Hi out there! Most wishes for a specific tale will be met sooner or later.
near Hof, Franconia, Germany
"Say NO to animal murder!"
"You are nothing but cowards!"
"Shit government! Shit Police! Start the Ecological Revolution now!"
"Down with the Nazis!"
"This World is pristine, keep it that way!"
Claudia Roth, one of the leaders of the Green Party, was very pleased. Despite the short time, the Greens and the Linke (Left Party) had amassed quite a demonstration group.
During the first tentative meeting of Merkel and the Emperor in Bayrischzell, one of these "wizards" of the Imperials, clad in a bluish, star-splattered robe, made an announcement. That soon a clan of Beastmen and other Mutants, topped of by members of true "Chaos-spawn" would cross the border into Germany. The only way to stop them spread their taint was to kill everything that moved in that area, preferably by fire, but being killed they had to.
The following discussion in the Bundestag was heated to say it mildly. While the government defended the transport of Bundeswehr units into the area the Imperial wizard had designated, the opposition, especially the Greens and the Linke, attacked that decision as rash and fascistic.
The Merkel government pointed at the fact, that the Empire gave this information as a gift, the Warhammer experts said that Chaos taint was not something to be taken lightly and the interior minister said that any coming persons showing goodwill would be handled with civility. But that was not enough for the opposition. While from the Social Democrats only the left rim of the party was displeased, Greens and Left called on their followers.
And then the day came when on a forest glade, some kilometers from Hof, soldiers and several hundred demonstrators, among them quite some prominent members of Greens and Left and militant Autonoms, stood against each other.
The Bundeswehr had orders to keep calm and stay ready for anything, but let the demonstrators have their "party".
Speeches were made, most against the government, murder of innocents,...
All in all a rather perfect propaganda for their agendas, was the unanimous opinion of the political leaders at the rally. Angela Merkel would be humiliated and at the end, when Roth and Cem Özdemir would greet the newcomers and show everybody what bigot and hate-filled policies Merkel wanted to begin.
"And the TV teams film everything, this is just great!"
It was roughly 20 minutes later than the imperial wizard had estimated, when the first of these "Beastmen" arrived on the clearing. And to be honest, Claudia Roth began to have second thoughts about the rally´s conclusion, when all could see who or what arrived.
One Thing had far too many eyes, a tentacle arm, andand... it looked like having jumped out of a warped nightmare. Or there was a person looking for all things like a walking piece of manure and smelling like it! Most of the newcomers had strange smells, a cacophony of odours.
The crowd of demonstrators began to get second thoughts as well, but kept staying albeit barely. Cem Özdemir wanted to get over with it, take the propaganda coup for the Greens, bring the Beastmen into quarantine, off camera naturally, and take a hot, long shower.
So Roth and Özdemir walked up to two of these persons, their obvious leaders, one of them "Manure Man" and greeted them. From the corner of her eye Claudia Roth saw two Left members greeting further Mutants.
"Welcome to Germany! I am Claudia Roth and I can assure you, here no superstitious beliefs will harm you!"
She felt sick just from being around that guy, who simply said.
"Wonderful! I greet you in the name of Papa Nurgle!"
Then he shook her hand and something felt different. Claudia Roth began to scream as she saw her hand and arm change form into a putrid mess, but she felt nothing more than a little tickle. Others screamed as well, as the Mutants dove into the demonstrators, killing or infecting them.
Cem Özdemir wondered why he felt not more than a small itch at seeing this happening, while he was growing an eye on his knee and Claudia beside him was turning into a facsimile of the Manure Man.
Claudia Roth could not really believe this happened and said to Özdemir, "Cem, we need to get away..."
That were her last words, because at that moment machinegun bullets dissected her. She was already dead, when the fire of flamethrowers reached her body.
It was, according to the reporters of the ARD-Team at the clearing, 17.13 hours, as a new chapter of history was begun. No matter how bizarre the circumstances had been the first days already, seeing this finally drove the seriousness of the situation Germany was in home.
General Volker Wieker became one of the most discussed commanders in German History that day when he ordered fire to be opened on every being in the clearing. MG 3 machineguns, the successors of the famous MG 42, sent their ammunition into the crowd with the typical "linen-tearing" sound of machineguns of that type. Like the MG 42, the MG 3 would soon have a nickname, the Mutantensäge, the Mutants Saw.
Then, the brought flamethrowers opened up. After incinerating everything and everyone in the glade, the soldiers spread out, burning away everything in the direction the Mutants had come from.
