The Shadow State
I

1 May 1963
Wallonische Region, SS State of Burgundy

The sun sets over Burgundy, many of the old buildings in the cities were demolished in favor of the simple and tall but brutalist style of architecture, and many government and military buildings were rebuilt in the stripped classicism style. Many of the homes near the cities were also demolished in favor of concrete high rises tower blocks that reach ten to thirty stories tall. The banner of the SS State of Burgundy drapes the side of each building. A perverted imitation of Germania.
Many village homes that lay on the outskirts or outside of the cities were left alone but made to have workhouses for the population to be put to work for the state.

Many of the old churches and cathedrals were demolished or repurposed to serve two functions: the hosting of Germanic pagan ceremonies and supplantation of the state as the religion, leaving many cathedrals vacant and rarely if ever used left to deteriorate. Factory, mine, and field workers begin their work day in the early morning, returning to the industrial revolution's harsh working conditions, and end just as the sun begins to set. Skilled workers are housed in labor camp homes that are scaled up to two and three stories to house the workforce who've been sentenced to these labor camps. Many are crammed into these wooden barracks. If one can not continue working then they would see a much worse quality of life. Made to work every day to their absolute limits. Even the Aryan, the race that is said to be dominant over others and is to master and rule the world, are too subjected to extreme labor, suffering, and hardship. The infrastructure, living, and work conditions, are all the same or similarly built throughout the entirety of the shadow state. All in an effort to eradicate and replace the previous French and Belgian identity.

A group of five Hanomag L-28s carrying 'skilled workers' leaves the Nivelles work camp, one of many in the SS State. Some of them had wished they'd died where they worked to escape the nightmare earlier, yet their fates have already been judged and sealed by the state. The drive took them not far from the city size workcamp taking them to the nearest forest with a small clearing in the middle west. The trucks stop in the middle of the field. The forward and rear L-28s de-occupy its occupants with two squads of six of SS-Wallonien soldiers, dressed in full military gear similar to their German counterparts.

"Alright, step out! Step out!" The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer SS-Wallonien has the men open the doors and step out in total twenty-four 'skilled workers' step out from the remaining three trucks, each one wearing a black blindfold and each with their hands tied behind their backs. "Line them up each in four rows of six!" He commands further. The SS-Wallonien soldiers line up each 'skilled worker' in four rows of six-person lines, with two spotlights being set up to illuminate where the condemned are to be shot. The Oberscharführer begins to read from the paper. "You twenty-four here have been found guilty: of sabotage, spreading of forbidden ideological material, anti-Aryan behavior, and anti-Burgundian sentiments. For these crimes, you are hereby found guilty by the Burgundian courts and are sentenced to be shot." The Oberscharführer reads from the paper. "Send the first line up." The first squad grabs the first six people and brings them in front of the six-man firing squad, returning to the back of the condemned. "Take aim!" He orders. "Fire!" The command is given and six shots are fired from the SS-FAL rifles. The remaining eighteen stand in fear as they face their sentence. "Send in the next row." As the second row of six is brought forth, two more trucks pulled up honking their horns to halt the executions. The two trucks stop just before the other SS-Wallonien L-28 trucks

"Cease the executions!" A Sturmbannführer of the Burgundian SS orders to end the executions just as he steps out of the truck. He walks up to the Wallonian Oberscharführer who salutes him.

"Heil Himmler," The Sturmbannführer salutes back. "What seems to be the problem, Sturmbannführer?" The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer asks still holding on to the execution paper.

"Cut the binds and remove the blindfolds off the prisoners. Let them run into the woods." The Burgundian Sturmbannführer commanded. The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer looked at him with confusion.

"Pardon, but why? The executions have just started and I have to carry out these orders." The Oberscharführer objects to the new set of orders he's just been given. Sensing a hint of hesitation and insubordination the Sturmbannführer changes his tone.

"These are your new orders, Wallon. Unbind them and remove their blindfolds. Do it or you're joining them." The Burgundian Sturmbannführer threatens the SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer. The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer looks to his men.

