Bratva No More
The chopper is scheduled to touch down at 12:00 Noon, carrying seven top Verang commanders. Chef Lakas has already prepared a mid-day feast that can rival the very orgies of Rome. The “Summit” at Hyne Haus is ready to go.
Today Heinlen plans to unveil his Magnum Opus – his vision of the future.
He is rebranding the organization he has been consecrated to lead.
Why?
The reasons are practical, philosophical and spiritual.
The Old East Slavic name for Varangians (Viking Warriors and Traders) was VARYAG. Heinlen is re-adopting this appellation. Henceforward, the BratvaVarang will be simply known as “VARYAG”. The real shocker, however, is going to be their Tactical patch – their Ensign – for their uniforms, banners and flag. This new “badge” is forward-thinking and impactful, reflecting the philosophy and spirituality of today’s younger, intensely nationalistic Slavic constituents.
Increasingly, younger members of the organization are sporting tattoos of the Kolovrat – a spinning wheel symbol with bent upper arms representing cosmic order, seasonal turning of the year, and the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth. The Kolovrat is central in the practice of Slavic Native Faith, called “Rodnovery“. Present-day Scandinavians call it “Asatru”. Many young women also proudly ink the Kolovrat on their bodies in reverence of their “Neo-Pagan” beliefs. The Old Gods are asserting themselves once more, slaking a thirst of Slavic youth for virtues like order, stricter morality, and lives devoted to Honor, bravery and family.
The new “ensign” of VARYAG is its name and, superimposed over its left half, a golden Kolovrat. Superimposed over its right half is a golden, simple Orthodox Crucifix. The message is clear: A Legion of Slavs who pay homage to their roots.
Heinlen isn’t blind – he sees the wreck past generations have made of this world and doesn’t blame young people in the least for re-discovering older pathways of spirituality and lifestyle in the hopes they can make sense out of the turmoil that surrounds them. Many still “believe” in Jesus but find their traditional nativist faith – Rodnovery – offers an alternative belief system that make more sense than the old “Abrahamic” constructs in our world. Life is hard. Life is cruel. Ofttimes turning the other cheek is not the answer. Spirituality can’t always be passive. Strength and Honor are virtues. The Old Gods personify an ethos the young desperately seek these days. Before Roman and Byzantine treachery effectively chained Nordic and Slavic peoples to a yoke of self-serving Abrahamic propaganda and Semitic (“Old Testament”) fairy tales, Rodnovery and Asatru served Pagans quite well. Some say the old world was better.
One can only imagine their confusion and frustration:
Some tribe wanders in some desert for 40 years? Who cares? Some “God” yells through a weird wooden box called an “Ark” telling his favorite tribe to kill other people’s men, women, children and oxen? Is this supposed to be inspirational? This same “God” tells some guy to sacrifice his only son on an altar for no reason? Really? This is “Holy” scripture? A truly decent man is nailed to a cross because the tribe didn’t like him? Why are people obsessed with this nonsense? Who is this entitled Tribe? What does this have to do with me? How are these stories sacred? How does this enhance my spirituality? I’m a Slav – why do I care about Semites? And who is this Yahweh character, anyway?
QUESTION:
How does one reconcile the beneficence of Jesus with the practical core beliefs of neo-Paganism – and Warrior Gods like Odin, Thor and Tyr?
HEINLEN’S ANSWER:
By openly embracing a metaphysical fusion of Slavic Rodnovery and Orthodox Christianity within the ranks of the VARYAG. By publicly celebrating the spiritual duality of Slavs.
And that’s just what Heinlen proposes to do. Fuse the devotion and passion that people feel for Jesus Christ with the Spiritual wholesomeness and magnetic attraction Slavs feel for their Rodnovery and Nordics feel for Asatru. Present a Legion of Warriors who proudly display the Kolovrat and the Orthodox Crucifix as foundations of their Brotherhood. Introduce an ensign, a standard that captures the two faces – the “yin and yang” of the Slavic Soul – and challenges the world to deal with it.
For Slavs, it’s all about their Folk. Their Tribe. About belonging to something that’s bigger and more meaningful than themselves. Some believe that their native spirituality is more in tune with the harsh realities of life in the here and now. The world where we live and breathe – not some future eternity. Slavic Existentialism concerns itself with the real world where dangers lurk around every corner and in every shadow.
