Metamorphosis

Chapter Two: Weary Travellers

Richtofen recalled the seething bitterness of that unpleasant winter. The December of 1942 was harsh and inhospitable with record snowfall. A thick shroud of frost had engulfed the land - entombing everything it fell upon. The stale stench of death hung heavily in the air as the small groups of remaining survivors mingled and milled about the ruins.

Richtofen remembered the horrible feeling in his fingers as they went numb beneath his leather gloves. He shuddered with discomfort at how even the thickest of wool jackets and leather trench coats were not enough to keep the biting cold from his lean frame. He had travelled to some of the harshest places on the planet yet somehow the French winter had been too much for him to bear.

Only a month prior, Hitler's army had overcome what was left of the Vichy government in the south of France. This last bastion of resistance in the country had now been taken over as the Nazis pushed further west - with only the British channel separating them from the United Kingdom.

Despite Hitler's parade through Paris only two years prior; the Nazis had taken control of more than just the major French cities. But Richtofen's deployment saw him avoiding the urban areas of the country. Instead, he uncomfortably toured the countryside with his men after their journey from Breslau, Germany.

Dr Maxis had sent him out on a research project codenamed: Projekt Orpheus. The project was aptly named as a nod to the musician from Greek mythology who could hypnotise living creatures and put them into a state of extreme suggestiblity. And Dr Maxis was always so keen to relate his scientific endeavours to ancient epics and mythological tales.

The project itself was part of the wider supersoldier programme which Group 935 had been heading for the Nazi regime. The group of scientists were split into teams which were each given an area of research to investigate. Of course, Dr Maxis took on the more adventurous task of creating some kind of serum which could render the victim's body under external control once administered.

And Richtofen, being Dr Maxis' assistant, was given the job of conducting field trials of the latest serum which was ready for testing. Though, deep down, Richtofen knew Dr Maxis was too weak of heart to see the testing process firsthand. So who better to send than the man who enjoyed such blood curdling work?

The weak winter sun shone through the fiery sea of orange clouds. The land was still, laying in slumber as it nursed its wounds. The once lush green fields which had painted the landscape had been reduced to craters and scorched earth. The delicate beauty of the French countryside had become the stage for violence and bloodshed.

A piercingly frigid breeze whispered across the land as the freezing air numbed wounds and put others into a sleep they would never awake from. Carcasses of burnt-out tanks and vehicles rested on the side of the road beneath shrouds of snow. The bare trees which lined the road stood bowed and twisted as if submissively greeting the convoy which passed by.

The feral rumbling of the camouflaged Mercedes trucks echoed across the dead land. The senior officials travelled in chauffeured black Mercedes-Benz Type 770 which were safely nestled in the middle of the convoy. The W150 series was a revision of earlier models and was used by many high ranking officials amongst the Axis powers. These massive cars - known as 'großer' in German meaning 'large'. These vehicles would be gifted by Hitler to his allies and were the most expensive to buy at the time.

As well as the small team of underlings who were sent to accompany Richtofen; he was also joined by two more travellers who they picked up in Berlin and Munich. Though, the reason for their last minute attachment to the unit had not been divulged to Richtofen before the journey. But he at least recognised one of the travellers though the other's identity remained obscured.