November 10, Unified Year 1940

Kaiserhoff, Prussian Republic

If the conflict were to be decided by diplomacy or propaganda, Tanya's side would have won in a rout. The Francois Republic was completely isolated. All of Europe agreed that even if Tanya's actions technically violated the peace treaty, the immensity of the immediate threat justified it. The Republic's closest ally, the Allied Kingdom had publicly condemned the action. Prime Minister Cromwell had offered to mediate the dispute and to try and find a peaceful solution. Tanya had gotten on the radio the following day and agreed to mediation. She had then pleaded with Blum to meet with her in Londinium to work out some compromise and save the lives of so many innocent young men and women. The Francois government never even sent Cromwell a formal response to his mediation offer. From across the Atlantic both the incumbent President and the President-elect had issued a joint statement supporting Degurechaff and naming Blum as the aggressor. In America newspapers on both sides were amazed to see both MacPherson and Sinclair actually agree on something. The New York Times declared it proof that Tanya could work miracles.

The only people who were supporting the Republic diplomatically were King Leo and his government in Iberia. Given the fact the Francois were helping him restore authority over the peninsula, his support was not exactly unexpected. Just about everyone else was hostile to the Republic, but none of them were ready to apply sanctions or break ties, never mind go to war. The successor states were willing to do the most to help her. They'd sold her weapons and sent fully armed volunteers to help fight the Francois. This was theoretically illegal under the terms of the treaty. She'd also been promised that the trains delivering the enemy forces would constantly run into damaged section of rail line and that there would be perpetual shortages or coal and water at the refueling points.

The Rhinelanders couldn't sell her weapons or allow their soldiers to volunteer. But what they could do was deny the enemy any logistical support and make their deployment as slow as possible. They were also in the perfect position to spy on the enemy and report the units involved and the raw numbers of men and equipment.

In the newspapers and the movie theaters, Goebbels had a field day. It was easy to convince the people that the Francois were corrupt and in Vorshilov's pocket. The idea they were attacking Prussia to guarantee the communist revolt succeed was pretty much accepted by everyone in the country. There were posters showing Tanya grappling with a brutish figure twice her size with a hammer and sickle. As she was struggling the image of Blum was sneaking up from behind with a dagger in hand. Other posters showed Tanya backed into a corner with Vorshilov and Blum coming at her with bayoneted rifles. One of the most popular ones simply had Vorshilov and Blum in bed together, smoking cigarettes. Blum had lipstick and a ridiculous amount of mascara, he was looking at his partner and asked, 'was it good for you?' The public LOVED that one. Tanya didn't like it quite as much, given it was a reminder of the public's opinion towards homosexuality.

Something Tanya noticed was that in every cartoon and poster, even those not under her party's control, she was used to represent Prussia. During the war, they had always used an image of the Kaiser. Since, they would use a non-descript man either in a business suit or in a uniform. Now, they were using her. People were beginning to think of Tanya Degurechaff as the embodiment of the Prussian nation.

Politically, things were playing out better than she could have hoped. Militarily…

"We have at present, better than two hundred and sixty thousand men under arms," General Zettour announced. "Roughly, sixty thousand are fully equipped to the pre-war Imperial Army standard. Enough men to comprise four regular infantry divisions. We have another forty-five thousand men, or three divisions worth, of infantry soldiers who have the basic equipment, but will be short on machine guns, mortars, logistic support, and transports. These we are designating as reserve infantry divisions. As for the rest," Zettour sighed. "We can supply them with little more than rifles. The vast majority will not even have uniforms, boots, helmets, tents, or entrenching tools. They will have to serve in their own civilian clothing. We will give them armbands with 'auxiliary police' written on them. They're effectively militia. They can be useful as garrisons, but shouldn't be put into front line service except as a last resort."

Tanya saw all the faces looking grim. She was holding a cabinet meeting in her hotel suite.

