Take your time Zen, we'll all be patiently waiting what's in store for the Stellaris portion, especially with all the new stuff Paradox has added over the years.
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That's the main reason I haven't started working on the mod and played yet. By the time I finish writing the story for Part 5, there will be so much new content added to Stellaris, and then I'll start building the mod.
To the Inevitable Conclusion
Ilmarisen Takomo - November 29
Han casually leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together, looking intimidating on the video conference screen. Orus Amur sweated nervously.
“So,” Han said, “You have failed to eliminate the enemy border garrisons.”
“I was under the impression that the Chinese Army would simultaneously strike the bases alongside ours in a pincer attack,” Orus said, “With our logistics and your numbers, we could’ve taken out half of them in a week.”
“That was the plan, but you forced my hand by marching too slowly,” Han said, “So by the time our forces were done waiting, the garrisons had sortied and attacked our own garrisons on our side of the border, in an impromptu pincer attack with our own treasonous Siberian citizens.”
Truth be told, he was marching his troops slowly hoping Han’s forces and the garrisons would destroy each other first. He was more confused with why anyone, let alone Siberian minorities, would be working with Jerusalem even if Han was Han.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to move troops in Siberia in late November?” Orus said. “The winter is starting to set in, and I would rather not have my men freeze to death after surviving being nuked.”
“I don’t think you get how important this operation is to both of our nations,” Han said, “As long as the Crusaders maintain those garrisons, our forces can’t link up. Our forces can’t reinforce the western fronts; we’ll be stuck in China proper. Divide and conquer. The Crusaders will use the opportunity to steamroll your country, then Central Asia, and then come after us. But you seem to be more concerned with some snow than the fate of the world itself.”
“And I’m telling you, you’re not getting it,” Orus said, “We’re doing all we can, but the Yavdian military’s still in shambles from the nuclear strike. Add the terrain of Siberia and the time of year, and we are operating at very limited efficiency.”
“Fine, you just want to freeload, like all of your kind, don’t you?” Han said. “I assure you, the consequences of freeloading will be most…unpleasant.”
“What do you mean?” Orus said.
“You’ll see.” Han hung up.
Nanjing
Han pushed a button on his phone.
“Hello?” a general said.
“Hello, Han here with your new orders,” Han said, “Since our Yavdian comrades have stabbed us in the back, I want you to begin the attack on your own. Also, I want you to send a special forces division to capture Ilmarisen Takomo.”
“Sir, did I hear you correctly?” the general said. “Capture…Ilmarisen Takomo? It’s nowhere near the front!”
“Yes, you heard me,” Han said, “You will destroy the bunker and capture all important individuals in there. Yavdi will learn to respect China, as it once did.”
“As you wish, sir,” the general said.
Tsarberg forward operating base - November 30
Gertrude and Elias were eating lunch when Theodor ran into their tent.
“Mind telling me what this is all about?” Elias said.
“Elias!” Theodor said. “You won’t believe what our satellites found!”
“What is it?” Elias said. “Better be important.”
Theodor tossed a bunch of photos on the table, most of them over Gertrude’s meal. One photo hit Gertrude in the face.
“The satellites picked up irregular Chinese troop movements in eastern Yavdi,” Theodor said.
“Yes, I know they launched an offensive against the border bases this morning,” Elias said, “They’re trying to flank us.”
“That operation was merely a distraction for another move,” Theodor said, “Look.”
Elias looked at the photos.
“They’re…invading Yavdi?” he said. “Why would they do that?”
“It seems to be a specialized fast-moving squad,” Theodor said, “Traveling by air, dropping onto their target from above.”
“You know what their target is?” Elias said.
“I may have an idea,” Theodor said, “I traced their flight path, and it lines up with this spot in the Urals.”
He took out a map and pointed on it to a spot in the Urals.
“An old Soviet-era bunker that was repurposed by the Yavdian military,” he said, “Officially it’s been decommissioned and shut down, but…”
“It’s still in operation,” Elias said.
“And there’s only one reason they’re recklessly sending a squad to this bunker,” Theodor said.
“There’s someone important there,” Elias said, “Guglielma!”
“You’re jumping to conclusions, Elias,” Gertrude said, “There’s no proof Wilhelmina is there.”
At that moment, Elias’ phone rang, startling everyone. Elias hadn’t been expecting a call. He slowly picked it up.
“Hello?” he said.
“Hello again, foreign devil,” Han said, “How are you enjoying the war so far? I trust everything has been to your liking?”
“What are you playing at, Han?” Elias said. “Are you here to surrender?”
“As if,” Han said, “Surrender is, as the kids say, so cringe. I’m just here to tell you I’m going to go after that precious princess you obsess about killing. And I’m going to kill her first.”
“Like hell you will!” Elias said.
“Bet you’re not man enough to get there first!” Han hung up.
Elias slammed down the phone.
“We have confirmation on the ex-princess’ location!” he said. “Get a team ready to fly out to that bunker now! I’ll meet them on the tarmac!”
“Don’t you think you’re a little impulsive?” Gertrude said. “Think it over, get a plan together, and don’t rush in like this. Focus on pacifying Russia and Yavdi first.”
“Shut up, woman!” Elias said. “Unlike you, I’m a veteran! I know what I’m doing! And I know I have no time to waste on dawdling around!”
“I’ll relay the order,” Theodor said.
