THE RISE OF THE FOURTH REICH

Day 24 in the new land

Name Friedhelm

1 week until portal reopens

The preparations on the wall was exceeding to substantial successes, the snow had not fallen since last week. The more snow we shoveled and plowed away, the cold nights felt less cold and warmer days started to come, we could finally feel the sun’s rays as she started to shine upon us once again. At a great cost of good work there is always some disasters we will come across, the Panzer Mark three had an oil filter gasket blown out again this is the fourth time since it was here two weeks prior time, Spilling all that precious black gold. The repairs are short on this day; we had to improvise what we had and what we could use, plus another problem had shown up. Now we needed more steel and iron to completely finish our outpost before the next shipment came in. I cannot be behind schedule we must find another way to finish on time.

“Sir we can’t repair the panzer Mk three anymore” a pioneer came towards me covered in oil, his goggles on top of his helmet, I could see his back pack repair kit his welding torch holstered on his right, the C96 Mauser pistol holstered on his left. His uniform was a gentle light blue his chest plate snow white with some Dark black oil splattered across his chest.

“I knew this day was coming and the pressing matters, with the beasts that I saw at the castle that I saw the past two weeks from before.” I said watching our work force grinding to a halt, our food sources slowly disappearing with a week left of rations. I could see him standing next to me, looking with me towards the North East.

“What are you looking at if you don’t mind telling me Commander?” he said looking at the mountains. I smiled as I kept my eyes trained on those tall shadows in the background the thoughts of what to do buzzing in my mind. Turning around and walking down the stairs from the lookout tower the pioneer followed me close “Sir what do you have in mind?” he said again.

I stopped as we reached the bottom and onto our new flooring, covered in concrete and asphalt it’s a small base of operations. Soon I have my sights set at a new target in the distance.“ Gather the men I need to brief them on a new operation, it’s about the wild dogs we need to take care of. I’ll be waiting at the armoury.” I said towards him.

He clipped his boots together walking out, but gathering some men on his way out. Walking out of the base, I could see the large bunkhouse standing tall with the steel bars holding up the walls, the wooden walls standing tall by my side until the corner. The open yard is the heart of the base, a giant concrete bunker standing out more, half-finished she was, but soon it will be done. The flags of our nation with the bright red banners hanged on the concrete wall with the small flags swaying now in the gentle breeze. I was proud that this entire operation was moving smoothly as planned, but at such a cost of oil, recourses and food. The feel of accomplishment was far from my grasp of how the loss of oil and repairs for one tank, but stills amazes me that such a beast it can be, I still fear it whenever it passes me.

“Sir I have gathered the troops near the supply depot and they are awaiting your orders sir” the same pioneer saluted in front of me, it is hard to get use to the saluting from my men, as I was once a soldier under the ranks of an officer and commander. With the pioneer by my side walking through the unfinished side of the base of operations, I could see tools lying there and the empty barrels of oil cans, the last of the oil is kept at the depot.

“Sir?” One grenadier came from the left side from the workings from the garage walking along side me.

“Yes comrade” I said calmly nearing our objective I could see him fidgeting with his tools.

“What is this meeting about and what do you mean about a dog problem?” as he spoke out looking in my direction, I looked ahead of us to see my end of the line stopping just before the crowd of infantry patting him on the shoulder.

“I will explain the situation soon. Go join your brothers.” I watched him turning while entering the crowd of soldiers. I took a deep breath, as I walked up the stairs on an unfinished wall. hearing the men chatter slowly died down. “Men the Father Land will be proud at our successes of the finishing of our base of operations, but I know some of you doubting the success rate that we have made.” I could see some of the worried expressions of my troops, “but the resources that we have are in short. Until another shipment of food and supplies are coming in the next seven days.” Some of the men had fear and anger, that achievement was out of their reach “But another problem has arisen” I saw the heads snapping towards me, “my travel to the mountains in the North East was a threat to the Father Land a creature with the body of a human but the parts of a dog.” This was when my men started to chatter among themselves, “I need ten troops willing to have first contact with this new species to ELIMINATE THE THREAT.” as I yelled out the last words, the men stumbled back a bit.

