[Berun - Bundestag]
As with most legislative bodies, the Bundestag had numerous meeting rooms of various sizes (and degrees of affluence). The men were meeting in one of the more opulent though of modest size. Part of the reason was that due to the nature of secrets: too many people and you no longer have a secret.
The walls were very well soundproofed.
There were three men in this meeting; which is one more than the official maximum for keeping a secret. The truly paranoid would be wondering who the weakest link was and preparing for their elimination at the slightest sign of talkativeness. Fortunately for Chancellor Muller, the vote had been cast and the results were favorable.
That man patted the light sheen of sweat from his forehead. "Ah, it's done! The legislation will be signed by the end of the week, if not sooner. I have to make sure to be 'deliberative' about it, after all."
Albrecht, always ready as if a camera might catch him at any moment, was smiling. "Take the time you need. There's little she or her few allies can do in a week. She can hardly even come here in that amount of time even assuming she was on a boat right now."
Bruning carefully lit a cigar while the others talked. It was a Guama Toro that he had been saving for just the right occasion. Its twin was carefully stored in a humidor awaiting his final victory. His mood, for the past few months had become eerily calm. It had started the moment that hateful Devil had left the shores of Europa. Right now, he couldn't imagine it going away as it was a constant, comforting companion.
Muller asked, "How soon until we enforce the more – stringent – aspects of the law?"
Albrecht sighed. "Don't worry, you'll know when the time is right."
The theoretical leader of three (at least by rank) looked puzzled. "How so?"
Bruning said mildly, "We'll tell you." He cut the end off of his cigar with a small silver knife he kept just for that purpose and lit it elaborately while the others waited. "The timing is essential. We need to ride the wave of popularity and manage things at just the right time. When we solve the reparations issue, there is little chance we can't propel ourselves to the top... the real top. After that, we can do as we will. This little law is just the start."
Muller actually looked surprised, not having heard this before. "The start, Aden? What more would we need at that point?"
Bruning laughed softly. "Of course, it's just a start. That's enough to acquire the power... but to keep it? That requires more effort. Still, it won't be hard. We'll have the votes, and the public will, and that's enough to make all the changes we need." He tapped the ash of cigar into an ashtray, heedless that a stray bit had fallen to the carpet below.
"We'll break that Schlampe and fit her with a harness and bit." He smiled slowly but there was a mania lurking just below the surface unbeknownst even to him. "And if she chooses not to pull the plow, she'll find we can be far more effective than that Muskovy pervert, eh?"
* * *
[Berun – TvD Headquarters]
Due to proximity (and the odd hour the legislation had been passed), Vice President Viktoriya Serebryakov was the first of the TvD executives to be alerted.
"Thank you for coming here, Erich, but surely you could have used the telephone?"
He shook his head. "This is too important to trust to such technology. Soon, you'll have all the details but, unofficially, the high command wants to coordinate our response with you."
She looked a little grim and they sat down at the meeting table, comfortable enough to waive formalities. "Tell me more."
"We both know they were planning something in the political office but they managed to keep the details hidden. I'm shocked considering the people we are talking about but that's hardly important now." He grimaced, looking at her directly over his glasses. "The new law is about taxing multi-national businesses. The percentages are... punitive."
She sucked in her breath and her eyes widened. "How could they pass something like that? There are enough businessmen and those put in by businesses in there to block anything like that. Also, the appearance of such a law would make them seem like thieves at best!"
"That's the damnable part. They narrowly focused it on MULTI-national businesses. And only those of a sufficient size. Due to the Great War, that means there's only one business that would be affected. The ones before the war had most of their foreign holding taken... mostly illegally, I might add. After the war? Those that meet those criteria can easily divest themselves to the point where they won't be affected."
Visha growled nearly subsonically. "Do these people have no other tricks?! It's like the tribunal court all over again!" She pounded the table in a way that reminded him of Rudersdorf. "We can beat them with public opinion!"
He shrugged.. "Creativity isn't their strong suit. But how they are framing it is quite diabolical. The premise of the law is that those who took advantage of the conflict, war profiteers, should be punished for their supposed ill-gotten gains."
"That's... hard. We can hardly deny that we grew greatly because the country was in such dire straits. Buying failed businesses was the vast majority of our growth."
"And I'm sure they know that! It's hard to defend against it, I'm afraid. Plus you add on those military contracts to help us clear out the warehouses and it looks very much like government funds were being used to supply TvD with cheap stock. You can argue against that logically, of course, but once you're arguing, you've lost the emotional appeal of your position."
"It's never good to play defense with emotions." She smiled grimly. "But Tanya has never been one to play defense!"
* * *
[Francois - Arene]
Camille wiped the sweat from her face with little obvious result. Between the sweat and the rock dust there was a fine coating of impromptu cement on her skin that even a thorough scrubbing would barely dent. But now... she was finally finished! "Ah, done! I need to bathe for a day and sleep for a week!"
Her assistant nodded and handed her a warmed, damp towel. He had marveled at her skills, her drive, and her dedication but this? The final result exceeded all his expectations. Though he didn't say it aloud, he felt as if he were with the Master, Rodin, and was learning from him on a daily basis. He looked at the final sculpture, an mixed expression settling on his face.
"So, Sean, what do you think?" She was genuinely interested even though she wouldn't change an iota of her vision. There was always the next project for that.
