Goodalwayswins: Yes, I have always had a bit of an admiration for the Poles during WWII. I sort of figured that they would have a better chance this time around.

Starporttergeek: Roosevelt will be making more appearances as time passes.

King Quinn of Tucky: I haven't really decided how things will go for Getov/Germany. Everything is sort of up in the air at the moment.

Unknown

Everything was hazy, like being in a fog. Where was he? How long had he been like this? Was it days? Weeks? Months? Maybe years?

No, it couldn't be years. He would know if it has been years wouldn't he?

He tried to recall his last thoughts before coming here. It almost hurt, but it brought back images. An ornate room, a table, people all around it. Focusing, some of the faces became clearer. He saw a man wearing a suit, with well-kept hair and a look of intelligence, and something else. Ambition perhaps? Another wore what had to be a military uniform of some kind. The man had short hair, and a well maintained mustache. He was older; maybe his late fifties. Another person began to appear, but the image was too blurry, as if the person refused to show who it was.

Something else caught his attention though. Some kind of device was near the unknown man. It wasn't that big. Maybe the size of a medium suitcase? There was something about it that seemed familiar.

Focusing, he saw it become clearer, and realized that there was a creature attached to it. A lizard-like animal, with tufts of fur on its head. There was a name for it, but it seemed to escape him.

"It can push away the Force," a distant voice said.

Something in his mind clicked, and the name for the creature became clear. Ysalamir. Why was that name important? Where were these images coming from, and what was happening to him?

He could feel that someone or something was watching him, and quickly spun around to see a man in familiar-looking armor who stood perhaps a meter away. While the armored man was clearer than the other images, he appeared hazy, as if a picture slightly out of focus.

"Mein Fuhrer," the man said, as if surprised or amazed. "You're here…"

Suddenly, something clicked. The title Fuhrer. It was what he was called before coming here. His mind trying to focus on that. It was the key. He had to know what it meant. He had to know!

It slowly began to return to him. Bits and pieces, but he was beginning to realize who he was. He was one of the chosen. The leader of the Aryan Race! The man who would lead the German people to victory!

Germany… No, that wasn't right. Germany had fallen. He was the leader of a different Germany. Getov. That was it. A more powerful Germany, with the same people, the same Aryan race, the same untermensch.

He remembered. Europa, the war against the Jews and their puppets in the Rarus Federation, United Systems, and the rest of the Allies, but why was he here in this place?

"Reinhard…Heydrich?" He tried to remember, but it was almost too much. He focused until he finally was able to gain enough control. He looked up at the man before him, something inside was gathering. It felt familiar, like a small flame being stoked. "What's happened? What is this place?"

The Teutonic Knight was quiet. An unknown amount of time passed before he answered. "Mein Fuhrer," Heydrich said, "there is much you need to know."

Year 14, Month 9, Day 19

Mountain Redoubt 001, Ostmark Gaue System

Greater Getov Reich

Grand Master Reinhard Heydrich of the Teutonic Order walked down one of the many corridors of the most important redoubt in the Reich. From here, the true government of Getov commanded, not those traitors in Berlin.

The former Jedi sneered at the thought of the conspirators controlling the country. He should have seen it coming. The ysalamir had somehow housed a bomb, and with the creature's ability to push away the Force, he didn't sense the danger until it was too late. It was just blind luck that he was able to react fast enough to create a shield for himself and the Fuhrer.

Unfortunately, it hadn't been enough. The Fuhrer had been seriously injured and their escape from Getov Prime had almost resulted in them being killed. Fortunately, they survived and were going to make sure that the traitors paid for their actions.

When he had arrived in the Bavaria System, the entire government was in chaos, but he had taken command of the situation. With control of the SS, he began giving orders as the interim leader of Getov. When Goebbles had reappeared, they had launched a propaganda campaign that rallied all Waffen-SS, and some regular military, to their side. Even those on the front had chosen to join, and it had given him great pleasure to know that it was now the regular military's problem to dealing with the Rarus advance. It would give himself and the others the chance to regain control. They had already succeeded in keeping the easily defensible systems in Central Europa, while the multiple redoubts that had been constructed in these systems would be crucial for future strikes into enemy held territory.

The entire National Redoubt program had begun the previous year, with construction soon following the surveys. Throughout the systems of Central Europa, bases and command centers were built in the asteroid fields, mountain ranges, and even in some of the oceans, with the necessary equipment and infrastructure necessary to wage a long war that would be difficult for any attacker into the systems.

Heydrich walked past the living quarters and into the medical wing of the mountain redoubt. As he entered, those who were of lower rank did the customary salutes, which he quickly returned. Upon reaching the correct hallway, he saw two guards standing with MP-40s slung on their sides. Salutes were exchanged as he walked past them.

The Fuhrer was the sole patient in this hallway of the medical wing, with the any of the adjacent rooms with shared walls emptied and sealed. When the SS had cleared the whole section for Hitler's use, they had disabled all nearby turbolifts and sealed the stairways. The only way to see him was to pass through three guard stations located at the entrance to the medical ward, the entrance to the hallway, and finally at the door to the room. The SS was not taking any chances.

The last pair of guards were standing at attention, and Heydrich had no doubt as to why. He could sense the others were already in the room. After salutes were exchanged, he entered and saw Adolph Hitler, the Fuhrer of the Greater Getov Reich laying in a hospital bed. The man was in a terrible state, as he was catatonic, with half his face disfigured, and his right arm and leg just stumps.

"It is good to see that you have made it," Herman Goering said in an annoyed tone.

"Of course, Reichsmarschall," Heydrich responded coolly. "This is the best way to ensure if the Fuhrer can still lead us, and to answer other important questions."

Goering replied with a grunt and soon turned toward his aide as they began quietly talking. The room was the largest in the corridor, but even then it was small. There were a few other people in here. Some were medical personnel, ensuring that Hitler's condition remained stable. The rest were those who reported to the various parts of the government and who were loyal to either Heydrich or Goering.

Looking again at the Fuhrer, the former Jedi wondered if the he would ever wake up. The man had been in this coma since before arriving, and because of that, Heydrich had assumed control of the Getov government for the entire time.

