Chapter 7

Normandy, France

“The Wulfkorp was there” lord Blackthorn roared with anger.  “That is correct milord and Kurt was there with them” Hideo said plainly as if Blackthorn’s shouting had no effect on him.  “Just because your rival was there doesn’t mean a thing” Blackthorn said coldly.  “It’s true I saw them there” said a wheezing voice which Blackthorn knew to be Plague Master.  “Helga Braun was there and so was that man-giant they call Ulrich.  Steel Monger had the wounds to prove it.  They wouldn’t go very far without their comrades, so I can deduct that the rest of their first battalion was there” Plague Master continued between wheezes.

After the Blood Knights completed their mission of terrorizing Greydorf long enough to retrieve the weapon which had been stolen from them months before by the first battalion of the Wulfkorps, they made a fast withdrawal to their hidden base on the Normandy coast.

“I saw that red-haired gunfighter Sheila Horton” Ivan said bitterly between the puffs of smoke from his cigar.  He was also known as Mad Ivan for he was insanely obsessed with fire.  So much so that when he was a chemistry professor at the University of Moscow, he set the very chemistry lab that he worked in on fire to conduct an experiment.  Even though he got booted out of the University for a complete disregard for human life and the reputation of the university, he still performed his experiments which the scientific community deemed to be a waste of time.

But the tsarist government disagreed.  Ivan’s experiments of turning fire into weapons that could be controlled by man caught the attention of the tsarist military and they thought they could use his experiments.  At the time, Russia was dealing with serious unrest which could spark rebellion.  With the help of Ivan’s experiments the government military could set fire to places where anti-tsarist operated out of to make them look like accidents.

But the tsarist military didn’t take Ivan’s love for fire into account.  Ivan loved setting fire to so many things, that on several occasions he burned down buildings that had more civilians in them than anti-tsarists.  He even once attempted to burn down a church with the huddled masses in them on a Sunday.  That’s when the government military had enough of him and decided to declare him an enemy of the country and put a bounty on him so large, that very few people would pass it up. Many a people have died by his fires trying to collect the bounty on his head.

It was only by fate that Lord Blackthorn discovered him and his unusual methods of research, which he promised to help him in his continuing experiments to weaponize fire, on the condition that he work for him.  While trying to do his research and performing his experiments on both sides of the Atlantic, it was in America that his research had led up to nothing after it had been destroyed by the bounty huntress Sheila “Deadeye” Horton.

“That bitch Sheila Horton has cost me endless hours of research and has also stagnated my research.  I promised that bitch that if she ever crossed my path again, I’d burn her head off” Ivan snarled.  It was then that Duchess slapped him hard across the face.  “This matter is not about your personal grudges, it’s about perform the tasks that the lord has set before” she said with a sneer on her face.  “For once I agree with her” the cold voice of Fallion added.  Ivan looked like he was about to explode with anger when Lord Blackthorn stuck out his left hand chanting some strange words that threw Ivan against the back wall very hard.

Ivan tried to move but he couldn’t, as if he was being pushed against the wall very hard by some unknown force. Plague Master, Duchess and Fallion were not surprised by what was happening.  They knew Lord Blackthorn was well trained in the black arts, but seldom use his talents to keep the Blood Knights in line.  “Don’t you even think of trying anything here.  It’s one thing to burn down townhouse after townhouse in a major city like Greydorf, but if you try to burn anything here and the great lord himself will not be so merciful, do you understand?” Lord Blackthorn said coldly.

Ivan looked as if he was staring death in the face and that the wrong words would mean him dying.  So he then nodded weakly.  “Good’ said Lord Blackthorn, now onto more pressing matters, the Wulkorps needs to be dealt with.  The question is how?”

Silence descended upon the group until Fallion broke the silence.  “I have information on a possible location of the Wulfkorp headquarters.”  Blackthorn gave a curious look “Explain.”  Fallion cleared his throat “as you know the Wulkorps headquarters has been kept a secret since The Great Expulsion.  The Wulfkorps headquarters are somewhere located in the Rhineland.  Where exactly, I don’t know, but I have recruited a local spy that can be of some help.  He should be leaving us a message while following the trail of our particular quarry”

“Why was I not told of this?” Blackthorn replied coldly.  “Because milord the matter of Greydorf was of a priority, plus this particular information I found would prove to be more beneficial to our friends in the shadows.”  Blackthorn thought about that for a moment.  “You are right about that Mr. Fallion, I may have little use for such information, but our benefactors would probably have a great need for such info” Blackthorn walked over to a map of Prussia and pointed his dragon-head cane and the Rhineland area.

