Once in place, William and Berthold began to plan a plan to seize provisions.
- So, - answered Berthold, pointing out on the map - the positions of the Nazis here and here, the forest belt is controlled by patrols armed to the teeth, if we are lucky to pass here unnoticed, then we will be able to penetrate the food warehouse, where the Nazis store provisions for their army, but you need to be careful forests are teeming with snipers, and the field is being shot through by mountain artillery right here.
A minute later, a girl in her twenties entered the hall.
- William is Hannah our best sniper, she will show us the way! - presented by Berthold
"Very nice," William greeted.
- In the meantime, we will search another warehouse, which is located here - Berthold pointed out - Good luck, William!
The next day, two detachments left the castle, and then each went his own route. William, Lucinola, Hannah, Juho, François and a dozen fighters walked with them through the forest as Berthold said, so far without meeting any resistance. And far away they saw a group of Wehrmacht soldiers in the field with one anti-tank gun, not far from which stood one SdKfz 222 armored car, another Puma armored car patrolling the road drove past them.
- What the hell is this? - Francois asked - Berthold said that we will not meet resistance here?
- Maybe he did not know that a detachment of Germans showed up here? Lucinola asked.
"Most likely, if there were no Germans here, then they found out about the partisans from somewhere," William answered.
- We need to move carefully, otherwise a fight with them is inevitable - Francois suggested.
- Hannah, show me the way! William ordered.
After that, they moved longer walking through the forest until they reached the village, where they planned to get hold of food. Divided in two, they proceeded to penetrate the warehouse, William and Lucinola, taking out knives, removed the sentries at the gate at the same time, Francois and Juho distracted two Germans, and then Hanna killed them both with one mark with a shot. William, using his strength, broke the lock and opened the doors, the rest who came entered the warehouse and began to collect all the products that they could carry in bags, collecting all the necessary products, they hid the bodies in the ravine, and closed the doors of the warehouse with a pin, after which they left it place. Meanwhile, on the seashore, Iron Hans miraculously survived and after a careful study of the tracks and the parking lot of the boats, he came to the conclusion that the refugees went in that direction, wasting no time, he rushed after them. The next day at noon, William's detachment met with Berthold's detachment, among them was one disarmed youth in the uniform of a German tanker.
- Who is this young man? William asked.
- We took him prisoner when he decided to join us, but we considered it a trick, forced him to hand over his weapons, and then took him with us - Berthold answered - I would like to personally shoot him for his Nazi uniform, but at least he does not more dangerous than we thought.
- What? - Hannah asked furiously - you took this Nazi bastard with you, you should have shot him right away, let me do it!
- No! - objected William - it can still be useful to us. Tell me what's your name
- Eckhard, a cadet from the SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" - answered the youth.
- Tell me, Eckhard, why did you leave your people and decided to join us? - asked William - You know that you will be shot for desertion?
- I ran away from my unit because I was tired of this war, tired of fighting for the tyrant who unleashed it - Eckhard answered with sincere recognition - I just want peace like you.
- And how do we know that you will not betray us and betray our location to the Nazis? - Hannah asked in disbelief - because of you Nazis, I lost my parents, they were taken to a concentration camp from where they did not return, just because they opposed your fucking Fuhrer!
- I...I...I. I have no words - Eckhard answered crying - I'm very sorry for your parents, understand me, I didn't kill anyone, I'm not to blame for the death of your friends, I had no choice, I was forced to fight them out of fear!
- Quiet. Quietly - William consoled him - everything is in order, it's not your fault, I understand, but if you obey us and do not try to escape from us or report our location, then we will allow you to stay with us. But if you betray us, then...
- I will personally shoot you! - Hanna answered sternly - Know that I will not take my eyes off you when we arrive at our headquarters!
Then they continued on their way. Meanwhile, the checkpoint that William and his squad saw, Iron Hans arrives, who silently looks at the Wehrmacht soldiers, then the commander came up and asked:
- What do you want?
Having received no answer, the soldiers pointed their weapons at him, then the officer asked him again:
- Are you deaf? I ask again, what do you need here? Who are you?
Hans's patience came to an end and then he growled angrily and pointed to the footprints of the escaped prisoners from the floating concentration camp Terra Magica.
