Moscau Raid III: Consequences
40 Years After the Great War
Londinium
The Moscau raid was undeniably a great triumph for the Empire and the Federation was left reeling from the unexpected counterattack so far into its heartlands. Meanwhile, as news filtered back to the Imperial capital, people began to rejoice, declaring it was now only a matter of time before victory was achieved.
However, despite their success, not everything was going the Empire's way. Federation forces were pushing deep into Imperial territory all across the Eastern border, leaving its defenders hard-pressed to repel them. Worse still the majority of the Empire's forces were still in the west, poised to attack the Allied Kingdom once the stalemates in the air and sea were broken. Meaning they had to hastily redeploy their forces to the opposite side of the country to defend against this new threat.
With the Federation bearing down upon them in the east and the fierce air battle raging in the west, some foreign observers from the Unified States declared that it was only a matter of time until the Empire sued for peace. However, the mighty Imperial war machine was not nearly done yet. Indeed, it would be better to say, the true horror of this war had only just begun. ̶ Andrew WTN Special Correspondent.
19th March Unified Year 1926 09:15
Ducal Palace, Letzenbourg City, Letzenbourg
"You can't do this! These men are nowhere near combat-ready! Sending them to the east would be a death sentence!" Captain Willibald Koenig protested, ignoring the pain in his stump as he slammed both his real and artificial hand down on the Letzenbourg prime minister's desk.
A few days ago, he wouldn't have dreamed of questioning his superiors like this, particularly the ruling politicians. He was a soldier, following orders was par for the course, even if he didn't always agree with them, and he'd always believed that wiser minds than his were making the important decisions. But the war had driven the Letzenbourgers insane, there was no other explanation for it; It was as though they were living in a different reality from the rest of the world.
"Now now Captain, you exaggerate. They may be a little rough around the edges but the volunteers are a spirited bunch. I'm confident that they'll prove to be a great asset to the eastern armies." General Frederik van Blyandt, Koenig's new superior and source of most of his current problems, replied haughtily at his side before the prime minister had the chance to reply. "I only wish I were going with them."
Koenig frowned. He had been in Letzenbourg for a few weeks now and one thing he'd learned almost immediately was that although most of both the soldiers and politicians were oddly thrilled to have "one of Prince Wilhelm's compatriots" in the country, General van Blyandt was decidedly displeased to have him around.
It wasn't that the man was openly hostile; he remained professional throughout all of their interactions. It was more that he was deliberately distant and seemed determined to shoot down every suggestion he had for improving the Letzenbourgers training regime. It was as though he was going out of his way to make life as difficult as possible and it was beginning to feel as though achieving what the general staff wanted here was impossible.
"With respect General, the Empire prides itself on the rigorous training of both officers and enlisted men. The militia doesn't even compare." Koenig pressed, doing what he could to suppress the anxiety in the pit of his stomach. He hated questioning the brass like this, he'd almost prefer to charge an enemy position in his skivvies instead of questioning his betters.
Van Blyandt smiled at him but there was no humour in his eyes. Again he was not openly hostile as he stared at him, standing nonchalantly in his immaculate dress uniform as though he was born into it. But he exuded a frustrating air of arrogance that told him he had no intention of listening to his advice.
He was young for a general, only a few years older than him. Most of the Letzenbourg senior staff was made up of younger officers and recent war college graduates nowadays. Their more seasoned veterans had either turned against them in what was now known as Ludwig's insurrection or had fallen during the fighting on the Rhine. Van Blyandt was one of the few loyal officers remaining.
He'd apparently only been a major a few months ago, and by all accounts, not an especially gifted officer. However, he was politically well-connected and since he was one of the few people left with experience he'd been rapidly promoted to fill the gaps and Koenig suspected that he knew it. That would at least explain why he was so sensitive to any perceived criticism.
Even Koenig could see that it was less than ideal. He suspected Major Degurechaff would have some less-than-polite words to say about the Letzenbourgers' method of promotion in their ranks and even harsher ones about the crop of officers they did have.
"Even your Empire has been forced to cut some corners in that regard. I believe it's called accelerated training." The General replied in a calm tone although once again his eyes conveyed a different message. "How dare you bring this up in front of the minister?!" They seemed to say.
The truth was he didn't have much choice. He'd already had this argument with Van Blyandt and he refused to listen. For the sake of the volunteers, he'd been forced to go over the man's head.
At their current level, the militia were little more than civilians handed firearms. It was true that the idea of serving alongside the Saint of Letzenbourg had meant the militiamen were unusually motivated, fanatical even, however, the level of discipline was almost non-existent. He'd managed to improve it a little by using those with more experience as NCOs but they needed several more weeks of drilling before they be allowed to operate on their own. In this state, they would be almost as dangerous to their allies as the enemy.
Worse still, the array of different age groups and backgrounds made it difficult for any of them to form a decent cohesive unit. Some were far too old to enlist in the regular army, while others were barely even old enough to shave. Some were experienced ex-soldiers while others barely knew which way to point their weapon. And on top of it all, dozens of different nationalities had volunteered, all with different languages and understanding of what was required of them, making even simple communication difficult at times.
The whole situation made him despair. It wasn't as if they were a bad bunch, but he didn't want to see their lives thrown away for no reason. Sending troops in this state to the front was a sure way to get them killed. Unfortunately, the general seemed to think they could be fighting fit within days. As it stood, Koenig could barely expect them to be ready for duty as security personnel in the rear in that time.
"Please sir, I served with the eastern army before I joined the 203rd. We were always warned that any fight with the Federation would be incredibly costly, they need to be ready." He pressed, desperate to try and get his concerns across. "I don't want to see their lives wasted because we didn't train hard enough."
Koenig saw a slight twitch in the general's eye and his smile started to fade. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the third man in the room, the man who they had truly been trying to win over with their arguments.
"Ha! I had heard that Degurechaff was meticulous with her training regimen, it must have rubbed off on you eh Captain Koenig?" Joseph Bech, the Letzenbourg Prime minister interjected with a laugh. "And it seems you gained a measure of His highness' compassionate streak too. You could learn a little something from him, Frederik. I'm told you're not nearly as approachable as Prince Wilhelm."
"As you say minister." Van Blyandt replied impassively with a nod before shooting a disapproving look at Koenig.
Well if he wasn't hostile before he is now, he groaned inwardly so much for being diplomatic but at least the PM seems like he's sort of on my side.
"Unfortunately Captain, we do not have the luxury of time to spend on too much training." The Prime minister continued as Koenig felt his heart sink. "The Imperial General Staff has called for a full mobilization of able-bodied troops to fight in the east and we plan to follow the Prince's example and take the fight to the Reds. He is their new Tsar after all haha!"
If he were in the Empire, he would have assumed the Tsar comment was a joke, but in Letzenbourg, he wasn't so sure. News of the raid had spread quickly, but as always, at least in Letzenbourg, the focus was on their heroic warrior prince. It was obvious the declaration was not meant to be taken seriously, but within hours people had been starting to talk as though they were planning a coronation in Ulyanovgrad. Some even spoke as though they expected him to be the Germanic Emperor too; not in a way that implied sedition but with enough certainty that it made Koenig feel deeply uneasy.
