Ragnarock

by Stephen Kenson

  "You could have read them last night, like everyone else." Trouble said with a smile. She took a datachip from one of the pockets in her briefcase and handed it to him. Talon slipped it into the slot next to the display screen on the back of the chair in front of him, then pulled out a length of cable from under the dataport and snapped one end into the jack behind his ear. Full hypertext data unfolded in front of him, allowing Talon to review the files Trouble had compiled on the German Alliance and the Rhine-Ruhr Megaplex. Talon had never been to Germany before, and it paid to be prepared. He downloaded the basic German language files into his headware memory, as the program recommended, then began scanning through the history files. As he expected, they were very complete.

  The German Alliance was formed in 2045, out of the dozen or so nation-states left over from the breakup of the Republic of Germany. The first decade of the twenty-first century saw no end of trouble for Germany: economic collapse of the industrial Ruhr area, ecological disasters in the North Sea and other regions as poisonous chemicals from landfills and dumping grounds leeched into the soil and water. The unrest created by these disasters led to the formation of new political groups agitating for change in the German government. The numerous rival factions eventually managed to divide political control of the country among them in a fragile coalition that lasted only a few short years before collapsing into chaos, widespread strikes, and country-wide riots.

  A military junta briefly seized control of the German government, before the first wave of Virally Induced Toxic Allergy Syndrome swept across Europe. The government clamped down on the riots that followed, and millions of people died from the deadly disease. It was followed closely by the coming of the Awakening in late 2011, when the power of magic returned to the world. Creatures out of myth and legend appeared in the wilderness and in desolate areas of the cities. Changeling children were born to human parents, the births initially blamed on the toxic contamination of soil and water. Most importantly, some individuals began to display "paranormal" abilities, the ability to use magic.

  These events helped accelerate the decay of German society. The government, echoing an earlier era, was forced to build a wall around the city of Berlin and the surrounding area to contain the violence and increasing terrorist attacks on the nation's capitol. Eventually, the government was forced to abandon Berlin altogether, giving the city over to anarchy and moving the seat of government to Hanover, in the North German League. Decades later, Berlin was still a virtual anarchy, a haven for political dissidents, smugglers, and criminals, along with all the many inhabitants unable to escape the grip of the city's economic depression.

  In 2031, the Russians attacked Europe, desperate for the resources necessary to shore up their failing economy. The EuroWars lasted for years, with the various German states managing to unite to fight off the Russian army, with aid from their few European allies. Eventually, the conflict drew in most of the nations of Europe, until the Russian advance was broken in 2033.

  The EuroWars were the culmination of all the disasters Germany had suffered over the past three decades. The nation fragmented into numerous small nation-states, each with its own interests and agenda. Some of these states were dominated by new races of metahumans who emerged during the Awakening; elves in the Duchy of Pomorya, trolls in the Kingdom of the Black Forest. Berlin remained a "free city." homeland of anarchy. It took many years for the battered remnants of the old Republic of Germany to pull themselves back together.

  One of the driving forces of the reunification was Saeder-Krupp, the world's largest megacorporation, which grew from an alliance of powerful corporations in the early twenty-first century. Saeder-Krupp's headquarters was in the Northrhine-Ruhr region of Germany, in the city-sprawl of Essen. Saeder-Krupp was run by Lofwyr, the great dragon who first appeared shortly after the Awakening to stake a claim to power in Europe. Through a series of brilliant stock manipulations, aided by an astounding store of gold and silver, the dragon leveraged a buyout of several major European corporations, bringing them together to form the Saeder-Krupp corporate empire.

  One of the corporation's stated goals was the restoration of a shattered Europe, particularly Germany. Aided by Saeder-Krupp's economic clout, the German states managed to pull together and form the Allianz Deutscher Lander, the Alliance of German States, to replace the old Federal Republic of Germany. Since then, the Alliance remained reasonably stable and devoted to Lofwyr's goal of European Restoration.

