The Shadow State
II
Castle Partas, SS-State of Burgundy
The ten members of Einsatzgruppen Eis walk inside Castle Partas. One of the many castles distributed to the generals of the Burgundian SS and a few German SS generals who primarily reside in Germania. The moat that surrounds the castle provides an extra layer of secrecy and protection from the prying eyes of those who wish to peek inside the castle. Todesengel walks alongside Angrboda with her carrying Fenrir in her arms. The two walk side by side in the hallways of the third floor of the building. Todesengel carries in his hands a silver tray with a teapot, tea cups, a sugar jar, and spoons for the group. The two wear their black SS Dienstrock uniforms with no distinctions of rank or unit except for the SS rune insignia on the right collar and Burgundian swastika insignia on the left collar. Todesengel wears the male version of the uniform and tunic with a white dress shirt and black tie, black jackboots, and a black leather belt. Angrboda wears with her female tunic a knee-length black skirt, black leggings, black dress shoes, a light brown dress shirt, and a black tie.
"I certainly can't wait for the commander to show up. I know that when I see her again I will give her a big old hug!" Angrboda proclaimed. "Almost a year passed since we've last seen her. I hope she will be proud of how much we progressed, I'm sure of it!" Angrboda proclaimed.
"I'm sure the commander would love to see how much everyone progressed. I'm sure she would be proud of the progress we made in the two years that we are here." Todesengel responded. "I see that she's in a better mood today. Perhaps hearing of Esdeath's arrival made her happy since we were all transported to her castle for the time being."
"Well, let's hope that she will use us for further advancement of the Burgundian system. This world needs to be cleansed of the injustices that plague it. The degenerate and decadent both need to be swept away if we want true justice to be brought into the world." Angrboda comments further, chuckling at the end. "I already failed once, I will not this failure happen again here. They will all pay the ultimate price, and Bugundy will surly see to it."
"Then you have to train further," Todesengel responded to Angrboda's enthusiasm. "But not only killing death row prisoners or communists."
"Hmph, the communists will be the first to be removed from the world. Then any revolutionaries and degenerates that wish to disrupt the way of life and the Burgundian justice that comes with it." Angrboda responded to Todesengel's comments. As the two continue to walk towards the meeting room where the other eight are waiting a bullet breaks through the glass and flies in front of the two from the left. The two duck as even more gunshots are fired from the outside. Todesegel dropped his tray and Angrboda dropped Fenrir and took cover behind the way. "Whose that shooting at us?!" Angrboda cried out.
"I don't know. But I'll go check it out!" Todesengel responded. "When they stop to reload, I'll go check it out!" Todesengel laid out a plan to check out.
Outside of the castle, Esdeath, with her hair in a bun, stands outside of the moat with a platoon of Burgundian SS led by Sturmbannführer Ochsenkopf: a middle-aged Burgundian SS Sturmbannführer, of Lorrainian German descent originating from Lorthringen, and temporary Einsatzgruppen Eis handler. Delegated with the task to monitor the group. Coupled with a squad of the Flemish collaborator legion: SS-Langemarck acting in a support role.
"That will be enough men. I'll take it from here." Esdeath orders the soldiers to cease fire.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Sturmbannführer Ochsenkopf relays the orders to both Burgundian and Langemarck soldiers. "What are you going to do now SS-Gruppenführerin? What was the reason for attacking your own castle?" Ochsenkopf asked Esdeath.
"If you wish to know, Ochsenkopf, then I'm making sure of the reaction of my group. Assessing how they would react to a surprise attack from an assassin or a partisan group. Knowing them, they would do anything in their power to eliminate them. Which is why, if you desire for you and the survival of your to be ensured, I recommend for you to flee." Esdeath advises Ochsenkopf.
"Everyone, fall back! Return to barracks!" Ochsenkopf turns and orders his men to fall back. Ochsenkopf stays put.
"Are you not going, Sturmbannführer?" Esdeath ask.
"Of course not. I'm staying here with you. I've already invested my time in this group. I'm not going to pull away from it now." Ochsenkopf responded.
"Well, let us see how long you can survive," Esdeath looks at her castle and spots Todesengel flying out from one of the windows. Esdeath removes her scarf and passes it to Ochsenkopf. She sprints and takes flight into the blue and cloudy sky, creating ice wings on her wrists and ankles. As Todesengel has taken flight, he spots two trucks already leaving.
"Three of those trucks are fleeing. They must be the compatriots of the people we had executed yesterday. I will simply kill them and-" Before Todesengel can continue contemplating, he spots Esdeath quickly sneaking from beneath him. He blocks Esdeath's roundhouse blow by crossing his arms at his chest. Her blow kicks him down into the moat's water. The commotion causes the other nine to run outside of the castle and onto the gravel path.
