Chapter 8 Ongoing Operations: The Saint's Mercy
40 years after the Great War
Londinium
In the early spring of 1925, records suggest the Saint and the Devil, were being deployed together. According to contemporary accounts, the Devil took the fight to the Republican forces, while the Saint assisted Imperial troops. This made for a fearsome combination that the Republic struggled to counter. - Andrew WTN Special correspondent
March 9th Unified Year 1925
Central headquarters General staff meeting room B, Berlun
"I feel I must apologise once again sir's," Colonel Erich von Rerugen said bowing humbly in the smoke-filled meeting room. He was joined by Generals Zettour and Rudersdorf, that latter of which was sucking on a large cigar that was filling the room with a thick haze. Rerugen had been distraught to hear his pick for General von Han's advisor had been caught in such a compromising position. The man had been a promising officer, he had known him since his days in personnel, he would likely have been made a member of the general staff if not for this incident. Why would he throw away his career like this?
"We all make mistakes colonel, you weren't to know he was so close to a breakdown" General Zettour consoled, "we're fortunate it happened before his appointment" he finished earning a nod of agreement from Rudersdorf.
"True, a leak at this juncture could jeopardise the entire Rhine front. Although this is an embarrassment, at least it hasn't affected our upcoming plans" Rudersdorf added glancing at Zettour conspiratorially.
"Indeed" Zettour agreed, running a hand through his grey hair. Despite the Generals consoling words, Rerugen couldn't help feeling responsible for the near breach. The General Staff relied on his impressions to make their decisions, if he made mistakes, then they made mistakes and that could be disastrous.
"And it was fortunate Major Degurechaff was on hand to help Von Hans get the front back in order," the General added.
Rerugen took a breath, this was another of his many misgivings about the Rhine situation. During his time in personnel and at the general staff, he had done his utmost to prevent Degurechaff from having too much sway over her commanders. True, on paper, she was a superb soldier, and a model officer in almost every way, but he'd seen behind that façade, how she had acted in the military academy still haunted him, especially when he thought about what she had accomplished thus far. He knew she was a monster in the form of a little girl, but no one else seemed to see it.
It was terrifying enough that so many of her callous ideas had gained so much support with command, but if she somehow found her way into making the policies…. It didn't bear thinking about.
"Excuse me General, it was my understanding that Major Degurechaff was to be kept under the command of the central forces, is it wise to attach her to western command?" he inquired.
"She's still under our command, we're just letting von Hans borrow her for a while" Zettour answered nonchalantly. "Is there anything else colonel? You look concerned."
Rerugan frowned, he wasn't comfortable with Degurechaff having the position, but there was little else he could do about it, however, there was another issue involving the Major that was bothering him.
"I understand that Prince Wilhelm of Letzenbourg has been attached to the 203rd mage battalion," he began trying to keep his voice neutral. "To be frank Sir's, I don't believe that such a close relative of the Imperial family should be allowed anywhere near a warzone, especially after the recent incident" he finished.
The boy was shot down and captured by the enemy, he should never have been put in that situation in the first place he thought with a grimace.
Rudersdorf frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose, while Zettour's face turned sour as he stared out the window, it seemed at he wasn't the only one in the room to share these misgivings.
"I agree with you colonel, but I'm afraid we have limited options" Rudersdorf sighed in frustration. "The prince is in regular contact with the Emperor and has publicly declared he will fight in his Uncle's stead."
"But sir," Erich began before being cut off by Zettour. Both generals were now staring at him intently as if studying his next response.
"The Emperor himself has requested we indulge the prince" Zettour began slowly, "A little friendly advice Colonel, when the Emperor requests something, it's better you don't disobey" he finished with an air of threat. The general faltered however as he saw Ruregen's genuine look of concern.
"We've all tried persuading him to a safer post, but he always begs command to take one of his injured officers in his place," Zettour stated sadly.
Silence mixed with the tobacco smoke in the air, as all three men looked at the floor guiltily. It seemed the prince's reputation as a compassionate and soft-hearted boy was well deserved, he shouldn't have surprised, he'd appeared in the newsreels tearfully saying, "how can I let these brave soldiers fight for me unless I fight for them." Everyone had been moved and it had filled the populace with a sense of national pride in its royal family, even if he was technically a foreign prince, the Empire saw him as one of them. It had been a propaganda extravaganza, he'd been nicknamed 'The Saint' by the troops and recruitment offices had been swamped. Now they were paying for it by sending the poor boy to war, Ruregen worried it would break him.
