Of Pride and Power - 51. Chapter 45: “Make your accomplishments seem effortless”

As a result of the events in Copenhagen and Denmark, I recalled Francis from the Pyrenees in mid-1575. We needed to strengthen our intelligence apparatus for both foreign espionage and domestic counterespionage. The Northern Pact had transformed from a minor player into a major international alliance with unknown elements. The Swedish Empire had emerged a century ahead of its time, and the Hohenzollern Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia had become the Kingdom of Prussia through the acquisition of northern German territories—nearly two centuries before it was historically supposed to appear. Though the Danish campaign achieved its objectives—reopening the Danish Strait and halting the Russian invasion of Baltic territories—England had to consider the broader implications.

The unexpected conquest of Danish lands was due to secret preparations and Prussia's tactical use of explosive weapons. Sweden quickly became a major power by acquiring most Danish territories, including several vital iron mines. However, King Johann III was more adept in theory than in practice, as Sweden lacked the financial and agricultural resources to sustain such a large empire. In my timeline, the downfall of the Swedish Empire stemmed from its focus on military expansion at the expense of domestic governance. Furthermore, unlike in my timeline, the Swedish Empire had no access to overseas colonies after defeating Denmark. A decade earlier, England had seized the North Sea, Iceland, and Greenland from Danish control. While necessary to protect Avalon and the area's natural resources, this move likely fueled Danish animosity towards England, leading to their alliance with the Russian Empire.

Following Sweden’s conquest of Norway and Denmark, its ambassador requested a significant trade deal for food and tools from Prussia and England. The deal needed to commence within a month, making Sweden highly dependent on us for supplies. As a result, despite ruling the largest population and territory, King Johann III became the weakest partner in the Northern Pact.

In contrast, Prussia thrived after its expansion. The acquisition of fertile lands in Schleswig and Holstein, along with alliances or vassalage from Pomerania and several northern German duchies, left Prussia in a strong position. However, Uber Kaiser Philip did not recognize these territorial changes. He ordered his subordinate duchy of Hamburg to send a small army of 5,000 men, equipped with outdated repeating bolt guns and ten armored cars—surplus from before the Battle of Calais in 1559—to crush the upstart Prussians, who were reportedly still using rifled muskets and field artillery. They intended to attack the Prussian army of 30,000 men stationed in Renfeld, near Lübeck. Initially, no one knew what had happened, as none of the Habsburg troops survived, and no information leaked from the nearby villages. Prussia did not retaliate directly against Hamburg, but it used the incident to secede from the German Reich, forming the Norddeutscher Bund (North German Confederation) with its northern German allies and vassals.

When our first group of spies sought answers, they were captured by Prussian agents and politely sent back to England with a note addressed to me, along with several boxes of Lübeck marzipan—a high-quality German confection made with a high almond content, one of my favorite treats. This gesture was a courtesy shown only to an ally; Prussia’s leadership was far less merciful toward enemies. I later learned that Uber Kaiser Philip’s Habsburg spies had been quartered, and their body parts sent to the four regional capitals of the Habsburg Empire: Vienna, Aachen, Trieste, and Madrid. Although Prussia's land-based intelligence was impressive, it still lagged behind England’s more advanced techniques and the main Habsburg forces in military-related areas. Nevertheless, the Prussians understood Uber Kaiser Philip’s predicament—he could not afford to divert his main forces from the Far East or commit his limited advanced European troops to confront them. Provoking a superpower likely boosted Prussia’s standing among the German states, many of which had been subdued during the Schmalkaldic War, which ended in 1555. As similar tactics in my time led to the early unification of a German nation, I knew Prussia's endgame.

Unlike the Habsburgs, England’s advanced technology could be deployed in other ways. We sent an experimental high-altitude reconnaissance plane, based on the U-2 spy plane from my timeline, to take aerial photographs of the battle site. The images revealed scorched marks around the remains of a ruined town. Oberon, an explosives expert, along with other specialists from Cadbury Hill, analyzed the blast patterns and concluded that high explosives were used—likely in static munitions and handheld arms such as grenades or Panzerfausts. Although the Prussians likely didn’t have many of these weapons or had not yet fully developed RDX for smokeless powder to replace rifled muskets, the sheer power of high explosives and surprise tactics had overwhelmed the Habsburg forces. However, I was concerned that none of the Hamburg troops had escaped. If I had commanded the Prussian forces with such advanced weapons, as I did in the Battle of Heath Woods, I would have used sensory abilities to locate enemy troops and coordinate with my soldiers to eliminate them without revealing our technological advantage. I remained cautious, always wary that Robert and I were not the only ones with such capabilities.

