Chapter 4
July 8, Unified Year 1885
Berun, Imperial Capital
Imperial Army General Staff Office
"Am I truly allowed to be present inside this institution, Father?"
"Stop asking stupid questions."
Another question had left the mouth of Franz, who was still somewhat dumbfounded by the situation. He had not the slightest clue whether this was simply the different cultures and regulations of another nation, or whether the Empire was just showing itself as an outlier again, but this was just absurd.
Even as a dependent, it seemed much too easy for even a member of the General Staff to bring his child into the absolute center of military strategic and martial knowledge.
He was merely following his Father on a trip to Berun after he had been called to the Headquarters on short notice from his Command position of the base in Posdamnt, but he really wasn't expecting for the visit to turn into a 'bring your child to work day'. He wasn't complaining too much, though.
It would be a novel experience to view how such an older military authority used its expertise and talents to maneuver around the chaos of the earlier years, most especially before the first world war. To read about it was one thing, but to see it in person would be something else entirely.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking through endless halls and his Father saluting various passerby's, we finally seemed to reach the area of his office as he took a detour into a large doorway by the route.
The Service Department.
It was another reason for his inch of enthusiasm, seeing as the entirety of this current Organization of the German Staff was completely foreign to him. This was one of those Departments that had given him a slight amount of confusion, and now gathered his curiosity, something he would soon work to dilute as the door opened.
Almost immediately, his eyes met a long table where many individuals stood and sat around in conversation, quiet in the discussion that was taking place, while others stood about in wait for a moment to speak and for a result from the meeting.
With just a few words, even without having asked questions whatsoever to his Father, he could come up with a basis on the function of this Department.
If the Operations Department were to focus on the Strategy and Tactics of military operations, the Service Department would focus on the deployment and gathering of troops all across the Nation, and the keeping of all this information at all times. It was no wonder his Father would always talk about his colleagues in Operations with such a structure where they would most definitely work in tandem.
It begged the question of why they wouldn't just place everything in one Department though.
"Weitzel!"
His thoughts were interrupted by a vigorous voice of a stocky man, a bushy yet dignified beard ruffling on his face. The similar rank to the one nested on his Fathers shoulders let him know of the man's position as a Colleague of his. That and the response, he guessed.
"Gunther."
His Father seemed years older, but the Blonde man simply smiled at his misfortune as he placed his hand on his hip, continuing the conversation with vigor.
"Good to see you again. Hope Posdamnt has been treating you well, my friend."
"Of course it has, you're nowhere near it." His Father responded back with a bite as he rolled his eyes slightly, placing his hat on a stand. Gunther snickered as he finally looked to the young figure by his colleagues side.
"Your son, I reckon. He's your shining image. How did you smuggle him in here?" The man rose his eyebrow, asking a question Franz himself had been pondering over for quite the while.
"We walked." His Father deadpanned, once more evading the questions.
With a snicker, Gunther simply took the shoulder of the man as he led him towards the group of Generals who were speaking among each other in a quiet debate. Franz chose to be silent as he followed along, keeping his head down with his ears perched in interest. He read among the few papers he could see as he listened.
"Our numbers, again?" An older individual spoke, tapping his fingers upon the various papers aligned upon the table.
"Near thirty nine divisions upstanding. Many still remain unassigned from the Southern integration." Another replied as they pushed up their glasses, sighing out slightly.
"With those?" A voice pushed, though it sounded quite tired, as if it had been said many times before.
"…If we could fully assimilate the remaining men like we had been doing before, then there would be an additional eleven divisions on call." The man replied again, simply staring blankly back at the other General who inquired.
Silence seemed to reign for a moment despite the quiet discussion of groups surrounding the table.
"Six hundred and seventy four thousand available with one hundred and ninety thousand still in reserves, which seems to be increasing through recruitment." What seemed to be the head of the discussion spoke up, rubbing their temples with exasperation.
"And it will continue as such as long as we devote our limited funds to this." Another General rubbed their shoulders as they continued, "After all, were stretched completely thin."
"Isn't that the truth…" Muttered someone, which immediately elicited quite a few grunts of acknowledgement.
So that was the issue. He had heard his Father grumbling throughout the past few months, and it wasn't difficult to see the fact that railways were being zoned all across the nation. Posdamnt was a hub, after all.
Plan 315, he had heard from the mouth of his Father. Despite the fact he had never gone in depth, he understood it was a Defensive strategy drafted by the Staff of the nation about a year ago after great discussion due to their 'peculiar' state of affairs.
Such affairs were the fact that the Empire was nearly surrounded by potential enemies.
