Sovereign

"The Secretary of the Ivory Alliance has issued a statement today for the direction of the Alliance after rumors of a Larissan carrier being sunk in the Northern Sea. With the breakdown of Orland and Lieplatz and the chaos in North Opellia it generated, the Ivory Alliance now rested under the de facto command of Queen Clericia and Queen Eliette since June. But now, Secretary Aurelia Thell declared that 'Orland and Her Majesty, Queen Amelie Ludendorf is still in charge of the alliance.' She urged all Orlish servicemen of VACCOM to continue the fight and lead the alliance, and urged all countries to aid Orland liberate itself and Lieplatz from extremist elements."

- ROCN News

+++

June 19, 2024

Halia, Kingdom of Orland

01:55 Hours

Amelie was utterly shaken. So shaken that she had merely listlessly stared at William converse on the radio for many moments already. Even when she tried to breathe deeply, or to clear her mind, it simply would not work.

Too close…it was too close. I almost died. We both almost died. Goddess…

Even when the event had been hours ago, she could still not shake it off her head. She simply could not at all. The blast…the blast had been too close. So close that she remembered that she felt the heat.

And the screams.

The burning wrecks.

The bodies…bodies of young men in agony, who emerged from those SAM systems. The operators that defended her city. All who screamed in pain - as they walked, ran, or crawled in flames.

As the flames consumed them with no mercy.

Dammit! Just get out! Get out of my head! I don't want to remember it!

"Amelie? Are you alright? Amelie? Amelie?!"

Her head snapped back at William's, who stood and towered above her. The Queen was sitting on a mere bench, right beside where William parked his SUV.

"I…sorry, I just…"

"You really got spooked, didn't you?"

She looked up at him with a flustered expression, as she almost attempted to deny it by shaking her head, but she couldn't.

William understood her.

"Well, it was too close. I can see why you're still dwelling on it. I apologize, it was my mistake."

"There's…there's no need. We are at war, right? Those things happen. I can't blame you for that."

"Right. Anyway, we can't wallow on this problem. We still need to get to the Halian Medical Center. Minister Allison Thell already rang me. She's waiting, and she said it's urgent."

"That so? How's the situation then?"

"She didn't specify the details, but she said it's severe. Of course, it's severe. The bombing hadn't ended yet."

Amelie looked around her. While they had left that square earlier, it was still clear to her badly the city was being bombed. A skyscraper - just on the other side of the highway, seemed to be growling ever so slightly as if the damage inflicted on it would result in a sudden collapse.

And it was just one of the many.

"Then let's go."

The two entered William's SUV once more, and he pressed on the gas pedal immediately. While the roads were clogged with abandoned cars, debris, and the occasional military vehicles, William weaved through all of it with stunning efficiency.

"I just wanted to ask…"

"What is it?"

"You're used to this, aren't you? Driving through a battlefield."

"I have to. The Great War wasn't particularly kind to those who are sluggish."

She fell silent, as they passed through a heavily bombed residential area, as emergency workers, paramedics, and firefighters battled to stop the fire and save people.

Her air defense scheme wasn't enough. It never was, that she knew. She needed to do more.

…

The Halian Medical Center, located near downtown Halia, was a towering U-shaped building. Like many medical institutions in Orland, the Halian Medical Center also functioned as a University, especially for women seeking to use their magic in healthcare.

When she arrived, the parking lots around the Hospital were filled with injured civilians, paramedics, and ambulances that seemed to come and go.

Alongside them too was the Royal Guard, their Knights already in their full combat gear, the main distinguishing feature of them being their jet black camo, compared to the grays and desert tan that the Armed Forces sported. Amelie watched as a squad of them, who held specialized GA-12 Arcano Rifles, only operable by women, stood guard in a checkpoint that they had to pass through.

"Identifications please."

William showed her his I.D. as he lowered the window on his side of the car. The woman seemed to subtly frown at him, however.

"I'm Major William Porter, Head of JTF-Ludendorf. Oh, and the Queen is with me."

Amelie forced a smile as the Knight's eyes turned to her.

"I am grateful for your work, Miss."

