Furanstrandir, Norsca
The office was one of many prefabs that had been erected close to the Norscan`s harbor. There were more of them at the Gates site, but here were the warehouses and the handling facilities for the incoming material as well as a runway.
Captain Von der Marwitz watched his former sergeant come in and was taken aback by the changes the man had undergone. He should have fought harder for him, he certainly was not the first soldier to father a child when deployed. The uniform the former paratrooper had worn proudly was partially replaced-the armored vest was still there, but a fur-lined leather jacket had replaced the Parka, the belt buckle was certainly not standard issue and the blue tattoo that went around Müller`s left eye would have brought the Bundeswehr down on him. The dagger hanging from that belt was also not army-issue.
"Good morning Müller and congratulations. I heard everything went well?"
"Good morning Captain. As well as it could-the twins were too big and Sliv had to get a Cesarean, but all should be fine now."
"Should be?"
"Freya and Björn are both red-haired-neither me or Sliv are-and a bit too big. The Shaman was making funny noises about a great Fate-ah well."
"But they are healthy?"
"Very much so, and all is fine."
"Ok then. If you need any medical or other help you know where to get it."
"Thanks, I appreciate that."
"And what is it with that new tattoo-going grunge or what?"
"Nope-consider it my marriage ring-and badge of office."
"Office?"
"Hetdroning`s enforcer-don`t ask."
"So that means you`ll stay here for the time being?"
"Probably will leave feet first, but until then I am in for an interesting time, that is for sure."
"So, how did the Thing of all Tribes go?"
"Not too bad, actually better than I expected. Didn't need to shoot anybody, not really."
"So?"
"Ah well, most of the proposal for the Federation`s Constitution went through, but of course there are a couple of additions-you did not expect them to swallow the Foreign Ministries proposal whole, didn`t you? If Germany accepts you will get the stability we need to properly investigate the Gate and the Norscans get access to more technology and markets. They might even be interested in joining the Reiksbund sooner or later. Here, have a look at your own, I marked the highlights."
"So far so good...what-German settlement is 6th tribe with same rights than the others-uff, ok...slavery is outlawed-very good...Conflicts between tribes may also be resolved by personal combat between Champions-WHAT"
"Don`t get into an uproar Captain, Tasers are allowed..."
45 meters below surface, Sea of Claws, same time
Groluk Rivedwell held his ears against the screwdriver he had placed on the 3rd cylinder. The sensitive Skaven ears were able to discern the slightest error in the flow of steam that went into the mighty machine but presently it seemed that except for a slight leak about the exhaust valve all was fine.
Groluk straightened himself and looked at the complicated machinery around him. Two boilers to his left and right had been loaded with high-quality warpstone before they left base and now produced steam. That drove first two high-pressure pistons and then a much bigger low-pressure one that used the steam better that a single-stage machine. The steam was then condensed back into water before being readmitted into the boilers.
The three steam pistons drove a shaft that turned the cleverest of designs, a screw at the end of the submarine. Such mastery of engineering could only be built by Clan Skryre of course.
Normally the Warlock Engineer would never spend so much time in the engine room as this would kill him quite soon, yet this trip was different. By taking out a part of the crew quarters, especially that for the slaves that normally would have seen to the engine room in relays till they died Clan Skryre had wedged in a warpstone bomb into the submarine. When the sub would reach the end of its trip in two weeks it would enter the harbor of Bremerhaven and detonate the bomb there.
The explosion would kill a crew that by that time would be half-dead from warpstone radiation and if all went well roughly 100,000 Germans. If something would sow fear and confusion into the Germans hearts this would.
Groluk Rivedwell regretted taking part in the conspiracy that would have brought him to the peak of Clan Skryre`s warlock engineers in the Undercity of Mousilonne. Yet this mission allowed him to evade the torture that awaited the losers of such a gamble and make a name for himself even after his demise. He never thought about the sorceries that made him think like that.
Raiffeisen Center, Lasbek, next night
The Plague Monk was exited beyond words. For days he had combed the German landscape in a search for a granary and could not find any. It was strange-all these farmers-and none had a granary. He had found outside storage for these strange roots the Germans seemed to eat so much, but corn and grain had vanished.