The shock of that day sat deep, but beside a tiny minority, which continued to make trouble, the vast majority of the population saw the reason why General Wieker had been so merciless. This was an enemy you could not reason with.
near Illkirch-Grafenstaden, Alsace, France
Captain Jean-Michel Arofoux sat in the open cupola of his LeClerc Tank. His unit had been ordered to investigate the silence in Illkirch. After the Earth-rocking "Event", communications and travel had been and still were seriously hampered on the complete Northern Hemisphere. So for some days nobody recognized that from the Alsatian town no life-sign came out.
Paris was obviously worried about this development and had sent a military unit to explore the situation on site. After the explorer teams into "Germany" had been attacked, the fact that Illkirch was positioned directly on the former border to Germany, let ill theories grow.
Before the tanks the Vogesen mountains gave way to the Rhine valley and Arofuox heard shocked exclamations in his headset. He himself was in a similar state to his men. All had heard about Germany vanishing, but seeing it was different. Strasburg was still there, but Kehl or Lahr on the German bank of the Rhine ... the Rhine!
Jean-Michel pressed the field glasses to his eyes with the air of a person hoping to be proven wrong.
Merde, Merde, this is, this cannot be right! The Rhine is gone!
Where the River should be there was now land, a marsh landscape.
"No wonder the Strasburgers are totally freaked out... I get a bad feeling about this."
"Mon Capitaine?" came his gunner´s voice over the headset.
"Nothing, Yves, I just remembered that the German 291st Chasseurs (291. Jägerbatallion) is stationed in Illkirch, as part of the French-German Brigade. And Germany vanished! Now what could have happened to a city on former German territory, directly at the borderline and with a lot of Germans there, I ask?"
"Mon Dieu! You mean, but that is..."
"Impossible? I cannot believe it either, but we have all seen the pictures on TV and the unbelievable power of that event directly before our eyes with the Rhine simply missing. I hope it will all boil down to the breakdowns in travel and communication, but I fear Illkirch is now where Germany is. Yves, raise speed, we need to see what happened there as fast as possible."
A half hour later, the 4 Tanks stood on the main street of Illkirch. Or better, where Illkirch should have been. The marsh the tank crews saw from the distance, was here instead of the city.
Reasonable sure that no monsters where in the direct vicinity, the crews left their tanks, taking some amateurish probes. It was then, when Captain Arnofoux began to rant about the injustice of the universe for what happened to Earth, to France. A memorable experience for his men, as the Captain was normally a rather laidback person and more so, the reaction to the rant by other persons!
Suddenly a foreign voice piped up from beside some low-grown trees.
"You are Bretons? But we went east, so we should be in the Empire?! And since when Bretonnia has access to tanks? Such well-formed ones?"
The French soldiers turned to the voice and where shocked. The 10 people looked like having jumped right out of paintings from Rembrandt or Vermeer. Their clothes, their haircuts,...
All were armed with Axes, swords and 3 with some calivers. They looked tough, but the situation made them anxious, their weapons were raised.
But the biggest shock were the 2 persons looking like honest-to-god Dwarfs!
"Jean, are they old Germans? Is this a time-travel like in a Well´s novel? Their French is weird and the accent could be German, don´t you think?"
"No, this accent sounds more like Dutch and the Flores-Men never lived in Europe. And these two guys look even more like real Dwarfs than the Flores-people were. But enough, I have to address them, before this can get ugly!
Hello, I am Jean-Michel Arofoux and we are not in this Bretonnia, we are in France. What is that Empire? And please, there is no need to keep the weapons raised. We are as baffled as you are and mean no harm. Who are you?"
"Never heard of France. Is that a part of Bretonnia, because you definitely sound so? And how come you do not know about the Empire, your neighbouring country?" The man´s tone became more suspicious. "But since the event some weeks back wrought havoc with the World, I give you benefit of doubt - for now. So do not test my patience! But you at least earn an answer to your question. I am Claas DeJong, expedition leader from the great city of Marienburg. We were sent out to investigate what happened during that freak event. And it seems you have some answers!"
His eyes staying pinned on the two heavily-armed Dwarfs standing beside DeJong, Captain Arofoux felt a stomach ache. Something told him that the situation of Earth had suddenly become even more complicated.
Arofoux did not want to let this situation get out of control, so he said. "Monsieur DeJong, I think we both have needed answers. So how about we sit down together and exchange that knowledge? I doubt our respective nations is served well, if we get into a fight, when we can clear up the problems now?!"
DeJong contemplated it, then nodded. "That sounds reasonable."
