A/N: I've been staring at this chapter way too long. Time to just post it!

If you're feeling confused about who the people in this chapter are, I swear it's supposed to be confusing. In time this will all make more sense.

The Empire had not been kept in the dark about Tanya von Degurechaff. The strategists understood that this would have the potential to raise skepticism of their decisions, but it was for the sake of the entire city. The people had to understand that their lives had been saved through this exchange. They had believed at the time that it could draw people together under the realization that their soldiers were doing anything and everything to defend the Empire.

The public's reaction was much larger scale than anticipated. There was graffiti, protests, even a riot near the south of Berun. Acts of fury over the actions of the Russy Federation, and acts of frustration that the Empire had been forced into this.

The general found himself reading countless letter after letter about the situation. Some citizens were speaking out against the chief strategists - even the emperor himself - for standing by while their greatest military ace was taken hostage. Others defended them, understanding the severity and urgency of the situation. Many letters were desperate calls to action, urging the military to hurry up and destroy the Russy Federation. To do everything in their power to turn the war around. To somehow gain an advantage out of pure spite for the evil that had been done to such a young girl.

"Tanya Degurechaff has essentially become an overnight martyr," the general explained to the board of strategists before him. "She has become a symbol of nationalism."

"Perhaps this is good, then," another general spoke up. "Think about it. We're anticipating a depression due to the reparations, yes? Nationalism is exactly what we need. A will for the people to keep going."

"Maybe. But this is also allowing for a larger ideological grievance between the Empire and the Russy Federation. We could be inspiring wars of future generations if the sacrifice of Tanya von Degurechaff is studied as an event in the history books."

"No country has ever turned a young girl over to a pedophile for the sake of saving a city..." another man grumbled, staring down at the cigar in his hand. "We'll be villains too. We'll be the ones who the decision gets pinned on."

"Well..." The general sighed. "There's still a solution for that. We have the V601 Aerial Mage Battalion preparing for takeoff right now. If they're successful, this whole situation will be described completely differently in the textbooks. It will be a risky, strategic, calculated decision. The only time in history a nation has negotiated with terrorists, then invaded and gotten back their end of the deal within a matter of days."

"Is that really good or bad for our reputation-?"

"It's good," the general nodded. "We'll be a worldwide superpower up until the very end. We'll be remembered for always having a trick up our sleeve. It will bring less negotiations with terrorists in the future."

The room was silent. A few people nodded.

"That is..." the man with the cigar slowly raised it back to his mouth. "...assuming the V601 Battalion is successful in the first place."

-XXX-

Having finally gotten the approval he needed, the official looked over his temporary mage battalion. V601. They all stood below him in neat lines, arms behind their backs, spines straight as flagpoles. Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff had done a good job training them back in the day. Even when she was fresh out of the war college, her skills had always been top-of-the-line.

"Tanya von Degurechaff," the official began, "has been your captain for a couple of years now, yes?"

"YES, SIR!" It came in one loud, perfectly synchronized answer.

"And you respected her?"

"YES, SIR!"

"And you fought with her?"

"YES, SIR!"

"And she may have been a young girl, no more than ten or so when she led you all for the first time, but you accepted her and showed her your loyalty, yes?!"

"YES, SIR!"

These people had a personal connection to Degurechaff. He could see it in all of their faces.

"Well..." The official began to pace along the platform. "Your leader, captain, major...sister in arms. She's a hostage to the brigadier general of the Russy Federation. How does that make you feel?"

A silent room. Reactions were beginning to differ now. Some of the men furrowed their eyebrows. Others' expressions softened.

The official stopped pacing for a moment, his back to the group below him. "...Men, what do you think the brigadier general of the Russy Federation wants with Tanya von Degurechaff?"

More silence. The air began to thicken with a strange sort of tension.

"Let me tell you something." He turned around and continued to pace. "The New Strategic HQ received a telegram today. It was from Lavrentiy Beria. It was mocking."

He let that add to the thickness of the air before continuing.

"I can still perfectly recite what it said. It was only two lines."

They all stared at him now. Waiting in anticipation. Waiting to hear of their sister in arms.

The official took a breath. "It said, 'Thank you for the lovely gift the other day. Like her home country, she only learns her lessons after they've been bruised into her skin.'"

He allowed that to sink in. It took about two seconds of processing before the room broke into chaos.

"I'm going to kill that bastard..." a tall, dark-haired man growled from the front, smashing his fist into his palm.

"Weiss, no. Let us all get a couple of shots at him," another added.

Around them, the other men had broken out into similar conversations.

"GIVE ME BACK YOUR ATTENTION!" The official yelled from the stage.

They all quickly silenced and got back into position.

"I never said anything about killing Lavrentiy Beria. We will capture him for trial, situation permitting. After all, he may have committed crimes against humanity that Tanya von Degurechaff could attest to. However, our first and foremost priority is to rescue our soldier, understand? If touching a single hair on Beria's head requires adjusting the plan, we leave him be."

Their eyes screamed silent protests, but they didn't dare object.

"If anyone gets any big ideas and defies these orders anyway, I remind you that that is treason, and is eligible for punishment by firing squad." He sighed. "But I've gotten beside my point. We are going to save Tanya von Degurechaff today. Failure is not an option. Do you hear me?!"

"SIR YES SIR!"

"Good. Then it's time to gear up."