I write this chapter in honor of a great inventor who made the most recognizable weapon in the history of the world, The AK-47. Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov has died on the 23rd of December 2013 at age 94. Even though he was a die hard Communist, I salute him for his service to his country and his wonderful design. Of which I have the honor of owning a AK myself.
R.I.P Mikhail Kalashnikov, November 15th 1919-December 23rd 2013
I dedicate the Song "We are the dead men" by Sol Invictous to Comrade Kalashnikov as well
Merry Christmas to you all as well as the passing...
Authors notes- Sonthofen is a real village in Southern Germany, But I based my version of the city off of my favorite town in all of Germany, Kolblenz along with some add ons to the city itself :)
With Love and Honor ~Dresner
To whoever it may be...
23 December 1944, Sonthofen, Nord Belka
The sun is nonexistent, as is time itself. There is no morning here, only darkness and death. All around me is death... For three weeks we have fought in the streets, in the houses, in the rooms, in ourselves... There is no reprieve for them or us... There is no weakness, only strength. The strength to survive this wrenched place is the only thing that keeps the men and myself from placing the barrel to my mouth and ending it all...
Burning flesh and boiling blood fills the air, as does the dust and smoke from the countless fires that burn across the city itself...
This fog, this cloud of hate and decay, is only broken by the endless monsoons of freezing rain and snow... But not even nature can extinguish the inferno that these two nations have created... All is destroyed, every building is nothing but a bombed shell or a pile of rubble. In this city, Houses are burning, walls, homes, buildings are falling down... The smoke from fires, the dust from the destruction makes the air unbreathable.
We don't know where we are...
I can not sleep anymore, even in the brief lulls where no even the sound of a simple mouse couldn't be heard. I can not sleep... I dare not sleep...
I only hear suffering...
The inferno is the only light I have anymore to write this note to you, dear reader, whoever you might be. If this is Sasha... I want you to know that I am a troubled man, that my heart is in pain, now and then, and I wish I had the courage to give up this crazy journey of mine... But I simple can't... I have a woman of my own who I love and devoted to...
You remind me so much of her...
Thank you for being there, no matter how little a time it was.
With Love, Karl Dael
Karl stuffed the hand written note in his coat pocket and loaded a fresh magazine into his rifle as he looked out the window of the third apartment that his unit, 4th Panzer Grenadier regiment, one of the three regiments that made up Dinsmark divisions foot soliders.
The battle for Sonthofen began at 12:00am on December 2nd, 1944 with a orchestra of over seventy seven heavy artillery pieces of various make, model, and caliber along with forty rocket launchers of the famed Katyusha and "Screaming Mimi" (Nebelwerfer) variety launching a staggering two hour barrage on the eastern half of the city on the east bank of the lay river where a majority of the Oseanian's heavy 155mm "Long Tom" and Br-18 305mm siege guns sat on, most of which stayed in Fortress Gaustadt over looking the whole of the city atop of a rocky and tree covered hills that dominated the skyline of the city. The remaining buildings that managed to survive the years of bombing and the two hour midnight barrage were damage beyond all recognition and rubble filled the streets with stone and glass, as did the bodies of the Oseanian defends who littered the cobblestone roads of Old Sonthofen. A majority of the heavy guns and anti-aircraft weapons sat in the former medieval defenses that crowed the hills over looking the city, which proved to be an issue for the Belkan guns as the structures, yes being build during the 14th and 15th centuries, proved to be stronger than anticipated and the order to bring in large pieces resulted in the delivery of six massive 21 inch self propelled siege mortars called "Karl-Gerat's" added to break the defenses on 12th December. The Dinsmark division lead the assault on the city and was latter joined by its sister division, The 2nd IG Panzer Division "Götz von Berlichingen",and the 103rd infantry division to reinforce the II Panzer Corps. Only Belkan forces came to the aid of the city as the Volkhovian units pushed into the mountains, of which included the 66th Infanty division that made up 13% of the II PZ Corps strength.
Sonthofen sat between two rivers, the Lay and Güls, with an island that split the rivers in two with the east and west banks held New Sonthofen with its Neo-Classical designs and beauty. While the island itself held Old Sonthofen, the original city, where large medieval and Romanesque architecture dominated the isle only to be broken by the unscathed Gothic cathedral that mirrored that of Chartres Cathedral in France with its elegant design with large dominating flying buttresses and two massive flamboyant spire on the west end on top of a tower. At its center was a bell tower that rose just above the 350ft tall spires by at least five or ten feet that cut across the skyline of the city and its hilly backdrop. The church was a national treasure to the people of new Estovakian Federation as it held both a place in the hearts of the Catholic Belkan Church and the Volkhovian Orthodox church as a home for all of the Estovakian people to come together as brothers and sisters of god to worship him as equals.
