Author's note:

Welcome back to this chapter of Kill the World Order.

In the last chapter, I mentioned the Sack of the Vatican and introduced a few new characters.

So here it is. It's a long read, but it's worth it.

For maximum immersion play, Mozart: Miserere in A Minor, K.85 or Allegri: Miserere Mei, Deus, or Hymn of the Cheribum.

If you read the story earlier and recently re-read it. Then you may have noticed some changes to the dates. I decided to make the story take place in 1963 and not 1961. Since a lot of tactics and equipment were used after 1962. In the Greenland arc, you may have also noticed the M14s have converted to AR-15s. That's SF units worked with experimental weapons, such as the ArmaLite AR-15, the predecessor of the M-16. This would be the only major change that will occur. As everything happening will take place after 1963. Also made the switch from Bill Shadel to Ron Cochran because the former was replaced by the latter in 1962.

I've also added the Korean War back in Chapter 5. Since there is a theory that certain events still happen, even if the timeline is changed. They only occur later in time periods sometimes with different people. Anyways, enjoy this chapter and give me any comments.

M for gore and violence.

April 6, 1963 (Eight Days)
Vatican City, Rome

In the heart of the Holy See, in the home of Christianity. After Pope John XXIII has called for the ex-communication of Adolf Hitler from the Catholic Church, and sending out an order for all Catholic and Christian Germans to leave the Nazi party, and exposing all of their crimes and condemning the Nazis "Positive Christianity" as a major herasy. He should feel relieved for lifting such a burden that was placed onto his predecessor that also has fallen onto him, Pope Pius XII. He doesn't know what to do now, for he knows that the Nazis are looking for an excuse to control Catholicism and remnants of Christianity in and out of Europe or worst yet get rid of the Catholic Church, just as how the Nazis eliminated and wiped Judaism and the Jews out of the face of Europe of which they only the tens of thousands of surviving Jews making it into Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, or Portugal, under the status of deceased or in hiding.

The Eastern Orthodox denominations are heavily suppressed, more so than what the Soviets have done in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, etc. In the Baltic, Christianity was heavily discouraged from the Catholic Lithuanians to the Orthodox Finns and Estonians. But encourage the Nazi's own version of Christianity, their heretical "Positive Christianity".

In the Balkans he encouraged the governments to be more secularized, encouraging Nazi groups in those areas to destroy churches and cathedrals that so dare to stand against the Nazi party line. The Caucuses and the former lands of the Soviet Union, Georgian Orthodox, remaining Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs, and Armenian Apostolic have bend down to the Nazi rule, forced to follow their rules and follow whatever script that was pre-approved by the Nazi party. The same is done in North Africa, and the Middle East encouraging puppet governments to have the Oriental Orthodox churches to conform to party doctrine and have begun to tell the North African governments to secularized and remove any political Islamist from their governments.

In Western and Northern Europe, it's the same story. Nazi influence in Protestant denominations in the territories they controlled, with infiltrators in the states of Sweden Finland's churches, controlling every word they say, telling them which scripture to use. The Church of England and Anglicans have left England before Edeath's invasion of the British isles. Other high protestant denominations Lutherans, Calvinists, and several high and low protestant denominations had seen their leaders arrested or forced to follow Nazi ideology, with a minority exiling towards the Americas, which includes Queen Elizabeth II who runs the Church of England in exile.

Pope John XXIII knows and feels that he has done the right thing. He can even say that God, through the Holy Spirit, has led him to such actions. But he feels that in his soul he may have doomed the Vatican, he knew that the seat of power is in danger. He knows preparations have to be made for there's a foe of a thousand swords. He knows that Hitler isn't an evil person, he knows that Hitler also doesn't want an atheistic Europe: with those speeches about how godless the Soviet Union was. Hitler only wished for what was best for his people and his nation. But the manner of how he did it: from the expelling and the countless slaughter of Jews to the arrest of Christian leaders and dissidents against the Party, to even making steps to reinventing Christianity as a whole to "Positive Christanity".

This isn't the right course he should have taken. Especially with that ice general Esdeath. He reasoned that Esdeath, who doesn't believe in God, who believes that she is God, has begun to influence Hitler, especially in the last year. Perhaps it may be Himmler and his never-ending admiration of the occult, or perhaps Amin al-Husseini former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who influenced Hitler's interest in Islam. Rumors are going around that he is secretly controlling current Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hussam ad-Din Jarallah from the sidelines, or working with the Nazis to help spread Islam throughout Europe. Perhaps they've have been abandoned by their lords? So many speculations and theories, and yet no answers. But if Hitler decides to make the attack of the Vatican official, then their fall from grace would be their path, to damnation.