Smiling slightly, Heydrich had nothing but success since he took control. Even the rescue of Reichsmarschall Herman Goering, which had been considered impossible, had been a complete triumph. One that was a blow to the image of the conspirators and gave the SS more legitimacy to the forces that had yet to commit themselves to a side in the fighting. Unfortunately, Goering had begun to assert his own authority, trying to take control of the government by saying that he was the successor to the Fuhrer if he was dead or indisposed, not Heydrich.

Pulling a chair to sit next to the greatest man in the Reich, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order allowed his mind to relax, and let the Force flow through him. This was his third attempt at trying to contact Hitler's mind. He had head of Jedi being able to do similar things, but actually trying to reach into a person's mind and converse with said person was almost impossible. He needed to reach into the consciousness of the man laying before him. He needed to know what the Fuhrer wanted.

Heydrich opened his eyes, and found himself in an empty space. It was one that he had seen the previous times, but there as something different. Something that he could sense. He opened himself to the Force, and tried to find where it was. It was… There! He blinked and saw that it was the man that he had been searching for.

"Mein Fuhrer," he said with a mix of shock and amazement. "You're here…"

Adolph Hitler looked at him. His body whole and unharmed. There was a questioning look on the man's face, but it was slowly replaced with realization and determination. "Reinhard…Heydrich?" he said slowly. "What's happened? What is this place?"

Heydrich was quiet, as he still tried to process what he was seeing. It had worked! He had done it! He quickly gathered himself, as it wouldn't be right to leave the leader of Getov waiting. "Mein Fuhrer," he said respectfully, "there is much you need to know."

An unknown amount of time passed, but Heydrich told the Fuhrer everything that had happened. From the bomb in the Chancellery to the retreat through Berlin to their narrow escape to Bavaria. The praise that he had received from his leader on handling their escape was one of the best things to ever happen. The Fuhrer then became upset upon learning who was responsible for the bombing and that Getov was now in a civil war, but his anger was directed to the traitors, who Heydrich wanted killed.

"So you had Obersturmbannführer Skorzeny conduct a rescue mission and retrieved Reichsmarschall Goering right out of Berlin? Under those traitors' nose?" the Fuhrer asked with a smile and small amount of humor into his voice.

Heydrich nodded. "I did," he answered proudly. "Many in the true government considered it foolish, but I knew that it would work. It had the right amount of daring and cunning that would ensure victory."

Hitler chuckled, probably the first time in a long time. "That is good. I assume that he is as well appraised of everything that has happened since his arrest?"

"Yes, he is." The Teutonic Knight paused for a moment. He sensed something, and wasn't sure where the Fuhrer was going with this question. It did make him feel uneasy. "He has been asserting authority that many feel is unnecessary."

"Well, it will no longer be seen as unnecessary," Hitler said firmly. "He is my chosen successor in the event of me being unable to lead, and he will take up that responsibility until I have recovered fully."

Heydrich was shocked, and it must have shown on his face because Hitler's demeanor changed. "You did well in the beginning, but your mistake in calling all Waffen-SS forces from the front has jeopardized our strategic situation."

"Mein Fuhrer—" he began, but was immediately cut off.

"Don't interrupt me, Grand Master," Hitler said angrily. "Your actions resulted in the loss of Rumania, Bulgari, and we are also on the verge of losing Polanie. In doing so, you have possibly alienated those who would have eventually joined us, but instead you caused the Rarus to have a breakthrough!"

The leader of Getov paused to take a breath before he continued. "You are not fit to lead, but Goering has the experience, the support, and the charisma to bring Field Marshals Model and Manstein onto our side once they learn I still live."

The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order was fuming, but hid any of it. The man who he had respected for years was lecturing him as if he were some petulant child. He had noticed there had been a change in the Fuhrer opinion of him after the Allied invasions of Brittany and Calais, but thought that saving the man's life would warrant acclaim and admiration. Instead of being grateful for keeping the Reich alive, all Hitler did was blame him.

"When you are done, you will tell Reichsmarschall Goering that he is acting Chancellor of Getov until a time that I am able to reassume my position as leader of Getov," Hitler said finally. "Is that understood, Heydrich?"

He was quiet for a moment before he answered. "I understand, Mein Fuhrer," he answered slowly, trying to hide the contempt that he now had for the man.

"Good," Hitler said calmly. "Now, please leave me. I must try to recover if I am to take my place as leader of Getov again." He stood strait and placed his hands behind his back. "I would like for you to return later. I want to be kept appraised of what is happening in the rest of the Sector."

Heydrich nodded. Closing his eyes, he gradually removed himself from the mind of the Fuhrer. When his eyes opened, he found himself back in the hospital room with the same people who had been there before.

"Were you successful?" Reichsmarschall Goering asked. "The doctors said that there was some strange brain activity for the hour that you were meditating."

The Grand Master stood up and stretched a little, trying to get the kinks out of his back. When he turned to look at Hitler's successor, he nodded. "I was, Reichsmarschall. I managed to fully converse with him and report on everything that has happened."

Everyone in the room was amazed, and there were conversations amongst everyone in the room at this great news. While the Fuhrer was unable to directly communicate with them, they were at least able to keep him informed and have his involvement on matters of importance.

"And what did he say about the governing of Getov?" Goering asked, wanting the answer to the question that had been the main point of conflict between the two most powerful men in the Reich.

Heydrich looked straight at the man whom Adolph Hitler had chosen to be his successor before giving an answer. "He said that I was to lead the Reich until he had fully recovered."

Year 14, Month 9, Day 29

Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces HQ

Roma, Kingdom of Noria

Field Marshal Harold Alexander, Commander of Allied forces in the Mediterranean Theater, watched the status updates on the Allied liberation of the Hellenic Kingdom on the central display of the war room. Since the beginning of the year, he had been working diligently to increase actions against the Nazis in his theater, focusing much on the occupied nations within the Balkans Region. His greatest efforts had been in Jugoslavia (Yugoslavia), but these had suffered too many setbacks.