"I... I feel like someone has assaulted me. I want to look away, I need to look away but I can't. Technically, it's near flawless. It's as if they could get up and walk at any moment. But the subjects! The story! That's what's making me profoundly uncomfortable. I can't decide whether I want to yell, or cry, or go get drunk." He closed his eyes and took in a shuddering breath before opening them again. It hit him again, harder this time, experience providing no increasing resistance.
She smiled, satisfied. "Ah, so it's good, then?"
"Such a simple word but... yes, it's good. God help us, it's very good." She never let him see a sculpture in progress.
She stared at it with him. "You know, it affects me the same way." She touched it only with hesitation, as if asking for permission. "So our work here is completed. We will install in the dead of night like thieves but ones that brings rather than takes. All the crates are ready?"
"Yes, yes, all even to this last one." He gazed at it again before pulling a tarp over the work to keep casual eyes from spying it. "But if I found this in my house this winter, I think I would fear that Papa Noël was upset at my misdeeds in the past year!"
She laughed and said, "You know, I can put off bathing and sleeping for now... let's take your last option and drink to a job well done!"
It was only until they had laid waste to the fifth bottle of wine that they fell asleep on the floor of the studio, the draped sculpture looming over them like a shadow in ill-fitting clothes.
* * *
[Idolan border near Germania]
Lorenzo looked at the construction going on below the cliff he sat on. "Another Degurechaff rail line, eh? At first I thought we were a long way from Berun and yet... here they are!"
His companion, Matteo, nodded. "No surprise to those who kept up on such things, my friend! Their steel is spreading quickly and, if you are talking about their Selene cars and tracks, quietly."
"No one objects? How can this be? Just the 'considerations' would be staggering!"
Matteo puffed on his cigarette and used it to gesture to the construction below. "Normally, yes, but they took the easier route and just bought-out the old rail. Repairs are expensive, eh? And the administration was one more accident away from nationalizing the entire thing so they were happy to unloaded it."
"Still, this seems unlikely. You'd have to know where half a dozen bodies, or mistresses, were being kept to get past the stubborn ones."
"You would think so! But the local mayors got very happy when they found out it was brand new steel going down, at no cost to them, they were quite pleased! Being connected to Europa again...ahh it's a grand thing, is it not?"
He snorted. "We were never disconnected!"
"You haven't tried riding on those terrible roads. If that isn't disconnected, I don't know what it looks like at all! TvD is even rebuilding part of the seaport near Roma to handle the new container ships... and there's even talk about a bridge to Sicily in the works."
"I'll believe it when I see it! Laying rail is one thing but a bridge of that size?" He scoffed and borrowed his friend's cigarette to light his own.
Matteo took back his cigarette and lit a new one off of it, tossing the butt off the cliff though it didn't come anywhere near the workers below. "Believe what you will. I've given up trying to predict what the world will bring since the Great War."
Not willing to give up the argument, Lorenzo continued. "You know rail and roads and bridges, but I know people. This is too smooth, too easy, and far, far too fast. Even simple jealousy would cause some to oppose her. Her! Especially her!"
"You sound particularly bitter."
"I'm not! Well, maybe a little." He sighed. "I guessed wrongly with my investments in the war. When I bet she'd lose, she won. And then when I bet she'd win, she lost! Still, I can't be the only one who hold a dislike to that Germanian bruja, right?"
Matteo didn't answer immediately, just staring out in the distance. "I'm going to tell you something and if you dare repeat it or say I told you, I'll slit your throat and claim you had a secret boyfriend and died in a fight with him."
Not phased by threats he just said. "I'm listening!"
"I have a... friend. Who has a friend. Who knows someone who went to America recently to escape a bit of official attention. Before Antonio left, he reminded everyone not to touch Degurechaff or TvD. He was very clear about that. And then he sent word back again that anyone with any sense should run away if they even saw her shadow on the horizon."
There was a long pause. "Do you think..."
"I don't think about anything." He took another drag on his cigarette but it didn't taste as good. "What I know is that there are somethings you don't do. And messing around with her? Well, that's one of them."
* * *
[Francois Republic – Paree]
A gaggle of boys were playing mage cards with their friends in the schoolyard. They had been collecting the cards much as one would baseball cards but a set of rules had been released recently showing how you could use them to play games against each other. The colorful cards were weighed down with pebbles as the wind wanted to play with little regard for the rules, however. Given their allowances (and odd jobs), most of them had a fairly competitive deck for the past few weeks.
That was until one of them started dominating their little matches. He had quite a few rarer cards but, more importantly, he was able to create well-coordinated decks with synergistic effects and now rarely lost.
"How are getting all these cards, Adélard?! Has your father inherited a gold mine?!" His opponent threw down his hand after his third loss. "Not only do you have a strong deck, you have one designed for nearly every country from the Great War... even your Dacian deck is nothing to scoff at!"
Sensing something interesting about to happen, the others gathered around the two. The boy looked smug but the ugly expression soon turned made him contrite (or at least apparently so). "Ahhhh... I might as well tell you. I've been doing chores for my sister and she gets me cards in return."
"Don't give us that sad lie! You would have to do chores from dawn to dusk every day." The others nodded at this conclusion. "And hasn't she moved out already and is living with her new husband?"
