The Moscau Raid I: The Reds Menaced
40 Years After the Great War
Londinium
Although it is well documented that the Federation's attack came as a great surprise to Imperial commanders, their response to this assault would be far more shocking to both Russy leadership and the world at large.
Despite the fierce fighting across the now huge border shared between the two nations, and the lengthy time required for the Empire to relocate troops to reinforce the new front, Imperial planners wasted no time in striking back against the invaders. However, rather than reinforcing their eastern army, who were fighting a desperate delaying action against the imposing force that Premier Dzhugashvili had mobilised for his sudden invasion, the Imperial commanders chose another, more ambitious, plan to punish the eastern trespassers.
Although incomplete, records seized after the war show that members of the Imperial General Staff immediately gave the go-ahead for a daring raid on the Federation capital. Quite who came up with this ambitious idea is unknown but is often thought that this assault was once again led by the infamous Devil of the Rhine, with the Saint of Letzenbourg once again in tow. Indeed there are many fanciful tails of what the pair got up to while they were there. Most of these stories have been grossly embellished over the years of course, or are otherwise unverifiable due to the limited information allowed to us by the Russy Federation. So it is likely that much like all tales relating to these figures, they are pure works of fiction.
The fragmented Imperial sources we do have access to say that the plan was largely intended to force the Federation to withdraw troops from their front lines to ease the pressure on the Empire's eastern forces. However, given the scale of destruction caused during the attack, many believe the true motive was to punish the Federation for their betrayal of their non-aggression pact and sow terror and confusion amongst the Russy populace. Indeed, some speculate that it was at this moment the Empire began to lose the pragmatic approach to war it was famed for.
As always, it is difficult to say precisely where the truth lies in this case. However, it is my personal opinion that if the empire's goal in the operation was to cause enough damage that even Federation wartime censorship could not completely erase it. I believe it is doubtful that their motives were driven simply by strategic concerns. – Andrew WTN Special Correspondent.
16th March Unified Year 1926 06:00
People's Party Meeting Hall, Moscau, Russy Federation
Captain of State Security Serge Krugov considered himself absolutely loyal to the Party. Not only to General Secretary Dzhugashvili, though he firmly believed he owed everything to the man and his stalwart defence of the revolution over the years. And certainly not to the worms within the central committee, many of whom Krugov thought lacked true conviction to the cause. But to the true final goal of communism.
He knew that one day Comrade Dzhugashvili would create the world promised by Comrade Ulyanov during the revolution. A world not ravaged by greed, a world where everyone contributes, and everyone receives according to their abilities and needs. A world where everyone is equal; a place where peace and happiness rule over all. A paradise of man's own making.
But everything comes at a cost. Paradise demands sacrifice to build and maintain; even if war was the price.
"Comrades, I am pleased to announce the opening phase of the attack on the Empire is going well. Despite the unexpectedly fierce resistance from the Imperials, we are making steady progress on all fronts." The People's Commissar for Defence reported nervously, his eyes darting between the pages of his report and the impassive face of the great leader sitting at the head of the table.
The man knew his words were little more than honeyed lies disguised to paint failure as success and he foolishly hoped that the Secretary might somehow not see through the deception. The army had not delivered the level of progress that it had promised and the Commissar was now concerned for his own skin. Meanwhile, the other members of the committee eyed each other cautiously, each plotting their words carefully depending on how they might best exploit the situation. All keeping a wary eye on the man at the head of the table looking for some hint of what was expected of them from the General Secretary.
I hate these treacherous snakes, Krugov thought to himself, sweeping a careful eye over the room from his vantage point at the entrance to the meeting room. He wasn't sure how Comrade Dzhugashvili could stomach being in the same room with so many men that were all too willing to sell the people's dream in exchange for personal wealth and power. They were nothing but corrupt yes-men that lacked the talent or integrity to help bring about the world their ideology so desperately sought. They were a cancer on Party ideals. If it were up to him, he would have seen most of the people in this room taken back to the office for an abrupt change of career. The camps in Silberia could always use more workers to "count trees" after all.
If only the old guard were still here, those who had served under Comrade Ulyanov during the revolution. He could think of several former comrades who were would have been far more worthy of sitting at this table. However, too many had their vision tainted by that traitor Davidovich, and because of them, there had been a split in the Party after Comrade Ulyanov died. If only they'd stayed loyal, the revolution would have been completed by now.
He knew sacrifices had to be made for paradise, traitors had no place in that world. However, it stung that those sacrifices had left them with second-rate chaff like this to complete the dream. These men didn't deserve to be a part of paradise either.
He clenched a fist instinctively. He yearned to put an end to them for their anti-communist ideals, but he had no choice but to suspend his disgust with the committee. The General Secretary had decided that they still held some use, for the moment at least. As such, he would bow to the wisdom of Comrade Dzhugashvili and attempt to stomach these champagne socialists for now. However, when the time came, he would be ready to expunge all traces of them for the good of the Party.
That was why the General Secretary allowed men like him to be present during private meetings like this.
"Excellent news! It is good to hear that our enemies fall before us." Comrade Pavlovich, the Commissar for Trade and Industry, replied a little too enthusiastically prompting the rest of the politburo to join in with the exaggerated praise. Evidently, they had decided it was more profitable to cling to the accomplishments of the loyal and hard-working soldiers on the front for the moment.
Yet you'll abandon them as soon as you sense the tide turning against you. You're no better than the Tzarist bastards you replaced. Krugov thought cynically as he struggled to hide his contempt.
Krugov was one of those unfortunate enough to remember how life under the brutal Tzarist regime had been. How the rich had profited from the exploitation of the poor and the so-called nobility hoarded the wealth and allowed the people to suffer.
He and his brother had been more fortunate than some. Living in a semi-rural area meant there was always some way to stave off starvation. He'd learned to shoot his father's rifle and poached game from the land the boyars and kulaks claimed as their own. He had never felt guilty for the so-called theft, the wealthy had stolen that land from the people in the first place, it was only right that the proceeds should be taken from them and given to someone who needed it.
Others hadn't been so lucky.
