The officers of Hanover and Brunswick were celebrating their latest victories in the Rhine Tavern. Zafer Ejder was the first Brunswick officer to attain the position as a General officer in the mighty Anglo-Allied Army. His fellow Brunswicker, Omar Quatar, had been promoted to the very respectable rank of Major. Two Hanoverians, Major Tom Philips and Captain Mike Peccolo, had succeeded in laying low the Corsican Usurper of the Throne of France. The newest Chief of Staff for the Anglo-Allied Army could not have been more proud of the performance of the men under his direct commands and their celebration was shared with everyone in the tavern.
Watching the antics of the German officers of the Anglo-Allied Army was a newly promoted Colonel in the King’s German Legion. A light dragoon by trade, he could not help but notice, and appreciate, the camaraderie of his fellow German officers. Lost in his own thoughts for a time, he finally reached a decision. Picking up his bottle, he stood up and walked confidently toward his most animated comrades.
“Brigadier, sir”, he said to the Hanoverian Commander, “I have long been considering joining your brigade. Any group of officers that raise as much of a ruckus in this tavern as you fine, gentlemen do, must be absolute terrors on the field of combat. And now I hear that your men have killed the Ogre himself. That is quite an accomplishment, sirs!”
“Thank you, Colonel”, replies the Hanoverian Brigadier, “we certainly do at least try to live up to the reputations we advertise for ourselves. Congratulations on your latest promotion, Colonel. Your new epilates are very well deserved. As an officer in the King’s German Legion, you are already a son of Hanover and your fluency in German will serve you well in our brigade. We would gladly welcome you into our ranks, but first”, he says as he nods to Major Philips, “there is a small test you must pass to attain a commission within our ranks.”
“A test, sir”, replies the Colonel with a puzzled look. “I am a veteran of many combats, an experienced soldier whose bravery under fire is without question.”
“I am sure that all of that is true, Colonel”, says the Hanoverian Brigadier, “but it is not actually your bravery under fire that we wish to test.”
Major Phillips removes the stopper from a bottle of Jagermeister and pours a healthy volume into a clean shot glass. He then slides the glass within easy reach of the KGL Colonel. “Bottoms up, sir”, says the Major with a sly grin.
“Oh, I see”, says the KGL Colonel. “Very well then”, he says as he takes the glass and downs the entire contents in one gulp setting the glass back down on the table top with an audible click.
The German officers patiently watch as the KGL officer begins to turn red in the face. Coughing rapidly follows, along with the formation of beads of sweat along the stricken officer’s brow. All grin at the poor man’s plight.
“No offense, sir”, says the Colonel when he finally regains his voice, “but that is more akin to drinking sulfuric acid than it is to any refined distillation. Did I pass the test, sir?”
“I will admit you have made a good start, Colonel”, replies the Hanoverian Commander, “but the real test is yet to come. You see, Colonel, the potency of the first shot can take you completely by surprise, it is in the taking of the second shot, after you know what you are actually facing, that determines one’s true bravery.”
All of the German officers are grinning now as Major Phillips refills the Colonel’s shot glass and again slides it within his reach.
The KGL Colonel looks at the newly filled glass with a respectful amount of trepidation. Steeling his resolve, he raises his eyes to meet the steady blue gaze of the man whose service he seeks to join. “Very well, General. If that is all it takes.” Raising the second glass to his lips, he downs the contents in another single gulp. That is when the pain hits him. It would seem that the first shot of Jager dissolved whatever layer of protective coating he had in his esophagus, because the second shot seemed to directly impact every exposed nerve. “Ooooo…Owwww….Ahhhhhh……Ouch!”, bellowed the KGL Colonel. “Damn! That burns like the fires of Hades itself!”
The German officers gathered around the table are all laughing at the antics of the newly minted Colonel. With a wide grin, the Hanoverian Brigadier says to the assemble officers, “Well gentlemen, it looks like Colonel Lastowicka has passed our test of courage. The only thing remaining would be to give him a proper nickname. Any ideas, gents?”
“Ja, I haf von”, said Captain Peccolo. “He bellows like de Lion ven he trinks. I say ve call him Der Löwe! ”
“It is a good and fitting name, I think”, says the Hanoverian Brigadier. “Welcome to the Hanover Brigade, Sir Lion, the drinks are on me!”
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