- Clearly - the officer answered shaking his head - we will immediately contact Lorenzini and report that his monster has survived and found a trail of escaped prisoners, guys, get together, we are performing!
Having ordered their men to advance, they loaded ammunition into the commander's armored car and attached an anti-tank gun behind the back, then they followed Iron Hans in the footsteps of the fugitives, at the same time an officer in his armored car reports important news on Lorenzini's radio.
Meanwhile, a detachment of William and Berthold get to the base.
- This should be enough for a long time - answered Berthold, after counting the stock of captured products - send all the provisions to the warehouse and observe the portions.
- Berthold, I have a question for you - asked William - have you heard anything about Lorenzini?
"Unfortunately, we don't even know where he might be."
- Maybe ask our new friend?
William walked up to the crowd that surrounded him, thirsting for reprisals. With difficulty preventing lynching, he asked Eckhard a question about the whereabouts of Lorenzini, and he replied:
- Unfortunately, I don't know.
But you were one of them!
- Yes, but not all the secrets were revealed to me. I was trained in the tank troops and thanks to my experience in driving a tank, I can fit you, unless of course you give it to a crowd of Nazi haters to be torn to pieces.
- I promise you'll be all right!
Meanwhile, in a secret place, Iron Hans arrived with a detachment of the Wehrmacht and met his master Lorenzini, who took command from Berlin. And after the conversation, he took their to the laboratory, where there was a gigantic machine covered with chrome and made of steel.
- This machine is our greatest achievement with its help we create ideal soldiers who are able to pass through any obstacles and teleport to any point in their field of view - Lorenzini answered proudly, then they went further into the main hall of the castle and stopped - very soon I will be able to start with the execution of the plan.
- We received news from Berlin that you lost a ship with prisoners, oberführer - said General Schmelzer - the Fuhrer requires your presence at the tribunal!
- Requires?! - Lorenzini objected - but I'm afraid that you disappointed me with your defeat in the war, in addition, I have a new master who is much more powerful and surrenders the world much better than your Hitler. We have already begun to anticipate the dawn of a new world
- Your new owner? Yes, how dare you! - the Schmelzer shouted in anger, but before he could finish as if by a nod from Lorenzini, Iron Hans broke his neck. His subordinates tried to shoot, but was surrounded by Lorenzini's loyal super-soldiers and soldiers SS coming out of hiding.
- I beg your pardon - continued Lorenzini - but your Fuhrer fell into a huge hole and was left with nothing, I admit that your case is lost and more importantly the Green Dragon can no longer be under the rule of Hitler! Send them to the laboratory, take only the strong, the rest - at the expense!.
After that, the super-soldiers disarmed and led the prisoners to the dungeon. Then a tall figure in scarlet robes with pale skin, black hair and a beard appeared out of the darkness, his skin was pale, he had a pair of fangs in his mouth, and his eyes glowed with a red light.
- All is ready? the creature asked.
- Yes my Lord! - answered Lorenzini - I faithfully served you and am ready for the ceremony.
- You will be useful to me the Coachman, especially such talented henchmen as you can be of use to me in creating a new order! - answered the creature - come to me!
Lorenzini did unquestionable tioningly, after which he took out a bowl and cut his veins behind his left arm and poured a glass of his blood into it.
- You have served me well, the Coachman! - answered the bass player - drink, this is your reward for your efforts, you deserve it!
- So what to do...? - Lorenzini did not have time to finish as the creature objected:
- Are you talking about a boy? I don't need him anymore! - the creature objected - send the soldiers to kill him and everyone who is with him!
But he's still mine! Lorenzini objected.
- Then The Coachman, you will be responsible for him! - the creature answered sternly - maybe he is important to you in some way?
- Yes, my lord Dracula, king of vampires, lord of the darkness, his blood could be the key to further research into the super soldier project," Lorenzini replied.
- Well - the creature answered - Drink and you will get what is due to you.
Lorenzin, without wasting time, took the cup and drank the contents at that very moment, he felt a surge of strength and darkness filled his body, he was reborn into the same creature as his new owner is. The next day, the Edelweiss Pirates, as the group of rebels became known, began to develop a plan to attack the Germans, as they were suddenly interrupted by a radio operator who ran into the room with important news:
William, I have an important message for you.
