Word Drama VI

Berlin Palace
Berlin, State of Germany, European Union
September 12, 2017

Always having been one of the most magnificent buildings within its titular city, the Berlin Palace, or Stadtschloss as it was occasionally referred to, had taken many forms throughout history's progression. Having originally begun life as a "modest" fortification in 1443, whose construction had been personally overseen by Friedrich II of Brandenburg, it was then largely demolished in 1538 at the auspices of Joachim II Hector, who then directed it to be redesigned into Italian Renaissance form. Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector, and Friedrich I of Prussia would make their own alterations during their reigns, as did later Prussian kings Friedrich Wilhelm I and Friedrich II, though the latter was more renowned for favoring Sanssouci in nearby Potsdam.

By some miracle, the palace would survive the events of the early 19th century, having been effectively overlooked during the Age of Revolution and the Bonapartic Wars. Upon Germany being ratified as a full European state, the palace would become its governor's residence, beginning with Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher and continuing on as such through the days of Otto von Bismarck and Paul von Hindenburg. It would remain thusly until after the Soviet War, where it would at last evolve into the new official residence of the President of the European Union when the capital was moved from Paris to Berlin and would stay in that capacity ever since.

Indeed, Berlin Palace was well and truly the ultimate seat of power within modern Europe, much as Versailles and Tuileries had both been once upon a time. Power that any and all invited within its halls could and would benefit from, or at least, seemed to think as such. Much to her thinly veiled derision.

Standing against the sidewall of the banquet room, well away from the crowd and with a pocket copy of Panzer Greift An in hand, the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Leila Malkal ever remained the outsider. An anomaly among the various upper-class partygoers, she somehow managed to both standout and remain anonymous through the celebrating. Only select few dare bring her up as the subject of their idle conversations, and it was mostly to take note of her wearing her Army uniform at their gathering, though the rank insignia on her shoulders and her reputation as a rising number within the Wehrmacht dissuaded most of the slander.

Again however, it was of little concern to her as she continued to flip through her book. Though Panzer Greift An was obviously dated in the age of knightmare warfare, Leila did well to read and absorb its contents. After all, it had been written by one of the best commanders and strategists Europe had produced; a man who, in Leila's opinion, had foreseen the future in rapid armored warfare. Certainly enough wisdom for her new Kampfgruppe to benefit from, even if their hardware was as different from a Tiger tank as Märzenbier was from Eiskaffee. Besides, the book was far more captivating, not to mention entertaining, than the idle conversations of the partygoers.

"You know," a new voice spoke up as its owner approached with two beverages in hand. "There is something about a woman at a party reading Erwin Rommel's tactical writings…" he then offered one of the glasses, which if Leila wasn't mistaken appeared to be higher quality Apfelschorle. "That says 'keep your distance.'"

Responding with a bland expression, the young Colonel took the offered glass. "Why Oberleutnant Hyuga, you do have a sense of humor," she exclaimed just as blandly before taking a drink. It was sweet and smooth, just the way she liked it.

Taking that in stride, Lieutenant Akito Hyuga turned to glance at the other attendees. "This is my first time inside the Stadtschloss. Pretty much what I'd expect from a state function," he couldn't help but sniff in his own derision, but did well enough to keep it between himself and his superior. "Is this to celebrate the formation of our Kampfgruppe? Or all that's been happening in Area 11?"

Leila did well not to fidget at that last mention, though a tinge of sympathy crossed her otherwise melancholy expression. "I don't know what they're celebrating," she exclaimed, taking another sip of her carbonated apple juice. "Though one thing is quite clear."

"And that is?" Akito inquired curiously.

Leila's eyes scanned over the crowd once more, again finding the same result. "Look around," she said, somewhat despondently. "We're the only two soldiers here…"

"Not entirely true Frau Oberstleutnant," another, far more powerful voice than Akito's entered in. At that, both soldiers turned to see an all too certain man, accompanied by an equally certain woman, come up to meet them both. "Though you and the Oberleutnant appear to be the only ones in uniform, I assure you that you are both far from the only soldiers present."

Suddenly well aware they were being addressed by a superior – formerly a direct superior for one of them – both the shocked Leila and rather taken off guard Akito snapped to attention.

