Adolf Hitler invaded Poland in September 1939, starting World War II.

By the winter of 1942, his armies were freezing and starving in the snows of Russia, where his best general had died of a heart attack, and America had entered the war.

For the first time, Hitler's dream of a German empire that would last a thousand years was in doubt.

While he hired and fired generals and the winter grew colder, fifteen of his officials were ordered from their commands and ministries to meet at a quiet lakeside house in Wannsee in Berlin, far from the crisis at the front.

In two hours, these men changed the world forever.

Only one record of what was said and done here survives, from the wreckage of what was...

"The Thousand-Year Reich"

Cain looked at himself in the mirror, the dark wolf combing the thick hair on his head in several different ways, often debating with himself on whether or not he should go with a hard part, slicked back, or a middle part, though the last one he felt made him look too much, as he put it, like a "nance." But, in the end, it didn't really matter, as the black-furred wolf really had only one thing on his mind. Or rather, one LADY.

"Just picture this, Able," Cain said as he settled with combing back his hair, careful of his ears as he let a smug smile form on his lips as he eventually pulled himself away from the mirror to refocus his attention on getting his clothes out of one of the many dryers in the base laundromat, which was actually quite packed. But, given the fact it was a Saturday, it was no mystery as to why.

"A rustic cabin in the woods, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and my lovely wife rubbing my feet. It will be a dream come true when I win Terra's heart."

Able smiled at his brother's idea of a perfect life, having finally finished putting his family's laundry back in a duffle bag, ready for the short drive back this house. Of course, he had no problems with his brother chasing women, but if the lady wasn't into him, then he would have to put his foot down. And he made that very clear when it came to his wife. And while the story that Cain had flown his plane into Able's car was very much a fallacy, that did not mean that ABLE didn't have a few choice words, and a well-placed right hook, when he found out that his own brother was hounding his wife.

"I think you have been flying to high in the clouds," Able said with a sigh as he began to polish his shoes.

"Terra has already has her sights set on Sam."

Cain still managed a smile, even though his brother just delivered a ball-busting strike to his huge ego.

"Well, that guy may have saved my life, but when it comes to women, he is a novice. Ladies like a man who can take action, that can hold his own and above all. And above all…they like a man who can pleasure them in bed."

"Yeah, right," Able scoffed as he and Cain walked out of the laundromat, both tossing their duffle bags in the back of Able's new 41 Chevrolet Coupe before getting in and driving off to Able's house to get ready for a night out.

"I would like to see any girl sleep with you once they see how big your dick is."

Well, that really hurt Cain's ego, but he tried to remain confident.

"Well, it's not the size that counts, it's how you use it!" he replied quickly, trying to sound like he wasn't bothered at all, though he couldn't help but crack a smile at his brother's quip. And before long, the two pulled up to the brightly lit house, getting out and making their way inside, the two brothers both greeted by Rachel and Matthew before making their way to the main bedroom to get ready, still chatting away, even when little Matthew entered, carrying a nice bow tie.

"Here daddy, mommy had it cleaned for you," he said as Able took it and put it on.

"Thank you, son," Able said, then patted his son on the head as he put the final touches on his tux.

"Now, run along. Kiss you mother once for you and twice for me."

"You know," Cains aid with a sigh as he watched Matthew run out of the room, "I had hoped to have a little one of my own one day."

"Give it time," Able said with a good-natured huff, both brothers sharing a warm, tender smile before resuming their task of getting ready for a night on the town. And as the two brothers got ready, Sweets was with Suki getting fitted with a dress designed by the saluki herself, a beautiful form fitting blue dress with billowing half-sleeves that actually helped to cover her bandaged arm. And as Sweets slipped the beautiful dress on Sweets, Suki's eyes lit up with excitement.

"I knew it," she said clapping her hands together redirecting Sweets to stand in fron to the mirror in the Saluki's hotel room.

"You and my daughter are just about the same size."

Sweets couldn't help but admire herself in the mirror

"Yeah, pretty close we are."

Meanwhile...

Sam was already waiting outside at the Officers club, awaiting Terra to join him, dressed in his double-breasted Navy Blue's, adorned with three medals, the Expert Pistol Shot, Expert Rifleman, and Navy Good Conduct. And beside these three medals, where two new additions; the Distinguished Flying Medal, and the militaries second highest honor, the Navy Cross. But even with these new decorations earned from his actions at Midway, he was still very nervous because he had never been a date since his days as a recruit at the academy. But then, all that worry seemed to vanish when he saw Terra, walking toward him in a very lovely red dress. And with his eyes watching each sway of her hips, Sam could feel his heart beating faster by the minute as she approached him.

