In the stillness of the night, an eerie quiet had settled over the usually bustling streets. There were no pedestrians in sight. Deep within a shadowy alley, a figure cloaked in black moved stealthily. With the agility of a cat, it slipped through the doorway of an old building and ascended the stairs without a sound. The aged wooden steps betrayed no creak under the weight of this ghost-like intruder.
Reaching a particular door, the figure in black squatted down, expertly picking the lock with a few deft clicks. The door gave way with a soft squeak, and the figure slipped inside. The moonlight streaming through the windows revealed the silhouette of the intruder dressed in a tailored black suit. Inside, the sounds of heavy, drunken snoring emanated from the bedroom, suggesting the homeowner was none the wiser to the nighttime visitor.
With cautious steps, the figure surveyed the room. His eyes landed on a naval uniform from the German navy, hanging neatly on a hanger in the corner. Approaching quietly, he reached into the pocket of the uniform, retrieving a wallet and emptying it of cash. He also found an officer's ID card, which revealed that the homeowner was a combat staff member of the naval intelligence department. A smirk crossed the intruder's face as he tossed the ID aside.
His search continued methodically. He rummaged through the bookshelf, scattering books and papers without finding anything of significant value. The room was filled with Russian literature and documents, indicating the homeowner's proficiency in Russian and his involvement in reassessing the Soviet Navy.
Further exploration led him to the living room where he discovered a pocket watch and a stash of German marks. Still unsatisfied, the intruder cautiously opened the master bedroom door. A large file bag on the bedside table caught his eye. As he lifted the bag, a pen tube rolled off the table, clattering loudly on the floor and rolling away. The sudden noise halted the snoring momentarily, causing the intruder to freeze and instinctively touch the pistol hidden under his jacket. However, the homeowner merely turned over and continued to sleep.
Relieved, the intruder left the bedroom and, under the moonlight, opened the file bag to find a stack of drawings and evaluation data. Upon examining the drawings, he realized they detailed a Soviet-class super battleship equipped with a formidable 406 mm main gun, a design surpassing any existing British battleship. Realizing the importance of this discovery, he quickly stuffed the documents into his pocket and made a hasty retreat.
The mysterious figure was Paul, a seasoned thief from London who had turned to espionage. After attracting police attention in England, he had fled to continental Europe, spending years in France before moving to Berlin. His public persona was that of a petty criminal, but in reality, he was a spy for the British navy intelligence, tasked with uncovering the German navy's real shipbuilding plans.
His commander had informed him about the homeowner who had taken sensitive documents home, making it Paul's target for the night. Although previous attempts had failed, this time he had succeeded. The British government, skeptical of a leaked "Pluto Project" plan suggesting German disarmament, believed it to be a decoy for more extensive plans, prompting intense intelligence efforts to uncover the truth.
Paul hurried back to his apartment, emptied the contents of the file bag onto his bed, and stuffed them into a brown leather bag. After changing out of his black night attire and into a gray trench coat, he prepared to leave. Sensing something amiss, he returned to grab his pistol from the jacket before stepping out into the dawn.
Knowing he couldn't risk going to his commander with the documents, as the German intelligence would soon be on high alert, Paul decided his only safe haven was the British embassy.
Before daylight fully broke, he knocked urgently on the door of Colonel Smith, the military attaché at the British Embassy. Smith, annoyed by the early disturbance, was shocked to see Paul. Despite the risk, he let him in, scolding him for the danger he brought with his presence.
Paul, panicked, explained that he had no choice but to come as he feared his cover was blown. He revealed the documents he had stolen, which detailed a massive Soviet battleship that could potentially overpower the British navy. Smith, realizing the gravity of the information, decided to protect Paul at all costs.
Smith dressed quickly in his British military uniform, secured the documents, and prepared to send an urgent message back to the UK. He instructed his staff to delay any German officials who might come searching and sought an immediate audience with General Akado Rudolph to distract from their activities.
The embassy was a hive of activity as Smith's orders were carried out. Meanwhile, Paul was hidden away, a small but crucial cog in the vast machinery of international espionage, holding secrets that could alter the balance of naval power significantly.
Akado was a man who rarely found time to sleep these days. With the weight of diplomatic pressures from the United Kingdom, France, and other nations bearing down on Germany, he had his hands full. Not only did he have to navigate these international waters, but he also had to ensure the stability and morale of his own people, striving to build momentum for the Great German Party.
"Anna, what are the arrangements for today?" Akado inquired, stretching his limbs as his life secretary entered with his breakfast.
"There is an internal meeting of the Great German Party scheduled for this morning. However, from my analysis, it appears the meeting will only address some mundane issues related to the distribution of raw materials for products. Your personal attendance may not be necessary; keeping abreast of the outcomes should suffice," Anna informed him as she placed the breakfast on Akado's desk.
She glanced at him and added, "But I'm curious, have you had any recent encounters with a British female diplomat named Aisha?"
"Aisha? I don't know her. Where did you hear about this?" Akado asked, a hint of surprise in his voice as he bit into a slice of bread.
