Same night

The Tent was empty save for a cot, a collapsible desk and chair and only sparsely lit. The lonely man in front of the desk was obviously bone-tired and just had a last look at his paperwork when a blinking light on his pad caught his attention. Opening a menu from the command line he found that he had received a new message, one from "Urmel" His powerful pad had to work a while on the encryption, even when the message was short.
"Cover is likely blown, suggest you get out while the getting is good"

The man seemed to shrink with the message for a while and put his head in the hands as if even this was too heavy to hold aloft without the help of the desk. It was much later when the man straightened and started to type urgently on the computer, obviously having come to a decision. For all of his determination the man shivered from time to time. What he was about to do was dangerous like hell, and if it did not work out a lot of people including him were going to die.

Before the Dragon Gate, Nagarythe, Ulthuan, noon 12 Vorhexen

Given that the siege of the Dragon Gate was now several months in the making Malus Darkblade could have lived far better than in a tent, no matter how sumptuous it might be. He refused such suggestions out of hand-he wanted to be able to pull up the pegs and move the very moment the Gate finally fell as they had to. It was what he was sent to do and given the source of these orders failure was simply not an option. Still, the cold of winter was setting in and the cloth walls were a thin ward against the gusts that went through it at times. He still marveled how the oh-so haughty cousins could seek refuge behind such primitive defenses?

Currently Darkblade was in front of one of a device that was clashing with his his tent and the furniture in it were slender and graceful with sharp edges and the occasional thorn the device was angular, boxy and lacked all aesthetic attributes. It was a metal box from which various rubber cables went, one into a small box that the Drachau of Hag Graef held in front of his mouth.

"So you say the Asur have retreated from their positions, Wolfgang, Son of Böhler. Do you know where they are now?"
The disembodied voice from the box had to rise above strange scratching and beeping sounds but was still understandable.
"They have retreated to a hillside 10 miles in your direction highness. They have taken up defensive positions and are fortifying the approaches and their actual positions. From this hill they can still interdict any traffic that uses the road to the Dragon Gate"
"Can you go after them and kill them there? After all you are supposed to be good at sieges."
"Highness, the Asur may number more than 70.000 warriors and some seriously powerful mages, I have a little over 3500 under my command. I can hold myself in defense-trying to take the offensive will achieve nothing but kill my command."
"So your great victory has achieved nothing?"
"Besides survival of my unit? The High Elves have bled considerably Highness and are on the defensive now. If we were to combine forces against them we could annihilate them for sure."
"Well if you need my help to do the task you have been given, who am I to say no. I will leave a holding force at the Gaste and will meet you in a couple of days."
"Yes Highness."
"Malus Darkblade out"

Before the hills of Conciliation, Ulthuan, evening 12 Vorhexen

This was the second time Areta Bane had been ordered into the tent of Wolfgang Böhler. The first time had been when he had fought a duel in her stead after her rape. She had received a dressing-down for not coming forward with that and withholding information that could have a bearing on the safety of the Auxilia. That the sniper had fought for her, asked for nothing but better reporting and asking nothing in return had left Areta bewildered and in the debt of the German like few other things could have.

She was still wondering why such an accomplished leader would use such a simple and undecorated tent. Neither had the Auxilia`s CO any company besides an orderly that was out of sight for now.
Being asked into the tent again when she could think of no reason for him to do so at all was more than a little frightening. Still there was a protocol to follow that made it possible to work even through such uncertainty.

"Platoon Leader Areta Bane reports as ordered Sir."
"At ease Platoon Leader, have a seat. How are you and your platoon?"
"Well Sir. We had only one loss in the recent battle and two wounded that will be able for light duty again in a few days."
"That is good to hear."
"Sir, I would like to recommend Lurhel Blackheart and his crew for recognition. During the Battle they have been most steadfast and kept firing when many others were getting the shakes."
"That is good to hear and I will see to it. It also does you good to report this-shows you all came a long way. But Platoon Leader I called you to discuss something different."
"Yes Sir?"
"Areta Bane-you have been in this tent before. And then you said whatever I would ask from you would be mine if if it were in your power. Is this still good?"
"Yes Sir"
"Glad to hear it Platoon Leader. I want you to gather about a hundred soldiers that you can trust implicitly. I have a special mission for you."
"Sir?"
"Let me explain..."

