Volume 1 (RE) Chapter 7: Joining of Hands
(AU: sorry for late post, got dragged around suit shopping for my summer program. Very fun (not really)).
The distinct clacking of steel tracks on steel wheels echoed in the opening in the tree line.
The master marshal was waving from the back of the lead halftrack with three armored cars. Two were older Sd.Kfz. 221 4-wheeled armored cars and the last one was a 222 variant. The Sd.Kfz. 222 was a heavier version of the 221.
The halftrack was a Maultier half track which resembled the American M3 halftrack which rear treads were suitable for the poor conditions of the west land beyond the Atlantik Wall.
The survivors which made camp with their two carriages and wagon watched with confusion as the convoy of sleek light grey mechanized vehicles.
The lead Sd.Kfz. 221 car moved to the side to let the Maultier halftrack past.
It stopped in front of the lead carriage and then rotated to show its rear.
A soldier in grey fatigues and high boots got out of the shotgun side of the cab and let the back gate down.
The marshal got out of the back, wearing new grey military clothes without insignias, and walked over to his men which gathered in front of the lead carriage.
The women peered at the grey machines but didn't dare approach it. Several held back children who wanted to go examine the new sights.
Andrew grabbed Adriana's hand and they also walked to the marshal.
"Sir Steinbeck. Who are they and what is this?"
The marshal sighed and patted the bay of the halftrack.
"These are the Germans. They are a transported land which is why the Bay is blocked now. They are not the Empire of Kursk as we hoped but they are still friendly to us. They agreed to house us and tend to our wounds. However I am sorry but their Emperor wants to meet with you."
The marshal made a decision for the royalty. This was punishable by death but he was a high ranking military figure and de facto leader of the Crown Faction now that his superiors were captured or dead.
"Forgive me for making this decisions for you."
"No, we don't have a choice. We do not have enough food to last longer than we did. I will turn a blind eye to this offense."
"Thank you your grace."
Andrew waved off the bowing marshal and approached the grey soldier.
"You there. Are you going to help us?"
The soldier stared awkwardly at Andrew. He couldn't understand what Andrew was saying.
"Was hast du gesagt?" (AU: Please help me fix this, I don't speak German).
Andrew was taken aback, this was a language which he didn't understand. It was not even remotely similar to their Southern Language which was a dialect of the globally accepted Imperial Tongue.
"Sir Marshal! What did he say?"
"I'm not to sure of that. For some reason only the Emperor can communicate with us."
This was troubling for Andrew. This was a sign of this Emperor's power. The perk which allows for fluent linguistics rank III. The more influence and power a ruler has, the more perks they are given by the supreme deities.
The ranks assigned to morals by the deities are not completely known. The highest known rank is VI and is held by the Empress of the Leon Empire who runs the Alliance of Central Nations. This is the same one Andrew's older brother Joseph wanted to join. It is unknown why the deities give perks to rulers but it is theorized that the more followers a deity has, the more power they can have. The relationship between the two is linked.
He turned to the marshal and whispered to him.
"This Emperor of the Germans, he has to have significant power in order to have a rank of III."
"His lands are vast. I saw a glimpse of a huge map of their empire. These 'machines' are far more complex and advanced than even the superpowers of our world. They would be great allies. You must keep them on our side when you speak to their Emperor."
They stopped whispering and turned to the gathering of men.
"Please have no fear, these people will not hurt us. I guarantee it. Please gathered what you can and get onto the 'halftrack'."
The men were suspicious of the strange grey machine but their loyalty to the marshal prompted them to board it.
After them were the women and children who boarded it after.
Their belongings were put in mesh nets which hung on the sides of the halftrack.
Andrew and Adriana were escorted to the Sd.Kfz. 222 which was to be their personal ride.
A guard wielding a MP40 opened the top hatch for them which they crawled through. Inside was tight but unnecessary equipment was removed so they sat in the back behind the gunner.
The guard entered after them and closed the hatch. The driver in front and commander behind them greeted the royals with a officer's salute due to the closed proximities. The gunner (which was the soldier who opened the hatch) stood on his post and peered out of the top.
The crew of the halftrack took cans of gas and doused the carriages and wagons to burn them to prevent them from giving away the position of the survivors.
After they returned to their cab, the convoy turned around and headed back to the Nantes gate.
As they drove Andrew started to notice many strange things.
