Uplifted: Last Days

by DarkDanny

Definitive Edition: These are the last days. The last days of the Third Reich, the last days of the Western Front and the last days of Humanity being alone in the universe. The world is about to change; but will it be for the better?

10. Last Hours

Chapter Ten: Last Hours - February 6th, 1943

…

Pulling his car over just in front of the one waiting for him, Doctor Theodor Morell grabbing his medical kit and with a great struggle, he forced himself out of the car.

Last night he had been pulled aside by the head of the Reich Main Security Office, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Apparently his friend had been hurt and he was in need of his specialties. Between the oath that he swore as a physician, and the large sum of Reichsmarks he would be paid, Morell was only too happy to oblige Kaltenbrunner's request.

Sure enough, standing in front of the second car in the crisp February night stood Ernst Kaltenbrunner, an expression of warm greeting for the Führer's personal physician.

"Kaltenbrunner, I came as you told me to…" Morell greeted before trailing off.

A second man climbing out of the vehicle to stand with Kaltenbrunner; he was only a few inches shorter than the giant; he looked even more frightening then the giant Austrian SS General. Almost just skin and bones really, it sounded as though he was wheezing. Morell did a double take as he noticed the one feature that hadn't vanished, a long Roman nose.

"Herr Heydrich?" the Doctor greeted, taking half a dozen steps closer to great the terrible looking man before him. "Herr Heydrich! It's so wonderful to see you back on your feet! When you were attacked, Hanni and I prayed every night for your recovery."

Morell had expected an acknowledgement, and some form of thank you. He did not get it. Reinhard Heydrich, who looked as though he had stumbled into something most foul smelling, curled his mouth up in a sneer and turned back to the Ernst Kaltenbrunner.

"Don't you dare tell me you let this… thing… this… this fat little pug work on me while I was wounded…" Heydrich spoke viciously.

Heydrich's words making the hulking Austrian laugh out loud at the chubby little doctor's expense.

"Not a chance, I would not wish this cretin upon my worst enemy," Kaltenbrunner reassured the still disgusted Heydrich. "I don't imagine he's seen his dick in twenty… probably thirty years. How the Führer could ever put his faith and health in this quack, I shall never know."

Humiliated, he went for his new cigarette case in his jacket pocket; Morell pulled it out and took one of the cigarettes left behind from the previous owner. Before he could light it, Kaltenbrunner snatched it from his fingers and lit it before he could, taking a drag, then blowing the plume of smoke into Morell's face.

Before Morell could react to the SS bully, Kaltenbrunner smiled at him.

"Müller," Kaltenbrunner called out with a cheerful voice. "Deal with this fat degenerate."

Before he could comprehend what Kaltenbrunner's words mean, a sudden, shocking pain pulsed right around his throat. He went limp, but he did not fall over, the man who was doing this propped his big body against his and squeezed the wire even tighter. It was some sort of wire. Too strong and too tense to fight off.

Gasping and flaying he watched Heydrich and Kaltenbrunner smoke cigarettes together form his new cigarette case. Neither of them had any emotion as they watched the murder unfold before their eyes. The only time they looked away was when Heydrich started hacking, Kaltenbrunner turned to pat the man in the back. The moment he was better, the two of them turned back to watch the sound of cracking bone and cartilage.

Satisfied with his work, the attacker released his grip and dropped Morell down on his back. Morell wasn't dead… At least he thought he wasn't. It certainly didn't feel like death, if he knew what it felt…

"You didn't finish the job," Morell could hear Heydrich speak from above him, "Look, he's still breathing. I thought you knew how to do it, Heinrich."

"I broke his neck…" The second voice, presumably from the one known and Heinrich Müller argued back. "Christ, Reinhard, you try strangling something with that much neck fat and then you'd have the right to fucking taunt me."

Morell couldn't speak, couldn't cry out in help. He could not wiggle his fingers or his toes. The two of them, Reinhard and Heinrich Müller were presumably good friends, together they laughed wildly at Müller's observation. Eventually they were joined by a slight chuckle from the third man.

"What a pathetic piece of filth…" the third voice, belonging to Kaltenbrunner rumbled above him "Finish the fucking job. We need to move on to our next phase."

There was an audible groan, then a muttered, 'Yeah, yeah.' Morell's eyes widened as his attacker bent down right in front of his face. Dark eyed, thick black eyebrows, a slightly receding hairline. It was the head of the Gestapo, Heinrich Müller, combining a sneer and a smile together for him.

Morell helplessly watched as Müller pulled out his pistol and forced the barrel into his mouth. He forced it to graze the roof of Theodor's mouth cavity.

"If you get any blood on me, I'm going to hang your family," Müller warned him.

The last thing Theodor Morell ever saw was the twitch of Müller's trigger finger.

…

…

5:00 AM

Joachim looked away from the clock on the side of his bed and sat up, fully dressed, his STG-43 lying at his side.

It was time to go now.

Gripping the hand guard of the heavy automatic rifle, Joachim finally sat up from his relaxing position and pushed himself off the bed and slung the weapon over his shoulder. First thing first was to get to get Magda and the children moving out to the patio of the chalet, next move was to go to Hitler and drug him, next move was to call for extraction and coerce Hitler into leaving his room with little fight.

When this was gone, Joachim could finally sleep without his actions weighing heavily on his mind. It would be weeks before they organized enough strength to spare for an assault on the Reich Main Security Offices. Weeks he could use to suppress everything and get away from the constant plotting he was engaging in for the past few months.

"Joachim… Joachim, what are you doing?"

Joachim turned around at the familiar voice. Standing there in her nightgown was Traudl Humps, a glass of water in hand, her big eyes wide as she tried to find reason why Joachim would be moving through the hall heavily armed. Joachim remained silent, even as the woman stepped forward to close the space in between the two of them.

What in the hell was he going to tell her? Sure she appeared not to have much in the way of loyalties, but this was still her boss he was plotting away against, and she did have an obligation to stand for the Führer no matter what.

God help him, for a brief moment, he had contemplating silencing her.

Thankfully, his conscious won out over his logic. Instead of murder, Joachim reached out and took Traudl's free hand, making her look to it for a second before looking back up to him. No longer did he have to move in secrecy. Traudl would have to choose a side sooner or later.

"Traudl, listen to me closely," he spoke, his words filled with warning for her. "As we speak Heinz Guderian is readying an army to attack this place. He, along with many other generals and men are now working against the Führer, me included. I'm here to put an end to this madness."

The thought of a hero like Guderian turning against the state and to bring his rage here of all places was enough to make the woman nearly fall over. Joachim's grip on her arm kept her from collapsing right there. She looked completely distressed about what was happening.

"Why... why are you doing this?" she breathed, her head bowed as she seemed to have been in tears.

Joachim let go of her forearm, allowing hand to slide back over top of hers.

"Because someone has to… because if we don't we will be condemned for the things being done in his name," Joachim replied, conflicted by his own answer. He wasn't sure what was driving his actions either.

"Take your friends, take Eva," he all but pleaded her. "Tell her it's her birthday surprise or something. Just… just get them as far as you can away from here. Things are about to change, Traudl. I cannot guarantee your life or theirs if you stay here…"

Traudl did not reply at first. Slowly however she did nod. Finally she looked up to meet the self-professed traitor in the eye.

"Why are you telling all of this?" she whispered uncertainly. "I'm not important enough to be of any concern. You're a hero… I… well… I type."

Joachim could not help himself; despite the drowning pressure now on him, he could not help but quirk his lips at the comment.

"You're a good woman, Traudl. You have been kind to me… kinder than most. I am grateful to consider you as a friend in the short time we have known each other," Joachim softly returned. "So… just go. Go now."

Kissing her cheek as he dropped her hand, Joachim pushed by her, leaving the woman to stew in the mutiny she was still digesting.

…

---

…

"Don't worry; everything is going to be fine." Hanala assured her sister-in-law with a squeeze of her hand.

Veyare did not speak; she simply lifted her helmet up and allowed herself to nod her head. Hanala brought the somewhat timid woman for very good reason; she needed to offset the amount of marines she had brought with her. She needed a friendly civilian with ties to the science team, in this case her brother.

Veyare didn't need much in the way of convincing. She realized how suspicious thirty armed marines would be and, like the good person she was, she wanted to spare as much bloodshed as she could, so leaving Saleb in her mother-in-law's care, Veyare got herself suited up and joined the mission.

Sighing, Hanala turned away and met Martus'Xen's stare. He did not like this, not one bit. Whether it was being back on Earth in such a volatile time, or simply because he was back under her command, Hanala wasn't exactly sure. Hanala assumed it was a little of both. As he clearly stated, this was meant to benefit him and his family in the near future, this was not him volunteering out of the goodness of his heart.

