THE RISE OF THE FOURTH REICH

I sat above the command centers solid concrete roof, watching our work force thrive once again, as I observe this now completed base. I could feel the cool autumn breeze gently blowing from the north, the roll of paper in my mouth with a small dim burning flame at the end. I took a long slow drag from my cig feeling the calming effects, and I finally felt… That I have finally completed my mission, a small victory for me, but now the pieces are in place in this game. The needed expansion of our new land is in the shop for mines, farms, metal works, lumber, and finally the last expansion we need room for. An experimental war factory, by the request of our glorious Leader himself, now that I have new orders, we will do whatever it takes to finish on time. Pulling the small roll of paper from my mouth, extinguishing it into the cold roof, jumping down to the side onto the balcony I moved my hand on my shoulder as I brushed myself off before entering.

Walking inside the main command centre, I took notice of the tempter switch, the cool breeze replaced by the embracing warmth of the interior structure, the thick concrete walls that surround me in a confined home. I felt trapped in a stone tomb but safe at the same time though. Grabbing the handle attached to the solid oak doors opening to my temporary work room I looked at the placement of the paintings and a photo of A man the name under Neath in plated gold of Adalwolf Bäcker. The man that has more experience than me, he was in his late twenties and always wore his glasses never taking them off, he had a good build of an infantry, but his short grey hair made him look like he is in his late thirties. But that’s what I heard but I’ll believe them if I saw him myself. Sitting down once again I found myself admiring the work and art, of how a commanders or generals seat and feel of the power and control but that and it won’t last that long. Pulling the drawer of the handmade oak desk, I was cirrus to find a book, nothing was out of the ordinary, nor was the hard cover. It held no title cirrus I pulled the book out, flipped through the pages noticing that it held no words. I smiled to myself as I was shifting through the bottom drawer hoping to find what I needed. Grasping a jar to find an ink well I looked on more, this time to find a pen. Dipping the pen in the dark blue sludge weighting through the pages from the day I joined the Wehrmacht till the day, I had the privilege to do something for our fuhrer and the Father Land if only Kaiser Wilhelm II was still alive he would have been proud.

Entry 40 year 1937 September 20th

Over the past few days our men have made contact of this culture of dogs that they claim to be diamond dogs. Their height is four to five feet tall and seems to know how to mine ore and hunt in packs like wolves. With the help of the diamond dogs and pure German engineering, the iron mine near the civilization of their kind, had no disagreements on both sides in fact, they adopted our technology! Doubling their gold and gem production for their treasury trove, of course at a price for their use, with the raw iron ore and gold nuggets which are quiet the hefty amount of gold to be given to us, we refused after 48 pounds! Saying that they paid over the given amount of maintenance, tools and mine carts, the collected raw ore and gold where gathered for the father land. Our supplies once again fuelling the war machine back at home. We were granted two divisions the mechanized infantry, and the engineers accompanied by the 28th light armour division. It seems it has been almost three months since I was here but in actual time it was only a month and a half. Now is the time to expand or borders and find more iron ore vans or tunnels that hold much more raw materials for the Father Land.

A sudden knock at my door to see an Oberfähnrich, he was barley in his mid-twenties. He wore a light grey uniform, his black pants in top shape as he stood there, his cap by his right thigh holding his stance as I looked up to see him standing still. But he was one of our first Student Officer's in our ranks "Commander" he said as I put my book away getting up from my chair

"Ja Herr Commandant, there is no need to call me that rank it won’t be long until someone, with a more understanding will come along." I said towards him, he was fumbling with his hat, and then putting his hand in his jacket pulling out a piece of folded paper. I reached out taking the paper setting it on a table to see a drawn out map, of how far we traveled and the two surrounding castles from our base of operations, looking at the map the black line was our borders he dotted line are places that some scout’s claimed to be dangerous and grim they say they feel unwelcome.

"I see we made a map for our self’s but we need to expand more I was thinking an air field here", as I taped the area I felt that was needed to be. It was closer to the hills and the second castle, which is only twenty clicks from the air field and about 30 clicks southeast from us, looking over to see the student next to me watching and studding the map carefully.

Then he pointed to another area "we could use this land for training maybe. we need to stay sharp if there is any more of the diamond dogs or any other beings that could bring us trouble." he said putting his cap on the table, as we both focused on the map in front of us.

