Chapter 6 Opportunity Comes Knocking

As the night gradually descended, bustling Berlin finally appeared beneath his feet. The two days of tight schedules were no cause for complaint from the disciplined German officers. After getting off the plane, Logan instructed them to go back and rest well for the night, arranging to meet in his office the next day to prepare the inspection report for submission to the superiors in the shortest possible time.

Driving his VW82 military bucket car, with the cool breeze blowing, Logan's thoughts became clearer. Based on his understanding of the historic Battle of Britain, the main reasons for the German failure were threefold: firstly, the failure to effectively disrupt and suppress the British radar and air defense command systems; secondly, the limited range of the Bf-109 fighters and the rigid escort tactics of the bomber formations; and finally, the German Air Force focusing too much on bombing cities like London, failing to cause sufficient damage to British military production facilities, leading to an increasing number of British fighter aircraft.

Now, thanks to the successful "Operation Dagger," the first reason had been largely addressed. As long as the jamming equipment worked, the German Air Force could face the British Air Force in a relatively favorable situation. As for the latter two reasons, the fighter range seemed solvable by using external fuel tanks, but escort tactics and bombing strategies probably required intervention from the Air Force command!

Although Logan had only met Hermann Göring a few times, their relationship had already soured. Milch was a breakthrough, but as the deputy commander, he had no say in combat matters. Even if Stüdent could return from his injuries, he would still only be effective in his paratrooper domain. It seemed like a dead end!

After much contemplation, Logan couldn't find a clear direction. Thus, filled with hesitation, he returned to his apartment. Upon opening the door, he suddenly noticed someone sitting on the couch—a young man with a parted hairstyle and round glasses!

Before tossing his briefcase as if it were an explosive device, Logan recognized the guy, Mencius Borges, the special correspondent of the Imperial Propaganda Department, known for his formidable "little broadcasts." Berlin was his operational headquarters, and for a week, Logan and this bachelor had almost eaten their way through the South Berlin's specialty restaurants. Later, when the German Air Force began operations against Britain, Borges went to France, reportedly to interview German pilots who had clashed with the British Air Force.

However, Logan remembered not leaving his house keys for this guy.

"Hey, heard you were coming back today, so I came specially to see you!" Borges glanced at the photo on the coffee table. "How come you didn't take the opportunity to visit your sweetheart?"

"Opportunity? It's completely out of the way!" Logan dropped his briefcase and walked to the table to pour himself a glass of water, his lips dry from the rush of driving.

"How was your interview? I know there were quite a few ace pilots who shot down more than 10 enemy aircraft during the Battle of France!" Logan asked seemingly casually.

Sitting on the couch, Borges wore a white checkered shirt and khaki trousers. There was no Zeiss camera hanging around his neck. At first glance, few would associate him with the profession of a war correspondent, let alone the formidable energy he possessed!

"Heh, there's no ace as good as you! By the way, I came to tell you some good news. The Imperial Propaganda Department has agreed to serialize your actions in Britain in a special series called... 'Eagles Descend on Britain!'"

"'Eagles Descend on Britain'? Not bad, not bad at all!" Logan praised, although his emotions weren't particularly high. These things were supposed to be reported after Operation Dagger, but the Imperial Propaganda Department insisted on withholding the mission reports along with this material—Logan could guess the reasons with his eyes closed.

"Oh, Mencius, have you heard of any major operations from the High Command recently?" Logan asked seemingly nonchalantly.

Borges chuckled, "You're trying to extract Germany's highest military secrets from me!"

"No choice, I'm trapped in a cage. Apart from work, all I hear every day is news of who's having an affair, who's building a villa on encroached land, and such. No one's going to tell me anything useful. It's torture!" Logan complained.

Borges nodded sympathetically, "Hey, you still have me! Speaking of major operations... everything now revolves around that plan!"

"Operation Sealion?" Logan quietly uttered the still highly classified term in the German military.

"Yes, since 1916, the Germans are once again challenging maritime supremacy!" Borges said this with a bit of a tipsy tone, as if he were a drunk boasting. Perhaps, the Imperial Propaganda Department was accustomed to using this tone to stir up the public!

With the room still warm, Logan quickly took off his gray uniform shirt, revealing a white undershirt and well-built muscles—although he leaned towards a desk job, "Hans Logan" didn't seem to neglect exercise.

"Is there anything more practical?" Logan asked.

Adjusting his glasses, Borges said, "More practical? Well... the expansion of 26 airfields and the construction of 5 radar jamming stations in the frontlines are almost complete. This work is under the responsibility of your immediate superior, General Speer. You should know more about this than I do!"

"Hmm!" Logan waited for the rest of the information.

Borges lowered his voice, "The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force will inspect the northern part of France next Monday. It is said that a large-scale air raid on Britain will begin early next month!"

"What?" Logan asked softly.

Borges replied, "A large-scale air raid on Britain is likely to start early next month!"

"No, I meant the sentence before that!" Logan clarified.

"The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force will inspect the northern part of France next Monday?" Borges seemed puzzled. Didn't his heroic friend think it was better to stay as far away from that guy as possible?

A very evil thought flashed through Logan's mind, but for Borges, he immediately changed to an innocent expression: "As long as he's not in Berlin, I'll feel much better!"

"Haha!" Borges chuckled awkwardly. "Hans, as your friend, I advise you not to get on the wrong side of the higher-ups. But Minister says the Fuhrer still quite appreciates you, so... endure it! There will be a day when you'll rise!"

Endure? Logan snorted coldly in his heart. Endure until he was sent to the freezing Eastern Front in 1941? Or to be bombed at Normandy Beach in 1944? Or witness the Allied forces besiege the city in 1945? No, his fate had to be grasped by himself. This was similar to picking up girls: seize the opportunity when there is one, and create one when there isn't!