The two military transport shuttle's disguised as the standard civilian vessels touched down on the surface of the word. The sides slid open and out jumped the thirty man team, greeted by the standard amount of SS guards and, of course, Gerald Langer, who looked exhausted, but friendly enough despite Hanala's interruption. He stepped forward, a smile on his face and his hand outstretched to Hanala.

"Hanala, it's always a pleasure to have you here," Gerald said as he leaned into kiss each side of Hanala's cheeks.

Hanala smiled for Joachim's mentor, the guilt of the betrayal about to take place twisting inside of her.

"Thank you Gerald, this is the science team that shall be rotating in place of the team here;" Hanala returned the greeting, dropping the hand after several more moments. "Sorry for such an early start. I'm just an off duty Admiral. I have no say in any matter. I assume that the science team stationed is to be debriefed, and then they will be sent home to their families. It's been months since they had that."

Gerald smiled crookedly, his eyes wandering to the marine team inching towards the museum.

"Gentlemen, ladies, I would prefer you stay here until your team is out of the building," Gerald explained, his charming smile trying to put the faceless masks at ease. "I mean no disrespect, but Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler is not quite as trusting as I. He prefers it that the quarian team does not exceed more than one hundred at any time inside the facility."

Hanala looked to Xen. He nodded curtly as though he appeared to be fine with the idea. Hanala turned back and nodded to Joachim's best friend and Father rolled into one. She reached out and pulled Veyare to her side, making the woman yelp as she found herself at the centre of attention.

"Of course, but please, This is Veyare`Jarva, my Brother`s wife," Hanala introduced to Gerald. "We would like to go down together. They haven't seen each other in such a long time. Please… as a favour to me?"

Gerald stroked his mouth as he looked over Veyare carefully.

"It`s a pleasure to finally meet the better half of the two," Gerald addressed the civilian.

He turned back to Hanala,

"Hanala, the thing is this facility is designated for military and science personnel only. I`m afraid I have to say no," he replied as softly. "Though why doesn't she follow us? I can show her to my office and you and your Brother can retrieve her from there. It might motivate him into slowing down; he's a hard worker, that Rael."

"Yeah…" Hanala mumbled. "That sounds like my idiot brother…"

"Man was so uptight I was thinking about hiring him a nice Austrian prostitute or something," Gerald replied, a smirk growing on his face.

Veyare gasped, Hanala burst into laughter at the standard dirty behaviour of the old man. No wonder Joachim adored him, he was awesome.

It was Gerald's turn to laugh. He ushered them along, opening the front doors of the museum for them. They granted Hanala a chance to gasp at how beautiful the construction was before they headed in the direction of Gerald's offices. Hanala took a deep breath. She had to be careful now.

"Gerald…" Hanala spoke softly, her tone turning sweet as she smiled kindly to Gerald. "I was hoping that I could meet your family before I leave, especially the young ones. Joachim has given glowing reviews about them. Perhaps when everyone is awake? I'm sure Veyare would love to seem human children for the first time."

Veyare smiled as well and nodded.

Looking at the two of them carefully, Gerald did not reply at first.

"I… suppose I could invite them over…" Gerald found his voice finally. "Funnily enough you`re not the first to ask for that, your Brother asked the exact same thing. "

He paused and turned to Veyare.

"I suppose he`s good with children?" he inquired.

Veyare's smile widened as she nodded once again.

"He's the best, Herr Langer," she said, properly using the phrase Hanala taught her on the way down. "Our daughter is his pride and joy."

It was Gerald's turn to nod as they reached his office. Unlocking the door, he turned the light on and gestured to Veyare to enter.

"Well, I can relate to that, Frau Jarva. I have four daughters and two sons –four if I include Joachim and Heinrich," Gerald proudly stated, smiling as Veyare's eyes widened at just how large human families could be. "I'll escort Hanala down to the facility; we'll be back in a quarter of an hour."

Veyare stepped inside and waved her hand to Hanala, who smiled. Together Gerald and Hanala walked away, heading down the corridors in silence. It wasn't until they reached the main basement staircase to the facility that the silence was broken by Gerald.

"Lene is quite concerned about Joachim," he admitted. "So am I. His recent behaviour has been troubling."

Hanala nodded as she stepped through the door, behind her came Langer next.

"I as well," she agreed with the old Standartenführer. "We'll need to do something about it soon. The Gestapo did a toll to him."

Gerald nodded silently.

"I know," he said behind her. "I've already arranged something for him."

Without any warning, without so much as a realization there was a sudden and brutal blow to the back of her head. Caught off guard, Hanala's body crumpled and fell down the flight of stairs. She landed hard on the concrete, in some sort of murky, lukewarm pool.

The last thing she saw was Langer staring at her, his pistol drawn and held limply at his side. He turned away and, turning the lights off, closed the door behind him. As darkness overwhelmed her senses, the sound of an ambushing slaughter erupted overhead.

Hanala could only ground as the darkness overtook her.

…

---

…

"Good mornin'.. Is that you Hoch?"

Closing the bedroom door behind him, Joachim carefully stepped forward in the dark to Magda Goebbels' bed. The light flickered on, making Joachim pause for a moment. The woman, usually so vibrant, was curled up in her blanket, her eyes looked on him strangely, like he was a sight for sore eyes.

Joachim forced a smile to cross his mouth as he took a seat on the side of her bed. His hand tenderly touched against her head. It was hot, like she had a fever or something along those lines. Magda winced, but still she smiled just the same as she leaned onto her elbows to force herself to sit up somewhat in the presence of him.

"How are you feeling?" Joachim whispered empathetically, his fingers grazing her cheek. "Sorry if it may seem forward... me being here and all. I just… I just had to see you."

Magda's smile widened. With a great struggle, she leaned in. Joachim knew what this was. Swallowing his pride and commitment to Hanala, Joachim leaned in and gave the woman a careful kiss on her mouth. It was a touch that brought joy to the older woman as she pulled back.

"I'm so glad you're here, Joachim," she murmured as she rested her forehead into his shoulder. "I could use your help…"

Joachim nodded.

"It just so happens that I had the same thought," Joachim agreed with her, brushing his hand through her hair. "I'm going to stay and make sure you'll be okay. Can you lay down for a moment? I have something for the pain."

As Magda obeyed his request, Joachim turned away from her and went into his jacket pocket, pulling out the three needles he had traded for. Taking the one he had marked as the anaesthetic, he turned back to Magda, who stared nervously at the needle. To ease her comfort, Joachim pressed his lips against her forehead before pressing the tip of the needle against what appeared to be a vein.

"Magda… what if I told you I knew people who could help you," he said as he injected the contents slowly before pulling back the needle from her arm. "What if they could take care of you? They're Doctors who could look into what's wrong and see if they can figure out a way to alleviate it, perhaps even fix it…"

Magda's eyes lit up. Joachim had used the right words to entice her. As drugged as she may have been, even she knew that the drugs would subside, but the pain would continue on. Here stood Joachim, offering her a chance to ease the burden of her condition. It was only natural that she would take the opportunity.

"I… I'd very much like to see them. When shall we go…" she slurred as she tried to sit up. Joachim reached out and lifted her body up for her.

Letting go of her, Joachim wandered to the door and pulled what appeared to be Magda's housecoat from off the door rack. He turned back to find Magda swaying, but still she had enough sense to wonder what exactly Joachim was doing. Joachim leaned in, kissing the side of her lips, freezing her fogged thought process to focus instead on the affection.

"Well, I am off to meet one of them in town. I told them about your state and they're only too happy to investigate, "Joachim explained to her as he wrapped the coat around her shoulders; "The thing is, they only have time to meet us in about an hour before they head back to Berlin. We have to get ready and meet him now."

Magda's eyes widened. Her pupils were now unnaturally large. Joachim knew that the drugs were now coursing through her brain. She was now in a simple minded state. He would only need to now make the suggestions using the right words and appease her every concern she could think of.

"B-but what about the children… I can't just leave them here…" she murmured as she rubbed her face.

Joachim nodded as he finished tying up Magda's housecoat. He stood and offered his hand to her. Giggling in her inebriated state, Magda took the hand and nearly squealed as Joachim lifted her right off the bed. Joachim forced himself to smile flirtatiously as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Don't worry about the children," Joachim reassured her. "I'll wake them up and bring them to you, and we shall bring them along. Okay?"

Magda nodded and with that, Joachim was free to take Magda, then the children to the extraction zone. When she realized what was going to happen, Magda Goebbels was going to be so pissed…

...

