The doors to the great hall swung open as Cinder brought her two companions and the scientist with her. She looked around to see the room almost empty, almost.

The only person who occupied this very room was sitting in the chair was on the other side of the great hall at the end of the table. However, she was the only person at the edge of the rectangular table. "Cinder, thank you for bringing the mention of your father." Salem began as her right hand gestured to her seats. "Although I did not expect your companions to be here, their company is welcomed."

As Cinder walked to her seat beside her mother turned her gaze towards the German scientist in his lab coat.

"I am not aware you made a new friend, who is he?" The mother questioned.

Cinder was quick to answer. "Meet Doctor Amsel, the scientist who knows of father's work."

"Interesting, so this is the man who dared to go against my husband. I did not expect much from a scientist from another world." Salem commented. "Though, I do desire to know the reasons as to why you would go against him."

The bald scientist nodded his head down in acknowledging his actions. "Yes, I have chosen to work against him since the bastard had some respectable favor back on Earth."

"Oh, do tell." Stated Salem. "I am simply trying to learn why you desire to work alongside us?"

Immediately, the German brought a grin upon his lips. "Vengeance. I desire vengeance against those who brought my country to its knees." He answered.

She raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That is a new reason for someone such as yourself."

"It is because Doctor Sauer sides with the enemies of the Third Reich. I see no reason to let the Allies enjoy the fruits of victory without a cost." His eyes glared at the deadly woman. "I want them to suffer by any means necessary."

"Cinder, whoever this person is. He would become a great addition to our plans." Stated Salem. "Welcome to the most powerful people on Remnant."

Monte Durante slipped his tie into his shirt as he turned towards the mirror on his right, only to find himself wearing his dress uniform. After admiring his appearance, he buttoned up his shirt as he reached for his cap on the dresser besides the mirror. "Damn colonel, I never thought I would see myself dress up for the occasion."

To his surprise, someone had managed to slip into his room unannounced. "If only your father saw you now." He commented.

The captain turned to his left to find the old Great War veteran standing in the doorway. "Kurt, what brings you here?" He questioned as the old man stepped forward to address him.

"I heard there was a party and Colonel Strudwick wanted you to clean up good for the hosts." Answered the old officer. "I came here to make sure you did everything right before you go."

All Durante could do was smile. "Just looking out for me and my family as always."

Derby's hands were were open wide. "What can I say, your mother lost her family out of the states. The last thing she needs is to grieve for another one of her children to die. The least I can do is assure your parents that you got home alive."

"Then you did a good job. The war is over and I have managed to take care of dressing up all by myself."

The old man smiled. "Yes, I remember when you decided to be the kid that decided to raise hell on the block like it was yesterday. Today, I am looking at an officer who listened to my words."

"Kurt, you had more experience than me."

"Apparently, you also had more balls to state your opinion on military doctrine to the brass."

Immediately, Captain Durante decided it was time to change the subject. "Do you know who else is going to the party?" He asked of his friend.

Kurt Derby nodded his head. "Aside from Colonel Strudwick, Captain Argall, and Bill, the Soviets are also going to join us."

"The Soviets, why do they have to come along?"

"They're part of the Allies, remember? Besides, I understand your feelings about the Soviets, but you must not look bad in front of the public. It leaves a terrible impression on us, but it leaves a bad impression on you as well."

"I'll take care of it." Soon, Monte slipped his cap onto his combed head. "Thank you, Derby, for watching my back."

The old captain smiled. "You're welcome. Now get to the front, I just heard that Colonel Strudwick is doing whatever the hell the British usually do."

Winter Schnee looked at the mirror as she saw her incomplete ball dress shown in her presence. Then she looked to her left and found her long gloves resting on her desk as she walked over and slipped them on. However, the specialist took a seat at her desk and pulled out a drawer as she grabbed her makeup kit.

Suddenly, she heard three knocks on her door. "Come in!" She called out as the door slowly creaked open. For a moment, she heard her home filled with life as Winter turned to see her sister standing in the doorway in her light blue dress. "Weiss, aren't you supposed to be with Whitley to greet the guests?"

"Yes, but mother wanted me to check up on you." Answered her little sister. "So, I heard that the people from another world are coming. Is it true or is it classified?"

Winter smiled at her sister's assessment as she turned to her sister. "It's true, I have managed to befriend one of them before the party."

"Really, that's neat. Do you think that friend of yours will come to the party?"

"I highly doubt it." Then she turned to her makeup kit. "Tell mother that I will be there in a few minutes."

"I will go tell her, but I got to mention something."

"What is it?"

"Klein managed to sneak in some chocolate cake in."

The older sister smiled at the mention of the delicious desert. "Just do not mention it to father."

"Got it." Then Weiss began to leave the room as she closed the door on her way out.