The approach was a means to an end, relying on the superior military might of the Empire and the speed of what would most probably become a wide scale interior lines strategy, supported by what words he could read from his viewpoint at the table and the budding infrastructure in the lands.
With the current era and knowledge, it seemed to be tailored to their less than suitable situation. Rapid industrialization allowed them to be able to pump through the requirements needed for the plan at a steadfast pace. But when it came to manpower, they had a slight issue.
The pockets of the Emperor were empty.
An army cannot be paid on hopes and dreams alone. With weapons development, industrial production, and most of all, magical research taking most of the budget, Plan 315 simply became the cherry on top. Money had become a scarce resource in the current Empire.
"With our current state… This seems much too ambitious." A voice mused much the same as Franz himself, who puckered his lips slightly at the statement.
"And what are we if not motivated? We'll simply do what we do best." The leader of the discussion once more spoke up, their mensur scars stretching as they continued on.
"Operations and Railway have dictated two decades as their estimation for completion. We'll work in tandem with Personnel and incorporate the South as steadily as possible to make it by the deadline." The man nodded, tapping the table.
"What of those who yearn to serve?" A leaner man led on as they placed both their hands on the table.
"Reserves first. Quality over Quantity." A rebuttal immediately interrupted from an individual to their right, a slight reflection following, "I've heard from a colleague in Economy that the Industry on the Ruhr is now in focus. Within the next few years we should have funding through coming expansion."
"They've been saying that for years now with nothing to show for it." An open refutation came once more, once more gathering a few hums of agreements.
"Enough." The leading officer once more spoke, looking around the calmed table as he continued to speak, "We will focus on Reserve integration as much as we can, once said theoretical further funding comes in, then we'll talk. Next up on the list."
With a wave of his hand, a few papers sounded with a couple ruffles as a serene silence overtook the group. It didn't last long as a curious voice sprouted out from one of the sides where Franz couldn't see.
"Shouldn't this be on Personnel?" They asked, throwing the paper on the table with a raised brow.
Interested, Franz raised himself slightly by his toes, glancing at the title of the paper with a tilted head, only to be well surprised.
'Introduction of Northern Marauders into Military Service.'
This was the first time he had ever heard of this.
"Personnel has already taken care of enlisting them. However, our friends in the Navy have no idea what to do with them. Its not as if we have a surplus of vessels." Another spoke immediately after.
"Their experiences and otherwise skills would be well to spread through our more seaworthy armies." Was the response that followed, meeting an immediate agreement from most at the table.
It was almost way too quick, Franz thought, being proven right almost immediately after as one of the higher ranking individuals spoke in opposition.
"Can we trust them? To have pirates in our Navy is a bit…" They didn't finish, but it was obvious what they were attesting too.
"I heard Diplomacy gave them a deal. Of the take it or leave it kind." Someone mused as their hands met their chin.
"Not so much as it was a take it or die." A voice calmed the discussion immediately, coming from the leader of the table once more.
"They irritated the Commonwealth. Outstayed their visit in their area of the Northern Sea for much too long. The age of Piracy has long ended, and they were the last of their kind around here." The man rubbed one of his scars as he shook his head.
"So we reached out. It would be a complete waste of knowledge otherwise to let them die off." He finished, looking across the table with a raised eyebrow, as if probing for another question.
"That explains it. Are we positive the Commonwealth won't be aggressive about this?" The man who spoke out originally relaxed slightly, though still worried somewhat about potential drawbacks.
"Well it wont exactly be publicized. They might find out soon enough, but by then the Pirates will most likely be fully integrated. They wont have any choice." Was the reply, as silence once more took the table.
With no other objections, it was set in stone in the eyes of those in the Service Department as they wrote down on a few papers, stamping down on a stack to send their agreement back to Personnel.
Franz stood there as he continued to listen to the digressive yet remarkably efficient discussions that roamed the table, finding that the Service Department was much more connected than he had previously anticipated.
In fact, he should have known that he would be surprised by the sheer intellect of the organization he currently resided within.
After all, any nation with the equivalent of a Prussian background and a focus on rational militaristic thought would be an intellectual force to be reckoned with.
He sighed slightly though, his experiences plaguing his admiration for the institution of strategic knowledge.
He had already gone through one life of destruction, warfare, and death. Despite having been cursed to this world which seems to hold it imminent, he would rather not fight once more in a conflict with an irrefutable end of hell on all sides.
Looking upon the Generals, who continued to speak calmly and rationally among each other, his determination rose.
He wouldn't allow it. He couldn't. If it was the last thing he'd do, he would stop whatever was coming. And if it was truly inevitable?