“Time for a new task at hand, all of you” he was referring to Hideo, Duchess, Fallion, Plague Master, and Ivan “are to go to the Rhineland with a small group of Blood Knights and seek out Fallion’s spy to meet up with him to locate the Wulkorps Headquarters.”  The group nodded “I myself will remain here and inform the master and the council that we have the weapon and that everything is going according to plan.” He finished his thought with a cruel smile “Soon the world will bow in terror to us and the Black Skull Society.

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Northern Rhineland, Prussia

After being unloaded from the Zweihander of the Sea, Schroder, Bruckner, Schwartz, Wolfgang and a few other Prussian soldiers were then loaded onto a train that made its way to the southern Rhineland region.  Kurt had told them that they were on their way to the Wulfkorps headquarters, which is he also mentioned there was a great need for discretion.  They were put into a freight car that was windowless, but still offered many comforts, such as a Bavarian ale, well cooked hasenpfeffer, sauerbraten, some very comfortable beds and recreation material such as a dartboard with darts, a table for playing cards on and a piano for whenever the time called for merrymaking; it’s as if they were guests more than prisoners. 

Some of the soldiers including Bruckner dumped their personal effects wherever they could and afterwards they helped themselves to some food and beer.  While Cadet Schwartz wanted to play some music at the piano, so Wolfgang helped him onto the bench, then he began playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.  “Had no idea that you were a good piano player” Wolfgang said in between his turns throwing darts with Schroeder.

Schwartz grinned “My mother wanted me to be good at more than just soldiering.  She also wanted me to pursue the arts, but my father objected to such a thing.  He said that men should spend more time fighting than making themselves lazy with something like learning the flute or piano.  At least Colonel Herzog was more of a refined gentleman than him.  He allowed me to practice such things whenever my ass wasn’t getting whipped into shape by Sergeant Ludwig” he said over his music and rowdiness of the soldiers.

“I actually think it’s quite nice” Schroeder said in between the dart throwing game he had with the soldiers.  Schwartz was about to say something, when the door next to him slid right open and a refined looking gentleman dressed in a red velvet vest, grey dress pants with a pencil thin mustache and a monocle over his left eye stepped in along with a scarred looking man-giant.  At first the troopers looked intimidated, but Bruckner intervened.  “No need to worry about him guys, I know the big guy” he said as the soldiers were relieved “But as for you peacock, just who are you?” he said with a sneer.

Harbin nodded his head with a smile “I find you rather amusing Sergeant; I guess that’s why Sheila finds you so attractive.  But enough about that, my name is Harbin Wolfiwitz, I am one of the Wulfkorps top scientists and weapons engineers next to Helga Braun and our lordship” he then shifted his attention to Ulrich.  “I am aware that you good Sergeant have already meet my friend Ulrich, but please introduce yourself my giant friend.”

Ulrich nodded “My name is Ulrich Heldorf and I am the heavy weapons expert to the Wulfkorps.  You being here is a privilege, not a right, and if you want respect here you got to earn it” he sneered.  Many of the soldiers looked away as if they were ashamed, Bruckner, Wolfgang and Schwartz gave Ulrich a set of nasty stares, but it was then young Schroeder who spoke up.  “These men here are the best soldiers the Prussian army has ever had.  They should be treated with more respect than that.”  Harbin smiled at that remark while Ulrich turned red.

“You think we just hand out respect here like they do alms during church service?” Ulrich sneered.  “Some of these men I have known since the German Wars of Unification.  They fought just as hard for their country back then, as they did back in Greydorf.  Why shouldn’t they be given acknowledgement?”  “The fact that you earned some medals and accolades for your service to the fatherland is one thing” Ulrich scoffed “But here in the Wulfkorp, it means nothing.  If it wasn’t for Commander Braun, your lot would be back in the field serving that pompous ass Von Brunner” he spat.

