The Royal Cruiser shuddered slightly as its seven kilometer chassis docked within the more enormous orbital platform.
Kaiser stepped down, flanked by the SS, each of them towering figures in black armor, skull insignias gleaming under the docking lights. He cast a glance at the platform itself.
The Aethelgard Military Command was massive; roughly the size of the moon, as he remembered it in old schematics.
From orbit, the Aethelgard Military Command looked more like a fortress than a base: angular superstructures, layers of gun turrets and missile emplacements, docking bays large enough to swallow cruisers, and armor plating that shimmered under the distant sun. Magnetic rails ran along the outer hull, probably for moving massive components or even small orbital craft. The surface was bristled with antennas, sensors, and defense grids, giving it the look of a citadel floating in the void.
"Mein Führer," Johan von Krüger greeted as the doors hissed open, standing at two and a half meters tall, broad-shouldered, with a commanding presence that filled the corridor as he held a cane in his right hand. Behind him, was a group of high-ranking military officers, eager to greet the greet Führer.
Johan wore a uniform, dark as a starless void and adorned with medals and Iron Cross insignias, seemed almost too small for him, yet it somehow emphasized his intimidating frame. Every movement he made was precise, disciplined, like a predator pacing within its territory.
Kaiser nodded lightly. "Johan."
Johan's eyes flicked briefly to the SS before returning to Kaiser. "Welcome to Aethelgard, Mein Führer. This platform now functions as the central command for the entire Germania Army. All departments, from fleet coordination to ground operations, report through this citadel."
The interior was a mix of function and spectacle. The walls were steel and reinforced alloy, lined with control panels, holoprojectors, and military insignias. Pipes and conduits snaked overhead, carrying power, coolant, and oxygen to every sector.
Soldiers moved efficiently in and out of corridors, some hauling equipment, others monitoring holo-screens projecting fleet movements or troop deployments.
There were racks of rifles, mech suits in standby, and even a few armored transports stationed on internal magnetic pads. The place had the faint hum of machinery, punctuated by the clatter of boots; a constant rhythm of military life.
Kaiser followed Johan deeper into the command citadel, past rows of officers and soldiers who snapped to attention and immediately fell silent. They passed armories, maintenance bays, and even a small training arena where soldiers practiced drills with precision that would have made any old Terran general proud.
Finally, they reached a wide, open field in the heart of the platform. Here, Kaiser's attention was immediately drawn to the warriors standing in formation: the Jaeger.
These were not ordinary troops. Kaiser had designed them back when he played Interstellar Nations; shock troops filled with genetic warriors, enhanced to levels that even most Imperial Astartes might have to respect. In-game, they had been his elite strike force: gene-enhanced, surgically perfected, disciplined to the last fiber of their being.
Now, only a fraction of them remained in Berlin's orbit. Most had been scattered across far sectors to suppress rebellions, subjugate xenos civilizations, or defend against the enemy of the Reich.
This small battalion—barely a few thousand—was originally intended to undergo fourth-generation gene enhancements, before being deployed to another sectors. He was lucky these men haven't gotten another order.
Kaiser walked along the front line, scrutinizing their posture, their appearance, the faint hum of their power-armor systems embedded in the nearby compartments. Each one was terrifyingly competent, their muscles and reflexes enhanced, interfacing seamlessly with neural implants. Just a squad of ten could likely overwhelm an unprepared planetary garrison without breaking a sweat.
'These people might be even better than Astartes,' Kaiser thought, shaking his head slightly. 'I should have kept more of them in one place. This small number isn't enough for proper mass deployment.'
Johan walked beside him, speaking without hesitation. "The Jaeger are currently under-strength, Mein Führer. We've assigned them to training, defensive drills, and limited patrols within the Berlin System while awaiting the next batch of recruits for gene-enhancement. All personnel are operationally ready, though their numbers are insufficient for large-scale operations outside the system."