"That depends, now doesn't it? She makes money, too, working at the railway. I've told you she's a big fan of von Degurechaff, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well she and her friends have bought Tanya's recordings and books and then they heard there would be a Tanya card in the game and they kinda went crazy. They bought so many packs! So I do chores every weekend and get to pick up a stack of cards." He got an aggrieved expression. "Unfortunately, she figured out that I can't pick the ones I want. I have to get the ones from the top and leave it to chance."
"That's brilliant! You are SO lucky! I think my cousin likes her too... maybe I'll tell her about this!"
I won't tell them that she finally got the Tanya card and her Germania decks regularly beats all my other decks. No, that'll be my secret!
Chapter 116 - It goes to 11
[Chicago]
Their 'business' conducted, the ambassadors were about to settle down to enjoy the rest of their evening but the expected next performer didn't come up on stage.
Robert scowled and muttered, "Damfool..." under his voice.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Johnson?" Tanya asked quirking an eyebrow.
He sighed and nodded. "That dumba... guy... Petey is probably drunk again. I tol' them not to give him any hooch until after his set but did they listen? Now I'm gonna have to play all night solo."
"I realize you have responsibilities here, Mr. Johnson, but I would like you at your best tomorrow."
"Sorry about that, but I gotta do what I gotta do." He sighed again and was about to get up when she stopped him.
"Perhaps I can help this once. I don't expect to be back here again. Can you introduce me to the stage manager or whoever is in charge?"
"Huh, sure, if you think it will help. But that Patrick's a stubborn sort. I don't think he'll let me off just like that."
"That shouldn't be a problem. Lead on, sir."
The owner turned out to be a rosy-cheeked man (the rosacea leading Tanya to suspect he was no stranger to the drinks he served here) who was yelling at a drenched man on the floor. The source of the water was obvious from the bucket he was holding. "Get up, you drunken goldbricker! Or I'll toss you so hard that you'll be drinking river water next!"
Blissfully unconscious, the snoring man ignored everything.
Noticing their arrival, he dropped the bucket (which hit the sleeping man's head with a Clang! but was also ignored. "What are you doing here?" he said with a reduced volume but still close to a roar. "Get on stage!"
"Sorry, but this here lady needs to talk to you first, Mr. Pat." He stepped to one side so the man could see Tanya.
"Ahem, of course. How can I help you, ma'am?" His voice immediately took on the tone more easily found in the better part of town like a chameleon.
"Mr. Johnson will be performing for me tomorrow and I can't have him exhausted tonight."
His face hardened. "That's all well and good but I need him out there tonight."
"May I propose a compromise? I can substitute for him, at least enough so that his voice isn't overly strained."
"You... you can play?"
"Assuming that upright I saw is tuned, certainly. Although I can perform a capella if not."
Patrick glanced at the black man who nodded. "You can trust her, boss, she's the real deal."
Torn, he finally gave in. "I guess I have no choice. You'd up and quit if I tried to force you, wouldn't you?"
Robert laughed softly. "I always knew you were a smart one."
The older man just waved, "Go on, go on. But don't blame me if they get rowdy!"
She smiled brilliantly. "I've dealt with tougher crowds... trust me." Without further ado, she walked onto the stage to the surprise of the audience.
One guy shouted, "I was here for booze and music, but I didn't know we'd get a show, too!" Others joined in his laughter.
Patrick took the microphone and said sternly. "Quiet down, this here is a lady and she's kindly agreed to provide us some entertainment."
"I'd like to entertainer her... just ask any of the other 'ladies' I know!"
"That's it! You're cut off. Toss 'im out boys and make room for someone else." That was handled despite the man's protests and the owner left the stage. The single spotlight turned toward the piano and caused Tanya to shine in the semi-darkness of that end of the bar.
"I would apologize for the sudden replacement but I can't stand people who can't hold their liquor so I'll just say I hope you enjoy the performance." Her voice commanded attention and few people noticed that she didn't bother using the microphone as all could hear her as clearly as if she was sitting next to them.
Scan still shows no active orbs close enough to cause a problem. This should be fine then. I guess I'll start with a bit of Elton John... She started recording on her own orb, put her hands on the keyboard, and began to play. Elton's tenor barely fit in her lower range but she could sing without strain.
What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What do I do to make you want me What have I got to do to be heard What do I say when it's all over And sorry seems to be the hardest word
There was a silence and then scattered applause soon led to the whole bar joining in! She decided to switch to an uptempo song next, using her habit of mostly alternating slow with fast. "This one is written for a man to sing, but you'll have to make do with me, I'm afraid."
"We don't care, just play!" yelled a more polite but still inebriated patron.
To everyone's shock, she stood up and started POUNDING out the song on the keyboard!
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will
But what a thrill
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!
When she finished, the applause dwarfed the previous time with people banging on their tables demanding even more!
She waved Oskar up to the stage. He looked surprised but came up. The audience looked surprised but willing to give her the benefit of doubt after that performance. Tanya whispered to him, "You can sing bass and baritone, right?"
"Yes, but, I'm no performer!"
"For this song, you don't really need to be." She quickly sang the song to him and he nodded. "Ja ja, I have it. But only because it's so simple!"
Used to public appearances, if not quite in this kind of venue, he sang into the microphone with confidence.
Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know, the last one to show
I was the last one you thought you'd see there
And I saw the surprise and the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of champagne
And I toasted you, said, "Honey, we may be through
But you'll never hear me complain"
'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be OK
Yeah, I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places
Tanya harmonized at a higher register and encouraged the patrons to sing along to the easy chorus. By the time they hit the third repetition, everyone had it down and most were singing along merrily.
She followed this up with I'm So Lonesome, I Could Cry, Joy to the World (the Three Dog Night version, of course), Piano Man, and Sweet Caroline.
Content that she had more than filled in for the unconscious 'Petey', she stood up and said. "Thank you, everyone, please have a good evening, and don't forget to buy some more drinks and tip your waitress!" There! Now just wait for it...
"No! Please, more music!" "Encore!" "Just one more song!"
...and there it is. "Well, maybe ONE more..."
She let them 'convince' her. Experience had told her to save at least one song for the encore. Thankfully that movie just came out! With only minor changes to car models, she dived into Jim Croce's most popular song.
Well the South side of Chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware
Of a man named Leroy Brown
Now Leroy more than trouble
You see he stand 'bout six foot four
All the downtown ladies call him "Treetop Lover"
All the men just call him "Sir"
And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
Meaner than a junkyard dog
Again, she encouraged everyone to sing along to the chorus and they nearly brought down the house. They were so loud that one of Chicago's finest came in. Apparently, though, with the permission of the owner and full knowledge of where he was as he went straight to the bar and got a beer.
She waved off requests for a second encore and went backstage with Oskar and Robert. "I believe you can finish your shift now, Mr. Johnson?"
"Shhhh... oot." he finished awkwardly. "You expect me to follow THAT?"
"This is the perfect time. People will want to sit and talk and drink. My music is too much of a performance and demands too much attention for this venue. Please have confidence in yourself! I don't hire the incompetent or unskilled and you have talents I never will have. We'll see you tomorrow, yes?"
"Yes ma'am!"
The ambassadors left by the back entrance and made their way back to the consulate. Tanya was well-pleased with the results and unconsciously had a smile on her face as she hummed Free Bird quietly.
"You really do enjoy performing, do you not?"
"Oh, I suppose so. Originally, it was just a means to an end and I likely would have denied it. But there's an energy to having a receptive audience that I have come to enjoy. I've always like music, of course, but going onto stage? On purpose? No, that was unexpected."
"No regrets, then? You could always change your careers as you are so young and have the wherewithal to do whatever you want."
"It's a hobby," she stressed. "Even though enjoyable, I could never see myself as a full-time celebrity. I can do it when I wish, stop when I wish, and it makes me a little money on the side. Isn't that a perfect pastime when not working?"
Oskar, well familiar with her income, might have questioned Tanya's use of the phrase 'little money' but compared to her total funds, he had to admit it was accurate. "It's very much like you that your hobby equates to many people's entire careers! I'll say no more on this, then."
"Speaking of which, I recorded that little performance and I think it will make a nice new album with a bit of cleaning."
"Even with the decidedly non-professionals included?"
She shrugged. "It's a live recording. We'll do a studio one as well but the feeling is different and people's tastes will lead them to their preferences." Tanya scowled a bit. "It'll certainly be better than that dratted Blue Dress recording."
Oskar carefully didn't admit that he rather enjoyed those songs! She had repeatedly refused to release a studio recording of any of them for some reason. That didn't stop her from making money off of it, though! "I think I understand. The raw, rather frenetic performance was quite powerful."
"Why, do you enjoy simple music, 'Prince'?" She chuckled.
"As much as you do, 'Colonel'!"
When they arrived at the Consulate, the guard on duty rushed forward to their car. "Ambassador!"
"What's the matter, Hans?" She saw the worried look on his face and hear the tone of his voice.
"There is big news and I was told to ask that you go to the Consulate HQ as soon as you arrived!"
"Telephone ahead and inform them we are on the way." She said, "I'll fly ahead. Meet me there!" Setting action to word, she stepped out and was in the air within seconds.
Unlike Berun, there were no rules against flying over the Consulate... at least none for her! She landed lightly on the balcony outside her office.
Gisela was waiting for her inside and opened the balcony door for her. "Ambassador, you're finally here!"
"Obviously. What's happening?" She closed the door and felt the warmth of the room wash over her. As a tall man, the salaryman had had no problems with even very cold weather but for Tanya? She insisted that both insulation and heating meet her high standards.
"The Bundesrat has passed the new law finally. We are waiting on the details now."
"Any information at all yet?" She sat at her desk and retrieved a pen to take notes.
Gisela shook her head. "Not much, I'm afraid. There had been dozens of proposals floated before the vote. No doubt to obfuscate which one they would finally settle on. The rumor is that it's one of the worst ones, though."
Tanya simply nodded, seemingly unperturbed. "So that's how they want to play it? Very well, we'll wait on the final details from Berun but please tell everyone to prepare for Operation Endkrieg immediately."
The assistant sucked in her breath but just said, "Yes, Ambassador! At once!"
So they think something so simple will take me down? They obviously don't realize what dangerous waters they are swimming in. Some part of her was very, very angry but somehow that just made her grin all the wider.