"That should suffice for future operations. Right now we need air support, recon units to help guide us or alert us from any far away tribes. And zeppelins for transferring cargo from any ware from here, a good air cover can go a long ways then our normal recon units. By the way do we have any pilots?” I asked examining the map in front of us again looking at the distance and placement layout in my mind.

“I may have to check around the base to find out, if not we can wait till next week and ask for one,” the Oberfähnrich said as I made my way to the door.

“Good. It seems you don’t need my help that often but you will make a fine general in future operations,” as I said but stopped just outside “I need to check on someone and I will be back in due time,” he saluted then bowed his head. I left the room walking through the concrete building stopping in front of the double steel doors. Swinging the door open it was almost like a busy day on the streets of Berlin. I made my way through without a hitch stopping near the guard post at the west end, I looked up to see the lookout guard tower above me at the bottom was the guards bunkhouse or snipers nest that everyone calls it now.

Walking towards the door opening as I knock at the same time “Lutz,” I yelled out walking through the room checking the doors and extra rooms spotting the ascending stairs walking the spiraling ascension opening the trapdoor to see Lutz and the pup.

“FriedHelm what are you doing here?” as he turn around placing his rifle against the railing, the pup turned around to see me with a smile as I retuned the gesture.

“Goedemorgen meneer” he said in another language without struggling or stumbling over his words, I was beyond shock and surprised then I looked over to Lutz to see him grinning ear to ear

“Dutch, I thought you were German?” I said smiling at him then fully got out of the trap door.

“I am my mother and father is Dutch but we moved to Germany during a civil war that broke out”

We both looked over to the pup he was looking between us then spoke “What is there something wrong Father?”

I heard him sigh as he looked over to the pup, “I am not you father pup I’m just here to watch what you do so you can’t get in trouble.” he said sternly

“I have never seen the day until now. Lutz he is looking up to you as a role model show him how to be discipline, show him how to be us. And how did you do it Lutz?” I asked him with a large amount of questions and explanations but he simply spoke.

“You could teach a young pup many tricks at this age he just picked it up just like that over the past month,” as he snapped his fingers then I looked over to the pup I put out my hand.

“Then what is your name?” he took my hand as we shake.

“My name is Oreach sir,” he said shaking my hand in return.

“Well Oreach,” as I stood up “Lutz, I need you to come with me,” as I turned towards him then looked out into the vast land.

“Is there something going on?” he said in a hush tone.

“No… Nothing like that,” I said as I took up looking out into the clear blue sky.

“Then what is it?” he asked trying to quell his curiosity.

“We are expanding our fields of operations. As of now we are gathering the needed tools and equipment for an air base.” I said looking over to him then pointed towards the west of our base. “About ten kilometres west from here we will set up and start preparations. From there we wait the next seven days.” As I leaned off the railings heading for the trap door to prep my troops and needed vehicles for the operation to begin.

With the convoy of trucks and tanks out fitted with plows. The motorcycle that I was in weaved in and out or around them to keep count or track of the line front. My driver was wearing his helmet and goggles, keeping the dust out of his eyes, and I was in the cab as I held on to the MG 18, they were going to take it off but I disagreed as this land was still neutral to us. My grip on the machine gun never let off since we past our kill zones never have I held on dearly to the gun and the feel of the googles tight around my head. Alongside of the convoy and tanks as we kept watch out there, I could not admire the surrounding due to my paranoia, I could never shake the feel that we are being watched. Heading for the grounds that needed to be constructed, as our line came across the vast land of grass and trees the land was the size of an excellent air base “stop here,” I yelled over the roaring engines. Stopping near a tree, soon trucks followed stopping behind us, unloading troops and supplies. I got out of the small wagon as I stretched out my legs and arms. I soon took in the air around me, smelling a nice crisp air fresh and never disturbed from coal, burning fuel or untouched by any man… until now. The tanks stopped near a clearing the billowing black smoke emitting form the steal beasts soon cease, to see the tank crew clambering out.

“Pioneers find out where the air strip needs to be,” I yelled out “the rest of you unload the crates and start setting up camp here. We need to build an air tower and hanger over there.” Pointing towards the small hill near us just a few yards away the troops got up from there place. Unloading the crates one by one, caring the cargo to our designated objectives. I took the crates that were filled with munitions and Granate’s to our destructive use. Gently placing down the munitions and the rifles that where slung to my back, placing them against the fallen tree in a neat line. I held on to the last rifle in my hands, as I examined the fine wood and steel taking aim and gently pulled the trigger letting a soft click. I took a striper clip from the munition box. Of seven point ninety-five times fifty-seven millimetre rifle rounds. Pulling the bolt back with a smooth feel, I pushed all five rounds into the clip bed. With as stratifying click as the bolt loaded a fresh round.