The Slavic Soul was forged in conflict – and its genesis cannot be denied. It must be embraced and celebrated. Now is the time.
Heinlen is fascinated and intrigued by these sociological and cultural changes happening all around him. It’s like a new Zeitgeist – an “awakening” of sorts – is grabbing young people by the throats and shaking them awake. Astronomers at prestigious universities describe this as a time of “Planetary Presession” in the Universe, meaning that the planets are aligning into the much-heralded “Age of Aquarius”. Even the infamous Myan Calendar has earmarked our current era as one involving epochal changes for humanity. Heinlen senses his own Rurik ancestral bloodline awakening – and it feels wonderful.
But Heinlen’s ruminations about his ambitious rebranding project – transforming the BratvaVerang into the VARYAG – is brought back to Earth by a cacophony of turbines and wind blasts – a chopper touching down – and a magic moment.
Per L’Enfant is front and center at the Hyne Haus Helicopter pad and watches “Her” disembark. A Long-legged, svelte gymnast – think Sophie Cunningham – briskly jumps off the rotorcraft while it’s still hovering. She’s got a bob of blonde hair and the face of an angel. She’s dressed in tactical gear – but L’Enfant has never seen tactical worn with such curves and appealing definition. She’s not what any guy would call delicate – but she’s every inch a woman. She’s confident. You can tell by her strut and no-Bullshit demeanor. L’Enfant has seen his share of female martial artists and special forces babes, but – no question – this woman has got the grit. She walks the walk. Her vibe is “Don’t screw with me”. She’s every Viking’s wet dream.
L’Enfant doesn’t realize he’s standing next to Heinlen until he hears his voice.
“Close your mouth. Your jaw is going to hit the ground.”
Before L’Enfant can respond Xen Chen pipes up behind him:
“Hey, L’Enfant – you gonna’ pee the bed tonight?”
Even taciturn Dirk Fremd gets in a shot:
“She’s outta’ your league, Canuck. Are you aware that during her last op she made a Simeon Khazar eat his own dick – and then lobbed off his hands? Is that your idea of a fun date?”
L’Enfant dons a sheepish grin, raises his palms in faux surrender and mutters jocularly to Heinlen,
“Excusez-moi, Mon Capitane! Excusez-moi, s’il vous plait!
Interestingly, Heinlen just purrs to the boys in a voice uncharacteristically roguish for their Commander…
“That, my intrepid Comrades, is VARYAG Captain Andrea Vucic”.
Pechene
The “Presentation” lasts hours in the Main Hall of Hyne Haus.
Heinlen speaks first.
“I welcome you all.
I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, our organization will be known by its Old Slavic moniker: VARYAG. A new ensign and badge have been designed. This name change signals the renewal of our commitment as Vaeringjar – “Men of the Pledge”. It further solidifies our Legion as a unique and Montenegro-based force to be reckoned with that is the product of a glorious Slavic history and people.”
The Great Hall erupts with deafening applause – even shouts of approval.
Heinlen is pleased. He then announces the adoption of a key VARYAG tradition:
“Commencing immediately, every VARYAG fighter will carry a Viking throwing axe and train and become proficient at throwing and fighting with it. Machetes will be phased out. Viking Throwing axes “in the belt” will be standard “Kit” for all Vaeringjar, or VARYAG “Men of the Pledge”. Special training protocols will be adopted. Addeholm Specialty Steel and Forging Company of Stockholm, Sweden will be shipping our first consignment of traditional, ash-handled axes, within the week. Their axes are hand-crafted and hand-forged in Oxelosund, Sweden. This is the finest steel in the world, and we have even patented VARYAG’s unique blade-head design.
I now yield the podium so we may proceed to our tactical business.”
More applause fills the Hall. Then comes the main event. All eyes focus on the blonde, comely Valkyrie that calmly takes her position at the podium.
VARYAG Captain Andrea Vucic stands before a giant display screen that displays drone footage of an enormous green rolling countryside covered in a dense canopy of tree overgrowth. In the center of this picture is a large, multi-building structure that has a tall spire towering over it. On the top of the spire is a distinctive Star of David.