---

…

Hanala opened her eyes and groaned lowly as she rolled onto her side. What in the hell had happened…

She was walking down the stairs with Gerald, something happened and she went stumbling down the stairs. Hanala looked down; her outfit was covered in quarian blood; far too much to be her own. That and the human blood as well. What in the human hell had happened here?!

As her blurred mind came back to her, she could draw her own conclusion…

"Welcome back… it seems you have been spared, Admiral, "a female voice called behind her, choked full of military professionalism. "Here, hold that to your head."

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Hanala turned back and found a fellow quarian woman standing over her, a clean cloth in her hand, a frown for an expression. With shaking hands, Hanala accepted the cloth from the woman and pressed it against her pulsing head. She hissed as the pressure burned. Through her blurred vision, she noticed the human next to the quarian.

"Sergeant Odalha'Cauja vas Taleb, sir," she introduced herself. "The human is Doctor Werner von Braun… Doctor von Braun? She's awake now."

The human turned back as Hanala remained unhappy with the word sir being used for her. It was… it was him, the tall dark eyed human that wanted to know every last detail about the propulsion of the Devoas the first time Hanala was back in her ship after the crash. He was some sort of rocket engineer. Whatever he was, he had scared her by how quickly humans wanted to start adapting quarian technology into their own. Rumour had it he was developing the first surface to surface ballistic missile system. It was scary to think about, really. These people had only just invented flight and now they were onto rocketry…

"What happened here?" She moaned as she pulled the cloth from her head and sat up from the empty med bay.

"An SS contingent showed up here, that's what happened. Three companies, a Panzer group; led by Otto Skorzeny and Reinhard Heydrich," the scientist known as Von Braun said to her. "Heydrich went to talk to Langer I guess, Skorzeny came down here with a full company and shot the facility up. Humans, quarians, it didn't matter to them. We were all to be eliminated. For the most part, he did his job well…"

Cauja nodded, confirming what Wernher von Braun was speaking of.

"We fought back, humans… us, together we tried to stop the SS, but they were too many and we had too few weapons to put up a real fight, "The Sergeant added. "Most of us weren't even in proper gear. Too used to living exposed I guess…"

Werner rubbed his eyes. He looked exhausted. They went silent as Hanala allowed what had happened to settle into her. The SS knew what they and the Wehrmacht had been plotting. They must have had acted hours before Joachim was supposed to abduct Hitler. It meant one thing. There had been a leak, and Hanala knew exactly where it came from. That prick, Kaltenbrunner. It had to have been him. Now two teams of quarians were dead… No… this wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening…

"How... how could this happen, "Braun pressed on, his voice choked with disbelief. "most of the science team holds rank in the SS. I'm a goddamn Sturmbannführer for Christ sake. Anyways, I got shot and Odalha here saved me. Hiding in the ship ever since."

Next to Hanala, Cauja offered the rocket scientist a faint smile.

"Just doing my job, Doctor."

Hanala ran her hand through her blood soaked short hair.

"My Brother…"

Next to her, she felt Cauja's hand touch against her shoulder.

"He's gone…I'm sorry, Admiral... he's…"

Hanala batted her hand off her shoulder and turned her suddenly angry expression to the sergeant. How dare she say something like that?

"He's not dead," Hanala snapped, cutting the non-commissioned officer off. "Langer wouldn't kill him. He was wounded, probably, Rael deserves to be shot every once and a while, but he's not dead. Besides, my Brother is too stupid to die. He'd think it selfish…"

Hanala shook her head in defience to the statement made by the Marine.

"We need… we need weapons..." she could barely express coherently. "We need weapons."

Cauja and Braun shared a look, like they knew better. Well they didn't. Their only hope for survival was to fight back and make it to an improvised extraction zone. This mission was a failure, but first Hanala had to go and collect Veyare and Rael, then they would escape. Langer and the family were lost causes, Joachim would have to leave them down here until the war ended, or they could regroup and come back together…

"I have my rifle and a Wernher has a human pistol. There is nothing else," Cauja pointed out for her Admiral. "Skorzeny and his men picked this place clean. They confiscated all military technologies that they could use."

Hanala looked around at the ship they were in. it was her old ship. Surely it wasn't picked clean as well. Suddenly a smile crossed her face. With a groan she forced herself back onto her feet.

Storming down the corridors of her old ship, Odalha and Braun behind her, she turned the corner and stepped into her former quarters. To say it was small and cramped in comparison to her new ship was an understatement.

Ignoring her pain, she reached under her bed and wrapped her hands on the latched box she kept under it. Grunting, she pulled the crate out and fell back with a huffing breath. She pushed herself back onto her knees and wiped the dust from off the lockbox's palm pad. Pressing her hand on the pad, the crate clicked and opened, revealing its contents.

Although she needed the contents, the words engraved into the crate lid caught her attention.

-Granddaughter

Congratulations on your captaincy, my love. Do not tell your Mother I'm arming you like a marine. Do not use unless you need this.

With great hope that you will never have to use this,

-Grandmother.

Hanala forced her eyes away on the inscription on the crate lid left by her Late Grandmother Jalina and turned her focus to the contents.

Inside the crate was a suit of combat environmental suit, coloured purple and black with what appeared to be a trimming of gold with an omni-tool built in. pulling it out, Hanala revealed a shotgun with an underslung concussion round launcher and pistol underneath it. They came out next. Gathering the contents, she laid them on her bed and sat next to them, her eyes finally meeting the human rocket scientist and the quarian marine, both of whom were watching her.

Hanala kicked off her footwear and grabbed the armour legging. She had a plan. It was a simple plan, but this was not a time for complexity. This was ripe for a simple, terrible reaction.

"We're going to kill every bosh'tet up there, free my brother and sister-in-law, and head into Vienna," she finally spoke, turning her focus to Cauja. "Sergeant, are you with me?"

She earned a nod from the marine, who pulled her combat rifle off her back. Hanala turned away and without waiting, she grabbed the quarian built pistol and tossed it at Braun, who instinctively caught it. Hanala ignored Braun's reaction as he inspected the, in his eyes, futuristic sidearm. Finishing pulling on the legging, she pulled off her jacket and went to work strapping the chest plate to her body.

"Whether you like it or not, you now stand against the National Socialists," Hanala muttered as she fastened every strap to her and turned her focus to the neckpiece. "Are you going to be a problem, Doctor? Because I'm only to be honest, right now is not a good time to be a problem for me. No illusions of choice, Doctor, stand against me and I will shoot you right now."

Turning her focus to connecting the arms to her combat armour and pulling on the light gauntlets, she then grabbed the scattergun, given it a careful inspection before fitting in the heat sink. She watched the dormant weapon come back to life. As soon as it did, she levelled the weapon at von Braun, who took a step back.

"I never killed anyone before, but I'm a fast learner," he said.

Staring at him for any sign of deception on his part, Hanala nodded. Grabbing her helmet, she fastened it over her head and waited for her kinetic barriers to flare to life.

She might have been ready to fight. She could still save her Brother and sister-in-law.

…

---

…

"Oh, Herr Hoch, what brings you here at this hour-"

Joachim did not allow Heinz Linge a chance to finish his relatively harmless greeting. With all his might, he kneed the valet hard in the solarplex. He watched as Linge's stunned body collapsed to his knees. As Linge looked up, Joachim reared his head back and smashed it hard into Linge's.

Linge collapsed to the floor, but before he could react, Joachim dropped his knee down onto his neck and leaned in, their noses nearly touching as Joachim glared at him, his hand fumbling to find his tranquilizer syringe.

"Scream and I'll break your throat," he warned the valet, his teeth bared at him. "I swear I will do it."

Linge, who was clearly not a stupid man, complied with Joachim's order. Pulling the needle out, Joachim plunged the needle tip into the SS man's neck. Linge's eyes bulged as he nearly ignored the order. Joachim applied more pressure against his windpipe.

Pulling his knee off Linge's neck, Joachim placed his hand over his mouth and watched silently as the Valet slowly succumbed to the drugs taking effect. It too several long minutes, but it worked. Joachim his hand pulled back from his mouth. Silently he stood up and stepped over the paralyzed body.

With great care, Joachim opened the door. He closed the door behind him as he stepped into the Führer's private room. His eyes never left the form of the sleeping dictator lying there. He looked so terribly odd in such a quiet state.

