Sovereign

"The Confederation of Larissa launched rapid incursions to the Kingdom of Poznek this morning. A war declaration was sent to the Kingdom's diplomatic channels, after days of 'Revolutionary Agitation' in the Confederation's media. The casus belli stated that the Poznek Kingdom 'is committing crimes against humanity to their male population' and thus the Confederation Army will 'liberate the Kingdom from oppressive elements'. These dreadful developments and more points that this war is becoming more or less a 'Second Great War' - a great war between women and men."

- Geopol Press

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West of Heiflitz

Forward Field Command East O-2

August 29, 2024

The Defense Minister seemed to be listening to their battleplans with dreadful silence, Oswald Kluge noted. The room was dimly lit, with the faces of countless officers of the Republican Army almost hidden. The only thing lit was the presentations in front of them, alongside the maps where General Paulus Veckerheim, was pointing at.

How foolish. Kluge thought to himself as General Veckerheim spoke of another Royalist counterattack. They still haven't pulled out of the city.

"That would be unacceptable." Came the groan from one of the Generals. "My division is already half-strength."

"General Sturb," Kluge said as he turned back to the complaining man. "You are fighting formations in quarter-strength. Why the whining?"

"They are hiding in fortified city blocks, General Kluge." He replied, and the Defense Minister grunted in response.

"Gentlemen," Heindhöff said as he turned to them. "General Sturb has a point. We are bashing our heads to a brick wall."

And then, all of a sudden, an officer in the corner of the room raised his hand. All the other officers felt discomfort when his hand rose, some looked at him with fury and disgust. He wasn't the most popular one.

He was in charge of the IV Liquidation Corps - an elite unit of four "Special" Brigades that operated behind the front. IV Liquidation Corps was responsible for "Front Liquidation and Suppression Operations", an anti-magic strategy to "prevent arcane-dependent resistance" - by liquidating any magical products, objects, and tools behind the frontlines.

Only the most extreme members of the NRF trusted these men. Many in the Republican Army had even been in skirmishes with the Liquidation Corps since the start of the Civil War. Even General Kluge viewed these men as nothing but druggies and criminals given authority to force women into submission by forceful confiscations of their wands.

They weren't even a part of the Army, as the IV Liquidation Corps was a part of the Republican Guard. The Republican Guard, in many cases, used the IV Liquidation Corps to "deal" with deserters and mutineers. Thus the hostility.

"Defense Minister, please, for the love of-" Kluge tried, but Heindhöff held his hand to stop him from continuing.

"Let us hear him."

He stood up. General Valken Walburg was stared at with ire and hostility, but he spoke with his deep voice, unchallenged and uncaring.

"Chemical Weapons, Defense Minister." He said, and it almost seemed like half the room wanted him murdered for his four words.

"I protest this," Kluge said, outraged. "Chemical Weaponry is not, and will not be an option. What kind of a revolution are we fighting for if we do this, gentlemen? Are we men, or are we cowards?"

"I am in agreement," Heindhöff said. "General Walburg, your suggestion is but a desperate measure, not a proper solution."

"I see, then we shall bash our heads on a brick wall." He replied as he crossed his arms, challenging the Defense Minister. It was painfully clear that the representative of the Republican Guard was attempting to demonstrate his authority over the Army. "Would that be a great plan?"

"This is ridiculous," Kluge said in response. "We have other options. Defense Minister, we shall attempt to execute Operation Scalpel Night and bring down those bridges."

"Be that as it may, you would still have to storm the city building by building to flush the Royalist scum off their defenses." General Walburg said. "We can do that, but it would be easier to liquidate resistance with the aid of WMDs."

"The Royalists have Chemical Weapons as well!" Kluge finally stood up and faced off General Walburg. "You insane rambler! Are you out of your mind? Has the Great War not taught you enough? It does not matter which side initiates. Once the genie is out of the box, it shall not return! Young men in the frontline, on both sides, will suffer!"

"Oh, but General Kluge, respectfully, might I ask, how would the Royalist use Chemical Munitions when most of it was stockpiled in the Free State before our Coup?" He looked around the group of officers, his eyes bloodshot. "Do none of you understand? We have an advantage like no other!"

"They can produce their own," Heindhöff said, attempting to counter him, but even he doubted his words.

"Who? That spineless, naive Queen still lounging on her rotting throne? She would cry first before letting even the Butcher of the Western Front use such weapons! She's a fool! And we would have won already had we took advantage of it!"