"You look good, Sam," Terra said when she reached him.

"Thanks," he replied quickly, then took Terra's arm in his as they walked up the stairs. And as they did, he couldn't help but notice that many of the other officers gathered around were looking at her, the males, and even a few females and their escorts admiring the stunning beauty clinging to the arm of one of the "Heroes of Midway."

"We haven't even gone inside, and I think I've already found the belle of the night," he whispered just loud enough so that she could hear it.

Terra had to bite back a silent moan when she felt Sam's warm breath on her sensitive ear. She even had to grip his arm a little more tightly as the sensation and his words combined nearly robbed her knees of strength for a step or two.

What an effect he had on her, and he wasn't even trying!

So lightheaded was she that she didn't notice the black wolf that had moved in front of them, barring their path, until she had bumped into him. And needless to say, Lieutenant Thatch Dawson of the 2nd Armored Division was not in a good mood. His first day back in his hometown of Honolulu in over a year, thanks to General George Patton, and he was stuck doing door security for a bunch of overpriced and overfed snobs. He hadn't had so many people look down their muzzle at him since he was in school, and liked it less now than he had then.

All he wanted was to go back and fight the fascist bastards of the Third Reich.

And now he had to deal with a pair of party crashers.

"What are you doing here Davis?" he demanded in his smug way.

"As far as I know, you are most certainly not on the guest list."

"Thatch," Sam spat like the name itself tasted bad.

"Don't you take that tone with me," the grumpy Lieutenant snapped. Here was the perfect wolf to unleash all his pent-up frustration on, rank be damned. Because even though they both shared the rank of Lieutenant, Sam's rank in the navy technically made him a captain in the eyes of the army.

"Now I don't know what you think you're doing here," Thatch continued, "but you and your floozy had better just go back to that shack you call home and do your business there."

Sam's claws sprang out of their sheaths, poised to gouge Thatch's eyes out the moment he insulted Terra.

How dare he refer to Terra as a floozy! He seethed to himself, making a note to himself that by the time he was done with him, Thatch would never walk straight again for the rest of his life. Hell, he would need a tank just to stop him from breaking his spine. But just as he was about to rush forward with blind furry, not caring about all the other officers watching the exchange between them with growing interest, Terra stopped him by laying a gentle hand on his arm.

"I'll take care of this," she murmured, a hard but playful look in her golden eyes as she sashayed past him right up to Thatch, a sultry smile on her lips.

"Well I sure don't want to cause any trouble for you Lt. Thatch," she said in a Southern accent that had the fur of any male, and a few females, in earshot prickling.

"I mean, I am new to this city and all. Lieutenant Davis here said he'd show me a good time tonight. How was I supposed to know that this was a private party?"

Sam's jaw dropped a bit when he saw Terra do something unexpected to Thatch, the rude wolf doing everything he could to maintain a professional demeanor. Too bad all that crumbled like a sandcastle caught in a wave the second she ran her finger down his chest.

"I-I'm sure t-this was all just a simple misunderstanding, m-ma'am," he stuttered, feeling the fur at the back of his neck become damp with sweat.

Terra hummed softly, playing with the buttons on his uniform.

"You're not going to call MPs to come and throw us in jail, are you?" she pleaded softly, tilting her face up close to his.

"I'd be ever so grateful if this little incident could be just...forgotten."

A glint appeared in Thatch's eyes as he considered the possibilities of what this lady was offering. If he played his cards right, he would no longer be a virgin.

"I think that could be arranged," he said, straightening his uniform.

"Perhaps you should give me your address so that I can come visit before being shipped off to fight the Nazis."

Terra smiled, knowing that he was falling for her southern charm.

"I think that could be arranged," she said, parroting his words back to him.

"But you don't really need my address. After all sugar, I'm not that hard to find."

"Oh, is that so?" Thatch asked, his pants becoming somewhat uncomfortable right now.

"Mm hmm. In fact," she added, walking her fingers up to the collar of his uniform.

"I insist you come see me and my father tomorrow morning."

"You and your father in the Morning?" Thatch asked, not getting the response he wanted, his smirk falling into a confused frown.

