Tyranny of Steel

Field Marshal Heimerich von Graz stood across from the Kaiser in the Imperial Palace. The two men were currently within Berengar ’s study discussing a matter of great importance, one that was of the utmost secrecy. Heimerich was the older brother of the Empress Adela, and had served as the Field Marshal of Berengar ’s Royal Guard for several years.

What was initially a small unit of elite troops designed to protect Berengar from threats had expanded over the years into an Army of its own. By now, an entire corps existed within the ranks of the Reichsgarde, also known as the Imperial Guard. While the Imperial German Army was the Nation ’s premier land based defense force whose loyalty was to the German Empire, the Reichsgarde existed as the personal armed force of the Kaiser and, by extension, the von Kufstein dynasty.

Those who joined the ranks of the Reichsgarde were the elite among the elite when it came to German Soldiers. They had to meet many physical requirements, such as a height of at least six feet tall, as well as 20/20 vision. These men were fiercely loyal to the Kaiser, and were not afraid to follow any order given, no matter how cruel and inhumane it may be.

Heimerich was the leader of the Reichsgarde, second only to the Kaiser in terms of authority. He had been busy these last few years leading the unit in its operations around the globe, mostly in Colonial conflicts. With the war of Iberia entering a new stage, Berengar felt it was best to deploy the Reichsgarde to the region to thoroughly put down the resistance against his rule. Thus, he had a stoic expression on his face as he began to speak to his younger cousin.

”Field Marshal, I have summoned you here today because, as you may be aware, the rebellion in Iberia has gotten out of hand. Adelbrand has failed to quell the unrest, and because of that, I have decided to deploy you to the Iberian theatre so that you may undertake the necessary actions to put an end to this insanity.

What I ’m about to order you to do will be an act of extreme cruelty, tens of thousands of innocent people will die, but this endeavor needs to be undertaken to prove to the Papacy and the Catholic church as a whole that resistance against my rule will not be tolerated. ”

Heimerich nodded his head in the affirmative to the words the Kaiser had spoken before uttering his agreement to the orders.

”Just tell me what it is I need to do, and my men will do as they are told. You do not have to question the loyalty of the Reichsgarde. The orders of the Kaiser are absolute! ”