Chancellor´s Office, Berlin, Germany
We are where Earth should be! The radio telescopes in Effelsberg and Garching confirmed it after days and days of work. The planet Germany is now on was in the same position as Earth. How is that possible? Well, this whole thing is a confirmation of the Multiple-Parallel-Universe theory with an exclamation mark!
Angela Markel looked out the window into the night-sky. Where two Moons circled "Earth". Mannslieb and Morslieb, as the natives in the Empire called them.
But a second moon was not the only addition for Germany, beside Illkirch, the cities Forbach, Lauterburg (F), Eger/Cheb (CZ), Tondern (DK), the Kleinwalsertal (AUT) and all polish territory on the western bank of the Oder (including 80% of Stettin and the polish part of Usedom) had been teleported with Germany.
It seemed to follow some rhythm, because not all territory close to the border had been ripped away with Germany. For instance, in 1919/20 Tondern, despite having voted with four fifth majority to stay with Germany, had been still given to Denmark.
The scientists postulated that it hinted to that regions which at some time in history had been lost due to "rigging" and still had some German citizens, were taken. Another conundrum for the scientists to solve.
But while her scientist´s brain was fascinated by the physics involved, the Chancellor had other things to do. Berlin was preparing for the arrival of the Imperial delegation, with their Emperor and most of the Elector-Nobility among them. A full state visit, as had been fixed in Bayrischzell some weeks earlier. Even more important, as a goodwill gesture by Karl-Franz, a substantial group of Imperial wizards, some had already arrived in the last week, would stay in Germany to screen Germany for magical talent and to help build up magical schools.
The Emperor had been impressed by the prosperity and High Tech of Germany and so both sides looked forward to meet each other "correctly".
(former) EADS Helicopter Research Centre, Ottobrunn, Germany
Workers were in the process of changing the signs and shields of the newly re-christened DASA Helicopter Research Centre. In one of the meeting rooms, the facility managers and military experts were brooding over the sudden changes in operations profile for Helicopters.
"Meine Damen und Herren (Ladies and Gentlemen), I think we all agree that the CH 90 is a fine transport Heli, but not fitting the role of an attack chopper. We have the Eurocopter Tiger and some 'inherited' Apache attack Helis, but they cannot transport troops.
Germany has too few Black Hawks to last long and refitting the Sikorsky CH 53 would be stopgap, especially since we need them for other tasks even more. Considering the mobility of some of our new enemies, we need a Helicopter with a punch and the ability to transport some fast response teams. And we cannot wait for a new type, this takes too long. Planning on a new Helicopter for that has been started, but we need a chopper to be in production soon and with compliance to our diminished resources."
"Yes, but that means we have to reverse engineer or looking in the archives for blueprints of existing types to see which one is the best solution for now."
"Agreed."
"This is not so simple."
"Blitzmerker!"
"I´d say we concentrate on the Black Hawk, since the design is more modern than the CH 53. We might have to sacrifice a couple of them, but it will worth it until the new design becomes available in some years."
"We think that there is an easier solution." The eyes in the room turned to Waldemar Schramm and Anastasia Oberg, two of the Bundeswehr engineers.
"With the reunification, we got Russian equipment from the NVA, among them part of their Helicopter fleets. A small group of Bundeswehr personal and MBB engineers was able to build up a superb working relationship with the Mil corporation. One that survived all political ups and downs and the phasing out of the Russian stuff.
It will not surprise you that this conversation is strictly confidential. We have the blueprints for the new Mil transport helicopter, since it is - was- a joint venture between Mil and us. But that is not so important, some Enthusiasts, hmm, acquired the Blueprints for the Mil 24. It was strictly meant to be kept in the personal archives of said Enthusiasts and so we did. But the situation has changed profoundly."
"One moment, you say we have access to plans for the Hind?"
"Yes, for the D, F and even the avionics-upgraded version. The Hind´s hardpoints are modular enough to accept our weapons without too much fuss. For instance, the Mauser BK 27 and her successor in development can be fitted in the slot for the original 30mm Russian cannon. Not totally without some refitting, but doable in a short time. and Germany still has several Hinds in museums we could repair and re-commission."
"I think Michail Mil will be laughing on the cloud he is on now. Can we fit our turbines into the Hind?"
SouthlandsCoast, the Great Ocean
"Allah Akbar! We did it! This is the coast of our new brothers."
The boat of the Jihadists dipped softly in the waves along the Coastline. The 3 men anchored outside a city, several kilometers away.
"Hamit, are the Korans ready?"
"Yes, the holy books are still in pristine condition. We have 160 onboard. This should be enough to start a movement for the one true religion."
"You know it will be a time until we can go back?"
