked looking at the memo on his desk, “According to this he is begging everyone to keep him safe from his own customers. If we bring him back, he’ll get three square and a cot at taxpayer expense and we’ll be obligated to protect him. Out there sooner or later the Greeks or Turks will butcher him.”
“You think that is justice?” Scowcroft asked.
“No, I just would rather stick the Germans with the expense” Rockefeller said, “Who is John Elis?”
“The owner of the nightclub where George Bush was caught apparently” Scowcroft replied, “Supposedly he is an American expat originally from Cardiff, Illinois who looked for greener pastures abroad during the Great Depression and landed in Berlin.”
“You doubt that?”
“Cardiff hardly exists and most of the people who once lived there are long gone” Scowcroft replied, “So we have no way if knowing that any of that is true. Anything about anyone directly associated Jacob Schmidt and Katherine von Mischner needs to be taken with a large grain of salt.”
“I see” Rockefeller said. It seemed like Germany was a hall of mirrors from the American perspective. Everything was distorted and you couldn’t trust what you were seeing with your own eyes.
“There is some quibbling in State about why you ordered that George Bush wasn’t to be warned that he was getting played” Scowcroft said, “No one understands that.”
“I always hated his old man” Rockefeller replied, “And everyone knows that George Bush had it coming after what he did in Mexico, this way he is out of business for good.”
Halle (Saale), Anhalt
There were some days when Kiki felt like she was getting pecked to death by ducks and this was proving to be one of those days. She was on the phone with her cousin Wilhelm-Karl as he asked about whether or not she would be attending the gathering of the Johanniter Order in Sonnenburg on the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist. Grasping for an excuse to get out of it, she mentioned that she had been invited to the Midsummer Celebration that the University Hospital was holding on the same night. Wilhelm-Karl had been understanding. Then he had told her that her getting frequently photographed wearing the insignia of the Order at accident sites was great for their public image and told her to keep up the good work. It had taken a moment for Kiki to remember that she had sewn the white Maltese cross patch to her coat at the suggestion of Doctor Baber. She had awkwardly thanked her cousin and then having run out of excuses, phoned Ben and told him that she had changed her mind about attending the Midsummer Ball. Predictably, he was overjoyed about her change of heart. It was a formal event, so Kiki would need to acquire a gown to wear. She figured that Charlotte would be happy to help.
The rest of the afternoon was drudgery as she took on the cases that the Chief Physician of the Emergency Department wasn’t interested in and talked to the patients about their medical histories to fill in the blanks. Then there were cases like the one she was dealing with now which left her with a deep loathing for much of humanity. The man had come in complaining about a painful burning sensation when he urinated, which wasn’t exactly an emergency, just he was too embarrassed to go to his regular Physician. After a great deal of talking around what it might be and the all too likely cause, she learned that he had stuck something somewhere it didn’t belong and had picked up a little souvenir along the way. His file also said that he was married and that meant that his wife would need to be tested as well. Kiki knew that would be a delightful conversation to have.
Kiki had ordered samples sent to the lab and figured that she would need to order a course of treatment. It was as she found herself having to explain to the patient that condoms existed for a reason, it occurred to her that someone had to be laughing about her having to deal with situations like this. It was also a reminder of the situations that Kat and Sigi found themselves in. Did all men step out like this? Or was it that she was getting a front row seat on yet one more negative aspect of certain people?
The next case after that was a compound fracture which caused the Chief Physician to push her aside to observe. Kiki knew that it was her assigned role, she was supposed to watch and learn. That didn’t mean that she didn’t notice that she was growing impatient. Kiki had been studying Medicine in one capacity or another for almost a decade and the next set of State examinations couldn’t arrive fast enough.
12th June 1967
Washington D.C.
“According to the man the CIA says it has inside the BND, the Germans really put the screws to George Bush” Brent Scowcroft, the National Security Advisor said.
“What is our exposure?” President Rockefeller asked.
“Little to none” Scowcroft replied, “Any use he would have had to the US Government ended as soon as he fled the country after the Augusta affair came to light. Justice and State want to know if we will try to extradite him.”
