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NotSeen wrote: ↑2 years ago
Caesar73 wrote: ↑2 years ago
@NotSeen stay tuned for the first Hammer blow of Chris and Friends to fall this evening
Oh, I will. Believe me, I will.
Here it is my friend. The Hammer falls.
The Adlernest: Sieglindes Cell: Midnight??
Sleep evaded Sieglinde. She was exhausted and her body hurt in more places than she could count. She did not know how many hours she had spent, bent on this rack. When she had been released, her Handlers had more or less to carry her into her cell. There she had been allowed a hot shower, a short period of rest, some water and some sort of porridge.
Then she had been dragged into the torture Chamber again. Sieglinde had been strapped to a bench, her feet in some heavily padded stocks and slightly elevated. Then a bastinado had been delivered expertly and extensive – and at some point she had just blackened out.
Now she lay there in the Dark, loosely shackled to her cot. Again and again she thought about the last three days. She knew it was pointless exercise, but she racked her brain again and again: What Part of Christine´s Affections had been genuine and which had just been an act? Not that that mattered anymore.
The nights they had spent together there had been true feelings on both sides of that she was certain, the last evening however …. At some point Christine must have made the decision to act, and she had been clever, very much so.
And in the end it came down to this, she had invited Christine, and in Christine´s place she would have done the same. Her Boss saw only the great Artist in Chris´ he had made her to an object. But Chris was so much more. And in her opinion her Boss had made a serious error in Judgement.
What Chris' really was, who she really was had been plain for all to see, when she played the Chopin-Etudes that much was clear to her now. Of course it had been a display of artisanship of the highest order, true, but for anyone who was able to see, Christine had laid her soul bare:
The love, the hurt, the pain, the energy and her anger and her hate. She considered it as the gravest mistake of her master that he laboured still under the Illusion that Christine would ever love him. She hated him with every fibre of her wonderful body.
Sieglinde just had begun to understand what effort it must had been for Chris' not to rip von Winterfeldt´s heart out his body with her bare hands and devour it like Penthesilea Achilles´ heart. Tomorrow she would have to muster every ounce of strength to survive, whatever Punishment her master saw fit for her.
Before it had been lights out, Brunhild had visited her. And in the eyes of her Fellow Valkyrie she had seen no pity but only compassion:
“How are you holding up Sieglinde?” she had asked her, genuinely interested not just going through the motions.
“Well, my body hurts in more places than I can count and I am totally exhausted, but besides that I am peachy.” she had replied with a little sad smile.
“And if you ask if I regret anything? I don't, I made a serious error in judgement, true, but Christine is a wonderful woman. And I would do it again. It was wrong what we did: Capturing Sophie and Christine. Neither Woman deserved that kind of treatment.” The last sentences she had spoken with Passion. “I do not regret though that we ended the old Reichenbach though” she added.
“Yes, you may be right” Brunhild had replied thoughtfully. “But it is not our place to make that decision. We swore an oath, we are to follow orders, we are devoted to the course, and we live by a code.”
“Sieglinde you will have to pay a terrible price you know that. I do not know what Punishment will await you, but it will be worse than the one I and Freya had to endure. Von Winterfeldt has delegated the task to Susanne.”
Sieglinde snorted: “How convenient for him, so he can play Pontius Pilate. His hands stay clean …”
“Sieglinde just be strong, your fellow Valkyries hold you in high Esteem still and that will not change. Have a good night and try to get some rest. We will see each other tomorrow again.”
And with that she had left. Now Sieglinde laid in the dark and stared at the ceiling. Sleep evaded her for a long time ….
The fifth day:
The Safe House after Breakfast:
Shortly before Chris and Sarah would deliver the briefing of the day together, Anna took her friend aside. Chris looked much better than yesterday the deep dark shadows under her eyes were gone. “So you introduced Sophie to the consensual side of bondage?” she asked her friend smiling.
“We did” Anna replied “and we had so much fun!”
“I guessed as much” Chris smiled, but regarded her friend critically: “Anna, spit it out, what is it?”
Anna sighed “I thought you would ask that … Listen, Chris, Kate and I thought about it, you know, you don't need to do this.”