The special blessing from Nurgle would only work on grain, but there they would work very well-that was if he could find any. But now his nose had shown him where to find Grain-and yet the building from which the delicious smell emanated looked nothing like a granary. It was a rectangular tower of 30 meters height, made from the strange German seamless stone-a little bit like a building completely made from mortar, how could that be?
The Skaven found a half-open window at last where he managed to squeeze through. Inside he found a huge metal cylinder that filled nearly the entire tower. Climbing ever upwards it finally found a hatch it could wrench open and recoiled in surprise. SO MUCH wheat in one place-and so well dried? How could that be in the wet North German summers? No matter. The Plague Monk emptied all of his flasks into the grain, closed the hatch and went from the granary undetected.
He felt very satisfied with himself-so much grain would bring Nurgle`s blessing to thousands of people.
In fact the bacteria that had been dormant while in the solution spread across the wheat, even if not very quickly as the grains were stored very dryly.
Several weeks later a lot of the grain was transported to Bad Oldesloe, where it was ground to flour. Two workers who did not wear they masks despite the weather allowed got themselves a rather nasty bout of pneumonia which reacted very well to a high dose of antibiotics.
Transported to Kerry in Brandenburg the flour was baked twice before being ground into pre-packed breadcrumbs. Being heated twice past 200 degree killed all bacteria successfully-Germans do not eat porridge or other grain mashes like Imperial farmers as a staple diet.
Close to Dragon Gate, two days later
Korhal Ethelrad watched the backs of the humans bent over their work, using their artless tools in clumsy ways to make ugly fortifications. He did not even allow to think himself that Thyrion may have made a mistake but he certainly had taken too much of the foreigners advise.
The Dragon Gate had withstood the assaults of the treacherous Druchii for 5 millennia and his family had served in its defense for nearly as long. Korhal had known every strength and weakness, any possible move of the enemy might make and its counters. The battles for the Gate had been nearly formalized events, something akin to a dance where he knew all the moves-just that now did no longer.
Just based on the rumor that the Darkies might have acquired explosive weapons capable of breaching the great walls Thyrion was giving all of that up. Instead the General had decreed that extensive defenses in depth were to be erected. Low slung walls were made from unhewn stones and packed earth, ditches dug into the ground that would be mud-filled hell come winter, and turrets and bunkers built which seemed so primitive the Orcs would be ashamed to call them their own.
Even worse was the fact that all of these fortifications were meant to be breached. None of them had the all-encompassing majesty of the Gates, they were low, easy to build and to be abandoned once they were breached by a resolute foe-but built with a weakness to the back so that counterattacks were easy.
Using the humans to build such a disgrace to true elvenkind was just fitting. Of course the humans were not slaves-it would be so gauche to have human slaves and would ring too close to what the Druchii were doing. These humans were free laborers, set free once they reached Ulthuan`s shores or when born from human parents. And yet they were so shiftless and unable to perform but the most basic tasks that their wages were just enough for the food in their bowls, the cloths on their backs and some accommodation. And who would be so stupid to educate such short-lived brutes when it was plain that the results would be poor at best. And when these humans could no longer work for the Asur one could dismiss them. Whether they had any funds to relocate or feed themselves was not an elven concern.
And so these humans were bending their backs and pushing their dirty misshapen limbs to build fortifications that Korhal and all the Elves that defended the Dragon Gate did neither want nor need. Yet they would never do something devoid of honor than refuse an order-especially when Prince Thyrion was around to watch.
Seeadler, Sea of Claws, same time
Captain Werner stood on the navigation bridge of his ship and watched the approaching plane though his binox with apprehension. He would have had a better picture from the flight bridge some 80 meters back on the ship but there he would have looked over the shoulder of Hermann Lenz, the Commander Air Group who was just trying to learn his new responsibilities on the job. Also crowding that bridge were a lot of representatives of several companies and tension was probably high enough to cut with a knife. No need to add to that.
No German captain had ever watched the approach of a fixed-wing plane landing on his ship before, but even a more experienced naval aviator would have judged this approach as strange. The plane clearly had an angle-of-incidence that was sure to stall it and the nose-high position was making it impossible to the pilot to have any look at the carrier while landing. And yet the approach seemed to be under control and actually things were going according to plan.