* * *
[Garmisch-several months ago]
Herr Sommer had been transferred far from Berun (at his own request) to the city of Garmisch, just a stone's throw from Waldstatte and Idola. It was viewed as a demotion by many and, on paper, it certainly was. But it took him far from the machinations of the Political Office and far, FAR from ANYTHING that had to do with a certain ex-Colonel so he viewed it as a quality-of-life promotion. Certainly, it was easier on his nerves.
Instead of a mid-ranked exchequer, he was now a tax agent in a remote corner of the Empire.
He sat on his porch and sipped his coffee while looking at Zugspitze in the distance. The mountain was called the 'top of Germania' and the eternal ice at its peak reflected the sunlight in a way that soothed his soul.
He had to forgo a few luxuries with his move but the relative lack of fine restaurants, the expense of good wines, and the necessity of walking because he didn't have access to a staff car had caused him to shed nearly forty pounds.
Frankly, he found the changes much more pleasant than he had expected. While he missed a few things, there were surprisingly few that he truly needed. A little more money so I could indulge in travel would be nice and a healthy bank account would make finding a wife easier, too.
What he hadn't expected was that his old life would come looking for him.
An approaching figure interrupted his musings. The man waved and inquired, "Herr Sommer?"
"Yes? That's me. Who am I speaking to?"
"That's not necessary. I'm just someone who works for a 'certain someone'."
He got up, startled. "Stay back! I did everything she said and haven't interfered with her at all!"
The man held up his hands defensively. "I mean no harm! We would just like to request certain help, possibly, in the near future."
"Do you know how much trouble I could get into?! My career was in tatters because of those funds transfers!"
"How would you like to refurbish your reputation and make a bit of money for yourself? And, before you ask, you won't be doing anything illegal, unethical, or immoral. Just doing your job efficiently. You are an agent of the tax bureau now, yes?"
Almost against his will, he was interested. Hadn't he just been thinking that a healthier bank balance would be pleasant? "Tell me more," he said cautiously.
* * *
[Chicago – Germanian consulate]
The full text of the Fairness in Taxation law had finally arrived on the autotelegraph. Oskar had already arrived and he and Tanya read it in turn. Isabelle kept the coffee coming while they absorbed the large document.
He raised his eyebrows. "Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation so carefully designed to attack one company. Every single clause is bad for TvD in general and you specifically."
She nodded. "Rather amazing, isn't it? They took the most extreme of all the options possible. Even I thought this was just a trial balloon to test the waters but they went ahead with it. At least it made our response somewhat simpler though harder."
He grinned wolfishly. "Sometimes the simplest things are the most difficult. I take it you'll be heading back to the Fatherland, then?"
"With a few stops on the way, of course. Francois, specifically Arene. I had hoped to visit the Commonwealth as well but the Bundestag threw that plan out the window. They can be dealt with later, thankfully. Churchbull is well-named but I think he can be reasoned with once our interests align."
"Any last-minute instructions?"
"Just stay on course. I think Canadia will fall in behind the Unified States. If you can swing Mexica to our side for the rail contracts, we'll push forward the North American combined rail proposal. The President said he'd endorse it once we get a commitment from the other two, even unofficially."
"Oh? I hadn't heard that we had that much support from him."
"We're about to make the Unified States a LOT of money very shortly. We're his best friend right now!" She winced a bit. "In a fair world, we'd be making that money, not them. But I like to think of it as a necessary loss or even an investment in the future. Goodwill and all that."
"It would be the most expensive bribe in the history of the world, ha ha!"
"Please! Bribes are illegal inducements. This was just friendly 'advice' to a like-minded man. Completely different things."
"So he'll be inclined to take your 'advice' in the future, then?"
"Advice that turns to gold is always the most pleasant."
Felite came in with a worried look. "Your bags are packed for the trip."
"Good work but I won't be leaving just yet. Two days, say, so make sure my tickets are purchased. If there isn't a boat available in that time frame, I can probably hop on one of our container ships and call it an inspection run." She stood up and stretched. "That's enough for tonight, I think. Everyone rest well and we'll see what happens once I'm back on Europan soil."
* * *
[Chicago consulate – next morning]
Robert Johnson was a bit nervous about his visit since a lot of money (to him) was riding on this. But she said I already had the job, right? This is just to show me... something. What the hell is that something?!
The gate guard, a cute Germanian woman of all things, waved him in after hearing his name. "Oh, you are expected, Mr. Johnson! Just take the silver trolley to get to the consulate the quickest."
"Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it."
"No problem, just doing my job. I hope you enjoy your stay at the consulate, the Happiest Place on Earth!"
He was a bit dazed as he ambled toward the trolleys. Without trouble, he boarded the proper one and sat back to enjoy what amounted to a tour of the consulate. Huh. Nice place she has here. Clean as my gramma's guest parlor, I'd say! This was high praise from him as his grandmother preserved that room like the president or pope might drop in for a visit.
The crowds were already starting to build up, despite the early hour and the trolley occasionally had to ring people out of the way. Most knew to stay off the tracks, however.
Lots o' smiles here... huh. This might actually BE the happiest place on Earth! I think people live here but everyone is acting like they are on vacation. I guess most of them are visitors? Isn't this supposed to be mostly an embassy or something like that? This reminds me of, whatchamacallit, a resort town?
He hopped off as they got near the consulate and the gate guards let him in after confirming his identity. A cute maid with a Francois accent guided him to a conservatory that had a variety of instruments in it, including not one but THREE grand pianos. He was trying to puzzle the reason for that when Tanya arrived. "Welcome! Thanks for coming, Mr. Johnson."
