Secret Origins: Amerika

[Trav McBang!]

Secret Origins: Amerika
RP #2 (Final) vs Los Sexys

The year was 2010. The German force known as the Krieg, once a laughing stock of the entire country, was now one of the elite units in the world. They had earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath with the forces from North Korea, America, and Russia. A large factor in the Krieg’s success was Lukas Reinhardt, the former commander. Assassinated while eating lunch with his family, Reinhardt’s passing had paved the way for a new leader. Wolfgang Kohler had ruled the Krieg with a stern and brash manner that had forced the unit to become more battle hardened. Now, Kohler was looking to deploy their most prized possessions on the world.

“They are not ready, commander!” Kaja Reinhardt slams her fist down onto the table. She can’t believe that Kohler would be willing to put her father’s legacy into battle without proper training. She looks around the table for help, but her colleagues all show no emotion or conviction to either side. She is arguing with the most stubborn leader in Krieg history and she knows that she’s going to have to do it by herself.

The commander looks at her and merely chuckles. “Not ready, Kaja? Operation Maschinen has been in development for nearly three decades. If the giants have not had sufficient training yet, then perhaps we should…” Kohler pauses and a wicked grin forms at the corners of his mouth. “…scrap the project.”

Kaja starts to gasp, but catches herself. Any reaction on an emotional level would certainly tarnish her argument in the eyes of the other men in the room. She composes herself, despite knowing that Kohler’s threat of scrapping the project means that the project that could potentially define her father’s legacy would be exterminated in a quite literal sense. As the primary bridge of communication between the zwei maschinen and the superior officers, Kaja felt compelled to do everything within her power to see the beasts thrive. “I understand, commander,” her voice comes out soft, building conviction as she continues. “However, history has not been kind to the Krieg in the past when we have attempted to rush our operatives into things. Our current success can be attributed to better planning and making sure that we do our best to allow our soldiers to do their’s.”

Kohler’s eyes narrow. He slowly breathes through his nose before addressing Kaja’s argument. “Miss Reinhardt, please. The Krieg’s history shows that taking more risks was the key to succeeding in this world. Look to your own father’s example, child. You can’t honestly…”

“That’s not entirely true,” Kaja interrupts him. The focus of the entire table shifts to her, as a woman interrupting the Krieg’s commander is something that most still view as taboo. “My father took more risks than his predecessors, but they were calculated risks. He would never send two operatives with zero field testing experience into North Korea. Commander Kohler, what you are asking of my men isn’t just an objective, it’s suicide.” To Kaja’s surprise, a few members of the counsel nod in agreement.

The shift in power seems to upset Kohler, who stands from his seat and begins pacing. “Miss Reinhardt, the Krieg has devoted many years to training these foreign giants.” The word foreign comes from Kohler’s mouth as if it’s something more vile than excrement. His face contorts as he says it, his distaste for the Maschinen quite evident. “We have taught them how to properly use their uncoordinated bodies to become warriors. I must admit, I was skeptical years ago but over the past several years I have come to appreciate what former commander Reinhardt has done with these men. We have perhaps two of the most dangerous human beings in the entire world right in front of us. We would be fools to waste this opportunity.” Kohler smirks. As much as he hated the fact that he had to compliment the brutes, he knows that his argument is powerful enough to sway a few supporters his way.

Kaja calmly folds her hands on the table in front of her. “I’m not suggesting that we waste the Maschinen, commander.”

“What?” Kohler chuckles. “Miss Reinhardt, that’s exactly what you’re suggesting!”

Kaja closes her eyes. Kohler’s stubbornness was notoriously hard to argue with, but his complete insistence on twisting her words is annoying her to no end. “No, commander. I am merely suggesting that we give them further training. They are powerful, yes. However, this scenario that you have presented could either be a success or a colossal failure much like the Klose incident.”

“Mats Klose was a fool,” Kohler barks. “He forced his men into battle and deviated from the set plan. It cost him his life and the lives of four other men.”

“This could easily turn out the same,” Kaja pleas. “Every if the Maschinen succeed, how do we know that they won’t helplessly slaughter everyone in this village? The Krieg cannot deal with the massive backlash that such a thing would cause.” More nodding from the table, as Kaja’s plan begins to gain support. “Even if they do exactly as we have planned, what is to stop them from…” Kaja’s mind races. She stands up and approaches a young solider, no more than 20 years of age. She smiles politely at him. “May I inquire to your name, soldier?”