"Please sir, they really aren't ready yet." He pleaded once more, desperately trying to think of something to keep the militia from the front until they had a decent chance of defending themselves.
What would the major do? He wondered, envisioning her cat-like grin; she always saw things differently somehow. She'd find an alternative
"Maybe you could send the city garrison instead?" He suggested, the idea falling from his mouth before he really had time to consider it. "They're already trained and just as willing to fight!"
It wasn't a great suggestion, the Letzenbourg regulars were also undertrained compared to Imperial troops and security forces were always considered layabouts by those on the front lines. However, they at least should know what they are doing, some might have even seen action.
"But then who will defend our fair city?" Van Blyandt interjected, glaring at Koenig once again despite his polite tone.
"The militia, we can work their duties into their training and when the next batch of recruits arrive, we can switch them out and deploy the trained troops." Koenig wondered where all this was coming from, he almost felt as though his mouth was moving of its own accord. Fortunately, his hasty and ill-thought-out suggestion seemed to impress the Prime minister.
"Excellent idea my boy! I'm certain I've heard some of the guards grumbling about ceremonial duties, they'll be thrilled to get at those damned reds!" He declared with an expansive grin, getting up from his chair and slapping Koenig on the back. "We can give the militia another two weeks to work out the kinks and send the prince his personal guard in the meantime! Willem, see to it straight away will you?"
Koenig's heart sank. He'd hoped to gain at least two months, not weeks, he wasn't sure how much he could improve the militia in that time. However, both the minister and the General had decided the matter settled and he doubted he had anything left to change their minds. Besides, there was still one more thing he wanted to bring up with the chief minister.
"Sir, there was one more thing." He began carefully, knowing that it was something that the fanatical Letzenbourgers were unusually sensitive about. "The child soldiers. The mascots I mean. I–"
"Not this nonsense again!" Snapped General Van Blyandt irritably, finally giving up his veneer of politeness in favour of open hostility. "I have explained at length the Letzenbourg tradition of taking in youngsters without homes to perform menial jobs and learn from the soldiers. Why even Prince Wilhelm took inspiration from this! Yet unlike his highness' volunteer mages, these are not soldiers! They are perfectly safe."
"But General, you have them learning to use grenades and firearms! They believe they'll be sent to the front with the others and if anything, seem even more determined to fight than the regulars!" Koenig pressed, already feeling himself losing the argument.
"Prince Wilhelm and your Major are fighting, how is this any different?" Van Blyandt retorted with a tone that suggested he'd had enough, yet Koenig was determined to push on.
"There is an exception for mages, it's said we mature faster, but even I'm not convinced the Prince and Major should be out there." He countered, trying but failing to imagine the major doing anything else but being a soldier. She was different from a normal child, but then again so was Prince Wilhelm. Regardless, he knew deep down the Letzenbourg children shouldn't be with them in the barracks. "Some of these kids are even younger than the Prince and Major, they should be playing war not actually fighting it!"
"I understand your concern Captain, but we are at war. What's wrong with letting the little ones feel like they're doing their part?" The Minister cut in diplomatically, placing himself between him and the general to ease the tension in the room.
"Doing their part is one thing, sir." He began, thinking of the hate-filled looks of the Hausmann boy and the other mascots as they talked about taking the fight to the enemy. "But it seems to me you're training them to kill for their country."
Suddenly the usually cheerful prime minister's face went dark and Koenig felt a twist of anxiety in his stomach.
"And why shouldn't they? They saw what the Francois did to us! They lived through it and lost their families in the process! Why shouldn't they be allowed to do everything in their power to protect themselves and prevent it happening again?" The man yelled angrily at him, spittle flowing from his mouth as he raged.
Both Koenig and Van Blyandt stood stunned and silent at the man's sudden outburst, uncertain of how to react. Neither had seen the jovial man so much as frown before let alone get angry. The minister glared at him as he huffed, out of breath from his sudden outburst, before regaining control of his temper, shrinking slightly as he retook his seat.
"My apologies Captain, I didn't mean to yell." He said eventually staring down at his desk distantly. "I was not in the city during our brief occupation, but every day I'm told stories of how brutal the Francois treated our people. Just yesterday a mother told me about her young daughter Lily. She was a feisty one so I'm told, perhaps too much so. She and her friends would often throw stones at the enemy soldiers stationed here. One day, the soldiers had enough of her and they took her behind an alley and…."
The man's words trailed off and Koenig heard the man stifle a sob. Koenig didn't know how to reply. Even the highly disciplined Imperial soldiers had been known to commit terrible crimes during their service; that was why the military police existed. He'd always hated those that sunk to such levels and fully agreed with the harsh punishments meted out against them. But he'd never thought about how the civilians coped after the punishment.
"If any enemy tries to take this city again, I won't be running to Berlun this time." He said, his voice shaking slightly. "I will let every man woman and child arm themselves against that sort of barbarity. That includes the mascots!"
The room fell silent. Koenig could think of nothing more to say to the man. The Prime minister's declaration was final.
Both he and Van Blyandt were shepherded out of the man's office soon after, the General not so much as acknowledging his presence as they went their separate ways. Koenig found himself at a loss as he made his way towards the lobby, his stump aching terribly as he walked. It was as though the entire city was suffering Trauma, what could he possibly do to make them see sense?
He understood the Letzenbourgers' anger at the Francois, he too had heard the stories and to say he was appalled was an understatement. However, the mindset of both the politicians and the citizens of this country had warped into something so foreign to him that he struggled to understand it. They were recklessly willing to throw everything at whatever they perceived as an enemy, even their children. Even their future.
He couldn't allow it. He didn't give a damn about what the General and Prime minister said. Now he'd been away from the front he'd realised how monstrous it was for children to be fighting in this war, even if they were magically gifted.
I may not be able to stop the militia from throwing their lives away but I'll be damned if I let those kids anywhere near the front. He thought to himself as he saw his aide Reinhardt Haussmann rushing forward to greet him. He'd only known the boy's father for a short time but he knew that he wouldn't want this for his son.
Dietrich if you're up there, I swear I won't let anything happen to him.
19th March Unified Year 1926 13:40
General Zettour's office, Offices of the General Staff, Berlun
Rerugen sat with a hand clasped around his stomach as he listened to the distant cheers of the citizens outside the offices of the general staff. People had taken to the streets to celebrate the great counterstrike against the Federation and were singing pro-Imperial songs and holding impromptu street parties all across the country. Some had even begun ringing the church bells, prematurely proclaiming a victory in a war that so many soldiers on the front were still desperately fighting and an upbeat and jovial atmosphere had settled over much of the capital.