Standing where I was I could see a distant rock just on top of a fallen tree about forty meters away. kneeling down as I rested my right arm on my right knee the butt of the gun resting against me I could hear Lutz lecturing me for stance I chuckled at the memory of me and him at the academy in our time. Taking slow steady breaths, I tensed when I pulled the trigger. The shattering clash of the sound emitting from the rifle to see the impact on the tree just below, pulling the bolt back to discharge the empty brass casing the slide clicked back as I tried again. Pressing my cheek onto the butt stock as I lined up the sights to the target taking steady breathes pulling again with another shattering sound but I listed to the echoing beat and crack as the thundering storm. Seeing as my target unfazed trying again to hold my line of sight and my breathing once more my ears rang out to see a cloud of white and dust fly in the air.

“Good shot sir,” I looked behind me to see a young man in his early twenty’s his cap covered his brown hair as he, stood above me pulling the bolt back and forth loading a fresh round. As I handed him the rifle as he looked at me, as I gestured to the down range target. I could see him smiling as he took position as I kept watch down range a puff of smoke and the shattering clack the rock burst open I felt jealous at his first try “now that is how you fire a rifle FriedHelm” he said with a cocky grin. I walked towards our camp as I heard the last and final round echo off in the distance, looking around to find the men setting up tents and a construction room for the pioneers.

“We have the placement for the first strip; we are waiting for the second team to finish up theirs.” One of them yelled out. I nodded towards his direction, waving his hands the two steal beasts billowed out the black smoke as if they were slumbering dragons. The two heavy plows started to scrape the tall grass and wild flowers from beneath the earth as they continued on never going out of the flags markers. My heart raced at the sight of the tank. There models are still too new for me. But the air machines or planes they called them, was much more fascinating when I first saw the Fokker D.VIII during the Great War when I was still young. Now that the newer models are faster and better than the old fathers built.

Shaking my head as to stop dwelling in the past, we worked away on the air strip with shovels and pickaxes to roughen the dirt. Time passed as minutes turned into hours the panzer smoothed out the land. Then the hours became the night. we slaved away at this construction for two moons. But in the midst of the dawning morning hours past the suns horizon, I could hear yelling and shouting as my men ran around waking up from the yelling as I stumbled my way to the flap opening up to a sight of grey smoke in the distance, shaking my head as I looked to myself in my shirt, rushing to put my boots and uniform on taking leave as I did not bother straighten up my uniform. Once I looked towards the west to have a clear view of the Billowing black smoke, flowing into the sky in the far distant reach.

“Get your rifles,” I yelled out, running towards our rifles leaning against the tree. My troops rushed over grabbing the rifles then raiding the ammunition box grabbing what they can, as they piled into the Opel trucks. I joined with a group of them the shifting movement I could feel the tires spinning beneath us while dirt and mud shot into the air as we rushed forward. Seeing the billowing black smoke my mind was rushed with excitement thinking that it’s another tribe or something different that will surprise me in this world. With so much undiscovered land we do not know what is beyond our borders.

After about twenty minutes of waiting and anticipation, a foul smell that chocked me and my troops a smell all too familiar, I caught one grabbing a crate underneath him as we opened the wooden box to reveal gas masks. Everyone in the truck grabbed a pair reaching or handing out filters. Once our rubber masks were on pulling the four straps tightening them to our skulls sealing them tight pulling my watch out “thirty minutes we have twenty until we need to head back,” I yelled out.

Once I felt the truck stopped all exited out and ran the rest of the way there, I never bothered to look around my new surroundings. The black clouds were my soul objective, we drew near to the point, until the sound of clashing and screaming was heard. With every step it grew louder and louder we were well hidden inside the over growth. Until we stumbled into what looked like a convoy but what I saw was more bazar then the diamond dogs there were little horses or ponies battling it out. I shook my head getting out of this dumfounded look I had, pulling my rifle taking the iron sights lining up with the targets, my men did the same… but the problem was who was on who’s side so… we let the battle raged on.