He ran out of the tent before Gertrude could say anything else. No, this wasn’t right. He was supposed to stay in Tsarberg, where she could watch him. She had to take bold action. If he went to the Urals, he would slip away. Even worse, he might even succeed. She looked around, but there were too many Crusaders in the area. So she decided to improvise. Gertrude ran after Elias.
“Can I at least watch the operation from up close?” she said. “I want to see the moment of our final triumph. The moment Ellie’s dream is realized.”
Elias stopped and turned back to her.
“Sure, whatever,” he said.
Ilmarisen Takomo - December 1
Kresge woke up to alarms blaring and footsteps hitting the concrete floor rapid-fire outside. He slowly got out of bed and got dressed. Someone knocked on the door.
“What is it?” he said. “I just woke up.”
“It’s me!” Gebhard said. “Get up! We’re entering defense mode!”
“Defense mode?” Kresge said. “What for?”
“The bunker’s being attacked!” Gebhard said.
“By who?” Kresge said. “The Crusaders?”
“Not just them, the Chinese!” Gebhard said.
That finally woke Kresge up entirely. In another minute, he was fully dressed and out the door.
“Oh God…” he said. “I just woke up and my day’s already gone to hell…”
They hurried to Gebhard’s command center. Yavdian and exile generals gathered in the center, watching multiple computer screens showing camera footage of outside.
“Status on the evacuation,” Gebhard said.
“Chancellor Amur and Tayisung have relocated to the inner bunker, along with their staff,” a soldier said, “Evacuation stands at 60%.”
“Not fast enough,” Gebhard said.
“We’re doing what we can. We can’t open the runway entrance as the Chinese are already there,, so we’ll have to make do with the inner bunker.”
“I need a status report on the outside,” Gebhard said.
A soldier appeared on one of the monitors. The monitor next to him displayed a map of the area, as well as icons marking troop locations.
“Two air wings from both the east and west. At least ten transports, several fighter escorts. Western air wing is consistent with Jerusalemite Angel Luftwaffe formations. Eastern air wing consistent with Imperial Chinese Air Force formations. Unknown number of troops being dropped from both of them.”
“Why the frak didn’t we see them until both were right on top of us?!” Gebhard said.
“Sir, we weren’t expecting such a reckless attack from China, which gave away our position to the Crusaders—”
Suddenly, the soldier screamed, and the screen was filled with static.
“Hey!” he said. “What’s happening? Respond!”
He slammed his fist against the monitor, but nothing happened.
“Damnit! Anti-air batteries 5-7! Where are my targeting systems?! Hold the line!”
The other monitors showed waves of Crusaders advancing from the west, while Chinese troops advanced from the east.
“Weapons free, engage the enemy!” Gebhard ordered. “Fire at will!”
The Yavdian and Roman exile forces opened fire. Gunfire erupted all across the front lines. The first few Crusaders advancing from the west were cut down. The rest halted and took cover behind trees and bushes, returning fire sporadically. Kresge knew the defenders were completely outgunned and outnumbered, caught in a pincer by the Crusaders and Chinese attacking from both sides. The Yavdian forces came from the most elite units in the Yavdian army, but there were only so many of them, and their weapons were old. The exiles had newer weapons, but their numbers were even smaller. They could not defeat the enemy, but that wasn’t the goal. They just had to hold the line until reinforcements arrived.
“Look, Gebhard,” Kresge said, pointing to one of the monitors, “They’re pressing us hard on the right flank. They mean to flank us.”
One of the monitors showed a squad of Crusaders getting dangerously close to the Yavdian lines.
“Thanks for pointing that out,” Gebhard said,“Artillery! Concentrate your fire on the right flank! Stop them in their tracks!”
Some mortar shells came down in front of the Yavdian lines there, pushing back the Crusaders.
“Not so tough now, huh?” Kresge said.
More Crusaders appeared on the cameras.
“Frak,” Kresge said, “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Their main force,” Gebhard said, “Of course they’d use the vanguard to probe our defenses.”
Simultaneously, the Chinese finally began their own attack. Chinese jets roared overhead, dropping missiles and napalm bombs on the Yavdians below. Gebhard’s soldiers screamed and hastily abandoned their positions, making them easy targets for snipers who thinned their numbers enough for regular soldiers to finish off the survivors. The eastern defenses had completely fallen apart.
“Retreat!” the order came. “Vetäytyä! Ukhrakh!”
“Status report!” Gebhard said. “I need an enemy count!”
“We don’t know!” a Yavdian commander shouted. “There’s too many of—”
He was shot in the head. By now, the Chinese had attacked the western defenses from behind, forming an unintentional pincer attack with the Crusaders. The western lines began crumbling as quickly as the eastern ones.
“Frak,” Gebhard said.
“I say we pull back the line to the entrance,” Kresge said, “Set up our last line of defense there. Less territory to defend.”
“That’s a good idea,” Gebhard said, “Anymore time those men stay where they are, and they’re all done for.”
He picked up his radio. “All units, fall back to the entrance! Defend it with your lives!”
The surviving Yavdians and exiles retreated to the entrance, laying down cover fire for the slower or wounded to escape. Fortunately, the Crusaders and Chinese were more concerned with shooting at each other than actually chasing them.
“Looks like they’re hellbent on killing each other,” Kresge said, “Guess they really want to take the bunker before the other.”
“Which is good for us, because we can regroup and reinforce there,” Gebhard said.
“Sir!” a soldier said. “All units have arrived at the entrance.”
“Good,” Gebhard said, “Don’t let a single one inside!”
