CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
It was several days since the security breaches. Maas ordered increased surveillance and his men were on high alert. He wanted to make damned certain the incursions would not happen again. The jungle patrols were increased and extended further than normal. Maas expected the Americans to return. But there were no sightings since the two captives were taken. He reviewed the nightly reports from the check points. No mention of any unusual activity although one patrol reported several natives of the area on an apparent hunting trip on the far northeastern perimeter of the complex far from the exterior hatch compromised earlier.
Maas needed more information. Exactly who were the Americans? Why were they here? Were they looking for the American man and woman they had captured over a week ago? Damn, he thought to himself. If he only knew these answers they could better prepare for any more clandestine intrusions. There was only one way he knew to get the answers he needed, the old-fashioned way.
Maas picked up the telephone on his desk. “Have the Americans taken back down to a holding cell below and wait for me there,” he told his guard on the line. “Place them both in one cell and do not harm them in any way. Do you understand?” Maas received the acknowledgement from his guard and placed the phone back in its cradle. He would put a stop to this game right now. After all, the life of the Fortress was at stake. And the Führer made it clear his life was at stake as well.
Maas stood and left his office for the conference room just down the hall. Damn weekly meetings, he huffed to himself. Maybe this one would be short.
Maas arrived with the other heads of the various departments in the Fortress. The Führer, as always, was late. It was one of her ways to show how important she was. Nothing could begin without her. Women… Maas loathed women.
Within minutes the Führer entered flanked by her personal bodyguards and her secretary. Everyone in the room rose and saluted her arrival.
“Be seated, please,” she said without any emotion. Everyone sat together as one. She looked over at her secretary and nodded an order to proceed.
“Report on security,” the secretary ordered.
Maas stood and relayed the information regarding increased surveillance and the continuation of a high alert status for the complex. He reviewed the highlights of the various reports for the week. He made no mention of the two captive Americans or the kidnapping of the cook and technician. The Führer looked at him with stern eyes and reluctantly nodded her acceptance without comment. She was infuriated he did not tell the group the entire story, but decided to deal with him later. Maas sat down relieved that the Führer did not take the opportunity to grill him further about the breaches and the missing personnel. He breathed a sigh of relief. But when he glanced over to the Führer, her eyes were still on him. She was not happy.
“Report on gold production,” the stoic secretary ordered without changing her tone.
The director of gold production, Dr. Stefan Scholz, stood and read three technical briefs pertaining to the transformation of lead into gold. The numbers were staggering. Over two tons of gold was produced that week alone in the four transmutation units on site. Several other department heads applauded the news. The Führer smiled openly. For the first time in many months production had returned to a “normal” mode. Previous issues surrounding the processes were solved after months of extensive research and work done by the technical and production teams. This was very good news as all four of the transmutation units were now online. Fifth and sixth units were now under construction with target production dates of mid-next year.
“Our production personnel have done a great job in solving the previous issues that have plagued us. Now we can move steadily ahead toward our ultimate goals,” said the Führer as she clearly congratulated the production department. Dr. Scholz sat proudly with a smug look about his face as he took in the praise and looked about the room.
“Report on energy production,” the stoic secretary ordered without looking up.
A small, wiry man stood to give his report.
“Our energy situation has also improved,” he said. “Now we can easily maintain the current production goals and support the long-term goals.” He nodded toward the Führer and continued. “Our use of technology to tap the geothermal volcanism of this region has afforded a near limitless source of energy.”
The Nazis had good reason for their pride in their energy production. Their early trials sought to use some of the nuclear technology brought over from Germany after the war. However, after many attempts, the Nazi technicians abandoned the use of nuclear power due to its high cost both in nuclear materials and the cost of building and maintaining a usable reactor.
Ten years ago the technicians discovered a small fissure beneath the Fortress enabling access to volcanic actions deep beneath the ground. They found a limitless source of heat which, once harnessed, would provide for the growing power needs of the Fortress. After a huge project to create a safe tap into the geothermal source, the Nazis finally perfected the process of producing steam by injecting water into a heat source. This in turn ran their power-generating equipment. The project also developed a way to multiply the effectiveness of the process by a factor of one hundred. Technicians hailed this process as a nuclear reactor without the radiation. This endless power production process enabled the Nazis to bring four gold transmutation units online. Two more units were planned. The Führer was pleased.
“Report on finance,” the stoic secretary ordered, glancing to her right. Herrman Kunze rose.
“I too have great news,” he began. “Our financial contacts throughout are strongly in position and have established numerous gold and financial accounts in banks across the globe. With our gold production becoming normal, thanks to Dr. Scholz, we are poised to set our plans into full motion. We intend to flood the market with gold over the next several years to artificially drive the price down. At the same time our subsidiaries will quietly begin a trickle of gold buying and position ourselves in the market to corner the entire gold market, thus making the Fourth Reich the owner of the vast majority of gold in the world. With that financial power we will topple governments, replacing them with our puppet heads to gain full control of the world.” Kunze smiled. “That is the short version, of course. We developed a very detailed plan which we have already embarked upon. The plan is flawless. The Fourth Reich will endure.” With that Kunze sat down to a room of applause.
“This is all excellent news,” said the Führer, not masking her excitement in any way. “With this power breakthrough we will continue to grow our capabilities to produce gold. We will use the gold to cripple the world financial markets. We will step in at the appropriate time and seize the markets, controlling the world’s gold market and thus controlling the world.”
Applause again filled the room. The Führer continued.
“Your work has brought us to the brink of the demise of the financial and political norms we are all saddled with at this time. The world will no longer be controlled by the United States, the European Union, OPEC nations and the sheiks and power-hungry leaders who think they rule the world. We, the Nazis, will continue our rise to power and complete the creation of the Fourth Reich. We will rule the world!”
Another rousing round of applause filled the room. A quick glance at her secretary by the Führer brought forth a loud rendition of Deutschland über Alles from hidden speakers around the room. The Führer smiled broadly as everyone in the room stood and sang along. She did her job well. She whipped the group into frenzy, instilling in them a feeling of invincibility. They all felt that this time they would rule the world. Not by war but by a much more powerful tool… Gold!