Sovereign

"Concerning developments noted by the Orlish High Command regarding the situation in the South-Ludendorf Front. Putschist forces have advanced and captured the key city of Maleandor, merely 48 kilometers off the East Coast. The 12th and 4th Armies, currently defending the sole connection of South Orland to East Orland under loyalist control, are now in threat of being encircled, according to military analysts. General Albrecht however affirmed this morning that the Armed Forces, 'Will defend the communication lines between West Orland and the Royal Capital.'"

- ROCN News

+++

"This would definitely lead to severe casualties. Are you sure that we even have the strength for this?"

Amelie could not help but agree with Walter's assessment. While she had seen Kleist's presentation to JTF-Ludendorf earlier in the War Room, she still reserved some doubts about the plan.

The situation room was once again filled with the top-ranking leaders of Orland. Amelie's circle - the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the two masterminds of Operation Silent Spear convened behind closed doors.

Colonel Kleist had his arms crossed as he turned away from his presentation.

"Deputy Prime Minister, respectfully, might I ask, what else can we do? Even if this was not a mere diversionary attack for our evacuation efforts, we still need to capture these objectives to restore stability in the frontlines."

"I understand that, Colonel Kleist. But still, are we really sure about this?" He turned to Amelie. "Are you sure about this?"

"I assure you, Walter. I approved it. I signed the operation documents. It must be done. There are 7 million civilians in this city. If this is the only way to divert those bombs and shells away from the evacuation trains and convoys, then we will do it."

Her words were final, that not even Jacqueline could challenge it. With that, Walter turned to the Colonel.

"Colonel, then what's the plan?"

With that, he once more stood up and took the attention of those in the room. Once the screens opened up, he faced them all as the lights dimmed.

"As I have said, this operation will last for 5 days, divided into 3 phases. Our objectives are twofold. To divert the Putschists' bombardment efforts from Halia and the roads and rail lines that refugees are using to evacuate up north, and to push them back and strengthen our defensive lines."

The screen in the middle changed back again to an electronic map of the frontlines. The red-tinted part of the line, which Amelie knew represented the Putschists, seemed to have pushed the blue-tinted side of the line further away from the Ludendorf River.

"Here are our positions, and the active units in the front."

And icons after icons of unit insignias, all of them electronic in design, appeared on the screens on the blue side of the frontlines.

"And here are the enemy positions, and active units in the front, according to our latest intelligence."

And the icons of their unit insignias appeared on the other side.

"Phase 1 will begin with heavy artillery bombardment from our side. We have nearly a thousand self-propelled guns and artillery pieces being prepared for the first 24 hours of this operation."

"Is that even going to be effective without proper air support? This might as well be a glorified saturation bombardment. Are we in the last century?" Walter asked. And while Amelie didn't quite understand his problem with 'saturation bombarment', she knew well what the lack of air support entailed.

And so, she shot her 5 cents in.

"He's right, Colonel Kleist. Can this succeed without air support?"

"It won't be as effective, but we are gathering intel both with our ground observers and our drone assets. We would still be having precision in this opening barrage. And, we don't have other options. Not until Chief Air Marshal Zimmerman broke their air superiority."

"I see…"

It always comes back to that problem. The Air Force. When? When will Zimmerman even succeed?

Truthfully, she was a tad bit irritated already about that fact.

Colonel Kleist returned to the presentation.

"Phase 1 will be our means of softening up the enemy. After that, Phase 2 shall begin. We have identified these 3 towns close to the Ludendorf River as our main axis of advance. Each will be spearheaded by the three most capable divisions we have at our disposal."

Once more, the three divisions earlier appeared on the screen, each of them with their objective towns marked.

"These pincers will advance, alongside these divisions marked on the screen. We expect the heaviest fighting in this phase, as our armored and mech divisions break through their fortified lines. This would also be the best time to intensify the evacuation efforts, as these movements would threaten them with an encirclement, or a development of a vulnerable salient in their lines. They would be forced to divert all assets to this attack, and their attacks on our logistical lines would momentarily cease."

And indeed, as the simulation played on the screens, Amelie visualized how devastating the attack would be for the Putschists. She watched as each unit moved forward, paving holes in their lines, and stretching the almost straight frontlines into a U-shaped one, as the two pincers advanced in the north and south.

But it was the northern pincer that seemed important. It was why there were two towns targeted there - it was close to the H-1 Highway and the Tor Bridge, their main supply line.

"Once these towns are captured, Phase 3 shall begin. We will hold these towns for as long as we can, as we launch an all-out attack to shape the frontlines closer to Tor Bridge. This could extend many days. Or end on the 5th day, as we project that our manpower and equipment losses by that day would be too severe to press on. However, if we are lucky, these pincers can press further and capture the town of Tor, the Tor Bridge, and end this battle with their routing."