"You heard him. Cut their binds, remove the blindfolds, and let them go free into the woods," The SS-Wallonien soldiers do as ordered and proceed to cut the binds and remove the blindfold from the remaining eighteen. "Go, run," The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer repeats again in his native Wallonian French the same command so that the eighteen could run to the forest ahead of them. Some of them picked up their fallen comrades and picked up the ones that are still moving, others left them. The SS-Wallonien turns to the Burgundian Sturmbannführer . "Are you sure about this, Sturmbannführer? Why let them run?" He asked.

"They're still going to die. What we're doing is considered an exercise for them." The Burgundian Sturmbannführer responded as he looks at the prisoners running for their lives with what little time they have left.

"An exercise for whom exactly?" The SS-Wallonien Oberscharführer asked.

"For them." The Burgundian Sturmbannführer points to the two trucks. The Brugndian-SS opens the rear doors and steps out nine individuals, some of who are not of Aryan build or likeness. Then the Burgundian-SS Sturmbannführer walks over to the group. "Your orders. Execute those prisoners who are condemned to death. You don't want to let your SS-Gruppenführerin down, do you." The Burgundian Sturmbannführer informs the group. "Great, now go." The Sturmbannführer orders the group to go and so they did, running into the forest to track and execute every single former 'skilled worker' in the forest.

"Come on, we must move!" One of the 'skilled workers' blurted out. A young man, of fair and Aryan looks, sentenced to death for sabotage and propagation of communist ideals, helps up a fellow 'skilled worker' who fell to the ground after the guard had accidentally missed and shot her in the upper right chest, finding it hard to breathe while running.

"Just leave me, I'm already done for. Go and save yourself!" She blurted out, reeling from the pain of being shot.

"I won't leave you to die." The young man proclaimed. But as he continues to help up his fallen comrade, the woman looks up to smile. All she sees is his head falling off from his body. The cut was swift but clean, she couldn't help but scream at such a grizzly sight yet her screams to are cut short as sound cutting through air and flesh and bone is made.

"The blood of another world is surreal, isn't that right, Kotetsu?" The swordsman of the group, codenamed: Dainsleifr, talks to his sword as he sheathes it.
Hearing the screams, two more 'skilled workers' continue to run. A man in his late fifties and another in his twenties. The older man stops for a moment and tries to catch his breath.

"Father, we have to keep running." The son tells his father. The father gestures for him to continue.

"You just keep running. I'll catch up soon." Hearing such a command from his father, the son couldn't help but turn and keep running. Yet he doesn't get far as he's pulled up into the trees and is left lifeless like a hanged man whose been condemned. His body drops to the floor with his head violently turned 180 degrees "NOO!" The father cried out in horror, seeing his son with his head twisted behind his neck. He doesn't remain long as a muscular bearded figure pops from behind. Grabbing him by the neck and slowly squeezing the life out of him until no more resistance is given.

"Rest now, For I've liberated your soul from this realm." Another assassin and executioner, codename: Siegurd, tells to the dead man in front of him. The hanging boy is dropped from the trees as Siegurd's comrade pops up near him.

"That was disappointing. I was hoping for a challenge." The second assassin, codename: Drauger, exclaimed. In another part of the forest, two more were running for their lives until they were brought down stealthily but bloody nonetheless.

"Geez. They talk a lot of big games about being revolutionaries. But killing them just makes it no fun if they're not resisting." Another member Codenamed: Valkyrie, shakes her bloodied hand off of the blood that she used to crush the skull of one of her victims.

"This one over here looks cute but also mature. Nothing like the others." The second, codenamed: Raven, laments after having snapped a man's neck. In another part of the woods, three others try to make a run for it in the forest. Narrowly avoiding the fates of their fallen comrades.

"Come on! The sooner we clear this forest, the sooner we have the chance that they may pardon us!" One of the three tries to be optimistic. But as the three continue to run, they stop just before what appears to be a pup-like creature. Round and standing on its hind legs, nothing like a normal dog but more like that of a teddy bear. In spite of its cuddly looks, its figure appears to be too normal for that of a teddy bear. "The hell is this thing? ARGH!" The man collapses forward just as the other two behind him collapse as well. Shot just below the sternum from the back, severing their spinal cord.

