Chapter 5: The Dawn Of A New Day.
24/1/2026
Meeting room, Reichskanzlei, Germania.
It was like being back in the Reichstag. The different ministers, and a few high ranking party officials gathered within a relatively small room. Shouting at each other. It was at times like these that Ulfric wanted to be the first Führer to resign from Office. Just throw in the towel, just be done with it. But he couldn't. Despite how much he hated being at the center of it all, he had come to realize that he could only help repair the Reich if he was at the head.
"Of course martial law should be established! The people will panic as soon as the word hits the streets! We need to be ready to contain the situation!" The minister of the interior, Afred Schröder, demanded. He was a hardline conservative, one of the aging old guards.
"What the hell are you on about? We can't just limit the movement of our people like that! They have done nothing wrong! You think our people are common sheep, Herr Schröder?" The minister of finance fired back. Müller was not happy about this at all. If martial law was declared, then all his ideas for reforms could be rolled back without a second thought.
"Of course not! But let us not forget that the goddamn hippies and students love to protest whenever they damn well please! We can't afford civil unrest, not now!" Schröder did speak some truth. The protests were a common problem for Ulfric, but it was more of a headache than a deal breaker.
"Calm down, both of you! No martial law will be declared just yet. Not until we know what we are dealing with." Ulfric ordered. Both of them reluctantly backed down, for now. There was a moment of silence as Ulfric thought about the situation for a second. "From the top, what do we know, Waldo?" Ulfric turned and asked. Waldo Beitel had been appointed the main minister of education and science within the Reich. Former rival to Ulfric, but now they enjoyed a better relationship.
Waldo sighed and reached for his bottle of water. He took a big sip, he must have felt nervous with all eyes on him. He put the bottle back down, wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. "The base predates our Reich… In fact, from what we can gather from the short amount of research we have done, it predates even the Roman Empire. Nothing has happened there for at least 10.000 years, probably a lot longer than that." Waldo explained.
"So it's very old. Got it. What else?" Ulfric asked, digging for better answers.
"The technology is unlike anything we have ever seen before, including those bases we raided back during the war. I'd say we have found the remnants of an ancient space faring alien species."
"How advanced are we talking here?"
"Beyond anything we could ever hoped to achieve within the next 1000 years, Mein Führer." Waldo replied, his tone serious to showcase he wasn't joking around. Ulfric leaned back in his chair and sighed loudly.
"So what is this technology? What can we do with it?" he asked as he took another sip of his coffee.
"For now, nothing. All of the artifacts and framework for data seems to be locked behind dozens of firewalls, failsafes, or some type of code that will require cracking. However, we already have our top minds working on the case… I can't promise any confirmed dates, but I'd imagine we will have made some headway before Christmas… That is of course, if our budget is increased."
"Granted." he said, 'Always with the damn budget.'
"We cracked the Turing code in 3 weeks during the war, you're telling me it's going to take you and your pansy ass spectacle wearers a whole year to access this thing?"
"Herr Schröder, please no swearing in the meeting room." Ulfric requested. He felt his headache rising again.
"Of course mein Führer. Sorry." He spoke as if he was a child that had been scolded.
"It has only been a few days since we discovered these ruins. This technology is so advanced, their vessels don't even run on fuel! Can you believe it? Fascinating stuff, Mein Führer."
"What do they use instead? Piss from the Wehrmacht?" Schröder asked, which earned a few laughs from the other conservatives.
"We haven't quite figured it out yet… But we suspect it's far more powerful than anything we have on Earth. We'll have to do more tests." Waldo once again fished for that extra funding for his research, and while Ulfric would usually be hesitant to grant it, these were in fact extraordinary times.
"You'll get your funding, and I'll attach more researchers to your project. The university of Germania will be helping you, the finest minds in Germania working towards getting this done… In fact… Herr Weber, call up the apes in Burgundy, they can still be of some use to us after all…" Ulfric ordered.
"Right away, mein Fuhrer." Weber went to make the call but stopped himself for a moment. "Um… what do I do if Burgundy declines, mein Fuhrer?"
"They won't."
"What are you doing mein Führer? You can't involve the SS! You know they will demand more say in German politics!" Reinhard Müller asked, concerned at what might happen.
