Fantasy Whatever Gets You through the Night by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Dietz's picture shrunk until it lurked in the bottom-left eighth of the screen. Mugshots of the surviving members of his crew that La Policia had been able to ID from fingerprints and surveillance videos followed like a slideshow. A number of the men pictured were already dead on the other side of the cave-in, but Maria didn't have that information yet.

"These others are members of the terrorist cell and his Conspiracy Against the Monarchy. This means that they, too, have murdered two of Our People. You may have seen on the news that they tried to kill me yesterday. And many more today if Contessa Helena's and La Policia's security details hadn't been present. Some of the men in these photos may have been caught in the earlier incident. We will not know which until we can reach and identify them."

Maria leaned forward and placed both elbows back on the desk.

"I tell you these truths because my great-grandpapa, forever does he reign in our hearts, would want me to do so. He and the nation once faced a similar threat. The movie currently being made will tell this story. For whatever purpose, this is the film that they have repeatedly attacked."

Maria changed her tone to that of a collegeteacher about to give a lesson.

"General Werner Schell had more soldiers and machines than Dietz. Enough to nearly wipe out our army, leaving only a scattered handful to form the Resistance and the original Squadra de Ultimados. He took everything he could from our people in the name of his Fuhrer. The same hate that spurred Schell on drives Dietz as well. Schell murdered our ancestors and stole from our people until the only thing he had left to steal was our future; our young Count. Our People fought to keep that one last thing FROM him! For two months, he stayed hidden, on the move; because our country is not a large one and they were hunting him. There were few places they could hide him and not much time before Schell found them all. Great-Grandpapa eventually took everything back. Though, if he were with us today, he would prefer that I say that THE PEOPLE took everything back and he simply said words that inspired them to do all the work that he could not. In truth, he possessed more than words."

Maria looked to him in the Heavens before looking directly into the camera again.

"THEY took it all back. Because HE possessed a Sword! He understood that he was too young to wield it properly, so he trusted La Squadra to carry it for his defense. And when it came time for the Sword to attack, it did what it has always done: It did not fail San Finzione!"

She relaxed back in her chair for the next part of her address.

"Many swords hang upon the walls of Castle Finzione. Swords that now sleep in victory. Swords that met a litany of peoples who, because of their work, are no longer our enemies. Swords that stood against invaders and won. Then they were carried home to rest until they needed to be called upon again. Some have done terrible things; some have done glorious things. All are on display for the world to see; with plaques telling their stories. What that sword did for San Finzione and whether it should be remembered with pride or shame; but remembered, nonetheless. Simply out of growing up in their home, I have read their histories and can tell you all of them.

"I am aware that not all familia are fortunate enough to have swords. When a warrior who did great deeds dies, the sword is buried with him if he has no familia to hand it down to because it is part of his legacy. And selling or giving one's legacy away is unthinkable! His children then carry the sword and pass it along to their own. Perhaps they add to its legend, perhaps they simply display it as we have done. Should I ever require one of THOSE swords, I can ask a guard and he will bring it to me. But there is ONE sword that La Familia Royale have always asked to come of its own accord. And I DO so on this day!

"Every one of you knows the Sword of which I speak. And you know where it may be found because THIS sword is the one which San Finzione PROUDLY displays for ALL the world to see each day! And each day since the last that it was called upon, the Sword has slept in victory!

"The Sword is needed once more. Enemies have, once again, come to TAKE from San Finzione! We will not allow this! Heinrich Dietz can hide from La Policia. He can hide from Interpol. He can hide from the Army! He can hide from La Squadra! He can even hide from Great-Grandmama!"

She stood and leaned against the desk, looking firmly into the center of the camera's eye.

"As Nazis learned once, and must be reminded again, there is NOWHERE to hide from The Sword of San Finzione! Do not approach or attempt to apprehend these men. They are armed, they are dangerous. And now they are desperate! Because they are watching as well, and now they know that The Sword is rising against them. They will have no qualms about killing innocents to remain at large. They are likely to commit suicide rather than allow themselves to be captured. We WANT them alive if possible! You may have seen them coming or going or you may have provided them accommodations. All that we are concerned with now is that they be found immediately. Notify the authorities at one of the numbers that will be appearing on the screen in a moment. San Finzione wants Dietz and his terrorists alive. We want YOU alive more!"

Maria sat down and leaned forward in her chair again, telephone numbers now crawling across the screen below her.

"Policia and Interpol tip lines are being displayed on the bottom of the screen and will run regularly throughout today's programming; along with updated information on this band of Nazis who believe that they are free once more to TAKE from San Finzione!"