"Perhaps it would have been better for him to be an artist or a priest, not a politician." Pope John XXIII speaks in the garden as he paces throughout it. It was late at night with the moon shining brighter than usual.

April 7, 1963 (Seven days)
Vatican City, Rome

After performing mass at the chapel and the basilica, Pope John XXIII spends time in the Sistine Chapel. Pope John XXIII is seen pacing through the halls of the Sistine Chapel, looking at the artwork. Looking at the artwork created during the renaissance, before his time. Thankfully it was after hours so no one is around to see him act so worriedly, pacing through the halls of the chapel. He had a dream last night. A city in flames of ice and blood. Where the old architecture and churches once stood fell, books and manuscripts burned. Statues destroyed, paintings defaced. Holy relics in gold, silver, and other precious metals and gemstones, removed and melted down, people hanged or crucified laying in the streets. He looks at the artwork, and imagines what will Christ do at this time of need? He goes on his knees and prays to Jesus for an answer or at least to point in the right direction. He looks up and in front of him, it's the painting called The Delivery of the Keys. He gets up and walks back to his office and calls up for a meeting with the cardinals to meet him in the main meeting hall of Sistine Chapel in the morning. Then he calls up the Pontifical Swiss guard's leader, who are in the service of heaven. He gives them an order to call up local priests and monks or anyone in a state of grace to call them up to arms and to shut down the Vatican he gives them another order, they're to protect the holy line.

April 8, 1963 (Six days)

In a secret meeting with about 82 cardinals, he calls for a motion. To appoint a new successor to him. They're all confused at first, because for there to be a new pope then the current pope has to either step down or die. And most if not all of the popes previous to Pope John XXIII all served out to their deaths. He calms them down and has them do the vote as a precaution. Telling them the dream he had the other night, and telling them to vote for one of their own to assure that the papal line of succession isn't broken, for he predicts that the Nazis will come down on the Vatican within a week and control the church with a false pope who agrees with "Positive Christianity". The 82 ballots were cast and counted by a separate cardinal. Many were praying to ask for God to make the right judgment and praying that this wouldn't lead to a schism in the Catholic Church. Whilst the Cardinals are busy voting and counting the ballots. Two cardinals arise to take on the position, Cardinal Montini and Cardinal Lercaro.

But Pope John XXIII calls up the Swiss guard. He orders them to see how many decided to take up this holy defense. Only less than one hundred local priests and bishops appeared, with about five hundred militiamen from the different Catholic societies in Italy. The total number of defenders is 2800 defenders: 100 priests, deacons, and bishops, 200 Swiss guards, 500 militiamen from around Italy, and 2000 in the Vatican military. He worries but is proud to see the help and hopes to see so many more taking up God's call to defend the Holy City.

April 9, 1963 (Five days)

The Cardinals are still in the conclave inside the Sistine Chapel. Voting with neither papal candidate reaching the minimum of two-thirds needed to win. Mussolini witnessed that more and more of his own citizens and soldiers are rallying around the Vatican. He calls an audience with the pope. They discussed the situation. Mussolini listened to his words and worries. As he recently got a call from Hitler about allowing Nazi soldiers in Italy. He assumed it was a mere joint operation to end the constant partisan uprisings happening in Italy, especially with Esdeath being away from Europe. He calms the pope about his fears.

The pope returns to the Vatican and he calls up painters and artist's to the Vatican for a private meeting. But importantly he calls for several contractors to remove statutes and any paintings they may be able to remove and places them in a box. He does the same at Castel Sant'Angelo.

On this day as well. Esdeath arrives at the Brest dockyard in France only a few hours away from Paris in the late night of 2300. She takes a personal train towards Paris, then Berlin. She decided to take the train ride as she wishes to see the French lands under Nazi control rather than by boat or plane. Perhaps spend time in Paris before returning from Berlin.

April 10, 1963(Four days)

Tens of artists and painters and sculptors around the greater Roman area are called to the Vatican. He orders for them to copy the artwork all around the Vatican to the smallest, he orders the sculptors to begin work on copying and pasting the work done on paper. Once they're done they're to place the redesign in a box for future reference they questioned about this but the pope reassured them and paid them for their efforts.

After two and half days of voting and recounts and voting. The cardinals inform the pope on reaching the papal candidate who is to take place for the pope. They've elected Cardinal Montini for the position. In honor of receiving the prestigious position as bishop of Rome, he's allowed to rename himself to any name he wishes. He chose to become Pope Paul VI, should the worse ever happen. But now Pope John XXIII has a successor to follow him when he dies.

