Morning soon came.
Marco had, by this time, found himself carrying charred bodies to a great mass-grave where the Federation encampment used to be. His eyes lack much life now, especially after the disaster that just happened.
Out of an expeditionary force of roughly ten thousand men as well as their equipment and vehicles, only forty seven hundred remained: more than fifty percent of the Federal forces in the area. Majority of the anti-aircraft guns had been rendered useless, with nearly all of the heavier 88mm and 75mm guns destroyed. Halftracks and tanks lay on the burnt ground in melted husks of their former selves.
The local garrison had it worse, however.
With a complete lack in anti-aircraft weaponry, save a few Ballistas and Gardner guns, the garrison had been all but wiped out. Only a handful of lucky (or cowardly) survivors remained.
While it is arguable whether or not the dragon had been driven away by the anti-aircraft batteries, or it had simply lost interest, from a tactical standpoint the Federal forces had been completely unprepared for this attack.
They greatly lacked equipment for use during a night battle, with only a few spotlights to spot the approaching dragon. No radar station existed in the vicinity of the city, meaning that the defenders did not know of the approaching dragon until it was too late.
The lack of training in general did not help either.
Worse, the Federal Government shifted its priorities toward less devine things, such as the large force of Conservative Holdouts, made up of Imperial officers and disgruntled nobility, basing themselves in the central portion of Gallada, now North Dreisland. Clashes between the Conservatives and local Leftist militias only served to escalate the situation.
Marco finally collapsed onto a bench when his work concluded, his white uniform now stained with mud, blood, soot, and sweat.
"Serzhant."
He looked up to find Simo, a worried look on her face, offering the Dreslandic Sergeant a canteen of water.
Marco sighed.
"Thanks," said he taking the canteen as he did so. Immediately, half the contents of the canteen disappeared, causing Simo to chuckle a little.
She then joined Marco on the bench, before her expression turned into a more serious one.
"Do you have any idea about what will happen next?" she asked, anticipating an answer she probably would not like as she did so.
"I have no idea," Marco replied, then returned the canteen in his hand to Simo. "But whatever we're told to do, it'll probably not turn out well for us."
"Are you bloody kidding me!?" Leo exclaimed. "Then these men died for nothing!"
The telegraph in Leo's hand told a fairly disappointing story for those at the camp. It read as follows;
"From: Federal Revolutionary Army General Headquarters, Pallada
To: All Commanders of the Northern Army, 7th Panzer Division
Message: Enemy forces clashed with local militia in Central North Dreisland. 7th Panzer Division is to cease all current operations and neutralize threat. This order is to take effect immediately."
"Oh, 'cease all current operations' my ass!" Leo continued to fume. "How the fuck am I supposed to tell the men about this!?"
The tent remained silent for a few seconds, before a soldier brought up enough courage to speak.
"Um… sir?" said the poor soldier. "The commander of the local garrison wishes to speak with you…"
"Oh, him?" Leo said, clearly still angry about his orders. "Tell him I'll talk to him later…"
He paused, as if a brilliant idea suddenly struck him at that very moment.
Leo turned toward the soldier.
"Actually," said he, his angered tone disappearing in an instant. "Tell him I'll see him at once."
Federal Revolutionary Army Headquarter Building
Pallada, East Dreisland
Feldmarschall Helmuth von Bonja of the former Slavasian People's Army, now the Army of West Dreisland, found himself in what he considered to be a strange position. Because the new Federal capital city only had its foundations completed, the Federal government decided to use Pallada, the local capital of East Dreisland (Munzo), as its temporary capital. This meant, if only for a moment, centralization of the majority of government powers in one of the three founding states.
Feldmarschall von Bonja had a meeting scheduled with some of the other high ranking officers of the military, and thus needed to go to the headquarter building in the capital.
Since the new capital had not been completed, the poor Feldmarschall found himself traveling to the complete other side of the country for a single meeting.
At least the main railway link between East and West Dreisland would be complete by the time von Bonja needed to return, but he obviously knew nothing of this at the time.
As the Feldmarschall stood in the lobby, leaning against a nearby pillar as he did so, a soldier ran up to him, saluted, and proceeded to guide the Feldmarschall to the meeting room. The heavy wooden doors opened to reveal the Prime Minister, Feldmarschall Moltke, and Feldmarschall Doppeladler sitting around a round wooden table, reminiscent of a meeting between warriors in ancient times.
Von Bonja soon sat down with them before Prime Minister Pacsha cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen," said he. "What we are discussing today is of great importance to the security of our new nation. I would like to hear the reports on the Army's operations against Imperial Holdouts and Counter-revolutionary movements."
Pacsha's gaze turned to Moltke first.
Moltke, noticing this action, stood up to give his report.
"Prime Minister," he began. "The situation in East Dreisland currently requires no military operations against any hostile elements. All Imperial Holdouts have been removed within the past few years."
"The East had it easy, of course," von Bonja muttered under his breath, to which Doppeladler gave a quiet chuckle.
Moltke also gave a small smile at the comment before returning to his report.
"Counter-revolutionary movements, on the other hand," he continued, "are still sporadic and disorganized, as well as mostly unarmed. While they pose no threat at this time, I have received a report that the Civil Police and Gendarmerie are both cracking down on the more armed pockets of resistance. That is all."
Moltke then sat back down.
