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The first battle in Spain looks to have gone well, i can only wish the best for the British in Spain. Nice update 
Great move by Mosely. With Nationalist Spain in British orbit, another continental ally has joined the fascist block. I just hope you can get the Spanish army into shape in time.
Oh, woes! The democratic cause is losing out, it seems.
Although, whether the Spanish nationalists will remain open allies of the fascist bloc once the war is over... that is an interesting question... there is the risk that Mosley will eventually have nothing to show for his intervention except for a warm handshake form Franco
Magnificent updates, by the way!!
Although, whether the Spanish nationalists will remain open allies of the fascist bloc once the war is over... that is an interesting question... there is the risk that Mosley will eventually have nothing to show for his intervention except for a warm handshake form Franco
Magnificent updates, by the way!!
Olympiastadion
Berlin, German Republic
August 14th, 1936
Berlin, German Republic
August 14th, 1936
Britannia rose with the rest of the crowd in applause as Frank Kurtz made his way out of the pool, glancing towards the judges. The ten officials rose, holding their scorecards into the air. Belgium 9. Uruguay 9. Denmark 9. Canada 9. Estonia 10. Poland 9. Brazil 9. China 8. Turkey 9. Liechtenstein 9. 91. The American literally jumped for joy and embraced his coach as the crowd once again clapped in approval, with dozens of ‘Stars and Stripes’ being waved by enthusiastic supporters. It seemed to those gathered that the United States would walk away with a gold in the Men’s Platform Dive, to add to their already impressive total. Britannia agreed.
Britannia wasn’t at the event as Britannia of course, but as Martha Heyburn, out of retirement and once more a member of the British Olympic Team, and as she felt the ribbon around her neck and the weighty medallion on the end of it she reminded herself, a now two time gold winner in the Women’s 3m Springboard. She had won the first at Amsterdam in 1928 and had since been heavily involved in publicising women’s diving but she had never expected the opportunity to return, let alone beat women five years her junior.
She had been the surprise winner for her category but she hadn’t been the only one. The black American Jesse Owens had managed to win four gold medals in running and long jump against his white competitors, shocking many, especially Adolf Hitler who had promised Bavarian victories based on Aryan and National Socialistic training methods. After Bavarians lost to Owens in all four events and Christian Muller only managed a bronze in the marathon behind the Koreans Sohn Kee-chung and Nam Sung-yong (participating as part of the Japanese team), the Fuhrer had the Bavarian Social Republic exit after only six days.
Martha continued to feel her medal but she wasn’t content. Despite her international recognition and the intense training she put herself through, Martha was always thoughtful about how much her powers altered her performance. Indeed, it had been her conflict of conscience that had cut her career short eight years previous. She had only returned on the insistence of the Lord Protector, quite literally. She had been invited to 10 Downing Street in April and she had discovered Oswald Mosley to be a very persuasive man with his talk of national pride and he had easily charmed her. Despite all of this she would have felt more comfortable continuing her work with Captain Britain, if I hadn’t been for the threatening undertones he had used to talk of her family. She had had experience of Executive agents and ‘Sop’ storm troopers when they had taken Sarah away. She had dared not risk that again.
Taking her mind off such unfortunate thoughts, Britannia settled back in her seat overlooking the pool, and glanced up towards the sun, through her sunglasses. She would enjoy the final diver, she thought, then she would have a relaxing Zeppelin ride courtesy of the British Olympic Committee back to England and get back to the Special Flight Command. She gave off a bitter smile, “how strange that sport has so much more politics than war”.
Now returning to Martha Heyburn, she listened as the last competitor was announced over the speakers.
“Damen und Herren, Renee Bouville, Frankreich”
“Les dames et les messieurs, Renee Bouville, France”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Renee Bouville, France”
Martha again joined in the applause as Bouville climbed up to the platform. Silence fell as he approached. Despite her avocation of women’s sport, Martha had always been fonder of men’s diving over women’s as a spectator. It was the crowd that got her. The tension. Suffice to say, there was always greater turn out for the men, and that’s what made it all the more exciting.