Karl remembers seeing posters of the church as a backdrop for propaganda posters throughout his journey and even listened to a few stories of admiration for the church itself by some of the grenadiers in his unit as they sat in the bombed out apartment, treating their wounds and taking a well earned breather from the "Rattenkreig", War of the rats, on the blood and ice covered streets of Sonthofen. For three agonizing weeks the men and women of the Dinsmark division pushed the narrow streets, crumbling homes, and unrelenting fire from the Oseanian paratroopers in the city and have managed to take 78% of the city including West New Sonthofen and half of Old Sonthofen itself.
Through the window Karl could see the church, which was only ten city blocks away from his position, in the distance with its awe striking spires and flamboyant Gothic architecture as it stood peacefully among the war torn city. Even in the dying light of dusk, he could still see the church perfectly as the remaining sunlight and the newly rising full moon illuminated the church, as did the searchlights and muzzle flashes of heavy AA guns as they fired at E.A.F night bombers above. On the hills, around the island, and on the west bank Karl could see massive and erratic infernos burning in isolated sectors of city in both Liberated and occupied parts of the city. Both sides dropped fire bombs on the city during the battle, Karl saw first hand what napalm did to column or complex and lead to many sleepless nights. But Karl never slept... There never was a chance to sleep...
Karl looked into the dark above, there was no roof on the third floor, to see the light of the moon and stars breaking through the smoke that lingered over the city. He said nothing, but gave a brief smile before shouldering his rifle to take a brief cigarette break after a long five hour watch down the two rubble cover streets to the north and east. For three weeks Karl has fought side by side with men of the Dinsmark division and 4th PG regment and fought with out question, unlike the reluctant Ben Ravencroft who was more interested in getting to Arkbird than fighting someone else'es war. But Ben stayed with Karl and tried to convince him to abandon the troops. Karl was disgusted with Ben and refused to speak to him on any terms, "This is our struggle now. Whether you like it or not we are now apart of this undertaking. Deal with it." Karl told him.
That was two weeks ago and Karl has not seen Ben since then.
Karl was loyal to his company and they returned it by giving him the title of Major after their commanding officer, A Major Schutzer, was killed by a sniper. He dawned a field grey uniform under his black trench coat with major's shoulder boards and four diamond collar tabs and replaced his panzer black cap with a grey crusher cap. Rapped around his neck was a light blue and white checkered scarf given to him by an unknown admirer with the initials C.A.M monogrammed on the ends of the scarf. The scent of french perfume radiated faintly from the scarf and remained him slightly of perfume that he gave to Dusk for their anniversary. It was knitted by hand, Karl could tell by the care that was taken into the knitting itself as well as the slight mistakes in the monogramming. It was warm and smelled of a different time... A time of love and dreams... A time that Karl called some of the best months of his long and troubled life.
"Herr Major," A Oberfelbwebel (Staff Sergeant) said with a firm salute, "Generalmajor Zorin is ordering our company to link up with his heavy panzers to push toward the church."
"What does intelligence have to say about the Paratroopers in the area?" Karl asked him after returning the Salute and returning back to the stark reality of being an officer.
"Herr Major, Recon has reported that the 77th airborne brigade has fallen back to defend the two bridges leading out of Old Sonthofen. The defenders are mostly the battered remains of 999th Infantry regiment and the remnants of the XIX Corps tanks. They shouldn't be a problem for our tigers!" The Oberdebwebel reported confidently.
"Don't be so sure Herr Oberfelbwebel," Karl said with cold honesty, "The Oseanian officer's maybe fools, but their NCO's are not. They can reorganize just as quickly as we can and can fight just as hard. Street fight seems to have brought the best out of them and those cracks and crevasses are now a death trap."
"Damn cockroaches." He replied spitefully.
"Gather up the company and prepare to move out at once. How are we on food and ammunition?" Karl asked in a fatherly tone.
"Rations are running low, but ammunition is abundant. As are grenades, demolition charges, and Panzerfaust launchers."
"Good." Karl replied with a nod as the screaming of four engine Grief bombers flying over head to attack positions on the eastern half of the city.