“Why bother?” Rockefeller asked looking at the memo on his desk, “According to this he is begging everyone to keep him safe from his own customers. If we bring him back, he’ll get three square and a cot at taxpayer expense and we’ll be obligated to protect him. Out there sooner or later the Greeks or Turks will butcher him.”
“You think that is justice?” Scowcroft asked.
“No, I just would rather stick the Germans with the expense” Rockefeller said, “Who is John Elis?”
“The owner of the nightclub where George Bush was caught apparently” Scowcroft replied, “Supposedly he is an American expat originally from Cardiff, Illinois who looked for greener pastures abroad during the Great Depression and landed in Berlin.”
“You doubt that?”
“Cardiff hardly exists and most of the people who once lived there are long gone” Scowcroft replied, “So we have no way if knowing that any of that is true. Anything about anyone directly associated Jacob Schmidt and Katherine von Mischner needs to be taken with a large grain of salt.”
“I see” Rockefeller said. It seemed like Germany was a hall of mirrors from the American perspective. Everything was distorted and you couldn’t trust what you were seeing with your own eyes.
“There is some quibbling in State about why you ordered that George Bush wasn’t to be warned that he was getting played” Scowcroft said, “No one understands that.”
“I always hated his old man” Rockefeller replied, “And everyone knows that George Bush had it coming after what he did in Mexico, this way he is out of business for good.”
Halle (Saale), Anhalt
There were some days when Kiki felt like she was getting pecked to death by ducks and this was proving to be one of those days. She was on the phone with her cousin Wilhelm-Karl as he asked about whether or not she would be attending the gathering of the Johanniter Order in Sonnenburg on the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist. Grasping for an excuse to get out of it, she mentioned that she had been invited to the Midsummer Celebration that the University Hospital was holding on the same night. Wilhelm-Karl had been understanding. Then he had told her that her getting frequently photographed wearing the insignia of the Order at accident sites was great for their public image and told her to keep up the good work. It had taken a moment for Kiki to remember that she had sewn the white Maltese cross patch to her coat at the suggestion of Doctor Baber. She had awkwardly thanked her cousin and then having run out of excuses, phoned Ben and told him that she had changed her mind about attending the Midsummer Ball. Predictably, he was overjoyed about her change of heart. It was a formal event, so Kiki would need to acquire a gown to wear. She figured that Charlotte would be happy to help.
The rest of the afternoon was drudgery as she took on the cases that the Chief Physician of the Emergency Department wasn’t interested in and talked to the patients about their medical histories to fill in the blanks. Then there were cases like the one she was dealing with now which left her with a deep loathing for much of humanity. The man had come in complaining about a painful burning sensation when he urinated, which wasn’t exactly an emergency, just he was too embarrassed to go to his regular Physician. After a great deal of talking around what it might be and the all too likely cause, she learned that he had stuck something somewhere it didn’t belong and had picked up a little souvenir along the way. His file also said that he was married and that meant that his wife would need to be tested as well. Kiki knew that would be a delightful conversation to have.
Kiki had ordered samples sent to the lab and figured that she would need to order a course of treatment. It was as she found herself having to explain to the patient that condoms existed for a reason, it occurred to her that someone had to be laughing about her having to deal with situations like this. It was also a reminder of the situations that Kat and Sigi found themselves in. Did all men step out like this? Or was it that she was getting a front row seat on yet one more negative aspect of certain people?
The next case after that was a compound fracture which caused the Chief Physician to push her aside to observe. Kiki knew that it was her assigned role, she was supposed to watch and learn. That didn’t mean that she didn’t notice that she was growing impatient. Kiki had been studying Medicine in one capacity or another for almost a decade and the next set of State examinations couldn’t arrive fast enough.
Congratulations Kiki, you are finally getting what you've always wanted.
To be treated like everyone else.
IF Ben "points it out to her," he deserves to have Kiki snub him. Not that it isn't true, but it's a low blow. There's going to be plenty of people who will put it in her face, 'just because' they feel they can. In my experience, if you love someone, really care for them, you don't add insult to injury. Ben hasn't come across as being a jerk or asshole. Sometimes when younger a bit naïve, but hey, that's a problem many of us face down and outgrow before we get out in the big, wild, wooly world. He cares, and IMHO is honest enough to himself to know that saying anything about it would hurt Kiki, so he won't.
ferdi254
Banned
Medicine is an extremely hierarchical business. Even the military is not that strict. You start as an overworked assistant, go to regular, become specialist, work yourself up to Oberarzt and then finally become Chefarzt. Working hours decline rapidly on this way, income increases even more rapidly.
