DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

All Installations of Valkyria Chronicles are all owned by SEGA.

Please Support the Official Release!

"New Order, New Rules"

May 25 1935 EC

Princess Cordelia Gi Randgriz

Castle Randgriz, Randgriz, Principality of Gallia

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Pxtreon: P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

Defeat was no longer a surprise for Cordelia.

A young lady she may be, but she was not unfamiliar with the notion that Gallia had lost this war. Reports from the Militia had, for a time, given her hope that the Empire could have been rebuffed due to the arrogance matching and, in some departments, even outmatching those of her generals. Her Generals, never once they answered to her, but rather took the orders of the ever-so ambitious and ambiguous Regent, Marquis Maurits von Borg.

She thought he would have been the one escorting her today for the meeting with the leading officer that was going to organize the new regime in the country, but the man failed to present himself at a modest time. In fact, he wasn't even around the region when the Imperial forces took over the city undisturbed. The walls of the capital were now tarnished by days and days of bombardment, the tactic to weaken the morale in the chain of command working brilliantly as it made any resolve to keep the war going by the many bickering fools that were the nobles cease.

Would Cordelia have kept the fight going had she been in charge? No. The entire defensive system was too tattered, generals were trying to play gloryhounds in this war and had failed to see the general problems that the outdated army had compared to the more advanced force of the Empire. The Militia stood its ground better due to having their troops devoid of internal corruption and arrogance- it was the ultimate proof that her regency would have left her with a ruined country anyway.

Still, she was now in charge of a defeated nation, and her march to the dining room where she was expected to meet her new 'superior' filled her with a sense of growing unease. Up to this point, Cordelia could hide away her emotions since Maurits was a cretin that didn't even care for her input. She was his puppet for a while, but now she was dealing with this crazy moment on her own.

The last doors to the big room opened and she was greeted by the sight of a young man with blond hair, the Major General that would take over the official leadership of the country, and a few more soldiers that were guarding the room. She was escorted by two guards, but both were armed with just lances- which were, amusingly so, ill-suited for a fight against men wielding rifles.

There was no bowing to her, not signs of courtesy beyond a mere nod from the officer in charge. It was a bit of a surprise he was barely younger than she was, to know that such a formidable foe had been so close to her in that manner but... her stoic mask persisted through that interesting matter.

"Introducing, Princess Cordelia Gi Randgriz, Heiress to the Principality of Gallia," One of her guards said, breaking the protocol in such fashion, but no one seemed upset by this.

One of the soldiers standing close to officer took this chance to reply to this with another greeting, this one delivered in a slightly accented Gallian.

"Presenting Herr Kurt Hertling, Imperial Major General and Reichskommissar to the Principality of Gallia."

The other soldiers saluted and yet the 'Imperial Commissar' kept quiet even as she approached to take a seat. The look they exchanged was odd. She would have expected the Imperial officer to look at her in a demeaning light, as a show of the common Imperial arrogance. Yet he looked a bit irked by something, almost annoyed by something within the room that made him feel... squeamish.

"I would like for the room to be vacated. I request that it is just the Prinzessin and I as the only occupants."

The order surprised the Imperial soldiers as much as her guards. These first words were not what she expected to be greeted first with, nor how fluent his speech felt compared to other officers and soldiers of the Imperial Army. But while the latters looked ready to protest, Cordelia spoke as she decided to trust this gut feeling of hers. Something about this request didn't feel threatening. And the eyes that she was met with didn't present any dangerous glint.

Considering how dreadful her studies into learning the matters of governance were, Cordelia had to rely more on her emotions out of general instinct rather than best option. There was nothing in the logical sense of the rebuttal that would favor her, but then this option was not as pleasant as it sounded.

"And I believe that is acceptable."

"Y-Your highness-" One of the Royal Guards lamented, but his words were stopped as his partner grasped his arm, stopping him from talking any further.

After a muffled 'as you wish, your highness' came from the previously quiet man, the room was suddenly emptier, but the silence even louder than imagined. There was a complete pause that lasted a few seconds after everyone had left, but Hertling didn't lose the chance to make it even more unusual and uneasy for her.

He stood up, picked up his chair and, as he turned by the edge of the table, made his way to her before placing his seat right beside hers. She was stunned by this move, but Cordelia found it more interesting when the empty bit of the table in front of her was suddenly flooded with war-maps, documents and reports coming straight from Hertling's own bag.

"Your highness, I understand that formality and etiquette are things you have been taught to always respect, but due to the situation, I believe we both want to go through proper facts without skipping a moment," The Major General spoke once again, this time his tone as soft and yet blunter than before. "The situation is, after all, far from optimal for any side in this country."

Cordelia frowned. "Gallia has capitulated."

That should have been full peace, but what she soon discovered proved that view of the development to be far more different than anything within her current logical reach.

"The Government has, the main institution, but not some of those that are now rejecting your rule on the basis that 'you have always been an Imperial Puppet'."

