The Davis brothers are based on friends of my Grandfather. Names have been changed in the off chance that anyone else who knew them might be reading this.
Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
Part 121, Chapter 2024
Chapter Two Thousand Twenty-Four
23rd October 1970
Mitte, Berlin
Lunch at an exclusive Berlin club wasn’t how Ben had intended to spend today. He had intended to spend it getting caught up on all the things he had been neglecting while being a reserve Officer in the Luftwaffe over the prior weeks. Seeing how the club’s staff were reacting to the presence of his Father-in-Law almost made it worth it though. Still, sitting at the table with Louis Ferdinand, Crown Prince Friedrich, King Michael of Bohemia, Louis Ferdinand Junior, and Prince Franz of Bavaria, Ben wondered what he had done to find himself sitting at this table.
“I can explain how it works” Ben said, “But I know that I would bore you if I did.”
He had been asked about what he had been up to lately, but like always there were questions about just who was cleared to know what. The Brass had decided that because of the success of the 18th Fast Attack Wing and the advanced nature of their planes, they had become a part of the Archer Project which was designed to increase the survivability of aircraft in the field. Like everyone else who had been briefed about the capabilities of the Orkan, Ben had been told to speak out them with no one. The company he had found himself in pushed the very bounds of just who was considered no one though. Acting like if the whole thing was just boring seemed to be the best tact.
The two guided missiles most used by the Luftwaffe and Fleet Air Command were of the unimaginably named Lenkflugkörper series by Junkers AG. The short-ranged w-Lf “Speer” and the longer-ranged, all weather f-Lf “Hermelin” which appeared nearly identical externally, the key difference being that the Speer was heat-seeking while the Hermelin used radar guidance. The new Langstrecken Lenkflugkörper II dubbed “Sperling” was designed to be fired at targets not just well beyond visual range and was adapted specially for the Schwarm tactics of the Luftwaffe. That meant that when the Sperling was in its semi-active mode it could use the radar from any friendly aircraft for guidance. There was also a passive infrared sensor package installed on the Orkan that was a direct result of experiences over Korea and even during the Soviet War when the problems associated with powerful search radars had first made themselves clear.
“I think that Benjamin’s into things that are anything but boring” Louis Ferdinand said, “He just is using a bit of discretion. I understand that he has been shortlisted to become his Air Wing’s S2.”
Of course, Louis Ferdinand would know that detail. Ben had been offered the position of being the 18th SKG’s Intelligence Officer. It would mean that he would have an active Commission which would take him away from his career, and worst of all it would result in him not being allowed in the cockpit. What would even be the point in him being in the Luftwaffe if that happened?
“Seems to me that Ben would be good at that” Louis Junior observed. He would think that. No matter what position an Officer held aboard a ship, he would still be on said ship.
“That would take him out of the fight though” Michael said. He seemed to understand more than his brothers, even if it was for the wrong reasons. For Michael it was all about being in the middle of the action, as opposed to having a purpose or even the detail that flying a fighter plane was a whole lot of fun.
Franz and Friedrich looked amused by the whole thing. They were probably happy that the focus was elsewhere this afternoon. All morning, they had been at the proceedings of the Imperial Council. While the outcome of that was hardly in doubt, the resulting debate inside the Council had been dragging on for days over what had become serious questions. Just exactly what sort of society did they want? And what would be the role of the Emperor in the coming years? Was the position that of a figurehead, a relic of a Feudal past, or did the Emperor play a key role in the Empire? Were they even an Empire, or did they aspire to be something else? It was all being televised. In the hours that followed the debate was continuing in the newspapers, on radio and television news programs and even on the streets of the major cities. Ben had realized that this was exactly what Louis Ferdinand had intended to happen when he had announced his pending abdication and the formation of the Council. He wanted people asking these questions and he wanted this debate to take place.
Rural Santa Cruz Province
The houses were the workers lived in the Estancia were exactly what Kiki figured they would be. Indoor plumbing hadn’t arrived, and she had found herself giving lessons in basic sanitation. Being a guest meant that she needed to be gracious, but the thing she had complained to Ben about, sheep, were ever present and if she never saw or smelled another of those animals again it would be too soon. Father Lehmann took it all in stride.
“This isn’t the first time either of us have encountered this” Lehmann said as they sat in the back of the Iltis which was taking them between the sheep stations. “Nor will it be the last.”