"Wouldn't it be better for me to visit at night?"

Terra shook her head coyly, curling her fingers around his tie. And in an instant, Thatch's blood ran cold when he saw the warm southern charm turn into cold determination as Terra yanked on his tie, dropping him to his knees from the unexpected move.

"I don't see punks like you after hours," she snarled in her regular voice.

"And I am not a fucking FLOOZY!" she shouted the final part in his face.

Thatch's irises narrowed to pinpoints as he finally figured out who he was dealing with.

"Captain Ramirez!" he gasped in surprise, trying to straighten up and salute but prevented from doing so by her grip on him.

"I didn't mean... I just thought.…"

"Oh, I know exactly what you were thinking," she growled, pushing him away to land on his backside.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear to you Thatch," she said, standing over him and making him lean back.

"If you have any interest in keeping your rank in the army, you will be in my father's office at six AM sharp with a long, well-written, apology. If you're even one second late, don't bother ever showing up, because I'm sure that General Patton has no time for perverts like yourself…You got that?!"

"Loud and clear ma'am," Thatch answered, completely humiliated. Satisfied with eh answer, Terra gave Thatch a curt nod, stepping back and allowing him to scramble back to his feet. She then turned back to a wide-eyed Sam and took his arm in her hands.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice sweet and gentle once more.

Sam just nodded, more than a little impressed by what he'd just seen.

"Since when could you act like that?" he asked, holding the doors open for her.

Terra chuckled under her breath.

"Oh, Sam," she soothed in that same accent, pleased when she saw Sam shiver at the sound of it, "what made you think I was acting? The truth is," she continued normally, letting him off the hook for now.

"I was born and raised in Tennessee. No matter how much time I spend in the city, I can never completely get rid of the accent. Nor would I want to."

After that, the two of them went into the officer's club and started to mingle with the crowd. Around that time, "Big Daddy" Dax, dressed in his Army Greens, decorated with an Expert Marksman Badge and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, arrived with his date, Sweets, gauze wrapped around her injured arm, and clad in her beautiful blue dress, which allowed her to proudly show off her newly acquired Purple Heart. In truth the two of them had been getting along quite well after Midway, and truth be told, Sweets had a big crush on Dax.

Now as Dax and Sweets passed a few members of the band, which actually consisted of a shy-looking elephant, a towering gorilla, two pigs, one a shapely female and the other a portly male, and even Porsha, that was going to be playing, Buster Moon, the head of the group, stormed up, his face red with anger as he began ranting about how his star guitar player had up and ran off to play for a band in Nashville. Turns out, said guitar player was now the ex-boyfriend of a rather shapely porcupine, said porcupine just as annoyed as the inch shorter Buster as she stood in a surprising attire of Military fatigues, same as the others, holding an acoustic guitar.

"I know how to play the Guitar," Dax said cutting Buster's rant short, the wolf still surprised that the koala that stood just a foot shorter than him could be filled with so much anger.

"Get out of here?" the gorilla, who actually stood just a head taller than Dax, said with a laugh, crossing his arms in front of his broad chest as he was joined by the elephant girl by his side, the rather imposing size of the pachyderm, who only had an inch over her primate college, nullified by the tender smile beneath her trunk.

"Yeah," Dax said with a shrug, placing a hand on the porcupine's shoulder, careful of her quills as he did so, "I can help out little Miss here."

This earned an eye roll from the porcupine, who practically shove her acoustic guitar into Dax's hands.

"Two things hotshot," she began in a dangerously low growl, jabbing a finger into his chest."

"One; None of that 'Little Miss' shit…the names Ash, use it. And Two…"

This was said with an almost playful tone as a devious smirk spread on the porcupine's muzzle as she patted the guitar.

"Why don't we just see how good you are."

Of course, Ash couldn't help but scoff at the cocky smirk that spread on Dax's face. And the moment he turned to whisper something to the male pig, who was armed with an accordion, the gorilla, who at the piano, and Cherry, who had a fiddle in hand, Ash knew that this new arrival had something up his sleeve.

(Start Music Here)

And needless to say, the moment the music started, and Dax's fingers started to effortlessly pluck away at the strings, she knew she was in for a show.

"There's a yellow rose in Texas, That I am going to see,

No other cowboy knows her, Nobody, only me,

She cried so when I left her, It like to broke her heart

And if we ever meet again, We never more should part.

