Fort Amatriain, Principality of Gallia

May 10, 1935 EC

Corporal Batory Andrzejevski

Squad 1, Gallian Militia 3rd Company

In a tank garage unusually devoid of technicians and supply troops at that particular time of day, Batory stood in front of the Edelweiss, Squad 7's wonder tank and already the veteran of two major engagements since the start of the war. He stared at it longer than was perhaps socially acceptable to try and get a gauge of how more advanced it was than any other tank he was made aware of during his time at Seongnam. Even after being allowed with the rest of the 3rd Company to return to Amatriain to recover after a hard fight in the countryside near the city of Meppel roughly a week after Vasel, and using the spare time since then to poke and prod at the tank some more, Batory could not for the life of him get a solid bearing on this machine.

The Crow had to admit a minor defeat; he wasn't sure how to even classify the tank. Even the Imperials would have sold off an entire founding member state just to get access to its blueprints.

9:00 Ally Range 20 No Action

"I'm not sure burning a hole through the tank's gonna help you understand it any better," deadpanned Raymond, making his way to Batory in the garage. He too seemed rather fascinated with the tank, given that Landzaat and the other Squad commanders had to make do with the fragile-looking standard light tanks whose design went back to the final years of the First Europan War. Batory certainly noticed him and a few others turning their heads toward the Edelweiss whenever it rumbled by. "And you've already spent a long time here, you know that?"

"… I am aware of that," answered the Crow quietly, mentally running through the data he did have regarding the tank. Having used rudimentary measuring tools behind the backs of the Edelweiss's owners soon after returning to base, he understood the tank to be roughly 6.6 meters long without the gun, 3.4 meters wide, and just under 2.7 m tall – significantly larger than the standard Gallian light tank, the Diarchy's own 20TD tank series, and even many Imperial tanks. The Edelweiss was also armed with a surprisingly heavy 12.7 mm co-axial machine gun, and based on his recollections of the day he got to ride the Edelweiss, Batory also added to the running list of details the existence of an autoloader and secondary gunnery systems linked to the commander's position.

The tank's blue-and-white 88 mm gun barrel was also unusually long by Europan standards, Batory estimating a length of at least 40 calibers. Only Diarchic tanks and anti-tank weapons reached those lengths, partly to offset the slightly weaker nature of Caelite-treated steel. The 20TD tank used by the Diarchists back during the Border War bore a 38 caliber-length gun and the 20TD/2 "heavy" tank went further with a 44 caliber-length prototype "supervelocity" gun; both guns were 80 mm in bore diameter and considerably longer than anti-tank guns mounted by either Europan great power on their own armored vehicles and towed carriages at the time. These long guns were what gave the Asian tanks their feared reputation as tank killers with the conclusion of the Border War and what reinforced the traditional Kokurian reputation of being obsessed with regional artillery superiority, although Diarchic tanks suffered from subpar engine power and armor.

All in all, the Edelweiss was a boon for Gallia; the Viszevar was quite happy that he wasn't the one having to kill it in pitched battle.

"… But it is a very nice tank," muttered Batory.

The Crow heard a snicker. "Don't tell me you're becoming like Milton, Batory," chided Raymond with a snort. "We already have one tank fetishist, do we really need another? I'm pretty sure he's moved onto naming some of them."

Batory let out a snort. "… You can shoot me the moment I start sweet-talking the tank and asking it for dinner, Raymond," answered the warrant officer. "… Trust me, I get the reports second-hand from Landzaat about Milton's… tendencies."

"Does Milton know that we know?" Raymond chortled.

"… No clue," blithely replied Batory. The Crow turned his head to face Raymond. "… Come here to turn into Milton like me, Raymond? … I have seen you stare at this tank before."

Raymond shrugged. "Well, I got time to spare," he playfully retorted. "And yeah, I guess I do like this tank, but I was actually looking for one of the techies to get a new gun. You know, to replace the one that did its part to kill the Imps." With a mocking gravitas, Raymond added, "May it rest in pieces."

