The second Stahl returned, Traudel snapped back to attention. She couldn't help it, almost like a reflex at this point. His words to Gunter caused a slight frown, barely noticeable. For the moment she watched on, up until he addressed her. Frown growing bigger, the stoic and blank facade of a stalwart soldier cracking partly - eyes wandering off to the side for a brief second. "Terribly sorry sir, different approa-..."
She does not even get to finish her sentence, instead turning halfway to watch as the prisoners are brought in. A quick glance to Gunter, back to the three unfortunate souls and lastly Nina. From Traudel's expression alone one could easily tell her mind was racing for one reason or another. And whatever she was thinking about - it was far from comforting. Muttering something under her breath. "Another prison...? ... unofficia- ...oh. Oh nein..." Her eyes went wide instantly. "Sir. With all due respect. I highly suggest to consider re-evaluating this approach. I do not think it is the wisest route to t-..."
Interrupted again by Nina's words towards Stahl. They cause yet more reason for tension, forcing the already exceedingly nervous Traudel to swallow once. Bright blue eyes remain on Nina for but a few deeper breaths before they wander over the three recently brought in prisoners. Her expression changes once again. From genuine concern and worry for someone else to cold disgust, regret even, aimed at none other than herself. No doubt for what Traudel was about to do.
With a few deliberate steps, she repositions herself and halfway obstructs Stahl's view of the hot-tempered Corsair. Hoping to be a distraction, even if just for a second, and gloss over what was basically a more than well aimed provocation. "If anything, she is baiting you with that. It is a bluff. A pathetic attempt to undermine your undisputed authority, sir. To sow dissent. No doubt a renowned officer like yourself saw right through it. Your course of action is what i would suggest anyway - show of force, disregard these thinly veiled stabs. They cannot hope to even dent your integrity, sir. She's afraid and grows desperate to buy time for her comrades. You are the one who controls this time."
Stahl started breathing heavily. After Nina's words, Stahl raised his gun towards her. He wanted to shoot every bullet he had in his gun to her.
Luckily for her, Traudel distracted him from his building rage.
Yes Traudel yes.... you are right. "She was correct" he thought, but for the wrong reasons.
He lowered his gun.
It looked like he calmed down...
That would be too quick a death! He shouted out of nowhere.
He shot the first prisoner in the head. Even the guards next to them appeared shocked. I'm waiting Nina! You want this blood on your hands?
He aimed at the next prisoner.
Such coldness from a military. The corsair was surprised that one can actually be like this. Her previous encounters with the military were different. Her eyes lowered of hostility. She looked into his eyes.
''I will tell you again this, I don't know them and I don't care if you kill them.'' She looked at Traudel for some seconds before to look at Stahl. ''What do you want to know? Depending what you will ask, I will answer.''
She doubt about her own words but it was better this way? She wanted to leave this place.
The sudden shot echoed awfully loud in the confines of the cell, causing Traudel to flinch for a split second. Instinctively she looks down on herself - no entry wound. Eyes dart over to the prisoner who subsequently slumps down. Pursing her lips as the rash action is properly understood and processed. Nina looking at her is what gets Traudel out of the moment of disbelief, bringing her back to the here and now. A nod towards the Corsair follows, current direction seemed to be the right one. Almost nervously the pilot checks her wrist, quick glance at a chronometer, before taking a measured and deep breath. Most likely faking confidence, instead of actually having it right now, Traudel addresses Stahl again. Aiming to seem at least more unfazed than the guards who brought the additional prisoners. "And all of a sudden there is compliance. Who would have thought? Whatever answer we get to your questions, sir, we should double-check them by asking the same ones a second time after..." Traudel did not say it directly, but heavily hinted at executing yet another prisoner by simply nodding towards the already dead one in the room. For those that knew her at least a little bit this course of action was rather out of character.