Same in auditing. That has changed due to demographics a bit in the last couple of years but still the hospital system works that way.
For that and for the things people put into places where they do not belong I strongly recommend „this is going to hurt“
Same in auditing. That has changed due to demographics a bit in the last couple of years but still the hospital system works that way.
For that and for the things people put into places where they do not belong I strongly recommend „this is going to hurt“
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I'm not entirely sure why she would be concerned about faithfulness. It's not like he's going to be faithful to her.
True that. Hell, they might not even be interacting that much, outside the few necessary public appearances and a few artfully-staged photoshoots. He does his thing, Vicky does hers...that's it.
Again, though, they're barely going to be seeing one another from what the deal sounds like. Plus, the heir and the spare are going to be coming about with medical intervention via Artificial Insemination, so they'll both be checked out by doctors beforehand, so no likelihood of Vicky picking up anything.
As to tabloids...he's been discreet up until now clearly, odds are that'll continue.
Part 110, Chapter 1802
Chapter One Thousand Eight Hundred Two
24th June 1967
Adriatic Sea, northeast of Ancona
As nautical darkness set in, it was expected that the smugglers would put to sea. Looking through the Sperber device Louis Junior was watching the distant Italian Coast for the “Rum-Runner” style boats employed by them in this region. While the view through the scope was like being underwater, it enabled them to sneak up upon the boats they were tasked with intercepting and cornering them before they had a chance to run off and do something stupid. Some of the time anyway.
Italy being what it was, wherever there was an illicit profit to be had there was also a Mafia Don with his finger in the pie and that meant that things got a bit complicated out on the water. The smuggler crews knew that the Don’s investment would be paid back in either blood or treasure. The latter being the hard currency that anyone still dealing with the Albanians these days. The former though, that was what caused Louis so much trouble. The crews feared what the Don would do to them far more than getting killed or arrested by the Navies patrolling the Adriatic. So, they would put up a fight to protect the Don’s investment if running wasn’t an option.
The smuggling boats were large enough to deliver their cargos but small enough to evade search radar, sacrificing everything else including crew comfort to that end. Coupled with the most powerful engines available, usually old V-12 aircraft engines, they were difficult to catch. And when they did run, the pursuers would likely come under fire from someone on the fantail with an automatic rifle or even a machine gun. As Louis had discovered, putting a cannon shell into a hull packed with munitions and high-octane fuel was a bad idea. Sometimes they went boom and the last time that had happened the Windhund had been forced to return to Port because of substantial blast damage.
Into this was Louis’ life, what there was of it these days. The somewhat dubious highlight of the week had been receiving a letter from Zella, and she was her usual self. Taking a break from shooting her documentaries, she had taken a holiday in the South of France and she had talked about how much fun she was having. Included was a photograph that she had taken of herself at the beach where it had appeared as if she had partaken of the French habit of minimalist beach attire which she found amusing. It was difficult to tell for sure though because of the angle she held the camera and she had joked in the letter about how Kiki would react upon seeing it. A closer look revealed that she was in fact wearing a swimsuit even if it was hard to see, making him do that was probably her intention in taking the picture. Louis wondered what possessed Zella to pull provocative stunts like this. It was as if she saw that song written by John Lennon about how she could be superficial and got off on cheap thrills as a challenge to be worse.
Halle (Saale), Anhalt
The hall that was being used by the University for the Midsummer Celebration was crowded as Kiki and Ben made their entrance. Ben was wearing a suit tonight that was appropriate for the black-tie event, while Kiki’s choice was an elegant gown made from silk that was such a dark shade of blue that it was almost black. The only nod to their careers was that they would wear civil awards only because Kiki felt like they might as well be in uniform if they did anything else and she didn’t want that. That was why his was wearing the Order of the Rue Crown on its green ribband over his right shoulder with its star next to the Polaris Medal. Kiki had done something similar except she was wearing the Grand Cross of the Order of Louise which had a white ribband and star. She also had a version of the Johanniter Order on a black bow pinned to the left sleeve of her gown, “There are advantages of having your cousin as the Grand Master” Kiki had said when Ben had asked about it.
