Part 125, Chapter 2121
Chapter Two Thousand One Hundred Twenty-One
11th February 1972
Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport
In the days of the Roman Empire, when a General returned from victory and led the triumphal march through the city he had a slave, usually a dwarf, there beside him to whisper into his ear that he was still a mortal. For Tilo that came in the form of blast from brass instruments belting out From Land to Sea-From Sea to Land at ear splitting volume. He had loathed that stupid song since the Marine Infantry had adopted it as their official song years earlier, but as the highest-ranking Officer to emerge from the 3rd Marine Infantry Division it was expected. He had just completed a successful campaign as a Theater Commander and the Powers that be in the State and the Navy were currently happy with him. That included an overwhelming portion of the public as well.
The Press was out in force, and he was blinded by camera flashes going off as he walked from the jet bridge onto the Main concourse. Reier was a few steps behind him. On the plane he had told Tilo that for an Oberstaber like him the Argentine Campaign was the perfect self-funding vacation that had all the perks of being in the field and few of the drawbacks. As if anything else could happen while he was attached to the Staff of a Field Marshal. He had spent the Campaign doing most of the unofficial work that was necessary but seldom talked about. Whenever Tilo had found himself in need of someone to cut through red tape or find a workaround when Officialdom became too annoying, Reier was an old hand at those sorts of games. His extensive connections in the grey and black markets certainly helped as well. Apparently, Reier was going back to Flensburg to resume his role as the Drillmaster at the Mürwik Naval Academy. Going to Argentina with Tilo to keep him out of trouble was the least he could do. There was a bit of melancholy as both of them understood that this would probably be the last time that Tilo would deploy with Reier at his side. Of all the men who had deployed with the 3rd MID to Vietnam in early 1943, Reier and Tilo were last two that Tilo knew of who were still in active service.
He had been gone for months this time but had promised Nancy that he would be staying closer to home in the coming days. Emperor Friedrich had told him that they would need to meet as soon as arrangements could be made. That was a good thing, because the issue that Tilo had was that there was simply nowhere further for him to go. He had been in the Marine Infantry in some capacity since he had been nineteen years old, and he was turning fifty in December. It was time to find something else to do and it would be good to leave on a high note.
Tilo spotted Nancy standing with Sabastian, Anna and Gretchen waiting for him. It was impossible not to notice that Sabastian towered over his mother, even Anna was now taller than Nancy. Tilo was left pondering just when that had happened. At ten, Gretchen was still a little girl. In her last letter Nancy had said that she hoped that Gretchen would remain so for awhile yet. She had also described a hectic homelife, as the girls were a handful. Nancy had mentioned that Sabastian had discovered sport and that he was quite good at it as well. Something else that Tilo would finally have time for. Finally, Nancy had mentioned how she was going to try to spring Sabastian from the Prussian Institute in Wahlstatt for the weekend so that they would all be there to greet Tilo when he stepped off the airplane. It seemed that Nancy had been successful from the looks of things.
“Glad you are home” Nancy said after Tilo and hugged and kissed her much to the embarrassment of their children.
“For keeps this time” Tilo said, and Nancy seemed a bit surprised by that.
“Exactly what do you intend to do?” Nancy asked.
“Perhaps a University needs someone to teach Philosophy or something” Tilo replied, “Something that doesn’t involve battlefields or pressuring a South American President into making the right call long after it had become plainly obvious to everyone else on the planet.”
“I see” Nancy said as they started the long walk to the main entrance of the Airport. “That might make things a bit awkward considering the plans that Freddy has for you. Being a mere Professor and all.”
“I know that he wants to talk to me” Tilo replied, “I figured that it would be a medal and a pat on the head, then back to the kennel. I already got one of those in Argentina.”
“You’ve been spending entirely too much time with Reier over the last year” Nancy said, “That is still better than what you said after you came back from Poland, comparing the Marine Infantry to sheep and how sheep get fucked.”
“Momma!” Gretchen exclaimed, her and Anna looked aghast that Nancy had said that, and Sabastian just smirked.
“I was a bit irked at how those crazy lunkheads from the Airborne beat everyone else into Warsaw” Tilo said, “Of course, that was after we had beat the Poles in the field, clearing the way for them without so much as a thank you.”
“About what Freddy has planned though” Nancy said, “It’s hush hush right now, but President Martínez of Argentina is personally crediting you with the destruction of the Chilean Army. As Emperor, Freddy thinks that should be appropriately rewarded.”
