Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III

I now have a vision of Ziska, crashing her bike, a well meaning stranger running up to help, and said stranger seeing Ziska's leg a couple of feet away from her and then fainting. Ambulance then has to be called for stranger. It would give the two of them a great story for years to come.
I can see that, too! It would become a department legend.
 
Part 115, Chapter 1901
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred One



24th January 1969

Kiel

There was a great deal of mirth among the Staff of the Grand Admiral as they reviewed the various attempts by Skoda, Rheinmetall, and Krupp to successfully develop an autoloader for the Panzer Corps. As far as they were concerned the Army was trying to reinvent the wheel, essentially doing work that the Navy had done decades earlier. Louis Junior wasn’t so sure though. Admiral Teichert had wanted to know more so he’d had Louis call around to those companies that were doing the work and Louis had gotten an understanding of the difficulties involved and why it was different. If anything, he was reminded of why a gunboat like the SMS Windhund had a plywood hull and mounted nothing larger than 37mm dual purpose guns. Like ship construction, building armored vehicles was a series of compromises. There were also two contradictory missions that Panzers had to engage in, providing fire support for Infantry and battling other armored vehicles.

According to Rheinmetall, switching between armor-piercing and high-explosive shells was difficult to do on the fly. They had a great deal of experience from the construction of the open-topped Skorpion Tank Destroyer, which had used a shell and cased propellent system that had required a fifth crewman and a hydraulic ram. They figured that they could build a more heavily automated system and as they described it, Louis was reminded of the system aboard the Preussen Class Battleship. Except those fired a 42-Centimeter shell and were prone to breakdown if they tried to maintain too high a rate of fire for more than a few minutes. What Louis didn’t mention was that those who had seen that system in action had referred to it as the Hand of God. The silence on the other end of the phoneline suggested that the Engineers at Rheinmetall had run into the same problem again. Still, the Project Supervisor said a few minutes later that the Heer wanted a high velocity version of the 12.8-Centimeter gun and left it at that. Louis knew that what the Heer wanted from Rheinmetall, they got and there was the always present fear that Krupp or Skoda would steal a march on them.

Then the question had come up; What was the High Seas Fleet’s interest in the project? Louis had lamely said that the Marine Infantry had an interest and the Project Supervisor had said that it was about time. That had prompted Louis to make some more phone calls. What he learned was that the Marine Infantry was almost totally lacking in armored, depending on the Fleet, Luftwaffe or whatever Heer Division happened to be around for fire support. Except for a handful of antiquated Luftpanzer I’s leftover from the Second World War the Marine’s had no armor of their own. Louis knew that in Vietnam, Mexico, and Korea the Marines had gotten themselves into hairy situations where they could have easily come to grief due to that very thing. Picking up the phone, Louis told the Operator to connect him to General Dietrich “Tilo” Schultz. Everyone knew that the Marine General was completely batshit insane, but he also had a reputation for being open minded. Perhaps openminded enough for what Louis figured needed to be done.



Rural Brandenburg, Near Luckenwalde

Snow swirled against the windscreen of the helicopter as it progressed through the storm. Just minutes earlier word had come through the University Hospital that all Field Personnel on duty needed to grab their winter gear and report to the rooftop helipad immediately. For once, Kiki’s security detail didn’t second guess her once she was headed in that direction. They just fell in line once it was clear that they had two choices, follow, or get out of the way. She put them to use carrying the bags of medical supplies that would be needed in the field when they got to the site, wherever it was.

As the helicopter descended Kiki saw through the window soot covered snow and scorched trees that had been snapped off. The wreckage was still burning in places and the local Fire Brigade was spraying foam on the smoldering fuselage that was in two pieces where the whole thing had skidded to a stop. Kiki tried to remember the properties of the kerosene used as jet fuel. Did it have a higher or lower flashpoint that normal avgas?

The door opened as the skids of the helicopter touched down and the sudden cold air rushing into the cabin was shocking. Through long practice, Kiki jumped out the door and kept low knowing that the rotor was spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute just over her head. As in the past, whenever she arrived at a scene like this all people saw was Notarzt spelled in high visibility letters across the red coat she was wearing. No one cared about who she was and that told them all they needed to know. The Chief of the Fire Brigade saw the FSR patch on her coat and Major’s epaulettes on her shoulders and unconsciously started to come to attention. Former military and probably enlisted, Kiki thought to herself as she filed that away for further use if she needed it.

“What’s the situation?” Kiki asked.

“Frightful mess” The Fire Chief said, “The Flight Crew must have known they were in trouble and tried to bring it in easy, but then it broke up and caught fire.”

Kiki tried not to react to that as she followed him towards the canvas tents that had already been set up as a makeshift field hospital. Surviving a crash just to get incinerated on the ground before rescue could arrive was the stuff of nightmares.

“We have found a number of survivors so far and we’ve been doing our best for them until you got here Doctor” The Chief said as Kiki tried not to look at the dozens of figures laid out under tarps who had not been so lucky.

