Over There

September 2, 1996

Lt. Cmdr. Baker scowled deeply. He resented the fact he had to work with a Confederate officer. After the South had won the War of Succession, they had been forced to get rid of their slaves at the insistence of England but still held racial prejudices. Zach despised them. He despised Germany even more. During World War One Germany had been the U.S.'s greatest ally, they had helped defeat the Russian Army, and then, they had the audacity to let the Nazis take over. After Hitler's rise to power, the U.S. had cut off all relations with Nazi Germany.

Now he had to work together with one enemy to destroy two others. Voldemort's siding with the Nazi's had shocked everyone, magical or no. The wizarding world hadn't thought Voldemort would side with Muggles, and the Muggles had been shocked to discover an entirely different world. That wasn't Zach's concern. His concern was his mighty airship, and her crew. He commanded the U.S.S. Pandora, the most famous airship in the skies. At one 1,378 ft. she commanded respect. She held eight fighters to protect her. Not that she needed them. With twelve broadside cannons, and twelve 60-mm. machine gun nests, she could easily defend herself. But Zach wasn't sure how to use her. The "air force" of the magical world was comprised of broomsticks and dragons. Broomsticks. How did they possibly hope to defeat the great Pandora with those? The dragons, however, might present another problem, but there were few of those left. Zach passed Lieutenant Meanly going the opposite direction.

"Going somewhere, Lieutenant?" Zach inquired politely.

"I was just to the Great Hall, Commander. Can I get you anything?"

"You'd probably poison my drink, and put something deadly in my food. No thank you."

"You damnyankees ain't ever trusted us, never giv-"

Zach cut Meanly off. "Can you blame us? You Rebels stabbed us in the back during the War of Succession, and then beat us again in World War One by siding with the damn Reds. You don't play fair."

"And you don't play at all. You just piss and moan and bitch about every little thing, you put Lenin in charge of Russia, because you just couldn't stand the czar, and..." Meanly trailed off. Looking around Zach saw that a large crowd had gathered around the two quarreling Americans. A few were giving them dubious looks, and whispered things like, "How are they supposed to help if they're arguing all the time?" and " So much for retaking Britain."

Zach was the first to leave the scene of the fight, neck and face red from anger and embarrassment. He pulled out a small walkie talkie. "Baker to Pandora. Pick me up in five." He clicked the radio off. It was going to be a very long year.

Lieutenant Stephen Meanly walked briskly toward the Great Hall. He passed Draco Malfoy. Meanly was told to watch him closely. His father worked closely with the Nazi's. That was unacceptable. He would watch him. But first he needed food. After he ate his breakfast, alone of course, he went to find Hagrid and his new pet. Unfortunately he never made it. As he headed for Hagrid's hut something hit across the head. The last thing he saw was a cloaked man pick him up and drag him toward the Forbidden Forrest.