The fresh faced boy looks to Kohler, unsure of what to do. Deciding to humor Miss Reinhardt, the commander nods. “My name is Klaus Krupp, Miss Reinhardt.”

Kaja circles the young man, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Klaus Krupp,” Kaja repeats. “This man could very well be a war hero if given enough chances to succeed. Perhaps he attends this mission with the Maschinen…”

“What is the point of this, Kaja?” Commander Kohler’s patience wears thin.

Reinhardt places her finger on the brow of the boy and runs it downward along his nose. “Klaus, have you ever seen the Maschinen?”

“No, ma’am,” Krupp confirms with a slow nod. “At least not personally, but their faces are very well known….”

Kaja places her finger over his lips to silence him. “As you all can see, Klaus has a very pronounced brow and dark hair. He could easily pass undercover as a Russian if the need arose.”

“Are you still discussing the Maschinen…or have you just surpassed the notion and decided to lobby for Krupp’s promotion instead?”

Kaja shakes her head. “If Klaus could pass as a Russian, who is to say that the Maschinen would not confuse him for one? In the field, the mighty Balraj could grow confused by his surroundings and…” Kaja spins around with a giant chop aimed at Krupp’s face. As Krupp gasps, she stops and hovers just millimeters from the soldier’s brow. “…crush this poor boy’s skull with a mighty blow? Or Somba…” Kaja removes her hand from Krupp’s face and studies his body for a moment. She presses her thumb into the boy’s jugular. “Oh, Somba…the things that he can do to a man’s ability to eat, speak, or even breathe…” Against Kaja’s thumb, Krupp gulps as he imagines the Samoan behemoth’s thumb spiking him in the throat.

“So now you’re suggesting that these beasts are a danger to the Krieg itself, Reinhardt? Perhaps scrapping the project is in our best interest after all.” Kohler smiles and tilts his head to the side. There would be nothing more pleasing than seeing Lukas Reinhardt’s hidden project never see the light of day.

“Who’s looking to let an opportunity go to waste now?” Kaja raises an eyebrow. She can tell that her using Kohler’s words against him upsets the commander, but also impresses the counsel. “Commander, I am not trying to sabotage the project. I, more than anyone, want the Maschinen to succeed. I simply ask that you allow me to give them novice field tests before throwing them into an all-out assault on the Koreans. By having these men fight against real, human opponents we might be able to tap into their full potential and build them into something more than we could ever imagine.”

“Your argument is intriguing, Kaja,” Kohler admits. “However, there’s no such thing as a novice field test for men of their size. If we entered them into underground fighting tournaments or boxing matches, their size and notoriety would surely draw a crowd. The Maschinen would be exposed immediately. The Krieg cannot afford to have the entire world knowing of our most secretive project. Your suggestions, while valid and carefully thought out, are simply impossible.”

Kaja faces the counsel, one by one. “Commander Kohler is correct. Underground fighting would bring unwanted attention across the entire continent. In order to have these men hone their hand-to-hand skills, we would need several months of uninterrupted training. We would need to train them in a place so oblivious and blind to our workings that Balraj and Somba would not register as something unique and special.”

Kohler laughs. “So where do you propose we train the Maschinen, Miss Reinhardt? The arctic?” Kohler’s dry wit draws some laughs from around the table. Kaja can feel her argument losing momentum.

She flashes a coy smirk at her commander. “The Arctic? For some reason, I don’t believe that either giant would take to the weather in such a place. No, commander Kohler. I suggest that we take the Maschinen across the ocean…to Amerika.”

The room goes deathly silent. After several moments, Kohler cracks his knuckles. “Amerika?” He laughs. “Miss Reinhardt, are you suggesting that we enter our super-soldiers into a mixed martial arts fight? Perhaps swindle them into Hollywood so they can be in the movies?”

Kaja resists the urge to roll her eyes and tell Kohler what she truly thinks of his idea. “I was thinking of something a little less public, commander. They should be allowed to fight while blending in. They need to be placed somewhere that wouldn’t draw mainstream attention. Perhaps we could enter the Maschinen into the world of professional wrestling.”