"Fu. Now that you sowers of discord have been incapacitated. It only seems fitting that you would all perish in a manner that befits you. Now then, you may feast on these red criminals." A female voice spoke, codenamed: Angrboda, giving the order to her pet Fenrir. He grows five times his size and his arms grow to that like a muscular human's, an off-poing and sinister grin is seen on the creature's face. The size terrifies the men as they try to crawl away, but Frenir grabs hold of them: two on his right and one on his left. He opens his mouth wide open and consumes the tops of the three men as they scream in agony and horror. Flesh and bone munch as Fenrir continues to eat his prey: akin to a child eating a candy bar. As the slaughter continues on, three more managed to keep running and find a way out of the forest. They look at each other with glee and happiness, but that too is cut short. A heavy and muffled breath from a gas mask is heard as the three turns to see a man and a flamethrower. Dressed in black, he looks at the three men who have begun to plead, but he doesn't listen. He lets loose a stream of fire that sticks to the three men, melting their clothes and flesh in excruciating pain and heat.

"I'm sorry, but orders are orders. You had to be put down." The flamethrower of the unit codenamed: Logi, apologizes to the three men as they continue to cry out in pain. He lowers his weapon.

"Logi!" Angrboda calls out, carrying her companion Fenrir in her arms like how a child carries its teddy bear. "Wow, you did well in burning them," She turns to the burning corpses.

"You know. I'm doing all that I can for Burgundy." Logi chuckles. "I just hope the fire doesn't spread throughout the entire forest." Logi continues to chuckle through his gas mask.

"Now. Let the fires of the Burgundian justice cleanse you. For your crimes have condemned you." Angrboda exclaimed to the three burning corpses. She lets go of Fenrir. "Go, enjoy your snack."

In another section of the forest, a lone man was separated from a group of six, leaving him alone. Alone and terrified by the screams of the people who were his old comrades, he collapses to the ground in a fetal position.

"This can't be happening, this can't be happening, this can't be happening!" He cries out. "Just make it stop!" He continues to cry out, trying to make himself small as possible.

"There's no reason for you to cry," A voice of a young woman calls out to him. The man looks up and sees a young woman in front of him. A stature like that of a pubescent girl blonde girl, and a dress black as the void itself. Her aura wasn't normal. The man tries to stand and run. A knife is thrown to his back, collapsing forward. He attempts to crawl away, but the same young woman stands before him. He looks up at her in fear. "Fu, fu. Now, I wonder how this one tastes." She comments. She goes for his neck, the man screams in horror as the very life is drained from his body. She tosses the now-dried man to the side. Whatever remained of him, was nothing but a dried husk of flesh, muscle, and bone, devoid of blood. "The third one doesn't taste good. Sigh, will there be no one to satiate my hunger?" The young girl, codenamed: Nachzehrer, comments as she wipes the blood from her lips with her sleeve. "I should get back, they're about to be done anyways."

In the final stretch of the woods, the three prisoners managed to narrowly evade the death traps that lay in front of them. Soon, they make it out of the forest to freedom.
"We're. We're free! We're free! We're free!" One of the 'skilled workers' cried out in jubilation. Another one of the three-pointed out and spotted a winged angel-like figure floating above them.

"Look, that has to be a sign!" The man looked up. But the third took a closer look, he spots that it is no angel of heaven.

"R-run!" The third cried out, spotting the angel-like man wearing the greyish-black uniform of the Burgundian SS. The three tried to disperse but the angel was quicker. Snapping his fingers a set of three metallic feathers are summoned and with a simple gesture, each wing makes its mark on the final three men. Each one collapses forward, with each one wishing they've done more to end Burgundy.