I stood on top the stand watching my men, as I saw some moving out of the way to see the same pioneer wearing his scarf around his neck, walking up the stairs to stand in front of me smiling. Then more started to climb the stair well, gathering in front of me I was surprised to see a Volksgrenadier with them.

We were in the armoury gathering our weapons from the racks, I looked around that there was no shortage of supplies of arms and bullets. Two of the grenadiers both had the MP18 and a stick grenade’s in their holsters, the pioneer grabbed his C96 holstering it, and a bag of equipment to take note of the minerals of the castle. The Volks reached for his Kar98K rifle with a magnification scope, the newest rifle made to replace the Gewehr 98 rifle that the rest had out all loading the five rounds into the built in magazine.

Wearing our gear and our uniforms, protected us from the cold air, our rifles slung to our backs. The base was long behind us, making our way through the snow, the sound of crunching beneath our boots, following the placed out flags towards our objective. Seeing the frozen village once again, still the same from fourteen days ago never disturbed. “Sir what happen here?”

One called out behind me, “it was like this when I got here but it is what’s next to the castle.” I yelled out, never bothering to look behind me. I could see the garden gates that lay ahead of us. Pushing the rusted iron bars open they let out a groaning sound, until I felt the entire weight shifted on me letting go to see the tall gate fall off its hinges towards the snow but the sound was the metal twisting and screeching during its fall until it slammed into the snow.

“Well that is something I have not seen in my life” one of the grenadiers said out loud walking past me and the fallen gate, towards something I have not seen too. We walked towards a statue of a pony or a small horse, with a crown and a robe the face was worn off the chipped statue.

“Over there men.” as I pointed towards the marker of the entrance of the cave, gathering around looking deep into its jaws, I had a sense of fear and dread as I looked deep into the entrance one of my men took out the TL-122 flashlight that was made in America. Soon we will have our own models to improve the TL-122 flashlight, the cave lit up as we moved further in the caves throat, but I could not believe the tunnels moving through this vast built, and it almost feels like an underground bunker. The time was at a lost for me wandering aimlessly through here, my men keeping their guns close to their chest, until I could see light up ahead of us moving swiftly through the tunnel towards something magnificent, I stood there my mouth agape my mind processing of pure architectural design an entire city no, civilization built into the vast mountain we are in.

“What is this?” I snapped out of my dazing and wonderment to see the rest of my men doing the same, I looked to my left to see the Volks standing next to me holding his rifle close to his eye “Sir I… I think you know sir… I can’t place it now” as he looked through that scope “I think you should have a look.”

He gently handed his rifle over to me, the scope to my eye seeing some of the dogs that walked around, and then I saw pups and females caring their young. Moving around to find the needed targets until I spotted four armoured dogs gathered around one that was a bit large, the head piece resembled a crown. Pulling the scope away from my eye I looked over to my men, “stay here comrade we may need you to help us on our way down, you stay here and protect him and our exit” Standing up turning around “the rest of you are with me” they all nodded towards my direction.

Climbing down from our entrance towards this civilization, then we were on the ground hugging ourselves to the walls, slowly making our way to the entrance I stopped before we could enter. Leaning behind the wall to see one of the armoured dogs walking towards us pulling my knife out I looked behind for the other’s to be doing the same, we waited until he was close enough, I could hear the soft clanking of his armour getting louder as he approached us. Standing up I leaned once more to see his back against me, I reached over as I quickly grabbed him puling with all my might around the corner, all three blades came down on him digging our knifes into his flesh, he thrashed and kicked around trying to attack his assaulters he made a noise but all that was heard was a muffled howl. Slowly he started to struggle less and less, until every inch of life was gone from him.

Pulling the body away and out of sight, we made our way in, I stopped and looked at my troops “men we need to get to the heart of this nation, find the leader and kill it” I said quietly to the rest. Moving through this maze of a city to see pups play around and the females keeping a close eye on the pups as they play the guards are not much of a problem but they are dogs, the scent from us occasionally catches their attention. Stopping just in front of what looked like a heavily fortified fortress guard station, in front of what looks like a solid stone door, the rumbling of the ground shaking beneath us to see multiple guards walking out. My eyes was then drawn to the other group of dogs walking to the other group armed with swords and shields, the spears held high, the small group stopped just a yard away.