With the Øresund Strait now open, and the Russian Baltic fleet and army entrenched in defensive positions rather than expanding their beachheads, I requested a meeting with the Prussian leadership in their capital, Brandenburg an der Havel. Margrave John Georg accepted, sending a letter asking that I bring a sizable force with me. I understood his reasoning. Berlin, the former capital of Brandenburg-Prussia and the future capital of Germany in my timeline, had been destroyed by Habsburg forces during the Schmalkaldic War. Prince Albert II, John Georg’s cousin, led an army to relieve Berlin, but it became his tomb when the Habsburg's Sky Fortress unleashed a city-destroying explosion. Uber Kaiser Charles forbade filling the crater left in place of the city.

Margrave John Georg’s pragmatic reaction to the situation, along with my previous interactions with him, led me to believe he was not behind Prussia’s military actions. Upon rereading his acceptance letter, I detected traces of vinegar and alum beneath the signature—child’s play for a seasoned intelligence agent, England’s services had since moved beyond such crude methods. In my timeline, invisible ink had been developed by the Italian scholar Giovanni Battista Della Porta in 1558, but no such innovation existed here, likely due to the Papacy’s stranglehold on scientific developments during the late Renaissance.

The name beneath John Georg’s signature was Joachim Frederick, his eldest son and heir. At age 29, Joachim Frederick was thirteen years younger than me, and he likely had not made any major political or industrial advancements until his early teens, around the time I defeated the Habsburg-Valois forces in 1559. Though overshadowed by his father, Joachim Frederick had a knack for surprises. He had caught me off guard several times before with his ingenuity, but this time, I intended to surprise him with my visit.

Despite the advent of various technologies, most people still assumed that travel was conducted the old-fashioned way—on horseback or by ship. Rostock, the closest port to the Prussian capital, was about 12 hours away by horseback. The Kingdom of Prussia had arranged an escort and amenities for a slow procession along the 220-kilometer journey. It was expected to be dangerous, as Prussia’s lands were not entirely secure, and despite their impressive achievements, Habsburg spies and assassins still lurked within their borders. However, I surprised everyone by not disembarking from my flagship, HMS Excalibur. Instead, I boarded a retrofitted transport ship with a tarp concealing one of our newest technical marvels on its deck. Commander Edward Wimbledon—my brother Edward Tudor, using an alias—would guide me to the Prussian capital.

The machine I boarded was no ordinary carriage. It was a marvel of engineering, powered by a turboshaft engine. Edward had heard whispers of this invention from Cadbury Hill and had chosen to specialize in piloting it. I could hardly imagine Edward as a helicopter pilot—until I saw him soar into the sky during a test flight.

Our latest helicopter was powered by a gas turbine engine, which converted fuel into a tremendous burst of energy, spinning the rotors above us with remarkable precision. The engine started with a low hum, which quickly grew into a thunderous roar as the machine lifted off the ground.

At the heart of the turboshaft engine were three key stages: the compressor, which drew in air and compressed it; the combustion chamber, where fuel mixed with the compressed air and ignited into a fierce blaze; and the turbine, where the expanding gases spun the blades, propelling us upward and defying gravity. Unlike propeller-driven aircraft that mimicked the wings and tails of birds for lift and direction, this machine showcased humanity’s mastery over nature.

We covered the 220 kilometers between Rostock and Brandenburg in what felt like an instant. I could feel the vibrations beneath my feet—the powerful energy coursing through the vessel as it devoured the distance below us. The gas turbines were highly efficient, generating enough power to keep the helicopter aloft for hours if necessary. This efficiency allowed us to complete the round trip on the same tank of fuel, without needing extra fuel tanks or relying on Robert’s abilities for this diplomatic mission.

As we hovered above the land, I gazed out the window at the rolling hills and dense forests of Prussia passing below. The wind beat against the fuselage, but inside, we felt nothing more than a cool breeze from a simple air circulation valve. The air sealing and stabilizers aboard the craft were impressive. Though the noise was loud, it became almost comforting after a while—a constant reminder that this technology was protecting us from the Habsburg assassins who would have liked to see me dead before I reached the Prussian capital.

