[ WP ] Instead of Christianity , Judaism , and Islam , the three major religions to make it to the 21st century were the Greek , Roman , and Norse pantheons .

“ We do this on behalf of Thor, mankind ’ s protector against heathen wickedness ” 
 
 Helen winced as the grainy video showed one of the insurgents dealing a heavy hammer blow to the hostage. It was the third of the month and whilst it was 2am now she knew that by morning it ’ d be the leading news story. Nordic extremists kill again. Hatecrimes against Scandinavians ( or anyone with blonde hair and blue eyes for that matter ) would rise again. 
 
 Helen ’ s phone buzzed. Jason was calling. She felt the guilt that always accompanied this job. She was always ruining their Cronosday with work. 
 
 “ Hey ” he said sleepily down the phone “ Solon is awake and asking for you ” 
 
 Helen laughed. Their three year old was quiet and sleepy in daytime but at night he couldn ’ t switch out, like he was making a mockery of his own name. “ Tell him I ’ m asleep and he should be too ” 
 
 “ He wants to speak to his mother ”. 
 
 Helen relented, and that ’ s how she found herself listening to the hyperactive ramblings of Solon ( “ and then I had a dream where I was demigodded and pushed all the nasty bullies over with my big arms ” ) whilst the still image of the bludgeoned hostage sat on her computer screen. She needed to get a new job. This wasn ’ t good for her anymore. 
 
 Solon was packed off to bed and Jason was back. “ Will I see you before morning? ” he asked, hopefully. 
 
 “ Sorry ” she said. She found herself saying sorry a lot these days. “ It ’ s going to be a long one. Why don ’ t you and Solon head out. Take him to the pool. If I get out I ’ ll join you ”. And fall asleep whilst swimming, she thought. She needed to quit this. 
 
 Hanging up she looked at her screen. Nothing unique about this video. All of them were wearing the standard Norse armour plate. One of them had a tankard. Faces were obscurred. These guys didn ’ t have horns – purists. 
 
 She said as much to Cimon, her boss. 
 
 “ So we ’ ve got nothing on location ” he sighed. 
 
 “ We know it ’ s somewhere in Northern Norway ” she replied, gesturing a map of Scandanavia on the table. This one was out of date. It had Denmark listed as belonging to the Julian-Greeks but that wasn ’ t the case anymore. “ We reckon somewhere around Namsos, but it could be closer to Oslo. The Julians aren ’ t sharing their information so much ”. 
 
 Cimon grunted. It was always the same. Julians thought they were so superior on all matters militarily. All that SPQR bollocks and endless televised triumphs for tiny victories against some Nordic tribe hit the message home hard: we ’ re the warriors. The Greeks are the bean counters. 
 
 “ Any reports of pillaging around the area? ” he asked. 
 
 “ Not more than you would expect. There ’ s been an increase in feasts though, which suggests they ’ re feeling confident. Aerial footage shows some recent bonfires in the region and a few barns that look like they ’ ve been converted into halls ” she handed him the printouts. The Julians probably knew way more than this but that ’ d be for emperor ’ s eyes only. 
 
 “ May they drink themselves to an early Valhalla ” signed Cimon. “ Monitor the situation would you? I ’ ll get on damage control ”. 
 
 Helen felt sorry for Cimon. She wouldn ’ t have to deliver a press conference after a night working. The rings were showing around his eyes already. This war was taking it ’ s toll. 
 
 But the Nords loved war, that was the problem. Negotiating peace with hardliners was literally impossible because how else were you supposed to get into Valhalla except by dying in combat? They sought death out. They stirred the pot. 
 
 The hours rolled by as she compiled data. No clear picture was forming. Trying to predict patterns in Nordic behaviour was almost impossible. They took Loki ’ s teachings to heart and laid many false trails. They were too understaffed here to follow every bit of fake information. If only they could share intel with Julians. But that was wishful thinking. They were allies only in name. Who knew when the empire would suddenly decide they wanted to add some Greek territories back into the fold? They was always some fringe senator arguing that. At least the war with the North focused them on a common enemy. Maybe it was better never to win. 
 
 The morning rolled on. The headlines flashed angrily: when was the Greek government going to step up and stop their citizens being savaged? Then the predictable “ this doesn ’ t represent all Nords. This is an extreme cult ” argued from some articulate Norwegian. Followed by ugly tweets appearing down the bottom of the screen. “ Send them all back ”. “ Nords go North ”. “ Bomb the whole place and let them die – that ’ s what they all want, right? ” 
 
 Later Helen would remember clearly the feeling of warmth she felt as she picked up her phone to call Jason, only to find he was calling her. And she ’ d remember how quickly that turned to ice when an unexpected voice spoke. 
 
 An incident. Near the pool. Someone was threatening a Danish guy. Jason stepped in. It turned ugly. Was she available to go to the hospital? 
 
 She stumbled onto the streets of Athens, news reports blaring around her saying the Nordic Terrorists words she ’ d watch those hours before. Before her world turned upside down. “ For Thor ” they said. 