"I can control the SS if we only give token promises. But their researches are second to none in some areas. Besides, if they want to influence us and our course so badly then perhaps giving them some token positions in this brave new race will calm their worries."
"I really don't believe it's a good idea, Mein Führer. You have to consider that-"
"I'm pulling the Führer card here, Müller. The decision is final."
"Understood…" the minister of finance said dejectedly.
"That being said, we have to move forward with the economic reforms now. It is high time to begin kick-starting the german economy again. Herr Weber, schedule a meeting next week for me and Herr Müller. We have much work to do."
"Of course Mein Führer. I'll do it at once." Herr Weber replied with a smile as he made a note on his notepad to remind him later.
"Herr Krause, I want you to keep a lid on all of this. At least until we can get it fully under control. Show the people that it's business as usual. I'll grant some more money for propaganda runs." Ulfric turned to the minister of Information in the Reich.
"Nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to speak. Understood."
"While we are at it, Herr Weber. Call up the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Airforce as well. We have a lot to discuss. Especially if we'll have more SS troops on German soil… And aliens to deal with… " Ulfric once again ordered.
"Jawohl Mein Führer." Weber replied.
"Anything else?" Ulfric asked. None spoke up, all of them just looking at him. "Good, then the meeting is over."
Later that day…
Ulfrics office, Reichskanzlei, Germania.
"Let's go, smokes." Ulfric demanded as he held his hand out.
"I thought you didn't smoke." Gottfried raised his eyebrow behind his sunglasses, sometimes Gottfried looked like a young Schörner in his uniform.
"I don't. But right now I need a fucking cigarette, and I know you still smoke those good ones from the Netherlands. Those with high nicotine."
"Actually I smoke Prince now. A good brand."
"Prince? They fucking suck."
"Do you want a smoke or not?" Gottfried asked, Ulfric sighed and held his hand out once more as he accepted the cigarette. He all but ripped the flip lighter out of Gottfried's hand to give some light to his cigarette.
He inhaled deeply. Enjoying the rush of nicotine in his blood. "Oh yeah… That's just what I needed." Ulfric remarked as he took another drag of the cigarette and sat down in the chair.
"Wouldn't a brandy go well with the cigarette? I think the previous Führer kept a bottle in here somewhere." Gottfried suggested as he began looking around.
"That bottle is long gone, just like my sleep schedule… Why the fuck did you have to make me Führer? I was perfectly content where I was."
"Why do you keep thinking I made you Führer?" Gottfried asked.
"Who else? It's not like those bastards in suits would ever pick someone like me to lead."
"True enough, doesn't change the fact I wasn't the one who made you Fuhrer. All I did was to make sure the Wehrmacht stayed out of politics."
"I will break your nose."
"Like I said Ulfric, it wasn't me." He sat down on the chair opposite to Ulfric. "You have to admit though, the pin looks nice on you. Had you not smashed the damn thing it would have gone nicely with the marshall's scepter."
"Don't patronize me, leave that job to your wife."
"So, how did the meeting go? Did you meet Martin the Martian yet?"
"I wish, but it's still the same crusty old loaves of bread in suits that sit in those chairs every time. At least if Martin was there I'd have something to laugh at."
"Our Martin, or the Martian?"
"Yes."
"Nice. But that being said, what really happened on Mars? I'm intrigued to say the least."
"Fat Waldo says it's ancient. Predates even the Roman Empire, and its far more technologically superior than Da'at Yichud bases we raided way back when."
"We allowed to call them superior now?"
"I'll make an exception. Though at this point we went above and beyond anything in those bases thanks to Deathshead. And thanks to these new findings, we may have just kick-started a brand new project for space travel."
"It's funny." Gottfried clasped his hands together and leaned back on the chair he was sitting in. "We always claim that our nation was founded on the basis of pure superiority, yet it was through the works and dealings of others that we managed to achieve such superiority..."
"That I won't allow. Every project or work in human history has required some base to go off, and we took that base and used it to the Moon and above, while the Da'at just hid away in their little holes waiting to die."
"Still, it makes you think."
"Don't play coy with me. You said it yourself, you don't want any part in politics, but if you want to start this argument I hope you're ready to find out what a sound defeat feels like."