April 11, 1963 (Three Days)

Cardinal Montini, now Pope Pius IV also had a similar dream to Pope John XXIII. A burning city, holy relics demolished, people hanged or laid dead in the streets, statues and paintings defaced, books and manuscripts burned. He speaks with Pope John XXIII and they come up with a plan. There are several plans that he wishes to accomplish, with a goal of his to reform the Vatican to Vatican II. But that is to be on hold. For now several of the famous statues such as David and Pieta, the four saints, St. Helena, St. Longinus, St. Andrew, and St. Veronica, have been removed from their positions. Alters were lifted and removed, same with the paintings. Tombs and crypts are opened and the bones and bodies of the saints in them that were laid to rest, most notably St. Peter the first pope. Many of the statues, paintings, the bones of saints, and relics have been removed, and are making their way down to Naples, then towards Sardinia to the final destinations in Spain, Portugal, and Sicily. But if need be, then America.

Esdeath arrives in Berlin. After leaving the Reich Chancellery, Esdeath enters her estate. Once inside she opens up a file. She's been on this since late Feburary. Hoping to use the new group sometime soon. She reads over their names out loud.

"Fu fu fu. I can't wait to see you in action for the Fatherland. Run, Seryu, Bols, Izou, Dorothea, Ibara, Suzuka, Sten, and Mez. I can't wait to see what you will do for the Fatherland. Some of you failed me previously and were weak, but I'm willing to be lenient just this once. My Jaegers" She repeats herself.

April 12, 1963 (Two Days)

In the Vatican, several preparations are being made. Barricades are being set up security has been increased. Files, books, and manuscripts are being removed from the archives. May take days. Pope John XXIII decided to have false manuscripts to replace the originals. Mussolini calls for the audience of Pope John XXIII once again.

He asks for the pope to stand. Immediately Mussolini gets on his knees and begs for forgiveness from the Pope. Only a couple of hours ago he spoke with Hitler. He tells him that Hitler is going to allow his forces to march onto the Vatican. It's most likely an attack against the Vatican. He is forced to play his hand and allows Hitler's troops to move in. With General Esdeath leading the charge. A 1 km perimeter has been planned out, that will prevent people from escaping and that the Italian army can't get themselves involved. Pope John XXIII is taken back from this. Only three days ago he was told that everything is fine, but now his suspicions and his dream are coming true. He asks the pope for anything that he needs he'll deliver. The pope asks Mussolini to allow the several pieces of art, manuscripts, etc. to leave Roman borders and reach Spain, Portugal, and Sicily. And the aid of a minimum of 100 willing souls of soldiers to defend the capital of Christianity.

Pope John XXIII forgives the transgressions Mussolini has against the Vatican and the Church. But reminds him that God will take this into account when he meets him in the courts of heaven on the day of judgement.

Esdeath is making her preparations she sees her men making preparations for the mission. Her men suffered great casualties with over half dying or surrendering in New York and the two thousand that were in Nova Scotia. Only less than one thousand remained of Esdeath's five thousand of her own battalion. She requests Hitler for a few thousand soldiers.

April 13, 1963 (One Day)

He can feel it in his soul. He knows that the Nazis are making the final preparations to attack Rome. All he can see know is the number XV in Latin. He knows that this isn't the first time that the Holy City has been attacked and sacked nor will it be the last. With the last being in 1527, where his 189 guards gave their lives on the steps to heaven. A Swiss guard calls for Pope John to come to the square. He steps out to the balcony. Outside he sees an Italian brigadier general commanding three thousand soldiers all with arms from Carcano M1891, Beretta M38, and German loaned weapons given after the war such as MG 42 and STG-44. They're standing in and around the city followed by a handful of Italian tankettes and vehicles. The Pope is livened up to hear such news that a brigadier general has taken up the call from God.

The general tells him that Mussolini gave him an offer. Either he leaves the army and marches to defend the Vatican or to stay in the army. He chose the former and all of his troops, seeing the same vision from God have decided to march for the Vatican. All of them are discharged without benefits, but the greatest benefit for them is to fight and defend the center of Christianity. The pope is humbled by the brigadier general's sacrifice. The general tells him that thy will be done. Total Vatican defenses: 5800 defenders, four L3/35, three armored cars, and two 75 mm canons

Esdeath's strength is now at twelve thousand soldiers, on top of the nine new members of the Jaegers. All of them are ready to attack the Vatican and begin the drive forward.

Esdeath and her forces are all ready and done forming strategy and preparations. She plans to make the march on the Vatican in the mid-afternoon striking at mid-night when they would be most asleep.

April 14, 1963 (15 Hours until attack)
0900

Hundreds of the Italian soldiers make the necessary preparations, set up the defenses, and teaching several of the priests, deacons, and bishops how to fire. In light of casting away their rank, the Italian soldiers were given white robes with a red Jerusalem cross on the front and back to put on top of their uniform and a white capirote with the smaller cone, while the officers are allowed to not wear the capirote many still chose to wear it because everyone is equal in the eyes of God. Many soldiers cut the robe lengthwise from the waist side to make it better to run in.

