The double doors to the royal library burst open as Thorsten charged in, flanked by no less than seven security guards in black tuxedos.
"Where the hell is she?" one of them demanded.
"Use your eyes, kid," Thorsten growled, gesturing to the large armchair by the fireplace. Claudia Hapsburg, the future empress of Germany, in all her royal majesty, sat sideways in the chair reading a comic book, her head bobbing to the tune playing in her headphones. She didn't react to their entry, even as the entourage encircled her, guns drawn. Having no time to observe proper protocol, Thorsten reached over and smacked her lightly on the back of the head. She gave a slight yelp as the headphones fell off her ears to rest around her neck.
"You know I can legally have you executed, right?" she said irritably.
"Sorry ma'am, but we have a situation..." Thorsten began.
"Can't it at least wait until Batman beats the Mutant leader?" Claudia pleaded.
"No it can't," Thorsten stated severely. "Someone just tried to wipe the Élysée Palace off the map."
"What-"
"No time to explain, we need to get you to the safe room," Thorsten interrupted. With one swift movement, he lifted the Archduchess to her feet and led her out into the hallway, surrounded by the security team. With her headphones lying forgotten around her neck, the air raid sirens were clearly audible. Turning left and right down the marble hallways, the group barreled along until they reached a steel door. Claudia, regaining her regal composure, stepped forward to place her hand on the print scanner. There was a whirring noise, followed by the sound of valves releasing pressure before the door swung open. The archduchess and her advisor were pushed in before the door swung shut again. Several government officials were already present there, sitting at the large circular table. All eyes were fixed on the massive flat screen television projecting several news reports from all over Europe. The stately stone-colored building engulfed in smoke was featured prominently in almost all of them.
"Looks like the Schönbrunn, doesn't it?" she commented, trying to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. Thorsten gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before the two of them took their places at the table. She gave a curt nod at Andersen, a doughy man with a thick Danish accent who served as her foreign advisor. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Right," he began. "The situation. From what we can tell, someone has initiated an attack at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The French President and Vice President are both presumed dead. Other casualties prematurely measure into the hundreds."
"Serves those feminists right..."
"Keep it civil, Kortig," Claudia said. "Mr. Andersen, please go on."
"French leadership has been crippled, obviously," he continued. "There are also unconfirmed reports of civil unrest in the larger French cities as well. As of right now, no suspect has been identified in the attack."
"Could it be the same cell behind the Schönbrunn?" Thorsten asked.
"Unlikely," Andersen responded. " Schönbrunn was a bomb planted within the complex. We have reason to believe that the Élysée Palace was attacked with a precise missile strike."
"A missile?" Claudia exclaimed. "Gott im Himmel, that's more likely to come from another nation then a terrorist cell."
"Some French officials are of course blaming us for the attack," Andersen continued.
"And we aren't responsible, right?" Claudia said hesitantly.
"I demanded a report as soon as I heard word of the attack," one of the generals declared. "I have five official documents saying that our entire arsenal is accounted for, and strategic command confirms that no missiles were fired from German bases within the last twenty-four hours."
Claudia nodded. "Then we should focus on relief aid..."
Kortig made a slight coughing noise, brushing back his immaculately styled brown locks.
"Something to say, Mr. Kortig?"
"When the Schönbrunn was bombed, I don't recall the French offering any assistance to the bereaved," Kortig stated smugly. "I don't see why we should give them any help in return." Andersen shook his head sadly.
"If the French suspect that we attacked them, not sending aid wouldn't exactly shift blame to the unknown third party."
"Wouldn't stop them from blaming us," another general muttered. Much of the staff seemed to agree with him.
"Let them blame us, then," Kortig said dismissively. "Our focus right now should not be on providing aid to the French."
"What DO you suggest, Mr. Kortig?" Thorsten asked.
He leaned in, a smile spreading on his thin lips. "We muster all available forces and invade."
Several of the staff members began murmuring at this suggestion Agreement or not, Claudia couldn't tell.
"Think about it," Kortig said excitedly. "The French will always be our enemies, and their extremism is becoming more apparent by the day. Right now, the French are decapitated and on the verge of anarchy. Without any leadership, they cannot possibly muster the forces to stand against a full-scale invasion. We need to press our advantage now and seize the French lands for the German Reich!"
Many heads around the table nodded in agreement. Kortig locked eyes with Claudia, eager for a response. Thorsten clucked his tongue sadly.
"You're willing to invade a nation suffering from an outside attack of this magnitude?" he asked.
"If we do not snuff out the matriarchy now, it will become a fascist state bent on the elimination of all free peoples," Kortig said feverously. "When the Reichstag burned, the people did not sit quietly and continue with the old ways. They turned to the National Socialists." He shook a finger at Thorsten like a parent disciplining an unruly child. "Those who don't learn from history..."
"Listen you pretentious little-"
"May I speak on the matter?" Claudia interrupted.
"Of course, madam," Kortig said politely, giving her a cheery grin.
Claudia folded her hands in front of her before speaking. "I will not deny that the feminist regime in France could pose a danger to Germany in the future. However, I cannot in good faith condone an aggressive action against our neighbors at this time, even if they are aligned against us."
Kortig's smile vanished, much to Thorsten's amusement. "But Archduchess, in the long run this could prevent the outbreak of an even greater war! Would you condemn Germany to such a fate?"
"I condemn nothing but your plan," Claudia continued. "This invasion claims to seek peace, but all it seeks is dominance. How many times has aggression in the name of long-term peace led to more bloodshed, more misery? Too many to count. My father would not stand for such an action, and nor will I. Germany will take no aggressive action against the French, especially not in their time of need. Are we clear?"
The room was speechless. Kortig looked as though he was force-fed sour milk. "Yes, Archduchess."
"Good," Claudia said, her tone lightening. "Now then, the first order of business is preparing an aid package to be sent to France. In the meantime, I would like a press conference held in half an hour to announce the German reaction to the crisis. I want our air force and strategic command on full alert as well, watching French airways as well as ours for any incoming missile attacks. I will contact the French government to discuss the current civil situation shortly. Let's get moving."
"Yes, ma'am, heading out."
"Contacting the air force."
"I'll make contact with the press."
"The prime time of your life..."
Claudia blushed, discreetly shoving a hand into her pocket to shut off the headphones still hanging around her neck.