Tower of Cold, Naggarond, Naggaroth noon, 14 Vorhexen

Outside the tower the sun was shining from a cloudless sky. It shone on a landscape that was like the city in its midst-sparse, pitiless to those that could not fend for themselves beautiful and deadly. The city-fortress itself was hemmed in by impressive walls topped by long and slender towers. Inside the walls more such towers were on beautify proportions, obsidian color and sharpness and decorated with flayed skin and body parts.

The highest tower in the midst of the city was the only one that had a larger plaza in front of it as space was at a premium. Said had seen it all-markets, parades, festivals brutal torture and elegant duels-and quite often much of it at the same time. Currently it sported something that had never been there in all the centuries since its construction which was utterly at odds with its surroundings. Painted in a light grey a CH-53 helicopter was parked in the middle of it, guarded by some marines that tried to hide their nervousness and often looked for their backup in form of 3 heavy machine guns that covered at least 3 sides of the Plaza.

Liebenau, Lower Saxony, during Vorhexen month

"A bit more forward...more...more...that´s it!"

"Clamps attached... and tightened!"

"Forward locked... Aft locked!"

"Off with it to lift 1!"

"Warning signal is on...trolley underway!"

History has a penchant for repeating itself and Liebenau was now a place were one could witness it directly. Once, during World War 2, Liebenau was the place with Germany´s largest gun powder production and one of the biggest ammunition storages. As a result, there were extensive security and safety measures built and done.
After the war, Liebenau´s gun powder factories were dismantled, but the storage bunkers were kept in use. For decades, the town had the largest ammunition storage in Germany, even nuclear ordinace was stored there.
After the Wende, the military use of the location was steadily lowered down, even if parts of the installations remained military restricted. Civillian use of the opened parts were discussed and planned.
Then came the Weltensprung. The men and women working in Liebenau still find it humorous, how fast even strongly pacifistic people shut up when their cosy life is threatened. Telling tall tales about pacifism suddenly went out of fashion, when literal demons could come after you.

Three years after arriving on Warhammer, the Liebenau complex was once again Germany´s largest ammunition storage and among the 4 locations with nuclear weapons, the natural main point of Germany´s nuclear might. The extensive caverns now sported additional defences, magical seals and the whole complex was expanded continuously, the security measures updated with new knowledge, which the building companies incorporated.
Among the depots there was a chemical weapons store, so if needed the harmless sounding order "Buntschießen"(colourful shooting = euphemism for a heavy gas attack. Germany traditionally colourcoded her chemical weapons, so "Buntschießen" is firing a mixture of types) could be given again. With humanity´s merciless enemies on Warhammer reaching to the "Beyond", certain restrictions had to be rescinded.

Naggarond, Naggaroth, noon, 14 Vorhexen

Jens Heim led his flight of four Typhoons directly up the bay and was pretty sure that the sound effects below were quite impressive due to the high cliffs that dominated the inlet to both sides and that were not much higher than his plane, focusing the sound inward to those on the numerous ships that went through it and undoubtedly watched with open mouths. When he reached the open basin that made up Naggarond`s harbor he pushed the joystick forward till the twin engines produces huge plumes that traversed the harbor at an appreciable part of the speed of sound. Pulling sharply at the harbor`s midpoint his flight climbed at full military power in then full sight of nearly any denizen of the city that was outside.
Formerly of the DLR Jens Heim was now a Captain commanding the 12 Eurofighters that flew of "Seeadler". Currently he was also giving out a life insurance to his fellow Germans in Naggaroth.

Tower of Cold, Naggarond, Naggaroth noon, 14 Vorhexen

The sound of the passing jets revertebrated through the room was situated in the lower third of the tower as to have enough space for the throne room. It had a high ceiling, long slender windows that admitted the pale sunlight and seemed to be made from a single piece of the blackest obsidian only pieces of color were a band of paintings that depicted the treason committed by the Asur on their rightful leader Malekith and tastefully arranged pieces of flayed skin and heads. A number of courtiers were to the walls of the room trying very hard not to be noticed, while soldiers on both sides of the aisle had all the motion of statues and the threat of a basilisk. The center of the back wall was taken by a throne made from more obsidian and shaped like bones and blades. It was occupied by a being in armor which made hard to tell where the metal ended and the being began. In the middle of all this stood an older frail-looking man in German cold-weather gear and six armored figures that towered anybody else in the room.