“And you should be lucky that I didn’t hit you any harder in the head back in the hospital” Bruckner yelled back at Ulrich.  Ulrich immediately shifted his gaze out to Bruckner “So you’re the dog that hit me” Ulrich said coldly “If I wasn’t in the process of healing right now I wounded thrash you soundly” he said.  It looked as if a fight would break out between the two, but just before that could happen, Helga Braun stepped in.

“There will be none of that” she ordered Ulrich.  He turned to face her as did Harbin who was bowing like a gentleman to her.  Ulrich did no such thing, as he stormed out of the cabin and into the next one.  ‘Milady, I was merely introducing us to the gentleman here” he said explaining himself.  “That’s very kind of you to do that” Helga said plainly, she then scooted past Harbin to address the soldiers.

“If I may have your attention please” she said as the soldiers looked up to her.  “Thank you for your attention, I would like to inform you that within the hour we will be reaching Wulfkorp headquarters.  I apologize for any inconveniences, but as you know the windowless cabin that you know sit in is a security precaution, you never know who can be trusted.”

Some of the soldiers nodded in agreement with her “Also, I would appreciate you if you were sobered up enough so that you don’t appear before his lordship and the general drunk as a skunk” she requested.  Some of the soldiers put their mugs down to salute an acknowledgment to the lady.  “Are the any questions?” she asked.  Cadet Schwartz raised his hand up “My question is this: who is this General and Lord that you speak of?” he asked plainly.

Helga shook her head “I am afraid I cannot tell you that for as I stated earlier, you never know who can be trusted.  Anymore questions?” she continued.  It was Schroeder’s turn to ask the question “Would you be so kind as to explain to me why that Ulrich fellow was such an asshole?” he said with a poker face.  Helga and Harbin looked at him coldly, while the soldiers grinned, until Helga gave them a nasty stare which shut them down.

“Ulrich is a great solider and has had his share of scars both physically and mentally.  You should not hold a grudge against someone whose trying to look out for you” Helga said coldly “he has lost many good men because of battlefield stupidity of lousy blue-blooded commanders.  So don’t you ever call him an asshole again, understand?” she spat.

“Understood” he said with acid in his voice and with that she stormed out of the cabin the same way Ulrich did.  Harbin decided to stay around as the soldiers when back to enjoying themselves for what little time they had.  “You know she’s right, Herr Schroeder.  You shouldn’t automatically assume the worst in people” he said plainly.  “I know I shouldn’t, but I just don’t like seeing the best efforts of good soldiers turned to bullshit, even though they did what they could” Schroeder said bitterly.

“I can understand what you mean, but Ulrich as seen more action in both the Army and the Wulfkorp, more than you have in your entire military career.  He has had to see good men sacrificed in combat, just so a bunch of incompetent officers from wealthy families can make a name for themselves.”  “You mean people like von Brunner?” Bruckner asked plainly.

Harbin nodded with approval “Exactly, and not only that.  Many years again just before the wars of unification, he lost his men to Steel Monger, which is the name of that beast you encountered back in Greydorf” he explained.  “So that vile creature has a name then does it.  How did that thing come into existence?” Schroeder asked.  Harbin shrugged “We have no idea, he could have been an experiment of Dr. Frankenstein, but we have neither have an idea of who really created that thing nor the proof of that.  It may have been Dr. Frankenstein and it may just another experiment of the Blood Knights.  They do practice such foul forms of science, which I do know.”

Schroeder nodded.  He heard the name Victor Von Frankenstein; he was a crack pot scientist that tried to prove that science could create life and not god.  He was booted out of the scientific community for using body parts of corpses to conduct his experiments.  Half of the European continent was still searching for any sign of him, with no luck so far.

“Anyway” Harbin said “enough business talk, you’ll be bored to death with that later on, so why don’t we relax for the moment and enjoy ourselves?”  Schroeder grinned “Harbin, I like you already.”

Castle of the Wulfcastle Family, Southern Rhineland

The trip was shorter than he Schroeder thought, but then again it was his first time riding on a locomotive since the Franco-Prussian war.  Harbin stood up and straightened himself out.  “Alright gentleman, we are here so grab your things and let’s disembark” he stated politely.  With that said, Bruckner grabbed Schroeder’s things and handed it to him, as well as his own personal effects and the troops did likewise.  Wolfgang helped Cadet Schwartz up with his crutches and then grabbed both their personal effects.

