Mein Krieg (Youjo Senki/Tanya the Evil OC)

[Trunko]

Hello I was wondering how old is the tearing. You make her sound like she is a little girl like Tanya yet it was mentioned that the revolution happened 20 years ago so she should be roughly that age and Also I was wondering what month was it when the Federation attacked the Empire and what month did the Federation collapse. I know it was 1925 when the Federation attacked and that it was a few months after the Republic surrendered and the Great War ended.

Click to shrink...

According to lore sources, the AU World War the Empire fought with Republic, Entente and Dakia ran around 1930, and the Federation was still quite recent as government.

So the new Czarina IS around Frederick and Tanya's age, let's say with a body physique around 8-10 years old.

 

[Jakobin]

But in the youjo senki anime the war started in 1923 and then ended in 1925 but then continued when the republic initiated operation ark. Even your first chapter that had dates on them it was 1923

 

[Jakobin]

I figured this meant that the Federation war started in 1925

 

[Trunko]

But in the youjo senki anime the war started in 1923 and then ended in 1925 but then continued when the republic initiated operation ark. Even your first chapter that had dates on them it was 1923

Click to shrink...

Yeah, it's difficult to establish a proper timeline, this is why after a while I stopped using data with days and years.

Also, since the Republic's attempted 'Operation Ark' failed here, the timeline after S1 end is quite different...

 

[Jakobin]

Is it safe to say that in your AU it is likely 1926 right now. You could also say that in your AU the Federation won in their first revolution rather than a second

 

[Trunko]

Is it safe to say that in your AU it is likely 1926 right now

Click to shrink...

Not sure, it may be at plot's discretion.

 

[Jakobin]

I believe it is 1926 because if the Federation attacked the Empire a few months after the republic fell, which was in may 1925, then it must be July 1925 when they attacked and I don't know how long the Federation War was but I believe it had to have been longer than a 6 months and thus it must be 1926

 

[Trunko]

​

Chapter 243 – Quisling​

"Keep your heads down! Take cover!"

A howl of pain tore through the trench, followed by the expletives and groans of pain from those who had been too slow or unlucky to take cover in time.

"My leg! My leg!"

"Merde! Medic!"

"Here, quick! We have wounded!"

The pounding shelling continued to rain red-hot lead down on the trenches Duchov and his comrades had dug, the men in uniform desperately trying to protect themselves from the metal shrapnel and the shock caused by the explosions while, trying to move as fast as they could by crawling on their bellies, the few available medics tried to reach the soldiers in need of their action. Only De Martin, the commanding officer, seemed to still maintain his stoicism and waited, unmoving, gun in hand, for the bombardment to end.

"Lieutenant!" A soldier stained with blood and mud, his face white with shock, the emblem of the order bearers partially visible on a patch strapped to his right arm, stepped forward. "Lieutenant Cahret's unit was badly hit due to insufficient natural protection, an explosive shell fell right in the middle of the trench. The survivors are retreating, you must abandon the position and regroup on the second line of defense."

"Retreat? No way!" De Martin scornfully protested. "If we leave the trench now we will unnecessarily expose ourselves to enemy fire. And even once the shelling ends-"

The rest of the sentence died in his throat when, almost prophetically, the sound of enemy shell explosions became gradually fainter until it ceased altogether. Immediately, medics tried to carry away the wounded as the remaining soldiers emerged from the trench, rifles clutched in their hands. They knew, what was to come.

"Here they come!" Cagraz, who was assigned to the only remaining machine gun, shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Everybody out! Remove the bags, open fire!"

The Free Republic soldiers emerged from the trench, just in time to see the Oligarchy troops coming toward them. Unlike Duchov and his comrades, few were of Caucasian complexion, almost all of them officers. Instead, the bulk of the troops had liquor-brown complexions, typical of the region's inhabitants, but like their counterparts who had come from Europe, they too now wore uniforms and masks and wielded rifles and firearms. The art of warfare had been easily learned and now the former indigenous people of the Republic knew how to fight and use the weapons of their former patrons with equal mastery and skill, or in some cases, even outclassing them.

"Fire, fire!" The men in the trench began firing, two or three black soldiers falling to the ground as their comrades returned fire. Cagraz, the machine gunner, barely emitted a groan as a bullet penetrated his forehead, the elastic ties that tied him to the machine gun preventing his body from fall as none of his former friends spared him a glance as they focused on the battle around them.

The Republican soldiers had the advantage of occupying defensive positions and a gatling to use against their adversaries. Even so the Oligarchy troops were much more numerous, and raised in a different environment than most European soldiers were used to, quickly scattered around, using whatever feature as a cover to protect themselves from the bullets and advance, a couple of them grabbing the grenades they had tied around their waist and throwing them in direction of the enemy. One of the grenades fell just in front of the trench, releasing an orange-looking gas with a strange, smelly taste.

Duchov's eyes widened in horror, as he recognized it. "Mustard gas! Quick, grab your masks!"

Other men heard Duchov's alarm and quickly dived for cover, hoping to have enough time to wear their masks, but many either didn't hear or couldn't, for they were struggling to keep the enemy at bay, even as more and more of their friends fell around them. Then, another gas grenade, tossed by a young former fisherman who had joined the Oligarchy's own troops in search for a better pay, fell right into the trench and it was too late.

Duchov could only hear the voice of De Martin try to maintain order among the troops, before another explosion from his direction signaled his death, the soldiers scattering without any more leadership to manage them while the enemies, realizing the Republicans were now in disarray, pushed through, a couple of soldiers jumping on the trench with their bayonet readied as the battle began bloodier.

That was more than Duchov could withstand. Screw the defense, screw the war, screw the Republic! he wasn't going to die here, kilometers and kilometers away from home, in a no-name island that no one even knew until it suddenly became the headquarter and command region of the Free Republic (what was left of it, anyway). He dropped his rifle and ran, no one noticing his attempt at deserting amid the chaos, as he rushed toward the border of the trench and out in the open, running as fast as his legs allowed him to.

Come on, come on, he yelled in his mind. you can do it, you can run forever-

Then, he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder, and all the strength left his body. It was shock, and then, oblivion.

The Oligarchy troops required ten more minutes to secure the position. Once it was done, one of their officers sent a message to the ship requesting new orders while the few Republicans who had been spared walked way in shame, hands raised as they were kept under crosshair by the men who were once the Republic's slaves, and who now took a great pleasure into seeing the soldiers of their former masters subjected to defeat and humiliation...


(... )


"The guns of the Kenshara Hill unit and around Petricot Bay were destroyed by the enemy's naval firepower. All the pillbox units on the beach have been destroyed as well, however the 33rd Infantry company near Malana is still at 75% overall fighting operativity, and we estimate over 800 enemy casualties."

"Good news all considered." Captain Pierrez, currently commander of the Republican Coastal defense Force, nodded, looking to the other officers and representatives who were sitting with him in the room. "Don't you agree?"

"No, we don't agree, at all!" Cheivienne Lemagne, the governor of Ourabora (that was the name of the island) hissed, wanting yet unable to stop listening to the thunder caused by the Oligrachy's ship shelling their own defensive position around the beach. "You said in our last meeting that your troops, while unsupported, could successfully repel any attempt from the Oligarchy to land ground troops on the island! It doesn't matter how many enemy soldiers you may have killed, losing the beach isn't worth it, especially since now the enemy can land more and more troops and move in the hinterland!"

"I agree, the situation is not in our favor as you claimed." Admiral Darnass, the last remaining officer of the Republican Navy (currently counting at least an old cruiser, heavily damaged and unable to leave its dockyard on the southern region of the island, and a couple former civilian ship refitted as scouts) lamented. "From what we have been able to gather, the Oligarchal Fleet we are facing holds at least one battleship, one cruiser and several support vessels. As long as those ships are able to continue operating without any risk of retaliation from our side, not only they can secure their beachheads and weaken our troop's defensive position around it, but should we lose our remaining naval artilleries on the eastern coast, they'll be free to move up and hit the rest of the island, including this one building we are currently standing in!"

