II FIRST PREY
“FREE TRADE RULES.
Ministress Cordelia Hull declared today before Congress, that the administration intends to follow its policy of free trade with other nations, as it considers it a vital part of revitalizing the economy and strengthening ties wich other nations...”
The Wall Street Journal, January 2nd, 1936
“BUDGET CUTS AFFECT NAVAL PROGRAMME.
It becomes clearer by the day that the current administration is determined to cut defence expenditures, never a primary issue anyway, back to the bones. The current ships built on the yards will mostly not be concluded. Our sources tell us, the current planning leaves the carrier YORKTOWN as the only major ship to be concluded as planned.”
Proceedings, naval magazine, January 2nd 1936
“GERMANY REMILITARIZES THE RHINELAND
Troops crossed the Rhine river today, german chancelloress Hitler declared Versailles treaty
“no longer applies to the Reich”. Verbal protests from UQ* and France. Foreign ministress Hull in an interview: “Disturbing, but doesnt change our neutral position.” “
The New York Times, January 6th, 1936
*UQ = United Queendom, Great Britain.
“Scientist Meike Rijnhuis vanished.
The famous physician Meike Rijnhuis has, together with her female companion and their 11year-old daughter, vanished from their home in Utrecht...”
Article on page 5 of ALLGEMEEN DAGBLADET, a dutch newspaper, January 11th, 1936
The Lubjanka, HQ of NKVD, Moscow, January 25th 1936, 16.50 hours
“I strongly disagree. If we continue this, all gospodas of the sisterhood will end up in Siberia in the end. The purges must come to an end. Someone must make that clear to Gospoda Stalina.”
Gospoda Major General of NKVD Katharina Rudonzeva was really getting agitated. The chairwoman, Natalia Yezova starred at her with impassive eyes. Apart from Rudonzevas speech there was an eerie silence in the room. No one dared to take a sip of their tea or lit a cigarette. Ilona kept her face impassive and eyed the chairwoman.
Finally Yezova interrupted the Rudonzeva.
“Have you lost your nerves, Gospoda Major General? Or is it something else? Are you, yourself, a traitress after all? We will see... the sooner the better.”
Rudonzeva paled. The chairwoman nodded to the guards at the door.
“Take Gospoda Rudonzeva in custody. Get her ready for interrogation.”
“But – NO! You cant... I mean, its me... you dare not... NO!”
“Gag the traitress. We will not be disturbed by her treacherous words any longer.”
The guards overpowered the struggling Blonde, forced a gag into her mouth. Rudonzevas eyes were wild.
“Take her away!”
The terrified woman was dragged from the room.
Yezova eyed her staff. No one met her eyes, except Oberst Ilona Shmikova. Yezova nodded to the fairly young gospoda with the angellike face and the dark hair.
“Gospoda Shmikova, you will take over department III. Your first mission is to get a confession from this traitress in our midst.”
“You will have it by midnight, Gospoda chairwoman.”
Yes, thats it, Ilona thought. Department III was hers. The Soviet Union was a dangerous country to live in today, and inside NKVD the waters were even more dangerous, but the opportunities...
FBI headquarters, New York, buero of directress Hoover, February 19th 1936, 10.08 hours
“You called for me, Mam?”
“Yes, Beyonce, please take a seat.”
Special Agent Beyonce Tucker, a striking black lady of 32, did so and relaxed. Directress Hoover liked a relaxed atmosphere with her ladies.
“Well, Beyonce, I have something here I want you to look into. Care to get some californian sun? Its a case in Los Angeles.”
“Wherever I am needed, Mam.”
“Okay, its an abduction, or we think so.”
Beyonce raised an eyebrow.
“You think so, Mam?”
“Uh, theres no ransom, no contact, and its over a week now...”
“White slavery?”
Beyonce referred to the practice of abducting beautiful women for dark purposes with destination Arabia or South America, a crime FBI worked since ages to defeat, with some success.