Alexander had tried to form a better working relationship with the Chetniks, but they had the same problem here that they did on Earth of hating the communists more than the Getov occupation, with multiple instances of both working together to destroy Broz Tito and his National Liberation Army. Multiple attempts were made by the Allied Command to change their operations, and he himself had personally attempted to broker a better working relationship. While there had been some success, like the sharing of intelligence, the rescuing of POWs, and even some joint operations, there hadn't been a real breakthrough. That meant having to rely on the Tito and his communist resistance fighters, and he knew how that would turn out for the country. Alexander had even proposed an invasion of Jugoslavia as a way to create a more West-friendly nation, but London had rejected the idea, saying that the terrain and high Waffen-SS presence in the surrounding systems would place his forces in a difficult situation. Instead, his proposal had been shelved for reevaluation on an unspecified later date.

The Hellenic Kingdom had been what Prime Minister Churchill had suggested to be a better area to focus on. The Kingdom proved to be a different problem for him. While it was just a single star system, there were so many different factions that operated on the planet, and the various space stations, that trying to get them to cooperate an almost impossible task. He had worked hard to try and mediate with the various groups in the system, to stop them from fighting amongst themselves and focus on the Getov occupation authority. He had used the same justification as on Earth: Focus on the Nazis and figure out who to fight later.

It had had the desired effect, though the fighting in the system was not near as bad as it could have been. The civil war in Getov had weakened the system's defenses, with the local commander recruiting like-minded Hellenics to augment his forces, and many suspecting that he was trying to set himself up as the new ruler of the system. Alexander had requested for supplies and equipment from General Eisenhower and the Prime Minister to liberate the system and prevent the Rarus Federation from taking control like they were no doubt going to do in Rumania and Bulgari Kingdoms.

Alexander knew that the system would fall into a civil war soon, and wanted to use the invasion as a way to ensure that the communists would not take over, and maybe even prevent the civil war altogether. He received the needed supplies and equipment to complete the task, and was determined to ensure that it remained an ally to the West.

As Alexander watched, an officer approached and stood at attention. He gave the man a curt nod of acknowledgement, allowing the man to speak. "Field Marshal, I have the latest reports on the invasion of the Hellenic System."

"Thank you, Colonel" he said, taking the datapad and looking over the information. All around him, men, women, and droids were moving from one place to another, ensuring that communications were properly routed, equipment sent to the right location, and operations were properly coordinated. Despite all of the advances that this galaxy had over Earth, the running of an entire theater of war was still a monumental task. This was especially true when having to watch the status of an invasion several star systems away, and while the holo-projector was able to give an accurate depiction of what was happening, reports from the ground were able to fill in the details that the map could not.

...

Sergeant John MacTavish dove behind a pile of rubble as he ran across the small alley, barely avoiding the blaster bolts that followed him. The SAS Sergeant muttered a curse as he crawled toward the building that the rest of his section was holed up in. Finally reaching the structure, he entered a room with seven men, either guarding the windows or performing first aid. He walked toward Corporal Finley, who was attaching a bandage to a wounded Hellenic irregular.

"Finley, what's the status?" MacTavish asked.

The soldier tightened the bandage before looking up at him. "Sergeant, the rest of the section is upstairs, trying to keep watch on the central plaza," he answered. "A couple platoons of Jerries and Hellenics tried to push us and Fourth Section out, but we held them off. They didn't have much in heavy weapons or support, but that won't be for long."

"Well, I have more news for you. A runner came up to Third Section with orders from Command," MacTavish said, reloading his weapon. "Our platoon and the Yanks are to hold this square while the main thrust pushes to take the rest of the government district in roughly three hours."

"Let me guess, we're to hold it because Jerry will try to use this square to cut the advance correct?" Corporal Finley received a nod from MacTavish. "Bloody hell. Has Command lost it or something?"

"No more than usual," the sergeant replied. He looked out one of the windows to see the ruins of the Acropolis of Athens, a structure that had stood for untold centuries and witness to some of the most significant events of the Sector. He shook his head from the thoughts and turned back to his subordinate. "Send a runner to the rest of the sections, and try to see if that Yank Lef-tenant can join us to coordinate."

"Yes, Sergeant."

Both Sergeant MacTavish and the American Lieutenant Quade and Sergeant Iadevia discussed what their plan would be. Even the leader of the Hellenic irregulars that had attached themselves to them, a burly man named Angelopoulos, had joined them in their plans. They spent the three hours they had planning and preparing for the inevitable attack and requesting for more support. Communications were degraded with all of the jamming that was throughout the system, and runners had to be used. They received some resupply, mainly improvised weapons like Molotov cocktails or older weapons like an anti-armor blaster rifle that had to have been used back in the Great War. The best they had received were a couple speeders that had been modified to carry a heavy repeating blaster. Everything was divvied out amongst everyone to where it would hopefully have the greatest effect.

The Allied attack had begun on schedule, and there was heavy fighting from how it sounded in the distance. At the same time, everyone waited for the expected attack along their road, and an hour had passed before one of the few working reconnaissance probes they had showed what was estimated to be a company of Getov and Hellenic fascist infantry, followed by two platoons of armored speeders. Further behind was another infantry company, this one with armored support.

As soon as the square came into view, the Getov soldiers and their allies attacked, hitting most of the surrounding buildings with so much fire that many were surprised that the structures were still standing. The Molotov cocktails proved useful in the streets, taking out three of the armored speeders, but three more managed to enter the square, the open area allowing for the speeders to set up a defensive line for the infantry.

The improvised attack speeders attempted to keep the enemy at bay, trying to use their heavy repeating blasters to score a lucky hit on the enemy vehicles or the infantry using them as cover. Unfortunately, their lack of any protection resulted in the unarmored speeders being destroyed, but not before one collided with an enemy speeder, destroying it. Another Getov speeder was knocked out by a lucky shot from the anti-armor rifle.

This did little to dissuade the Getov soldiers and their allies, who had the remaining armored speeder provide cover as they began moving to take the buildings that the SAS and Rangers were holed up in. One of them was the largest building on the square, a three story hotel that was on an elevated section of the area, allowing a great vantage point. It was taken in the first assault, the Hellenic fighters who had tried to hold it fleeing when the armored speeder brought its light cannon onto the structure and fired several shots into it.