Joakim Vos could not claim that he was tired-he had enough chance to sleep during the last days, he was just clapped out. The campaign in Skavenblight had been hell itself and by all rights he should be taking a long holiday with Sophie on some beach working on his tan. Unfortunately there was only one Armored Infantry Platoon, and besides Felix, Gotrek and Valten there were exactly six members of it available for any kind of duty.
On top of that he was back in the clown suit. One of the over-the-top creations by Fräulen Meikle before common sense reigned her team in it weighted 750 kilogram, provided partial protection against 12,7 mm ammo and was armed to the gills. That it would not fit into any APC or any other tight place and usually did nothing better than a vehicle or the more practical lighter suits-details, just details in the minds of the technici who had probably overdosed on Superhero or Mecha comics when at an impressionable age. It did impress the locals better than the "working" suit though and that was why he was wearing it now.
Yet instead of feeling embarrassed of wearing somebody`s youthful wank made metal he was thankful for every extra millimeter of armor and every additional 7.62 mm round in the magazine in his backpack. He was currently in an environment which he was pretty sure not to leave alive if things went sour and the extra protection helped.

The Tower of Cold had the effect to intimidate and frighten, actually that was the purpose of it. Its inhabitants would like nothing more than to torture him and his charge and were fully capable of doing so. The warriors guarding Malekith looked as capable as ruthless and he could only hope that the wards of his suit would be proof against the sorcery of the Witch King. And the being in front of him-calling him Druchii was probably a misnomer of sorts-was radiating such a hatred that it easily went through both their armor and the species barrier and seared his soul. Still he thought that the Dark Elves might have something different in mind when they agreed to "six armed guards as escorts"

"I wonder Herr Schäfer, I really wonder what makes you think that you might survive this audience. Far more august beings than "Ambassadors-at large" have not made that and they had better invitations that you have."
The diplomat was the polar opposite of the Druchii leader frail, composed and calm, unafraid and unarmed. How he could stand the full blast of Malekith on the raw Joakim could not say-but he did.
"Your Highness, I am not sure that I will survive this. My escort would make sure that you would not have an opportunity to torture me and will probably drop this tower on your head before they succumb to your soldiers. What I do know for sure is that Naggarond will cease to be a fortress and a city within a week if we do not leave unharmed. Among others the planes you just heared would see to that."
The whole room full of threat and violence seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the inevitable to happen. And waited-and waited some more. The witchlight that came from Malekith`s sword grew more intense and changed color and the Druchii leant forward as if to jump from his seat. He went back to a more relaxed pose so very slowly and a room full of people started to believe in continued survival.
"You threaten me in my own throne room ambassador?"
"Stating facts your Highness, no more."
"I think you amuse me German, you may say your piece then."
"Very well your Highness. In an effort to promote stability and peace Germany hereby declares the sea north and west of Ulthuan up to 100 miles a total exclusion zone-no shipping of any belligerent is allowed into this zone and will be escorted from it. Should said ships refuse the use of lethal force is authorized.
Furthermore we declare a no-fly zone over all of Nagarythe-no party is allowed to use fliers of any description. Both measures will come into effect on next Angertag, 25. Vorhexen."

The voice from the helmet was no louder than before, it had just lost any inflection and seemed colder than before if such a thing were possible.
"Are you declaring war on the Druchii, Ambassador?"
"No Highness we do not. The current war inside Ulthuan is threatening our interests, therefore we will apply these measures against all parties to this war and offer our services as mediators to a peaceful end of.."
"There is no need for any mediation Ambassador, least of all from you. See if you can fulfill your little edicts with life, this is a big sea, a vast sky and our ships are not defenseless. Is there any more you want to utter in this court?"
"One more thing your highness. We have learned that some Germans currently live in Naggaroth who are wanted in Germany for various crimes. We would value your services in apprehending and extraditing these to Germany. This folder contains the names and pictures of those criminals."
"Do you believe me to be your bailiff Herr Schäfer? Do you think I run around with a lantern in my hand and run after your petty pickpockets? You have said you piece-go now while you are able to…"
In the end both parties were very happy to get out of the meeting alive.

