Chapter 1

The Conspiracy...

     I always had an interest in war. I wasn't sure why, but I always did. When I was a child my grandpa would tell me stories about when he was soldier & all the adventures he had. I always listened hoping that I would someday be a soldier too, like my grandpa. But now it is different. Two years ago I enlisted to be a soldier in this war and it still carries on. Day after day of fighting and killing and day after day of my friends dying beside me. I'm tired of it. I just want to go home to my family and live a normal life, but that's just not possible. My name's Christian Hanover, but my friends call me Chris. I'm one of the more respected soldiers in the Allied army. Earlier this year I won the Medal of Honor for my work as a spy in the Ukraine where I discovered Romanovs' plans for a massive offensive on a French military base just north of Paris. My parents write me each month praising me, but I know I'm just like any other man. I just got lucky, that's all. Anyway back to business. This morning my commanding officer told me to pack my stuff & prepare for an air trip because I was to go to Washington for some top secret assignment. I hope it's some good ol' fashioned espionage. I'm tired of this trench warfare. I slept poorly that night. I guess I was to busy thinking about what lay ahead of me.

     The next morning I got dressed & caught a transport headed for the air base. I got there just in time. The airbase was huge. At least fifty hangers filled with all kinds of aircraft. Quite amazing indeed. When we got onboard the plane we were told to wear bullet-proof vests & keep .44 caliber pistols in our pockets. Probably just a precaution. When we were in the air I noticed two harriers on each side of the plane. Why would we need all this protection? It was only me, a couple of soldiers, & the pilots. Am I really that important to the military? I leaned back grabbed a magazine & tried to relax.

     I was tired so I tried to get a little shut eye, but I couldn't because of all the turbulence. I stood up & walked to the cockpit. "Hey guys, do you think you could make this ride any rougher? I'm trying to...what the hell is that?!" I saw something in the distance through the window. The pilot replied, "They look like aircraft to me. Do you think their ours?", I asked. He said, "We have to be sure." He grabbed his radio & quickly said, "All aircraft check out those jets to the northeast of your location. They might be commies so make sure your missile systems are online. "Affirmative sir, a squad of 3 enemy MiG's are coming this way. Should we attack? Of course!", the pilot yelled. He seemed tense. I was too. "Ok, we will engage them in 5...4...3...2...1...fox 1!!!(explosion) One down two to go sir. Well now he's turning & it looks like their engaging us. It's four on two. Hell, it's his choice. Fox 2, away!!! Damn, it missed. Hey where did they go? (explosion) Oh crap they have cluster missiles!!! Sir they have taken down two of us with those cluster missiles. We have to back off. Hell no, we have to take em' out!, the pilot replied. Ok (talking to other Harrier pilot), we have to engage them at the same time or else they might shoot one of us down. Ready...Engage! Go!!! (explosion) Sir I have some good news & some bad news. We took them both out but my tail is severely damaged. I'm gonna have to land & get it repaired so you'll have to fly unprotected. Ok.", the pilot replied. I sat back in my chair, hardly believing what I had just seen. I just sat there in awe. How close was that?

     For some reason after that I went straight to sleep. A fellow soldier woke me up. "Remember to meet the general at the Pentagon tomorrow first thing in the morning.", he said. "Yeah, yeah.", I replied. We had just landed in Washington D.C. I gathered my stuff & walked to the street. I caught a transport & rented a room. Then instantly fell asleep.

     I awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. It seemed to get worse by the second. Then I noticed why. The phone was ringing. Who knows I'm here? "What the hell do you want?!", I screamed. "Did you ask for a wakeup call?", he replied calmly. I was quite embarrassed. "Oh, yeah. Sorry.", I said. I got out of bed & went to my suitcase. I searched for some Tylenol. I spotted some, dropped a couple in my mouth, showered, dressed, & went out & caught yet another transport to the Pentagon. I was so tired that I pulled whatever money I had in my wallet out & threw it at the driver. He cursed something at me but I could give a shit less. As soon as I walked in through the front door I noticed one big detail. The whole building was abuzz with excitement. People were running around, talking, & waiting. Odd, I wonder what's going on. I quickly spotted a familiar face. It was General Carville walking around with another familiar face, President Dugan. I walked up to them & greeted the general. He didn't look happy. The general introduced me to the president. "Dugan, this one of my best soldiers, Chris Hanover.", he said. I said, "Nice to meet you." He replied, "Same to you, it's good to meet a loyal American soldier & let me tell you it's been an honor meeting you. Thank you.", I said. He looked at the general, "I know you two have some business to talk, so I'll see you later." Carville started toward his office and I followed.

     I took a seat & he immediately started talking. "First and foremost I'd like to apologize for the plane incident. We lost an excellent fighter pilot and almost lost you. Chris, your one of the few soldiers I can trust. That's why I have a special assignment for you. Two days ago Germany, for some odd reason, withdrew from the war. It was great loss to the Allies, for the Germans were a powerful ally. The latest we heard the Kaiser of Germany was assassinated & a man by the name of Mikhail Kruger is now in power. He is known for being the head of the Nazi party, but if he still is remains to be seen. His first order of business was withdrawing from the war for an unknown reason. Since we were short on info and desperately needed it, we sent in Thomas Hopkins, a well known spy, to find out what was going on. He was our top choice, but we still haven't heard from them. We tried to contact him & all we got was static. We fear the worst, so were going to send you in with two objectives, discover what happened to Agent Hopkins and find out as much info as you can about this Kruger character. Instead of sending you into the lion's den like we did with Agent Hopkins, were gonna put you on a plane for Copenhagen, Denmark. From there your going to disguise yourself as a German and infiltrate the Rammstein, a German cruiser headed for Berlin. The decisions you make from their are yours & only yours. We might contact you if we learn more, but besides that your on your own. We want this mission to be a success so don't screw things up. "I was in shock about what I had just learned. "Wow.", I said. That's pretty much all I could say. "So are you up for it, if not we'll find another operative.", he said. It seemed like quite a challenge. "Count me in.", I replied. Don't get to excited. He asked, "Do you know enough German to pass as one? Yes.", I replied. "Then meet me in the weapons training center in fifteen minutes.", he acknowledged.

     I opened the door to the WTC (weapons training center) & what I saw was amazing. Every kind of weapon you could think of.AK-47's, Rocket Launchers, M16's, Sniper Rifles, Satchel Charges, & silenced Uzi's. All my favorites. "Impressed Hanover?", Carville asked. "Yeah, it's astonishing.", I replied. "I know you want them all, but if your carrying to much you might stick out. We want you traveling light so I've assigned you two weapons, a silenced 9mm & a silenced Hampton submachine gun.", he said. Sounds good, but I'd rather have this Flame-Caster!", I joked. "Be careful with that prototype, it hasn't gone through all the tests!", he screamed. I guess he didn't find my joke to amusing. "I'll see that those weapons make it to Denmark with you. Get some rest Hanover, your gonna need it.", he said.

NOTE: Rammstein means "Battering Ram" in German

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