One Hour Later...
Karl lead a company of grenadiers though the war torn streets of Old Sonthofen with out running into a single Oseanian, thank god, and Rendezvous with Erich's Tigers just four blocks from his form forward outpost at the apartments. The sound of the idling petrol engines were muffled by the massive air raid by the Grief bombers and unwittingly covered their advance toward a store block and bakery that Erich allowed his men to raid for bread and food to feed his starving troops.
Standing on top of the lead king tiger, Erich observed with his field glasses the bombed out rubble that lay ahead and began giving orders to his radio man for the light Panzer III N's to scout ahead of his heavy tanks and mark the positions for the powerful 88mm guns of his tigergruppe. Behind his King tiger were two late model Tiger I's and a Wirbelwind Flakpanzer, Anti aircraft tank armed with four 20mm cannons, for support. Erich turned around to see the friendly figure of Major Karl Dael approaching his tiger and greeted him accordingly, "Glad to see you made it Karl. I was getting worried that the Oseanian pig's ambushed your Kompanie like they did one of my tigers."
"Nein, it was unnervingly quiet. Peaceful, but never the less I'm a little suspicious." Karl replied with a paranoid tone.
"Your starting to sound like me every day now, you know?" Erich replied with a slight chuckle. "How is the 4th PG?" He asked.
"They are doing quite well, Some of them are young though. Some even sixteen or seventeen by the looks of it." Karl replied.
Erich gave a warm smile and gave a proud sigh, "Those boys are young bloods, but they fight just as hard as us old warriors. Some lied about their age to come and defend their country." Erich looked over to three boys about sixteen with an old one around eighteen or nineteen as they divided up a loaf of bread among themselves. "They are so young..." He said with pride, "I tell them no drinking, no smoking, and no brothels. Platoon leaders are like older brothers... Just look at them Karl. I trained them myself before Marlow."
"Realistic war conditions with live ammunition..." Erich's throat began to become tight like a worried father, but faded out as he continued on. "The casualties as a result had to be accepted. I trained them like I myself was trained during the Belkan war and I have never regretted it since. For their Motto I gave them; I am nothing. We are everything."
"I couldn't agree more." Karl said with pride. "Now on to business, Mein Herr. What is our plan of attack?"
Erich turned to him, "Your ready for this war to be over and done, yes?" He asked Karl.
"Jawohl. I want my men to come home in one piece." Karl responded.
"You've already developed a bond with your soldiers..." Erich said with a smile as he put his hand on Karl's shoulder. "You can not even imagine how proud I am of you, Herr Major. Your like the son I never had..." The bright orange flash of the Panzer III N's stubby 75mm's interrupted his heart filled moment and threw dust into the air the small PZ III's.
"Get ready! I wanted fire at the third and second stories of those buildings! Now!" Erich barked to his men as they quickly took up position near some rubble from a fallen store and behind a Tiger that took lead in front of Erich's own King tiger as the roar of seven hundred horse engines came to life as the final push toward the church began. The sporadic sounds of rifle and machine gun fire echoed all around the column as the second and third floor windows of near by apartments became hornets nests of orange and yellow muzzle flashes as the Oseanian defenders fired wildly at anything that remotely looked like an enemy.
"Fire HE rounds into buildings! Make those apartments their graves tigergruppe!" Erich shouted over the radio to his tigers. The long barrels of the tigers rose to meet the Oseanians. The Apartments were only one hundred yards away when the tigers fired in unison and three heavy 88mm shells struck the apartment in a triangle formation and caused rubble to fall near the PZ III's who were firing wildly to there left and right in hopes of killing any enemy troops.
"Into the buildings! First and second platoons come with me! Third and four go across the street into the other buildings! Clear those bastards out!" Karl barked as he lead his men into the buildings on the left side of the street though the broken display window of a shoe store. His platoon split into two groups and began fighting room to room with Submachine guns, Assault rifles, pistols, and grenades. As Karl's squads cleared the houses above, Erich's Tigers pushed on down the street with machine guns hosing down the windows and high explosive shells. The FlakPanzer was a gift from the heavens as the quad 20mm cut through the concrete with out a hassle and split the enemy into a fine paste that splattered the walls...
