The rotting stench of the air compliments the lifeless terrain, the grey frozen land echoes the pain it's endured; the silence long dreams of disappearing to the sweet songs of birds but a nightmare of boots stamping through the blood filled marsh was the reality. A platoon of soldiers, fifty strong parading with the emblem of water, one, two, three, four repeating with every fourth step but they stopped. A flash, a constant stream of energy only visible by the white trim surrounding it's dark core.
The user concealed by the night's covers; their fates were sealed the moment of the black lightning. Without a single word the confrontation was over; fifty soldiers both men and women laid in the mud and the lightning user was gone. This was the First World War, the greatest used of military power in recorded history.
How
The
Strong
Has
Fallen?
This war of doomed from the start, a once mighty nation crumbled in sight of a combined force of all the others.
How
Foolish
They
Were?
Millions died, resources drained and maps redrawn. The low morale combine with propaganda broke the spirit of an already outnumbered nation leading to an early surrender but the suffering only started, the Treaty of Versailles clearly stated a major reduction of our military to 100,000 soldiers, no submarine or aerial force and only 6 battleships. We lost 10 % of our territory, all our colonies, 12 % of the population, 16 % of our coalfields and 50% of all our iron and steel industries. We were plagued with 6.6 millions Euro in reparations and the executions of the King and Queen of Germanity the final nailed in the coffin; this was the most humiliating moment in Germanity history.
Three Year After the Treaty
With fighting amongst the allied nations the trust they held quickly unraveled and the spark of revolt quickly spread like wildfire, strong, destructive and uncontrollable. In the year 2007, the deadliest war in recorded history ended and the once powerful Gemanity was a shadow of it's former glory but that isn't where that story ends.
Present Day
"My lord, the eastern-front is under heavy artillery fire, our soldiers can't survive the enemy's counterattack," General Anschuetz stated rising the urgency in the room.
"It will take too long if we send reinforcements at this point," General Lichtenberg stated.
"My points exactly, we should retreat the remaining soldiers and regroup with the reinforcements," General Janowitz expressed, "where they can created a new defensive line to defend against the advancing enemy troops,
"If we do that General Janowitz, we are letting the enemy's force into the industry province," General Anschuetz replied, " This meant created issues if they decided to attack our factory, this may even slow our advanced into Polandia and create time for other European powers to get involve.
"A risk play indeed, what's your view on the matter my lord?" General Giebler asked.
"Your inputs are valid but," Klaus smiled before stating in a calm and confident voice, "Gentlemen, I'm now waiting on a transmission which will influence any further decision; it shouldn't be long now."
Seconds of the king's statement, a lone soldier bursts through the door with papers folded in his hand, " sorry of the interruption sirs, but this is an urgent transmission from the eastern front and it reads, we have broken through the enemy's defence line."
"Good, send a transmission kill all remaining soldier before advancing deeper in enemy's land, end transmission," he said," I need that transmission at the eastern front as soon as possible."
The slam of the door countering the dead-quiet room and the echoing of his footsteps as it runs further and further signalling the continuation of the meeting, " sir but how?" General Giebler asked, "the previous reports state the limited supplies and the enemy troop outnumbering 10:1."
"Simple General, Lieutenant Appel Battalion wasn't the spear to pierce the enemy's shield," the king answered with his fingers joined, covering the front of his mouth, " I had my reconnaissance team analyse Polandia's equipment, weaponry, supply and communication lines from there I position armoured tank and vehicles at the weakest areas with Princess Theresa Ungeheuerlich as the commanding officer for this military display."
"You send the white knight, that wasn't a part of the plan," General Lichtenberg stated as he leaped from where he sit, "our western border are completely defenceless."
"General Lichtenberg, you will control yourself in this room and you will respect me and the other generals present," Klaus answered, staring into the general's eyes as he looked down at the king he instantly understood his position and immediately dropped himself asking for forgiveness before remaining to his seat," I understand your concerns and if France decided to invade our forts can stop any major advancements, I assigned her due to her leadership skills and demanded for respect from her soldiers, now as we speak thousands of soldiers are pouring into Polandia with rapid efficiency piercing defensive line, severing support line and chain of communication leaving the enemy in disarray as we enclosed them."
"My lord what is the name of this ingenious battle tactic?" General Anschuetz asked.
"It is called a Blitzkrieg," King Klaus answered.
"Did you purposely place Lieutenant Appel's battalion in that position," General Janowitz stated.
" Unfortunately yes I couldn't spare any resources and an attack was needed directly at the Polandia stronghold for the Blitzkrieg to work more effectively."
"What about the people who died?" General Janowitz asked as the rage in his voice slowly rises, "
"General Janowitz! You have no right," General Giebler shouted slamming his arms on the table and rising out of his seat but the room went silent with the rising of the king's arm and his head tilted down, looking at the table his emotions blocked and he said, "General Janowitz I do know the pain of war; the brave men and women who died in battle are hero to the motherland, if not for their sacrifices we would still be pigs in the dirt; their deaths will not be forgotten nor be in vein; I promise you that General."
The Generals went silent before general Janowitz slowly risen from his seat and tears building in his eyes and he said, " I must apologise for my ignorance, who am I to challenge you, my king." Klaus true emotion was unseen, hidden in the shadow, but when he finally lift his face a painting of sadness printed on the empty canvas of his face. Sending a clear message of a caring leader for all his general to behold.