Orient Express - East of Stuttgart

[xavierrol]

Europe 1936.

"The War to End All Wars" ended 18 years ago, buying almost a generation of relative peace, and for some, prosperity. But there remain deep wounds and bitter rivalries and already the winds of war are once again blowing across the continent and beyond. In Spain, a civil war rages and quickly becomes a testing ground for weapons and the political will to use them. In Italy, Mussolini gets a taste for territorial ambition in East Africa. In the heart of Europe, Germany under their new Chancellor begins to shred the Treaty of Versailles in a game of geopolitical chicken with the victors of "The Great War". Most consider war in 'civilized' Europe unthinkable, but other more realistic minded people, see the tinder being set and merely awaiting a match to set all aflame. Some struggle to avoid war if they can but win if they must, seeking an upper hand for the nation state to which they pledge their loyalty. Then there are others who wish to profit from it and some who just like to be seen, and valued. Their business is their own as far as the train and its staff are concerned though they are often the proverbial flies on the wall, hiding in plain sight.

Profit and power, war or peace, the fates of people, nations, and even empires hinge on that most valuable of currencies, information. The telegraph and radio have revolutionized and sped up communication, but the most sensitive information can only be transmitted in person and that means travel. Across continental Europe and onto Asia, some of the most critical information in the world travels upon the storied Orient Express. Traveling weekly from the heart of Europe to the crossroads that link Europe with Asia and Africa. Where there is information there are always those that desire it and are willing to pay for it. Money, power, fame, duty, or even sex are all potential currencies in use because despite modern advancements, some things never change.

Get your Tickets!

Sleeping Cars, 2 bunks single gender (unless married) converts to sitting area by day, connected by a common hallway. If your budget allows, you can rent both berths to have a private room, otherwise you will likely have a roommate (probably an NPC) as the train fills.
Dining Car, or First Class Dinning
Lounge (First Class Only or Invited Guests).

Train Setup: Engine <- First Class Dinning <- First class Lounge <- Dinning car <- Lounge <- Sleeping Cars <- Baggage Car <- Caboose (Crew Quarters) <- Nazi Car


Stops: London/Calais - Paris - Strasbourg - Karlsruhe - Stuttgart - Munich - Vienna - Budapest - Belgrade -Sofia - Constantinople (Istanbul).
Schedule: Leave Paris 7:30pm Wednesday; Arrive Vienna 10:15pm Thursday; Arrive Budapest 5:25am Friday; Arrive Belgrade 3:32pm; Arrive Constantinople 6:40pm Saturday

All Aboard!

Please introduce your character below placing them either at the Paris station or the train from Calais/London when you are ready.
Passengers boarding in London or Calais will already be on the train which at the start of our story is between Calais and Paris.
All other passengers starting now will be in the Paris station awaiting the arrival of the train.

Post Header
Character Name (with Link to Profile)
General Location
Tag with who you expect to respond, or is mentioned in your post using @(username)

https://www.luxury-trains.co.uk/images/vsoe-double-cabin.jpg

 

[xavierrol]

Arriving Strasbourg

The bright headlamp of the engine pierced the darkness of midnight as the Orient Express approached Strasbourg. There was a barely perceptible slowing that only the lightest of sleepers or the most focused of the conscious would notice. Beyond Strasbourg was the Rhine River and Germany and while clearly French, the Germanic influence was palpable. The station, compared to that in Paris was quiet, more due to the time than the vitality of the city itself. The city housed a University and was also where Gutenberg helped usher in the Enlightenment with his printing press. Jane Eyelesbarrow would heat the gentle but insistent knock of the conductor upon her compartment door in time to get dressed to send her telegram as requested. It must be of a rather personal nature that she didn't simply scrawl her note out to be relayed, but it was hardly suspicious.

As the train neared the platform some banging and jostling was unavoidable as the small spaces between car couplings shifted from tension to compression as the engine slowed. All but the soundest sleepers and those engaged in the most intense of conversation or other activities would avoid noticing the train was coming to a stop. The platform held a handful of passengers and their well wishers who waited for the small steps to be placed to help them onto the train. The platform side was well lit and raised, making boarding the train a matter of a few careful steps up. The opposite side was dark and treacherous but there was no good reason to try and board from that side anyway, but it was hardly impossible.