"Defeats is an inevitability Ulfric. You think Rommel or Manstein never faced failure during their careers?"
"Go down this road and you'll end up more like MacArthur or Patton."
Just as Gottfried was about to reply, there was a knock on the door. Ulfric called for whoever it was to enter. Not a second later the door opened and revealed Großadmiral Klaus Gerhardt. "Apologies for the delay, Mein Führer. I came as fast as I could from Kiel." Klaus said as he came in, saluting both the Fuhrer and giving the Chief of Army a nod of notice.
"No need to apologize, Friend. But there are urgent matters to discuss."
"Field Marshal Kürger, nice to see you again."
"Same to you Gerhardt. Still sailing that old rust bucket you call a ship?"
"Only home I've ever known." the two exchanged a hand shake.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, have a seat Großadmiral, we've much to discuss." Ulfric waved his hand over to the two empty seats encircling a small coffee table.
"Of course, mein Führer."
"As you know, Herr Gerhardt. I have called you here, alongside our dear Field Marshall and Chief of the Luftwaffe for an important meeting, one far too important for a simple phone call or report."
"And I am glad for that mein Führer. Ever since the Atlantic Trade War, the Kriegsmarine has been greatly overlooked, which, in my eyes, is a tragedy unbecoming of our great Reich."
'I swear if he starts asking for a higher budget too I will shoot him and then myself.'
"You did good on the Bismarck Sea Gerhardt, no one can take that away from you, but you have to admit, there's little a navy can do during peacetime."
"Poppycock! Who keeps the trade routes running, who kept the English and Americans at bay? Is it those damn SS in Paris? It's our battleships, our carriers, our submarines that still patrol the coasts to this day. You may not be aware of this mein Fuhrer, but back in the day, my men and I were ordered to do scouting missions in Burgundy through the English channel, what other fleet was capable using *submarines* in the English channel?"
"And we are more than grateful for your contribution, as were all the Fuhrers you served under before me." Ulfric assured him.
"A right tragedy it is." the admiral sighed. "No member of high command should have to see their glorious leaders fade away like that, and neither should the German people. One after the other, all gone. It is why I was glad to hear our next Führer was someone so young."
"I'm a right spring chicken."
"Indeed. These old sailor's bones have grown too used to the shore I'm afraid, but perhaps a Führer with a bit of spring in his step is just what we need." The man's optimism and fatherly face was almost poisonous, yet Ulfric could not help but feel complimented by his words.
All of a sudden the doors slammed open, giving a shock to all of the members currently in the office and interrupting the conversation. With an arrogant walk the Luftwaffe commander made his presence known as he entered the room. "Mein Fuhrer." he saluted flamboyantly and without hesitation, a grin on his face the size of the Grand Canyon.
"Ah, the ghost of Hermann Göring arrives." The admiral muttered.
"It is always a pleasure to see you as well, old sport." the Luftmarshall said, striding confidently to shake everyone's hands.
This would be the first time Ulfric would actually meet the Chief of Air in person. They had always spoken to each other shortly over the phone before. What did not help was the fact that their new Chief was also one who was recently promoted since the passing of the old Luftmarshall. A brazzen man, confident and bold, the title Admiral Gerhardt gave him seemed far more appropriate now that he could see the man in the flesh.
"Herr Stroman, it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance in the flesh."
"The pleasure is all mine, mein Fuhrer. I would have made it here sooner, but unfortunately my plane decided to overheat right over Frankfurt, so I had to take a train the rest of the way."
"Overheat?"
"Jet engines are fickle that way, like a woman's nerves I like to think."
"You can say that again." Gottfried raised a glass to the Chief's words.
"Now that we are all gathered here, I think we can begin the meeting now. Gentlemen, we are at a crossroads." He waited until all chiefs of staff were seated to lay the news on them, well, at least two of them. "Alien artifacts have been recovered from Mars."
"Mein gott!" the admiral said with bated breath. "More Da'at Yichud artifacts? Do these judeo scum have no holes left to hide on Earth so they flee to Mars?"
"Unfortunately Großadmiral, these are no Judaic artifacts, so there will be no carpet bombing on Mars."