Choosing this machine over the traditional land route proved to be a wise decision. The element of surprise was on our side. Some agents were no doubt still scouring the countryside, expecting to intercept a slow-moving diplomatic envoy. The Prussian agents, who had anticipated my arrival, were likely relieved to enjoy an unexpected day off.

John Georg and his son, Joachim Frederick, were astonished when I arrived in such a fashion. I thrilled at their expressions as my helicopter descended from the sky like a deity from ancient myth, landing on an outlying field. However, not all the shock was intentional. The field, though nominally owned by the Hohenzollern family, had been leased to a farmer whose recently planted wheat was destroyed by our arrival. I compensated the tenant farmer with a generous sum of gold coins as an apology before we left for the newly built city center, which had replaced the old Cathedral District.

Brandenburg an der Havel was divided into three districts: Old Town, New Town, and the Cathedral District, established in the 12th century. After the Habsburgs’ break with the Papacy, the Hohenzollern family seized the Cathedral District, converting the Gothic cathedral complex into a castle stronghold.

As my entourage of Aelfric guards and I were escorted toward a building near the city gates, we were issued purple identification cards. I noticed that mine was slightly different from my guards’—it had gold-embossed German lettering, instead of black ink, identifying my name, official titles, place of origin, and travel identification number. A nervous Prussian bureaucrat explained that the purple cards were for foreign travelers, with gold embossing reserved for dignitaries. Even John Georg and Joachim Frederick were not exempt from carrying identification, despite their status as heads of state. They carried black cards with gold lettering, similar to mine, marking the gold lettering as a symbol of rank. This rudimentary national identification system, which Prussia pioneered in my timeline in 1850 with the Pass Card Treaty of the German lands, was already in use here.

Despite having to wait in line like everyone else—there were no express lanes for dignitaries—the process was efficient. Prussian residents typically carried white cards with black ink, while soldiers and gendarmes sometimes carried green-inked cards. Occasionally, red cards appeared, and their holders were directed to a separate line. I was told that red cards signified registered felons, with scarlet red symbolizing sin. These individuals were allowed entry after their criminal records were reviewed. Before the advent of microchips and RFID, many nations in the 19th and 20th centuries used similar means to maintain civil order. Although 16th-century nations had the printing technology to create such documents, their administrative apparatus was underdeveloped until the industrial age, due to widespread illiteracy. In England, passports had been issued since 1540 by the Privy Council, although in recent decades, I had shifted this responsibility to bureaucrats and the foreign ministry. The ease with which the cards were recognized suggested that basic education in Prussia had reached a level similar to what I had achieved in England about ten years ago. I was impressed.

As we approached the gates, the smell of sizzling bacon filled the air, and my stomach rumbled involuntarily, despite my having eaten a suitable breakfast of oatmeal aboard the Excalibur. Fresh bacon, however, was hard to resist. A caravan of over 25 live pigs had just entered the city, likely heading to the butcher. Some might find the sight of their food alive unsettling, but for me, it was a reminder of the life that would soon be given for my meal. To shame the source of your sustenance while enjoying its fruits is, in my mind, a greater offense. As the sights and smells filled the air, my thoughts drifted to bacon, sausages, pork cutlets, pork chops, and ribs, gradually stoking my appetite.

Before I could make an international spectacle by requesting a rasher of bacon from a German household, a commotion broke out at the front of the line. A man and woman carrying a sickly child, about four or five years old with atrophied muscles, were being apprehended at the gate.

The gatekeeper, breaking his professional composure, shouted in German, “These are fake cards! I saw your family turning away from the smell of our food. I heard your wife speaking a forbidden language while good German farmers brought their hogs for slaughter. You are disgusting Jews.”

The man dropped to his knees when his identification card was thrown to the ground. “Please,” he begged, “my son needs medicine that only the capital’s chemists can make. We’ve been denied entry to Munich, and the Frankfurt Judengasse could not accommodate us.”

The gatekeeper slapped the man, and other guards escorted the family out of sight at gunpoint. I overheard murmurs from the crowd, expressing irritation at the delay, and cruel slurs like “Judensau”—a medieval German term meaning “Jewish pig.” There was no sympathy for the family’s plight or their desperate journey to Prussia’s capital for medical care.