Among the handful of male passengers boarding the train in Strasbourg there was a rather non-descript female among the new passengers. The conductor collected her ticket and her passport even though she kept her head down and face hidden by the brim of her traveling hat. It being late he didn't bother with the formality of checking her passport picture to her face as was the custom, her photograph being rather unremarkable like one of a million other European women. Her traveling clothes were nondescript as well and the conductor would barely remember her minutes from now, which was probably her desire.

The train waited a bit longer than it took to take on passengers, allowing Ms. Eyelesbarrow to send her telegram and for the firemen to top off the coal and water supply as both were cheap and plentiful in Strasbourg. The Orient Express may be the epitome of style and culture, but it was still run as a business and profit wasn't a bad word. Though the main reason was to provide the German authorities a passenger manifest to clear the border into the Third Reich. The manifest included names and nationalities and for those that included it, religious affiliation. A couple of short whistle blasts would signal the train's imminent departure and soon entry into Germany.

 

[xavierrol]

Strasbourg to Karlsruhe

With typical German efficiency the Reich maintained a customs station in Strasbourg where the conductor could drop off the manifest of passengers and other declarations required by international travel. It was a rather perfunctory duty for the conductor, routine really but he had no sooner delivered it than the list was given to a small team of stenographers at their own telegraph station. While the entire list would be sent within the hour, out to Berlin and down the line of the Orient Express' path through Germany, the list was scanned for certain people of interest and known aliases. These would be cross referenced against other lists, the clatter of telegraphs could be heard before the last car of the train crossed the Rhine into Germany.

While geographically, it was difficult to distinguish one side of the Rhine from the other, but for those of particular political sensibilities, the difference was palpable. Most of the passengers, like the residents they passed were sound asleep. But the train never truly slept, with new passengers getting settled into their compartments, and it wasn't a long stretch before the first German town. The dinning car and lounge stayed open even if sparsely filled, it wasn't unusual for fellow passengers to meet, discuss business, then go their separate ways. But at least one rendezvous didn't take place as scheduled.

For those sleeping, the next stop might well seem to blend into the first even though there was a little over two hours between Strasbourg and Karlruhe. The distinctive tower of the Karlsruhe Palace would be recognized by anyone having passed this way before. It was a prosperous but quiet town, benefiting handsomely from the munitions production favored by the Third Reich's current planning, the global recession fading mercifully into memory and the horrors to come still unknown. The station was quiet, a uniformed member of the Geheime Staatspolizei also known as the Gestapo, chatted amicably with a comely young Fraulein of generous Aryan proportions. A couple more less prominent passengers waiting with suitcases at hand. The officer was ostensibly on a routine visit to Munich for a conference, at least that was what he told Fraulein, but he had other business on the Orient Express.

 

[xavierrol]

Karlsruhe to Stuttgart: Serving Breakfast

Reinhard Müller watched the disgraceful behavior of the man groping the young woman in front of him. He cleared his throat, making his presence known, which was typically enough to squelch any questionable behavior as even senior officers were reluctant to be scrutinized by Gestapo officers. The Gestapo Laws granted them broad extra judicial arrest powers, their orders could not legitimately opposed by any legal means within Germany.

It would be difficult for outsiders to truly appreciate the fear that the secret police had spread across the Third Reich but the rumors were swirling about. Even the Geheime Staatspolizei officers themselves were still learning the breadth of their powers and Reinhard was eager to push the envelope. In the interest of state security of course.

As the train entered the station, Reinhard handed his bag to a porter and then offered his hand to the young Fraulein to step up on to the train. It was an otherwise uneventful stop and went quickly. Reinhard was shown to his compartment and instructed the porter to ensure he was called for the breakfast serving. He went inside and removed his uniform so it wouldn't wrinkle and laid down for a few hours sleep, it was going to be a long day.

It had seemed as if he had only closed his eyes for a moment and he heard the knock on his door for breakfast. He put his uniform back on and headed for breakfast, waiting to hear from contacts of his own on the train. Breakfast was quite an event on the Express and the aroma of pastries, especially struddles filled the air. It was a great day to be a German in the glorious Reich.