The fighting was brutal and ever changing as hand to hand combat in apartment and homes turned to long range duels with rifles in the streets and squares. Armored engagements between the tanks of Dinsmark and the Oseanian defenders became rare as the heavy tanks became nothing but mobile pillboxes and shields from Machine gun and rifle fire that rained from the roof tops and rising floors of the apartments, stores, and housing. Karl fired his Sturmgewehr on the move as he ducked between the walls to dodge the fire from Oseanian Tommy guns.
"Grenades down the hallway macht schenll!" Karl barked as he unleashed a burst on the enemy as they too jumped from cover to cover to dodge his fire. A stick grenade flew down the hall and sent a deafening shock wave that echoed through the apartment, sending dust into air that gave a brief second for Karl and for others to engage in hand to hand with enemy. Charging into the dust, Karl came face to face with a Oseanian Sargent dressed in olive drab fatigues and side cap. Karl struck the man with the butt of his rifle, knocking him down to his knees, and fired into the mans chest from point blank range.
"Behind you Major!" A grenadier yelled to Major Dael.
The manically screams of desperation filled the air as another attacker came from the dust to attack the Major, knocking his weapon from his hands with swift swing of his rifle. Karl stood his ground and let his rifle fall to the ground as his vision became blurred with anger and adrenaline. The trooper stormed forward for another swing, but Karl was quick and ducked his attack and tackled him to the ground. Karl threw blow after blow into the man's face untill his knuckles were soar, red, and covered in blood from the pulp of the attackers face. He stood over his attack with a blank hallowed gaze as the dust cleared and the bodies of three Oseanians and two PG's (Panzer Grenadiers) laying on the floor... Karl took a deep breath and gave the order to take the two dead PG's back to Apartment HQ for return to the rear and for the rest of the men to push on with him to rejoin with the tigers as they round the street corner toward the church.
"Peter! Set up MG-42's in the windows! I want the church square covered from head to toe!" Karl yelled to a NCO named Peter.
"Jawohl!" Peter replied as his MG teams set up their MG's in the windows.
Karl looked out the windows across the street and called to the other team to do the same. From the window Karl could see the awe striking size of the church itself as its face towered over the apartments like a god among men. He had always admired the church from afar, but now it stood before him in full view. The face of the church was large and imposing, but was strangely warm and welcoming to the soul. A large circle dominated above with beautiful blown glass windows of green, blue, yellow, and red that shined in the light of the moon and stars. The massive spires seemed to make the cathedral look even larger and looked as if they were reaching to the heavens themselves.
Karl looked down to the streets to see the Tigergruppe fanned out with Erich's King Tiger at the lead with the other two to his left and right with the Flakpanzer bringing up the rear. "Fan out and take the Church! Erich yelled from the commanders hatch as he railed the men to go into the Church. Karl rushed toward the stairs and made his way with the men to the church. As he made his way down a flight of stairs he crashed into a solider and fell down the stairs with him with crash as they hit the wall.
"Fuck! Watch yourself you fool!" The solider barked in a familiar tone.
"Ravencroft?" Karl asked in surprise as he picked himself and Ben off of the ground.
"Karl?! Your alive!" Ben said in surprise.
"Of course I am, what did you think I died in this hell?" Karl snapped at Ben as he picked up his rifle and cradled it in his arms. Ben said nothing and Karl stormed ahead with Ben following close behind as they exited the building and crossed the rubble filled street to the large square where the Tigers stood and fired into the building around them to clear out the snipers and Anti tank infantry. The square itself had a road that ran in a perfect square with a park encircling the church with beautiful tree and bright green grass, but the trees were nothing but charred and burning hulks on top of scorched earth and shell holes. Burning hulks of cars and lorries scattered the streets and the park surround the church, as well as isolated fires, but the church itself was untouched, even by the saturation barrage by Belkan guns and rocket launchers.
"I guess not even the orders of high command couldn't bring those men to strike this church." Karl thought to himself as he approached Erich's King Tiger.
"Karl! Take this banner!" Erich yelled as he reached into his tank retrieved a large Belkan flag folded into a perfect square. "Treat it with care and respect. This flag use to fly in the wind above this church before the retreat... Bring it home Karl." Erich's voice calm when he spoke of the flag and Karl could hear the devotion in his voice. Karl tucked the flag gently into his coat over his heart and gave a firm salute to his now senior officer.
"We won't fail you sir!" Ben piped up, but Karl ignored him. "I won't fail you sir..." Karl said respectfully as he ran to join his men as they ran into the church.