In that moment, my appetite vanished, as I was reminded of the deep-seated bigotry that had once plagued Europe, including England before I initiated reforms. This senseless hatred would eventually lead to the extermination of nearly six million Jews in my timeline. I didn’t need my encyclopedic knowledge to recall that, but it helped me place the inhumane treatment I had just witnessed into a broader context.

For centuries, Jews across Christian Europe faced severe restrictions on their movements. Often, they were allowed to travel only at night and required special permission from local nobles to enter certain territories. Cities imposed quotas and confined Jews to designated areas, such as the famous Judengasse in Frankfurt. Even these measures did not protect Jewish communities, which were frequently subjected to mass violence, particularly during the Crusades and outbreaks of the plague. One of the earliest massacres occurred in 1096, perpetrated by Catholic zealots and opportunistic nobles who sought to enrich themselves at home rather than endure the expense of traveling to the Holy Land, inspired by Pope Urban II’s crusading sermons.

The Pope and the Catholic Church enthralled Europe’s Christians with the idea of cleansing the world and creating a kingdom of God on Earth. Local priests and nobles saw Jewish communities as convenient scapegoats for domestic problems or easy targets for extortion under threat of violence. They convinced their followers that Jews had crucified Jesus, betrayed God, and served Satan—manipulating religious zeal to justify their actions. With little capacity for critical thought and blind obedience to authority, the common people accepted these lies as truth. Jews were expelled, extorted, and murdered by roaming bands of peasants, who were nothing more than bandits hiding behind the cross.

Had these zealots studied the Bible closely, they would have realized that the true culprits behind Jesus’ crucifixion were Roman soldiers and their administrators—the ancestors of these very Christians and the church that now perpetuated this false belief.

Despite the modern leadership of the Habsburg Empire and Papacy under Pope Peter II, they allowed these malicious ideologies to persist among the nobility, making their territories hostile to Jewish residents. Outside Europe, they created a Jewish homeland in the Levant, called Israel, after defeating the Ottoman Empire, and its leaders encouraged all Jews to emigrate there. Given the rhetoric and ideology surrounding Israel, I suspected that someone from my timeline might be ruling it, using discrimination to unite their people under the common cause of a Jewish state. It was disheartening to know that such men still existed, exploiting suffering for power and influence.

Despite my feelings about the manipulation, I had no moral high ground to counter. I had gained power during Queen Mary’s reign by leveraging the fear and persecution faced by Cornish, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish people. I united people in common cause because they were persecuted as well. I believed what I did was to give them a better life free from oppression. I doubt the Jewish leadership thought they were doing anything less. Maybe morally, I was slightly better as I didn't work with Queen Mary to persecute people to grow my power, but I didn't see it that way, especially with all my pent-up guilt.

Still, I wanted to help this Jewish family. I knew there was no logical reason for me to intervene on behalf of strangers, especially given the tense relationship between Prussia and England, strained by too many secrets. Yet, if I did nothing, I would only add to the growing guilt since the Battle of Copenhagen and the death of Prince Hans. I already had enough innocent blood on my hands in the name of national interest and vengeance against my son’s killers.

I turned to John Georg and politely asked, “Your Grace, Margrave John Georg, what will happen to the people your guards just escorted away?”

John Georg frowned. “Your Majesty need not trouble yourself with such trifles. These matters are beneath you.”

I restrained the urge to chastise him and instead maintained a calm demeanor. “If I may be so bold, the boy being carried by his mother appeared to have an illness I find curious. I would like to examine his condition.”

John Georg nodded, and I assumed he had agreed. As we presented our cards to the gatekeeper, the morally dubious guard greeted me with exceptional politeness, even offering compliments about my appearance. Despite being another man, there was no sign of the disgust or homophobia I had often encountered from Uber Kaiser Philip and other Europeans who were not aligned with my court or indebted to me. The gatekeeper’s curiosity and admiration seemed genuine, with subtle hints about his sexual orientation. However, he was careful not to express any inappropriate interest in public.