  Of course, there were those who didn't agree with the goal of rebuilding Europe according to the designs of politicians, corporations, and the dragon who dominated them. Europe—Germany, in particular—was rife with policlubs that opposed the Restoration and supported a policy of Europa Dividus, which called for maintaining the independence and individual cultures of the various European nationstates. Many groups even opposed the German Alliance, preferring the independent anarchy of its member states. Some of the policlubs used terrorism to make their point, including Alt Welt, the "Old World." That was the policlub to which the man seen talking with Dr. Goronay was believed to belong. The data Trouble dug up on Alt Welt was a good seven years out of date. They were believed to be defunct, or nearly so, but apparently they weren't.

  The Rhine-Ruhr Megaplex, home to the world headquarters of Saeder-Krupp, was a microcosm of Germany itself: a collection of independent cities, fused together by mutual need and circumstance. Home to some 25 million people, centering around the cities of Cologne, Diisseldorf, Dortmund, and Essen, the home of the massive Saeder-Krupp arcology. The megaplex dwarfed the sprawling metroplexes of North America, unless you subscribed to the theory that the entire east coast of the UCAS, from DeeCee to Boston, was really nothing more than a single city-sprawl, broken up into neighborhoods. Even the vast Seattle sprawl was tiny by comparison to the Rhine-Ruhr, having slightly more than a tenth its population. Finding one man in a giant city of 25 million wasn't going to be easy. Talon realized that Brackhaus was definitely going to get his money's worth.

  The captain's voice caught Talon's attention as he finished going through his spiel.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are about fifteen minutes from our destination at Dusseldorf's Lohausen Airport. We will be landing shortly. Thank you for choosing UCASAir. On behalf of your flight crew, we would like to welcome you to the German Alliance. Please enjoy your trip."

  6

  The view across the Baltic Sea was breathtaking from the balcony of Duke Jaromar's private residence in Konigssthul, but Speren had no time to truly appreciate its beauty. He was on a mission for his Prince, and his duty took precedence over all other considerations. Still, the view was a pleasant one, and made the waiting he was forced to endure more bearable.

  He'd made his way to Pomoryan, the small duchy in the northernmost reaches of the German Alliance, solely to speak with Jaromar. Although carefully neutral in political matters, the elven-controlled Duchy of Pomoryan had been known to trade favors with the Princes of Tir Tairngire in the past. Of course, they also forged political alliances with Tír na nÓg, Tir Tairngire's political rival across the Atlantic, in the nearby British Isles. Tír na nÓg was considerably closer to Pomoryan, but to date, the tiny Duchy had not attracted too much attention from either elven power, which seemed to be the duke's preference.

  "Herr Silverblade, my apologies for keeping you waiting." came a voice from behind Speren. He turned to see the duke himself standing in the open doorway onto the balcony. Duke Jaromar Grief was tall, like most elves, with a thin, almost emaciated form. His dark hair was neatly combed back from a high forehead that spoke of intellect, and his small beard was neatly trimmed. He was dressed in clothing nearly as archaic as Speren's own: a deep blue frock coat over a blue waistcoat stamped with gold leaf designs. Foamy lace showed at his collar and cuffs. He wore tight-fitting pants tucked into polished black riding boots, which were spattered with mud. From that, and the riding crop he held in his hands, Speren concluded that the duke had been out on a
morning ride.

  Jaromar touched the fingers of his left hand to his chest and bowed slightly by way of greeting. Speren copied the gesture, bowing a bit deeper, as was fitting when greeting someone of the duke's stature. Jaromar was not as powerful as the Princes of Speren's homeland, but he was still the ruler of his own kingdom, and that made him worthy of respect.

  "Please, Your Grace," Speren replied, "it is I who apologize for intruding on your household. However, I have come about a matter of some urgency."

  "I am always pleased to assist my noble cousins of the Land of Promise." the duke replied smoothly. "Please, won't you come in and join me? I was about to have breakfast." Speren nodded and followed as the duke went back inside.

