“We don’t have extra personnel in the Kampfgruppe. And since it’s unclear when or if we’ll ever get replenished, taking proper care of an observer is…”
“It must be out of the question.”
It’s less difficult and more impossible.
Tanya tries to state her case clearly, but she’s unable to finish when she hears Lergen say that.
So if you get it, then… She glares at him before she can stop herself and is caught entirely off guard by his response.
“Even so, I have to ask this of you.”
“Ask?! Forgive me, but you, a colonel, are asking me, a lieutenant colonel?!” The reply is out of Tanya’s mouth before she knows it. She’s never seen Lergen bow his head before.
He’s a General Staff officer, a hotshot from central, not to mention an elite on track to become a general. Of all the things he could do, he’s bowing?
Tanya shakes her head, confused. “Please excuse me, but are you telling me this isn’t an order from the General Staff?”
“Not officially.”
Once he says that, she’s even more bothered. She has no idea what the colonel is trying to get at.
“This is a strange thing to ask, but…could you please speak candidly? What in the world is going on?”
“…That’s a natural question to have. Well, where do I start…? But you’re right—I should be frank. Colonel von Degurechaff…starting today, I’ve been appointed the commander of a mobile task force above the Salamander Kampfgruppe.”
Tanya doesn’t even try to hide how ridiculous she thinks the news is and snaps, “I haven’t heard a thing about that. Personnel is making that kind of move now?”
“Yes. The paperwork is all done. Written orders have been issued.”
That’s the efficiency of someone who’s spent time in the General Staff. This is the kind of familiarity with the organization’s regulations that earns a military bureaucrat so much honor.
But that flawless adherence to procedure gives her pause as well.
“…That’s awfully efficient.”
If they were really so thorough, Tanya should have heard something. Communication is fundamental to an organization. A talented military bureaucrat should know how to avoid causing malfunctions in the lower ranks by keeping everyone appraised of their plans and thoughts.
The fact that Tanya didn’t get word of it at all means either that failed to happen or purposely wasn’t done…
In other words, there must be some reason behind it. In which case, it’s simple. Tanya has a general idea of what’s going on.
“It’d be great if you could share the truth with me and not just your official cover…”
“You always get straight to the point, don’t you?” Lergen winces.
Tanya feels bad for him, but this is important, so she closes in a step and asks, “Could you tell me what this has to do with the Ildoan officer? Wait a minute. Sending an officer here as a personal request is…”
That would normally be beyond the realm of his authority. There should be no way that a personal request from Colonel von Lergen results in Tanya welcoming a military observer into her Kampfgruppe.
What if the Lergen Kampfgruppe was set to take the observer…? He would never be able to hide his tracks with this farce of saying the guy’s just an observer… What if he’s not hiding it, and we’re all partners in crime? Then it would make sense…
What could be the reason? Why is that necessary?
As that line of thought nears the critical point—Ohhh—a hypothesis springs into being.
“I’ll ask you straight. Is this about diplomatic negotiations? Are you, a General Staff officer, planning to perform them?”
“…This war can’t go on any longer. Can’t we agree that it has to end at some point?”
That’s essentially saying yes!
“I heard about your argument regarding the necessity of an immediate end to the war from Lieutenant Colonel Uger. I’d like it if you could think of this as a related parting-gift-plus-covert operation.”
“…So accepting the observer plays a role in the negotiations?”
“We’re expecting a handsome reward. It wouldn’t hurt to spend a little quality time with our Ildoan friends, would it?”
“What does General von Zettour think about all this?”
“Probably, ‘Show them what’s going on.’”
Ahhh. Tanya’s shoulders slump. It’s true that the higher-ups in the General Staff are open-minded. He might actually say that. And considering Lergen’s position, it’s clear that he must already have authorization.
“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but…”
“Show the peace-addled Ildoans the military might of the Silver Wings.”
“May I say something?” Tanya cuts in.
He’s calling it battlefield observation, but this person would actually be a guest. It would be best to show them a neat and tidy Imperial Army. In fact, if that’s one of the main goals and they don’t take it seriously, I’m somewhat worried about the upbraiding that might come from the homeland.
“I’m sure you’re aware that they call me Rusted Silver…”
“It’s not as if you’re advancing by wildly spilling the blood of your allies. Don’t worry about it.” He laughs, and Tanya smiles wryly, thinking how bold he’s gotten.
“With all due respect, Colonel. Human lives are precious irrespective of friend or foe.”
“You surprise me, Colonel. Let me be frank. I had no idea you were a humanist. When did you convert?”
“That’s a malicious misunderstanding. I’m nothing other than a decent individual who was born full of affection for mankind.”
“In that case, the least you can do is exercise some neighborly love and demonstrate what someone with the Silver Wings is capable of. The Imperial Army has got to show our ally just what sort of army we are.”
This should go over well is Lergen’s tone, and the way he nods makes her feel as though she doesn’t need to worry. Or actually, maybe she does?
“Is this gunboat diplomacy?”
Lergen grins in response to her question. “It’s a gesture of friendship toward a pal who’s in a bit of a precarious spot.”
So the idea is to give them a stern warning.
Lergen may not be aware of it himself, but between the chilling smile about his lips and his frigid eyes, he’s the spitting image of the ideal General Staff officer. As usual, he’s a prime example of how even a good individual can be a member of an evil organization.
“Ooh, how terrifying. I can’t help but shake in my boots.”
“We’re looking out for our ally, Colonel.”
In what way is this looking out for someone? Even if Tanya asks, he’ll tell her it’s a state secret. The risk of touching something sensitive is too great. She just nods vaguely and casually shifts the conversation toward impending practical matters.
“So? How long am I supposed to have this guy?”
“Basically, the General Staff wants to make it look like everyone involved in the negotiations is present on the eastern front. We can get a lot of things moving on the pretext of entertaining him.”
“So it’ll be a while, then?”
“There will be a slew of phantom commanders, bureaucrats, and staffers joining the Lergen Kampfgruppe, and they’re going to raise some hell.”
At first glance, the response doesn’t seem to have anything to do with what she asked, but the meaning is clear. This temporary measure could easily become permanent. At the very least, this will probably continue until some sort of decisive moment comes. Even considering the General Staff’s personnel policy, which is so strict about regular shuffles and meetings, the scale of this could be measured in not months but years.
The worst part, laments Tanya as she runs the pros and cons through her head, is that…
…I don’t have the right to refuse.
The soldier Tanya von Degurechaff has been through General Staff training. In other words, her assignments are all decided on the General Staff’s discretion. She’s basically an employee who has signed a general office-worker contract.
She can’t choose her boss, her subordinates, or her assignments.
And the orders don’t come from a company but from an army. If she refuses, she won’t get off with simply being fired—it’s entirely possible that a firing squad would make an appearance. And she’s a civil servant, so she has no right to go on strike. Goodness, these are bad working conditions. Though she was already aware, reality is rough.
“…If you don’t mind, I’d like to go over some of the practical issues with the operation.”
“You should face virtually no practical issues. Almost immediately after I arrive, I’ll get sick and be sent back to the rear.”
“So I’m the second-in-command?”