She's the sweetest rose of color, This cowboy ever knew,

Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew

You may talk about your dearest May, And sing of Rosa Lee

But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Beats the bells of Tennessee."

As Buster listened, he found himself joined by Suki, the saluki, with a devious smirk on her face, pulling her loving husband to the dance floor, the duo doing a little two step just as the male pig began a little riff on an accordion. And before long, the duo where joined by many more couples, all while Sweets watched Dax, star struck.

Where the Rio Grande is flowing, And the stars are shining bright

We walked along together, On a quiet summer night,

She said if you remember, When we parted long ago,

You promised to come back again, And never leave me so.

As Dax began singing through the chorus once again, Sam felt a gentle tug on his hand, the blonde wolf finding his gaze meeting the flirtatious glare of Terra, the southern belle wasting no time in getting the bashful Ohioan to join her on the dance floor, which was now filled with shouts of mirth as the many couples, which now included King and Eve, the duo deciding to join in on the fun…though just in a platonic way, which did earn them a few hoots and hollers from their respective squads.

And while he was trying his best to stay mad, Thatch couldn't help but smile as he tapped his foot along with the music as watched everyone else have their fun. And in truth, he was surprised to find himself pretty complacent as Cherry fiddled with her solo. And while he was tempted to hit up Sweets, he could definitely tell she was more interested in casting her love-struck gaze of the handsome wolf singing his heart out on stage.

I'm going back to see you, My hearth is full of woe,

We'll sing the songs together, We sang so long ago,

We'll pick the banjo gaily, And sing the songs of yore,

And the yellow rose of Texas, Will be mine forevermore.

And as Dax sang through the chorus once more…Ash, and to a greater extent Buster and the others, where convinced. And Sweets was convinced as well, that this strong, handsome Texan was the definitely the man for her as he finished singing and the last chords of the song faded away, leading to a massive round of applause and whistles.

Meanwhile, outside the officer's club stood Cain and Able, both wolves feeling like complete clowns wearing tuxedos instead of their officer uniforms.

"This is just great, if you hadn't forgot to wash our uniforms, we wouldn't be dressed like this," Cain complained to his brother, who only smiled in return.

"I don't know," Able shrugged, "I think we look good."

Then the white wolf began to head up the steps, but his brother grabbed him and pulled him back. Cain still had a few words of last minute advise to give.

"Now listen, Able. You're not used to dealing with the high class type of people that are in there," he warned his brother.

"So you just follow my lead, and don't make me look like a fool."

With that, the two brothers went in. As they passed a waiter who was serving drinks, Cain reached out and snatched a glass of champagne. He downed it in one gulp.

Able shook his head at his brother's manners. But Cain wasn't in the mood to hear his brother scold him on how he was behaving. He needed Able out of the way for a bit.

"Dispose of this for me, Able," Cain smiled as he tossed the empty glass into the air. Able quickly caught it and handed it to another waiter, only to see that Cain had gone off and disappeared into the crowds of officers and their dates. And if Able was sure of one thing, This wasn't going to end well, especially when he found out that Cain was looking high and low for Terra. But when the dark wolf when he saw her with Sam, his blood boiled.

There they were… Dancing together as "Big daddy" Sterling sang on stage with the entertainers of the night, Terra flowing gracefully with the rhythm of the slow song. She loved to dance, but it was a pleasure that was usually denied her. Sam's movements were a little rigid at first, but as he gained confidence in himself the steps and turns came much more naturally to him. It was a rare pleasure to dance with someone that both knew what he was doing and wasn't trying to talk her ear off.

"You are a good dancer, Sam," Terra smiled as she moved closer to partner.

Sam nearly missed a step when he felt Terra's hand move up his arm toward his shoulder, recovering himself and getting back on rhythm before anyone noticed. While not exactly experienced in these matters, he knew that a move like this could never be mistaken for a sign of a growing love of someone, but given the intimate night they had a few months ago, he knew they were well past that. It both soothed and excited him, a fact that made him clutch Terra just a little tighter.

For the first time in his life, he was glad his mother and father had forced those dancing lessons on him.

And by the time the dance was over, Cain was burning mad. He watched the two wolves go over to the buffet table where Eve and King were talking. Seeing a serving cart with a bunch of food onto, Cain figured he could ruin Sam's outfit so that he would have to leave and get cleaned up. Then he would move in and swoop Terra off her feet with his charm.

The plan was fool proof.