"Y-Your Majesty! I apologize for the inconvenience. Please, you may both proceed."

By the time they arrived inside, it was already a clear pandemonium. Nurses, paramedics, doctors, and staff seemed to run around the hallways, as they carried stretchers with patients or boxes of what seemed to be medical supplies.

The two asked around a bit, as they searched for Minister Allison's whereabouts, zigzagging left and right through the hallways of the hospital, before they met her in one of the hallways on the third floor, conversing with an old doctor.

"Minister Thell."

"Your Majesty? I apologize, I haven't given you a proper welcome. We were too busy."

"No, it is alright, Minister Thell. I can see how severe this emergency is."

"Indeed it is that bad. Oh, and, this is Dr.Bewolk, head of the research department of this Hospital."

The old woman smiled at her. Naturally, Amelie reciprocated. Especially because she was an elder.

"It is an honor to see you, Your Majesty."

"Likewise, Dr.Bewolk."

A cough interrupted the conversation between the three women, as William stepped forward behind Amelie. He was about to speak and voice out the urgentness of the situation, but Dr.Bewolk didn't seem to recognize him, so Amelie decided to introduce him before he had a chance to open his mouth.

"Oh, and this man too. He's Major William Porter. Part of Palace Security, and, Head of JTF-Ludendorf."

Dr.Bewolk cast him a narrowed glance.

"I heard a lot from you, young man. I assume you are loyal to Her Majesty?"

Amelie smiled awkwardly.

Please don't make this a problem…

"Of course, Dr.Bewolk. I assure you."

"Good, because if there is anything I don't trust, it's you rowdy young men and your nonsense. Nonsense that's burning this country down."

Minister Allison laughed just as awkwardly as she placed herself between William and Dr.Bewolk.

"Now now, let's not distract ourselves from the problem at hand. I'm sure Mr. Porter is a loyal man, and we would be able to cooperate with each other smoothly. Right, Your Majesty?"

To which the Queen responded with a quick nod. Certainly, William had served her well.

"Absolutely, yes."

"But anyways." The three turned back to William. "As Minister Thell has said, things are extremely urgent. Could we please proceed to the meeting now?"

"Yes. Let us proceed. The room ahead is prepared to accommodate us." Dr.Bewolk said with much grace, as the four looked at the direction of the room.

…

"So how is the situation?"

Minister of Health Allison Thell - the new Health Minister of Heiss' reformist cabinet, was an even younger one than the previous one, as Minister Allison was merely 10 years older than Amelie. In fact, it seemed that most of the reformist politicians of the Heiss Cabinet were now the younger ones.

Which gave Amelie a degree of comfort when working with them, as the old conservative ladies had always somewhat…irked her.

With some misplaced enthusiasm at having the chance to present herself to the Queen, Minister Thell's presentation tone seemed cherry and overly optimistic for some reason, a clear contrast to the numbers that she was showing in her slides.

"As of now, Your Majesty, the Ministry of Health has organized immediate emergency treatment - at no cost, to any civilian with injury. Right now, we recorded that we have successfully aided and treated 85,000 people at the current estimates in the Greater Halia region."

85,000! That doesn't sound good. Why is she proud of it?

"That's why, I urgently request Her Majesty to prioritize my Ministry to reward the steadfast women serving in the healthcare sector. With this war, and with this great burden placed on us, we need more funding."

W-what? This city is almost besieged! I can't just-

"Minister Thell, I'm afraid that would be impossible with the situation around us." William interrupted beside Amelie. "As you can hear, bombs are dropping around us quite rapidly as we speak."

"Yes, Mr.Porter. But surely, this is even more reason to prioritize my Ministry? I'm sure that the Ministry of Defense would be the natural priority, but, so is my Ministry. I need that budget to hire more nurses, doctors, paramedics, and staff. I need that budget to procure more medical supplies, supplies we are short on. Lives are at stake here."

"We can't do that. Please give me the raw numbers instead, and we shall decide what to do."

"Have some respect young man." Dr.Bewolk chastised. "She is still presenting."

"I understand, Dr.Bewolk. But I can't waste time with her trying to use the data to push her agenda. Give me and Her Majesty the straight data and we will decide."