"… You literally broke your Mags over a man's head and killed him, Raymond," replied Batory with a slight hint of exasperation. "… You at least had the courtesy of bringing what was left of it back from Meppel."

"Because I ran out of ammo, 'cause my knife was stuck, and 'cause the Imp was in range of these busy hands, Batory," quipped the blond Shocktrooper as he raised his hands up and wiggled his fingers. "Can't blame me for that, right?"

"… Granted, and I cannot say that it wasn't slightly amusing," continued the Viszevar. "… But-"

3:00 Ally Range 10 No Action

Batory heard the laugh of a familiar girl to his right as her footsteps grew louder and betrayed her approach. "It means that you should really check in with us first to see if we have any extra guns before you destroy yours." Turning his head once more, Batory saw Isara approach them with a brand-new Mags SMG in her hands.

"Ah, there it is," smiled Raymond, moving behind Batory to grasp the replacement submachine gun. "Yeah, I promise I'll take better care of this one. Thanks, Isara."

"Please don't make it a habit to break your gun," smiled the Darscen girl. "The Army doesn't give us everything even at the best of times."

"… Any word on helmets at least?" The Viszevar finally asked the question. "… We have waited two months for them."

She shook her head. "I'm afraid I haven't heard much," she said apologetically. "But the field caps are coming in if that's any consolation."

I figured.

"… It would be, yes," conceded Batory as he reflected on the running Meppel firefight he and the 3rd Company endured roughly 60 km northwest of Vasel. The early May weather this year in Gallia was surprisingly warm and bright from the outset. "… It would be better than nothing."

"Yeah, it would," agreed Raymond as he finished inspecting the Mags and slung it over his shoulder once more. "All righty, I'll be in the mess hall if anyone needs me."

With that, Raymond gave a short wave to Batory and Isara, and quickly made his way out of the garage presumably to satisfy his evening hunger. The garage still quiet with most of the technicians evidently elsewhere, Batory turned to Isara.

"… If I may," he attempted, "I would like to ask about your tank."

Damn it, what do I have to lose?

Isara gave a chuckle. "Of course," she agreed. "I assume you had a lot of questions since Vasel. It'd be rude for me to not clear things up for you." She glanced at her vehicle, her pride and joy. "After all, I've seen you around here looking at the Edelweiss several times already," she continued with her happy expression intact. "I don't know why you didn't just ask me directly."

"… You are perceptive," admitted the Crow, who silently made a mental note to never underestimate this young woman. "… I never asked you because I wanted to not disturb you."

Technically true. I wanted to not disturb her and not have her notice me in the crowd. But apparently that didn't work.

"Thank you for that," she chuckled. "But you're free to ask whenever, we always love having company. Especially Leon, even if he'll talk your head off if you let him."

"… Schmidt's talkativeness is another reason why I never asked."

Isara shrugged as she looked back at him. "I suppose it's understandable," she smirked. "You don't seem to ever want to say much, anyways."

"… No," he admitted once more. "I simply do not have many useful things to say, I am afraid."

"Oh, don't say that," assured the Darscen as she gave a light-hearted snort and a shake of her head. "At least you're not stroking the tanks at night. He really doesn't know that I see him, does he?"

"… Gods," sighed the Crow as he allowed a tiny amount of his exasperation to slip. He pursed his lips slightly. "… Must be distracted by the tank for him to be that unaware… Yes, someone must talk to him soon."

For Heavens' sakes, Milton, groaned Batory mentally. Why are you even stranger than I am?

"Good," nodded Isara, amusement totally permeating her face. "It's not terribly weird so much as it's funny, actually. Anyways…" She waved her arm to the Edelweiss. "What would you like for me to explain?"

"… Everything," answered Batory, preparing to hold onto the lessons for as long as he could. KISHIN was going to quite enjoy this. "… Taking it in stages is more than fine by me."

"Then the crash course it is," agreed the girl. "Right this way."

/

For a vehicle that was produced shortly after the First Europan War, the Edelweiss almost seemed as though it was designed for the inevitable war after this one. It was at its most basic a heavy tank with the mobility of a light tank and the firepower of a tank destroyer. It ought to have revolutionized armored vehicle development forever.

