by William Lee
“Yes”
“Very well, that’s close enough. Have them assembled in the briefing room in one hour,” Nox grumbled.
“Yes Sir,” The Admiral stood to attention and started to say Heil Hitler but caught himself.
“We can dispense with the ‘Heil Hitler’ at this point,” Nox muttered, and he waived off the Admiral.
Nox sat in the empty Admiral’s office for the next hour, contemplating what he would say to the 200 plus men. Nox was not only a warrior, but a cunning politician, as well. He understood that his alien forces were not strong enough to rule this world alone; he needed allies. He needed allies that were not so eager for war that they could wait for the perfect time. His plan was to rebuild, not the Third Reich, that brand was damaged beyond repair; no, he was going to rebuild in a new place, create a new world order.
The people on the list that Nox was assembling were not war hawks or greedy politicians; they were the best scientists and engineers he could manage to recruit. These were not just any scientists; they were scientists that he had either worked with or that knew of his existence. No one in that room would be shocked to see him.
Nox had 173 seats to fill on the recently reported missing U-boats. He hoped to convince 173 of the 217 men to join him. It would be unfortunate to launch the U-boats with empty seats. Nox did not need the scientists and engineers for their knowledge of human technology. Nox was more intelligent than any human that had ever lived, and understood the intricacies of technology centuries beyond what human scientists could even imagine. Earth’s technology had not even developed enough to create basic tools to fix and repair the equipment Nox had brought with him from his home planet. Nox had to train humans on the basic concepts of his technology so that they could start planning to build factories that could produce advanced equipment. When you are stranded on a deserted island, you must invent an ax before you can chop down a tree. Then, you must make rope before you can tie the timbers together to build a raft. In this little parable, Nox felt like he was still swimming to the island.
Nox walked into the crowded conference room. The room was hot and stuffy from having over 200 people jammed into it. The group was a mixture of Nazi officers, yard workers, welders, planners, engineers, shipbuilders, and scientists. The walls were dark gray concrete. The men sat on metal chairs with no padding. Nox walked down the center aisle between the men, toward the front of the room. He had not made the same mistake he made in the Vosges Mountains; he was wearing full body armor and an interactive helmet with head up display vizor. At the front of the room was a wooden desk and on the wall before the men was a nautical chart of the Elbe River and coastal Germany.
Nox stood before the seated men. He was not nervous. He was hopeful, hopeful that he could convince 173 of these men to go to Antarctica to start over. The room was silent; you could hear a pen drop as he turned to face the group.
“Most of you have seen me around this base. Some of you have worked with me on developing new technologies for the war effort. If you have not seen or worked with me, you are here because I believe you are important to my mission.
For those of you that do not know me: I am Nox Bellator. I am not of this planet. The planet I come from circles a star that is over thirty thousand light years from Earth. We refer to ourselves as Ondagra, and our home world is called Botacoure. There are hundreds like me, right here on Earth, many of my fellow Ondagra are colonizing Antarctica.
“This war is almost over. The British and Americans have surrounded what remains of this city. They have us outnumbered and outgunned. The Soviets are advancing on Berlin, and it will fall in the next few days. The British, French, Soviets, and Americans will want revenge for the millions slaughtered by the Nazis. German soldiers and officers will be executed by the thousands; millions of your women will be violated and tortured. This is not a hypothetical; this is here, at our doorstep, right now.
I am offering to each one of you an opportunity to escape the penance of the fallen; but it comes with a price, a steep price. I have four U-boats sitting in the pen at this moment; each one has been retrofitted to carry 100 seamen and passengers to Antarctica, where we will start over, building a new world.
Many of you believe that Antarctica is nothing but millions of square miles of ice and sub-zero temperatures. You may even believe that humans could not survive the cold climate of Antarctica, but you would be wrong. Several years ago, we discovered a vast underground cavern, larger than the entire country of Germany. In the center of this massive underground cavern we discovered a warm water lake, as big as a sea. It was heated by an underground geothermal energy source. This huge lake radiates heat throughout the cavern and warms it to a comfortable temperature.
We have been exploring and mapping this cavern and the many underwater tunnel passages that lead to it. We have been building a city, a place we can seek refuge from our enemies, and where we can rebuild a new and stronger civilization.
I am extending the invitation to each one of you to join me on this journey. However, if you choose to go to Antarctica, you will never be able to return. Security demands that you live the remainder of your lives there. There is not enough space on the boats for you to bring your families, even if there were, we do not have accommodations for them.
If you choose this journey with me, you will not be allowed to say goodbye to your families or return home to collect your things. You will exit this room, walk directly to the U-boat pen and board. Everything you need is on the boat, including clothing, food and supplies.
If you choose to stay here, you will be taken hostage by the Allied invaders and suffer unspeakable humiliations at the hands of the enemy.
Who will come with me to Antarctica as free men?”
Nox knew it was a hard sell. Most of the men had families that they would not want to leave, “I will answer any questions, now.”
A Nazi officer stood to his feet. He appeared to be in his early forties, with a strong jaw and closely cropped blonde hair. Like the other officers, he was in full dress uniform. “Will we be able to send for our families later?” he asked.