Stahl aimed at Traudel. "If i wanted suggestions i'd ask it Habermeyer!" He barked with spit coming out of his mouth. His head red like a tomato. "You are not in the position to fire at a prisoner let alone a fellow comr-" Gunter tried to intervene while trying to get in front of Traudel.
Stahl's gun changed aim to Gunter. "Back way Kunrad! You want to be next in line? End up the same fate as your future career?"
Gunter went quiet and walked backwards next to Traudel. "Yeah, didn't think so..." Stahl said almost whispering.
He turned back to Nina. "Depending on what i ask, you filthy Corsair?!" Without looking away from her he shot the second prisoner. "Nein Nina... i will make the rules here. Tell me something that can be of use now or your third buddy will meet the same faith."
She rolls her eyes then looked at Traudel then came back to Stahl. She sighed. ''Your fighter pilots are not really as skilled as a corsair. I noticed that when I came in Rheinland the first time. Since then, I trained one of them.'' She closed her eyes for a moment and said something to herself: Sorry, Traudel. ''You will ask me why I did this. Well, I had pitty for the pilot. He wouldn't be a great victory if I kill him without the proper talent required. I also come often here exactly to train the said pilot but all the time, I am disturbed by your little men.''
''If you want, I can train more than simply the pilot I was training.''
Traudel's eyes go wide as Stahl aims the weapon at her, one brow is lifted. No words are uttered this time. She had gambled and lost. Gunter stepping in to cover for her leads to a short sigh of relief - only to be followed up by immediately tensing up as her comrade was threatened instead. With clenched jaws, she was now forced to watch on. For a second time the gun fires, the next body drops. Bright blue eyes dart over as the thud can be heard.
Nina's words lead to a frown - and a moment of shock. Before Traudel can act or say anything, footsteps approach. Maybe on their way to the holding cell, maybe just passing by. By the sound of it at least two people, one of them talking. An older woman, aggravated yet eerily calm.
"... ensure the prisoners are relocated to the Schwarzach, this distraction has taken up enough of my time..."
Traudel blanched with fear moments later, gripping Gunter's arm and taking another step backwards. Attempting to get him to do so as well without catching Stahl's attention again. Further away from the dead, Stahl himself and what was going on. Yes, even from Nina for the time being. No explanation follows, only a quick and almost alarmed look towards Gunter and Nina.
Then she enters. Admiral Mechthild von Herzsprung - a woman way past her prime. Scarred and maimed, yet carrying herself with an aura of unshaken confidence - or way too much hubris. Clad in a Rheinwehr uniform into which a medical corset was integrated, forcing an upright posture no matter what. Facial disfigurement causing a permanent sneer. Remaining eye slowly taking in the scene. Quick to follow was her orderly, a dashing young officer. In stark contrast to his superior, he froze for a second seeing the state the cell was in. Out of habit Traudel immediately stands at attention and keeps her mouth shut.
"And what is the meaning of... this." It may have been worded as a question, but Herzsprung's delivery left no room for intepretation. It was accusation and judgement in a single sentence, laced with unfiltered disdain.
Stahl heard Nina's answer. "This was a good idea of her to be fair." He thought. "But if i could just squeeze out that little bit more information..." He was already aiming to the third prisoner until he heard voices outside.
2 Statures entered. Stahls face went from red to white in mere seconds. "A-admiral! I didn't expect you here! I w-was about to get information of this Corsair!" His voice got that little bit more silent and higher than usual.
Admiral Herzsprung had arrived...
Gunter felt a hand on his arm pulling him back. He looked to his right. "Traudel what are you do-" His whispering stopped abruptly as he saw Traudels alarmed look.
Then he understood what was going on. He saw Admiral Herzsprung entering. He only met her on a few communication channels before, but no one could ever unsee that cold, abomination of a face...
