Stupid Luck and Happenstance.

[Peabody-Martini]

Chapter Eight Hundred Sixty-Three


29th October 1950

Berlin

“Gustav the 5th, King of Sweden has died” Kat read aloud from the memo that she had been handed walking in to brief the Empress. She still insisted that she could go through the weeks events with the Empress. Nothing was wrong with her mind or ability to read.

“That is unfortunate” Kira said, “He gave Louis support during the war without reservation.”

That wasn’t a surprise, the Swedish monarch had been known as deeply conservative and strongly opposed to Communism. Supposedly it was because of him that the Swedish Government did nothing to stop the thousands of men crossing the border to Finland to join the fight against the Soviets despite the official position of neutrality. Kat knew little else about him other than his love of tennis, and apparently his fellow man if the rumors were true.

“I suppose that travel arrangements will need to be made” Kira said, “And it’s not your responsibility this time.”

It was a reminder that Kat was officially on leave from the Heer until she was healthy enough to return. She found it ironic that her treatment at the hands of what many considered the most hidebound institution in the Empire was better than the Federal Police. She was a woman of childbearing age who was going to have a child. From the perspective of the Oberst commanding the 1st Imperial Foot that was just the order of things. The fact that the child in question was going to be the heir of a Gräfin was probably be real reason for that deference, but Kat was more than happy to get it.

“Missing a stranger’s funeral will be a hardship but one I think I can live with.” Kat replied.

“I knew that you would be understanding” Kira said, “What is the next story.”

“Lull in violence in Arabia” Kat read aloud.

Kira looked annoyed at that, “That entire region is like a small child, you know that when it gets too quiet that you are in for an unpleasant discovery.”

Kira saw the look on Kat’s face when she said that. Welcome to parenthood dear Katy, she thought to herself. While she had many advantages that most women did not, Kira had still been directly involved in the raising to her children. The fact that all of them had quickly learned how to escape the staff as soon as they could walk had seen to that.

“Rioting in New Orleans, US Navy and State Militia called in to restore order. President Truman reinstitutes Selective Service.” Kat read aloud, making a point of changing the subject.

“Why do have the impression we will still be getting stories like that when we are both old and grey” Kira said shaking her head. The United States had been blessed with enormous potential to be a good in the world, instead they were mired in past conflicts and the enduring legacy of the slavery that they had practiced a century earlier.

“Kaiserliche Marine to establish South Atlantic Squadron, based in Rio Gallegos in Argentina. British Government alarmed.”

“The reason for the British getting their knickers in a twist?” Kira asked.

"The Falkland Islands are about five hundred kilometers from there.”

Kira looked at Kat as if that were a joke.

“I should arrange to have Grand Admiral von Schmidt to tell us more” Kira said, “Odds are he’s up to his neck in that business.”

“Are you sure he’d do that?” Kat asked, “He’s the head of the entire navy, we’re sort of beneath his notice.”

“Have you ever met the Admiral?” Kira asked in reply.

“No”

“Admiral von Schmidt always loves a chance to dazzle people with his brilliance” Kira said, “He is every bit the genius he thinks he is, even if he is an arrogant ass.”


Vienna, Austria

A few days of fun followed by a grueling debrief that had lasted several days. Nancy had done something that no American agent had managed to do. She had been inside the training camp used by the most elite German military units as well as their intelligence agencies. The Kaiser and Kaiserin had also been present. This had resulted in quite a bit of crowing by the State Department, one of their people had succeeded through diplomacy in something that had been repeatedly tried and failed by clandestine means.

The OSS had wanted every single detail, even going so far as getting her to remember the maker of the silverware used at the meal, the color of the Kaiser’s tie and the vintage of the wine served for the toast. No detail was too minute. Nancy figured that she had only seen what the German military had wanted her to see but that had been more than enough for the OSS. Low wooden buildings with tin roofs that were obviously barracks that had been sitting empty. The small hut that was Katherine von Mischner’s quarters while she was there. The dining hall itself, which had been packed with past and present members of the SKA and MA. The food that had been served. The sleeping arrangements that night. The OSS had been particularly interested in the presence of Jehane Thomas-Romanova, Gia as Nancy knew her, for some reason.

Then the OSS had cut her loose after telling her that she needed to keep quiet about what had happened. Nancy found that the rest of the Embassy staff had heard about it and were applauding her.

 

[mkemp]

Nancy can probably tell everyone, "I really didn't find out much more about what goes on there than what was in that movie by Leni Reifenstahl."

The OSS ghouls had better be quite circumspect in reference to Gia. She's likely to have one or more Sisters of the Kerambit around and I'd wager that the 1st Foot, 2nd Hussars and the SKA are in the general area.

