//------------------------------//
// Eingraben 
// Story: Krieger's Tale: Rise of the Germane Empire 
// by Stalin with Da Spoon 
//------------------------------//

The distinct sound of a shovel pushing it's way into the earth was heard, digging into the ground, twisting and turning as it uprooted the dirt, holding it on the shovel before being lifted out and thrown over the shoulder of the one using the tool, currently feeling fatigued as he took a deep breath. The early morning cool temperatures helped to combat the sweat forming on the soldier's brow, but his hands still felt sore from grasping the metal handle and wooden shaft of the shovel. Even after a full hour of shoveling, he still wasn't used to it, as he turned to see several other soldiers, as well as a few civilians, both human and pony, shoveling beside him.

Taking a deep breath, Obersoldat Sherman returned to shoveling, pressing his foot on the shovel head and sinking it into the dirt. Soon, he lifted the shovel back over his shoulder and sent the dirt it carried with it back out of the small trench and onto the grass. As he dug his shovel into the ground, he could the sound of grunting and struggiling to his right, as he turned to see a pony struggiling with pushing the shovel into the dirt.

"Come on, go in!" She said as she pushed down on the handle. The pony mare was wearing a wehrmacht uniform complete with a stalhelm on her head, as Sherman decided to help and walked over.

"Here komarade, let me help you with that. First, you place your foot upon the shovel head, and press push it down, then you lift it back up, toss the dirt, then repeat." Sherman said as he went through the motions with her."

"Oh, thanks. Sorry, just never done this kind of work before. What are we even digging, anyways? Some sort of long hole?"

"A defensive trenchline is what kommandant Krieger said, one of three. He believes we may come under attack from raiding parties and wishes for us to have effective defensive positions constructed s we may endure an enemy assault. While I am certain that we could fight them off with our rifles alone, it does not hurt to be prepared."

"Thank you sir! Oh, and uh sir, what's your name?"

"First off, you do not need to call me sir all the time, just call me Sherman. And you are?"

"You can call me Muddy Flower." 

"Good to know. Now then, best get back to shovelling, we must keep with the schedule."

"Sir yes sir- I mean, you got it Sherman!" Muddy Flower then gripped her shovel and dug it into the ground, resuming her work.

'Hmph. These ponies certainly commit themselves to their work... A good quality.' Sherman thought to himself before he turned back to the ground and continued shovelling. 

Scoop up, throw back, scoop up, throw back, a never ending cycle.

However, when the voice of Unteroffizier Fritz yelled out in German, Sherman quickly dropped his shovel and saluted, gesturing for the pony to do the same as she quickly dropped the shovel and did her best salute towards the officer who was accompanied by two soldiers holding MP-40s as he cleared his throat before speaking.

"Attention everyone, Kommandant Krieger has ordered us to have at least one line of fortification fully constructed and staffed with troops by the end of the week, so ensure that we are keeping with the schedule and maintaining efficiency. However, due to our current lack of equipment and manpower, we have had to borrow tools and workers from the populace, whom we are thankful for. So remember, treat both your co-workers and tools with care, do not overwork yourself, but above all else, stay on schedule! Now then, do not let me keep you from your work."

As the Officer walked off, Sherman went ahead and did as he was told. Just keep shovelling. 

Sherman hoped they had something better to use as rations unlike that meal slop they usually put in it.





Colonel Krieger slowly walked along the streets of Germaneia, feeling happy to look up into the sky and not see a single aircraft, Luftwaffe or Allied, in sight. No flak bursts, no whistiling of bombs falling from the sky, no smog or fire reaching to the heavens, just a calm and serene blue sky. A very rare sight in Europe, especially over the small town of Grangeville deep within the french countride until the Allies began Operation Overlord, as they were calling the invasion of France according to the Abwehr, or at least so they said. Knowing Hitler, the truth was far more complicated, or possibly completely different. Regardless, Krieger could still remember the sound of the bombs falling from the sky onto the cities of France and Germany, especially during the Battle of Britain and their retaliation for the first bombs dropped on London.

Looking back down to see where he was walking, he looked around the town to see both humans and ponies walking the streets, though they seemed to pay a mindful distance to each other. The occasional Wehrmacht soldier passed by, saluting Krieger before moving on as the ponies simply looked on in silence. It seemed as though the ponies seemed unsure of what to think about the arrival of his military and civilian forces within Germaneia, and even though he had helped save them from the Caribou, they still seemed to fear him. Krieger wished that soon enough that fear would soon dissipate, and the people would not think of it as an occupation similar to what he commanded in Grangeville.

He just hoped that protecting these people and fighting alongside them would earn their favor. Perhaps it would even redeem himself and his soldiers, and hopefully they could simply put the past behind them, and look to the future. However, Krieger had noticed that some of his soldiers performed the Nazi salute instead of the regular salute, likely due to being loyal to the NSDAP rather than Germany itself. A worrying sight, but hopefully nothing bad would come of it. He did however inform his fellow officers, who he knew for sure were loyal solely to Germania, to keep an eye on any devoted National Socialists. It was likely that the need may soon arise for Krieger and the Wehrmacht to organize Germaney and any of it's neighoring towns into a nation state to ensure it's people are protected.

Krieger than thought back to last night and his meeting with the pony spy dispatched by the Caribou, Autumn Chill. Krieger remembered watching as the pony ran off back towards the camp of his superiors, disappearing into the night. Hopefully the disinformation would help delay any potential assault, and possibly even grant an oppurtunity to liberate any ponies held prisoner by the Caribou with a raid on their camp once a proper defence was consolidated. 

But as Krieger and the men walking beside him finally reached the outer area of the town, looking out to see the many workers and soldiers toiling away at the digging of the trench line surrounded the town, Krieger knew that right now all they could do was prepare for the enemy to strike first, and once the enemy was driven back, they would go on the offensive.

However, due to low supplies and insufficient manpower, they would have to emulate the German strategy during the war against France in 1940, using quick mobile troops, superior firepower, and shattering enemy defenses. And while they may not have much armor, artillery or aircraft to support them, the new Blitzkrieg would see Germaney protected, and the bandit and slaver hordes shattered by the might of the Wehrmacht. Krieger then turned to see a few pony soldiers doing training with their rifles, fumbiling with them as one stallion accidentally shot a bullet into the air before being yelled at by a drill sergeant, with the sergeant then taking the rifle and demonstrating how to properly fire it. The sight alone confirmed Kriger's worries of his new pony recruits being ill-equipped and trained to serve effectively.

"We may need some more time to properly prepare... Let us hope Autumn Chill pulls through."





The flaps to the large tent were opened by two tall guards wielding spears as Autumn Chill slowly stepped forward, before being struck in the back by the blunt end of a spear and sent falling to his knees as he looked up to see a Caribou sitting upon a throne, currently eating a bowl of grapes.

"Ah, your sorry ass finally made it back, took your sweet time too. Now then, what happened to my boys? They go traitor on me?"

"Well... They said they wanted to set up shop in the town for a while, turn it into a new camp. They said they will have slaves ready for you to collect at the end of the week."

"I see... Very smart of them for once. I will send you back to noftify them before I come to collect. Now, go back to your quarters, you and your family earned yourself some actual food tonight."

"T-thank you boss." Autumn Chill said before leaving the tent. As he made sure he was out of sight he ducked behind a tree and pulled out a small radio, activating it as he spoke into it. "They bought the story, mister Krieger."

"Excellent, phase one of operation Weißes Schwert has commenced. Keep your family safe, we will be in touch."