"Naturally, but what a triumph it will be! On the tip of an army to free our brothers and sisters from the infidels. I nearly cannot await the moment we rededicate Cologne Cathedral to the worship of Allah!"
"All right, we keep our boat here. It is isolated enough to stay hidden until we can sail it into New Mecca."
Clothed like Arabian traders of old, the 3 men began their walk into the Araby city nearby.
Near Albion, The Great Ocean
The Ulthuan barque Biel-Tan´s Breath made steady progress on her north-eastern course. Farseer Teclis stood beside the Captain of the vessel, as stoic as a millennia old tree. He acknowledged his nearing apprentices with a friendly nod. He felt their agitation, but did not comment on it. A Farseer stood a bit outside the normal order and Teclis was of the opinion that if it was important, the two young ones would open a conversation.
As it came to be.
"Master Teclis, if the situation is as grave as we felt it, why do use this method of travel? We have other means, faster means."
"Rafador, the situation might be highly dangerous, but a Farseer cannot haste without reason. If we arrive too early, it can be more disastrous than the situation already is. Time has her own rules. You will understand later.
Sometimes, you have to let some events play out simply on chance, because intercepting would be worse. If they are still alive when we arrive in the Old World, good, if not, then that was to be."
Unnamed Gouvernment Office
Herr Regierungsrat Meyer: "We're deeply sorry, Herr Hündchentreter, but your erronous entries in section 5d of form 53(b) means that we can not process your request for an invasion-battle at this time. If you wish for a revision, please fill out form 86(f) in triplicate."
Herr Hündchentreter: What? That can't be!
Meyer: But yes, look.
Hündchentreter: Okay, where do I get this form?
Meyer: Oh, no problem. Just go to the next office.
After reaching the office the last officials go. Herr Hündchentreter reads:
"This office is open:
Monday: 7.00 AM- 12.30 PM; 03.00 PM - 05.00 PM
Tuesday: 09.00 AM - 02.00 PM
Wednesday: 09.00 AM - 12.00 PM
Thursday: 09.00 AM - 12.30 PM, 03 PM - 05.00 PM
Friday: 10.00 AM - 12.00 PM"
Of course, it is Friday 12.01 PM!
On Monday he returned at about 09.00 AM. Of course there is a column of other people before him. And of course he is waiting at the wrong office. When it is his turn, he is politely sent to the right bureau. Unfortunately secretary Müller is ill and will come back the next day.
On Tuesday he returns at 09.00 AM. But "do not disturb" is at the office. He waited. At 11.00 AM he knocked: "I am having my breakfast pause! Come back in 30!" Then nothing happened. At 01.50 PM he has to go for small chaos boys. When he returned, he sees Mr. Müller going. It is 02.03 PM!
On Wednesday he is there again. Oh wonder, he gets the form. But it is too late to return it.
On Thursday he returned. He wanted to give it Mr. Meyer.
Meyer: Yes, that's the correct form. But unfortunately you need the green form and not the blue one.
After some small arguments he returned to Mr. Müller. He gave the right form.
On Friday Mr. Meyer said: Yes, good. But it is still erronous. You can perhaps go to an advocate to help you.
So he goes to Dr. iur. Schneider. After paying 250 bucks he get the form. It is too late to return it.
On Monday Herr Hündchentreter returned.
Meyer: Yes, you have that form. It is also correct. Now I need o9nly your card of identity.
Hündchentreter: Card of identity? I don't have something like this!
Meyer: No problem. Just got to Bureau 03.63.
There, of course, more people are waiting. The next day it is his turn.
Frau Schmidt: You want an identity card? No problem. So what's your name?
Hündchentreter: Fridolin Hündchentreter.
Schmidt: Place of birth?
Hündchentreter: In the Chaos lands.
Schmidt: Your parents?
Hündchentreter: I don't have any. I am...
Schmidt: No problem. Unkown... Okay... Your nationality?
Hündchentreter: Chaos.
Schmidt: You're no German?
Hündchentreter: No.
Schmidt: Okay, that's a problem. Then I need a passport and a legal visum.
Hündchentreter: -Sighing.- Where do I get it?
Schmidt: Oh, you need at first a passport. You need to go to your embassy for that?
Hündchentreter: But Chaos has no embassy here!
Schmidt: That's a problem. I need to make some phone calls... Hallo Eva, yes I will come to your party next week... No... Yes. But... I understand... Oh, please give me Mr. Schultz... No I have a question... Oh, pity. Whom can I ask then? ... Aha! Thanks!... One moment please, Mr. Hündchentreter... Hallo Jana... Yes, I know... And guess who will be coming to dinner with... Exactly... And she is so shy... Yes... But I have a problem. Is Mr. Lehmann there?... Yes, great. Can I talk to him?... Ah, Herr Lehmann. I have a question. There is a man here, who wants to get an identity card... Yes, he's an Alien... No, chaos... Ah, thank you. Bye...