Pope John XXIII looks out and he sees the final trucks leaving the Vatican carrying what artwork they could get out of the city, and whatever old books and manuscripts they could get out such as the manuscripts written by the apostles. He processes the halls of the basilica and the Sistine chapel. Seeing the empty halls statue less, devoid of priceless artwork. Any religious relics they could find, the bones of the saints and popes buried beneath the floors were removed with grace and are to be transported to Spain, Sicily, or Portugal. Several important statues have been also removed. He also had Castle Sant'Angelo artifacts, items, and statues to be removed and sent to Sardinia as it was also in the 1 km perimeter. He's also lucky enough to get the inhabitants around the city to evacuate the one km perimeter and even up to five km, the Nazis and Esdeath had set up in advance. Unfortunately, there are still a few that weren't able to leave.

Pope John XXIII speaks with Cardinal Montini one last time. He tells him that he contracted a secret flight with Alitalia. They're to depart in the next hour. Pope John XXIII blesses Cardinal Montini, telling him that by the moment that he dies, Cardinal Montini will become pope. He is to be followed by 80 other cardinals, a few bishops, and eleven Swiss guardsmen are to fly towards the US and in a live broadcast to be proclaimed the new pope. 189 Swiss guardsmen now guard the Pope in Rome along with two cardinals. Alongside a few important items and relics such as the Papal tiara and the Bibles used by the popes of the past.

He stops into the main church that contains the Chair of St. Peter. He's a bit saddened that this chair and a few other sculptures aren't able to be removed and saved in time because of time constraints or weight. But the actual chair has fortunately been removed and sent with Cardinal Montini and replaced by a fake bronze chair. But the rest can't be removed. He inspects the chair one last time imagining St. Peter sitting there with the four saints and doctors of the church carrying the chair: St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Ambrose, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Athanasius. He looks up and sees the alabaster that depicts the holy spirit in the form of a dove. He kneels in prayer asking for St. Peter for guidance in this time of need. As to how St. Peter guided and shepherd the early Christians in the time they were most persecuted after Christ's ascension. Asking God for strength and for Christ his son, to show mercy and to forgive the enemies transgressions against them and to save them from evil.

0945

Cardinal Montini leaves Rome and the borders of Italy. He knows that Europe is no longer safe to land for fear of being extradited to Germany and forced to bend the faith to Nazi ideology. The best place to set up a temporary capital of the Catholic Church is in the United States. He made an arrangement previously with President Kennedy about landing near Washington D.C. Under the pretense of a papal order.

1400 (2:00 pm) (10 hours)

Pope John XXIII performed his last mass. It was an important mass as its on the day they're to celebrate. Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He had the priest, bishops, and cardinals hear the confessions of the Italian soldiers, so at the end, they're all in a state of grace. The time is ticking closer and closer.
Esdeath arrives outside Rome's border. She and her forces are only mere hours away from Rome, she allows her troops to rest up before they're to attack in a few hours.

1430 (2:30 pm) (0930 hours)

Pope John XXIII blesses all of the defenders. Those who are willing to stand up and take up arms to defend the faith with their very lives. For now, all is calm. He has the brigadier general perform one last maintenance check and fortify any unmarked positions in and around the city. They had set up four lines of defense, each defense 250 meters away from the last.

An ABC news crew, tipped off by a source about the Vatican setting up defenses makes their arrival. Reporter Lilly Argento sets up a vantage point where they can see the potential action.

1950 (07:50 pm) (4:10 Hours)

Esdeath is speaking with a general whose forces also joined Esdeath's force. She presents a strategy, a three-pronged attack from the north, south, and west. Since the defenders have their backs on the river Tiber. She and her forces along with six thousand soldiers are to attack from the northeast. The other half of the other general's army is to attack from the west and flank from the south, the general and a few high-ranking officers agree with the plan. She moves ahead with that plan and steps out of the plan.
"God, please forgive us for what we're about to do." One of the officer's thoughts comes up in his mind.

2000 (08:00 pm) (4 hours)

Esdeath, after waiting till nightfall she orders for her troops to form up and advance. They begin to form up and march forward. She orders Run, with his imperial arms Mastema, to scout ahead and reports back. Run flies through the skies in a few minutes he reaches the Vatican. He sees the Vatican and at first, is intrigued and impressed by the architecture of the small city-state. But also sees several hundreds and thousands of the defenders wearing their white robes. He learned about the Vatican, the Catholic church, and Christianity from the Nazi perspective.