Zettour continued his report. "Through arms sales we are now in possession of fifty-eight panzers, sixty-eight single engine aircraft, and two hundred and eleven pieces of artillery of various calibers. "The panzers are all Mark 3s, inferior to the Francois main line battle tanks, but still serviceable. The aircraft are all fighters of different make and models, mostly Messerschmitt, Heinkel, and Focke-Wulf. Their performances vary. None of them are bombers, but the engineers assure me that bomb racks and the necessary electronics can be installed in a few days. None of the aircraft can withstand the tolerances necessary for dive bombing, but they can serve as level flight bombers."

"Panzers, artillery, and aircraft are all good," Tanya said. "What about the aerial mages?"

Zettour frowned. "We have a total of eighty-one functional computation gems and flight equipment units of various models and origin. Despite our best efforts no foreign nation is willing to sell us either computation gems of flight equipment, not even obsolete models. We conducted some experiments about using civilian grade computation gems for military purposes. Unfortunately, they all proved too fragile and unstable."

There were plenty of occupations outside the military where magical ability was useful. Surgeon, mechanic, miner, ship navigator, and metal worker were just a few examples. Mages with D and E level abilities were considered unfit for military service, but could still do great things in professions where less powerful magics were needed. Civilian computation gems were much less efficient and more prone to breaking than their military counterparts. Even so, Prussia and the successor states had been forbidden from manufacturing them and been forced to import all gems.

"That's not surprising," Tanya said. "If they could be upgraded they'd have been banned by the treaty too." She sighed. "So, we've got the equipment to outfit eighty-one aerial combat mages. About a battalion and three companies' worth. According to our friends in the Free State, the Francois are going to have anywhere between two-hundred and fifty to three hundred. So, we'll be outnumbered by at least three to one."

"Our mages will all be veterans." Rerugen said. "According to the reports theirs are mostly new conscripts."

Tanya nodded. "That'll help. It could definitely be worse. Three to one is still bad, but it could be worse."

"We dealt with much longer odds in the war," Weiss noted.

And lost, Tanya thought but did not say. "You're right, we'll definitely find a way."

The truth was she had beaten worse odds, but defeating an enemy with an extra hundred or two hundred mages was still asking a hell of a lot. In the end, she understood that everything would come down to the fight between mages. The numbers on the ground didn't matter if you lost control of the skies. If she and her mages ruled the air Prussia would win no matter how many more panzers and cannon the enemy had. If she couldn't… she would probably be too dead to worry about it.

Zettour continued to relate the details of the military situation. Zetzler went over the economic situation and the efforts to increase war production. It would take some time to retool, and the military needed everything. It would be awhile before they had equipment rolling off the assembly lines. Their army was about as strong as it was going to be short term.

"One good thing at least," Weiss said. "We've wiped out the communists."

Viktoriya gave an enthusiastic nod.

"We haven't wiped them out completely," Zettour qualified. "There are still some guerilla bands hiding in the northern forests. There are also likely to still be a few hidden cells throughout the country. But I would agree the large-scale fighting is now over."

"How many prisoners did we take?" The Minister of Propaganda asked.

"Less than two thousand," Zettour said.

Goebbels frowned. "That doesn't sound very impressive." He looked at Tanya. "May I say we took over twenty thousand?"

"Sure. Feel free to play up the ones who got away and are still out there. We need to keep the people scared. We're going to demand a lot of sacrifices from them. They need to feel threatened and that whatever they're asked to give up is worth it."

"Isn't a Francois invasion enough for them to worry about?" Rerugen asked.

"For now," Tanya said. "But we have to keep the future in mind too. Having Red guerillas out in the woods ready to strike at any moment is useful."

The meeting ground on covering problems with refugees, demands for rail tonnage, costs for repairs and reconstruction to the Chancellery and other buildings, setting up the rationing boards and price controls, and much more. By the time the meeting finally wrapped up it had been pitch black outside for a few hours. Tanya was ready to have some dinner.

"Ah, ambassador Ciano asked to meet with you today," Viktoriya reminded her.