"I see" he replied slowly, "but is it wise to place him with Major Degurechaff? I have spoken to you about my concerns about her in the past, I worry she may have an adverse effect on him" he finished as diplomatically as he could manage. If he couldn't persuade them to keep him from the front, he should at least try to keep him away from her.
He had to be careful, although both generals respected his opinions, Degurachaff had quickly become a favourite amongst the pair. Pressing his objections too hard may end up having the opposite effect.
"I'm surprised colonel" Zettour replied with genuine bewilderment, "I had expected you would approve, we think that the prince might actually have a moderating effect on her, besides she's more than capable of keeping him out of any more trouble," the general finished confidently.
It would take more than a Saint to moderate that devil Rerugen found himself thinking darkly. He kept it to himself however, the generals had clearly made their decision. One more thing still bothered him though, all those transfers, it was unprecedented.
In his time in personnel, he'd only seen mass transfers like that when there was pressure from above. His blood ran cold, the Prince was a genius true, his intelligence and insights had led several high-ranking politicians to ask his advice from time to time, but he was only 10. What if Degurechaff was using the prince? He wouldn't put it past her, she was considered a hero, and it was rumoured that the prince formed his own mage unit in imitation of her. She could easily manipulate the impressionable young boy.
He had no proof, however, and there was little he could do from here, for now, he would have to keep an eye on things from the capital.
Xxxx
Excerpt from Sgt Jannik Brahns's memoirs
Date of Action: March 12th Unified Year 1925
Rhine Front
It is said that artillery is the god of the battlefield, raining down death upon the enemy from afar like Thor sending lightning to smite his enemies and help the fallen heroes reach Valhalla. What they failed to tell you was the enemy had gods of their own, and they were as vicious and bloodthirsty as yours.
These were my thoughts as I dashed through the exposed trenches, explosions billowing around me as I reached the command dugout. It was a mess, the explosions had left papers and maps strewn across the muddy floor. The lieutenant was yelling desperately down the radio for reinforcements as I arrived, and the Republicans continued to deliver death from their long-range guns.
They were precise, guided by mage spotters too far away for even our snipers to deal with. We were being destroyed piecemeal and there was nothing we could do about it, and I was there to deliver worse news.
"To Hell with procedure! We're being torn apart, we need support!" Shouted the lieutenant at the receiver only to receive static in reply. "DAMNIT!" He shouted hurling the radio across the room, before finally seeing me, the scared and dishevelled private Jannik Brahns.
He looked at me expectantly, clearly hoping for good news. I had none to give, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. We'd already lost our CO, several other officers and NCO's, we were crumbling, and my poor superior was powerless to stop it no matter how hard he tried.
"Sir B trench has collapsed, we've been cut off," I reported seeing the look of defeat on my superior's face. He collapsed into a nearby chair, dropping his head into his shaking hands and I stayed deadly still. I was desperate for him to lead us, but he seemed lost and overwhelmed. My heart sank, my superior didn't know what to do, and connection to reinforcements and command had been severed. We were alone.
I thought of my dearest Ida and wished I could see her smile just one more time. I took her photo from my breast pocket and looked at her for strength, then took a deep breath to compose myself.
"What are our orders, Sir?" I snapped hoping I'd kept the fear from my face. The lieutenant stared bemused for a moment, I let him compose himself, the weight of responsibility forced on him was crushing, he needed time to adjust. I noticed tears in his eyes and desperately tried to ignore them, he had all my fears and probably more.
Eventually, after several deep and staggered breaths he turned to me and looked at me like a doctor bringing bad news, I didn't think my heart could sink further but I braced myself for the worst.
"We are to hold until reinforcements arrive," the Lieutenant said shakily. Despite myself, I couldn't help but ask the question on my mind.
"How long till reinforcements?"
The Lieutenant's eyes looked watery once again and he looked away.
"Unknown," he said picking up the discarded radio, "I'll take this and listen for an ETA."
The message was clear, no one was coming. They'd been left to die.
"Don't give me that look private" the lieutenant began trying to give me a look of encouragement, "it's an honour to die for the Empire" he finished, and we shared a look of comradery. We were no longer officer and subordinate, we would be brothers in Valhalla.
Hell awaited us outside the dugout as soldiers scattered in the chaos, the lieutenant tried desperately to restore order, but how could he, the republican 'gods' had obliterated our defences. Dirt and bodies scattered everywhere as I stood frozen in place, I was numb to the world as I saw my friends and comrades disappear in front of my eyes.