The Eurofighter`s EJ 200 engine had been able to take thrust-vectoring nozzles, but because the gains were seen as not worth the effort, but for what the planes were needed now different rules applied. Currently the fighter was holding an angle of 24 degree and practically balanced on its engines as the normal aerodynamic steering surfaces were practically useless at this slow speed and this angle of attack.
While the pilot was unable to see the carrier through is cockpit a camera was giving him a detailed picture to his helmet, including info on his approach and how much it deviated from the ideal. The pilot might have as well closed his eyes for now as he was not flying the plane.
The flight computer was given very accurate data from several lasers that tracked the plane and reported speed and vectors with high precision. Using the fly-by-light systems already there the plane flew itself directly into the angled part of the flight deck. The pilot kept his hands on throttle and stick in case something went wrong but for a change nothing did.
All of this allowed for a much slower landing speed and less stresses on the airframe for a given weight. Together with the rune of flying this meant that the "Seeadler" while operating as a "STOBAR" carrier could be used for strike missions as the planes were able to haul serious payload.
With a force that would have qualified the landing as a crash on a more normal runway the fighters hook caught the number-three wire that spanned the flight deck. Pulling against a hydraulic system the plane was slowed to a stop within very few meters.
The first landing of the new Typhoon had succeeded, which to Captain Werner meant that about 5% of getting the small air wing of his "Ersatz" Carrier was done. Time to tackle the rest of the job.
While waiting for the various reports to filter back to him Werner reflected that the ship`s rebuild had made his command into what Germans called an "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (wool, egg, milk and pork giving sow-jack of all trades)
The huge size of the ship had made it possible to put all manners of hardware and personnel on his carrier. He was now host to a mixed helicopter group, a 12-plane air group, a Marine Task Force with some landing craft and the ship had received "Taurus" cruise missiles as well as two 76mm guns from "Sachsen" frigates. Add to that all the C3I gear that an Admiral and his staff might want to have to coordinate the activities of the Carrier Battle Group.
It had made his job much more difficult than before and the rebuild had cost a pretty penny. It also meant that "Seeadler" decided who lived and died in a 1000 kilometer circle around the ship-when he could ever develop the procedures to work the Air Group right.
news/art...yphoon-333501/
Seedorf, North Germany, afternoon next day
The Seedorf barracks are the home of Luftlanderegiment 31 and 32, the latter newly constituted after the Weltensprung. They were currently enjoying a nice autmn afternoon-and a barbeque.
The smell that wafted over the exercise grounds was rather overwhelming and made mouths water. A couple of charcoal grills were going and loaded up with Thuringian Sausages-spicy sausages that were done to near-perfection.
They were served in sliced bread rolls and served with Bautzen Mustard-the latter was slightly against tradition but the guest of honor had insisted.
Two former East Germans watched each other over said sausage-loaded bread rolls. They could not have been more difficult if they had tried and the food between them could very well be the only common ground they could agree Pau was a member of a party descended of the old communist party of East Germany and slightly left of Marx, Gawallek one of the few officers of the old East German army to make a career in the Bundeswehr and hard as nails. It was the General who made the attempt to open a conversation. "I`d like to thank you Frau Pau, and not just for the gift of sausages and mustard-even if they are really nice."
"Thanks for allowing me to meet your soldiers again General Gawellek. And yet I have to admit I do not understand for what you want to thank me. After all I took a platoon of your best into danger on "a totally harebrained mission that will only result in needless killing" if I remember correctly.
"Aehem-that was not for public consumption, but I am sorry for that. No, thanks for making it work-it was a mission clearly worth the risks-and you took the same risks as my men and could not even fight back if push had come to shove. That takes special courage and frankly speaking I would not have thought you had that in you."
"Frankly speaking I did not know it myself until that asshole Krieger started to talk about concentration camps-and too many people started to listen in the Empire.
The thought of Concentration Camps in which Germans had any kind of hand was way too much-I had to try even if the chances were not very good."
"Then you know what I wanted to thank you for. I would have hated German troops to take part on any "Resettlement" or "Punishment expedition" of the wrong kind. You gave us a chance to avoid that when none of us thought we could get out of it.