Thousands had died due to the uncaring nature of the autocratic tyrant and his capitalist puppet masters; including much of Krugov's own family. His parents did not live to see the revolution, but he saw them as martyrs all the same. Their sacrifice had stoked the flames in his heart and led him to Comrade Dzhugashvili. It could be said that he had raised him more than they had, teaching him to read so he could understand the words of Comrade Ulyanov and teaching him to fight so he could strike back at those who had oppressed him.
That terrible world of the Tzars had been swept away by Dzhugashvili and Ulyanov, and Krugov had been at their side during all of it. From their time raising Party funds by liberating wealth from the bourgeoisie, to the day they had finally overthrown the monarchy and rid the world of their filth. He had seen it all. He considered his small contribution to be a great honour, but others were too short-sighted to see how great their achievement had been.
So many had sacrificed everything for the Party, for the promised paradise, however, much of the committee had forgotten that. It was because of them that more sacrifices would have to be made before the end.
"Yes, congratulations are indeed in order! I cannot thank those comrades on the front enough for bringing us closer to victory." A familiar voice cut in and suddenly the other committee members fell deadly silent. Even Krugov felt a twinge of unease as the man spoke. "Yet, I find it odd that the Empire has been able to resist so fiercely when they were unaware of our assault. It seems to me that they were prepared for such an attack."
Krugov's eyes quickly searched the faces of the men in the room in search of any sign of guilt, however, anyone who had made it so far in the Party was too well practised at keeping their thoughts hidden, even from someone like him. So instead, his eyes fell on the accuser, Krugov's direct superior.
Lavrenti Loria had built up a formidable reputation during his time within the Commissariat for Internal Affairs and thanks to his position as Loria's deputy, Krugov had been able to see the truth of it first-hand. Despite his unassuming appearance, the small balding bespectacled man made for an ideal secret police chief. He was intelligent and had a keen eye for detail and organisation; he even had a penchant for the more unpleasant parts of their calling and a talent for making people talk.
Additionally, he was fiercely loyal to Comrade Dzhugashvili, or at least he appeared to be. Having spearheaded a great many purges of those that sought to undermine the General Secretary. Most importantly though, he seemed to share Secretary's vision for a peaceful and harmonious future and understood that the fastest way to reach that was to remove all the influences that ran counter to their cause.
He understood that sacrifices needed to be made to save those who deserved paradise, just as he and Comrade Dzhugashvili did, and his talent for implementing it made him almost invaluable. Almost.
He might have been described as a true patriot and model citizen of the Federation if it were not for certain secret activities he indulged in. Crimes that even his hard work and good standing couldn't erase. Crimes that made Krugov's hair stand on end and his blood boil just thinking about it.
Sacrifices must be made he repeated to himself once more as he sought to keep the disgust from his face as he stared at the revolting bespectacled little man. The General Secretary needs him for now, that is why he appointed you as his second, when the time comes he will be dealt with.
He glanced at Comrade Dzhugashvili, remembering the words he had uttered to him when he had appointed him as Loria's deputy. "Who watches the watchman?" The message had been clear, the spymaster's actions were tolerated but not sanctioned. Much like the rest of the committee, he was on borrowed time. When his use to the Federation was at an end, he would be punished for his crimes, he would be sacrificed for paradise.
Still, the spymaster's words had captured the room. He was correct, they had gone to great pains to maintain the secrecy of the operation against the Empire, even he had not been permitted to know about it until a few days ago. That they were able to put up so much resistance to the might of the Red Army without some prior warning was unthinkable. The only explanation was a mole.
"Comrade Pavlovich, you visited the Imperial Embassy just last week did you not? I understand you are on good terms with the ambassador." The security chief commented quietly as he shot the man an accusatory gaze. "You sampled some fine twenty-year-old Illdoan wine when you were there did you not?"
Krugov tensed before knocking quietly on the door by his side to alert the guards waiting outside as the now terrified trade minister attempted to babble an excuse. He would be ready to act as soon as the General Secretary gave the word.
He took a moment to assess Loria's claims. It wasn't impossible that Pavlovich had inadvertently blabbed during a drunken meeting as he filled his belly with exotic western luxuries, many other senior members had been found guilty of the same in the past. However, Krugov doubted he'd been so careless. They'd allowed the man to know he was under careful surveillance for some months and Loria had even put the man's daughter under his "personal protection". He would have to be a fool to give up state secrets now.
However, he'd known for some time that this man's time was about up. Loria must have learned that Comrade Dzhugashvili's patience with him was at an end.
"I…I only interacted with the Imperials in an official capacity." The trade minister spluttered, "Please I'm loyal!"
Innocent and loyal are two different things and in this case, only one is likely to be true mused Krugov as the spymaster grinned at the man malevolently. It was clear that Loria was enjoying watching the man squirm.
"Comrade Secretary, why don't we ask our comrade here a few more details about his meeting?" The Secret police chief asked, masking his cat-like grin as everyone turned toward their leader sitting impassively at the head of the table.
There was a moment of silence as the Secretary carefully packed some tobacco into his pipe before striking a match and lighting it, filling the room with smoke. Suddenly, his eyes shot up and fixed them all with a calculating glare before he glanced between Pavlovich and Loria while the rest of the committee held their breath in anticipation of what would come next.
"Take him."
The leader's words spurred Krugov into action as he strode forwards toward the traitorous minister, pulling the door open to allow the waiting guards outside into the room to assist. Pavlovich yelled in protest as Krugov grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him into the waiting arms of the approaching guards, but his protests soon turned into imploring sobs as they dragged him away and he began begging for mercy.
Krugov followed them back towards the entrance so that he could return to his station by the door but as the guards reached the exit the trade minister grabbed his sleeve and looked at him tearfully.
"Please, my wife and daughter." He whispered imploringly staring into Krugov's eyes.
"I will deal with them." He replied, ripping his arm away before shutting the noise away so that the meeting could continue.
He had not lied, clearing up loose ends was part of the job. As far as he was aware, the man's wife had no history of seditious behaviour, she would be watched but as long as she behaved there was no threat to her safety. However the daughter was a little more complicated.
Krugov frowned in disgust; Loria had taken the child as a way of controlling Pavlovich and had doubtlessly already subjected her to things that were better not thought about. She was likely already broken, and Loria would want to discard her soon. It would be better if her mother never found out what happened to her; better she not see the fate that had befallen her daughter.
