Internal Affairs (4)

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AUGUST 24, UNIFIED YEAR 1925, IMPERIAL ARMY GENERAL STAFF OFFICE, DINING ROOM 1

The cafeteria at the General Staff Office made a rule for itself that the meals it served must be equal or inferior in quality to those of the mobilized soldiers in the field. Due to the prevalence of that touching rumor around the Empire, Dining Room 1 was deserted as usual.

The only ones to appear at the cafeteria were those required by unavoidable circumstances to eat there. The people thus in the predicament of reluctantly sipping the awful pseudo-coffee were stuck washing down their complaints about its quality with either tasteless water or said pseudo-coffee.

“I suppose it’s a reward for the victory. You and I have been promoted. Congratulations, Lieutenant General von Zettour.”

“Thanks, Lieutenant General von Rudersdorf. Now let’s get back to business.”

“Indeed. This isn’t the place for a celebration, in any case.”

And so the awful ersatz coffee put a damper on the pair’s celebration of their respective promotions to lieutenant general. When Zettour made the practical suggestion of getting back to business, Rudersdorf didn’t feel the atmosphere was right for a celebration, either. That was the General Staff Office cafeteria in a nutshell.

“All right, then.”

So Rudersdorf flatly changed gears and brought up the pending issue before them, the next stage of their operations.

Though the Republican Army on the mainland was completely under control, remnants of the forces calling themselves the Free Republican Army were holding out in the Republic’s colonies. The Commonwealth had joined the fight, and the Imperial High Seas Fleet was facing its navy, but unfortunately there was still quite a large gap between the two in terms of strength.

Even if the Empire sent its entire fleet, it would only amount to half the size of the Commonwealth’s.

Though the public and some of Supreme High Command were enthusiastic about an invasion of the Commonwealth mainland, Zettour and Rudersdorf were at wit’s end over how few options they realistically had, given their army’s fighting power.

“With circumstances such as they are, I think it makes sense to launch operations in the south with the objectives of blockading the Inner Sea and defeating the last of the Republican forces.”

For that reason, as part of their plan to handle the war situation, they first considered a southern campaign against the remnants of the Republican Army.

They would demonstrate that the Empire was capable of sending troops to the colonies. Such a reality could inspire at least the Republican Army and colonies to make peace.

To the Imperial Army General Staff, who could no longer find any point in the war, that speculation was a realistic plan of compromise to end the fighting quickly. If they could settle things without occupying every last hostile country and just negotiate, that would be easier.

“Allow me to make one point. I understand what you’re saying, but our nation has limited power projection capabilities, and our maritime forces on the Inner Sea are equally tight.”

“You’re quite right, Zettour. That’s why I’m asking you.”

As Zettour pointed out the difficulties and Rudersdorf grudgingly agreed, neither the fleet’s strength nor the Empire’s projecting power supposed even a limited-scale overseas invasion. Even the suppression of neighboring countries was a strain on the Imperial Army, since it was set up for domestic interior lines operations.

“Under these circumstances, the most we could do on the southern front would be combat on a limited scale for mainly political purposes. Will that work?”

Which was why Zettour emphasized that they wouldn’t be able to expect much from the military on the southern front, saying that no matter how effective it would be, from a purely military perspective, they couldn’t expect to have command of the Inner Sea and be able to cut off transport routes.

“That’s no problem. Our main objective is to draw the Kingdom of Ildoa to our side by supporting them down there. I get where you’re coming from, and I won’t deny an idea just because it isn’t purely military in nature.”

In response to the warning, Rudersdorf smiled and said he would readily accept politics as a limiting factor.

It would be a nerve-racking battlefield, but…even if it was as roundabout as Open Sesame on the Rhine front, Rudersdorf and Zettour were interested in any operation that would be effective. They figured anything useful was worth trying.

“Even in the worst case, having a sympathetically neutral Kingdom of Ildoa would tell the Republic and Commonwealth that we could threaten their lifelines. Especially in the colonies. That actually is something we need, but…”

“The usual logistical problems?” Rudersdorf asked with a perplexed expression. Zettour always spoke confidently, as if he were reading a formula or theory, so it was rare for him to trail off. Are our supply and communications lines really so strained?

“No, those issues I can overcome. I just can’t shake the feeling that it would be essentially a pointless deployment. Is a limited peace impossible?”

“I don’t mean to throw your words back at you, but why would a limited peace be impossible? We just do as Supreme High Command wills.”

A brief silence fell between them. And after meditating on the question, Why can’t we end the war? there was only one answer.

“Ultimately, I suppose the problem is that we haven’t completely defeated the enemy.”

It was all he could do to voice the words.