"One down because he was focused on the fleeing Burgundian and Langemarck soldiers. Now, let's see how the others would fair." Esdeath comments. She grabs two Nebelhandgranate 59 from her side, removing the caps and activating them, throwing them to the center of the group.
"What's happening!" Raven cries out.
"Look above!" Valkaryie points up just as when two Nebelhandgranate 59 falls from the sky. The smoke grenades fall to the ground and are activated. creating a thick smoke cloud that covers a twenty-meter radius.
"Where did all of this smoke come from?" Draugr remarks as he covers his face. Before he can react, Esdeath brings him down with a simple punch to the back, enough force to bring him down but not kill him.
"You need to pay attention," Esdeath interjects.
"Get her!" Valkaryie orders them all to get Esdeath, yet the smoke persists. Esdeath then moves forward and quickly dispatches Valkaryie. Firstly, she punches Valkaryie in the stomach and kicking her to knock out both Raven and Siegurd.
"You need to react quicker," Esdeath remarks their delayed reaction peed to the smoke. Esdeath hears the hissing sounds of the flamethrower of Logi. Fire is spit out in a long and intense stream of flame which Esdeath dodges with grace. Closing the gap, Esdeath uppercuts and knocks out Logi's weapon from his arms and sweeps him off his feet by kicking his hip. Continuing with her assault, Esdeath hears the sound of a blade being drawn by Dainsleif she dodges his strikes and lands on top of his blade. "Sloppy," Esdeath kicks upward dealing a blow to Dainsleif's chin and getting herself off of the blade all in a circular motion. Landing once more, both Angrboda and Fenrir jump up from behind ready to attack her from the back. Esdeath senses the bloodlust coming from the two. She dodges and grabs Angrboda from her arm, bringing Angrboda down forcefully on the gravel while also freezing the attacks of Fenrir. "Remember to conceal your murderous intent when attacking from behind," Esdeath tells both Fenrir and Angrboda. The smoke dissipates as the aftermath is revealed, while the others are brought down easily by Esdeath, Nachzehrer stands by the entrance not interested in fighting. Todesengel emerges from the water wet, coughing, finally being able to reunite with the rest. "Though you may be strong, don't forget you could be much more. If you can't handle this simple surprise attack, then how would you fair in an attack by the Americans or the enemy? "Esdeath remarks to all involved. "How will you fair when bombs and shells fall overhead?" Esdeath continues to educate the group. "Now, I want every one of you to clean yourselves up. For we'll be leaving in an hour." Esdeath continued.
"Co-commander!" Angrboda called out. She stands up, her body shaking by the force of being thrown down into the gravel, and sees Esdeath removing her military cap and dusting it off the dust from the top, the Reichsadler, and the skull-cross-bone pin, replacing her cap back.
"That's, G-general Esdeath!" Logi calls out as he stands up, naturally calling Esdeath by the general military title instead of her preferred SS title.
"Now, get up and go get yourselves cleaned up. For we will be departing for the Ost-Paris airport in an hour." Esdeath repeats her command once more.
An hour passed with the members of Einsatzgruppen Eis having cleaned themselves up of dust and battle damage, all have been assembled outside of Esdeath's castle's entrance. Replacing the clothes they were wearing before with the grey Dienstrock uniforms of the Burgundian SS, four of them are uncomfortable with having to wear the SS uniform the other six stand with their uniforms at the ready and extra Feldbluse at the ready. Esdeath inspects all ten members of Einsatzgruppen Eis. Each of the female members of Einsatzgruppen Eis has their hair tied in a bun.
"SS-Gruppenführerin, the transportation is on its way," Ochsenkopf reports to Esdeath, passing Esdeath her scarf back. Esdeath ties her black pom scarf back and undoes her hair, letting her long blue hair fall back down the way it was. "Where shall you take them?" Ochsenkopf asks.
"You'll know soon," Esdeath answers Ochsenkopf's question, he then stands out of the way, standing at ease. I apologize for such a violent introduction. I was originally going to introduce myself. But you already know who I am and such introductions bore me." Esdeath opens up with introductory remarks. "All of you performed subpar. If I have to predict how long you may survive, I'd say about a day or two." Esdeath informs all of them.
"Don't worry, commander, we will train harder where you will be proud of our hard work." Valkyrie comments. Esdeath walks over to Valkaryie, standing in front of her.