Sacrifices must be made he reminded himself as he tried to hide the anger in his face as he glared at the disgusting little made a mental note to add her name to his list when he could. One day, it would be Loria's turn to be dragged away kicking and screaming, then she and all those who fell victim to this man would be remembered as martyrs of the revolution. Until then, he would reluctantly continue to serve that creature for the sake of attaining their communist utopia.
The rest of the meeting was fairly uneventful, with certain details of the campaign against the Imperialists dominating the discussion as well as an unhealthy amount of passing blame to those at the front wherever there were failures. Krugov ignored much of it, he'd never been especially strategically minded and he doubted the information presented bore much similarity to the truth. The reports that the Commissariat of Internal affairs had put together were likely more detailed, and laid the blame for failures at the feet of those who deserved it. It may take a little more time for them to sift through the data but it gave Krugov some solace that Loria would provide the General Secretary with the correct information within a day or so.
Finally, the meeting came to a close and the committee members were dismissed, the leader demanding them leave quickly so he could rest. Rumour had it the General Secretary's sleeping patterns had been increasingly erratic as of late; part of the reason he was calling meetings at strange hours. Krugov believed that the weight of his great position was beginning to affect him, hardly a surprise with so many traitorous snakes in their midst. That was another reason he was content with his job and his task of watching over Loria; if he could give comrade Dzhugashvili a few hours of rest without worry, it was worth putting up with the dirty work.
Krugov followed Loria out of the People's Party Meeting Hall and towards a waiting car, however, he felt a twinge of unease as he studied the smaller man's face. It seemed as though he'd been correct about Pavlovich's daughter, Loria had finished with her, and his expression told him that he was in the mood to find himself a new plaything.
Krugov frowned, doing his best to push down his disgust as he waved the waiting driver away; it was better that he dealt with this himself.
"Comrade Commissar, it would be my honour to drive for you." He said, as the secret police chief raised a questioning eyebrow. Krugov prefered to keep the spymaster's disgusting vice as quiet as possible, others might not have the self-control to stop themselves from acting against him as he did. Besides, this was hardly the first time he had escorted the man on one of these trips.
"Thank you, Comrade Captain." He replied with a cat-like grin that made Krugov's skin crawl. The man never asked why he accompanied him, sometimes Krugov feared he might even think that he shared his disgusting tastes. He'd even begun relying on him to deal with his cast-offs, a task that he only tolerated so he could see the faces of those he was adding to his list of martyrs. He owed the victims that much.
Sacrifices must be made he intoned inwardly to force the disgust and anger down, he would have the opportunity to vent it on the new detainees later. He had no problem making actual traitors suffer.
Krugov opened the door for his superior, allowing him to enter before making his way towards the driver's seat and they soon headed off out of the secure area and into the streets of the capital. It was early and the streets were still relatively quiet, something Krugov thought as a small mercy for those who would usually catch his superior's gaze. However, the man was nothing if not patient and he knew Loria was willing to have Krugov drive around for several hours in search of new prey if his duties allowed it.
Unfortunately, this meant that in the meantime Loria would turn at least some of his attention towards Krugov.
"Comrade Krugov, I don't think I thanked you for the hard work uncovering the Imperial operatives in the lead-up to the attack on the Empire." The secret policeman noted carefully, still keeping an eye on the window for his future prey. This was another unpleasant part of sharing a car with the man, he never missed an opportunity to test someone's loyalty.
"Thank you, Comrade Commissar. It is an honour to do my duty for the Federation." He replied swiftly, proud that he was one of the few that could say these words with complete honesty.
"Indeed, you also were instrumental in my plan to purge and imprison the mages, yet you have asked for little in return for your service." The bespectacled man continued pausing for a moment to leer over a young woman, before turning away with a frown, muttering that she was too "ripe".
"They were always puppets of the Tzarist regime, their removal was a great victory for the Revolution." He replied ignoring how the man ogled passers-by. He was truly proud of his achievements as far as the purging of the country's mages went. Their very existence went against the principle that all men and women were born equal, their powers being used to secure a life of privilege rather than further the interests of the people. It was no coincidence that most of the people allowed to study mage craft had been the same nobles who sought to keep the workers as surfs.
Additionally, the Tsars had regularly used mages as a way to spread terror and suppress resistance to their rule. He still had childhood memories of standing helpless as they burned down entire neighbourhoods from the sky, just so they could help the Tsars cling to power. The only people he hated more than their kind was the royals themselves; thankfully they had already been dealt with. He just wished he could have been the one to put the bullets in their heads.
"Comrade Dzhugashvili was wise to elevate you, you have proven yourself very loyal." Loria continued turning away from the window and fixing him a look in the rearview mirror. "I must admit, I'm a little surprised considering the actions of your brother. Usually, the apple doesn't fall so far from the tree."
Krugov tensed instinctively, feeling a mix of anger and sadness at the mention of the last of his family. Nikolai had been as enthusiastic about the revolution as he had been when they were younger, however, he had always regretted not being able to take a more active part. Perhaps that was why he had been so easily taken in by Davidovich and his worldwide revolution theory. Unfortunately, that meant he had made himself the enemy of General Secretary Dzhugashvili; and by extension him.
"He was a fool, just like the rest of them." He replied with a hint of anger in his voice, he supposed it would be too much to expect that the intelligence chief would not know about his brother's disgrace. He had done his best to erase his existence and forget about him after he'd asked Comrade Dzhugashvili to allow him and his family to go into exile rather than one of the camps. He'd considered it one last act of kindness towards him before he cut them out of his life. However, Loria had somehow managed to dig up the long-dead secret. "He got better than he deserved, he at least got to live with his wife and newborn son in the west."
"Oh? Did you not know he died in exile some years ago? It seems he was killed attempting to enter some Imperialist residence, although even I have no idea what might have happened to the other two."
He felt an unexpected wave of sadness hit him at the news. Despite his mistakes, he had never thought of his brother as a true traitor, simply as a naive fool easily taken in by others. He had been furious with his brother at the time of course, and he'd been serious when he said he'd cut him from his life, however, he had hoped that he would be able to live a comfortable life. That he died to the capitalists hurt more than he cared to admit, and knowing the rest of his family was also lost made him feel hollow strangely inside.
"As I said, he got what he deserved." He replied, hardening his expression. He could not allow Loria to know what he was thinking, he could not afford for the enforcer to know he had any such weakness.