“You’ll continue to command your Kampfgruppe. And the Salamander Kampfgruppe will probably be permitted to keep its name, since you’re below the Lergen Kampfgruppe in the order of battle.”
“I see. So in the end, I’m the deputy commander of the nonexistent Lergen Kampfgruppe, and all I have to do is command the Salamander Kampfgruppe.”
“Exactly. But…,” he trails off and gets a look on his face that says he’s sincerely sorry for what’s about to come next.
“What is it, Colonel?”
“There’s one thing you’ll just have to put up with for me.”
“Put up with?”
“Yes.” Lergen speaks with a mournful expression. “Publicly, your achievements will be reported under my name. So basically…” He bows his head, openly mortified. “I’ll be stealing your successes, if in name only. Of course,” he rushes to continue, “the General Staff is fully informed on this matter. I’m sure you’ll be given every consideration possible during performance evaluations. The catch is that it’s likely you won’t get the decorations and hammock number you deserve… I beg your understanding.” He bows low, and when he apologizes, it seems like he means it. “I’m sorry, but please agree to this.”
This is what it means to sigh—Haaaah…
Tanya isn’t disappointed. As she calms her leaping heart, the feeling she can’t suppress is relief.
With this, Tanya now has someone she can nominally shove off all her accountability onto, and on top of that, the guys making decisions in Personnel will owe her one. Why would I turn down such a great opportunity? Anyone not morbidly obsessed with being in the spotlight would be thrilled.
For Tanya, a rational modern individual endowed with incredible self-restraint, the answer is obvious.
She takes a breath and comes up with some nonsense.
“I…am a soldier sworn to serve my country.”
Her position is clarified by something that’s plainly obvious.
When specifying the scope of a job, nearly all explanations can be omitted by simply bandying the word responsibility.
By definition, soldiers must obey orders. Unlike misguided self-proclaimed soldiers, Tanya is the officer of a regular army, so it’s natural what she would do.
“I can’t say it doesn’t bother me in some ways, but I understand.”
Tanya doesn’t forget to make her appeals, either. If she doesn’t want to be a convenient pawn, she’ll have to point out her devotion and contributions, albiet nonchalantly.
Not properly emphasizing what a hefty sacrifice this will be and how much she brings to the table will affect her later promotions. Also can’t forget to inject some human emotion.
“That said, it would be great if the peculiarities of my situation could be taken into consideration in the future.”
She makes her demands simply. When it comes to compensation, be neither too bold nor too modest.
“Honestly, I’m so relieved.”
“Huh?”
“I though you would shoot me.”
“How funny you are.”
“All right.” Lergen must have caught his breath. After shaking his head a couple of times, he speaks. “Your supplies will come with a little extra while the observer is there, for appearances. Not that we can make you a Potemkin3 unit, but…”
Any offer must benefit both sides—at least on the surface.
This isn’t the kind way to put it, but making a deal is a double coincidence of wants based on good sense. You can sell even hundred-yen water for five hundred yen. But someone who tries to sell it for ten thousand has clearly forgotten the word trust, which is required for a business deal.
Investment is not speculation.
Lergen said that this will be taken into consideration during her evaluations, so at this point, it’s simple to ask. To put it plainly, all Tanya hopes for are some modest material demands being met.
“Then please see that I get coffee beans and chocolate, and some socks at the very least. Enough for the Kampfgruppe would be great.”
“S-socks?”
The colonel looking blankly at her is wearing a clean uniform, so he probably doesn’t understand right away—that on the muddy eastern front, a single missing sock is enough to give an officer headaches.
“There’s a limit to what the standard uniform designed for use inside the Empire can handle.”
“Still, I’m surprised to be petitioned for socks.”
“I don’t know how it was before the war, but now, serving outside the country is the norm. It would be great if that could be factored into the plan.”
“Got it.” Lergen nods, but he still seems perplexed. “We have asked for opinions from the front lines, though.” He sighs; it must have hit him that the surveys didn’t work. I’m sure it had something to do with whatever the overriding agenda was at the time.
“Well…” Tanya is compelled to point this out with a wince. “It’s probably hard to bring up socks when asked about the war situation.”
“I’m sure it is. But never in a million years did I think the day would come that a recipient of the Silver Wings Assault Badge would requisition socks. War is just full of the unexpected.”
“Indeed.” Tanya nods in wholehearted agreement.
She thought she knew what she was getting into when she joined up to build her career, thought she knew that war was a conglomeration of absurdities. Yet she never imagined she would have to use her connections to secure a supply of socks.
Who could predict such a thing? That the gears of that incredibly elaborate precision war machine known as the Imperial Army would have such a struggle to supply its soldiers with socks?
“Okay, I’ll leave all that up to you, thanks.”
“All right. Then let’s hold a little show of turning over command later.”
“Sure thing. Shall we do it with the battalion present?”
Ceremony, ceremony, ceremony. That said, we’re zoon politikon. Political animals simply have to accept that these things are mandatory.
“No, that won’t be necessary. The Lergen Kampfgruppe only exists on paper. I want to keep the number of people who know what’s going on as low as possible.”
“So we’ll just be preparing documentation? Then should my adjutant, vice commander, and I control the information?”
“It probably doesn’t have to be that strict. Although it’d be nice if it could stay among the officers.”
Hmm. After thinking for a moment, Tanya voices her request. If there’s paperwork involved, it’ll be tricky to limit to officers only.
“Could you allow for the soldiers attached to the command post as well?”
“That’s fine. Well then, I appreciate you taking the observer.”
“Yes, sir.” Upon accepting the job, she immediately raises her voice. “Lieutenant Serebryakov! Lieutenant Serebryakov!”
“Yes, Colonel!”
I call my adjutant back in and get straight to the point. If you have to ask someone an annoying favor, it’s best to ask someone you can trust.
“Colonel von Lergen has instructions for us. Prepare to receive a guest on the double!”
“Yes, ma’am! A guest? Prisoner camps aren’t under our jurisdiction…”
“No,” Tanya snaps before she can stop herself. “Not a prisoner. This is a guest who needs to be served coffee and warm bread.”
“Huh?”
“A guest! You know, a guest!”
“Y-yes, ma’am.”
Her confused-looking adjutant is probably imagining nothing but prisoners. For a second, she doesn’t seem to get it, and a rare expression for her—only comparable to a frozen computer screen—appears on her face.
“I’m talking about a real guest! There are people in this world who don’t shoot at us, you know!”
“Yes, ma’am…” Her adjutant still doesn’t seem to understand at all, so Tanya realizes she has no choice but to break it down for her.
“A military observer from an allied nation, Lieutenant. If we don’t have good manners, it could cause an international incident. Make sure there’s no trouble.”
“Ohhh.” She starts to nod in understanding but then stops and looks at Tanya with questioning eyes.
“Ummm, Colonel. What exactly should I do?”
“Huh?” About what? Tanya starts to ask, but then Serebryakov shyly explains.
“I mean, it’s our first time…”
“Mm, oh, I see.”
She doesn’t have to ask what she means.