“I guess” Kiki replied, knowing that it wasn’t the only thing she had quibbles about in this region lately. While these people lacked certain things that she might have considered basic, Kiki couldn’t help but noticing that bolt-actions rifles made by Česká zbrojovka in Bohemia were finding their way here. When they got back to Rio Gallegos, she was planning on having a word with whoever was in charge of this operation because that seemed to be at cross-purposes of why they were here.
23rd October 1970
Mitte, Berlin
Lunch at an exclusive Berlin club wasn’t how Ben had intended to spend today. He had intended to spend it getting caught up on all the things he had been neglecting while being a reserve Officer in the Luftwaffe over the prior weeks. Seeing how the club’s staff were reacting to the presence of his Father-in-Law almost made it worth it though. Still, sitting at the table with Louis Ferdinand, Crown Prince Friedrich, King Michael of Bohemia, Louis Ferdinand Junior, and Prince Franz of Bavaria, Ben wondered what he had done to find himself sitting at this table.
“I can explain how it works” Ben said, “But I know that I would bore you if I did.”
He had been asked about what he had been up to lately, but like always there were questions about just who was cleared to know what. The Brass had decided that because of the success of the 18th Fast Attack Wing and the advanced nature of their planes, they had become a part of the Archer Project which was designed to increase the survivability of aircraft in the field. Like everyone else who had been briefed about the capabilities of the Orkan, Ben had been told to speak out them with no one. The company he had found himself in pushed the very bounds of just who was considered no one though. Acting like if the whole thing was just boring seemed to be the best tact.
The two guided missiles most used by the Luftwaffe and Fleet Air Command were of the unimaginably named Lenkflugkörper series by Junkers AG. The short-ranged w-Lf “Speer” and the longer-ranged, all weather f-Lf “Hermelin” which appeared nearly identical externally, the key difference being that the Speer was heat-seeking while the Hermelin used radar guidance. The new Langstrecken Lenkflugkörper II dubbed “Sperling” was designed to be fired at targets not just well beyond visual range and was adapted specially for the Schwarm tactics of the Luftwaffe. That meant that when the Sperling was in its semi-active mode it could use the radar from any friendly aircraft for guidance. There was also a passive infrared sensor package installed on the Orkan that was a direct result of experiences over Korea and even during the Soviet War when the problems associated with powerful search radars had first made themselves clear.
“I think that Benjamin’s into things that are anything but boring” Louis Ferdinand said, “He just is using a bit of discretion. I understand that he has been shortlisted to become his Air Wing’s S2.”
Of course, Louis Ferdinand would know that detail. Ben had been offered the position of being the 18th SKG’s Intelligence Officer. It would mean that he would have an active Commission which would take him away from his career, and worst of all it would result in him not being allowed in the cockpit. What would even be the point in him being in the Luftwaffe if that happened?
“Seems to me that Ben would be good at that” Louis Junior observed. He would think that. No matter what position an Officer held aboard a ship, he would still be on said ship.
“That would take him out of the fight though” Michael said. He seemed to understand more than his brothers, even if it was for the wrong reasons. For Michael it was all about being in the middle of the action, as opposed to having a purpose or even the detail that flying a fighter plane was a whole lot of fun.
Franz and Friedrich looked amused by the whole thing. They were probably happy that the focus was elsewhere this afternoon. All morning, they had been at the proceedings of the Imperial Council. While the outcome of that was hardly in doubt, the resulting debate inside the Council had been dragging on for days over what had become serious questions. Just exactly what sort of society did they want? And what would be the role of the Emperor in the coming years? Was the position that of a figurehead, a relic of a Feudal past, or did the Emperor play a key role in the Empire? Were they even an Empire, or did they aspire to be something else? It was all being televised. In the hours that followed the debate was continuing in the newspapers, on radio and television news programs and even on the streets of the major cities. Ben had realized that this was exactly what Louis Ferdinand had intended to happen when he had announced his pending abdication and the formation of the Council. He wanted people asking these questions and he wanted this debate to take place.
Rural Santa Cruz Province
The houses were the workers lived in the Estancia were exactly what Kiki figured they would be. Indoor plumbing hadn’t arrived, and she had found herself giving lessons in basic sanitation. Being a guest meant that she needed to be gracious, but the thing she had complained to Ben about, sheep, were ever present and if she never saw or smelled another of those animals again it would be too soon. Father Lehmann took it all in stride.
“This isn’t the first time either of us have encountered this” Lehmann said as they sat in the back of the Iltis which was taking them between the sheep stations. “Nor will it be the last.”