In Brandenburg-Prussia, as in much of the Holy Roman Empire throughout its history, homosexuality—like Jewish heritage—was frowned upon and punishable by death. I knew this aspect of the culture intimately, perhaps even more so than the Jewish experience. Villages still burned sodomites, and such executions had increased under the ascension of Philip as Kaiser. He despised the fact that I had defeated his forces, viewing me as inferior under the standards of our timeline. I wouldn’t be surprised if he enacted something akin to the infamous Paragraph 175 across his empire, attempting to eradicate “sexual deviants,” as LGBT people were once called in my timeline. Sadly, I could not act on this either, given the demonstration of Habsburg capabilities in Paris that neutralized Robert’s powers—proof that the Habsburg Empire was far from weak.

If not for the bigotry I had just witnessed, I might have considered the gatekeeper a decent man—someone I could even have been friends with. His duality reminded me of a character from a movie in my timeline. In the film, the character’s fear and complacency explained why otherwise decent people could turn a blind eye to injustice, allowing cruelty to become acceptable. My emotions were conflicted as I faced him, but I maintained a pleasant demeanor throughout our brief exchange.

John Georg and I exchanged pleasantries as we walked toward the castle, though Joachim Frederick remained silent after the incident at the gate. His fair features and boyish appearance belied his age—he was nearing 30. He was handsome, but his scowling expression reminded me of Robert. However, unlike Robert, who had a softer intellectual air, Joachim’s intensity stemmed from a deep focus on complex matters. I briefly wondered about Joachim’s counterpart in my timeline—was he perhaps a brilliant researcher, possibly a disciple of Jack, or even a rival?

When we entered the castle, I was directed to the audience hall. John Georg did not join me, nor were any Prussian or Aelfric guards allowed inside. It was bold of Joachim to ask me to enter alone, but it was probably best to keep the meeting private.

The audience chamber had likely been a rectory dining hall where priests once gathered for meals. I could still see where the wooden tables would have stood. The room was sparsely decorated, with only a few tapestries. At the far end, two chairs flanked a wooden table, set with a porcelain tea set and plates of bacon, sausage patties, eggs, jam, and bread. Joachim Frederick sat down, and I approached the opposite chair.

Before I could get comfortable, Joachim spoke. “Should I call you Eric or Mr. Meeks? I know you were intersex in our old world, but according to Jack Hume, your gender identity was male.”

Though it was surprising that someone knew my name and my relationship with Jack, I remained unfazed. “The future and past have no bearing on the present. I am England’s Omega ruler, Aelfric Elias Tudor. You are Joachim Frederick, heir to the Kingdom of Prussia. As a non-existent Englishman once said, ‘What’s past is prologue; what is to come, is in yours and my discharge.’ The context does not dictate what happens next.”

Seeing that I was unmoved by his knowledge, Joachim took a nonchalant sip of his tea, though I could tell his heart rate had increased slightly. “I see now why the greatest mind of our time, Jack Humes, sacrificed so much to bring you back,” he said, setting down his cup and fixing me with a stare. “I wonder how he managed to achieve controlled human evolutionary changes, creating a non-existent third gender without the Guardians of Eternity noticing.”

The term "Guardians of Eternity" was unfamiliar to me, but I showed no surprise. After years of working with Titania, I had learned how her abilities functioned—she could detect lies by observing micro-expressions. Similarly, I could analyze biological signals to discern when someone was lying. I had long suspected that the technology within the cores either did not originate from humanity or came from humans of a different timeline. The human doomsday gauge we discovered in Merlin’s cave fluctuated with significant events and now stood at 92.72%. The largest drop, 1.65%, occurred right after the birth of our first son, Henry. I knew Jack was involved in something far more audacious than just my revival or creating a counterforce against the human factions from my era. Based on Joachim’s casual remarks, it seemed likely that Jack’s actions were antagonistic to these so-called Guardians, but I didn’t press him for clarification.

Instead, I responded confidently with the knowledge I had, hoping to draw out more information. “Humanity cannot be allowed to end before we reach our full potential. Jack chose me to represent him in that cause.”

Joachim flinched slightly at my words, then frowned. “The use of the cores has already set humanity on a path toward its end. We’re merely living through the remnants of time, between the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next. If you intend to fight the Guardians, I assume you possess an evolved biology that rivals their technology.”