“King Grell I challenge you for power of this nation and the riches you hold for yourself.” I was shocked at the language he used was almost english I was absolutely at a loss my mind buzzing for the answer and the possibilities of this outcome. The clashing of swords and yelling snapped me out of my idiotic state of not paying attention to my surroundings, I was watching the battle raged on, the possibilities of who will win or lose was at its peak, as the challengers troops fell in rapid succession, for only the leader to have his blade in his opponents stomach I was amazed at this outcome. The one who challenges the leader for power and control, I may use this to my advantage or another possibility to spread fear among this nation showing off our power of the Fatherland.

“Who dares to challenge me again step up and challenge me.” yelling in my rough English accent I looked around to see a large crowd among our surroundings, I looked behind me to see my men, holding their rifles close, I nodded my head walking into the opening.

“I challenge you beast.” saying in a rough English language, I could almost feel everyone turning their eyes on me but, I shook off the feeling from them.

“You are not diamond dog, you are just a creature not belonging here, guards take them!” he barked out. My men took up defensive positions behind me, as the large group of dogs charging at us, raising my hand I could hear behind me the sounds of guns cocking. Pulling my fist down, I could feel the force of all the weapons blazing with thunderous cracks, as I stood there watching them fall one by one armour torn off from the force of bullet entry. Looking behind me to see the smoking barrels the sight of burnt powder escaping, the smell was wonders to my nose, and then my troops were reloading there weapons empty brass casings scatted across the stone carved floor.

As I walked over the dead, my hands behind my back, until stopping just a meter away kneeling down to grab a sword and shield, clashing the shield against my suit of steel rang with a steady clang “I said I challenge you for power and control” I could see the anger in him, as he thinks a pup like me could beat him, but being wrong in this case will cost him dearly.

Pulling his two handed sword from his opponent and staring daggers at me, my men standing on the side line with rifles raised, to anyone who dares to intervene our battle. He screamed charging with his blade over his head; lifting my shield up tilting it to the side, the force of his impact staggered me, but his blade cut deep into a fallen dog. Thrusting the shield into his chest plate sounded with a clank, as he jumped back leaving his sword behind “well this is an unfair advantage” I said out loud. “I’ll make it even for the both of us” I tossed my shield away and my sword hearing them clash to the ground.

He yelled again as he charged to me swinging wildly as I lifted my arms to counter his onslaught, I could feel the force of impact from his fists, he lifted his leg thrusting it into my chest knocking the wind from me, I could feel the force transfer through the armour, I could feel the true weight of the armour that I wore slowing me down. Coughing as I was down on my stomach, his feet contacting with my back I was defenceless against his assault, lifting my head to the left the sight of his right foot was not too far from me, I reached over to his foot, grasping swiftly as I pulled him down.

Rolling on my stomach and getting up with a heavy load, I got on top of him pinning him beneath me, with a heave smashing his thick skull to my helm, yelping in pain and seeing him squirm under the weight of the armour. Lifting my heavy gantlets above my head bringing them down like a war hammer making full contact with his chest, the sound of him screaming with a heavy blow to his rib cage. I started to swing with my left into his chest and my right contacting to his right side of his chest.

The force of his kick was enough to send me tumbling head over heels. I was groaning in pain while looking over to my left there was a spear. At the sound of him yelling I looked towards him with his sword over his head charging towards me. Reaching for the spear grasping the handle and lifting it up, I could hear the flesh rip from the impact, he made. He was able to swing his sword down cutting into the armour. His body laid on top of me with his jaws on my shoulder thrashing his head trying to rip off the armour. Reaching for my knife in my hip pocket and grasping the handle I yelled out, thrust my steel blade into his neck twisting and jerking the blade around.

His moment had ceased with the blood oozing slowly from his wounds. I pulled the warm crimson coated blade from my enemy and felt weak, tired and heavy. I was heaving in and out lifting the dead weight off of me, but I was too tired too weak. The fire in my chest burned greatly as a son of the father land. I will not give up so easily with all the training I went through. I will not show weakness in front of my troops, a weak leader means no courage for his men.

