Gen. Koenig's Country Chateau, outside France
Captain Landa ditched his staff car to drive by motorbike to the General's country chateau to deliver his formal report. He wanted to breathe in the cool country air and the scent of lavender that grows in abundance in this region of France.
When he enters the grounds of the Chateau he makes makes his way to the main house. There, he finds each room more opulently decorated than the last. Sculptures, tapestries, bronzes, paintings all of historic value. Exquisite, but it's all stolen, he reminds himself.
He reaches the upper floor apartments via a grand marble staircase. Messengers of all sorts file in and out. In an anteroom is Gen. Koenig's adjutant and personal bodyguard, a stern looking officer named Dieter Hellstrom.
A man, whom rumours insist, is Koenig's bastard son and assassin for hire. He wonders how many rivals Dieter has despatched to advance his father's career. A chill runs through him and he sets his fear aside.
'I'm here to deliver my report on our recent intelligence gathering.' says Hans, taking off his leather gloves.
'He's waiting for you in the map room, Colonel Landa. Pls go ahead.'
He enters past a heavily sculpted door, and finds the General drinking cognac sitting by a large table map of Europe, with little tanks, armies, ships and planes, all waging a real war in a front far away.
'Landa, you old dog.' he smiled broadly ' tell me you have discovered something useful.' Slapping him on the back.
'That I have, General.' he said, removing the document from his coat pocket.
The general took out his gold rimmed spectacles and read its contents. He grew quite serious. It's header read: Operation Jaguar. Allied Paratroop operations in France to disable German Radar listening posts.
'You recovered this from some spy, huh? Have you confirmed the veracity of this data?'
'Indeed I have. Our agents at the mentioned ports have noticed troop ships disguised as merchant ships approaching these very sea lanes. It also confirms what reconnaissance has been reporting all month.'
The old man patted Landa's back. 'The Fuhrer will be pleased. Not to mention those dullards at Strategic Services.'
'Just doing my job, sir.'
'We'll relay to Eagle's nest, and get direction from there.' He called out to his adjutant 'Dieter wire this to the Fuhrer, now.'
The old man poured Landa a drink and a refill for himself. 'I smell a promotion. Who knows? You'll make Oberfuhrer (Senior Colonel) for this, at least that's what your bureau chief, Gen. Scherner tells me.' he excitedly nudged the colonel.
'I wouldn't count on it.' Landa modestly protested. The old man's eye twinkled. 'Well no one's deserved it more.' He raised his glass. 'To the Thousand year Reich!' yelled the old general. They drank all the way to the bottom. Hans felt the unbelievable rush of heat down his throat, the quick shot of adrenalin to the head, making him warm all over.
'Run along now, Landa. I've got a hot date.' The old man said with wink.
'Good night, General.' he said and closed the door behind him.
He exited the upper apartments, and descended the grand marble staircase to the foyer. There, two officers roughly escort a beautiful looking young lady. She wasn't richly dressed like the usual visitors he'd seen. She looked tired and slightly disheveled. As they came closer he found something oddly familiar about that face and long brown hair. Gravely, he realises that he has met her before.
It was Emmanuelle Mimieux.