Gathering his nerves, Joachim stepped carefully into the room, unbuckling his pistol holster, and then grabbing the final needle in his possession. He could not believe he was doing this. This was surreal. This was a dream. It had to be. He was on the verge of abducting the Führer. What in the hell was wrong with him! He gave Joachim reason to exist and here he was paying his personal hero back by drugging him…

Joachim shook his head, there could be no doubt. Not now, not when he was this close.

Taking a deep breath, Joachim pulled the blankets back to reveal the Führer laying there in sleepwear. Joachim nearly thought the man slept in a uniform, but it was not the case. His heart pumping hard, Joachim rolled up the Führer's sleeve. Exhaling, he injected the tranquilizer into his forearm.

The Führer's eyes opened, the fact that he was a light sleeper startled Joachim so much that he jumped back a good metre back, his hand reaching out to draw his Walther on him. Joachim could not believe it. He was pointing a gun at him now. Still they stared at each other, until Joachim coughed into his arm.

"My Führer," Joachim finally spoke up. To say the words were awkward was an understatement.

"Hoch, what are you doing in my room, " the Führer spoke, his voice a forced calm as he eyed the pistol. "What have you done?"

Joachim could only stare at first.

"It's too late now. You will be out in a few minutes. Do not scream. Do not talk. Only bad things will come from it," the now officially disgraces SS man told his former boss. "I was granted a choice of two actions for you: assassination or capture you. I have chosen the latter. Do not force my hand."

Turning away for a second from his former boss, Joachim tapping his omni-tool.

"This is Hoch, I have him," he spoke on the channel. "I need transportation now on my location. Ten minutes."

Ignoring the confirmation of the quarian shuttle pilot he was working with, Joachim turned back to the Führer.

"Get up," Hoch nervously ordered. "We're going for a walk. One wrong move and things end terribly."

Joachim watched as the Führer pulled himself out of his bed and stood unsteadily, the first sign that the drugs were kicking in. His pistol remained drawn on him as he stepped into his shoes. Joachim opened the door and staring hard at the Führer, he silently marched the dictator out of the room, his pistol pressed in his back as he led him to the chalet patio.

"My Führer, despite these circumstances, I wish you could only understand the love and respect I still have for you," Joachim found himself speaking the praises he still held for him. "Ultimately it was you who provided me with everything I ever needed, a family, stability, a purpose and self-respect. For eight years I felt like I was someone involved in something bigger than I. I… I want to thank you for everything you provided me."

"And this is how you repay your Führer?" The Führer growled, nearly losing it until he felt the pistol buried even tighter into his back.

"I did not want to do it, not a first. Then I saw the horrors of what I supported had caused," Joachim replied, ignoring how close the words hit home. "They are doing acts that I do not know if you ordered or not. I can only hope that Himmler and Heydrich did this on their own accord. The people who I work with, they will be presenting you with the evidence of their crimes. If they can link you to it, they will trial you before the eyes of the Germany and the world."

Joachim opened the door to the patio. The Führer stepped through and out into the patio. He staggered slightly; the drugs were starting to kick in. Joachim looked up as he heard Helmut Goebbels call out to Hoch and the Führer. Joachim tucked the pistol back into his holster and pressed his hand into his back, guiding him along. Magda appeared to be fast asleep.

"Two minutes out," Hoch heard that bastard Zorah speak to him. "Order has been sent, Guderian has started his attack. Good work."

"You made Germany strong, this no one can doubt," Joachim pressed on as he closed his link to the quarian on the other end. "If you are clean of the extermination done in your name, then that shall be your legacy, but you will not be in charge of our fate any longer."

Ushering for silence from the children, Joachim brushed the snow off the seat of one the sun chairs and sat the Führer down on it. The Führer's head bobbed in place as he forced his line of sight to look straight up to Joachim, who stood there, still conflicted by how he was feeling about all of this.

"Who's in charge of this treachery…" the Führer barely managed to get out. "Was it Von Rundstedt? Von Manstein?"

Below them the faint noise of fighting had erupted down in Berchtesgaden. Mostly he could hear the whistling of artillery, then the resulting explosions that lit the clouds below them up. From above them, the approaching humming noise of a quarian shuttle transport came ever closer.

Joachim turned back to the Führer; a crooked smile crossed his mouth. His perceptions of reality were about to be shattered if he was still awake.

"You'll find out soon enough," Joachim assured him, even as he was drifting in and out of consciousness.

He would find out, but it would be a full day after he was placed under arrest.

…

---

…

"Museum is under lockdown, all units head to the west wing!"

Hanala ignored the blaring of the loudspeakers overhead, she raised her scattergun, or, as she once heard Joachim call a weapon of similar style, a Shotgun and pumped a deafening round through the nearest SS man she saw, his chest imploded as he crumpled to the ground without a noise other than a thud.

Behind her, both Cauja and Braun followed her lead, their weapons tearing behind her, forcing a squad of approaching SS men to dive and duck for some sort of cover behind walls and podiums. Cauja ducked, built had to reach back and pull the untested and clearly civilian Wernher down with her. She was the only one with a working kinetic barrier system. As that was the case, she had the two unarmoured partners to remain behind her so she would take the brunt of the defense.

Hanala pushed on, ignoring the flaring of projectiles burning out against her strong shielding. She fired another round, taking off one man's head and peppering the German behind him. He fell to the ground, only to have Hanala step on his throat. Ignoring his strangled pleas, she fired another round through his chest, silencing him.

At the top of her lungs, Hanala gave out a bloodcurdling scream as she charged the squad pinning down the less prepared members of her makeshift group. Some of the SS men ran even, forgetting false bravado at the sight of the near invulnerable quarian charging them, others did not.

The one who stayed made a most terrible mistake.

Shifting her shotgun to her left hand, she activated her omni-tool's, omni-blade function. Her bladed arm swooped low as she hit the four that that remained with a concussion shot that knocked them down. The first one that stood back up was hit with enough force that the blade not only went through from belly to spine, but lifted him off the ground vertically a good metre.

Hanala dropped him and spun around, shooting in the next guy clean in the face face, before kicking the corpse of her arm so that she could stab the third man, who found himself pinned under the shotgun's body. His eyes widened a she screamed into his face, plunging her blade through his ribcage until she broke through to his heart. The fourth man was back onto his feet, but as cut down by the combined fire of Cauja and Braun.

Deactivating her omni-blade and gathering her shotgun, Hanala pulled herself back up from the corpses she was surrounded by. She glanced to the other two, both of them pale faced by what they were witnessing. She had to do this. She had to inspire fear. It was the only way her Brother and Sister-in-Law would remain alive.

The eruption of grenades and the buzzing of the MG-42 broke the calm; Hanala pulled the two others behind cover.

"Hanala'Jarva. I know you're listening. This is Gerald Langer," the PA system blared overhead. "Surrender now and I will not kill you. Know that it is my right to kill you for this betrayal. You have turned Joachim, the eldest of my children against everything he has ever stood for. His love and devotion to you remains the only reason I have not simply ordered in heavy weapons to deal with you like I dealt with your rescue team."

The machine gun fire phased out. Hanala did her the best she could to ignore Langer's rage filled spite. She could not kill this man any more than he could kill her. Joachim's closest thing to having a father had been found in this man. All she could do was hope for the best, fight her way to her sibling and his wife, then retreat to somewhere. Perhaps to the Langer house. Grab the family and use them as a bargaining tool.

"I know now what you intend for us, for Earth," Langer pressed on."You want us to serve as some sort of cannon fodder for an invasion of your old planet. To become slave soldiers in exchange for technology. You came here under the banner of peace, but all the peace that you have brought is to be through submission. Well I will not allow this. I will break the allure of friendly occupation. I will break it by starting with you."

A sudden roar and a terrible, familiar sound of concrete breaking caught Hanala's attention. The roar belonged to that of a Tiger engine being kicked to top gear. It tore its way right inside of the grand old museum, its heavy tracks tearing up everything in its path as it rumbled towards them, the marble flooring, the priceless human artefacts, the corpses of the dead. Nothing escaped its path.

"RUN!" Hanala screamed at the others. It did not even take the word of warning to convince them.

Overtop of the roar of the engine, the mechanical buzzing of the two MG-34'S firing in their general position. The three of them bolted hugging what cover they could fine, shooting any infantryman they came across as they tried to evade the rampaging heavy armour.

Suddenly, the communication channel connected to her suit crackled to life. It was her brother's communitcation unit.

"RAEL," she shrieked. "RAEL STAY PUT-"

Three rounds from the Panzer's machine gun flared her shield; she fell down and crawled around the corner of the hallway leading to the main atrium.