Suddenly the barrage stopped, an inexperienced soldier might have rejoiced, thinking the worst was over. But I had been on the Rhine for over two months, I was already considered a veteran, I knew better, they were coming.
Our surviving machine gunners opened up, and the lieutenant, finally able to have himself heard, ordered us to ready ourselves and open fire on the enemy. Before I could take my position, he pulled me aside and instructed me that if he should fall, I would take the radio. "All our hope relies on it," he said seriously, trusting me to know his meaning, this radio was our holy relic, our only of hope for survival.
He and I already knew we were lost, but I wouldn't subject my comrades to the same, I would let them believe someone was coming to help us.
"You heard the officer!" I shouted, "taking my position at the trench line, resigning myself to my fate "Let's show those Republican bastards what we're made of!"
I don't know how long the battle was, it was all a blur. I fired indiscriminately, I didn't even have to aim, but they kept coming, I was going to die, tears filled my eyes as I thought of my beloved Ida.
High above figures could be seen approaching from the sky, they were sending in mages, things truly were hopeless.
Suddenly the lieutenant lurched backwards, grabbing his chest. Blood so much blood! I yelled for a medic, but deep down I knew he was destined for a slow, painful death. His eyes were filled with sorrow, "I'm sorry" he mouthed.
I knew it was only seconds before the enemy would overrun our trench, and I'm not ashamed to say I was afraid, but I had accepted death, I would happily give my life for the Empire. I just wished I could see my beloved again. They weren't here yet though, so I looked to my commander, he was pale, and his lips were going blue.
"End me" he whispered, "let me die quickly." I held my pistol and froze, this was a man respected, cared for, he was my friend. Suddenly the trigger felt heavy, like my finger had to pull a thousand tonnes.
I tried my best to fire the weapon to end his pain but couldn't bring myself to do it. Shooting an enemy is one thing, shooting a friend is something very different.
A shadow loomed over me, I turned in horror to see a republican soldier with a rifle aimed at me. I froze, this was it, this was the end. Suddenly the soldier tumbled to the ground, and a huge crack of explosions peppered the enemy lines. I looked around frantically for some explanation.
"Hadrian 4, this is Pixie 1, the wall has not fallen," a voice reported over the radio. I looked up, seeing the silhouettes of mage's dancing in the sky, command had sent reinforcements, we were saved!
"I'm so sorry this has to happen" a childlike, sorrowful, voice echoed high above, cutting through the sound of live ammunition. "You all have families, like us," the child said sadly, and I couldn't help but think about my beloved Ida, "So go to them, they need your protection, surrender now and you can join them, please don't let yourselves die standing against us."
Could it be, had they really sent him? Had they sent the Saint? The Saint had become a legend out here on the front second only to The Argent. Few could claim not to be moved by his pleas to make the enemy surrender or run, it gave heart to soldiers like me and made us want to fight all the harder.
I looked to the sky seeing a small figure flying gracefully in the air. They made it seem so easy, it was like it was a choreographed ballet, arranged to the melody of booming artillery and chattering machine guns. I saw the figure take out three mages, with ease, was that the Saint? I wondered.
A second group of mages descended towards me like angels from heaven, but they fired into the enemy advancing on our trench as though delivering divine justice. It took a moment for my brain to register that at their head was a young boy, he seemed so out of place, no one that young should be in a hell hole like this.
As he landed, he ordered his companions to see to our wounded and he approached me and my fading commander. I couldn't help but notice how small he looked, even while I was crouched cradling the lieutenant, he was barely at eye level. He shook some mud from his shaggy dirty blond hair, and it revealed some streaks of silver as his fringe fell over his face. He began advancing towards me and smiled at me serenely, maybe he really was an angel, I remember thinking to myself.
"The Saint!" I heard my stricken leader whisper through ragged breaths. I glanced up, if this was the Saint, who was that in the air?
The boy kneeled in front of us and glanced up with me.
"She's quite something, isn't she? Our White silver" the boy said as if reading my mind. I was stunned, they'd sent them both! It was as if God had sent his angels to deliver us to salvation.
