[b][center][h3]The Late Herr Leutnant[/h3][/center][/b]

Wernher knew he was late. [i]Well, timetable, meet reality.[/i], he thought.

Had Wernher not taken a short detour on his way, he would have arrived fifteen minutes ago. He was riding a horse from a local stable. He knew a family who ran a stable nearby, and had sent a letter to them, requesting a horse for a few days in exchange of a agreeable sum. The family's daughter Katharina had been happy to bring the horse to the train station as Wernher arrived. The young woman had been almost blushing, when she offered the chestnut horse named Hugo to Wernher. Wernher didn't wonder why; he looked quite dashing in his officer's uniform with insignia. He had civilian clothing with him, but a uniform offered a few perks and gazes, like better service in restaurants.

Wernher had come almost straight from the von Lockstedt "estate" near Berlin, as he had been on a short vacation for familial reason. His father was having heart problems, but that didn't slow him down much. Oskar had been mostly relegated to staff duties nowadays, preparing new artillery training handbooks and other paperwork. There was clearly [i]something[/i] coming, as his father was talking much about new artillery designs and plans being drawn behind the scenes.

Wernher ushered Hugo to a steady trotting for the last few hundred metres before the manor. If he was going to be late, at least he could arrive in style. Nearing the manor, he noticed his friends, and sported a small grin. Someone had arrived with a brand new Audi, probably Hans. A man never stops playing with toys, they just get expensive and lucrative. Wernher didn't have much interest in those automobiles, but they might have a place in battlefield. If only one made enough reliable and affordable automobiles, then they'd offer greater mobility in logistics than horses and trains.

The others were already walking towards the manor. Wernher pulled near them and stopped. "Sorry for being late", Wernher apologized. "I hope you weren't taking bets on my punctuality."