"Oh, and how do you expect for us to 'take care of them', remind me?!" Pierrez's voice turned full of anger and jerkiness. As much as you're badmouthing us, the Republican Army while defeated is still standing and willing to fought in name of the Republic's cause, something we can't say about the Navy! It is your fault that we lost De Lugo and all our best leaders after the Empire sacked Pariseè!"

"You ugly stinking moron-!"

"ENOUGH!" Lemagne shouted, feeling once again like a teacher of a kindergarten, only he was now stopping fights among soldiers and members of the military rather than simply unruly kids. The key difference, while subtle, was simple: kids could learn, and grow. Adults... didn't get such luxury, especially in dire this like this. "I thought we already agreed that such squabbles produce nothing and only serve to keep ourselves divided while the Oligarchy, supported by the Empire, keeps pushing us further and further away. This time, however, we don't have another colony more remote where to relocate the Republic's government, should this island fall: if we lose this time again, it will be over. Complete defeat, nothing less. If we lose this battle... that's the end of everything the Republic used to represent, and the world it was once proud part of! We will have proved ourselves inferior. Weak! And all the groveling cowards left alive when the battle is over, will be the weakest of all! This will be the end of Republican democracy, the end of hope, freedom and liberty! The world will belong to the tyranny of the Empire, and everyone will suffer under its clutches!"

The impromptu speech originated from raw, unfiltered emotions and was devoid any previous edit or proofreading. While a bit crude for an old politician who had spent his whole life managing a small, idyllic island colony where 99% of the time, the direst issues he had to face were quarrels among fishermen, served its purpose and the two military men, while still giving themselves a sink eye, returned to their seats.

"Thank you. Now, officer Pregrine," the colony governor addressed the lower-rank NCO who had silently been waiting near the entrance of the building, unnerved by the whole situation and how easily quarrel could break out among his superiors. "is there anything else you'd like to report?"

"Well, there are some... rumors, scattering around the troops, who validity we had been unable to confirm, yet they keep spreading and causing panics among them. They say that the Oligarchy is soon going to deploy mage troops against us, just as they did in the final stages of the Africa campaign; that the natives the Oligarchy keeps recruiting among their troops have strong ties with our local population, and they're planning an overthrow or that the Oligarchy has agreed to cede their former Pacific colonies to the Akitsushima Dominion in exchange for the Dominion coming here and purging the whole archipelago of our presence."

"That's ridiculous!" Pierrez scoffed, refusing even to acknowledge such notion. "The natives are too fearful of our power to even dare to oppose our control, and the Dominion is nothing but a bunch of squabbled up savages! They could never pose a threat to us!"

"We used to believe the same of the Tuareg living in the desert, until Aisha rose them up against us!" Lemagne pointed out, earning an irked look from Pierrez, who was one of the few lucky ones to be evacuated before the last Republican colonies in Africa were lost. "And the Dominion is always looking for new chances and opportunities to expand their own holding into the Southern Pacific Area. Remember how the Empire managed to sway them to their side by selling them what little islandic colonies they had? The Empire would have never made off much of such small islands who were on the opposite part of the world, and what the Dominion gave them in exchange helped them tipple the fate of the European war on their side."

"That said, we... also have some new reports coming from our other coastal defenses," Pregrine continued. "While so far, the Oligarchy troops on the beachheads had made no serious attempt to break their encirclement, from what our officers relates it would be very hard to vanquish them before they manage to strengthen too much their forces on the island. Seems like the Empire did supply them with brand new machine guns, and they have new rifles as well."

"And that's without mentioning our dire industrial situation." the admiral nodded. "After the loss of the mainland Republican soil, above 80% of our industry fell into the Oligarchy hands, and with the loss of our African colonies and what we had to sell to Ildoa in attempt to keep fighting, we lost almost all the remaining 20. So far what we have on the island is barely enough food producer to keep our troops feed enough to keep fighting, and some small plant to repair our rifles and our guns as well as produce new ammunitions from whatever scraps we can gather. Still, that's barely enough to keep us working: we can only repair what we have, not build new ones nor recruit more troops."

"And this is why all the other nations have now turned their backs on us." Lemagne said with a deep sigh, looking outside of the window. It seemed so far in the past now, when ships coming from the Allied Kingdom and other nations of the Commonwealth arrived every day to trade, visit the small paradisiac little island or just to refuel and have some day on solid ground before resuming their travel through the deep blue ocean, carrying materials from the exotic orient to the faraway industrial powerhouses of Europe. "Do you know what the Allied Kingdom's representative said, when I tried to convince him that we were still standing strong? 'You're the relics of a dead nation'. This is how the world see us now: relics. De Lugo... he was widely known, he had charisma, and so did all the brave men who joined him on the travel. We had still our powerful fleet back then, we had our whole colonial empire intact, we had an army that thought beaten, was still standing strong, and we had so many young men we could recruit or draft to fill the emptiness in our ranks? Now? Now what is left of the Republic is a collection of what were once their smallest, least important colonies, so far from our former nation it feels like we are on a different planet altogether. We must harvest the scraps to get the tools we need just to keep fighting another day; we have to be meticulous in our plans, for any soldier we lose is another hole in our rank we can't replenish; and all we can do is just... just..."

"Is that defeatism you're saying, governor?" Pierrez sniped, with a grimace of disgust. "This is pure treason! We aren't defeated yet! We are soldiers of the Republic, the greatest stronghold of democracy, freedom and personal liberty of the world! Eventually, both the Allied Kingdom and the Unified States will come to their senses, and they will have to recognize that the Empire is a threat that cannot stand, not just for the security of Europe, but for the whole world's wellbeing! Already savvy politicians in both nation are trying to fight the political opposition of the traitors, those who would rather bent their back to the Empire rather than stand up and fight for what is right! We only have to last until that moment comes, and just as the death of the czarina saved the blasted Empire in the past, so the return to their senses of the Western nations will sentence it to its final downfall!"

"And how long do you expect we should be able to resist?" the Admiral challenged him, taking advantage of Lemagne's sudden weakness to resume his never-ending personal battle with the officer of the Republican Army. "The Oligarchy is already here! And unless you're going to reveal to us that you've managed to find some miraculous way to reverse the events, then we don't have much of a choice! How long do you think our men will be able to resist being bombarded day and night by the enemy's aryillery shells? Because I can confirm-"

Lemagne took another deep breath and walked away, whatever resolve he had left now feeling bleak and grey, as his determination took another hit seeing whatever was left of the Republic waste precious time and energy in useless quarrels with itself instead of managing to stop fighting just for a brief moment and concentrate their attention upon the enemy.

If De Lugo had been here to provide his leadership, he would have surely squashed all division among the Free Republic government and armed forces a long time ago... but he wasn't, and they had been forced to do without him, to the point that they ended up going from one disaster through another. Losing the fleet, losing Africa, getting their collective asses kicked from one 'last ultimate line of defense' from another, every time the promises of the Free Republic officers they would be able to permanently stop the enemy turning out to be empty, every time being forced to relocate, or rather, to run away. But running away had its limit, and soon, they had run out of places to escape.

For so long Lemagne had hoped, prayed, that they could put apart their own differences and work together, but now, he had to face reality. And the reality was that there was no way out of this whole situation.

The Republic would be dead soon, but he did not have to follow the same destiny.

As he thought that, he saw the building where the radio antenna of the colony was located. He knew the men who worked there, and he knew at which times he could get inside without being found. Plus, he was taught a little bit about how the machine worked-

A smile grew on his lips, as an idea formed in his mind. An evil idea.