 

[ejpsan]

The main interest that the OSS has in Gia is the presumably still frozen assets of the former Soviet Union that is in the United States.
There is still probably pressure from Wall Street to liquidate the assets and pay off creditors still holding old Imperial Russia bonds.
The New Imperial Russia are claiming it for themselves as the successor state to the Soviet Union.

 

[Peabody-Martini]

Chapter Eight Hundred Sixty-Four


1st November 1950

Vienna, Austria

It had taken a few days for Nancy to corner Mike Smith, normally she avoided the oily OSS Agent. Finally, she had spotted him chatting up one of the secretaries who clearly wasn’t interested. That was hardly a surprise. Men like Smith thought that they were the cat’s meow, the reality was that they rolled through life smashing everything in their path and because they provided a “valuable service” they seldom faced consequences for their actions. What was the occasional payoff or illicit abortion when they were getting the Government information critical to the security of the United States? Her understanding was that in the past when the OSS had tried to sneak into the camp near Judenbach-Sonnenberg it had always ended with their agent getting hunted through the forest, captured, photographed and fingerprinted. Nancy had made them look like expensive dilettantes by getting invited through friendship someplace where they had never been allowed to set foot. The result was that Nancy was now universally loathed by the OSS Agents stationed in Vienna, not that she had a problem with that.

“A word with you” Nancy said as Mike realized that there was nowhere for him to run. The secretary looked at Nancy and mouthed the words “Thank you” as she scurried off.

“Regarding?” Mike asked, annoyed that that she had interrupted his latest attempted conquest.

“Why is the OSS interested in Jehane Thomas?” Nancy asked in reply.

“You mean Thomas-Romanova” Mike said.

“Then you know who I’m talking about.”

Mike was even more annoyed that she had gotten him to admit that piece of information.

“I suppose that it doesn’t matter if the insane Countess you call a friend catches wind of it” Mike said, “Hell, she probably knows all about it.”

“About what?” Nancy asked.

“Jehane Thomas-Romanova, along with her cousin Czar Georgy of Russia, is a plaintiff in a major lawsuit back home.”

“How major?”

“To the tune of billions of dollars” Mike replied, “Several American corporations had outstanding contracts with her grandfather for war material, munitions and whatnot, during the First World War. After the Russian revolution they reneged on the deals and forced the provisional Russian Government to renegotiate. When the Bolsheviks took over they just pocketed the money and called it good. There is also a considerable amount of assets that belonged to the Soviet Union that were frozen during the war. The whole thing is a giant mess.”

“How does Jehane fit in?”

“She’s the granddaughter of Nicholas the 2nd and she has the respective Governments of British Commonwealth, Germany and Russia supporting her claims.” Mike said, “The Government has been fighting it, but the Supreme Court just ruled that she has standing to take this to trial.”

Nancy had seen how Gia had lived, either a working-class existence, in an isolated cabin or being completely dependent upon her relatives. American corporations had owed her family money that entire time? And they had fought the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court?

“Why not just pay back the money?” Nancy asked.

“Do you have any idea what that would do to the economy?” Mike said, “Not to mention what would happen if they admit culpability? It all comes unraveled Nancy.”

This was insane.

“It’s going to trial though?” Nancy asked.

“Sure, and odds are the jury will find for the plaintiffs in this case, then it will get appealed and the entire process starts anew” Mike said, “Her poor little highness will die of old age before she gets a dime.”

Nancy noticed that Mike seemed be taking delight in that last detail.


Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico

It wasn’t Bush’s idea of a pleasant time or a decent vacation spot, several decrepit fishing boats in a harbor overlooked by arid hills. It was now November, but it was difficult to tell because of how hot it was. He hated to think what this place would be like at the height of summer. Still, it was an excellent deep-water port. He saw the Spaniard standing on the docks as the ship came into port. Francisco Garcia, Bush had been unable to learn what his real name was. He was an imposing figure, a man in his late forties. He was rumored to have left Spain shortly after the war there and had somehow become a leader of a guerrilla movement in Northern Mexico. According to Bush’s sources he controlled the lucrative smuggling routes into the United States. That made Francisco an investment opportunity.

“Señor Arbusto” Francisco said in greeting.

“Pleased to finally meet you in person” Bush said even though his voice betrayed the fact that he would rather be anywhere else.

“The feeling is mutual” Francisco replied as made no effort of any other greeting, “We’ve business.”