It’s at this moment that Tanya realizes why their communication is failing. A Kampfgruppe is an organization specializing in combat…
“Manners are a whole other pain. And what about an orderly? Who’s going to keep him company…? Considering he should probably have some protection, too, it’ll be a good idea to have some magic officers or non-coms…”
These guys aren’t much good at anything but brawling.
Is this the harmful result of being overly specialized in all-military activities? It’s certainly a problem right now, and the fact that Tanya can’t give in to her despair and hurl the mission back up at her superiors is frustrating.
“I’m pretty sure there’s a manual… Eh, I’ll have Major Weiss read it over. I want to review etiquette while we’re at it.”
APRIL 28, UNIFIED YEAR 1927, EASTERN FRONT, AT THE SALAMANDER KAMPFGRUPPE’S CAMP
She must have fallen asleep looking through the materials on how to do the unfamiliar job of accompanying a guest. When Tanya’s eyes open in her provisional bed, she understands why a few seconds later.
“Warning! All units to battle stations!”
An echoing call, the thudding footsteps of troops rushing around.
Aaaah, damn it.
“Seriously? Again? Shit, these guys are busy…”
Why not sabotage your own side once in a while? Are they forsaking workers’ rights to get cheap labor? What are you guys even Commies for?!
Regardless, Tanya is an officer and a commander. No one is going to accept excuses just because she has a sleepy face.
She puts her cap on as she races to Kampfgruppe HQ, but awkwardly, she arrives last.
“Colonel!”
“It would seem I’m late. Sorry about that.” She bobs her head. “What’s the situation?”
Her straightforward question gets a straightforward answer. An organization in which everyone understands their role is the embodiment of efficiency.
“The aerial mage battalion members have assembled. They can leave at any time. The armor and infantry troops are at their posts. And the artillery is also in position.”
“Nice work, Lieutenant. I appreciate it—oh, and this, too!” Tanya cheers with a smile. She didn’t expect some nice coffee the moment she woke up!
How wonderful it is to have subordinates who give you what you want before you even ask! Despite being specialized in combat support, the wonderful First Lieutenant Serebryakov faithfully performs all her duties.
Sipping her coffee, Tanya pauses. The enemy may be attacking, but preparations have been made. There’s no need to panic.
That means I can have a moment of peace alongside my coffee. Teatimes and coffee breaks truly symbolize readiness.
“Colonel, it’s Command at the base.”
“Well, they’re quick. Okay, let me talk to them.”
She takes the receiver, and the exchange hardly differs from those of a few days prior. If pressed to name a difference, perhaps it’s that Tanya’s superiors are getting a little bolder with their plans now that her unit has received reinforcements.
Today’s mission is more aggressive than the last. Although I suppose it’s more that we don’t have to stick around defending a static position.
“Attention, all units! Our mission as the Salamander Kampfgruppe is to support the main army.”
“Does that mean we’ll be defending like last time?” Captain Ahrens asks in disappointment.
He must really hate being on defense. Tanya doesn’t possess the burning desire to leap into battle, but she can understand the feeling of wanting to act assertively to break through a problem on your own terms. Obviously, relinquishing the initiative is never a pleasant experience.
“That’s a good question, but no, we won’t be.” She continues, “Hmm. Remember this, Captain Ahrens.”
I can’t say I like it, but the fruits of one’s experience should be displayed: On the battlefield, rough and ready trumps polished but slow.
“If the outnumbered side stops moving, they’ll be swallowed up. Our only choice is to take the initiative. Our superiors at Command want to attack.”
“Then you must mean…?”
“Yes.” She responds to Ahrens’s eager look with a nod. “You’ll be going out, too. We’re deploying at full strength.”
“That’s what I always hope for!”
Very good. Tanya nods as she proceeds to briefly outline the operation. “The main forces will intercept. While they’re doing that, we’ll go around and tear into the enemy’s flank.”
Ultimately, it’s business as usual.
We’ll break through this issue with an appropriate concentration of forces achieved through careful application of the Imperial Army’s specialty, mobility. It’s a formidable way to move using the orthodox tactic of hammer and anvil.
The grinning aerial magic officers must realize by now: Whether it’s the Rhine, Norden, the eastern front, or the southern continent, the task is the same.
“You can call it a classic, textbook maneuver battle, but it’s also something we’re very familiar with.”
Tanya expresses how little problem she thinks they will have completing this mission. She has full faith in them and their abilities.
“I’m counting on you, Captain Ahrens,” she says, giving him a little slap on the rear. “We’ll open up a hole, then you and the infantry will cooperate to keep up the momentum. If anyone can do this, the Salamander Kampfgruppe can.”
A proven track record, trust, and ability. Anyone in a management position thirsts for the precious gem known as reliable firepower. Especially so in war. Those without experience are incapable of imagining how rare a sure thing is amid the fog of war.
“All right, Captain Ahrens, Lieutenant Tospan, I expect you to cooperate as best you can with troops of the main army.”
““Yes, ma’am!””
“I’m putting Captain Ahrens in charge, as he’s the senior officer, but given the nature of the operation, you’ll probably be fielding requests from the other infantry units. Pay no mind to the rate of supply usage and just do as much as you can.”
Regardless of how I feel taking advantage of other people’s resources, I hate having mine ground into the dirt. But losing the right to be picky is just one of the tough parts of war.
“Captain Meybert! I’ll give you Lieutenant Wüstemann’s company of replenishments as artillery observers. Have them do whatever you need them to do!”
“Thanks, but are you sure?” He glances toward the eager young officer.
Tanya thinks for a moment—Hmm—and then asks the man in question, “Lieutenant Wüstemann, how’s the replenishment company doing?”
“We can go! I think we can handle the bare minimum of action.”
Good intentions. But that answer doesn’t meet Tanya’s standards. What she needs is quality. Unless it’s a unit that can really move, they won’t be able to keep up.
“All right, you stay here and support Captain Meybert.”
“But, Colonel, we can—”
“No, Lieutenant. I appreciate your passion. But we won’t be able to coordinate. For now, stay out of the way.”
He looks somewhat disappointed, but he’ll make a good warrior someday. Not that Tanya can understand or sympathize.
Anyhow. She refocuses and turns to her babies.
“The battalion’s ready to sortie at full force,” says Weiss.
“As always. All right, let’s move.”
Major Weiss and the other members of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion acknowledge with a nod. How reliable! These are Tanya’s accomplished, reliable babies. Accomplishments and reliability really are important. And it’s also reassuring that she can trust her buddy, her adjutant, when they take off together.
She’s also her partner in a little playacting.
“Another maneuver battle, huh, Colonel?”
“Yeah.” Tanya nods back at Serebryakov. An aerial mage battalion is worth its salt only if it can move; troops who don’t understand their job cause more harm than the enemy. The other way around yields a great advantage. “We’ve got the numbers of a normal battalion, but I expect the fight of an augmented one.”
“You can count on us!”
The two of them speak nonchalantly but under the assumption that everyone nearby can hear them. Her adjutant responds in an exaggerated way, her voice loud and clear.
Is this a special kind of talent, the way Serebryakov casually melts the battalion’s tension away with her willingness to deliver? What a valuable individual she’s grown into.
“…I do wish we could get our numbers back up.”