Meanwhile, seated in a private room reserved for him, Buster, who had gone back to ready himself for the second half of the evening, fixed up his tie as he prepared himself for the next round of songs, which were going to be a hodgepodge of patriot oldies, the first of which would feature a solo sung by his amazing daughter, Porsha. And of course he knew he had nothing to worry about. After all, his daughter had been doing really well from her acting lessons she had been getting from Rosita, the female pig of the group.

But still, the koala had a something else on his mind… his daughter, Porsha, and her lovely girlfriend, and by technicality of marriage, Buster's niece Cherry, and a certain event from the day before that Suki had brought to his attention.

As he paced back and forth, Suki walked up.

"Buster, calm down," she said trying in vain to calm him.

"I can't," he said. "How can I calm down when our daughter was assaulted the other day?"

Suki could since how upset her husband was, but with her sweet words of soothing encouragement, she was able to calm him a bit. Still, the koala was on edge, but Suki knew how to calm his nerves. Picking up Buster, she placed him on a stool and dropped to her knees.

Buster knew what was about to happen and undid his pants as Suki pulled own the front of her teal dress, freeing her breasts. With a smile on her face, the sexy saluki placed Buster's eight-inch dick between her soft breasts and proceeded tit fuck him. Buster was panting as he drew near to his climax.

Suki smiled as she removed his dick from her breasts and quickly finished him off with a blow job.

After that, Buster felt simply relaxed and ready to put on the second half of the night's performance.

Back out on the dance floor, with a mighty kick, Cain sent a cart flying toward Sam, but it just so happened that Able walked into the path of the oncoming cart. Able went flying toward Sam and Terra, but instead of landing on the Captain, he crashed into King.

Sam, Terra and Eve rushed to help up both Able and King.

The commander was beyond angry.

"Who is to blame for this outrage!" he shouted.

"Father are you alright?" Terra asked, feeling really worried for her father's well being.

King took a deep breath before shouting.

"No! Look at my UNIFORM! It's ruined!"

Then he ran off to get cleaned up.

Well, seeing that his chance to dance with Terra was gone, Cain felt it best to move back and try again.

Even after the whole incident, the night went on without a hitch. Dax had played the guitar with great gusto, making Buster Moon's show a big hit and even made a great impression on Sweets. And now, the building was pretty much empty, a lone radio playing some slow music for a few straggling couples who decided to make the night last a little longer, as well as a handful of patrons who were staying behind to either have one more drink at the bar or were waiting for someone to come and pick them up.

Sam on the other hand had volunteered to stay behind for a bit and help clean up after the party, as well as Duke and Jake, the two lovers actually having enjoyed the night with little to no harassment, which actually did the blonde Lieutenant's heart some good. And as he placed some empty bottles into a trash can, he noticed two of Buster's theater crew members, a lovely porcupine who had practically called Dax out on his guitar skills, only to eat her words with his rendition of "Yellow Rose of Texas," and a rather happy going pig, the plump porcine nursing a large stein of beer while the porcupine herself had a martini. And at that moment, Sam felt like it would be a good idea to go and meet the two.

"Hello," he called in a very friendly tone, causing the two performers to turn their gaze to meet him, the pig offering an exuberant smile, and the porcupine offer a small, almost timid smile and meek wave.

"Name's Lieutenant Davis, call me Sam," he said extending his hand to the pig, who happily took Sam's hand with both of his, the wolf surprised by the pigs very strong and ENERGETIC grasp.

"Gunter Schweinmann," the pig replied, earning a jumpy laugh for Sam as his whole body practically vibrated from the pig's handshake. Luckily, the earthquake of a shake ended in just five seconds, just enough for Sam to get his bearings.

"Where you from?" Sam finally was able to inquire of Gunter, though he already knew, if the porcine male's strong European accent was any indication. And needless to say, he was a bit surprised to see the pig offer a sly smirk as he offered an answer.

"Queens…73rd and Parkway."

Sam could only roll his eyes, a clear indicator that he was annoyed by the portly man's response. Though, his annoyance soon turned to curiosity as the pig offered more insight.

"Before that Germany…this troubles you?"

Looking into the foreign pig's eyes, Sam spent a moment or two searching for malice or ill-intent…but he found none. But even then, he couldn't hold the man's nationality against, because more often than naught, Germans in America were typically fleeing from the clutches of the SS and Gestapo.