"My apologies Herr General!" Leila stammered as both she and her subordinate snapped parade ground salutes. "We were not expecting to see…"

To that, Rommel let out a bellowing laugh as he returned their salutes with his own. "Still as firm as ever, in spite of your promotion," he answered back, ensuring to both that he meant no harm. "Come, be at ease. This is supposed to be a party, is it not?"

As both Leila and Akito relaxed, Rommel continued. "And to answer your previous inquiry, Oberleutnant, this party is not meant to 'celebrate' anything per se."

He gestured toward a certain group of attendees. Among the latter was a man that the four did well to recognize. Friedrich Kessler, the newly elected President. "Rather, it is an informal gathering of the Nationalists and their supporters and sycophants, and any and all who wish to draw favor or lifeblood from them."

Rommel couldn't help but sneer toward the somewhat distant group. "Schweine, all of them," he stated under his breath, making his own distaste even clearer.

The General then turned back to Akito, giving the junior officer a conspiring glance. "Of course, you didn't hear any of that from me."

Akito nodded in confirmation. "I know nothing, Herr General."

Rommel gave a smaller laugh at that particular quote. "Very good Oberleutnant, a response worthy of a European Cross," he exaggerated, or so both Akito and Leila chose to believe. He turned back to the latter. "I trust the rumors are true then? You have more like Lieutenant Hyuga in your muster?"

"Indeed I do Herr General," Leila spoke with utmost pride now. "Though I'm afraid they're not all as…poised as Oberleutnant Hyuga, rest assured my Kampfgruppe benefits deeply from many such as him."

She then took on her own conspiring gleam. "I intend to make it apparent at the nearest convenience."

"And I very much look forward to seeing that Leila," Rommel stated, beaming with pride of his own as he rested his hands upon his former subordinate's shoulders. "I admit it will be quite difficult to go on without you, but I've always believed you would make one of our fair army's best."

He then gave a reaffirming squeeze to either. "And for that to be, you must run not with my pride, but with your own pack, kleiner Wolf."

Leila gave off her own smile, appreciating the General's reference. "Danke sir," she replied simply as Rommel retracted back, suddenly finding herself hesitant. It took another moment for her to make her next request.

"Though if I may say so, Teutoburg isn't that far away from El Alamein. At least not as much as our communications apparatuses would allow," Leila pointed out, as though it were actual fact. "If at all possible, I would very much appreciate the occasional game."

"And the occasional visit here in Berlin I hope," Gabby added on just as her husband was about to reply his agreement. "For things like dinner, civilian entertainment and all things strictly apolitical and non-war oriented. The better parts of life that you valiant soldiers so easily forget."

Both Leila and Rommel couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course, Frau Stadtratin," Leila answered back, expression warming that much more. "Far be it for me to forgo family back home."

That visibly touched the Rommels, with Joachim beaming with further pride while Gabriella took on her own tears. Observing the interaction between the three, it wasn't hard for Akito, who could only smirk to himself through all of this, to understand the emotion between the three. After all, as had been elaborated on, his promoted superior had long been a prodigal student; one who had studied under the Desert Lion himself.

Despite graduating at the top of her class at Wehrmacht University Munich, then-Lieutenant Malkal had long been stigmatized by her very non-European heritage. Indeed while she spoke with a European accent and certainly acted the part, it wasn't hard to see that Leila Malkal – formerly Leila Breisgau, and before that Leila Baldwin – was as Britannian as a cup of Earl Grey, the daughter of a onetime noble family that had fled to Europe upon running afoul with some long-forgotten prince or princess. As a result, much of her early career had been spent in Central Command, where she was bounced around from one position and assignment after another. Seemingly doomed to spend her entire military tenure as an anonymous bookkeeper, and just as quickly passed over.

Fortunately, that was far from the end of it. Taking advantage of her anonymity, Leila developed a false internet identity and took part in various strategy simulations within Central Command, oft times against officers of much higher rank, as well as published several tactical writings on military-oriented bulletin boards. By the time anyone deigned to investigate the mysterious "ghost" that "haunted" Central Command, copies of her crowning victories – of which there were numerous examples – and writings were being passed around the whole of the Wehrmacht, with more than one higher-ranked officer commenting on them. That being said however, she was still found out and set for a dishonorable discharge had it not been for the intervention of several men and women in key positions throughout the Army. Among them had been the great-grandson of Erwin Rommel himself, who – much to the displeasure of many others interested in taking the young Lieutenant under their wing – managed to swipe her away to North Africa when nobody was looking.