---
The inner bunker shook violently as another Chinese missile came down. Inside, monarchs, chancellors, and the leaders of the Roman government in exile hid in the back rooms alongside regular people and servants.
“I can’t believe it’s come to this,” Orus Amur said.
“Please, gods above, I know I haven’t believed in you that much,” Izinchi prayed, “But please, if you’re out there, watch over us. Huitzilopochtli, please protect our soldiers.”
Friedrich sniffed and let out a couple tears. Vasily patted him on the head.
“It’s okay,” he said, “We’re going to get through this.”
“Grandpa, you know what happens if we lose,” Ilyana said.
“Ilyana, I would rather not think about that,” Vasily said.
“Dad?” Friedrich said.
“It’s okay, Friedrich,” Joseph said, “Just stay right here.”
He and Franz stood with Samir and the other soldiers assigned to protect the civilians. Wilhelmina didn’t like seeing Joseph and Franz carrying guns, but they needed everybody who could fight to be ready to fight. Well…everyone except Sophie. She insisted on staying at Wilhelmina’s side, as well as guarding Enonon’s case.
“Why do you still have that?” Wilhelmina said.
“It’s important,” Sophie said.
“More than our lives?” Wilhelmina said.
“Do you know what this sword represents?” Sophie said.
“I do, but it’s just a sword in the end, right?” Wilhelmina said.
“They say that two thousand years ago, the First Empire’s legions would fight to the last man to defend their eagle standards,” Sophie said, “To lose their eagle standard would mean a humiliation worse than death.”
“But this isn’t a legion, and that sword isn’t an eagle standard,” Wilhelmina said, “I think it’s safe to say we should prioritize our own lives over keeping an inanimate object.”
“You have a point,” Sophie said, “But we’re still alive, and we have Enonon. As long as we have both, we have legitimacy.”
“We’ll also constantly have a target pointed on my back,” Wilhelmina said.
“That is a problem, yes,” Sophie said, “But you’ve had a target on you since you were born. All of your family has had targets. It’s to be expected. And you know it. After all, you did press your claim to the throne.”
“Fair enough,” Wilhelmina said, “So what do we do now?”
“All we can do is wait and hope,” Sophie said.
“Yes,” Wilhelmina said, “The only thing we can do is wait.”
“Wait, Willie?” Franz said. “No, we can’t just wait here and let them kill the others up there.”
“Yeah,” Joseph said, “We need to go out and join them.”
“What are you saying?” Vasily said. “It’s suicide.”
“We need you here to protect the others,” Samir said.
“Think of it this way,” Franz said, “They overwhelm the defenders on the upper levels, then they come here, and they slaughter us all. Or we join the defenders upstairs, and with our boosted numbers we might stand a chance.”
“On the other hand, we’d be left completely defenseless down here if you fail,” Samir said.
“Better than waiting here for our deaths,” Joseph said.
“Joseph, how can you say that?” Wilhelmina said. “Your son needs you. After Lisa died…Friedrich needs his dad.”
“I’m doing this for his sake, Mom,” Joseph said, “I’m doing this so you two have a chance of getting out of here alive.”
“Don’t do this, Joseph,” Wilhelmina said, “This could go very badly.”
“Don’t worry, Willie,” Franz said, “I’ll watch over him.”
Joseph opened the inner bunker door and stepped out.
“Who’s with me?” he said.
Most of the soldiers, except Samir and a few others, stepped out.
“Let’s do this,” he said.
Not that long afterward
Elias casually strolled through the command center, flanked by a squad of Crusaders. The room was in shambles after the battle, with each monitor and computer completely destroyed. The soldiers and generals inside were either dead or severely wounded. Elias walked over to the next wounded soldier and raised his gun.
“No!” the soldier shouted. “Please!”
“Traitor,” Elias said, shooting him in the head, “You’ll get a traitor’s fate.”
Gebhard, hiding in a supply closet, could only watch as Elias executed his men. His leg screamed in pain, and he could feel the blood soaking through his hands as he put on pressure, but he could not say anything. He could only continue watching. Two Crusaders tossed Kresge in front of Elias.
“Hello,” Elias said, “Commissioner Kresge. I didn’t expect to see you here, of all places.”
“Go to hell,” Kresge said.
“No, you’re mistaken,” Elias said, “You’re the one who’s going to hell. For all of the sins you’ve committed against the world and God.”
“You’re deluded,” Kresge said, “None of what I’ve done is a sin. If it’s a sin to oppose whatever madness you’ve brought upon all of us, then of course I’ll go to hell. Who knows? Maybe Satan will be more chill than you. Go ahead, kill me then.”
“Nah,” Elias said, “You’re not a soldier. And perhaps I can get more use out of you as a hostage. You must know something about the rebel leadership.”
“I’m not going to tell you anything,” Kresge said.
“That’s what they always say,” Elias said, “Take him to Theodor!”
The Crusaders hauled him away.
“For the record, I didn’t even ask for any of that!” Kresge said.
“Sir, what should we do about the continued Chinese assault?” one Crusader asked.
“I don’t care,” Elias said, “As long as we have the bunker and the airfield, they can’t possibly hope to stop us.”
“Still, the missile strikes are worrisome,” the Crusader said.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Elias said.
“Should we at least evacuate your wife?” the Crusader said.
“Yeah, with all due respect, sir, why is she even here with us?” another asked.
