Sovereign

"The Royal Guard of Orland swells in numbers! Ever since the 'Royal Guard Volunteer Act' was signed by the Queen, women of all kinds have been volunteering in record numbers to join the RGO. Roughly forty-eight Knight Detachment Units (KDUs), roughly the size of an OAF Brigade, had been formed. These KDUs were now reorganized by the newly formed RGO Supreme War Council specifically for field deployments. The response from the OAF had been mixed. Some applauded it as a step in the right direction for men and women to share the burden of fighting. Some expressed concerns, citing that these units are 'poorly integrated' into the OAF command structure, which might lead to 'poor strategic and tactical utilization' on the battlefield. Still, most women in national polls have approved of this, showing that this war is very much a joint national struggle for both Orlishmen and Orlishwomen."

- ROCN News

+++

City of Halia

Queen's Bunker

August 27, 2024

Amelie looked down at the report files that Marie presented. Yesterday, she and the RIU found themselves in a skirmish at the hot zones of Heiflitz, as they attempted to grab high-priority intel from a downed Putschist helicopter down in the Brül District.

"It's as we've expected," Amelie said, still reading the files. "They really want to encircle the city."

"That much is obvious," Marie said. "But the most important thing we gathered here is their force concentrations."

"Indeed. Marie, I really do commend you for this."

"Just doing my duty. For you and the Kingdom."

"I assume you weren't endangered, right?"

Marie smirked smugly, almost as if she was so sure that there would absolutely be no way she could die there.

"Well, there were some close calls, but otherwise, it turned out fine."

Amelie sighed in response. She had already received the reports from Heiflitz. Yesterday, the fighting was so severe that an entire penal unit almost disappeared in the Brül District.

Nearly three divisions had to be redeployed to keep hold of that District, and her forces still suffered heavy casualties even with the limited air support offered by the Air Force.

It was a result of aggressive artillery bombardment and determined LSS Mech assaults. The Putschists sent an elite division of them, which almost completely chewed her 19th Armored Division through the night.

As such, it was understandable that Amelie was worried for Marie. Very much so. She didn't really want her close friend so close to danger during these operations.

"Good. I still want you to stay careful though."

"I do everything with my safety in mind, don't worry."

Amelie clipped some of the files to her clipboard. She didn't want to lose it for the meeting later in the night.

"So…should I divert funding to the RIU now? To turn your organization into a real agency?" Amelie asked.

"Haven't we been a real agency already?"

"Yes, but the RIU is too small. Too underfunded."

Marie seemed deep in thought about it. So far, the Royal Investigations Unit had been treated like some detachment from the Royal Guard. Although they were given some high-end equipment and generous funding, they were still such a tiny unit that the RIU could not truly compare to the OIA, or to Army Field Intelligence (AFI) and the Naval Intelligence Division (NID) that became the OAF's main intelligence arms.

"Well, my unit was created for a sole purpose after all. Our main mission was just to investigate the death of your late mother." Marie reasoned. "Though, our roles have since expanded."

"Exactly. So…why not make things official? Maybe, just maybe, the RIU can truly replace the OIA. Even after this war. I mean, I absolutely will abolish the OIA once this war is over."

"Well…" Marie replied. "Does that mean I'll become similar to Alfonso? With a massive organization to run dedicated to intelligence and counter-intelligence for the Queen?"

"Yes."

Marie looked at her options. Certainly, this would be a massive responsibility. So far, the RIU had been just her close connections in the Royal Guard. Volunteers who wanted to fight for the Queen.

If she wanted to turn the RIU into a proper intelligence agency, she would need to build things from scratch. Then a proper command structure. Bases, facilities, and most of all, manpower. Hundreds or even thousands of people to be managed.

And separate units. Training. All of it, she would have to figure it out somehow.

It sounded like a lot of work. And Marie smiled. She wanted more work.

"Alright, funding, eh? How much are we talking about?"

"Well, probably fifty percent of the OIA's original budget for the first year? Enough to build something from scratch, but not too big to manage."

"Well…" Marie wasn't really the best at managing money. "I'm in then."

Amelie smiled.

"Alright. I hope you'll serve this role well."

Marie's eyes returned a determined glint.

"I will."

+++

Amelie watched as Colonel Kleist gave another report to the officer staff of JTF-Ludendorf. He discussed the current frontline conditions around the Heiflitz frontline, which was now becoming the most important axis of the battle.

"Once again, the Putschists are sending multiple armored elements to storm the city. AFI intel indicated for the past few weeks that an assault on Heiflitz was highly likely, but only now is it fully clear. They want us cut off from the south." The Colonel finished, before one of the Army officers, General Elias Holl raised his hand.

He was in charge of HEICOMM, which placed all forces in Heiflitz under his command. So far, General Holl had adopted a reactive defense posture, making sure that his forces could plug gaps in the defense line as the situation developed while staying cautious and avoiding potentially costly counterattacks.

This was different from William's policy of proactive response, which gave field officers the permission to respond "as they see fit", leading to local counterattacks and rapid force deployments that kept the Halian frontlines somewhat static but also somewhat mobile.

