Posted by: ComradeMicha
« on: September 19, 2014, 11:11:12 AM »Raumflotte Training Facility J7 near Stuttgart, Earth, March 2060
“Fähnrich zur See Peter Kingsley”, the speaker blared. The waiting hall was full of young wanna-be officers, ‘midshipmen’ as Peter would have called them. The low murmur of their conversations died for an instant as the name was being announced, but it picked up again rather quickly as they realized it was not theirs. All of these young men and women were waiting for their final evaluation meeting, which would take less than five minutes each but which at the same time would determine the next fourty years of their lives. Peter lost no time and strode swiftly to the Leutnant’s office. Two men in perfectly dapper white and red uniforms were sitting behind a large oakwood desk. A third man, dressed in the black and red uniform of the SS, sat in the far left corner of the room, half hidden in the shadows. Peter hardly managed to hide his shock at seeing him.
“Peter Kingsley, Fähnrich zur See, born January 8th, 2041 in Southhampton, England?” one of the navy officers asked. “Correct, Sir!” Peter replied. His mind raced as he thought about reasons for the SS henchman’s presence and what he could do about it, but the officers went right on ignoring the other man in the corner. “Very well. I understand that you completed basic training quite successfully.” That was an understatement worthy of an Englishman, as Peter finished first in class. Coming from the German officer, it might have been a deliberate insult or simply a show of power. “Yes, Sir, I did my very best!” he replied. “I also understand that you are not a party member.” It was no question, just a statement. And a dangerous statement at that. Political reliability was at least as important to a career in the Raumflotte as professional ability, and membership in one of the Reich’s party associations was more or less basic requirement to proof that political reliability. Peter noticed the SS man lean slightly forward. “Correct, Sir. As a foreigner, I am not allowed to join any party association without recommendation from higher authorities, Sir!” Peter hoped his voice was as calm and steady as he wanted it to be, for he felt nothing of the sort. Would they thwart his dreams solely on the ground of political reasons? And even worse, would they turn it all around and accuse him of trying to infiltrate the Reich? This might very well ruin his day…
And indeed, the officer grilled him for a good hour on his reasons for joining the Raumflotte, his allegiance to the Reich, his attachment to National Socialist values and so on. All in all it was a repeat of his recruitment test and the various psychological assessments he had to master during the past years. Finally the Leutnant who had been silent during the whole interview turned to the SS man, who gave a barely perceptible nod. “Very well, Fähnrich Kingsley, welcome to the Raumflotte. Effective tomorrow, 1200, you will be assigned to RFS Heinz Guderian as Junior Communications Officer. I am sure you realize you will be watched closely until you proved worthy of the faith we put in you.” The Leutnant handed Peter the old-fashioned folder containing his orders. A brief smile flashed across his wary face as he added: “Oh, and I have taken the liberty to endorse you to the Order of the Valkyrie. I assume you have heard of it?” “Yes, Sir, thank you very much, Sir!”
Peter’s head felt so light he feared he would lift off the ground any second. Clutching the folder with his orders as tightly as possible he wandered around the park that stretched all around the training facility. In his mind he recapped the entire conversation and looked for anything he missed, but his thoughts always came back to the last part. The Order of the Valkyrie was one of the naval party associations which indulged less in political propaganda and more in physical exercising and martial arts. It would be sufficient cover against the accusations of political unreliability for now, and it would introduce him to a social network he would surely need sooner or later… Yes, this could just work. A grin spread across his face. And now, he had to make some calls!
In the game I have not researched the railgun path as I personally don't like its inability to be turreted. But all the ship components will be aptly named in theme with the Reich.
“Fähnrich zur See Peter Kingsley”, the speaker blared. The waiting hall was full of young wanna-be officers, ‘midshipmen’ as Peter would have called them. The low murmur of their conversations died for an instant as the name was being announced, but it picked up again rather quickly as they realized it was not theirs. All of these young men and women were waiting for their final evaluation meeting, which would take less than five minutes each but which at the same time would determine the next fourty years of their lives. Peter lost no time and strode swiftly to the Leutnant’s office. Two men in perfectly dapper white and red uniforms were sitting behind a large oakwood desk. A third man, dressed in the black and red uniform of the SS, sat in the far left corner of the room, half hidden in the shadows. Peter hardly managed to hide his shock at seeing him.
“Peter Kingsley, Fähnrich zur See, born January 8th, 2041 in Southhampton, England?” one of the navy officers asked. “Correct, Sir!” Peter replied. His mind raced as he thought about reasons for the SS henchman’s presence and what he could do about it, but the officers went right on ignoring the other man in the corner. “Very well. I understand that you completed basic training quite successfully.” That was an understatement worthy of an Englishman, as Peter finished first in class. Coming from the German officer, it might have been a deliberate insult or simply a show of power. “Yes, Sir, I did my very best!” he replied. “I also understand that you are not a party member.” It was no question, just a statement. And a dangerous statement at that. Political reliability was at least as important to a career in the Raumflotte as professional ability, and membership in one of the Reich’s party associations was more or less basic requirement to proof that political reliability. Peter noticed the SS man lean slightly forward. “Correct, Sir. As a foreigner, I am not allowed to join any party association without recommendation from higher authorities, Sir!” Peter hoped his voice was as calm and steady as he wanted it to be, for he felt nothing of the sort. Would they thwart his dreams solely on the ground of political reasons? And even worse, would they turn it all around and accuse him of trying to infiltrate the Reich? This might very well ruin his day…
And indeed, the officer grilled him for a good hour on his reasons for joining the Raumflotte, his allegiance to the Reich, his attachment to National Socialist values and so on. All in all it was a repeat of his recruitment test and the various psychological assessments he had to master during the past years. Finally the Leutnant who had been silent during the whole interview turned to the SS man, who gave a barely perceptible nod. “Very well, Fähnrich Kingsley, welcome to the Raumflotte. Effective tomorrow, 1200, you will be assigned to RFS Heinz Guderian as Junior Communications Officer. I am sure you realize you will be watched closely until you proved worthy of the faith we put in you.” The Leutnant handed Peter the old-fashioned folder containing his orders. A brief smile flashed across his wary face as he added: “Oh, and I have taken the liberty to endorse you to the Order of the Valkyrie. I assume you have heard of it?” “Yes, Sir, thank you very much, Sir!”
Peter’s head felt so light he feared he would lift off the ground any second. Clutching the folder with his orders as tightly as possible he wandered around the park that stretched all around the training facility. In his mind he recapped the entire conversation and looked for anything he missed, but his thoughts always came back to the last part. The Order of the Valkyrie was one of the naval party associations which indulged less in political propaganda and more in physical exercising and martial arts. It would be sufficient cover against the accusations of political unreliability for now, and it would introduce him to a social network he would surely need sooner or later… Yes, this could just work. A grin spread across his face. And now, he had to make some calls!
As German I have this Morbid train-wreck-faszination for this (kind of) Scenario despite being rather leftish. Has the reich advanced in the field of the "elektrische Schienenkanone"?Yes, I know what you mean. I try to make the Reich as dangerous a place as I think it would be, with all the political lunacy around. And I think the drawbacks of the racist, bigoted world-view have already been indicated.
In the game I have not researched the railgun path as I personally don't like its inability to be turreted. But all the ship components will be aptly named in theme with the Reich.