Getting up slowly the weight of the armour pulled me down as deaths chains pulled me away. The wound from my shoulder was deep and I could feel the bleeding begging me to stay down while standing fully up. I saw around me my men standing with proud smiles. Clearing my head to see the dogs standing, staring up at me as I stand on top of their leader “who dares to challenge the Fatherland stand up and come forth”. My voice carried out a bit of anger.

As one of the dogs started to come up to me I sighed to myself for opening my mouth saying a dry bluff, hoping no one would take the fake bait. He stopped in front, kneeling before me “What should we do my leader” he said kneeling before me others followed his stance.

I looked down to him standing wearily “you will address me as Commander” I said with a strong accent of my mother’s he looked up at me “but for now you will do nothing until I return. Be warned I will not take kindly to anyone taking my position when I return” I saw his tail curl deeper against his body. Taking my turn to walk down the way I came from with my men close behind me. The crossing through the main street of this civilization, the large crowd of these beasts made way from me, putting their backs against the walls, as If my men and I were some kind of monster. I felt a soft thump against my right leg looking down, to my amusement there was a small ball made from hide, with the weight of the armour I wore, I kneeled down to grasp this small ball closely examining this… toy.

Looking to my left and right to see shocked expressions from them, as they thought I was insulted a number of them moved out of the way to show me a small pup, they were shoving him to the front thinking that I was going to punish him. Child abuse is something I stay away from. I have no reason to strike them for no reason, they are young and naïve. But there is something wrong with him it’s almost like… he didn’t care of what punishment that would come to him.

I slowly kneeled down once more to be eye leveled with him. The look in his eyes was not fear but something of rage. His tall stance and unrelenting gaze made him seem bigger then he was. Never have I seen such defiance as I gazed through the faceless mask. He has never shown any unease or the feel of intimidation from me. I felt the hand of one of my troops grasp my arm, shaking my head to rid of our contest. I looked around my surrounding it was an unease quiet, you could hear a pin dropping to the stone cold floor, standing fully looking back at this pup looking at his dark brown fur his snout and around his eyes was a darker shade of brown almost as a mask hiding what lie beneath him.

“Can you speak” I said in my rough English accent, watching him stand before me just barely above my knee cap I stood there waiting for his reply.

“Yes” he said with trouble I smiled beneath my mask, as I started to walk around him. He stood his ground his amber eyes following my every movement.

“Do you like it here?” I said as I stopped in front of him he slowly swayed his head side to side “do you wish to fight me?” He said nothing but his eyes was filled with fire, I let and audible sigh kneeling down before him “Or would you like to train in my ranks” this was something I did not foresee as he clipped his feet together nodding his head with a firm jerk. I was speechless with surprise for such a young pup like him “do you have a family?” this caught me off guard to finally see his head hanging low as if he… he is an orphan or was abandoned from the litter. I took close examination to his clothes, they were torn scraped up from anything he could find, and his shirt looked like nothing more than worn out sack.

“If that is your decision you may follow us, which if you could make the long journey.” I stood up walking down the clear path, my men taking a close distance of following behind me. The main gate that we entered, I stopped to see a mine cart I looked to the pioneer “Bartholomäus go grab a few samples from that cart and see what types of elements are here. There has to be some iron ore deposits around here.” I saw him running towards the cart grabbing a hefty amount of samples; we climbed our way up the side wall towards our exit. The weight of my armour on the heavy wound I sustained on my arm was strong against my body, the pain was sharp and suddenly making me wince in pain.

As we ascend from this pit, I saw a hand in front of my face grabbing his to pull me up, looking towards the volks and his body guard. “I saw the entire event from here” he said patting my left shoulder “now to get you back to base so we could really patch you up” I smiled under my mask standing tall once more.

The travel through this cave was proving a hard time of getting out of this labyrinth; time went by as we could feel the cold winter breeze blow through us. It felt nice to feel mother’s cold embrace, it almost feels better then deaths’ freezing embrace knowing that your life is at an end. Upon exiting the cave to be greeted by the snow and wind, I could feel the wind licking my wound sending a surge through my spine.