Within the General Staff building, it was a very different story however, and a quiet gloom had descended upon all those inside who knew the truth about the situation. There had been nothing but silence in General Zettour's office since he and General von Rudersdorf had arrived to analyse the impact of the raid. No one could quite articulate their thoughts properly; after all, they couldn't exactly complain, Degurechaff had done exactly what she said she would do. She'd surpassed even their grandest expectations for this mission, yet that itself was the problem.
Zettour had not moved from his desk since they had entered, his expression remaining stone-like and impassive as he studied the frontline reports in minutiae; no doubt mentally calculating the allotment of their resources in a similarly precise manner. Meanwhile, General von Rudersdorf sat in a comfortable chair next to a second table of charts and maps that the other man habitually kept strewn around. Silently puffing away on his cigar thoughtfully, while occasionally glancing down at some piece of information that had caught his attention.
Rerugen had elected to sit apart from the others at a nearby coffee table, an area free of General von Zettour's habitual clutter. Reluctantly, he found himself reaching out for the report in front of him once again, hoping that the news would somehow be different upon the hundredth reading. However, all he seemed to achieve was the worsening of his stomach cramps. Bad news always gave him indigestion, particularly when it concerned her.
He tried his best to will the pain in his gut away but with little success, he would have to stop by the pharmacy later for something to calm his stomach. The cramps hadn't been this bad since he'd tried to raise an objection to Degurechaff's admission to the war college. Perhaps, that was the true reason for his abdominal distress, once again he couldn't help but feel partly responsible for her actions. After all, he had spoken in support of Degurechaff's plan, he had trusted that she would be able to achieve the desired results.
He'd been correct in a way, but the results she actually achieved left little to be desired.
Damn you Degurechaff! If you were here, I'd throttle you! He thought to himself as he felt another spasm from his stomach, although he knew he could never do such a thing. Deep down he knew he wouldn't dare, there was something about that doll-like appearance that unnerved him so much he doubted he'd be able to act in self-defence even if she held a knife to his throat. Let alone harm her as she radiated threat with a simple salute and expressionless gaze.
He sighed trying to push the idea of violence out of his mind and focus on his work, he owed it to his superiors to at least try to undo some of the damage his support for the girl had wrought. Somehow the situation felt like a pyrrhic victory despite the massive success of the operation. On a purely military level, the raid had fulfilled its mission parameters, easily realising the strategic goal of forcing the Federation to draw troops from the embattled front lines.
However, the sheer overwhelming success had introduced a greater strategic threat. A political one that no one had thought to consider. Why would they? No one had dreamed that unleashing Degurechaff could yield results like this.
"Well, it looks like I won't need to part with a bottle of my best wine." General von Rudersdorf said eventually with a wry smile as another puff of cigar smoke filled the room. "Although I'm beginning to think I'd be better off without it. I thought she just wanted to cause a distraction, I never would have expected they'd destroy every symbol of the Federation, plant the flag, sing the national anthem and proclaim a new tsar. I see why some call her a mad dog."
"I think it could be said she went too far, but we can hardly complain about our soldiers doing their jobs too well." Zettour returned, drawing a humourless laugh from the other general.
Rerugen remained silent as he listened to Rudersdorf's mirthless laugh. He wasn't surprised that both men were able to rally so quickly to the news where others like himself may become angry or emotional at the sudden paradigm shift. They were both pragmatists at heart, always ready to accept the situation for what it was and move on, regardless of how ridiculous the circumstances were. It was what made them such invaluable staff officers.
He could not agree with the General's assessment of the girl as a mad dog however. If that was all she was, Rerugen would be far less uneasy about her.
"We can at least say the assault was successful in the strategic goal of drawing troops away from the front." Rerugen interjected with the only piece of untainted good news he could gain from the document. Already, they'd seen the enemy advance slow in some places in the wake of the raid, proving that it had at least been successful in this respect.
"True but −" Rudersdorf began but was interrupted by a soft knock at the door.
Rerugen caught Zettour's stoic expression flicker for a moment as a twinge of annoyance reached his features before it disappeared again as he bid the visitor to enter. All of them turned to stare at the intruder but any feeling of irritation directed at the unexpected visitor was quickly dispelled and replaced with surprise as the figure of Crown Prince Adalbert stepped quietly into the room.
"Please, don't get up." He said quietly waving the men to return to their seats as he crossed the room. Rerugen hadn't even realised he had started to stand until the man mentioned it and felt slightly embarrassed as he carefully returned to his seat.
He took the opportunity to study the Crown Prince as he moved to join them, taking a seat opposite him. The man wore his military uniform, although it was largely ceremonial since he had long since retired from active service. He looked tired and sported bags under both eyes and dragged his feat slightly, as though he were both physically and mentally drained. Evidentially he had been the victim of some sleepless nights recently, something Rerugen could relate to all too well.
"Your Highness, to what do we owe this honour?" Zettour asked, allowing a sliver of concern to slip past his stone-like expression. A social call from the future Emperor was far from an everyday occurrence, and certainly not one that would lack pomp and ceremony like this visit.
"I'm merely here as a messenger, or rather I'm here in my capacity as chancellor, rather than as a member of the royal family." He began with a sigh and Rerugen realised the source of the Prince's fatigue.
Since the incident with Canaris, there had been a great deal of reshuffling within the High Command. With the Emperor unsure of exactly who he could trust in his government, he'd elected to give his eldest son the title of chancellor and rebuild the entire cabinet from the ground up. It was an unenviable task, particularly in wartime when all departments of the government needed to project an air of unity, and not all of the Prince's appointments had been well received. He'd even had to bow to the will of the Diet and elevate some of their number into the ruling council, something not popular with the old guard in court or the General Staff. Rerugen had heard many of the Generals complain that too many people elected to the diet were unqualified. They seemed to believe that the people had no idea of the true geopolitical struggles that they faced and allowing them to place a representative of their own anywhere near power was a recipe for disaster.
He wasn't so sure, but he was certain that trying to balance the wishes of the diet, the general staff and the imperial court was no easy task. It was hardly surprising that the crown prince was exhausted.
"I assume you know why I'm here." He continued rubbing his temple, "The rest of the council wanted this to be delivered at an official staff meeting, but I thought..."
There was a notable spike in tension in the room as the prince's words trailed away. Both the usually stoic Zettour and relaxed Rudersdorf seemed to sit up a little straighter and Rerugen couldn't help but notice Rudersdorf's hand reflexively tighten into a fist. Even Rerugen found himself bristling slightly at the man's words.
Although nominally their superiors, the high command did not meddle in the day-to-day running of the military, and it certainly did not sit in on General Staff meetings without an invitation. There had always been a measure of trust between the civilian and military arms of government, neither interfered with the business of the other and they all answered to the emperor.
To suggest a high command representative force themselves into a General Staff meeting was a major breach of that trust and a slap in the face to the honour of the military, especially if the purpose was to admonish them. What were they thinking? The relationship between the High command and General Staff was strained enough already. The recent scandals and reshuffle had left the general staff reluctant to report to the high command at all. Now was the time to try to mend fences not deepen the divide.