"Well, you're the boss so it makes sense, don't it?"
"There are a surprising number of people without sense so I'm glad you aren't among their number. Let me show you why I invited you hear today. Please try to keep an open mind as this will be unlike anything you have ever heard."
Robert's imagination was racing around like a dog looking for a trail but not having and scent to work from. It must be a guitar, right?
She turned on the lights to a mini-stage that came with the conservatory. Curtains were drawn back (this time with the help of maids to the sides) to reveal a gleaming instrument on a special stand. It IS a guitar but... not? No soundhole. And are those bridges? Why so many of them? Knobs? What kind of guitar has knobs?!
"This, my friend with the talented fingers, is an electric guitar." She pointed at the mystery bridges. "These are pickups for vibrations and this level determines which pickups are listening to the strings either one or two at a time. The cable leads to an amplifier that takes the vibrations and, well, amplifies them so they are easier to hear." She pointed out
what the knobs do and how they affect things. "But all that means nothing, right? It's all about it sounds."
She strapped on the guitar and turned on the amp. "I have to apologize but I pre-recorded the other parts. I may know how to play the piano but it's hard to do that as well as play the drums and so on! Have a seat and enjoy." She nodded and Felite started the music as he sat.
The drums kicked off the piece and then the piano came in with a simple triple-A notes setting up the guitar to come while she kept the beat with her head.
Robert felt a shiver race up his back at the first chord and he jumped up in surprise! What the ever-loving hell is that?! The music hit him like a hammer, literally assaulting his senses and demanding to be heard!
Tanya just smiled and continued to play but didn't bother to sing, just letting him experience how the instruments interacted. She played up until the first guitar solo but flubbed and then stopped with a laugh. "I'm sorry, but my fingers can't keep up with what's in my head."
"Th-that thing." He pointed a nervous finger. "Kin I give it a go? How was that solo supposed to go then?"
She explained the key changes and slides. "How about you and I and Felite? She's decent on the drums but not professional quality quite yet."
They went through the hard parts a few times before he nodded. "Time to jam!" He played a power chord, unlike his normally style and sound filled the room.
She grinned and they ran through the song together. Yeah. Once through and he's already better than me... a LOT better than me. Well, that's why I hired him, right?
On their second attempt, they nailed Hold the Line. After that came Johnny B. Goode and then she let him play some of his own music, modifying it to the new instrument. He finally, reluctantly, stopped. His hands were shaking: not from exertion but from excitement. "That's what you want me to play? And you'll PAY me to do it?"
"Certainly. Well, that one is mine but there's another one waiting for you... in Germania. I hope you like to travel!"
Chapter 117 - Hands across the water
[Atlantic Ocean]
As it turned out, the fastest reasonable comfortable ship actually was one of the recently-commissioned container ships. The design was much simpler than a standard ship and they were designed for efficiency. One accidental feature was there was more than the usual amount of space for the crew and passengers. Luxurious it wasn't, but there was plenty of room and the cook was willing to let Tanya's maids have access to the kitchen to prepare coffee and snacks between meals.
She spent her time planning her mini-tour of Europa and feeding Johnson song after song from her repertoire that only lacked the instrument and performer to bring them to life. He seemed to be a man driven, barely eating and having to be forced to sleep. Only years of hard-earned callouses kept his fingers from being torn apart (though Tanya gave him a handful of new guitar picks that they planned to sell at the same time as the new guitars).
Felite's skills on the drums advanced as well, possibly making her the first female drummer that Tanya had met or even heard about in this new life. The flighty maid had become quite focused on her new skills, though rather less than Robert! Like the guitarist, Tanya gave her tips and drum riffs she remembered so that she could help introduce countless rock songs that only lived in her head right now.
She couldn't spend all her time making music, however, there was the Germanian situation to think about. But, to the untrained eye, she was simply relaxing. She sipped a fresh cup of copy while Mercedes was carefully brushing her hair. Perhaps something more daring? Two side braids with a natural fall. As long as it's professional, she won't care, yes? Then, the answer is yes!
Mercedes chatted while she worked, her hands and eyes completely separate from her mind and voice. "I do not understand all the law details, but you don't seem concerned so it is a small matter?" she asked in Ispagnan.
Tanya responded similarly as she was using this trip to firm up her usage of the language. "I wouldn't call it small. Likely it is the most significant legislation in Germanian history since the surrender... and for decades before that. One of the advantages of a monarchy run by someone who doesn't like radical changes is stability. People were used to that and even those who weren't supporters of the Kaiser are unsettled by this."
"And yet you are not nervous at all!" Ribbons? No, no, not yet. It's too soon.
She shrugged. "What's to be afraid of? It's just money in the end. Two years ago or even a year ago it might have stopped my plans but now it's just a matter of how bloody is it going to get."
"Bloody? Dios mio! Will there be another war?!"
"Figuratively, Meche. In this case, the blood spilled will be gold and the one who bleeds out first, loses." She smiled in a way that had been known to make strong men blanch. "I'm quite good at making the other guy bleed MORE."
Mercedes nodded, satisfied that her employer had the situation under control. Braids for now and then a decorative hair clip... perhaps a ribbon weave for days off? Soon, yes, soon!