"Pershings!" Someone yelled as two M26 Pershing tanks appeared from the flanks of the church and fired on the tigers. One shell hit the tiger to Erich's left and blew it to pieces while the other fired and bounced off the thick armor of the King Tiger and knocked out the Flak panzer behind him. The Oseanian infantry swarmed from behind the Pershing's in a massive wave attack, but the four MG-42's of Karl's company ripped into their lines like a hot knife through a melon. Karl and Ben were lucky enough to get inside of the church away from the tank battle. Surprisingly the church was not occupied by the enemy as it's oak wood rows of seating were unscathed by dust or shrapnel. The inside was like nothing Karl had ever seen before with large archways and a ceiling that seemed to reach to the heavens as well. It was a breath taking sight to behold to anyone who was lucky enough, even in a time of war, to see.
"By god... Look at this place Benny..." Karl said as he took his cap off in awe of the beauty before him. The only con about the interior that Karl could think of was the huge scaffolding that lead to the roof above. Karl then lifted his coat to pear at the banner that covered his heart and knew what he must do... He scaled the scaffolding with Ben close behind and from scaffolding he could see a pagan ingrained in the floor with black marble, The black sun wheel, The old Germanic symbol for triumph, life and goodness. The symbol was the unifying symbol for the Christian groups in both Belka and Volkhov and the governments. Ben smiled as he looked down to it, It was the symbol of the Black sun realem, his former home...
The cold winter air blew to the north toward the Waldreich mountains and it graced the faces of both Karl and Ben genitally as they trekked carefully to the bell tower from the roof. Below them bellowed the black smoke of two destroyed Pershing tanks, two more kill rings for the Dinsmark division's Tiger aces. Karl could only focus on the bell tower as he and Ben made their way to the tower.
"Karl... That Symbol... It's... It's from my world..." Ben said as they drew closer to the Bell tower. "I can feel it in my heart and soul... It's charging my power..."
Karl ignored him as they came closer, "How the hell am I going to get up there?" Karl asked himself out loud.
"Karl, you childish fool, acknowledge me damn it!" Ben shouted to the stubbed Karl. "Why should I even give a moment of my time to a defeatist like yourself!?" Karl shouted.
"Because we are in this together! We are both going back to our world together, don't you remember?" Ben exclaimed.
"Of course I do, But I have a duty to my men. I may not be from here, But I will be damned that these good men and people die at the hands of brutes. How can a good man like yourself just stand by a let this war go on? With power like yours you could end the war once and for all." Karl protested.
Ben growled, "The power of the black sun is not meant to be used as a weapon for mortals to unleash on their enemies on a single command!"
"The black sun's power can only be used to defend the meek and helpless, not the strong against the strong! The Esto... Whatever the hell they are! Are strong and so are the Oseanians! They can fight and win their own war, but your too stubbed and your ego is too big to allow you from leaving!" Ben yelled.
Karl grunted and turned around to the bell tower, "Get me up there and we can finish this... We can finish our journey home..."
Karl's voice was apologetic in tone, even though it was reluctant, but Ben knew him well enough to tell that Karl knew he was wrong. But somewhere in his mind he knew that even he himself was wrong to go on his own with out his comrade, after all it was a two man afford to make it through the gate. Ben took Karl by the shoulders and levitated into the air toward the top of the bell tower.
"Didn't know you could do this shit Ben!" Karl shouted in amazement as they flew into the air to the top of the tower to the platform that held flag pole above. "When I'm charged I can do a lot of things!" Ben replied with a chuckle. From the sky, Karl could see all of Sonthofen as the battle rage on below him. He could see the inferno in full unadulterated view as it burned across the city and hills, The massive clouds of black smoke pouring into the air, The search lights scanning the skies, and the light show of AA batteries as they fired into the sky. As Ben and Karl reached the top of the bell tower, Karl looked toward the east to see the two bridges leading off of Old Sonthofen in the distance. Two large archway bridges crossed over the lay river to East New Sonthofen and it's medieval defenses. Toward the north was a large monument of a warrior on horse back with sword in hand on top of a large concrete platform that split the Lay and Güls rivers.
The whole of the battle, of this wounded city, held a stark beauty that left Karl weak in his knees... He looked up toward the empty flag pole as he pulled the Belkan flag from his coat.
"Come Ben," Karl said to Ben, "Let us raise the banner together."