Loria studied him for a few more moments wearing a half smile before shrugging and turning back to the window allowing Krugov to relax a little as they continued the rest of the journey in silence. It seemed luck was not on the secret police chief's side today; no one fitting the man's tastes was available and the people of Moscau were safe for now, much to Krugov's relief.
"What are those idiots doing? This is a no-fly zone!" The bespectacled man complained irritably, breaking Krugov from his thoughts and drawing his attention to the sky above.
The man had been right, there were several distant figures in the sky flying in near-perfect formation over the city. It can't be our aircraft, we've removed anyone incompetent enough to disobey standing orders.
"The Commonwealth's international volunteer unit?" He replied frowning slightly. "Obviously foreign mages have just as much trouble following the rules as our domestic ones. They forget that they are not above the law."
If he had his way, the Allied Kingdom and their puppets wouldn't be here at all. Unfortunately, Comrade Loria had persuaded the General Secretary that it was important to show a united front against the Empire.
"So it would seem." The Spymaster replied, allowing a hint of frustration to reach his voice. "We were right to purge our own, organise a meeting with their commander and I'll…"
Loria never finished his sentence, and Krugov doubted he would have remembered it if he had.
The mages had fired on the city.
16th March Unified Year 1926 08:00
2.5km above Federation Capital Moscau, Russy Federation
"You see Captain Weiss? Soviets and air defence are like oil and water, they simply do not mix." Tanya grinned as the 203rd glided over the Federation capital.
In truth, things were already going far better than she had expected. Despite her bold declarations about the Red's inability to properly protect themselves from aerial assault, she had still expected some resistance. However, they had managed to make their way here without any major challenges and were still fairly fresh. Now that they had arrived, they'd have ample time and energy to mess with the commies.
"My apologies Commander, I should have had more faith in your judgement." Weiss replied with exaggerated remorse. "I will endeavour to do everything I can to make it up to you."
"In that case, you can treat the men to a drink from your private stash when we get back. As long as you all work hard enough for a reward that is!" Tanya felt her smile widen, she enjoyed this sort of banter with her troops; it was good for morale and helped frame her as a good commanding officer. That she could also swindle Weiss into providing a reward to her band of war nuts instead of dipping into the battalion treasury was an added bonus, not that she expected they'd need too much encouragement.
Ok, time to get to work. She thought as she cast her eyes over at the city below; pleased to see that the Federation's communist party had been kind enough to provide them with a plethora of potential targets. She almost felt like thanking them for the opportunity to indulge in some target practice.
She of course abhorred war and the destruction of precious resources that it caused; she considered it the worst part of human history and in an ideal world, wars would only ever be fought economically. So far in this war, she'd thought of her role as a necessary evil, something required to ensure her survival against Being X's malign schemes. However, she almost felt as though she was doing a service to the world when it came to fighting communists. She was in a sense a freedom fighter, someone fighting against an oppressive system designed to destroy free thought and the open market.
She could truly say that by ridding the world of communists, she was doing some good for the world. I never realised I had such an altruistic nature.
They would still limit themselves to attacking military and establishments belonging primarily to the ruling party of course. Although everything in this country belonged to the state, and was, therefore, a valid target, she wanted to avoid letting things get messy. No, it was much better to attack their precious symbols. She didn't want to be accused of targeting civilians after all.
"Second company, take out that bronze eyesore in Red Square, and those mummies in the mausoleum if you can!" She ordered gleefully, wondering how annoyed the party leadership would be to see their idols aflame. Sometimes it was a shame that you rarely got to see the faces of your enemies in this business. "Third company, subdue the tallest building in Moscau, rumour has it their security service likes to boast about the view of Silberia. Fourth company, go see if there are any bears hiding in the Kremlin! Meanwhile, we'll take out the Palace of the Soviets!"
Tanya felt like laughing as she heard the chorus of affirmatives from her loyal war maniacs. However, she had to be mindful of her position if she were to maintain her authority. She'd been looking forward to seeing the monstrosity that would soon be her target the moment she'd heard about it. The shrine to the communist ideology had not been built in the old world, a different war had put an end to those plans. It seemed almost fitting that another war would bring it down in this one, and better yet she'd be the one to do it! Proving once and for all the folly of communist vanity projects.
"Tanya, isn't this going too far?" Wilhelm whispered quietly as he appeared by her side, dampening her mood slightly. He'd been strangely quiet during the mission, so much so that she'd almost forgotten that he was there; additionally, he seemed to be surprisingly wary about the idea of attacking the Federation. Surely out of everyone here he had one of the better reasons to want to strike back at the communist menace. He'd said himself that they'd tried to kill him in the past, in his position she'd been keen to take them out as soon as possible. Maybe he was just paranoid about painting himself as a target.
"No need to hold back Captain Hozollern." She replied with a reassuring smile, loud enough so that the rest of her company could hear her. "We'll strike and be out of here before any real resistance shows up."
The boy opened his mouth to argue but she ignored him and prepared a communication spell to address the entire battalion, at times like this it was expected that she should give a few words of encouragement.
"Battalion commander to all units, this is a dream scenario for all capitalists! Future generations will be envious of this moment! Give it your all! Move out!" She added, feeling a measure of the war fervour she'd so often heard about and seen from her own troops. It was healthy to have a chance to enjoy your work from time to time and if smashing a sickle and hammer was part of her current duties, she was more than willing to metaphorically let her hair down.
It didn't take long to find her goal, the hideous attempt at art deco style with a statue of a bald man on top the size of a skyscraper was difficult to miss. Calling it a palace was a bit much however, if she were being generous, she might consider it a glorified auditorium with an off-brand attempt at something similar to the figure of Libertas on top, not that the communists would know what liberty was of course. The only real connection to a palace was that it was home to most of the Red's government and housed the sessions of the Supreme Soviet. As such, it was a valid target and a powerful symbol of communist pride.
Pride goeth before the fall Tanya thought cruelly as she raised her weapon at her enemy.
"Target that lump of shit!" She called with glee as she pulled the trigger and unleashed an artillery spell down at the foundation of the hideous statue below, feeling her grin widen as the rest of her company joined their fire to hers.
