Interlude 1
Bernhard took a deep drag from his cigar. The small room slowly filled up around him and it wouldn't be long before everyone was there. Then he had to sell them on it. These were some of the most influential people around Prussia and without them, he wasn't going to make it very far.His political party was small and without support, it wasn't going to go any further. At the moment, its small nature hid the truth from the Aquitese and Britannians. If one of these men betrayed him and told the occupation forces about this meeting, that was the end. He'd be dragged before a Britannian court and sent into exile or prison. If he was lucky.If he was unlucky, Bernhard would be tried before an Aquitese court. The best he could hope for was hard labor at one of the labor camps. They might just shoot him instead and save themselves the trouble.The door closed at least and the eight people in front of him looked on expectantly. Before he could say anything, Johann Eggeling spoke: "Why has a socialist called me here? I'm an industrialist, boy, not some working peasant the communists can take advantage of. I've seen what happens to industry when a socialist government takes over. I lost all of my investments when the Romanovs lost the war. I am not keen on losing all my investments in the fatherland."Bernhard nodded. These men were all industrialists or industry leaders. None of them would ever back a communist or a socialist. There were plenty of movements in the country that wanted to make Prussia like Roslachny.That wouldn't work. He had read the reports of starvation and economic ruin in the People's Union. Bernhard had already discarded that form of government as a viable option. That was why he left the Socialist Party of Prussia behind."You're right. Everything you just said is understandable. Smart men like you would never back a party that went against their self-interest. Socialism and Communism are engines of ruin. They would lay waste to Prussia and see us all starve as we subordinated the fatherland to Roslachny."No. What I purpose is something new. Something different. There are elements of socialism that we cannot outright condemn, nor can we embrace the ideology of a foreign power. No, gentlemen, what I purpose here is a new ideology the people of this country can rally behind. I am Bernhard Weissman, the successor of the State Socialist Party. What we need is strength. The rule of a monarchy is too corrupt. The rule of democracy is too weak. A powerful party at the center of Prussia is what's needed."
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Arc Chronicles Chapter III Part One
Chapter III Part OneMotion pictures were gaining popularity and becoming widespread when I was seven. The radio was the dominant form of media and it had a long life span remaining, but TV and movies were on the rise. The advent of the cinema in this world was down to, ironically enough, my father. He wanted to distract the people and movies were a great distraction. It was only a matter of time before he discovered the propaganda value of film.It was in one of these films that I first saw it. The flag of the old Prussian Reich was lowered and a new one was raised above the Reichstag building. A single Iron Cross dominated most of the flag. It was in black and white so I couldn't see the colors, but I imagine the cross was black and the background was red. It invoked imagery of a certain German state.Above the building, letters slowly focused into view: Greater Prussian Reich.The words below it read GLORY TO THE STATE SOCIALIST PARTY.When the reel ended, the lights switched back
Arc Chronicles Chapter III Part Two
Chapter III Part TwoScattered around Aquroya were a variety of gentlemen clubs and lady clubs, that catered to a broad spectrum of Aquitaine's upper crust. Most clubs were divided along gender lines, following an antiquated belief that it was better to keep the sexes separate. The clubs that accepted members from both sexes were few and far in between. I could only imagine what Aquitese society would think if they could see modern-day Earth.Each club served a certain demographic of the population, with each having its unique rituals and modus operandi. Some only accepted applicants from prestigious universities. Others only accepted members of the military. Others discriminated based on travel, work experience, profession, or even characteristics like hair color or skin tone. Due to Aquitaine's nature as an empire, it had every color of a person under its banner.Upon successfully joining one these clubs, the new member gained access to their facilities, equipment, and all the comfo
Arc Chronicles Chapter III Part Three
Chapter III Part ThreeI just finished my lesson with the High Healer when I wandered into Master Kieten's classroom. I stared at the map of North, South, and Central America. I hadn't had much time to study it, with my lessons and duties taking up a majority of my free time. In my first life, I had been an American, so it was close and dear to my heart in a way. What had become of my old homeland?Alaska, Yukon, and British Columbia were colonized by Roslachny. The area was named New Siberia. Baja California, Baja California Sur, California, Oregon, and Washington State was colonized by the Oyashimese. They named their holdings Karafuto Prefecture. If I remember right, Karafuto had been a place in my world. I wondered how it came to be a name here.Mexico had completely become a Prussian colony. At the moment, it was administered by the Britannia, to be returned to Prussia once it stabilized. The thirteen original colonies, Florida, and Canada, minus Quebec, Yukon, and British Columb