“Do what?” Chris asked her friend, more tersely than she had intended. She had a feeling where this was going, but she needed to be sure.
Anna pulled herself together: “You leading the Charge today.”
Chris' Eye Brows went up. Regarding her friend with a long look, to her credit, Anna did not break eye contact.
She continued, haltingly at first “Sophie told us, that Punishments at the Adlernest are public events of sorts, and it is fairly likely that Sieglindes Punishment will take place today. You know, there is no need to torture yourself.
You do not need to prove anything to us, Chris. No one will think less highly of you, if you do not lead the Charge today. No one – and anybody who does will have to face me” Anna´s dark eyes were blazing with fire.
And Chris smiled fondly. That was one side of Anna she loved so much. Anna would do everything for her for any friend, even jumping from the highest cliff into the deepest Abyss to save her – without hesitation.
“I know Anna” Chris replied softly “But I have to do this: “She added: This will steel my resolve to finish Carl von Winterfeldt.” Chris replied firmly, but not without warmth.
Anna was not convinced: “This is Masochism, Chris: Pure and simple. At least think about it.”
Chris sighed “Anna I did- many times and I simply need to do this, for my sake.”
Anna nodded: “I feared that you would say that – but whatever will happen today: We are there for you.”
“I know” Chris retorted “And I am grateful to have friends like you.”
And she meant every word.
A short while later:
The Group had assembled and looked expectantly at Chris and Sarah. Chris gave Sarah a slight nod:
“Today Chris will lead the Sortie. She, Kate, Anna and Kirsty will take up positions so that we get first-hand information regarding the situation at the Adlernest, if anything has changed since Chris and Sophie escaped. We will need as much information as we can get, before we deliver the final blow. And if the opportunity presents itself to wreak havoc: Do it!” They had made Preparations for a Blitz-Attack. If they would attack, would depend on the Situation.
The Thief continued, "Sophie, Hayley and I will go through the Information we have gathered. Sophie possesses the most inside knowledge about the Adlernest, about Routines, Security Measures and such – and we will develop a plan how we infiltrate the Palace – and the Labyrinth accordingly.
So far the Enemy has not discovered how you two.” she nodded smiling at Chris and Sophie “escaped. It would be perfect if it stays that way.
The “Backdoor” would be the perfect entrance to infiltrate the Palace. But we must be prepared to act, if the Enemy awaits us there.”
“What then?” Sophie asked. “Then” the Dark Lady replied smiling deviously “Then we use the really heavy Guns. Firing a Grenade launcher in a secluded room will be fun!”
Anna grinned: “And you tell me every time I am incorrigible?”
Kirsty nodded: “We should add some blend grenades to the mix. I wonder …. “ the Briton mused “You do not have a MG 42 in your arsenal?”
“No” replied Anna smiling but the new MG 5! Want to give it a try?”
“Gladly!” Kirsty could not hide her anticipation.
“They will not know what hit them!”
Sophie followed that exchange with some Confusion: That talk about Grenades and Machine Guns? Well, she had a Permit to carry a concealed Weapon and trained with the Pistol, whenever she could make time. As District Attorney she had had her share of enemies, but Automatic Rifles? Grenade Launchers? Firing Automatic Rifles and Grenade Launchers, where should be the fun in that?
She had seen Anna handling her Sniper Rifle and it had seemed that Anna was well accustomed to the Weapon. Christine and her Friends were full of Surprises. And a part of Sophie envied the Russian for her confidence and her ability to handle herself.
Sophie admired Anna even more, when she thought back to the Moment when she had entered the White Room. Anna tied with her Arms high above her head, up on her toes, when she had urged Sophie to get help. That the Russian had recovered from that Ordeal seemed like a Wonder to her. “Could I be like Anna?” Sophie wondered.
A Position high above the Adlernest two Hours later:
Kate had sensed Chris´ steely resolve and determination, since they had left the Safe-House. She had thought back to the moment, when they had entered the cellars of Reichenbach Castle. Chris strode along as purposely now as she had then. She had radiated that same cold sense of purpose. Chris had not talked much. And Kate understood her.