Kaiser nodded. "Indeed. Once the Ministry of Science completes the enhancements, these units will become our spearhead. Make sure they are prepared for retrofitting."
He moved past them, eyes sweeping to the other soldiers standing in formation: the Wehrmacht, the backbone of the Germania Reich. Unlike the Jaeger, these were mortal humans, not fully gene-enhanced super-soldiers, yet even they were far from ordinary.
Although they didn't have the same bulky and massive appearance of a transhuman, they already had genetic modifications that enhanced their strength, endurance, and resistance to common battlefield injuries.
They wielded advanced armor, modular exosuits, and advanced weaponry. Some elite regiments within the Wehrmacht had even proven more effective than Jaeger units under specific conditions, particularly in large-scale engagements or specialized attrition missions.
Johan explained, "The Wehrmacht already went preparations for the worst scenario, capable of massive operations within the Berlin System. Their equipment varies from standard rifles to heavy siege weapons. Many of our elite regiments have received specialized training and equipment for high-risk operations, Mein Führer."
Kaiser let out a slow whistle. "Impressive. Despite the dispersion, this is still a formidable force." He stepped closer to one of the Heer units, letting his eyes scan their formation. The soldiers were disciplined, standing perfectly straight, even in the weight of armor designed to withstand high-temperature plasma rifles temporarily.
He paused for a moment, looking around the vast field of soldiers, the orbital platforms in the distance, and the ceiling-high observation deck that lined the control sectors above them.
"This is exactly what I imagined when they went on a training during the gameplay," he muttered quietly, half aware. The SS beside him tilted their heads, unused to hearing such casual commentary, but said nothing.
Johan's voice brought him back to business. "Mein Führer, we've organized defensive and offensive drills here. Jaeger units rotate through special training courses while the Wehrmacht maintains readiness. Supply chains are fully integrated into the Aethelgard platform's logistics network, although we remain constrained by our isolation from the rest of the Reich."
Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it remind you of the first time you read about the Reich' consolidation, is it not?" He allowed himself a small smirk. "We too used to start small; just like we are right now."
"Yes, Mein Führer. Although, it was my great-grandfather—the first Krueger Duke—that walked alongside you among the stars; to lead mankind to a greater height, unlike the ancient rotten human federation on Earth," Johan answered eagerly.
'Whoa. I really went deep in the role-play, didn't I?' Kaiser thought, slightly embarrassed.
Walking along the field, Kaiser observed the juxtaposition: the Jaeger in their imposing formation of tall powerful warriors, augmented and ready to strike anywhere at a moment's notice, and the Wehrmacht, sturdy and numerous, the silent backbone of his Reich.
Together, they represented a balance between sheer, genetically-enhanced power and reliable, versatile manpower.
"This arrangement is sufficient for now," Kaiser said finally, stopping at the center of the formation.
He let his gaze sweep over the platform, the orbital defenses, the training arenas, and the soldiers lined out below.
Kaiser's lips curved into a subtle smile. "Excellent. Prepare them for operations in the near future. I want them to be fully organized when the time is coming. And make sure the SS coordinates with them during exercises; our elite must always know how to operate together."
The SS straightened instantly, their helmets glinting. It was a silent acknowledgment of a command that would ripple through the system.
Johan nodded gravely. "Understood, Mein Führer. I will oversee the preparations and ensure the operational readiness of the Jaeger as the spearhead of your new strategic forces."
Kaiser stepped back, letting his eyes drift to the observation windows. Beyond the platform, the black void of space stretched endlessly, dotted with stars and the faint glimmer of distant planets. Somewhere out there, unknown civilizations and potential threats waited.
'We have time,' Kaiser thought, a cold thrill running through him. 'I hope the infiltration succeeded.'
He crossed his hands, the hum of the orbital citadel filling his ears. His hand brushed lightly against the muscles in his body, a relic of his old self, and a reminder of the game that had become reality.
Kaiser smiled faintly. 'It's a good day to be a Führer... And a Primarch too, I guess?'