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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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"Yellow beats Gold"
May 21 1935 EC
Major General Kurt Hertling
Asnein, Barious, Principality of Gallia
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Relocating a HQ takes time and effort, but I was glad that the infrastructure to reach Asnein was good enough to allow the reorganization to happen as swiftly as it did.
The new base was meant to be closer to the frontline, but just so to relay new resources rather than smugly poke at the hornets' nest. Some had suggested for us to move to Aslone and be in direct contact with Ragnitz, but I refused that option for two big reasons, but I will explain more with a proper explanation of why we had to move closer to the front.
Case Yellow was a glorious success, but not without its own flaws.
Perfection isn't truly a key factor which I had planned to obtain, but the issues had all been contained by failsafes. The most troublesome of those being:
1) A successful push which forced Kampfgruppe Speidel by a few miles around Aslone, the attack ultimately stopped and brutally countered when the attackers realized what was happening by Vasel, but, at that point, no amount of reinforcement had mattered and, just as predicted, the panic created by reorganization caused a break in their ranks- the Gallians were sent running and Aslone fell back under Imperial control;
2) Kampfgruppe Rundstadt was forced to retreat North behind a fraction of Kampgruppe Speidel when Gallian Militia troops tried to reach out for the artillery pieces by crossing the river through makeshift boats- rather than have them stand their ground and fight when they were unprepared with the situation, I ordered a well-planned retreat into a more safe area. From there, infantry regiments took care of the attempted saboteurs and reclaimed that slice of the crossed side.
Guderian's ride around proceeded with minimal issues. The tanks were able to use all the appropriate passes within acceptable pace and were now looming on Ragnitz. The expected forces defending the fortress of a capital were weakened by rough shelling that had devastated the city for some time now, but not going to surrender just yet.
Which was fine to me as more delaying in that regard meant that I could take care of my next pain in the butt. Sitting in my new office as I uncorked a fresh bottle of Gallian Wine to celebrate the recent victory, I looked quite unexpecting of a quasi-royal visit. In truth, I had been long alerted of Prince Maximilian's foul mood over the success of this operation.
In a month I made a mockery of his efforts because I did something he 'could not manage'. In truth, I was aware of why he was going so slowly with these operations but... I decided to play clueless both about his reasoning and about his visit. In truth, I had plans for both. Always.
The clue for when he was soon to enter my office came from two quick taps by my door and I got in position for some acting worthy of an Oscar. The prince barged into the room with the grace of a hippo and pretty much swept all the papers I had neatly stacked on my desk. I felt... rightfully threatened by this, and thus I showed a shocked look at that move.
"Your... highness?"
"What is the meaning of this Case Yellow, Major General Hertling!"
I blinked in surprise at the loud tone taken for this 'greeting'.
"In which sense, your highness?"
"The sense that you overstepped your boundaries by not requesting authorization from me, your commanding officer, and thus jeopardizing the chain of command because of it," Maximilian accused quite the heavy hand, but I took a quiet sip from my wine as he went on with his spiel. "Alas, I am here to at least get a justification before I have you sacked from your role."
I placed down my half-empty glass and frowned at these last words.
"Sacked? Your highness, surely such an action would be too much, especially when you are not my commanding officer at the moment."
The royal bastard pulled back in surprise at this, and someone else spoke as I was finally 'notified' that a certain big-tiddy Valkyria was here too. I didn't see her coming in the room, nor that she was standing right the prince with how unpleasant the moron was being.
"Prince Maximilian is the leader of all troops in Gallia as of the beginning of the invasion," Major General Selvaria Bles rebuked harshly, glaring fiercely back at me with her red unforgiving eyes. "You should be ashamed for lying over such an important element of the leadership within the invasion."
Gosh, she is so gorgeous... but such a bitch right now.
"That's incorrect. The prince is in charge of the Gallian Invasion Force. Armeekorp Gallien is not under the same Command," I replied truthfully. "Hence why, the individuals I answer to are the Emperor, the Reich-Kanzler, and the Imperial Military Committee, in order of importance and relevance within the orders."
Selvaria's eyes widened a fraction and she turned to Maximilian, expecting him to deny this but... the prince just stared at me. And I stared back at him. Was he surprised? Upset? Maybe worried that I was now more of a threat than he thought I was mere minutes ago? Perhaps it was all wrapped together in a single chilling dread which I was inwardly enjoying unfolding within his own expression.
Rather than keep on with this intense staring, the prince turned around and walked away. Selvaria's shock was barely veiled by the return of a scornful scowl which weakened as she almost tripped with how quickly she moved to follow the quick-paced prince. No 'good job', that was just sadge.
I poured myself some more wine, happy with the drama, but happier with this outburst's main spectator as I turned to the radio device that the prince had ignored during the exchange.
"Herr Kanzler, I suppose you heard everything clearly."
"Crystally so, Major General. Your concerns about the prince and this outburst... very peculiar. Are you truly convinced that his delays may be motivated by something else? That his true goal is not to secure the Empire the Gallian mines?"
Reichkanzler Paul von Moltke, Grand Duke and pretty much the 'second most powerful man within the Empire', commented smoothly, if not driven by intrigue and a sense of 'amusement' over the potential political gutting of another ambitious prince. One would be surprised by how many times this happened in the Empire, all because of how many princes with shitty backgrounds wanted to ruin it all or take over all the poweer. Moltke was the 'fixer' and the man that I looked into having aware over this circumstance.
"I can't tell as of now since there's a lack of proof. Once the Principality is slain by the next week, I shall start to put efforts in investigating the matter."
"I am pleased to hear this, and I am sure the Emperor will once more be delighted to know a potential traitor in his family has been dealt with while avoiding any scandalous show," There was a pause in his response. "Also, due to this meeting, I believe I will accept your request regarding the post-war organization. With the Prince showing no interest in tying himself to Gallia, perhaps we could provide a 'proper regent' to the... Prinzessin."
"I would work on stabilizing the country first. Heaven have mercy on the budget's horrors I will find there."
The intellectual jest was met with a chuckle, or a noise akin to that.
"Yes, yes, truly saddening how the corruption that aided our early campaign may leave us to handle some nightmares regarding the economics of the occupation. Alas, that will be your chore, Major General."
"Too true, Herr Kanzler. Too true. But I will end the conversation now so I can resume my duties. I believe I derailed your business for far too long."
"Indeed. I hope to hear more great things about you, Herr Hertling."
Me too. But for now, let's focus on finishing this war and get a new noose just for Maximilian.
AN
Things are about to get very interesting as the capitulation of Gallia may end up seeing a few familiar faces in 'different uniforms'.