* * *
Robert was playing a soulful version of Papa was a Rolling Stone without accompaniment. "...wherever he lay his hat was home. And when he died, all he left us was alone!"
Sitting next to him were two large stacks of musical scores, one considerably larger than the other though neither was insignificant. He had been pulling pieces off of the smaller stack and playing them like a drunk with an endless supply of his favorite drink.
A not-quite off-duty German sailor had been listening to him in the makeshift studio, delighted to hear so many new songs. His Anglish was spotty but he had a nice voice and joined along on some of the songs. "Vy ist, vhat ist?" He patted the smaller stack. "Small, yah?"
The musician had learned to speak slowly and the sailor was usually able to pick up on his meaning. "Yeah, this pile here? It's mostly blues and jazz... my kinda music. Some fun stuff in there, let me tell you!" He looked at the folders of music. Each folder had a code name on it... probably to just keep things organized. One was "Charlie", the next was "Dizzy" and the one after that had the oddball name, "Thelonius". "She called this 'Bebop' and it does have a bouncier beat." He sat back and grinned. "She likes her music fast, and she likes it hard."
"Oh, yah! I like it, too!" He started singing Rock Around the Clock through phonetic memory.
Robert joined him on the guitar and sang along. Before they had hit even the third song, half of the sailors on the ship were joining in. What they lacked in musical talent, they more than made up for in enthusiasm and volume.
A long hallway away, Tanya was looking over the latest radio-telegrams from Germania. Her ships always had the latest communications technology so that she could coordinate their logistics to the minute if necessary. Container ships, especially before the industry had fully converted, counted on having an open berth to unload and then load the proper cargo in the most efficient manner possible.
Everything's going as expected. But this is just the first shoe... it all depends on how they are going to throw it. Honestly, I'd rather take the hit now so I can choose the proper response. She paused and put down her paperwork. "What is that I'm hearing? Is that... Heartbreak Hotel? Come with me, Felite, I'm curious."
They followed the sound until they found a squad of sailors surrounding Mr. Johnson belting out an enthusiastic version of the Presley classic. She listened, unseen, and was impressed that Robert had managed to interpret both the piano and bass sections to rhythm guitar. Well, improv is part of why I hired him.
Finally, one of the sailors noticed her and he snapped to attention. "Ma'am!" The others quickly followed though, it has to be said, not Robert.
"At ease. I apologize for interrupting your jam session but it was hard to miss!"
The abashed sailor scratched his head. "That's good of you to say. We're just passing time, as it were." The rest looked rather uncomfortable as well. Whether
The guitarist strummed an A-chord and, attention gotten said, "Since you're here, why not join in, Miss Degurechaff?"
"Hmmm... There's one I wouldn't mind trying. Just since I'm here." She flipped through the second stack and came up with a score. "Felite and you and you." She pointed at two sailors who had better voices and could read Anglish. "Let's try this one. The harmony is important and I'll sing the soprano, of course."
After a little practice with the guitarist, they started to sing.
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
The harmony wasn't perfect... none of the other three were professionals, but it was enough so that the rest could feel the magic in the song. The sailors had only today ever heard of rock music (even folk rock like this) but they were instantly enraptured.
Tanya smiled which the others took as pleasure over the performance. Oh, yeah, the world is ready for Rock'n'Roll!
* * *
[Ispagna]
They arrived at Santander in record time. It was no coincidence that this port was chosen as the Selene line had made it that city. The particular combination of ship and destination were carefully selected to minimize the length of the journey.
Of course, there was someone waiting for her. At the dock was a solitary figure waiting with several cabs to take them to the train station. Barely suppressing a squeal of pleasure, she waved to them and hugged Tanya as soon as she disembarked. "Tanya! You're here at last!"
"That I am, Visha, that I am." She found hugging her former adjutant back surprisingly natural. "Shall we be off? There's much to do and less time every second."
"Of course." The two took the first cab while the others piled into the second with the luggage.
Tanya glanced at the driver and recognized him as one her Ispagnan employees. "Any news from Berun?"
Visha shook her head. "No, not yet. But they are certainly planning to start something soon. They've called in agents from around the Empire so whatever they are going to do, they are going out in force."
To her surprise, Tanya smiled. "Oh, that's EXCELLENT."
"Really? I mean, why is that? Surely it would be better if we could prepare longer and if they didn't try something... overwhelming."
Tanya sat back in the comfortable seat as they were going down the docks in the cab. "Under other circumstances, that would be true. The essence here is that they need our money but they have to make seem legitimate. Much of our wealth is overseas so if we just pulled up stakes, we could just abandon Germania for the Unified States, Idola or even Francois. It would hurt a lot but it's possible."
She tapped on the shaft of her cane. "But if they take hold of our businesses and either bleed us, they can pull our international funds back to Berun. Cripple our operations. Perhaps even install their own people to 'run' them if they can convince a judge we are non-compliant with the new law. This is what we need to avoid if at all possible."
"How will we avoid it, though?"
"The fact that they are going to flood our businesses with auditors, tax agents and the like means they are going to be punitive. But they need a casus belli or they could lose popular support for their actions. The reason I need them to be so extreme is simple and that's why your news has delighted me." She laid out her reasons in a few quick sentences.
Visha inhaled sharply. "Ah... Endkrieg. It makes perfect sense now."
