Chapter 6: Heat and Change of Fate
Gerhard's POV
It was just a normal day if you consider being another world where there is magic and there is a witch version of yourself normal. Anyway, after having an excellent breakfast made by Muto, Yoshika and Lynnette and I had decided to check on my Me-262. I was happy to meet my old instructor, Stigler. It was easy to see that he was proud to see what I accomplished. He quite impressed with the jet I flew. Anyway, I was doing some checks on the jet engine. It was hard enough doing the work without a mechanic's help and the heat wasn't helping either.
"Hey, do you need help with that?" I turned around and saw that it was Yeager, who I saw was bare-chested and was covered with oil and grease. I figured he was working on his plane when he saw me working on mine.
"Yeah, some help would be appreciated" I said as wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"So, this is a jet engine? I bet it go real fast" Charles said as he kneeled down to look at the engine.
"Ja that is true but this jet is not without its problems Charles, this plane is not easy plane to fly" I said.
"I agree with you there as seeing that this the first of its kind, I am not surprise you and the rest who fly this plane would have trouble like how I heard from Greg that an American Ace by the name of Richard Bong who had forty kills dies while testing a new jet fighter" Charles said.
"That is unfortunate" I said. Just then we heard a loud droning noise coming from the hangar. We both looked at each other.
"What the hell is that?" Charles said loudly still was barely audible over the droning.
"Did you forget to turn off your engine?" I asked.
"No, I didn't forget but that doesn't…wait Shirley is in the hangar, she is probably testing her strikers" Charles said. We decided to look at what Shirley was up to. Charles went ahead while I was behind him. I was surprised to see Shirley in nothing but her bra and her panties. I looked away towards Charles's P-51 next to the docking unit. I did glance over to Charles who was just had an awkward smile on her.
"Alright, my Merlin engine is in top shape again, today," Shirley smiled, "Oh, Gerhard and Chuck, what brings you two here?"
"Well, I was doing some work on my Mustang over there" Charles said.
"While I was doing some maintenance work on my plane" I answered as I turned to look at Shirley's face and nowhere else.
"It seems like we all decided to do some mechanic work" Shirley grinned.
"Captain Charlotte Yeager" We turned to see Gertrude standing behind us and directly in front of Shirley. I noticed that she was unhappy.
"Huh?" Shirley said as she looked straight at Gertrude.
"What the hell are you doing, dressed like that?" Gertrude asked.
"Uh… I'm just testing the engine" Shirley simply answered. Charles and I just watched from the side-lines.
"That's not my point" Gertrude answered, "Right now; we are on standby for battle! Plus how can you dress like this in front of our male pilots?"
"Well, it doesn't really matter as some of us have our own girls and besides you girls are practically our twin sisters so yeah it doesn't really bother us, right Gerhard?" Charles said.
"Yes, I have a wife so this" I gestured to Shirley, "Besides it is quite warm"
"See" Shirley said.
"That is not the point! What would you do if a neuroi show up?" Gertrude barked.
"But it gets so hot inside the hangar when I rev the engine" Shirley said before pointing to a supporting beam where we saw a mat laid on it and I could tell it was Shirley's very close friend who was up there, "See, she's stripped down too and look at Chuck and Gerhard, they are stripped too just their pants"
"Hey, in our defense, we didn't want to dirty our flying uniform" Charles said.
"Yes, try getting rid of oil and grease stain out of our uniforms and you see why" I added.
"Sheesh, you guys are terrible" Gertrude said. I noticed that Erica had walked into the hangar with nothing but her panties and her cropped singlet. Charles also noticed but said only one thing.
"Oh, just wait" Charles smiled.
"Oh? So people from Karlsland are sticklers for the rules, are they?" Shirley smiled, "Then, what's your excuse, Hartmann?"
"It's a billion degrees in here" Erica said tiredly. I saw Gertrude flinch from hearing Erica's voice. She immediately turned around looked dismayed at Erica's attire.
"H-Hartmann! You, too?" Gertrude asked in surprise, "And you call yourself a Karlsland soldier?!"
"Huh? Uh, yeah" Erica simply answered. I think Erica was either still too tired or isn't bothered but I think it is the former as she does look tired. Just then we saw Erich and Franz ran into the hangar. I saw that they were in middle of getting their flight gear on.
"Bubi? Ausbilder? Where are you two going?" I asked as everyone there turned to see Erich and Franz were fumbling around with their gear.
"There is a Ju-290 arriving and they wanted some escorts but when we asked about the cargo, the pilots were being vague and didn't really answer so we as the high command decided that me and Franz to intercept the transport plane to make sure that nothing shady happens" Erich said as he reached his Bf 109. I watched as my two friends climb into their Bf 109s and took off.