A lot of people tended to forget that the first country that the Nazi's invaded...

Was their own.

"No," Sam responded with an indifferent shake of his head, taking a seat in the booth beside the pig, his gaze soon landing on the know smiling porcupine.

"And you are?" he asked with an almost flirtatious glint in his eyes, the female herself rolling her eyes as an amused smirk, and faint blush, spread on her muzzle as she eyed the admittedly handsome wolf sitting across form her.

"Ashley Hannah, but call me anything other than Ash and I'll knock your teeth out" she said with a good-natured laugh, reaching across the table to shake Sam's hand, the Lieutenant now eyeing her with the same scrutiny as Gunter upon noticing a faint, but still present accent in Ash's voice.

"You from Germany as well?" he asked. The question caught Ash off guard, but she figured there was really no harm in getting a little personal with this strange wolf, especially since he seemed complacent with Gunter be German.

"Yes, my parents immigrated from Germany when I was a little girl," she replied, a smile still present on her face, though a bit smaller. Sam also noticed that her voice faltered some, a clear sign that Ash seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable with answering his question.

"Before Hitler invaded Poland, my father got a job working here, then the war broke out and it has been very hard for my family because of our German heritage. The Nazi's even rounded up members of my family who stayed behind."

"The Nazi's weren't to their taste?" Sam inquired with a laugh, figuring he might add a bit levity to the conversation. Unfortunately, the usually jovial Gunter's face fell as Ash glared at the wolf beside her.

"More like THEY weren't to the Nazi's taste," Ash responded, her face in a deep frown as she began to elaborate, reaching into her costume fatigues before pulling out a necklace. And it took no brain power at all for Sam to recognize the six points of what he knew was the Hebrew symbol known as the Star of David. It was only then that Sam understood what Ash was getting at.

She and her family were some of the many millions of Jews under persecution of the Third Reich.

Sam just sat there, feeling guilty about how his little joke must have really hurt her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his ears pinned to his head and his gaze lowered to the table, almost making him look like a pup who was being scolded. But luckily he found some comfort when he felt Ash's surprisingly soft hand reach across the table to take his own, a soft smile on her face as she did so.

"You didn't know," she cooed, only for her smile to fall again as she sat back in her seat.

"But I am sure you are aware of the situation in Germany, right?"

Upon seeing that Sam seemed a bit confused, Gunter began to elaborate.

"After the enactment of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, the Jew was practically purged from Germany's economic and public life. Once that was accomplished, they then needed to be removed from the German living space. The Nazi's pursued a vigorous policy of emigration, doing all they could to do so…but who would take more of them? Who would want them? My Uncle Han's says that was the policy's ultimate limitation."

"That's just terrible. But America is a free country. Jews and many others like you can come here for protection," Sam said trying to bring some joy to Ash, only for her face to turn sour as she laid out a bit of reality in front of the wolf.

"Every border in Europe rejected us or charged outrageously to accept us. Even here in America, where Jews constantly whisper in Roosevelt's ear, he still turns us away. Then, in acquiring Poland, the Nazi's acquired two and a half million more. And by last July, they were met with a new situation... acquiring five million more Jews as they conquer Russia. And full Ghettos where disease will run rampant…Gunter."

Gunter smiled as he produce a piece of paper tucked in his own costume.

"My Uncle Hans is undersecretary for Reichsmarshall Goering in the Reich Chancellery. He has been acting as a spy for the MI6 for the past four years."

Sam couldn't believe it. This guy had connections with someone who was fighting the Nazi's behind their very backs? Gunter then gave Sam the piece of paper, which he explained was a direct order sent out from Goering to General Reinhard Heydrich, more famously know as the Butcher of Prague for his brutal methods in Czechoslovakia, who had just himself been the victim of an assassination around the time of Midway.

"Read it, Lt. Davis," Ash said.

At first hesitant, Sam, with as strong a voice as he could, read aloud the doctrine.

"'I hereby charge you with making all preparations in regard to organizational and financial matters for bringing about a complete solution of the Jewish question in the German sphere of influence in Europe.'"

Gunter took the paper back, his cheerful smile now replaced by a frown.

"Word has been sent to Reichsmarshall Goering by Colonel Adolf Eichmann that the 'machinery is ready. Start getting them on the trains.'"

Sam did not like where this was going, and surely hoped it wasn't going in the direction it was.

Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed as Gunter inevitably clarified.