He had been a loyal servant of the Republic for too long, and if he could play his card rights, he could get something much better than twelve measly silver coins...
​

 

[Trunko]

​

Chapter 244 – Jihād​

Albuzzìn Mountain. Also known in the republic as the 'Bellenue Mountains' after the famous republican explorer and geologist who first studied them and made them known in Europe. One of the main landmarks for caravans moving through the desert, especially during the season of the simùn, the hot desert wind that blows vigorously toward the sea. Once the seat of the Bey Haliba Balbet, a ruthless warlord whose name would forever be associated with the immense treasure he had amassed in his lifetime. Even today, thousands of young, idealistic minds devoted their energies to his quest. Home to a Republican military outpost since 1899, established after an unsuccessful attempt to establish a mining colony in 1902 it had become home to a meteorological monitoring station that, from the middle of the desert, provided daily and weekly reports on the direction and strength of the hot winds from the desert, for the benefit of the colony's Republican settlers and to the various local people who were willing to accept the authority and military power of the Republic. Even during the beginning of the Tuareg uprising against Republican military authority, and against the predictions of the commanders themselves, the desert rebels had never targeted the station, which had remained untouched and abandoned even when the Republicans had decided to abandon the position redeploying the military contingent assigned there to defend the colonies further north, which were threatened by the spread of the rebellion.

The reason why such an apparently strategic position had been deliberately ignored was still unknown. Some said that the Tuaregs were reluctant to deploy their forces against a small military outpost; others that they had made an initial attempt but had been repulsed, and didn't try again; others simply assume the rebels had 'forgotten' about it, and after the Republic pullet out, they didn't even care to scavenge what was left.

They couldn't have been farther from the truth.

Albuzzìn Mountain, due to its historical importance and geographical position, had always been a constant for the People of the Desert, who saw every new 'conqueror' of their land as nothing more than foreigners, bound to be replaced or defeated one day, as the desert recognized no rulership but his own. And just as the Republican's outpost on the top of the mountain was a strategic position for the Republican Army enforcing rule upon the desert, so the ancient city temple carved into its rocks was a vityal for the cultural and political identity of those who walked among the sands.

Zaahid el-Iman was an old man now, yet he still remembered the first time his own father had brought him to see the temple hidden under the mountain, the silent relics of a civilization older than the Republic, older than the Caliphs, some even claiming older than the Desert itself. It was a wonder of the world, an heritage that no white man had ever seen before, even as some nasty explorers had come close from time to time. Their flshless heads, displayed all together on the entrance of the tunnel, was a clear warning for those who tried to force their hand into a knowledge that wasn't theirs.

"As-salamu alaikum, brother." One of the guards saluted him as they recognized him, helping his dismount the pale white dromedary while his comrades moved to check the rest of the payload he had brought with him. "How was your travel?"

"Wa-alaikum as-salam, gatekeeper. It was quite uneventful, nothing worthy of remembering. It was quite... peaceful not to be harassed by the Republic's heathens hellbent on ravaging my stuff or trying to extort me for money."

"The Prophet granted us respite." the man replied, his scar and the stolen rifle on his hand telling he was a veteran of their Liberation. "Though I must admit, it feels weird to be able to move freely without fear of being discovered."

"You should learn not to be dissatisfied with peace, young man." Zaahid admonished him. "Besides, peace favors trades and profit. Ever since the Republic left and their new government officially recognized the Authority of the Prophet, our livelihood had quite increased."

"Don't let the greed control your mind, for money is the sinner's obsession." A voice called as yet another men walked into sight, the robes he was wearing a clearly hint of his duty and position among the society of the sons of the Desert. "Welcome brother, she is... expecting you."

"Jazakallah kheir, oh holder. If you'd allow me, I'll go and meet her... as fast as my old legs will allow me."

"Do you require help?" One of the guards volunteered, only for Zaahid to shake his head.

"No, I'm old but not that old as to require the assistance of someone younger to walk myself. Just keep my faithful steed and my belongings under watch, my grandchildren offered to come with me but I refused. They're too young... to meet her."

The guards nodded as Zahiid followed his 'guide' through the long corridor, carved into the rock. The sturdy walls-how many generations of merchants, warriors, and cultivators had greeted in the many years they had protected? How many more would they greet? Only Allah knew. Allah and, perhaps, his prophet.

Finally, after an unspecified period of time, the corridor ended and Zahiid found himself in a large hall carved into the rock, sand brought in from outside forming a thin layer all along the floor while a large hollow salt gem, with a candle inside, illuminated the altar at the bottom center. And inside, kneeling before the altar or waiting seated, many adult or young men, many of whom Zahiid had known in his long life, waited.

"Well arrived, brother." a couple of them said as he walked in sight. "We were starting to think Allah the Merciful had finally decided to call you beside him."

"No, I still have things to do in this world." Zahiid chuckled, before his expression turned serious suddenly. "Did she-"

"The Daughter of the Sands is here, we can confirm that." A couple of the younger men replied, "Though we are still unsure for what reason she called all of us here."

"Is it perhaps related to what the Oligarchy is doing? Did they try to betray us?"

"I heard nothing on the matter." another once called. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if they did! I stold you again and again we can't trust them, just because they are the Republic's enemy! The names and faces may have changed, but they still control the Republic's former capital! To trust them is like trusting a scorpion! We-"

"Are you judging the decision of mine, Kabish?" A female voice called out as Aisha appeared, fully dressed in her 'Prophet' garb, a closed book in her left hand. "The decision that the Desert itself willed into us, the choice of Allah the Great!"

"N-no of course, I would never!" The men fell into his knees, and so did everyone behind him, those who were the oldest only taking a bit more time for the bodies weren't flexible and fast as they once were. "I was just... I am simply worried if they will hold their end of the bargain, Daughter of the Sands. After all, even if by name only, we still are subjects of them!"

"That, is only because they're too proud to admit they can't conquer us, and they are content with letting us govern ourselves as long as we give them a small token to save appearances." Aisha replied, her tone of voice now changing, and now sounding like a children assuring her overprotective parents. "The Oligarchy, while controlling the coastline, are pawns too of the Empire, and they would never try to hurt us as long as the Empire see us as friends. Moreover," she added with a delightful note. "from what news we know, the Oligarchy's own forces are focused into defeating the last strongholds of the Republic, to the edge of the world."

"Such a fitful ending for those who dared to treat our desert as a conquest!" one of them snickered, yet Aisha didn't reprimand him, for she could share the sentiment.

"The reason why I called all of you, is because there has been a... change of plans." She added. "Two days ago, in my dreams, a new vision came to me, and it showed me... the future."

As Aisha stopped, looking upon the other members of the People of the Sand, he could barely restrain her smugness as she felt their concern, their confusion, as she understood she had her full attention now.

"Oh Daughter of the sands, you say you had... a vision?"

"Indeed, and the reason why I called all of you today is so you can learn about it, and then spread it around so everyone can know what my dream and Allah's will looks like."

"And tell us, Oh Great Priestess of the Desert, what did your vision showed you?"

"It showed me the Desert... before it was a desert. When it was a land of fertile meadows and abundance, with many trees growing proud toward the sky, and rivers of clean, fresh water pouring from the bowels of the Earth, long before the hot wind and the sand defeated them. Aland of happiness of plentitude, where no one would be forced to see his own children starve, or to sell their oldest daughters in order to save the rest of their kids."

As Aisha kept narrating, the men who were listening to her tale began to grow restless, at the image of such paradise. While the Desert was their own nation, their prime mother and father, it was also an harsh teacher and a merciless educator. If you couldn't find your own water, or trade with those who had it, you would die of thirst. If you couldn't come up with your own food, you would die of hunger. If you couldn't protect from the merciless gaze of the sun you would burn, or worse, be left for dead among the sands, with nothing to keep you company but the dark, cruel shadows of the scavengers, waiting for you to draw the final breath so they could feast on your flesh.