Bouville made his way down the platform to the edge. Surrounded by a wall of silence, the Frenchmen stepped back and jumped high into the air, curling into a ball as he did. But something wasn’t right to Martha. His jump was too perfect. Bouville lunged what she reckoned was at least five or six feet into the air before he began to plummet. As he fell to, it seemed as if he was in slow motion. As he completed his fifth roll he suddenly sliced into the water, disappearing.
Martha was already up and moving as the crowd’s stunned silence turned into an animated standing ovation. Frank Kurtz and his coach held each other; their mouths open in disbelief. Martha made her way down the steps as the judges themselves finally reacted, standing with their cards aloft. Belgium 10. Uruguay 10. Denmark 10. Canada 10. Estonia 10. Poland 10. Brazil 10. China 10. Turkey 10. Liechtenstein 10. 100.
The crowd vocally roared, the French with joy, the Americans with horror and everyone else with a collective incredulity.
Bouville exited the pool as the few cameraman in attendance swarmed for a shot of the victor and, no doubt new record holder, of the Men’s Platform Dive. Martha’s gold medal saw her past security and as she moved towards the surprisingly calm winner, she was once more confused to see Bouville being verbally berated by another Frenchman, wearing a black suit and slicked back hair.
"You the idiot"! spat the man towards Bouville in French, making use of frantic hand gestures as he spoke, "What have we said about 'showing off' in public"!
"Calm down. Look at them. They liked it", Bouville said in a cocky tone
"The press is everywhere"!
"What do you think the newspapers would say? Bouville is a witch"?
"The Paris will here of this, they wont be happy"!
"I am sure Paris will thrilled to here of my victory! Now go. I want to enjoy my moment in the spotlight.
"It wont be the last time if you're not careful", said the man dispondantly before he walked away. Bouville noticed Martha and walked over to her.
“Hello”, he said in heavily accented English, shaking Martha’s hand, seemingly unaware of his near naked, and very wet state “You are Martha Heyburn are you not”?
“Why yes I am Monsieur Bouville”.
“I saw your performance on Tuesday, you were great”!
“Why thank you, Monsieur, you were quite something yourself”
“Thank you, it is always nice to receive a compliment from a peer, and especially one as renowned as you Madame Heyburn. I have been a fan for sometime”.
“Heh, I noticed with have similarities in our diving style”
“Yes we most definitely do”
“I’m surprised you’re willing to reveal the influence of woman springboard jumper on your style”
“Oh no you misunderstand. We are similar but I was never influenced by you”
“How does that work out Monsieur”?
“There are other ways to be similar, beyond technique”.
As Martha began to speak, Bouville turned to see his compatriot staring at him in a disproving manner from across the pool.
“I am sorry Madam but I must go, it was an honour meeting you”, with that he shuck her hand and began to walk away.
“Bouville”! Martha called to him
“Yes, Madam”? he said, turning to her
“Who is that man? Why was he shouting at you before”?
“Oh he is just a nuisance. He was telling me off because I didn’t attend an interview with a newspaper yesterday”
“Oh, very well. Goodbye Monsieur”
“Goodbye Madam, hopefully we may meet again in better circumstances”, he said, turning once more and heading off past the growing horde of reporters outside his changing room entrance.
Martha walked away. It seemed she would have to make an important phone call back to London before the aerodrome. It seemed her grammar school French lessons had paid off eventually. If her instinct was right, Special Flight Command was going to be busy.
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SecondedArilou said:Neat
Although I don't speak french so the conversation went over MY head
Oh yeah, as this is slightly connected tenously to Marvel's UK characters.... Read the Union Jack mini? Or the Wisdom one? ("Captain Midlands" made me smile)
o sorry guys I posted an older draft of that post- I've translated it into english now- hopefully you'll understand 
Only now do I understand.