The move through the snow with audible crunches beneath our feet, we were in a standard marching formation single line. When I stopped, all was quiet until the same sound of snow being stomped on, in a rhythm; I looked behind us my men doing the same. To see a young diamond dog pup, the same one that I spoke to, I could not believe that he followed us through the 30 mile hike to our base. I looked ahead of us to see our base another 2 miles away from our distance, the bitter freezing cold was long behind us, but that did not mean the howling winds carried the cold with it.

“Men keep going. You with me,” I pointed to the Volks which startled him then gained his composure nodding in agreement. We both made our way towards the young pup stopping just a mere meter away, he stopped before my iron boot. His head following of what it connected to, slowly he looked up to me then to my left to see the Volksgrenadier staring back at him. “Take him and bring him back with us.”

He looked at me wide eyes his expression was something of surprise and shock “b-Bu-But Sir… what is this a-a dog why bring it with us?” he stumbled over his words looking back at it and towards my direction.

“That is an order Volks,” I said walking towards our base ignoring any of his complaints or his questions. My journey was a short one, seeing the barb wire and our high walls accompany by guard towers, the once hard work force is now at a standstill. The first thought that came to me was our medic a graduate from medical school everyone calls him patch “Dagmar,” I said as he stopped in front of me motioning his hand to the medical wing of our base of operations.

“Friedhelm” he said when the door closed behind us “I can see that your operation ended good with a few losses I presume,” as he looked through the cabinets taking medical supplies. He removed his helmet showing his short dirt brown hair. He reached into his front pocket jacket taking out glasses reminding me that he was a middle aged man with high medical training under his family name.

“ja we have made our mark and the only one that was injured in battle was me. I was making a point to the superiority of the iron fist of Germany,” I said laughing only to end up wincing in pain as he quickly tapped my wound.

“Remember Friedhelm you are the body guard to protect us from threats, which dares to come within our kill zones” he said in a strict tone of a father “now can you remove the armour as I gather more tools. It seems you suffered more than you think” he said as I removed the arm plates and gauntlets from me, the chest plate was the one that suffered the most from my battle, taking the dam thing off was hard. I noticed that the wires were cut; I removed the thin sheet of metal off as it sparked out. As if it was in pain, the sheet I opened with fell off its hinges. Sighing as I have lost the armour that made me hard to kill.

“Scheiße” I yelled in frustration, taking my armoured pant legs off, the chest plate was mashed in a certain area of the lock that connected it to the back plate was in no condition to be removed. “Go get Bartholomäus and tell him to get his tools” patch looked at me, as he too looked at the armour that it has sustained.

“Of course Commander.” he said putting his tools on the table, heading towards the door, only to be opened to show the Volks and the pup. The doctor let out an audible gasp as he dropped down and closely examined the pup, taking his paws, grabbing him to examine this marvellous creation this being. “Where did you find this great being? The bone structure is a replica to ours except for the mass and bone works… a bit skinny and a bit of a runt of the litter too,” he said never taking his eyes or his hands off the poor pup.

“I think you should take it easy on him Patch,” the volks said swaying his head side to side seeing how the pup was being treated. Pushing the doctor away from his new find and examination, he looked up at him then me; he nodded his head then walked out of the medical wing.

After my medical procedures on my arm, the armour was in no condition to be repaired until the portal reopens. The cool night breeze was no longer frozen nor a pain to our faces. The base is nearly complete with all our resources spent on building or repairing that god dam Panzer Mark III. When I held my canteen water bottle, drinking the cool liquid I looked to the now clear moonlit sky, I nearly choked on my drink seeing the moon for the first time. Having a coughing fit one of my men came over to me.

“Sir are you all right Sir?” I nodded my head no as I pointed to the clear blue night I started to settle down as he looked at the moon “is that a unicorn embedded in that moon?”

“I don’t know comrade but I do know that this is not our world anymore,” I said watching the star night sky and the moon that held the image of a unicorn.