Chapter 226 – ... When he is making a mistake.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Chapter 226 – ... When he is making a mistake.
The siege around Volgaria by the Federation continued day after day. Twice Federation officers (those who had survived the first disastrous assault against our defenses, and our explosive counterattack) had launched new attacks against our defenses, and twice they had been repulsed with heavy losses skewed towards their side. Not only that: new Federation reinforcements had arrived, from the north and northeast, so now the Federation deployed three attacking forces around Volgaria, each of their camps defended by heavy anti-aircraft machine guns and medium cannons, which made it impossible for us or the Militia to break the siege with a simple sortie.
There was rationing: although our food supplies were still substantial, Tanya had taken care to establish maximum rations for every soldier in our battalions or militia, and public canteens for civilians to ensure that everyone had the ration he needed. There was already the black market, composed mainly of small traders in the area who had ambushed some of their foodstuffs and hoped to resell them at higher prices now that the siege left the possibility of famine concrete. This was also why we had made sure that the food stores, as well as our medical supplies and armory, were defended by a group of guards each.
The good news was that there was no bombardment: after the first chaotic days, and after the Federation soldiers had realized that any attempt to bombard the city would provoke an immediate reaction from us mages of the Empire, the Federation cannons had fallen silent, which meant that the civilian population had been spared the devastation and death that had come from the sky that had affected so many other cities.
We could then relax, without fear of attacks from the sky, as gathered in one of the small town squares, where I, Tragen, Viktoriya and a small, mixed crowd of Imperial mages, Militia members and ordinary civilians listened to the Imperial bulletin with information regarding the development of the war.
"-new air strikes in the region of Dov'Notesk, destroying three fortified positions of the Federation surrounding Bonikav and allowing the 335th Brigate Cavalry of the Empire to occupy the city. Meanwhile, on the Posgrovo area, the Imperial Forces surrounding the fortress of Pasovo report progresses in the southern sector, with the local commander optimistic that the fall of the city should happen in the next two weeks. Today Strategic Headquarters reports the destruction of five Federation military airplanes and seven enemy tanks with Edgar Dörflinger, soldier of the 175th Infantry Regiment 'Kennek' being awarded the Golden Cross of the Empire for act of heroisms during the Battle of Kakanov, where he single-handedly killed twenty-three enemy soldiers and destroyed an enemy tank with hand grenades. Reports from the Sybyk area-"
"Huh, commander König?" One of the civilians in the crowd, an old men who probably had seen the days before the Revolution, broke the silence addressing to me. "I hope you can forgive my impertinence, but I am completely devoid of any military notion, so... is this good news?"
"Short version? Yes. From what info the Empire is willing to share to anyone willing to listen, we are making steady progress against the Federation, even if we don't know how long it will take." Less than I hope, I thought thinking back to the last conversation I had with Strategic Headquarters, remembering how there were rumors of anti-Imperial sentiments in the Allied Kingdom that threatened our continental hegemony.
"But... aren't you on the verge of winning?" Another one, a young boy who would have probably been drafted if he hadn't hidden in his parent's basement until we took over the city, asked.
I almost shrugged, looking at him. "Like we were doing the last month? Or the year before this one? Learn to differentiate real information from propaganda, kid." I smiled at him, the awkward sensation of calling someone 'kid' even if they were biologically older than this body I occupied was, "The Empire is strong, but no war ever ends fast, nor is bloodless."
"-reporting news from the international stage, today the King of the Allied Kingdom officially invited our esteemed Emperor to visit Londinium, hoping to reaffirm the strong allegiances between the Empire and the Allied Kingdom and strengthen the commercial agreements between our two nations. According to unconfirmed rumors, the visit is also a way to disavow some tension on the Allied Kingdom between supports of the trade alliance and the neutrality with the Empire, and a rogue political faction who was already guilty of almost having the Allied Kingdom join the war on the side of the treacherous Free Republic against the Empire. While both sources have hurried to negate these rumors-"
"This... is quite interesting." One of the militiamen murmured, with a thinking expression. "If there are elements in the Allied Kingdom who want to renege the alliance with the Empire, shouldn't the King be focused on purging those elements?"
"The Allied Kingdom is not like the Federation; they can't simply purge elements of their own governments simply because they have a political disagreement." Another called him out. "That's the price you pay to live in a free society!"
"You seriously think the Allied Kingdom is a free-"
"ENOUGH!" Viktoriya yelled, and suddenly, both the two of them stopped quarrelling immediately. "We are here gathered to listen to the report in order to prepare ourselves for the upcoming days, not to start riffs and useless fight among our own ranks. If you have a disagreement on political views, you can discuss that on your own, later."
"O-of course Lady Serebryakov." The oldest of the two said with a nod. "We wouldn't ever dare to insult your authority."