"If this were any other event I would love to be here." He comments as he turns around and flies back. He wonders though, why attack such a small city-state for a proclamation they've done. The concept of the separation of church and state should be clear-cut to them by now, but it seems the party is planning to control the church.
He flies back towards base and reports to Esdeath of the number of enemies there are.

"General Esdeath. The enemy seems to be small in number. I believe somewhere below four thousand. While we have more than double the amount. If our plan is to go ahead then we will be able to wipe them out before sunrise." Run briefs on Esdeath.

"Good, Run. I know how to prepare to fight such a group." Esdeath replies.
"Seryu!" Esdeath calls for.

"Yes, General," Seryu reports to Esdeath carrying her imperial arms, Koro, in her arms. She still wore the armor and clothes from her previous world along with the robot arms given to her by Dr. Stylish.

"I want you to be the first attack vanguard. Kill anyone who stands in your way. For these people are against the justice of the Fatherland." Esdeath orders Seryu

"Yes General, for justice." Seryu saluted Esdeath as she walks in front.

"I will love to see this happen." Esdeath speaks to herself.

2355 (Five minutes)

Esdeath and her forces arrive at the front east of Castel Sant'Angelo. In front of them, she could see it, the dome of St. Peter only a kilometer away. She orders to be given a microphone or a loudspeaker. A Nazi soldier of her six thousand man battalion gives her a loudspeaker and a Nazi soldier translates into Italian for the defenders and the pope to hear.

"Attention you enemies of the Fatherland. If you do wish to live then I suggest throwing your weapons down and putting your hands up and surrender. Tell your "pope" to retract such statements against the Nazi party and to subjugate to the will of the Nazi party. You only have five minutes to respond." Esdeath gives an ultimatum to the Vatican and the Pope. Either he retracts the ex-communication and subjugates under Nazi will and abdicate or die.
The ultimatum reaches towards Pope John XXIII's ear in the Vatican. He sends a reply within the five-minute time window. No, he'll not abdicate, subjugate to Nazi authority, nor he'll reverse the ex-communication order or the order for Catholics worldwide to leave the Nazi party. Nor will he allow Nazi ideology to deflower and pervert Christianity and Catholicism any further.

She receives his answer to her ultimatum.
*Sigh* "Can't say I tied." Esdeath responds.
"Now, time for the main event."

April 15, 1963.
0000

"Time for the attack. Seryu attack." She orders Seryu.

"Yes, Ma'am. Koro number five." Seryu stuck her right hand and Koro grew larger and ate her right arm. From there Koro opened his mouth and Seryu produces a large drill. The defenders are mortified by the sight of what just happened.

"Get ready to taste JUSTICE!" Seryu spoke aloud as she charges forward. She drills and destroys the quickly built defenses and drills through the defenders, killing several of them.
"Charge!" Esdeath orders her men to charge forward, and so they did. A 75 mm opens fire at the advancing Nazis. It fires a couple of shells at the enemy, the shells explode and kills several of the charging Nazis. With Number 5 still equipped, she launches the drill at the field gun. Destroying it and killing a couple of defenders who are unlucky to get out of there in time. Koro then replaces number 5 with her regular arm. The first two northeastern and western defense lines have fallen relatively quickly. The defenders fall back to the third defense line and begin to open fire. A shootout occurs, both friend and foe, Catholic and Protestant, German and Italian, fall alike.

An armored car appeared in front of them and begins to open fire its machine guns. Bols moves forward and opens fire with his imperial arms, Rubicante. He burns them with the hellfire that came at them. The defenders stood ground and opened fire but now are burning, the armored car is on fire with its occupants burning and dying in its steel tomb. As Bols keeps on firing, a sniper opens fire on him. He's shot above the heart. He looks up and burns down the building the sniper is in. He's wounded severely.

After taking so much bullet damage, Koro manages to destroy, kill, and eat several of the fleeing defenders. Seryu was also shot a few times, but her nature to pursue on with "justice" overwhelms her more than the pain.

0120

Castel Sant'Angelo falls to the advancing Nazi horde. All of its defenders were slain and cut down by the four Rakshasa demons. Run flies above, throwing his feathers at the targets on the ground killing several of the defenders and observing the battle from the sky.

The four talk at such an easy victory. Until one body begins to move. A priest gets up and begins to make a run for it in a room.

"Sten I thought you killed them all?" Mez begins to berate Sten.

"I did. I released all of their souls. Just as ordered" Sten replies.

"Well, there is still one left alive. So go end him." Suzuka orders him.

"How about I do it? Sten is slow to catch him." Ibara suggests.

"No. It should be Sten." Mez replies.

"Alright." Sten gets on all fours and charges after the priest. He catches up and tackles him down and lifts him in the air, carrying the priest by the head with his hand. The priest managed to grab something.