Rerugen found himself thankful that Prince Adalbert had been wise enough to foresee the potential political mess they might have made and opted to see them personally. It also explained why he'd donned his uniform rather than his civilian attire, he wanted to at least tacitly give his support to the military, even if his words did not completely echo the sentiment. Rerugen found himself glad the man was around to lead the council in these difficult times, at least someone in the High Command seemed to know what they were doing.
"We all of course applaud the great victory against the Federation capital, however, there are some within the foreign office that fear the officer in charge may have gone too far." The man said and Rerugen noted the slight wince as he spoke. They weren't his words he realised, or rather he wasn't foolish enough to want to say the obvious out loud.
Rerugen spared a glance at the two generals. Zettour remained unmoving, his fingers arched thoughtfully in front of his face as he took in the prince's words, however, he fancied he perceived another flicker of annoyance cross the man's face. Rudersdorf however did not hide his displeasure and his frown only deepened behind the smoke of his cigar as he listened.
"On a personal note, I have read the reports and the minutes from the last general staff meeting and I don't question the decision made. Indeed it seems that Marchese and von Brok thought the raid unlikely to succeed at all." He continued, his tone shifting in an attempt to mollify the mood of the generals. "And as for Major Degurechaff, I believe her intentions were honourable but she has been a little overzealous in the implementation of her duties. I would appreciate it if you assign her to less politically sensitive missions in the future, particularly if my cousin is still serving with her."
Rerugen winced slightly at the mild rebuke. None of them had considered the implications of sending Prince Wilhelm on the raid, they had been too busy dealing with the fallout of the sudden attack to think about it. It must have been quite a scene in the Imperial court to hear the story of one of their number being proclaimed the new Russy Tsar during such a politically calamitous operation. Even if it were nothing more than a childish stunt. He doubted the Emperor would have approved.
"However it has made things rather difficult." He went on, furrowing his brow as his tone became more serious. "The Foreign minister reports that all diplomatic contact with the Federation has been severed. Even the more unofficial channels and third-party routes have been closed; some doubt if they'll ever make diplomatic contact ever again. In short, there is currently no chance of a ceasefire or negotiated settlement for the foreseeable future."
They were prepared for this, it was something they'd all expected since they'd learned of the extent of Degurechaff's rampage. Yet the words hung in the air uncomfortably amongst the sounds of bells and celebration outside.
"I see, then we have no choice but to beat them in the field." General von Rudersdorf stated matter-of-factly, seemingly unfazed by the seriousness of the crown prince's comment. Coming from anyone else it might have seemed like empty bravado but Rerugan had served with the man long enough to know it was not so. It was not just that the man was confident, although it was a trait he held in abundance, but that he was used to focusing on the objective rather than worrying about the consequences if they failed.
"Colonel, how many divisions have they committed to this offensive?"
"Latest intelligence suggests a hundred and seventy-five divisions across the entire front." Rerugen replied quickly, comfortably falling back into his familiar role of support for the two generals. "This is not including the forces we have observed moving back in the wake of Degurechaff's raid."
"So many?" He heard Prince Adalbert whisper under his breath as his face began to pale slightly.
"They either have a tremendous amount of confidence in the security of their other regions or more in reserve than we feared, and they aren't even fully mobilised yet." Rudersdorf replied thoughtfully, either ignoring or unaware of the prince's worry as he turned to Zettour. "How many have we got to hold them?"
"Since things quietened down in the west, we've managed to take what we can and move it east but that still only gives Eastern Command sixty divisions." Zettour replied not needing to check his reports for confirmation of the numbers. "I've also scrounged up five more from the former Entente Alliance, three mechanised divisions and three more infantry divisions from our mobile reserve."
"So once the hundred divisions of the Great Army are fully committed, we will be on somewhat equal footing." Rudersdorf observed thoughtfully, taking another puff from his cigar. Rerugen could almost see the cogs in his mind begin to turn as he considered how best to deploy the forces to counter the Federation advance. However, it was the change in Zettour that made Rerugen pause, for the first time in the entire meeting he saw the man's expression morph into a deep frown.
"About that, I had a report from the personnel department this morning, full mobilisation is probably not doable. We can only move about another sixty divisions of the Great Army." The usually stoic man reported as his face betrayed his frustration.
"What?! That's nowhere near as many as the Interior lines strategy requires!"
"Another two weeks and I can get you maybe thirty more, but they'll mostly be raw recruits, second-string security divisions from the rear and the Letzenbourg forces. But don't expect them to be well equipped, they are mostly using whatever we managed to seize from the former republic. As for machine guns and the heavier equipment, our troops before the Rhine were better equipped." Zettour replied bluntly, his tone implying he'd done everything in his power to even achieve that much. "There's no way to get the other ten. The Rhine and the other offensives robbed us of too many key officers to replace in such a short time."
"What the Hell happened?" Rudersdorf replied with a mixture of incredulity, anger and confusion. Feelings that Rerugen found himself echoing, at least in part. "This isn't the first I've heard about equipment shortages but manpower?"
"I'm ashamed to say but I only heard about it this morning, the deputy director of the service corps is responsible for equipment and training. Personnel deal with our manpower and they report to the Supreme Command." Zettour replied with a humourless smile, as his eyes darted towards the Crown Prince.
"I haven't heard anything!" Prince Adalbert interjected seeming slightly panicked. "I knew we'd taken losses on the Rhine of course but no one told me things had gotten so bad! I haven't heard anyone on the council talk about it!"
Rerugen believed the poor man. It was likely that the personnel department had either no one to report to because of the turmoil in the High command or had felt it wasn't an urgent matter to bring up due to the limited fighting on the eastern and southern fronts. However, the crown prince seemed distraught about the news.
"Bureaucracy in action eh?" Rudersdorf snorted derisively, as the prince seemed to sink further and further into his seat. "We could have this war won in a week without it. Still, I'm confident our troops are qualitatively superior we'll make do."
"You've decided your strategy then?" Zettour asked although they already knew the answer.
"I'd like to start with a counteroffensive in the north. The enemy on the former Entente border are more isolated and it'll be easier to overwhelm them before they can react." He replied taking another drag of his cigar.
Rerugen unconsciously found himself nodding in agreement. It was the part of the border that was the least defended and the enemy attack vector with the least numbers. It had always been General Rudersdorf's favoured tactic to try and take out the enemy piecemeal where possible.
"The north? But the Federation is pushing into Imperial territory! Our heartlands!" Prince Adalbert interjected, looking even paler as he leapt to his feet. "We can't possibly allow them to take another step on our soil!"
The room fell silent once again, as the sounds of celebration continued to filter in from outside. Both General's turned to stare at the crown prince, not in an unkind way, but it reminded Rerugen of a look a parent might give a child who tried to join in with an adult conversation
"Your Highness, the interior lines strategy is specifically designed for this." Zettour began softly as he moved from behind his desk and placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. Again Rerugen couldn't help feeling as though it were a father trying to explain a difficult concept to a child. "We have significant defences deep into our eastern borders that can delay the enemy for months if necessary and the Dacian Mountains are a natural obstacle to the enemy in our south. If we ignore the north we risk the Federation seizing the former Entente and opening another front."
