June 26th, 1914, Royal Prussian Military Academy
Seven and a half months.
That's how long Vernier Holst Wilhelm had been training at the Royal Prussian Military Academy.
"(Move it scum!)" Their class officer shouted in harsh German. "(Erik pick up the pace! Tired Dorsch?! Too bad, keep moving!)" He galloped up and down the line as the rain continued to pour down.
Vernier had settled into a comfortable place towards the upper ranks. Watching as the ones in front slowly but surely tired themselves out. During course runs like this, and especially with gear, Vernier had adopted the tendency to set a steady pace for himself throughout the run. Which had worked out quite well for him throughout the year.
The officer circled in front of Vernier, his eyes scrutinizing and critical, but said nothing.
Vernier breathed a sigh of relief as the officer turned his attention on another Cadet lagging. 'Sorry but, better you than me.' He thought mirthlessly.
It was several miles more before the run ended, "Alright!" The officer called, clicking his stopwatch. "(We're done here!)"
The tired cadets all collapsed, some sitting down. Others elect to lean on standing objects like trees. Vernier sat down and pulled out some rations from his bag.
"(I don't get it.)" Erik pulled up next to him. "(You just seem so good at...well everything really!)"
"(What do you want to know?)" He asked.
"(What's your secret?)"
"(Lot's of things. I know my limits, I'm not self-important like half of the people here, I don't have any plans to marry my way to success.)" He bit into his ration again.
Erik sighed, he was the second son of Karl Fugger the Second, born after his older brother Georg Fugger. He was hoping for a prosperous (and hopefully even glorious) military career. "(You say that every time.)" He said disheartened.
Vernier's face softened, "(You're not a bad soldier. I'd probably place you in the top ten of the class.)"
Erik scoffed, "(Yeah right.)" He said sadly,
"(I'm serious. It'll show in your grades. I swear.)" Vernier clapped him on the back.
"(Throwing a pity party for Fugger are we? I wasn't invited.)" Standing over them was Markus Schmitt of Bavaria, son of Gottfried Schmitt the Second, and a self-important ass in Vernier's books.
"(Here to lick my boots? They could use a good shining.)" Vernier retorted.
"(Just wait, I'll make you my secretary soon enough.)"
"(According to the report cards from the last term, it's more likely you'll be mine.)"
"(Why you little-!)" He started towards Vernier and curled his fists preparing to strike-
"(Problem Cadets?)" The officer who'd presided over them earlier had silently stalked over to them, "(If so, I have no problems resolving them more appropriately.)" The officer said with silent malice.
"(No Hauptmann. There's no problem here.)" Markus backed away.
"(Good. It'd be a shame to have such a blemish in the records so close to the end of the year.)" The officer studied them for a few moments longer, before looking for other targets.
Markus took no further chances to harass them and only glared at Vernier again before joining a group of Cadets walking away, it was only then that he noticed that their engagement had drawn a crowd.
"(You guys alright?)" Erena walked out of the crowd over to them.
Erena Vasier was the firstborn daughter of a wealthy but small noble family in Saxony and was the only girl at the Academy. Despite her admirable entrance exams, it took considerable bribing and cajoling to let her in. But once in, she quickly made a name for herself, despite her peers' doubts and biases, proving to be even more capable than most of her classmates. Erik, Vernier, Dorsch, and herself formed a comfortable little quad. Unfortunately, they were also dubbed the ablehnen(reject) squad, considering that they were from the low castes of society compared to many of the other students. After all, where would the bottom of the Wilhelm Family, a noble girl from the border, the heir to a family that was only considered German by the loosest standards, and a shy nobleman who hardly had the penchant for charm many of his colleagues had, end up?
"(Markus spewing bile, as usual.)" Dorsch said quietly.
"(I swear, one of these days you should indict that arschloch for treason.)" Erik spat.
"(Believe me, I'd do that without a second thought if I could.)" Vernier finished his ration bar.