“I guess” Kiki replied, knowing that it wasn’t the only thing she had quibbles about in this region lately. While these people lacked certain things that she might have considered basic, Kiki couldn’t help but noticing that bolt-actions rifles made by Česká zbrojovka in Bohemia were finding their way here. When they got back to Rio Gallegos, she was planning on having a word with whoever was in charge of this operation because that seemed to be at cross-purposes of why they were here.
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It would be interesting to see how things are shaking out at the Imperial Council as I can see Kurfurst von Richthofen being the leader of the more traditional role for the Kaiser and Kat is just keeping her views to herself even through she is basically the most loyal person to the House of Hohenzollern.
Kiki despite her complaints about the sheep seems to enjoy being out in the field doing "Real Medicine" and making a difference bit she should be prepared to go to Buenos Aires to play the diplomatic game as she is the most visible symbol of the JMS mission in Argentina and there is always politics that have to be considered.
Kiki despite her complaints about the sheep seems to enjoy being out in the field doing "Real Medicine" and making a difference bit she should be prepared to go to Buenos Aires to play the diplomatic game as she is the most visible symbol of the JMS mission in Argentina and there is always politics that have to be considered.
So we have the guided missiles Spear, Weasel (ermine) and Sparrow. Dare I hope that we have a Seitenwickler (sidewinder)/Viper and a Phönix in development as well?
The Sidewinder was encountered over Korea, so it is already in American use. The Speer is the German equivalent.
The instant Kiki saw the footage, she might finally get why people get so concerned over the things she gets herself into.
Part 121, Chapter 2025
Chapter Two Thousand Twenty-Five
30th October 1970
Mitte, Berlin
The spectacle of the Imperial Council had reached its final stage and the motley crowd who had made up the body were set to conduct their final, and only, vote. The television cameras were watching everything, and the entire nation was focused on what was happening today as it had all come down to this. It was not that anyone had any doubts about the outcome, but things had certainly needed to be hashed out over the prior weeks and the notes that were being kept and the conclusions that had been reached would probably find their way into legislation in the coming years.
With Louis Ferdinand’s resignation effective in only a week’s time, the time for debate had come to an end. That didn’t mean that things were going smoothly though. Manfred von Richthofen the Elder knew that the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire would have had a collective heart attack if they could see the structure of the current Imperial Council. The extensive bribery, trading of favors, and not so subtle threat of war were noticeably absent from these proceedings. Things like proportional representation and many of the topics that had been debated at length would have shocked them as would have the factions that had emerged over the prior weeks. Just the fact that a third of the Electors being women would have shocked them into incoherience.
It had been Manfred’s plan for the House of Richthofen to have this moment in the spotlight. What he hadn’t known was the fractious nature of his family and the connections with the Mischner family would define that moment. The representatives from Silesia included his daughter Helene and in a shocking twist, the mysterious Mistress of the Keys, Asia Lawniczak along with Manfred. A detail that he had not known about was that Asia was the mother of seven-year-old Heinrich von Hessen. The two of them had formed part of the leadership of the center faction, which many would argue was Langist in nature, of these proceedings. They were working alongside Katherine von Mischner zu Berlin, Sophie Scholl who had somehow found her way onto the Council by way of representing the interests of Munich, and Rhona Reise, the widow of Augustus Lang himself.
Often Manfred had found himself in opposition to them and as he had known since Helene was a child, getting into a debate with her was not for the faint of heart. She had deftly stood between the Conservative faction led by Manfred the Elder and King Albrecht of Bavaria and the Republican faction led by Helmut Schmidt and Erhard Krack. Matters weren’t helped by Schmidt and Krack clearly despising each other and the later clearly being terrified of Katherine von Mischner. It seemed that the current Matriarch of the Mischner family and Prefect of Berlin knew where a lot of the bodies were buried, probably having dug many of the graves herself, not that Manfred disapproved.
Still, Manfred could see familiar lines being drawn here. North vs. South, Protestant vs. Catholic, Rural vs. Urban, Industrial vs. Agrarian. Friedrich was going to have his work cut out for him if he were to bridge those divides. In the meantime, they were listening to testimony about what sort of Emperor Friedrich could be expected to be. Most of it was dry statistics, his education, Law practice, and family life. Exactly what everyone was expecting and was probably sleeping through. Jehane Alexandra Thomas-Romanova’s testimony about being “Freddy’s” minder when he had been a child was interesting. The shopping expedition to buy apples in Potsdam that had been featured in a column she had written for the Berliner Tageblatt was mentioned. Oddly, that was a story everyone knew; The Power of Please and Thank you. During the long period of time that the Russian Grand Duchess had spent in hiding after the first attempt on her life, with the world thinking that she had in fact died, had apparently taught her a few things and she had passed that on to Friedrich.