"But…The manpower… You said…"
"That is why it is imperative to attack each force individually to make use of our national strength and in the meantime, you can work on implementing a change in conscription law." He continued almost soothingly as he guided the prince back to his seat. "Don't worry, we'll explain our plans in detail to you and the rest of the Supreme High Command."
"Ye…yes...that would be best." He stuttered as he slumped into his chair. Rerugen couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the man, he had been stressed enough with simply dealing with the Empire's internal politics; learning all this could not be good for his mental health. Perhaps it really was a good thing that the military kept itself so removed from the civilian branch. He even seemed to be trembling. "You…you seem to have a much better understanding of things than I do."
"Still, it wouldn't hurt to give the home front a bit of a boost eh?" Rudersdorf cut in, bringing the rest of them back to the topic at hand. "How about we send her unit?"
Rerugen couldn't help but notice a small smile creep up on Rudersdorf's face.
"So soon after their last mission?" Zettour replied as a similar smile began to stain his features.
"Why not? Considering how much damage she did in Moscau, she must be itching to get back into battle."
19th March Unified Year 1926 08:00
Visdel Military base, Former Norden Territory
Tanya did her best to suppress a smile as a loud cheer filled the room behind her. It was difficult not to feel pleased with yourself after efficiently completing a difficult few days of work. Particularly when your colleagues are already raising a toast to a successful mission.
It made her nostalgic for the days when the Salaryman would go drinking in order to network with clients and promote closer working ties with his team. It had been a long time since she'd been able to savour some Dassai sake to celebrate the completion of a work project. Unfortunately, both the sake and the bottle of 1921 Riesling that had been confiscated from her and stored away until she was old enough to drink were out of reach for now. However, the celebratory atmosphere was still infectious enough that she couldn't help but enjoy herself.
Despite a few minor inconveniences on the journey, they'd managed to successfully make their way back behind friendly lines after the arrival of the Albion volunteer mages above Moscau. By the time they'd reached the headquarters along the Legadonian-Federation border, news of the raid had already overtaken them and they'd been given a hero's welcome.
Northern Command had even offered to throw a party for them which she'd been more than happy to accept. It was important to reward your subordinates for good work, especially if someone else was picking up the bill. Despite this, she made sure that Weiss would still dip into his personal booze stash for the festivities. It was also important for supervisors to keep their word after all.
A second cheer went up as Weiss or one of the others produced the promised crate of alcohol and Tanya finally gave in and allowed her mouth to form a satisfied grin. There was something uniquely gratifying about hearing her faithful subordinates enjoying themselves. It was odd, it wasn't something she ever recalled noticing before, even in her past life.
Obviously, she and Visha would not be joining in with the drinking, although she wouldn't have complained if a glass accidentally came her way. But that didn't mean they were completely excluded from the festivities.
Aside from the inevitable game of cards that Visha would subject everyone to, the older girl had managed to find some fruit, cream, sugar and other various ingredients to make a parfait. They were mostly canned and dehydrated goods of course, this was the military after all. But her adjutant had done a fantastic job with what she had on hand and Tanya found herself very much enjoying the sweet treat the girl had provided.
I never used to be one for desserts, but this body has much more of a sweet tooth than my old one. I might as well make the most of it and enjoy myself. She thought happily as she spooned a cream-covered strawberry into her mouth. It had always felt a little strange that some of the tastes of her past life had not carried over to the new one but since she could derive some pleasure from the difference, she thought it better to embrace it.
"I'm glad you like it Major." Visha grinned from behind the counter, causing Tanya to redden slightly with embarrassment. She obviously wasn't hiding the pleasure from she derived from the treat all that well and she was painfully aware of how her childlike form cheerfully snacking on desserts might look. She didn't think it would do too much to erode her professional image; she'd spent years cultivating that by now and it wasn't as though her ego was as fragile as a certain minuscule captain's. But it was still slightly humiliating to be seen this way.
"Indeed, my compliments to the chef." She returned quickly, raising a napkin to her mouth in an effort to hide her discomfort, as well as any stray specks of cream that would exacerbate her embarrassment. "Not having any yourself?"
Tanya's eyes strayed towards an identical dessert sitting untouched in front of her adjutant as she cleaned up the mess from her creating her delicious dish. Part of her was tempted to ask for seconds but since she was already at risk of being thought of as childish she thought better of it. Still, perhaps I should ask her to refrigerate some for later.
"I have enough left to make myself a fresh one." The older girl replied glancing over towards the empty chair by Tanya's side with a worried frown. "I made enough for Prince Wilhelm too. I thought it might help cheer him up."
Tanya felt the taste of her treat sour slightly in her mouth at the mention of the boy. Once again, he was proving to be a major thorn in her side but somehow it felt worse this time. At least in the past, she'd eventually been able to figure out his motives. This time he seemed to be acting contrary to everything she knew about him.
Previously, everything he'd ever done was tied to either the debt he believed he owed to being X or protecting his "saintly" image. Although she still didn't quite understand the particulars of the former, he was convinced it could be achieved by destruction on the battlefield. This had made him bloodthirsty and desperate to fight so he could remove his curse as quickly as possible. Even going so far as to provoke further confrontations to do so, as he had in Letzenbourg and during the Francois retreat from Brest.
As for the latter, that was essentially what kept him in check; and got him what he wanted. Not only did he use the image of the Saint to hide his true motive from the world but he also used it to enhance his already formidable skill at persuasion and manipulation. It was both a strength and a weakness that Tanya had been able to exploit to keep him under control from time to time.
However, his actions during the raid didn't match either of his usual modus operandi. Rather than eagerly charging at the enemy so he could pay his so-called debt, he had been extremely reluctant to attack the communists at all. And rather than acting as his saintly persona would usually demand, he had spent the majority of the mission openly complaining and begging for them to withdraw. Some of his reluctance might be explained by his irrational fear of the communists but she couldn't believe that was all there was. Especially since he'd managed to pull himself together so quickly when the Commonwealth volunteer mages had arrived.
Yet despite even that, he remained anxious even once they reached the Northern base; he hadn't even bothered to join the victory celebration. The rest of the troops seemed to have dismissed his behaviour as that of "kind" prince Wilhelm saddened by the escalation of the war, but she knew better. For him, more war should be a good thing.
"I don't think he'll be coming, you should have that one yourself and save the rest for later." She replied eventually between spoonfuls and privately pleased that there would indeed be some leftovers to exploit later. Still, Wilhelm's behaviour couldn't be allowed to stand, she would need to have another talk with him and get him to man up. She could not allow his poor behaviour to affect her evaluation.
"Will you go see him?" The older girl asked expectantly, her blue eyes betraying a strange look of concern. She also became acutely aware that the celebration behind her had also become suspiciously muted and a glance over her shoulder told her that there were more than a few officers attempting to surreptitiously listen in on their conversation. Particularly from Grantz and the Letzenbourg contingent.