Now they laid in wait. Down in the valley they could see the Adlernest and had a good view on the Parade Ground. Some sort of Platform had been erected there. Obviously a ceremony would commence shortly.
The place was buzzing with activity: Before the Platform a Parcour had been built, like a Military Course: High Obstacles, Water holes, Bogs.
At the Platform a post had been erected with chains. Chris had a fairly shrewd Idea what the purpose of that stake would be: Facing the stake stood a row of seats and tables, obviously for the Tribunal.
Anna looked through her Scope. From her Position she had a direct view of the row of chairs. “This is like a shooting range” she thought “I can take them out, one after another.
“Anna” she heard Chris in her headset, "Can you engage out the persons sitting on those Chairs?”
The Russian made some quick calculations in her head, factored in the Wind, the Temperature and the Distance: “Yes Chris, I can, it is no easy shot, but the conditions are good, so I reckon I can.”
“Be ready to fire on my mark” Chris replied. “I will” Anna acknowledged.
In the meantime Kirsty had built up the Rheinmetall RSG60 light mortar: with its 6.8 Kilos it was perfect for the task at hand. “A few Mortar rounds will add to the chaos after Anna would have fired a few well aimed shots.”
Kirsty had forgotten how much “fun” that kind of business could be. And her mind wandered back to a similar situation at a hot and dusty Valley near Kandahar in Afghanistan. This was no “fun” in the actual sense of course. Kirsty and her squad had laid in wait to ambush a group of Taliban. The Tension, the anticipation before the first rounds were fired, the situation now was not that different.
Chris followed the Proceedings at the Parade Ground with rapt attention: As the Palace Gates swung wide open the Band began to play a slow march, Beethoven as she recognized, the Marcia funebre of the 12th Sonata for Piano solo. “How ironic” Chris thought. “Beethoven for this perverse Comedy”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRTkAyKDDWc
In marched the Valkyries, Chris counted two Companies of 20 Valkyries each in their black Dress Uniforms, both took up positions in front of the Platform, in two rows, 10 Valkyries each.
The tune changed to another March: Handel, Scipio, the slow march of the Grenadier Guards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFMM9rjL8XA
The Tribunal marched in, up the Podium and took Positions behind the Row of Tables. Susanne von Stülpnagel was presiding. “So von Winterfeldt shrinks away from his responsibility, how fitting. The Man is a coward” Chris mused darkly. “But that will not save him.” Her knuckles went wide, so tight was her grip on the glasses.
The Adlernest; Sieglindes Cell 30 Minutes before:
Sieglinde appraised herself in the small cubicle of her cell which served as her bathroom. She had showered and dressed. Brunhild had taken care that her Dress Uniform and a fresh set of underwear had been brought to her. Dressing with care was important for Sieglinde. It gave her some kind of control.
Breakfast had been frugal but she had devoured it in record speed nevertheless. You could never know when you would get the next chance to eat. And Sieglinde had the distinct feeling that it would be a while till she would get the opportunity to eat something. She went back into her cell, sat down on the cot and waited. This was about all she could do.
She listened: They were coming. Sieglinde stood up, stood straight and awaited her Guards: The Door swung open and four of her Comrades in Arms entered. The Leader addressed her:
“We will escort you now to the Tribunal. Turn around please Commander!” Sieglinde did as ordered. Her wrists were handcuffed behind her back as were her elbows. A large ball gag was pressed into her mouth.
Four Guards took her in their midst, while two others followed. And so they marched in step in silence upwards to the Parade Ground. Their steps echoing through the empty halls.
The Adlernest: Susanne von Stülpnagel´s Office at the same time:
Susanne did not look forward to the task at hand. She liked Sieglinde Gablenz and condemning her to the horrible punishment their Boss had ordered felt wrong. But she had convinced herself that it had to be done – for the greater good.
But for the first time she doubted the Judgement of her Boss in earnest. He had underestimated Christine von der Marwitz in the past and underestimated her still. Susanne cursed the day, when the pianist had crossed the Paths of her Boss. He let himself be distracted from his true vocation.
And even if she did felt little sympathy for the Pianist and her friends: They had proven themselves formidable adversaries at every turn and now they had brought the war to von Winterfeldt himself. She had to admire their drive, their perseverance.