Everyone knew that Katherine von Mischner had been a sort of surrogate Aunt to Friedrich as well as his younger siblings. There was a famous photograph of him asleep on her lap at the funeral of Wilhelm II when he had been a small child. No one had called on her to testify though after she had asked not to speak. Princess Kristina had spoken at length over a radio link from distant Argentina, the same means by which she would cast her vote on behalf of the Hohenzollern Province. All about how the Crown Prince was her oafish older brother, teasing, pranks, and inappropriate gifts. A whippet puppy that had been collectively adopted by the Helicopter Air Wing she had been serving with at the time for example or the time he had dumped a shovel full of snow on the heads of Kristina and her eventual husband when they were stealing a private moment alone. She also described him as a loving husband and good father. It was all talked about in good humor, clearly an effort to humanize Friedrich.
It was the next bit of testimony where things got interesting though. Oberfeldwebel Knut Leichenberg was introduced. He was wearing the blue and white dress uniform of the Marine Infantry and Manfred could see that he was highly decorated. Something about the look on Friedrich’s face suggested that he was less than thrilled by the presence of the Marine who had apparently been in charge of protecting the Crown Prince when he had turned up in Poland leading a Battalion of Pioneers. It turned out that the entire advance which had been stalled by bridges dropped into the Vistula River and the timely intervention by Friedrich had put them back into the race for Warsaw. That was also the story of how Friedrich had been awarded an EK2. It was clear to Manfred that Oberfeld Leichenberg was a colorful character and that earning the respect of a man like that was difficult. As Leichenberg put it, Friedrich proved that he had balls by going to Poland like he had.
30th October 1970
Mitte, Berlin
The spectacle of the Imperial Council had reached its final stage and the motley crowd who had made up the body were set to conduct their final, and only, vote. The television cameras were watching everything, and the entire nation was focused on what was happening today as it had all come down to this. It was not that anyone had any doubts about the outcome, but things had certainly needed to be hashed out over the prior weeks and the notes that were being kept and the conclusions that had been reached would probably find their way into legislation in the coming years.
With Louis Ferdinand’s resignation effective in only a week’s time, the time for debate had come to an end. That didn’t mean that things were going smoothly though. Manfred von Richthofen the Elder knew that the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire would have had a collective heart attack if they could see the structure of the current Imperial Council. The extensive bribery, trading of favors, and not so subtle threat of war were noticeably absent from these proceedings. Things like proportional representation and many of the topics that had been debated at length would have shocked them as would have the factions that had emerged over the prior weeks. Just the fact that a third of the Electors being women would have shocked them into incoherience.
It had been Manfred’s plan for the House of Richthofen to have this moment in the spotlight. What he hadn’t known was the fractious nature of his family and the connections with the Mischner family would define that moment. The representatives from Silesia included his daughter Helene and in a shocking twist, the mysterious Mistress of the Keys, Asia Lawniczak along with Manfred. A detail that he had not known about was that Asia was the mother of seven-year-old Heinrich von Hessen. The two of them had formed part of the leadership of the center faction, which many would argue was Langist in nature, of these proceedings. They were working alongside Katherine von Mischner zu Berlin, Sophie Scholl who had somehow found her way onto the Council by way of representing the interests of Munich, and Rhona Reise, the widow of Augustus Lang himself.
Often Manfred had found himself in opposition to them and as he had known since Helene was a child, getting into a debate with her was not for the faint of heart. She had deftly stood between the Conservative faction led by Manfred the Elder and King Albrecht of Bavaria and the Republican faction led by Helmut Schmidt and Erhard Krack. Matters weren’t helped by Schmidt and Krack clearly despising each other and the later clearly being terrified of Katherine von Mischner. It seemed that the current Matriarch of the Mischner family and Prefect of Berlin knew where a lot of the bodies were buried, probably having dug many of the graves herself, not that Manfred disapproved.
