Rise of a Kaiser

Chapter 65 - Knightly Enslavement

Isholde walked gracefully into one of the Rooms of the Postellan church with one of her aids, the German officers waiting for them stood up and clicked their heels while bowing. They were all wearing black unfiforms with red patches and acsents, with silver piping, the colours of German Foreign Intelligence and spy network: Ausland. 

Zimmermann had told the Saint a few days earlier that Cryilla had been located, and was on the way to Berlin. Isholde, in turn, held up her end of the bargain. Reichsfuhrer of Ausland, Lady, had sent the notorious agent Falke from the Persian campaign, along with some of the subordinates in his section to gain intelligence. For Lady, Zimmermann's proposition was quite convenient, as the Kaiser, after hearing about the bordr skrimish ordered that he needed to know his enemy and had instructed Lady to plant informants inside Postella. 

"So you are this 'agent falke' I've heard so much about, from Arthur." Isholde mused, Falke saluted. He had been promoted to Oberfuhrer of his section, head of all agents in Psotella, and had set up headquarters in the German embassy, but most of his subordinates would be planted within the church.

"At your service, my lady." Falke reported.

Isholde went on to explain the political situtation in Postella. As everyone knew, the country depended highly on their state religion and the church. The Cardinal of the Church, that existed across the continent and that which sent monsters after Wilhelm during his exile, could dictate to the Primearch whatever she wished. While the Primearch was the head of state, he was answerable to the Cardinal, whom was Isholde's boss, the pinacle of the church hireachy. And off course was more concerned with political maneuvering, luxuries and wealth, rather than helping the people who suffered greatly.

The Postellan military was divided in two. Two armies struggled for influence at court, and for resources. The modern army, led by the elderly High General Orpin, and the Holy Order of Postellan Knights led by Grand Master Ardwin. Orpin had championed Postella to industrialise and produce rifles, standardise uniforms, and conscript soliders and build tanks and equipment on the line of German, Russian, and Ankyutian militaries, but since Postella was landlocked they had to purchase battleships from Thaphia who had their own naval building programme, and whose ports the were docked for a hefty fee. 

The Holy Order however, championed traditional medieval combat, arguing that their religion would embue them with holy power to defeat anyone. It was this hubris, that sparked their attack on the German border. Grand Master Ardwin, despite her being quite headstrong, covered the incident up blaming the Germans for provoking an attack. This sparked outrage in Germany, many German corporations, out of patriotich duty of Stasi threats, throttle trade with Postella. And the numerous SB manned checkpoints along the border, further damaged Postellan trade. 

The Primearch was furious at the order for this, but the Cardinal refused to sign the order to dispand the knights. The order were seen as heroes and celebrities by the people, but in court they were seen as foolhearty. This however, did not diminish their influence in court and had many powerful allies, especially amongst the church and eastern nobility. The increased influence of the church, caused a prohibition law to be passed, illialising alchohol which the Church saw as sinful. The Primearch protested due to the reduced revenue from the alchohol industry, but could do nothing at risk of being branded a heretic. The prohibition law had also sent Postella spiralling into a pit of crime, multiple mobs and gangs sprung up, engaging in violence and illegally sold gallons of alchohol to the many speakeasies hidden across Postella. And the violence culminated in the capital of Calentevico, where the biggest and most poweful gangs across the country had their territories in the capital. 

To balance the Postellan accounts, and avoid bankruptcy, the Primearch had legalised slavery, much to the pleasure of the Church who had secretly practised the act for years, and had built a vast slaver network. Now they could move unhindered.