To such men, hardened by a life lived among scarcity and oppression, the vision of the desert turned into such paradise was alluring as the image of a city made of gold had been for centuries to the poorest people of the world.

"As I moved through such vision, marveled by such beauty, a voice came into me and told me that, while nigh impossible, to restore our beloved Desert to its former glory is not entirely impossible. In fact, it can be achieved, as long as the people of Tuareg are willing to work together, once again."

Many eyes darted upward, focusing on her, as the girl who had been playing the role of Paul Atreides since she had been 'reborn' internally grinned. They believed her, of course: she was their priestess, the girl who had managed to break through and pulverize the usual barriers of bigotry with the use of her own charisma and words alone and arose to the highest possible position of their society, an emissary of God self! It was her words, assumed to be spoken by Allah to the children of the sands through her, that had led so many fractured tribes and small travelling villages to unite with each other, sometimes vanquishing traditional hatred and feud who had existed for centuries. It was her words (and her newfound magic) that had managed to push the Tuareg into open rebellion against the Republic, destroying many of their settlements and outposts and forcing them to use so many resources to try and quell the uprising, weakening the Republican efforts to fight the Empire and the Oligarchy puppet they had installed in the Republic's own former capitol city. It was her words that had given her people so much respite, after gaining the attention of the Empire... and its representatives.

And now, her plan began to start...


(... )


"So, everything is going as planned…" General War smirked in his tone of voice (since his fleshless face couldn't provide features anymore) as he kept glancing upon the glove in his skeletal hand, looking how 'Aisha' kept making her rousing speech to her followers, the men becoming more and more incensed as she spoke. "The little sand baby is starting to set her sightd beyond merely being the Prophet of a bunch of blue-dressed nomads, and she aims to replicate the venture of Paul Atreides in this world."

While making the desert fertile once again had been the plan of many 'more civilized' nations from time to time, he knew that such enterprise wouldn't go unopposed. Even if Aisha and her followers had managed to pull through and achieve their goal, turn the desert from sand to green would only make it more valuable in the eyes of the other nations. The Oligarchy may feel more tempted into trying to reassume direct control of their inner regions, as the Collective and Ildoa would try to make moves on their own. Aisha wanted to give her people fertility and peace, yet even without full knowledge of it, she was leading them to yet another war.

All according to his plan.

He turned around, various other globes of pure white light reflecting actions and events happening all over the world, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes not. With them, general War could keep a close eye on what was happening in that dimension, the one where he was syphoning all the dark energy he needed in order to rebuild his power, so he could make sure the stream of energy was never at risk of being slowed down or interrupted... and to give himself some kind of amusement as he waited and bid his time.

On the opposite part of the world, the Akitsushima Dominion was starting its own moves as well. Pushed by a new, ambitious Prime Minister, the Dominion Military Force were currently being expanded. At the same time, new territories had been acquired through diplomatic or aggressive ways, such as the forced takeover of many former Republican colonies (with the Oligarchy, having realized they had no way to stop or prevent, trying to trade her 'permission' with small token to either replenish its economy or for the Dominion to take increasingly active roles against the last Republican holdouts) or the sale of many small islands who had been once colonies of the Empire, too far from Europe to be properly supplied or defended, but with various strategic resources depots who allowed the Empire to get quite some good prices for them. The troops guarding the border with Russy were growing restless once again as news of the fall of the Federation reached the Far East, and new conflicts would soon break once the shock was over.

In America, the president was still hellbent on finding some excuse, either diplomatic or 'humanitarian' to increase the overall support against the Empire, either by backing the pro-democratic front in the Allied Kingdom or by establishing stronger ties with the few European nations who hadn't fallen under the Imperial hegemony yet. While so far nothing much had come out of it (except of course several broken trades deals whose loss had been more damaging to the Unified States than the Empire) the President was determined, and once he could find a loophole, he would be able to twist it to his own use. Meanwhile, on the southern half of the continent, forgotten and often ignored by the rest of the world, new economic uprising was growing, as well as skepticism and disillusion toward the role the Unified States kept reserving themselves as their 'guardians' without previous permission or request, simply by virtue of being the strongest nation military of the continent.

In Russy, his young 'protégé' was barely a few days from officially ascending to the role the world had chosen for her, and once she would have had the crown laid on her head, and she keep her side of the bargain, the flux of energy currently feed him on everyday basis would drastically increase, speeding his restoration process.

The Empire had established hegemony, but it had failed on a key point. By sharpening its sword so much, it had made all nations scared of its power. Even among its most trusted allies and friends, there would be ones who feared such power, such prowess and would take any chance to fight against it.

The Empire had won the war, but peace was lost. Even as its enemies crumbled, one by one, this was nothing more than an armistice for twenty years, or something like it.

A long time ago, before his banishment and eventual imprisonment, before he became General War, he had personally travelled to many of the worlds that he and his 'business partner' oversaw and he learned many things about the humans whose lives he indirectly controlled. And onesuch thing was, no matter how different their world and universes may be, no matter how incomprehensible some words may be from another, there were always things that remained the same.

Such as the human's sense of paranoia and fear, the terror of something that looked stronger than anything else, something without counters.

"Being X" as Frederick and his companion had grown used to call him, had tried to vanquish him, but in the end, he couldn't.

Because war, such as chaos or discord, could never be defeated forever. It time, it would reform, it would find back its strength and it would make new attempts, again and again.

For 'good always wins' was not a fact, but rather, a requisite. Good would win, again and again, and yet evil would eventually take now shapes and attributes, it would develop new challenges, it would forge new weapons, and it would once again rode into battle, again and again, and every time good had to win in order to protect what they hold dear.

But evil...

... evil had to win only once.​

 

[Jakobin]

Hello I was wondering how long was the Federation War?

 

[marids]

Argh! I almost forgot this updated today. I hate being busy.

Spoiler: correction

Even if Aisha and her followers had managed to pull trough and achieve their goal,

Click to shrink...

through

Many thoughts for this chapter.

While making a desert fertile again is indeed not completely impossible, it's usually the cost that makes it hard to plan a viable method to regreen such areas. I wonder what Aisha plans to do to make it happen.

Trade? Many deserts have plenty of mineral resources to mine and potentially trade with. Magic? Perhaps there are ways to bypass conventional material and manpower costs by relying on magic that she seemingly alone possesses amongst her people. War? While an easy guess based on her backer, I am unsure who they'd need to fight to gain what they need at the moment. Politics? perhaps there are diplomatic solutions that are unexplored? although it seems the least likely answer, unless it leads to more war! haha!

The Unified States president being influenced to seek war was not surprising. Although I wonder if they even needed much influencing based on how the world seems to regard the Empire at this point.

As for the Empire, I think it'll be lucky to get even half a decade of peace, let alone two. But to be honest, even a few years of peace to consolidate gains and ramp up the economy would do plenty of good for the Empire to rest, repair, and rearm itself, all for the sake of even more war on the horizon.

Overall, it's pretty interesting to see many of my suspicions regarding the seemingly continuous amount of conflict being sparked around the world. As expected of General War I suppose, who is also interesting and fittingly Imperishable due to the nature of humanity itself. Because like someone said before, "Peace is an armistice in a war that is continuously going on." — Thucydides.

 

[Production]

The Empire had established hegemony, but it had failed on a key point. By sharpening its sword so much, it had made all nations scared of its power.

Click to shrink...

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Even after the Fredster joined Tanya and all the AU stuff, the Empire is still going to fight a forever war until it falls, even if it reaches a state of nominal peace. I love it!

 

[Trunko]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Even after the Fredster joined Tanya and all the AU stuff, the Empire is still going to fight a forever war until it falls, even if it reaches a state of nominal peace. I love it!

Click to shrink...

Nations rise and collapse, even in our world. And while the Empire is anew and his dominion is strong, how many centuries will it stand?

