Re: Blood and Iron

501  The Journey to Zurich

In the years following the great war, Bruno realized how much of a target he had painted on his back ,and that of his family. While his enemies in more prestigious positions of power were largely deterred from making an attempt on their lives as a result of what the man had done to Belgrade in 1914.

Insurgents, political radicals, and just lone wolf threats had far less to lose. And Bruno needed to make sure that he and his family were well protected during transit. He had long since fortified his home to a high level. But transportation was another matter, and had invested heavily into armored vehicles, such as limousines and trains, that provided his family military grade protection, while looking like civilian assets.

His private train, for example, looked like one of the modern diesel powered high-speed trains that were coming online across the German Reich, and the Russian Empire. as the 1920s roared like a tidal wave.

But its cars were rated at the equivalent of the STANAG 4+ Rating, and perhaps even STANAG 5 in critical compartments like the sleeping quarters and command center. In the years since Bruno came to power as the Grand Prince of Tyrol, Germany and Russia had been working on joint infrastructure projects to begin developing their nations and cities for a new world.

And the railways were one of these projects. Luckily for Bruno, Tyrol had been chosen as the testing area for many of these ideas, and this allowed his train to be fast, sleek, and capable of defending itself from potentially hostile attacks.

Currently, Bruno sat within a rail car that was primarily designed as a family space, but was currently operating as his coffee lounge. As he sipped from a cup and read the latest paper from England.

King George had managed to put out the majority of the fires that burned around what remained of his empire. The cost was great, and Bruno suspected the Empire would collapse to a similar extent as it had post 1945 in his previous life within the next decade, perhaps two.

But there was no doubt about it, there would be no British Empire at this rate by 1939. Merely the United Kingdom, and even then, it was a matter of time before the Irish rose in rebellion again.

As Bruno placed the paper down and looked over at the window to the right of where he sat in his extravagant booth, he heard a voice call out to him.

"Your Royal Highness, are you done with the paper? Would you like me to clean it up for you?"

Bruno looked over and saw a servant he did not recognize, likely employed permanently on the train as a maid. And he was quick to notice her accent. She was from France originally. And judging by her age, had been brought over by her parents in the wake of France's collapse following their defeat during the Great War in 1916.

There were only a small number of refugees from France who had been permitted into Germany. And those who were, had been vetted quite thoroughly, especially if they ended up working for Bruno.

Because of this, Bruno spoke in French to the young woman, as permitted her to clean up his area.

"By all means, go right ahead. Tell me, do you know where this train is headed?"

The woman nodded her head. Having clearly been given permission to speak by the Prince she served, she was quick to respond with a bit of a sheepish look.

"Yes, Zurich…"

Bruno smiled and nodded his head as he confirmed this to be true. He had asked for two reasons, someone who was not supposed to be on this train, and was trying to conceal themselves like an assassin likely wouldn't know the true destination of the train.

The world knew Bruno would be meeting with Pétain in Geneva, but the reality was the conference was being held in secret within the Swiss city of Zurich. There was another reason Bruno asked this question. As it allowed for a follow up to the one he really wanted to give voice to.

"And do you know why I'm going to Zurich?"

The young maid shook her head, prompting Bruno to speak once more as she did so.

"I'm going to Zurich to negotiate an end to the bloodshed and hostilities in your home country. Unfortunately, I have been bound by treaty, and forced to watch as France continues to bleed itself into extinction.

But now that some legitimate form of stability has arisen, and a figurehead has claimed a sufficient degree of power to negotiate with on a stage that is acceptable to the world. I can finally make a move.

It is unfortunate that France seems to wish to make Germany its enemy for a third time… But perhaps I can stop this reality before it manifests…"

The maid was stunned that Bruno was going to Zurich to try to end the hostilities in France and not for some reason that would ultimately benefit the Reich, and because of this she couldn't help but tilt her head in curiosity.

"Your Royal Highness, is that really the reason you are going to Zurich? Is there not something else which benefits the fatherland that you are after?"

 Bruno looked at the young woman with a pitiful gaze, so young, yet already so in tune with human nature? Usually only those who endured immense hardships early on could grasp such a thing. And because of this, Bruno nodding his head in approval before revealing the real reason behind his visit.

"Wise… Far more than I thought you would be at your age. You remind me of my daughter in that regard, but more cynical. Not that is a fault at all… Alright, I'm in a good mood, I'll tell you the truth.

The way this benefits the Reich is that we no longer have to worry about a border being shared with an unstable neighbor. Nor will we have to watch in horror as our neighbors kill one another without us being able to stop it… Is that not enough of a benefit for the Reich in order to compel me to act in self-interest?"