When they entered the next car where they were loaded onto to disembark, the door was already open.  What Schroeder and the others saw took their breath away.  What the area looked like was that of a combination of an underground railroad and factory.  The frames of what looked like locomotives were there, but it looked like they were built more for fighting a war than transporting people, goods and materials.

“What is that?” one of the soldiers pointed out.  Schroeder looked at where the soldier had been pointing.  What he saw was a mass of metal put to together in what looked like to him a steam powered tractor that he once heard of being in develop, other than that he knew not what it was.  “That is what we, meaning us scientists and engineers call a “tank,” it’s meant to not only to revolutionize warfare, but also as a means to protect even the most prominent members of the government.  This area you see before is the first part of the tour" Harbin stated.

‘This area is not only the rail station that you are currently disembarking from, but it is also the engineering development area for when ever we wish to create or modify vehicles for either transportation or fighting a war that may prove to be difficult. Now would you kindly disembark from the train so we may continue this conversation as we go?”

Upon saying those words, Schroeder and Bruckner walked down the gang plank that had been setup for them to disembark, then came the soldiers and one of them helped Wolfgang with Schwartz.  A white haired-white bearded man who looked like Santa Claus and a women who looked stunning with her chestnut brown hair that fell down to her shoulders and eyes with the same color.  They both were wearing surgical outfits with silver lapels depicting a wolf and two lighting bolts on their uniforms approached Wolfgang, along with two orderlies, with what looked like a medical bed on wheels.  “My name is Dr. Kaminski and this is my colleague Dr. Schreiber.  We’ve been asked to take the young man to surgery to fix his leg.  If you don’t mind we’d like to take him.”

Wolfgang looked to the Captain “Permission to go with them sir?”  Schroeder then turned to Harbin as he nodded.  “Permission granted and I want you to understand doctor, that wherever Cadet Schwartz goes, Corporal Friedan goes with him, understood?”  The doctor and his colleague nodded with approval.  “Don’t worry, the young man is good hands” Dr Schreiber said plainly, she then signaled for the orderlies to take the young Schwartz and help him onto the bed with wheels.

Dr. Kaminski was right alongside them asking Schwartz a series of questions, while Dr Schreiber and Corporal Friedan hung back and walked together following the group into a set of double doors that was in the corner.  After they left, Schroeder looked back to Harbin.  “The young man is in good hands with those doctors.  For they are not only the chief medical personnel of the Wulfkorp, but also the Chiefs of Medical Research, they are what one would call “pioneers of science” Harbin stated.

Schroeder seemed surprised “So weapons research is not the only thing you people at the Wulfkorp do but also the latest innovations in medical research?”  Harbin nodded “correct, because Frauline Braun has told you our purpose when it comes to protecting the best interest of the Prussian fatherland and humanity, but what she left out is that we also try to help improve humanity through progresses in science and medicine.”

Schroeder was about to ask him another question, when he pulled out a pocket watch to note what time it was.  “I will answer any further questions, but please, let’s do so while we head to the central meeting area.  My superiors wish to meet the lot of you.”  With that he snapped his time piece shut and turned to walk.  Schroeder, Bruckner and the rest of the soldiers followed him.  When Schroeder was right next to Harbin he tapped him on the shoulder.

“Does the Chancellor know of this? What about the Kaiser himself?”  Harbin smiled once more as they went through a set of double doors. “Who do you think approved all of this?”

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After entering through the double doors that were on the far end of the Rail Station/factory, Wolfgang, Dr. Schreiber and the others went down a long, well lit, granite paved hallway, with no windows.  Dr. Kaminski was asking Schwartz some more questions, probably medical, Wolfgang thought, while walking next to the attractive Dr. Schreiber.  “So tell me Frau Schreiber, how is it that someone as young as you can be a doctor of medicine?”

“Because my father was also a doctor of medicine, a brilliant one at that” she said plainly.  “Being the only child in the family, he didn’t want me to just be some ordinary women.  He wanted me to make something of myself.  When the Crimean War broke out, he brought me along to watch him perform his trade.  That’s where he met Dr. Kaminski.  They at first were just professional associates, but when they both got sick and there was only enough medicine for one of them, he told Kaminski he could have the last of the antibiotics” she said with a look of sadness.

