Putting on a Show

The three islands which are all that remain of what many consider the larger, lost nation of Atlantis are now called the Atlantean islands, and they are politically a mess.

The largest, known as Atlatea, is essentially a constitutional monarchy ruled by Sylph, the former Guardian and hero of the Allies during World War II. A scholar as much as she was a hero in the past, she’s become closed off to the rest of the world as her nation crawled its way out of a sustenance existence into being a technologically advanced nation at the start of the millennium.

The second largest, Orichal, is essentially a barbarian nation, or rogue state. Technologically they’re not much better off than many third world nations, but they have raw materials aplenty and enough industry to turn those into weapons that force Atlantea to keep a substantial defense force.

The smallest island, and furthest from the other two, is Ask-Embla. Shortly after the division of Germany, and the Berlin Air Lift, Kreigsmarine led a large contingent of disaffected Germans, from both sides of the border the allies created in his home nation and took them to the relatively lightly populated Ask-Embla. This nearly caused a war with the then allies, much less the other two Islands, but fortunately the former German soldier managed a peaceful invasion.

The less said about some of his acts against nations that challenged his nation’s right to exist for the next several years is perhaps best unsaid.

Professor Alvin Beard, The Decades After the World Changed.

The basement bar television was on, several of the kids watching the news. "The ships have been confirmed to be four Ask-Embla navy corvettes, along with the Flagship of their navy, the Dietrich Von Volkard, a small aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship. Apparently, they have returned hails from the US navy, and have informed them that they are escorting Kreigsmarine, ruler of the small nation, to a visit at the United Nations."

Somehow the news agencies had gotten cameras close enough to show the relatively small, but still intimidating, flat topped ship and her tiny companions, as a pair of US Navy cruisers joined their flotilla as ‘escorts.’

Not long after that an aircraft, lifted off the deck vertically before turning towards the shore, quickly finding itself being escorted by the two F-35's as they flew back the way they came, towards New York City, seeming to intentionally choose a lower than usual flight path as if to offer a clear view of the unusual aircraft.

"Your old.., let's go with friend, knows how to make an entrance." Penny confirmed as they watched the screen. "He's freaking buzzing Long Island."

Solaris chuckled, “He must enforce his dominance, or his manhood will fall off. It’s a German thing. He’s always been good at the showmanship side of the job, I just wonder how long till he’s on our doorstep. Oh dear, aren’t the podcasters Zakai wanted us to work with coming in tomorrow?”

"Yeah. They're already at the hotel. I'd bet you dollars to donuts they're planning to try and get to the airport in hopes of catching video of him." They had the news on, which was following the approach of a known, if 'former' supervillain on a plane that, according to the news, little was known about approaching the city. The fact that the US couldn't really refuse him entrance since his nation was both part of the UN and a NATO signatory just made a tense situation worse.

“Well Cape Watch will probably be getting more than they were expecting out of this interview. I should message Zakai…” Solaris pulled out her phone and texted him directly as well as her contact Tracy. She felt this was important enough, “Dear Zakai and associates, your podcasters are here and are at the hotel. I am going to be getting an unexpected guest shortly, Kriegsmarine. I thought this might be significant information for your labors in my name. Thank you for your time, Solaris.”

Her phone rang less than two minutes later. "What do you mean you're going to be visited by Kriegsmarine." Zakai asked in lieu of a hello. "Are we talking a knock down drag out fight or are we talking something else?"'

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“We’ve only ever gone full out against each other once.” Solaris said dryly. “Well, maybe twice, he was very reluctant to let me take that experimental jet bomber at the end of the war. No, he just came into New York, and since the UN meetings are already past, he’s here to see me. Irritating the US government is merely a side bonus. Once I know where he is staying, I’ll have an invitation sent to him, if I don’t get one from him first since I am sure he has my address.”

“If I were him, I’d keep track of when old… colleagues appeared from the past.” The public relations expert agreed.” His tone relaxing a little

“Quite,” she agreed. “I just wanted to let you know because that man is not a subtle animal, and I am sure the press is going to go mad. Then some moron is going to jump us at least once.