Still, Manfred could see familiar lines being drawn here. North vs. South, Protestant vs. Catholic, Rural vs. Urban, Industrial vs. Agrarian. Friedrich was going to have his work cut out for him if he were to bridge those divides. In the meantime, they were listening to testimony about what sort of Emperor Friedrich could be expected to be. Most of it was dry statistics, his education, Law practice, and family life. Exactly what everyone was expecting and was probably sleeping through. Jehane Alexandra Thomas-Romanova’s testimony about being “Freddy’s” minder when he had been a child was interesting. The shopping expedition to buy apples in Potsdam that had been featured in a column she had written for the Berliner Tageblatt was mentioned. Oddly, that was a story everyone knew; The Power of Please and Thank you. During the long period of time that the Russian Grand Duchess had spent in hiding after the first attempt on her life, with the world thinking that she had in fact died, had apparently taught her a few things and she had passed that on to Friedrich.
Everyone knew that Katherine von Mischner had been a sort of surrogate Aunt to Friedrich as well as his younger siblings. There was a famous photograph of him asleep on her lap at the funeral of Wilhelm II when he had been a small child. No one had called on her to testify though after she had asked not to speak. Princess Kristina had spoken at length over a radio link from distant Argentina, the same means by which she would cast her vote on behalf of the Hohenzollern Province. All about how the Crown Prince was her oafish older brother, teasing, pranks, and inappropriate gifts. A whippet puppy that had been collectively adopted by the Helicopter Air Wing she had been serving with at the time for example or the time he had dumped a shovel full of snow on the heads of Kristina and her eventual husband when they were stealing a private moment alone. She also described him as a loving husband and good father. It was all talked about in good humor, clearly an effort to humanize Friedrich.
It was the next bit of testimony where things got interesting though. Oberfeldwebel Knut Leichenberg was introduced. He was wearing the blue and white dress uniform of the Marine Infantry and Manfred could see that he was highly decorated. Something about the look on Friedrich’s face suggested that he was less than thrilled by the presence of the Marine who had apparently been in charge of protecting the Crown Prince when he had turned up in Poland leading a Battalion of Pioneers. It turned out that the entire advance which had been stalled by bridges dropped into the Vistula River and the timely intervention by Friedrich had put them back into the race for Warsaw. That was also the story of how Friedrich had been awarded an EK2. It was clear to Manfred that Oberfeld Leichenberg was a colorful character and that earning the respect of a man like that was difficult. As Leichenberg put it, Friedrich proved that he had balls by going to Poland like he had.
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I would have thought the proceedings would have held in secret like a Papal Conclave but having it out in open is going to help to define the role the Kaiser in the years to come.
It is no surprise that the small "r" republicans are divided as they themselves have not come to a consensus on how a republican system will work from a President that is basically a figurehead to an American style Presidency.
I always like how the relationship between Elder Manfred and Kat has evolved over the years with Manfred having more than a grudging respect for Kat and approves the fact that in his mind that Kat has actually stashed bodies in unmarked graves.
Freddy's actions in Poland probably sealed the deal with the proverbial cherry on top as it shows his commitment to an unified Empire and the testimony by Oberfeld Leichenberg about having the balls has a certain credibility coming from a very decorated Marine Infantry NCO.
It is no surprise that the small "r" republicans are divided as they themselves have not come to a consensus on how a republican system will work from a President that is basically a figurehead to an American style Presidency.
I always like how the relationship between Elder Manfred and Kat has evolved over the years with Manfred having more than a grudging respect for Kat and approves the fact that in his mind that Kat has actually stashed bodies in unmarked graves.
Freddy's actions in Poland probably sealed the deal with the proverbial cherry on top as it shows his commitment to an unified Empire and the testimony by Oberfeld Leichenberg about having the balls has a certain credibility coming from a very decorated Marine Infantry NCO.
Manfred the Elder also likes the idea that he is not in one of those graves, marked or unmarked, by Kat’s actual hand.
Freddie is being shown as being all things to (almost), all people. The election, being covered in public like this, has probably just sidelined the republican movement in Germany until the 21st Century at the earliest.
"Monarchies are undemocratic"
"The Kaiser was literally elected to take the throne. Can you get any more democratic"?
"Monarchies are undemocratic"
"The Kaiser was literally elected to take the throne. Can you get any more democratic"?
Aside from the fact that Manfred the Elder clearly likes the idea that Kat might actually have buried people in unmarked graves and that he is not one of them, he is also clearly of the opinion that many physical bodies probably had it coming and that Kat knowing about the metaphorical bodies is even better.