"The Nazi's have set up prison camps for Jews and other so-called 'Enemies of the State,' and execute any they find now. What's worse is what they do to their own people who are trying to hind the Jews or speak out for them."

Sam was taken aback by this, his stomach churning at what he had just been told. Surely Gunter was mistaken. Well, Sam had heard that Hitler and his regime where working to remove Jews and other "Undesirables" from Europe…but to all-out annihilate them? No, that couldn't be right. But, to his utter horror…Gunter continued.

"My Uncle Han's told me that throughout the previous year, in Riga, Latvia, Major Rudolph Lange's men killed some 28,000 Jews and other 'Undesirables.' He stood by with his men and allowed Latvian civilians to be killed in mobs. My uncle has seen memos directing the... one would say 'evacuation' of Jews who, shot and buried in soil and corpses, managed to crawl out, still alive. Not exactly war, is it? And gas chambers about to come?"

Sam was alarmed at that last bit.

"Gas chambers?" he breathlessly inquired, her heart beating a million miles a minute, though this did not deter Gunter from continuing.

"My uncle hears rumors, yes."

Sam was aghast.

"That's not true...is it?"

"It is," Ash said as she bit back a pained sob.

"A hand full of Jews were able to escape and make it to America. One of them was my cousin, who had seen the gas chambers when he was at a camp in upper Silesia, called Aushwitz-Birkenau. He also told me that instead of burying the dead, they were disposed of by means of combustion in massive, industrial ovens. He was one of those who was forced to burn his friends…while those bastards stood their and laughed."

Gunter spoke up as he looked at a now visibly disturbed Sam.

"And you and many others think that this is just another war."

He then looked at the Star of David in Ash's hand, carefully bringing the now sobbing porcupine into a gentle embrace, careful not to prick himself on her quills.

"Hitler says that it is for the greater good that the Jews must be wiped from the face of the earth."

"This is... more than war," Sam finally managed to gasp out, briefly stopping to swallow the bile that was rising in his throat, the detail in which Gunter relayed this information making it more evident to him that this was not mere wartime rumor…especially since it was coming from a direct source.

"There must be a different word for this."

"Try 'murder,'" Gunter practically growled. For a long minute, the trio sat in silence, Ash's sobs turning into quiet whimpers as Sam just stared at the pendant in her grasp, he himself still unable to wrap his mind around what he had just been told. But, in the end, he knew there was nothing he could do to ease the suffering of the Jews of Europe, unaware that their plight would give way to a new word, derived from the Latin words Geno, meaning race, and Cide, meaning to kill…

Genocide.

"I don't know how long this war will go on, but what I do know is that for every Nazi and Jap killed, more Jews will die at the hands of that monster, Hitler," Ash said, wiping the last few tears from her eyes.

"We can only pray the war will end soon," Sam said with a sad shrug. And even though she knew that the Lieutenant could do very little in regard to the situation in Europe, she still let out a sad sigh as she placed a tender hand on his shoulder as she rose from her seat, followed closely by Gunter. And needless to say, what she said next definitely killed Sam's mood for the rest of the evening.

"Let's just hope there are still some Jews left by then."

"Yeah…" Sam sighed.

"I sure hope so."

After that, Sam left the bar and headed back to his home, where Terra had seductively said she would be waiting for him. But as he walked, he couldn't help but wonder if the war WAS going to end soon. And even as the lieutenant processed the victory at Midway, which had been a smashing victory, he still couldn't help but feel that there was no doubt that the Japanese still had a huge number of ships and planes at their disposal.

And so, with one final whisper into the night, Sam could only hope his short prayer was going to be heard.

"God, Save Us ALL."

Colonel Adolf Eichmann carefully edited the stenotype record of the Wannsee Conference.

Copies were distributed to the participants to be read, and then destroyed.

General Heydrich flew back to his headquarters in Czechoslovakia, where in a few terrible weeks, he had earned the nickname "the Butcher of Prague". In the spring, two Czech patriots, trained to assassinate him and dropped from a British bomber, succeeded in wounding him. In reprisal, thousands of Czechs were rounded up and shot. Heydrich's wounds grew infected, he fell into a coma and died.

Eichmann, as Heydrich's deputy for Jewish affairs, was left to finish what they had begun at Wannsee.

He considered it a matter of honor.

"The Only Thing Necessary for Evil to Triumph in the World is that Good Men Do Nothing." ~Edmund Burke