But it didn't. For even KISHIN to suggest it knew nothing about this enigmatic vehicle demonstrated that virtually no one knew this thing existed before the war. Perhaps it was better that it remained hidden – especially from the greedy hands of Imperial tank engineers given that it would have made combating the Empire more difficult.

If anything, Batory's dissatisfaction with the Gallian institutions only grew more entrenched. Even with the pressures of the naval arms race taking up a full third of the state's military budget, the Diarchic Diet understood the importance of seizing the opportunity to incorporate new technology into the wider armed forces, and painstakingly found as many yangs (1) as possible to finance long-term tank R&D programs. For Gallia to decline building even a stripped down, mass-produced variant of this Edelweiss for use in the field was almost criminal.

Maybe they'll reconsider, he derisively thought to himself, once the war is over. I simply hope it's not too late for them.

It may come to be that I have to destroy the Edelweiss myself, just in case Gallia collapses. I have no intention of letting the Empire salvage it.

Looking at the Darscen girl who not only maintained the Edelweiss over the years but also evidently improved upon it mostly by herself before she hit the age at which typical men would be conscripted, Batory began to wonder how such a thing slipped under everyone's attention. Supplying the ammo (which Batory knew was produced en masse based on Gallian Army documents listing 88 mm artillery pieces as being in active use) and fuel for such an imposing vehicle must have had someone notice, and she certainly didn't make the thing out of a box of scraps as a DIY project in her spare time.

"… Who designed this tank?" Batory asked Isara, both of them sitting in the hull just behind the driver's station. "I have not seen anything close to the Edelweiss anywhere around here."

"It was my fathers' brainchild," she explained. Isara betrayed a glimmer in her eyes, thinking back evidently of a happier time. "My fathers Theimer and Belgen Gunther."

"… Fathers?" Batory asked quizzically.

"My actual father Theimer passed when I was a baby," she clarified. "Gen. Gunther took me in since he was a close family friend. Welks and I grew up in the same house, and I was always treated like any other human being."

"… I see," concluded the Crow. The Gunther family was truly one of many surprises. "… Hence why you have a surname when Darscens in Europa generally do not."

"Yes, that's right," smiled Isara. "I was blessed with two wonderful fathers. They worked together after the first war to defend Gallia, and they saw all Gallians – Darscens or not – equally deserving of protection."

She glanced down and gave the floor of the crew compartment a soft pat. "And this tank was a part of what they tried to do to help protect us now."

"… And yet," pointed out Batory with a slight apologetic air, "Randgriz never saw your fathers' work fit to mass produce before this war started despite its superiority to what we use now… The military betrayed them, did it not?"

I am not one to show disrespect toward the military, but the Gallian government not putting the Edelweiss to mass production cannot be forgiven.

Isara curled her lips downward a little and sadly shook her head. "They said it was 'too expensive' and 'too complicated,' even for a stripped-down version," she muttered with a tinge of disdain flavoring those words. "That's what was officially stated."

She gave a small hmmph as she looked back up at the Crow, and continued. "So the general moved the Edelweiss back to our home in Bruhl. He never wanted to take it outside; he said it reminded him too much of what he had lost, and didn't want to burden me or Welks with it."

The Darscen looked back toward the rear of the vehicle. "But I may have made some improvements to it," she admitted with a chuckle. "I even managed to source a boat engine, you know. It wasn't very fun given that we live far inland, but to just let my fathers' legacy rust away in the garage seemed too…"

Isara paused for a moment, evidently trying to think of a word. Batory offered an option. "… Too unbecoming of you as their child?"

She nodded. "Yes, it wouldn't have been right," she replied. "To just let what my family created be forgotten and neglected." Isara gave a soft chuckle once more. "I think the general was too successful in leaving the past behind. Did you know that even Welks forgot that the Edelweiss was in the house?"

Batory blinked. "… How exactly?"