It was a couple of hours later that Elric Straker found himself at the feet of his master again.
"Straker-we need to get the Germans under better control and hide them from their erstwhile countrymen. Tell them to secure their manufactories or give them to caretakers if they can keep them running and bring them here. Find me similar-looking slaves and I`ll get my Mother to complete their likeness before we kill them and give the corpses to the Germans. Then we can use the Germans without risking another raid."
"Your will be done Highness. Whom shall I send?"
"Silvar Bloodcrest. He has worked with them successfully in the past."
"Yes Sire."

Hills of Contrition, Ulthuan, 18. Festtag, Vorhexen

Tyrion, Prince and Defender of Ulthuan, Champion of the Everqueen watched the Hills that stretched under him. They struck from the flat Nagarythe countryside as the only salient feature for many miles. A few weeks ago they would have been a lovely sight with their many trees having all sorts of colors from yellow via orange to a deep red, splendid in a late autumn sunshine. Now the trees were barren, their trunks and branches black from the winter rains that drenched them and the Asur that clung to these hills, making everybody miserable.
Tyrion was normally resplendent in white garments and shiny Dragon Armor, sticking out as an example of excellence among a people renown for splendor currently hunkered down under a charcoal grey cape, trying not to show too much skin. Showing oneself reduced the life span markedly when the new Druchii were about. Despite the shivers from the cold the elven Prince was happy about the low-hanging clouds as they meant that there would not be Dragon attacks today. The crashes of explosions below and the occasional crackling of rifle fire indicated that this did not mean that the only danger to his elves were the inclement weather, quite to the contrary. Yet this was a danger that could, for the moment, be contained even if any time the enemy "shelled" him his army paid in blood without many options to reply in kind. The Shadow Warriors attacked the besiegers, especially at night, but like the occasional shelling the Asur had to take was mostly a bloody nuisance yet not decisive.

Tyrion was doubly happy now that he had pushed the "new model" defenses in front of the Dragon Gate through. He had used this experience to direct making even more primitive defenses for these mountains. As long as his archers and spear-carriers kept inside their trenches the Druchii could not shoot them from afar and even their new mortars were not too effective. If Druchii were to close they would come under fire by his Elves and he knew they would not like that experience. While he could not go to the offensive he could at least stay reasonably safe as long as he did not move. Yet quite soon he would have to have resupply-and that could be a bit difficult of he stayed put. Crawling his way backwards until he could be reasonably sure that he was out of sight he went back to what constituted his command post these days. The collection of beautiful tents that would normally offer shelter were not erected now, instead their tarpaulins used to cover a number of hastily dug holes and then covered with branches and dirt. The air inside was cold, damp and smelled of wet earth.
Going through the Asur that tried their best to appear collected and went about their jobs as best as they could Tyrion approached Lady Amelia who lead the mages that accompanied the Prince`s army. She was about to get up from her pail made up from more tarps when Tyrion waved her to remain where she was.

"No need for formalities Milady, duty takes precedence. Have you reached Teclis?"
"Yes Milord, I have. He stands by if you are ready."
"I am."
"Then let us begin."
Speaking words of power the mage dropped back on her pail when nearly all of her muscles relaxed. When she was still she rested there, seemingly not even breathing, until a series of cramps animated her again. When she opened her eyes they were rolled backwards, showing only white with the red lines of blood vessels and her vocal cords strained to produce a voice not of their own.
"Brother of mine, are you there?"
"Yes Teclis, I am. How are you?"
"Better than you I`d wager. What is your situation at the moment."
"We are besieged on the Hills of Contrition. At present we are safe enough as the Druchii and their allies would have to close with us to really hurt us and ever since they have their new allies they seem to have lost their appetite for losses on their side. But if this goes on for a long time we are in trouble as it will be very hard to resupply us-and I think our misguided cousins know this."
"That and they want to have an army left to storm the Dragon Gate and beyond."
"And they think they just have to wait us out. Currently we are set up well-when we retreated we managed to pick up the latest supply wagon train. But if this goes longer than a week or two we are in trouble. Is there any news from your side?"