People who can read the atmosphere are so precious. She knows how to lower her voice when discretion is called for.
“We’ll have to train up the fresh troops.”
“…If there are any worthy ones, that is.”
“That might be asking a lot. We can’t expect much out of replenishments lately…”
Tactically speaking, recruits are a burden. Battle-ready rookies are as rare as any other fantastical creature.
But Tanya finds something funny in her adjutant’s words, and grins. “Lieutenant Serebryakov, you’ve really been through the wringer, huh?”
“Huh? Um…?”
“You and I were once replenishments, you know! Keep those helmet straps tight. I don’t want to have to request a new adjutant!”
I was partnered with her on the Rhine front when she was still a corporal. We were paired simply because there wasn’t enough fighting power and we both happened to be replenishments.
Tanya nods in response to her adjutant’s apologetically bobbing head and takes a quick look at the battalion ready to sortie.
Gear, check; personnel, check; atmosphere, check. All that’s left is to do the work we know so well.
I can’t say it’ll be easy. But we’ll be fine if we do a solid job.
We’ll head out, set our course for enemy territory, and fly due east. Knowing how and when to move whole corps and divisions is practically the Imperial Army’s specialty.
The values aerial mage battalions are lauded for: mobility, firepower, and shock value.
Tanya cracks a grin at the front row of imperial soldiers loosely in attack formation as if to say, That’s about enough bluster out of you.
Problems are there to be solved.
“Okay, troops, let’s do this. It’ll mostly be a ruse, but…let’s make it look like an encircle-and-annihilate operation. The enemy will see a battalion swinging around to assault them from behind. Let them taste the fear of being surrounded.”
Since the Imperial Army is outnumbered, if all it does is diligent base defense, the troops will be ground down under that numerical disparity. Our only choice is to take the initiative to upset the enemy and give them a good reason to retreat.
More specifically, we’ll have aerial mages popping up all over the place to harass and confuse them. It’s a poor man’s tactic, but it’s not uncommon for it to give even a Goliath problems in a guerrilla battle.
Accepting your own weaknesses and focusing on needling those of your enemy is an admirable tactic—even if you’re compelled to use it by an unfortunate strategic environment.
“This goes without saying, but our actual objective is the defense of the front line. We want to threaten the enemy’s communications lines in a way that leads to their withdrawal. Do not under any circumstances disrupt the lines out of bloodlust, thinking you’ll annihilate the enemy’s field army.”
“So this is a classic feint, then?”
“Exactly, Major Weiss.” Tanya briefly affirms and then shrugs with good grace. “This is no normal power disparity, after all,” she murmurs before continuing soberly. “We can’t actually encircle and annihilate them. There’s a limit to how outnumbered we can be. Before we even get a chance to surround them, we’d be blasted apart.”
In order to perform an encirclement, you need a good number of troops. Consequently, war is all about numbers. Pulling off the sort of splendid victory that happened at Rossbach4—against an enemy double your numbers—is actually quite difficult.
“It’s rather sad for a battalion that once sent three divisions scattering like Boy Scouts.”
Weiss’s lament is correct. It’s bad news for us that the enemy is getting stronger.
“Heh. That’s big talk for an officer who once turned tail and ran from some guns firing at the sky.”
“Touché. Sadly, my issue lately is getting in trouble for not running away.”
That’s how it went in Dacia. Unfortunately, unlike the Dacian Army, the Federation is in possession of a respectable instrument of violence.
And to go a step further, the Federation Army is becoming more professional.
I have noticed them transforming from an organization overemphasizing their ideology to a military apparatus that prioritizes results, which is troubling. I suppose we can’t hope for the miraculous loss ratio like that practically legendary battle at Hoyerswerda.5
“In other words, it is what it is.”
“…Still, this should be an encounter battle. I doubt the enemy would have a ton of anti-air guns ready.”
“That’s a good point, Lieutenant Grantz. Shall we test it by seeing if you get shot in the gut again?”
The vice commander childishly jabs with a dicey remark directed at the junior officer. He must be teasing, but Tanya steps in.
“That’s enough, Major Weiss. Don’t pick on your subordinates.”
“I only learned from my superior, ma’am.”
“Then let us agree to regret my moral lapses. All right, Officers, time for work.”
ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER SORTIEING, ON THE EDGE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY, SALAMANDER KAMPFGRUPPE
After beginning their advance and mopping up some enemy units, Tanya has just finished a scuffle. Since the mission is simply to probe the enemy flank, no major clash with their main forces is expected.
There could be comparably few encounters.
“We’ve advanced to the designated point. According to Captain Meybert, his troops can still provide artillery support.”
“Got it.” Tanya nods in response to her adjutant’s report. “Report to CP. And let’s wait for Captain Ahrens. Keep a sharp watch on our surroundings. Preferably in a skirmishing line…”
“HQ! HQ! Requesting immediate backup!” “The right flank is collapsing!” “No supporting artillery yet?!” “Where are the air support mages?”
“Huh? There’s some kind of confusion with our troops. Check it out.”
“That’s strange. I don’t see anything… One moment.” She must realize it when faint flashes go off in the distance. “Colonel, over there.”
“Aaah, shit. So the right flank is getting pummeled?”
Even if the unit set to circle around to the enemy’s rear is in place, if the foundation—the main troops—is being suppressed, the operation can’t proceed. We did our part, so what the hell?
Performing any more labor under the circumstances isn’t worth it. Still, grabbing some popcorn wouldn’t be very professional. It’s clear that doing nothing would result in dismissal, reshuffling, or demotion.
An officer is an officer precisely because they make decisions based on the big picture. An officer is a manager who thinks for themselves. Responsibility grows in proportion to authority. Being responsible is my duty.
Unlike jobs that are only nominally seen as managerial, an actual managerial job requires independent thinking. Otherwise, how can you ever expect to play a critical role in the future? If you only do as you’re told, the best you can hope for is a bit part.
But then… Tanya winces.
There are too many people who can’t even do what they’re told, so it’s true that always following orders is mistaken as the highest virtue in the lower ranks.
Still, the only job available to someone who abandons thought is something that anyone can do. Adding value requires creativity. The right to that discretion isn’t given to just anyone, though. Having the privilege is proof that people expect results from you.
In that case…
If I can accomplish things here, I should.
The little bit of extra work involved to seize one of the enemy’s new equipment or gather intel is within the scope of my salary. If I can expect a bonus on top of that, then it’s actually a pretty fair deal.
Hmph. Tanya recalculates in her head and makes up her mind.
“I’m leaving this to Captain Ahrens. Tell him to continue supporting the main force’s flank.”
Her adjutant, Lieutenant Serebryakov, looks at her in a way that asks, Are you leaving?
Tanya nods with solemn determination and says, “The main force’s right flank is taking a pounding from the enemy’s new weapons. The balance between the hammer and the anvil is unstable. Busybodies may be detestable, but I can’t just stand on the sideline and watch our troops suffer.”
“You’re right, ma’am.”
“Good. Put me through to Command and round up the unit.”
Her adjutant acknowledges the instructions, and Tanya feels confident leaving things up to her. Now then, it’s time to use the long-range communications kit to earn a favor for later.