Ah Mr. Hündchentreter...
Hündchentreter: Chrrrrr, chrrrr... yes?
Schmidt: Good news. You need to go to the office 06.38. There you need a form to get provisorical papers. With them you can return.
Hündchentreter: Is that everything you need?
Schmidt: No, of course not. I need also a photography, please do not smile or look angry on that, your birth certificate, a form of the police that you are no criminal, a tariff statement that you don't import forbidden goods, a form from the ministry... Herr Hündchentreter?
Hündchentreter collapsed.
Herr Hündchentreter was transferred to the nearest psychatric sanatorium.
Frigate "Sachsen", Araby Coast, Southlands
To: Chancellery Berlin
From: CO Sachsen
Oil reservoirs found near Al Hajkk, Araby. According to scientist group, largest found in Earth- Human history. Problematic due to zero infrastructure at station, lacking defence territory and the long distance to Germany. Estimated to be nearly double as far away than the Middle-East on Earth, making convoys a must.
Propose further search for easier access sites and immediate development here.
Cafe Überreik, Altdorf, The Empire
The sudden appearance of a nation who seemed to be an Empire Province looked at through a trick-mirror, produced high waves in Altdorf. It had taken a few days, but soon couriers, town criers and newspapers for the rich began to spread the news. Rumours abounded in the capital city of the Empire.
Some people said that the Emperor and the Electors prepared for a state-visit and were close to the start day, others spoke about the fact that the new "Province" had unseen technological marvels, other persons that the new arrivals were heretics, the opinions varied from person to person. Especially closely examined was the fact that Deutschland had set up something of an embassy already.
The Cafe Überreik was a meeting point of all strata in Altdorf , from the lowly rat catcher to City officials, so all majority opinions on Germany could be heard here in concentrate.
This was one reason Felix Jaegar and Gotrek Gurnisson had made a rest there on one of the duo´s seldom visits of the Capital. While Felix was excited how the Germans would really be, instead of the myriad rumours, Gotrek, in full Slayer mode, thought about what creatures this new land had. Maybe one could help him fulfil his destiny.
Then, for a moment everything went quiet, when a group of four entered the Cafe. The clothes, the way they talked identified them as members of the German Embassy. Their leader, a woman in her late twenties or early thirties, looked over the assembled crowd in the locality, searching for someone. Looking on some type of small picture, she finally zeroed in on Felix and Gotrek.
The two adventurers and friends silently and secretly readied themselves for whatever might come. The group came to their table, then the tall, blond woman asked with a certain assuredness in her voice, "Are you Felix Jaegar and Gotrek Gurnisson? I am Anika Vogler and work for the German Embassy. Which I think is easy to see."
"Now we know your name, but what leads you and your entourage to us?" Was the blunt question from the Slayer.
Anika smiled. "You two are not totally unknown in Germany and I know you are adventurers. I might have a task for you, but details only after the Cafe here goes back to normal." Indicating the surroundings, the six people at the table made small-talk until the Cafe "normalised".
"I need additional security for a talk, local security so to speak. What we know about you is interesting, which makes you a good choice. Among the payment is information about Germany, which you, Herr Jaegar, will find more satisfying than the partly consternating or hilarious rumours."
"Let´s say, we are interested. But before we agree to anything, I want more information about the meeting you want to attend. We have seen and survived many things, so not all 'talks' will be interesting to a Slayer like me."
"Herr Gurnisson, we anticipated such a situation... So can a voyage to Castle Drakenhof stimulate you?" Anika Vogler´s smile never wavered.
Western Bank of the Reik, Bretonnia
Baron Aristide du Lac de Dalambert and his "entourage de guerre" were one of Bretonnia´s most famed "spotter" teams. Little wonder, that they were among the group sent out by the King to investigate the strange silence from Bretonnia´s easternmost possessions. And more, they were the vanguard, a vanguard struggling with the surprise before their eyes.
"Why is this Water here and what Water at that?"
"Sire, we have not deviated from our route! No river of that size should be here."
A serf took a sip of the water to test what it was. "No salty taste and the water has a noticeable flow when I put my hand in. This has to be a river, Sire!"
"The only River this large in several hundred miles around is the Reik. This must be the Reik... What Chaos-spawned sorcery is this? It must be the occurrence weeks back - the strange light bathing our land... yes this must be it. Nothing else was earth-shattering large enough in the close past."