So far, William's policy allowed the OAF to be effective at keeping Royalist initiative on the battlefield, tying down Putschist units and keeping them at their toes - and as William explained to Amelie, it also kept them, "In a constant state of imbalance," preventing proper preparations for any offensive actions.

The downside - they were suffering heavier casualties. In Heiflitz, tactically, her Royalist defenders stayed in pure defense. On the other hand, in Halia, her defenders were, tactically speaking, taking an offensive posture. And each local offensive led to losses.

"I understand the situation." He started. "But my question is, what is our response? So far, we have been reacting as they move, but we have no initiative. I'm afraid the status quo might lead to unfavorable results."

The reason for this pure defense posture was simple. Unlike Halia, Heiflitz didn't enjoy a massive force concentration. It was a city that could be easily cut off, both from the south and to its logistical lines to Halia, which consisted of merely six minor bridges and two major bridges.

Blow those up, and cut off Heiflitz from the south, and the city would be effectively encircled. While those stationed in the city could theoretically cross the Ludendorf River, most heavy equipment would be abandoned.

As such, both the Southern Command and JTF-Ludendorf were hesitant to funnel any significant forces to defend Heiflitz at the moment. The city could very well prove to be a potential trap.

And I don't want my soldiers trapped in a pointless struggle.

But she also didn't want to lose her land connection to the South. Again, it was a massive headache.

But…it's war.

It made sense.

Still, it didn't mean Amelie liked it. Navigating courtly politics, or parliamentary politics was far easier than this. She didn't enjoy that each of her decisions determined the fates of countless people she had never even met or known once.

The General turned to Amelie and spoke.

"Your Majesty, what exactly would my orders be?"

The question was not something she could easily answer, and so she turned to Colonel Kleist.

"Colonel, please show him our three plans."

"Gladly." He said, before the screens changed, showing maps for Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.

"Currently, we have developed these three plans for our general response. Plan A is simple - we hold the city at all costs."

Immediately, most officers that were assigned to Heiflitz gave subtle expressions of disapproval. They didn't want to be stuck in a trap.

"The general idea is that, since we are timing our next offensive with the Air Force's upcoming 'Operation Swift Dagger', if we could hold Heiflitz until the end of November, we would remove the possibility of Northeastern Orland being cut off from the rest of the Kingdom. At least, if we succeed."

He moved to the screen that displayed Plan B.

"Plan B, on the other hand, entails a controlled retreat from Heiflitz within the next two weeks. Naturally, this would have a major strategic consequence - we would be cut off from the rest of the Kingdom."

And with that, most RGO officers present frowned in disapproval. These women weren't fond of the capital, the center of the Kingdom, being cut off from the rest of the Kingdom.

"Plan C is similar to Plan B, except, this takes the intel gathered by the RIU to account. Putschist battleplans indicate a possibility of impending precision strikes on the bridges connecting Heiflitz and Halia within the next few days. AFI intel rejects this as a possible ruse, as they believe that blowing the bridges in Heiflitz would remove any tactical value for the Putschist attack on Heiflitz, as the AFI reported that Putschist forces are planning to use Heiflitz as a springboard to attack Halia directly from the south. Still, as a result of this possibility, Plan C calls for an immediate withdrawal of all forces from Heiflitz, as this possibility poses a great danger for our forces stationed in the city."

This left everyone silent.

Amelie herself turned to General Holl, who was listening thoughtfully to the Colonel. Amelie reasoned that since he was in charge of the defense of Heiflitz, and that it was his men that they were talking about, it would be best to ask him directly.

"General, what do you think? What plan do you prefer?" Amelie asked, and General Holl sighed.

"Your Majesty, for my men's safety, obviously, Plan C would be for the best." He answered, which led to angered gasps from the Knights of the Royal Guard. Especially from the Archduchess, who stood up.

"Your Majesty, to abandon our land connection to the south that easily is unacceptable." She shook her head. "No, this cannot stand. We cannot simply hand over a city without proper resistance."

But, it's not you that's fighting, Archduchess. It's him and his men. Amelie replied in her mind, though she wisely kept her mouth shut.

"I am in fact, in agreement with her." General Holl said, surprising Amelie. "We cannot just hand the city like that. That would be bad for the press. And public opinion. JTF-Ludendorf swore to defend all of the Grand Duchy from these rebels. We cannot back out from that promise. Not to mention, giving them the ability to bombard Halia directly from Heiflitz would be bad."

"But General," Amelie said. "What if the RIU's intel is accurate, and the enemy launches precision strikes on the bridges?"

"REGAL SAM systems, Your Majesty." He answered. "Such a precision strike would require multiple air assets that could be intercepted. It's not easy to simply bomb something when the defender has ways to counter them."

"Indeed he is right." Colonel Kleist added. "But, still, should they launch that operation, they would keep doing it till the bridges are gone. It would take time and multiple attempts, but if it happens, those bridges are going down eventually."

"Which is why we shall proceed with Plan B." The General declared. "We shall conduct a fighting retreat. If they push forward, we fight, then pull back. Block by block. Make them bleed, but keep our forces safe and ready to withdraw. And should they strike in the bridges, we'll hasten the retreat."

Amelie nodded.

"Well, it is decided then." She walked forward, beside the Colonel, and faced the officers in the room. "We shall proceed with Plan B."