CHAPTER NINE
To speed up the process, instead of interviewing each member of the British Armed forces separately, MI-5 gathered several officers of the Army, RAF, RN, and Merchant Marine, and regular Marines in the hallway after having driven them from the coast. Also present were several senior officers who had made the selection and because of age or necessity in the home front, could not take part in the main invasion.
They had selected these men as those who would have willingly gone over to Normandy, but did not have the fighting experience being the type more inclined to give orders when instinct was preferable, the types that would greatly increase the causality list in their unit. These were not natural born fighters, more administers, that is, they were more at home behind a desk then going into battle with guns blazing. However, none of them was cowards. In fact, one of them had just made captain after selection for the project.
One man was to speak for each portion of the armed forces, voicing their opinions on the subject. Carmichael was there, giving his findings on the Hitler Youth that Reichart and his two army buddies had encountered. Miss Allison Chalmers had been over in Europe helping the Resistance, her cover as a nurse in a Nazi run hospital, being quite successful. She had smuggled the sperm out of one of the special Hitler Youths, and as Carmichael suspected it was the same as they had used.
"It appears the Germans were ahead of us," he said, "but with one major flaw."
"They killed their masters?" asked the spokesman for the army.
"No, Colonel Brinkers, rather their masters killed them as well as a blast from an explosion meant for our advancing force. Once the Nazis knew that we were coming over, they sent them out as a forefront, but the youths figured they should be in charge. Well Nazis don't like others telling them what to do, so they lined them up and shot them. Some of them had a feeling what would happen so they ran, right into an explosive meant for our men on the shore. Whether they all decided to commit suicide, rush our troops, or Divine Intervention, I will not say. I am more inclined to the latter." He looked over the crowd. "Now I want to hear from the young officers who are going to accompany the passengers. You?"
"So we have these in our midst?" asked a young Navy man.
"Yes, Ensign Parker, we do, but we have a difference. The Nazis made sure these did not have familial attachments. They did not know their fathers or their mothers. We intend to keep the families together, mother and father and children."
"Sir," said a Merchant Marine, "were those the only ones left? I heard a rumor that the Krauts had more in the oven."
Southam's face lowered. "I did not want to say this, but the various nurseries were destroyed, probably on order of the Fuhrer so as not to fall into our hands. The Nazis used us to accomplish this. I only learned recently that certain munitions factories were in reality these nurseries."
He then pointed to a map behind him. "This is the map the RAF and the American Air force was given." He then took out another map. "This is the correct map that only fell into our hands. This has cost us hundreds of man-hours. The pregnant women going on board these ships are the only carriers of the new lives that in time might save us from another like Hitler and of course Tojo. By the way, the Japanese had a similar project, but it failed as well. The usual reasons." He then gave a long lecture of why, and how by studying history and legends, why MI-5 should succeed when the others failed which went down to one thing, being raised in family groups or being treated like objects or possessions.
Parker fidgeted in his seat, his face only a mirror of the fuming inside. He whispered to the Army man besides him. "From what I heard these would be a valuable asset."
"They are future human beings, Parker, as you know. You better keep that nonsense to yourself and listen."
The Major continued. They had one or more fishing trawler used to smuggle refugees from Nazi Germany that they had retrofitted to accommodate twelve more couples plus two officers. "Two of you officers will go on a ship. If there is more than one ship, I will selected another two officers and so on. As soon as you board, I will send a code message telling you your destination. We have negotiated with a representative of that particular country or countries."
"So how are they to exist, sir?" asked a Merchant Marine.
The library had donated several books, a furniture store some chairs, tables, sofas, assorted chest of drawers, and a haberdashery, coats and hats of summer material. "They'll have to start a telephone line. We already have radio contact, so we've given them enough wire for at least twenty houses. The rest they'll have to get from the nearest cities. I am sure that when this generation is born, they'll have no trouble figuring out what to do in about fifteen years. Oh and if they are like Hercules was or like those heroes of mythology, we'll have to be diplomatic in dealing with them. We'll want them on our side when trouble comes."
"As representative of the Royal Navy, I must strenuously object to this unthinkable idea. These people, if you must use the term, are a valuable resource, but dangerous. Why there is no records of their birth. We must keep them under control!" shouted Parker.
"I must apologize for our Naval representative's outburst. I am sure the strain of seeing his friends drown in the attack of September the fourth, addled his mind."
"You are mistaken," said Southam signaling to his aide, "Lieutenant Coverton, take Corporal Carney with you and bring in the information."