"We cannot send any large reinforcements in time as you are undoubtedly aware. But it seems that Aurelius has come through with the Germans-after a fashion."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"The Germans will not send troops to fight the Druchii on the ground and will also not attack them from the air. Yet they have declared a blockade for any armed vessel that approaches the Nagarythe coast and will shoot down any flier from coming Angertag."
"That will be useful-in the long run. If Malus Darkblade cannot be resupplied he will Unfortunately in the long run we are dead. What makes the Germans behave like this?"
"Officially they do as we are not directly allied to them-if we were to join their Reiksbund it would be a different matter. As if we would join an alliance dominated by humans. Sub Rosa we are told that the Germans do not want to have another war when they just finished one and are still licking their wounds. I personally wonder if some of them are not quite happy to let us fight it out and see both us and the Druchii weakened."
"Did we ask them about the Germans that help the Druchii?"
"Yes-the Germans have stated that they try to apprehend them but do not take responsibility for their actions as they are not working for the German government and violate German laws."
"They take easy way then."
"Aurelius must have stated something similar and got the answer that the Germans would take responsibility when we take it for anything our misguided cousins do."
"Touché. Well, it looks like we have to take care of our own."
"Yes, as always."
"I`ll try to work something out then. I call you in two days from now."
"Take care Brother."

It was two hours later that an elven warrior stumbled into the tent.
"Herleas Kutur reporting as ordered Highness."
There were several bandages around the warrior, including one around the forehead. His right leg limped and the way he held his left arm indicated that something was wrong with it.
"Herleas, it is good to see you alive. What happened?"
"Honestly Sire, I do not know. I remember attacking the thrice-damned Druchii-and then nothing. My warriors pulled me from the field when they retreated."
"You gave us a chance to overran them and we blew it."
"From what I hear nobody could see the Dragons attack like that."
"Thanks. Now you told me that you have a proposal for me?"
"Yes Highness. To me it looks that we are cut off supplies. And my thinking is-we have all the supplies we need-food and weapons. It is just in the wrong hands at present and I think my warriors are best suited to get at it."
"Now that is an idea, but I do not see how you can do that, it would be a terrible risk and I`d hate to lose my scouts."
" Actually we inherited a toy from the Germans that might help."
"Do tell-what?"
"They call it "Luna" and it is a flying machine that can see in the dark."
"Would you be so kind and show me?"
"Immediately Sire."

Strasse des 17. Juni; Berlin, same time

Kargan Ironbeard was part of a new thing again, even if he was not aware of that. What he just took part in was much bigger than similar events that he knew, it was under the open skies, but a lot of it was just like what he had done a few times in the past before the Germans came.
He would have been quite surprised that no such thing had been done here for the last 60 years or so when the street seemed to be tailor made for it-and he was right about that. And yet German history and Berlin`s special status in a divided Germany had prevented to keep this road from having any kind of military parade for a very long time as had the German attitude towards their military.

It had taken the death of a god to get one-and even then it was not what Kargan was used to. Oh-everything was there-the Kings of man and Dawi who wanted to get a share of the glory won by the troops for themselves and who saluted the units that drove or marched by them. There were the crowds cheering the troops-even if some did not cheer but boo to show they knew nothing. And Kargan had spent by far enough time around the German war machines not to be astonished by their bulk and the rumble they emitted when they drove down the street. He thought they should have presented one of the hovercrafts but was told their less-than precise steering would not make that possible.

The new thing-both for Kargan and Berlin was that both the Germans and their allies paraded down the road in a formation that left gaps for every man, dawi and vehicle lost in Skavenblight, showing to everybody that a great victory had been won-and a great price had been paid for it. Midpoint through the parade the units marched past a pillar made from printed cloth and metal pipes. It showed a column that would be erected in its place. Unlike the pillars of victory erected by German rulers of the past it was simple, round and black.
It had no great adornments and just showed the names of more than 7000 Germans, nearly a thousand Tileans and Imperials and several hundred Dawi. The name were those that should have taken part in the parade but could not as they had paid the price for their victory and the possibility of peace.