<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">8.55 Uhr 6. Juli 1940</span><br/>Mittenwald, Bayerne, Deutschland<br/>Kuch und Bach Bakerei Cafe</span></span><br/><br/>Retired Major Raphael Königsfeld sipped at the kleine cup of coffee, placed it back upon its saucer, picked up the newspaper, folding it out smartly to read. This was not the local paper, as he read when in München. This time he chose to read<span style="font-style: italic">Oftdeutcher-Beobachter</span>, a national periodical published in the capital city of Berlin.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/French_battleship_Bretagne.png/450px-French_battleship_Bretagne.png">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Bretagne</span></span></div><br/><br/>The front page depicted the destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, (French) Algeria. The German Kriegsmarine had not destroyed the fleet as one might expect. Ironically, the Royal Navy carried out this diplomatic blunder. The British admiralty feared the Germans would use the French ships with the surrender of the French government. The British fleet, under the command of Admiral Sommerville in the Mediterranean fired three salvos striking the magazine of the French battleship<span style="font-style: italic">Bretagne</span>, taking 977 of her crew to the bottom of the Sea. Three destroyers were also badly damaged and run aground,<span style="font-style: italic">Provence</span>,<span style="font-style: italic">Dunkerque</span>, and<span style="font-style: italic">Mogador</span>. A French Battle Cruiser and a fourth destroyer were later damaged during the attack and the gunboat,<span style="font-style: italic">Terre-Neuve</span>sank taking her crew down as well. In total, 1297 French sailors died and an additional 350 were wounded during the raid. The effects of this attack forced the Vichy government to break off diplomatic relations with Britain. The German high command were actually pleased with the British government with this fait accompli, in helping to display to the new French government, that they only had Germany to save them from the rest of the world.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b8/Duke_and_Duchess_of_Windsor_meet_Adolf_Hitler_1937.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Duke and Duchess of York, Edward VIII visit with Adolf Hitler in 1937</span></span></div><br/><br/>In another article, The Duke of Windsor is named governor of the Bahamas, putting him some distance from the controversy over his loyalty to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Windsor was so named after his brother George VI was crowned King of England following his own abdication in 1936. Edward married Willis Simpson residing in France until the invasion earlier this year. It is believed by the German High Command, that Edward VIII is still a friend to Adolf Hitler's Germany and is willing to argue in favor of an alliance between the United Kingdom and Germany in order to overcome the true enemy, Communism and the Soviet Union.<br/><br/>Raphael shook his head slightly, put the garbage newspaper down on the table, lifted his cup and took another sip.<span style="font-style: italic">'Not very likely a member of the British Royal family would seriously consider negotiating with Hitler. Pure lunacy,'</span>Raphael thought to himself.<br/><br/>He looked up from the table watching the people walking by. He checked his pocket watch; it was now precisely nine O'clock. His guests would certainly arrive soon.<br/><br/>He would recognize Tęsknić Yvael Wojcik from their meeting in München, but she would not immediately recognize him. The same was true of all the others, for Raphael had occupied other humans at those previous encounters. Even the immortal soldier had contact with Raphael, but he would not recall that exchange. The few demons he expected would have no difficulty identifying the Arch Angel, by his warm golden aura. Their black one would come into view as soon as he saw them, regardless of the form they were taking. Raphael was actually looking forward to seeing his brother, Nico. It had been a few thousand years at least since they were together, but he did not forget.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">An hour earlier...</span><br/><br/>"He is not our brother, Raphael," Michael emphasized. The frustration of the Arch Angel who once banished Satan himself to the pits of hell was quite evident. It troubled him that Raphael was so willing to work with Asmodeaus and Nicodemus. "They are pure evil. Nicodemus is the worst of them all. He will not do what you ask. It will be his plan and not yours. He turned his back on the family over two millennia ago! Do not be so darned happy about seeing him. He will not be compliant and willful to work with you. Let me come to this soire. I'll take care of him. Send him and his partner back to where they belong!" Michael was confident in his assertions towards Nicodemus and Asmodeus.<br/><br/>"No, brother. We must be restrained in this affair. We must remain optimistic about this situation. It is necessary for us to work together in order to deal with Darcy Krohs." Raphael fixed a lock of hair behind his ear. "I do wish you could see this as lucidly as I do." Raphael was concerned about his brother's position causing him to have slight mental reservations, but he was committed to this unholy resistance movement. No, it was beyond an unholy resistance; something more. Call it a collaboration or a cooperation. Raphael was willing to take the lead on this one, even if Michael would not.<br/><br/>"Never mind this nonesense, where is Gabriel? I need to find him," Michael interjected attempting to change the subject.<br/><br/>"New York City, brother."<br/><br/>"Right. You can find me there too," with that Michael vanished from the physical plane.<br/><br/>Raphael finished adorning himself with the trappings of a mortal and began his morning walk, which would have him ending up at the<span style="font-style: italic">Kuch und Bach Bakerei Cafe</span>. He would be early, as expected. As his guests arrive, he would emit a warm healing pulse that would help them to recognize him as the sender of yesterday's missive, nothing more. During the meeting, Raphael would enchant the local area so that no one would hear a word, spoken. Raphael liked to call it his<span style="font-style: italic">Cone of Silence</span>. For others, seated at adjacent chairs or maybe in the unlikely event the Gestapo chose to pant a listening device, they would hear occasional innocent phrases, maybe words about current events, the awe and wonder of the Waffen SS or the miserable condition of the Royal Army. 'The Italians aren't all that bad. They can stand up to the Royal Army in North Africa.' Their words would sound very patriotic to the Germans civilians around them. Nothing they hear would give cause to alarm. Raphael was confident that this unholy team would meet success in their upcoming foray.