Screams erupted from the city below as the residents began running for cover and soon the statue began to crumble. It almost seemed to fall to its knees for a moment before it shattered and crushed the rest of the structure below. It was almost poetic to see the symbol of communist power destroyed by the statue of its own founder, or at least the founder in this part of the world anyway. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. She wasn't usually given to bouts of fanciful musings like this, but there was something profoundly satisfying about seeing a metaphor in action.
"This…this is too much!" She heard the voice of Wilhelm stutter as the sound of the collapse began to die away. She frowned as she turned to find him staring at the destruction below in shock, while his company looked on awkwardly as they waited for orders from the young captain.
They hadn't fired a shot Tanya realised. Wilhelm's reluctance to engage had held them back but they all looked as ready to fight as the rest of the 203rd. However, they were now eyeing the boy with undisguised concern. Idiot, if you continue being so hesitant about this attack you'll lose the respect of your men.
"Captain Hozollern, I told you there was no need to hold back. You and your company need to find yourself a target and let loose!" She said breezily, trying to keep the mood light. Wilhelm would owe her for this, she was well within her rights to punish him for his inaction. However, she was in a good mood and she was willing to throw the boy a bone for the moment, she didn't want to spoil everyone's fun after all.
"But Tanya this is…" He began but soon fell silent as she pinned him with a glare, she only had so much patience after all.
Why are you still so hesitant? She thought as she followed his frown to the remains of the once proud palace of the people. Oh, I see, does he think that attacking a political building might affect his inflated reputation?
"If it makes you feel better stick to a purely military target." She continued, searching for something for him to shoot at. Honestly, you're lucky I'm such an understanding commanding officer, she thought as her eyes fell on a distant stately home with a federation flag and a significant amount of matériel outside. It must have once belonged to the former Tzars or nobility and repurposed for the military. "How about that?"
Wilhelm glanced over before turning to give her a pleading look. Amazingly, despite all her efforts, he was still reluctant to strike! Was he really so scared of the communists? She had to rid him of this new attitude, she couldn't allow him to shirk his duties, it might reflect badly on her, not to mention ruin the reputation he was so fond of protecting.
"Close combat company! Four Artillery rounds each on that compound!" She yelled quickly, pleased to see Will complying by unslinging the seldom used rifle he kept on his shoulder. He may have been uneasy about attacking but her training had at least ensured he would follow orders when she gave them. Or at least for the most part. "Fire!"
Wilhelm's company fired their volley at the distant military installation and to the boy's credit, they managed to score a decent hit even with the long range. Evidentially, despite his company's speciality in close combat, he still kept them drilled in long-range attacks in case they should be required. The group of explosions hit all around the once mansion and caused a reasonable amount of damage considering the range. It wasn't quite as impressive as first company's demolition of that hideous tower and statue, but Tanya considered any inconvenience to the reds a worthwhile endeavour.
There, that wasn't so hard, was it? Tanya thought at Wilhelm although she was surprised to find he was still wearing a sullen frown. She didn't get the opportunity to question him further on this however as the Federation army finally managed to cobble together some sort of response to their intrusion and flak cannons began firing high up into the sky.
Tanya smiled and shook her head. Was this really the best they could do? They'd still got the altitude set for aiming for bombers. The only way this incoming fire could threaten them at this point is if they died of boredom waiting for the gunners to properly range their targets.
"Their aim is terrible!" Remarked Visha as they watched the AA guns fire flak at almost double the altitude that the battalion were hovering. "Should we engage the emplacements?
Tanya ran a seasoned eye over the city defences below to assess her adjutant's suggestion. She felt a small swelling of pride in the older girl, she was becoming a fine officer and under usual circumstances, it would be a wise move to quickly neutralise what little resistance the enemy was able to muster. Especially when they had made such a fundamental mistake on their range finding. However, this wasn't exactly a normal battlefield situation.
"We'll leave them be, an enemy stronghold is still an enemy stronghold. There's no point taking an unnecessary risk in such a target-rich environment." She replied thoughtfully as she planned their next move. They weren't currently much of a threat and closing on them could quickly change that. Besides, the point of the operation was to mess with the Reds, if they could cause all this mayhem while leaving their defences intact, it further shamed them and proved the incompetence of their ideology.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am." The older girl apologised quickly, realising her mistake. Yet more proof of her value as both an officer and an adjutant.
"Not to worry lieutenant, there's no shame in being enthusiastic about engaging the enemy." She replied, only half lying. "Especially in your situation, you have a special reason to hate the commies too don't you? More than even Wilhelm over there. This was your home once right?"
"It all happened when I was a child, ma'am, I don't really remember too much of it." Visha replied a little uncertainly. Tanya had to admit she was impressed, the older girl was probably itching to get back at the commies but she was effortlessly maintaining a calm and professional demeanour. An outside observer might even conclude she had no interest in seeking revenge for being thrown out of her country, she truly was the ideal subordinate.
If only you could act the same Tanya thought sparing a glance at the silent and frowning Wilhelm hovering nearby.
"Let's do something special for you!"
Visha stared at her with a confused blank look on her face as Tanya felt her features tug into a grin once more. They still had some time to cause a few more problems for the reds, she just needed to pick up a few things first.
"All companies report your progress." Tanya barked over a communication formula, trying to keep the excitement from her voice. This was going to be good.
"02 here!" Replied Weiss with expected efficiency, "targets destroyed."
"03 reporting, we have a great view here now the tower is down." Grantz replied soon after, pleasing Tanya that he was coming along so well as an officer.
"04 here, the Kremlin is proving to be a tougher nut to crack, even AP rounds aren't making a dent." Neumann reported with a hint of annoyance in his voice, evidently he wasn't happy about being the only one not to produce results.
Tanya clicked her teeth thoughtfully, sharing her subordinate's frustration that the seat of the Federation's government refused to break as easily as the rest of the city. Then again, she supposed it was too much to ask that the residence of the country's leader would be an easy target. Kremlin did mean fortress after all and dictators always spent a lot more time and energy protecting their own miserable skin than their subordinates. Additionally, many of the defences dated back to before the communists took charge, so were likely qualitatively better. It was hardly surprising it was proving to be so tough.
"Never mind, the point of this operation is to cause some trouble, don't overexert yourself. All units, keep up the pressure for now but prepare to regroup on my position. I have another idea." Tanya replied through her communication formula, before turning back to her adjutant.