…Then he would plan.
February 21, Unified Year 1886
Posdamnt, Imperial Heartland
Schnantzern Estate
Franz never really enjoyed learning new languages.
It was the reason he had only learned the absolute basic of the Chinese dialect back in his previous world for reasons related to prisoners of war and didn't go full on into its studies.
He suffered because of that, and he would learn from his mistakes.
However, that didn't mean he would have fun while doing it.
He listened attentively to the older man in front of him even with his misgivings and annoyances at the situation.
"…and finally, Comment vous sentez-vous aujourd'hui?" The words came out in a jumble that would have been difficult to understand months ago, especially with the mix of Imperial and Francois dialect.
"Étrangement orgueilleux." Franz responded with a stoic face, the immediate response being a slight exhale showing the opposites mirth.
" Bonne blague, mon enfant." The smile on the face of the older man widened ever so slightly as he closed the book he held, rearranging the glasses laying upon his nose.
"Three hours a day for six months straight. For someone so annoyed with the language you have been quite stubborn in its study." The man continued on, looking down to the boy.
"But of course. What would I do if I were to capture a Francois officer only not to understand their maiden tongue?" Franz shot back as he stretched his shoulders idly.
The man stared at him with a grin, "Be joyous. In that case you wouldn't understand their practiced slurs. Unfortunately for you, I deem you completely fluent." He set down the book he had held, a veritable dictionary of the language.
"Oh malheur à moi." The boy finally elicited a smirk, and a snort from his instructor, as he responded.
"Will you be learning the brusque words of the Rus next?" The older man finally came around the table of the dining room as he began to pack his items.
"Not yet. I'll learn Albish instead. Rusque will probably take a year or so, and I would rather know what the Albion speak first as they are the European Hegemon." Franz rubbed his eyes, shaking his head slightly.
The wizened man nodded as he chuckled slightly, speaking up in response as he hoisted his satchel onto his shoulder.
"Indeed young man. But not for long." Their wrinkled hand met the shoulder of Franz as his eyes flashed with an undecipherable emotion to most, but one that met immediate familiarity in the eyes of the boy.
Pride.
"I believe that you will be among the many of the next generation to lead the Empire. To bring us to prosper, to thrive. To assist in handing off the torch to bright young minds like yours is the greatest honor an old man like myself can have."
Franz simply stared into the nearly piercing blue eyes of the old man, before nodding solemnly. He spoke, gently taking the hand off his shoulder, and holding it in his own hands.
"I cannot promise to meet your standards. But I can promise to try my best. May the Empire flourish."
The older man simply nodded back as he closed his eyes slightly, repeating the same phrase in a quieter mumble as he left the hall.
Franz stared at his back, waiting for his complete departure, before he sighed out, his elbow meeting the table and his hand haphazardly holding up his face. His legs swung back and forth as his feet lacked the length to touch the floor.
Patriotism. The Empire was brimming with it.
He nearly scoffed at himself for the thought. Of course almost every citizen had it in their bones. After all, most of those alive now had been a part of the time period that led to the unification of this nation and loved it as consequence. That emotion would simply continue down the line to their children, and then their grandchildren, and so on.
He wouldn't deny that he had been affected by the long reach of patriotism in his last life, but he would always hold it to his own mind that he never got lost in its gaze.
He would always remember logic, rationalism, something many others denied as they clawed against all enemies of the State. After all, he would never forget that to understand that there were always two sides to a story.
Even more so, he would never forget the lesson dug into his skull after the tragedies of multiple conflicts in just a decade. After the deaths of tens of millions abroad, and then millions more in the confines of his own nation that ripped itself apart at the seams.
Humanity is irrational. To cause war, only one of three needs must be achieved. Riches, hatred, and love.
If one nation has resources and land that could be theoretically taken, one is already met. If there is animosity between two nations, whether this be politically, religiously, or economically, it is then that the fuse is set. But if both countries have an unhealthy love for their own people, culture, histories, and might…
A volatile situation would only become looming tension, chaos, and inevitably, grievous conflict.
This would be the second time that he would witness such an event. Where he would be dragged into the wave of an ideology that he knew he wouldn't be able to curve, most especially because of the time period.
The Republic had already lost itself to its draw years ago, and the rest of Europe was slowly succumbing to its calls. It was difficult not to feel a sense of belonging to this new nation he had been born into, a sense of pride, but that is what gave him fear.
Fear for what the minds of the Imperial people filled with reason would create once their senses are infected with burning Nationalism and the need to see the Empire above all others.
He was anxious, but helpless. He could do nothing but watch on as the cycle repeated itself once more at the moment.