Bridging those divides was, is, and will be a never ending job.
Freddie's reaction to Oberfeldwebel Leichenberg would be two part: 1) Leichenberg had orders to use physical violence on Freddie, to prevent Freddie getting killed and they both knew it; 2) Leichenberg's testimony highlighted Freddie's role in the Polish Campaign which could cause Freddie some issues in the no-so-distant future re: Poland.
Having an elected monarch also neatly undermines a lot of the criticism about the evils of monarchy/royalty coming from the freedom loving, democratic republic that is the United States of America. Especially since the whole 'elected by electors' thing is exactly how the United States elects their presidents.
I'm a bit surprised at some of the elements of the Franchise. I'd expected a more limited one. Kat I had previously understood as separating Berlin, as Prussia was reorganised, something that makes sense in a nation that already included (and had an even longer history involving) city States like Hamburg.
However here we see that a politician represents Munich, not a Wittelsbach as I would have expected, let alone Munich separated from it's surroundings. (Bavaria not voting as a block isn't that surprising, as at least Frankonia separate was expected, though it sounds like the divisions were made smaller than that.) This is less HRE electors, less Polish Sejm (It was them who voted, right? Might misremember what body did that.) and more among the lines of the US electorate system, if they had set seats aside in addition for nobility/large land owners. And presumably a handful of religious leaders? Not mentioned here, but unless there was a shift somewhere I missed, some single digit number of religious leaders would fit right in. And evoke the HRE electorate, with it's three spiritual Kurfürsten.
But yeah, I fully expect some US cartoon calling Freddy (or his dark horse opponent) President-for-Life.
And I feel the need to point out the cutting edge technology solution employed: Kiki is present via telepresence. Vote by Mail in Germany is apparently older than I expected (a quick check on wikipedia showed), but very much tied to post WW2 developments OTL. But this is interesting.
And that for the matter implies a public vote - in turn opening the door to the kind of lobbying that the electors of the HRE would have found familiar. And on the other hand also makes the elector accountable to the territory they represent.
However here we see that a politician represents Munich, not a Wittelsbach as I would have expected, let alone Munich separated from it's surroundings. (Bavaria not voting as a block isn't that surprising, as at least Frankonia separate was expected, though it sounds like the divisions were made smaller than that.) This is less HRE electors, less Polish Sejm (It was them who voted, right? Might misremember what body did that.) and more among the lines of the US electorate system, if they had set seats aside in addition for nobility/large land owners. And presumably a handful of religious leaders? Not mentioned here, but unless there was a shift somewhere I missed, some single digit number of religious leaders would fit right in. And evoke the HRE electorate, with it's three spiritual Kurfürsten.
But yeah, I fully expect some US cartoon calling Freddy (or his dark horse opponent) President-for-Life.
And I feel the need to point out the cutting edge technology solution employed: Kiki is present via telepresence. Vote by Mail in Germany is apparently older than I expected (a quick check on wikipedia showed), but very much tied to post WW2 developments OTL. But this is interesting.
And that for the matter implies a public vote - in turn opening the door to the kind of lobbying that the electors of the HRE would have found familiar. And on the other hand also makes the elector accountable to the territory they represent.
I am going to guess that there won't be a traditional Coronation ceremony at the main Cathedral but a lower key but more impressive than an American Presidential Inauguration.
The religious aspects being limited to the Invocation and Benediction with other blessings from various other religions that have a presence in the Empire and the main focus will be a more civic one emphasizing the relationship between the Kaiser and the People instead of God and the Church and the Kaiser.
There will still be the big parade with the different armed forces represented and the other countries in the Empire will also send there represented military units and floats displaying there contributions to the Empire.
Of course there will be plenty of formal balls to close out the night.
The religious aspects being limited to the Invocation and Benediction with other blessings from various other religions that have a presence in the Empire and the main focus will be a more civic one emphasizing the relationship between the Kaiser and the People instead of God and the Church and the Kaiser.
There will still be the big parade with the different armed forces represented and the other countries in the Empire will also send there represented military units and floats displaying there contributions to the Empire.
Of course there will be plenty of formal balls to close out the night.
Part 121, Chapter 2026
Chapter Two Thousand Twenty-Six
8th November 1970
Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport
With the resignation of Emperor Louis Ferdinand about to become official and the coronation of Crown Prince Friedrich pending everyone was waiting, the 18th SKG had gone on alert along with the rest of the military units in the vicinity of the Capital. It was not that anyone thought that anything would happen to such an extent that close air support from Fighter-Bombers would be necessary, just no one was taking any chances because it was well known that not everyone was thrilled by the turn of events. The Polish Nationalists and Jacobins being at the top of what was an extensive list.