Meanwhile
Neue Karlsland
Rosario Research Facility
Two riflemen were guarding an unused laboratory which wrecked interiorly after an explosion two days ago. The mess hasn't been cleaned up yet. The contraption that caused the explosion was still inside. Its condition unknown but it will soon be known.
"Hey Ludwig, do you have any cigarette?" A Karlslander rifleman asked. His comrade checked his pocket and found a pack in his breast pocket.
"Here Martin, one for you" Ludwig said as he let Martin take a cigarette from his pack. Martin then placed it between his lips and lit the cigarette. He took a drag and exhaled the smoke.
"Danke" Martin said.
"Bitte sehr" Ludwig answered as he too began smoking as well.
"Say, Ludwig, I have been thinking" Martin said.
"Don't think about it" Ludwig said.
"Oh come on, you haven't heard what I was thinking about" Martin said.
"You want to look inside of the lab, don't you" Ludwig said.
"Oh come on, Ludwig, you know you like this tech stuff as much as I do…" Martin said until a loud zap noise was heard from inside the lab.
"What the hell?" Ludwig said softly as he readied his Gewehr 43 rifle.
"Hey, there is no one inside right?" Martin asked nervously as he clutched his Kar98k tightly.
"Let's find out, shall we" Ludwig said as he kicked down the door. The two burst in to find no one but the radar equipment which incredibly is still in good condition despite the explosion two days ago.
"What on earth?" Ludwig said as he looked around to find that no a single soul was there except for him and Martin. Martin noticed that the radar monitor was still working.
"Hey, shouldn't all the equipment be offline?" Martin asked.
"Ja, why?" Ludwig asked.
"Because this radar monitor is still running" Martin said as his hand closed the distance with the apparatus.
"Wait! Don't" Ludwig turned as he saw Martin touch the radar monitor.
"Ack" Martin yelped as he felt a zap. Soon the radar began to buzz back to live and sparks began to cascade from the radar as it began to vibrate violently.
"Oh fuck, let's get out of here" Ludwig shouted as he began to run.
"Scheiße" Martin cursed as he and Ludwig ran out of the lab, just in time as the radar exploded again. There was massive cloud of dust and small pieces of debris blanketed the two men. The two men were dazed by the blast but soon got their bearings straight.
"What the fick did you just do?" Ludwig growled as he began to stand.
"I don't know" Martin said as he got back to his feet.
Meanwhile
Over the Central Mediterranean Sea
Erich's POV
I was leading the formation with Franz Stigler as my wingman. We were heading west to meet up with the shady Ju-290. However as we were flying, I noticed something strange happening. The clouds suddenly made violent and incredible shapes and patterns before returning back to normal. I then glance below and saw the strangest sight there was a crippled Fw-190 flying beneath us and below the unknown Fw 190 was a ring that show certain part of land that seemed familiar.
"Hey, Franz" I radioed.
"Ja, Hartmann" Franz answered.
"It is just me or is there now an Fw-190 and land directly beneath us" I asked.
"Mein Gott, you are not the only one, sir, I see it as well" Franz said as surprised as I would imagine, "What to do we do sir?"
"Honestly I have no idea, Franz but we need to get to that Ju-290 and make sure it doesn't cause harm when it reaches Pescara" I said.
"Jawohl, Major" Franz radioed. We continued to fly but we decided to fly lower to the level of the Fw-190 to see if he needs assistance however it seems like the pilot didn't even acknowledged that we were there. I tried to raise him on radio and signal to him but it seems like that neither of us existed to each other.
"This is very strange, Franz any luck contacting him?" I asked.
"He is not responding, sir" Franz said. Suddenly the Fw-190 burst into flame and began its dive toward earth. I just watched in silent horror as the plane plummeted to the landmass it was above. It smashed into the landmass and immediately after it touched the ground, the ring that showed the land vanished.
"Himmel" I uttered.
"What do you think that was all about, Erich?" Franz asked.
"I think that was a glimpse into maybe was our world or another world" I answered.
"Hallo, this is Karane 501 from Rosario to Pescara to Luftwaffe Rotte, has you seen the 501st JFW fliers that are supposed to escorts us?" I heard the radio come to life just as a Ju-290 appears in the distance.
"This is Major Erich Hartmann with Oberleutnant Franz Stigler, we are your escorts as we are from the 501st" I answered.
"Are you kidding me?" The pilot replied.
"Do I sound like I am kidding, pilot?" I radioed back.
"No sir" The pilot answered.