The wall exploded behind the group. Hanala fell as her shields were hit but concrete that landed on her. It left her stunned for several long moments before she finally opened her eyes and gasped. Her heart was beating like a salarian as she realized that she had barely escaped a Tiger's main gun round. For a moment she was grateful for the pain shot through her as she found herself trying to unbury herself.

"Are… Are you two okay?"

They weren't. Neither of them had the protection she had. Both the soldier and the rocket scientist were torn to pieces by the exploding shell and the debris dropped onto them.

They did not have the gear Hanala had. Neither of them had a hope for survival.

Hanala scrambled backwards as the realization of what had happened came to her like a punch in the gut. Hitting the blood drenched concrete rubble. She was in a state of collapse. Hyperventilation and shaking burned through her body. She was all alone, she had to move, she had to find her family before they were dealt with. She stood up and slowly limped away from the dead, the Tiger no longer given chase as she wandered dazed through what was left of the museum she once considered a home.

Her hand pressed against her visor, smearing it with blood of two species. She whimpered to herself as she staggered and collapsed, wheezing hard before pulling herself back up once again. Holstering her shotgun, she collected Couja's bloodied assault rifle off of her cut-in-three corpse before limping out into the hallway.

She barely registered the roaring of German coming from men running towards her.

Her shields flared and failed as more bullets connected, the bullets slamming into the hardened quarian armour, causing painful agony to shoot through her body and still with enough force to stagger and make her collapse. Hanala pulled herself onto her knees, ignoring her burning pain; she raised the rifle and shot down two more men before getting back up once again. Hanala moaned once more as she dragged her body and weapon through the archway to the main atrium.

One round fired out of nowhere, smashing her hardened faceplate in, cracking the glass.

Hanala crumpled to the ground, scarcely aware of the pounding of dozens of SS soldiers pouring into the atrium. Their weapons raised, yet none of them shooting. Hanala gripped her rifle and tried to force enough strength to come back to her, but it was not to be. She dropped her rifle uselessly and remained dead still, only the sound of her wheezing breath came from her.

Still no one fired on her.

The only noise made was boots coming down the staircase. Hanala looked up at the very last moments before the completely untouched looking Gerald Langer stepped through his men. He spoke no words as he pulled the assault rifle and shotgun from out of her reach. He offered her a smile that never met his eyes as he leaned down onto on knee. His hands carefully unlatching the blood smeared helmet.

Dropping it, he inspected her cut up face. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a handkerchief and with great care, dabbed the blood from out of the burnt out and defenseless woman. Hanala remained silent, staring wide as Gerald took care of her as though he was one of her child.

"Hanala," he murmured to her. "I am… truly…sorry it came to this… but none of us get to walk away from this…"

Gerald stood back up and took ten steps back; his hand went above his head as he snapped his fingers together. Nothing happened at first, then, two bodies hit the floor only a metre and a half away from her.

Hanala's eyes widened, there, body shot up, his face twisted horribly in what appeared to have been a last desperate scream. It was Rael; the second body next to him, Veyare. Hanala screamed out. All of her senses were lost. She struggled, her hurt body shuffled to them as she reached out to embrace the two of them.

Hanala tore her eyes from them and focused onto Langer, who stood there idly, a cigarette in his fingertips. His eyes were watery as he looked down on the woman who whom he had destroyed her family.

As the rest of the SS men backed off from her and her family members, Langer stayed motionless. He did not say a word. He took a drag of his cigarette and listened to Hanala's sobbing in respectful silence.

…

---

...

The doors of the shuttle opened as it touched down on the deck of the Kareon's shuttle bay with a jolt, the thump made the children on board the transport scream out in sudden fear. Joachim, unlatching himself from the seat, smiled reassuringly to the four children gathered around their mother. After he unstrapped them from their own seats, Joachim hit the slide doors, opening them to reveal two quarians already out in the docking bay.

"I need some assistance over here!"

The quarian marines looked to one another at the order being issued to them by the human. They did not like the demand being made of them, but knew better than to ignore what he had said. He was Admiral Hanala'Jarva's plaything; they would not dare cross Hanala. Not when the fleet was under complete martial law.

They climbed into the shuttle and, ignoring the protesting screams coming from the children, they pulled the woman off the shuttle seat as Joachim silently ordered them to and took her off the vehicle and down to one of the wheelchairs waiting for his incapacitated prisoners.

Before Helmut could launch himself at the quarians taking his mother away, Joachim leaned down and gripped onto him, holding him in place.

"Your mother is ill, children. She is extremely ill and she will only get worse if all of us do not help her," he stated calmly, his chin resting on Helmut's shoulder as he looked on the resting of the crying children.

Stating the facts worked. The resistance in the boy died, the tears from the girls ceased, they all looked at him like he was pronouncing a death sentence on their mother. Joachim bit his lip as he considered each and every word he needed to say to them carefully.

"These people are here to make your Mother feel better," he carefully spoke. "I know they are strange looking, but they are my friends, and friends help each other. I asked them to bring your Mother here so they could make her happy and healthy again, but in order for that to happen, you four have to be strong while we're here. Strong for your mother, or else…"

Joachim allowed the remark to remain unfinished, they were young… they did not need to hear the word death being uttered by him. They just needed to hear the implication…

"Where are we?" Helmut inquired, looking at the futuristic shuttle they were in carefully. Joachim could only smile as he stood up and brushed hand over her hair.

"Follow your mother, do not stray from her, do not leave their side and do not explore," Joachim listed off to all of them. "I shall explain everything to you soon. Can you make me this promise?"

The children murmured in agreement, Joachim nodded and jumped out of the shuttle, helping each of the children to climb out of the vessel and watched silently as they followed their Mother.

"Fuhrmann?"

The giant offered his former commandant a friendly smile as he looked away from the sight of Magda Goebbels and the children following their mother close behind her and the quarian handlers. Behind the smile laid clear confusion. He wasn't sure what was going on. No one had told him the full truth…

It was in that moment Joachim felt the full guilt of what he had done. Now he knew what it must have been like for Hanala or Zorah on the verge of pulling the wool from off of someone else's eyes.

"Hello Herr Standartenführer… I got the call to meet a shuttle outside of the city," Heinrich started to explain his reason for being here. He however trailed off, his eyes widened as he added. "Is that… Joachim, is that the Führer?!"

Joachim turned around, sure enough being wheeled out on a steel wheelchair, sat Adolf Hitler in a comatose state, his hands bounded in what appeared to be handcuffs. He turned away from the spectacle and back to Heinrich, who could not tear his eyes away from what was unfolding before him. Joachim wished he had something intelligent to say, but he didn't. He just wanted to bid a farewell to Fuhrmann, catch a shuttle to the Bismarck and go to sleep while he waited for Hanala's return.

But it was not to be.

The shuttle bay doors opened and in stepped Admiral Halid'Zorah, looking frazzled as he led what appeared to be a security and medical detail. He stopped his approach as the two guards wheeled the Führer to the holding cells until an interrogation could commence. Halid looked down on Hitler, his head tilted to the side. He did not seem satisfied.

Zorah nodded to Hitler's guard, allowing them to continue their work. Silently Joachim watched as Zorah and the team approach Fuhrmann and him. Before he realized it, Joachim was suddenly sitting on the edge of the Shuttle, placed there by the alien team.

"Zorah what the hell is going on!?" Joachim demanded as he watched the medical team with Zorah surround him. The lead member opened the case he was holding. Inside it was what appeared to be mechanical arm built for a quarian, not a human.

"This is a prosthetic limb. Not quite as useful as the real thing you have been using, but it can be snapped on at a moment's notice," Halid explained as the limb snapped into place. "It will serve as a temporary alternative until we can set up a proper surgery date for you. You will have to go back to Earth."

Joachim was about to protest. He wanted nothing better than to spit in the bastard's face before he knocked him to the ground and beat the lifeless shit out of him for once again deceiving him. It took a long look at the fearful expression on Zorah's face to convince him that he had to listen to the Admiral first.

"There has been an incident. Gerald Langer has taken Hanala hostage," Halid explained to him, his words as pale as his fear filled expression. "Her rescue team are dead; the quarian science team are dead: One hundred thirty two in all. He demands both yourself and Heinrich Fuhrmann to present yourselves to him. He hasn't hurt Hanala yet."

Joachim blinked, his mouth dropping open. No… no this wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening… Gerald knew better than to act rashly. It was one thing to get called out for being a traitor. That Joachim expected, but to actively wage war against the quarians? This was suicide!

"I don't know how this happened Hoch, but I am sorry I did not forsee this…" Halid spoke, his voice barely presenting control.

Joachim did not have time for anything, least of all this scrawny quarian admiral giving him the business. Flexing his temporary replacement limb, Joachim unslung his STG-43 and climbed back into the shuttle, Fuhrmann not missing a beat as he did the same.