“Are you questioning my orders?” Elias said. “I have nothing to fear right now, other than the ex-princess’ threat. The longer she lives, the more time she gets to rally the world behind her and gain an army to destroy my dream, OUR dream. We must kill her today, or everything we’ve struggled for over the last twenty years will be for nothing.”
Gertrude entered the room.
“Hello, Gertrude,” he said, “Do you have anything for me?”
“There are a hundred and fifty thousand—” Gertrude began.
“DUCKS?!” Elias said.
“Russian soldiers nearing the Eastern District border,” Gertrude said, “You weren’t reachable by High Command when the reports came in, so they asked me to tell you that. We think they’ll attack Lublin or Königsberg, or go to relieve Vilnius.”
“They worry too much,” Elias said, “The only news I’m interested in learning is finding out where the ex-princess is hiding in this bunker! There’s only one way in and out, and we know she’s here, so where ZHE FAECH is she?!”
A scout ran into the room. “Sir!”
“What is it now?!” Elias said.
“We’ve found the inner bunker!” he said. “We’re moving to secure the area now.”
“Wait until I get there!” Elias said. “I’m doing this myself!”
- 2
Damn, so it all comes down to this now. Kresge meanwhile is gonna have a fate worse than death unless some miracle occurs. And boy do the Roman government in exile need a miracle now.
I'll be honest while I was reading this I was doing this the whole time (from 0:22 to 0:28).
Also I am working on my Western Europe update for Tianxia and the more I reread about the Maximists it made me wonder how different they are from the Committee? The reason I ask that is because both sound the same in that they are very pro-German, they believe their version of Imperial Orthodoxy is correct and anyone else is a heretic and despite both not wanting minorities to be killed like the Angeloi both groups still treat them horribly.
Hopefully those hundred and fifty thousand Russians will make some difference however like @TWR97 said only a miracle can save them now.
Also I am working on my Western Europe update for Tianxia and the more I reread about the Maximists it made me wonder how different they are from the Committee? The reason I ask that is because both sound the same in that they are very pro-German, they believe their version of Imperial Orthodoxy is correct and anyone else is a heretic and despite both not wanting minorities to be killed like the Angeloi both groups still treat them horribly.
Too late, Kresge's gone now...
All of those 150k Russians are in the same area...which means they can all be killed with the same nuke...
The Maximists at least tried to be a democracy, even if it was one in which only a small ruling class had voting rights (in line with most 19th century democracies in real life). They had a very religious streak which called for Orthodox German supremacy over all others, but it wasn't genocidal like the committee, which simply wants to purge all others.
Josh is collecting so much gear that he could make a museum exhibit. "The Grand Collection of Equipment that Our Greatest Earthly Soldier Has Won in Righteous Battle. Now on display at the Museum of Potsdam, tickets available!"
Elias is getting very sloppy. Not to mention mentally unsound. If he finally manages to kill Wilhemina I think he will either become a more competent ruler again (relatively speaking) or go completely off the rails.
I wouldn't be surprised if they actually did this after the war ends and Josh finishes killing everyone on his list. He'd hate it because he hates history, but he puts up with it because it makes him way more money than his Argus paycheck
Most likely he'll go completely off the rails as once he's eliminated Wilhelmina, he won't know what to do next.
Han really has proven himself to be a petty dastard with this move, all because of Yavadi soilders moving slowly and his rivalry with Elias. Then again, the latter thing was what started this apocalyptic war in the first place. Guess this is what happens when the world‘s superpowers are run by crazy people.
Well, if the last update had me worried about someone from Alex's group dying eventually, then this update makes me feel that alot of people from Wihelmina's bunker, particularly Franz and Joesph are doomed now with both the Crusaders and Chinse there. Already it looks like Kurtz is going to meet an unfortunate fate worse than death now. But hey, at least Josh isn’t here to claim Enonon as yet another trophy…. right?
Well, if the last update had me worried about someone from Alex's group dying eventually, then this update makes me feel that alot of people from Wihelmina's bunker, particularly Franz and Joesph are doomed now with both the Crusaders and Chinse there. Already it looks like Kurtz is going to meet an unfortunate fate worse than death now. But hey, at least Josh isn’t here to claim Enonon as yet another trophy…. right?
I guess there is something that both the early Maximists and CB had in common; they started out with good intentions like political reform in both cases and combating climate change in the latter movement, but quickly went off the deep end once they took power. Funny way how history ended up rhyming there.
You might soon see there's another reason for this move...
I think you mean Kresge. Kurtz is long dead at this point.Well, if the last update had me worried about someone from Alex's group dying eventually, then this update makes me feel that alot of people from Wihelmina's bunker, particularly Franz and Joesph are doomed now with both the Crusaders and Chinse there. Already it looks like Kurtz is going to meet an unfortunate fate worse than death now. But hey, at least Josh isn’t here…. right?
laughs in Josh getting sudden teleportation powers and dropping right in the middle of the bunker to kill everyone because why not
Goes to show how power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Engage the Enemy
Nanjing
“Sir, our forces have breached the bunker,” a general reported.
“Have they confirmed Anhorn’s presence?” Han said.
“Yes, sir. He’s there. As is his wife, for some reason.”
“Has the man lost it? Actually, don’t answer that. We both know the answer is yes. That’s why he’s there in the bunker to begin with. In any case, her presence won’t change anything.”
“Should we proceed with the plan?”
“Yes, at once. Launch the nuke.”
The general stared at him, confused. “But our forces, sir.”
“Withdraw them.”
“I’m not sure they’ll get out in time. We need to wait until they’re clear.”