Thankfully Petra Pau had a full mouth and had enough time to hide her astonishment which would have been as rather impolite. When the meat had passed her gullet she managed a much better "Then we have more in common than love for good sausages. Care to sit down with me to talk this over?"
Both were too careful to drown their discussion-which was quite hot at times-in beer and even managed to write down a cleaned-up version of it later.
It was published both in "Bundeswehr aktuell" as well as the "TAZ"-and if that was not a first, what was?
Headlines from various German Newspapers:
"Glückwunsch Frau Pau" Spiegel *
"Peace in our Time?" Focus
"They make a desert and call it peace" TAZ
"Pau negotiates a new "Schießbefehl" FAZ (Order to shoot-the border guards had orders to shoot-to-kill anybody trying to leave the country-like the Imperial soldiers will with any Beastmen outside their reservation.
* Congratulations Frau Pau, based on a headline the Spiegel ran when Germany was reunified "Glückwunsch Kanzler"
Bundestag, Berlin, one week later
Thomas de Maziere was not the man given to biting nails or punishing his body in other senseless ways when waiting for something he could not control. All speeches had been made, all arguments exchanged and all backroom deals made. His proposal would go through the Bundestag, the German parliament, the majority of the "Grand Coalition" would see to back and closing his eyes to the last speech made and the beginning of the vote count he thought back on why he thought what he wanted was a good idea.
Germany now had a lot of "extraterritorial areas", foreign bases for armed forces, "treaty areas", "No undead zones" and whatnot-mostly to help allies, occupy strategic places and most of all secure raw materials. Never, ever call these areas-even if some were quite big-colonies, that would give the wrong impression-for now.
Nearly all of these areas needed armed forces of some kind. Some of these areas were well-connected to Germany by train, sea or air but some others were definitely counted as roughing it. Especially in areas where the digital communications nets did not reach many Germans were far from happy and needed to be rotated in and out at a high pace.
Also the Bundeswehr wanted to attract foreign talent that they could not supply on their own-Combat Mages or Dwarves came to mind. Yet putting them in the armed forces directly was quite difficult as they were not German citizens.
The law that was now voted on would take care of a lot of these problems, or so the German Secretary of Defense hoped.
§ 1
A Foreign Legion (Fremdenlegion) is to be formed. The Fremdenlegion will be part of the Bundeswehr. Its strength is determined by the federal budget.
§ 2
(1) Every able and grown-up sophont is allowed to enter the service. The rules of hiring new recruits of the Bundeswehr are to be used accordingly.
(2) No one is allowed to enter the Fremdenlegion who is worshiping Chaos gods.
§ 3
Recruits get a new identity for one year. After that the old one is restored.
§ 4
The service time is 5, 10, 15 or 25 years.
§ 5
(1) After 5 years of service a legionnaire gets automatically the German citizenship.
(2) The German citizenship is also granted in case of being wounded in action. The German citizenship may be granted in case of being wounded in service.
(3) The family of the legionnaire gets an unlimited right of residence.
§ 6
(1) The Federal government negotiates a life insurance for the legionnaire. He is free to determine the person, who shall get the insurance sum.
(2) The pay of the legionnaire is determined after the rules of the Bundeswehr.
§ 7
The legionnaire may become warrant officer if he has no German citizenship. Only after attaining citizenship can he become a German officer.
§ 8
(1)The officers of the legion are Germans.
(2)The quote of officers as of § 7 sentence 2 may not be greater than 10%.
The law was passed with 552 against 48 votes.
Pub "Andreasstube", Landstuhl, Germany
While "Section 31" was trying to recruit Ibrahim Dürr, other people were equally busy raising their numbers.
The small pub was located in the old part of the small city, giving it a lot of patina. It was well suited for nice talks under four eyes, which was one of the reasons the three men at the westernmost table were there.
The Andreasstube was one of Günter Koch´s preferred pubs, so it had been an easy choice. The two men with him were clearly imperial wizards, but this had become less remarkable for Germans over the last 2 3/4 years. Still, if one looked closer, which none of the other guests did, it was obvious that these two were not average magic-users.
The taller, dark-haired wizard wore clothing that was directly noticeable as high nobility type, with just enough signs that his status as a wizard was shown. It was equally obvious that he relished this chance to wear something more "stylish" than at home.