Seeing it captured, MacTavish and the other commandos knew they had to take it back, otherwise the Getov attack would be able to flank the Allied advance. Leading a party of fifteen commandos and rangers, they managed to disable the remaining armored speeder before entering the hotel and engaging the enemy in fierce and brutal fighting.

MacTavish dodged enemy soldier's bayonet thrust, then shot the man in the face with his blaster pistol. As the Getov's dead body fell to the floor, the Sergeant scanned the hallway looking for the next threat. Jerry and his allies had set up a heavy repeating blaster on the third story of the building that overlooked the square and it was giving the Nazis cover as their heavy equipment was being moved up. His party of fifteen was now down to eight men standing and they were only on the second floor.

"Where is that bloody support," Mactavish whispered as he leaned against the wall and checked his blaster. Command had promised air cover, but so far it had not appeared. Just as the Sergeant was checking the charge, a trio of Hellenic fascists charged down the hall, rifles down and bayonets ready.

The fascist soldiers screamed as they ran forward, both pausing about halfway down the hall for a second to fire off a single bolt each before continuing to rush forward.

The wall above MacTavish's head exploded from a shot from one of the fascist's rifles, and a Commando to his left dropped to the ground, holding his leg and screaming. His cries were drowned out by the sounds of the fighting, and the Sergeant dropped to one knee and fired a quick shot, hitting one of the charging soldiers in the chest.

A corporal rushed forward in front of MacTavish, just to the right of him and fired a short burst from his STEN sub-repeating blaster at the remaining enemy soldiers. The younger commando hit the first enemy soldier, burning sections of the enemy's uniform, and the fascist fell to the floor.

The second enemy closed the distance too quickly for the Corporal to get a second burst, and it looked like the young man would take the bayonet to the chest, but MacTavish was faster. He stepped past the younger man and batted the enemy's rifle to the left, grabbing it by the barrel and then by its stock, charging forward and pinning the fascists against the wall. The Sergeant kneed the man in the groin, causing him to fall to the ground. Taking the fascist's rifle, MacTavish stabbed the man in the chest.

"Thank you, Sergeant," the corporal shouted as he checked the powerpack on his blaster. MacTavish just nodded and smiled as the younger Commando lead two other men further down the hall to cover the stairs to the next floor. The Jerries had attempted to come down the stairs twice already, but fire from the commandos kept them upstairs.

Sergeant MacTavish knelt down and picked up the enemy soldier's blaster rifle. It was an older blaster, likely a left over from the Great War and sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the system, or possibly something that the Getov garrison had issued to their collaborators. He checked the powerpack and saw that it was nearly drained. That meant that when the soldiers had fired at him in the hallway, they were almost out. Unfortunately, rifles didn't really matter when you were in such close quarters with the enemy.

"Corporal, hold up," MacTavish ordered. "It's time for a different approach."

At first, the Allied commandos were unsure they had found the right room located under the heavy repeating blaster. The sounds that they could hear were a good sign that they had to be close, and the holes in the ceiling where blaster fire came from seemed to be another good indication. Two of the Rangers responded with a couple of bursts of their own into the holes and the ceiling itself, which appeared to cause the enemy to pause. This gave MacTavish and another commando the time needed to place the charges and set the timer. When both were set, the commandos quickly left, running as fast as possible out of the room and halfway, and down the stairs that would lead them to the first floor. They were halfway down when the charges went off.

The building was filled with smoke and dust as a result, with cries in both Getov and Hellenic being heard. Carefully moving up the stairs, the commandos reached the second floor to see a large hole in the ceiling that took up almost half of the third floor, with the ceiling having collapsed down onto the second.

The surviving commandos carefully moved up the surviving stairway and onto the third floor. Once there they saw a couple broken bodies of Getov soldiers, along with shattered equipment and a ruined heavy blaster. "Sergeant, I think we have a problem," one of American Rangers said, looking through his macrobinoculars across the square.

"What is it?" MacTavish asked, crouching next to the man.

"More Krauts are coming." He handed the SAS commando the macros and the Sergeant looked through them. An entire column of Getov and Hellenic armored vehicles were moving up the street and toward the square.

MacTavish muttered a series of curses before handing the macros back to the Ranger. "Everyone take positions," he ordered as he reached up to his comm and only to hear static before switching it off and muttering more curses. Still jamming us… "You!" The sergeant pointed at an American corporal. "Get to the rest of the men and tell them that we're retaken the building and that Jerry is coming up the main causeway with an infantry company and armored support!"

"Yes, Sergeant!" the American answered and took off down the stairs.

"Are there any heavy weapons that survived the blast?" the SAS Sergeant asked, turning toward one of the men who were rummaging through the debris.

"The heavy repeating blaster is gone, but there are a few panzerfausts that we can use against their armor, but they will have to get close."

He nodded. "Pass what we have amongst the men, and get ready."

The sound of a cannon went off and a section of the building next to them exploded. MacTavish leaped to the ground, covering his head. "Damn it all! Where's that bloody air support?"

"Spitfires!" one of commandos yelled, and the sergeant looked up in time to see a pair of Albion marked fighters diving out of the sky like birds of prey. The craft began firing their cannons into the approaching column, and while the enemy attempted to shoot the Spitfires down, they were too fast and maneuverable. Another pair of fighters made strafing run, followed by a flight of American Thunderbolt fighter-bombers, and the column began to pull back.

A cheer went up from the buildings that he and the men MacTavish commanded occupied, and he allowed himself to let out a sign of relief. Reaching into his pocket, MacTavish pulled out a cigar that he kept of special occasions. Placing it between his teeth, the SAS Commando pulled out his lighter and lit the end and took a few puffs. As he placed the lighter back in his pocket, he looked around and saw the Acropolis of Athens, this time with the flag of the Hellenic Kingdom proudly fluttering in the wind.

...

The reports coming out of the system were promising. The fighting around the industrial and government sections of the planet were going well, though the terrain had been difficult, even with local guides leading the invasion. The Allies had the better part of ten divisions on the ground, including members of the SAS, the American Rangers, and local Hellenic irregulars. By the estimations of the commanders on the ground, it looked like everyone was following the timetable they had. However, it was the last part of the message that he was really happy about.