"Oh, he's landing." Penny said, watching the TV as the flying wing, roughly the size of a very large business jet, touched down at JFK, its wings folding as it reached the taxiway. "Oh, now he's just flexing."

“Yes.” Solaris smiled and rolled her eyes. “It’s his way.”

"Joy. You might get that little team of youngsters in costume for a while.” Zakai suggested “They might be needing to fly the colors. Or the Kevlar."

“That’s a point, this is going to stir the idiot stew. I’ll let Elenor know. What hotel do you think he’s staying at, Zakai? Give me the top five, I’ll send welcome packets to them all.”

"Don't need to guess. The Carlyle, Empire suite." He answered. "I looked up some contacts when I heard he was at the border, I got a heads up a bit before the media did. Figuring you might need to know about him, I checked on who knew what about him. He apparently loves that particular hotel and room on the rare occasion he comes to the UN."

"Well, that makes it easy. Penny? Please call for an order of five sausage pizzas, extra cheese, a half dozen cokes and a half dozen sprites. Offer the cooks and delivery men money to get it to the Carlyle in say forty-five minutes. I don't care about cost. It's for Mr. Von Volkard, A welcome from Lady Summers. Grease palms if necessary.”

"I can do that." She was going to say "Solaris" was buying the pizzas for "Kreigsmarine”, but this was because it would get a much more serious response, but Elizabeth didn't need to know that.

“Thank you dear. Out of curiosity are those podcasters you sent me good under pressure, because when Von Volkard finds out they are here to interview me he is not going to be able to resist coming to the interview, and crashing the party, so to speak.”

"We'll find out, but they do the cape circuit. That'd suggest they can keep their head under fire."

“Good. I am going to explain to my cook why I’ve ordered a couple of feasts.”

"Said cook might also need a rough idea of how many are being invited. Might you be having your first formal dinner?"

Solaris paused, considering the question. “Yes, I do believe I am going to have to... You already have a guest list prepared, don’t you.”

“Merely a list of suggestions, based on who you anticipate to be there that I don’t know about.” He chuckled. “I figured that would save you some time.”

“Send the list over, I would appreciate it.”

On the television, the sandy haired man she remembered appeared at the stairs which had descended from the side of the plane. He stood, imperiously, considering the crowd of security, onlookers, and hurried VIP’s who came to see him, nodding as if approving of troops he had inspected. He walked easily down the stairs, a ramp in the back offloading a high end sports car of a model Solaris didn’t recognize almost in time with his own motions.

Solaris watched as he shook hands with Gabriel Wright, the Empire Statesman and a Senator for New York State. His daughter stood next to him, and both had the taunt stance of someone who wasn’t sure if they were going to be fighting or not in the next few minutes.

“Oh yes, he’s being a peacock. I wonder what else he’s planning for while he’s here.” Solaris muttered to herself. Watching The German speak to the tense heroes.

“Oh, you know how it is. Someone has to keep you Americans on your toes, and I do enjoy a bit of drama. Besides, why have those fancy sixth generation fighters of yours, if not to respond to the unexpected?” Kilian Bloomberg Von Volkhard smiled, he would never lower himself to smirk, as he walked towards the offloaded car with the Senator at his side.

“Damn it, Kilian. NATO member or not, you’re playing with fire pulling a stunt like this.”

“Now Gabriel, young man, you know this isn’t really for you!” He mocked, though gently. There wasn’t a real reason to antagonize the younger man, after all. “I just wanted to make sure she cleared her schedule.”

“She’s not a player. She’s stayed out of anything big and hasn’t even responded to most of the people reaching out to her.”

“Dear boy, Solaris is as the sun. She doesn’t come to you, you will eventually go to her. She merely tends to forget her own… gravity.” He opened the driver’s side door of his Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK. “Ms. Wright, would you like to ride along as I drive to my hotel? You can keep an eye on me, and experience one of the finest automobiles built on this Earth at the same time.”

“Um, no thank you, Chancelor Von Volkard.”

“Well, if you should change your mind, I won’t mind a companion for a drive in the country. I do love the American North-East in the fall.”

He climbed in, and started the super-cars engine, allowing himself a bark of a laugh. He could hear the Statesman’s teeth grinding over the engine.

“Oh, this shall be fun.”