 

[Trunko]

​

Chapter 245 – Magis Incognita​

"You know, I'm starting to like living in this place." I spoke as Tanya tried to focus on her book, totally pretending not to hear my attempts to start a chat. "All things considered, we got our wishes on a nice wrap up after the Imperial Commander relocated us here: we got a whole small city all for ourselves to control, patrol and 'defend'; we are far away from any active conflict; we have got cushy offices and stays for all the time we're going to be here. All considered wasn't this what we were trying to achieve ever since we left the orphanage? To have a nice, cushy job and stay someplace far way in the rear, as much distant as possible from any conflict or otherwise danger that may threaten our current mortal lives, and thus spend the rest of our days longing in leisure?"

"That was our definitive goal of life!" She yelled back, clearly irritated that her attempts to ignore me hadn't helped as she hoped they would. "And our current assignment in this forsaken city in the former Federation is going to be all but definitive. As soon as our presence here won't be requested anymore, or as soon as some new threat surge from someplace else, like it had done countless times before, we'll be relocated, and we'll end up whenever Strategic Headquarter decides we will go next! And we should have been able to join them or at least attain some place somewhere with a desk job who don't require you to take action anytime soon, end yet, we keep getting shanghaied into one dangerous scenario after another! Dakia, the Entente, back on the Rhine Front, the Republican holding in Africa, the Federation, what else will come next? Will they have us ride into those blasted V1 of Von Schugel once again so we can pull yet another 'impossible' raid on the Unified States' own territory? Or perhaps will we have to move further eastward to keep assisting the new Russy Army into annihilating what former Federal resistance is left?"

"I hope not, that would mean there are still people who still think the Federation's concept is something worth fighting and die for." I scoffed, unaware of the irony deep seethed into my own words. "And besides, Schugel's rockets don't have the range to reach the Unified States and even if they could be improved, they wouldn't go unnoticed. So, unless Strategic Headquarter got suicidal or suddenly decides that even their most talented and skilled mage units have become expendables, we have nothing to worry about."

"May I remind you they're not the only ones we have to worry about!" Tanya glared back at me. "Our true enemy is Being X. He was the one who manipulated things behind our back so Dakia would join the war against the Empire despite being technologically outclassed! And he was the one who probably led to this whole blasted war to start in the first place, by causing that border incident right while we were having our final officer training! Plus, if these Americans are dumb like the ones from our previous world-"

"Why, you ever met Americans in our previous lives? I thought you were mid-management, aren't such meetings usually reserved for the higher-ups?"

"If we were talking about business deals between our corporations, yeah. But we had some people coming from other branches, either born in the United States or having lived there long enough they were American by heart. Some came by part of deals with other businesses, others were simpletons like you, foreigners looking for a job!"

"I still remember the day I first walked through that door to have my meeting with HR. I was all scared and nervous, but in the end, I managed to pass!"

"That's only because I wasn't working there yet, otherwise I would have never called your number ever again. I checked your folder once: you worked well, but it was clear that you weren't going to simply do what you were told, and that you were a schemer!"

"Why, weren't you?"

"To showcase your value as resource and keep high your efficiency level is not manipulation!" Her voice grew a little higher, and she turned head to face me. In hindsight, at least she was now paying me full attention, but maybe it would have been better if I gave up when she ignored me and I left.

"Sure, if you say so... anyway, we also had some proper duties who didn't require us to risk our life on an everyday basis. Remember when we were sent to Londinium to help the new Imperial Ambassador to showcase the goodwill of the Empire? Maybe if we manage to pull the right strings our next duty may be something like that."

"You mean when that crazy girl said that you killed her father and you had to fight it with a spoon? Or how about how first meeting with Loria, that perverted pedo?"

She shivered, and I did as well. This is something we both could agree upon: it wasn't a good thing to be close with such a bastard, especially if he had unsavory tastes towards kids and you WERE a kid fit enough to catch his interest. Maybe it would be better to change topics?

"So, did you see what we did with the city's brand-new orphanage? What do you think, does it bring you a sense of nostalgia?"

"While I do admit you and your goons did a... somewhat decent job, I am still quite puzzled by how much money you could throw into that thing. You made some black-hearted criminals very happy with your coins!"

"Would you have rather preferred me to give them to you? Those kids needed some basic stuff to live good, sleep comfortably and have enough stuff to receive a proper education. You remember how bad it was on some time back at our orphanage, when there was barely enough food for anyone, and the nuns made sup every day at lunch, dinner and even breakfast? Or how creaky and cold the beds felt sometime? Or how sometimes we had to pass the same book over and over because there was only that?"

"Yeah, I remember." She hissed. "And I made sure they won't have to worry about that for a looong time."

"How much of your pay have you sent them back?"

"More than you did! Of course, that's a given since I don't have some background rich dead guy fortune that I can use anytime I want!"

"Well, if you got it, show it, don't they say it? Plus, what about our... little nightmare?"

"If you're talking about the girl your subordinates found among the woods, Anyala, I have heard only what Viktoriya had been reporting me on a private manner. Seems like the girl is behaving herself, and while still keeping everyone at an arm's distance and refusing to try and make friends, her health looks like she is getting better, also thanks to the people watching over her. It may take some time until they find someone to take care of her, or even if, but as for the time being, she's got a roof over her head and hot meals each day."

"Same deal as we got, indeed! I won't call this a happy ending, but I'll take it."

"To tell the truth, I asked Viktoriya to give me regular updates on her situation." Tanya admitted, glancing out of the window to the city surrounding us, and the forest around the city where we first had found her. "When I first heard about her, I was quick to dismiss her as something unimportant for our goals, but... after I got more info about her miraculous escape, something caught my attention."

"About her tragic backstory and how she lost her whole family to the Federation's cold repression against so-called 'counterrevolutionaries'?"

"No, about the way she escaped, the rumored unknown assailant who managed to make short work of so many federation goons at once. I think... I think we have a rogue mage on the are."

As she said that, I stopped, my head turning toward her, feeling throat become dry and my eyes widening as my mouth was left open for almost a full minute, as I tried to elaborate what she said. And then... I started to laugh.

"Come on Tanya, I thought you were the most rational one of us. Don't tell me you're starting to consider that the locals' folklore has some truth in it, and THERE IS an old witch who flies in a cauldron and who lives in a house with chicken wings out in the forest!"

"The legend itself, no, I'm not actually believing it." She replied, refusing to turn her head as she kept glancing outside. "Someone who's using it for their own advantage, that is a possibility I can't rule out."

"W-wait. Someone... using the legend?" I repeated, clearly taken back as the hilarity in my body left place to shock, and then, to dread. "Who could be doing something like this?"

"You want to hear the best hypothesis I have come up with?" She snorted, clearly happy to prove (once again) to be smarter than me, as I repressed the desire to hiss. "As the Federation's control over their population got stronger, they began to enact harsher measures against the mages of people who shown ability to use magic, fearing (truthfully) they could represent a threat to their power, until they decided to imprison them all in gulags with magic-dampening devices to sap off their powers. And at the same time, they started harsh control on the population to make sure if new magically talented individuals were to appear: while a majority of them were incarcerated with flimsy accusations, a restrictive part of them, who were deemed 'worthy' to follow the Party's guidelines were allowed to join their own Mage Air Corps."

"The one that we have already faced and destroyed during our daredevil raid on Moskva. Yes, I know, I was there with you. Let's proceed!"

"Now, what I am thinking is, I doubt the Party was able to gain 100% of all mages who were still in their territory. Thus, we can suppose that one, or maybe more, could have known enough about their powers and being lucky or skilled enough to evade initial capture, thus getting the chance to further develop their skills on their own."

