There is a secret place in the south of Germany. In a drained lake, or perhaps an abandoned quarry. The location isn't that important except for how it doesn't appear on any maps.

But it contains dozens or hundreds of people laboring away on theories of particles and physics meant to be forces of destruction, or strategic levers. This shimmering complexus of steel, aluminum, and copper wire is meant to send armies across the world in an instant. The central chamber is a clean, white dome surrounded by polished titanium rings. The middle layers hold devices of mysterious origin and purpose. Conditions vary sharply in the narrow halls. Freezing cold here, toxic hydrazine vapor there, steam outlets and twisting gears and live electrical wires.

Of course, it doesn't work, and might never work. But that doesn't mean this woman wearing a hazmat armature - stripped down power armor, more or less - gets to take a break from changing the layout of a few pipes or wires to meet today's change in schematics. She doesn't hum as she works anymore. It'd be a distraction, it'd slow her down. The nazis don't like it when she slows down. The phrase 'enemy of the state' gets mentioned.

...Slide the new circuit board in place, connect the wires, a spot of solder, close the panel. She backs out of the alcove and pulls out her checklist.