“Gentlemen –
May I take this opportunity to congratulate all on this inaugural address of our reborn VARYAG! May our Slavic Soul and sacred Faith guide us always.
What follows is compressed digital drone footage of a large Khazar Synagogue Complex in Krepopavnia in Montenegro. Last week, three VARYAG Wolfe Pack Teams tracked four Mercedes panel vans with their windows blacked out approach the facility from three different directions and vanish about five miles from the outer perimeter of the Synagogue’s twelve-foot iron fence. The Synagogue Complex is an oval shaped one-mile parcel completely surrounded by fencing, cameras and various geographic impediments – marshland, rock cliffs, cement bunkers, etc.
These Wolfe-Pack Teams had every suspicion that the vans contained children that were being delivered to the Synagogue for turnover to Vampyres and Adrenochrome Harvesting.
What happened? The Mercedes vans all vanished.
How? Where did they go?
I am now placing an overlay on the presentation screen showing – to scale – a series of dotted lines and other images. As you see, these dotted lines run straight into the Khazar Synagogue Complex at odd angles and frequencies, crisscrossing and forming a skein-like weave.
What is this overlay?
This is the NATO satellite map of the Pechene USSR Air Response Base Montenegro from the 1970s. After the fall of the Soviet Union, sometime in 1996, a consortium of Tel Aviv Investors purchased the entire Pechene USSR Air Response Base Montenegro and commenced the immediate construction of a Khazar Synagogue Complex – right on top of it!
This Khazar Synagogue Complex sits smack-dap in the middle of a huge, decommissioned Soviet-Era advance warning base that was – at one time – the tip of Russia’s spear for air defense in the Adriatic Sea region and the Balkan countries bordering Montenegro.
Gentlemen, you may now open the sealed envelopes in front of you and peruse the contents. Through VARYAG contacts within the Russian Federation we’ve acquired original construction schematics and detailed plans for Pechene USSR Air Response Base Montenegro.
As you can readily see, below the Khazar Synagogue is a warren of deep bunkers, fuel storage facilities, underground access roadways, escape tunnels and access portals. It is an impressive complex above ground and below and most likely has been adapted to receiving surreptitious deliveries of large numbers of abducted children and harvesting them for Adrenochrome. The USSR blueprints for the Pechene facility confirm the locations of underground medical facilities and bomb shelters that could have been easily converted to imprison and torture children. There is also a deep-level crematorium for destruction of human remains.
Finally – and this is our speculation – the supply accesses and portals to the underground USSR Pechene Base are being utilized by Simeon Khazars to take in abducted children for Adrenochrome Harvesting deep under their Khazar Synagogue Complex. VARYAG Wolfe Pack Death Unit Teams believe that this is an industrial scale Adrenochrome Harvesting site for children not only from Montenegro but also from surrounding Balkan countries. This underground nightmare might also provide a doorway to a Vampyre Coven.
Belisarius exists somewhere…is this his front door?
I am here to get your approval for an all-out assault on this Simeon Khazar Synagogue facility, accessing it through the defunct Pechene USSR Base underground infrastructure that we have detailed roadmaps for.
My final Caveat is this: since our adversaries have established this grandiose industrial-scale undertaking right under our noses – and right under their own Simeon Khazar Synagogue – they must have security. Heavy security.
Who is covering their asses?
Short Answer?
Vampyres. Vampyre Defense Goons and Mercenaries. We’ll have to kill our way through Simeon Khazars, Vampyres and undetermined Mercenary forces in order to rescue as many abducted children as we can. This is one of the most secure Cold War locations the Soviet Union designed; attacking it will not be easy. Attacking it and ultimately finding any children still alive will be a long shot. Whatever happens, we have to raise this Synagogue of Satan to the ground and destroy the Simeon Khazars that run it. Of course, any Vampyres we kill will be icing on the cake.
This is our ground zero. I ask you to green-light this project – which we have code-named “Operation Pechene”.
Thank you.
They enjoy a raucous dinner – actually, a VARYAG old school Viking Feast.