The Darscen laughed. "I don't know how, I'd have to ask him again," she smirked. "Welks was always bit of an airhead. He always means well, and he always looks out for me even if it doesn't look like he is. My brother's just… different in his thinking."

"… He is indeed unorthodox in approaching people," remarked the Crow once more. "… He never referred to us by our surnames or ranks in the tank at Vasel."

"Yes, he's always tried to see everyone for who they are," agreed Isara. "Not just names and ranks. Don't worry about it, Welks isn't trying to disrespect anyone by doing it."

"… No, it is fine," assured the Viszevar. "… Many things to still learn here for me."

The entire conversation had made Batory slightly re-examine his positions regarding the absolute state of Gallian affairs. For years, the Crow had considerable difficulties in reconciling himself to the seeming incompetency of the Gallian government in preparing for any major disaster. KISHIN in fact was always ready to write Gallia off as a loss – however painful it may have been – despite its surprising victory twenty years prior because of its minuscule size and its lurching government. But in that tank, he began to wonder once more if the Gallian nation itself could still make it work.

Individuals like Isara and her brother would have an uphill battle in pushing Randgriz and much of the people to go where they had to go, to make the decisions that had to be made to secure the country – but they could do it. Men like Belgen Gunther proved it could be done; the history books showed that he had risen to the top from humble origins to beat back the Imperial curs two decades ago and make the bookies cry. Surely there were many more Gallians who reflected the Gunthers in duty and outlook; and ultimately, what is a government without its people?

That was all Batory needed to assure himself that it wasn't a totally lost cause.

/

"I hoped my tour answered your questions, Batory," quipped Isara as she forced open the driver's hatch. "I'm really not the best lecturer out here in Gallia, but I try."

"… No, your presentation was quite good," assured Batory as he swung open the emergency hatch beside her - the hatch he had used at Vasel - and hoisted himself up to the top of the hull. "… It answered my questions, broadly speaking."

The two were quiet as they made their way gingerly down from the Edelweiss, the girl seemingly because she did not want to risk a hard landing on a solid bed of concrete, and the Crow because he was indoctrinated into making minimal noise in his movements. One way or another, they both found themselves planted on the solid flooring of the facility once again. It was still unusually vacant and quiet, the echoes of their feet landing on the concrete still faintly reverberating in the spacious building with no one around to mask them with their own raucous activities.

"I have to ask," remarked Isara as she raised her hand to her chin in contemplation, "Why are you so… comfortable with Darscens? Most Europans don't like us very much for many reasons."

"… Darscens are respected in Kokuria for their contributions in advancing the country's science and industry," answered the Viszevar. "… They are also descended from Viszevaric insurgents and so have a very different background from many Darscens here."

To his surprise, Batory saw Isara's face become slightly downcast. "I see," she quietly replied as she looked at the floor. "So your people respect Darscens over there partly because they fight."

"… You seem unsettled by this," quietly responded the Crow. "… It is no secret that my ancestors in Kokuria are descended from what the Empire would label 'domestic terrorists' or other pleasant titles… Even the Black Army 10th Armored is made up mainly of Dahauists."

"Dahauists?" Isara glanced up in brief shock. "You mean…"

"… Yes, actual 'terrorists,'" calmly answered Batory. "… Many of them are survivors of the Insurgency in the Empire from years ago… They never stopped fighting Schwartzgrad."

He saw Isara close her eyes and let out a small, frustrated sigh. "I'm just not happy that in order for Darscens to be recognized as equals," sadly replied Isara, "That we might have to ultimately fall back to fighting, or contribute to it. We're more than that."

Batory of course recognized the paradoxical situation of her kind; it came with the stay in Gallia. Darscens in Europa were seen at best as roving good-for-nothings and treated with suspicion, as in the Federation and some parts of Gallia. At worst as in East Europa, they were seen essentially as serfs and possessed very few legal rights. They had no homeland to speak of, no real state where they could call themselves free men equally deserving of respect. Darscens in Europa were famous – and oftentimes mocked – for their insistent pacifism, and few ever broke from this position. The Dahau Insurgency of the late 1920s had tried to break this mold, to establish a homeland by force at the expense of the Empire; it had collapsed in the face of the brutal RSM (2) and other internal security forces, and nothing truly changed for the better for the blue-haired people.