The Saint began to introduce himself, but I couldn't help interrupting him with a barrage of gratitude and, I'm a little embarrassed to admit, adoration. He smiled in return and enquired about my commander. Before I could answer however a second figure dropped into the trench, it was a young girl a little taller than the boy nearby. In contrast to the Saint, she wore a stern expression making her seem older than she was. She had blond hair, tied neatly behind her head, and a pale complexion. I was sure she would grow into a beautiful woman one day, but she too should never have been here.
"What's taking so long? We've driven off the enemy mages for now, but it won't take long for them to regroup, get these troops to the reserve line now!" the girl ordered, and I was amazed at how commanding she was. It was then she noticed me and the lieutenant, she studied us for a moment before sighing.
"He's too injured to move, we'll have to leave him" she stated evenly, I'm sure it must have taken all she had to keep the emotion from her voice. I realised she was being strong for me and I felt nothing but shame, and it was only going to get worse.
I lay my lieutenant down and drew my pistol to once again to put an end to his misery. His eyes had begun to lose their soul, he had become even paler and was muttering to himself about being cold. As I raised my pistol, tears began blurring my vision and my hand was shaking wildly, I don't know how long I was stood there but I must have been too slow.
I felt the Saint touch my arm. As I turned to look at him, he returned me a sad but reassuring smile. I dropped my pistol and slumped to my knees, I couldn't do it and they knew it, I was a coward.
"It's ok private, you shouldn't have to do this," the Saint said quietly picking up my pistol, "What is his name?" he inquired. It was then it dawned on me, this child was going to do what I could not. "Lieutenant Kurt Wolfman," I said quietly choking on my guilt.
He nodded then approached the Lieutenant and drew his sword, resting the blade on my superior's shoulder as though he was being knighted.
"Lieutenant Wolfman, you know who I am yes?" the Saint began, "you are truly a hero of the Empire, there is no honour great enough I can bestow upon you for your duty to the Vaterland, all I can do now is free you from this pain. Will you let me have that honour?" his voice was calm but full of sorrow. The question sounded so earnest, as though he truly believed it was an honour to perform this mercy on him, I felt my heart sink further, I was scum.
The Argent shook her head, she must have thought me scum too. To allow these children to shoulder such responsibilities, how could I be anything else.
"God….Please…" the lieutenant managed to splutter, as blood began running down his lips. The Saint nodded and raised my pistol aiming at the lieutenant's head.
"God," the Saint said pausing for a moment. Unlike myself, his aim did not waiver, despite the heavy pistol dwarfing his tiny hands. "I send you to His mercy," he finished before pulling the trigger.
Everything after still seems like a blur, one of the Argent's mages carried me to the reserve line, I wished they had left me, I wasn't worthy of the two angels that had saved me and given mercy to my lieutenant. At some point, someone passed me a copy of Volksgemeinschaft, the propaganda rag at the time. On its cover were my two saviours, dressed as the children they should be, not as the soldiers we had forced them to be.
I vowed on that day, that I would fight all the harder from that day forward, those two seraphs had to fight because of my inadequacies. I would work hard so that no more children would be forced to do the same.
Xxxxxx
March 12th Unified Year 1925
Rhine Front en route to 203rd Temporary Command Centre
It had been three days since Tanya had put the little colonel in the combat rotation, and much to Tanya's amazement he had been surprisingly well behaved. Not only was he following her orders, but he was also actively asking permission before engaging and hadn't argued when permission wasn't granted. When she did let him off the leash however, he attacked with the same fury and enthusiasm as he had displayed before.
She had decided from the start, she would only deploy him with her company, she still didn't trust him and needed to keep an eye on him. She had also ordered the entire Letzenbourg platoon to use Imperial flight suits and gear rather than their own, the different uniform might mark them as targets to enemy snipers, and Tanya didn't want her key to Imperial power shot down by an opportunistic shooter.
She had not realised till later, that there weren't any spare flight suits that were close to fitting the minuscule manipulator, and it would take some time for even him to have some made and delivered. For now, he was using one of her spares, and even that was slightly too big. Again, she'd expected him to object, but he'd just laughed and said, "maybe they'll think I'm a pixie too."
She'd even managed to persuade him to carry more sensible war gear, he'd acquired a machine pistol and small rifle, both of which had been adapted to suit his small stature. Of course, she had not managed to get him to part with his sword, but overall, she considered it to be an improvement.
She had also found he was actually fairly useful around the battlefield, whether by accident or design, his broadcasts pleading the enemy to surrender, had the twin benefits of demoralising the enemy and boosting the morale of their own allies. He was also incredibly good with the troops, both on and off the battlefield.