"Now Lieutenant, I'd like you to show me around. Specifically, I want to find wherever they make their propaganda films."
16th March Unified Year 1926 08:00
The former palace of Kuskovo, Moscau, Russy Federation
It was probably a bad idea to stare when warrant officer Lambton pointed up at the distant figures overhead. However, the mixture of confusion and awe amongst the volunteers as they watched the perfect formation flying over the no-fly zone was enough to stun all but the veterans into a sort of stunned daze. Even the Russy guards simply stared at the figures as they manoeuvred over the Moscau skyline.
After only a few months of training Mary could hardly call herself an expert on military mage craft, she still wasn't a very good shot and she struggled to use anything but the Legadonian-style flight equipment. However, even with her limited experience, she could tell the distant mages were pros. Pulling off such tight and coordinated turns while staying in formation was difficult at the best of times, they'd spent hours practising to get those kinds of manoeuvres right, and still consistently got yelled out by Colonel Drake for screwing up. Yet these people were managing to perform effortlessly.
I wonder who they could be.
Suddenly there were several bright flashes from the direction of the city and the sounds of distant explosions filled the air causing Mary to jump back in alarm. What was happening? Had there been some sort of terrible accident? She turned to see if any of her comrades knew any more than she did as more explosions echoed in the distance and suddenly the huge statue of the Federation's previous leader, Vladimir Ulyanov, went tumbling to the ground.
"What the hell are you all doing? Get into cover, we're under attack!" Commander Drake yelled angrily just before several blasts struck the ammo depot nearby creating a huge eruption of flame that struck the entire dacha.
"Is it the Empire?" A panicked voice added urgently as everyone frantically scrambled to get into cover, although the confusion left her unable to identify which of her comrades it was.
"Who else is it going to be? Get moving! Now!" Drake bellowed spurring the volunteers into action and driving them towards cover.
The Empire! No, it's too soon, I'm not ready, I'm not strong enough! She yelped inwardly as she took shelter behind one of the garden walls, squeezing her eyes shut in fear.
How can there be an attack? We're so far away from the fighting! She thought risking a glimpse of the chaos surrounding her. Smoke and soot filled the air making her eyes sting as the frantic screams of panicked volunteers filled her ears. She heard the desperate shouts of the officers as they tried to restore and the unfamiliar language of the Russy guards yelling as they ran back and forth in an attempt to put out the fires. Mary soon found her eyes squeezed tightly shut once again.
Please God no; this is just like my nightmare!
She did her best to force away the memories of the night before as they tried to resurface in her mind once again. She took a deep breath and murmured a soft prayer to calm her nerves, quietly echoing the one Damien had said earlier that morning. He would give her the strength and courage to get through this.
"My God! It's Rusted silver! The Devil of the Rhine!" Another volunteer's voice cut through the smog causing her to snap her eyes open in terror and falter in her words of prayer.
No please, not her! Anyone but her!
Throughout their training many of them had talked about the stories of the Devil of the Rhine, there had even been rumours that Damien had faced her in Letzenbourg, although he had never confirmed any of them. Most of the trainees, even Vivi, liked to boast that one day they would be the one to down her, however, Mary had never had such a compulsion. The Devil scared her. She'd have much preferred it if they ran into the Saint, they said that he was merciful and spared most of his opponents. It was said the Devil gave no quarter.
I just want all my friends to be safe.
Suddenly, there was another explosion nearby as another one of the ammunition dumps cooked off and there was a pained yelp from a familiar voice nearby.
Vivi!
She rushed towards the source of her friend's yell, concern for the girl's safety overriding all sense of fear as she ignored the chaos around her. However as she rounded a corner towards the girl, she found herself stunned by what was in front of her, unable to move as her worst fears came to fruition.
Vivi and Damian had been too close to the ammo dump when it had detonated, the blast had shattered their defensive shells on impact leaving them both peppered with shrapnel. Damian had faired the better of the two, with only a few wounds on his arm weeping thick red ichor but Vivi…
"Oh God No!"Mary wept as she saw the broken bloody body of her closest friend splayed across the ground. She was unconscious and barely breathing while her upper body was covered in deep wounds from the shrapnel. Already there was a large pool of blood forming around her and her face looked deathly pale.
Mary felt sick with grief, this wasn't supposed to happen. It was just like the nightmare; just like the feeling she'd had when she'd found out about papa. It couldn't end up this way, it couldn't be like this.
"Don't worry, I'll see to her. You're needed elsewhere." Damian said hauling himself over to the stricken girl before preparing a first aid formula, murmuring a prayer as he attempted to staunch the bleeding.
Damian was right, she had a purpose, she swore she wouldn't allow anyone else to feel this sort of pain again. The only way for her to help her friend right now was to stop the ones that did this and pray that Damian could save her life. She had to halt the violence that was being inflicted on the inhabitants of the city. It didn't matter that she would have to face the Devil to do it, she had to try, for the sake of all that was right in the world.
Her chest filled with determination as she rushed to where the mage equipment was stored, unslinging the rifle from her shoulder as she went. I won't allow you to hurt any more of my friends! She thought as she quickly mounted one of the Allied Kingdom brooms and poured mana into the power pack to activate it. She wasn't as confident at flying one of these things as her own gear, but she didn't have time to get her own, if she were to have a hope of stopping the attackers, this was the only way.
I have to stop them I have to…
"Warrant officer Sioux! What the Hell do you think you're doing?"
16th March Unified Year 1926 08:20
Red Square, Moscau, Russy Federation
It was supposed to be a simple flyover, maybe with a few stray shots on some military targets as a show of strength. That would have been more than enough to spook the federation into bringing some troops back from the front to defend some key areas. Enough to take the pressure off the front lines and distract the enemy long enough for the great army to ready a counterattack. Enough to make them question the wisdom of their assault on the Empire and a way for the diplomats to find a way to de-escalate the conflict and float the offer of a ceasefire.
So how did it end up like this?
Those were the thoughts that dominated Will's mind as he stared at the plumes of smoke now spiralling up towards the sky as he and the 203rd descended into the remnants of red square with Imperial flags and insignia in hand. Locations that until recently had been places of great symbolic importance to the people of the Federation, or at least their leaders, were now aflame and Will couldn't help but feel deeply anxious about the whole situation. This was too much; Tanya had taken this way too far! They'd kicked the hornets' nest and the only thing that could happen next was that they'd get stung.