"On their own? You mean by self-teaching about the nature of magic and how to focus it, or even by making their own tools? That's ridiculous, no self-respecting mage has ever used tools they themselves made evert since-"

"The Middle Ages?" Tanya finished my own sentence, smiling drily as I could hear her words pierce through my attempt at reasoning, my mouth shutting as I realized she had managed to land a critical hit again. "Look around you Frederick, all of Russy beyond Moskva is quite slow to chance, cut off from the rest of the world almost all the time. There are villages and small towns where things are the same as they were during the Middle Ages, so why couldn't a mage be able to make their own equipment, if they have the skill and knowledge to do so?"

"That's... quite a possibility." I replied, thinking about it. I mean, if I could manage to turn a spoon into an improvised wand, and personalized magic items could grant less fire rate but a large diversification of spells a single mage could perform, and if such skills could be adapted and developed to use items mad with woods or any other item usually available-

Baba Yaga.

The rumors about someone living in the woods.

Baba Yaga.

The bodies of the Federation troops, torn and damaged so badly they had to be sent back with proper care so no one could see them.

Baba Yaga.

Anyala, barely a child with no special skill of her own, and yet who had managed not only to escape custody from the Federation troops but who apparently had been living alone, with no other human to help her, for so much time in a wood filled with wolves, wild bears and other creatures that she had absolutely no defense from.

I felt my head beginning to spin, a strange sense of nausea and shock pervade my brain, as the piece of the puzzle began to click together, and the truth that Tanya had already guessed was fully revealed to me. Somehow, a mage had been active in the region, using their power both to conceal their presence from the troops of the Federation and to strike when she could, using the folklore and the knowledge the big boss of the Party wouldn't listen to scrambled tales about witches of the past to act without being observed. Someone, who apparently had been skilled enough in magic (or at least, smart enough to get himself proper self-teaching) to produce their own magical items, using procedures and fabrication processes of the past, before the Industrial revolution even started to streamline the nature of magic itself. A mage who had apparently taken Anyala under their wing, giving her shelter and food enough to let her life, or more probably, giving her the assistance no one could give her when the Federation came for her family.

A mage who had probably spent their whole life until now fighting the Federation, yet they hadn't come out when their corrupt government had fallen.

A mage who had been hostile toward the Communist former regime, yet it didn't seem too much sympathetic of the restored Russy government, if they hadn't come out already.

A mage who probably was still lurking in the wilderness surrounding the city, watching as we, mages of the Empire, came to set a base here.

"So, this is what you were trying to bring to my attention? An unknown mage of untold power and abilities, who we have more than enough proof they were quite active in the area previously, and from what we know, it may still be lurking around?"

"You do have to admit, it is quite a threat we can't afford to ignore." Tanya continued, with a clear intention to follow the consequences of her revelation to the very end. "As for me, I'm sending a detailed report back to the HQ representatives in Moskva, to explain them the situation and ask for reinforcements."

"Reinforcements? We already have two battalions worth of mage manpower, plus every Imperial soldier in the area who we have the authority to summon and recruit for the effort, and until we have proof that says otherwise, the mage we are supposed to look for is alone! How bad do you think it could be?"

"Frederick, would you shut that hole that you have in place of the mouth and use your brain, that is, if you have one?! Unknown mage, approximate power level unknown, who already fought several troops of the Federation at the same time and yet managed to obliterate them! If we are too overconfident, this could backfire on us as soon as we try to apprehend them!"

"And I call you a dumb blonde doll in turn!" I replied, sick and tired of being reprimanded, my own anger rising in turn. "You're already acting like this mage is some kind of enemy that we have to take care of and neutralize before they strike, but so far, stay in hiding and refusing to show themselves when the Empire and the new Russy government took control of the area is NOT a crime by itself. What if they are still in hiding because they are afraid of us? After all, the Empire from the point of view of many is not too different from the Federation."

"What the heck are you-"

"There was a saying from back before we ended up in these bodies." I pointed at my cute little child appearance, glaring at her. "'Meet the new boss, same as the old boss'. It usually means that when there is a change of leadership, be it in a business corporation or in some political structure, the new leaders rarely are any different from the predecessors they replaced. In short, change the name, change the face, but things are not going to chance. And whenever a government is toppled and replaced, whenever new elections are held and new parties rise to power, whenever in time of war a city or territory change controller... contrarily to what each new face may claim, the injustice stay the same. This is a say people of the lowest strata have known for countless generations: only a fool, or a madman cheers a chance of dynasty."

The Orientalist allusion hit its designated target, as I saw Tanya jump back in surprise, a grimace of shock and anger on her lips, her gaze crossing with mine, as we were once again on the verge of tearing each other apart, as years of reciprocal hate, pettiness and exploitation resurged all at once.

Luckily (or maybe unluckily) as many other times before, something, or rather someone, was going to interrupt our quarrel before it even started. In fact, we heard a door slammed and heavy footsteps foreshadowed the open of the door where we were currently open all of a sudden and one of our mages jump in, his uniform all dirty, and with wide eyes.

"Commander, we- we have a situation!"

"Of what kind?" Tanya asked, the first of the two to catch herself.

"One of our squad just returned from a recon patrol above the forest, they say they clashed with some... unknown mage. No losses, but many mages were quite injured."

"W-which unit are you talking?"

"The 6th Squad, sir!"

My eyes widened once again, as horror took over my mind, for I recognized which unit was that. The unit where I had put Elsie and her friend in...​

 

[Trunko]

Due to the lowering attendance and feedback from new updates of my fic, and having my usual writing time reduced for personal reasons, I am taking a 1-week stop from updating new chapters of this fanfiction to properly rest and think the plot from now on.

I hope to find again the inspiration to bring the story back to its previous level of quality and plot creativity, and wish you an happy time!

Next chapter will be released on October 23, 2024.

 

[Jakobin]

Hello I was wondering how long was the war with the federation? Was it like 6 months or longer?

Also I don't believe what General War said is true. He said that it was an armistice for 20 years but it seems like President Worthnothing of the Unified States doesn't want to wait that long and will want to start the next world war like now. This means that the Second World War might happen sooner maybe less than a year or two.

I suspect that the Allied Kingdom would support The Empire due to better relations with them along with Ildoa

Lastly I was wondering who colonized Indonesia. I thought it was the empire since they control the Netherlands and I thought they ruled it in their place in your universe. Does the Allied Kingdom rule it instead?

 

[Trunko]

Hello I was wondering how long was the war with the federation? Was it like 6 months or longer?

Also I don't believe what General War said is true. He said that it was an armistice for 20 years but it seems like President Worthnothing of the Unified States doesn't want to wait that long and will want to start the next world war like now. This means that the Second World War might happen sooner maybe less than a year or two.

I suspect that the Allied Kingdom would support The Empire due to better relations with them along with Ildoa

Lastly I was wondering who colonized Indonesia. I thought it was the empire since they control the Netherlands and I thought they ruled it in their place in your universe. Does the Allied Kingdom rule it instead?

Click to shrink...

Not sure, I hypothesize it lasted between 6 months and 1 year, or around that time.

Also, armistice doesn't take count if a conflict reopens too soon. As the war with the Federation may be considered part of the previous conflict started with the Entente and the Republic, so it can be with the Unified States.

And for the Allied Kingdom, I can't do spoilers.

I was thinking the Alternate of Japan may have 'taken advantage' of the situation instead...

 

[Trunko]

I did promise, didn't I?

---

Chapter 246 – Who's the guilty one?​

The infirmary's doors slam shut with violence as I rush inside, running or flying, I don't remember, the various Imperial and civilian personnel turning head at once as soon as I make my own presence known. I don't care, for my focus is elsewhere right now, and my emotions are running too high to let my rational mind keep an hold over my actions.

"Where are they?"

"Commander-"

"Where are they?"

"Sir, if you just calm down-"

"WHERE. ARE. THEY?!" I yell for the third time, and this time, everyone stop trying to talk over me, as I feel myself rise in the air for a good half meter, high enough to tower over any adult present in the room. I see a nurse move toward me, her voice trembling.