“HQ, this is Salamander 01. Priority response, please.”
“Salamander 01, has the enemy received reinforcements on your part of the line, too?”
Even if I’m making the suggestion to someone under duress, things should go more smoothly if I lighten up the atmosphere a bit first. When the response comes back tense, Tanya opts for a more affable answer.
“Negative. We’ve advanced to the designated line. We’re currently capable of dispatching an aerial mage battalion to support your right wing. The majority are Named who survived through the Rhine, from the commander on down. Just say the word.”
“HQ, roger. You’re not having any issues holding the line?”
“If the rest of our troops are racing over, then certainly not. Besides, holding this line means nothing if the right wing of the army collapses.”
HQ doesn’t hesitate on this point. Considering the time it took to ask the question, the commander pretty much got on the line immediately.
“Colonel, you can go over there?”
“Yes, General, if need be.”
“Need does be.”
This matter-of-fact way of speaking isn’t bad. The more appropriate and quick an officer’s decisions, the more reliable they are on a fluid battlefield.
“So?”
“There are lots of rookies on the right side. We thought we gave them a zone that would be easier to handle, but the enemy’s got a new model out there. If you have the troops to spare and can afford to send them out, please do.”
“Understood.”
“Thanks.”
With that one word, HQ hangs up. Impatient much? In other words, that’s good. Being late is a problem, but being early is never bad.
And it agrees with Tanya’s temperament.
When she flicks her eyes over, the response comes at once.
“The aerial mages are all present, ma’am!”
“Thanks, Lieutenant Serebryakov. More than anything, I appreciate your efficiency. Although I suppose we owe it just as much to the fact that they weren’t broken out into a skirmish line yet.”
“No doubt about that, ma’am. Is this business as usual?”
Tanya’s adjutant knows the drill, and Tanya nods at her.
“Kampfgruppe, a message from your commander. The aerial mage battalion is going to support the right wing of the main troops and intercept the enemy’s latest weapon. Other units should continue holding their forward positions until further orders.”
Leaving the rest with an “I’m counting on you,” Tanya gathers her babies and heads out.
Once they take off, the battalion is neither overexcited nor excessively relaxed. They’re a fighting force tensed like a well-trained muscle.
How incredibly sad that we can’t take pride in this as the Imperial Army standard.
“…Seems like things are still in chaos?” Tanya murmurs to herself in the sky. She’s used to friendly signals being tangled when on a rescue mission, but the static is still quite bad.
The closer she gets, the worse she feels.
“Group leader to all Kampfgruppe hands. The enemy has new orbs. I regret to inform you that they walk the walk.”
“The defensive shell’s too thick! Explosion formulas aren’t penetrating!” “Concentrate your fire! Focus opticals on a single point!” “It’s no good! The shield’s too hard!”
Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff races across the sky as those signals shriek in her ear. With her blond hair trailing behind her, she grasps her computation orb with her fair, slender fingers.
She must look like a Valkyrie. Or perhaps she flies with enough grace to be termed an angel.
That said, on the inside, she’s a perfect self-preservationist. But it’s not as if that prevents her from doing her job. She boasts a proper understanding of their circumstances.
She’ll do what she can and draw as much attention to it as possible. That’s the clear and simple truth. But it’s not as if someone like that doesn’t have feelings about the situation.
A sort of complaint slips out.
“…So these new models are giving us trouble?”
“New models? I’m disturbed by the Federation Army’s lack of reason. They could have just used gear they’re used to like us.”
Grantz acknowledges. Tanya had only intended to talk to herself, but he responded in good faith. Well, communicating with subordinates is also a superior officer’s job.
“There’s no doubt about it, Lieutenant. This is going to be a pain.”
“But I’d say that’s precisely why we’re the ones heading out.”
Grantz was probably being serious when he said that, but Tanya can’t quite suppress a smile. “Well, look at you! Quite the officer now. Ah, I remember the days on the Rhine when you were but a trembling little lamb.”
“They say to strike while the iron’s hot and the shells have warmed me up, so…”
He’s even learned to wag his tongue. Tanya’s impressed. Before, he would have clammed up, the young thing. He’s really come a long way.
“So you think you can take the heat? Did you hear that, Major Weiss?”
“Nah, it’s too soon. His turn of phrase was witty, I’ll give him that, but it was also a bit too on the nose.”
“You’re not wrong. Okay, let’s take the chatter down a notch. I realize I’m the one who started it, but it’s probably not very nice to be bantering away up here while our fellow troops are in a grueling fight.”
““Understood.””
“Of course, it’s good to have some breathing room before a battle.”
“Hmph,” she snorts. Then she tunes in to the communications of nearby imperial troops beginning to ping back and forth.
“Group leader to all units! Report in—report in with your status!”
“Don’t leave your position! Stay in formation!” “Wait, who’s commanding the Third Company?! Wasn’t it 01?!” “Requesting urgent backup!” “Use the correct protocols! What airspace are you requesting support for?”
“We need artillery support! Is there no artillery support?! Sector B-23! Hurry and suppress them!” “Observer mages, send the coordinates—now!”
Things really do seem to be chaotic. Tanya wants to sigh.
“The communications we’re picking up from our fellow troops are a mess.”
Serebryakov nods at Tanya’s murmur with a solemn expression. “On the other hand, the Federation Army seems to be in good order. Though we’re only catching fragmentary glimpses, I’m getting the impression our side is overwhelmed.”
“The Reich’s troops, overwhelmed by the enemy? Hmph.” Tanya scoffs.
An army that surpasses its quantitative inferiority with qualitative superiority and organizational might is frightened of the enemy?
That’s no way to fight a war.
I have no intention of blindly believing mind over matter, but the issue of morale should not be neglected.
First off, even the magic word worthwhile can produce workers who won’t hesitate to endure terrible conditions.
You mustn’t underestimate the power of words.
“01 to 02, seems like we’re going to get more of a welcome than we thought.”
“02, roger. Just as you say, 01.”
“Colonel, Captain Meybert is saying they don’t have enough forces to defend the position.”
“…He has a point, but wait.”
Tanya meditates for a moment. Should I split even just Lieutenant Grantz off and send him back? Both of the captains she left behind are competent and trustworthy to an extent.
Meybert is an artilleryman. Whereas Ahrens is a tankman. They balance each other nicely. In particular, Ahrens is a capable armored unit commander who will surely undertake a mobile defensive battle.
Of course, even a unit of tanks can’t rage on its own indefinitely. And with only replenishment mages to both defend the position and perform artillery observations, which need to be accurate, I worry. Plus, getting artillery support and having Meybert take his turn is great and all, but as long as shells are a finite resource, we can never be free from having to conserve them.
But it’s not as if things are falling apart right now.
“Non. He’ll have to make do with what he has. This won’t take long.”
There won’t be any dividing of the forces on her watch.
Rather than wavering, Tanya settles on rushing the enemy with her troops concentrated to put a swift end to things.
“Let’s hurry, then, ma’am.”
“Let’s. We can’t keep those guys waiting.”
With that, Tanya faces front and grits her teeth. One look at her appearance and her blue eyes filled with courage speaks fathoms of her fearless bravery; her white teeth grinding together seem to be channeling the pain of her fellow soldiers.