From that point on, the once derided "Malkal girl" would learn from Europe's master of desert warfare, among various other forms, eventually becoming one of the European Army's forefront commanders and tacticians herself. An up and coming star that was already but two steps away from general rank, as well as the commander of the deadliest Kampfgruppe ever conceived. Even the usually detached Akito would be lying if he had claimed not to be impressed. Like the General, he too anticipated seeing his superior in more direct action…

"Leila!" yet another voice spoke up from beyond. "Is that the one and only Frau Leila Malkal?"

To that, the four turned to see two other men making their way through the crowd toward them. Immediately recognizing them, Rommel espoused a flat smirk to himself. Speaking of family back home that have been forgone…

"Now why didn't you call ahead to say that you would be coming?" Daniel Malkal exclaimed as he and his brother Stefan came up to meet their "baby" sister. "It's been a whole year since we last saw you!"

"I know," Leila admitted, suddenly uneasy to have her adopted siblings present. Not that she had a problem with these two – far from it, she loved them rather dearly – but if they were there, then… "It's been too long Daniel, and you too Stefan."

Purposely ignoring her discomfort – as he knew where exactly it was being directed – Daniel pressed on. "Leila, why on earth did you decide to wear that to a perfectly good party?" he spoke with chiding exasperation toward his sister's uniform. "I would have hoped you would put aside such boorish attire!"

To that, Leila remained openly defiant. "My uniform is considered formal attire."

"And if nothing else," Rommel mildly reentered, causing Daniel and Stefan to nearly double-take. "It stands her out from the crowd quite well. Don't you agree?"

Suddenly finding himself in the presence of one of Europe's most famed military commanders, Daniel nearly tripped over himself as he stammered. "Of course Herr General! I did not mean…"

"No, no, you didn't," Rommel waved him off casually, causing Daniel to visibly relax. He then reached out his hand, to which Daniel and then Stefan both eagerly took. "Leila has spoken of you two off and on since she first arrived in El Alamein. Suffice to say I truly appreciate what you and your family have done for her."

"The honor is quite ours Herr General," Stefan spoke up for the first time, smiling affectionately toward his sister. "Leila has been nothing but a godsend to our family."

"Indeed," Daniel concurred with the same affectionate smile. It was clear to Rommel that the pair very dearly loved their adopted sister. "Though we were both hoping her time in the Heer would have done something about her tone."

Rommel chuckled once more as Leila looked away in faux irritation. "Well, I'm afraid there's no helping that. Oberstleutnant Malkal's tongue has always been the sharpest of instruments."

"Not helped by her former commanding officer, as you can imagine," Gabby added on with a sly grin of her own, earning a heartened laugh from the two older Malkals, especially as Rommel rubbed the back of his head in projected awkwardness.

"As I live and breathe!" yet one more newcomer spoke up in a very slurred voice, causing the gathering to shift their attention yet again. Right as another man, accompanied by two apparent escorts and the overriding scent of alcohol, came into sight.

"Well, if it isn't my little sister," the man slurred further as he shoved his two arm hangers away, so that he could saunter up into the group. Oblivious to the apprehensive gazes from his two elder brothers and the much darker glances from Akito and the Rommels.

"Brother…" Leila muttered in distaste, suddenly finding herself confronted by the very man she had hoped to avoid. Both there and throughout the rest of her life. "Hello Ioan."

As Ioan Malkal made his way up, his wavering eyes suddenly took note of the uniformed Japanese man beside his sister. "Ah, so this is the Lieutenant Eleven," the drunk exclaimed. "The one we've been hearing rumors about all over…"

Forcing back the urge to exhale, Leila could only introduce. "Oberleutnant Hyuga."

Akito did well not to wince as the full bloom of alcohol reached his own nostrils. "Nice to meet you."

Again, Ioan appeared oblivious. "The pleasure is mine Oberleutnant," he proclaimed before bowing overdramatically. "I'm Ioan Malkal, one of Leila's big brothers, as well as the Minister of Economics and Energy."