You could at least try to be stealthy, she grumbled internally while making a mental note to put the offenders through a particularly gruelling training mission whenever the next opportunity arose. However, she also noticed the odd glance in her direction from some of the others too and she let out a sigh as she began to understand.
It could be difficult for workers to let their hair down in this sort of situation when their boss was around, particularly with the booze flowing and inhibitions relaxed. Usually, this tension would be lowered as the boss would be actively involved, and maybe even providing the drinks as Weiss had. However, in her case, this was an impossibility.
The understanding that her inability to join in with the celebration as a good supervisor was expected made her realise another thing, the way she looked was probably off-putting too. In her past life she wouldn't have dreamed of getting drunk in front of a young girl, not only was it embarrassing, but it was also a bit of a social taboo. That was part of the reason children weren't allowed in beer halls after all. Visha was old enough to not cause too much discomfort, particularly since she would likely be the one to encourage secondary activities such as music and gambling. However, Tanya was more of a hindrance to proceedings.
How careless of me, I'm ruining my loyal subordinate's free time. Feeling slightly disappointed despite herself. I wouldn't want to be thought of as a tyrannical employer that doesn't let her employers enjoy themselves. I'm not a communist after all.
"This parfait really is delicious Lieutenant." She said ignoring her adjutant's question for the moment as she quickly finished the last of her dessert. "Unfortunately I'm not used to such rich food, I may have made myself a little ill."
It was an obvious lie of course, but it would allow her to extract herself from the party and allow her subordinates to unwind. She also made sure to phrase it so that Visha wouldn't feel insulted by her words either. Everyone knew she'd been raised in an orphanage and she'd rarely had the opportunity to eat foods like this, and the military rarely provided anything better than K-brot. It would hardly be surprising that a growing girl might feel a little sick after eating too much.
"I think I'm going to go and rest." She said hopping off her stool and giving Weiss a sideways grin. "I imagine I won't feel better for at least twenty-four hours and I most definitely won't want to be disturbed for anything that isn't urgent. I'll see to Captain Hozollern before I retire."
I'm such a considerate supervisor, she thought as she exited the officers' mess. No doubt her loyal war hounds would now return to happily enjoying their free time by drowning their brain cells in beer. Meanwhile, she would have to be content with catching up with some rest; it had been a busy few days after all. Unfortunately, she would have to deal with Wilhelm first.
The air was chill as she stepped out into early evening gloom, instinctively letting out a shiver as her boots crunched on the light dusting of snow that still persisted in Norden. Spring may have forced winter from the Empire but its influence still persisted in the occupied Legadonian territories. She hoped the cold would pass soon; she recalled dozens of horror stories about fighting when General Winter was around.
She yawned as her feet took her back towards her billet. The battalion's senior officers, including Wilhelm, had been assigned some private rooms in one of the barracks on the far side of the base. Since there was little to do out here, and since the annoying little captain had decided to be antisocial again, it stood to reason that he would be somewhere in the area. Hopefully, she could get his reprimand over and done with quickly so she could get an early night.
It didn't take long to find him. Much like when he had been sulking in the south he had decided to slink off towards the perimeter of the camp, once again staring at the blade of his sword as though it held some secret that needed to be deciphered. He was not immune to the cold however, and was wearing his long black great coat, still ripped and battered from the last time she'd seen him wearing it in Letzenbourg.
Beyond the fence, there was a thick forest and to her surprise, there were a few distant flashes from the fighting on the front lines. Despite both the weather and the humiliating defeat they'd been handed, the commies were still trying to press the assault up here. Still, judging by the atmosphere in the base, they were in no immediate danger.
"Not celebrating your great victory?" The boy muttered sardonically as she approached, not bothering to take his eyes off his sword. Tanya would not rise to his bait this time however, she was a professional with a job to do after all.
"I think we need to talk about your recent performance Captain Hozollern." She stated bluntly, drawing on the Salaryman's wealth of experience in reprimanding underperforming employees. "Your recent behaviour is not consistent with what is expected of an Imperial soldier. You failed to adequately take the fight to the enemy and actively resisted my orders. You need to change your attitude and improve your numbers."
Her speech was almost a copy of one she'd delivered in her past life, with some contextual changes for the situation of course, but she thought it an acceptable verbal warning. She was all too aware that taking further action would be troublesome, the boy still had friends in high places and had a nasty habit of making things difficult when he wanted to. Besides, she still wanted the boy around so she could keep an eye on him. However, she could not allow him to drag her battalion down and more often than not a verbal rebuke was enough to improve performance.
The boy was silent for a moment, tearing his eyes from the blade for the first time to stare at something beyond the fence before he spoke again.
"My numbers…" Wilhelm murmured as his fingers tightened on the hilt of his blade and she could feel his anger rise. Had she not known better, she might have thought the boy would attack her but instead, he quickly sheathed his blade and spun on his heel to glare at her.
"And what about you're performance? The one where you singlehandedly destroyed any chance of preventing a full-scale war with the Federation!" He snarled advancing on her. "The performance where you dragged us into an extended conflict we don't need to be fighting!"
Tanya blinked with confusion, unable to understand what the boy was blathering about. Had his warped views completely misinterpreted the situation they were in?
"What are you talking about? Have you forgotten that they attacked us? There are thousands of commies charging over the border as we speak!" She replied, gesturing at the distant flashes beyond the fence. "Chances of peace were lost when they unlawfully crossed into Imperial territory!"
"So why weren't we fighting them there?! If we could have beaten them back at the front, we could have opened up negotiations, maybe cede some land in exchange for peace!"
Tanya almost laughed out loud, surely the little captain couldn't be that naive. He was supposed to be a political expert.
"We discussed the reason for the attack at length, it was a strategic decision to draw their forces away from the front line." She began, dismissing the question with ease as she fixed him with a condescending grin. "And as for any treaty? We had one of those and it didn't stop them from launching an unprovoked attack. Any deal signed by the commies isn't worth the paper it's written on. At best it would just buy time for them to regain their strength and try again. I'm surprised that didn't make it into your vaunted thesis."
"You still didn't have to go so far! We could have just attacked some military targets to draw away troops!" The boy pressed, frustration mounting as he became unusually flustered by her mocking tone. "Why did you feel the need to utterly humiliate them?"
"Because they are communists!" She snapped at him. She didn't know why it was so difficult for him to understand but she'd had enough of his defence of the followers of the inferior creed. "Their entire system is set up to erase free will through brainwashing propaganda and symbols of their ideology. Their entire organisation is inherently flawed. Taking away their symbols takes away the ability of their insane leaders to enslave their populace. No sane person would choose to be communist, especially when their falsehoods are laid bare."
Wilhelm stared at her, his thoughts unreadable save for the frustration staining his features. She became aware that she had allowed her emotions to overwhelm her for a moment, an unforgivable lapse on her part. Her point was still valid of course, however, allowing her personal feelings to taint her argument was not the right way to win a debate. Particularly against someone who could be so irrational as Wilhelm. Honestly, why do you always bring out the worst in me?