Tomorrow, the Air Wing would drink a toast to the health of Emperor Friedrich IV and Empress Suga-no-miya, and hopefully that would be the end of it for now. Two planes from the 18th were supposed to be a part of festivities on Coronation Day but Black Knight hadn’t been selected. The Government wanted them to be painted in the livery of the City of Berlin for reasons that Ben didn’t quite understand and that left two of the five Orkans that were presently unclaimed with the remainder of the Wing painted some combination of black, white, and red.
Ben was finding that he had other things to contend with in his new role within the 18th as the new S9. As it had turned out, his worry about becoming the Wing’s S2 and removal from flight status had been off the mark. Instead, Ben had been made the new Civil Affairs Officer of the unit. He had swiftly learned that there was a reason it was a job no one else wanted. He had been told that the position existed to promote Civil-Military Cooperation. What that looked like in real life was answering the phone when the irate members of Municipal Councils called complaining about low flying aircraft and noise. Somehow, they knew exactly whose airplanes it had been as well, Ben just couldn’t figure out the means of how they would have figured that out though. Also, an Orkan running two Junkers Jumo 12 turbofan engines generating sixty Kilonewtons of thrust dry was not exactly being subtle, so these complaints were valid. The trouble was that nobody above him had told Ben what exactly he was supposed to do about it other than get yelled at.
Then there was the other hazard that had swiftly presented itself.
“So, this is what you do when Kiki is out of town?” Zella asked as she walked around the Black Knight. Ben knew that the double entendre of what she had just said was deliberate and he was glad that Yuri, Zella’s Cameraman wasn’t filming at this second.
“You never said Kiki’s best friend was totally hot” Wim said knowing that Zella was out of earshot. That was true enough, but Ben had known Zella for years and any consideration regarding her personal appearance were tempered by their shared history. His foot under the wheels of her motorcycle the one time he had been stupid enough to unwittingly corner her, for example.
“I told you she was the action reporter for ARD Berlin” Ben replied, “You have probably seen Zella on television dozens of times.”
Ben could already see the effect of having Zella around the hanger of the 18th SKG as pilots and aircrew, all men and even a few women were making excuses to be around as she toured the hangers, offices, and workshops that made the Air Wing’s headquarters. Zella, of course, seemed completely oblivious to this.
“And what’s the deal with her Cameraman?” Wim asked. Ben tried to hide his annoyance over the matter. It was extremely obvious to everyone that Yuri Kozlov had feelings for Zella. That was something that he had talked with Kiki about many times, and she had asked him to never bring it up with Zella because that would just be asking for trouble.
“He’s got a job to do” Ben replied as Yuri started filming Zella as she was looking at the of the Black Knight as the Mechanics were at work.
Eventually, Zella came to the fairing where the muzzle of the RK30 cannon protruded from right-hand underside of the nose. “Is this it?” She asked.
Ben gave one of the Mechanics a nod and he started opening the access panels down the fuselage below the cockpit. The cannon itself was nearly two meters in length from the muzzle back to the box that housed the revolving chamber and feed system. The feed system snaked back into the ammunition box aft of the cockpit. The row of linked 30x184mm cased mine shells meant business.
“Just one gun?” Zella asked, clarifying her previous question. “I thought there were more than that.”
“It shoots fifteen hundred rounds per minute” Ben replied, “You only need one. Not having a battery of autocannons saves weight.”
“Oh” Zella said. She wasn’t pretending that she had knowledge of any of this. Ben understood that fighter-bombers were just not her thing.
“Our primary weapons in air-to-air are missiles that can hit targets many kilometers out” Ben said, “If we get into a close in dogfight it means that we got jumped or that we have run out of better options.”
That was the official line. There had been plenty of times when Ben had used an earlier version of the RK30 over Korea. It was a good tool to have available at times. The f-LsLf II “Sperling” could easily hit targets out to a hundred and twenty kilometers and the Orkan was the first aircraft to be equipped with the radar designed to exploit that to the fullest, but that wasn’t something the Luftwaffe was advertising. They wanted it to be a surprise.