A few minutes later, the Lieutenant and Corporal wheeled in a large flat wagon on which was a large metal box that the Major opened.
"These are the passports and marriage certificates belonging to the passengers and I should tell you that on one of them, we will have Sergeant Reichart whose knowledge of agriculture will be a great asset to the new species, as we should call them."
Reichart bowed.
"Now each man will go to the table where I have put a box containing slips of paper. Each of you will draw out one and hand it to Lieutenant Coverton. He will give you instructions on how to reach your particular ship. You will not notify your wives or sweethearts. This is a matter of utmost secrecy. By the way, the ship or ship will go out with the regular fishing expedition to the Grand Banks in Newfoundland. Some, most, or a few of you will be on the regular trawlers which have some refugees from the continent, so your efforts will not be in vain. As for the ones chosen for this mission, Coverton will give your instructions. You will not tell this to anyone, not even to the other officer."
"Why not?" asked Parker.
The Major glared at him. "Because rumors that the Nazis have an organization to smuggle certain of their top officials into North and South America. There may be some even in this room."
Chastened, Parker sat down.
He continued. "An official in the foreign government would supply the necessary equipment, tools, seeds, etc. If a major crisis appears, MI-5 would contact them. The..."
"Wait a minute, how do we train them?" interrupted the Army man, "and what if the children die or are killed? Then the whole project failed."
"To answer the last question, at least one of the twelve couples has medical knowledge. We did not just choose idiots. I won't tell you which one, just in case." With that, he looked at Parker. "And I've made sure the necessary equipment is in his quarters. It's portable and since all the passengers have suitcases or leather satchels, anyone who is inquisitive will have to search through all and the Lieutenant has my authorization to see that does not happen. As for when the children are ready for education, when they reach a particular age, you will notify MI-5 and we will send someone with the appropriate forms and passports. Oxford and Cambridge do accept foreign students."
"Ah their 'grandfather' forgave his daughter for marrying that cad."
"And many more excuses, Captain." He waited while the men, came one by one, ascending the platform.
Parker checked his number. It was seven. He walked over to Coverton, and received the name of his trawler, the Grand Illusion and to make sure that he did not reveal its name to anyone else, two MPS guarded him until he was on board the ship. Parker was certain MI-5 protected the name of the other ships as well.
To speed up the process, instead of interviewing each member of the British Armed forces separately, MI-5 gathered several officers of the Army, RAF, RN, and Merchant Marine, and regular Marines in the hallway after having driven them from the coast. Also present were several senior officers who had made the selection and because of age or necessity in the home front, could not take part in the main invasion.
They had selected these men as those who would have willingly gone over to Normandy, but did not have the fighting experience being the type more inclined to give orders when instinct was preferable, the types that would greatly increase the causality list in their unit. These were not natural born fighters, more administers, that is, they were more at home behind a desk then going into battle with guns blazing. However, none of them was cowards. In fact, one of them had just made captain after selection for the project.
One man was to speak for each portion of the armed forces, voicing their opinions on the subject. Carmichael was there, giving his findings on the Hitler Youth that Reichart and his two army buddies had encountered. Miss Allison Chalmers had been over in Europe helping the Resistance, her cover as a nurse in a Nazi run hospital, being quite successful. She had smuggled the sperm out of one of the special Hitler Youths, and as Carmichael suspected it was the same as they had used.
"It appears the Germans were ahead of us," he said, "but with one major flaw."
"They killed their masters?" asked the spokesman for the army.
"No, Colonel Brinkers, rather their masters killed them as well as a blast from an explosion meant for our advancing force. Once the Nazis knew that we were coming over, they sent them out as a forefront, but the youths figured they should be in charge. Well Nazis don't like others telling them what to do, so they lined them up and shot them. Some of them had a feeling what would happen so they ran, right into an explosive meant for our men on the shore. Whether they all decided to commit suicide, rush our troops, or Divine Intervention, I will not say. I am more inclined to the latter." He looked over the crowd. "Now I want to hear from the young officers who are going to accompany the passengers. You?"
"So we have these in our midst?" asked a young Navy man.
"Yes, Ensign Parker, we do, but we have a difference. The Nazis made sure these did not have familial attachments. They did not know their fathers or their mothers. We intend to keep the families together, mother and father and children."
"Sir," said a Merchant Marine, "were those the only ones left? I heard a rumor that the Krauts had more in the oven."
Southam's face lowered. "I did not want to say this, but the various nurseries were destroyed, probably on order of the Fuhrer so as not to fall into our hands. The Nazis used us to accomplish this. I only learned recently that certain munitions factories were in reality these nurseries."
