by Ian Redman
“Nice shooting Sergeant, we’re ready to reduce the lighting.” Another empty ammo clip clattered to the floor along with the cases of spent bullet rounds.
“OKAY, CHANGING WEAPON,” Piper picked up another USP, this time with a lethal targeting device attached under its barrel. ‘NOW UTILISING USP WITH LASER AIMING MODULE, SPORADIC TARGETS, KEEP THEM MOVING… READY!” The firing and targeting continued for over half an hour. Soon enough, the final ammo clip dropped to the floor. As usual, Sergeant Ashley Piper had tested himself to the limits on every target. Slowly, Piper walked out of the CEATA firing range booth, his face showing signs of annoyance.
“Good shooting Sergeant, ninety four percent success.”
“That’s not good enough for me Pierre, not good enough at all.” Piper had a great deal on his mind as he handed over the two handguns.
“So why are you so keen to practice with the USP 45 SOCOM?” Pierre Anray, the chief armourer at CEATA wore an inquisitive yet slightly mischievous look on his face.
Piper answered, his blue and amber eyes meeting Anray’s, “Pierre, the SOCOM is ideal for infiltration and assassination assignments. As far as I am concerned, nothing else can match it!”
CEATA’s chief armourer replied, nodding his head slowly, “mmm, yes, quite possibly so, although I could recommend…”
“Sorry, I’m not interested!” With Piper’s blunt answer hanging in the air he hastily walked to the armoury’s exit door then, almost as an afterthought he briskly turned around and spoke again. “Pierre, do me a favour! Keep the USP with the LAM attachment ready for me will you, along with the suppressor and several clips of ammo?”
Anray’s inquisitive look returned, “of course Sergeant Piper, but why?”
“Because I have a feeling I’m going to need it!”
“Hello Wotan, hello Wiki.” Lana Franke had only just opened the boot of the BMW when the German Shepherd dogs raced to greet her. Although not overly fond of animals, she did enjoy making a fuss over Wilhelm Oratz’s dogs, mainly because it annoyed him so much. “How are you both?” she leaned down and stroked her hand through their ruffled fur, the two dogs rolling onto their backs enjoying the attention.
“WOTAN, WIKI, GET INSIDE…NOW!”
Lana instantly recognised the bellowing voice across the courtyard, even before she had looked up. “Good morning Wilhelm,” the physician’s voice, as usual, held a hint of sarcasm and distaste.
“Lana.”
“I see you’ve brought your only friends with you.”
Wilhelm Oratz did not reply as the dogs leapt up the steps and into the castle’s main hallway. He turned his back and walked in.
“Thanks for offering to help with my bags, pig!” she whispered.
“Fraulein, please…” one of Von Kurst’s guards rushed to her side and picked up the two cases, “allow me.”
“Thank you.” The two walked hastily up the steps into the main hallway, Lana gazing once again at the medieval armour and weaponry that adorned the walls and so many corridors throughout the castle. Fleetingly, she remembered Otto’s words upon her first visit, ‘never touch the blades of the weapons Lana, they are extremely sharp.’
“This memo needs to be sent to Mister Bertulusi as quickly as possible Helga, the sales meeting at our Rome facility is very important. Mister Oratz will follow up as soon as he can.”
Helga Zeist finished writing her notes. “Of course Mister Von Kurst. I will send the e-mail immediately.” Otto Von Kurst’s secretary casually walked to the door of his office, her usual happy, smiling face set like stone, for she knew Lana Franke had just arrived.
Helga turned and faced her ex lover, a myriad of emotions seeping through her troubled mind. “Otto,” her voice was practically a whisper.
“Yes, Helga.”
“Thank you for allowing me to join you. The Castle is as beautiful as ever!”
Otto Von Kurst did not need to see Helga’s expression, he could sense her sadness…and jealousy! “It is time for you to join us here Helga…” deftly, he pointed his right index finger at her, “you know that…don’t you?”
Von Kurst’s voice was still business like, but there was something different in the way he spoke, making Helga tremble slightly. “Yes…yes, I have felt the changes over the last two months or so, and I am starting to eat more raw meat.” She paused, “I still think of you…so much.” A tear welled up in Helga’s right eye. She gently dabbed at it with a tissue, being careful not to smudge her make-up.