"Ladies and gentlemen if I could have your attention for a moment," Field Marshal Alexander announced. The room fell silent and everyone turned to face their commander.

"From General Sidney Kirkman, commanding Allied officer of the Athens Front: The flag of the Hellenic Kingdom once again flies over the capital!" he yelled. "The birthplace of democracy is once again free from the darkness of the Getov hordes!"

The room erupted into cheers, and Alexander allowed everyone to celebrate. He knew that there was still far more to deal with in the years to come, but he knew that it was important to give the people a victory.

Year 14, Month 9, Day 34

Office of the Prime Minister

The United Kingdom

Looking over the various reports that he had on his Desk, Prime Minister Winston Churchill took a sip from the glass on his desk. While the war raged, he still had to help maintain the government functions of the United Kingdom and the Empire, and all of it could be considered too much for a normal individual. Though he himself was not normal; not with the knowledge he had on things to come. However, that was proving to be less useful as time passed from his "rebirth" in this galaxy.

He had taken steps to strengthen the Empire by pushing for more infrastructure projects in the major parts of their holdings. Indou was what he would consider his main focus. Churchill knew that it would be lost in a few years after the war ended, and that the Raj would not be able to hold onto power for long. An increase in the building of infrastructure and a proposal of a more gradual withdrawal from the region would be better in ensuring that it could remain in their sphere of influence. It had been an idea that General Eisenhower had suggested, having seen the results of what a quick British withdrawal had done.

As he thought more about what to do foreign policy-wise, a screen on his desk showed the face of his secretary. "Prime Minister, General Eisenhower has arrived for your appointment."

"Thank you, Miss Silvia," Churchill said in a friendly tone. "Please send him in."

When the door opened, Churchill stood up as General Dwight Eisenhower walked in, who respectfully stood at attention until the door behind him closed. "Welcome, General," he said, extending his hand. "I trust everything with the Allied General Staff is well?"

The American general took the hand and gave it a quick pump before answering, "The war continues, but I feel it will go better for Europa this time than it did for Europe."

"That is good to hear," he said, and motioned for the man to take a seat. "Please tell me what differences we may be facing. I do trust Field Marshal Brooke, but I cannot ask him on things that have not happened."

Eisenhower nodded. "I understand. Believe me, I do." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a case of cigarettes "Do you mind, Prime Minister?"

"Not at all, and as I have told you, for these private conversations, you can call me Winston," he said reaching for his own cigar.

Eisenhower smiled slightly. "Old habits are hard to break, but I will try, so long as you do the same. We just have to agree not to do this in public."

"Oh, I completely agree. My staff and fellow politicians have wondered why I spend so much time talking with you. No doubt they suspect we are plotting something," he said with a chuckle, "and it doesn't help that when I tell them what we discuss, they do not believe me."

"I agree, though I think the war and your changing policies are enough to keep them occupied," the American said, as he lit his cigarette and took a small drag from it. "But that is not why we are here. You want details on what may happen in the Sector later. Well, I think giving you the most recent information we have would serve as a good start." He pulled out a datacard and handed it to the Prime Minister, who took it and placed it in his datapad.

"Most of Floevis has been liberated, minus the Alsace-Lorraine System," Eisenhower began. "The Floevis government-in-exile has set up in the Calais System, at least until a more suitable location can be found. It is going to be at least a decade before Paris can be reoccupied, and it will only be in certain locations."

"Is General de Gaulle causing any problems?" the Prime Minister asked, looking up from the datapad. He remembered how the man had handled the nuking of the capital system, and had repeatedly attempted to conduct his own strikes on Getov territory.

"With the government now back in Floevisian space, they are able to reign in some of his more radical urges, but he is still pushing for a new offensive into Getov," Eisenhower explained.

"I have received many of these from the Floevis government as well." The Prime Minister shook his head in frustration. "I don't think they are expecting anything to happen. They are have their own problems of having to deal with the remnants of the Vichy government, the rebuilding of their nation, and the recovery of Paris. I don't envy them."

Eisenhower nodded. "Indeed, Winston. Some good news is that Belgien has been liberated from its occupation force, though there wasn't much left. Most pulled out when the Getov Civil War began. The government-in-exile has moved back to the capital, and are trying to make an inventory of what they have and an emergency census to see who has been killed or missing. It's going to take a while, but I think they will be able to recover.

"Batavia has also had their Getov garrison leave, but their puppet government is still in control. They have announced their neutrality today, that they will not be part of any conflict between the Allies and the Getov Reich."

"What do they have in defensive capabilities, Dwight?"

"I don't remember the details, but it's not much," Eisenhower explained. "It is more of a defense force than one used for going on the attack. We're considering just bypassing the system and leaving just enough behind to hold them in place and deal with them later."

Churchill nodded in agreement as he read the details. "And the Hellenic Kingdom?" he asked. "I know that all of the stations have been liberated, but what about the planet itself?"

"Latest estimates have it at around sixty percent," the general explained. "It will be at least three to four weeks before the planet can be fully under Allied control, but there will still be holdouts. We have also been supplying the loyalists with arms, munitions, and equipment for when the communists attack, so we shouldn't have as difficult a situation as on Earth.

"The best news we have is that most of Polanie has been liberated," Eisenhower said. "The Warsaw and Krakow Systems are under the control of the Polanie government, with General T'ra Saa and the Republic fleet providing extra support to the forces that left Floevis to join them. The only system left is the Grodno System, and it is occupied by Field Marshal Model's forces."

"That man will have to leave the system if he doesn't want to have his command destroyed," Churchill said after thinking for a few seconds. "He'll probably flee to the Slovac System and either continue to move toward central Europa or toward a different front to try and hold the Rarus. Maybe even join Field Marshal Manstein."

"That's what myself and others on the Allied General Staff believe as well," Eisenhower replied, taking a small drag from his cigarette. "The military government in Berlin has pretty much stripped everything from the front they have with us. They've been focusing on their core territories. Even the Scandinavian systems are practically bare. Major General von Tangen Hansteen is pushing that we begin an invasion to liberate Nororvegr (Norway)."