  The manor of Konigssthul was nowhere near as splendid as the Royal Palace in Tir Tairngire, nor even as lavish as the duke's official residence in the capital city of Safinitz, but it was still quite large, and charming in its own way. As they walked, the duke described to Speren how the manor house had been restored from an earlier existing structure not long after he had assumed the role of duke. The house was surrounded by acres of land along the shores of the Baltic Sea, and the duke kept a stable of horses, for he was an avid equestrian.

  Jaromar led Speren into a dining room dominated by a long hardwood table, easily capable of seating two dozen. Crystal chandeliers hung from the plastered ceiling, and one wall was dominated by a tall tapestry hanging from a brass rod; on it was woven a rampant griffin in gold on a field of deepest blue. The curtains were drawn back from the high windows at the far end of the room, filling the chamber with light. Speren could already see that the table was set for two, with crisp white linens, fine china, and silverware.

  A human servant wearing the duke's livery appeared with a bootjack to help remove Jaromar's muddied riding boots, exchanging them for a pair of soft house slippers. Speren had already surrendered his sword upon entering the manor. He now yielded up his cloak to the servant, who disappeared through one of the many doors surrounding the room as the duke settled himself at the head of the table and gestured toward the chair at his right.

  "Please, join me." he said, and Speren sat down. Another servant brought covered platters and trays of food to the table and began serving as the duke leaned back in his chair and regarded Speren.

  "So, then, what brings you to my humble home, Herr Silverblade?"

  "You may call me Speren, Your Grace."

  "Very well, and you may call me Jaromar. We are all brothers here, after all." The duke dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand. "Do try the sausages." he said. "My cook prepares them specially."

  Speren looked down at his plate. The slices of sausage, poached eggs covered in creamy sauce, and roasted potatoes were hardly the sort of food he was used to at home. He found it a wonder that Jaromar maintained his emaciated physique if this was his regular fare. Speren took up knife and fork and began neatly cutting up the food while he talked.

  "Very well, Jaromar. My Prince, Jenna Ni'Ferra, has dispatched me on a matter of some . . . delicacy." he began. "Of late, word has reached her of the activities of a political organization in the German Alliance, an organization opposed to the interests of Tir Tairngire, a group known as Alt Welt."

  The duke dabbed at his lip with a linen napkin. "Yes, yes, I know of them. Political agitators opposed to the Reconstruction, though hardly of any great concern. I find it surprising that Prince Jenna would consider them any threat to the Land of Promise."

  "Hardly a threat." Speren said. "As you say, they are only a small group. But one of their political targets is Saeder-Krupp, and that is of concern to the Council of Princes."

  "Because of the dragon." the duke said with a distinct note of distaste, putting aside his fork. "Why does Jenna Ni'Ferra send her liege man to investigate something connected with Lofwyr? Surely the dragon has servants and watchers enough to deal with a problem in his own back yard."

  "I cannot say, Jaromar. I can tell you only what my Prince has commanded me to do. She requires more information about the organization, and I have been dispatched to gather it. I have been told that you have assisted us in the past, and I can assure you that she would be most appreciative of your help in this matter."

  Jaromar sat back in his chair and considered. For a moment, Speren thought he'd given away too much. Certainly Jaromar was suspicious, but as yet he had nothing to put with his suspicions to come to a conclusion, and there was a great deal more to be gained from cooperation than there was from obstinacy. Additionally, although Speren had not said so, it was well known that Jenna was no supporter of Lofwyr, nor was Jaromar. If the Prince wanted information on political dissidents opposed to Lofwyr's plans for European Restoration, it could only be as a thorn in the dragon's side. Speren, of course, had no such designs, but let Jaromar think what he pleased, so long as it got him what he needed.

  The duke's thin face split into an oily smile. "Of course, I would be delighted to assist the inquires of the Prince in any way I can." he said smoothly. "I have friends in other parts of the Alliance. I will contact them and see what I can learn that may assist you."

  "My thanks." Speren said, inclining his head in a slight nod. "First I will need whatever information you can provide about the organization's history and its known members."