“You are slowly joining The Were Helga. As I told you before, the changes will take place over time, but you must make provision for your future. I will help, for I have sensed the changes in you.” In the ensuing silence, they both heard brisk footsteps moving closer to the office. A woman’s footsteps!
“Thank you Otto,” Helga whispered, her voice still full of emotion.
“Do not be afraid Helga…do not be afraid!”
The office door flew open and Lana Franke made her grand entrance, “Otto, my darling…” her words stopping in mid sentence, her eyes swiftly focusing on Helga Zeist. “Oh Helga…how nice to see you again.” Lana Franke’s attractive face swiftly registered displeasure.
“Doctor Franke, it is very nice to see you too.”
Helga exited the office and closed the door, Lana’s piercing gaze saying everything as she glared at Otto Von Kurst. “WHAT THE FUCKING HELL IS SHE DOING HERE OTTO?” she yelled.
Von Kurst remained calm and patient. He smiled, stood up and slowly walked over to his beautiful, breathtakingly sexual mistress. Ever so gently, he wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “business my love…strictly business.”
“Twenty minutes to final position Nick, we’re on schedule.” Jean-Paul was clearly excited, so was Nick Lucas. “You worked wonders with the CIA to obtain the SPYSAT Nick, but then again, they did owe us…BIG TIME!”
“Too right Jean-Paul!” Nick smiled, “do you remember all the hassle we had last year, when we assisted the Langley crowd with extra communications for that Al-Qaeda job? Shit, the NATO 3 System was nearly blowing a gasket, anyway, I need another Coke. Do you want anything from the drinks machine?” Nick enjoyed working with the young Frenchman. Just like himself, Commander Hertschell had ‘talent spotted’ Jean-Paul, this time from French Intelligence. The rest as far as Nick Lucas would say, was history.
“No I’m fine, thank you Nick.”
“Okay, well, I’ll drop in on Ash and Doctor Descard and give them an update.”
“Not long now,” Ash Piper sat down in Jeanette Descard’s office as she finished a report on her laptop.
“This is a very unusual request Sergeant Piper,” said Jeanette, her concentration fully focused on the small screen in front of her.
“This is a very unusual war, Doctor Descard.”
Jeanette finished typing and sat back in her chair, her sultry gaze now fixed on Piper’s.
The dark blonde haired CEATA agent leaned forward, “so, tell me a little bit more about yourself Jeanette, seeing as we have a few minutes left before we spy on Von Kurst Electronics.”
“Well, let me see…what is there to tell?”
Her voice was sultry, almost erotic thought Piper. Is she flirting with me?
Jeanette stared up at the ceiling, then again at Piper. “For your information, Ashley,” the seemingly teasing tone of voice made Piper smile, “my interest in criminal psychology began when I attended a four year doctorate at the ‘Universite Pierre Mendes’ in Grenoble, from which I received, how you would say, an honours degree. From there, my career took shape…” she laughed quietly, “…sorry, that wasn’t meant to be a joke.”
Ash laughed, his blue and amber eyes fixed as if hypnotised on the woman sat across from him. Here he thought, was a very beautiful, intelligent and very sexual lady. Yes, he was beginning to like Jeanette Descard, and her radiant outlook on life.
“From there I worked with the French police for a total of seven years in Par
is, Lyon and Marseilles, all of which led me to a position with the DST. From then on, among other more mundane assignments, I worked on the psychological profiles of several terrorists known in the Marseilles area. My advice and background evaluations eventually led to their arrest and demise,” she paused, “thankfully! After that, Commander Hertschell stepped in.”
“I’m impressed Jeanette, very impressed.” And he was.
There was a knock at the door and Nick Lucas stepped in. “Doctor Descard, Ash, fourteen minutes to final positioning. I just thought I’d let you know.”
“Thanks Nick.” The door closed. “Well, let’s get over to the Communications Room shall we Doctor?” Jeanette, with a beaming smile on her face, left her seat and followed Piper to the door. “And let’s see if Von Kurst Electronics have anything to hide,” he whispered, his face very close to hers.
“Jurgen Falck and Fritz Kempler! The Fuhrer is expecting us.”
The burly guard known as Jakob acknowledged the two men sitting in the green Audi A4. “Indeed sir, welcome back to Feldtberg Castle,” Jakob’s gaze moved across to the second guard, “open the gates.”