"Kick the door down and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down. Is that what you think?" He asked eventually in a low growl and Tanya felt a sudden knot of anxiety. It wasn't the tone that caused it however, it was the words themselves. She'd heard that phrase used in relation to communists before.
However, at its core, the idea held true; particularly since the commies were fighting an offensive war. The situation was different from the salaryman's world, events may be similar but they were very different and therefore malleable and exploitable to change. In the old world, the Eastern front had been a war of flawed ideologies but things were different here, the Empire was fighting in self-defence, not at the whims of a moustached madman.
Aggression was the key here. Soviet Aggression in the Afgan-Soviet war had led to the collapse of the USSR in her old world, the same could be achieved with the Federation and Empire in this one. As the defender, the Empire had the moral high ground and as long as they could hold, they would see the end of the communists to the east. Body bags were a more effective symbol for the average citizen than a hammer and sickle, especially when there is no reason for the soldier in it to be sent to fight in the first place.
"You could put it that way." She answered carefully, still wondering where the boy had picked up the phrase. "Few people are willing to die for an ideology they don't really believe in."
"And what if they find something else to fight for?" He asked quietly, his voice darkening.
Tanya found herself staring at the boy once again, he clearly had no idea of how the communists worked. There was only a handful of people that actually believed their nonsense, and even they weren't the ones running the country. It was a dictatorship that controlled the markets with the disguise of "socialist values", most people were only kept in line by fear. Once the leadership could no longer project that fear why would anyone fight for them? Why would they find any reason to fight for their oppressor? No rational human being would do something like that. She tried to find the words to drill the idea into Wilhelm's thick head but the boy had not finished yet.
"Worse still, what if our other enemy attacks again?" He asked, his voice now almost a whisper as he shook slightly, his eyes darting back towards the fence for a brief moment.
Ah, I understand now, this isn't about the communists at all. The boy had been shaken by whatever Being X had tried to do over the Federation capital. Honestly, he was his paranoia was too much. The power of her opponent had been unusual to be sure, it had reminded her of the man she'd faced when the Allied Kingdon had tried to intervene on the Rhine. However, if suicidal zealots were all being X could muster, they had nothing to fear; a rational mind would always win out over blind fanaticism.
"I told you I killed that soldier, there is nothing to worry about on that front."
"But what if…" He began pressing but his words trailed off as he noticed something behind her, his expression morphing into a mix of surprise and concern. "…Sophia?"
Tanya turned to see the second Zerbist sister striding towards them and she felt a smile begin to tug at her cheek. It appeared reinforcements had arrived. The woman may have been loyal to Wilhelm but she also had his best interests in mind. She too would doubtlessly be confused about the boy's odd behaviour recently, if all went well she could leave Captain Zerbist to babysit the brat while he pulls himself together.
"Your Highness, Major." She saluted as she came to a halt in front of them before passing Tanya her transfer notice. "I'm returning and ready for duty."
"Duty? I won't allow it, go home!" The boy bit back quickly, his voice slightly panicked upon seeing his exiled underling. However, Tanya wasn't about to let this descend into another pointless argument. This was a good opportunity to hurry up and get back on track.
"You don't have the authority to do that Wilhelm, I arranged to have her brought back." She replied with a smile as the boy rounded on her and fixed her with another hateful glare.
"Impossible! I made sure that she'd be kept from active duty. They wouldn't listen to your word over mine." The boy snarled, reaching to grasp her collar. Fortunately for him, Captain Zerbist stepped between them before he could do something that he would live to regret.
"Please calm down your Highness, this wasn't Major Degurechaff's doing." The woman interjected as Wilhelm did his best to ignore the older woman and continue to glare at her instead. "I appealed to Colonel Rerugen in person to allow my reinstatement, he hadn't yet made a decision before then. The choice to return is entirely mine."
Wilhelm's gaze flickered between the two of them for a moment, his expression registering something between anger and hurt as he absorbed this information. As for herself, she found herself feeling a little disappointed that it hadn't been her own letter to Colonel Rerugen that had been responsible for the woman's return. She'd thought she had a little more influence in the organisation at this point, she would have to redouble her efforts to impress her superiors.
Finally, Wilhelm tore his gaze from them and strode back towards the fence, staring out at the trees once again with fist tightly gripped on the hilt of his sword. He seemed to murmur something at the treeline but his voice was too quiet for her to make out the words. She was tempted to remind him of a certain saying about talking to oneself but decided she'd antagonised him enough for one day. It was better that she finish her business here and let the boy cool off.
"Now that Captain Zerbist has returned I expect a marked improvement in your performance." She began breaking the silence as Wilhelm remained silent and unmoving. "This includes when facing the Federation. We have another Captian now, should you not improve you can be replaced. Understood?"
Unsurprisingly, the Zerbist woman opened her mouth to object however a subtle gesture from Wilhelm swiftly silenced her. It was largely an empty threat, with how loyal the Zerbist sisters were to Wilhelm she doubted she could ever manage to make it happen, and Wilhelm himself would no doubt make trouble for her with the higher-ups if she tried. However, she was certain the shame was enough to force him to act more professionally.
"I understand perfectly. Is there anything else commander?" He replied through his teeth, causing Tanya to smile once more. Despite his usual bratty tendencies, he'd decided to suck it up to grin and bear it this time, maybe he was finally starting to grow up.
"Just one more thing." She replied turning away from him and making her way back to her room. "Welcome back Captain Zerbist."
XxxxxxxX
Sophia stood in silence beside her prince as the Major stalked off back to her room, unsure if things would be more or less awkward now that she'd been left alone with the boy. He had barely looked at her since she'd interrupted their conversation and now that the girl had left, he seemed to be doing his best to ignore her. Choosing instead to turn away from her and stare back through the fence towards the distant fighting.
It was obvious he was upset with her. He had initially been shocked to see her but now he practically radiated anger; she could feel it without seeing the boy's face. His shoulders shook slightly and his white fingers were curled tightly into tiny fists. The worst part was the silence however, she began to understand what people meant when they said that silence is deafening.
She had expected he wouldn't be happy with her disobeying his wishes, and she thought she was prepared for it. However, now she stood next to him, the anxiety bubbling up in her stomach felt almost unbearable. She wished he would say something, anything to break the tense quiet that sat like a barrier between them. But then she thought of what would come next; when she learned the true scale of her prince's disappointment with her and despite all her mental preparation, she had no idea what he might say.
She felt a lump in her throat but did her best to force it down and control her emotions. He may not have liked it, but she was doing this for him. She knew he'd sent her away because he feared for her safety, but that was precisely why she had to come back. He was in just as much danger as she and Christina were, more even. She couldn't go home and hide knowing he was out here fighting. What's more, he was only a child, an incredibly gifted one perhaps but still only a young boy. He couldn't do everything alone.