Unlike the clearly high-born wizard to his right, the other Imperial screamed "scholar" by his looks. A rather average face, with a mane of prematurely white hair and a robe like the prototype of all regulation robes.
Günter Koch himself wore normal clothing with the special multi-coloured bandana, marking him as a sorcerer in training. Since he already had lived for nearly 4 decades, his experiences alone told him that there was more to these two fellow sorcerers than met the eye.
And his newly activated magical senses showed him a picture like he had seen seldom before. The 2 were clearly Masters of the Winds. "Scholar" Hartmann in special was a very strong wizard, but since the magical senses never could pinpoint magical potential like a counter, Günter was not sure if Roland von Ravensberg´s power was less.
Günter was flattered and tired at the same time. On one hand, his "destiny" the seers of the Order of the Heavens foresaw, gave him learning privilidges and special attention, not to forget that for a person who saw himself as average suddenly having very high magical potential was a really great revelation, but there were drawbacks in Günter´s opinion. Destiny was overrated, especially if the good parts were nearly cancelled out by the bad parts and the expectations from many sides "hanging on you". Some days, Günter wished for nothing more than to live an anonymous life again, but then again he was a very reliable person and despite the dark destiny cloud over his head, Günter liked learning magic.
He knew why the Orders had sent more and more powerful wizards with each visit. Keeping watch on him and his development until German sorcerers could do so. Günter already had developed a good rapport with the two Imperials, but he was still surprised that the next book chest they brought with them, had contained more books than thought.
"I truly am thankful and like the additional books -which I still have to look at-, but is this not too much for a simple beginner like me?"
The two wizards had genuine smiles on their faces. "While we have to keep your humility intact, because it is part what makes you and becomes you, we certainly have to work more on your self-esteem and belief in magic. We know that your world lacked the Winds of Magic, so you all are not really aware just how much is possible with magic.
Helping you is a honour. The arrival of this wonderous land invigorated the research of all Orders and without that we would never have found Arika!"
"Arika?"
"Arika is a girl from Wissenland, with a great magical talent. We might never have found her in the old days. It is because of you, our relatives from another world, that she was found before some vile hedge mages got their fingers on her. She has one of the greatest ever recorded potential and she will surely become one of the best Order wizardress. And I regret to have to tell you, that Arika´s talent probably is greater than your´s, even if she seems predestined for other Winds than you are."
"If you are testing me if I become envious, you have no luck. It is nice that I have a great talent, but if someone has more, well, it is a gift. You get as much or less as Fate will give you."
"Exactly. We wizards should have a healthy competition, but we have to stick together. Your arrival and what followed helped us magic users to get more and better social standing, but there are still enough zealous witch-hunters, who do not know any restraint."
Now Roland von Ravensberg continued alone.
"To put it bluntly, we have come to know you pretty well and we like you. The additional books are part thanks for Germany, so you can be better prepared for your destiny, gift to a person we consider a friend and an incentive to train your talents.
As we told you before, Günter, you need deeper belief in magic and so we give you an additional 'present'."
Hartmann opened his robe a bit and pulled out wooden box, roughly the size and shape of one for pralines or cigars, setting it on the table before Günter.
"We know from you that you miss some things and persons, who did not travel with Germany. While it is not possible and I know you would not do it even if you could, to bring someone through space and time from Earth to here, 'building blocks' can be brought to here. Look into ther box."
Günter opened the box. In it were several pages with instructions and starting points for experimenting and some vials with identification stickers on it. He read a bit and his eyes widened. "Is that really possible?"
"As we told you in former trainings and earlier: Talent and belief in magic makes many things possible. Except for thrice damned Chaos, magic is as good or bad as we make and use it for.
You showed us and therefore both the German and Imperial Orders already how creative you can be, even if on beginners level for now. One day, you will be among the greatest sorcerers who walked this world. We and our superiors are sure that you will add to the lores of magic quite a bit.
So our gift is both from us to a friend and as an additional incentive to learn the greatest art there is."