"Alright then," Pacsha said. "Feldmarschall von Bonja?"
Von Bonja then stood up.
"Currently, Imperial Holdouts still have some semblance of a foothold on a few key positions in the Southern regions of West Dreisland. However, they have been completely encircled and isolated, and it should only be a matter of time before they capitulate. Counter-revolutionaries are currently not a problem, but the vast majority of them did run away to the north."
"Ah, so that's where they came from," Doppeladler said, causing Pacsha's gaze to turn to him.
"Thank you Feldmarschall von Bonja. Feldmarschall Doppeladler, I assume you are having a few problems right now?"
Despite the serious situation, the men in the room managed to crack a smile at this statement.
Doppeladler cleared his throat before speaking.
"Those Counter-revolutionaries from West Dreisland managed to link up with a sizable force of Imperial Holdouts in the central portions of North Dreisland. While they did not present a threat at first, there have been a string of incidents during which the Counter-revolutionaries and local Leftist militia clashed in the streets. The situation is escalating to the point that Civil Police and Gendarmerie are unable to maintain order. Elements of the 7th Panzer Division are currently heading to pacify the area."
Mirak, North Dreisland.
"You want us to WHAT!?"
"Hey, be quiet!"
Leo looked around before returning his gaze to Marco.
"I convinced the leader of the local garrison to help continue the mission," Leo said. "Your 1st Platoon is going to stay behind while the rest of C Company goes to fight the Imperials. 1st Platoon will be folded in with a number of other units in our Battalion, as well as the local Garrison, to form a Motorized Rifle Company which will continue the objective of exterminating the Calamity Dragon."
Leo then put a hand on Marco's shoulder.
"In total there will be 110 soldiers, 10 trucks, 5 armored cars, and 2 field guns. I've already picked the personnel."
Leo's eyes met Marco's
"You're in command."
There was a pause before Marco finally spoke up.
"Can you scrape together some rifles and ammo for the garrison troops?" said he. "They're too poorly equipped for this as-is."
Leo sighed before lifting his hand off of Marco's shoulder.
"I'll see what I can do," he replied. "No guarantees, though."
"How many Maschinengewehr do we get?" Marco asked.
"Heavy or light?"
"Both."
"Four per infantry platoon. One heavy, three light."
"No mortars?"
"None for the garrison guys. Sorry."
Marco sighed before removing his cap to scratch his head in annoyance.
"Well," said he. "Guess I'll have to make do."
Federal Revolutionary Army Headquarter Building
Pallada, East Dreisland
"Finally, gentlemen," Pacsha said. "If you would take a look at this map…"
As the generals and the Prime Minister looked on, one of the soldiers in the room emerged with a giant paper map, roughly half the height of the soldier himself, before unrolling it over the table. The generals immediately found their eyes widening upon the sight of the map.
"Prime minister…" Moltke finally spoke up. "Is this…?"
"Yes Feldmarschall," Pacsha replied. "It is the map of the world as we know it."
The map, covering the entire table and fully colored and detailed, depicted everything from the barren ice-filled wastelands and dry deserts to the north of the Empire, the Felidian Empire to the south, the Imperial colonies and vassal states to the east, and the Federation of Dreisland in the center.
Pacsha smiled.
"Come now, gentlemen," said he. "We have more important work to do than staring at a mere map, as beautiful as it is."
He pointed at the region directly south of the empire. Specifically, he pointed to a peninsula shaped into something akin to a boot.
"Are you all familiar with the Allied Kingdoms?" Pacsha asked.
"The league of small kingdoms which have basically been reduced to vassals of the Empire?" Doppeladler asked.
"Yes," Pacsha replied. "That one."
A young aide, perhaps around thirteen in age, rushed up to the Prime Minister before offering him a cup of tea.
Pacsha smiled and accepted the tea before returning to his explanation.
"A week ago," he began. "I received word from our agents in the continent. I was told that there seems to be a great revolutionary spirit in the air. There even seem to be talks of a union between the kingdoms into a greate state which may rival the Empire."
Pacsha then pointed to the region just south of the Federation.
"There is also the matter of South Dreisland," said he. "If we cannot remove the Felidian oppressors from our lands, then the revolution will not be complete. We must achieve total unification."
"Felidia is no problem, sir," Moltke said. "We, the general staff, have already come up with a basic plan in conjunction with the navy. By June of next year it will be ready for execution."
Pacsha nodded approvingly before von Bonja spoke up.
"Putting South Dreisland aside," said he. "What about the Allied Kingdoms? We have no plan in place for any invasion of the continent yet…"
He stopped when Pacsha raised a hand to cut him off.
"Do not worry, Feldmarschall," Pacsha said. "I already have that covered."
A mischievous smile slowly began to creep across the Prime Minister's face.
"All we need to do is give a small push, and then the whole rotten structure will come down."
Author's notes:
I'm going to briefly say that the word count for this chapter (excluding the author's note) is 1939. Quite appropriate I might say.
Anyway, hello everyone. Karl the Arty here. I hope you guys enjoyed this new chapter of my Gate fic. Our main characters go to deal with a divine being while the government plans a world revolution. Just another average fantasy story lol.
Anyway, I hope you guys keep supporting this story, despite the fact that college has already started and I might take extremely long hiatuses again. See you in the next chapter!
-SPSH Karl