But internally, she’s sorely regretting her decision.
In a nutshell, Tanya is feeling wary after hearing the news that the enemy’s new models perform better than expected. She had only moments ago been scheming, since the new orbs are out and about, to clash a bit and seize one if possible as part of other intel-gathering activities.
Most of the time, new models are experimental. Even so, seizing one from the Federation would be quite an achievement. Those were her superficial calculations. It’s not a happy thing to see these models getting results on the battlefield already.
I figured the enemy wouldn’t have time to get used to them…but was that a mistake?
There’s no way of knowing without making contact.
“Group Leader, come in. This is Salamander 01. Come in.”
For the time being, the signal is good. And requesting only data doesn’t cost anything. Tanya braces herself to hear that they’re too busy, but when she gets on the line anyway, they ping her right back.
“Salamander 01, this is Group Leader!”
“Group Leader, this is Salamander 01. A mage battalion from the Salamander Kampfgruppe is currently headed your way. Send us what you’ve got on the enemy’s new model.”
Just the fact that she’s been successful establishing contact with the right wing makes Tanya’s cheeks relax into a smile. It’s confirmation of organized resistance. Not collapsing is a good sign.
“Unfortunately, I can’t do that.”
“…You can’t? I beg your pardon, but what do you mean?”
“The front is currently in disarray, and we’re unable to send any detailed reports.”
“Whoa, hold up.” Tanya furrows her brow, and the controller responds in an entreating voice.
“I’ve heard of your unit before. If possible, I’d like you to report back with the details of the right wing’s situation when you arrive.”
“My unit isn’t outfitted for scouting or observation. We’re charging in to conduct an assault.”
“Group Leader, roger. That’s why it’s an ‘if possible’ request.”
“Salamander 01, roger. I understand and respect your request. We’ll give it our utmost, but just know that there’s a limit to what we can do.”
“Of course. Over and out.”
Hmm. Tanya occupies herself in thought for a moment. It was a short conversation, but there was something strange about it. Frontline units are often in chaotic situations, but this seems to be something beyond merely getting attacked. She gets the feeling they’re crumbling in a panic over their inability to deal with a new type of enemy.
Even if we are careful, are we plunging headfirst into danger?
“Major Weiss, what do you make of the communications we’ve been listening in on?”
“Our fellow troops are in bad shape. From what’s coming over the wireless, it sounds like they’re total amateurs. They’re wailing and crying on an open channel.”
“Are those rookies we’re hearing, though?”
“It seems like the magic officers up through company level are bewildered.”
“Whew”—she whistles in spite of herself; it’s all she can do; things are such a mess.
I can’t say the warmongers under me are representative of the Imperial Army’s standards for company commanders. Still, though, still. Being an Imperial Army company commander requires, as it should, certain abilities. As with ancient Roman centurions and boatswains on ships of the line, if middle management is rotten, the organization has no future.
What we need is…people in the position to support the men on the ground, like the capable First Lieutenant Schwarkopf she once served under. So the guys at that level are out of their minds?
“Saving the right wing might be a bigger challenge than anticipated.”
My subordinates are war maniacs, while I’m into self-preservation… Her internal regret is intense.
“This is no good, Major. It’s embarrassing to show up late.”
“Let’s do our best. Grantz and Visha are young enough.”
Heh. Tanya decides to respond to her vice commander’s joke. “Whoa there, don’t forget I’ve got some formidable youth myself.”
“Ummm.” The tiny noise is her adjutant. There’s no mistaking that voice. When she looks over immediately, the expression on her adjutant’s face is Oh shit.
“Lieutenant Serebryakov? What is it?”
“If you’ll excuse me, ummm… Colonel, that is…”
“What is it, Lieutenant? Are you trying to leave me out?”
She’s stunned to get a nod in return. “You have a certain class to consider at your rank…”
“…I see. Well, I suppose that’s true.”
Tanya thought it was weird, but with that response, she can’t really argue. Status and dignity are powers that come with rank.
If someone described her as far more mature than her age, how could anyone say that’s wrong? If her internal maturity is coming through, and people count that as a virtue, who am I to disagree?
“CP to combat controller team. The Salamander Kampfgruppe is on its way. Should arrive within 600.”
Anyhow, now that we’ve come this far, I’ll get caught up in the trouble if we don’t put a stop to it. I’ll just consider myself lucky that the wall of meat shields hasn’t been wiped out yet, so we can still support from behind it.
“All units, get ready for combat. We’re going in!”
Under the guidance of the combat control team, we begin our charge, but something’s strange.
If you asked me, I couldn’t tell you what, exactly. Yet, suddenly it’s obvious. We’re receiving wireless signals far too clearly!
…Why the heck aren’t the enemy mages jamming us?
In Dacia, we knew they simple didn’t have the ability.
In Norden, we knew the Entente Alliance wasn’t actually expecting a full-on fight.
But this is the eastern front. A bizarre zone where the Imperial Army and the Federation Army pit their national powers against each other by endlessly squandering their production capacity on a massive, meaningless war of attrition.
It’s too weird for aerial mages not to be jamming at all. And if the enemy aerial mages are putting up a fierce fight with new orbs, it’s even weirder.
Twisting up her doll-like face, Tanya raises her guard a notch.
When the only scenarios she can imagine are bad, her brow furrows.
“Ch-Charlie Leader to Salamander. Currently data linking.”
Just the brief that reaches her ears paints an unambiguous picture of how serious the situation is.
The front line is so full of holes, it’s absurd to call it a line. Has the stronghold that was supposed to be here already been overrun? The lines are so broken, she’s seized by the urge to whine.
“…What a clusterfuck. I’m honestly shocked. How have things gotten this bad without the front collapsing?”
Although looking from our side, it’s basically already crumbled.
“It’s a miracle they’re still holding out. I guess the veterans have their training to thank.”
Is it purely the skill of the lower-ranking officers that’s keeping things together?
There must be a handful of capable guys mixed in who are just barely staving off a decisive collapse. That’s the best way to hold ground.
But the data she picks up as they charge into the fighting zone are truly astonishing.
The enemy mage company busted through the imperial mage battalion stationed here, splitting them apart so that each infantry unit was isolated. In other words, this was an unmitigated trampling—and that’s of imperial mages by Federation mages.
“I can’t believe this… Shouldn’t it be the reverse?”
If you want to accuse me of arrogance, go ahead. This is still difficult to accept.
The Imperial Army is being overwhelmed in terms of quality by the Federation Army? Ridiculous.
“Could they make this much of a turnaround? Or is it the rumored security mage unit? Either way, this is no joke.”
“But, Colonel, this is strange.”
“Wait, Major. What’s strange?” Tanya asks, focusing on the enemy unit.
“The enemy company’s movements are… How can I explain it? They go in such straight lines.”
“…I see what you mean.”
It’s so obvious, I’m kicking myself for not noticing it until he brought it up. They aren’t looking terribly majestic out there.
“And even if they’re up against elites, our troops are working too hard. It’s not bad; just not sustainable.”
They must have a special reason to be resisting to this extent.