The Darscens of Europa could seemingly never get very far by just being peaceful, but neither could they get positive results with violence. At this point, some cataclysmic political paradigm shift would be required to force the Europans to confront the question once and for all.

"… Of course you are, Gunther," said the Viszevar, "But one way or another, people are judged on how resilient they are and what they can offer to society… Those unwilling to stand and fight, those unable to give anything are considered weak."

"I know that," whispered Isara. "But it's never easy to digest. We Darscens prefer non-violent ways to try and achieve equality."

"… Pacifists are people who can fight but choose to be peaceful," countered Batory. "… Those who cannot cause damage are merely harmless… Darscens must be the former if they wish the world to approach them as equals, even if Dahau failed."

Batory did his best to give the Darscen a smile. "… No one ever said you had to fight all the time, Gunther," he assured her. "… I am merely saying that you must always be ready to end the fight in your favor."

Isara gave a sad smile in return. "I can't ever say I expected you to be giving Asian proverbs, Batory," she quietly laughed.

"… It is more of a Nord proverb," sighed the Viszevar, "… But sure."

The Darscen gave a louder snicker, a more relaxed expression coming back to her face. "It works either way. I guess I'll be learning more from you, right?"

"… I suppose so," shrugged Batory. "… Consider it payment, as meager as it is, for you continuing to teach me about the Edelweiss."

Isara gave an agreeable nod. "I think that's a deal. I have to finish up something before dinner, but we'll catch up later."

"… As you wish," concluded the Crow.

With another nod of her head, Isara soon walked away from Batory to go deeper into the garage, presumably to continue work on Heavens knew what. However, she unexpectedly stopped after a split second and spun around to face the warrant officer again. "Wait," she smirked with a knowing cock of her head. "Didn't you say you normally had nothing useful to say?"

"... Yes, I did."

Isara let out a quiet laugh. "You're a bad liar, you know that?" With these parting words, she finally turned to head deeper into the garage.

Batory blinked in slight surprise, and then allowed himself a faint smile. His initial impressions of Isara were seemingly confirmed: she was a highly intelligent human being but tempered by compassion and idealism. She wasn't exactly a rarity upon this Earth just based on these surface-level observations, but the Earth surely would not hurt from having more people like her - for the most part.

Batory also considered this talk with the Gallian to be a blessing in disguise for the purposes of his assignment. Corporal Isara Gunther was far, far more aware of many things than what her appearance, behavior, and rank suggested. He would have to exercise unusual amounts of caution around this woman... but she would perhaps also provide a considerable wealth of information on Imperial equipment as the 3rd Company encountered it. It would certainly make passing the details to his handlers that much easier.

The Black Army only wished they had this combination of traits, thought the Viszevar in amusement and respect. Maybe even KISHIN. Would be a tremendous benefit.

With these thoughts and having completed everything he told himself to do in the garage and then some, Batory turned around to exit. A report had to be written today and sent off as soon as possible; KISHIN would surely enjoy the data included.

6:00 Ally Range 20 Uhh

However, the warrant officer pivoted not to see an empty way out of the garage and into the wider world, but to see a Shocktrooper with reddish hair just enter through the doors. He had the unit insignia of Squad 1 on his left shoulder, and looked quite eager to explore the facility – right up until he realized who was looking at him from roughly twenty meters away.

Oh, grumbled the Crow. No wonder the inner voice sounded… perplexed. That's a first.

Batory didn't say a word as he approached the newcomer, intending to give him a few private words before breezing past him and back to the Amatriain grounds.

"Oh hey, Batory," stammered Milton with a fair bit of surprise etched into his face. "D-didn't know anyone was here. Yeah, I'll jus-"

"… Do not bullshit me, Milton," quietly muttered Batory as he got to within earshot of his Squad 1 subordinate. Confirming mentally that no one was within listening distance, Batory soon whispered the words he intended to speak and no more.