"I can't allow you to simply run. Neither one of you will escape." The angel and sub-leader of the group, codenamed: Todesengel, tells the three men. Seeing that the task is over, he lands back on the ground and enters the forest, his angel-like wings retract and disappear. "The executions are over for today. Yet, it's still interesting how common both worlds share." Todesegel thinks to himself. "But, I hope that these would be the last executions for us." Promptly, Todesengel reunites with his team who are waiting for him, the Wallonian SS soldiers have already left under orders to remain silent about what they saw. Fenrir is seen consuming the bodies of those who were shot prior to the group's arrival.
The hunt comes to an end and a flicker of hope is snuffed out in the Ordenstaat. None of the 'skilled workers' condemned to death cries are heard for none dared to approach to lend aid and none outside of the SS State knows. In the dark night sky, the moon dares not to glow, not even the stars who eternally remain in the heavens dared to shine: for they hide in fear. In fear of the Black Sun.

2 May 1963
Ost-Paris, SS State of Burgundy

Esdeath's plane lands at the Ost-Paris airport, a private airport utilized for Himmler and the high-ranking staff and generals of the Burgundian SS for trips within the Ordenstaat. Esdeath steps out of the Poeltz 840 with a light breeze billowing through her blue hair. She is met in front by a state vehicle, one Mercedes-Benz W187 Saloon with the back collapsed and two small Burgundian flags on the front of the vehicle, used by Burgundian leaders and officials with a chauffeur standing with the door open, wearing a Burgundian SS uniform. Esdeath steps in the state car and they begin to drive off to the center of Ost-Paris. Esdeath removes her cap and places it on her lap as she let the wind flow through her blue hair and the morning sun rising from the distance. Esdeath thinks to herself, seeing the concrete sky rises that makes up most of Ost-Paris. Her drive takes up no less than twenty minutes as she arrives in Ost-Paris. Considering the fact that the Reich is at war, Esdeath notes that she has to arrive back at the Reich before the evening. "Still unchanging as ever I see. Hope that aging Bafoon won't make a rant about me not being present. Even going over the head of Herr Müller. But I couldn't care less for now. I'll begin speaking with Herr Himmler and hopefully bring my projects out of Burgundy." Esdeath thinks to herself as her chauffer continues to drive her to the central district of the Ost-Paris. Esdeath makes it half an hour later to the central of Ost-Paris, stopping in front of Himmler's residence and office, formally known as the Royal Palace of Brussels now known as the Schloss des Reichsführers. Much of the original building is gone, its exterior design stripped of its Belgian roots with several extra floors being placed on top of the original, redesigned to look similar to the Wewelsburg castle that remains in the Reich.
Esdeath makes her way inside of the building, her presence is immediately met with fear and intrigue by the guards and secretaries inside the building whenever they see her presence. Esdeath walks up to the front desk, both women wearing a Burgundian SS officer uniform dark in color like that of the SS Gruppenführerin.

"Excuse me, ladies. But if I may ask, may one of you point to the Reichsführer's office? Or at the very least let him be aware of my presence." Esdeath asks one of the secretaries.

"Do you have an invitation or an appointment?" One Burgundian Untersturmführer secretary asks Esdeath, keeping her head low as he looks at the list of appointments and invites.

"I was invited over the phone last night, by the Reichsführer-SS himself," Esdeath responded. The Untersturmführer secretary looks up and is stunned by the appearance of Esdeath.

"Oh! My-my apologies, I wasn't made aware of your arrival, SS-Gruppenführerin. I'll inform him of your arrival. If you may, please take a seat." The Burgundian Untersturmführer secretary directs Esdeath to the waiting lounge as she begins to make his connections to the secretary to the Reichsführer-SS. Esdeath lounges on one of the leather chairs as her eyes look around the waiting room. In front of her is a large portrait painting of the Reichsführer-SS standing on a hilly landscape reminiscent of south Bavaria, wearing his black uniform, with a black trench coat thrown on top of a large rock on the bottom left-hand-side of the painting. His features appear to be that in his late forties and early fifties in the painting. Esdeath puts her hand underneath her chin as how one thinks.

"It's been almost two years since I've visited the Ordenstaat. Still remains the very same. Perhaps it might be good or bad. But we'll see," Esdeath ponders to herself. "One thing is definitely for certain, the ego of Himmler's is grander than that of Hitler's." Esdeath continues to think further to herself. Comparing the egoisms of Hitler and Himmler, and praying that she doesn't need to unleash her Imperial Arms on Himmler so long as he nor his men interfere in her projects set within the SS Burgundian state. Though the two share a professional relationship, their personal relationship is nonetheless tense between the two. A history of arrogance and grudge. As Esdeath continues to wait the Burgundian SS Scharführer walks up to Esdeath.