Susanne had little doubts that Christine would go for her Boss himself at any cost. In her opinion her Boss had still no Idea what the Pianist was capable of.
But she had studied the reports about Heidelberg, about Nuremberg, about Munich and Vienna. How she had duelled Stromberg, how she had freed Anna Romanova – and her daring escape was another example of her quality. This Woman was extremely dangerous.
She looked at her watch it was time:
A Position high above the Adlernest, the Present:
Another slow drum roll filled the Air. In the open Palace Gates another group appeared. As Chris could see it was a detail of six Valkyries. Between them another figure in the dress uniform of the Valkyries walked but this person was restrained. Wrists and elbows shackled behind her back, a large ball gag in her mouth: Sieglinde!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcHKCvs1p_Y
”Des Großen Kurfürsten Reitermarsch” by Kuno von Moltke, played at the Swearing in of new Recruits in Berlin, Summer 2018
In a slow march the procession neared the podium. Sieglinde held her head high, proud. And Christine´s heart went out to her. Sieglinde and her guards walked up the stairs and came to a halt before the Tribunal. The Leader of the detail removed the Ball Gag.
Sieglinde looked Susanne von Stülpnagel directly in the Eye, unblinkingly, calm and collected. The World seemed to come to a halt, as the two Women regarded each other. Susanne was impressed: Sieglinde showed no fear, but on the other hand, the Woman was no coward.
Von Stülpnagel pulled herself together and addressed the Crowd:
“Comrades!” Her voice rang loud and clear like a Trumpet. “Again we are assembled at this place and again Justice must be served.”
She paused to allow her words to reverberate around the parade ground. She may not like having to punish Sieglinde, but she would do the occasion justice.
“Commander Sieglinde Gablenz, you stand here before us, you are accused of committing the grievous offense of fraternizing with the enemy, because of your conduct unbecoming for a leader of Valkyries, two captives escaped. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“Yes!” Sieglindes Voices sounded strong and clear: “I let my feelings cloud my Judgement, that is true, but I did not “fraternize with the enemy” as you put it so eloquently. Christine von der Marwitz and Sophie Reichenbach are not our Enemies."
"They did what every one of us had done in their place. They used every means at their disposal to escape. And if I am guilty of anything it is dereliction of duty and for that I will accept every punishment you deem fit.”
“Very well” Susanne von Stülpnagel nodded: “This Tribunal finds you guilty as charged, your punishment will commence accordingly. Prepare the accused!” Von Stülpnagel ordered Sieglindes Guards.
Quickly Sieglinde was stripped of her Uniform then was squeezed into a heavy straight Jacket of black leather with a high posture Collar. A black leather hood was pulled over her head, with a built in pump gag. Blinders limited her field of view significantly.
Her ankles were shackled together with heavy iron manacles. The Shackles allowed only for small steps, the bladder in her mouth filled it completely. Breathing through the nose was difficult.
The wooden floor felt cold under her bare feet. Two Guards manhandled her down the Stairs till she stood at the Gravel start of the Parcours. She panted heavily. The small stones hurt her soles. The Guards removed the shackles around her ankles.
Sieglinde steeled herself for the things to come. She would not give in.
Sieglinde heard Susanne´s von Stülpnagel´s Voice ringing in her ears: “Your task is to reach the end of the Parcours, there will be obstacles along the way. You have to reach the Finish in ten Minutes. For every 10 Seconds more, you will get one demerit. The time starts now!”
A slow drum roll filled the air, as Sieglinde begun her run.
As she ran, two Valkyries kept pace with her, mocking her with the litany of her failures, reminding her that this was her doing while she slithered through the mud and fought to reach the end of the course. She stumbled, she fell, tried to get upright again, tried to get breath through her nose, and stumbled along, and along.
Sieglinde fell in the mud; she came to her feet again and moved further: There was the next obstacle! She had to cross a bog, she waded through the mud, which reached below her knees. The obstacle was right in front of her: without the use of her Arms it took an enormous effort to get over it. Sieglinde panted heavily as she landed on the other side. And on she went. Another trench, filled with water and mud. Sieglinde pulled herself upright, as she crossed it. The muscles of her legs burned, cramped.