Günter was obviously moved. "I am honoured to call you friends and my deepest thanks for this gift. Hartmann, Roland, it is a pleasure to know you. Should you need-"
"Don´t mention it. Someday we might need your help, but that may or may not come to be. But if I could get another of those tasty beers..."
Free, happy laughter came from the three sorcerers and it continued to be a nice evening. The next day, Günter brought Hartmann and Roland to the train station, the two Imperial mages had to report to Berlin and Altdorf, how Günter´s and several other new sorcerers development went on and would return after some holidays of their own around Christmas.
When Günter was back home and in his study room, he looked at the books he had gotten, the standard ones and those Hartmann and roland gifted him. It was mindboggling what potential magic had on the Warhammer world. While Günter still had to fully embrace his destiny, he wanted to become a wizard who helped Germany and the Empire as much as he could.
Even if it meant testing borders. It might have been fate or irony that the radio played Drafi Deutscher´s song "Über Grenzen gehen" (Going beyond borders), when Günter looked over the special gifted books, among them "The Book of Vanhel" and "The Lore of the Patriarch", the latter with a dedication by Heinrich Kemmler.
U 220, 50 Meters below surface, Sea of Claws, 2 days later
"You`ve got it, I had it, any questions I am in the rack" Friedel Bauer, XO of U40 had heard more formal changes of watch but the submarine had been deployed for several weeks now and were on their way back to Wilhelmshaven after having monitored the battles around Ulthuan unobtrusively. Even in such a big submarine (at least big in the eyes of the German Navy) there was no room for excess personal and so the deployment was an unbroken chain of watches, 4 hours on, 4 off. The unexplored nature of the Warhammer seas made it impossible to go to a more relaxed posturing during the march to the area of operations or back. So everybody was dead tired and very much dreaming of getting home. The Captain probably more than most as he was the new father of twins and had to leave his wife a few days after their birth.
Friedel was already an hour into his watch when he got a call.
"1 O, sonar here. We have a bogie at 262 degree is not a biological-and certainly none of ours"
"Any hunch what it is?"
"I put it on screen and on your phones-one second please."
The submariner watched as a picture of wavering colored lines appeared on one of his TFT monitors which seemed to drop from the upper edge to the lower. He put his Sennheiser phones on his head, leaving one ear open to so the CIC crew could still get his attention. Very faintly he heard a "SwichSwich" sound and a thrumming behind that.
"What is that-steam engine underwater driving a screw-a dwarf "Nautilus"?
"Don`t think so Sir, we got their baseline during the last exercise and the visit to Barak Varr. Let me show you-one second." Bauer watched as the screen in front of him split vertically and a second set of lines appeared below the first one. The wideness of the colored bands was quite different with some of them entirely missing from the new one.
"The shorties never build two of them the same way-you think it might be variation?"
"Sorry Sir, I don`t think so. There are two frequencies we never heard of them-and the dawi only submerge when they attack-they run on the steam pressure left in the boilers once they dive. They are only good for a few miles."
"Hmm-right you are. Ok, we should have a look before waking everybody up. Let`s do a TMA. Helm, new course 170 for 5 miles, speed 7 knots."
"Couse 170, speed 7 knots, aye sir."
Maneuvering into a course that should be perpendicular to the targets course Bauer hoped to establish a base line that would give a range by triangulation. From that range and bearing speed and course could be calculated-the Target Motion Analysis or TMA.
The Submarine had barely settled on its new course when a different call reached the XO.
"Bridge, this is the skipper, what is up?"
"We have a bogie Sir and are running some TMA. I did not think it prudent to wake you up."
"Ok, keep going. I´ll be along soon."
"Yes sir."
When Rakewitz came to the CIC he took an empty workstation and configured it for him by pulling his key card through a slot. "So, what is up 1 O?"
"Currently we are tracking a bogey, probably a steam driven submarine. Bogey 1 has a course of 278 degree at a speed of roughly 5 knots, distance about 10 miles at 241 degree."
"So what do you thing it is?"
"Only two factions have steam subs Sir, the shorties and the rats. Sonar is pretty sure it is not the dawi, wrong signature-that leaves the rats."
"Interesting, we never met one of these. Nav-check out where our bogie is headed to. How is Battery status?"
"100% Captain"
"Got to love that AIP drive."
"Oh yes."
