Things Never Known: The Parallel Nazi - 8, page 22
“Askania is developing a new flight-control computer with the solid elektron tubes,” he continued. “It would be interesting to use the device then to control a hover and landing. We potentially could learn enough to attempt a rocket landing. My apologies. We have wandered off the script for the presentation.”
Schloss chuckled. “I apologize Herr von Braun. This is very interesting to me, and my mind keeps spinning off possibilities.”
“Which we probably cannot afford,” Ribbentrop suggested.
“And our Commerce Minister makes an excellent point,” Schloss agreed. “This is an expensive program. I commend General Dornberger and Dr. von Braun for their efforts to keep costs under control.”
“You mention controlling costs,” Rainer said. “What else are you doing along this line?”
“What we are attempting to create,” Dornberger answered, “is a collection of building blocks for future projects. We have abandoned the A10 design because it requires mostly new pieces. We completed design work on the A15 chassis. The first version will have two engines. We project a thousand-kilometer range with a fifteen hundred kilo payload.”
“With a second stage, we could place a small payload into orbit if desired.” von Braun added.
The scientist suddenly looked abashed when Dornberger glared at him. Schloss watched the byplay and sat with his hand over his mouth so the others would not see his amusement. Von Braun had not given up on his dream of sending rockets to the moon. Dornberger correctly assumed the men in the room weren’t interested in something like that.
Dornberger cleared his throat and took control of the briefing again. “Again, using the A15 chassis, we can fit four engines to increase payload and or range. The Reich Chancellor has suggested a ten-thousand-kilo payload goal. We think that by strapping two A15 boosters to the sides of a central A15, we could achieve that, along with a significant range increase.”
“The thing to consider, meine Herren,” Schloss said, “is that this will allow us to deliver a bomb on target virtually anywhere in Russia without risking aircraft and crews.”
“The new Askania autopilot should greatly improve accuracy,” Dornberger said.
The briefing continued, and, unusually, the government members in the room were all interested and contributing to the discussion.
There is something captivating about rockets, Schloss thought. I wonder if it’s the small boy in us that loves playing with fireworks. And although few in the room realize it, this is the key to Germany’s future viability.
“That wraps up our presentation,” Dornberger said. “Does anyone have further questions or comments?”
“I want to make one final comment,” Schloss said. “Herr Ribbentrop has commented about the expense of this program and correctly so. But I believe we should not view this as a waste beyond necessary weapons development. I believe that the inventions arising from this program will transform the German economy and assure our leadership around the globe. That is why I am so firmly supporting General Dornberger.”
“Could you elaborate, please, Herr Reich Chancellor?” Ribbentrop asked.
“Certainly. We can already see obvious applications. The rocket engines themselves will help us learn more about high-temperature physics, which will aid in the development of the next generation of turbine aircraft engines. I am certain this will be applied to Lufthansa and other airlines. We will see much quicker and more efficient travel. Askania is working to miniaturize the autopilots. That will have an immediate impact -- Siemens is developing computational machines that are more powerful and less costly. I believe we will see small businesses able to afford them. But I suspect the most dramatic advances will be in areas we would never dream of considering.”
Schloss watched the others in the room nod at his sage statements but with an overriding expression of skepticism. But I saw this very thing happen in the 1960s when the benefits of the so-called space race catapulted the Americans far ahead of the rest of the world in technological leadership.
“I would like to ask General Dornberger and Dr. von Braun to remain behind after this meeting,” Schloss said as he stood up.
This signaled the end of the meeting, and the others filed from the room.
“Let’s return to my office, meine Herren. I feel the need for coffee.”
Schloss glanced at the Berlin skyline from his window as the two rocketeers, as he thought of them, followed him into the office. The spring foliage was beginning to replace the dull gray winter landscape, and Schloss thought it was a good sign of his mood.
He slapped the briefing folder on his desk and collapsed into the chair. It reminded him that the Americans could build better furniture than the Germans. And the Germans would have to work hard to maintain their lead in rocketry and other technologies. The Americans’ independent nature and entrepreneurial mindset meant that they would innovate rapidly.
“What did you conclude from today’s meeting, General?” Schloss asked.
“I think we impressed everyone. But not everyone sees the value in what we are doing.”
“Thank you. Dr. von Braun?”
“I apologize for mentioning our ability to put payloads into orbit. The general warned me about this, and I simply become too excited.”
“I would like us not to speak of that capability,” Schloss said. “I would like you to assign a small team to work on designing an orbital vehicle. One objective is to place a camera in orbit and come up with some way of returning images to Earth.”
“We can do that,” von Braun said quickly with a gleam in his eye.
“Am I correct in my understanding that the twelve-engine model of the A15 could place a man into orbit?”
“Yes, it is capable of doing that.”