As they were introduced, Ben noticed that everyone had stopped and stared. Prinzessin Kristina von Preussen zu Hohenzollern and Burggraf Benjamin von Hirsch zu Balderschwang. That was who he was now, and it was the first time that the full weight of that was sinking in. It sounded impressive, but it was just a road with a few houses and a store. With a planned ski resort going in on the opposite side of the valley from the land that Ben owned, they were optimistic that perhaps one day they would be able to build a hotel and perhaps apartments for the workers one day. Small wonder that they had been euphoric when they learned that Ben had leased a corner of his property to the University of Berlin in conjunction with the University of Munich so that an observatory could be built there. That meant year-round employment and other opportunities. Ben had gotten the people of the area to like him by the oldest means possible, he had inadvertently paid them off.
As Ben led Kiki out onto the dance floor, he noticed that she seemed nervous. While she had gotten better over the years, she still found being among people to be a draining experience.
24th June 1967
Adriatic Sea, northeast of Ancona
As nautical darkness set in, it was expected that the smugglers would put to sea. Looking through the Sperber device Louis Junior was watching the distant Italian Coast for the “Rum-Runner” style boats employed by them in this region. While the view through the scope was like being underwater, it enabled them to sneak up upon the boats they were tasked with intercepting and cornering them before they had a chance to run off and do something stupid. Some of the time anyway.
Italy being what it was, wherever there was an illicit profit to be had there was also a Mafia Don with his finger in the pie and that meant that things got a bit complicated out on the water. The smuggler crews knew that the Don’s investment would be paid back in either blood or treasure. The latter being the hard currency that anyone still dealing with the Albanians these days. The former though, that was what caused Louis so much trouble. The crews feared what the Don would do to them far more than getting killed or arrested by the Navies patrolling the Adriatic. So, they would put up a fight to protect the Don’s investment if running wasn’t an option.
The smuggling boats were large enough to deliver their cargos but small enough to evade search radar, sacrificing everything else including crew comfort to that end. Coupled with the most powerful engines available, usually old V-12 aircraft engines, they were difficult to catch. And when they did run, the pursuers would likely come under fire from someone on the fantail with an automatic rifle or even a machine gun. As Louis had discovered, putting a cannon shell into a hull packed with munitions and high-octane fuel was a bad idea. Sometimes they went boom and the last time that had happened the Windhund had been forced to return to Port because of substantial blast damage.
Into this was Louis’ life, what there was of it these days. The somewhat dubious highlight of the week had been receiving a letter from Zella, and she was her usual self. Taking a break from shooting her documentaries, she had taken a holiday in the South of France and she had talked about how much fun she was having. Included was a photograph that she had taken of herself at the beach where it had appeared as if she had partaken of the French habit of minimalist beach attire which she found amusing. It was difficult to tell for sure though because of the angle she held the camera and she had joked in the letter about how Kiki would react upon seeing it. A closer look revealed that she was in fact wearing a swimsuit even if it was hard to see, making him do that was probably her intention in taking the picture. Louis wondered what possessed Zella to pull provocative stunts like this. It was as if she saw that song written by John Lennon about how she could be superficial and got off on cheap thrills as a challenge to be worse.
Halle (Saale), Anhalt
The hall that was being used by the University for the Midsummer Celebration was crowded as Kiki and Ben made their entrance. Ben was wearing a suit tonight that was appropriate for the black-tie event, while Kiki’s choice was an elegant gown made from silk that was such a dark shade of blue that it was almost black. The only nod to their careers was that they would wear civil awards only because Kiki felt like they might as well be in uniform if they did anything else and she didn’t want that. That was why his was wearing the Order of the Rue Crown on its green ribband over his right shoulder with its star next to the Polaris Medal. Kiki had done something similar except she was wearing the Grand Cross of the Order of Louise which had a white ribband and star. She also had a version of the Johanniter Order on a black bow pinned to the left sleeve of her gown, “There are advantages of having your cousin as the Grand Master” Kiki had said when Ben had asked about it.