“And risk Anhorn catching on to the plan?” Han said, pounding his desk. “We have a singular opportunity to eliminate both the head of the regency and the loyalist resistance’s figurehead at the same time. It is very obvious what happens when we kill Anhorn: Jerusalem will descend into chaos. But the bigger target is the princess. We kill her, and we will ensure not only the Pacific falls into our hands, but those pesky Hohenzollerns will never again threaten my plans. This is the future we’re talking about, general. The future I want has no room for the Hohenzollerns. Any regime that succeeds the Regency, if it ever reunites the former Reich, must never be allowed to rise to the same heights as the Hohenzollerns’ old regime. Without the Hohenzollerns, it never will again. Our brave troops on the ground at Ilmarisen Takomo will understand they’re giving their lives for that glorious Sinocentric future. So you will execute my order and launch that nuke.”
“…yes, sir, at once.”
Ilmarisen Takomo
Joseph and his soldiers crouched behind corners and piles of debris. Joseph and one squad hid on one side, while Franz and another squad hid on the other side. They stayed quiet, listening to the sounds of enemy footsteps. But it turned out they heard the Crusaders’ telltale walkie-talkie chatter before their footsteps echoed down the main hallway leading to the inner bunker. Joseph looked at Franz, who nodded back. Everyone readied their guns. In the inner bunker, Samir gathered everyone in a small circle and held up a map of the bunker.
“Okay, here’s the plan. Since Joseph isn’t backing down, we have to improvise. While their forces engage the enemy, we use the distraction to sneak out by this side hallway. Faced with unexpected resistance, the Crusaders will call for backup, drawing in the forces on the upper levels and giving us an opening to get to the hangar.”
“But not all of them will leave the upper levels,” Vasily said.
“And what about the Chinese?” Izinchi said. “Unless something’s changed, even if we’re lucky enough to get past the Crusaders, no way our luck will extend to the Chinese.”
“Well, I think my men and I can handle any Crusaders in the area,” Samir said, “As for the Chinese, well…I hope they’re more focused on fighting the Crusaders than us.”
“Is there a better plan?” Wilhelmina said.
“I've lost contact with the command center. If it’s fallen, they’ll have override codes to open the inner bunker, and we’d be sitting ducks. At least there’s a chance some of us may survive if we just run.”
She didn’t like those odds.
“We have to tell Franz and Joseph,” Wilhelmina said, “We can’t just leave them.”
“I’ll try,” Samir said.
Outside, the first Crusaders approached the ambush. Joseph counted down from three, and then the Yavdians and exiles opened fire.
The Crusader squad was quickly cut down, and the survivors fell back.
“We’re under attack! Requesting immediate backup!”
“Go, go, go!” Samir said.
They left the bunker. As soon as they reached an intersection, they turned onto a side hallway. Franz and Joseph noticed the others running and quickly understood, slowly retreating and protecting them from behind. Wilhelmina picked up Friedrich and carried him in her arms, while Vasily did the same for Ilyana. Samir and his men scouted ahead for any possible threats, while Izinchi, Orus, and Tayisung stayed between Wilhelmina and Joseph’s men. The Crusaders pursuing them from behind were either shot or driven back by Franz and Joseph’s squad. Gradually, they ascended to the upper levels. The hangar, and their freedom, was not that far away.
Of course, that was when everything went terribly wrong. Elias and a full squad of new Crusaders rounded the corner and stopped in front of them. There was nowhere to run or hide. No other hallwa. No corner. The only directions they could go were forward and backward. Wilhelmina paled. She could feel everyone’s hearts leaping and spirits falling in that very moment. Elias drew his pistol, a wide smile on his face that was both crazy and smug at the same time.
“Finally! Justice is at hand. The dead must have their tribute!”
Before Wilhelmina could react, Elias and the Crusaders opened fire. Vasily turned around to shield Ilyana, and Elias put two bullets in his back and head. The old man fell, blood splattering on the wall and Ilyana. Tayisung tried hiding, but Elias put a third bullet in his head. He then aimed at Orus, who looked like he had expected this to happen but was still panicking. He grabbed a pistol off Tayisung’s body and aimed at Elias.
“FRAK YOU HAN!”
But Elias’ fourth bullet tore through his head before he could get off a shot. Next, Elias aimed at Izinchi.
“Burn in hell, barbarian scum! This is for November 9, Ellie, and my platoon!”
Izinchi remained frozen, her lips quivering as she whispered a prayer in a mix of Nahuatl and Edinburgh slang. Just as Elias’ finger curled around the trigger, one of Samir’s soldiers tackled her. He pushed her aside just as Elias fired his fifth bullet, which tore through the soldier’s upper chest, fatally piercing his heart, and then embedded itself in Izinchi's torso, near her stomach. Izinchi fell to the ground, pinned there by the dead soldier’s heavy body, barely moving. Wilhelmina could feel her fear, that if a single muscle moved, Elias would finish the job.
Only a few seconds had passed, but they had felt like an eternity. Like Izinchi, Wilhelmina felt paralyzed by fear. She wanted to run, but the sounds of gunshots and the screaming in Finnish behind her told her another squad of Crusaders had cut off their only escape route. She glanced to her left. Samir still had his rifle raised, but he was no longer shooting. His expression was bleak. She glanced to her right. Sophie was slumped against a wall, shot in the leg by probably Elias’ sixth bullet, and Enonon’s case lay next to her, undefended. The sight of her protector for the last four years lying like that was horrifying. Sophie had done so much to protect her, but this was as far as she went. Their odds were next to none. They had failed, and now they were going to die.