“Then you should have your small team also think about designing a small orbital vehicle capable of carrying a pilot. It seems your iterative approach is working in terms of the A15.”
“In other words,” von Braun responded, “prove the concept and build from there.”
Dornberger laid a hand on von Braun’s arm. “Easy, Wernher.”
Schloss laughed. “Herr Doktor seems to get excited easily.”
Von Braun blushed. “I am sorry, Herr Reich Chancellor. I know we must think about supporting the Reich first, but I just get enthusiastic about my job.”
“Enthusiasm is good. Your team has accomplished miracles despite the challenges.”
“Thank you, Herr Reich Chancellor. Do you believe our funding will continue?”
Schloss looked at Dornberger and then von Braun. “No, not at the current level. I can decree the level of funding, although you heard Ribbentrop’s reservations. I must listen to him. We will eventually have elections, which will likely bring in a new government. At that point, your funding is out of my hands.”
“But this is important work,” von Braun protested.
“I agree. But I must inject a measure of realism into your thinking, meine Herren. It is why General Dornberger’s comments about creating the building blocks for future projects are so important. Once we have those pieces in place, I believe it will be much easier to sustain the program. If we can reliably place vehicles into orbit, we can launch them for other nations and large companies. Of course, the income from that would not pay for the program, but it would offset some of the cost. It would also enhance German prestige.”
“These are things we must think about,” Dornberger said. “And it would be cheaper for the Americans and the English to pay us to loft payloads into orbit rather than develop their capabilities.”
“That may be true,” Schloss replied, “although I believe the Americans, in particular, will want to develop their own capabilities.”
Dornberger smiled in a way that was not entirely genial. “We’ve been doing this for fifteen years. I wonder if the Americans will have the patience to go through the learning process we have. Rocketry is not an easy science. And they will have to catch up with us. That’s why it’s important to keep working on this.”
“I agree, General. That’s why your cost management is so important. And I see Jan hovering around the doorway, which means I’m running behind.”
The other two men jumped up.
“Thank you for your time, Herr Reich Chancellor,” Dornberger said. “It was an honor.”
“Just keep delivering for me, General.”
“Of course, of course.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
March 30, 1945; 2:00 PM
Queen Victoria’s Business Room
Balmoral Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
“What is the man thinking?” Queen Margaret shouted. “He is effectively disengaging us from the Germans and undoing everything I have built to prevent another war.”
Colin Marty sat at his small desk and said nothing. Churchill had not dissolved any of the joint projects, but he was subjecting them to review. Marty was unsure what the prime minister was aiming at, but it seemed like a fundamental change in British foreign policy.
“And further,” she continued her tirade, “he waits until I am on the other side of the country to make the announcement. I am tempted to summon him to Balmoral, but I don’t want to ruin my vacation. Or ruin it more effectively than Winston has done already.”
“You have nothing to say, Colin?” she demanded.
Marty tried to determine whether the queen was winding up or winding down. He could sometimes guide her into avoiding the spectacular explosions, but that came with a risk to those actions. He could safely let events take their course if she appeared to be winding down. But in the unending jousting contest with Winston Churchill, it was often better to hand Margaret the ammunition.
“I believe that is exactly what he is doing, Ma’am. He has done this repeatedly. He waits until you leave town and then makes an announcement.”
“So, you think I should honor the threat and call him on the carpet?”
“You need to assess his actions carefully, Your Majesty. He has not actually dissolved the projects. They are contractual, after all. And doing so would hurt our businesses worse than the German companies. But I believe he will continue to push to test the limits of what you will tolerate. It will be painful now, but more so later.”
“I think you are right. Knowing your propensity to plan three or four steps ahead of the Crown, do you have a Writ of Summons prepared?”
“Actually, yes, Ma’am.” He slid it out of his folder and walked across the room to lay it on the Queen’s writing table.
She swore at him. “Am I that predictable? Or are you just manipulating me to your ends?”
“You know better than that, Ma’am. I simply decided that you would eventually want to reel in the prime minister’s leash, and I prepared the necessary documents. Forcing him to drop everything and travel to Aberdeenshire will send an unambiguous message. It may also force him off balance, which would be a good thing.”
“Very well, Colin.” She uncapped her fountain pen and signed Margaret R on the document. “As it happens, I agree with you. If Winston wants to play games, well, I am the Queen. I have more games in my closet. But I do not want to override him like that. It would cause a constitutional crisis, which is something none of us need.”
“He is trying to firmly reestablish parliamentary supremacy, Ma’am, which we have all agreed is necessary. But he was also the cause of your taking a direct hand in the government in the first place. None of us want that again, but he is pushing very hard.”
“Correct. And when Winston comes for his meeting, I will remind him of that. He knows that he doesn’t want an unhappy queen.”
She stood and handed him the summons. See about this getting sent off to London, please. I am going to walk down to the river. Would you care to join me?”