Nox had not anticipated that question. However, he knew the other men would be wondering the same thing. Nox immediately sensed that he would have more men volunteer for the mission if he gave them hope that they would one day be reunited with their families.
“Yes, of course. After things settle down we will make efforts to locate and transport your families to Antarctica. It may take years to locate them, depending on how the enemy handles the coming occupation,” Nox said confidently. Nox did not really have a problem with families being at the Antarctica base; after all, he would need babies to help grow his would-be empire. The Nazi officer nodded and sat down.
A scientist raised his hand. Nox pointed at him, and the scientist rose to his feet. The scientist, well known by everyone on the U-boat base, was not a huge supporter of the Nazi party; he was more interested in scientific endeavors than politics. He was a man in his early forties, balding, and slight in stature.
“Mr. Nox, um, I have a question,” the scientist shuffled his feet and looked at the floor.
Nox ignored the improper title, knowing the awkward scientist meant no disrespect.
The scientist continued, “If this huge cavern is underground, even if it is heated, how do plants and vegetables grow with no sunlight?”
Nox would have smiled if the muscles in his face would have allowed it; he knew he could convert many of them with this answer. “It is true that much of the cavern is underground and does not receive sunlight in the traditional manner. There are numerous natural openings at the top of the cavern, holes in the ground, that allow sunlight to directly fall on the floor of the cavern some 500 feet below, but that is not enough. When we found the cavern, there were numerous forests and plants growing in the spaces that had natural sunlight. We found thousands of acres of wooded areas with thick vegetation. But there were still hundreds of square miles of warm, bu
t rocky, and barren land. Since then, our scientists have developed a system by which we collect sunlight on the surface and funnel it down to the caverns, with highly reflective tubing. When the sunlight reaches the cavern below it is 20 times brighter than it was on the surface because of our magnification equipment. We have already had great success in growing crops with the natural sunlight that is funneled through the ice in these magnification tunnels.”
Nox saw several of the scientists nodding their heads in approval.
A commander stood to his feet. Nox looked at him and waived his hand, indicating for the Nazi commander to speak. Nox knew the commander was a natural leader and many men would follow him.
The Commander said, “What will be the command structure? Will we still be Nazis? Will Hitler be there? Will we keep our rank?”
Nox took a shallow breath; he knew this could be a critical point for many of the men. Nox never thought honesty was the best policy, but in this situation, it may be. He knew many of the higher-ranking officers were upset at Hitler because he had squandered their initial advantage. They knew that if Hitler had been less aggressive it may have kept the Soviets and Americans out of the war longer.
“Everyone will keep their current rank. There will be two command structures, a civilian command structure and a military command structure. The main difference, is that there will be a third command structure, one that supersedes both military and civilian command structures, and that will be the command structure of the Ondagra. All humans will fall under the authority of my people.”
“Will we be slaves to the Ondagra?” asked the Commander.
“Are you a slave to me now? I am superior to you physically and mentally. Even now, you must obey my commands, but have I degraded any of you? Have I treated you unfairly or harmed you? No, of course not. I expect you to follow my orders because I know better than you, and you know that is true. It will be the same in Antarctica. You will be free to move about the cavern; there will be work for you. There will be food, shelter, and eventually entertainment. You just won’t be allowed to leave or communicate with the outside world for security purposes.”
After the men had asked their questions, Admiral Armbruster stood from the back of the room. The Admiral was admired and respected by the men as a fair and even-tempered leader. He said, “Germany is lost. The war is all but over. Many German officers will be killed or executed in the next several weeks. You know I would not ask of you anything I would not do myself. I am pledging my support to Nox Bellator. I will be on that U-boat, and I will work alongside Field Marshall Bellator, helping him build a new civilization. I will not order you to get on a U-boat. We only want those who willingly volunteer. I hope many of you will join me, today.” The Admiral took a step forward and clinched his fist, “Right now. Stand if you are willing to get on these U-boats with me. Stand now!”
Five of the Admiral’s executive officers stood. It had already been discussed, and the Admiral knew they were coming. Three engineers and 10 scientists stood. They too had already known what was happening and were expected to stand. Nineteen standing. Not enough. Silence.
Then, the Nazi commander that had asked the question about rank stood. His men took quick glances at each other, then stood, another 40 men. With almost 60 men standing, the momentum had almost turned in Nox’s favor. He still needed over 100 more to stand. Nox knew he could say no more. The officers and ranking scientists had to convince their fellow soldiers and colleagues. This is where advanced planning pays off. Many of those standing had previously agreed to stand and help convince the others.
The Admiral walked forward from the back of the room. Nox loved his little pet.
