Steve, Harold, Isabelle and Thomas were not nice people. Having formed their own gang of four in the first year at the Army Officers' Academy in Dresden, they were well known for their daring escapades and their institutionalised disrespect for authority. No department was safe from their prying eyes and as a result they were getting at least two educations into the theory, practice, strategy and tactics of warfare.
"What are we to do with them?" asked the commander. "Raising a statue onto the roof of the building is one thing - but attaching a hosepipe to a certain area of the anatomy and turning it on, borders on insolence."
"They are a menace and need to be cut short", said the SFX manager. "However, I have an idea. With your permission I can give them more warfare than even they can handle."
That night, the fearless four met outside the SFX lab. Rumour of a brand new piece of equipment having arrived had swept through the Acadamy and they were itching to try it out. The door proved no obstacle to such delinquents and they began to search the lab. Eventually they arrived at a door with a new label on it: "TVR - RTW - Hazardous". Above the door, was written ""Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate".
"This must be it", said Steve, "Let's get in"
Surprisingly the door was unlocked. On entering, four black couches, lay pointing away from some central complex of technical wizardry, and opposite them was a desk with a computer and screen. What looked like VR helmets were present, together with simple diagrams of someone lying on the couch with their head enclosed. Their curiosity piqued,the recruits decided to try them on. The dark, equipment gave no indication of power or capability and it was obvious that any subjects would be observed and monitored by technical staff on a 1:1 basis.
Steve, Harold and Isabelle, lay on the couches and put on the helmets.Nothing happened.
"Might be good for an extended sleep", said Harold.
But when Thomas joined the trio things changed. Strong steel cords leapt from underneath the couches, pinning the cadets. They were suddenly aware that the VR helmets had been activated and they gazed around at snow-covered fields and pristine forests. The temperature dropped. In the distance could be heard screams and shouting.
In front of them, writing appeared "Welcome to Germanji. Welcome to RTW".
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