Commander Zirka

The sun glinted off the shimmering dome above the plaza as they made their way up from the infirmary levels beneath the fortress.

“Here we come, Recces…,” Singe murmured with a satisfied expression.

Hermann looked out over the landing area beyond the barrier, which seemed to be bathed in a bluish light.

At regular intervals, squads rose into the air or descended again on their flight discs.

“Say…,” Hermann began as they crossed the street. “If I’m not mistaken, a squad usually has four members. So why are there only three of you?”

They stopped.

Singe’s expression darkened, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Finally, Linly answered, her voice uncomfortable.

“You’re right, a squad normally has four members. But our fourth…” She paused briefly. “…she didn’t make it.”

“Rixt could still be alive!” Singe snapped immediately. “We never saw her die.”

Tong sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Rixt was dragged into one of their nests right in front of us, Singe. There’s no way she...”

Singe shoved her hand away.

“We don’t know that for certain! She… she could…” She broke off. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Come on, the commander is waiting…”

She pulled the helmet down lower over her face and strode off.

Hermann watched her in surprise.

So they’ve already lost someone…

Linly and Tong exchanged a worried glance before turning back to Hermann.

“She refuses to give up hope that she’s still alive,” Linly said at last. “That’s why Singe’s so determined to join the Recces…”

Hermann frowned.

“Recces...?“

Tong nodded.

“Long Range Reconnaissance. Elite unit. They’re the only ones who venture into the underground nests of the Manylegs. They flush them out with explosion magic… at heavy cost.”

Hermann watched Singe disappear across the street.

She just wants a chance to look for her missing comrade?

His gaze suddenly dropped to his right hand, where a large scar stood out.

He could almost hear the distant roar of orders once again.

…

Heinz and Kurt’s parachutes carried them west of Heraklion, right between two Allied positions. We’re pulling them out!

But we’re only lightly armed, sir! All the weapons containers landed in a different direction. How are we supposed to deal with those machine gun nests?

We’re paratroopers. We will find a way. And most certainly, we don’t leave anyone behind. Now move out!

Yes, sir!

…

The words still echoed in his mind when Tong’s voice snapped him back to the present.

“Hey! What, are you waiting for a personal invitation?”

She was already standing with the others at the towering main building, waving him over.

Hermann gave a faint smile.

“Yes, sir…,” he murmured, and followed them.

***

The command center was a tall timber-framed building, several stories high, with stone set between the dark wooden beams.

Reminds me of the old town hall back home.

Two soldiers in long black coats stood guard at the entrance, their hoods pulled low over scarred faces.

After a brief exchange, they allowed them inside, giving Hermann the suspicious look he’d already grown used to.

Inside, it was surprisingly quiet.

The noise of the bustle outside seemed to be completely swallowed by the thick walls.

Along the walls stood tables covered with maps, notes, and strange magical devices.

Here and there, figures in dark coats moved about, speaking in hushed voices or bending over their work.

No one paid them any attention as they walked silently down a narrow corridor deeper into the building.

Eventually they stopped before a large, wooden door.

Knock. Knock.

“Enter!” came a voice from inside.

“Was that her ‘good mood’ voice or her ‘bad mood’ one?” Linly asked uncertainly.

“Can you even tell the difference? To me, it always sounds like the latter…,” Tong replied with a shrug.

As they entered, Hermann immediately noticed how the three straightened.

Singe stepped forward and gave a slight bow, the others following suit.

“Squad 77 reporting as ordered, Commander!”

The figure seated behind the desk didn’t react at first.

Then she leaned forward and folded her hands.

Her eyes flicked to Hermann, sharp and assessing, before returning to the girls.

So… that’s the commanding officer here?

Her dark hair was short and unkempt. Her facial features were slightly masculine, as was her overall build, which appeared almost bulky compared to the three young women.

Deep scars ran across the right side of her face, making her stare at Singe seem even harsher.

“Scout Singe…” she began. “Squad 77 had no assigned mission. Yet you deployed to Sector 42C on your own initiative, undermanned, and engaged the enemy.”

She leaned closer, icy blue eyes glinting.

“That is a serious offense.”

The three swallowed.

“It was an emergency,” Singe said, quickly gesturing toward Hermann. “This man here crashed near a nest. He was badly injured. That’s why we...”

“Silence.”