"SS-Gruppenführerin. He's ready for you. Please, come with me." The Burgundian Untersturmführer secratary informs Esdeath. Esdeath stands up and follows the secretary to the Reichsführer's office. They take the elevatorAs Esdeath walks through the hallway she spots more paintings of portraits done of the Reichsführer-SS. Many of them are a copy of portraits of Hitler but replaced by the face of Himmler. Standing at the same height as that of the Führer. The two reach the end of the corridor with the secretary turning to face Esdeath. "He will see you now." The secretary raises her arm and salutes the same way one salutes the Führer. "Heil Himmler." She begins to walk away and back to her station. Esdeath opens the reinforced wooden door by its steel handle. She enters the office of the Reichsführer-SS. It's been a while since she last stepped foot on Burgunidan soil and even longer she spoke to Himmler in person. She wonders what the exact reason for their meeting is aside from Esdeath's projects being restless, requiring her attention. Esdeath closes the door behind her and removes her cap, placing it beneath her left arm. She lifts her foot up by a few centimeters, bringing it down, making her presence known. She raises her right arm to salute Himmler.

"Heil," Esdeath greets the Reichsführer-SS. Himmler turns around from his glass pane wall that overlooks the east of the city, similar in design to the Führer's office in Germania but with notable differences. His office replaced the flag of the Reich with that of the SS State, black colorings replaced the red, and the portrait of Bismarck replaced with the icon of the black sun. Esdeath lowers her arm. Himmler walks in Esdeath's direction, stopping just a meter away from her. She can see his uniform closely: The black SS officer uniform used in the early days of the SS before the war with the rank of Reichsführer-SS and its insignia, a white dress shirt, and a purple tie. His officer cap lies on his office desk.

"It has been a while since we've spoken in person, SS-Gruppenführerin," Himmler greets Esdeath. "Please, let us take a seat." Himmler directs Esdeath to the pair of sofa couches facing one another. The two walk over and sit across from each other, with Esdeath placing her officer cap in front of her with the skull pin facing forward. "So how was your flight from Germania? I assume you are still resting from your campaign in the United States, am I wrong?"

"I am. It was a month-long of boredom and with a few days of fighting. I was able to strike terror in many of the American and Canadian forces that stood in my way. But if the Führer hadn't intervened and split my soldiers, then we wouldn't be here." Esdeath responded. Esdeath crossed her legs, folded her hands, and placed them on top of her leg.

"And your husband? Tatsomay was it? Where is he?" Himmler asks.

"It's Tatsumi and he isn't my husband. Though I'd wished we were married, I couldn't. Lest I'd be forced into retirement by Herr Hitler, Herr Bormann, and Herr Müller. Being taken away from the fighting and losing control of my unit. A unit that I worked hard to train. But thankfully, they didn't look into me when I was granted time off for eighteen months." Esdeath responded. She looks down. "Although, I must say. Tatsumi... he has not returned. I fear that the Americans have already gotten to him. And I will do what I must to get him back." Esdeath looks up at Himmler. "Now, let us return to the main point. Why is it that you called me here, Herr Himmler." Esdeath asked.

"Well, that is a shame. When you first brought him in two years ago, I assumed he would be second to you in the Reich. He had great potential nonetheless," Himmler comments. Esdeath catches on with what Himmler is saying but Himmler can sense agitation from Esdeath. "But let us not be engulfed by grief. We must carry on," Himmler states. Himmler stands up and walks over to his desk, grabbing a manilla string-tied envelope that is stated in white Streng Geheim. He brings it over. "Here. I procure this for you," Himmler presents the envelope to Esdeath. "But to what I said to you on the phone. Your projects, specifically: Projekt Einsatzgruppen Eis, have already met their requirements and have pledged their fielty to the SS State," Himmler sits down across from Esdeath. "Now, as I've stated over the phone. These people cannot wait to see you." Esdeath opens up the folder and reviews the names on the paper that she took out of the envelope.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting," Esdeath responded. "But, I wish to know, Reichsführer-SS," Esdeath asks, peaking Himmler's attention. "Will you grant permission to transfer them from the Burgundian SS to the German SS?" Esdeath asked. Himmler looks at Esdeath with eyes of perplexion at the question Esdeath asked. Himmler ponders on Esdeath's question before giving his response.