"Damn, I was looking forward to that." Siegfried joked. "However, if I am understanding you correctly, mein Führer, then that means we have just hit the metaphorical jackpot in terms of research opportunities. I'm sure my wife will be very happy to hear she'll be getting new planes to fly very soon."
"Unfortunately Luftmarshall I shall have to disappoint both you and Alberta, so far we have found no aircrafts within the Mars artifacts."
"Shame, looks like I'm sleeping on the couch again."
"Oh she does that to you too?" Gottfried asked.
"Too many times." Siegfried replied with a smile.
"We're getting off track here, Gentlemen. Focus." Ulfric snapped his fingers. "The sole reason I wanted to gather you all here, is because we need to start thinking outside the box."
"What do you mean mein Führer?" the Admiral asked, it seems his old military days are coming back to him as the conversation between the four has perked up.
"Thinking outside the box is the Luftwaffe's job, whatever you ask of us, we shall do." Siegfried assured the Führer.
"Yeah, yeah talk all you want boy we're still the ones who took Moscow." Gottfried fired back.
"After we reduced it to rubble, you're welcome by the way."
"I will slap you upside the head right now."
"Gentlemen, please, this is not a kindergarten." Ulfric reminded them. It was hard playing the adult during these meetings, it drained all the energy right out of him.
"Could have fooled me." the Admiral grumbled. "I remember the times when the minimal age of entering the army was 18 at the least."
"Enough, all of you." Ulfric nearly began shutting, he had to deal with these things with the weekly economic meetings, he wasn't going to deal with the same shit now.
"Alright, mein Führer." Gottfried said with hesitation in his voice, it was clear uttering such a phrase was as foreign as English to him. "What do you wish of us?"
"Essentially." Ulfric took his seat and clasped his hands together. "I want you three to invent me a new doctrine of warfare."
"What?" All three said in unison, perfectly monotone. Even Gottfried seemed confused at his words.
"This news of alien machinery, technology far superior than anything we've seen before. The leaks of this could cause either great panic or great celebration within our Reich, and great fear in nations not affiliated with us. I think you all know who I am talking about."
"The Japs will be quaking in their boots, if their spies haven't already told them about it." Admiral Gerhardt therorized.
"So that's it? Just… invent a new form of warfare?" Gottfried was perhaps the most confused Ulfric had ever seen him.
"We did it once before didn't we?" Ulfric asked simply.
"And we'll damn well do it again!" Siegfried slapped his knees and almost jumped from his chair in excitement. "Mein Führer, you have my word. Come Christmas, we'll be adding a whole new dimension to warfare."
"No." Siegfried's optimism was quickly shut down by the Fuhrer. "Not by Christmas, I want it done by next week."
That was the point when Gottfried became the one to actually jump out of his seat, hands in the air and shouting. "BY NEXT FUCKING WEEK HE SAYS!"
"For heaven's sake Kürger, have some self-restraint man." the admiral turned back to the Führer. "Have no fear Mein Führer, I'm sure with our minds combined we can come up with more than suitable results."
"Of that I have no doubt Gerhardt, though if what I am planning is to succeed, then these results will not have to be suitable, but excellent in every way."
"As expected of our great people." the Admiral commended.
"YEAH YOU WANT ME TO CALL UP THE ANGEL GABRIEL FROM HEAVEN AND HAVE HIM PULL EXCALIBUR FROM MY ASS AS WELL?! HOW ABOUT I SUMMON THE SECOND COMING WHILE I'M AT IT?!"
"That's enough Kürger! You're disgracing your uniform!" this time it was Siegfried who came in between the two.
"I WILL TURN THAT HEAD OF YOURS RIGHT AROUND LIKE AN OWL RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL BE SEEIN' STARS FASTER THAN OUR SPACE PROGRAM KID!"
"Don't worry, he gets like this sometimes." Ulfric went and pulled out the special case of Brandy he kept in these situations. "Here, gentlemen, to a brighter future."
"To my fuckin ass." Gottfried muttered
"What the Führer said."
"Not quite the toast I imagined for such an occasion, but it will have to do."
The four clinked their glasses together in a harmonized noise. In one week, the announcement would come, and all of Germany, and the world, would be given official reports that life outside of Earth exists.