"Good, now let's head to Pescara" I said as I flew to the port of the transport plane while Franz was on the starboard. I activated my magic and scanned the plane. I saw a few people and a few crates. I noticed that one of them looked like Erica but this one wore glasses. I then scanned the crates and I was relieved slightly that this was no threat to the girls as it was strikers and it's accompanied armaments however what it was made feel uneasy. It was a Me-262 striker in red or as we Luftwaffe pilots like to call it the 'Red Demon'.
Meanwhile
Aces' World
1944
October 14
Outside of Ulm, Germany
In a forest outside the town of Ulm there two German officers having a little discussion whilst behind them was a car who had two passengers.
"I must admit Stabsfeldwebel, Rommel's daughter is a very brave girl" The first man said.
"Jawohl, Generalleutnant, she is a brave girl" The master sergeant answered.
"No, I want your personal opinion, there is no Gestapo here" The lieutenant general said.
"Well Generalleutnant, I think that Rommel's daughter Angela is a very unique girl, she seems to one that can be very mature one moment and carefree the next, she also is quite wise and smart for someone of her age, she is also very brave if she is willing to accompany her father in his last moments" The master sergeant said.
"Ja, that is true…" The lieutenant general said but then a strange sound was heard, "Do you hear that, Stabsfeldwebel?"
"Ja, Kommandant" The master sergeant replied. The two soldiers looked around for the source of the sound. They then saw something burning appear in the sky and it was growing in size. The two men froze as they watched in horror as the ball of fire plummet towards them. Suddenly the master sergeant moves a step forward and pushes the general down.
"Acht!" The lieutenant general uttered as he was pushed to the ground. The fiery ball flew over them. They then heard the sound glass shattering, metal bending and a loud explosion. The entire area was covered in a large dust cloud.
"Are you alright, Kommandant?" The master sergeant asked.
"I am fine, now can you get off me" The lieutenant general said. The two men began to dust themselves and assess the situation.
"Generalleutnant" The master sergeant uttered with horror riddling his voice. The lieutenant general looked at the master sergeant who had a face of horror. The lieutenant general turned towards where the car once stood. It was gone all was left was shallow crater but what made it more creepy was that even the fiery object that crashed was gone.
"Mein Gott, the Generalfeldmarschall" The lieutenant general uttered. The master sergeant ran to the crater and found the cyanide pill and the body of a pilot who was not even burned from the object.
"Kommandant, the cyanide pill is still here" The master sergeant said.
"What about the man?" The lieutenant general asked. The master sergeant checked.
"He is dead" The master sergeant answered, "What on earth just happened, sir?"
"I have no idea, I have no idea" The lieutenant general said.
Just before the mysterious crash
Inside the staff car
Rommel and his oldest child and only daughter, Angela Michelle Rommel was in the car. Rommel had decided to commit suicide in order to protect his family. His daughter suddenly asked that she was to accompany his father in his final hour. Initially she was denied but the two officers and her father caved in.
"Vater, are you sure that you have to do this?" Angela asked.
"It is best for you, your mutter and your bruder, I hope you understand that I still love you" Rommel said as he looked at the pill that if he took will take his life.
"I know vater but I wish there was a way that we can avoid this and live as a normal family" Angela said.
"Angela, there is nothing we can do to change our path once we had reached the end" Rommel said.
"If that is the case, let me give you the last hug you will have with me" Angela as she wrapped her father. Her father hugged her back.
"Vater, sorry you have to go" Angela began to cry.
"Hush, Angela, it is not your fault, none of this is your fault, I am the one that should be sorry as you will have to live without a father figure in your life after this" Rommel cooed his crying daughter. He then broke the hug and held his daughter's shoulders, "Now I want you to be strong for your mother and your brother, I know that Manfred is the man of the house now but you are the oldest so you two have to be there for your mother, remember that Angela"
"Jawohl, vater" Angela sniffled.
"Well this is good bye then" Rommel said as he sat up but before he could swallow the pill.
"Vater! Behind you!" Angela pointed to the window behind Rommel. Rommel at first was sceptical as he thought this was a last ditch attempt to stop his suicide however he knew his daughter and he could tell that this was genuine fear. He turned to see a fiery ball race towards him and his daughter.
"Mein Gott" Rommel said as the burning orb came close. Rommel instinctively shielded Angela with his body from the inevitable explosion. However something else happened a bright light appeared.
"What is going on vater?" Angela cried.
"I don't know, just hold tight" Rommel answered. The light soon engulfed them, the car and the crashing plane and when the light was gone so was the vehicles and their occupants except for one. Thus the myth of Ulm was born.