7 November, 1944Colonel Buck Lanham could hardly believe it. The star spangled sentinel of Liberty himself, Captain America, standing at attention in the Colonel's command tent! And the Captain's two companions looked no less intimidating. Sgt. Drake Alexander was said to posses a magical sword called the "Thorian Blade" that gave him the speed to dodge bullets. And that strange man in the bathing suit, what was his name? Namor, the Sub-Mariner, rumor had it he could fly and lift and tank. Well, the Colonel would need men like these if he hoped to turn this battle around. "
At ease, men. I'm sure you're wondering why we brought you all the way here, to the Huertgen Forest."
"
I imagine it's to help you win a war, Colonel."
Colonel Lanham couldn't help but smile at the easy-going manner of Captain America.
"Well, a battle, anyway. A battle that's not going very well. No doubt you've heard the rumors and scuttlebut, and I'm afraid for once they're right. The thick forest canopy provides the Germans with cover from our air craft, the mud prevents our tanks from supporting our infantry, and Jerry's threatening to drive the 112th Infantry Regiment from the town of Schmidt.""Those aren't the only rumors we heard," interjected Sgt. Drake Alexander. Even with his magical sword sheathed the man seemed intimidating.
Colonel Lanham laughed nervously.
"You don't mean this business about the forest being haunted, do you? Vampires and werewolves, it's all a bunch of hooey.""With all do respect, Colonel, I've seen a lot stranger things than Werewolves and Vampires." Captain America leaned on his shield.
"So if I were you, I'd be sure and equip your soldiers with silver bullets and wooden bayonets.Colonel Lanham cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, I'll take that under advisement. In the meantime, here's an aerial photograph of our objective: the Kall bridge."
"The 12th Infantry Regiment crossed that bridge last night in an effort to reinforce the 112th and counter-attack the Germans. Like every attack in this damnable forest, they've bogged down. To make matters worse, we have intelligence reports that they've been out-flanked along the River Kall and a German Force is circling around to destroy that bridge, cut off our supply route, and trap the 12th before they can reach their objective.""And you hope that we can prevent that from happening." The Sub-Mariner's speech was weirdly accented, almost like he was speaking underwater. The more Colonel Lahnam talked to these so-called superheroes, the more they made him uneasy. Thank goodness they were on America's side in this war.
"That's right. You need to take that bridge and prevent the Germans from blowing it up. Members of the Airborne Elite who were deployed with the 12th Infantry Regiment have been informed of your mission, and they are trying to fight their way back to the bridge. They'll help you if they make it. Good luck, soldiers!"But the rumors and scuttlebut were right. The Huertgen forest, better known to the G.I.'s as "The Death Factory", wasn't just haunted by German Soldiers, it was also home to Cyprien Eisenwein, an ageless vampire and Lord of Castle Monschau, and Baron Von Blitzhund, a gigantic Werewolf Lord. Red Skull had recruited both of these former enemies to the Nazi cause, and already Baron Von Blitzhund had turned several hapless G.I.'s into so-called "Wolves of Badru": gigantic, rabid lupines with human cunning. As Captain America, the Sub-Mariner and Sgt. Drake Alexander pushed their way through the dark woods, Red Skull, eight German soldiers, Cyprien Eisenwein, Baron Von Blitzhund, and six Wolves of Badru rushed to intercept them. When Captain America first spotted his old antagonist, he was sure that Red Skull would make an all-out push for the bridge, trying to outrun the Invaders and detonate the demolition charges. But Red Skull surprised the sentinel of Liberty, rushing to attack the Invaders head-on. One of the Wolves of Badru lept at Captain America, its fangs flashing, but Cappy broke its jaw with his sheild and then knocked it out with a right cross.
Cyprien, with his stealth flying and superior speed, spearheaded the rush. He landed beside Captain America and tried to steal his soul with chilling touch. Captain America resisted the attack, deflecting Cyprien's blades with his shield. While Sgt. Drake Alexander rushed up to help Cappy, members of the Airborne Elite broke through the German positions and took up positions in the ruins surrounding the bridge. They caught Baron Von Blitzhund by surprise, plastering the giant Werewolf Lord with hot lead and threatening to knock him out of the battle early.
Cyprien Eisenwein was surprised to find himself immediately outmatched. Captain America was faster, tougher, and smarter than any human he'd ever fought. He was so good, in fact, that he was beating Cyprien to within an inch of his life! Baron Von Blitzhund raced across the road and through the forest. Trees and branches splintered around him under withering American fire, but Baron Von Blitzhund was unscathed. He bit Sgt. Drake Alexander in the shoulder. Almost immediately the veteran soldier began to feel the disease of lycanthropy coursing through his veins.
Before Captain America could land a knock-out blow on Cyprien Eisenwein, a cloud blew away and revealed the full moon. Sgt. Drake Alexander felt an uncontrollable blood lust surging inside of him. He howled at the moon, leapt up behind Captain America, and surprised him with a vicious slice from his Thorian Blade! Captain America coughed blood. But as soon as the moon appeared it disappeared again, behind the clouds, and Sgt. Drake Alexander regained control of himself. Horrified and ashamed by what he had done, he charged Baron Von Blitzhund and sliced off the Werewolf Lord's head. But Cyprien Eisenwein marshalled his strength and attacked Captain America, using his chilling touch to draw forth his life force and leave the Captain a comatose hulk. Cyprien then turned his blades on Sgt. Drake Alexander, cutting him down. Cyprien drank their blood, healing his own dark essence with their life force.
With Captain America dead, the German Soldiers found a new courage. The Red Skull led a furious assault on the ruins held by the Airborne Elite in an effort to break through the American lines and blow the Kall Bridge. Casualties were taken on both sides as the night was lit with the strobes of gunfire. The Sub-Mariner rushed down to help the Americans, knocking Red Skull out cold. Airborne Elite, emboldened by Namor, gunned down Cyprien Eisenwein before he could ambush the Altantean Prince.
With all their leaders dead, the German Soldiers made a mad rush for the bridge. The Sub-Mariner intercepted them, denting steel helmets and breaking teeth, but brave Hans Bierman, a draftee with no affiliation to the Nazi party who knew nothing but that he was fighting to protect his hometown of Schmidt, successfully disengaged from the raging Atlantean, ran across an open field of fire, and flicked the switch on the bridge demolitions.
Moments later, the bridge blew, costing Bierman his life.
Both Captain America and the Red Skull would eventually recover. But the battle for the Huertgen forest was lost. None would remember Bierman's name nor his sacrifice. He would never be awarded the Iron Cross. But this simple brewmeister was single-handedly responsible for delaying Allied victory for almost a year.
19 August 2008, 04:45:31 AM