"She didn't say you can't work out your issues, she just said not here." Tragen was quick to point out, "I can help you with that, if you want to-"
"-news from Africa: General Leprez, the new commander of the New Republican Oligarchy's Army in African territory, has come to an agreement with the rebellious Tuareg tribes and their leader, the prophetess Aisha. He has given them full control over their desert and a form of limited autonomy, he managed to capture and destroy the last military forces of the Free Republic Army near Zango, opening to his forces the road to proceed further southward and reoccupy the last African territories of the Free Republic in the former Republican colonies. In the previous few days, new revolts of oppressed local populations in the territories of the Free Republic and increasing number of desertions pushed the Free Republic Government to relocate its government once again, this time leaving completely the African continent and resettling on Bora Bora, one of the main islands of the Republican Pollynisia-"
"Pollynisia! That's the best news of the day!" I smiled smugly, as I could be witness of the final fall of the Republic, the same nation who a long ago, had decided to step in when the Entente was going to be crushed and, by this intervention, had turned what would have otherwise been nothing more than a small border squabble into a world war of nightmarish proportions, with countless destructions and millions of dead. Dead who could have included both Tanaya and myself.
Thank you, General War. I thought with a smirk, thinking back to my old and ever-growing powerful ally, even if he may had been helping me only because we shared a common enemy. For it was his storm that sunk the Republican Fleet, killing so many high-level politicians and officers that otherwise would have made the Free Republic's diplomatic position much stronger, probably strong enough that the Allied Kingdom and the Federation would have joined in the war and forced the Empire to restart from scratch again.
"The Republic... wasn't that your former enemy?" A young woman, who had been listening to the broadcast with her two children, said as she looked at Viktoriya.
"They were." She replied. "I was on the Rhine front when I got to meet commander Degurechaff, and I learned very well to understand the Republican mentality. They talk so cheaply about honor and 'getting back what was theirs', yet they didn't even have the courage to attack us before the Entente did it first, and intervened only when we were on the brink of annihilating what was left of the Entente. They'd gladly sacrifice the lives of many of their own soldiers, just to conquer a small piece of land."
"And now they're gone." Tragen said with a smug smile. "Just like any enemy of the Empire will soon be."
"-Frederick?" a voice came through my communicator, suddenly getting my attention. "Can you hear me, you idiot? There is something we need to talk about, right now."
"What's with the sudden haste?" I asked, worry in my voice. "What are the Federation troops-"
"They're not moving on another attack, if that's what you're asking." Her voice somehow sounded... exasperated. "Still, we've seeing some troops movement that look suspicious, and I need to hear your opinion on it. Come immediately, and you'll see."
"I understand, just give me a couple of minutes," I replied, and I realized some of the people around me had noticed the conversation I was having. "Looks like my presence is requested elsewhere."
"Sir, was that commander Degurechaff?" Tragen asked, his eyes widening in worry. "Is there something that require our assistance?"
"The Federation's coscripts are on the move once again?"
"I don't know, Tanya didn't say what was happening. She just told me to reach her as soon as I could. Tragen Viktoriya, can you watch over this people while I'm away? If our full military power is required, I'll be sure to contact you immediately!"
"Sir! Yes sir!" Both of them said almost at the same, as I internally giggled. I wonder how long it will be between the end of the war and their wedding...
I closed my eyes, once again letting the magic energy flow trough my body, some of the civilians and militiamen gasping as they watch it. While magic powers are common knowledge among all strata, only a few people got to see a mage this close before, and while our own presence in Volgaria may had contributed to make this city's population one of the most used to magical stuff, they can still get quite excited to see it with their own eyes. I concentrate as I open my eyes, and the next second, I'm again in the sky, flying toward Tanya's position.
When I found her, she was at the border of the city, surrounded by half a dozen of her own mages, watching through the binocular toward one of the larger encampments of the Federation's forces.
"Tanya," I say as I make my own presence known, a couple of mages saluting as I approach her from behind. "What have we got?"
"We were patrolling, when we saw this!" She gave me her binocular, pointing at one specific direction. "Look, what do you see?"
"Huh... I see..." I spoke as I tried to understand what she was referring to. I could see the sentinels standing on guard near the perimeter of the encampment, some yawning visibly even from afar, apparently ignorant that we were watching them; I could see many smaller tents where their soldiers would be gathered, so many soldiers crowded together in a space that would be small even for horses, I could see-
My eyes widened, as I realized what Tanya wanted to show me. Gathered in the middle of the encampment, many troops of the Federation were standing in line, with an officer talking to them. Were they moving their troops with such darkness? Were they trying to prepare for a night assault?
"What-what is that?" I asked, turning just in time to meet face-to-face with Tanya.