“And plenty of our positions are still standing. This really is strange.”
Let’s just be frank. All this is unexpected.
Outstanding aerial mages are air-to-ground-attack professionals. If the enemy is using their new orb model, the broken troops should be a pile of corpses.
We can’t simply laugh off their survival as the aftermath of a tough fight.
“…Could they be bait?”
Attacking to draw out aerial mages is a classic trap. If there’s even a slight chance that’s true, Tanya needs a decent excuse to turn around right now.
“Can you contact any friendly troops and make sure it’s not a trap?”
“How could I ask them something so inconsiderate? Please don’t be ridiculous.”
“You guys get so considerate at the weirdest times.”
Tanya’s subordinates screw up their faces into Huh?s while she makes the call herself.
“This is Salamander 01. I have a question. Is the enemy not shooting at you guys? Or are they shooting but missing for some reason?”
Thankfully, her message gets through without any issue.
…That’s still weird. Tensing her little mouth, she begins calculating an escape. She considers what route to take as she waits for a response.
“You’ve got to be kidding! They’re firing like crazy and if we get hit, it’ll be a disaster!”
“Got it. So they’re stubborn and coming out with a ton of firepower, but getting hit isn’t very likely.”
“…And their defensive shells are stupidly strong.”
“By that you mean?”
“We can’t get through them without a direct hit from an 88 mm.”
“…Yeesh.” Suddenly, she just wants to cradle her head in her hands, but given the eyes of her troops, she opts to cross her arms instead. “So this is a different animal we’re up against.”
The answer is that our enemies have obtained ridiculous firepower and heavy armor. The idea must be to make up for accuracy issues with intensity. Considering how hard the defensive shells and protective films are, they must be specialized.
…These were developed with not addition but subtraction.
The designer is definitely optimizing for wartime mass production. Compared to Chief Engineer Schugel, the Federation guys are actually pretty rational. Who’d’ve thunk?
Luckily, the enemy mages are moving pretty slowly, so we should be able to take care of them. We just have to put some thought into our tactics. In other words, a bit of tightrope walking is necessary.
This time, there’s a wall, so it should be easier… Or at least that’s what Tanya thinks before she remembers this is a rescue mission and clicks her tongue in frustration. Time to start over.
We can’t abandon our troops on the ground.
Ahhh, damn it. I can already see the enemy.
What should we do? Our only choice is to give them a whack, obviously.
“The fundamental tactic of counter-mage combat is the hit-and-run. Let’s give it a shot, troops.”
Though there’s some distance between us, several enemy mages are already in range. I slam some mana into the Type 97 Assault Computation Orb and don’t spare any of the solidified mana I’d prepared ahead of time, either.
This explosion formula is like a long-range artillery barrage, but luckily, our troops have fallen back a bit, so there’s no danger of accidentally hitting them. Of course, I’ve already accepted that sometimes you’ll accidentally hit people, but…that’s not something that needs to happen at the moment.
I manifest the formula with my orb.
Flying at high speed, I focus up and aim as best I can and cast. That combination of logic and magic manipulates the fabric of reality, and as a result, a powerful explosion goes off in the middle of the enemy group so quickly that there isn’t any time to evade.
It’s a precise, unforeseen blow to these numbskulls bunched up for a strafing run on helpless ground troops. I poured as much mana as possible in during that short time before I fired. And I’m sure it was a bull’s-eye.
Even Tanya expects success with a certain degree of confidence.
“Of all the—! They’re fine?! My target is fine?!”
The shock is too great. She’s so astounded that she hangs motionless in midair.
The scene before her makes her eyes nearly pop out of her head. And it’s not just her.
“…Ngh. That’s a surprise. I’ve never seen anyone take one of your hits and not only stay in the air but not even have their flight disturbed.”
Her adjutant’s comments are the truth.
That explosion was on a scale that a normal mage would have gone down just from being in the blast zone. In the Rhine, in Norden, and even on the southern continent, Tanya and her aerial mage unit have proven they are capable of such destruction.
But that ended in this moment.
The Federation mages withstood the attack.
“Honestly, it’s hard to believe, but…ready the next volley!”
I switch to a guided type of formula, up my impact, and fire along with the rest of the unit.
“The guided formulas connected just now!”
“Target is still unharmed!”
Whoa now, hold on. This is a resilience that makes you want to burst out laughing. The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, full of Named and with one of the most fearsome rosters of the Imperial Army, can’t even pierce a single enemy defensive shell?
“The enemy’s coming up fast! Ngh?! We’re being targeted!”
“For fuck’s sake!” Shit! Even as she curses, Tanya keeps her hands busy to do her job. “How solid can you possibly be?!”
This can’t be happening. Tanya avoids that comment and reconsiders her choice of formula. She decides her only option is to try something with penetration boosted to the max.
“Do it with a focused-type optical! Punch through!”
In parallel to her gripes, she loads some lead shot, casts, and fires.
“It’s a direct hit!”
Arrrgh! Teeth grindingly enough, the enemy appears unfazed after sustaining another hit—even though it was an optical sniping formula with boosted penetrating power.
No. She adjusts her evaluation, noting that there was some impact.
Their protective films are gone. And apparently, it’s not impossible to affect their defensive shells. From the increasingly unstable way they’re flying, it appears they’ve been injured.
Is that…blood? At least it’s proof that the shells can be pierced. That’s a good sign.
“Take note that if you focus your formula, you have a better chance of penetrating.”
Finding something that might work is a happy joy. Tanya quickly reconsiders her attack method. The enemy is sturdy. And they have firepower. A good option is to snipe them from a distance. A great option is to rain fire down on them from above.
“Use those legs! These guys aren’t as mobile as we are! Let’s pummel them!”
Given the circumstances, we’ll have to think of what to do with the troops on the ground afterward. For now, our top priority has to be intercepting these mages. After all, I’ve taken on the risk to push out here. I’m not about to go back empty-handed.
So the plan is to toy with the enemy using our high speeds.
And things go more smoothly than expected.
“Charge! Charge! Show ’em how you move!”
“Give Weiss backup! Don’t stop firing explosion formulas—we’ll use them as a smoke screen!”
She has the battalion lead the way and Tanya herself stays back with the rear guard to fire at range from above. Though they aren’t as effective, explosion formulas limit enemy visibility, so they’re the best option.
Of course, in the heat of battle, explosion formulas always come with the risk of hitting friendlies. Only units as highly coordinated and skilled as the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion could ever hope to pull this off.
None of us are idiots who would shoot our own. We don’t stumble into the line of fire, but neither do we slack on support.
I can’t overstate how much I appreciate veterans. Especially in this melee, we’re lucky to have sharpshooters.
With focused opticals, it’s possible to penetrate those thick defensive shells the enemy’s suddenly sporting. Not that they’ll be downed in a single hit, but there’s no doubt it’s effective.
If we can slow them down like that, finishing them off will be no problem. All that’s left is for the troops up close to cut them down with their magic blades or for the rest of us to pump them full of holes from afar.
“Zone clear!”
“Nice work, Major!”
In any case, I suppose it should be said…
The Federation mage battalion attacking the right wing of our main army puts up a tough fight in vain and gets swept away by the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion.