When Sieglinde had finally finished the Parcours she was a quivering sweaty dirty mess. Her body ached in more place than she could count. Her legs bore small scratches and wounds in many places. She panted heavily. Sieglinde was covered in dirt and mud and knelt on the hard gravel. But her respite was short lived. Two of her guards pulled her upright and dragged her back to the Podium.
The gravel hurt her sensitive soles, as she stumbled along. And this was only the beginning, she knew. If her handlers had not held her upright by her arms, Sieglinde would have crashed down to the floor. Finally she stood on the Podium again. The blood was pounding in her ears.
She stared Susanne von Stülpnagel in the eyes, defiantly, mustering all her Will Power, she could still muster. “I will not give her the satisfaction to cave in.” Gablenz swore to herself. Pulling herself upright.
“Prepare the delinquent for the second stage of her Punishment!” Von Stülpnagel commanded. Sieglinde was stripped naked and tied to the Post, hands high above her head, ankles shackled together up on her toes. Her big toes cruelly lashed together. Sieglinde steeled herself. A shiver of cold ran down her back.
Next to her a tall, muscular Valkyrie with a bull whip took Position, looking expectantly at von Stülpnagel, awaiting her command to begin.
“The second Phase of your Punishment will commence!” Von Stülpnagel ordered.” Begin!” She ordered the Executioner. The crack of the whip was like thunder rolling around the parade ground.
Sieglindes cry echoed over the Parade Ground in response to the three inch welt that had been opened across her back. And it got worse from that moment on.
Anna followed the Proceedings through her Scope. The Russian found it hard to focus; the punishment of Gablenz reminded her of the torture she had had to endure in Nuremberg.
It took Anna every ounce of will power to concentrate on the task at hand as Stroke after Stroke hit Sieglinde Gablenz´ back beginning at her shoulders slowly moving down across her back, then her buttocks, then her thighs.
Her executioner dispatched her duties without emotion or even breaking a sweat. Like an exercise.
“Anna?” She heard Chris´ Voice in her ears, her friend sounded cool even detached, but that was only at the surface, she knew. “Yes Chris?”
“It's Time to reach out and touch somebody.” Chris said evenly though feeling every strike on Sieglindes body, as if the whip hit her own back. A cold fury coursed through her veins, strengthening her resolve.
“Will do” Anna confirmed. The Russian concentrated, took careful aim then squeezed the trigger slowly.
Sieglinde was barely conscious by now. She heard the crack and awaited the next stroke. Instead her reward was a cry of Pain then a spray of warm liquid sprayed on her back.
Susanne von Stülpnagel could not believe her eyes: The Valkyrie whipping Gablenz was wheeled around by a gigantic fist then the woman crashed to the floor. Wailing and thrashing around on the floor, her shoulder a bloody mess.
In the next second von Stülpnagel felt as if someone had touched her temple with hot iron, then something hit the High back of her chair, sending splinters into the neck. Acting on instinct alone Susanne threw herself under the table ducking for cover.
Another thud, another cry of Pain. Then another one.
Kirsty triggered the mortar and the first round was in the air. Chris let the next round glide down the barrel.
The Briton triggered the mortar again. In quick succession they fired twenty Mortar rounds, creating havoc and confusion: smoke, flashbangs and deadly daisy cutters. Fragments seared through the Air.
Pandaemonium reigned on the parade ground: People ducking for cover: Disoriented by flashbangs, blinded by smoke and cut down by daisy cutters: Deadly mortar rounds designed to explode on impact with the ground and detonated a shaped charge which sent out shrapnel in a horizontal pattern in an arc lower than the Podium, leaving Sieglinde untouched.
Brunhild had ducked for cover as the first shots were fired; when she heard the unmistakable screeching sounds of incoming mortar rounds she bellowed: “Take cover!” Mortar fire incoming!
Time seemed to come to a stand-still. Then as sudden as the mortar fire had begun, it stopped.
Chris ordered: “Move out, leave no trace.” A grim smile crossed her lips. Von Winterfeldt would rue the day he had laid eyes on her. “Fuck you Carl!”