As they were introduced, Ben noticed that everyone had stopped and stared. Prinzessin Kristina von Preussen zu Hohenzollern and Burggraf Benjamin von Hirsch zu Balderschwang. That was who he was now, and it was the first time that the full weight of that was sinking in. It sounded impressive, but it was just a road with a few houses and a store. With a planned ski resort going in on the opposite side of the valley from the land that Ben owned, they were optimistic that perhaps one day they would be able to build a hotel and perhaps apartments for the workers one day. Small wonder that they had been euphoric when they learned that Ben had leased a corner of his property to the University of Berlin in conjunction with the University of Munich so that an observatory could be built there. That meant year-round employment and other opportunities. Ben had gotten the people of the area to like him by the oldest means possible, he had inadvertently paid them off.
As Ben led Kiki out onto the dance floor, he noticed that she seemed nervous. While she had gotten better over the years, she still found being among people to be a draining experience.
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They're both doomed. DOOMED!! I tell you! Louis & Zella is going to be one of those relationships where they suddenly realise that they've been Boyfriend & Girlfriend for quite some time without knowing it, to the absolute amusement of practically everybody they know. Probably when Louis is returning to home port, Zella happens to be in town for some reason & decides to swing by to say hi as his ship docks. Next thing you know, Public Display Of Affection right there on the pier, in front of the crew & their families. Cue both of them coming to a belated realisation of what they are doing and...
This is HUGE. This is the first time that Ben and Kiki have been out together, at a formal event, AS A COUPLE!
MAJOR step forward for both of them. Louis Snr. and Ben should send said cousin a case of his favourite beverage as a thank-you for finally getting Kiki over that hurdle. Even if it was unintentional on his part. Seriously, it was her dread at being asked to attend a formal event for the Johanniter Order that led her to say that she had a prior commitment; which she then had to follow through with in order to not upset him.
Edit: I just hope the Kaiser doesn't hurt himself doing cartwheels or something similarly silly while celebrating this milestone.
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I like the fact that the observatory and ski resort are going to mutually help each other as the ski resort will provide some daytime recreation for visiting researchers and during the off season the observatory will bring in the tourists and the aforementioned researchers will provide a steady clientele with the occasional conference happening.
So what does the seating chart look like for the Ball, is Kiki and Ben seated according to their titles or as benefiting the lowly status of a fleeting medico?
But seriously Kiki and Ben are going to be lucky if they can get a couple of dances with each other as the politics dictate that they preform as many duty dances as possible so that no one get slighted.
Apparently Prince Louis Ferdinand has proven himself in his command of the Windhund and that probably means a transfer to an important staff job soon and that means he should have more time to interact with Zella.
If Louis and Zella keep seeing each other socially their respective fathers may sit them down and remind them to not triffle with each other's affections and that will make Louis and Zella see each as more then just friends.
So what does the seating chart look like for the Ball, is Kiki and Ben seated according to their titles or as benefiting the lowly status of a fleeting medico?
But seriously Kiki and Ben are going to be lucky if they can get a couple of dances with each other as the politics dictate that they preform as many duty dances as possible so that no one get slighted.
Apparently Prince Louis Ferdinand has proven himself in his command of the Windhund and that probably means a transfer to an important staff job soon and that means he should have more time to interact with Zella.
If Louis and Zella keep seeing each other socially their respective fathers may sit them down and remind them to not triffle with each other's affections and that will make Louis and Zella see each as more then just friends.
Great stuff 
And we all can't wait...
Yeah, it's a huge milestone in their relationship, and in Kiki's life in general. I'm pretty sure that the Kaiser won't be cartwheeling through - he'll be popping a champagne bottle
And we all can't wait...
Yeah, it's a huge milestone in their relationship, and in Kiki's life in general. I'm pretty sure that the Kaiser won't be cartwheeling through - he'll be popping a champagne bottle
Aaand now I have an image of Kaiser Louis sporting a black eye from a champagne cork...
Not sure how Nadine will be taking it though...