Both officers were referring to the Sterling engine/gensets that were working off stainless steels blocks heated by magical runes and produced 1600 KW of power together. While they could not drive the submarine to its top speed it was enough for a cruise speed of 8 knots and the hotel load so that the batteries were usually topped off when needed. Quite a nice change of pace from the 206 submarines in which both had learned their trade.
"Captain, this is nav. If Bogey 1 keeps current course and speed he will reach the Minsener Oog within 52 hours. From there he can enter the harbors of Bremerhaven or Wilhelmshaven."
"1 O, I take the ship"
"Ship is yours Sir."
"I want a closer look before we contact Command. Helm, new course 241 degree, turns for 12 knots."
"Course 241, 12 knots aye."
"1 O, bring the crew to General Quarters.
The minutes went by without much talk besides the necessary exchanges. Any word was spoken quietly-U40`s crew was hand-picked and too well-disciplined to underestimate any opponent in this world or any other.
The next 30 minutes went by without anything interesting but a refinement of the Bogeys datum by sonar.
"Captain, MAGINT here." Now this was a station that nobody on Earth would recognize. Magical Intelligence was concerned with detection and identification of magical events. Using several magic detectors the console and specialization for the crew-members was very much "work in progress".
"Captain here."
"Captain, we are getting a reading at 240 degree. We cannot make out much at present. Ask permission to raise the mast for 5 minutes."
The magical sensors were mast mounted and could be raised and lowered like a periscope. Inside the steel hull that had been equipped by runes of warding their detection range was limited. The could be raised under water, but that brought its own set of limitations, including increased flow noise.
"MAGEINT, you get 5 minutes in 3. Helm, slow down to 7 knots, inform MAGEINT when ready."
A few minutes later a mast made of hardwood crowned by a magical detector was pushed upwards by a meter. The console in front of the MAGEINT operator immediately lit up with additional info.
"Sir, I have a very strong signal now. No discernable Wind of Magic-pure Chaos energy. No discernible spells, a very low level of used magic, lots of potential. I have to speculate, but I think we are talking about a great lot of Warpstone there."
"Acknowledged MAGEINT, pull back your mast. Helm, take us up to periscope depth"
Using the time Helm needed to bring the submarine up without making too many hull noise he composed a short sitrep in the terse navy speak and transmitted it once the antenna had cleared the surface. Sending in short-wave he gave a datum for anybody with a receiver to locate which made him cringe. On the other hand there were only very few factions in this world that had such capabilities and all were supposedly friendly.
While the message was send he took the opportunity to take a look around in the visual. Of course that no longer meant that he had to crouch behind some periscope but he mast mounted multispectrum camera relayed its pictures via fiber-optic cable and he could view at a monitor and record what he had seen. Take that Perisher course...
The records of the High Elven beach life were probably still being played back at some tablets throughout the submarine.
Taking the submarine back to 50 meters U40 continued tracking the bogie, coming up again an hour later.
Rakewitz read what he was given in navalese and barely managed not to swear aloud, it would not do morale any good.
"1 O, we are directed to investigate the intruder more closely and if he does not change course we are to convince him otherwise without using lethal force. We are only to fire of fired upon."
Friedel Bauer stepped close enough to communicate with his Captain without being overheard.
"And how do the high and mighty Lord of Bullshit Castle suggest we do that? A shot across the bow won`t work I`d wager."
"The high and mighty Lords omitted to say, which is probably a good thing when you have a career to save and a bad thing if you are us. Lets have a look who is about first."
Speaking up again: "Helm, course 240 degree, turns for 12 knots till we are to one mile."
"Course 240, 12 knots aye."
It took 25 more minutes for the submarine to close with its target-not a very long time by the way of submariner thinking, they are a patient bunch.
"Captain, target is now at 800 meters."
"Very well, Helm, slow down to 8 knots and take us around them. Silent running folks. Sonar-I want a nice profile."
During the next hour U40 made two complete circles around the Bogie and learned a lot about it-the sound signature of its drive, the turns needed by the screw for a given speed, the fact that they could not hold course very well...
It was after the second round that things changed.
"Captain, sonar here. We have increased noise levels from the Bogie, sounds like pumps-target is changing depth sir."