As Winter returned to her desk and grabbed the brush within the kit.

When the covered jeeps arrived in one convoy, they parked in front of the white mansion covered in snow.

Captain Durante stepped out of the passenger seat, feeling the cold air uncomfortably touch his skin. The snowflakes came in and landed onto his winter coat, only to melt away immediately after. Then he looked to the rear of the convoy to find three jeeps with a red star along with the hammer and sickle on top of the jeep's engine hood. His eyes gazed upon the first Soviet officer to step out of his vehicle, but the Army Ranger knew better than to give an unwelcoming stare.

The captain walked up the steps to the entrance of the mansion as he looked over his shoulder to find a familiar face accompany him. "Vastano, what the hell are you doing here for?"

Johnny tightened the warmth inside of his coat as he smiled with his chattering teeth. "Turns out the rest of the gang in Able wanted me to have some sort of victory party and this would be the place to go to." The officer stated. "Though, I hated the fact that I had to dress up for the occasion."

As the two men continued their conversation up the steps, they were immediately met by an overweight man in a black suit, who had balding brown hair and a large mustache. "Good evening good sirs." He began. "I take that you are the military guests invited by Mr. Schnee, correct?"

Monte Durante was quick to answer. "Yes sir, we were invited by him."

"Please follow me to the entrance room. I will see to it that your coats are safely put away for both of you gentlemen." The well-dressed butler turned around as he walked up the steps and opened the doors for them. "Welcome to the party."

When the two officers arrived at the doorway, Durante looked back to see the rest of the Allied officers walking up the snow-covered steps. Then his gaze noted Colonel Strudwick and Colonel Churkin walking beside each other with two officers guarding both men, one of them being Argall and another officer being a nameless young man. However, the two colonels were having a conversation of their own.

Suddenly, he felt Vastano tap his shoulder. "Monte, let's get warmed up."

The Ranger turned his attention towards the entrance room and made his way into the white-colored walls to find the butler standing in the center of the room. Besides the butler, there was a coat rack on with dozens of coats of variety and color hanging.

The butler looked over his shoulder and yelled out. "Ms. Schnee, our other-worldly guests have arrived."

Beyond the butler, there was a hallway on the right leading deeper into the mansion. However, there was a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. To his surprise, a familiar voice called back to the butler. "Klein, mother is busy speaking with some of the guests. I'll be here shortly."

As the tapping of the floor grew closer, a familiar feminine figure arrived at the top of the stairs in a white dress with her black gloves covering her arm. It was a complete surprise for the captain to find the cold-gazing specialist dressed like princess. The only issue he noticed was her shock she expressed from the top of the stairwell.

"Captain Durante, you're here?" She wondered.

A smile cracked between his lips. "Specialist Schnee, you looked surprised."

"I expected you didn't want to come."

He chuckled. "Originally, I didn't want to come, but Colonel Strudwick didn't leave me much of a choice."

Then Winter shifted her eyes to the person besides the captain. "Captain Vastano, it's been a long time since we last talked."

Turning away from the specialist, Captain Durante noticed Johnny shrug his shoulders. "Definitely, but I haven't done much than get back to leading Able Company."

Despite Monte's time with Winter, he noticed that she returned a smile. The confusing question had suddenly occurred to him. Did she just smile?

She immediately turned her gaze towards the butler named Klein. "Why don't you inform father and mother about them?"

The butler nodded his head out of respect. "Yes, my dear." The butler walked away from the two officers.

While Klein walked through the hallway, Winter descended from the stairs as she placed her hands in front of her dress and met the two officers face-to-face. "Monte, welcome to the Schnee mansion."

Soon after, he nodded. "Thank you for letting us in, I know you will be good hosts for everyone invited."

"Wait here, I must go to my siblings and tell them about both of you." She stated. "Both my brother and my sister would enjoy your company."

Specialist Schnee departed from the paratrooper and the ranger as Monte saw her off. It was strange to find someone with such a cold-like behavior now display some emotions. In some manner, he admired that she could change between behaviors between the two.

Little did the captain know, that his friend noted something about him. "You like her."

Breaking his gaze away from Schnee, he looked to Vastano with confusion in his mind. "Excuse me, what did you say?"

"I know what I said." Stated the officer. "You like that girl."

"Me, no. What makes you think a guy like me can like a gal like her?"

"In all of my months as a friend, do you think I am that blind to not know that you like her. Of all the women I have seen you be with, you give off a certain look." Answered Johnny. "Right now, you don't give off that look."

"How does a guy from Chicago know anything about this?" Wondered the captain. "Aside from those French girls, you hardly have the slightest clue on what you are talking about. Besides, I steal weapons not the hearts of ladies."

The paratrooper shook his head in disbelief. "You go keep telling yourself that."