Divergence
Fourteen
The next Valkyries news reel came out barely a week later.
VICTORY OVER LEGADONIA! the title screen declared.
Footage appeared of (mostly) the Valkyries battling in the fjords against gun emplacements. The fact that it had been a stealth mission was left out.
"The heroic Valkyries smash enemy emplacements before they can sink our ships! Look at those girls go!"
In front was, of course, Mary Sue, who was quickly becoming the poster girl for the unit. Though of course the curvy Minna Wilke had a LOT of fans.
"While fierce fighters, they also accepted enemy surrenders and cared for wounded!"
Once again the girls were shown playing nurse. Amusinglyy, several of them had had their uniform skirts raised a bit...
"Of course, the Valkyries would be lost without their brave leader, Tanya von Degurechaff!"
Aoi had gotten some good shorts of Tanya attacking a gun emplacement on her own and blowing it to rubble. Her in profile, aiming her rifle while her blond hair blew around her face, was incredibly striking.
"And wholesome, motherly Visha Serebryakov, watching over the girls as she valiantly serves alongside Tanya!"
While Visha wasn't THAT high ranked, everyone knew she was very in tune to Tanya's command style. If she told them to do something when Tanya was busy, they did it. She was unaware that command was looking into promoting her, as well.
"But the battle is not over! Onward to the Republic!"
Within the movie theater there were cheers, then the youngsters, old men and a few officers in the capital all headed out.
"Well, I'm glad Mary is doing well," Rachel Sue mused, having attended the show with several house wives. Her husband, alas, was busy that day at the Academy.
Mrs Harzbad, a older woman, patted her on the shoulder, "She's quite brave."
"Did you SEE that Von Degurechaff?" young Mrs Miller sighed dreamily.
Rachel made a mental note that Mrs Miller's husband had been gone a LONG while. Though even Ravchel had to admit Tanya was dashing as heck.
"Let's go to the cafe next," Mrs Reinhart suggested.
The other women agreed, and headed to the nearby cafe. Despite supply issues, you could still get a decent coffee and cake.
"I got a letter from Matthias," Mrs Harzbad referred to her son, "he's hopeful the war will end soon."
Mrs Reinhart shook her head, "The Republic will be a tough nut to crack."
Rachel nodded, "Agreed. Plus, there's Russia..."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"NEGOTIATIONS?!" Tanya yelped, sitting in a tent not far from the front lines.
They had been hustled from the north back to the Rhine front, where the Empire was facing off with the Republic. The battle field was much less bad than it had been, as the Empire could now properly reinforce the line and was marshaling their forces for a big push. Tanya still had nightmares of how bleak it HAD been, of course...
Elya Seiber, Visha's old friend, was there from the Intelligence Department, delivering a report along side Lt Colonel Schwarzkopf, her previous commander at the Rhine whom had been promoted several times since Tanya had been there.
"Yes," Elya agreed, "the Republic has requested a cease fire and to enter negotiations."
Lt Colonel Schwarzkopf nodded, "Which the Emperor has agreed too."
Tanya nodded thoughtfully, though honestly she thought it was a bad idea. "Well, it'll give us more time to build up our forces." she said.
"And them to build defences," Elya added ruefully.
"Exactly," Tanya sighed. She addressed the Colonel, "I assume we have new orders?"
"We want your unit ready to act as a high speed reaction force, in case they suddenly break the cease fire," Lt Colonel Schwarzkopf said.
Tanya nodded thoughtfully, "Twenty four hours a day?"
"If possible," Schwarzkopf admitted.
"I can rotate soldiers and have about a third ready to go at any time," Tanya mused, "in eight hour shifts. Any more than that and fatigue would impact combat performance."
"Understood," Schwarzkopf agreed. He got up, "And may I say, I'm very impressed with how far you've come. It wasn't that long ago we first met here."
"You too, sir," Tanya nodded.
"I'm free for a day or two," Elya said as he left, "would you mind if I go see Visha?"
"Go ahead," Tanya agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"VISHA!" Elya cried, hugging her.
"Elya," Visha hugged her back, smiling, the two women in the tent Visha was using, near where Tanya and the command officers.
"It's been too long," Elya added, smiling warmly. "Abnd why didn't you write?" she punched her on the shoulder.
"We were under communications blackout," Visha reminded her.
"For the attack on the coast," Elya agreed. "I just saw the newsreels."
"Oh lord those are awful," Visha groaned.
Elya laughed as she quoted, "Wholesome, motherly Visha Serebryakov?"
"I don't know where the narrator got THAT from," Visha shook her head.
Elya rather suspect it was because of how busty Visha was, but the narrator couldn't say that. So 'motherly' instead.
"What?" Visha gave her a look.
"Excuse me," a voice called, then Hilde Schnee stuck her head in. "Oh! I didn't know you had company," she apologized.
"Hilde Schnee, meet Elya Seiber, we were in basic training together," Visha introduced them.
"Pleasure to meet you," Elya smiled, looking at the older woman thoughtfully.
"With the break in fighting, Aoi wanted to film a segment, but I can tell her you're busy," Hilde told Visha.
"Could I meet them?" Elya asked, curious.
"Why not?" Visha agreed as they went over to the 'women's' tents not far away.
"Why are the Valkyries so near to Tanya's tent?" Elya asked curiously.
"Because Tanya has threatened any man that tries anything inappropriate with them," Hilde smirked.
"Ha!" Elya smirked. "And considering Von Degurechaff's reputation...," she chuckled.
"I think Aoi wishes she wouldn't scare off the boys, but..," Visha shrugged.
Elya laughed at that.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Colonel Vianto was meeting with the President and the surviving generals. It was not a happy meeting, in any way.
"So, it's just us and whatever volunteers remain from Albion?"
Vianto nodded, "The American volunteers have been ordered home. Their congress were NOT happy about helping us, and finally took steps."
"Short sighted fools!" one man cursed.
'Well, their President did it without asking congress. Can't blame them for being pissed,' Vianto mused.
"And Albion?" another asked.
"They are refusing to do any more," one of the other officers sighed.
"If we could just get them to block their supplies at least," the President sighed.
There were still countries trading with the Empire, shockingly. The republic and Albion had stopped SOME trade via political pressure, but many nations didn't care. And some, possibly, viewed it as getting close to the likely victor.
"We have talked the Empire into negotiations," the diplomat sighed, "I... am unsure how seriously we should take it."
Vianto frowned, "I thought it was just a delaying tactic?"
The President sighed, "At this point, if we can end the war without too damaging reperations, I would accept that deal."
"SERIOIUSLY?" several men yelped.
The President scowled, "At this point we can not wion against the Empire, unless our allies actually step in. Correct?"
No one looked happy, but they couldn't argue that.
"At this point we must ensure the Republic's survival so that we can fight another day," he concluded grimly.
To be continued...
Notes: Canonly, oif course, Russia starts becoming active, forcing the Empire to act and prolonging the war. I need to decide if that happens or not...