That was an interesting claim and... the accusation felt childish, as if she even had the means to be plotting with the imperials to begin with, but Hertling produced what looked to be a newspaper piece. It was nothing she was familiar with, but she could see signatures she saw before. These were many of the noble houses that had left Randgriz just a few days ago.

"Why would they do that?"

"An opportunity and fright, I suppose," The blond answered. "In the case of the former, they see the chance to try and capitalize the success of the Militia to try and create something akin to that and, ultimately, claim Gallia in a new government they will be able to lead without any restrictions."

"Such a boast would rely on the Militia serving them and I doubt that's the case."

"In most part yes," The Major General agreed to her view. "But there are also fierce haters of Imperial troops regardless of what their task is, thus joining any side that is at war with them. But the real issue is that many prisons have been emptied and criminals have been armed to work as some sort of replacement for their missing heroes."

...What? That's- No, they wouldn't- but... but what if they-

"Why would they do that?" Cordelia asked, eyes widening as emotions were now running high at these news. "Why would they free criminals if they are-"

"Cheap labor. Penal battalions are no novelty in the notion of warfare. They get to pay their sentence by bleeding out for their 'country'," The Reichskommissar elaborated, muting her for a moment as she thought of this but... he wasn't done just yet. "Which is why we are working on rearming the Militia and have them handle any infiltrators, with many anti-royalists being sent all over the occupied territories to incite revolts against your rule. As of right now, a civil war looms over your realm, Prinzessin."

That was quite clear, yes, but this was surreal. This sudden betrayal was not something she expected to get this intense, but to see a Civil War- she thought that would have happened once her family's real origin came out, but for it to happen so suddenly and so strongly, it was... bad. Really bad.

"The second reason, fright, is tied on the notion that they know I will not be as compliant as many officers would when it comes to giving them important posts in the collaboration regime. Proof being your former Regent being caught trying to smuggle most of the Royal Coffers and the capital's defensive plans out of the region and to the noble rebels," Kurt added, seemingly unwilling to refrain from delivering these big news. "Alas, he was caught and executed on the ground of high treason. All supplies have been sent back to be relocated in their original settings."

That was good, but it was a small drop in an ocean of potential bad news.

"They are rallied at Hearithn, the Navy currently managing most of the military due to mass mutinies from that part of the Gallian Army. Good news is that both Teyall and Lowen have agreed to a ceasefire, and have refused to accept the rebel cause as their own, swearing allegiance to what you will decide on this matter."

That was acceptable. The Navy was rife with corruption in a manner worse than the Army, but the vessels at their disposals were not going to do much considering that these were almost a century or two too old for modern warfare. The loyal regions? These were going to be essential to further pacify the realm but-

"There's one last issue which I am in charge of, but I wish for you to be made aware of, Prinzessin," Kurt interjected, this time sounding extremely serious. "And this shall be a bit of a secret between us for many reason. Still, I am sure you have been briefed that Prince Maximilian, the one that ordained this invasion, has a Valkyria in his close circle of subordinates."

Cordelia's mask cracked once more, but the shock was within reasons. The Empire had a Valkyria? Since when? Why wasn't she informed of this?!

"I was... not."

"Major General Selvaria Bles. She is able to manifest her powers with ease and has proved her worth in the field many times," The Major General explained, yet he diverted on why this was relevant on the matter. "However, it has come to the attention of the Imperial court and me that the Prince may have started the war to retrieve something he knows is somewhere in Gallia. And that something, I believe, is the Spire of this Castle."

"The Spire?" Cordelia was intrigued by this. "And what's the Imperial... interest in this matter?"

"To avoid a potential weapon of mass destruction such as the legendary Valkof to end up in the hands of a loose cannon such as Prince Maximilian. His loyalty to the Empire is... debatable due to personal issues, but I believe the issue is that he thirsts for power and to be in 'control'."

"So, a deranged man?"

"A delusional one at best, but I suggest you keep your words phrased in a conveniently dubious style to avoid any potential issues with the prince. He still has a Valkyria to his side with quite the loyalty for him."

Cordelia nodded mirthfully, but while she thought that would have been it, Kurt never stopped talking about other matters.

For hours to go and come, with a few servants called to provide meals from time to time, Cordelia felt more at ease with the notion that the Reichskommissar wasn't planning to sideline her in the ruling of this realm, but rather was giving her a 'hand' in teaching her how bad the situation was, what his plans were on how to fix things, and yet listening to what she had to say about some of these solutions as what felt too excessive or incorrect to an extent.

Much to her immediate surprise as the meeting continued, Cordelia smiled pleasantly at this circumstance despite how grim times were going to be for the next few months, if not years.

After all, her new 'regent' was actually doing a decent job compared to her old one.

AN

The War is far from over, and next time there will be a proper reunion with the Militia itself. Squad 7? Time to give these folks proper equipment!