The corsair was about to talk when the ambiance changed suddenly. She saw Traudel being in panic, Gunter being in the same way as Traudel and Stahl being suddenly less explosive. Nina looked a bit at her left and saw a high rank officer, an admiral, the admiral Mechthild von Herzsprung. It was an old woman and her presence shutted Nina's mouth. Nina gulped for the first time since she is here. Having seen Stahl being an explsive angry man suddenly being less angry and more calm, Nina Rodriguez understood that the admiral was probably someone you want to avoid making her angry.
It was a terrible silence. Even for Nina, the current situation seemed to be the end of everything.
Silence is the first reaction from Herzsprung. Deafening silence. Only her piercing gaze moves through the cell, studies Stahl, the guards as well as Gunter, Nina and Traudel. One was almost inclined to believe she reveled in the situation that unfolded. Her orderly was already busy writing several things down, while the old hag began to move. Slowly, seemingly with no urgency. Akin to an apex predator being well aware no one else would dare rival its presence. First stop near one of the shot Corsairs, boots stepping into the puddle that had formed. Breathing in deeply, savouring... something. Almost like someone would smell wine, enjoying the bouquet.
With the tip of her swagger stick, Herzsprung slightly turns the dead prisoner's head for a good view of what had caused the mess. No particular reaction follows, instead her now bloodied steps lead over to the last of the three that was still alive. Almost contemptuously dissecting him with a soulless and cold gaze, like an insect on a laboratory bench. Swagger stick used as an extension of her hand, forcing his chin up a notch. Despite that though, an unsettling and empty 'smile' of sorts forms. For him and him alone, as it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Sufficient."
The guards Stahl used to get the three Corsair prisoners in here in the first place are next. Leaving a trail of red footsteps behind her, Herzsprung stops close to them. Uncomfortably close. A short gesture with her stick towards her orderly and the man quickly moved closer and spoke up, almost like a puppet ordered to perform a little trick for its puppeteer. "Service numbers of each, then leave."
As this was being taken care of, Herzsprung's path continues. Still not towards Stahl, he wasn't even addressed yet. Passing Gunter and Traudel on her way to Nina, the old woman slows down and comes to a halt near both of the remaining Rheinwehr personnel in the cell. Both are not looked at, her questionable attention remains centered on the captive redhead. Words however are clearly meant for her subordinates.
"I remember you. Faces are not forgotten, Leutnant. You expressed concerns multiple times. And you, Oberleutnant, have caused quite the stir..." Groaning and snickering at the same time, she moved on towards Nina. Gunter might notice how Traudel's breath quickened significantly the second Herzsprung was that close to both. "And for this specimen two others had to die? A third about to, if i hadn't appeared. Ja, Stahl. I am not blind. Of course you did not expect me - this is for everyone present to see." With a dismissive wave of one hand, the old admiral gestures towards the corpses in the room. Then takes a closer look at Nina, all the while reprimanding Stahl without even looking at the man. "What valuable secrets is this one supposed to hold that it warrants something as inexcusable as you just did...? Those were not yours, Stahl. They never were. They were mine, scheduled for relocation as many others. The quota will not be met, those will be missing. A simple request could have prevented this. If i dislike something, it is deviation from protocol..."
That very same silence creeps in again, pausing just long enough to have people wonder whether or not it was their turn to speak now. Nina was still stared down by Herzsprung, who at this point was close enough to touch the Corsair. Which is precisely what happens - one gloved hand takes a random strand of Nina's crimson hair, lifts it up and moves it slightly between thumb and index finger. No abrupt pulling or anything similar, just a gentle examination. Her tone changes for the short exchange between Corsair and Rheinlander, from aggravated but worryingly composed to inquisitive. "All this because of you. So young and full of... life... i wonder... ... " A pause, eye narrowing lightly. Letting go of the hair again. "Nein, that won't be it... no matter. We two will continue later." That fateful promise made, Herzsprung's demeanor shifts back to the previous one as Stahl is finally given the courtesy of being looked at by her.
"Disappointing on several levels. A primate with a gun, eager to pull the trigger. Blind to the bigger picture. It seems a lesson in consequence is in order."
