<span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">The Mediterranean Sea</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Naples, Italy</span><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">17 hours ago</span><br/>---------------------<br/></span><br/><br/><br/>Touched by the white dust of a dying star, a pair of eyes like the color of cirrus clouds reflecting in the sea traced the outline of the letters forming a name on an old, old envelope. A thumb came to brush the surface where the name was marked with ink, and a sigh escaped thin lips as glistening eyes shifted to glance at the sun. A sun  departing into the depth of the horizon. In the distance, water gently lapped at the shores of Napoli Terminal. The last rays of the sun illuminated the face of the man in question. Like the gentle hand of a painter, the rays brushed his features with soft touches of an orange, pink and purple pallet. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. Only when one have felt what it is to die, that he may appreciate the enjoyments of life. He savoured every moment of that instant as he strolled along the decks, listening to the reassuring sounds<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxVzs1vTSgg">of the music</a>played by one of the ship's musicians. The man welcomed the music into his ears and held onto the letter like Holy Bible.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Conte di Savoia</span>was an extraordinarily beautiful ship formed for<span style="font-style: italic">Italia di Navigazione S.p.A</span>that operated regular transatlantic services between Italy and the United States, and Italy and South America. She boasted true classic, fairytale style in a glamorous way, in contrast to the fashion of the period. A passenger capacity of 2,200 total and crew capacity of 786 total. She held a gross tonnage of over 48,000 and a length of 814 feet and a service speed in the vicinity of 27 knots.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Captain, we will be arriving in approximately an hour and five minutes!”</span>An elderly yet robust man in a white dress uniform announced enthusiastically. His voice was of a man eager to see his family once again. His voice was also of the man who saved thousands of lives during the very steady ship's maiden voyage to New York in 1932. If it was not for this man, the ship would have faced a Titanic-scale disaster. This Savior  fidgeted with his garments and excused himself before returning to join the rest of the crew under his wing.<br/><br/>Lips formed a warm smile as the last glow of the sun rays lingered on the mariner's face for a little while, much like the very end of life, holding onto the someone if only just a little bit longer before letting go of the hold.<br/><br/>After a few days of relaxing from the trip, he planned to visit his relatives and friends in Germany. Some of these friends were Myra and her sister. Both these women and his own mother grew up together in Munich. When Luciano was born, his parents were visiting the grandparents in Italy. When the boy turned 14 years of age, he made an essential decision to return to the homeland and join the Regia Marina. Whenever he could, the mariner would return to Germany during visits to family and friends and bring alone deliveries such as letters, sweets and other goods from Myra's relatives in Italy and his grandfather 's news to his mother. Sadly, his very last visit was in Fall of 1937 when his father passed away from Influenza.<br/><br/>The Captain gave another glance at the letter in his right hand and he whispered the name on the envelope.<span style="font-style: italic">“Udo Drechsler.”</span>He had made a promise to the sender that the letter will be in good hands and shall be delivered safely, just like he had sworn to protect the future of the ship facing the upcoming war that is standing at the doors. If the ship was to ever face danger while she continues her trans-Atlantic crossings, the worse that could happen to him was to go down with the ship during sinking. A saddening thought crossed the mariner's mind, hoping that his ship will not be converted into troop transport during the upcoming second war.<br/><br/>The light faded and the giggles and laughter of men and women surrounded the mariner like music. Luciano bowed his head as two ladies in aristocratic gowns passed him by. He wished them a good evening in a perfect English, and warmly welcomed the American ladies in to Naples, Italy. The ship's six week voyage – back and forth - felt like an endless adventure across the Atlantic ocean, but the Captain had enjoyed every delicious second of it.<br/><br/>Stepping past the crowd, Luciano made his way to his Quarters and closed the door shut behind him. He removed his black hat for a moment and turned around to face the mirror above his desk. Suddenly, an unexplained feeling much like the sharpness of the sword slashing across one's chest, inhabited the place behind the left side of his breastbone. Hot tears welled up in his bright eyes and he muttered a certain familiar name while a terrified expression spread across his face.<br/><br/><br/>________________________________________________________<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Lohengrin-Kaserne</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Munich, Military Base</span><br/>0830 - Sunny clear day<br/><br/><br/>Studying the shoulder pads on his his M36 field-grey wool jacket, he made sure that the pads were gently slopping downward before slipping it on over a white shirt and black tie. Fabiano fixed the five buttons in the front and adjusted the dark-green collar and shoulder straps along with the Wehrmachtsadler above the right breast pocket. With the Swastika worn on his left arm and the belt secured around his jacket, the male picked up his earthly-green greatcoat and left the room he owned in the barracks.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Guten Tag, officers!"</span>On his way to join Erlind Kohler and his men, Fabiano paused to greet familiar faces and he felt an overwhelming urge to turn away and bring a visit to Yvonne, but he continued moving forward towards the arsenal for arms and ammunition.<br/><br/>If there was anything he had forgotten to do, that was to make his morning prayer although he was not much of a religious person. Fabiano's breathing came hard as he stepped outside into the welcoming bright sky and sunny day. His face went silent and pale, as he discreetly lowered his eyelids to the ground to notice with a glint in his eyes that the footsteps<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">they</span></span>have left on the frozen carpet of snow have not yet vanished. A shattered, weak smile touched his lips; he kept on moving forward.