"… We know."

With that, the warrant officer breezed past Milton and swung the doors open to exit the garage, leaving behind an ashen-faced Gallian fixed to the spot.

/

Randgriz, Principality of Gallia

May 17, 1935 EC

Ambassador Ichiro Sugihara

Diarchic Joint Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By the dying light of the Gallian sunset forcing its way through his office window in the Diarchic embassy located in Randgriz's center, Sugihara held Batory Dmovski's envelope in his hands, turning it over to inspect the package to see if there were any signs of significant tampering. The warrant officer had seemingly prepared his report perfectly as he did before, even making sure his handwriting on the envelope exhibited precision in size and alignment. Holding the envelope to the light, Sugihara could see that there was a smaller envelope enclosed within, with no other items detected.

Sugihara knew that both envelopes would have been opened. The Gallian military understandably would not take any chances in preventing sensitive information from leaking to the public; whether the letters were written in Standard Europan was irrelevant. Sugihara, Dmovski, and the KISHIN attaché Gyeongjong Ulsan-Bak (3) had simply decided to work around it. By exploiting the Diarchic embassy system's recommendation for expatriates who needed their local embassies to fast-track letters back home, the three more or less managed to immediately solve the issue of how Dmovski would send the other two his regular reports on Imperial activity and assets.

The letters were something that could easily be masked in their true intentions. Dmovski and Ulsan-Bak, a close friend of Sugihara's, worked out a plan in which the warrant officer would give the attaché a very brief summary of identified Imperial assets by having his very first paragraph of the body be made up of several key phrases. The rest of the letters were to read as if he were sending them to his parents who… existed, but trying to make sense of the situation with them was always tiring and morally grey.

Deciding that the day was already late and that he really needed to get the KISHIN detachment the latest report from the front, Sugihara opened his desk drawer to retrieve his old army sword bayonet. Unsheathing the blade with the practiced hands of a veteran, Sugihara swiftly opened the two envelopes that contained the letter. Opening the letter itself, the ambassador let his eyes wander to the top.

"Nothing new under the sun, I'm afraid." Nothing else was written for the first paragraph.

Sugihara breathed a short sigh of relief. Nothing new under the sun was the agreed-upon code phrase for no unusual Imperial assets or personnel being spotted. In other words, the Empire still had not yet shown any signs of deploying advanced weapons as of several days prior, from between the last letter sent shortly after the victory at Vasel and now.

Sugihara continued reading Dmovski's letter, a rather well written text filled with code phrases that indicated Imperial troop concentrations, types of vehicles, and other factors. The Crow had long since stopped talking about Gallian military assets on a regular basis; it was not certain whether much would really change in the Gallian order of battle given the state of their high command. After all, he was more meant to keep an eye on Imperial assets. However, Sugihara couldn't help but notice a few very interesting words and numbers embedded into the body of the letter.

In particular, the word Edelweiss was emphasized several times in the letter, followed by the code words for "Gallian" and "tank." Fascinated by this unusual discovery, Sugihara made a note to himself to mention this to his old friend, who would surely find it as pleasantly intriguing as the ambassador did. In any case, the letter was a good one for Sugihara. No major disturbances in KISHIN's understanding of Imperial strategies, doctrines, or technology were detected.

No news in this regard was good news.

Allowing himself a relaxed smile, Sugihara gingerly folded the letter back into its inner envelope. Returning his bayonet to his desk drawer and rising from his office chair, the ambassador left the office to pass the letter downstairs. The men in black would appreciate there being nothing new under the sun… for now.

/

(1) The standard currency used in Kokuria, although Yamatai would use the yen that has since been pegged to be the same value. Kokuria and Yamatai consider these two currencies completely interchangeable.

(2) The Reichssicherheitministerium (Imperial Security Ministry), the domestic intelligence agency and secret police of the Empire.

(3) Kokurian surnames formally attach the bon-gwan (origin city of each clan) to the front of the base clan name to compensate for the dearth of unique clan names in Kokuria.