Straight to the point, Francisco had that going for him. The Boers had loved to talk and tended to be preachy and political. Bush could think of few things worse for business than that. Two of the men who Bush employed carried a crate down to the dock. Francisco looked askance at the Chinese characters branded on the lid of the crate. If he had looked at the side of the crate he would have noticed the German Imperial Eagle.

“I took the liberty of having these ones degreased” Bush said as the crate was pried open. “You’ll need to have your people do that with the rest.”

Francisco sneered at that. “This is Mexico” He said, “That stuff melts off in a few hours if left in the sun.”

“Whatever” Bush said as he pulled a rifle out of the crate and handed it to Francisco. “Mauser Gewehr Model 1931 chambered in 8mm short.”

Francisco looked skeptical as Bush grabbed a second rifle out of the crate. He thumbed the safety off, shouldered the rifle and fired a burst out into the Pacific Ocean. “There are plenty more where these came from” He said, “And I can get you everything up to and including heavy artillery.”

Bush saw the look on Francisco’s face and knew he had just made the sale. Everyone knew that guns sold themselves.

 

[Theoretical_TJ]

“And I can get you everything up to and including heavy artillery.”

Yep, definitely living up to the Bond villain schtick. This is gonna get nastier still.

 

[holyknight]

Nancy noticed that Mike seemed be taking delight in that last detail.

And THAT its the kind of attitudes that end forging the BEST Kind of Double Agents. Nancy its starting to get the realization of HOW it truly acts her country, and its divorce of the values that it was supposed to uphold, added to see that attitude directed to someone who doesn't deserves such. Methinks that that agent its going to rue his words in a decade more.

Bush saw the look on Francisco’s face and knew he had just made the sale. Everyone knew that guns sold themselves.

....And the Devil loads them. Something tells me that this its going to be the start of a FUBAR Countdown.

 

[ejpsan]

Bush is for sure is going to get attention from the BND and unlike the OSS they are professionals.
I don't think that Nancy will become a double agent, but she may inadvertently give out some information to Kat that she shouldn't have done.

 

[Gudestein]

Bush is for sure is going to get attention from the BND and unlike the OSS they are professionals.
I don't think that Nancy will become a double agent, but she may inadvertently give out some information to Kat that she shouldn't have done.

She is young. She will help those she thinks is the good guys. Between her friends and the OSS I wonder how that might turn out?

 

[Dan]

I don't think that Nancy will become a double agent, but she may inadvertently give out some information to Kat that she shouldn't have done.

Actually, I think Mike Smith is more likely to be turned and burned.
If I remember correctly, the KGB, (OTL KGB that is), would look for four main pressure points: Money, Ideology, Conscience, Ego.
Smith is not too susceptible to the first three, but the latter leaves him wide open to blackmail and turning.

Making it more amusing when it's Nancy that burns him to the CIA before he gets an all expenses spared trip to Leavenworth.

 

[matzeskatze]

How do you destry ones nations international bussiness standing? Look to the courts to clear ones wrongdoings...
But wht if Jehane sues in Germany? Or Russia? Or another nation? Or we could see the formation of an "international" trade court to handle such things outside of national interests.
And here we also have the LON to grab on that, because if they get some supernational jurisdiction going it would lift their power while not realy giving them power.

Not that the USA accept anyone other then the USA...

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

Wow, George Bush is certainly going the Bond villain route here.

 

[weasel_airlift]

And THAT its the kind of attitudes that end forging the BEST Kind of Double Agents.

To be fair, that's just about every spy. ever. Those that work in intelligence are a strange bunch.

 

[mkemp]

Chapter Eight Hundred Sixty-Four

1st November 1950

Vienna, Austria

It had taken a few days for Nancy to corner Mike Smith, normally she avoided the oily OSS Agent. Finally, she had spotted him chatting up one of the secretaries who clearly wasn’t interested. That was hardly a surprise. Men like Smith thought that they were the cat’s meow, the reality was that they rolled through life smashing everything in their path and because they provided a “valuable service” they seldom faced consequences for their actions. What was the occasional payoff or illicit abortion when they were getting the Government information critical to the security of the United States?

Methinks Mike Smith is a prime target for a honey trap.

“Jehane Thomas-Romanova, along with her cousin Czar Georgy of Russia, is a plaintiff in a major lawsuit back home.”

“How major?”

“To the tune of billions of dollars” Mike replied, “Several American corporations had outstanding contracts with her grandfather for war material, munitions and whatnot, during the First World War. After the Russian revolution they reneged on the deals and forced the provisional Russian Government to renegotiate. When the Bolsheviks took over they just pocketed the money and called it good. There is also a considerable amount of assets that belonged to the Soviet Union that were frozen during the war. The whole thing is a giant mess.”