“My father wasn’t going to make it in time for enough antibiotics to get through to help him.  That’s when he told Dr. Kaminski of me and asked him if he could take care of me” she said trying not to sound sad.  “He agreed to do so as thanks for saving his life.  Even since then the good doctor has been like a second father to me.  He let me help set up the operation rooms, cleaning up the blood, tending to the wounded and often at times he left me with Florence Nightingale, to help tend to the wounded.”

Wolfgang nodded.  He heard of Nightingale and her methods to modernize the system of nursing, it worked out.  “I learned a lot about nursing from her” she continued “She even became a mentor and a friend to me.  After the war, I went from hospital to hospital with Dr. Kaminski and that’s how I learned the trade.  When I went to med school I passed with flying colors on many of the medical subjects, so much so that I didn’t know what career to choose in medicine, until after I graduated.”

“My dear old friend Dr. Kaminski offered me a job here.  Though I wanted to work as a doctor in a hospital, but he told me that no hospital would ever hire a woman to become a doctor.  So I took him up on his offer and I have been working with the Wulfkorp ever since I was eighteen.”

“That’s an amazing story, how long have you worked here?” Wolfgang asked while being surprised by the young lady’s credentials.  “Nine years and four days.  Impressed by story?” she said smiling.  “Quite” Wolfgang said nodded his head “it seems your father got what he wanted.  A daughter who could make something of herself at what she’s good at.”  She then turned to Wolfgang “Wouldn’t your father want the same of you?” she asked.

Wolfgang froze up “I really don’t want to talk about right now, if you don’t mind.”  She nodded “There’s always a time for everything” she said plainly “we’re here.” She said looking ahead.  Wolfgang had been listening to her so much that he didn’t both to notice where they were.  The room they were in looked like a hospital ward.  Complete with beds for patients to wait in for post and pre-op.

“The doors on the far left led to the researcher’s labs, men’s locker room and shower area.  The doors on your far right next to the stairs led to the doctor’s offices, women’s locker room and shower area and the rest areas, the doors straight ahead lead to the preparation room, upon which we will prepare ourselves for the operation.  I must ask you not to enter that area for fear of contamination.  The stairs, as I pointed out, lead straight to the observation room which overlooks the surgical bay where you can watch us perform.”

‘If you wish for something to eat tell the security personal what you want and they’ll bring you something straight from the mess hall upstairs.  Men’s and women’s bathrooms are also in the observation area in case you need to puke.”  Wolfgang raised his right eyebrow ‘What do you mean in case I puke?”  Schreiber smiled “What you see happening here just may make you.  Now I have to prepare for the operation if you don’t mind” she winked while she was still smiling.  After she left, Wolfgang went up the observation area and saw a group of orderlies standing around the glass dome talking about something.

They noticed Corporal Friedan and nodded to him.  Nodding back, he then sat down to watch more orderlies prepare the room for operation.  “That woman winked at me. Does she like me?  We’ve only known each other for a short while and she’s already hitting on me?  Guess I do got some charm with the ladies.”  Just as he finished that thought he noticed a pair of surgeons wheeling in a cart and what was on it looked like a metallic leg.  “What the hell are they going to do with him?”

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A loud explosion rocked the hallway area. Schroeder, Bruckner and the soldiers ducked, thinking they were under attack, but Harbin maintained his composure.  “That was the explosives ordinance room.  I sorry you thought we were under attack, sometimes most people think that’s the case.  It’s where we test out new explosive materials or in some instances, dispose of them.  Helga will explain to you about that later on in your training.

“Excuse me but what training?” Bruckner asked.  “The training that you are required to undergo in order to become members of our elite unit.”  Schroeder looked at him quizzically “What happens if we don’t pass?”  Harbin shrugged “I can assure you that you won’t be sent back to your old units, not after what you’ve seen here, so far.  Now, come along gentleman, we mustn’t keep the general and his lordship waiting.”

Schroeder, Bruckner and the rest of the soldiers formed up a line again and continued down the wide hallway. There were no doors in that hallway it seemed to have various twists and turns, as if to confuse.  The hallway ended with them going down a spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever until the reached a set of great double doors, guarded by what looked like a pair of strangely armored knights.