First of all, there was no horse or beast pulling the grey vehicle. He assumed from the large size that the horse was inside the 'armored car'.
The roar of what he later learned was an 'engine' startled the two who clutched each other.
The person with a black hat with a metal bird on it covered with a earmuff turned and laughed.
He said something in their language and the man in the very front of the 'armored car' laughed.
"Andrew, what are they saying? Are they laughing at us?"
"I don't know."
The bounce and rumble of the 'armored car' was not as bad as inside a carriage where there was no 'suspension' keeping the wheels level.
Once they exited the forest and found a newly paved road, the ride was very pleasant without the bumps of off-terrain travelling.
Adriana tugged the pant cuff of the man who was looking out of the top hatch.
He looked down and raised his hands as to say 'what?'.
Andriana pointed to the elevated piece he stood on and she then pointed to herself.
He then asked the man in black something then got down and changed places with Adriana.
She poked her head out of the hatch was peered to her front and back. There was a large black thin stick connected to a boxy base with a glittery gold chain attached to its left side. The one their car was larger than any other.
The lead armored car was in front of her and the halftrack was trailing behind them with the last armored car in the rear.
The road they were on now was black and impossibly smooth.
"Andrew! These roads are made with a long, black unbroken stone! I have never seen this before!"
"What?!"
Adriana peered into the distance, a huge shape loomed on hills. Pointed pieces extended outwards and large stone castle dotted the hillside facing them.
She couldn't make out any more details because the sun was setting in the east and blinded her (AU: Here the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Its opposite of what the sun does here).
"Andrew! There is a huge castle in front of us!"
Andrew immediately got nervous. He was meeting with the Emperor of another nation! This was usually a job assigned to the Crown Prince or the minister of diplomacy. Especially is his castle is huge!
The convoy continued down the paved road. Adriana could see other machine moving around with see-through fences being put up, black wire being placed on logs and people placing small disks in the ground.
Once the convoy got close to a huge gash in the 'castle' they were stopped by several guards in grey clothes next to a large steel beast.
"What is that?"
The beast was completely grey with a small stub extending from the head of the beast which sat on the middle of the boxy body. Black smoke was coming from its rear like the vehicles they rode in. It was larger than the 'armored cars' and 'halftracks' but it looked slower but still had the black cross painted on its side like the vehicles they rode.
The lead armored car's top hatch completely open up and a man dressed in black like the 222's car got out and handed papers to the soldier who had a brown stick slung over his shoulder.
They exchanged words and the soldier in grey walked over to a white wooden booth and stamped the papers.
He then walked out and handed them back to the black clad soldier.
He climbed the lead armored car and entered the hatch.
Several seconds later Andrew and Adriana could hear a crackle of voices in the front of their armored car. Adriana couldn't see it since she was looking outside but Andrew observed the black clad soldier in front of him take a small grey object and speak into it.
Surprisingly the object made sounds like he was communicating with someone on the other side.
"Magical communications devices!"
"What?!"
Adriana popped her head down.
These were extremely expensive tools used by nobility and kings to communicate with each other and vital government branches. Andrew had never seen a version so small and in the hands of ordinary soldiers.
""Wait. Maybe the black uniform meant that these were soldiers hailing from nobility! This would explain the magical communication devices!"
While Andrew further confused himself the convoy started moving once more.
Adriana stuck her head back outside and marveled at the city which extended beyond the castle. Actually it was a wall but it felt like the entire country was a large castle if a wall of this size surrounded it.
The city they entered was strange. Docks lined the wall as if it was a port city yet it was inland. Workers were currently disassembling the docks for some reason.
The city itself was very large, about the size of Wallaceburg, the 2nd largest Epruilan city. Beautiful bridges, buildings and smaller armored cars (just normal cars) dotted the streets.
They passed by a large church which grand design entranced Adriana.
"Andrew, look! They worship the deities here!"
Andrew couldn't see the church since he was inside.
"Let me see!"
He changed places with Adriana and looked outside.
He started paling at the sheer size and beauty of this city which dwarfed many other cities in their homeland.
"This has to be the capital."
"Nein, das ist nicht die hauptstadt."
The soldier who changed places with Adriana earlier spoke to them.
Apparently the word for capital was a cognate of one another so they shared the same meaning but sounded the same (AU: like in Spanish how correcto means correct or terminar means to terminate).
Andrew didn't understand the whole sentence but he got the message.
""This is not the capital? Then what is it? How large is the actual capital?""