There was a lot to unpack in his statement, but I sensed something hidden within his words. Not everything he said was true, and he was probing me with his theories to gauge my motives. While I didn’t doubt the existence of a group called the Guardians of Eternity, I didn’t believe they were as committed to preserving causality as Joachim claimed. If they were, the Valois-Habsburg trap in Paris, with its phantom energy, or my regression of time within the isolated area, would have certainly drawn their attention.

I leaned back, picked up my cup of chamomile tea—lightly sweetened with honey—and pointed out Joachim’s attempt at misdirection. “Don’t speculate beyond what I’ve already stated. My reasoning has been made clear.”

Joachim’s scowl deepened as he stared at me in silence. Meanwhile, I took a bite of a sandwich I’d made from his eggs, sausage patties, and bacon. Our verbal sparring had rekindled my appetite. If only there had been ketchup, but unfortunately, tomatoes wouldn’t arrive in Europe until I gained a foothold in South America from the Habsburg Empire.

After about five minutes of silent scrutiny, Joachim sighed. “Very well. Let’s discuss the future of Prussia and the North German Confederation.”

I nodded, ready to get to the core of the matter. “I assume you plan to unify Germany eventually. Schleswig and Holstein were acquired for that purpose, but I wonder why you used your agents to maintain the façade that Magnus II was still alive without informing Sweden or England? I would not have planned the coup, and you would have controlled the Danish throne and its vast territories. Prussia and the North German Confederation are not resource-rich; you could have used Denmark.”

He laughed heartily. “You think Prussia killed King Magnus and put him in a freezer? I appreciate the compliment, but we don’t possess that type of refrigeration technology. However, Denmark’s ally does, as they require it to stabilize plutonium for nuclear fission. My agents merely learned of this secret as you did, through the servants in the Danish Palace. When you informed Sweden and Prussia of your plan to seize Copenhagen for Prince Hans, we worked around your invasion and planned our own to seize Danish territory. As your ships destroyed the Danish fleet, the Russian phantom legion and their agents in the palace grew frantic, making several operational mistakes, including revealing the location of their headquarters beneath a forge. As the Russians were withdrawing to hide themselves, Prussian agents engaged their remaining guards and seized their base. We acquired the body in the process.”

It made sense that the Russian Empire would require temperature control and liquid cooling for their nuclear weapons stockpile. I hadn’t detected any Russian phantom legion troops in Copenhagen with my abilities, but they would have kept their distance, wary of my presence, until my forces had fully departed. Even without the mecha knights, our ship-based infrared tracking systems could detect the presence of their invisibility screens. After the events in London, I had loaned IR imaging systems to Sweden and Prussia, along with portable diesel-powered generators, to detect any Russian troops. Though ineffective against Russia’s secondary electric armor, these systems hindered their covert operations.

“Why all the cloak-and-dagger? Why kill the former Danish court servants? I find it hard to believe Russia’s phantom legion would have acted in Copenhagen while my naval presence still existed,” I pointed out calmly.

Joachim began assembling his own breakfast sandwich and replied, “We acted because your forces were still nearby. Prussia didn’t want our agents discovered. The Russians would have investigated who attacked their base and stole their equipment. Since we located the base through references from the Danish Royal Chamberlain, a Russian sympathizer, we had to eliminate any trace that could lead back to Prussia. We didn’t expect you to still be in Copenhagen, investigating King Magnus’ death or the false report of poisoning,” he said, setting his sandwich aside and wiping his hands. “Thank you for not interfering with our operation. We were right to be cautious, as the Russians retaliated shortly after your departure, killing Prince Hans before the election. Our agents, using Russian-made invisibility screens, killed Prince Christian in response, preventing another Russian puppet from taking power. Had our plan succeeded fully, Prince Hans and Christian would have died regardless, so the flow of events didn’t matter. Thus, Sweden and Prussia marched our armies into Danish territory.”

I was impressed and now curious about this man’s prior career in my timeline. “You’re remarkably thorough and knowledgeable about intelligence operations. Were you, by any chance, a member of the NSA, CIA, MI5, or Mossad?”