Ben nodded as the two freed the ropes and hooked the flag onto the hooks. Together the two comrades rose the Belkan flag high above the city for all to see... Belkan soldiers below looked up in awe at the banner as the moon light illuminated its beauty as it gracefully danced in the cold winters air. Some men took over searchlights and pointed them at the tower so that even the enemy could see what was happening...
The symbol of the Christian faith, the soul of Belka, and the new heart of Estovakia was liberated...
Cheers could be heard from across the city from under the thunder of guns and explosions...
Even though the two were blinded by the lights, they could see Belkan units advancing at break neck speed in religious zeal to finish the battle. With the holiest site in all of Nord Belka back in their hands, the spirit of the Belkan solider could not be broken and nothing could stop them from finishing off the invaders once and for all.
Karl and Ben sat on top of the Bell tower and gazed over the hellish backdrop that was Sonthofen. Karl had spent three weeks fighting in this forsaken corner of hell without question, without sleep, and without bathing.
"Ugh, I reek of sweat and dirt." Karl remarked as he took a whiff of his underarm. "Whenever we meet with that Harlan Ellison character, The first thing I'm going to do is take a well deserved bath and wash my uniform. There is no way in hell that I am going to return to my muse looking like I just stepped out of Stalingrad."
Ben laughed and gave a small smile, "Don't worry, I believe that Harlan will be with the order in the city itself. So you can bath, eat, and maybe go to a brothel or two. Just take that wedding ring off of your finger and the girls will be all over you!"
Karl gave a hearty laugh and looked at the ring on his finger, "It's not a wedding ring, But I do feel as if I am tied to Dusk in someway... But a whore house does sound fun!"
Ben could tell Karl was joking about the whores, after all he could tell by the way he spoke that Karl was devoted to that little drummer girl.
Karl gave a sigh as the cold winters wind graced his face as a light flurry began to fall from clouds above, "Peaceful isn't Ben?" Karl remarked as he caught the first snow flake. "Peace in a war zone?" Ben asked him with a chuckle.
"There is always a moment of happiness in times of sorrow. Just as there is beauty in annihilation, There is peace in war. This is one of those moments, my friend." Karl said as he whisked the snow flake out of his hand and back into the wind.
Karl's radio began to blare with news from all over Sonthofen, "Chemical attack! Chemical attack! Get you NBC gear on now!"
"What the fuck?!" Karl yelled in shock as the sound of aircraft motors thundered in the distance. "Fuck! Those cowards can't take a loss! Ben get us out of here!" Karl ordered Ben as the sound of turbo charged aircraft engines screamed across the sky as four P-38 fighter planes appeared from the clouds, firing their .50 caliber and 20mm guns wildly as they strafed the church.
"Get down!" Ben yelled as a cocky P-38 pilot buzzed by with guns blazing, nearly hitting Karl. Ben was raked with .50 Cal rounds and was launched back three feet to the other side of the platform.
"BEN!" Karl yelled as he ran to his fallen comrade as blood leaked out of his chest and stomach. Ben was coughing blood and could barley answer Karl as he tried in vain to heal his wounds, but he fail...
"Ben! Ben! BEEEEEEEEENNNNNNN!" Karl screamed as his dead friend laid in his arms and drenched in blood. "NNNNOOOOOOO!" Karl screamed to the heavens in anger and sorrow, thrashing his fists against Ben's bloody corpse with tears streaming down his eyes. "It... It can't end like this Ben..."
A green aura caught his attention as he looked down at Ben's body near his heart. Karl placed his hand over the dead mans heart and felt a shock of energy race though his body, "What the fuck?" Karl asked him self as he reached into Ben's coat and retrieved a necklace with the Black sun wheel. The energy became stronger and stronger as Karl pulled it toward himself.
"Maybe if I..." Karl then placed the Wheel under his coat and near his heart...
"AHHHHHHUGH!" Karl screamed as the power of a thousand suns charged though his body. Green energy engulfed his body and ingrained itself into his veins as they turned glowed green with the power of the black sun. Karl threw his hands over his eyes as he broke though the roof of the bell tower and looked at himself in the reflection of the sliver church bell to see his eyes radiating green energy. He looked down at his hands to see a aura of power around them...
The Power of the Black Sun was now his...
"Interception has failed! Chemical raid in T-Minus five minutes All flak guns at the ready!" Erich screamed over the radio as the sound of heavy bombers echoed over the hills to the east.