Not fully defeating the enemy was a most regrettable error. Their chance had slipped through their fingers while they were drunk on celebrating their triumph. Of course, their victory was still a victory. Encirclement, annihilation, advance, occupation. Everything proceeded according to plan, and the Imperial Army had eliminated all their enemies.

But there was one element missing from their celebration: the end of the war and the restoration of peace. Now that the Republican fleet they let escape had turned into a headache, shouting about resistance to the bitter end, peace seemed awfully far away.

Thus, both of the generals felt the need to put the last nail in the coffin.

“If we must, then all we have to do is beat them. In that sense, if you think of sending troops to the southern continent as a move for the sake of peace, it’s not a bad idea.”

Which was why Rudersdorf declared that they wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. They would simply defeat anyone who stood in their way.

“Understood. Then I’ll arrange the right troops and commanders.” Zettour’s cheeks relaxed into a smile when he nodded in response to that confident reply. Yet, something in his face said it still wasn’t sitting right with him, and he repeated his previous comment. “But I’d like you to bear one thing in mind, or rather, I want to reconfirm it with you. We’re a nation with a land army, and we’ve prioritized interior lines strategy.”

“As you say. You’ve pointed that out many times.”

The Imperial Army was designed and outfitted to move around inside the country. Sadly, the Empire was in a mad rush to give them a measure of expeditionary capability, but the army’s logistics arm had been overworked since the war started, and there were already reports of complicated obstacles.

“That’s right. Going to war in a foreign country is likely to put quite a strain on the army’s support services. Even if the sea command situation is different than in the waters near the Commonwealth mainland, an operation on the southern continent is still an overseas operation. We’ll have to be prepared for some losses.” Zettour hesitated, then continued, “But…that’s why I intend to deploy mainly light divisions. I don’t plan on sending in very large units. You’ve said you understand that, so there should be no problem.”

“As the one in charge of the operation, I don’t have a problem with light divisions. Do you?”

“No, there shouldn’t be any issues.”

They knew it would be a difficult expedition, which was why they chose light divisions. But the way Zettour said, “There shouldn’t be any issues,” Rudersdorf couldn’t help but hear some hesitation.

“…My friend, what is it you want to say?”

“We must have made a mistake, don’t you think?”

The way Major von Degurechaff had shown up at the General Staff Office, apparently wanting to say something, had lingered strangely in the back of his mind. He knew right away that she had hesitated and returned to her base, unable to say whatever it was.

Now he could only speculate, but he almost had the feeling that back then she had wanted to scream at him: You’re making a mistake! It was too late now, but he wished he had heard her out. That’s why he asked his brother-in-arms, Were we wrong?

Rudersdorf, for his part, felt much the same as Zettour. Have we made a mistake? It was a strange feeling. But now that he mentioned it, yes, it was true.

“I’m sure we did. Remember that in war, we have an opponent, so things won’t always go as we’d like. It’s not uncommon that an enemy responds in an unexpected way, right? You’re just so good at reading them that you don’t screw up often enough!”

But though Rudersdorf didn’t deny the error, he was going to cut his losses and not get overly caught up in it. In the fog of war, not every shot could hit the bull’s-eye. All they could do was their best, and if they got the second-best results, then hoping for anything more was too much.

“…If you say so. Anyhow, let’s keep the burden to the minimum.”

“Very well. Frankly, I’d like to have as many reserve units on hand at home as I can, so it’d be better if you could make do with as few as possible.”

Zettour was especially concerned with keeping the load light, and Rudersdorf nodded in agreement. It was certainly desirable to minimize the strain on logistics.

“So,” he continued. “Okay, how about you give me those guys again? Your unit, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion,” he added. “They’re only a fifty-man load on logistics, but they pack more punch than the usual augmented battalion, so it’d be very efficient.”

As the one in charge of the operation, he also noted that having a simple-to-deploy mobile fighting force would yield the advantage of extended range of use.

“…I need them to take out other aerial mages. Plus, if you unleash her without thinking, there’s no telling how far she’ll advance!”

But anyone would want to keep such a precious asset handy. Zettour wasn’t about to let it go so easily.

“She’ll lead the charge. I need her to mess them up down there.”

Let me have them. No. C’mon, let me have them. The exchange between the two generals nearly went on forever, but Rudersdorf’s stubbornness finally paid off.

“Fine. I’ll arrange it. Now then, I’m off to the next meeting to give formal notification of this. What about you?”

As Zettour complained about more pain-in-the-ass arrangements to make, Rudersdorf let it go in one ear and out the other and barreled right into the next topic.

“Sorry, I’m leaving this up to you. I’d like to inspect our troops, assuming we’re heading into a fight with the Commonwealth.”

“Got it. Let me know what you find out.”

“No problem.”

“Great. Then let’s both make it happen.”