"Give me a reason why you want me to transfer this unit from the Burgundian SS to the German SS, SS-Gruppenführerin." Himmler asked sternly. Wanting a reason to why he would give up such a powerful group.

"They would aid in the war effort in the fight against the United States and their incoming forces. Once it's shown that there are more users of Imperial Arms like me, then the Americans would have no choice but to waste their efforts to eliminate them. Eventually, even the Wehrmacht would fall in line with the demands of the SS. Not just the German branch," Esdeath answers. "Although, I could've used them alongside Tatsumi to completely capitulate the US. But they were nothing more than a secret execution force under your usage," Esdeath comments. "Using them to conduct executions and summary executions against enemies of the state. Whether they're innocent or not." Esdeath remarks. Hearing this, Himmler merely chuckled. Himmler merely stood up and walked over to his window, gesturing for Esdeath to follow, which she does standing by his right-hand side.

"Do you know why, SS-Gruppenführerin, I rule the Ordenstaat the way I do? Through brutality, violence, repression, terror, and fear?" Himmler asked.

"I'd assume it's to enact your dream of the Aryan race, turning the state into your own testing grounds to prove the concept of Aryanism," Esdeath responded. "A mad and foolish idea at that. Even the so-called Aryan would fall to my knees if not wiped out." Esdeath thinks to herself. Himmler smirks at her response.

"Well, that is a part of it," Himmler responded. "In here, I rule with the desire to remove decadence and degeneracy in the state. Ruling the state with an extreme spartan lifestyle. Something that the National Socialism of the Reich failed to achieve, allowing it to devolve into degeneracy that allows itself to rot in the core," Himmler continued. "Humanity has long lost its way of authoritative control. Making examples of a few rebels or villages sends a message to the majority. Clear enough that none would desire to revolt. For they subject themselves to fear. I do not ask for their love, the state does not desire their love. For they will take love and compassion away once power becomes weak and they rebel against the status quo. No, we only ask for their fear. The same fear that a servant gives to a king, a slave to its master, a victim to its blackmailer" Himmler continues. "The same fear that the Romans showed to the ancient world. From the deserts of North Africa, to the Levant, through the Balkans, and in Western Europe, and the Mediterranian," Himmler turns to Esdeath. "That is the fear I want from my subjects. Not the fear where they say yes to everything, but the fear where they know that if they rebel or showed signs of rebellion through a facade of praise, then they will be eliminated. Show that type of fear to Germania, SS-Gruppenführerin." Esdeath turns to Himmler.

"So, we have a deal then," Esdeath responded. Himmler extends his right hand.

"Of course. Take your unit to the Reich and in turn, I'll deal with your other projects in Burgundy and how I see fit." Himmler exclaimed. The two shake hands sealing a deal between the two. Esdeath gets to take her Projekt: Einsatzgruppen Eis to the Reich to be utilized in their war against the Americans and the enemies of the Reich, while Himmler would see fit how to deal with Esdeath's two other projects in the Ordenstaat.

Castle Partas, SS State of Burgundy

In the SS State, in the castle that once was called Luden Castle, two trucks arrive outside of the main entrance. Todesengel, Angrboda and Fenrir, Logi, Dainsleifr, Nachzehrer, Draugr, Raven, Siegurd, and Valkaryie all step out with their Burgundian SS Sturmbannführer handler. They are all escorted in by a squad of Burgundian SS soldiers, outside from the collaborator legions of SS-Wallonien, SS-Langemarck, and SS-Charlemagne. The group is escorted inside of Castle Partas, awaiting their main handler, SS-Gruppenführerin Esdeath Partas.