Erena smacked Erik on the head, "(You can't just swear like a sailor any time you wish you know.)" She scolded. Another fact about Erena was that she'd taken on a kind of mothering role for the group, which was useful in deterring them from following through with one of Erik's loose cannon schemes that would probably have ended in disaster (I.E Raiding the officer's pantry, putting insects in Markus's bunk). That and her optimistic nature led her to be the primary motivator of the group.
"(I know.)" Erik rubbed his head.
The castle's bell tower chimed, signaling lunch. '(Just a few more days…)'
Royal Prussian Military Academy Assembly Hall, the next day
"(Alright Cadets! As you know, this is the final term of your year at the Royal Prussian Military Academy! Once through here, you will be granted a commission in a branch!)" The headmaster, a former Major General named Getsien Howiser, boomed from the stage. He nodded to the staff of captains and lieutenants, who began passing out the report cards, which also included final rankings.
Vernier looked down at his report card.
Student: Vernier Holst Wilhelm
Ranking: #1
Commission: Leutnant of the Deutsches Heer
His eyes widened in surprise, not even his siblings had achieved valedictorian here, he looked up at Getsien, who nodded before shouting, "(Valedictorian Vernier Holst Wilhelm! Approach the stage!)"
Vernier walked to the stage, '(Oh schiebe, I didn't even write my speech!)' He began to panic '(I'm going to be the biggest laughing stock in the history of the academy!)'
"(Vernier Wilhelm. You have received exceptional marks in nearly all your classes for the past three terms, I must admit, I initially did not have such high hopes for your success.)" A deathly chill passed over the room, even the faculty looked mortified. Saying such a thing to the member of Germany's ruling family could be considered treason!
Vernier cast his eyes down, '(Even the headmaster thinks I'm just a brat.)'
"(But.)" Getsien continued, Vernier looked up at him, "(You proved me wrong a thousand times over. Be it in the war games we had, or the written tests we subjected you and your class to, you excelled despite the pressure of the Hollezehern name riding on your shoulders. That, is a feat I doubt even I would have the strength to accomplish.)" He turned to the crowd, "(This is the Valedictorian of the Academy! Sieg Vernier!)" He roared,
At first, no one spoke, then Erena took up the call, "Sieg Vernier!" She bellowed,
"Sieg Vernier! Sieg Vernier!" It rippled through the crowd, first as a few lone shouts, then it became a roar from the entire room.
"(I am pleased to announce that as Valedictorian, Vernier will be commissioned directly as a Leutnant in the Deutsches Heer!)" This was greeted with cheers of elation all around. "(Now hear him speak!)"
Vernier gulped, '(Suppose I should get it over with.)' He stepped forward.
"(When I first started here, I had many of the same doubts about myself that many of you had about me. 'Do I even belong here' 'Am I really as spoiled as they say?' and while outwardly, I tried not to let it go to my head, inwardly, I was dying more each day.)" He paused, many emotions coming dangerously close to the surface. "(It reflected in my grades, and my attitude.)" He inhaled, "(And then one day, I met Erik.)"
"(Alright! Break!)" The officer shouted. Everyone collapsed, gasping for air, before shuffling into their usual groups.
And as usual, Vernier simply moved off to the side, alone and apart.
"(Oi,)" A voice cut through his thoughts, "(Why do you look that way. are you expecting a photographer or something?)"
"(I..)" Vernier trailed off into silence, he looked up, a boy about his age, 19.
"(And it's not just today. You're like this every day. Honestly, you'd expect a Prince of Hohenzollern to be more...I don't know, charismatic maybe?)"
Vernier laughed, "(Sorry, wrong prince.)" He shook his head,
"(Sure.)" Without warning, Erik sat beside him, "(So, what's your name. I'm Erik...)"
"(From then on, I found myself acclimating to Erik's ever-present company. And before long, I'd become friends with him. His influence enabled me to exude the charisma he'd first expected, and that's when we met Erena.)"
"(Jesus Christ. Captain Reiner is a beast!)" Erik groaned on his way to lunch.