"What do you think 1 O"
"Too long under water Sir, he will want to get his bearings and a change of air"
"Sounds about right. Ok lets see."
"Sir, Sonar here. Bogie 1 has leveled off. We are having increased flow and pump noises."
"Hole in one 1O, very nice. Helm, course 160, depth 50-I want some pictures for facebook"
Both Rakewitz and Bauer were glued to their screens when the 220 sub dived under the Skaven submarine and used the light of the surface to make a visual scan.
"Nicely done crew, thanks. Helm, new course 280, bring us in front of them."
While U40 was distancing itself from the Skaven submarine the officers studied the video and stills.
"Hm, single archimedean screw-efficiency must suck."
"Yes, but rudder is past the screw and they have bow planes-not so bad."
"Yes, and riveted construction-and the plates could fit better. I`d hate to take that baby past 20 meters."
"According to MAGEINT you do not want to enter this monstrosity at all, even when it is in harbor-it radiates like all hell."
"Worse than an old November-soundwise too. No matter-see these two beauties left and right-our friend has fish."
"It gets better and better. I can`t believe that this is a dawi sub-they would not build so crude and they do not use this level of magic."
"Think it`s the rats?"
"Who else"
"Fuck this."
"Captain, helm here. We are 1500 meters from Bogie one as ordered Sir."
"Very well. New course 100 degree, slow to 3 knots. Sonar, warm up the active set and the sting, report when ready."
"Sir, Sonar ready."
"They lets wake these guys up. 1O-one ping only please."
"Da Kapitan-err.. Yes Sir."
In the front of the submarine rarely used parts of the sonar charged huge capacitors and when they discharged a sound wave raced through the sea that was so powerful that the water close to the transducers boiled briefly. Even at this distance the crew of the Skaven submarine must have been shaken up. Rakewitz hoped that this would make the bgie change course as it should be obbvious to them that they hd been detected. Submariners could not be THAT different, couldn`t they?
"Sonar-Captain here. Any change?"
"No Sir."
"Give them 30 seconds and then lets redo."
Again the sea was shaken and there was no result. Rakewitz was thinking about using the stinger-an addition to the active sonar that projected an even stronger sound at a 2 degree angle and that was quite efficient at driving off any sea monsters when sonar cut in.
"New sounds from target-small fast screw-Torp in the water, repeat torp in the water."
"Helm, new course 090, all ahead. Launch noisemaker. Tops-spool up no 2, flood the tube and open the outer doors."
The crew grabbed any handhold when the submarine banked like an airplane and accelerated smoothly. The rapid change of course and the trashing of the twin props left a massive knuckle of turbulence in the water that was punctured by several canisters that emitted gaseous bubbles into the sea. It was very unlikely they would have any effect but it was still SOP-and submariners believe in SOP.
"Captain, Sonar here-Torp has bearing change-we have opening bearing"
"Helm-slow us down to 12 knots. Weapons, I need a solution to target-now."
"Yes Sir. Solution set."
"Match bearings and shoot"
There was no great "whoosh" when the Seahake torp left the tube-the German submarine used oversized swimout tubes that allowed the torpedo to swim out at its own power instead of using a lot of compressed air. Making a radical course change soon after the weapon had left the tube at the behest of the weapons officer who steered the torp via a fiber-optic cable that was streamed behind the "fish" the Seahake accelerated past 50 knots and switched on its own active sonar very quickly as the distance was so short.
"Torp had acquired target Sir."
"Cut the wire and shut the outer door. Reload with Seahake"
"Yes Sir. Impact in .1...the rumbling sound went directly though the submarine with no need for any sonar."
"Better them than us. 1O, I need position, we need to contact command."
"Yes Sir."
"Captain, Sonar here. We have a very strange noise from the Bogie-a crackling."
"Is he breaking up?"
"Too high frequent Sir. It is more like sizzling bacon."
"What the fuck?"
2 Kilometers from Rakewitz`s submarine the warpstone crystal was giving off its energy rapidly, but not in an explosion. Lots of steam bubbles were produced that collapsed after the briefest of time under the water pressure, making the cracking sound.
The MAGEINT sensors told part of the story and made sure that Rakewitz was never questioned about the need for the sinking.