Churchill nodded. "We only pushed for an army to be made to have it appear that we were going to go after those systems." He then looked thoughtful. "Though with the condition that the Huns are in, I think it would be possible to make a successful invasion."

"I'll have my people draw up some preliminary information to see what it would take to make it feasible. I could have something solid by next week," the American said finally.

There was a chirp on the Prime Minister's desk and he turned to the screen. "Ah, our final guest has arrived," Churchill said, sitting up strait. Pressing a series of buttons, the chair next to Eisenhower was filled with the holo-image of Senator Franklin Roosevelt.

"Apologies for my tardiness. The Senate session lasted longer than I had expected," he explained. "The Clone War continues to cause problems for everyone, and there are times with compromise could almost be considered treason."

"Were the defeats the Republic suffered this month worse than the Holonet made it appear to be?" Eisenhower asked.

"They downplayed them," the Senator answered. "They want to keep up morale for the people, but it can only go so far. Jabiim was a disaster and the only bright spot was the 'heroic' holding action and evacuation. Parcellus Minor resulted in the deaths of thousands and the destruction of the planet's ecology. Aargonar was another defeat for the Republic, and the only success has been the victory at Sullust, keeping the system and its shipyards in Republic hands. The Separatist commander Asajj Ventress is also presumed dead, which is good considering that they seem to lack good military leaders."

The image of the Senator lit a cigarette and began smoking. "It is estimated that it is going to take until mid-next year before the Republic is fully on a warfooting, and the Jedi are stretched thin."

"What is your opinion on the Jedi, Franklin?" Churchill asked.

He paused a moment before he answered. "Well, they aren't as bad as we originally though when we first arrived. Some have a natural skill when it comes to leadership and tactics, and a couple Jedi can be a game changer in battle. A few that come to mind are Generals Plo Koon, Kit Fisto, Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and his apprentice Ahsoka Tano.

"Most of the Generals have experience in combat, it's just that most haven't lead anything as large as an army before, but they are fast learners." Roosevelt paused again to take a small drag of his cigarette before he continued. "My only problem with the Jedi is them having teenagers being given commands of that of a colonel."

"Do you consider this a detriment to the Republic's capabilities?" Eisenhower asked, leaning forward.

"I would have to say that it depends on who is in command," the senator said. "As I said before, most of the Jedi are quick learners, and the reports that I have read about the battles they have partaken in are impressive. I suppose that being a Jedi has allowed them to mature faster than a normal individual, though I wouldn't recommend a Jedi Padawan leading an American or any Allied force."

"Speaking of an Allied force, Senator Halifax told me that the proposal that you put forward is up for the vote in the Senate," Churchill said "Do you know how it will go, Franklin?"

"Well, Winston, there is resistance to the idea from many, especially the Kaminoans, who see it as a threat to their new influence in the Senate," he explained. "There are others, like Bail Organa and other like-minded senators, see it as a way to mitigate the number of loans the Republic would have to take out to create new clonetroopers. The Allied Expeditionary Force is going to serve as a pilot program for the rest of the galaxy on whether or not volunteers will be a more cost and combat-effective force."

"Well, it is the least that we could do for the assistance that they have given us," Eisenhower added. "If it wasn't for the Republic fleet in the sector, I doubt that the uprising in Polanie would have succeeded, and the liberation of the camps in those systems."

Atmosphere in the room became solemn at the mention of the camps, which was a poor description of those facilities. They were cities dedicated to the extermination of anyone who was "inferior" to the Nazi ideology. The images from Earth had been bad, but here it was terrible. Jedi General T'ra Saa had been made it her personal responsibility to feed, house, and care for these poor men and women, and had made another point that the liberation of these camps should had been done when she had first arrived.

At the time, the Allies just weren't ready. The Getov military was still too strong and not divided on a two front war, not to mention Hitler having arrived in the galaxy as well. Even if they had struck, they would not have been able to save all of them, the killing would have continued at other locations, and the military coup in Getov may not have happened. Unfortunately, no one could know if liberating the camps would have done more harm or good. It was just another hard choice in a war that was filled with difficult decisions that everyone had to live with.

"Do you have the personnel list of who will be part of this Allied Expeditionary Force," Roosevelt asked, trying to change the subject that was less sorrowful.

"I do," General Eisenhower answered. "It is made up mainly of those from the United Systems and Albion and her dominions. Most of the other powers in the Allies don't want to send combat personnel, saying that most are needed to maintain order here in the sector because of the threat the Separatists pose. They are offering to send support personnel, though."

"Unfortunately, I do not know how long the United Kingdom would be able to contribute to this Allied expedition," Churchill added. "Our economy is stretched to the limit and you remember how things went on Earth when I tried to continue the fight against Japan."

"Winston, how much do you think the United Kingdom can contribute after the fighting ends in Europa?" Roosevelt asked, looking at the Prime Minister.

Churchill sat there for a moment, thinking on how the best answer the question. In all honesty, he had no idea, but he did have past experience, and more knowledge on how the galaxy functioned. "When it comes to the Sector, I can have full support of the people until Getov officially surrenders. Katania will be more difficult, and it's likely we will be secondary combatants to your forces." He pointed to both Eisenhower and Roosevelt. "They will demand some sort of reduction in wartime production. God knows that everyone has earned it, but I think we will be able to maintain a decent sized military force until the end of the Clone Wars, but it will have to remain in the sector. The people just won't be able to stomach a large expedition into the wider galaxy."

"In other words, Winston, what the Empire manages to provide for the expedition will be about it for the remainder of the war," Roosevelt said finally.

Churchill nodded, as much as it pained him to admit it. "We will still be able to provide equipment for our men who join it, but don't expect an entire Albion fleet and army to be departing the sector after the expedition leaves."

"Don't take this the wrong way, Winston, but I don't expect you to," Roosevelt said calmly. "The Albion Empire just isn't the powerhouse that it used to be. I can see if I can get some economic aid to be sent to you from the Republic, though not loans." The last two words were said with a venom that surprised both men.

"I heard that they are bad, but is the Intergalactic Banking Clan really charging as much interest as they say?" Eisenhower asked.