“How does Jehane fit in?”

“She’s the granddaughter of Nicholas the 2nd and she has the respective Governments of British Commonwealth, Germany and Russia supporting her claims.” Mike said, “The Government has been fighting it, but the Supreme Court just ruled that she has standing to take this to trial.”

Nancy had seen how Gia had lived, either a working-class existence, in an isolated cabin or being completely dependent upon her relatives. American corporations had owed her family money that entire time? And they had fought the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court?

“Why not just pay back the money?” Nancy asked.

“Do you have any idea what that would do to the economy?” Mike said, “Not to mention what would happen if they admit culpability? It all comes unraveled Nancy.”

This was insane.

US industry accepted billions from the Imperial Russian government but after the Revolution they said, "Sucks to be you," and kept the money.

The Imperial Russian government sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bonds (interest bearing and some payable in gold) everywhere, especially to French citizens. When the Bolsheviks took over they told their bondholders "Sucks to be you," and kept the money.

When the extent of the Soviet spying came to light the US froze their funds and told them "Sucks to be you."

In equity the new Russian government should get the money back from US industry and the frozen funds then pay off the bondholders. Only @Peabody-Martini knows what's going to happen.

“It’s going to trial though?” Nancy asked.

“Sure, and odds are the jury will find for the plaintiffs in this case, then it will get appealed and the entire process starts anew” Mike said, “Her poor little highness will die of old age before she gets a dime.”

Nancy noticed that Mike seemed be taking delight in that last detail.

And I think Nancy would be amenable to setting Mike Smith up.

“There are plenty more where these came from” He said, “And I can get you everything up to and including heavy artillery.”

Bush saw the look on Francisco’s face and knew he had just made the sale. Everyone knew that guns sold themselves.

Law of demand and supply - where there is a demand a supply will arise[0]. About Bush: when a dog pisses on a fire hydrant he's not being a vandal, he's just being a dog.

[0] AFAIK true throughout recorded history. There's never been a successful prohibition effort.

 

[EWilanO]

While it's true that Bush is just being himself, but it gets problematic when the metaphorical hydrant is made from a substance that has the reactivity of alkali metals.

 

[ejpsan]

A good solution to the bond problem is for the old bonds to be swapped out for new bonds at a rate favorable to everybody concerned.
The assets are then unfrozen and The New Imperial Russia can use them to develop the vast natural resources and new industries that will pay.back the new bonds.

One of the problems that GHWB is going to face is that his competitors may try to take over his business and it is almost never a friendly takeover.
He needs muscle, so where is going to get them from?
Ex-NKVD may be going cheap right now, former IJA soldiers may be a possibility, but for the most part they are going to stick out, Ex-SKA and MA may be too expensive and you can't trust them not to inform on you to the BND.
Local talent may not be to reliable but can be used to help out in a pinch.

 

[Peabody-Martini]

Chapter Eight Hundred Sixty-Five


4th November 1950

Berlin

Kat had agreed to meet Nancy in the Tiergarten which was sort of strange, but Nancy understood when she saw the place that Kat was waiting. A park bench that face a spot where children were playing on a statue. Kat was wearing an old army greatcoat but still Nancy could tell that she was pregnant. Five months or so according to Kat when Nancy had last seen her.

“I’m trying to get used to the idea” Kat said as Nancy sat down beside her, “Hans and I used to play on those same statues when we were children.”

Nancy figured that it was probably Kat boldly climbing the statue while Hans watched from below, afraid that his little sister would fall.

“What’s it like?” Nancy asked.

“Butterflies in your stomach all the time unless she’s sleeping” Kat answered.

“She?” Nancy asked, “How can you tell?”

Kat laughed at that, “I can’t” She said, “It’s just wishful thinking on my part, my mother said that she was certain that I was going to be a girl and it was probably the same thing.”

“You mother died, didn’t she?”

“Not before writing a letter” Kat said, “It’s all I have of her.”

“What did it say?”

“Plenty” Kat replied, “It was only a few paragraphs, but it was heartfelt, how much she looked forward to knowing me, that I was loved and welcomed.”

“That’s wonderful” Nancy said.

“It ripped my heart out when I first read it” Kat replied, “She had no idea about what a monster my father is or his infidelity. She thought that the world was this bright wonderful place and went into the grave at the age of twenty-two trying to bring me into it. Aunt Marcella says that she was just too good for this world and that is was God’s will.”

Nancy could hear the bitterness in Kat’s words. In all the letters and time that she had spent with her Kat had not mentioned any of this.