They passed into the central district of the city and entered a castle which stood on its own plot of land in the center of the city.
They entered the gate and stopped inside a courtyard.
The sound of drums echoed outside as the soldiers started opening hatches which Adriana while inside the car never realized were there.
She and Andrew got out after the soldiers to a welcome reception.
Soldiers in black with white gloves lined the staircase of the main building. The ones on the bottom stair had no weapon but held flags and stretched horizontally. Soldiers holding dark grey shaped metal objects lined the staircase vertically.
Off to the left side several of them were rhythmically drumming with snare drums.
A man in a white uniform stood at the top of the stairs with light grey clad officers flanking him.
The marshal walked over to the Sd.Kfz. 222 and helped the royals out of the car. The other survivors also were helped out of the halftrack and lined up with the royals.
The civilians and marshal's men remained behind as the marshal escorted the royals up the stairs, past the soldiers, and stood in front of the white clad man.
Adriana immediately noticed his large build and piercing blue eyes. His black hair clashed with those she had observed so far, whites, greys, blondes, reds, browns… never black hair. His body was perfectly conditioned as a fighter yet his balance was impeccable.
He approached the marshal flanked by a older man with a darker grey uniform. Both wore the strange hat worn by the black clad man inside of the 222.
The white man then spoke.
"Greetings prince and princess of the Kingdom of Epruilon. Germany greets you."
In sync every soldier screamed, "Sieg Heil!". Even though it was used at Nazi political rallies it was still a common phrase used by the army. It was so drilled into them, even if they wanted to, they couldn't remove this phrase.
The soldiers at the bottom of the staircase saluted while the soldiers holding rifles clasped them aggressively to make a sound.
The amount of discipline exerted by the soldiers unnerved Andrew. The last thing he wanted was to associate with a military state.
Unfortunately for him the German Empire was technically a military state. However they were very keen engineers and scientists so they balanced out their power with a neutral monarch so no governmental faction can have more power over another. The Kaiser must hold a nonpartisan image.
The man in white then held his right hand out and shook hands with the marshal. Then he turned to Andrew and extended his hand as well.
Andrew was tall for standards in the Kingdom. However this man was larger and bigger than him. It was intimidating.
They shook hands and then the man shook Adriana's hand.
Andrew noticed how silent Adriana was. She kept looking at his black hair even after he turned away back to Andrew.
"You have come from very far away. Please, join us inside to talk."
The marshal gave Andrew a reassuring look and they entered the main building.
The guards and officers flanked the white man as they walked through a luxuriously decorated hallway with mirrors and portraits of famous French people.
They approached an open door and entered. The guards remained outside.
The man sat on a couch in the middle of the room and the opposite one was occupied by Andrew and Adriana with the marshal standing behind Andrew.
"Welcome to the Le Petit Gouvernement, the former home of the French King."
The three stared blankly not knowing what he meant by 'French'. Andrew assumed it was land which belonged to others and was under occupation.
"I am Kaiser Wilhelm X of Germany and its territories."
Andrew then started his introduction.
"Greetings Kaiser Wilhelm, I am Andrew Wallace, 4th prince of the Kingdom of Epruilon."
Adriana followed.
"Hello! I am Adriana Wallace, 2nd princess of the Kingdom of Epruilon! Pleasure to meet you!"
She rushed her introduction, face bright red.
"Calm down, we just introducing ourselves."
"I am sorry brother."
Andrew watched Wilhelm smile faintly and then the Kaiser shooed out all of the officers except General Beck.
"This is General Beck. He is in charge of the entire wall you passed by on the way here."
The general did an officer's salute.
"So, do you want asylum? I already know your situation from the marshal. I can allow you stay safe here in Germany. You and your comrades outside will be treated well. However I want something. I will have your sister as my fiancée."
Andrew gulped. This may be the most important decision of his life; does he trust an unknown monarch with his and the lives of his family and comrades or does he risk getting captured?
He glanced at Adriana who was staring at the floor with her face in her hands, cupping her ears.
Andrew couldn't understand what she was thinking about but he felt bad. He was dictating her life but she agreed to go with everyone back in Wallaceburg. They all agreed to come here.
Tch (AU: Apparently italics don't transfer from Google Docs to this system).
He clicked his tongue and turned his gaze back to the Emperor.
"We will humbly accept your offer. On the condition that you may not take any other fiancées besides my sister."