But once he reached that age, once he reached a position of power, of authority. He would do everything in his power, anything to stop his family from being harmed, his new people from losing themselves in bloodlust.
That deity wished him upon this world, to protect and serve, and he would be damned if he wouldn't do exactly that. He would never pray for forgiveness, but he would most definitely levy his curses to those false saints in the skies.
His eyes reached out to the dimming sunset that came upon the landscape of the extensive Empire, one filled with fields and buildings, a look of innovation and growth spreading into his vision across the distance.
"Je ... Non, nous vaincrons."
Supposed Translation:
Comment vous sentez-vous aujourd'hui?
How are you feeling today?
Étrangement orgueilleux.
Strangely proud.
Bonne blague, mon enfant.
Good joke, child.
Oh malheur à moi.
Oh woe is me.
Je ... Non, nous vaincrons.
I... No, we will win.
[Translator Used is DeepL]
AN:
Holy cannoli
I'm so sorry guys I got Civ 6 on sale and I lost a little bit of time (worst mistake of my life)
But anyway, here's the juice so I got you guys covered
I was also procrastinating for a good while because I really didn't know how to get past this part, but I finally got off my ass again after failing once more at winning a game
I think it might get to the point of major changes to canon soon, but I feel like I'm still gonna keep the Norden Incident in, though I'm thinking about throwing away the Imperial escalation, giving the Empire at least a few more months
However, I would then have to create an entirely new scenario, and I'm dead serious when I say I am not a military enthusiast or strategic/tactical/geopolitical/HOI4 expert at all! multiply that by 3 that because all important things must be stressed at LEAST three times in a row
That's way too far off though, but I'm gonna keep this going, and I can have either a few more chapters of character development and world building or immediately drop him into OCS, but I'm still deciding
My storyboard actually didn't get this far if I'll be honest
But if there is one thing I'm good at to a degree, its winging it with absolutely no prior knowledge of what the hell I'm doing, while having 47 tabs of research into Imperial Germany open off to the side, and 27 tabs related to Youjo Senki chilling in another window, listening to Youjo Senki light novel excerpts online, and browsing the manga
If I keep on this grind I'll be a pseudo expert in the lore in like, 6 more months or something
Anyway, thank you guys for the support so far, and the comments I've gotten so far got me upbeat and stuff, so I appreciate that
I'll try and keep up the good work, but honestly I just hope you guys enjoy this as much as I do and don't get too annoyed at my less than favorable upload schedule and my lack of actual knowledge, hypocritical because I'm already beating myself up over it constantly
On that last note, see you guys in the next chapter, which will hopefully not be next, next month!
Hugs and punches, Kelpten.
AN2:
Lets do this one more time.
No but really, I want to give my thanks to Galata1922 for the Constructive Criticism.
Without your post, there would have been a major flaw in my understanding of the events of Youjo Senki that would have continued despite me, so I really do want to thank you in specific for taking the time out of your day to write that along with your praises.
Again, to everyone reading, I'm not an expert or anything in any of these events or anything diplomatic or military, which is why even with my excitement and love for this series and my subsequent fiction, I have my continual worries.
Because to create an intelligent character like this, you yourself must be just as intelligent. To tell the story of the background of such a world in a more in depth way as missed by the actual novel, you must have a solid understanding of the medium.
I am conscious enough to know that this is not the case for me.
This is why I am not writing in bulk, for I'm taking this site as a kind of bounce board, with any of you readers essentially being my beta testers if you have the knowledge and want to talk about it.
I want this work, my first ever actual try at a fanfiction, to be the best it possibly can be. Which is why I research, and look into history, and do all this stuff.
I have so many ideas, so many different things I want to do, and so many different paths that I just don't know if they are realistically or logically viable.
So if I ever write something in that has such a major flaw as the first rendition of this chapter did, then please, by all means write up! My eyes are always open.
PS: Franz is human, which means I need to start writing up flaws for him that actually fit. Such as, unhealthy coping mechanisms from a time long past, covering up his emotions with a stoic facade, pushing his family away, and a lack of actual therapy beginning to bring back what could possibly be nightmares of horrid modern warfare. However, I want to be realistic and respectful to those actual situations, and I don't want to be careless with such a topic, especially when I'm writing about it like this. So if anyone has any viable sources for veterans after combat and how they react and cope for the most part, as well as their habits and otherwise I would greatly appreciate it.
And to everyone who's still staying around despite my abhorrent upload schedule, I want to thank you as well with keeping up with everything.
Until then, I hope to see you all next chapter! (Or revisal!)