The simulation looked exciting for Amelie - if such a word could even be applied to her situation. Oh, if only it was possible. She could cut off hundreds of thousands of them, and end the battle with a decisive Royalist victory.

If only…

Kleist turned back at them.

"But that is unlikely."

…

"That…definitely is a behemoth."

Amelie's eyes stared with awe at the mechanical monster before her. It was one of the M20 LSS mechs being transported to the frontline.

It stood imposingly in the road in front of the site that she and William would inspect, as its crew seemed to be working.

On top of its turret, a boxy, well-angled one, almost similar to the one that Löwe tanks sported, was where one of the young operators resided. He seemed to be shouting something into the hatch, as a shell was passed into him.

He promptly tossed it on the road, which nearly shocked Amelie. What if the thing exploded? She almost pulled out her wand to cast a shield.

"Eep-"

She felt William behind her, who had just closed the door of his SUV.

"Look, that's a spent casing. No need to worry."

"Right."

William ignored her and walked on. Amelie however was still stupefied by the Panther mech, that she stood still like a child staring at something new.

"Anyhow, follow me. I told you not to come, but if you're here, I'd rather not lose you."

"Fine, fine. I was just…checking that thing out."

With reluctance, she followed William closely. She noticed that many of the soldiers and workers around the roads looked at the two of them with curiosity, and some even almost stopped what they were doing just to stare at her.

One of them almost even bowed. Well…the damned Queen did just pass unannounced through them.

Please don't notice me, please don't notice me, please don't notice me…

Quite frankly, she merely wanted to check the depot as well and didn't want any Queenly attention. Unfortunately, her face was plastered everywhere for months already. Even schoolchildren knew it if she were ever to pass through them.

"So those mechs interest you?"

"Yes…they just look strange. Why six legs? Why design them after spiders? Are those things even practical?"

"Don't ask me. All I know is that those legs allow them to traverse urban battlefields more freely. I believe you would be better off with tanks in the open though."

"Why is that?"

"These mechs are too niche and specialized to urban combat. Place that in an open field and you just have a taller tank on legs. Though, I imagine…those things are going to be instrumental considering how urbanized Orland is."

"Then why did we produce them if they are only good at certain places? I mean, we have a lot of cities, but I remember these were created for the Great War. Weren't you all fighting in open fields?"

The two stopped at the entrance of the supply depot. It was a closed complex of what was once a vehicle scrapyard - now turned into one of the hundreds of dispersed supply depots across the city.

"Truthfully, men's pride in our technology is the reason. Developing the superiority of technology over magic and all that. The top ranks in the Army wanted it. The corpos wanted it. Now, we have a shiny new toy to stick to you and every woman's face."

That sounded petty and stupid to Amelie.

"That's just ridiculous."

"You did look terrified of it. Sometimes, things work."

"Hey! I can think of a few spells to disable that thing. Don't write off magic that way."

"Oh yeah? Pray tell, what is it?"

"Hmm…I imagine that those mechanical legs and mud aren't the best of friends."

"And I imagine you wouldn't have much mud to manipulate in the cities."

"Just coalesce the water vapor in the air, pull up masses of soil, and send it rapidly to those parts. It'd be jammed in no seconds. I don't think that would need much mana to pull off."

"That's just glorified mud-slinging."

"Of course!"

William turned away and pressed on inside of the depot, as Amelie followed closely behind with a victorious smirk. Perhaps she did have the ability to fight on her own.

Oh…maybe one day, she could be like Marie and the other elite knights of the Royal Guard, who could single-handedly fight armored vehicles with their wands.

"So…artillery shells. That's what they're storing here?"

"Indeed. Munitions from Rebenslof are sent by train and trucks into these depots, where they are stockpiled before being sent to the front."

They looked around as a truck was filled with massive, 155 mm shells by a few men on the side of one of the buildings.

"Fascinating. Wouldn't that be a problem though, if they bombed this place?"

"This depot counts as a logistical target. Bombing supply depots is a part of war."

Her eyes widened as she stopped in her tracks. William turned around to her.

"D-did I just drag myself to a potential target of their bombs?"

But William chuckled.

"Loosen up. This is a minor depot in the middle of nowhere in Halia. Unless we are incredibly unlucky, no missile should fall here. Plus, air defense had kept missile strikes to a minimum. And no one fires artillery shells to tiny supply depots. They have more important targets."

"I see…" She calmed down a bit.

"That's why we dispersed them around this city and the small cities and towns around Halia."

The two stopped in front of a building. It held the Orlish tricolor up above. What awaited them at the entrance was an army officer conversing with an army engineer. He turned to William and promptly walked to him.

"Major McKenzie. Good to see you around." William began. "I dragged the Queen herself here. Care to tell us exactly the logistical situation?"

"Major Porter, Your Majesty? Well...if that is what you both are here for, then it would be my pleasure." His face turned grim. "I'd describe it in one word. A clusterfuck."

That didn't sound good to Amelie.