"Any last words before I release your soul?" Asked Sten.

"Christus, Christus regnat cum omnes gloria eius!" (Christ, Christ reigns with all of his glory!) The priest says his last words as he pushes he presses down on the small detonator. Sten at first confused as he smashes down his fist on his head, destroying the skull. He is confused about what he's saying but now realizes.
Before he gets to tell his comrades, an explosion quickly engulfs him, then it engulfs the whole room. Within a matter of minutes, the explosion engulfs and destroys Castel Sant'Angelo. The bronze statue of Michael the Archangel on top begins to fall. Shockwaves cause the debris to fly every which way, with large stones landing on the Nazis in the streets. The explosion and rubble killed the Rakshasa demons.

In the west and southern lines, have held firm but have fallen. Only remains the last two lines of defense surrounding the Vatican. In the northeastern lines, Esdeath uses her ice powers and freezes several of the defenders to death. While her troops move forward and kill several of the defenders.

0200

The defenders put up a tough fight but fall. The Nazi's overwhelming number has overtaken the southern and western defenses. Castel Sant'Angelo is destroyed. Esdeath and her army have taken over the north and east defenses. Now the Vatican city laid open, the last line of defense before the Pope.

She orders her troops to advance in and kill everyone they can, destroy everything they see and leave the pope, the cardinals, and bishops alive.
Run looks around and sees the carnage that is about to go down. He looks in another direction, a group of civilians is running from the scene. One of them carries something big like a camera while a woman was yelling at them to run. He loosed a few feathers at them striking and killing the woman and wounding the cameraman. He gets in the van alongside the body of the woman and drives off. He doesn't feel the need to chase them down. Perhaps he'll allow another group to finish them off.

In St. Peter's Basilica, Seryu uses number 1 to smash through the defenders. Inside of the Basilica, several have resorted to melee combat. Friend and foe lay dead, blood spilled throughout the holy city. Many fought as if it was 1527, many gave their lives on the steps to heaven. The priests and bishops yell out,
"For the grace, for the might of our Lord! For the home of the Holy." To encourage the men to fight back. Many are gunned down by Nazi troops or killed by Seryu or Bols. Many defenders are dying for salvation found in Christ. With dedication and no capitulation, rather charge against total annihilation, they want no papal commendation nor reincarnation. For they know heaven is their destination.

Izou and Dorothea encounter over thirty defenders with their rifles equipped with bayonets, they begin to attack at once. Izou unsheathes his sword.

"It's time to feed my blade. With your blood." As Izou says, he slays down five defenders at once, then another seven, their heads rolled and guts spilled out and blood rained. The remaining decided to run and fall back but are stopped by Dorothea as she begins to attack one, sucking his blood out of his body, dying a horrible death. She does the same to three others as Izou cuts down everyone else.

In the main room of the basilica the large hall, laid the chair of St. Peter, in front is the Pope and 189 of the Pontifical Swiss guard: in their traditional colorful uniforms along with armor and wearing a black beret. A handful of priests and bishops, the last two remaining cardinals, and several Vatican military forces from Palatine guard, Noble guard, and the Papal Gendarmerie corps who wore their regular uniforms. They all have a gun or a sidearm. For the Swiss guard, they chose a halberd along with a handgun and their rapier. Pope John XXIII gives his thanks for their sacrifice, not only of their life but also everything they knew. He says this as he is surrounded by his guards. For all they knew, if they were to fall, then heaven is their destination.

The Nazis are badging on the door of the main basilica pushing on the door but it's barricaded with pews and chairs. Pope John XXIII says out a prayer. He says the Our Father Prayer a loud and then a Hail Mary. He stops and says a prayer of his own.

"Hail Holy Queen, Mary the Mother of God. Please pray for us sinners. So that your Son, can save us. We poor banished children of Adam and Eve. Pray for us." As he says this a loud grunt can be heard through the other side of the door as the door sways a bit. They're attempting to get in.

"O, St. Peter. He who has been entrusted by Jesus to lead and care for his flock and lambs and given the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. Pray for us." The Pope says and the guards repeat after him, pray for us.

"To the rest of the apostles of Jesus, including St. Paul, pray for us." The guards repeat the last phrase. Another push was made on the door. The barricade began to slowly give way. Some of the soldiers of the Vatican break ranks and went to hold the door.

"To all of the saints and angels in heaven. Pray for us." The guards repeat once more. The barricade is giving more way that the invaders can actually see the inside. The wooden door is breaking its frame.