“Dont think so, Beyonce. The victim was not the sort of lady. Shy, thick glasses, not looking after her appearence. In LA there are thousands of chicks better suited for a harem.”
“Just gone elsewhere, starting a new life?”
“The lady was a scientist, working for the government, some science fiction stuff, electronics and such.”
“Ups. Now I see. I take it no evidence, no witnesses?”
“Right. The chicks over there in LA have no clues, and I thought you might get something out of this.”
“Very well, Mam, already on the way.”
“Here are the facts and the ticket for an airship to LA. You have one hour.”
Beyonce rose to her feet and took the small bag.
Lady Hoover called her back as she reached the door.
“Beyonce – this is important. This stuff the girl worked on – top secret.”
“I will do my best, Mam.”
Hoover just nodded.
“GERMAN TROOPS MARCH INTO AUSTRIA,
Germans call it ANSCHLUSS, austrian state ceases to exist. No resistance, cheering crowds welcome the grey columns. Chairwoman of Republican party, Miranda Landon declares: Not our business.”
The International Heraldress Tribune, March 1st, 1936
Diary of Generaloberst Luise Beck, Chief of OKW, the german high command
March 11th, 36
The Austria operation was nothing but a disaster. Troops going wrong ways, Panzers broken down after a few kilometers, chaos at staff. Politically it was all perfectly arranged, but our performance was dreadful. So, the new command, called Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was established to better things. I am still surprised the Fuhra wanted me in charge. The looks of Lady Goering... I am sure she counted on herself to be appointed. Now she is theoretically my subordinate. I have to be careful, this lady is a shark if I ever saw one.
Much work to do. We are strengthening the Heer at a astonishing pace. 60 new infantry divisions scheduled for this year alone. Much to fast, if I were asked, but its the will of the Fuhra. Many new appointments to make. I am really busy these days. My wife back home complains a lot. That cant be helped. I will arrange for a pleasure priestress for her. I nice gift of that sort has done the trick all the time.
CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia, March 14th 1936, 9.36 hours
Jill settled into her chair and placed her coffee mug on a free place between the myriads of papers on her desk.
“So, Marcy, what do we have here?”
Well Jill, there is the new report on the austrian industry now incorporated into the german economy, and here something on the austrian army. Quite a boost for their strength, this Anschluss.”
“Yeah. I estimate around 10 to 15 % strengthening of their industrial output, and about 10 new divisions for their army.”
“I am surprised the people of Austria responded so well to the invasion. As if it was no invasion at all.”
“They liked what Hitler did in Germany, and they wanted to be part of it. The Austrians are Germans after all, in a sense. More like Bavarians or Silesians than a whole new people. What disturbs me more is the weak reaction of the Allies. And our own government, not to forget.”
“Well, on foreign policy Lady Roosevelt and Lady Landon dont differ much, it seems.”
“Thats a mistake, Marcy, I tell you. The fascists must be stopped, the sooner the better. I was over there, in Germany, and I didnt like what they did to that lovely country. Wouldnt like even less if the do it to other countries too.”
“Yeah. Oh, here I have a memo on the head of this new staff, OKW. One Luise Beck, look, a nice blonde. A real german Super Woman out of a wonderwoman-comic.”
“Dont think all Germans are blonde and blue-eyed, Marcy. They tell you this stuff about super woman and mistress race and all, but look at Hitler, she is small, darkhaired and really not germanic looking.”
“You are right, Jill. Okay, this Beck chick served in the Great war, even at the front. Iron cross and so on. The Reichswehr, commanding of the 5th division in 32, II.Armeekorps in 35. And now, chief of OKW. Married to a lady, two daughters, one son. One daughter is luitenant in the Wehrmacht, tank troops.”
“Her connection to the Nazi party?”
“None known. Its a surprise she heads this new OKW. We expected Goering or this Reichenau bitch.”
“Beck has no lobby with the fascists. Her power and position derives from Hitlers decision. Divide et impera. This Hitler lady may be a mad warmongeress, but she is a gifted politician.”
“Too bad.”
“Aint that the truth...”