"Milord, what shall we do now? What does that mean for our compatriots and relatives who should live beyond the new riverbed?"
"Claude, that we shall investigate and investigate we will. Prepare the floats!"
The simple floats being completed by the serfs did not look like much, especially in light of such a mighty stream. The Reik, at this late point of his new riverbed swollen on to a breadth of 21 kilometres, was a massive hindrance for anything crossing now.
But the descendants of Gilles the Breton, the founder of Bretonnia, had found out over time how useful a damsel of the Lady could be for warfare. Her wondrous gifts would help the group crossing the stream, even with only such basic floats. But more was not needed with a damsel part of the war band.
After crossing the Reik, the Bretonnians made a careful track into the "interior". There was something all had to stomach, the damsel of the Lady, the Baron, the squires, the serfs. This Land felt different, there was no other way to say it. The damsel and the Baron discussed it at length, why this could be so, but did not come to a conclusion.
"Milord, Milord! Look over there - the signs! They are in Reikspiel! The Imperials must have taken the opportunity to rob our Bretonnia!"
The group had stumbled upon a paved road near a road sign.
"Hmm, what I find more interesting is the road itself, Claude. It is paved with some tarry substance. How could they do it this fast? It is just a month since that strange light-incident. Something smells fishy here and I have to say Altdorf will have to answer some very pointed questions in the near future. Let us search a bit more, then we return. The King must be informed that we might be at war with the Empire soon."
"Milord", one of the scout serfs suddenly points down the road, "there is something coming from there. A large group, I am sure."
"Take cover! We will just look at first, gauging their strength. Maybe we can overpower them. If not, we observe and then return."
Within a short time, the whole war band had hidden in the bushes beside the unusual road. What came into view was clearly a trading caravan. Heavy laden carts, people travelling on foot and horse, some armed and unfortunately in the mind of more than one serf, they were too numerous to attack. But soon their focus shifted onto the faces and the flags in the caravan.
The trading people were not really white, tinted with some yellowish colour and several had very almond shaped eyes. And their heraldry! No Imperial Cross, no twin-tailed comet or any other typical Empire symbol as the Bretonnians had estimated before, the most obvious symbol was a stylised sun with 12 rays spreading out in a circle.
Only the most educated among the 30 men and women had an idea who that could be. After the caravan was well away, a brainstorming was held on the way back to the floats.
"They look like Cathayians to me and still not really."
"What do you mean?"
"I once talked with a trader from Cathay, these guys here look like relatives to them, but do not fully look the same."
"Really, they all seemed the same to me?"
"Maybe they are Cathayians, but the their heraldry was wrong also. The ship of that Cathayian trader did not have any of these prominent Sun symbols."
"Actually," decided the damsel to step in, "I care less who they are, but why these guys are here. I think we are sure that they must come from the Far East. A long distance from the eastern Couronne Marches, no matter who or what lays claim on this changed land. So, for them to be here, they must have started months, maybe years before now. And more, since this group of people never showed up in Bretonnia, neither on ship nor on land, they are here to trade with either Marienburg or the Empire."
"A good argument, milady! I somehow have the feeling that these pseudo-Cathayians are not here for Marienburg. No matter how strong the Marches were changed weeks back, the Merchant City lies quite a way down south, where his Highness is on the way to. No, they are here to trade with the Empire. Now let us think about it. A long voyage by these trader guys and the paved roads we saw leave only one result: The Empire took control of the Marches far earlier than we thought at first. What a pile of incompetence by our border guards!
We have to see to that they will be punished for their lack of competence and corruptness. How else could the Empire gain a foothold in secrecy? Wow, good old Jean-Pierre will throw a fit when we tell him of our foray! I predict that we will become the Vanguard again when we come back here and sack a city as punishment for the Empire´s audacity. I know de Brosioux well enough to know that he will be for a swift punishment action before we re-conquer our lands with a full army."
Herr Hündchentreter in the Psychiatry
After his mental collaps Herr Hündchentreter was sent to the psychiatry of Ochsenzoll hospital in Hamburg. Only after some weeks he was able to communicate again.
Frau Stephanie Wald: Herr Hündchentreter, how are you?
Hündchentreter: I am fine. But why so many pink dragons fly through the air? And why is bread talking to me?
Wald (to a nurse): What did you give him?
Nurse: Only a bit Valium.
Wald: Valium? That can't be!
Nurse: Yes, look here.
Wald: Okay, we should try to stop Valium. Give Librium.
After some days Herr Hündchentreter is only sleeping. Then Librium is banned as well. After yet another week Frau Wald returned.