As soon as Kaja’s words escape her mouth, laughter spews from Kohler’s lips. The rest of the counsel sit in silence, unsure of how to react to commander Kohler’s boisterous reaction. Kaja sighs and sits back down. Clearly, Kohler would undermine her wishes. Her bloodline and body of work meant nothing to the commander. To him, she was just a little girl attempting to fill the shoes of her father. She closes her eyes, holding back the tears of anger that Kohler was bringing out of her.

“The girl has a point.” Kaja’s eyes shoot open and she looks down the table to her right. Til Hahn, a highly respected Krieg operative, once thought to be the successor to Lukas Reinhardt himself, nods in agreement with Kaja’s sentiment. “This world of professional wrestling is filled with characters and giants, much like a common circus. The Maschinen would be able to operate and get field tested without raising any eyebrows. To the dumb American masses, they would simply be two more muscle-bound men with intents to brawl for a paycheck.”

“Hahn,” Kohler stares down the table. “You cannot be serious. This idea is completely ridiculous. The Spetsnaz would never do such a thing.”

“That only strengthens the girl’s argument,” Hahn protests. “It’s so out of the blue and insane that nobody would ever suspect such a thing. The Russians, the Koreans, and even the Americans…they would never suspect that the soldiers of the prophecy were working in miniscule auditoriums with failed athletes who cannot make it in a real fight.”

Kohler’s eyes narrow. He glances down to Kaja, doing her best attempt to hide her glee. “Very well,” Kohler spits out with a harsh tone. “We shall put it to a vote. Any man who wishes to see the Maschinen receive this…unique…field testing, raise your hand.” Every hand in the room, except for Kohler’s, raises. The commander takes a deep breath, annoyed at the outcome. He turns his ire towards Kaja. “It seems as if you have your wish, Miss Reinhardt. If this blows up in our faces, I expect you to take the full blame and suffer the consequences that it entails.”

Kaja modestly nods. “I will, commander.”

“That wasn’t a question, Kaja. That was a statement of fact. Ready the Maschinen, Miss Reinhardt. You will be deployed to Amerika within the week. Meeting adjourned.”

The men file out of the room as Kaja sits in her chair. After the room has emptied, a smile finally creeps onto her lips. She can’t believe that she has argued with the commander and actually won. Her father would be proud, she hopes. The unorthodox planning was something that she had taken directly from him and something that she prided herself on. Now, the daughter of Lukas Reinhardt had a chance to take the hopes and dreams of her father and force them into fruition. In Amerika, the Krieg could hone their skills and learn to show restrain if the need arose. Kaja felt the bliss building in her chest. She was certain that her idea, while immediately laughed at, would be something that Kohler eventually learned to love (and even claim as his own).

Kaja stands and walks out of the room, navigating down the dimly lit hallway until she comes to the barracks. She passes the door to the normal soldiers’ quarters and instead enters a door labeled “KEIN EINGANG.” Inside, Kaja can barely make out the Maschinen in the dim light. They are both chained to the walls by their left arms. The giant Balraj turns his head towards Reinhardt and lets out a low grunt. He then turns to Somba, the Samoan beast, and bows his head. Somba lowers his head as well. Kaja Reinhardt reaches out and touches Balraj, the Punjabi giant on the shoulder. With her other hand, she touches Somba’s giant forehead. The two beasts stir, but don’t make any noise. Kaja clears her throat, attempting to draw the attention of both men. Both giants look to her as children look at their mother. With a slight chuckle, Kaja breaks the big news to the men.

“Balraj, Somba…we’re going to Amerika.”

In probably the most outlandish military decision in history, the Krieg Maschinen were heading to the small wrestling promotion known as Kingdom of Pride. The giants would fit right in with the often zany world of professional wrestling. This would either allow them to tap into their potential and mature into the warriors that the prophecy foretold…or it would force them to become the punchline to many jokes within the Krieg organization. Only time would tell what Amerika had in store for the two giants and Kaja Reinhardt. Kaja knew that this would be a learning curve to approach one week at a time...and their first week immediately plunged them into international competition, facing off against LOS SEXYS!