“Of course, Ma’am. I would be delighted.”
“Be sure to take the time to change into your old clothes. We may get muddy, and I see that smile, Colin. Don’t say it.”
“Of course not, Ma’am.”
“You are getting all too good at those insinuations.”
“A little practice helps.”
She belly-laughed as he took the writ from her and left the room to visit the communications room. The communications staff would send a radio message to Downing Street with the text of the summons. They would also make several photocopies for the records and then fold the note into a secure envelope to send out with the daily bag.
“I can tell you are relaxed already,” Marty commented as they tramped through the muddy field towards the river Dee. “Coming up here was a good idea.”
“I thought so. And it was probably good for you to get away as well.”
Colin’s parents-in-law had visited London the previous week and had gone through their daughter’s things. While he had invited them down for that purpose, the inspection had extended to many of the items Colin and Clarice had purchased together. Many of those had sentimental value, and he was reluctant to part with them.
“I must say it was time for me to get away. The Stanfields were barely speaking to me when they left, which is not something I desired. They have always been gracious people.”
They both suddenly stopped when they flushed a covey of quail from the brambles. Margaret grinned at Colin’s surprise as the birds scrambled into the air.
“Kind of heart-stopping, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Unexpected, I would say.”
“The Stanfields are grieving, as you are,” she said. “I know that you were the soul of tact and patience, and as time goes on, they will appreciate it.”
“Clarice was an only child,” he explained. “So, her parents’ entire lives were wrapped up in their daughter. They were so joyful when we married, and then they were excited about the house. Losing her was bad enough for me. To see that all turn to ashes for them is heartbreaking.”
She put her hand on his shoulder. “You cannot attempt to carry the burdens of the entire world on your shoulders, Colin.”
He chuckled. “Isn’t that a topic about which I should lecture you?”
“Careful, Mr. Marty. The river is cold this time of the year.”
“I stand warned, Your Majesty.”
“Just so.”
And as they walked across the moor, Colin felt the tension slip away and noticed that Margaret was much more relaxed. He began to understand her love for the place. Balmoral Castle was a large estate located nowhere close to anything. Prince Albert, Victoria’s consort, directed the construction of the current building. It reflected the generational tastes of the Windsors, as the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha family was now known.
They hiked through the short stretch of wood and emerged at the river Dee. The embankment was not high, but it was a bit steep. Margaret decided to move down to the water’s edge.
“Help me, Colin,” she said, reaching out a hand as she climbed and slid down the embankment.
Colin took her hand to keep her from falling and then slid down himself. Surprising him, she did not release his hand.
“I love this place, you know,” she commented. “I love the English people, you know. But there are times when one must get away.”
“The solitude is pleasant,” he agreed. “I’m not much of a woodsman, nor do I hunt or fish. But I do like the countryside. What was the title of that book? Far from the Madding Crowd?”
“Ah, the context is slightly different. But it is a magnificent novel. I think I have read it four or five times. And I understand what you are saying.”
“The river does not seem very high for springtime,” Colin commented, looking across the water.
“There was not much snow here this past winter,” Margaret replied. “This time of the year, the river is usually energetic.”
She grabbed his other hand in hers and turned to face him. “What are we going to do, Colin? What about you and me?”
He, at first, wanted to break free of her hands and flee but then gazed at Margaret Windsor.
“The past year has been lonely. Coming to the office has been anodyne. For you have become precious to me.”
“So, here we are, two lonely people. Is that why we are attracted to one another?”
“You have been a great encouragement to me since Clarice died. Yet, I think it is something more than that.”
“To have lost my parents and my sister in one fell swoop nearly destroyed me. You have been a comfort to me these past months. But I also think there is more to it.”
“I must admit,” Colin said, “that I look at you as something more than a friend, Ma’am.”
“And in private, you must call me Margaret.
“And I am happy to do so, Margaret,” he replied. “Are you sure you are ready to scandalize London society?”
“Screw the London society,” she barked in her earthy way. “You and I will set the standards for the country. Besides, I would rather spend time with you than anyone else.”
“Is that not already the case?”
“Ha! You come to my place twice a week for dinner. I would ask if you were willing to accompany me to some public events?”
Colin looked at the woman he realized he had come to love. “I am not big on going to events, but I would be happy to accompany you.”
“Good. At this point, I believe the next steps are up to you.”
“I understand. The next step would be to hire an additional secretary to help with the workload when I travel to these events.”
“Colin.”
“I suppose the other thing would be to ask if you would consider marrying me.”
She threw herself into his arms and then leaned back so she could kiss him fully on the mouth.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, “or did you decide to change the subject?”
She swore at him and laughed. “I think you could call it a yes. I trust you understand how this will change your life dramatically. And I am not talking simply about our marriage.”