"And to you, our Lord Jesus Christ. Please show your mercy upon your enemies, and forgive their transgressions and sin and forgive ours as well. Just as how we forgive our enemies now, and guide them to the path of heaven. Please show them your everlasting love and mercy and forgive these attackers now just as how you forgave your crucifiers then. Peace be upon us." Pope John XXIII says his last words, with the guards replying.
"And upon your spirit and our spirits."
"For the grace of our Lord. We may die today, but heaven is yours and our destination." Pope John XXIII tells his guards and soliders.

The Nazis breakdown the door with Seryu using the number 5 to break down the sacred door. Koro soon ate her arm and returned it to it. The men stood with no fear in their hearts. Pope John XXIII yells out one final order.
"Charge! IN THE NAME OF GOD!" He tells his guardsmen, and so they did charging with their swords or halberds. It resulted in brutal hand-to-hand combat and melee combat. Blood and guts spilled throughout the inside holy basilica that holds the chair of St. Peter. The ones with rifles opened fire on Koro, but it was no use. She orders Koro to eat the defenders, and so he did. Grabbing one and chomping down on him almost as it was a fruit, with blood rushing out from the bite. The Pontifical Swiss guard slays down several Nazi soldiers, but many of the Swiss guards are cut down and shot down as well. One of the Swiss guardsmen attempted to attack Seryu, he shouted.

"Deus vult! Deus enim!" (God wills! For God!) But was shot at with her mouth gun. He stands still, almost as if his body can't move. Still holding his sword, he looks over and sees Koro leaping over, eating and killing the Swiss guardsmen in the same manner as to how Koro killed and ate Sheele. He utters his last words before being completely eaten.
"Miserere mei, Deus." (Have mercy on me, O God.) He asks God for mercy and forgiveness. Before he dies, he lifts his sword and stabs Koro at the temple with his sword. This causes Koro to completely swallow him whole.

As the guardsmen continue with their attack many know they're dying for salvation, with dedication. For the Swiss guard, there is no capitulation, annihilation, papal commendation, nor reincarnation. They need none of those for they know the glory of heaven is their destination. They continue with the attack to the last man, to their last dying breath.

0330

Many of the colorful and variety of roses and flowers only share one color, crimson, the shade of blood in the garden.

After over an hour of battle in the Vatican and over three hours since the first shots were fired, the basilica burns. Blood is splattered throughout the walls and floors of the streets of the Vatican and the basilica. Pope John XXIII is forced out with the two cardinals and three bishops, six priests, and two deacons. Of the over 200 who stood and defended the main hall of the basilica and defended the city, only fourteen remained. Pope John XXIII looks all around and sees fires lit. Books and manuscripts burned or destroyed. Holy relics and blessed statues were defaced or destroyed. Priceless paintings defaced. All now lost to time. As the rest have been slaughtered and killed by the Nazi forces of Esdeath. The fourteen are forced out to the St. Peter's square standing.

Pope John XXIII is calm, which is unusual since the others are sad but too exhausted to even cry. Stepping sounds are made. Esdeath. As she walks she approaches the Pope. Run soon landed and approaches her side. Esdeath got close face to face of the old man that she sees as weak.

"Listen to me, Pope. I, Esdeath, have destroyed your capital. Your people, dead. Your guards are exterminated. Now, your weak "God" has abandoned you. I command your guards' bravery but all would rather die than to serve me." Several of the remaining priests and Italian soldiers have been forced out with their hands in the air and stand in a line.

"Look at them." Esdeath commands the Pope. He looks at them and with a snap of a finger, the Nazis of Eseath's battalion shoot them down killing them.

"Now, bow down, kiss my boot and repeat what I say. I deny Christ. Esdeath is greater than Christ. For Christ is weak and Esdeath is stronger. The Father has abandoned you, and the "Holy Spirit" is dead, Mary is a virgin-less whore. All glory to the Fatherland. All glory to the new god!" Esdeath mocks the Pope and blasphemous God, Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, and offends the Mother of God.

"I will do and say no such thing. For Christ gives us strength. He forgives all sins. The Holy Spirit is alive. The Father will bring down his judgment upon you. But I will forgive you. Accept his son, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. But for what you have done and what you have said. I will never bow down to you or repeat those words. For when the Son of Man cometh once again, then you must give an account of your actions for when he judges." Pope John XXIII responded. He responds in a manner that reassures the other thirteen.

"Well then. That will never happen. For I bow to no judge, man, nor god. Not even this "Christ" that you worship as "God" can send me to my knees." Esdeath spoke in a sadistic tone. She knows its irony as she did kneel a few times before the Emperor of the old world. But she knows that back then, she could've easily replaced him and the prime minister with herself.