Slowly, the Audi drove through and up the resplendent castle’s main driveway, leading to the courtyard. “It is good to be back again, hey Fritz?” Jurgen Falck had noticed the guards were armed.
“Yes Jurgen, it seems the war is well under way.” They both laughed as Falck administered the handbrake and opened his door, the two men eagerly stepping out of the vehicle, only to be greeted by savage barking.
Wotan and Wiki ran enthusiastically into the courtyard as the car parked, but as Falck and Kempler exited the Audi, the dogs’ behaviour had suddenly changed. At first the German Shepherd dogs barked, then growled, their sharp teeth protruding from their peeled back snouts. Then, as the two Waffen SS veterans spoke calmly, the dogs rolled onto their backs, whimpering quietly in submission…for here were no ordinary men!
“Wilhelm’s dogs?”
“Yes… hello you two,” gently, Falck and Kempler petted the dogs, both of which continued to whine and whimper.
“Jurgen, Fritz, welcome back to Camelot!” Wilhelm Oratz briskly walked up the main hallway towards the two men now stood at the open front door. He held out his right hand in greeting. Both men shook it in turn.
“Wilhelm, how are you?”
“I am fine Jurgen, fine, I trust you are both in good health, or is that a stupid question to ask?”
“Yes, in good health as always Wilhelm.” Falck paused and looked across at the courtyard and around the castle walls. He whispered as he turned to Kempler, “I had forgotten how magnificent this castle is. It always reminds me of Wewelsburg Castle,” he laughed dryly, “and when we terrified Himmler, all those years ago!”
Just for a few seconds memories flooded back into Jurgen Falck’s mind. Memories of terrible days, of savagery and mayhem, and most of all, of bloody, brutal war! “Where is the Fuhrer, Wilhelm?” asked Falck.
“In his main office. Come, I will take you both, leave your coats and luggage here.” Oratz clicked his fingers and a camouflage uniformed man offered assistance. “We have a small detachment of grenadiers on duty for the time being, all the local staff have been sent home, we have no use for them at present. I am sure you understand.”
“We understand perfectly Wilhelm,” replied Kempler, smiling wryly.
“Okay, here we go, levelling out, preparing main cameras.” The Communications Room at CEATA Headquarters was alive with adrenaline. Behind Nick Lucas, CEATA’s senior staff waited patiently for their first overhead view of Von Kurst Electronics’ warehouse facility. “This American satellite is far superior to anything NATO has at present,” said Nick, “we can view at really close range and also go infrared, thermal and to night vision if required. Okay Jean-Paul, how’s it looking?”
“Good to go Nick, good to go!”
Ash Piper turned to Commander Hertschell and Colonel Mann. “Colonel, you look deeply concerned sir.”
Charles Mann, his arms folded, his face grim, cast his hardened gaze at Piper, “I am Sergeant, very concerned.”
“Okay, locking final position, switching to imaging systems, warehouse facility located, and…we’re on!” The screen flickered into life as a large aerial image of the city of Aachen and its outlying area came into view.
“Satellite technology never ceases to amaze me,” whispered Jeanette Descard.
“Especially the Americans’,” replied Piper as Nick and Jean-Paul busied themselves at their keyboards.
“Okay, going to half magnification, area view set for the Von Kurst Electronics warehouse facility…magnifying now!” Nick Lucas tapped his keyboard’s return button, and slowly but surely, a detailed image began to enlarge.
At the same time Ash Piper clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking as he did so. Right, Mister Wilhelm Oratz, he thought, let’s see if you really are holding any secrets.
The door into Otto Von Kurst’s main office and study opened after a courteous knock.
“Jurgen, Fritz, it is so good to see you again my friends.” The man they both knew as the Fuhrer, briskly moved from his office desk and greeted them warmly. The handshakes were strong, so too, the click of the heels and the Nazi salute.
Jurgen Falck was the first to speak. “My Fuhrer, it is both a privilege and a pleasure to be in your company once again.”
Otto Von Kurst replied, the look on his face one of strong friendship, “the feeling is mutual my friends. Now, let me re-introduce you to Doctor Lana Franke.”