"Come on Wilhelm, give the audience a smile! I thought you were good at posing for public appearances." Tanya called gleefully, a wide grin showing on her face despite the bulky film camera she was holding blocking half of it. "I have an idea! Let's sing the national anthem for the crowd!"
Will reluctantly slipped a mask of cheerfulness onto his face with practised ease as he joined his voice to the impromptu choir led by the girl. Although he did not feel much like it, he had plenty of practice hiding his true feelings. Besides, he didn't dare disobey Tanya right now, not while they were so far behind enemy lines and certainly not while she was gripped by her newfound gleeful bloodlust towards the communists.
He'd never seen her quite like this. Although when others looked at her amazing martial feats and saw a prodigy who took joy from her violent acts, Will had always seen something akin to a kindred spirit. Someone who killed as a means to an end; as a way to survive. However, since the communist attack, she seemed to have changed, she seemed to be relishing the idea of fighting these people.
He hadn't realised she held such strong opinions against the communists. She saw them as the source of all that was evil in the world, or at least a close second to the cruel god that had flung them into this world. She'd been speaking this entire time as though she were leading a one-woman crusade against these people and had taken the idea of attacking the capital to the extreme as a result.
It was all going wrong and she didn't see it! The damage the 203rd had done had already all but doomed any chance of a swift peace, they hadn't just shown the Federation's weakness, they'd humiliated their ruling party!
No, they'd done worse, they'd humiliated their people! And worse still she still hadn't finished!
His eyes scanned the square where a small crowd of stunned onlookers watched them warily from a distance. Why they hadn't run, he could not say, it was a quirk of human nature that some people would stay and stare at a spectacle even if they were in danger. However, even at this distance, he could see the looks on these people's faces. There was fear to be sure, he'd be surprised if there wasn't after the destruction they had witnessed, but more than that there was anger and deep hatred.
They really had gone too far. These people could never let this go unpunished! Regardless of whether they approved of their country's ideology or not they'd seen their home attacked and all sense of national pride tarnished. These faces would do everything they could to punish the Empire for these transgressions, they would not give up until they were utterly beaten.
For these people at least, there was no chance for peace.
He bit back a curse as he sang a line about the Empire's glory. All they could only hope for now was that news of the attack would have the opposite effect on the Federation soldiers on the front lines. If not, the Empire's only choice would be to fight and hope they could completely defeat their army and force the country to surrender. That would be no easy feat and incredibly costly for both sides but the Federation had a greater reserve of people to pay such a price.
In the Federation, soldiers grow on trees. And they had just planted the seeds for more.
Damn! I should have done more to stop her! He cursed inwardly as a knot filled his stomach. He'd all but convinced himself it was better to trust her than his own instincts, after all, she'd led them to victory countless times while all his own plans during this war had collapsed. He'd lost some important people because of his mistakes. Every fibre of his being had been telling him this was a bad idea but he'd ignored it, hoping that she would come through for them again because she always did. She was perfect, there was no way she could steer them wrong.
He supposed she had succeeded in her own way, but unfortunately, she'd been far too efficient. But then had she ever done anything in half measures?
No, this was his fault. He should have seen her hatred for the communists, he should have talked her into a more measured approach. Explained the danger of angering the people who would otherwise oppose the regime.
Damn it all! I failed again!
Then again, could he have done anything to stop her anyway? Logic hadn't fled her but she seemed to have a blind spot for how people reacted when backed into a corner. She didn't understand that most people don't act logically in a crisis, she couldn't see that people brought their emotional baggage with them to the battlefield. Additionally, her enthusiasm had gotten the 203rd all riled up for this attack, even his own close quarters company was eager to get into the fight with the Communists. He supposed it was understandable given that the Federation had been the ones to attack but with Tanya so keen to strike at the Federation's leadership and her unwillingness to listen to his concerns, there was no one here to help him restrain her.
If only Sophia were here, I'd at least have another voice to fight in my corner. But then…if she were here she might be…
He shook the thoughts from his head, he didn't dare think about that now, there was too much at stake.
He did his best to maintain his smile as Tanya closed in with the camera to get a better shot of him and the others singing in front of the flag. The whole situation made him anxious and uneasy, everything they were doing was making things worse, feeding the humiliation and anger that would fuel the Federation war machine. Making things that much more difficult for the Empire to win.
Everything she was doing was taking him another step away from his deserved paradise and he had no way to stop her. He was trapped.
He wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. He didn't want to be here. These people wouldn't bring him any closer to what he deserved but every shot fired might take it away from him forever. He couldn't allow himself to be involved in this war in the east! Yet, if he left the 203rd and tried to get a position fighting in the west, something might happen to Tanya.
With the war now on three fronts, including possibly the world's largest military, there was no way he'd be able to quietly arrange for her to be transferred to somewhere safe.
Damn! Damn! Damn! I can't lose her too! I can't lose anyone else! He thought in near panic as the faces of Haussmann and Christina flashed in front of his eyes. The memories made his chest ache and he struggled to steady his voice as he attempted to harmonise with the others as the Imperial anthem came to a close.
"Tanya, please. Isn't this enough? Shouldn't we go now?" He whispered warily as she moved the gaze of the camera over the unhappy-looking crowd before lowering it and cradling it in her arms as though it were a weapon.
"Judging by the pathetic response to repel us so far, I'd say we still have some time before some decent reinforcements arrive. We still have some time for a little more fun. It's a shame we couldn't find a Letzenbourg flag in the Commie propaganda studio eh?" She grinned in reply making Will's heart sink even further.
"Hmm, I have an idea." She continued with a glow in her eyes, "You said you were related to the Russy royalty right? We have a lost heir to the throne here, let's make use of him! Hey Visha, how do I say long live the new Tsar in Russy?"
16th March Unified Year 1926 08:20
The former palace of Kuskovo, Moscau, Russy Federation
"Warrant officer Sioux! What the Hell do you think you're doing?" Lieutenant colonel William Drake yelled authoritatively at his subordinate, mercifully causing her to freeze in her tracks.