“Thank you” Kiki said as she entered the first tent. The scene inside was exactly as she feared it would be. A number of scared, injured people and she would need to impose order on it before she could even start. Pulling a stack of “Federal” tags out of her pocket, Kiki looked at the first man she came to. A well to do Japanese businessman in his forties if what was left of his Savile tailored suit was anything to judge by. His left side had been shredded during the crash and Kiki could see that he had suffered a major brain injury and his left arm was missing from just above the elbow, it was a wonder he was still alive. Kiki attached the tag to the front of his shirt and tore it off, black. These people might not be military, but they all knew what that meant, and that Kiki meant business by being here. Of course, those who might be scared of her were those who needed help the least.

“Get his passport and inform the Japanese Embassy as soon as you get the radio up” Kiki said over her shoulder to one of her team as she moved on to the next patient.
 
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Nintendo could be going in a different direction, in this case, if he survives and sees Gumpei Yokoi playing with the toy hand, ITTL by 2020, Nintendo may find itself known for advanced computer controlled prosthetics instead of games consoles.
 
Nintendo could be going in a different direction, in this case, if he survives and sees Gumpei Yokoi playing with the toy hand, ITTL by 2020, Nintendo may find itself known for advanced computer controlled prosthetics instead of games consoles.

Why not both? Use the toy division to provide funding and R&D for the medical/prosthetics division. Game consoles AND cybernetic limbs.
 
The SL&HS Universe 2021 Nintendo Catalogue:

NinMed cybernetic limb training aid:

Utilising the highly successful Nintendo Reality headset, and using the NinMed standard limb interface, this program allows patients to practice controlling their cybernetic prosthetic from the comfort of their bed without the need to physically demanding therapy. As such, this can begin as little 3 days after surgery.
The use of Nintendo Reality headsets provides a level of familiarity for patients which helps to reduce the mental trauma arrising from limb loss and its recivery stages.

NinMed are pleased to confirm that in the British Commonwealth, Empire of Germany, and Holy Russian Empire, this training aid is available tax and tariff free and fully supported by our accredited Engineers.
 
Nintendo could be going in a different direction, in this case, if he survives and sees Gumpei Yokoi playing with the toy hand, ITTL by 2020, Nintendo may find itself known for advanced computer controlled prosthetics instead of games consoles.


IIRC, Black means he's pretty much a goner, sooo...

Yeah. :(
 
Things to ponder.
1. Who's aircraft is it? Japanese , German, Russian, UK, US airline company.
2. Manufacturer of the aircraft? German, Japan built under license, other country like US? Remember about the early Comets and the DC 10's.
3. Weather at the time? Lots of strange things can happen close to ground.
4. Pilot training? Military veterans, civilian trained, combination of both?
 

altamiro

Banned
Things to ponder.
1. Who's aircraft is it? Japanese , German, Russian, UK, US airline company.
2. Manufacturer of the aircraft? German, Japan built under license, other country like US? Remember about the early Comets and the DC 10's.
3. Weather at the time? Lots of strange things can happen close to ground.
4. Pilot training? Military veterans, civilian trained, combination of both?
5. Accident or terrorist attack?
 
Sorry, but as Dragoon pointed out, a black tag means DOA. Red is critical, yellow injured but stable and green means least concern IIRC.

1604417161865.png
 
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@Dragoon & @EWilanO
A well to do Japanese businessman in his forties if what was left of his Savile tailored suit was anything to judge by. His left side had been shredded during the crash and Kiki could see that he had suffered a major brain injury and his left arm was missing from just above the elbow, it was a wonder he was still alive.

Not dead yet. He is a low priority though due to his low probability of survival.
 
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ferdi254

Banned
Remember that planes regularly crashed in the 60s and 70s even until the 00s. But just as with cars concerted efforts were undertaken to increase the safety. If we had the crash rate of the 70s nowadays (notwithstanding Corona) we would see a big airliner (Embraer175 and up) go down weekly.
 
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred One

Picking up the phone, Louis told the Operator to connect him to General Dietrich “Tilo” Schultz. Everyone knew that the Marine General was completely batshit insane, but he also had a reputation for being open minded. Perhaps openminded enough for what Louis figured needed to be done.

Sorry that is a Medical opinion about Tilo and only a professional like Peter Holz could render that about someone of his rank.
 
"So let me get this straight, you are Bohemian?"

"Yes sir."

"And you want to join the Marines?"

"Yes sir."

"Even though Bohemia is landlocked?"

"Yes sir."

"Why?"

"You are being lenient on the requirements for your panzer corps."

"...fair enough Frau Knispel, welcome to the Marine Panzer Corps."
 

altamiro

Banned
"So let me get this straight, you are Bohemian?"

"Yes sir."

"And you want to join the Marines?"

"Yes sir."

"Even though Bohemia is landlocked?"

"Yes sir."

"Why?"