At that moment, Elias held up his hand, and the Crusaders stopped firing. The hallway quieted down, and the deafening gunfire gave way to the groaning and prayers of surviving Yavdian soldiers. Wilhelmina remained frozen. She wasn’t sure if it was over. Why was Elias sparing them? Why wasn’t he going to finish them off? Why did he stop? But she soon got her answer when Elias reloaded his pistol and stepped forward, aiming at her now. He hadn’t stopped at all. He just wanted to finish the job himself. Did he hate her that much? Wilhelmina had never met this man in person. What had she done to make this man want to hunt her across two countries and thousands of miles, even though they had never met before? Would she ever know now? She saw the barrel of the pistol aimed squarely at her face, yet she couldn’t do anything but stand there. Her feet remained rooted to the concrete. Her legs remained immobile like lead blocks. She couldn’t even turn her head or close her eyes. She stared right at the gun, waiting for the inevitable moment when Elias would pull the trigger and end her life.
“Willie!”
Franz pulled Wilhelmina out of the way just as Elias fired, the bullet zipping through the air she once stood in. The sudden movement shook her out of her paralysis. She blinked quickly and looked around, seeing Franz putting himself between her and Elias. He aimed his rifle at Elias.
“Stay back! I’ll take it from here!”
“No! Franz, what are you doing?!”
But Franz wasn’t listening. He glared at Elias, who surprisingly hadn’t shot him yet.
Franz, take the shot! He’s right there! We can end him right now!
“You finally show yourself, traitor.”
Elias lowered his pistol. Why? Why would he do that?
“You’re not a Hohenzollern. You’re simply married to one. I’ll let you live. You just have to surrender to me.”
Franz, however, did not waver. His gun was still aimed at Elias.
“Like hell I will! If you think us exiles, us Romans, will just wait for you to kill us all, you’re sorely mistaken!”
Then why aren’t you shooting?! Take him out! Now! And with their leader dead, we regain the advantage!
Elias smiled. “I thought you’d say that. Go ahead, then. Shoot me.”
Franz, however, just stood there.
“What’s the matter, traitor? Got cold feet, all of a sudden? Can’t bear to shoot your rightful leader in the face? I thought you hated my guts.”
He stepped forward. Franz’s arm wavered. He stepped forward and aggressively shook his gun at Elias.
“You’re the real traitor! Don’t come any closer! Or I’ll...”
“...shoot me? I doubt it. You’d have done it by now. My blood and brains’d be splattered all over the walls by now. So what’re you waiting for? Aren’t you a man? Aren’t you supposed to look after your wife and kid, like all men should?”
“SHUT UP!” Franz said.
By now, Elias had walked so close that the tip of Franz’s gun had been pressed against his sternum. Elias gingerly wrapped his hand around the barrel and moved the gun up to his forehead.
“What are you waiting for, coward? Are you man enough to look me in the eye and pull the trigger? Huh? Are you going to do it? Shoot me. SHOOT ME! I DARE YOU!”
“Franz, what are you doing?” Wilhelmina said. “He’s right there! Shoot him!”
“Yeah, what she said! Take advice from a shrill woman! A woman who knows nothing about warfare! Who knows nothing about her place in God’s world! Listen to her, and show me you’re worse than her! Show me you can’t even be a man and keep your own house in order! Shoot me! KILL ME!”
Franz screamed. His finger curled around the trigger and pulled.
The first thing Wilhelmina heard was a quiet click, telling her Franz’s gun was jammed. The second thing she heard was Elias chuckling. It started out as a quiet snicker, but it soon grew into a deafening laugh.
“Just as I thought,” Elias said, "Did you really think I wouldn’t notice your gun had jammed? Did you really think I’d let you kill me that easily?”
He quickly pulled out his pistol and shot Franz in the head. Before Wilhelmina could even process the sudden movement, the gunshot had already passed through her ears, and Franz’s blood had already splattered on the edges of her glasses. Next thing she knew, Franz had crumpled to the floor in an ever-expanding pool of his blood. Wilhelmina put Friedrich down and rushed to Franz’s side.
“Franz! No!”
Elias fired a warning shot in front of Wilhelmina’s feet, forcing her to stay back. She desperately looked at Franz for any signs of life, but there weren’t any. He had been clearly shot in the head. The top of his head was simply gone now. His lifeless eyes stared back at Wilhelmina. Her husband was gone. All because she had urged Franz to take the shot, not knowing he couldn’t shoot. She removed his leverage and revealed he was unarmed. She got him killed.
“N-No. This can’t be happening…F-Franz…”
Elias laughed. He slapped his thighs and smugly looked at her, knowing he had won. She recognized that smug look. She always saw it on faces like Zhao’s, Han’s, and LKR Guy’s at the UN General Assembly. On the faces of the committee as they stripped away the rights of her citizens and turned her home into a totalitarian nightmare. On the faces of citizens who eagerly went along with that if only to make her and those they hated suffer.
“That idiot got in my way. If only he had just taken my offer, maybe he could’ve survived.”
“HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!” Wilhelmina said, her rage building.
She took two steps towards Elias, but she froze in her tracks as soon as he pointed his gun at her again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send you to join him right now.”
“YOU MONSTER! YOU’LL PAY FOR KILLING MY FATHER!”
