Kaiserreich: Legacy of the Weltkreig: A Novel

Prologue

January 8th, 1917, Berlin Palace, Berlin, German Empire

A man in his early sixties, wearing a black coat, with blazer, tie, and white shirt, and with a large moustache and beard, marched purposefully through the halls of the magnificent Berlin Palace. In his arms he held a brown card folder, though it seemed to only hold a few pieces of paper, as it was barely open. The halls of the palace seemed to be a little emptier than usual. Though there were a few workers in the palace, and an officer or two, the man need not stop due to people, and could march through the halls with no resistance. Suddenly, his march came to a stop, as he stared hesitantly at the two doors before him. Behind those doors sat a man of unspeakable influence and power, the man capable of leading the German Empire to greatness, the Kaiser. He did not know how the Kaiser would react to the papers in his arms, though he knew that even a decision as small as this one could turn the tide of the war. The man slowly opened the left door, peering his head into the Kaisers office. There sat a man in grey military coat, with a large metal medal emblazoned just below the high black collar of his coat. An older man, with a large brown moustache along the top of his lip, then raising up at the ends. His hair minimal on the sides, but with a little more substance on top. The Kaiser scowled at the entrance to his office, where the man stood. The man made his way into the Kaiser's office, and approached his desk.

"Your majesty, the military officers have objected to your refusal to sign these documents, they say that it will be required if we wish to avoid losing this war." He spoke in a deep, German accent, but there was a slight tremble in his voice. As he said this he placed the folder on the Kaiser's desk, opened it carefully, and pointed to the first point the Kaiser needed to sign. At the top of the page the words "recommencement of unrestricted submarine warfare."

The Kaiser exhaled. "I recommend you tell the officers, specifically, Hindenburg and Ludendorff, to drop the matter." Spoke the deep German voice of the Kaiser, not a sign of weakness as he spoke. "I will not sign those papers, and thus the officers will give not order."

"Your majesty, do you truly believe this is the best option for Germany?" The man responded, the tremble remaining in his voice.

"Yes, I do." The Kaiser said, closing the folder, and handing it back to the man.

"I will do as you have asked, your majesty." The man said, bowing slightly, and leaving the Kaiser's office.