- Yes
"The base you asked about is somewhere in the Bavarian mountains south of here.
- Hmm, it's very far from here - said Berthold
- Worth the risk! - suggested William - and if they say on the radio that this is true, then we need to go there, find and destroy the Nazi secret weapon that I mentioned earlier.
- What if it's a trap? Berthold objected.
- I don't think it's a trap, the Germans wouldn't do such a thing - continued William - besides that we'll take our new friend Eckhard, by the way where is he?
- Under guard in one of the rooms - one of the fighters answered
Are you afraid he will run away?
- No, I'm afraid that he can inform his people about our location!
- I'll talk to him personally!
After that, William left the meeting room and went to the room where Eckhard was being held.
- If I come in, you won't try to take me hostage?
- No
- Well, then I'll come up to you and ask you one question.
- If we take you with us, can I count on you?
- Yes!
After such an answer, William left the room and ordered the guard to release the prisoner the next day, a detachment of 50 people, including William, Berthold, Hannah, Juho, Francois, Lucinola and Eckhard, headed far south, while advancing they periodically ran into Nazi patrols, every now and then they tried to avoid them, and at night not to make a fire at the parking lot, they had very little time for a halt, until in the end they got to the indicated place, it was a concentration camp with a factory and an entrance to the bunker through which trains were delivered with cargo for production and the needs of the inhabitants.
- This is it? William asked.
"I think so," one of the fighters answered.
- We were not looking for people here, but for the secret weapon of the Nazis - Lucinola answered with annoyance - where can it be?
- I think over there in the entrance - said Eckhardt. After that, William took out the binoculars and, making sure that the target was available, ordered the group to split into two groups.
- So, you go to release the prisoners, and we, Juho, François, Lucinola and others, will go to look for that same weapon - ordered William.
- Wait, are you sending us along with this Nazi? - Hanna was indignant - yes, he will betray us, at the first opportunity he will surrender to his own!
- Hannah, show respect, Eckhard is a good guy - William answered sternly - besides that, he broke all ties with the Nazis, you can rely on him. If we don't get back early, take everyone away!
Hanna, with a disgruntled face, went with a group of Berthold and Eckhard to free the prisoners, and William with his group went to the bunker. Having removed the sentries, they entered the barracks without noise, having penetrated there, they closed the mouths of those who tried to scream.
"Now we just have to get the prisoners out of here," Hannah replied.
- I can help you? one of the prisoners asked.
- Who you are? Hannah asked
- I am Ezekiel Kalzberg, a Jewish doctor - Ezekiel introduced himself, I will show you trucks on which you can leave from here, but I will not go anywhere without medical drugs! Patients need help or they will die!
- We don't have time for this! Hannah replied shyly.
- We will help you get medicines - Berthold answered.
- Thank you, Inge! Thanks Ezekiel.
Eckhard at that time, noticing a tiger tank on the platform with trucks, decides to launch it, one of the fighters asked him what he was doing, to which Eckhard replied:
- When I was at the training camp, they were taught the theory and practice of driving tanks, we were able to cope at the appointed time, I was a driver before I deserted.
- You're too young for a driver! - embarrassed answered the soldier.
- Excuse me, such is life, we are taught to operate equipment from an early age - Eckhard answered - if you want this rattletrap to start quickly, help me!
- All right, Nazi! - the soldier answered displeasedly.
- How many do you repeat? I'm not a Nazi! Eckhardt remarked displeasedly.
There was nothing to do, the soldier decided to help Eckhard start the tank, and after several attempts the tank started up. Meanwhile, William's detachment quietly entered the base and tried to move quietly, if necessary, remove the sentries so that no one raised the alarm. Once inside, they saw such a sight: the Nazis killed the Nazis SS soldiers dressed in Fallschirmjäger uniforms shot Wehrmacht soldiers guarding this bunker from machine guns and machine guns, not wanting to confront William, Lucinola, Francois and Juho continued on their way and reached the laboratory, William went into a stupor.
- What is William? Lucinola asked him.
"I've already seen this car on Terra Magica," William replied, seeing a giant bell-shaped machine.
"I never heard anything like it when I was a prisoner on a ship!"
- I was subjected to electromagnetic radiation in it - answered William - this car is called -Die Glocke!