8th November 1970
Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport
With the resignation of Emperor Louis Ferdinand about to become official and the coronation of Crown Prince Friedrich pending everyone was waiting, the 18th SKG had gone on alert along with the rest of the military units in the vicinity of the Capital. It was not that anyone thought that anything would happen to such an extent that close air support from Fighter-Bombers would be necessary, just no one was taking any chances because it was well known that not everyone was thrilled by the turn of events. The Polish Nationalists and Jacobins being at the top of what was an extensive list.
Tomorrow, the Air Wing would drink a toast to the health of Emperor Friedrich IV and Empress Suga-no-miya, and hopefully that would be the end of it for now. Two planes from the 18th were supposed to be a part of festivities on Coronation Day but Black Knight hadn’t been selected. The Government wanted them to be painted in the livery of the City of Berlin for reasons that Ben didn’t quite understand and that left two of the five Orkans that were presently unclaimed with the remainder of the Wing painted some combination of black, white, and red.
Ben was finding that he had other things to contend with in his new role within the 18th as the new S9. As it had turned out, his worry about becoming the Wing’s S2 and removal from flight status had been off the mark. Instead, Ben had been made the new Civil Affairs Officer of the unit. He had swiftly learned that there was a reason it was a job no one else wanted. He had been told that the position existed to promote Civil-Military Cooperation. What that looked like in real life was answering the phone when the irate members of Municipal Councils called complaining about low flying aircraft and noise. Somehow, they knew exactly whose airplanes it had been as well, Ben just couldn’t figure out the means of how they would have figured that out though. Also, an Orkan running two Junkers Jumo 12 turbofan engines generating sixty Kilonewtons of thrust dry was not exactly being subtle, so these complaints were valid. The trouble was that nobody above him had told Ben what exactly he was supposed to do about it other than get yelled at.
Then there was the other hazard that had swiftly presented itself.
“So, this is what you do when Kiki is out of town?” Zella asked as she walked around the Black Knight. Ben knew that the double entendre of what she had just said was deliberate and he was glad that Yuri, Zella’s Cameraman wasn’t filming at this second.
“You never said Kiki’s best friend was totally hot” Wim said knowing that Zella was out of earshot. That was true enough, but Ben had known Zella for years and any consideration regarding her personal appearance were tempered by their shared history. His foot under the wheels of her motorcycle the one time he had been stupid enough to unwittingly corner her, for example.
“I told you she was the action reporter for ARD Berlin” Ben replied, “You have probably seen Zella on television dozens of times.”
Ben could already see the effect of having Zella around the hanger of the 18th SKG as pilots and aircrew, all men and even a few women were making excuses to be around as she toured the hangers, offices, and workshops that made the Air Wing’s headquarters. Zella, of course, seemed completely oblivious to this.
“And what’s the deal with her Cameraman?” Wim asked. Ben tried to hide his annoyance over the matter. It was extremely obvious to everyone that Yuri Kozlov had feelings for Zella. That was something that he had talked with Kiki about many times, and she had asked him to never bring it up with Zella because that would just be asking for trouble.
“He’s got a job to do” Ben replied as Yuri started filming Zella as she was looking at the of the Black Knight as the Mechanics were at work.
Eventually, Zella came to the fairing where the muzzle of the RK30 cannon protruded from right-hand underside of the nose. “Is this it?” She asked.
Ben gave one of the Mechanics a nod and he started opening the access panels down the fuselage below the cockpit. The cannon itself was nearly two meters in length from the muzzle back to the box that housed the revolving chamber and feed system. The feed system snaked back into the ammunition box aft of the cockpit. The row of linked 30x184mm cased mine shells meant business.
“Just one gun?” Zella asked, clarifying her previous question. “I thought there were more than that.”
“It shoots fifteen hundred rounds per minute” Ben replied, “You only need one. Not having a battery of autocannons saves weight.”
“Oh” Zella said. She wasn’t pretending that she had knowledge of any of this. Ben understood that fighter-bombers were just not her thing.
“Our primary weapons in air-to-air are missiles that can hit targets many kilometers out” Ben said, “If we get into a close in dogfight it means that we got jumped or that we have run out of better options.”
That was the official line. There had been plenty of times when Ben had used an earlier version of the RK30 over Korea. It was a good tool to have available at times. The f-LsLf II “Sperling” could easily hit targets out to a hundred and twenty kilometers and the Orkan was the first aircraft to be equipped with the radar designed to exploit that to the fullest, but that wasn’t something the Luftwaffe was advertising. They wanted it to be a surprise.
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