All of the Army Officers really wanted to murder him, but he stood as if he was the only voice of reason in the room. Of course, most regarded him as a voice of insanity instead. None of them was remotely interested in using those same weapons that terrorized every man in the Great War.

Quite frankly, much like magic, Chemical Weapons had etched its tentacles as a severe trauma in the minds of every man. Even the sheer destructiveness of nukes they have not witnessed paled in its fear factor compared to the Chemical Weapons they had used liberally and witnessed widely during the Great War.

Heindhöff and Kluge would not shy from extreme methods of conducting war - but there was a line not to be crossed.

"It is not to be permitted," Heindhöff said with finality. "Report to Rimpler if you will, but if you think I do not see his nonsense in your suggestions, let him know that I know. The Army will not be turned into brutal savages. We are here for a noble cause, not a mindless massacre."

"War is but a legal massacre, Defense Minister."

"And I refuse to inflict a worse form of it on our fellow Orlishmen."

"They are traitors."

"But they are our fellow men. Leave. The Republican Guard should not be present in the business of the Armed Forces."

And with that, he and a few other officers of the Republican Guard left after a quick salute. General Kluge shook his head.

Foolish infighting.

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Heiflitz

HEICOMM Central Headquarters

August 30, 2024

William and a group of Army officers walked through the busy hallways of HEICOMM's Central HQ. He turned as a soldier saluted him, entering a room filled with arguing senior officers as General Holl presented their updated battleplans.

He and his staff saluted as they entered before they announced their names and ranks. With haste, General Holl permitted them in and continued his presentation as William placed down his briefcase on the table.

"The 47th Tank Battalion will hold this junction near the Elweiss Station," He said, as William eyed his battleplans. The positioning was purely defensive, he noted. With arrows that showed where they would retreat.

It would be a slow, grueling pullback. It seemed that General Holl wanted resistance on every block, especially in downtown Heiflitz, where he could see multiple numbered divisions guarding each road and block.

Seems like Plan B is final for him too. William noted. Amelie did say it would be their decision, but he already expressly gave General Holl permission for a full-scale retreat.

Soon, the meeting ended.

"General," William said as he followed Holl straight to his office. "Are you sure about this?"

"I understand your reservations, son. You believe that they would attack the bridges, no?"

"Marie Wittfield is investigating the intel. Some of her operatives have already funneled in warnings that a strike on the bridges is imminent."

"No trust in AFI intel?"

"I'm taking every intelligence agency seriously, but we have to be honest with ourselves. The RIU are women."

"Magic. Makes it easier to infiltrate and spy."

"Exactly." They turned the hallways and stopped in a silent corner. "I doubt the AFI has men keeping tabs inside the rooms of the Putschist command structure."

"We already moved the REGAL SAM systems near the bridges. Should be hard to put them down."

"But I still want to warn you, General. If Heiflitz is cut off, Halia wouldn't be able to help."

General Holl sighed as he looked at an Orlish Tricolor that flew on a flagpole outside of the HQ Building. Briefly, he wondered why he was still fighting for it. Why he and his men would die for it, and were dying for it.

A flag where the Goddess that punished all men was represented at the top - the Gold.

A flag where women, who at many points wantonly abused their magic were represented in the middle - the White.

And a flag where he and his brothers, his fellow men, were represented below the preceding two - the Grey.

For what it was worth, it was all too deeply ironic. Perhaps, the Queen was just so different that she could turn even men with much resentment to women to her side.

They could be cut off, surrounded, and forced to fight alone in Heiflitz, but General Holl, after asking his subordinate officers, took the same position with finality. Plan B.

"We know that," General Holl replied. "We know the risks. And we are taking it. We are not letting those radicals gain an easy victory."

"That's indeed why you are in charge of HEICOMM. You've always been a staunch defender, ever since the Great War."

"No position falls without a good fight under me." General Holl smirked. "Let Her Majesty know that. We will put up a good fight."

"She expects you to be in Halia should the situation deteriorate."

"I know." He gave William a report file, which William took. "I know she needs us in the city should the worst come. She needs every man."

"Indeed." William gave him a final respectful nod. "Good luck in the defense of this city, General Holl. May the Goddess be with you and your men."

"The Goddess is never with his sons, Major. You'd do well to remember that."

William chuckled in response. Indeed, he almost forgot that part. He was getting used to even Amelie's mild reverence for the Goddess.

"Well, we are fighting for her daughters."

"Sure, but that won't redeem us from our 'sins'. Have a good day, Major. And don't die on the trip back to the Queen."

"Of course, I won't."