"Why would they expose you to electromagnetic radiation?" Lucinola asked.
- I think this was done so that the soldiers become ghosts - William replied.
- In what sense are ghosts?
- During the experiments, I was put into this machine two days after the serum injection, it was created only to ensure that after irradiation, the test subjects acquired superpowers such as teleportation and passing through obstacles," William answered.
- That is, besides the serum, you were also irradiated in this machine? Lucinola asked again.
- Yes! - William answered - Let's not waste Lucinola's time, mine the building and get out of here!
The fighters did everything as William said by setting explosives in the weak spot of the machine in the shape of a giant bell, as well as in the weapons and fuel depots, and then mined the ventilation shaft, when they left the place, there was not a single soul in the corridors of the laboratory, only a troupe of Wehrmacht soldiers. When William's detachment left the place, along with the second group, there was a powerful explosion that destroyed the entire base. Once in the woods, Ezekiel thanked William for rescuing him, as did all the former prisoners, then they continued their journey north. They walked, walked without resistance, until a Wehrmacht detachment with a Panther tank appeared on the horizon:
- Ezekiel, Eckhard take all the sick and wounded and go north, here's a map for you on it shows the way to our base - ordered William.
- Are you going to fight the Nazis, ingele? Ezekiel asked - aren't you too young to fight?
- This is my destiny, to save the weak and those who suffer from the oppression of the tyrant - William answered - Leave now!
Ezekiel had to obey and he, along with the others, went to the castle, while the Edelweiss pirates took up positions. The tank stopped a few meters from the position and fired the first shot, the explosion hit nearby, as a result, several people were slightly injured, then the second two were shell-shocked, then the commander gave the order to attack. The Edelweiss Pirates fought back like an angry boar. William fired back with his STG 44.
- It would be nice to capture this tank - William thought.
- It's suicide! Hanna replied
- Yes, but we will have one more tank! - said William - Lucinola, Berthold, Juho come with me, we will capture this tank, Hannah, Francois and the rest, put us on!
- Yes! they answered.
Then they ran to the tank under cover and then William was able to use his abilities for the first time, going through the tank he killed all the tankers with a dagger, while Lucinola, Berthold and Juho covered him, during a shootout with the remaining soldiers, Lucinola was wounded in left eye, then Yuho helped him by bandaging his eye.
- Lucinola! William screamed in panic.
- Do not be afraid William, I will live! - Sighing heavily, Lucinola answered - although I became blind in one eye, but I can still fight.
After the end of the battle, they climbed into the tank. William, having studied the methods of controlling the tank with the help of friends, sat down at the levers and drove everyone else to the base. Once on the spot, Lucinola went to the hospital, where he underwent surgery on his eye and was told the unpleasant news that he would no longer be able to see with this eye, as a result, a bandage was put on his left eye.
- Yeah, I didn't think that I would become a real pirate! Lucinola replied.
- At least I'm glad you're alive! - formed William - get well soon, otherwise you will miss the interesting.
To the castle and having reached with the others, they decided take a break from these adventures. Recently, everything went on as before, from time to time they made sorties in search of provisions and ammunition, freeing prisoners from concentration camps, and also sought out and destroyed laboratories, while the Germans had no time for them, because at that time the Allies landed in Normandy and began liberate France, but once during one of the sorties.
- William on the radio, we learned that the Germans were approaching us, they somehow learned about our whereabouts!
- Who could do it? asked Lucinola.
- Perhaps this is our friend Eckhardt? Hannah asked suspiciously.
- Hanna, no, Eckhard has nothing to do with it, the Germans somehow found out about us and where we are going after the battle, so the time of our incognito has come to an end, we will have to fight openly! - William answered.
Three weeks later, a detachment of Germans arrived at the castle with Pupchen artillery, with which they began to shell the castle and storm each time, but each time the defenders repelled the attack and even managed to capture German guns during the sortie, soon more Germans arrived with armored personnel carriers . 251 and The Puma armored personnel carrier, but they were also defeated, the heroes even managed to miraculously capture the German Puma, which they then used during their raids, for some time the Germans left them, but one day larger German forces with a more powerful SPU approached the castle, which could easily level even a well-fortified castle with the ground.