"(No kidding.)" Vernier agreed.
"(Aw come on love. Just one peck!)" A voice from a hall ahead of them crowed.
"(Bug off before I get rid of what little manhood you have left you lecherous ass!)" A girl's voice, which was surprising as Dresden was a boy's school. Now that Vernier thought about it, he did remember a rumor that a girl was attending Dresden for the first time, but of course, he thought it was hogwash.
"(Now that's no proper way for a lady to act.)" Whoever was talking clearly had less than honorable intentions.
Erik gritted his teeth, "(Vernier. We need to go,)" And he didn't mean to lunch.
"(Right.)" Vernier agreed, turning into the hall where they heard voices, they found, surely enough, a girl cornered against a wall by three boy cadets. The one who did most of the speaking turned to them,
"(Are you so starved for the warmth of a woman that'd you'd take it by force in a dark hallway?)" Erik sneered, "(The Royal Prussian Military Academy has no place for barbarians like you.)"
"(Do you know who I am? I'm Markus Schmitt, of House Schmitt!)" He puffed up his chest indignantly
Before Erik could respond, Vernier stepped forward, "(Do you know who I am Bavarian filth? I am Vernier Wilhelm, 7th son of the Kaiser, and a Prince of the House of Hohenzollern!)" He towered over Markus, who looked at his henchman nervously. They turned around and fled, none of them wanted to get involved with the Kaiser's family in the wrong way, it could spell treason charges.
Markus looked back towards the girl, and decided that she wasn't worth it. Turning around, he quickly joined up with his henchmen and fled.
Vernier turned to her, "(Are you alright?)" Vernier turned to her,
"(I'm fine.)" She brushed her hair back, picked up her books, and began to walk away, before turning to them, "(Thanks...I suppose.)"
The next day, the table that was normally occupied by Erik and Vernier alone gained a third member.
Many of the Cadets shot dark looks at Markus, who slunk back in his seat, embarrassed. Many of the staff shook their heads, Vernier continued, "(Finally, I met Dorsch…)"
Dorsch flipped through a book, his reading glasses reflecting the sunlight. He hadn't made a single friend since he came to Berlin. And he was fully expecting to receive a quiet commission somewhere in the German Colonial Empire. Perhaps New Guinea would be nice.
Suddenly, a ball whizzed past his head, causing him to almost jump out of his skin in fright.
"(Heeyyyy!)" A boy called, "(Over here!)" He pointed towards the ball, and Dorsch realized he wanted him to pass it to them, he looked at the ball tentatively, and before long, the boy had ran over to him.
"(Are you deaf or something?)" He asked harshly.
"(N-no…)" He said tentatively,
"(Hey Erik! Don't be so rude!)" Another person, a girl, came over to them, "(Hey, we need a fourth player. Want to play football with us?)" She asked,
Dorsch was surprised, no one had invited him to play before.
"(Yes or no, simple question.)" Erik snapped,
"(Alright.)" Taking off his spectacles, and putting down his book, he followed them, "(I'm Dorsch by the way. Dorsch Von Schlieben.)"
"(These are the people who helped me every step of the way. These are the people who made sure I didn't give up! And for that, I am eternally grateful.)" Vernier finished. And the entire room erupted in claps. He went over to his friends and sat back down when he noticed something horribly wrong. Erena clutched her report card tightly, to the verge of tearing it, and her face was taught with burning anger.
"(What...happened-)" Vernier began to ask
"(Don't!)" Erena hissed angrily, "(Just...not right now.)"
"(Right…)" Vernier slunk back in her seat, for all the time he'd known Erena, he'd seen her annoyed, he'd seen her scared, heck, he'd seen her embarrassed.
But angry, no- downright pissed?
That was a first.
Post Graduation
"(Hey, maybe you can apply for a transfer-)" Dorsch suggested, as they walked out
"(There's no chance in hell that would happen.)" She scoffed, "(My parents likely made sure of that.)"