"Sir, the members of the 6th​ squad are all being checked out in the nearby room. If you insist on meeting them, I can accompany you, but, please sir, I invite you to keep your volume low and to stay calm. They're not in danger of dying yet, but some are quite hurt, and yelling may further threaten their conditions, as well as anyone else we are currently treating."

A part of me still feels like yelling, but quickly shuts down, as the nurse's voice gave enough time to my rationality to regain control once again and I recognize that acting harsh and angry at this time wouldn't help me. So I nod silently, the magic in my body turning off as I feel my boots touch the ground once again, and I follow the nurse into the room where Elsie, Jacob, Reiner and the rest of the members of the Sixth Squad are currently receiving medical care.

The first thing I notice as soon as I gaze upon the room is how crowded it is. All over the interior, either sitting on benches or leaning against the walls, the members of the Sixth squad, still dressed in their combat uniforms, are waiting in silence as two doctors (who I assume are the infirmary's main healers and most experienced staff) are examining their wounds and damage, a small group of nurses providing basic care for those who are the less wounded, while the ones who were hurt the most are lying on a couple of beds, both to get better rest and to give the doctors a proper way to analyze their wounds.

"Sir!" One of them recognize me and immediately tries to stand us straight, the other mages moving to salute me.

"At ease." I quickly reply, before turning my attention to the doctors. "So, what can you tell me about their wounds. How bad is it?"

"Thankfully, not too much, all considered." One of the doctors quickly answered. "The majority of them has light concussions and bruises, some have twisted arms and ankles, a couple more will require to wear wax for at least one month due to have broken their arms. So far however, none of their wounds are life-threatening: with proper care and rest they should be fully healed in no time, and they'll be able to gradually restart basic training drills to get back into shape. The downside of course is that until then, the whole unit will be out of commission."

"A whole mage squad out of commission?" I repeat, my brain making calculations to determinate how damaging that would be for the unit's overall effectiveness and combat level. "Couldn't we... as the mages who were hurt to less fully heal assign them with the other squads, to regain their own magic power before we have enough manpower to restore the squad?"

"That's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it, sir. These soldiers may be back to health soon, but if they subject their bodies to the same stress their comrades in the other squads are exposed on a daily basis with their drills, they wounds will fail to heal properly and if they aggravate it could debilitate them for life."

"And... what about the youngest members of the squad?" I ask as I suddenly notice nor Elsie nor her friends are in sight. "Are they-"

"-the luckiest bunch of mages I have seen in my whole life." The Sixth squad's commander, who was currently being assisted by a nurse, spoke. "They were in the right middle of it, yet they didn't get even a small bruise. By the Emperor, little Elise really did show her power today!"

"They're fine?" I gasped, a surge of happiness bursting through my heart and my blood system. "But then, why I can't see them here with you?"

"We checked them first, since they were the youngest and we were all worried for their situation. Miss Elsie was exhausted, but devoid of significant body damage, while her two friends only had a couple of bruises we immediately took care of. They're waiting on the back of the infirmary, we thought that giving them some space might help."

I nodded, turning to go and check on them before stopping, my mouth giving some last order for the doctors and the men of the Six Squad.

"After you've finished your checkup, I want a report of what happened. You don't need to write it yourself, nor I need more than one copy, but I need to know exactly what happened. Add any detail you may remember, no matter how hard they are to believe."

"Good, because I'm still half-unbelieving them myself too." I heard someone say, but I don't turn around again nor I use my authority to ask what that means.

I have more important things on my mind right now.

Finally, I reach the small area outside, just behind the infirmary, and I see them. Elsie, Jacob and Reiner, my friends from back the orphanage, still dressed in their uniforms, all working together to build a snowman, using piece of woods and small pebbles for its face features. If ity wasn't for their uniforms, and the dark, gloom shade in their eyes, no one would believe they are soldiers rather than kids.

"Frederick!" They cheer at the same time as they rush toward me, embracing each other in a long hug. I won't ever admit this, not even in a court of law, but for a moment, as they arms embrace me, I notice a warm sensation inside of me, and I feel... strange. Is that, after so much time spent among backstabbing, unlimited cruelty, conflict and never-ending threat of die any second due to the pettiness of a so-called 'God', I have become unaccustomed to basic human contact?

"Guys, are you... ok?"

"We are, kind off." Jacob smirks. "The good thing is, this is going to be one of the craziest adventures we ever had!"

"True!" Reiner couldn't agree fast enough. "When we're going to tell the other guys in the orphanage, they won't believe us for days!"

"So... can you tell me what the hell happened?" I ask, turning their attention toward me once again. "So far I only heard something happened and many of your squad got hurt, but I didn't ask them immediately because I wanted to know you were okay."

"We were patrolling the forest area," Elsie began to narrate. "the squad commander said we were on the lookout for possible irregular fighters of the Federation or other things that could threaten the civilians. All was in the norm, we were flying in formation, when suddenly we started to locate a magical surge not too distant from our planned flight path. The commander told us to move closer as to try and identity the source, when suddenly... we saw them?"

"Them?"

"There was someone, she had some kind of cowl made with leaves and other stuff that made her almost impossible to see." Jacob continued. "If we didn't had out magic-attuned equipment, I guess we could've passed close by and never noticed their presence in the first place."

"Was she spying on you, following you? Or perhaps a your meeting was accidental?"

"We don't know, some mages in our units issued orders to stand down and identity... so they bolted."

"Bolted?"

"That's a way to say they tried to run away." Reiner rolled his eyes. "Of course we couldn't let her escape, so we chased her. She was fast, but not too much, and we had numerical superiority, so in the end, it wasn't too difficult to corner her and force her toward the ground. Though in hindsight, that was the first mistake we did."

"Mistake?"

"When she realized she couldn't escape and evade us anymore, she decided to stand her ground and fight. And... as you have witnessed it was quite the fight."

I shivered, thinking back to what Tanya and I had been discussing just earlier. An unknown mage and spellcaster, living in their own around the city, self-teaching themselves about the power of magic and how to channel it, building their own equipment and magical items using techniques from the Middle Ages, yet being able to stay undetected for so long and to fight off Federation troops like they were mere flies? Yeah, whoever they were, they were bound to have at least some basic instruction on how to use magic for offensive purposes.

"One single mage with no military training at all, against a whole squad of battle-hardened Imperial mages, all of them veterans of numerous battle and belonging to one of the best elite units of the Empire?" I spoke with mock irritation, to keep up the appearances. "Seems like the end of conflict made you too comfy: should I ask commander Degurechaff to set new training standards?"

"No, Frederick, please!" Jacob gasped, the shock in his voice making him forget that, whenever he talked with someone of rank superior to his own (let alone the commander of the mage battalion he was currently part of), he was supposed to say 'sir'. "We would never survive such harshness! From what Tragen told us, the trainings Tanya usually comes up with are so harsh they can break your spirit!"

"Besides," Elsie intervened, with a pleading look in her face. "we were many, and we had a lot of experience, but that mage, whoever they were, knew how to fight dirty: they had a lot of tricks, and were able to move among our ranks to avoid us to use long-range spells on her."

THAT caught my attention, as I felt myself smiling internally: to remove the distance between you and your enemy was one of the first tricks Tanya and I had learned by battle experience, during the outing on Norden that kickstarted our military career. It was a risky move, but it allowed you to use the enemy's own troops as shields and to turn the fight from a contest between magical powers into a slug fight with hands and close-combat weapons, that mages before us weren't usually trained to do. It had saved our skin during the Entente's attack on Norden, and on countless other occasions on the Rhine front, and to now see someone else perform it, even against our troops, it felt like we had been good teachers.

As people used to say back in our old lives, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

"But... there is also something else that I think is worth reporting on." Reiner spoke once again.

"Oh? Do tell."

"While the mage did fight dirty... they only did after we cut all their chances to simply keep running away, and even as she fought, she never tried to seriously hurt anyone of us."