Tanya groaned. Count Galeazzo Ciano was the ambassador from the Ildoan Kingdom. Relations between Prussia and Ildoa had been cordial. Like everyone else, they had condemned Blum's actions. Also like everyone else, they'd declined to do more than that. They had provided the Nationalists in Iberia a great deal of military aid, and it was no secret they hoped to weaken the Republic. But they'd offered Prussia nothing but encouraging words.

"Can we reschedule?"

"He said it was very important, and you promised to meet with him as soon as the cabinet meeting was over," Viktoriya reminded.

"Every ambassador thinks every meeting is important. I swear they're as bad as chief financial officers."

Viktoriya sat there and blinked her eyes in obvious confusion.

Tanya sighed. "Fine, I'll meet with him. Call room service and tell them to make me a sandwich."

XXX

The count was thirty-seven, handsome, dapper, and quite charming. He had a bit of a reputation as a ladies' man. When he arrived in Tanya's suite she extended a hand to him. He grasped it, brought it up to his lips, and placed a light kiss on it.

"Ciao bella, signora."

Tanya raised an eyebrow and took her hand back. "And good evening to you, Herr Ciano." She motioned to the sofa across from her. "How can I help you today?"

He sat down, crossed his legs and smiled at her. "I am hoping we can help each other."

Tanya sat in her chair. "I'm not sure how much help I can offer. My country and I are a bit busy at the moment."

Ciano nodded. "Yes, the Francois and their aggression. They are a very troublesome people, forcing themselves into places they are not wanted. Iberia, north Africa, Syria, and now here as well, they try and put their fingers everywhere."

"Well you're not going to hear any argument from me," Tanya said. "They've been our enemy for a very long time."

"Yes, I know this. While I would not go so far as to call them enemies they are no friends to my country. I think it would make good sense for our two countries to work together."

"Well, in principle, I agree that would make sense. We certainly don't have any vital interests in opposition. Do you have something specific in mind?"

"My nation has important concerns with minorities being oppressed by the Ottoturks. For a great power, this is intolerable."

"I see," Tanya said. The oppression of nationals in a foreign land was always a convenient excuse for military intervention. "Are your people suffering everywhere, or is there a specific region where the trouble is?"

"Our people are being mistreated in Libya and Egypt, though there may be incidents in other provinces, such as Syria and Palestine."

"Sounds like you've had a lot of immigration," Tanya said in a flat voice. "I suspect you'll find there are a lot of British living in those places too."

"Perhaps, but I suspect the Allied Kingdom is much more concerned with all their residents in Punjab."

Tanya shrugged. "Maybe, though there seem to be a lot of Englishmen spread all over the globe. They have a lot of interests, especially in Egypt."

"We are more concerned with the Republic right now," Ciano said. "As are you."

Tanya nodded.

"His majesty, King Victor Emmanuelle the second, would be pleased to see the Republic weakened and humbled. He would also ask Prussia, to extend diplomatic support should we in the near future decide to react to the provocations being made against peaceful Ildoans living in foreign lands."

Translation, when we attack the Ottoturks and take as much land from them as we can, we'd like you to be on our side. "Prussia has no interests anywhere in the Mediterranean or in any part of the Ottoturk Empire. We would be happy to lend you our voice, so long as it does not require any sort of military commitment on our part."

Ciano shook his head. "We do not ask others to fight our wars for us, as you do not expect us to intervene in yours."

"Of course," Tanya said with a sigh. They had just agreed to cheer for each other from the sidelines. This meeting was as pointless as she'd expected.

"We do however want to help our friends when we can. His majesty would be willing to immediately sell to your country one hundred military grade computation gems and flight equipment."

"What?!" Tanya sat up straight. She was afraid the hunger had caused her to mishear him. "Could you say that again?"

Ciano smiled. "We are ready to sell to your country, one hundred computation gems and sets of flight equipment. That is, if you are interested in purchasing them. They will not be cheap."

A savage smile spread across her face. "Oh, we'll buy them, and if your king wants to see the Republic humbled, I think I can help with that."