10th february, 1945, 55.15.42.1.N.15.03.14.0.W, mess-hall, u-865.

they all knew this was a one-way trip to the bottom of the ocean.

they all knew that in the other two subs, the other crews had just finished their close down protocols, and had gathered around the tables in the mess-hall, just like they had.

one last order for the third reich. one last action to secure her future. to secure her return.

all that remained was their last meal. a tiny white pill.

they would swallow it simultaneously. then their mission would be over. it would be done.

they all looked at their captain and he looked back at each one of them.

as he took his pill in one hand and the glass in the other, he raised the glass and uttered:

“for the third reich!”

then he took the pill in his mouth and swallowed it along with a good portion of the liquid in the glass. his crew followed his lead. and soon all sounds and movements stopped. it took a few hours for the last remaining power to drain. then it got dark. then it got cold.