  "Of course, of course." the duke said, with a wave of his hand. "I'll see that you're provided with whatever it is you require. Anything to assist Prince Jenna.

  I hope the information I have will be useful in fulfilling your duties, paladin."

  Speren speared a slice of sausage on his plate and raised it in salute of the duke.

  "I'm sure it will be, Jaromar. I'm sure it will."

  7

  "Alt Welt." Trouble said. "German policlub, meaning 'Old World.' Supporters of a policy known as 'Europa Dividus,' keeping the nations of Europe separate and independent following the EuroWars. Fairly active on-line with information sites, various political tracts, and email lists to organize political protests, things like that."

  The team was settled into the small condoplex in Diisseldorf, going over the data Trouble had gathered on their target. Trouble stood near the head of the table in the small dining room, the flexible viewscreen of her cyberdeck rolled out to display various images and datafiles as she talked. She directed the images through the slim fiber-optic cable slotted into the jack behind her ear.

  Talon, Boom, and Hammer sat around the table, listening carefully to the report. Each of them had already reviewed the information at least once before leaving Boston or on the flight to Europe, but this was the first time they'd gone over it all as a group.

  "And no indications Alt Welt has any ties to terrorist organizations?" Talon asked. That was part of the data that puzzled him.

  "Nothing definite." Trouble said. "On the surface, they're just another policlub."

  "Yeah, and the Universal Brotherhood was just another crackpot religion." Boom muttered to himself.

  Trouble shrugged. "That's the thing. If Alt Welt does have terrorist ties, they're pretty well hidden. I did as much digging as I could in the Matrix, but the information there is limited. The German grid is a hopeless patchwork anyway. Finding useful data among all the government servers is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I might be able to dig up more now that we're here."

  "So, we still don't know why a group like Alt Welt would be interested in whatever it is Professor Goronay's got to sell." Talon mused.

  "Well, considering we don't even know what he's selling, that's not saying much." Hammer put in.

  "True." Talon said. "Okay, put Alt Welt on hold for a while. What's the scan on Goronay?"

  Trouble blinked for a second, her eyes refocusing, and a new image appeared on the cyberdeck's screen. It was a head-shot of an older man, his hair gone nearly white and thinning above a broad forehead. Bushy brows nearly met above clear, intelligent blue eyes framed by wire-rimmed glasses. He had a full beard, the same color as his hair, and a fai
rly prominent nose. His craggy features were weathered and ruddy from years spent in the outdoors, and Talon could almost see him with a pipe clenched between his teeth as he spoke or lectured.

  "Alexi Goronay." Trouble said. "Professor of Archeology at the University of Kiev, Russia. Age sixty-one. born in St. Petersburg, educated in Moscow and Kiev. The picture is from the University records. Goronay has worked at different archeological sites all over the world, and is considered an expert in his field. Has, among other things, published papers postulating the existence of magic-using cultures before the Awakening."

  "Interesting theory." Talon said.

  "Are you saying Goronay thinks magic existed before the Awakening?" Hammer asked.

  Trouble jumped in before Talon could say anything. "Lots of people do, apparently. Archeologists like Goronay believe that a lot of myths and legends about magic, along with all the magical lore that existed before the Awakening, is left over from some distant time in the past when magic worked. For some reason, the magic went away, and all we were left with were the myths, stories, and traditions handed down over the centuries until 2011, when the magic came back."

  "You have been reading." Talon said with a grin.

  "Naturally." Trouble replied. "You don't have to be Awakened to pick up on the theory. Even we mundanes can do it."

  "Touché."

  "So why'd the magic go away?" Boom asked. "And why did it come back?"

  Trouble glanced at Talon, who just shrugged. "Who knows?" she said. "It's only a theory, and nobody can really explain it. But then, nobody can really explain why magic started working again in 2011, either."

  "There's all sorts of theories," Talon said, "and most of them involve a lot of chaos mathematics and drek like that. Suffice to say that right now nobody really has a clue. It's just the way things are."

  "Magic." Boom gave a slight shudder. "You just never know, where it's concerned."