“The general and his lordship are awaiting me gentleman you may tell them that “the barbarians are at the gates.”  One of the guards lifted up a steel gauntlet and banged twice on the door.  An eye-hole slid open and a pair of eyes looked out, then the eye-hole slipped shut and a loud noise was being made on the other side of the door and then it swung open.

Harbin led Schroeder and the men down yet another hallway that was wasn’t as long as the previous, but when he saw what it was at the end amazed everyone completely.  The room was large with a round domed ceiling that overlooked an area that was the size of a mansion and had windows near the ceiling that showed the setting sun.  But the architect was not what amazed Schroeder and the others; it was the area on the floor.  The room looked like giant laboratory filled with people form different parts of the world conducting different types of experiments.

“Gentleman, I would like to welcome you to Wulfkorp Headquarters” he said with arms outstretched.  “Now” he said with the look of amazement still on everyone’s faces “The real tour begins.”

They walked down a much large set of spiral stairs that lead into the main work area from which the entered.  “This area is the demonstration area” Harbin stated “It’s where the best and brightest scientist of today, comes here to castle von Wulfcastle to perform experiments on the new weapons and technology they create.”  Just as he finished his sentence, a series of rapid sounds that sounded like a thousand nails being pounded in by a thousand hammers.  They were shown over to the area where the man-giant Ulrich, was firing some kind of strange weapon, that he was carrying with both hands and what looked a giant box strapped to his back.

"Gentleman, this is our firing range where we test out the various firearms that we develop.  The weapon the Ulrich here is holding is a new type of heavy weapon called a “Mini-gun”.  It’s somewhat similar to that of the American made Maxim machine gun created by Hiram Maxim, but unlike that particular model which can only be fired from a stationary positions, this one we developed to be carried by hand as well as fired.  The only problem is the weight.  Ulrich has no problem carrying such weapons, as you can see from his massive build, but others cannot.”

Ulrich sneered.  “So fresh meat for the grinder I see.  When I start training you monkey’s you’ll be begging to go back to your old units.”  “Now now hon, you don’t wanna be killing these guys now you do you?” a familiar voice said.  It was Sheila again.  She looked over the group of men and found Bruckner, at which time she blew a kiss at him.  Bruckner tried to hide his blushing face.

“Damn it Dead-eye” Ulrich spat “How can I make a point without you coming around showing yourself off like a harlot?  I am trying to whip these maggots into shape.”  Sheila frowned as she walked up to Ulrich and slapped across the face.  “Don’t you sass me boy, I spend as much time in the chapel, praying to the good lord as much as you do.  So don’t be calling me no Jezebel or I nail you in your fellows.”

Bruckner grinned at the thought of her doing that to the man-giant.  He had seen how badly she kicked the Brunner in the testicles; he had no doubt in his mind that she could take down the man-giant the same way.  If he had any that is.  “I wouldn’t mind seeing that” a voice said from above.  An individual dressed in military uniform with a series of medals on his left chest, including the Order of the Black Eagle around his neck.   The man had a grey mustache that made him look like he was the twin brother of Chancellor Bismarck himself, along with well combed graying hair.  “This must be the general that both Harbin and Helga were talking about” Schroeder thought to himself as the man finished descending down the stairs.

“My name is General Johann Von Krieger; I was in command of the 5^th army until I was assigned to the Wulfkorp by the Chancellor himself Otto von Bismarck to handle all of the Wulfkorps military affairs.  The other person who’s in charge here is the lord himself.”  The general shifted his gaze around the troops and saw Schroeder.  “Heinrich Schroeder, it’s nice to see you again lad.  How’s life treating you?” von Krieger said with a friendly look on his face.

He saluted ‘Life’s been quite fair until what happened yesterday.”  Von Krieger smiled as he nodded his head.  “That’s good to hear, by the way, you can drop the formalities while we’re here and everyone knows who is who as long as you remember to address me as sir or general.”  Schroeder lowered his salute “very well then sir.” The general smiled again “Excellent, I see your old mentor Bruckner is here as well.”  Schroeder and the general shifted their gaze to see that Bruckner and Sheila were arguing with Ulrich.