"You are acting as if you are above everyone in this room."

Amelie sighed and tried to break off the potential standoff.

"He is, Dr.Bewolk. JTF-Ludendorf is given full executive powers in this Duchy, you should both know that already. This is an emergency measure in a time of emergency. I cannot accept insubordination to my appointed officer to handle this crisis. So please…"

Dr.Bewolk fell silent, while Minister Allison looked around, seemingly apologetic.

"Your Majesty. I apologize. My Ministry really needed-"

"I understand Minister Thell. No need to explain further. Let's just leave this behind and proceed, shall we?"

Minister Thell nodded quickly at Amelie's words, as she turned back to her presentation.

"Well…the truth is, our medical facilities are overwhelmed both in Halia and the Grand Duchy. 95% are now in full capacity, treating upwards of 200,000 or more people, and we are unable to process more. The current projections for critical medical supplies are that we would run out of it within 5 or 7 days. Our doctors and nurses can use magic and such, but, without many necessary supplies, we would only be able to administer emergency medical spells to our patients…which wouldn't cut it in the long term."

"Then that means that even if I increased your budget, you would still be unable to do anything?"

The Minister's eyes widened. The reason why she wanted to sugarcoat it was to make Amelie believe that the MoH (Ministry of Health) could still salvage the situation with enough emergency funding.

After all, if they could not do it, why waste resources on them?

"I…I am afraid that that would be the case, Your Majesty. But I cannot simply stand and do nothing. If some funding would help, if some support can be spared, then I shall snatch it quickly. So many lives depend on it."

"We are in the same situation, trust me."

"I know. That's why I'm hoping you could understand."

But William spoke before Amelie could reply.

"All I'm seeing here is that the MoH is a dead-end solution. We need something that would lend us results."

"Then what do you suggest?" Replied Allison, outraged at how he could simply casually suggest the abandonment of her Ministry and the lives of those who depend on it.

"A counterattack, and an evacuation."

"William?" Amelie snapped her head to him. "You told me civilian evacuations would be impossible until we silenced their artillery."

"Yes, but that is because their artillery is not firing at the Military - but civilian and logistical targets. If we launch a diversionary counterattack, they would be firing at our troops, not the evacuating civilians."

"But how can we do that?"

"Simple. Again, a counterattack. They would have to respond and contain it. Thus they would have to fire and expend munitions not on the city and our transportation lines to the North, but to our attacking troops."

Dr.Bewolk laughed at that.

"Then why haven't we done that? Are you men chickening from your duties?"

His reply was a snarky one.

"Close, Dr.Bewolk. Her Majesty ordered us to take a passive approach to prevent any massive casualties. But also, we cannot launch an attack with the severe lack of medical supplies in the front. Right now, our men are dying there, holding line after line, without even basic first aid kits in many cases."

Amelie's face darkened at that. She had focused mostly on the suffering of the civilians in Halia, but she had completely ignored those at the front.

If it's this bad here, then how much worse is it over there?

"Then what do you suggest we do, William?" Amelie asked as William's gaze fell on Minister Allison.

"I believe she and the MoH can help with this…planned scheme?"

Allison seemed outraged.

"Help? How? Are you asking me to send our doctors and nurses straight to the frontlines?"

"I'm just saying, Minister Thell. If we men are asked to die for you, why can't you help us die more effectively for you?"

He looked back at Amelie, who seemed a tad bit uncomfortable at his idea. A counterattack…that would mean so many men dead, just to evacuate the civilians of the city. But many young, bright women too, if what his plan entailed would be followed.

Most doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals were universally female, a result of magic being unusually capable of healing and treating humans. With the even more advanced spells aided by modern technology, healing severe injuries, such as a gunshot, was easy in most cases.

But…those young women. It didn't sit right with Amelie, nor with Allison, to do so. To send their fellows to the hell of war. Men were there to take that place - why them?

"What? Would you approve my plan?"

But then…it's stupid that men are the only ones supposed to be dying in droves. This is our war too.

"...Yes. If it would save the millions in this city, do it."