He smirked at my question. "Believe it or not, in our original timeline, my name was John Stieber. I was just an ordinary DIA analyst, handling background details like covers and logistics. I applied for field postings, but I didn’t have the physical endurance to pass the certification, despite excelling in other areas. My grandfather used to tell me stories about our ancestor, Wilhelm Stieber, which inspired me to become an intelligence officer. Wilhelm was head of Prussia’s intelligence agency under Otto von Bismarck. They called him the 'Kaiser’s Shadow' because he was involved in sensitive operations related to the Hohenzollern family throughout the 19th century. He even fathered a bastard child with a Hohenzollern princess. That child fled to the United States after the fall of the German Empire in World War I, having been an agent of the Empire, just like his father. Wilhelm’s son regretted failing the homeland and allowing it to be ruined in the decades that followed."

Joachim paused, looking me in the eye. "I want you to know that what happened outside the gate is not what I envision for the future. I’m not an antisemite or a Nazi revivalist, but changing ingrained beliefs among the German people is difficult. I want to see the birth of Germany, not another Reich. The nobility holds power, but we need authority to bring change to the common people. The sick and poor are provided for at the state’s expense, and I believe our education system is the best in Europe. I’ve made great strides in improving our society and its institutions."

Wilhelm Stieber is a well-known figure in espionage history. He was involved in numerous international and domestic operations, particularly against dissident groups in the 19th century, including those associated with Karl Marx. Marx’s revolutionary ideas had a profound impact on future generations. Initially, he settled in Paris due to France’s openness to his views but was later exiled. Eventually, Marx made his home in England after 1850, following his exile from much of Europe for his involvement in uprisings. During the revolutionary movements of 1848, Wilhelm Stieber, acting as a covert Prussian agent in hostile Paris, obtained the names of active Prussian revolutionaries from Marx’s office. This led to the arrest of many of Marx’s colleagues in Prussia, including members of Prussia’s Parliament. Although Prussia was politically conservative at the time, it pioneered progressive social programs such as state-sponsored welfare, basic education, and universal healthcare. For those who benefited from such a society, these were goals worth pursuing.

I wanted to trust Joachim, but I remained cautious about his motives for seeking an alliance with me and England, especially considering his consciousness had transmigrated into a Prussian prince. "Why haven’t you allied with the Habsburg Uber Kaiser before now?"

He snorted. "I didn’t get here through the Western Charters’ cores. But I suppose Jack Humes never told you how many people he experimented on before perfecting your body," he said, glaring at me. "Most of their consciousnesses never made it to this timeline, or their new bodies died from the strain. But it was better than starving to death on the chaotic Earth we left behind, so we took the chance when he offered it. I was lucky enough to be born as the heir to the Hohenzollern house—a family with dormant genetically engineered ancestors, thanks to one of Jack Humes’ cores. You’ve probably heard legends of divine lights anointing nobles and kings, including your own ancestors. I assume that’s how the genetic modifications were made—targeted energy bursts to alter specific genes."

I processed what he had shared, uncertain how much was true and how much was speculation. One thing I did believe, however, was the desperate state of Earth that had driven people to attempt such a journey into the past.

Finishing the sandwich in my hands, I took a sip of tea before offering Joachim a piece of information. "The cores are programmable, but their ability to manipulate matter and energy is limited without recharging. Jack anticipated this, so the cores wouldn’t rely on the charging stations currently controlled by Pope Peter II in Avignon or other global factions."

Joachim’s eyebrows raised slightly, showing interest in my revelation. "Interesting. So, Jack foresaw that the Corporate Consortium he created might betray him," he said, picking up two strips of bacon and chewing loudly. "I assume this connects to the abilities you displayed in Paris. My spies reported that you can control the flow of time and space—like an ancient deity."

I grinned. "Your agents must have reported quite a lot about what I did. While I admit that my abilities allow me to recharge cores without the need for a charging station, I am not as omnipotent as some may think."

He set down his half-eaten bacon and replied sternly, "I believe you are the culmination of Jack Humes’ efforts to alter humanity’s fate. You and your omegas will usher in a new age. You’re the key to creating a superior race. Perhaps you haven’t yet mastered your abilities to challenge the Guardians, but we can help. I want Germany to be part of this future, and I need your assistance to bring omegas into my nation."

He was waiting to reveal his desire—his need to incorporate omegas to defend his ideal society. I considered the merits of his request and the perceived danger he felt from the Guardians of Eternity, whom I had never encountered. If their technology was equivalent to the abilities I demonstrated in Paris, I could understand why Joachim reacted the way he did.