Most importantly, he was family. Maybe not in a literal sense but the prince, herself and her sister had been together for too long to be anything less. They were all they had in this world. He'd been unloved by his father and brother, but he'd always cared for her and her sister. She wouldn't be able to look herself in the mirror if she abandoned him in his time of need. If she couldn't get him away from the front lines, she would stay there beside him, even if it meant him hating her for it. She was certain Christina would do the same.
"How is she?" He whispered quietly, still unmoving and still unwilling to look her way.
She felt a sudden wave of relief at the boy's words. She'd expected his first words to her to be an angry admonishment or perhaps some declaration of disappointment. Hopefully, the question about her sister was an olive branch of sorts, a way for them to forgive each other without acknowledging the hurt they might feel about the situation.
"She still hasn't woken up yet." She replied, feeling slightly worried as the prince seemed to shrink slightly at the news. "But the doctors say it could be any time now. When we're next in the capital you should come with me to visit her, I'm sure she'll…"
Her words trailed off as the boy turned and glared at her. His was filled with fury that bordered on hatred and although it shocked her to see such a look like that directed at her from him, it was not the worst thing she saw. He looked physically pained, as though simply mentioning Christina had cut him right to his core and the redness around his eyes told her he hadn't been shaking with anger, he'd been crying.
She moved to pull him into a comforting hug but the boy pulled away from her and the anger in his glare intensified.
"Why would I want to see her? So that if she wakes up she can tell me how much she hates me now? So she can tell me I've ruined her life? I already know that! She'll be better off not seeing me again. Maybe she can still make something for herself." The boy spat the words with such vitriol Sophia almost felt like she'd been physically struck. Despite the source of the hate being directed predominantly at himself, she felt her heart ache for him as the boy lashed out.
He still blamed himself for Christina's injuries, that much was clear, but she never could have guessed it had affected him so deeply. Christina wouldn't want this for him, she would never blame him for what happened. She like her wanted to protect him. However, she could tell the prince wasn't ready to accept that. The look on his face made her doubt he would even accept the truth from Christina.
"And you!" He growled, his voice growing darker as his pained frown deepened. "I told you to go back, I told you to stay with her! You'd be better off without me too! But instead, you go behind my back and plot with Tanya and Rerugen to betray me!"
The words stung far more than she could have ever expected, she knew he would be angry but to view it as a betrayal? A breach of trust? To think he would ever consider that to be the case filled her with a mix of anger and sadness. Did he really think she'd done this just to spite him? After all, they'd been through together?
No, he doesn't mean it, he's worried and upset. She reassured herself, doing her best to push aside her feelings. It would do neither of them any good for this to descend into an argument. Besides, it had taken all she had to go against his orders to come back, she wasn't sure she had it in her to argue with him to his face.
"I will never forgive you for that."
The final words hit like a shot through the heart. Not simply the words themselves but the icy and near-emotionless manner in which they were delivered. The shock of his cold pronouncement made her feel sick and her body weak, as though his words had somehow stolen all the energy she had. But worst of all, was the pain in her chest, the physical manifestation of the heartache she was feeling.
I swore I would be by your side, even if you hate me for it. She reminded herself, squeezing her eyes shut to halt the tears she felt forming at the corners of her eyes. She had told herself again and again that she was prepared for this, but she heard the words from his mouth, she realised there was no way to ready herself for those words. How could you prepare for the pain of knowing one of the ones you loved would hate you forever more?
Still, she would do anything for the sake of her little prince. Even endure his enmity.
There was a sudden thud against her stomach, almost causing her to fall backwards. Her eyes jerked open reflexively and she looked down in time to see her little prince wrap his arms around her waist and pull her into a tight hug.
She froze for a moment not sure of how to react as the boy squeezed a little tighter. However, as she heard a small sob from the little prince she found herself moving automatically, pulling him closer with one hand and running the other through his hair soothingly.
"I missed you." He said his words muffled through her overcoat.
Despite everything he had said in the last few minutes, Sophia couldn't help but smile as she continued to comfort the boy. She'd been completely taken in by his act. He had been angry she was sure, but he had been putting on an act in order to rebuke her. One that even her perfect little prince couldn't keep up.
"Me too." She replied quietly as she knelt down and hugged him properly. She couldn't be angry at him, he was hurting and suffering in silence here on the front lines. She had at least had Patryk to talk to about what had happened. The prince may have still had the major here, but by the looks of things, their relationship had been rocky since she'd been forced to leave. She may not have been able to help him.
It was right for her to come back, whether he admitted it or not, the prince needed his big sister and although she could never replace Christina, she could still be there for him.
"Well, since you're here to stay for the moment." He said pushing himself free from her embrace and turning away once more, wiping a sleeve across his face in an attempt to wipe away his tears. "We have work to do."
Yes, back to work, back to how things should be, she thought with a smile. It was better to put all this behind them and get back to how things were, or at least as close as they could without Christina.
"Sir." She saluted feeling re-energised, trying not to smile as the young prince tried to hide his embarrassment about crying in front of her. He may be a talented child, but he's still a child.
"I've prepared some messages for some officials but I need to be sure of something first." He began, still sniffling slightly. "How is the foreign ministry taking the news of the raid?"
"From what I've heard from my contacts it's fair to say many in the High command aren't happy." She replied feeling a little confused, she hadn't expected to be thrown a question like this so soon. What was the prince planning? "The foreign minister has even been talking about an enquiry but everyone is sure the General Staff would oppose it. Prince Adalbert is having a difficult time smoothing things over between them."
"I think an enquiry would be a wonderful idea." The prince commented with a hint of a smile as he reached into his pocket and passed her a bunch of letters.
"Could you send these out for me, you always have an easier time getting them through than I do." He continued before frowning slightly as he paused. "The last one is for Patryk, Warrant Officer Fukunaga didn't make it, I'd like the money we put by sent to his family."
Sophia nodded with understanding. The Prince always cared for the families of those who fell fighting alongside him, most didn't see how much it ate away at him when they lost one of their number.
"After that, I think we should go join the others." He continued, masking his previous sadness with levity. "Fighting the Russ is no reason to celebrate but seeing you again is a good reason to party."
Authors notes
Hello everyone and as always thank you all for reading.
This ended up being a bit of a tricky chapter to write. In part because I really struggled with how to properly finish each section (I felt like every part was starting to drag a little bit) and because finally having Tanya and Will have it out with each other was much harder than I thought. I wanted to have them try to explain their views about the raid to each other but also not really understand the other's point of view. I was a little worried it would just make them seem dumb or the fact they are essentially talking past each other would be frustrating. You'll have to let me know how it turned out.
I did enjoy writing Sophia's return however, even if Will comes across as a little dickish in it.
I'm not sure if Koenig and the Letzenbourg section is a little out of place in this chapter but I have a side plot there that I wanted to start getting moving. I thought about moving it to the next chapter but was advised to leave it. So blame my beta reader Vickers if you don't like it haha.
I hope you are all still enjoying the story and thank you again for reading, following, favouriting and reviewing.
Xanen