Rifles of Santorini: Chapter 1

Whitewashed houses, churches with their domes the color of blue topaz: all this beauty had always existed, but during the German occupation, it grew cold, and in its soul, there lived the fear that choked the heart. The merry laughter of both the tourists and locals was not audible anymore on those streets because they were now being patrolled by grim soldiers in German boots echoing off cobblestones – reminders that this island no longer belonged to the people.

In a small, dimly lit taverna hidden down a maze of winding alleys in Oia, Nikos gazed down at the map spread across the table. An oil lamp cast an faint glow across his face as his brow furrowed into deep concentration. To his right sat Maria, his trusted second-in-command, and a handful of resistance fighters, each as resolute as Nikos that their island be free once more. The air was heavy with tension and the hint of sea salt.

“We have no choice,” Nikos said, breaking the heavy silence. “If we don’t destroy the Eagles’ Nest, the Germans will hold the Aegean, and the Allies will never be able to land.”

Maria nodded, her jaw set with determination. “We’ll need to move quickly. They’ve increased patrols since the last sabotage attempt.

The locals had named the German artillery battery located at the island’s highest point the Eagles’ Nest. It was a fortress, heavily guarded and armed with massive guns that could devastate any Allied fleet. Destroying it was the only way to cripple the Germans’ stranglehold on the region.

As Nikos outlined the plan, the room grew quieter. The mission was suicidal—everyone knew it. Yet, not one of them hesitated. They had all lost something to the occupation: family members, homes, their freedom. For Maria, it was personal. Her parents and younger brother had been executed by the Germans during the early days of the invasion. She carried their memory with her, a quiet fire that fueled her resolve.

The plan was simple but dangerous. In the night, they would sneak into the German base, set the explosives near the artillery guns, and leave before the blast. Every step had to be precise as One mistake could be the reason for their capture or worse.

As the conference broke up, the guerrillas scattered into the night, each one silently preparing for what was to come. Nikos and Maria remained in the control room, examining the map one more time.

“You understand the risks,” Nikos murmured, his voice low. “If anything goes wrong—”

“It won’t,” Maria cut him off, her eyes drifting into his. “We have prepared for this. We must succeed.”

Nikos nodded, the weight of responsibility settling heavily upon his shoulders. Leading the resistance was a burden he had never asked for but could not now leave. The lives of his people depended on him.

Dawn crested over the island, and Nikos ascended to the summit of a cliff overlooking the sea. Even in the shadow of occupation, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath of the salty air, letting it fill his lungs. Tomorrow night, they would strike. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.