INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
Title: Security Advisory regarding Berlin
Date: █████ ██, ███████
I wonder how much of a surprise it might be if I told you that Berlin was alive. Not "full of life" or "ever changing" though it's those things too. Actually, physically, alive.
At the end of World War 2, there were some arguments between the Allied nations as to what exactly needed to be done with Germany. The Soviets wanted it partitioned out and broken into many pieces. The West wanted it united to stand as a bulwark against communism. In the end, they compromised and split it in two. But the question of Berlin was one that saw no such long-term solution. Sure it was partitioned like the rest of Germany. And sure, it was deep inside the Soviet-occupied half of the country. But the Soviets tried on more than one occasion to choke the city to death. Every time they tried it came back stronger.
If you wandered around the back alleys of certain parts of the city, there was always a chance you'd never come back. The Soviets knew this. They called those parts of the city the “zapretnaya zona” - a forbidden zone of death for their men. The Allies had no such difficulties, but it wasn't because the living city only existed on the Soviet side of the wall. I think there was always an understanding that the things that the Soviets did to Berlin were unforgivable. I think everyone knew that the city was simply striking back in the only way it could.
At first, the Soviets tried what they always tried. They tried to solve the problem by dumping men into it. But after a few thousand missing soldiers, it became pretty apparent that there was nothing they could do.
Marzahn and Hellersdorf were the worst Boroughs by far. There was a sort of deep-seated hatred of the Soviets that simmered just under the surface there. The people had suffered mightily under the Soviets and later the East German secret police. A lot of people liked to imagine that the city itself was balancing the scales. When the secret police showed up at someone's door that was usually the last time anyone saw them. Sometimes though, it was the secret police that was never seen again.
Then the wall fell. Or sort of. The Soviets collapsed like everyone always suspected they would. And their support for countries like East Germany fell apart too. Mortfield Industries was there when the city reunited.
It was not a peaceful thing. Nor was it clean. At first, we tried our best to make sure the city stayed safe. Some secrets are best kept by disappearing problems. That’s not a new thing for us.
But the city had other ideas. Pretty soon it wasn't the oppressors in the Soviet Union or some secret police force that the city was eating. It was us.
I couldn't tell you when things turned against us. It was probably around ██████████. And it happened so subtly. One day everything was fine, then the next our director of local operations was missing. I heard it on the radio when the city streets opened up and swallowed him whole. Soon we had to call off all business in the city and end operations there, mostly because we didn't have enough staff to accomplish anything.
Mortfield Industries employees should avoid Berlin at all costs. Any potential operation must first be cleared by ████ ████████ and strictly follow the security procedures outlined in ████████. In light of recent events, the danger zone has been set to a 25 km radius from the city center.
These days, we suspect that the NBC still sends agents into the city without being briefed. No one ever learns. But I know for a fact that if I were to wander in an unsuspecting alley of Berlin, no one would ever see me again. Because I can see the writing on the wall. I hope the Eastern Federation never notices.
Sincerely,
███████████████
Vice President of Logistics
Sources:
Dr. Jeremiah Cimmerian
Ignota IronShears