Both Falck and Kempler had forgotten how sexually attractive Lana Franke was. Gently, Falck took her hand, brought it up to his lips and softly kissed her velvet skin, the smell of the beautiful physician’s expensive perfume flaring his nostrils. “My dear Doctor Franke, you are still as beautiful as ever.”
“And you are still as charming, Herr Hauptsturmfuhrer Falck.”
The greetings continued as Von Kurst spoke into his internal phone. “Helga, coffee and refreshments for our two newly arrived guests please…yes, we are in the office, thank you.” Von Kurst turned to his friends, “I have received apologies from Standartenfuhrer Bescann as his flight was delayed. Both he and Untersturmfuhrer Kreutz will be arriving in an hour or so.”
The conversation continued as the office door opened. “Refreshments for everyone,” Helga Zeist said, a warm, appealing smile sat on her radiant face.
Trying her best to hide the look of wanton jealousy in her eyes, Lana Franke stared fixedly at Otto Von Kurst’s secretary as she walked into the office. Just what the hell are you doing here, she thought, you bitch?
“Gentlemen,” said Von Kurst, “allow me to introduce you to my personal secretary, Ms Helga Zeist.”
Jurgen Falck, smiling once again, took Helga’s hand and brought it to his lips. Then…he faltered, his piercing gaze staring searchingly into Helga’s eyes, wondering if she had felt the same connection. Helga gasped, the look that met Falck’s, quickly telling him she had.
“Herr Fraulein Zeist, it is a great pleasure to meet you,” gently, Falck kissed Helga’s hand, “a great pleasure indeed.”
“Thank you so much,” she replied, much to the annoyance of Lana Franke.
The coffee and cake were welcome and enjoyable. Von Kurst spoke again.
“Our meeting at the Round Table will commence at two o’clock precisely, until then everyone, the time is yours. However, may I suggest further preparation if required, as we have a great deal to discuss.” A grenadier knocked on the door and entered. “Jurgen, Fritz, this man will show you to your rooms.”
“Thank you.” Falck and Kempler made their way to the door, just as Otto Von Kurst spoke again, “my friends, I need to discuss a very important issue with you before our main meeting. Meet me here again at one o’clock.”
“Of course my Fuhrer,” replied Falck.
Deftly clicking their heels together, the two left the room along with Helga Zeist and Wilhelm Oratz. Smil
ing, Von Kurst walked across to the large sofa where Lana Franke sat staring at him intently. He sat beside her, drew close and kissed her cheek. “Something is troubling you Lana, isn’t it?” Von Kurst’s mistress was not happy, and he knew it.
“What are you hiding from me Otto…and I want the truth?”
Von Kurst sighed. “I am deeply disappointed in you Lana, deeply disappointed.”
“Oh…why?”
“You have a very, very suspicious mind, and I do not like that. I have nothing to hide from you my love, nothing at all.” Gently, Von Kurst’s powerful hands drew the beautiful physician’s face to his. They kissed deeply, passionately. “Did you bring the needles?” he whispered, his eyes alight with masochistic thoughts.
“Oh yes my darling, oh yes!” Their kissing intensified.
The knock on the lavatory door took Helga Zeist by surprise! It was one of the grenadiers, his voice full of concern, “Herr Fraulein Zeist, are you alright?”
“Yes,” she replied shakily, “I am fine, thank you.” The grenadier walked on, as Helga continued to vomit.
14
THOUGHTS FOR A MARTYR
“Right, here we go, four buildings under one immense roofing structure giving a total size of four American football pitches.” As usual, Nick Lucas was pleased with himself, “Jean-Paul, extend magnification around the entrance to the facility please.”
“Certainly.” Jean Paul tapped dexterously at a keyboard to the side of him as the view over Von Kurst Electronics Warehouse facility moved slowly to the main access area.
“There are plenty of heavy goods vehicles entering and leaving,” Piper muttered.
“Let’s not lose reality here gentlemen,” Jeanette Descard glanced around at all concerned, “don’t forget, Von Kurst Electronics are major importers and exporters. Though their main point of sales is mainland Europe, they also cover a global business empire.” Descard’s colleagues listened intently. “This warehousing area, these four buildings under one roof, is their key ‘hub’ so to speak. It is vital for VKE’s success, growth and of course their survival in a very competitive market.”