He then pointed to a map behind him. "This is the map the RAF and the American Air force was given." He then took out another map. "This is the correct map that only fell into our hands. This has cost us hundreds of man-hours. The pregnant women going on board these ships are the only carriers of the new lives that in time might save us from another like Hitler and of course Tojo. By the way, the Japanese had a similar project, but it failed as well. The usual reasons." He then gave a long lecture of why, and how by studying history and legends, why MI-5 should succeed when the others failed which went down to one thing, being raised in family groups or being treated like objects or possessions.
Parker fidgeted in his seat, his face only a mirror of the fuming inside. He whispered to the Army man besides him. "From what I heard these would be a valuable asset."
"They are future human beings, Parker, as you know. You better keep that nonsense to yourself and listen."
The Major continued. They had one or more fishing trawler used to smuggle refugees from Nazi Germany that they had retrofitted to accommodate twelve more couples plus two officers. "Two of you officers will go on a ship. If there is more than one ship, I will selected another two officers and so on. As soon as you board, I will send a code message telling you your destination. We have negotiated with a representative of that particular country or countries."
"So how are they to exist, sir?" asked a Merchant Marine.
The library had donated several books, a furniture store some chairs, tables, sofas, assorted chest of drawers, and a haberdashery, coats and hats of summer material. "They'll have to start a telephone line. We already have radio contact, so we've given them enough wire for at least twenty houses. The rest they'll have to get from the nearest cities. I am sure that when this generation is born, they'll have no trouble figuring out what to do in about fifteen years. Oh and if they are like Hercules was or like those heroes of mythology, we'll have to be diplomatic in dealing with them. We'll want them on our side when trouble comes."
"As representative of the Royal Navy, I must strenuously object to this unthinkable idea. These people, if you must use the term, are a valuable resource, but dangerous. Why there is no records of their birth. We must keep them under control!" shouted Parker.
"I must apologize for our Naval representative's outburst. I am sure the strain of seeing his friends drown in the attack of September the fourth, addled his mind."
"You are mistaken," said Southam signaling to his aide, "Lieutenant Coverton, take Corporal Carney with you and bring in the information."
A few minutes later, the Lieutenant and Corporal wheeled in a large flat wagon on which was a large metal box that the Major opened.
"These are the passports and marriage certificates belonging to the passengers and I should tell you that on one of them, we will have Sergeant Reichart whose knowledge of agriculture will be a great asset to the new species, as we should call them."
Reichart bowed.
"Now each man will go to the table where I have put a box containing slips of paper. Each of you will draw out one and hand it to Lieutenant Coverton. He will give you instructions on how to reach your particular ship. You will not notify your wives or sweethearts. This is a matter of utmost secrecy. By the way, the ship or ship will go out with the regular fishing expedition to the Grand Banks in Newfoundland. Some, most, or a few of you will be on the regular trawlers which have some refugees from the continent, so your efforts will not be in vain. As for the ones chosen for this mission, Coverton will give your instructions. You will not tell this to anyone, not even to the other officer."
"Why not?" asked Parker.
The Major glared at him. "Because rumors that the Nazis have an organization to smuggle certain of their top officials into North and South America. There may be some even in this room."
Chastened, Parker sat down.
He continued. "An official in the foreign government would supply the necessary equipment, tools, seeds, etc. If a major crisis appears, MI-5 would contact them. The..."
"Wait a minute, how do we train them?" interrupted the Army man, "and what if the children die or are killed? Then the whole project failed."
"To answer the last question, at least one of the twelve couples has medical knowledge. We did not just choose idiots. I won't tell you which one, just in case." With that, he looked at Parker. "And I've made sure the necessary equipment is in his quarters. It's portable and since all the passengers have suitcases or leather satchels, anyone who is inquisitive will have to search through all and the Lieutenant has my authorization to see that does not happen. As for when the children are ready for education, when they reach a particular age, you will notify MI-5 and we will send someone with the appropriate forms and passports. Oxford and Cambridge do accept foreign students."
"Ah their 'grandfather' forgave his daughter for marrying that cad."
"And many more excuses, Captain." He waited while the men, came one by one, ascending the platform.
Parker checked his number. It was seven. He walked over to Coverton, and received the name of his trawler, the Grand Illusion and to make sure that he did not reveal its name to anyone else, two MPS guarded him until he was on board the ship. Parker was certain MI-5 protected the name of the other ships as well.