chrono-wars: legacy of past

Elara's grip tightened on the console as she processed Chrono's words.

"High probability target detected: Berlin, 1933. Primary target: The rise of Adolf Hitler. Projected impact: A potential redirection of Nazi ideology, either accelerating or completely altering the course of World War II."

The Revisionists had just escalated their game. They weren't trying to prevent the war—they were likely attempting to reshape it in a way that suited their vision of the future.

Elara took a deep breath. If they interfered with Hitler's rise, the consequences could be unpredictable. A more powerful Nazi regime? A different war altogether?

"Chrono, set the coordinates. Berlin, 1933. Right before Hitler consolidates power."

The hum of the Time Pod intensified as the world outside blurred into streaks of light.

Arrival in Berlin: The Threshold of Tyranny

The air was thick with winter's chill as Elara stepped out onto a dimly lit Berlin street. Snow crunched beneath her boots. It was early January 1933—just days before Adolf Hitler would be appointed Chancellor of Germany.

Berlin was a city teetering on the edge. The economy was broken, political tensions ran high, and the people were desperate for change. National Socialist propaganda covered the walls, and uniformed SA stormtroopers marched through the streets, their presence a reminder of the violence that lurked beneath the surface.

Elara adjusted her coat and moved carefully into the city.

"Chrono, locate the Revisionists."

"Two anomalies detected. One is near the Reichstag building. The other is at the Hotel Kaiserhof—where Hitler is currently staying."

Elara's pulse quickened. The Revisionists were targeting two key locations:

1. The Reichstag – The heart of German politics, soon to be the site of a suspicious fire that would grant Hitler sweeping emergency powers.

2. The Hotel Kaiserhof – Hitler's temporary headquarters, where he was finalizing his political strategy.

If the Revisionists were here, they might be trying to change the conditions of Hitler's rise—either accelerating it or placing someone else in power.

She had to stop them.

The First Interception: The Reichstag Conspiracy

Elara moved quickly through the shadowed streets, approaching the Reichstag. It loomed in the distance, its grand architecture a symbol of democracy soon to be dismantled.

She found the first Revisionist standing near the building's perimeter, dressed as a worker, a satchel slung over his shoulder.

"Chrono, scan that bag."

"Analysis confirms an incendiary device. This individual intends to accelerate the Reichstag fire, ensuring it burns before February, forcing an even earlier political shift."

Elara's stomach turned. The real Reichstag fire wouldn't happen until late February 1933, and Hitler would use it as an excuse to suppress opposition and seize more power. If the Revisionists sped up that timeline, Hitler could gain dictatorial authority weeks sooner—before the world even had a chance to react.

She approached the man silently, slipping through the shadows. At the right moment, she moved.

A swift strike to his back sent him staggering forward. Before he could reach for his weapon, Elara twisted his arm, forcing the satchel to drop. The incendiary device inside clattered against the cobblestone.

The man grunted, attempting to break free. "You don't understand what you're stopping."

Elara tightened her grip. "Enlighten me."

The Revisionist smirked. "We don't want to stop history. We want to refine it."

Before she could demand more, he twisted sharply, activating a recall device on his wrist. Within seconds, he vanished into thin air.

Elara exhaled and grabbed the satchel, dismantling the incendiary device. The Reichstag would still burn—but at the right time.

One threat neutralized. One more to go.

The Second Interception: The Hotel Kaiserhof

Elara made her way toward the Hotel Kaiserhof, her heart pounding. This was where Hitler, Göring, and other Nazi leaders were staying, strategizing their next moves.

If the second Revisionist was here, they might be attempting to manipulate Hitler directly—either by giving him knowledge from the future or by eliminating him and replacing him with someone even worse.

She entered the grand lobby, blending into the bustling crowd of journalists and political figures.

"Chrono, locate the anomaly."

"Second Revisionist detected on the second floor, near Hitler's private meeting room."

Elara took the stairs two at a time, her mind racing.

As she reached the hallway, she spotted the target—a man in a long overcoat, standing too close to the guarded door. He was fiddling with a small device in his hand, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

Elara moved swiftly, reaching into her pocket for a disruptor. She pressed the trigger, sending a silent pulse of energy toward the Revisionist.

The man stiffened as his device sparked. He turned sharply, locking eyes with her.

"You," he muttered.

Elara smirked. "Me."

He lunged at her, but she was ready. She dodged his attack, twisting his arm and pinning him against the wall.

"What's your plan?" she demanded.

He gritted his teeth. "You think this war is inevitable? We could have shaped it into something better."

Elara frowned. "Better for whom?"

The Revisionist struggled, but she held him firm.

"There are worse men than Hitler," he said darkly. "And you've just ensured one of them doesn't take his place."

Elara's breath caught. The Revisionists weren't trying to strengthen Hitler. They were trying to replace him.

"What did you change?" she demanded.

The Revisionist smirked, then activated his recall device.

Within moments, he was gone.

Elara clenched her fists.

She had prevented their interference—but the man's words haunted her. If they had tried to replace Hitler, who had they intended to put in his place?

And had history always unfolded this way?

The Aftermath: A Fractured Future

Back in the Time Pod, Elara replayed everything in her mind.

"Chrono, scan the timeline. Did we succeed?"

A pause. Then—

"Confirmed. The historical sequence remains intact. Hitler remains Chancellor, the Reichstag fire occurs in February, and World War II follows its known course."

Elara let out a slow breath. "Then why do I feel like we missed something?"

"Uncertain. However, the Revisionists have not made another move—yet."

She leaned back, staring at the timeline projections.

The war had happened as it was meant to. But the Revisionists had been willing to alter it, suggesting they had their own vision of how history should have gone.

What were they really after?

And how far were they willing to go to reshape the future?

Elara had a feeling she was about to find out.

"Chrono, locate the next breach."

A long pause. Then—

"High probability target detected: 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis."

Elara's heart pounded.

A moment in history that had brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

And the Revisionists were about to push it further.

She tightened her grip on the console.

This war for history was far from over.