Soon after, their organized resistance collapses.
“Way to go, troops!”
With a satisfied nod, Tanya quickly takes stock of the damage to her unit.
Her own company escaped with burns. Neither of the other two companies had major losses, either. She anticipated there might be some, but happily, that was a miscalculation.
Also, this is incidental, but the unit on the receiving end of the enemy strike was really hounded but apparently managed to keep casualties to a minimum. For future reference, it will probably be good to look into the ratio of losses.
But right now, it’s time to chase bonus achievements.
They may be wonderfully powerful, but even these Federation soldiers who came at us prepared to die are human. Regardless of how it is when blocking units are involved, if your unit gets decimated, it’s impossible not to be conscious of your mortality.
That’s how humans work.
“They’re faltering! Announcement from Salamander 01 to all units! Shift to pursuit! Obliterate the enemy’s will to fight!” What a delight it is to shout the order to advance. “Let’s go!”
The bunched-up guys are doomed at this point.
Ha-ha-ha—look at them go! Tanya laughs. Watching disciplined violence get transformed into formerly disciplined violence is lovely.
There, Tanya finally regains her more intelligent side. I guess I got a bit too high on the abnormal circumstances of combat, she reflects in frustration.
Her original objective was to seize one of the enemy’s new orbs. If she shot them down, there’s no reason she has to let that distinction go to someone else.
“We’re going to search the enemy crash site. The purpose is to recover a set of gear. I want to recover a body, but if we can take prisoners, that’s even better.”
She decides to prioritize acquiring one of the new enemy computation orbs.
If we can recover a corpse, we can learn about how their soldiers are outfitted and what their nutrition is like, so add on another order to the list.
“We don’t have much time. Get it done.”
Luckily, she’s able to borrow some NCOs from the local unit as it flails around trying to get organized, so there are plenty of people.
Of course, what she gives them is an order, but she doesn’t forget to add a “please” to be nice. If your staff hates you, your abilities as a manager are limited. It’s natural to avoid harsh wording unless it’s absolutely necessary when dealing with people.
The fact that there are too many newbies who don’t understand that is vexing. And then there’s the despair when they learn that they’ve signed on as general-purpose workers.
Well, I learn from history. Tanya smiles wryly.
That is, I follow precedents.
If you do what ends up formulized as the result of trial and error, things will usually go well.
“Also, find out how many casualties our fellow troops took.”
“Ma’am?”
“I want to know how the losses stack up. It’s always painful to make sacrifices, but I think it’s important to know what they are.”
I’m acting like a politician, but I guess that’s handy know-how.
Pretending to care about these sort of losses is a mandatory skill for those with ambitions to climb the ladder. Having an empathetic attitude is an important social technique. You especially can’t neglect it internally at an organization if you’re hoping to bend people’s ears.
Regardless of the truth, appearances are critical. This is the equivalent of saying Sorry for your loss, but politics have already proven that even that much is effective. There exists an incomprehensible concept called the “sympathy vote.” Some people choose someone simply because they don’t hate them—and this phenomenon is widespread enough that those votes can decide an election. That’s what humans are like.
That’s why whether or not you actually feel the pain of the world, it doesn’t hurt to pretend you do when you have time.
My fighters fly off with dreamy salutes.
Surely they don’t doubt my intentions.
Having them express sincere sympathy will be more credible than Tanya grinning as she offers condolences.
Phew. At that point, she sighs and voices her impressions.
“They were tough. That armor! I can’t get behind that sort of hardness.”
Not even the Republican Army Named on the Rhine front were that durable. Of course, they were that much more mobile and had that much more firepower, so if anyone’s asking which one is the better deal, I’d have to say that using the Federation’s new model makes you a bit of a sitting duck, but…being able to produce a defensive shell more durable than a Named is enough to be a threat to most on its own.
“A level of toughness that lets you ignore differences in altitude is disconcerting.”
Nodding at her adjutant’s comment, Tanya painfully spits, “That took some doing even for us! A normal infantry unit would be out of luck. They’d be broken before their guns could penetrate the defensive shells.”
She’s forced to admit that this really is a problematic new model. Since they’re so sturdy, it takes time to shoot them down.
Considering the Federation’s materialistic attitude, this could be a huge problem—we can’t ignore it. The casualties that would result from a run-in between Federation mages and our ground troops would be simply unacceptable.
Well, things would be different if the main ground forces were centered around a crack team of experienced NCOs.
“This is horrible. Our newbies are running around in a panic, and the Federation forces are just casually chasing after them.”
This is a pointless war of attrition devoid of even a hint of discipline. The realization that the nature of the conflict is beginning to shift toward amateurs merely butchering one another is anxiety-inducing.
The Empire has stumbled right into the muck of the eastern front and gotten sucked into the depths. This battle almost seems like commentary on that plight. What if the global situation worsens while we’re struggling here?
The Imperial Army is being ground down on the eastern front. No wonder Ildoa so much as squirming in the south is enough to set off shivers in the unflappable General Staff.
With time, the deterioration of the Empire’s strategic environment will accelerate. That’s the honest truth. Which is why…Tanya had no choice but to accept Colonel von Lergen’s proposal.
We have to take this Ildoan guest and bind him to our side. What a headache, thinks Tanya as she imagines just briefly what’s to come.
TO THE UNIFIED YEAR 1927 SPRING CONFERENCE ON COMBAT RESEARCH, REPORT ON THE NEW ENEMY ORB SEIZED ON THE EASTERN FRONT
My first impression is that it’s crude.
There’s no need to wait for the detailed technical analysis—the samples we’ve seized speak volumes. The new orb of Federation make that has appeared on the eastern front is constructed nowhere near as precisely as is the imperial standard. In the test officer’s view, “It’s like they have no concept of subtlety.”
According to the test battalion, “They’ve misunderstood mobility so badly, I want to scream at them to double-check the definition of an aerial mage. On top of being unforgivably sluggish and having a poor turn radius, it underperforms when compared to previous generations at similar altitudes. Due to this critical lack of precision crafting, users are more likely to hit friendlies than the enemy.”
Thus, everyone has come to the same unwavering conclusion.
That is, “This model is not suitable for our army’s operations.”
It boasts impressive firepower, but frankly, aside from its toughness, it’s difficult to say it surpasses our models. The previously stated opinion on the Federation’s new orb is unlikely to change.
That said, members of the Imperial Army reluctantly admit this orb possesses several distinct advantages.
One is that, since they’re not crafted with precision, they don’t demand as much skill from their users. The new orb is eminently suitable for mass-producing and issuing to mass-trained soldiers.
The second point is the high rate of survival. They may be sluggish, but the defense provided is high; an average infantry unit would have a hard time shooting down someone with one of these.
In conclusion? The General Staff is fretting. These properties make it clear that the new orb will be a natural enemy of the Imperial Army. Everyone scoffs, saying it’s a sign that an army that specializes in human-wave tactics is about to send in a huge amount of aerial mages.
An enemy with numerical superiority is going to challenge our top-quality army with so-so quality, and a lot of it.
This is going to be a major problem.
Report on the Type T3476 Computation Orb from Technology