With this Andrew pointed a finger at the Emperor.
"Your grace! You can't do that when we are negotiating asylum!"
"How rude of you!"
The marshal and General Beck both called out respectively (AU: in order).
The Kaiser waved them off and laughed.
"You are a good brother. Even if you need help you will set clear boundaries. I will accept your demands."
Adriana was furiously blushing as Andrew and Wilhelm shook hands.
_________________
Wilhelm was expecting a patriarchally dominated conversation but it was strange actually living during one.
Arranged marriages were frowned upon in Wilhelm's old world so this was the first time he experienced one.
He made his demand knowing that it would be unfair for the princess. However he left it as an engagement because it would allow time to bond and if needed, allow her to refuse.
Actually Wilhelm was expecting the young princess to protest but she did not.
She wouldn't even look him in the eye. Wilhelm didn't know if it was anger or shame.
Wilhelm wanted to marry her to forge a strong bond with their neighbor. It also gives them an excuse to invade the Kingdom in name to reclaim the rightful lands of his fiancee.
Wilhelm sighed. General Beck and other military officers were pestering him to do this so they can test their weapons against the natives. They were itching for combat.
""These loonies. Warmongering bastards. However this is a great opportunity to seize resources before someone gets any ideas to defect and create their own nation.""
Wilhelm did not want to have to exterminate rebels like that. It was not fun nor good for his conscience.
"So, brother-in-law. What exists in your country?"
"Uh, pardon?"
"Let me explain. Have you ever found yellowish-green rocks that glow in the dark or water which is pitch black and very hard to get off. Oh can burn?"
General Beck behind Wilhelm perked his ears.
Andrew noticed this so he hesitated to speak.
"Well. I do know about flammable black water, we have several sources of it. As for glow in the dark yellowish-green rocks, I am not too sure. There are many type of magical crystals which can be mined if that is what you are asking for."
Wilhelm was taken aback. Magical crystals?
He didn't want to admit that he didn't know what they were but Beck asked Wilhelm to translate his question after Wilhelm repeated the response to his question to him.
"My general says that he is not familiar with magical crystals, he asks for an explanation."
"Well the air around us houses magic, mana. We take it in from the air through our mouths and through our skin but mainly our mouths. Our bodies processes the magic and using our minds we can cast magically using chants and phrases to help imagine spells."
It was a very simplified description. Even if he didn't know what Andrew really meant to say, he understood the basic process. Many details such as Qi veins and other things you see in mangas and manhwas were omitted.
Wilhelm turned to General Beck and repeated what Andrew told him.
After they finished speaking Eliza entered the room with official paperwork.
One gave the Epruilan refugees official asylum on one document. The next officially made Wilhelm and Adriana engaged. The next two were used to document what resources were allowed for the German Empire to nationalize if they were to hypothetically invade hypothetically to reclaim land which belonged to the engaged pair hypothetically.
The marshal and Andrew were clearly relieved that they were safe and that Wilhelm would support their claims on the Kingdom.
Andrew remembered the strange machines and discipline of the soldiers in this new lands. He was excited to witness more about this strange land.
Wilhelm understood that he was taking a risk. If this world was stronger than he thought, they will have a hard time trying to keep their national identity.
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Minas, Esmeralda
The capital of the Kingdom was abuzz. The jubilee of the victory in the Civil War has died out but new news of newly discovered lands in the south and in the Abysmal Bay sparked more nationalism.
The army of 300,000 strong regular soldiers back up with 100,000 reservists and several more million slave soldiers. The public was not really aware of the existence of the summoned slaves but they preformed the heavy work for the army as well functioned for many purposes.
About 200,000 soldiers supported by over a million slave summons were dispatched to the southern most border where they would start trekking through the new lands.
Another force of about 50,000 was assigned to Wallaceburg and their main fleet which would set sail for the island in the bay in five waves of 10,000 each. The first three waves would be supplemented with slaves while the last two were made up of regulars.
They were to take with them secret weapons for field testing which were manufactured by the engineer hero who made them for the Kingdom.
The remainder soldiers were stationed up north on the borders with neighboring countries.
Joseph sat on his throne while examining maps brought to him on rollable chalkboards.
He smiled and gave the order to for the naval invasion. A larger land invasion will follow in two days from the estimated time of the landings.
"Go, glory to the Kingdom."
The military officers around him replied with the same cheer.
"Glory to the Kingdom!"