She had always felt the need to assert herself more strongly than she would have liked, to overcome the doll-like form she'd been cursed with. Wilhelm however, seemed to be fully aware of how people saw him and used it accordingly. At battalion HQ he talked to everyone with the sort of childlike inquisitiveness that was difficult to dismiss and absorbed everything he was told to reuse later. On the battlefield, he would reassure the troops by telling them "how relieved he was that brave men and women like them were there with him' and 'how they gave him the strength to do his duty." He would also put himself down prompting others to try to reassure him, all these things meant he was winning the hearts and minds of the troops, she made a mental note to be wary in case he tried to sway the 203rd against her.
Still, despite it all, he was being a little too compliant, it was suspicious.
She thought about the evidence the 'prince' had given her, it cast serious doubt on his legitimacy, if she ever had reason to use it, he'd be finished. She'd thought him a bastard since they first met but hadn't expected it to be literally true.
The more she thought about it though, the more she realised using the evidence would be equally as dangerous to her. He'd no doubt do his utmost to bring her down as he fell from grace, and worse still she had no idea how the imperial royal family might react to the news. He'd probably known all of this when he gave her the box in the first place, it was mutual destruction if used. Much like the ICBM's in her past life, using them would bring the world crashing down.
All in all, those documents were a poison chalice, she'd be better off finding alternative methods to control the brat. Still, he was currently being cooperative, and he seemed content as long as she let him indulge in the occasional bit of butchery, but she couldn't count on that forever.
All this did not have anything to do with her current foul mood, however. The latest action had been a success, even if the front lines had been pushed back once again. They had successfully evacuated much of the empire's precious human resources to a support trench, and suffered zero losses, she should have been pleased.
In fact, she would have been pleased, if not for the copy of Volksgemeinschaft she'd found lying in the support trench. You better not have anything to do with this Wilhelm she thought threateningly.
She glanced behind her, the little colonel had drawn his sword and was staring at it again. That's another mystery I need to unravel she thought.
She summoned him forward, and they both flew ahead out of the formation for privacy. She glared at him with suspicion as he sheathed his sword and waited expectantly with a roguish smile.
"Why do you insist on bringing that sword?" she asked, fully expecting not to get a satisfactory answer.
"I'm not getting rid of it" he replied quickly as the smile dropped from his face, "Anyway I'm not the only officer to have a sword" he continued defensively while giving her a dirty look that told her it was unwise to continue this line of questioning.
Obviously, he wasn't going to respond to a direct question, she would have to find some way to investigate further. Never mind, that wasn't what she wanted to talk about right now anyway. Time to change the subject.
"Look at this," she said pushing the propaganda paper into his hand while studying his expression.
He took it with a quizzical look and studied it for a moment before looking back to her with genuine surprise, maybe he didn't have anything to do with it after all. He burst out laughing and she glared at him with disgust.
"It seems the propaganda papers do take fan submissions"
Authors Note
Hi Guys, as always thanks for reading.
As you may have noticed, I have done a bit of experimenting in this chapter.
First more POV's, I always intended to have Ruregen cast his suspicions at some point, I always liked him as a character as he's the only one that comes close to seeing Tanya's true nature, (although even he is pretty far off the mark) so its only natural he would be suspicious of her in this scenario.
I also like the smoky backroom dealings that happen in command in the anime so wanted to crowbar some of that in.
Second poor old private Jannik (he's a sergeant by the time he releases his memoirs, I felt he deserved a promotion). I had a lot of fun writing that part, I don't often try 1st person but it was a nice change of pace.
I wanted to show a bit why the soldiers call Wilhelm the Saint but also wanted to show that Tanya was still doing her thing while he was taking the limelight with the troops.
Thirdly I wanted the pictures to find their way out somehow, maybe I should have waited but I thought it was a nice way to cheer up the end of the chapter after it had been so serious before. Maybe someone will do some fanart of it one day and we can all have a good giggle.
A few other things before I sign off:
I wish I'd never said I was aiming for a word limit because I've gone over it ever since I typed it lol. If any of these chapters start feeling too long let me know.
According to the stats, someone from Luxembourg has been reading. It should be obvious that Letzenbourg is the AU version of Luxembourg, but I have to point out, I've never visited your fine country so if any descriptions are wrong, I apologise. Of course, it could be someone with a VPN, but better to be safe.
As always feedback is appreciated, and I hope you are enjoying my story.
Xanen