Wald: So Herr Hündchentreter, how do you feel?
Hündchentreter: I am fine. I think since ages I did not sleep so well.
Wald: Yes. You are reacting somehow strange to some pharmaceuticals.
Hündchentreter: Yes? Really?
Wald: Yes. But that's not a great issue. How do you feel?
Hündchentreter: I am fine.
Wald: And what do you think about formulars and offices?
Herr Hündchentreter collapsed.
After some days both met again:
Wald: Hello again. How are you?
Hündchentreter: I am fine.
Wald: Okay, I think we had this before. But please tell me, how your childhood was.
Hündchentreter: Childhood? I did not have any.
Wald: No childhood? What about parents?
Hündchentreter: No, I did not have any. I was formed by the Chaos in the wastelands.
Wald: Understood. I make a short note, okay. So when was you formed.
Hündchentreter: 2098 IC.
Wald: 2098. We have now...
Hündchentreter: 2520.
Wald (noting something): I see... You had a long life until now.
Hündchentreter: Yes, despite the fights.
Wald: Yes, the fights. You were successful in most of them?
Hündchentreter: Yes.
Wald: You also want to invade Germany?
Hündchentreter: Yes.
Wald: Do you think that's a good idea?
Hündchentreter: Why not. I am serving the Chaos Gods.
Wald: That are your gods?
Hündchentreter: Yes.
Wald: And you feel ashamed about your deeds?
Hündchentreter: No.
Wald: Do you have a bad consience?
Hündchentreter: What's that?
Wald (noting): Aha... That's when you feel to have done something evil and you're sorry.
Hündchentreter: Never had such a feeling. I am proud to be evil.
Wald (noting): Yes...
Wald: It is late for now. I will come back tomorrow.
In her report Frau Wald will write:
Quote:
Herr Hündchentreter had a traumatizising past since his birth. He has tried to forget the childhood, which was so bad, he even believes to be formed by chaos instead of being born. Chaos became his supplemental religion to justify his actions and his existance. He seemed not having developed a bad conscience, which is underlining his bad childhood. And which is the reason Herr Hündchentreter becoming a sociopath and psychpath.
Further investigations are needed.
BrandenburgGate, Berlin, Germany
All streets and places around Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden and Chancellery were packed to capacity with onlookers. Among the roughly 1 million spectators were some protesters, mainly left-leaning parties and human-rights organisations. But these were contained by police forces well out of range and with help from other onlookers.
The wind in Germany had turned in a way. Not only the events at Hof, but the ghastly fate of the Saxon border town of Olbernbaum or the fight at Hellenthal, where the worst had been prohibited, drove fully home what a dangerous world Germany now had to call Home. The re-introduction of a general draft for the Armed Forces, a serious enlargement of Bundeswehr, Bundespolizei (Border Control) and the raise of a Landwehr (Militia) had passed the parliament with ease. Only the most idealistic peace activists among the public were against it. But they were an ever-shrinking minority now.
So the Imperial delegation got a great welcome on their way down Unter den Linden to the Chancellery. It was the first state-visit in more than 400 years where both the reigning Emperor and all Elector-counts were in attendance.
And while it was a show for the Berliners and tourists looking, with living Griffons among Elite troops of the Empire, this Fantasy version of an Early modern Age "German" Army was still impressive even from a modern standpoint. A testament to the leading Power of the Old World.
Emperor or Kaiser, as was the designation in both Reikspiel and German, Karl Franz von Schliestein-Holswig and Chancellor Angela Merkel soaked up the goodwill of the German population lining the streets. They needed it, since both delegations tried to square the Circle.
Germany and the Empire were the best possible partners and the worst enemies all at once. That much was clear after only a week of negotiations.
Karl Franz knew what an exceptional gift the industrial power of Germany was. He had been at the meeting of the German economy leaders and the Imperial Guild-leaders.
"So, Herr Rausch, your firm needs cocoa. Quality cocoa. We, the Far-Land-Traders guild, can deliver you cocoa in large quantities. It will be no problem. About how many sacks we talk?"
"If we talk about standard 25 kilogram sacks, we need in our factory here in Berlin around 200,000 sacks yearly for optimum production."
The silence from the traders had been deafening. And the chocolate factory was a medium-sized specialist firm! What corporations like Thyssen-Krupp or BASF needed in raw materials was beyond the pale. If having the needed stuff, Germany could handily outproduce the whole Old World, maybe even the whole world!
And here laid one problem. For the Emperor it was clear that Germany should be integrated into the Empire, keeping the magicless, but powerful advanced newcomers from becoming a wildcard for Chaos-incursions. But that would not be possible for a long time, both sides were so different, yet strangely similar.