"You can give me excuses later," Joachim growled before turning to the pilot to add. "Now get this shuttle moving!"

…

---

…

"I have orders to drop you off and go into the stratosphere until pick up. Good luck, humans."

Barely paying attention, Joachim nodded to the pilot, gathered his STG-43 and stepped off the transportation with Fuhrmann following him close behind. The moment they did, the shuttle roared out of the zone of fire without so much as a hesitation, leaving the two of them alone. Joachim looked around in complete shock.

This was a nightmare… an utter nightmare.

For the second time in a year, the grounds of the museum had been turned into a desolate warzone. Fires of orange and blue shot high in the sky from burning Hanomag's, numerous other light vehicles, two STuG's three PZ.38na's and a Panzer III. Smashed next to a rumbling Tiger Tank laid a torn to shreds quarian shuttle. The grounds were covered in dead and wounded SS men along with the occasional environmental suit wearing quarian. Twenty … thirty of the quarians, double that in dead SS men easily.

Looking to Heinrich, Joachim stepped forward ignoring the glaring accusing eyes of the sentry SS men watching him. Their rifles were raised at him as he made his approach. These were the same men he once commanded a year was clear now, that although he wore the uniform, he was no longer one of them anymore. He was now rogue, alone.

Joachim stopped his careful stepping in between the bodies and wreckage as he took notice of one of the corpses lying on the ground. It was Martus'Xen laying in a crater still smoking. His charred body torn in half by what was likely to have been a tank shell or the apparent artillery shelling this small killing field had been subjected to. Fuhrmann turned back, his eyes widened as he joined Joachim.

"Oh my God…" Fuhrmann whispered to himself.

Joachim remained silent as the grave. He may not have liked him, but he did not deserve this. He had a wife, a pregnant wife the last time he was around the annoying bastard. This… This shouldn't have happened. This was a nightmare. It had to be the only explanation.

But it wasn't. As such, Joachim had to mourn for Xen later and stepped past an SS medical team trying to stop the bleeding of a Rottenführer's missing leg. Joachim ignored the Panzer IV rolling towards them at a low rumble. More and more the SS men turned their attentions to him and Fuhrmann. The anger and hatred were thick in the air. Not a single one of them had to say a word, and they didn't.

No, the only sound that echoed over the roars of the oxygen feeding the flames of the oil and element zero fires were that of loud wailing sobs from a lone female coming from just inside of the museum. Joachim's blood froze, but his brain went into overdrive. He bolted up the smouldering stairs, past more bodies and into the blown open doors of the museum.

That was when he heard it. The most painful sobbing he had ever heard in his life.

There, sitting on the floor of the museum main atrium sat Hanala. Her scalp and face were bleeding heavily, her face smeared in grime and both dried human and quarian blood. Her state was inconsolable as she cradled two quarians in her lap. Joachim's heart nearly stopped beating as he finished the climb up, his was body shaking as he realized that it had been both Rael'Jarva, whose body was broken by automatic fire and Veyare'Jarva, her helmet was torn off, a single clean entrance wound through her head and cuts that looked as though they had beaten in her facial plate first.

How they died no longer mattered. Both of whom Hanala was clutching onto as though she could resurrect them. She did not acknowledge his approach, nor the squad with submachine guns pointed around her. Hanala was too busy trying to clean the blood off of her Brother's face in vain. There may have been a time when they were rivals, bitter and spiteful, but that had vanished. Replacing it was sheer grief and regret for allowing the fights to overshadow the inescapable fact that they were family, of the same blood, from the same roots. That they spent so long fighting was a tragedy in itself.

Joachim narrowed his eyes at the three men; his hands raised his STG-43 at them. They stared at him for a moment before they finally backed away from Hanala, leaving Hanala to Joachim and the near tears Fuhrmann. Joachim knew that there was no love lost between them, but Heinrich knew full well what this was. To see a woman like Hanala so utterly shattered like this...

Joachim lowered the rifle and pressed his human hand onto Hanala's shoulders, she was violently shaking. Joachim searched for something, anything to comfort his Hanala with, but he just knew it would never bring any sort of relief to her. Her family had suffered two losses to day.

The sound of boots caught Joachim's attention.

Approaching them was Gerald.

Joachim looked up and found his mentor staring at him in a matter that Langer usually reserved for the men he considered inferior, or his enemy. At this moment it appeared to be both. It was the sort of look that told Joachim that behind the image of niceties was a man not afraid to make an example out of a traitor like Joachim – No matter how close they were.

Stopping in front of the crying Hanala, the confused Fuhrmann, and Joachim, filled with drowning guilt, Gerald reached into his pocket, making Joachim flinch and nearly jump. In Gerald's hand was not a pistol. It was the gold cigarette case he had traded off to Morell.

"Hoch," Langer finally spoke, his eyes never leaving Joachim's. "I think we should talk… all three of us."

…

---

...

One thing went through Joachim's mind as he listened to Gerald recant the story. How was it that despite his involvement since the first minutes of first contact, had Heinrich Fuhrmann not been informed about what was happening. Not just the basic cover story, but what was truly happening. He was a decent enough young man who seemed to hold National Socialism with little adoration.

The difference between Hoch and him were astounding during their first days of service together. This war was a calling to Joachim. A calling built up as some sort of mad genetic superiority quest instilled into him by his superiors. Of course this was no longer how he felt, abducting the Führer proved that, but still. It was not all that long ago that he supported it.

On the other hand, to Fuhrmann his soldiering was just work. At the most, it was his duty to the Fatherland, to protect it whenever the future seemed in doubt. There was such elegance in its simplicity. There were no hidden agendas, no chips on his shoulder, seemingly no need for rivalries. One gained rank through service. Not show, not through rivalries and choosing your powerful friends carefully. It was that simplicity that made Joachim jealous.

Quietly he sat there, listening as Langer spelt out what was happening right underneath poor Fuhrmann's nose. Lots of it was truth, lots of it was half-truths and flat out wrong. Joachim did not confirm or deny anything. He simply sat there besides Fuhrmann, his head down in shame.

"Early morning, Heydrich summoned me here," Langer pressed on, lacing his fingers together. "Keeping close tabs to his rival, Kaltenbrunner and cornering the doctor you sold your heirloom, he got the picture. The doctor confessed you bought drugs off him. Kaltenbrunner was grabbed on the border to Switzerland. He confirmed your involvement…"

Langer fell silent, his eyes closing for a moment. He exhaled and opened his eyes once again. He turned away from Heinrich and directed his disappointment to Joachim, who sat6 there silently. Joachim bowed his head silently. He could not stand to look Gerald in the eyes.

"Tell me it is a lie," he said softly. "Tell me Heydrich is a paranoid lunatic. Tell me that you did not do something absolutely unspeakably treacherous."

Joachim did not speak; he did not deny the charge. There was really no need to at this point. Gerald knew Joachim better than anyone else in this world. Gerald stood up from his desk, as did Joachim, placing himself on the defensive. Gerald needed to understand, he just needed to get why the younger man had did it all.

Swallowing his fear, Joachim looked up and met Langer's gaze with as much bravery as he could produce.

"I did this for you, Gerald," Joachim informed his mentor, forcing the quiver in his tone to stay in a state of suppression. "I did this to protect you and the family from the inevitable! The quarians were going to crash the Party one way or another. I did this to buy a favour for your freedom! They wanted to arrest you for the Kristallnacht riots."

Gerald remained unfazed by reason.

"Did this for me? Did I ask for your help?!" the old soldier nearly screamed at his protégé.

Joachim flinched as fear of Langer overwhelmed him.

"I don't care what your excuse is," Gerald muttered. "Definitely not now, not when as we speak, an enraged Reinhard Heydrich is sitting in my home with I don't how many men. With them are Lene, Helena, Hilde, Frieda, Geli, Peter and Wilhelm…"

Gerald trailed off helplessly, leaving Heinrich and Joachim in a state of shock. Both men knowing what Heydrich could do. Joachim's guilt increased tenfold as he looked onto Gerald's expression of lost frightfulness as he seemed to think about his family.

This could not have been happening…

After several long terrifying moments, Gerald looked back up to meet Joachim in the eye. He shook his head and started to aimlessly pace back and forth.

"I have been granted an ultimatum by Heydrich," Gerald pressed on, his voice small. "I deliver your body to him, my family lives. If you walk out alive…then…"

Gerald could not finish the ultimatum he was forced into. Joachim did need to hear it.

Langer rubbed his face and exhaled softly.