Even by Tilo’s jaded standards that was a huge deal.
11th February 1972
Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport
In the days of the Roman Empire, when a General returned from victory and led the triumphal march through the city he had a slave, usually a dwarf, there beside him to whisper into his ear that he was still a mortal. For Tilo that came in the form of blast from brass instruments belting out From Land to Sea-From Sea to Land at ear splitting volume. He had loathed that stupid song since the Marine Infantry had adopted it as their official song years earlier, but as the highest-ranking Officer to emerge from the 3rd Marine Infantry Division it was expected. He had just completed a successful campaign as a Theater Commander and the Powers that be in the State and the Navy were currently happy with him. That included an overwhelming portion of the public as well.
The Press was out in force, and he was blinded by camera flashes going off as he walked from the jet bridge onto the Main concourse. Reier was a few steps behind him. On the plane he had told Tilo that for an Oberstaber like him the Argentine Campaign was the perfect self-funding vacation that had all the perks of being in the field and few of the drawbacks. As if anything else could happen while he was attached to the Staff of a Field Marshal. He had spent the Campaign doing most of the unofficial work that was necessary but seldom talked about. Whenever Tilo had found himself in need of someone to cut through red tape or find a workaround when Officialdom became too annoying, Reier was an old hand at those sorts of games. His extensive connections in the grey and black markets certainly helped as well. Apparently, Reier was going back to Flensburg to resume his role as the Drillmaster at the Mürwik Naval Academy. Going to Argentina with Tilo to keep him out of trouble was the least he could do. There was a bit of melancholy as both of them understood that this would probably be the last time that Tilo would deploy with Reier at his side. Of all the men who had deployed with the 3rd MID to Vietnam in early 1943, Reier and Tilo were last two that Tilo knew of who were still in active service.
He had been gone for months this time but had promised Nancy that he would be staying closer to home in the coming days. Emperor Friedrich had told him that they would need to meet as soon as arrangements could be made. That was a good thing, because the issue that Tilo had was that there was simply nowhere further for him to go. He had been in the Marine Infantry in some capacity since he had been nineteen years old, and he was turning fifty in December. It was time to find something else to do and it would be good to leave on a high note.
Tilo spotted Nancy standing with Sabastian, Anna and Gretchen waiting for him. It was impossible not to notice that Sabastian towered over his mother, even Anna was now taller than Nancy. Tilo was left pondering just when that had happened. At ten, Gretchen was still a little girl. In her last letter Nancy had said that she hoped that Gretchen would remain so for awhile yet. She had also described a hectic homelife, as the girls were a handful. Nancy had mentioned that Sabastian had discovered sport and that he was quite good at it as well. Something else that Tilo would finally have time for. Finally, Nancy had mentioned how she was going to try to spring Sabastian from the Prussian Institute in Wahlstatt for the weekend so that they would all be there to greet Tilo when he stepped off the airplane. It seemed that Nancy had been successful from the looks of things.
“Glad you are home” Nancy said after Tilo and hugged and kissed her much to the embarrassment of their children.
“For keeps this time” Tilo said, and Nancy seemed a bit surprised by that.
“Exactly what do you intend to do?” Nancy asked.
“Perhaps a University needs someone to teach Philosophy or something” Tilo replied, “Something that doesn’t involve battlefields or pressuring a South American President into making the right call long after it had become plainly obvious to everyone else on the planet.”
“I see” Nancy said as they started the long walk to the main entrance of the Airport. “That might make things a bit awkward considering the plans that Freddy has for you. Being a mere Professor and all.”
“I know that he wants to talk to me” Tilo replied, “I figured that it would be a medal and a pat on the head, then back to the kennel. I already got one of those in Argentina.”
“You’ve been spending entirely too much time with Reier over the last year” Nancy said, “That is still better than what you said after you came back from Poland, comparing the Marine Infantry to sheep and how sheep get fucked.”
“Momma!” Gretchen exclaimed, her and Anna looked aghast that Nancy had said that, and Sabastian just smirked.
“I was a bit irked at how those crazy lunkheads from the Airborne beat everyone else into Warsaw” Tilo said, “Of course, that was after we had beat the Poles in the field, clearing the way for them without so much as a thank you.”
“About what Freddy has planned though” Nancy said, “It’s hush hush right now, but President Martínez of Argentina is personally crediting you with the destruction of the Chilean Army. As Emperor, Freddy thinks that should be appropriately rewarded.”
Even by Tilo’s jaded standards that was a huge deal.