Roosevelt looked at the man, a tired look on his face. "Twenty-five percent interest rate, and they are trying to charge even more on the next set of loans that the Republic is looking into taking."

"May God help them," Churchill said. He knew that the Empire had used similar tactics in the past, but that much was akin to perpetual slavery. "The sooner this war ends, the better off the galaxy will be. I would rather see the Empire fade away like on Earth before I allow some bank to control my country."

"Which is why this Expeditionary Force needs to be a success," Roosevelt said firmly. "If we can do this, we can reduce the amount of money that the Republic will have to borrow, and bring a more united Republic against the Separatist. A better long-term solution."

"Speaking of long-term solutions," Churchill began," What do we do about Getov? The fighting between the military and the SS is has not eased and has only become more intense. The military government still only controls the Getov Prime, Hannover, and Pomerania Systems in the country itself, leaving the Hesse, Bavaria, and the Alsace-Lorraine Systems under the control of the SS. Outside of that, the military have Danmark (Denmark), Nororvegr and the system that make up Sorbja (Serbia) and possibly the Magyar (Hungary) System."

"That leaves the SS in control of most of what would be considered Southern and Central Europe," Roosevelt concluded, and he turned to Eisenhower. "What do you think of the situation?"

"Well, Getov itself is relatively safe," he began. "Other than the systems that are controlled by the SS, they do not have to worry about the Rarus entering their territory. The uprising in Polanie and the Republic arrival set up a buffer point that I don't think they will want to breach. Stalin may be a paranoid bastard, but I doubt he wants to start fighting the Republic."

"Which is very fortunate for us," Churchill added.

"It is. Now, what the SS has is favorable terrain, for lack of a better term," Eisenhower explained. "Most of the systems they control are filled with asteroid fields and other types of spacial anomalies. If they stay on the defensive, then they can hold out for several months at least, while the Rarus throw bodies at them. The problem is that we do not know if they would. Transmissions have shown that Grand Master Reinhardt Heydrich is leader of the SS faction, even though Goering is present."

"I was under the impression that Goering was to be Hitler's successor in the event he died or was killed," Roosevelt said with a questioning tone.

"He was, but we don't know if Hitler's arrival changed this, or if there is some sort of political infighting going on within their government," the General answered.

"So we just don't know then?" Roosevelt asked.

"That's correct, Senator. It's been discussed amongst Allied Command that we adopt a 'wait and see' approach, and liberate as must territory before deciding to move into Getov itself. Before you arrived, Churchill and I were discussing the possibility of liberating Nororvegr."

Roosevelt nodded. "It's a good idea. It cuts another nation away from the Nazis and secures another ally. Perhaps we can secure Finloti (Finland) and have them join us to prevent the Rarus from taking over their government."

"We will let the Rarus deal with the SS, and we'll focus on the military government and the occupied systems within our reach," Churchill said finally. "I see it as the best solution for the time being. However, we need to continue planning for the future. Things are becoming less predictable and we need to be ready for whatever fate has for us."

Year 14, Week of the Festival of the Stars, Day 1

Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces HQ

Roma, Kingdom of Noria

General Erwin Rommel sat at his desk, reading over the reports that he had received about what was happening in Getov. It tore him up inside, as he read about the civil war raging though the Fatherland. He felt responsible, and he wondered if everything that was happening in Europa was somehow because of his actions.

It seemed like the right idea at the time, to join the Allied cause and fight to save his people from the madman who would drag his home into darkness. He fought to free Sicily, fighting alongside General George Patton, and then into Noria, assisting in the liberation of Roma. He helped trained the Norian military and soon took part in the invasion to liberate the rest of Europa.

It was during those invasions that things started to go downhill for him. The invasion of the Province System and the reveal of the Werewolves as a reaction to his presence had not made him popular in Allied Command, and while he had the support and respect of many, others saw him as more of a detriment, especially those he had fought against before the defection.

Commanders from Floevis, Belgien, Batavia, and Albion to a lesser extent, had treated him with suspicion, remembering his actions when he helped in the conquest of their homes and holdings. He understood, but Rommel intended to have his actions to show where his loyalties lie. Then the nuking of Paris happened, and everyone looked for someone to blame. Many wanted to have him removed, and the Allied Supreme Commander eventually allowed this to happen. He hadn't been sacked, just given a desk job on Field Marshal Alexander's staff.

Now he was essentially an exile in the Allied command structure, reading about the fighting between the Getov military government and the SS, and wondering if he had made the right decisions in this second life. His contact with Admiral Canaris was what had made him decide to finally do something about the Plot, and have the Allies support it. He had hoped to see a successful coup, with as little bloodshed as possible, but instead his home was embroiled in a civil war that showed very little signs of stopping.

So much death… So much pain… So much destruction… he thought. Was all of this worth it? We tried to do the right thing and the people pay for our decisions. It sometimes made him wonder if it would be better for him to resign his commission and join his wife and son back in London.

He placed the datapad about Getov down on his desk and picked up the one he had been handed the previous day. "Allied Expeditionary Force," he muttered. It certainly was an ambitious idea, and perhaps a little too idealistic. It did have its merits though, and he couldn't fault Senator Roosevelt for the idea. Was it where he belonged though?

Originally, he had intended to serve as a go-between for the new Getov government and the Allies. A man who was respected by both sides who could help bring his country back from the darkness and once again be a nation that he and other could be proud of. However, things had changed in a way that none could have foreseen, and he wasn't sure if the Fatherland would be able to recover. That did not include the actions of the Werewolves in the liberated areas.

Rommel suspect that the Werewolves were just waiting for a proper moment to make themselves publicly known, and he had become the perfect target to make a political statement. Now, with the SS and their propaganda machine were dragging his name through the mud, and he was unsure if he could do any good for his home now.

The offer of a command in the Allied Expeditionary Force was a way to get out of the public eye, and allow him to do what he was best at. But could he really leave his country to its fate while he fought in the wider galaxy? It was something that he had thought about since he received the offer, and had even called his wife to ask her on what he should do. In the end, after much consoling for the both of them, she said that she would support whatever decision he made. However, they both knew that they may not be able to return to their home after the war ended, if ever.