"That is the bargain made for them…" Gerald spoke again. It was his turn to not be able to look into his friend's eyes. "…and I intend on delivering…"

Joachim took a deep breath. The words he was hearing were not sinking in. They just hung there. He Stood up from his seat and took a step back.

"Gerald… I need you to listen to me..." Joachim spoke with as much calm as he could possess. "I know you scared… but you don't have to do this. You know me. You know what I'm capable of. You call Heydrich; you tell him I'm dead. You load me into the car and take me there. I will kill every one of those bastards who threatens them. You know I can do it. Hanala at my side, we can kill them all. They're my family… I-I can save-"

Gerald stopped pacing. He looked like a man possessed.

"THEY ARE NOT YOUR FAMILY, YOU BASTARD TRAITOR!" Gerald roared out at the shocked into submission Joachim. "You cowardly little shit! I should have known better than to trust the likes of you! I should have left your ass in the gutter! No… even if you haven't sold everything I taught you out for an alien, I'm not taking that risk!"

As much as the words hurt him, it was the snapping of a pistol belt holster made Joachim step back, his spine hitting the door. It was undeniable sound of Gerald opening his holster. The oldest man of the room turned his focus to Fuhrmann.

"Heinrich," Langer said. "Come here."

Ignoring Joachim's begging eyes for Fuhrmann to remain where he was; Heinrich stood up and slowly moved around the desk to join his Father-in-Law. Gerald looked grimly to the young Fuhrmann as he wrapped his hand around the taller soldier's bicep. Joachim ignored the surging jealousy as he stepped back from the two of them.

"I told you something important after you married my daughter, do you remember Heinrich?" Gerald spoke softly, in the way a Father spoke to his son. "Family comes first. Family always comes first. So I need you to help me now. Your family needs you to save them."

Fuhrmann's eyes widened as he looked from Gerald to Joachim, who now stood alone.

"I know it's hard," Langer spoke to Fuhrmann as though they were the only two in the room. "I know he is your friend. I loved him like he was my own… but we have no choice. Hoch has to die. For Helena's sake, he has to die at our hands-"

"Heinrich, listen to me!" Joachim interrupted Gerald, forcing Heinrich to look back to him. "I know you can fight! Now is not the time to turn on each other! Not now. That's what they want! The four of us… we can stop this! You know we can stop this."

There was a long pause before Joachim knew his answer before Fuhrman had to even speak it.

Like Gerald before him, Heinrich snapped open his pistol holster as well.

"No… no, I'm sorry Joachim…but no," was all Heinrich could say. "Gerald is right. Family comes first. You're not family."

Joachim shook his head. He turned his attention to Langer, who stood there in silence. He tried to pay no attention to Langer's failure to use his first name. He was now reduced to a formal surname.

"But… but you've been my family for the past eight years…" Joachim breathed to Gerald as he turned his widened eyes to Langer. Joachim shook his head, adding. "No… no… this isn't happening, this isn't happening. THIS IS NOT FUCKING HAPPENING!"

Wiping the sweat and forming tears from out of his face, Joachim took one step forward.

"Listen to me, Gerald. I screwed up. I plotted against the state, but I did it... I did it to save you all," he tried once again, his voice pleading for calm as he admitted his crimes to Gerald. "You're my family Gerald, you're like a Father to me. I had to save you. I just had to. I just want to go and save Lene, I want to go save Helena, Peter, Hilde, Frieda, Geli, Wilhe-"

"You're not my son, Hoch," Gerald cut him off, his tone growing ever more desperate to Joachim's ear. "You never were. I didn't need your charity, nor your rescue. You only just made things worse by bargaining for me without my knowledge or thought about what might happen."

Langer watched as the last of Joachim colour vanish.

"I'm sorry, but it has to be this way," Langer continued, his voice hallowed. "Please don't fight this… It's time to end this. If you love them… If you love Lene and the children… you won't go for your pistol... You'll accept this fate."

Don't fight it…

To say that the suggestion was tempting was an understatement. Joachim had destroyed his life in the name of doing the right thing. If there was a chance, a chance at saving the family, then why didn't he just do it already and give Langer a chance.

Perhaps he could do it himself... as a final favour to Langer…

It was in that moment of silence and the contemplation of suicide that Joachim could hear the faint muffling of crying from behind the office doors.

Hanala.

Hanala was his reason for living now.

He wanted everything the future could have, but the only person that made those future dreams worth all of the loss now was Hanala. He wanted to live somewhere quiet with her, he wanted to marry her. If possible, have a family with her. All of these were only possible if Joachim could dissuade Gerald from this path.

Or… end Gerald life.

"Gerald… there was a time when if this happened, I would have gladly let you kill me," Joachim verbalized his thoughts, finally looking up to meet him in the eyes. "But I have someone now; and I love her, Gerald."

Langer did not react.

"I have a chance to build something for myself with her at my side. I have a future now, a real future. I might have died for you a year ago… but not now… not when I am so close to finally getting away from all of this..." Joachim continued, his voice weak… pathetic... as though he had reverted back into a child.

Joachim shook his head, he could not meet Gerald's eyes.

" No Gerald… I will not let you get away with this execution without a fight," he concluded. "For her… I'll kill both of you if you do not stand down this instant. I swear on everything I have left that I will."

Like Gerald and Heinrich before him, Joachim unsnapped the holster of his Walther. Heinrich flinched and quickly looked to Gerald for guidance. He received none. Gerald was locked onto his target like a bird-of-prey. He knew that in that moment, Joachim was no longer his student. He was his own man, and he was now taking his stand.

"So… one more time, my friend, my mentor… my… my Father," Joachim said, daring to use the paternal term. "You know me… father. You know I can stop this. I can fix all of this. Hanala and I can fix all of this. You just have to trust me. Please, trust me this one last time and I swear I will never interfere in your life ever again. I-I will take Hanala and I will… we'll disappear. You will never see us again. I just…please allow me to fix this..."

Joachim locked his mouth close. His piece had been said, all he could do now was wait for something anything from Gerald. So in silence he waited for a response. He did not need words; he just needed for Gerald to change his expression, to button his holster back up, to slump into his seat. Something… anything…

In their tense silence, a minute passed between the three men…

There was no change in Gerald Langer's demeanour was seen by Joachim.

They were locked into inevitable confrontation now.

Gerald was locked into the course now and he was dragging the younger men in with him. Joachim glanced to Heinrich. Like Gerald, he too stood there unimpressed with what he was hearing. He had made his mind up a long time ago now. Understandable really… Gerald's words were like gold when Joachim was his age… and he did have an obligation to the family. More than Joachim did.

Suddenly out of nowhere, the most peculiar thing erupted from Joachim's mouth.

"I… nearly had sex with Magda Goebbels, you know."

Both Gerald and Heinrich blinked nearly simultaneously as they heard Joachim's inexplicable and utterly random confession. As painful as his heart felt pounding inside of his chest, Joachim somehow found the strength to smile slightly at the sheer insanity must have sounded like.

"Yeah… she came on to me when I was up there, "Joachim continued, smiling slightly as he watched Gerald's lips twitch. "I guess her husband was lousy or something. She had more enough leeway to make me fuck her, had it not been for the Führer walking in on us… we got lectured… then she tried it again… right in his study…"

There was nothing but silence at first as Joachim went quiet, grinning to himself at the strange concept of Joachim nearly being conquered by a voracious older woman –the First Lady of the Reich herself even.

Ultimately the images probably going through Langer's head were just too much for him to handle. Out of nowhere, Gerald let loose a near maniacally charged laugh that filled the room completely. Joachim, as depressed as he was, joined him in the laughter and was quickly followed by Fuhrmann, his face breaking into a dopey grin.

The laughter lasted so long that it left Gerald gasping for air.

"Only… only you…. Joachim," Gerald managed to wheeze out, as he laughed again. "Only you could stumble into that much of a mess!"

The laughter died down between the three friends.

In a flash of a second, Gerald's pistol flew out of his holster and up at Joachim's direction, next came up Heinrich's as well.

As quick as they had moved against, as much resolve as they had, they did not have the sheer amount of pistol training Joachim possessed from years of training and application. In a flash, he raised his own Walther from his own holster and unloaded on the two of them without as much as a thought to it. He was like a machine with the weapon. He managed to fire two rounds into each of their chests.

As Gerald and Heinrich fell they still managed to fire on him, reflex he reckoned. Two rounds did not miss. One round shredded his right ear almost off his head; another round went through his shoulder. The pain shot through him and like Fuhrmann and Langer before him, he too fell.