By Sigmar, a unification now would ruin the economy of the Empire, not to speak of the differences in outlook and procedure. Both nations would run amok about the cultural matters. Beside that, the Emperor had the distinct feeling that Germany did think about similar topics, a unification on German terms.
It was the soft-spoken voice of the German chancellor which brought him back to present. They had already retreated into the personal office of the Chancellor.
"Your Highness, we run around in circles. We both know that if we do something not deftly, the damage for both of our realms would be enormous. There might come a time when Germany and the Empire as a whole will think about a unification, but that will be in the future and quite a time at that.
I think the draft both we and our delegations made, is the cornerstone for the future. Your Empire will give us needed raw materials and further help Germany in the build-up of a magical force. Cultural exchanges, trade, help against Chaos...
We will give you weapons and tech and teach your guilds in the production. Germany will further help in the build-up of the Empire´s infrastructure. Better streets, canalisation,... and an alliance against our enemies.
This is less, an alliance and some deep cooperation, than some of both our sides wanted, but not only will it sooth the deserved pride of both our people, it is a start to bridge the gap in thought."
And hopefully we can change some of the Empire´s less nice aspects with an injection of Luther, Kant, Hegel, List and other thinkers, before this world can change us out of what we are. Without the Empire we are likely doomed, unable to build up magical expertise before Chaos will use our weakness. Even with the help of both the stranded Nipponese and the Imperials, it is a race against the clock. The Empire´s leaders know this to an extend and drove a hard bargain, but with the exception of a few, like this madman Leitdorf, they feel that too much would cost them a golden opportunity.
"That is right! The first step on a voyage is always the toughest. But I have to warn you, on paper and I am thankful for the foresights you gave us, it may seem that we will change the way the Old World is on, but Chaos has a knack for making even the easiest things hard. And I do not think that some nations here will relish the change in power."
The Germans have the heart on the right spot, if misdirected. No matter how advanced they are, in some areas we can teach them much and we will. But they need to stand on their own feet until they see that the Empire is the way. Sigmar gave us this gift, I am sure. They are our relatives. By the gods, how is that possible? I heard the explanation about abductions by gods in the far past of history, still...
The humans here are related to the humans of a World -Earth- unbelievable far away. Well, if anybody foolish believed that the Gods do not exist, this is the evidence of their false belief. But enough of this for now. Angela and I have to sign a treaty as pivotal as Magnus fight against Chaos. Let us hope, that we will be as successful.
Reichenau, Switzerland, World's Edge Moutains
Urs Zuralmen fired his assault rifle again, bisecting one of the green-skinned monsters attacking his hometown. It had been bad enough that Reichenau found the world changed after the strange lightshow a month back. But as always, it became worse when one thought it could not. For one and a half week, green-skinned humanoids of various appearance attacked with few respite.
The phones were dead, streets ended suddenly in an alien landscape, no internet, it was hopeless. The survivors of the last days had retreated into the town centre buildings. The rations would be enough for more than a month, but they needed outside help. The hope now rested on the jury-rigged satellite phone. Earth had been changed out of shape and "enriched" by this monsters looking like the Orcs of legend, but maybe the satellites still functioned. If they did, help might come, if not...
Excerpt from reports to the German Government
Helmholtz Geo-research Centre, Potsdam
Based on calculations from satellite orbits and expeditions on land and sea, the Warhammer World - our new Home for good or ill - has a nearly 50% larger equatorial radius, 9,312 km. So the equatorial diameter is 18,624 km, Earth has one of 12,472 km.
Counting in the uninhabitable Polar continents, this world has twice the landmass of Earth. If we just calculate the potentially inhabitable space, this "Warhammer World" has roughly a third more than Earth. This additional land is distributed unequally among the continents in comparison to the Earth landmasses.
While Lustria and Naggaroth, the local "Americas" have few additional land, Naggaroth might even be smaller than North-America, the Old World and the Southlands especially are a good deal larger than their counterparts Europe and Africa. A good example and the only one we can say something really definite about at this time, is the so-called Old World. It is the local equivalent of Europe and with over 14 million square-kilometres a good deal larger. Geologically the eastern border of the Old World lies at the eastern foot of the Worlds Edge mountain range, while the southern frontier follows a line from the southern Sea along the southern tip of the Dragonback Mountains, through the Marches of Madness to the Sour Sea.
This World is rich in biological and metallic raw materials, which in itself is a sign of Terraforming done here. No planet as massive and metal-rich as the Warhammer World should have normal Earth gravity, still it does.