“You get too soft on that boy of yours and it will be his corpse that you’ll be carrying and not yours” Ulrich said with a look of contempt.  “Captain Schroeder isn’t a boy anymore, and if I was any harder on him then when he was nothing more than a beardless whelp, he would have been dead and his father would have a regretted saving me from the hangman’s noose.  Hell, he probably would have me executed himself without the luxury of a trial” Bruckner spat back with rage in his voice.

Ulrich looked like he was going to slug Bruckner until Sheila stepped in front of him.  “You hurt him and you’ll have me to contend with” she said coldly.  Ulrich laughed “You fighting a man’s battles, now that’s a sight.  You gonna fight this weakling’s battles for him?”  Sheila’s face went cold with rage “I might do worse, I’d be killing you if it meant shutting you up.”  Ulrich was about to retort when General Von Krieger stepped in.  “There will be none of that” he responded coldly.

All three looked at him waiting to see what would happen next.  “Now that’s settled, Ulrich?  Don’t you have anything better to do than terrorize the new recruits?  What about the heavy weapons tests?  Are you even finished with that?” “No sir” he grunted.  “Good” Von Krieger stated “and remember Ulrich, not everyone can be as strong or as fearless as you.  You need to give these recruits the chance to develop that, much of what they experienced back at Greydorf were not things they were expected to confront, understand?”  Ulrich banged his large right fist against his sweaty chest and then went back to his work.

Von Krieger then turned his attention towards Sheila and Bruckner.  “As for you Frau Horton, if you wish to escort our friend sergeant Bruckner on a personal tour of the place you have the authority and the clearance to do so.”  Sheila face lit up with joy at that very notion and she grabbed Bruckner by his right arm.  “Come on handsome, you heard the general, let me give you a personal tour of the place.”  Bruckner grinned at the very notion and took her left arm in the crook of his right arm “Whenever you are ready pretty lady.”

They walked off together towards the right side of the room down a set of double doors and disappeared behind them.  Krieger still smiling turned towards Schroeder.  “I still see that the good Sergeant is still able to attract the ladies.  But the fact that he was able to get that she-devil so attracted to him, now that’s an accomplishment.”  Schroeder looked at him quizzically “I don’t follow general, but we both know that Bruckner as always been well with the ladies” he said plainly.  “That’s nice to hear he’s still a gentleman.  I’ll tell you more about her later, right now I would like it if you and the troops would follow me to the research lab, it’s time I introduced you to the lord of this castle.

That being said, Schroeder and the soldiers began following General Von Krieger down another row of tables filled with strange experiments and various scientists performing experiments.  Schroeder looked around to find Harbin, but he was nowhere to be found.  “If you’re looking for Harbin my dear Captain, he’s probably in some lab conducting research with the some of the scientists.  As for your old flame Frau Braun, she’s probably with the lord helping him out with some of his calculations.” “One question Herr General, was it you or her that asked for my recruitment?”  The general laughed “Why hers of course”

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After entering the set of double doors, Bruckner and Sheila (Still attached to the crook of his arm) entered into a dull grey hallway much the one he came in through earlier, only this one ended after they went through another set of double doors on the left.  “This here is my favorite part of the facility, the armory, the training hall, a place that Kurt calls the dojo and if you follow those set of spiraling stairs going up it leads straight to the private quarters of the Wulfkorp officers, which is where I live, temporarily of course.”

“These aren’t the only stairs to the sleeping quarters and what do you mean temporarily?”  “To answer your first question no, there are more entrances to the sleeping quarters.  There are four, including this one.  There’s one that leads straight to the officers mess and recreation room.  Another that lead’s to the men and women’s locker room, which in turn connects to this area right here, and finally another set of the stairs in the lab area that leads to both the researchers labs and the experimental areas that we just came from.

“As for your other question, I am a bounty huntress, a female bounty hunter that goes around hunting down wanted fugitives, claim jumpers, train robbers and pretty much anyone else who wants to do harm to good people.”  “Is that how you wound up in the Wulfkorp?” Bruckner asked plainly.  “That pretty much sums it up, that and the fact I had been hunting down someone who was involved with them Blood Knights” she said as she began recalling the events that lead her to join the Wulfkorps.