Arc Chronicles Chapter 4
Chapter IVI was ten years old and the world was changing. Given that it seemingly followed the fantasy troupe of staying at one technical level for hundreds of years, it was easy to forget that the world continued to spin. Things changed and moved forward.The Greater Prussian Reich declared that it would no longer abide by the Treaty of Marsailles and after years of a secret military build-up, it had the power to enforce that decision. King Richard VI of Britannia, after a session of parliament, announced that the commonwealth would be withdrawing from the treaty. Every other ally followed suit, in hopes of avoiding war.Only Aquitaine threatened war if reparations halted. In a surprising turn, Prussia agreed to continue paying Aquitaine its reparations, but ignored calls from other allies. As far as I could guess, only Aquitaine had the will to go to war and Prussia didn't want war.Not yet at least. If I was a betting man, I'd put all my chips on Prussia stopping those reparations
Arc Chronicles Chapter 5
Chapter V Part OneI woke up to the sound of my chamber doors opening. Today was the day. Yesterday had been my thirteenth birthday, so this could only mean one thing; my official debut to the empire.Servants wearing the crest of the palace entered my room, over the protest of my servants. "Your Imperial Highness, we have come to convey you to the palace."Two maids grabbed my arms and hauled me out of bed in my underwear. A golden and purple carriage was waiting for me, pulled by two fine white horses. It was still dark and the streets around my manor were empty. Even the street lights had been turned off.A small breakfast had been prepared for me in the carriage and the three maids followed me in. Once the door was closed, we started to move. Carriages had long ceased to be the preferred mode of transportation for the aristocracy. Trains, cars, and planes were widely available. Now the fleet of carriages my family owned was reserved for ceremonies. Like the official debut of a pri
Arc Chronicles Chapter 6
Chapter VI Part OneMorocco was hot. The part of the Dukedom I was in was mostly desert, so that was obvious. What wasn't obvious was how fucking hot it was. In my first life, I hadn't spent very much time in hotter climates. I avoided them as much as possible. Where I was born, it had been more temperament. Aquroya could get freezing in the winter, but it was never this hot. Neither of my lives had prepared me for Morocco.I missed Godfrey and Dahlia, but my mother was right; I couldn't have taken them with me. Henri would assign them to Euphy. They'd be more useful in her service than mine.Since coming to Morocco, my life has been shaped into three different parts; basic training. Officer training. And flight training.Basic training was the worst part. I got woken up every morning at 0600 for a mile run before the sun came up. Then it was off to shower and a breakfast of military rations. After which we trained all morning, everything from learning how to dig a trench to the prope
Arc Chronicles Interlude 3
Interlude IV: A moment in the Great WarPart OneThe trenches stank. Loose damp soil mixed with the metallic smell of blood and the rot of death. The sound of shell bombardment was a companion, walking hand in hand with death. The Prussians had been bombing them for hours now, but thankfully those black flying machines were gone. Like an omen of death, the Prussia plane had singled were in the trenches to bombard and they had lost many men to those cursed planes.At least the emperor was kind enough to send their planes and at last shoot down the Prussian bastards. How many of his friends and comrades had been killed before their reinforcements arrived?He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about his best friend Thomas miles back where he'd left the boy, rotting in a puddle on the ground. He had left the first friend he'd made when he enlisted. He couldn't even give the boy a proper burial. If he stayed, those shells might have killed him too.Joseph collapsed agai
Arc Chronicles Chapter 7
Chapter VII Part One"What? Did you get a real meal? Real food?" Rolo complained, jabbing his fork in my direction. "How is that fair? I'm eating mystery meat out of a can."I sighed. Why did I tell anyone about the general's invitation? Because they'd find out sooner or later, with the balding old man inviting me to eat with him every day. I still hadn't figured out a way to decline without offending him."Fair?" Alphonse said back. "You're supposed to be a knight. War is never fair.""You know what I mean.""I'm afraid I do not."Alphonse and Rolo had a history that I had been unaware of. Port Royale was the colonial capital of Acadia. House Chevalier and House Morel both lived there. Of course, they would know each other."Alright, that's enough," Bian interrupted. Both of them stopped. She pulled a chunk of meat out of her tin and shook her head. "It might not be fair, but that's the nature of Calixte's status. He can't help being born a prince anymore than any of us can help bein