"Really? Do you think you can dodge falling bombs, bullets, and even an overwhelming wall of men charging at you?" Esdeath asks Valkyrie, relaying her experiences of fighting in the front in the US and her fight against the Soviets. Knowing that Valkaryie's experiences in fighting are primarily hand-to-hand combat with the added benefit of extreme bodily flexibility, the same benefits apply to Raven, Draugr, and Siegurd all of whom come from the same field.
"Well, I could take on a handful at a time. But when-" Valkaryie tries to answer but Esdeath cuts her off, grabbing her by the neck collar of her uniform and lifting her up by it.
"And of those rolling with tanks and other heavy machinery? How about those coming in with helicopters and planes that block the sky with bombs, destroying kilometers of land? Tell me what will you do then." Esdeath lets go of Valkaryie's tie allowing her to fall to the ground, terrified by the concept of not having to contend against one-on-one opponents, but hundreds and thousands at the same time with heavy armor and planes added in to contend against them all. More so, Valkaryie is terrified by Esdeath's fiendish gaze. "The same goes for all of you," Esdeath begins to walk perpendicularly in front of Einsatzgruppen Eis. "Will you stand up to the challenge and take on the enemies of the Reich?" Esdeath stops in the middle of the group.
"Yes," The Einsatzgruppen Eis responded.
"Yes, what?" Esdeath repeats their answer.
"Yes, SS-Gruppenführerin." The men and women of Einsatzgruppen Eis repeat once more addressing Esdeath by her rank. Just as they answered Esdeath back, three vehicles: two Hanomag L-28S with their canvas covers on and a Mercedes-Benz W186 model 300, arrived. Esdeath turns her attention to the approaching two vehicles.
"Well then. Let us take a trip outside of Burgundy. Now, everyone load up for we're about to take a trip outside of Burgundy," Esdeath orders the Einsatzgruppen Eis to load up in the Hanomag L-28, with their luggage being loaded on the second truck. Esdeath then turns to Ochsenkopf. "And you are to accompany me, Sturmbannführer." Esdeath orders Ochsenkopf who walks over to the door and opens the door for her, allowing her to enter the vehicle first, he then enters the car next. Both vehicles make their turns to leave Castle Partas. They take one last look at what was once the home and training center of their new lives in Burgundy, now being put to use by Esdeath in the Greater Germanic Reich's war against the UFN and other enemies.
As the two vehicles make their way to the Ost-Paris Airport, Esdeath turns to Ochsenkopf. "Will you hand me over your paybook, Sturmbannführer?" Esdeath asks. He hands over his paybook which Esdeath grabs and removes a fountain pen from the inside of her tunic pocket.
"Mind if I ask, what are you doing, SS-Gruppenführerin?" Ochsenkopf asks as Esdeath reviews his paybook, she removes the cap from her fountain pen and begins to write in the pages of the paybook. She hands over his paybook, confused about what Esdeath will do with his paybook.
"What I've written in there is the new unit that you will be serving in. It's one of the three projects that I believe you would do well in. Considering you have experience in conducting and managing units designated for assassination missions. Do you not?" Esdeath asks. Ochsenkopf glances directly at Esdeath. He then peers over to the window.
"I haven't managed any assassination units in the thirty-five years I have in this life. Not even in the thirteen years that I've been an officer of the SS and seven in Burgundy," Ochsenkopf tells Esdeath, looking over at the concrete buildings of Ost-Paris. "Any particular reason why?" He glances back at Esdeath, and Esdeath turns her head to face Ochsenkopf.
"When I asked Reichsführer-SS Himmler to transfer Einsatzgruppen Eis from the Burgundian SS to the German SS, he told me that in return I would have to give up my two other projects to the Burgund SS. Project Nebenwalt and Project Schatten-Truppen. Allowing me to delegate a few more persons to my project," Esdeath responded pointing to Ochsenkopf with her fountain pen. "You have been assigned to Project Schatten-Truppen," Esdeath brings her pen back, puts the cap back on, and replaces it in her tunic. "There is already a man leading in their development, you may even recognize him. All they're looking for is a person who already has experience in managing and training assassins."
"As I said, it has been thirty-five years since I trained assassins. I don't know if the ones here will be on the same level as the seven of the previous breed. It took them from childhood until their teenage years to even reach the level that they are. Burgundy and the Reich don't have the same resources as the other world." Ochsenkopf raises an objection.