Everything was still going by so quickly. One second, she could see Elias aiming at her, and the next, Joseph had desperately tackled him to the ground. Elias’ gun flew out of his hands and slid across the floor to the Crusader lines. Joseph clenched his fists and brought down punch after punch on Elias’ face.
“Mom! Friedrich! Ilyana! Everyone! Get away, right now!”
Wilhelmina looked around her, but the Crusaders still had them boxed in. She could now see what remained of Samir’s squad. The injured had pulled themselves up against the walls and aimed their guns at the Crusaders, just like Samir and those who could still stand were doing. Both sides quietly stared each other from across the hallway, waiting for the other to make a move. But Wilhelmina knew it was pointless. The Crusaders outnumbered and outgunned them. As soon as Elias gave the order, it would be all over. The Crusaders behind Elias stepped forward and aimed at Joseph, ready to help their leader, but Elias held up his hand.
“No! I will eliminate the Hohenzollern scum myself! For my sister’s sake!”
Joseph punched Elias again. “I’m not going to let you torment my family any longer!”
Elias, however, caught that last punch with his left hand, stopping Joseph in his tracks. It soon became clear that Elias had only been forced to the ground due to being surprised, and now that the element of surprise had worn off, the experienced war veteran regained the upper hand. He delivered a right hook to Joseph’s face which forced the younger man to scream in pain and stumble back. Once again, Wilhelmina didn’t know what to do. Fear overtook her body, paralyzing her again. She could only watch. Joseph desperately grabbed Franz’s dropped rifle and tried slamming it into Elias’ face, but Elias easily grabbed the rifle and pushed it back, striking Joseph in the face. Getting to his feet, he then clubbed Joseph in the head with the butt of the rifle. Joseph fell to the ground in a daze, only managing to watch as Elias picked up his pistol.
“Damnit,” he said, “H-How?”
“Joseph!” Wilhelmina said.
“Dad!” Friedrich said.
Joseph tried getting to his feet, but he only fell back onto the floor. Elias raised his pistol and fired once with deadly precision, putting a bullet cleanly between Joseph’s eyes. His blood splattered on the floor and wall behind him. Wilhelmina’s son slumped over, dead. Just like his father. Elias casually took out a cleaning cloth and wiped the barrel of his pistol.
“Stupid boy. He should have known his place.”
Wilhelmina rushed to Joseph’s body, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him, but it was useless. Like with Franz, he was clearly dead. It was no use. Her only son was gone, less than a minute after her husband had gone. Tears welled up in her eyes and fell onto her glasses, mixing with Franz’s blood.
“NO! THIS CAN’T BE! WHY?!”
Elias smiled at her, still giving her the same smug expression.
“I promised you would get what you deserve. And what you deserve is nothing less than complete annihilation.”
Wilhelmina desperately looked behind her. Izinchi was still on the ground, pinned there by the dead soldier. Ilyana was hiding under Vasily’s body, petrified by fear. Samir’s surviving men still aimed at the Crusaders, but it was merely a token measure of resistance at this point. Orus and Tayisung’s bodies littered the floor in between the dead Yavdian soldier. They looked little more than just two more dead bodies among many. Sophie remained unconscious. Franz and Joseph remained dead. Wilhelmina realized there was no way out. They were doomed. She was doomed.
“Your screams are music to my ears,” Elias said, “The despair, the panic…the feeling of complete loss. The acknowledgement that I’ve totally won, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The only thing you deserve as a final memory right before my bullets strike you down, like hot knives cutting through butter.”
But the despair soon fell away. She clenched her fists. Rage bubbled up from her gut, and she let it come up to her head. She felt rage that she had been so close to freedom, only to have it snatched away from her at the last moment. She felt rage that she had just lost almost everyone dear to her. Rage that she was still powerless and helpless, after all these years. Powerless to watch as Elias approached an equally paralyzed Friedrich, gun raised, and she still didn’t know what to do.
“Let’s move on to this runt next. I’ll send him to join his father and grandfather. Ellie demands justice.”
“No!” Wilhelmina said, trying to move her legs against their will. “Stay back!”
Elias casually held up his left hand, as if dismissing her. “Wait your turn, woman. You’ll get what’s coming to you soon enough.”
Friedrich suddenly rushed Elias and punched his leg, just as his father tried. But he was just a kid, and his punches merely bounced off. Elias simply laughed, grabbed Friedrich’s shoulders, and slammed him against a wall, holding him there.
“I’m impressed. Brat’s got spirit. Reminds me of when I was his age. It’s almost a shame to kill a child like him. Almost.”
He pressed his gun against Friedrich’s forehead. “A thousand years of Hohenzollerns ends now!”
Friedrich closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Wilhelmina, not accepting his fate, clenched her fists and surged forward, pushing through the paralysis.
“NO!”
Time slowed down. She could see Elias’ finger curling around the trigger, but she was too far away. She knew Friedrich would die before she got close. But she didn’t give up. She didn’t stop. She had to do it. She had to do something. She couldn’t just sit back and wait any longer. It didn’t matter Friedrich was her grandson. It didn’t matter she wouldn’t be able to reach Elias in time. She had to take a stand. That was more important now.
No more running. No more hiding. No more waiting. No more powerlessness.
Time to take back her destiny.
Inside the case, the final “N” on Enonon flashed white, and then all seven letters lit up, their glow soon spreading to cover the entire blade.
Somewhere
Wilhelm suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Something…feels familiar…” he said.