They were slitting their throats cutting their enemies down my heart raced at the sight I was shocked and shaking my head as I saw a unicorn like from sort of fantasy and a Pegasus, of all Greek mythology flying in the air cutting their opponents down from the sky, with such grace and agility as I saw the ME 109’s fighting the spitfire. Diving, sharp turns with every pass, was the sparks of swords clashing with one another, their eyes glaring daggers with hate and fire, the fourth or fifth pass was the end of the air battle. One manages to spin under his opponent, cutting his stomach in an arc that dug into his right wing. Spiraling out from the sky landing hard into the ground with and audible thump near us, he stumbled to his feet or hooves in his case but fell to his side. The wound was a deep gash as I had an excellent sight of the battle wound. The battle was closing as their numbers was going down, I had a closer look at the fallen and the dead Pegasus until I realized they were not wearing armour as the others, and then it clicked in my head, the armoured ones are of military the ones they are killing may be refuges or resistance, I may use them to gather intelligence or use them to my advantage.

“Shoot the ones in amour,” I yelled out pulling the trigger of my rifle letting it thunder out with a crack the recoil pushing against my arm with the force of a punch. Soon after words my men followed suit shooting the troops in the Grey clade amour. They dropped down like a rock, blood spitting out with the bullet soring clean through. When the forest cracked as the thunderstorm the troops in clade grey ran into the forest only leaving behind of what was left of the Refugees and wounded troops. We all took hold as we searched for life but the damage was done…there were no survivors some of them died from their wounds but others that still kicked… but were executed due to our presence. We need to be kept a secret out of the light of these lands and away from prying eyes of this kingdom, that we could not risk our operations or the discovery of our nation. Exploring behind one of the wagons to find one huddled next to a basket. Curiosity got the better of me, I ventured closer to examine and reaching over towards the basket but that was a mistake, the body moved swiftly wrapping a hoof around my wrist then held my hand.

I pulled my C96 Mauser taking aim over towards its head when it looked at me to see it bleeding it was weaving, the breath short on pace “please ta-take…take th-the basket…please go…to the nearest…town,” the voice was famine as I looked more closely as I tilted my head to the side “if you can understand… take her… to the nearest… town” she fell limp against the wooden floor, her grip loosened dropping onto the floor board. Closely examining the basket lifting it from her broken body I moved her to see two arrows one pierced her lung the other was deep inside the arties the blood was fresh the smell lingered as the basket was in.

“Sir we need to move we got five minutes,” one trooper came behind me. Getting up from my position I took the basket with me as we left the skirmish battle grounds. We made our way back to the trucks getting up one at a time, I was the last one on, handing them the basket as I clambered on. With the steady ride back to base as we’d removed our gas masks placing them back into the crate. Letting a calming breath as I took the basket in my hands placing it on my lap to see the blue cloth in the middle

“What did you take their commander?” a grenadier called out

“I don’t know comrade. She said to take the basket to the nearest town,” I said watching the troops around me looking at me with confusion then I felt the basket moved around my leg. My troops took noticed of the movement as I slowly removed the cloth to find a small child; my heart skipped a few beats seeing such a young infant.

“Is that a horn?” one asked out of disbelief

“It’s a unicorn!”

“I thought they were mythology, legends or a child’s dream.” Another yelled out

“Calm down you will wake the little one” I said in a hush tone loud enough for my men to hear, then I felt it squirm in my hand I looked down at the small foal that I held in my hand. With a thunderous roar our surrounding’s flashed out and the heavy rain fall was herd patting against the tarp over our heads, the small filly cried out with the storm raging above us. The constant sound of rain as I rocked it back and forth “shh little one it’s only the rain” I spoke in a rough broken English the small filly calmed down as I hummed a small tune rocking it to sleep. It opened its eyes seeing a deep gold hue and the mane was of silver and a gold strip of the shape of a thunder bolt its fur was a dark grey shade of Columbus clouds reminded me of the thunderous nights and heavy rain. “Gewitter” I said quietly.

The ride felt long then short as I held this precious cargo, a life of new begging’s and postures and adventure. I looked deeply into this small filly as I unwrapped more of it she was so small to my hands and yet she looked very healthy I examined her closely taking notice of her horn more than her big eyes. Wrapping her into a cocoon but I saw something that struck me to see a small xylophone.

