Tyranny of Steel

Bakari awoke with a sore body the morning after the massacre. All around him were dead bodies, some were torn apart by bullets, others were blasted into shreds by the mortar fire. The huts that once made up his village were smouldering ruins. He rose from his lying position with a headache. After all, he had suffered severe head trauma during the attack.

He could hardly believe his eyes when he witnessed the destruction that had taken place. This wasn't a battle, it was a slaughter. You see, the African tribes played at war; they launched raids here and there, a little of rape and slavery now and then. But with Berengar's arrival, he had brought with him a new form of warfare, and that was total war.

To him, the African tribes who sparsely occupied this land were a nuisance that needed to be removed. He had no plans to conquer them and incorporate them into his empire, as he had seen in his past life the racial tension and civil strife that resulted from such things. Instead, the Kaiser planned to forcefully remove the Southern African tribes from the land they inhabited and kill all who resisted.

Bakari could not comprehend why such actions were taken against his people, especially when they hadn't proved hostile. The reality was, Berengar saw their scouting attempts as justification for a hostile takeover. Had they sent a diplomatic delegation to greet these visitors to the continent, Berengar would have found a more covert way to remove them.

Bakari was at a loss about what to do. His tribe was annihilated, and those who may have survived the onslaught had fled with the winds. The likelihood is the other tribes would enslave them. In all honesty, he was better off dead, or such was his thought process. However, upon gazing upon the smouldering ruin of his father's hut, the young man was filled with fierce resolve to get vengeance upon those who committed such atrocities.

Because of this, he did not sit idly by and wait for death to take him. Instead, he proudly rose to his feet. Though his tribe was first to be attacked, it likely wouldn't be the last. He did not know how many men had attacked his village or what weapons they wielded, but Bakari believed that with overwhelming numbers, the African tribes could prevail.

Thus, he began to walk off into the distance, away from his ruined village. Where did he intend to go? To the nearest tribe, if he could warn them of what had happened, then perhaps he could enlist their help in fighting against this white menace that the seas had birthed. If he could convince this tribe, then maybe he could convince the next one as well, and perhaps the next one after that.

Days passed before Bakari could arrive at the nearest tribe. After all, his people had not domesticated any beasts of burden, and thus he had to traverse the treacherous landscape on foot. Finally, after a hard journey, where he was forced to forage for food and water to sustain himself, he arrived at the nearest tribe.

When he approached the border of the village, the tribesmen were quick to react with caution as they raised their weapons. They had seen the smoke rise in the south, and were unaware of what had happened to Bakari's tribe. However, one thing was certain: this young man was not of their village, and thus he was not afforded the kindest greeting. Luckily, they spoke the same language, and thus Bakari was able to communicate with the sentries.

"I come from the Mthunzi tribe, we were attacked in the middle of the night, the village has been slaughtered. I came to inform you, so that you don't suffer the same fate!"

The sentries gazed at Bakari with a hint of disbelief in their eyes. They were not accustomed to a village being wiped out entirely, enslaved? Sure, but what benefit did total annihilation have? That was a waste of labor. They had a hard time believing this story, but the smoke that occurred in the Mthunzi tribe's direction a few days prior was not something a usual raid would produce. Thus, the lead guard debated with himself for a few moments before nodding his head and allowing access for Bakari to enter the village.

"Very well, we will take you to our chief. He will hear what you have to say."

Bakari thanked the man before following him deeper into the village. Eventually, he came to a slightly larger hut than the rest of the village lived in and entered its opening. The village chief was sitting down on the floor of his hut and scratching his back when Bakari entered. He was confused about this unknown visitor's appearance, but the guard quickly whispered in his ear the young man's identity. After hearing that Bakari was from the Mthunzi tribe, he was more interested in greeting the visitor, but he wore a dire expression as he did so.​

"So you are from the Mthunzi tribe? We saw the smoke rising from your village's direction a few days ago. We were curious about what had happened, but our scouts have yet to return. Tell me, what has happened to your people?"

Bakari struggled to hold back the tears in his eyes as he recalled everything that had happened. The attack was so sudden and random that he could not accurately pinpoint when it began, and when it ended, but he did his best to explain the details.

"A few days ago I was on the southern shores searching for shells to trade for some meat. I witnessed strange white-skinned men descend from large boats, larger than I have ever seen. They came from the ocean, they were dressed in strange clothes, and wielded strange weapons.

I immediately reported this information to my father, the village chief, but he responded by sending scouts to investigate. They never returned. By the time night fell and the sky was dark, they had surrounded our village without us knowing. It was impossible for me to know how many men they had, but from the devastation they caused, I'd say at least a few thousand.

In the middle of the night, a red glare that lit up the sky above the village awoke me. The moment after I stepped out of my hut to investigate, I heard the sound of repeated thunder and witnessed my fellow tribesmen being ripped apart from some unknown power. I could see flashes in the distance from the hills above. As if the enemy could somehow conjure the elements against my people.

After witnessing hundreds of my people fall in a matter of seconds, I rushed towards my father's hut, but it erupted in flames. I have never seen such a large blast before, he unfortunately did not survive. After witnessing my father's death, I panicked, and ran away from the village like my other tribesmen. They were ruthlessly slaughtered as they tried to flee, and I only managed to survive because I was knocked over and trampled upon.

These white devils wield some form of unimaginable power, and I fear for the safety of the tribes who inhabit these lands if we do not come together and do something about them. Mark my words, what happened to the Mthunzi tribe is only the beginning. Soon these devils will spread forth and annihilate all who stand in their way. They aren't human; they are monsters birthed from the sea!"

The village chief listened to Bakari's tale, and was dumbfounded by what he heard. Strange white men coming from the oceans, wielding the power of the elements, and slaughtering everyone in sight. If this news was accurate, it did not bode well for his tribe. However, he could not believe the words of a man who might very well be suffering from delusions after witnessing a natural disaster. As a wise and prudent man, he would have to investigate these claims. Thus, he sighed heavily before laying his hand on Bakari's shoulder.

"It sounds like you have seen a lot. You are welcome to stay in my village for the time being. As for your claims, I will investigate them thoroughly. If what you have said is true, then we must warn the other tribes of these sea people's existence. If they truly possess such unfathomable power, and are bent on our destruction, then we can only band together to stop them."

Bakari sighed in relief when he heard this. It was good that he was not outright dismissed as a madman. Still, he felt that investigating the matter would only lead to further disaster. If the various tribes of South Africa did not come together soon, then he feared this unknown menace would eradicate them.

Just like that, the Germans gained the nickname of sea peoples and white devils by the natives of Southern Africa. When Berengar learned of this, he would laugh, remembering the history of ancient bronze age where an unknown force of raiders from across the sea, known only by the term "sea peoples" caused the collapse of most major civilizations across the Mediterranean through conquest. He felt such a term was appropriate for his German soldiers and would embrace it for propaganda purposes.