He then leaned closer in, such that Akito could almost taste his schnapps ridden breath. "Which means it would take but a word from me to have you stripped of that pretty uniform and sent back to Area 11 in chains."

"Ioan!" Leila snapped, causing the older man to turn his drunken gaze back upon her.

"And what would be wrong with that dear sister?" Ioan inquired as he moved toward her again. "Perhaps you like this particular Eleven? Another one of your many bed warmers in the Wehrmacht, ja?"

He then reached out to grasp his sister's arm, only for Rommel to grab the hand instead.

"I believe you are grossly overstepping your bounds, Herr Minister," Rommel stated in warning, a low, very lion-like growl that would have unnerved Ioan had he been sober.

To this, the self-declared Minister burst into laughter. "And who are you supposed to be, mein Freund?" he let out, looking the General up and down with unfocused eyes. "Don't tell me you're fucking her too…!"

"That's enough Ioan!" Daniel called out as he and Stefan both came between their drunken brother and the rest.

"That's General Rommel you're speaking to!" Stefan tried to warn.

Again Ioan burst into laughter. "Nice try Stefan!" he exclaimed in loud disbelief. "Everyone knows General Rommel is back in Egypt mucking around in the sand!"

Somehow, Ioan managed to push his way through his two brothers so he stand face to face with Rommel. "Really, mein Freund, you don't need to be shy about it," he pressed on. "My sister would have been a mere Gefreiter if she hadn't sucked off every officer past Hauptmann. What's one more such as you?"

Rommel actually smiled as the drunk continued to mouth against him. A grin that, much like the gleam in his eyes, was as unfriendly as it was predatory, not unlike a lion gazing down over a dazed and confused antelope. Even Akito couldn't help but feel his blood run cold against that sheer, building viciousness.

"I mean, she really is that good, ja?" Ioan continued, his eye shifting passed Rommel back to Leila, who by now wanted to shrink away as Gabriella shielded her from her brother. "Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't post you in Amsterdam, Leila! You could have commanded our forces in De Wallen…!"

"That's more than enough Ioan!" Daniel and Stefan both moved to rein their brother in again. "Behave yourself!"

"Come now! Surely I have only spoken the truth!" Ioan laughed as he struggled against the two. "Isn't that right Leila!?"

Leila glowered back as her elder brother continued to laugh. "If you need to supplement your paltry military pay, you can always climb into my bed!" the drunk was almost bellowing now, causing more than one set of eyes to turn. "That would suit you perfectly Leila!"

Needless to say, it took every ounce of restraint to keep Rommel from decking the bastard then and there, his cabinet position be damned. Fortunately, it wasn't long before he had an excuse.

Thoroughly disgusted with the display himself, Akito – very much without anyone noticing – casually moved over beside the Minister and pretended to trip. The result was his drink sloshing against the Minister's suit jacket.

"Oh," Akito let out in a tone that made it clear he meant none of it. "I'm so sorry."

Recoiling in emerging rage, Ioan looked upon the Japanese soldier with visible hate. "You little…" he growled before making his lunge, which Akito was very much prepared to intercept. "Son of a…!"

Moving in fast, Rommel drove his beefy fist into Ioan's gut, forcing the air out of the Minister's lungs in that single blow. An instant later, the drunk was incapacitated, his body slumping against Rommel's shoulder.

"I'd say you've had more than enough Herr Minister," Rommel said plainly, as though Ioan had passed out on his own and the General just 'happened' to be there to catch him. "Better call it in for the night, ja?"

That seemed to be enough for the crowd, as the onlookers turned back to their own affairs while Gabby, Daniel and Stefan helped to usher Leila away. As Akito followed along with the latter, Rommel carried the Minister's sorry carcass over to one of the nearby entryways, where the "dates" that had been on Ioan's arm before came over to him with two wait staff. The latter then began to haul Ioan away while Rommel addressed the former.

"I'm sure you know what to do with that," he spoke to the pair knowingly.

"Herr General, it will be our pleasure," the Abwehr woman answered as she and her partner trailed after their thoroughly disheveled 'person of interest.' No they wouldn't disappear him, though Ioan may wish they had when he woke up; that inevitable hangover was going to be the least of his concerns when he saw all the sexual harassment and conduct unbecoming charges leveled against him. Especially when Rommel knew his wife would use her own contacts to add onto that list.

