With a large map in his hand, Krebs padded over into the main planning room of the bunker, where he knew Burgdorf and his council were holding their meeting. He winced as he heard Burgdorf's irritated voice as soon as he walked into the door.
"You stupid idiots, you think we'll win a war with a strategy like this?" His words were filled with so much rage that it made Krebs flinch.
Perfect timing, Krebs thought, exasperated. He took in his surroundings, just in time to see Burgdorf walk away to sit down next to Fegelein. Hitler, Günsche, Jodl, and Goebbels were close by as well. All of them surrounded a great map on the table, staring at it intensely.
"It seems as if the time has come that we must reconsider our position," Jodl suggested. "Patton is surely reforming his armies. We should hit them with everything we have while we still can."
Burgdorf rolled his burning blue eyes. "I'm sure our precious Patton is going to try to put on a little show, but it is of no matter to us."
Goebbels glanced at him. "Meaning?"
The general turned back to Goebbels. "We will not be intimidated by a man with no power to do anything, even if he calls himself a lieutenant general."
You're the same thing, Krebs thought. You're not intimidated by him, and neither should everyone else be.
"A new world order is about to dawn," Burgdorf went on. "In order for that to happen, we must first welcome it by giving our new era a new name."
Hitler nodded slowly. "Our new world needs a new era after all. But I'm not in control of that anymore, nor do I matter. It's up to you." Krebs could see the exhaustion in his eyes. Hitler was old - he had no strength left in him to control an entire country, never mind the lands that were being controlled.
"Damn," Fegelein said. "To think that General Burgdorf himself would be deciding the name of an entire era."
"So, have you decided what your new era is to be called?" Jodl asked Burgdorf.
"Why not keep it the same?" Burgdorf asked, arching an eyebrow. "The Thousand Year Reich is still perfect - it'll signify the divine reformation we intend to bring."
"That's good," Jodl said.
Hitler glanced at Jodl, crossing his arms. "You haven't said much except kissing up to him, have you?" Although his words were challenging, there was a playful glint in his eyes.
"Like there's anything else to say," Jodl muttered.
Everyone in the room smiled softly, and even Burgdorf had a casual, easy smirk on his face that made Krebs grin. I get the feeling that he's finally been able to ease up a little. Through Burgdorf's victories, he had earned great trust from all those who serve him - even Hitler. No one had seemed to be more aware of this than Burgdorf himself, whose change in demeanor had made life in the bunker better than before.
"Speaking of which," Goebbels said, examining at Hitler and Burgdorf, "whatever became of our idea to move to new headquarters?"
Burgdorf looked up at Goebbels. "I have not given the order yet - I've still been thinking of where I intend to build it. However, it should put us in the best position not only to take care of MacArthur when he tries to take our land, but to deal with Rommel when he tries to start some more uprisings within our country."
Krebs nodded approvingly. He knew that before Burgdorf could truly rule the country, he had to overcome the resistances building at certain places within the country. Krebs hadn't heard of where they were left, as Burgdorf had kept that a secret, but he knew it would be revealed eventually. He had fought them from different cities several times, but Burgdorf had yet to usurp all of their power. Why do we think we're still in a bunker?
Burgdorf spoke again. "With new headquarters in place, we'll finally be able to take care of everything in our way."
"Peace will return to this land before we know it," Fegelein agreed.
"Let's get out there and show them who they're dealing with!" Jodl declared.
However, amidst the cheers of the men, Günsche finally looked up to break the silence. "Burgdorf, a moment."
Burgdorf looked up to glare at Günsche, but the tall general pressed on, despite his icy stare. "It is true that with the resistance on us broken, there are no others who could hope to stop the advance of the Reich as we are. However, do you not think that is all the more reason to exercise some amount of caution?"
"What did you just say to me?" Burgdorf's sharp words cast a cold snap tearing through the warmth of the room.
Oh no! Krebs pushed himself through the room, knowing that a time like this, Burgdorf needed to cool off. "May I suggest a short recess? General, I know that there's some new bottles out there, we can-" Before he could move, Burgdorf's hands were on his wrist.
"Hey, who's we? That's my alcohol. No one else can take it." Burgdorf glared at Krebs.
"With all due respect," Krebs began, "I certainly meant for you to drink it, however …"
"All I gave you was permission to buy more," Burgdorf said.
"But General," Krebs protested, "your body certainly will not thank you if you try to drink it all."
"I'm sure I can handle them just fine," Burgdorf scoffed.
"There are twenty four bottles," Krebs finally told him.
Burgdorf looked up at him, and finally, when he heard Krebs' statement, he sullenly looked away.
Krebs smiled softly. "May I present to the others what you can't drink?"
"Do what you like," Burgdorf muttered.
Fegelein chuckled. "Ahaha, he really got to you, didn't he, Burgdorf?"
"Looks like someone in here wishes they were dead," Burgdorf growled at Fegelein. Laughter emerged from the men in the room, while Burgdorf fumed, a fierce blush on his cheeks.
However, Krebs felt somewhat embarrassed. He didn't mean to make Burgdorf upset, so he turned around, ready to go. But Fegelein's voice stopped him.
"It looks like it won't be long until you make yourself the master of Krebs' affair and make him your groom," he said, his voice bright.
"I will be refraining from his affairs, but I will soon see him as my groom," Burgdorf stated.
"What?" Puzzled to hear him actually say it aloud, Krebs turned to look back at him. We're … we're actually going to be wed? Burgdorf and I? Lately, Krebs' job had started to shift away from the "servant" part in favor of the "personal" part. Everyone in the bunker knew that he was favored by Burgdorf, if only because it was now that he attended him in his room at night. I can't imagine what being his husband would actually entail. Just realizing that he would be at Burgdorf's side for the rest of my life gave Krebs a pause, if for no other reason that he was suddenly not sure how much he could do for a man who would rule them all.