"Indeed! The Political Office is going to have a very, very bad time soon!"
* * *
[Berun – The Bundesrat]
To many, the Bundesrat seemed simultaneously less powerful and removed from the gritty struggles of the the Bundestag. The latter hammered out new legislation and spending bills, sometimes in an entertainingly contentious way but then they would eventually pass those potential plans up to the Bundesrat.
At that point, the political and practical issues would have been mostly worked out so many were approved immediately though, occasionally, they would reject the potential laws or request revisions. This allowed them to maintain a distance from the process while still being involved. To the public, though, since they were only part of the process and couldn't generate new bills themselves, they seemed less important... and certainly less interesting!
Still, sometimes they would put a finger down and say 'Stop.' Such as in the current case.
One legislator was the first to object and his finger was literally holding down the paperwork. "This 'Fairness in Taxation' bill is... interesting. But why the unseemly urgency? While the reparations are pressing, goodness knows we talk about little else these days, it hardly rises to the level of an emergency. It has international implications, after all."
The representative from the Bundestag responded strongly. "Isn't the matter urgent? The reparations are bleeding us dry and the hungry fill the streets. Public aid is stretched to the breaking point... and beyond!"
Another man interrupted mildly. "Not to minimize those issues, but to my observation, hasn't that lessened recently? More people are working, new orphanages are taking care of the parentless, and there are even new aid groups to help both the crippled and able-bodied survive these times."
"Isn't that part of the issue, though? Everything takes gold and where is the gold coming from? Wouldn't it be better if a public organization, without any suspicious ulterior motives, handles this for the good of all?" He tapped his own copy of the legislation. "The Fatherland needs help now and not at the whims of these ultra-rich corporations."
After several hours of debate disguised as discussion, a soft-spoken member of the Bundesrat who rarely spoke interceded. "Perhaps a compromise is in order? The problem facing us all devolves to a single issue, does it not?"
"The reparations, of course, but how does that lead to a compromise?" The legislator was sorely tired and in ill-humor. He seemed to be barely holding his temper after such a long time.
"Emergencies are by their nature temporary things. If not temporary, then they are simply a fact of life. We have been treating these reparations as something eternal but aren't they supposed to be paid off eventually?"
The other man just scowled. Even keeping up the current payments was crippling the government and there was a cumulative effect of the draining that was cascading through the entire economy. "So what are you suggesting?"
"We will insert a sunset clause in the law. Once the reparations are paid off, the emergency is over and the law will cease to be enforced. Since the 'A' and 'B' bonds are mandated and the 'C' bonds can be put off since they are interest free and have no payment deadline, we can just have the law lapse once we've paid the required first two types. At that time, there will be no emergency to justify the law and the sunset provision will make the revocation automatic."
Another man chimed in, "Oh that seems reasonable! Even if a bit unfair to the companies this will affect, as a temporary measure, there won't be the same resistance to it. Certainly, anyone objecting to helping when they themselves are doing well will seem unreasonable at best!"
One of the older men tapped a cigar ash into a jade ashtray. "Perhaps a provision that allows anyone to submit additional funds toward the reparation debt. Call it a prepayment on their future taxes or somesuch. That way it seems like this is more, how shall we say, voluntary?"
Bruning's proxy in deliberation thought quickly. This was outside of the original proposal, but doesn't it work better for us? The consensus is moving in that direction. And if we don't agree, then it will go back to the Bundestag and that could take weeks of re-negotiations. Plus that would give them time to perhaps block it there rather than the surprise enactment we planned. Mind made up, he cleared his throat. "That seems like a wonderful compromise! It's truly heartening how many minds, coming together, can product such wisdom!"
* * *
[Francois Republic]
The train ride was smooth and on time (and heavens help the ones responsible if the president herself had a less than stellar experience!). Tanya and Visha spent the entire time catching up on things they had each experienced. Tanya's were far more varied and interesting while Visha mostly stuck to business matters that were difficult to encapsulate in rather terse reports to the Consulate.
She did, however, have something else to relate. "Oh, I forgot to mention. Your hobby has inspired me! I have been visiting all the eateries back in the city... I'm hoping to have visited all of them someday."
"Does... does that really count as a hobby?"
Visha, unoffended, just nodded vigorously. "Certainly! If one is spending time doing something you love, doesn't that meet the definition?"
Tanya thought briefly and decided her friend was correct. "That does sound entertaining. I wouldn't mind joining you to see if we can ferret out a few gems in Berun. Certainly it will take time to wash out the memories of years of K-brot and moldy potatoes."
She clapped her hands together. "Excellent! I'll tell Zollinger that we will have another joining us."
"Hmm? Who's she?"
"Oh, it's a he. Ignatz Zollinger. He's an officer in one of the finance houses we do business with but he shares a love for fine dining."
Tanya almost spit out her drink. "You're dating?!"
Visha laughed. "Oh, no, no no! He just enjoys fine dining like we do. There's no way we are dating."
Like hell they aren't! No matter what Visha thinks, that wolf is dating her! I'm going to have to investigate this gustatory lothario and make sure he not up to no good! "I'm looking forward to it." She sipped her wine, plotting while letting the sweet Sauternes mellow her mood again. "But first, we need to finish our business in the Republic."
"So we are finally finishing that?"
Tanya nodded. "Indeed. It's time for us to go back to Arene."