Tyranny of Steel

Months had passed since Hans first graduated from the Aerial Warfare Academy and entered active service. It was now the midst of Autumn, and during this time the Japanese had suffered heavy casualties during their campaign in Borneo.

Within the borders of the Reich, a conversation was being had between an active duty soldier and his physician. Though neither of them knew it at this time, the effects that this meeting would have on the fate of the world would be monumental.

The aging medical practitioner gazed upon the grizzled veteran with a look of pity in his eyes. He sighed heavily before revealing the bad news.

"I'm sorry to say this, but it would appear that you have terminal lung cancer..."

The soldier in question was none other than Sergeant Major Lach Graf von Wickten. A man who had spent his entire adult life in service to Berengar and his house. As someone who had faced death on numerous occasions, Lach reacted to his grim fate better than most. Instead of questioning whether the Physician was off his rocker, he merely asked one simple question.

"How long do I have?"

The physician was honestly surprised that the man was so comfortable, despite hearing that he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Lach was not the first man to come into his office within the past month, who had a similarly fatal condition. However, he had been the quickest to embrace death. With this in mind, the doctor admired the soldier's bravery before commenting on his condition.

"You have at most six months to live. Though you are likely to perish before then. I suggest you get your affairs in order as soon as possible."

After hearing that he only had six months to live, Lach sighed and nodded his head before leaving the doctor's office. As an active duty special operations soldier with a family, he had long since written his last will and testament.

However, he was only an enlisted member, and because of that, his savings were far from sufficient to support his family after he had passed away. He had no idea how he was going to break the news to his loved ones, nor how they would survive once he was dead and buried.

News reached Berengar's ears about Lach's condition almost as soon as it had been discovered. The man was a war hero of the highest caliber and had served Berengar for many years. Naturally, Berengar paid attention to the man's career as he continued to conduct warfare across the globe.

To lose a man of such status, and to cancer nonetheless, Berengar felt it was an unfitting end to a lifetime of glory and valor. Thus, after learning of Lach's diagnoses, he dropped everything to meet with a man who had been loyal to him for over a decade.

Lach did not immediately return to his home and inform his family of his condition. Though he was on his leave of absence, he had decided to spend this day alone at his favorite diner while contemplating his fate in silence. The man was currently sipping on a cup of coffee when the most unexpected thing happened.

The kaiser entered the diner, dressed in civilian clothing before sitting down in the booth across from him. Immediately, Lach guessed exactly why such an important figure had stopped by to visit him and scoffed before making a crass remark.

"I should have known you would find about my condition before I even had time to alert my family. So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Berengar had a stern expression on his face as he ordered a cup of coffee for himself. The moment it arrived, he pulled out his flask and poured a shot of whiskey inside before offering Lach the same. The man did not refuse such a generous gift, and thus the two of them sat there in silence for some time before Berengar finally spoke up.

"You have served in my armed forces since I was nothing more than a lowly count. During this time, you have proven yourself a war hero of the highest order, and you have been awarded for your efforts in the field of battle. What you have sacrificed for Kaiser and Fatherland is beyond my ability to repay in full, and I know I have no right to ask this of you, but I require one final act of service from you."

After spending years serving in Berengar's army, Lach had a general idea of what was about to be requested from him, and thus he silently nodded his head, allowing the Kaiser to make his request. Once he had done so, Berengar wore a bitter smile before speaking again.

"What I need from you is a casus belli. A justification for war with Japan. I know that you have at most six months to live, and I also am aware of your current financial situation. If you do this for me, I will make sure your family is looked after for the rest of their days."

Naturally, Lach was expecting such a request, and simply sipped from his coffee in silence for several moments before responding to Berengar. When he did so, there was a smug look on his face.

"Rather than spend my last days in the loving arms of my family, you would ask me to give my life in service, so that you can provoke a war with Japan? I assume you have an entire unit of forsaken souls like myself prepared for the task, and you want me to lead them?"

Berengar chuckled when he heard this before leaning back into his booth with a smile on his handsome face. He nodded thrice before responding to Lach's question in a jestful manner.

"You know me so well... So, will you do it?"

Lach did not even need to think about his reply, after all, it was better to die early on the battlefield as a true hero of the Reich, and in doing so leave behind a vast fortune for his family so that they could survive without him, then die a withered old husk with nothing to show for his life's efforts. Thus, it came as no surprise to Berengar when the man accepted his offer.

"My life is yours, my Kaiser. Use it how you see fit..."

Once more, a bitter smile emerged on Berengar's face. Though he didn't know Lach personally, he was sad to see such an exemplary soldier lose his life before he could even retire and bask in his glory. Thus, with a heavy sigh, he stood and prepared to depart, but before he did so, he left behind one last statement.

"I'm truly sorry to see you go. I assure you that when the time comes to bury you, it will be a state funeral. You deserve at least that much after all you have done for me over the years."

In response to this, Lach simply nodded his head in silence and watched Berengar leave the diner with a grim expression on his face. When he returned his sights to the table in front of him, he noticed that Berengar had left sufficient payment for both of their drinks, along with enough for him to order a nice meal. He decided in that moment that he would not inform his family of his illness, because he would rather have them remember him as a man who gave his life in service to his Kaiser and fatherland.