Tyranny of Steel

Jakob was sitting in the middle of the Kufstein royal armory's testing field, which had been quarantined off for the use of a new and secretive weapon. While Berengar had set out on a quest to tame southern Africa, he had given orders to Jakob and his band of scientists to develop two new devices. Thus, he had been working hard with the Kufstein chemistry department to deliver a finished project that was capable of undergoing field trials in Southern Africa. 

In Jakob's hand was the fifth prototype he had designed for a functional Gas Mask. This device was made with help from Berengar's writings, describing the materials needed for its use, and how it should function. This mask was based upon a crude drawing resembling the M38 Gas Mask that the Germans used in WWII of the Kaiser's past life.

The reason Berengar had not yet deployed chemical weapons on the battlefield was actually really simple. Until recently, he lacked access to rubber, which was required to make a decent gas mask. However, because of trade with the Aztec Empire, he could now gain vast deposits of the material. Thus, he intended to make full use of his new rubber supply to manufacture gas masks for his troops in the field. 

This mask came in two colors. One was feldgrau, the other was Khaki. These colors were intended for use in woodland and arid environments. The mask's cannister was made using an activated charcoal filtration system. Until now, the efficiency of the various gas mask prototypes had been determined through human trials by using prisoners sentenced to death as test subjects. 

After extensive trial and error, over the span of months, Jakob and his scientists produced the first ever functional gas mask. Naturally, with the invention of the gas mask, so too were the first chemical weapons created. 

Currently, Jakob was watching a group of German Soldiers wearing gas masks as they prepared to launch a 75mm artillery shell from one of the older FK 22 Field Guns. Considering these guns used the same shells as the new FK 25 Field Guns, they felt as if this would be an accurate demonstration about the current and future capabilities of these projectiles.

These were no ordinary High Explosive shells, instead these shells were designed to disperse a chemical agent known as chlorine gas. The shell made use of an explosive agent that was small enough to explode the shell. Once it detonated, the chlorine gas would spread through the air and kill anything that it made contact with that was unprotected against chemical weapons. 

Despite the fact that the targets were far away from the artillery crew or even the observers. Everyone present wore a gas mask as they witnessed the first ever use of a chemical weapon. The target was a group of twelve prisoners who had been sentenced to death. With the wave of a hand, Jakob signalled for the shell to be fired. 

The artillery crew pulled the string and fired off the artillery shell towards its target. Making use of the newly manufactured proximity fuses that allowed the shell to burst in the air, the chemical shell flew towards its target and blew up mid air, spreading the poison gas around the prisoners who were chained to nearby posts. 

Immediately after inhaling the Chlorine gas, the prisoners suffocated, as their lungs were poisoned by the chemical. They choked, sneezed, cried, and ultimately died a miserable death, with strained expressions on their faces. Before long, the toxic cloud dispersed with the wind, and only after the situation was deemed safe did the soldiers operating the test and the observers take off their masks. 

Ludwig was present for the observation, despite getting close to retirement. He wanted to witness one last demonstration before handing in his resignation to the Kaiser. He was truly astounded by the lethality of this weapon, and how effective it would be in annihilating any enemy Germany came across. If one did not wear special protection, they were as good as dead, and only Germany had access to this protection. It was the ultimate agent of death, and Ludwig, being a man from a bygone era, feared it. 

However, when he gazed upon his son, who had a proud smile on his face, he could not help but fear what the German Empire was becoming. Rumors of increased brutality on the battlefields in the colonies had reached the old man's ears. Yet now the department he had helped found was developing such horrifying weapons.

Ludwig was beginning to wonder if the Kaiser had gone mad in the pursuit of his ambitions. Weapons such as these could wipe out entire cities with little effort. In the mind of the aging weapons engineer, such devastating devices of war should not be possessed by mankind. 

However, before he could assert his view to his son, that he had created something that should never have been developed. Logistics officers surrounded Jakob. These men were from the Army, and Imperial Guard who wanted to congratulate him on his newest design, and inquire about when they could field such magnificent weapons on their own branches. 

"Mr. Schmidt, you have done a great service for your country. Not only have you developed a terrifyingly effective new weapon, but you have even developed a countermeasure to it in order to ensure the safety of our soldiers and civilians. I must say, I am most pleased with this result. If I may ask a question? When can you begin mass production of these so-called gas masks and chlorine shells?"

Jakob had a proud smile on his face as he shook the logistic officer's hand before revealing his plans for these new devices. 

"It is the intent of the Kufstein Royal Armory to begin production of these devices in the coming weeks, and begin shipment to the South African theater in the next two months. The Crown has approved these gas masks and chemical shells for use in field testing within his current campaign. Apparently, he wants to be rid of the local savages as quickly as possible.

I must say, as much work as I have done, none of this would have been possible without the expert findings of Count Aldo von Passau. He and his magnificent department of chemists have created the chemical agents necessary to test the gas masks, and to be employed in the shells."

Aldo von Passau was nearby, sitting next to Ludwig. Though he had overseen the chemical weapons project, he was horrified by its result. He had started learning alchemy at a young age to help save lives, and his efforts in the field of chemistry since he swore his loyalty to Berengar had done just that. However, this was the first time his research was used to such a chilling effect. He regretted offering his assistance in this endeavor now that he knew Berengar intended to use it on the battlefield against both military and civilian targets. 

Ludwig could tell by the gaze in Aldo's eyes that the man had the same thought process as him, but unfortunately, the two old men could only smile and wave. The development of chemical weapons came at the behest of the Kaiser. If the Monarch wanted these weapons to be used against civilian targets, then no amount of protest would stop him. Not that anyone outside of the scientific community would even protest the use of these weapons. 

Berengar was revered among his people. So much so that he was practically a living god. He had led them to such great progress that the people no longer doubted his judgement. As long as Berengar said that the savages they used these weapons against deserved such inhumane treatment, then the people of Germany would be shouting in the streets in support of the Army and its Commander-in-Chief.

On this day, January 7th 1426 in the year of our Lord. Approximately nine years after Julian Weber had reincarnated into this world. Germany had created the world's first weapon of mass destruction. A weapon that would see mass use in the removal of the South African tribes from their lands, and cause the deaths of millions in the years to come.