"(Can someone please explain to me what's going on?)" Vernier pleaded.
Erik took Erena's report card out of her hands gingerly, like it was a grenade on the verge of going off, and handed it to Vernier
Student: Erena Vasier
Rank: #4
Commission: Leutnant in the Army Medical Service
"(Oh.)" Vernier said weakly.
"(Yeah. Oh.)" Erena snatched it back, "(I swear I'm going to pound that whore of a mother and bastard of a father and make them-)" She dissolved into a rant of swears and other curses. Vernier was amazed, Erena had always struck him as innocent, naive even.
This Erena was anything but.
"(Erena's not just mad about her commission. In fact, I'd say that's the least cause of her anger. She's pissed because when she asked about it, Captain Reiner told her that she was recommended for the job.)" Erik whispered to him.
AKA: Her family bribed the school into giving her a commission in the medical corps.
"(Deep down, Erena is crushed.)" Dorsch said, "(She dreamed of being the first woman to actually serve in the Heer.)"
"(The only thing she can hope for is that war breaks out sometime soon. Then the army will have no choice but to change the commission. The Fatherland will need every officer they can get.)" Erik offered
"(We can hope…)" Vernier agreed
June 28th, 1914, Sarajevo
Gavrilo Princip fingered the revolver that was hidden in his coat. It burned against his skin, he was acutely aware of the gravity pulling it down, at any moment, he expected a police officer to club him over the head, or spin him around and arrest him, but whenever he looked back, he saw no uniform, just a swirling mass of civilians.
He turned back towards the road, one of his nationalist comrades stood several meters away from him, further down the line.
He heard the whir of cars, '(I thought Muhamed would've taken care of them?)' He wondered. Had his friend been arrested? He looked at his friend Nedeljko, who nodded, and flashed his homemade grenade.
'(Idiot!)' Gavrilo wanted to hiss at him, he whirled around, expecting to hear cries of panic, but no. Everyone was fixated on the oncoming motorcade.
'(Don't screw this up Nedeljko. Muhamed has already failed for one reason or another.)' He prayed, and watched as the man pulled out his grenade and screamed:
"Смрт Аустроугарској! Живјела Босна и Херцеговина!" Before tossing it at the car, but it was not to be, because right as he screamed, the driver hit the acceleration and sped forward, and the bomb, with it's delayed action fuse instead exploded under the fourth car in the procession.
Panic followed soon after, and police and soldiers flooded the area. '(Damn it! Both Nedeljko and Muhamed failed!)' He looked around hoping to get a shot on the Archduke in, but the car had already sped past him, and Gavrilo had no choice, but to run.
Some hours later
Gavrilo had failed. He had no doubts about that, Nedeljko had been captured after his attempt at suicide had failed miserably, and by now he'd have undoubtedly talked in the face of severe police beatings.
'(Perhaps today was not the day.)' He thought miserably, staring down on his coffee.
Suddenly, he heard the sounds of a crowd amassing. '(Did the Archduke make a return?)' He ran out of the cafe, wielding his revolver, only to come face to face with something even stranger.
A giant temple, resembling those of Greece, was blocking an entire plaza but instead of doors, or even a front, there was nothing but darkness pouring out of it.
"(What is it?)"
"(This wasn't here before.)"
"(It's an act of God!)"
And then, an unearthly screech came out of the Gate, followed the beating of wings and thundering of hooves.
'(Dear god, It's begun. Hell's armies have begun to storm the Earth. It's Armageddon.)'
A/N: Welcome both Old and new fans to my WWI Gate Fanfiction! Sorry to keep you waiting so long, but as you can see, this is WAY better than the 1st Version. Of course, credit goes where credit is due: I'd like to thank Reichsmarschall for reviewing and correcting Historical mistakes as well as improving my knowledge of how the Imperial German Army worked.
If you'd like to join my editing team, PM me here or refer to one of the following:
Discord: Solmanthe1st#2859
Email: irosokuyammamoto