Ilmarisen Takomo
Wilhelmina desperately reached out, and a pulse of energy rippled outwards from her, shaking the corridor. The pulse focused on Elias’ arm, forcing his gun off Friedrich’s head just as he fired. The bullet struck the concrete wall next to Friedrich’s head. The boy slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was still alive. He looked at Wilhelmina.
“Grandma?”
“…what?” Elias said, utterly baffled. “HWAET?!”
Wilhelmina looked down at her hands, which were now surrounded by wisps of white energy.
“What is this? Did I…do this?”
Elias’ face turned from smug confidence to sheer shock and confusion. He aimed at Wilhelmina again, but this time, Wilhelmina no longer felt fear. She was no longer paralyzed.
“What the hell are you?!”
“I…I can change things…” Wilhelmina said.
She stood up straight, regaining confidence. “I can change things!”
The corridor rumbled, and the lights flickered. The Crusaders whispered to each other in hushed tones, with some making the sign of the cross.
“Get behind me, Friedrich,” Wilhelmina said.
Friedrich quickly ran behind her. Wilhelmina raised her hands, ready to do whatever she did a few seconds ago again, but she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked to her right and saw Sophie standing there. She looked different from how she was just a minute ago. There were no wounds on her body. And it was almost like she was radiating a bright aura of some kind.
“I see you finally made up your mind, my dear, fated princess,” she said, speaking with an unexpected elegance.
“What…what is happening to me?”
“You’ve finally taken a stand. You’re no longer running from your problems, but confronting them head-on. This is it, Willie. Now is the time to choose. Die, and be free of your pain, or live and fight for what is right. Now is the time to shape the future. Your destiny, and that of the world. is in your hands.”
“Yes…yes it is,” Wilhelmina said, “I won’t let Elias harm my people anymore.”
“Good, good,” Sophie said, “You have conviction. It is time to make good on it. If you still yearn for justice…then you must not falter.”
Wilhelmina felt more power surging through her, and soon, any remaining fear fell away. All she felt was a burning desire to bring her own brand of justice upon Elias, the man who had destroyed her country and murdered her family.
“Let’s do it.”
Sophie smiled. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. You have finally found your own path. Never lose sight of it again, Wilhelmina.”
Sophie held out her hand. Wilhelmina went to shake it. At that moment, Enonon flew out of its case, and Wilhelmina unintentionally caught it in her outstretched hand. All seven letters engraved remained clearly visible amid the bright white glow of the blade. The hilt fit perfectly in her hand. The sword didn’t feel too heavy or light, but just right for her. Only problem was Wilhelmina didn’t know how to use a sword. Her dad had taught her fencing as a kid, and she had practiced a couple lightsaber forms at the Starkrieg club in college, but she had stopped practicing over thirty years ago. Sophie again reassuringly patted her on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help.”
“Who are you?” Wilhelmina said. “No…what are you, really, Sophie? What’s the deal with you?”
Sophie’s form changed. Instead of modern attire, she now wore tattered 16th-century armor emblazoned with the Hohenzollern imperial eagle. A small but elegant royal tiara sat on her head.
“I was known as Kaiserin Sophia I, and I was in a very similar situation as you are now.”
And suddenly, Sophie was gone, yet Wilhelmina didn’t feel like she had abandoned her. It still felt like she was watching over her. Wilhelmina pushed up her bloodstained glasses and defiantly pointed Enonon at Elias.
“I won't be rattled any longer,” she said, channeling Yukiko and Shulk, “I WILL overcome you! You will know the pain and suffering you caused my family and all of the murdered millions of the Reich!”
- 2
Wow! For once I am agreeing with Han.
Well shoot. So I guess even if Wilhelmina kills Elias with Enonon we still might lose.
So douse that mean that Sophie has been Sophia from EU4 this whole time?
I wonder if we will find out what this means in the near future?
Well, good on Wilhemina for finally finding inner strength and unlocking the magic powers. Rather than giving up to despair in the very bad situation. However she will still have to hunt down the rest of the Committee even if she kills Elias in this bunker. There is also the small problem of the
A broken clock is right twice a day.
“We did it, we killed Elias and saved the Reich!”
Wilhelmina and the entire surviving government in exile get nuked
Yes, she is a force ghost.
I do plan on expanding on Sophia’s story in the future since she got very little content after she defeated Bethune.
Han: “I’m playing both sides so I always come out on top”
Technically, this is different from magic as we’ve seen used by the Inquisition and angels…
Correction: I forgot what you were referring to and thought this was an extension of the previous question. But yes, we will.
Yes I was talking about Wilhelm in the last question but I am glad we will hear more about Sophia as well.
That we definitely will. I haven't started working on it yet, but I intend for her to get at least a mini-arc or extended flashback sequence in the future.Yes I was talking about Wilhelm in the last question but I am glad we will hear more about Sophia as well.
Kaiserin Sophia eh? Damn, last time we saw her it was a while back. A while back. Almost had a bit of suspicions regarding Sophie. Seems she was otherworldly after all. A Hohenzollern relative at that. I guess it really took a miracle to save them there, even if a lot of good people died. And of course Han in his wisdom and brilliance is about to launch a nuke on top of everybody there. What a shame if it ends like this. Even if Elias is defeated. I guess that's what the 'Gone but not forgotten' subtitle in History of the End stands for.
Did you notice how I never once wrote Sophia directly interacting with anyone other than Wilhelmina and Friedrich?
I can sum up a lot of actions in the next chapter with the following meme: