Paul walked toward the majestically lit Hohenzollern Castle, a monument of a long forgotten dynasty, a symbol of monarchy and fading power.
Power they still cling to, Paul thought. Like dogs searching for their lost master.
At the entrance two Wehrmacht guards greeted him, opening the heavy double doors.
A wave of warmth rolled toward him. Food, drinks and voices filled the air. As he made his way through the corridors, he passed groups of people, many in suits, some in uniform, all absorbed in lively conversations.
He reached the main hall, crowded to the limit, the chatter echoing up into the high ceiling.
It did not take long for him to spot a notable group.
Manstein, Rundstedt, Richthofen… and is that a young Rommel? Paul's eyes widened. Seeing the future desert fox, one of the most brilliant German generals, in person still felt unreal. Together with Manstein and Guderian he would form the spearhead of the Wehrmacht in its prime.
The group, along with several others nearby, turned toward him. Some greeted him with awe and respect, others with disdain and mistrust.
I will remember each of your faces, Paul thought, returning the various looks given to him by these high ranking men.
"Heinrich," Richthofen greeted curtly.
"Jaeger," Manstein and Rundstedt added with a nod.
"Hello, gentlemen," Paul replied, letting his gaze wander toward Rommel.
"Herr Rommel, am I correct?" Paul asked, stretching out his hand.
"You are," Rommel answered, slightly surprised as he shook Paul's hand. "Have we met before, Herr Jaeger?"
"We have not," Paul said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "but I have heard of you. You are climbing the ranks quite rapidly."
"Are you mistaking me for yourself, Herr Jaeger?" Rommel joked, chuckling.
Paul laughed as well and patted his shoulder.
"I am just trusted by the Führer, that is all," he replied, letting the cheerful atmosphere drop exactly where he wanted it to.
Rommel's smile faded a little, replaced by a look of uncertainty.
You have yet to choose, Paul thought, studying the complexity in Rommel's eyes. Historically you take the Führer's side, until you lose patience with him.
Paul glanced at the others for their reactions. Richthofen looked the most annoyed, Rundstedt close behind. Although Richthofen semeed to know more. Manstein remained neutral, though the "von" in his name betrayed his allegiance. He belonged to the old nobility, just like Rundstedt and Richthofen, part of the faction Hitler had angered.
"Are you," Rundstedt began, choosing his words as carefully as a man avoiding a wasp's nest, "agreeing with the Führer's decision to remove Blomberg?"
For a moment it felt as if every eye in the hall turned to Paul. The air seemed to tighten. Was he a servant of the lion or part of the pack of wolves silently drilling holes into him with their stares?
"I do not agree with his approach, General," Paul replied slowly, letting the words settle into the expectant silence.
Rommel's eyes squinted, surprised that Paul held such a view, especially considering he was neither old nobility nor particularly old at all. Yet something shifted in the man. For the first time he listened closely to every word Paul spoke.
"I think this is a direct challenge to the old guard of the Wehrmacht. He has dismissed how many generals?" Paul asked, almost rhetorically.
"Sixteen." Manstein answered, unusually blunt.
"Sixteen. Sixteen loyal, capable men, including Blomberg, butchered by him." Paul raised his voice slightly. "Who will be next?"
Rundstedt nodded faintly. Manstein seemed deep in thought. Richthofen and Rommel watched Paul with careful attention. At a nearby table several young officers nodded enthusiastically and even raised their glasses toward him.
Paul and especially Rundstedt and Richthofen continued their discussion, their voices dipping deeper into quiet anger with every exchanged word. The tension at their table grew thicker, until a sudden noise from the table beside them pulled their attention away.
One of the young officers there muttered drunkenly, "This would not have happened under the Kaiser… he…"
A strong hand suddenly seized the young navy officer by the shoulder.
Reader, finally, Paul thought.
"That is enough, Vice Admiral Dietz." Reader said, gripping the man with force.
"Admiral, but I thought you…" the stumbling officer began.
"I said it is enough." Reader's voice sharpened to a dangerous edge as he gestured for the other officers to take the man away.
"I apologize for him." Reader said as he turned to Paul.
"No need, Admiral. We all say things at times that should have remained thoughts." Paul replied, giving Reader a piercing look.
Reader raised an eyebrow, then stepped closer to the group, stopping beside Paul.
"If you do not mind, Rundstedt, Manstein. I will borrow Jaeger for a while," he said.
Rundstedt watched Paul's reaction as if making sure he was not being taken by force.
Paul noticed it. Has he finally thawed? he wondered, surprised by the shift in the normally dismissive Rundstedt.
Both generals nodded, soon turning their conversation toward Richthofen's latest flying stunt.
Paul and Reader exchanged a silent understanding. They moved through the dense crowd like predators among a flock of prey. People stepped aside instinctively, giving them space as they crossed the ballroom. Many watched them carefully, noting how closely the two men walked together.
Once they reached the balcony, Reader took out a box of cigarettes.
"Care for one?" he asked.
Paul simply extended his hand.
Reader handed him a cigarette. Paul lit it immediately and exhaled, letting the smoke rise into the night.
"Quite the déjà vu." Paul said quietly.
"Indeed. I remember it as if it were yesterday when a young, rather insolent Oberleutnant spoke of overthrowing kings. And now look at you." Reader said, glancing at Paul's collar.
"Have I surpassed your expectations, Admiral?" Paul asked.
"You have." Reader answered plainly. He looked up at the night sky for a moment before continuing. "The look in your eyes has not changed since the first time I met you. It has intensified, quite a lot, Jaeger."
Paul suddenly laughed.
"Admiral, you are always talking about my eyes. What about yours? Do you know what I see?" Paul paused and met his gaze firmly. "I see the same."
Reader laughed as well.
"You are mistaken. What you see in me is not the same ambition that drives you. You see it as your birthright, something owed to you. My ambition is to set things right. I do not want to reach the pinnacle, because I am already standing on it. My ambition is not to lose it."
Reader's tone shifted, carrying a cold, killing intent.
"The Kriegsmarine is my life's work. I will not watch it be destroyed by an imbecile. That is the ambition you see in my eyes. Ambition born from necessity, ambition born from tenacity."
Paul nodded and chose his next words carefully.
"Let us be clear, Reader. Both of us, both ambitious men, are connected by more than that. We are connected by the same goal. It was so when we first met, it was so when I returned from Spain while you fought for your life's work, and it is so now."
Paul paused, eyes widening slightly.
"Destroying Hitler."
Reader looked at Paul, searching for even the slightest hint of hesitation, yet he found none.
"How many have rallied?" he asked, almost whispering.
"Rallied?" Paul echoed, almost playfully.
"Do not take me for a fool. I know you have woven your threads carefully. If you want my support, no, the support of the entire Kriegsmarine, you will have to reveal your web completely." Reader said, narrowing his eyes.
"You would offer me your support? To a mere Oberst?" Paul asked, still trying to understand the man's intentions.
"Both of us know you are the better politician. And we both know you will not stop at that rank, that is obvious. Even at your young age you show more wisdom than most men I have met in my life." Reader said, lifting his cigarette again.
Paul remained silent for a moment, letting the words settle.
"Sperrle, Richthofen, von Manteuffel are already fully committed," Paul began. "Rundstedt and Rommel… let us call it a feeling, but they will be soon." He paused briefly. "Furthermore I have begun recruiting dozens of Condor Legion officers, including several I saved myself. Lastly, I have someone high ranking within the Gestapo, as well as one within the SS."
Reader listened carefully before answering.
"That's considerable, yet not nearly enough to pose any real threat," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I will, of course, coax my officers. Most will follow, but I need more time."
"Of course." Paul pulled a folded sheet from his breast pocket and handed it over.
"This is..." Reader began, skimming the document. "How do you plan on getting out of this? We need the support of those officers."
The title read: Purge of Wehrmacht Officers Conducting Treasonous Activities Against the Reich.
A large eagle seal was pressed into the bottom, signed by A. H.
"You make it sound like I was forced to follow this agenda," Paul said with a slight smile. "I was the one who proposed this to the Führer when I met him yesterday. I was the one who provided every single name, on that list."
For the first time, Reader looked genuinely surprised, nearly letting his cigarette slip from his fingers.
"But why? Those officers could support us," he asked.
Paul's eyes changed
"I will be ordered to make them disappear and I will do exactly that. But who said killing and making people disappear are the same thing? Those that won't submit will indeed be killed but those feeling betrayed by the Führer, will thirst for revenge. We will give them their revenge, in turn they give us their battalions, divisions, armies. Their loyalty."
Reader exhaled, a long breath escaping between his teeth.
"You are frightening. Truly, Jaeger."
Paul and Reader continued talking for a while longer, planning, debating and reminiscing about old times. Only when everything that needed to be said had finally been spoken did they drop their nearly finished cigarettes and step back into the ballroom.
As they entered, watched closely by Richthofen, Manstein and Rundstedt, Reader ran his right hand through his hair, briefly revealing an inconspicuous ring on his ring finger.
Richthofen's eyes widened the moment he noticed it, instinctively brushing his own gloved hand as if searching for the familiar touch of metal.
What he did not notice was Manstein's attentive gaze shifting from Reader to Richthofen and back again, quietly connecting dots the others failed to see.
This had been a fruitful evening, Paul thought. I need to inform Werner about these developments. And then there is still that other matter…
With that thought, he slipped back into the crowd, swallowed by the noise and by his own deep reflections.
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Very long chapter today
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