"You are being lenient on the requirements for your panzer corps."

"...fair enough Frau Knispel, welcome to the Marine Panzer Corps."
We already saw the Chekhov's Autoloader for that...
 
Part 115, Chapter 1902
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Two



2nd February 1969

Wunsdorf-Zossen

“As of thirty years ago today, before most of you morons were even born the Empire got a taste of things to come!” Jost proclaimed to the assembled Company. “I was just as clueless as you fuckwits, having no idea what the damned Russians had in store for me over the next five years! I thought I knew war because I had been in Spain. The truth was that it was a walk in the park compared the Soviet Front, and I was too stupid to realize it!”

Jost glared at them, he was in a particularly foul mood because the Oberstlieutenant who commanded the 7th Recon Battalion had implied that Jost needed to start thinking about life after the Heer again. He had even gone so far as to mention that he would be turning fifty-one in April. Jost hadn’t thrown that jackass out the nearest window, but he had certainly felt like it. He was one of the few men left in the 4th Panzer Division who knew what the grinding attrition of real war was like and how to survive in it. That wasn’t enough though. Even his transfer from 140th Regiment to the 7th Recon Battalion had been intended to send him the message that it was nearing time for him to leave.

“As you observe a moment of silence this afternoon, I want you to consider the reality of hundreds killed in an instant. Thousands of their friends and family mourning their loss as well and consider that it is your job to prevent that sort of tragedy from befalling out nation again” Jost said stalking around in front of the men as he concluded.

“Thank you Oberstaber Schultz for putting all of you in the right frame of mind” The Oberstlieutenant said.

Like always, there was a weakness that Jost detected in the man. Lack of confidence in his own abilities and judgement if he had to guess. Jost just hoped that he retired himself before that got any of those under his command hurt or killed.

“We will now observe a moment of silence for those who died in the Reichstag bombing” The Oberstlieutenant said looking at his watch, “Starting now.”

At that moment, Jost knew that the entire nation stood still for a moment. It was a rare late winter day with the sun shining in a vivid blue sky that seemed translucent. The only sound was the wind and one of the men coughing briefly. He understood that the events of the 2nd of February 1939 were already fading from public memory with calls to end the ritual growing louder every year. Eventually, probably sooner that he would like, it would just become another day like any other with only a short paragraph below the fold in newspapers to mark the occasion.



Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport, Schönefeld

Of all the fatalities of the crash of Lufthansa Flight 4 between Berlin and Tokyo, only one had the distinction of being someone who Kiki personally had been unable to help. Hiroshi Yamauchi had been a prominent businessman from a corporation called Nintendo that manufactured playing cards and other entertainments. As it turned out, the same corporation had recently entered the consumer electronics market with some rather innovative products. He had been considered an up and coming member of the community and much of Japan considered his death to have been a tragedy. Kiki felt a stab of guilt whenever she considered that it was extremely likely that she would probably have been introduced to Hiroshi sometime in the coming weeks because he had been looking for investors to help his bid to enter the European Market. The result was that an investigation had been performed into exactly what had happened.

The autopsy had confirmed Kiki’s initial assessment, saying that Hiroshi had suffered severe brain damage and that it had been an intracranial hematoma that had been named as his cause of death. There had been quite literally nothing she could have done in the field. The Löschmeister who had supervised the fire service personnel on the scene had confirmed she had had several other survivors of the crash in urgent need of medical attention in adverse conditions. That meant that no one faulted her for her conduct. The investigators had understood that the triage system existed for a reason.

Still, Kiki being true to herself, had felt that she owed Hiroshi’s family more than just a perfunctory note of condolence. That was why she was waiting for his wife and three children in the International Arrivals section of the airport when they came to claim his body and arrange for its disposition. She had somewhat abused her authority to make sure that they would get through customs without much static. All it had taken was introducing herself as Oberstabsarzt Doktor Prinzessin Kristina von Preussen zu Hohenzollern and the Supervising Officer of the Federal Border Police who ran security in the Airport with enough attitude and he had just about shit himself. Occasionally, there were advantages of having a very recognizable face. The sight of the medals on her dress uniform did wonders in getting officialdom to see things her way.

Having taken the time to look up photographs before she had left for the airport, so she recognized Hiroshi’s widow as she came out of the jetway. “You must be grieving terribly” Kiki said in her best Japanese, “I offer my condolences and am here to help you through this difficult time.”

The woman looked at Kiki and said nothing. Something about her expression though suggested that she was someone who had been drowning and Kiki had just thrown her a rope.
 
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@Dragoon & @EWilanO


Not dead yet. He is a low priority though due to his low probability of survival.

No. Black tag means either 'dead' or, as this case shows, 'close to death, painkillers only to ease the suffering'. I had to do some digging around triage systems to understand what was written and that was pretty much the general consensus.

Anyway, on to the current chapter... Jost still doesn't admit he's getting old and Kiki... well, it's probably not the best course of action, but something interesting might come out of it.
 
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