Heinlen sits with Captain Vucic and his inner circle of Paladins who watch his every facial gesture. They parse his speech inflection and word selection. They know their Capitaine well – and their consensus is unanimous: Heinlen and this babe click. They both speak easily to each other in a confident but respectful way. There’s no tension, competition or arrogance. Neither demonstrates the slightest intimation of rank. They calmly engage each other with sincerity and humor.
Captain Vucic doesn’t seem to be impressed with Heinlen’s wealth. She carries herself with poise, content with who she is. She’s a Special Forces Commando and an Officer in charge of professional killers. She isn’t fishing for a rich husband or comfy life. She’s a female on a mission: children are being murdered and tortured by heinous reprobates and demonic entities – and she’s going to stop it. Captain Vucic is dangerous because she’s a true believer.
The VARYAG visitors all stay the night.
Heinlen takes Captain Vucic on a guided tour of Hyne Haus, pointing out items of historical interest and significance. She particularly admires his personal Ikon of the Divine Theotokos, the Blessed Mother Mary, in the Chapel, and lights a candle on a stand nearby. Heinlen and Vucic wind up their tour in Hyne Haus’ impressive library, where they share some Scotch. She selects a bottle of Dewars from his well-stocked Library bar nook and settles into one of the many high-back Edwardian chairs that are positioned everywhere. Their conversation covers many topics – but there’s one topic Captain Vucic lingers over while they sit and sip their libation. Her voice is a mixture of sadness and curiosity.
“What is going to happen to the United States? You’re safely out of the thick of it now – but I hear things are going from bad to worse. The Constitution has been – effectively – suspended. Martial Law has been declared. New York City is an irradiated war zone. Do you ever see yourself going back?”
Heinlen thinks for a few minutes before he answers – nursing his Scotch staring off into space.
“No. I’m done with that life. Me and my boys are Swiss citizens now. Our world is here. There’s much work to be done. The stakes are high – and the enemies are powerful….
Let me show you something. It’s the new insignia for the VARYAG.”
Heinlen hands her a folder of artist renderings. Once she opens it and sees the Kolovrat and Orthodox Crucifix superimposed over the VARYAG lettering, she laughs out loud. Immediately she starts ripping at her black tactical officer’s shirt and pulls up her left sleeve.
There, it all it’s Slavic glory, is a tattoo – of a Kolovrat.
Her voice is sincere but solemn.
“I wear this with pride. I revere Christ’s teachings – but also share a belief system that recognizes Honor, racial pride and love of one’s people. I am a Slav. This is who I am.”
Captain Vucic reaches over and touches his hand.
“Call me Andy. It’s what my unit calls me when I’m not supposed to be listening. I prefer it to Andrea. When we’ve got to keep up appearances for rank – just call me Captain.”
Heinlen smiles.
“Andy it is, then. Call me Hyne. And if proprieties of rank must be observed – Hetman.”
They spend a long and enjoyable evening together – and kill off one fifth of Dewars and then open another one. On his evening rounds in the hallway, Per L’Enfant overhears their laughter and silently thanks God. His “Capitaine” is back on the road of life. Hopefully, his dark days will pass.
Somewhere, even Archangel Gabriel is grinning.
Fortress No More
Early next morning, the seven VARYAG commanders are scheduled to depart for their Montenegro Command Center in Podorica. A specially armored Airbus H145D3 waits on Hyne Haus’ Helicopter Pad for its signal to start engines. It five blade main rotor droops down low, like some gigantic stone-age insect from the Pleistocene period.
Heinlen stands near “Andy” – Captain Vucic – nursing one Hell of a Scotch hangover. It’s been years since he’s “tied on a shitter” like he did last night. Captain Vucic looks no worse for wear. The Hetman’s faithful comrades are giving him a wide berth. They can tell he’s “Green around the gills” from too much hair of the dog. Heinlen’s substantial Sternenberg Security Contingent has turned out in force. Foreign Heads of State have fewer armed personnel weaving throughout their environs when they travel. Heinlen is taking no chances.
The chopper starts up its twin turbines and the gargantuan rotor blades start moving. It’s time to go.
Captain Vucic smiles at Heinlen and winks at him so the others can’t see it.
“I’ll keep our drinking binge secret – the next time you’re at Podorica, Montenegro VARYAG HQ look me up. We can do it again.”