Still, he had a duty to the Fatherland, even if it was a different version of it. German and Getov generals have always been known for their sense of duty. It was as much a part of their national identity as anything else, but what did you do when duty became a burden? Did you toss it aside when it became too much, or did you continue on?

Rommel would spend the rest of the day contemplating on what he should do, and it would be early the next morning before he finally made a decision and called Field Marshal Alexander.

Year 14, Week of the Festival of the Stars, Day 4

London Military Hospital

The United Kingdom

The first thing he noticed was the soreness. It was all over, as if he had done every Olympic competition in a row. The worst though was from his lower torso. It felt like there was a burning piece of metal there.

When his eyes opened, George Patton squinted as he tried to let his eyes adjust to the brightness. Taking a few deep breaths, he slowly moved the joints in his hands and arms, and then moving to his neck. Allowing himself a few minutes to get himself oriented, he looked around and wondered where he was. It certainly wasn't the front, and tried to recall the last thing he remembered when the door to his room opened. In walked a young woman wearing the uniform of a nurse.

"Oh my!" she said, surprised. "You're awake! Please wait while I get the doctor." She quickly disappeared before the General could say anything.

George sat there, grumbling about where else he was going to be. It was a few minutes before a man wearing a major's oak leaf on his collar walked in. "Good afternoon, General," he said calmly. "I'm Major Colson the head surgeon on duty today. How are you feeling?"

"Sore," Patton answered gruffly. "How long have I been here, and what's happened with the war?"

"I will tell you what I know, but after I have examined you," the doctor said firmly. "You are not the first general I have had as a patient, so before you try to pull rank on me, I will remind you that until you are discharged from my care, you are to listen to my instructions. Is that understood?"

The gall of this man, Patton thought to himself, but he couldn't help but give the man a nod of acknowledgement and smiled inwardly. He didn't know of many people who would talk to him like that, but doctors were one of the few he was willing to accept, even if it was begrudgingly.

After being asked questions, scanned, poked, and prodded, he was finally allowed to get some answers about what had happened to him and the rest of the war. He was told about his wounding by the Teutonic Knight and what had happened after, the Allied retreat from Belgien, the nuking of Paris, and the Getov Civil War. All of it surprised him, as he never would have expected Hitler would have been crazy enough to actually ruin an entire planet. He supposed that was what caused their civil war to break out.

The Major allowed him to have a datapad to learn what was happening in the sector, and he was surprised to learn that the Republic had helped with the uprising in the Warsaw System. That certainly brought a smile to his face to see the damn commies not make it as far on that front. He read about the "liberation" of Rumania and Bulgari by the Rarus, though Patton saw it for what it was: a take-over. The invasion of the Hellenic Kingdom was good to see, and the Allies on the verge of pushing into Getov itself was great news, though he wondered if they would do that or go after the SS.

In his opinion, he would rather have Ike go after the damn SS and their fanatics. Sure the military government in Berlin was probably no better, but they at least could be counted on to fight against the damn Bolsheviks when the time came, not to mention they were smart enough to know just how crazy Hitler and his stooges were. If that happened, he wondered if he would be given a command to go after them, or if he would instead go after the Katanians. He heard that their fanaticism in the Pacifica Region was beyond anything experienced, but it was a different type of fighting.

He worried that they would give him the worst fate possible, which was sending to do some kind of desk job and sit out the rest of the war on the sidelines. That wasn't what he was destined to do. It would a fate worse than death. He was so deep in his inner musing that he didn't realize that he was no longer alone in the room until he heard someone clear their throat.

Patton look up quickly to see Admiral Andrew Cunningham standing in the doorway. "Admiral Cunningham," Patton said trying to hide his surprise. "Please come in. I'm sorry for not seeing you there. My...my mind was somewhere else."

"Thank you, and no apologies are necessary, General," the Albion naval officer said. "It is good finally see you awake." Cunningham walked up to him and glanced at the datapad. "Catching-up on the war?"

Patton nodded. "A lot has happened since Belgien. I didn't expect anything like this to happen."

"None of us did," Cunningham said, and Patton caught the double meaning in that statement. "However, it's happened and we are trying to use it to our advantage as best as we can. You see, it is not a coincidence that I came here to see you after you had awoken from your coma. The question that many of us have is what to do with you."

Patton gave the admiral a strange look. "What do you mean?"

"Well, your reputation does not fit that of a man who would sit on the sidelines and allow things to just happen. You are a man of action, yes?" Cunningham gave Patton an appraising look.

"I am," Patton answered truthfully. "I want to be where the fighting is thickest."

Cunningham nodded. "Well there are a few options for you then, though I am sure you are aware of the most obvious ones."

"If by 'obvious' you mean my only options, then yes. I can rejoin the fighting in Europa against the Nazis or go to the Pacifica Region to fight the Katanians," he said firmly. "Honestly, neither of these really appeal to me, unless you plan on sending me to go after Reinhard Heydrich and his SS bastards."

Cunningham smiled. "Actually, there is a post that I think you will find far more to your liking," he said coyly. "A command that would be far more fitting for a man of your talents."

"Well, you've built it up this much, just tell me what the goddamned assignment is," Patton said in an annoyed tone. "I don't like being led by the nose on things like this."

Cunningham gave a small shrug and answered, "General, how would you like to fight in the Clone Wars?"

That caught George's attention. Since being reborn in this galaxy, he had attempted to learn as much as he could about that conflict, but he always figured that the fighting in the Terran Sector would remain his priority. "Why give me this offer?"

"I won't bore you with the details, but Senator Roosevelt wants an Allied Expeditionary Force to show how well volunteers fight in comparison to the clonetroopers that the Republic has been purchasing," Cunningham explained.

A smile began to form on Patton's face at the thought of fighting in a galactic conflict. "Who else is part of this Expedition?"

The Admiral smiled as well. "Myself, a few others that have experience but are not deemed necessary to the war effort here in the sector," he explained. "And of course you if you choose to accept the offer."

"Hot damn!" Patton shouted, his worries having been completely forgotten. "Admiral, sign me up!"