บท 26: Zeppelin Order Nr.666

Location: London

POV: Kyle's

'The question that has been troubling me the most is, how am I going to fight? If all goes to plan the base will be finished just before the end of 1938 early 1939, we will have 200,000 personnel working in the inner and outer core, with an unknown number in the External core. Am I going to fight like a country with a battlefront? Or target strategic locations to capture and hold? Or to just launch V-2 Rockets endlessly?

I do not know, and I am unsure in this area. But I am sure it will be a war like never seen before. We will have multiple theatres of war, multiple battles at the same time, and the bigger the war and more successful the further away we are from the main base. And continuing to supply and replenish troops from there will be impossible. I want to project my naval power through a base in Norway, but that is also far away and can only be used to replenish troops in Scandinavia.

I will need to build multiple bases, but the cost is immense. One base costs 6.5 Billion RM, it is able to command and replenish troops in a 1,500-kilometer Radius, I would need a minimum of 10 bases only in Europe! which is too costly. I have only planned 2 more bases of operation besides the one in Munich and Norway, to get us to a 200,000 active personnel count for the inner core. One in Germany, One in Norway, One in Spain and one in Romania or the Soviet Union. It seems I will have to blow the airships into a golden age again!

Using a massive mobile airbase as the High command centre will allow us to move it as we wish, also use it to support our war effort. But they are very weak, and large targets. I will have to discuss this in detail with the CEO of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin.' I was in deep thought will I was relaxingly sitting on a bench in a park. The hours flew by as I organize my plans. I was thinking about the battleship I need when Zero interrupted my thoughts, ''Sir, it is 18:55, I suggest we head out to Wilsons, to meet with the CEO of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin.'' ''Okay, let's go'' I agreed.

I stepped into the car and watched the convoy move again. It was a quick drive and we arrived at Wilsons at 19:10, 5 minutes before the agreed time. Again only I and Zero entered the restaurant.

'CEO, Hugo Eckener, also Captain of the Graf Zeppelin. He is very distant from military affairs but is close to Nobility. I must use knowledge as leverage.' I thought to myself as I neared the Table.

''Ah Hello Mr.Kyle, I have heard you are quite a famous Businessman in Germany from my colleagues.'' He said while extending his hand.

''Ah I cannot compare to you Hugo Eckener, owner of the great Luftschiffbau Zeppelin,'' I replied while shaking his hand. ''Please sit Mr.Kyle, I have ordered some amazing white wine, but if you prefer red please say so.'' He said while pointing at the seat.''Thank you, Hugo, but I will enjoy some red wine with this dinner.'' I beckoned the waiter over and ordered some red wine. ''Kyle I really recommend the tenderloin here, it melts on the mouth.'' Hugo and I started to discuss what to get, finally settling on the 25-course menu(very small portions) provided by the restaurant.

We talked a bit about everything, but mostly about Zeppelins and their future,''any, Kyle, the future of airships is looking bleak, with the planes being faster and slowly catching up I am afraid that the golden age has ended. I am not willing to face Mr.Zeppelin as the last CEO of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin. But what can I do, to make better, faster and stronger airships we need more finances and helium, but America sits on their helium like a leprechaun sitting on his pot of gold. But that doesn't stop me from doing business until the end!'' A dejected look was on Hugo's face, it is common knowledge to never show weakness during a deal, but he is clearly at the end. We talk a bit more about zeppelins and their glory. ''Hugo I will be blunt with you, I need a zeppelin, a HUGE fucking zeppelin, but it is not for private or commercial purposes, its purpose is war,'' I said while looking at Hugo's face. ''If this is what it takes if this is what is needed, it is a small sacrifice. Tell me, Sir. Kyle, what does this Zeppelin need to do and what specifications do you have?'' He replied defeated.

''Sir Hugo'' I said respectively before continuing:'' I am not an expert on this field but, I will give you..... 1 billion pounds to use for development!'' 'Considering that a battleship only costs 277 million pounds, having over 1 billion can lead to Inflation, but they won't need to use everything.' I went into the system to convert 2,000 TUs for 1 billion British pounds. ''SIR! Impossible! Only when pulling the entire treasury of the UK for a year can you get so much money!'' Hugo shouted so that everyone could hear, he didn't do it on purpose though. ''I am serious, but the materials you will use and specifications are extreme as well, remember that as well Hugo.'' I looked at him dead serious. ''I will order 2 of these Zeppelins, you are to immediately give the blueprints to my company when you are finished, all engineers are to be transferred to my company after completion!'' I said.

I and Hugo had a huge debate, allowing Hugo's imagination to run wild, getting any material he wants, any engineer he wants, any size he wants, even with this much money he can get the helium through 'other' channels.''Sir Kyle, I will send you a document showing the preliminary design stats, your money is not wasted, sir Kyle! I will give you, the strongest, fastest, biggest, most beautiful Zeppelin in the world!'' Hugo said proudly. I stood up and extended my hand while saying: ''Thank you for doing business, Hugo.'' ''the pleasure is mine Sir Kyle, may God be with you!'' We walked out the exit Zero again paying. I waved Hugo goodbye as he stepped into his car. He rolled down his window before saying:'' My company will not disappoint you, I swear upon my life.'' And with that said he drove off.

Hugo took out his notebook, opened a secret compartment taking out a blueprint, written on it was 'Zeppelin Nr.666'. Hugo laughed in his car, ''My dream will come true, my entire lives work, my brainchild shall be put into reality!''

''Sir please enter'' Zero said while holding the door open. ''Zero, cancel the meeting with the designer board of British Battleships. I no longer need a sea-fearing battleship, because I will have an airborne battleship! Also, cancel the trip to Norway, get me a train to the Scottish Highlands'' I laughed to myself. 'When I proposed 14-inch or 35cm guns mounted on it he didn't laugh, he just stated:''The size will be immense, but it is possible to stop the recoil with the appropriate breaking and power systems and recoil absorption system.'' He is as crazy as I am!' ''sir we are back at the intelligence outpost in approximately 10 minutes,'' Zero said while driving. ''Thank you Zero, I do not know what to do without you.'' I smiled while saying, he savagely replied:'' Same, you would be unable to function.''

A grin plastered on his face, but quickly turned serious again, since he is the Marshall's Head Guard. ''I chuckled when hearing this,' At least there is still a bit of Human in him.' I viewed the London streets while remembering the destruction that will follow,'War is cruel, and I will be the one to start it all.' I thought.