"Oh no, they will be on the Sturmbannführer," Esdeath objects to his objection. "Once we reach the Ost-Paris airport, you'll be taking a helicopter to Nanzig. That is where you will be assigned. As for me and the rest of Einsatzgruppen Eis, I'm taking them to Germania." Esdeath continued. "Do you understand? Because this isn't just an order from me but was that of the top. The Reichsführer-SS, and Obergruppenführer Nikolaus Barbie of the Burgundian SD. I recommend that you rethink objecting to an order from above." Esdeath continued to entice him. "After all, it would be a total waste of your skills to be used on simple infantry or even behind a desk. Wouldn't you agree?" Esdeath further entices Ochsenkopf to take part as a leader for Project Schatten-Truppen. After a moment of thought, Ochsenkopf turns to fully face Esdeath.
"I accept the appointment, SS-Gruppenführerin." Ochsenkopf accepts his new positon. Delighted, Esdeath simply smiles at his answer.
"Well, let's hope that Schatten-Truppen becomes the most successful unit in history," Esdeath tells Ochsenkopf, she peers over and spots that the caravan has already reached the runway of the Ost-Paris airport."Oh, we're here," Esdeath says, she looks closer and sports several more figures standing by the Poetz 840. "And what are they doing?" Esdeath asks herself.
"It appears that they're going to give you a proper send-off for you and your unit," Ochsenkopf responded. The car stops with the truck carrying Einsatzgruppen Eis stopping behind them. Everyone steps out of their respective vehicles. In front of them are several members of the Burgundian SS military band, its conductor, and the Burgundian Foreign Minister: Joachim von Ribbentrop all three standing to give off a proper send-off to Esdeath and Einsatzgruppen Eis.
"SS-Obergruppenführer Joachim von Ribbentrop, he appears to be worse off than usual. I wonder what he does most of the time. Considering that Burgundy has no formal international relations and is essentially an isolate, even within the Einheitspakt," Esdeath thinks to herself after taking a look at the ailing man. Once he'd been an essential foreign minister for the Greater Germanic Reich, but his enemies in Germania were growing as the Reich was loafing in its riches during the fifties all the way up until the failed SS coup, siding with Himmler to aid in the construction of Burgundy. Now, his position as the SS State's Foreign Minister is a meaningless title with little to no responsibilities or powers. Esdeath then approaches the Foreign Minister she takes a closer look at him, him wearing his black SS Dienstrock uniform but his appearance is ten years older than that of his age. "Heil Himmler, Obergruppenführer Joachim von Ribbentrop." Esdeath, Ochsenkopf, and Einsatzgruppen Eis perform the national socialist salute to the foreign minister, and he reciprocates the gesture back to all.
"Heil, SS-Gruppenführerin." von Ribbentrop tells Esdeath, everyone bringing their arms down.
"And what is the purpose of a military band?" Esdeath asks.
"Under the recommendation of the Reichsführer-SS: Heinrich Himmler. He believes playing the state anthem will be a proper send-off for Burgundian units that will be utilized in the war against decadence and degeneracy, the enemies of the Aryan race." von Ribbentrop tells Esdeath.
"I appreciate the gesture, Obergruppenführer von Ribbentrop. Einsatzgruppen Eis had only ever known about living in the Ordenstaat. Thank you, Obergruppenführer von Ribbentrop." Esdeath thanks von Ribbentrop for the gesture that Himmler has put forth. "Well if this isn't bothersome. A man who is sending us off is the one who has no real power here and shouldn't have any involvement in my affairs in the Ordenstaat." Esdeath thinks as she notes the time being wasted for a person who shouldn't have any involvement in her affairs. As the second Hanomag L-28 begins to load up the luggage of Einsatzgruppen Eis, von Ribbentrop turns around and stands by Esdeath's right side, turning once more to face the military band. The Burgundian Military band conductor turns around and has the military band play the state anthem of the SS State of Burgundy: Wenn alle untreu werden. All stand at attention and salute to the anthem.
As the state anthem plays from Ost-Paris airport, Himmler watches over from his Schloss des Reichsführers in the center of Ost-Paris, looking in the direction of Ost-Paris. Content with how his meeting with Esdeath went down, taking full custody of Esdeath's two other projects to help further advance the power of the SS State of Burgundy. Himmler looks down at a stack of five pages stapled together, each page holds thirty-two names of people suspected to be against the SS State. As Himmler stares out from his building he looks up out east to where Germania stands. To him, The Thousand-Year Reich of the National Socialist Party is only a lie, a lie he'd once believed in like so many in the borders of the Greater Germanic Reich and its Reichkommisariats, a lie that many still believe in. He knows that the war may be an end to the Reich in Germania, the National Socialist German Workers Party, and Hitler. But not for him, not for the SS State of Burgundy. Through brutality and fear, Himmler hopes that his will will be enforced in the coming decades. All for the ideals of the SS State of Burgundy.