“That’s not going to happen to you” Nancy said, she had heard from Helene that Kat’s absolute worst fear that she would share her mother’s fate.

“You can’t promise that” Kat said flatly.

“That was a different time” Nancy said, unsure what else to say.

They sat there for a long awkward moment.

“The answer is no” Kat said, “I can’t allow you to do that.”

It took a few seconds to realize what Kat was talking about.

“How did you…”

“Why else would you come to Berlin without official permission?” Kat asked, “Someone did something that angered you and you want to get even. Correct?”

“Something like that” Nancy said, “What they are doing to Gia is wrong.”

“I know that but compromising yourself like that is like losing your virginity. It can only be done once, and nothing is ever the same afterwards.”

It was a shocking statement on Kat’s part considering what had happened to her or some of the girls under her care. Not something she would ever say lightly.

“But I just feel that Gia should have her family’s fortune restored to her” Nancy said.

Kat just shook her head at that. “There are two things wrong with your course of actions” She said, “It would destroy the equilibrium of your life and Gia herself.”

“What?”

“Have you ever wondered why you’ve never been approached by the BND?” Kat asked, “They think that I turned you years ago as an independent effort on behalf of the Empress and leave you alone because of it. If you provided the BND with even to slightest shred of actionable intelligence, then even that thin protection goes away.”

Nancy had no idea that Kat had been doing that for her.

Kat then gave an exasperated sigh. “Gia is deeply ambivalent about her family’s legacy, she knows where that fortune came from and how that led to the revolution. She might turn down that money because of that and if someone she holds dear got compromised Gia might turn down a fortune to save that person.”

Nancy had not thought about the implications of any of these things.

“Oh God” Nancy said, “It was a risk just for me to come here wasn’t it?”

“Yes” Kat said, “But I’m not BND, BII and I’m on maternity leave from the Heer. I’m just a private citizen meeting with a dear friend who had asked me for advice while having a personal crisis.”

“What should I do though?” Nancy asked.

“It depends, usually there’s a pig of a man who set’s a woman off like this. Who is he?”

Nancy hated to think that she might be so predictable.

“You remember Mike Smith? That day in Vienna when he was very cruel to you” Nancy said, “He delighted in Gia being left destitute because her case will be tied up in the courts for years.”

Kat smiled, Nancy realized that it was smile of a predator.

“Don’t worry about Herr Smith, I know him from when he was posted here in Berlin” Kat said, “He will get what he has coming to him.

“Thank you, Katherine” Nancy said, and she hugged Kat.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Later after Nancy left Kat sat there watching the children play.

She had instructed Nancy to return to her job and to tell her superiors that she had met with her. That Kat was going through a dark time because of her pregnancy and that she had reached out to Nancy because she needed someone to talk to. It was close enough to the truth to be believable.

There had been a great deal that Kat knew that she had not told Nancy. She couldn’t allow anyone close to Gia to be compromised while that lawsuit was pending. Gia had to be above reproach and Kat was aware of the things that Gia thought she had kept secret from her that could affect that, particularly in America.

She carefully put the karambit back in its sheath, mindful of the razor-sharp edges and her expanding belly. If Nancy had insisted on going through with compromising herself Kat would have been forced to do something she would have regretted for the rest of her life but her orders to protect Gia at any cost still stood.

 

[Harlinden]

A good German, she is following orders,

 

[weasel_airlift]

She carefully put the karambit back in its sheath, mindful of the razor-sharp edges and her expanding belly. If Nancy had insisted on going through with compromising herself Kat would have been forced to do something she would have regretted for the rest of her life but her orders to protect Gia at any cost still stood.

Interesting.

On that note, I do have to wonder if Kat isn't going to be put into labor by beating the crap out of someone. A friend of mine just went into labor a week early, after a night of line dancing, and I could see Kat beating someone and going into labor.

 

[mkemp]

There had been a great deal that Kat knew that she had not told Nancy. She couldn’t allow anyone close to Gia to be compromised while that lawsuit was pending. Gia had to be above reproach and Kat was aware of the things that Gia thought she had kept secret from her that could affect that, particularly in America.

She carefully put the karambit back in its sheath, mindful of the razor-sharp edges and her expanding belly. If Nancy had insisted on going through with compromising herself Kat would have been forced to do something she would have regretted for the rest of her life but her orders to protect Gia at any cost still stood.

I guess I'm dumb about such things but what could Nancy do to compromise herself? And what things in America?

 

[morgoth2005]

Why get your hands dirty with the karambit when Nancy can just suffer an unfortunate car accident, instead of being a diplomat getting stabbed by a known intelligence operative in broad daylight?