"I guess I will have you die in the same manner as your "God"." She orders her soldiers to bring the crosses. Several Nazi soldiers arrive with twelve crosses prepped for the Pope and whoever came out alive. They disrobe the pope and crucify him and the same is done upon the remaining eleven. Except for the Cardinals. Esdeath knows that the Cardinals can only elect the new Pope, so she needs them alive. They're all crucified right-side up, while Pope John XXIII is crucified upside down. Done in the same manner as his predecessor, St. Peter the Apostle of Jesus. It soon begins to rain, as expected in April, but it happened at a sad time. Esdeath laughs at the sky. Believing that she claimed a triumphant victory over Christ and his church. For she has executed the Pope and ended the institution of God that is holding back the Nazis from achieving their destiny. She believes that she has beaten and subjugated the strongest deity in the world. But soon Esdeath's judgment day will commence.

She orders her forces to stack the bodies defenders and burn them, so they won't be given a Catholic funeral. She also orders her men to ransack the Basilica, the chapel and any surrounding buildings in the permitted 1 km. So they did, from now until sunrise, they take everything they could. As the rain continues, Run stays back and sees the twelve crucified men. Pope John XXIII calls out to Run. He approaches the dying man.

"Listen to me. I love you and forgive you and your sins from the bottom of my heart. You must find a way to accept Christ, because through him. You will be saved, forgiven, and enter heaven. I only wished I had more time to live. For I wish to spread the truth around the world. The truth and love of Christ. See you, my son. Please pray for peace." Please pray for peace. Those were the last words of Pope John XXIII as he dies on the sunrise of the ides of April 1963. Run considers his words and writes them down wishing to have learned more about the world's religion from its center. But orders are orders, no matter whoever sends them.

April 15, 1963
0820
Vatican City, Rome.

Esdeath is seen walking in the basilica. She looks around at the extensive damage her forces have done to the once holy city. She walks forward, seeing the chair of St. Peter, miraculously it hasn't been damaged much, aside from the bullet marks and shrapnel. She uses her ice ability to lift herself and sits on the Chair of St. Peter wondering how it felt to be Pope. What to do with the two cardinals since they're the ones who elect the pope from their own? Eh, might as well have them adopt Nazi ideology and become a puppet leader for Christians worldwide. She gets down from the chair and freezes it before making it fall and crumble into several pieces. Destroying not only the work of art but what she sees is the center of the Catholic world. Esdeath walks out and orders her troops to count up the casualty numbers and bring the dead home. After that, they're all to return to Germany.

In the ruins of Castel Sant'Angelo. Rubble begins to move. As a large piece of stone begins to move, Suzuka gets up from the rubble, all be it badly damaged. Thanks to Mez, she's able to survive, unfortunately for Mez, Ibara, and Sten, they're all dead. Since she failed to keep her friends alive she ponders on what Esdeath will do to her. For no explicable reason, it turns her really on.

The sacking of Vatican City, as its being called now is seen as a triumph of Nazi ideology back at home, and a triumph for the new "Positive Christianity". But to the Catholics worldwide, its seen as not only an act of betrayal but the show of Nazi aggression and a time of mourning. No less as it took the day after Easter. This attack hits Mussolini close but to the Spanish dictator, Prime Minister Franco, even closer. As his nation has a long history of Catholicism after the Reconquista.

The sacking of Vatican City: 1963
Strength

Vatican City Total Defense: 5,589 total defenders: 3,000 Italian soldiers, 2000 Vatican City Military, 500 Militiamen, 189 Pontifical Swiss Guards, 100 Bishops, Priests, Deacons. 2 Cardinals and 1 Pope. 4 armored cars, 3 tankettes, and 2 75 mm Field Guns.

Esdeath Total Forces: 12,009 total: 1,000 Esdeath battalion, 11,000 Nazi SS soldiers, 9 Jaegers.

Casualties and Losses

Vatican City Casualties: All defenders KIA. Pope John XXIII executed via upside-down crucifixion. 2 Cardinals Imprisoned.

Esdeath's Force Casualties: 2,500 KIA, 5,900 WIA, 3 Jaegers KIA.

Result:

Esdeath's victory

Endnote:

I hope you liked this chapter. Things took a turn for the worst in Europe. I hope you all liked the reference to Sabaton's single, Last Stand.

For some reason, I've had this in the back of my mind. So yeah. The next chapter will be continuing with the Night Hunters, but I also want to make a profile page for each character in this series, more specifically the ones with Imperial Arms and a few others. IDK, I might just go with the former. What do you think?

(Changes: I've recently read about Positive Christianity, aka Nazi Christianity. It's extremely heretical and incompatible with Catholic teaching and Christian teachings in general, so I though I might add that in there. Also added in a few ties into the next and previous chapters in the story. Aug 19, 2021)

Please leave me any comments or suggestions or criticisms of this. See you next week on

Kill the World Order.