But it was not the agonizing pain of the wounds that did it. It was the guilt that did him in. He… he had done. Within a nanosecond he had realized what he had just done. It was the unthinkable… he had… he…

"No, no, no, no... " Joachim verbalized finally; launching himself into the pooling blood that belonged to the only Father he had in his life. Exhaling unsteadily, he wrapped his arms around him.

Gerald did not speak, his eyes were opened as they looked on Hoch, but ehey did not see the massive man sobbing and bleeding on him.

Gerald Langer was gone.

"Gerald, I'm sorry…" Joachim sobbed out, rocking Gerald's warm body back and forth like a child possessed. "Gerald…I'm sorry, I- please wake up… I'm sorry…. I didn't mean…. I didn't mean to do this…I should have let you… I should have let you…"

He was scarcely aware of the sounds of gunfire and male death rattling screams. He paid no attention as the door flew open, as arms wrapped around him and tried to pull him away. He was babbling his anguish now. He wasn't even aware of what he was say as he wiped his eyes and buried his head into Gerald's blood soaked chest.

"Joachim... I'm so sorry…" he could hear Hanala breath into his ear. She too was a mess of tears.

Joachim did not acknowledge the quarian. HE continued to sob into Gerald's chest, and fought weakly as Hanala pulled Joachim back from the body until he was resting in her body. Like Joachim, she too was blood stained by loved ones.

"Joachim, w-we have to go…" Hanala mumbled into his neck. "We have to go. We have to go save Lene. We can't stay here now…"

Her words were so hollow. The two of them suffered tremendous loss today. But in the face of his loss, he knew Hanala was right. The grieving would have to come later.

They still had work to do.

Promises to honour…

Taking control over his emotions, Joachim forced himself to stand back up, staggering as he ignored the amount of blood he was losing. Looking regretfully to Heinrich, Joachim turned away from his mentor and friend, his boss and Father. Not before stumbling to Gerald's desk to scoop the cigarette case that had caused so much grief.

Turning away, he had two thoughts that he could do something about.

The first one was to save Lene and the rest of the family. He would never again have their friendship for what transpired here today. Between the betrayal and what he did to Gerald and Heinrich, he would never be forgiven for what had happened here.

That no longer mattered. All that mattered now was making sure the family lived.

The second was much simpler, much more cathartic He would go any length to put a bullet between Reinhard Heydrich's eyes. No longer did he want peace. Not now at least. It was in this moment that told Joachim that he was going to hunt every loyal National Socialist that dared to show their face in front of him ever again.

…

---

…

"Are you awake?" a voice called out to him.

With a moaning groan, Flight Lieutenant Dalad'Voar vas Osalion opened his eyes as requested, lolling his head side to side as the lights above him flashed to life.

What in the Ancestors name… where was he? Why wasn't he in his suit?

Breathing heavily, the Lieutenant looked up. Standing in the door way was a human built like a krogan. Though his words were concerned, his expression was almost interrogative. For a few moments, Dalad was worried about that his was some sort of rude. Then he looked down to find that none of his limbs had been tied up. On the contrary, the only binding on his was the primitive gauze and tape that was being used to stop any bleeding he might have had.

The last thing he remembered was that he was trying to get off the ground. He managed to launch several rockets at the human vehicles, and then he was hit by some sort of anti-armour shell….

"I wouldn't stand up too fast… you were pretty banged up…" the human advised, kneeling before the quarian.

The Lieutenant watched as the man pulled off the tape to inspect the wounds. He did not say anything about the injuries. He simply nodded and re wrapped the tape on his arm. Dalad glanced at the man's uniform's collar. Jagged lightning. Yes he heard that this was a symbol of the humans they had to defeat. Why was he being treated so well by him?

Perhaps he was one of the humans that wanted to help. Like the one Admiral was a good friend with. Perhaps he saved him from the fire. The man stood up, his hand reaching into his jacket pocket. Dalad flinched until he realized what the man was holding.

It was his holos…

"I saved this from the transport before the fires got too bad," the scar faced man rumbled as he flickered the image to life, revealing his wife and son Gerda and Jal to him. With a slight smile, he added. "She's a very… pretty woman… at least I think she might be, cannot say quarian women are my thing. Are they your wife and your son?"

Dalad did not hesitate for a second to nod. The human returned the gesture as he handed Dalad his holos.

"I'm happy to know that family structure is not vastly different between us, as are the concepts of honour and duty," the German spoke up as he stepped away. "You could have left, but you stuck around and fought to save lives, even at the risk of yours. Tell me, do you like to fly?"

Rubbing his head, the lieutenant nodded for a second time.

"Me as well," the man agreed with him, pulling what appeared to be human cigarettes out. "I tried to join the Luftwaffe, but I was told I was both too tall and too old. They said I should be ground maintenance instead,

The human grinned making the long scar on his face twist terribly.

"I told them to bugger off in far less polite words," he added. " I wanted to fight, and to make a difference, if not in the air, then by land. Oh well, such is life. One can't always get what they want…"

"I… I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?" Dalad murmured, pocketed his personal effects away from the human.

The smile on the large man only widened.

"My apologies, my name is Otto Skorzeny, lieutenant, "The human known as Otto Skorzeny introduced himself to the quarian; "It's a pleasure to meet you. This may seem presumptuous, but I think you and I are going to be friends soon enough..."

…

---

…

By the time Hanala and Joachim got their stolen Hanomag out of the city centre and into the Viennese community, it was already too late.

The house that housed the Langer family was engulfed in flames that rivalled that of hellfire.

Collecting their weapons, the two of them climbed out of the vehicle and limped over to the hypnotic fire. Turning her head to look away and search for potential enemies, Hanala let out a devastated shriek.

Joachim followed her gaze.

There, swinging from the tall oak tree branches in the front yard was Lene… and Helena… and Hilde, Frieda, Geli, Peter and Wilhelm.

The whole family was a mess. Their clothing torn up, the little children's bodies were bruised and beaten to a bloodied pulp. His breathing went shallower as Joachim could see from here an… anomaly with the two eldest women, the shredded open dresses, breasts hanging loose from their blouses, the blood trickling down from their thighs to their knees…

Joachim paid no attention to Hanala as she realized what had happened to Lene and Helena, nor her falling to her knees to vomit and sob at the sight. He was… he was numb to all of this now. He could not comprehend this. All that he could do was step forward towards the heat of the flames. He reached into his belt to retrieve his SS-honour dagger. He needed to cut them down. He could not leave them swinging like this…

As he stepped forward, the sign around Lene's next became more and more legible.

ATTENTION!

TRAITORS AND SYMPATHIZERS BEWARE! THIS IS BUT THE FIRST TASTE OF JUSTICE!

HOCH, WE WILL BURN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN AND LOVED TO THE GROUND, THE BROTHERHOOD YOU HAVE BETRAYED WILL ENSURE IT!

Joachim cut the cord of the sign from off Lene's body. He turned back and found Hanala approaching the family in slow, baby like steps, her hands covering her mouth, her body shaking once again as she looked unflinchingly into Lene's half closed eyes. Her eyes flickered to all the children, the sight making the woman audibly sob as she turned to bury her head into Joachim's chest.

"Joachim… I… I'm-"

Turning back, he looked down to her. Quietly, Joachim shook his head, wiping the water building up in his tired eyes.

"Not right now…" he said, forcing his voice not to turn into a plea. He handed her the knife, adding. "You cut the rope... I'll hold them."

Watching Hanala take the knife, Joachim reached out and held Lene's body in his arms as Hanala went to work cutting through the rope. One by one, the Langer family was cut down, each of them lighter than the next. One by one they were laid together in the snow several metres away from where they took their last breath. How his body managed to work was beyond him. He must have been in an automated state.

When Joachim wrapped his arms around Helena, he jumped back in sudden shock. Hanala turned back to find Joachim utterly lost. Joachim shook his head, forcing his focus to come back. They went back to work; Joachim daring not to tell Hanala that he could feel the faintest hint of a pregnancy bump inside of Helena.

The grief was only further compounded.

Why couldn't he have arrived sooner…

Laying the finally last two members of the family down with the rest of the children and Lene, Joachim finally collapsed next to Lene. He carefully buttoned her shirt back up, his fingers moving away and instead touched against her face, looking for the last traces of warmth the woman he loved, absolutely loved had in her. But it was gone now, extinguished forever. Never to return, never to bring back any sense of comfort to Joachim, now no longer able to stop the flow of tears: tears of rage and sorrow alike.

Everything was gone now. Everything of his old life was gone.

The fires raged on into the murky morning.

…

---

…

Changes: Clean up, minor narrative changes.