"She's currently waiting downstairs. I told her you hadn't awakened yet. She asked me to convey that she has fallen in love with you!" Anna said, half-jokingly, amused by the gossip she had heard.
"A joke, surely. I have never met her," Akado dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Let her wait."
"On a more serious note," Anna continued, her smile fading, "last night a naval lieutenant colonel who specializes in Soviet affairs had his documents stolen—specifically, a drawing of a Soviet battleship. This morning, the Gestapo and police arrested a longstanding British spy."
"It seems I understand why British diplomats have suddenly taken a keen interest in me!" Akado chuckled, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It appears they've obtained exactly what we wanted them to."
"We did this deliberately?" Anna asked, her eyes wide with shock.
"Of course. What better way to alleviate our current crises than to sell our Soviet intelligence? Now, their focus has shifted from us to dealing with their internal issues. We've essentially bought ourselves some breathing room," Akado explained. "Prepare for a meeting. I want to meet this British diplomat who has 'fallen in love with me.'"
"Very well, let's prioritize. What's urgent?" Akado asked as he continued his breakfast, neatly slicing into his fried eggs.
"Colonel Smith has requested your presence at the embassy this morning," Anna relayed.
"If he has issues, he can come to me. We have a standing arrangement based on mutual respect and convenience," Akado replied with a smile.
The diplomat, struggling to maintain her composure, nearly broke into tears. Despite finding Akado quite handsome and youthful, she wrestled with her thoughts, eventually blurting out, "If you agree to my request, I will visit again tonight."
"Alright, alright," Akado sighed, waving dismissively. "I'll head over after breakfast. Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be."
Thanking him, the diplomat left, her emotions a mix of anger and regret. Soon after, Akado's car departed from the headquarters of the Defence Forces, making its way to the heavily guarded British embassy.
Upon arrival, Akado addressed the colonel from the Wehrmacht who had driven him. "Surrounding the embassy of our British friends is quite impolite! We are, after all, a peace-loving nation in Germany."
"Long live the Great German Party! Understood, General!" the colonel saluted before ordering his men to retreat slightly.
"Akado, my dear friend! What a pleasure to see you," Colonel Smith greeted warmly, relief washing over him as the German soldiers withdrew, easing the tension for the British soldiers tasked with embassy security.
"Colonel Smith, my friend, you must know, the British have gone too far this time!" Akado whispered as they walked together.
"Everything has its price, and I assure you, the British Empire will not disappoint," Smith replied in a low tone.
Inside, seated comfortably, Akado wasted no time. "This isn't a trivial matter. A lieutenant colonel and two generals are still detained, and we believe a thief is harbored here with you. Of course, you can deny this, but we've lost crucial intelligence vital to Germany."
"How crucial?" Smith inquired, his voice steady.
"Extremely. We had successfully placed a valuable asset within the Soviet Union's Factory 189. If this drawing falls into Soviet hands, it places me in grave danger," Akado explained.
"If he continues to provide intelligence, we can ensure his protection jointly. The UK would pay handsomely for each piece of intelligence, accessible only to our Prime Minister and Navy Commander," Smith proposed, emphasizing the strict confidentiality.
"Forget it. Your top intelligence officer is currently enjoying coffee in our interrogation department," Akado quipped, a slight smile playing on his lips. "However, if you can assure the utmost security of this information, I might still trust the UK's sincerity."
Smith, relieved, sat back. "Additionally, could you shed some light on this battleship? It's of great interest to us."
Akado sighed, "Due to economic strains, Kiel's naval shipyard has been underutilized, leading about thirty of our engineers to take a sabbatical. Intelligence suggests they've been invited to Leningrad to assist in constructing a formidable battleship for the Soviets."
"This cooperation must cease if Germany continues aiding the Soviet regime. Otherwise, Britain will view Germany as a significant threat," Smith stated, weighing his words carefully.
"You misunderstand," Akado clarified, his tone serious. "The cooperation is not state-sanctioned. Our industries, especially military, have been suppressed post-war. We can't retain top talent, and some factories, driven by profit, have independently sent engineers abroad."
"I hope the National Defense Force and the German Party can assist Britain in preventing further incidents," Smith considered, nodding in agreement.
"If Kiel's shipyard could build two super battleships for Britain, it would provide a compelling reason for these engineers to remain in Germany," Akado suggested after a pause, his eyes closed in contemplation.
"No problem," Smith agreed, though the thought pained him—Britain commissioning ships from a German yard was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Germany requests that all British spies be documented and discreetly returned to the UK," Akado continued. "We don't seek their execution, only assurance they won't reenter Germany. Would you agree?"
"Agreed," Smith sighed, recognizing that compared to the Soviet shipbuilding plans, Germany's demands were reasonable and even face-saving for Britain.
"Mr. Smith, you are most reasonable," Akado smiled, standing. "In light of our discussions, the British government should officially conclude the nonexistent 'Pluto Project' within the National Defense Forces, bringing an end to the storm, correct?"
"Akado, I expected this," Smith stood, resigned. "For the sake of our future cooperation, let's have a drink."
The meeting, underscored by mutual concessions and the promise of future collaboration, marked a new chapter in the complex interplay of international relations and espionage.