Placing her in the basket, keeping her close to me, the sudden stop shook me out of my thought process taking in my surroundings to see we were back at the air base. Taking my time getting down from the truck with her in my arms, the steady rain fall pouring around our base and over our heads was the sound of thunder clashing through the darken sky.

“Sir shall we continue with preparations?” someone called behind me I only nodded my head in response as I took the small basket into my tent.

I walked next to my make shift bed placing the basket next to me as I stared at her ‘why dose fate always mends with us mortals, am I the right man at the wrong places... Or the wrong man at the wrong time? Whatever it is, I must bear this burden, and she will come in handy in due time. Or future operations’ as I walked out helping with the placement of the air strip the mud help little with our placements, with the panzers leveling the dirt and plowing the grounds will get stuck from time to time in the soften mud. Once the grounds where placed we called it a day due to heavy or unforeseen rain. Waiting for dry days to come so all of us can take responsibility of the sandy ground to give it a sturdy flooring to help make the levelling of a concrete runway but I found myself checking on the young one often making Shure she was there.

As night fell upon us, I took to my bunk but I stopped to look back in the glisten grass that shown in the moons light giving me a sense of security and sanctuary that I never felt in a long time. Looking into the night sky to see shimmering stars but more important was the moon. In all my life I have never seen this type or celestial object hold the image of a unicorn, curios or how queer how it looked like in the night sky, just floating there. There is more to know in this world than ours, hmm never really missed home yet, but that was when I was in that bunker. Here I felt free and able to breath in such clean air. Shaking my head side to side as I pulled the tarp out of my way, only to feel something splash against my face, I looked around my area everything was at a lost; my mouth was agape to see water drops just floating in mid-air drifting freely where they carelessly float. Walking through this… this amazement I never saw anything like it in my life but this world still held many secrets that I could not know. My heart stopped to see the young filly standing in the middle, my attention was the soft golden hue shimmering around her horn. Kneeling down watching in awe I was speechless. The small filly looked into my eyes as she stood there watching me locked into my eyes my heart was washed over with ice, giving me a pained feel my breathing was swallowed as I remembered her mother dying with her wounds.

Reaching over to the small filly as she stood her ground, I crest her fur and scatted behind her ear. The shimmering glow around her horn, ceased until all the water splashed or dropped from their flight. I let out surprised yell, as I felt the cool water impacted my back, a mixture between a cold pain and relief for my back. The filly jumped as she heard me, backing away her eyes was on the verge of tears. Another pain shot through my heart seeing the sight of her tears and small shaking frame. I reached over patting her back and rubbing as I calmed her “Shh little one its ok.”

I scooped her into my arms cradling her, her big golden rings locked into mine my heart fluttered as I looked deep into the golden treasury. “meine Tochter” I said quietly to her she looked up at me with a stray tear I wiped it away from her eye. Sitting on the bed as I lay down, placing her down only to feel her come close to my chest, while nudging me.

“Mister?” she said barley above a whisper, I looked down to her, again dumfounded.

“Yes?” I said just containing a barrage of questions.

“Are you going to eat me? If you aren’t can you let me go?” she said her voice cracking

I let out a soft chuckle as I looked down to her again “no I promised your mother’s last words” I could feel her shake against my chest “but I would not eat you I don’t have the taste for ponies doesn’t have good taste and besides I work with them and they work for me. I only eat pig, cows, sheep, fish, beans and vegetables. You have nothing to worry you are in the care of the Fatherland nothing can overcome us.” I finished the last sentence with a prideful boast and mixed with my mother’s language, my arm in the air, she giggled at my jester.

“Do…Do you know… any bed time songs…my m-mother…always sings to me when I go to bed.” I could see here head and eyes trying to avoid mine letting out a small hum to catch her attention as I think

“There is one that my mother sang to me but it’s in my mother’s language, that you wouldn’t understand but I could try, and I’m sorry in advance it’s been a long time since I last snag, so don’t be excepting a good voice.” As I looked down to her and moved my index finger towards her emphasising my point.

She nodded to me “I wouldn’t mind” she said pressing against my chest

“Alright then it’s called LaLeLu” as I got up and walked to the basket to find the xylophone taking the small instrument and the percussion sticks as I stuck the small notes singing to her the best I can when I finished only to find her curled into a small ball on the cot lying next to her in this small bed as sleep took me over and the filly close to my chest.