In any case, the matter had been settled, so Rommel returned to the hall. Moving through the crowd, he eventually found the gathering at the other end of the hall. Gabby was now speaking with Daniel and Stefan, while Akito stood close by, watching out for any further offenders. Leila, meanwhile, stood facing one of the great windows, seemingly transfixed toward the night.

Nodding to his wife and the Malkals, and then discreetly saluting Akito as he passed, Rommel once more came before his protégé. "I can see you were not jesting about brother Ioan."

"Unfortunately," Leila sighed as Rommel came to stand beside her, to which she took visible assurance. "I wish I could say my home life was an entirely happy one, but suffice to say I ran off to the Wehrmacht for good reason."

"Indeed," Rommel agreed, shaking his head in sympathy. "Still, whatever your reasons for being here, I believe you made the correct decision. One that the Wehrmacht will benefit greatly from."

Upon Leila turning toward him on that, Rommel again flashed her a smile. "I did not exaggerate before Leila. You are among our best, and many great things surely await you from here on," he said with utmost confidence. "The world is well and truly open to you now, kleiner Wolf, yet I believe you are merely taking your first steps into it."

Leila sniffed, retaining her own pride at her former CO's words. "I cannot help but feel the same about it sir," she confessed. "Though at the same time, I also cannot help but feel hesitant."

"As you should," Rommel nodded in understanding. "The world can be wondrous, but at the same time quite terrible. Such is the very reason the Wehrmacht exists, and people like you and I fight for those who cannot."

Again he rested his hand on her shoulder. "However, I believe you have the strength to make your way through it. And much more, to forge your own destiny, and the destinies of those who follow you," he proclaimed. "That kind of strength is rare, even amongst our calling. Thus I take great pride in seeing it within one such as yourself."

He patted Leila on the shoulder before bringing his hand back. "And as for the rest, you need not worry Leila," he stated, once again knowingly. "As you said, Teutoburg is not at all far from El Alamein."

Leila's smile deepened as Rommel went on. "Whether the occasional game, or direct transport to or from Weisswolf, I will be there," he assured. "Though considering the nature of your Kampfgruppe, I fear you will not have an abundance of free time on your hands."

Leila chuckled at this. "Perhaps not Herr General," she replied. "But even so, I will have some measure of free time regardless."

Rommel nodded appreciatively to this. As it would be with his biological children – the first of which Gabby was already carrying inside of her – it hurt to see one who had learned much under him grow up and go into the world on her own, no matter how much she and the whole of Europe would be better for it. But even so, he had to admit that hurt was assuaged knowing that this would not be their last meeting together. That, no matter what the future held, they would remain close, whether as master and pupil or fellow soldiers and commanders.

And as for everything else, well, at least she would have men and women like Lieutenant Hyuga to look after her. Many of which had been wrongly displaced following the events of seven years ago, even if Europe had willingly taken them in. Once more going by the Lieutenant's earlier disposition, Rommel knew those men and women would serve Leila loyally, as well as follow her through the jaws of Hell if and when called upon to do so. Which, Rommel mused, could happen any time no…

Suddenly, both Rommel and Leila felt the ground shift from under them. At first both thinking they were imagining it, the quaking greatly expanded in the next few seconds, such that the entirety of Berlin Palace began to throb violently. Glasses and platters fell to the ground, as did more than one party attendant, while the lights flickered from above. Whatever was happening, it was far from the imagination.

An earthquake? Here? Rommel managed to think as he grasped Leila to hold them both up. Immediately looking back, he saw that the Malkal brothers had done the same for his wife, while Lieutenant Hyuga was already at his commander's side. Which was precisely when Rommel, and those around him, saw it.

At first, it appeared as though dawn was shining through the great windows before them. However, upon the realization that it was only past midnight, Rommel, Leila, Akito, and many others turned back to face the windows. The windows that faced eastward.

There, as they all watched on in horror, the sky seemed to turn ablaze in the far off distance. A cascading tide of orange and yellow seemed to emerge from the horizon, not unlike a great but far away inferno. Shifting and churning through the night, growing and expanding across the whole of the sky, until it appeared as though a second sun had emerged from the Far East.

A great, hellish fire that, even well after the quaking dwindled and the night resettled in its place, would consume the entirety of the world…