Unknown to him, none of the young omegas appeared to possess powers like mine or Robert’s, but we had only started manifesting our abilities in our late teens, and the oldest omegas were just entering their teenage years. Even without special abilities, omegas possess enhanced cognitive and mental capacities compared to normal humans. They also inherit all the advanced techniques and knowledge of their parents, further amplified by the genetic engineering of the Fair Folk.

Joachim was mistaken in his assumptions, but his conclusions might not be far off if human development continues at this pace. If the goal is to increase the omega population and continue our species’ development to prevent future extinction, why shouldn’t I accept his request? Isn’t Joachim’s goal to protect the future of mankind?

That’s the crux of the problem: Joachim wanted to “protect” the future using the power I demonstrated in Paris. Throughout our conversation, I came to understand the type of man Joachim Frederick was. He wasn’t bigoted or shallow in his ideals, but he held a deep fear of the future, embodied by the Guardians of Eternity. In his pursuit of strength to confront that fear, he used people as tools to achieve his goals, without considering the broader consequences or addressing the systemic issues in his new Germany.

The inherent antisemitism I witnessed reminded me that such a society could never support a new human subspecies, one that would require a nurturing support system to thrive.

Making up my mind, I sighed. "Omegas are unique beings in this world, but your society isn’t ready to accept them. There’s a reason why the German lands were the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation and have a history of antisemitic and homophobic activity. The German people are currently focused on purity in their beliefs and way of life, often at the expense of nonconforming elements. You may be open to having children with an omega male or even becoming an omega male yourself for the benefits, but the people would see it as a stain on their values if you openly embraced omegas. Unlike the British Isles, where centuries of preparation laid the foundation for omegas to thrive, Prussia’s path to acceptance is limited to you, as your society cannot easily shed its long-held beliefs. I’m willing to ally with you against the Habsburg and Russian Empires, but I don’t think omegas should enter your Germany as it stands."

After that, we said no more, finishing our informal breakfast in silence. I didn’t want to entirely shut down Joachim’s hope of introducing omegas into Prussia, but it was far too early. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be his savior.

As I left Hohenzollern Castle, John Cary, Captain of the Aelfric Guards, approached with the frail Jewish boy from earlier cradled in his arms, a deep scowl on his face.

I glanced around for the child's parents. Not seeing them, I asked, "Where are his parents?"

"They were shot dead and left in a gully, according to the city guards. The boy was spared due to Your Majesty’s intervention," one of John’s subordinates replied, handing me a yellow card with black ink. It identified the boy as Levi—and my slave. "He is now your property according to the Prussians."

I turned back for one last look at the castle, which had been converted from a Gothic cathedral. Shaking my head, I murmured the exact line from the movie I recalled earlier, Judgment at Nuremberg: “Above all, there was fear. Fear of today, fear of tomorrow, fear of our neighbors, and fear of ourselves. Because he said to us, ‘Lift your heads! Be proud to be German! There are devils among us—Communists, Liberals, Jews, Gypsies! Once these devils are destroyed, your misery will be destroyed.’ It was the old story of the sacrificial lamb. What about those of us who knew better? We, who knew the words were lies, and worse than lies? Why did we sit silent? Why did we take part? Because we loved our country. What difference does it make if a few political extremists lose their rights? What difference does it make if a few racial minorities lose their rights? It is only a passing phase. It is only a stage we are going through. It will be discarded sooner or later. And then, one day, we looked around and found that we were in even more terrible danger. What was going to be a passing phase had become the way of life.”

I didn’t bother looking for a chemist in Brandenburg an der Havel. As we passed through the gate, I noticed the original gatekeeper was no longer there, so I asked the new gatekeeper where he had gone. Unlike the previous gatekeeper, who had been professional and courteous to the point of flirtation, the new gatekeeper stared at me with disgust and disdain, as if he had stepped in excrement. John and the other Aelfric guards glared back at him menacingly, but his smug air of superiority never wavered. Without receiving any new information, I imagined horrible scenarios involving the morally dubious man I had just met.

We left the capital of Prussia with Levi. Emotionally drained, I knew I needed to leave this land before my supernatural abilities got the better of me. The helicopter ride back to the fleet was swift, and I had the radio operator send a supply request for Torbafylline, steroids, and topical anesthetic. Yet my mind kept returning to the conversation with Joachim.

Could I have done more?