Heinlen returns her smile – and sentiment. The rotor noise is almost deafening now, so he yells his answer.
“IT’S A DATE, ANDY!”
Captain Vucic no sooner turns to step towards the Airbus chopper bay when she’s bowed completely over and drops down by an obvious impact from behind. Somebody has shot her. It’s a high-velocity, high impact shot. A sniper round. Heinlen rushes forward to cover her bleeding body on the ground with his own – all the while shouting orders to anybody that can hear him.
“THEY’VE USED THE CHOPPER NOISE TO MASK THEIR RIFLE SOUND TRAJECTORY! FIND HIM!!! GODDAMMIT, FIND HIM!!! FIND HIM NOW!!! I WANT HIM ALIVE!!!”
Captain Andrei Groyko, Commander of Heinlen’s VARYAG Security Platoon is already gesturing to his men, screaming orders into their Comm hookups to scour the countryside and apprehend the shooter. L’Enfant, Xen Chen and Dirk Fremd surround Heinlen as he carries a limp, bleeding Andrea Vucic back inside the stone walls of Hyne Haus. They’re joined by Dr. Tyrol Argus, Chief Medical Officer of the VARYAG detachment assigned to Hyne Haus Sternenberg Station. They all burst into the main Hall and push off the enormous feasting table any bowls of fruit and objects in their way. Heinlen gently positions Captain Vucic on the table. She’s in pain – but aware and oriented, groaning and grimacing.
Dr. Argus starts furiously cutting her tactical gear off – which, Thank God, she dressed in this morning. Her tactical jacket has a thick Kevlar inlay. Although it isn’t bulletproof – especially against a high velocity sniper round – Kevlar has good projectile interdiction properties. She’s also carrying in her breast pocket a Kevlar field pouch filled with computer CDs and heavy gauge map materials that she used in her presentation. By the looks of her wound – lower rib cage chest cavity – these materials also interfered with the force of the intended kill shot appreciably. The bullet’s impact lethality was compromised – but not stopped altogether. It still ripped one Hell of a wound.
Dr. Argus addresses Heinlen as he feverishly works.
“I’m guessing that the sniper had to give up on a head shot because of the large, drooping helicopter rotors that were spinning over her. He opted for a body shot…
She’s hit bad – the round penetrated her lower rib cage area, grazed her liver and came out through her lower kidney. She needs surgery. The VARYAG Helo outside can get her to Zurich General Hospital within the hour – I’ll patch her up so she can survive the trip.
I’ve seen worse sniper round injuries in Bosnia. She’s young and strong. She’ll make it.”
Heinlen, Xen Chen, Per L’Enfant and Dirk Fremd accompany Captain Vucic in the VARYAG Chopper to Zurich General Hospital. When they land on the roof, an advance trauma team is awaiting them with plasma and surgical preps. All they have to do is roll her into a state-of-the-art Operating Theater and into the hands of some of the best Cardio-thoracic, Renal and “HPB” (Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary) surgeons in all of Europe. VARYAG Medic Dr. Tyrol Argus has stabilized her wounds and slowed her blood loss – his “MASH” Experience in battle zones has probably saved her life.
Tense hours pass before Zurich General Hospital Surgical Director Dr. Evgeny Kuhlbach meets with Heinlen and delivers the news: Captain Vucic is severely injured – but stable. Her bleeding has stopped and her wounds are, thankfully, not fatal. A stay in the Hospital is necessary – but she can probably return to an outside rehabilitative environment within a week or so, barring unexpected complications. Her complete recovery will take about six months.
Within the hour, a VARYAG Security Detail is in place at the doors of her Executive Suite hospital room, and three private doctors are assigned to monitor her condition as well as all Zurich General Hospital’s treatment protocols. Special surveillance cams are installed. Captain Andrea Vucic’s long journey of healing will now start. For the next few days, Heinlen will be in the bed right next to her. His devoted Paladins will have their own rooms nearby. Everybody will carry weapons.
And everybody will be vigilant.
The Hetman is tasting blood and the VARYAG are on the hunt.
*NO PART OF THIS WORK PRODUCT IS AI GENERATED*
Copyright, 2026 – Jon Croft
www.bogironfoundry.com
Email: vlchek1@gmail.com