The word cut through the room.

“Nothing justifies acting without authorization. Especially not repeatedly.”

She leaned back slightly.

“I’m afraid this won’t end with simple disciplinary measures this time.”

Singe went pale as a dark expression settled over Zirka’s face.

“A court-martial will be convened. Expect forced labor in the mines… if you’re lucky.”

“T-the mines?! B-but...”

Hermann followed the exchange, surprised.

He glanced at Singe, who stood speechless, unusually insecure.

She did bring this on herself. But if she didn’t, I would be dead...

He stepped forward.

“What are you doing? Stay back!” Tong hissed.

Hermann snapped to attention, his heels clicking together, his hand shooting up in a salute.

“Oberfeldwebel Hermann Friedrich von Bandel. 3rd Company, Guard Battalion 615, Army Research Center Peenemünde. Soldier of the Wehrmacht.”

The girls stared at him in astonishment as his hand dropped back to his side.

“Oberfeld... what?“ Tong whispered dumbfounded. 

“He... is a soldier?!“ Singe exclaimed.

Only the commander’s expression remained unchanged.

“I don’t know where I am, nor how I got here,“ he went on, “but from what I’ve seen, things are not going well for your people.”

He fell silent, his thoughts returning to what he had witnessed in the infirmary.

Then he set his bag down, unslung his rifle, and held it out.

“This is a weapon from my homeland. A K98k. It has proven highly effective against these… creatures. And I carry the plans not only for this rifle, but for even more destructive weapons.“

He nodded toward Singe and the others, who were still staring at him wide-eyed.

“So there are even more weapons like this...“ Singe muttered, her thoughts racing.

Hermann went on.

“Even if they acted without orders, I would be dead without their intervention, and both this weapon and the plans would be lost. I ask you to take that into account.”

Singe glanced at Hermann, surprise flickering across her face.

The commander narrowed her eyes, studying him from head to toe as if trying to place him.

At last, she stood and placed her hands on her hips.

She’s almost as tall as I am. And quite muscular, too.

“You claim to be a male soldier? From some distant land?” she said finally. “That is hard to believe. If it were true, then you should know that a soldier doesn’t act without orders.”

Hermann tilted his head slightly.

“I must disagree, Commander.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“In my army, we follow the principle of mission command. Even without direct orders, a soldier can, and should, act if it serves the objective.”

She frowned.

“But these three had no objective.”

“With all due respect, isn’t it every soldier’s duty to contribute to victory? Because that is exactly what they did.”

He gestured again to the rifle.

Commander Zirka narrowed her eyes, glanced at the girls’ stunned faces, then back at Hermann.

“Give it here.”

He handed it over.

Her large, scarred hands ran over the wooden stock before tracing the dark steel barrel.

She looked up, expectant.

Hermann stepped closer, pointing.

“This is the barrel. A projectile is fired through it at high speed.”

Her finger drifted toward the trigger.

Hermann flinched.

“Don’t! That’s the trigger. It fires the weapon.”

He quickly engaged the safety.

“There you go.”

Zirka watched him, puzzled, then gave a slight nod and continued examining it.

“And this?” she asked, touching the bolt.

“That lever cycles the weapon. Pull it back, it ejects the casing. Push it forward, it chambers the next round.”

“Round…?”

He nodded.

“Five rounds per stripper clip.”

He reached into his pouch and produced a loaded stripper clip.

Zirka took it carefully, studying the ammunition.

“And these tiny things are supposed to harm the Manylegs?” she asked skeptically.

Tong snorted.

“Harm? They punch right through their shells. Blew a Blackplain’s brain apart.”

Linly nodded in agreement.

“E-even the Recces’ magic doesn’t deal that much damage. As far as I can tell…”

The commander was still considering when Singe stepped forward, her confidence returning.

“That’s right! With these weapons, we’ll wipe them out!”

The commander sighed, and her expression softened.

“If this is true... this changes things…“ Her gaze returned to the girls. “But not enough to excuse insubordination. For now, return to the barracks until...”

Suddenly, a thunderous boom shook the building, making the ground tremble like an earthquake.

Hermann staggered, nearly falling. The others had to steady themselves as well.

“What’s happening?!” he shouted.

Another impact shook the walls, dust trickled from the ceiling.

Zirka’s expression hardened.

“We’re under attack.”