Admiral Armbruster took the position next to Nox and said, “It has been an honor serving with each one of you. Over the last several years, we have seen many of our brothers-in-arms fall. But, you have kept the faith, and for that I am proud of you. This is not an easy decision, and I will respect you if you choose to stay. But, for what are you staying? This city will fall; there is no escape. Many of you will die at the hands of the Americans and Russians. Many of your families have already been killed in the fire bombings. Many of you imagine that you will be able to stop the British soldiers from violating your wives and daughters, but this is foolhardy. They will kill you first and then take your defenseless women. What future do you have here? Will you stay and be a slave to the Allied conquerors that hate us? Or will you come with me, where you can start over, not as a slave, but as an important part of a new world order? I can’t promise you riches, fame, or even your families. But I promise that you will be a part of a movement that will make a permanent mark on the course of human history. The invaders will offer you chains and sorrow. Come with me and build a nation like this world has never seen!” Admiral Armbruster leaned back against the wooden table behind him. Seventy men stood up. Nox was so proud of his pet Admiral.
After a few more minutes of discussions, there were a total of 105 men standing, not quite what Nox wanted, but good enough.
Admiral Armbruster said, “All men that are standing, walk in a single file line to the submarine pen. Do not go back to your quarters. The rest of you wait here for further orders; I will be right back.” The Admiral knew he would never go back.
Nox stayed at the front of the room, carefully studying the faces of the men that had chosen not to get on the submarines. After the volunteers had made their way toward the submarine pen, Nox said, “I too would like to thank you for your service to the Nazi party. The rest of you will be manning this base until the British arrive. Once they are about to take the base, I need you to scuttle all the U-boats. I’m going to the Admiral’s office to gather your specific orders.”
Nox walked down the center aisle to the rear of the room. As he reached the back of the room, he stood directly in front of the only door and turned to face the seated men. He withdrew, from a compartment in his armor, two canisters. They were of his own design, hydrogen-cyanide grenades. He thought it was ironic that these men would die from Zyklon-B, the same poison the Nazis used to kill the Jews. He flipped the rings on the grenades with his thumbs and tossed the pear-shaped, metallic devices into the center of the room. He quickly exited and secured the door behind him. The men screamed for a few minutes, and then there was silence. There could be no witnesses; he did not need captured German soldiers telling the Americans about a seven-foot-tall, gray alien. This mission always had two goals: the first was to recruit talent for Antarctica; the second, to tie up loose ends.
Nox Bellator walked to the submarine pen where Admiral Armbruster was waiting.
“All the volunteers are aboard. The U-boats are ready to launch,” Armbruster said, “should we leave the Nazi insignias on the Boats?”
“We should keep the insignia on the boats. We still have a lot of Nazi controlled water to travel through, no need in having everyone target us. When you get to Antarctica, we can decide on a new uniform and emblem, for now, maintain the Nazi command structure,” Nox said.
“Will you be joining us?” asked the Admiral.
“I do not plan to go to Antarctica. The Ondagra will get you set up in there. I have a few humans to call on,” answered Nox.
The Admiral boarded the U-boat. Nox noticed the number on the side, it was U-196. Nox knew it was the Type IXD2 that had gone missing five months earlier. He watched as the last of the U-boats disappeared into the dark Elbe River, pleased with his success.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Berlin, Germany
April 30, 1945
Nox gently landed his antigravity fighter in the garden of the Old Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Even though his craft was equipped with optical stealth technology, and neither the Germans nor the Soviets could see the craft, he still radioed ahead to Hitler’s Bunker. No point in having them mistakenly shoot at him.
Hitler had taken to his bunker weeks earlier, when the Soviets began their non-stop bombing campaign. Prior to that Hitler had spent most of his
time in the government buildings above the bunker. As Nox approached the square entrance of the concrete bunker, several Nazi guards came out of the small opening. Their weapons were ready, but not pointed at Nox; they were expecting him.
Nox was not concerned about the guards, he had been to the Old Reich Chancellery on several occasions to discuss matters with Hitler. Nox and the guards descended the concrete stairs to the bunker, 28 feet below the gardens. The bunker was protected by almost 10 feet of reinforced concrete that could withstand a direct hit from almost any conventional bomb.
At the bottom of the stairs, he was led into a conference room. There were several doors on either side of the room, leading to bed chambers, kitchens, communication rooms, and Hitler’s private study. For such a small space, the bunker was surprisingly decorated with rare oil paintings and gilded furniture.
Hitler, Goebbels, and Krebs stood at the other end of the cramped conference room. Their faces were easy to read: they knew the end was near. The German troops defending Berlin would run out of ammunition soon. Generals in the field were already engaging in unauthorized discussions regarding how to surrender to the Soviets.
The plan had been discussed. One of Hitler’s many body doubles would be shot and burned. The scene would be staged to make it appear that Eva Braun, Hitler’s new wife, committed suicide. The Soviets would find their bodies and, hopefully, assume the couple had committed suicide. The goal was to allow Hitler and Eva to disappear to Argentina and live the rest of their lives in anonymity. That was Hitler’s plan. Nox had other ideas.
“Are the look-a-likes in the bunker?” Nox asked. Introductions were not necessary.
Goebbels responded, “Yes, they are in the Fuehrer’s private chambers.”
Nox walked up to Hitler and held out his large hand. “Give me your Luger.”
Hitler was under no illusion as to who was in power at this moment and dutifully handed the weapon to Nox, “Yes Sir.”