"So, you did notice. It appears like the commies are moving their troops under the cover of the night. At first, I too though they were planning some kind of night attack, but then I realized they aren't setting their troops in attack position near to the city. Rather, they are moving southward."
"South? But what is the-"
The words died on my mouth, my eyes widening again in horror. I could feel my body began to tremble, as some details popped into my mind. Most of the attacks Volgaria had received by the surrounding Federation forces had come mostly from west and north, with only a few diversion attacks coming from the south, none of them being serious enough to actually threaten our defenses in such an area. For this reason, day after day, most of our available defenses and fortifications had been moved north-west, leaving the southern defenses with a garrison that was roughly half the number of militiamen in the north and west groups, with only a few gatling guns (most of the of the light kind), a couple of cannons and a few other items.
Strong enough to withstand distraction attacks easily, but not enough if they were to face an attack of so many enemies at once.
"You got it, the Federation is going to play a trick." Tanya kept explaining, taking advantage of me being stunned to expose the full story to me. "They are moving most of their troops south, leaving barely enough on the rest of their encampments to maker us believe nothing as changed. Then, once they will be ready, they will launch another attack, but this time, the north and west offensives will be the distraction, while they will use almost all of the military manpower on the south, probably breaking through our defenses and forcing the city militia into a dangerous position."
"But we found out about it, and we are now in position to intervene!" I gasped. "Come on, we need to reach back Volgaria and warn everyone-"
"That won't be necessary."
"Wait, what?" I turned to see Tanya. Had she already warned them? Or perhaps...
The cold smile on her lips, the eyes of a predator as she laid a trap for her prey, the cold yet smug expression of a cruel, calculative and manipulative mind gave me the answer I was looking for.
"Oh no you didn't."
"Oh yes I did." Tanya replied with her classic cold tone of voice, the one she often used whenever she was making plans in her heads, and those plans would almost always involve manipulating other people (myself included), often to their own detriment and loss to her exclusive benefit. "Without even realizing, the enemy is giving us a chance to break up the siege faster than any of us could have predicted, so why should we stop them from making a tragic mistake?"
"Tanya, you're not thinking it straight. If we don't inform the Militia, not only we would betray the trust the people are giving into us, but we put this very stronghold of the Russy Liberation Army at risk. Don't you care about Viktoriya at all?!"
"I DO CARE ABOUT HER!" Tanya yelled back, her tone sounding offended, just like the times we quarreled, back at the orphanage. "I cared about her even before that gorilla testosteroned brain-donor subordinate of yours even smiled at her! Look, Frederick, we are going to inform the militia, but we'll do it later, in a more private way. If we rush on our communications, and have the militia make visible upgrades to their southern defenses, it won't take long before the Federation notice it and they scarp the whole operation, depriving us of the best opportunity we had in the last days. We need to wait until they've weakened their own garrisons west and north to the city, then we'll strike!"
"Very well. What's the plan?"
"The Federation's artillery and gatling guns won't be enough to secure both camps with insufficient manpower to man them all. We'll use a classic Meteor-Blitzkrieg assault tactic: our battalion will attack one fortified position of our enemy and destroy whatever defenses they've left, scattering their garrisons and opening breaches in their lines. This will allow a part of the militia forces under the command of Baron von Ungern-Sternberg to occupy the encampments and turn the enemy's defeat into a rout, the sortie hopefully strong enough to break the siege."
"That's a risky tactic, Tanya, especially considering our southern defenses will still need to be reinforced to repel at least one major attack of the enemy forces. Plus, our battalions, while powerful, can't be in two places at the same time. If something happens, or even if we can't achieve success shortly, the sortie might turn against us, and the Militiamen will be exposed! Plus, we DO need some additional reinforcements if we're meant to stabilize our results and consolidate the conquered positions in time to trap the Federations troops to the south."
"I know, and this is where YOU come into this. We need to contact Strategic Headquarters and sell them this idea, and I know they see you in a better light than myself, so you'd have to do it for all and two."
"Always the generous one, I see." I rolled my eyes instinctively. "Fine, but you'll pay me back for this."
"Oh yeah?" She retorted, a shiny, scary light shining in her eyes as she heard the word 'exchange' "Mr. Goody go-shoes is ready for the whole 'political bargain part'? What do you want in return for you help on my plan? New recommendations for your own military furniture?"
"No, I simply want this success not to be ours, but of the rightful rulers of this land."
"Wait, you mean-"
I ignored her, and I looked further west, where other units of the Federation Army was busy fighting against the Imperial Army and the Russy Liberation Army, and where Imperial mages fought side-by-side with their new allies who wanted to free their own land.
"I think it's time for the Serebryakov's name to fly high once again... "
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