Karl ran toward the edge of the Bell tower and took off at breath taking speed toward the east... toward the sound of the bombers
"Echo lead to base, ETA five minutes till pacification of Sonthofen." The lead B-24 Liberator called to Oseanian Bomber Command.
"Copy, are all aircraft accounted for?" The tower responded.
"Yes sir, All ten B-24's are accounted for. P-38 escorted have established air supremacy for the moment of our drop as we speak." The Lead replied.
"HELP! Get this thing off of me! AHHUGH!" A P-38 called over the radio as static filled the radio. "What the hell?" The co-pilot shouted as green fire balls broke though the clouds in the distance.
"Strigon 1! Come in Strigon 1! This is Echo lead, come in! What the hell is going on!?" The lead shouted over the radio. "He's killing us!" One of Strigon team's P-38's called out before he went down as well.
"Who's attacking!?" Echo lead demanded before a fire ball broke though the clouds and obliterated Echo 2 to his left. "Who in the name of..."
Karl broke through the clouds at full speed, launching attack after attack with green fire from his hands and burning the Oseanian bombers and their deadly payloads of toxic gas. The gunners of the B-24 tried desperately to kill him with burst from their 50's, but Karl was quick and ripped into there planes at angles that only mad men would attack from. Ripping off the wings, cutting the tails off, and even ramming the planes into one another...
Karl was brutal and spared not even the plots who managed to abandon fallen birds... Cutting and burning their chutes proved to be more challenging than killing their birds, but Karl left at least one to tell the tale.
"All birds are knocked out of the sky!" His radio called gleefully. "Who knocked them out!?" Someone else called.
"Who cares!? Attack!" Erich called over the radio.
Karl grin and looked toward the Oseanian's as they tried to hold the bridges from the relentless attack from the 1st and 2nd Iron guard's as they pushed down the bridge under the withering fire from Oseanian Anti-Tank guns, artillery, and machine guns on the east side of the bridge. Grinding his teeth, Karl stormed from the heaven to the center of battle. Hovering in the air, he gazed down with a disgusted and arrogant look on his face as the Oseanian's opened fire on him with everything they had.
He rose his hands into the air as if he was touching the sky and a green wall of power appeared in front of him and the Belkan troops below, Protecting him and his comrades from the relentless fire. With his left hand firmly in the air, Karl's right hand took the impression of a claw and a wave of green fire shot from his hand onto the enemy troops. The Oseanian burned like rats in a house fire and dropped their weapons as they ran away in terror, screaming "demone", Demon in Italian. The Belkan ignored the supernatural sight in front of them and pushed on to chase down the invaders.
Erich looked to the sky, awestruck and speechless at the power of the figure.
"It's Karl... He... He's... He is a god..."
Karl watched from above as the Oseanian ran away in terror from their potions as the Belkan's attack in droves, taking prisoners by the thousands and taking the very last slice of the holy city of Sonthofen. Karl pointed to the retreating droves and called for all to hear-
Captured in all you lies, fear is in your eyes
Creature who's gone insane, your war is in vain
Trapped in a cage of stone, we'll destroy your home
Consequence of your action
Those words shook the core of every man who dared to raise their hand against him and the Belkan people... Karl could hear the Belkan chant his words as they fought on.
"The city is ours..." Karl said to himself quietly as he felt the last of his energy dwindle away from him. He was growing weak from the fighting and flew toward the hills away from Sonthofen.
Karl landed softly in a clearing just a mile from the burning hell of Sonthofen, where the grass was soft and green. The soft ground was strangely war and conferrable as he crawled on his hands and knees toward the center of the field. His heavy breaths became calm and light as he reached the center and turned on his back toward the stars and moon... "I... I made it..." He whispered to himself as his eyes became heavy.
Karl, for the first time in three agonizing weeks, fell asleep under the peaceful moon lit sky of North Belka...
Three figures approached the clearing, two clad in heavy body armor wielding MG-42 machine guns and another dressed in a maroon uniform with long grey streaked hair.
"Madam, Is he alive?" One of the heavy troopers asked the woman in maroon.
She laughed, "Yes, he's just sleeping."
"Should I have Zadornov bring the half-track to our position?" The other asked her.
"At once." She ordered as the two troopers ran out of the clearing.
The woman lifted Karl's head up and took off his dusty and blood spattered crusher cap and ran her finger though is hair. "I see you got my scraf." She said with a smile as the sound of the Half-track rumbled in the distance.
"It's time to bring you home Karl... We need you one last time..."