Even amid the confusion of the attack, he'd seen the anger on her face, the indignation, the desire to avenge a fallen comrade and the desperation to strike back at the enemy that had hurt them. It was a look he'd seen shared a hundred times, especially in the eyes of the rookies who had yet to see combat. He may have worn the same look himself once, in what now seemed like a very long time ago. However, he knew well that it was a look that got you killed, and he'd seen far too many friends and comrades fall because of it.
"We can't let them get away with this." The headstrong newbie declared as she powered up some borrowed mage equipment. "We have to get out there!"
"Stand down Sioux! Now!" He snapped sharply, causing her to pause once again. He knew he was being a little harsh, but he didn't have the time to waste waiting for her to calm down and explain the risks to her. Fortunately, the hours spent on drills had conditioned her enough to at least pause before disobeying him. Neither the Allied Kingdom nor the Unified States wanted soldiers to be automatons who obeyed completely without question but they drilled hard enough that they could expect their orders to be followed. Even when the soldier receiving them was emotionally unstable.
"But Sir! They hurt our people!" She protested, glancing towards those who had been caught in the blast earlier. He could see the tears mixing with the anger in her eyes.
"Stand down Warrant officer Sioux." He repeated, fixing her with a stare. He couldn't afford to see her fly off the handle here, many of the other volunteers would doubtlessly be feeling the same desire for vengeance as her right now. In truth he felt a measure of that himself, no soldier likes to feel so defenceless in front of the enemy. However, he also understood where they were, who they were against and what dangers were involved if they were to act hastily.
"But the Empire may be killing the people of the Federation right now!" She persisted, clearly upset that he was so hell-bent on stopping her.
"I said stand down! Don't make me repeat myself again." He growled, allowing anger to seep into his voice, finally causing the girl to slump defeated in her seat.
Most of the volunteers didn't realise how dangerous things were for them in this country. They say the enemy of my enemy is your friend, but the Federation was no ally to them. It might even be a stretch to call them allies of convenience. Their presence here was only barely tolerated, one wrong move could end very badly for them. Additionally, aside from sporadic air defence, the Federation had yet to react to the attack, they may have very few active mages here but back home they would have at least scrambled a few squadrons of fighters to chase off the attackers. That that they hadn't made him uneasy.
Is it really true that the Federation Military is too afraid to act without direct confirmation from the higher-ups? He wondered, glancing back towards the city for a moment. If that were true, any unauthorised action taken by Drake and the volunteers would be met with extreme hostility. They might even fire on them. The safety of his young charges had to come first.
"But….But…" The defeated Sioux was barely audible and was visibly shaking as she attempted to hold back the flow of emotion and adrenaline. He understood her pain.
"Think about your comrades. We'll do this right." He said, softening his tone a little and noting her look up at him with a hint of confusion at his words. He resisted a smile, just because we're not charging in unprepared, doesn't mean I plan to stand here and do nothing.
"Fourth company, see to the wounded. The rest of you, we're on standby, get ready to move out on my order." He called, putting a little magic into an amplification spell to ensure he was heard. "Lieutenant Murphy, get Sir Issac on the line and tell him the commies need us in the air on the dou…"
His voice trailed off as a strange noise reverbed over the city. It was singing. The Imperials were singing their national anthem and broadcasting it over the city.
That Imperial commander is a real bastard to go this far Drake mused. Attacking the capital and exposing their weakness was bad enough but to go as far as to humiliate the populace like this was a really lousy thing to do to a people. If they'd tried it in Londinium there wouldn't be a man left in any pub in the country; they'd all be joining up at the recruiters singing God Save the Queen and eager to get back at old Fritz.
He had to admit he felt bad for the Ivans. The Imperials were mocking them and the deaths they had just caused in the city. Drake was no friend of the Federation, but they didn't deserve to be treated like this, even by an enemy.
"Imperial Bastards!" Mary yelled at his side breaking him from his thoughts. "I'll make you pay for what you've done to these people!"
"Shit!" Drake murmured quietly to himself as the girl took off and sped towards the Imperial's damnable singing. Part of him wanted to curse the impetuous girl but in truth now she'd charged off part of him was pleased. At least his hands weren't tied anymore, he could take the fight to the enemy too, if they were cautious.
Besides, morale would suffer if he didn't act now. It was his duty to look after the volunteers after all, fighting spirit and all, even hers.
"Get geared up now and be ready to move! Murphy, tell Isaac we're moving out, he'll have to deal with the political fallout." He ordered before turning back and watching the girl speed away into the distance.
"Enemy of my enemy huh, more like the lesser of two evils if you ask me."
Author's notes
Hello everyone and thank you all for reading. As usual, I apologise for not updating sooner but a variety of things held things back this time (too many to bore you with) so I can do nothing but beg your forgiveness.
I would like to address the comments regarding the 40 years after the war stuff spoiling who will win the war. I have to admit I'm a little confused as to why the complaints happened now. I always thought it was obvious that the Empire loses, if from the tone of the series if nothing else. I have been pretty upfront throughout that I'm following the canon and Andrew says in canon that it is confirmed that the Empire becomes a Republic by the end and Schugel is living as a priest in Londinium (in the movie at least). No matter which way you slice it the Empire loses, even if the Republic of Germania survives and wins somehow.
Either way, who wins the war is the least interesting part of the story anyway. What happens to the characters is what I'm interested in and that is part of the reason the 40 years after stuff exists (that and I find it funny that Andrew is wrong so often). However, I won't be putting the Ghost of Tanya thing in that's been doing the rounds as I don't understand it and I have other plans in mind.
On to the chapter. I'm not sure it's my best tbh. I invented Krugov so I didn't have to write so much Loria but I think I'm going to have to anyway. There is more jumping around in this chapter than I usually have but there is a lot going on around the same time so it was a little unavoidable.
Some might disagree with me on this, but I think the Moscow raid was the worst mistake Tanya ever made. Not because it was a bad idea but because she went too far. Something Wilhelm also believes and is echoed by the General Staff and High Command in the LN. That is why I've tried to have Will so grumpy while Tanya is almost too enthusiastic. I'm not sure I've got her blanket dislike of communists being quite right though.
As always thanks to Vickers for beta reading (even though I ignore half of what he tells me) and I hope you all continue reading, reviewing ect.
Xanen