"Reiner, seriously?" Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Did you forget how many of our friends got hurt?"

"But that's the point!" Reiner spoke back. "They had many chances where they could have attacked much worse than they did, they passed up so many opportunities to kill members of our squad, they still acted on restraint even when they had no logical reason to do so. Why should they have... unless they weren't actually planning to hurt us in the first place?"

"Y-you mean-"

"Reiner, do you... have an idea?" Elsie asked. "Don't fear. Just tell it. No matter how strange, or illogical, or even ridiculous it may sound, we promise we'll listen to it."

"I think... they are not hostile, toward us or the Empire. We ended up stumbling on them, and their logic action, of course, was to try and run away; when our allies stopped them from leaving, they turned and attacked us, yet using restrain and trying only to inflict the minimum of damage necessary to break trough and escape. All considered, they ended up succeeding: after the battle, we were too busy focusing on our comrades to try and follow them."

"That's quite insightful." I replied, thinking about it. "To be honest, both Tanya and I were discussing this earlier and we had come to the same conclusion. This unknown mage, from what we could pierce up together by local's tales, doesn't seem to be too keen into assisting the fallen Federation. Rather, they seem like they were quite against it."

"They're enemies of the Federation?" Elsie gasped. "But how-"

"Remember the little girl we found in the woods some time ago? The one who's now living in the city's new brand orphanage?" I stopped for a dramatic pause, letting the three of them nod before continuing. "Seems like she was in custody of the Federation, but the soldiers tasked with guarding her were attacked by some unknown assailant. An assailant who was apparently well-versed in magic, and who knows enough offensive spells to turn the Federation's goons into mincemeat. I guess this means they could have done the same with you, if they had any reason to."

A took a breath, as I saw my three friends shiver, as horror dawned upon them. Yup, that's exactly the expression I was hoping they would get.

"Frederick," Elsie took a step forward." I guess this is on me. We know that acting without warrant-"

"Don't apologize for situation for which you had no actual control over, Elsie." I replied, cutting her apology short. "We are military, soldiers of the Empire, every soldier knows that no plan nor strategy ever survive direct contact with the enemy. Besides, even a failure can be instructive, and I think that today we have learned many things."

"Like what for example?"

"Well, first, we've confirmed that the rumors about an unregistered magic user hiding in the forest surrounding the city were actually true, since you have seen them and experienced their magic as well. Second, we must know that, even if they don't show ill intention toward us or the Empire directly, we must be wary on our way to approach them, because they may fear us, the same way as the locals do toward them. And after this little... incident, they will be even less confident about trusting us, maybe even expecting for us to start a manhunt on them."

"We're so-"

"I already told you, this is not your fault!" I repeated, my voice raising as I felt myself in need of roll my eyes. "Anyway, here are my orders for you and the rest of the squad: focus on healing your wounds, those who were hurt bad, while try to maintain a minimum of exercise to not let you combat efficiency fall too low. As soon as there will be enough manpower to reform the squad, you will be moved on patrol around the city borders, that is, until I or commander Degurechaff say otherwise. No more forest patrol for you, at least for now."

"Wait, what? But Federick-"

"The last thing I want, as of this moment, is yet another 'incident' that could led our mysterious forest mage to make the wrong assumptions, so we're going to stay away from the forest, at least for now. Share my orders with your comrades, as well as any other mages who may ask you: we need to gain the trust of this unknown mage, not to hunt them just because we're afraid of them! They're expecting us to come looking for them now, so we'll do the very opposite thing instead!"

"B-but then, how do you expect to establish a contact, Frederick-I mean, sir!" Spoke Jacob, finally remembering to address my rank.

"I have an idea. The thing is, I'll have to ask Commander Degurechaff about it first... "


(... )


"You want us to do what?!" Tanya yelled, looking at me with big wide eyes.

"As I have already said," I repeated. "we need to issue a proclamation, stamp in on posters and spread it all over the town. We need to tell this mage, whoever they may be, that they are not going to hunt them like we can assume the Federation did, and if they come forward and tell us their side of the story, we won't have any issue with them."

"I remind you the Empire's still a guest on this land, the New Russy government and the Czarina are the authorities we are bound to. And if news comes around that an unregistered mage active on the region had a clash with our troops, that may spell trouble, since we will probably be asked to take them in custody!"

"This is why we need to act BEFORE they can issue us orders we won't be able to refuse. Before our superiors get word of the situation here, we need to put a 'fait accompli' and gain the trust of this unknown mage. As Strategic Headquarters often taught us, an officer who can take initiative won't be punished as long as he brings results and don't diverge from their directives, and as I see it, to take action now may mean remove many potential discord cause that may threaten us in the close future."

"And tell me, how do you expect us to do that?"

"Well, to start, we'll require paper and a lot of ink... "
​

 

[marids]

"The majority of them has light concussions and bruises, some have twisted arms and ankles, a couple more will require to wear wax for at least one month due to have broken their arms.

Click to shrink...

Wax for broken arms? Like a cast made from plaster? Huh. I didn't know such a thing existed. Interesting.

I wonder what kind of traditional magic could be learned from these natives. It seems much more practical than that time when Frederick cast magic with an utensil.

 

[Trunko]

Wax for broken arms? Like a cast made from plaster? Huh. I didn't know such a thing existed. Interesting.

I wonder what kind of traditional magic could be learned from these natives. It seems much more practical than that time when Frederick cast magic with an utensil.

Click to shrink...

Middle Age-level magic lack the requisites to be mass-produced and is much harder to achieve, but is also much more versatile. This is why, while it can't be used on large numbers, one powerful and skilled mage with such items...

 

[shobi]

I want to commend the generals part in the last chapters. I have to say this: Typical Murphy Taunt in this story and in general. His "perfect plan" has a nearly 100% chance of backfiring so hard, the results will be baffling in hindsight for everyone. He will probably become glutted in the later known as "Unification Wars" and the last standing world power will be an empire which will rule basically all of the western world, africa and large parts of asia. Basically THE Hyperpower with little chance of collapse in forseeable future.

Cue 200 years of peace to "slim" him down a "bit" only for Ceres to explode and some strange Tuning Fork emerging from the rubble, lolZ.

And I give everyone a hint who sits in range of the trouble and probably facing a ridicolous situation right this minute and uncomfortably near in space. It's a par of highly decorated mages... and they argue... like a LOT! Still somehow cute for any outside observer who happens to be without access to their thought processes though

 

[Trunko]

​

Chapter 247 – Political Talks & Facts​

In the main town square, an important event was about to take place. On a small wooden podium, built in a short time and decorated with a few banners and flags depicting the symbols of the Empire and the new Czarina, Tanya and I were waiting, surrounded by a small group of our officers and a representative of the city government, a small group of imperial mages arranged in formation around us. The event, already actively promoted and publicized since the previous evening, had already attracted a decent crowd of residents, many residents in the city proper, some visitors from other urban centers or from small homes and farms in the surrounding region, but only now, as the moment approached, was the crowd beginning to swell and increase in number.

With any luck, our mysterious mage who lived in the woods around the town and who had managed, with great skill and initiative, to fend off an entire squad of veteran Imperial mages would be present, albeit incognito, and would listen to our words.

"It seems like your council did its work." I nodded as I watched the crowd surrounding us keeping growing in numbers. "Is that all of the city inhabitants?"

"Unfortunately not, commander König." The poor men replied, shaking his head. "We did as you and commander Degurechaff ordered and spread news as far as possible that all people living in our city and the region had to come and listen to your new announcement for the civilian population. Yet, we couldn't force our old men and women to come, like we couldn't force those who were sick and in need of healing to leave the comfort and security of their warm homes. That said, as long as one person from each household has comes, whatever you will say will be surely be known by everyone else."

"Good. Tanya," I turned my head toward the little psycho blonde loli. "did your men do as we've agreed upon earlier?"

"Rest assured, Frederick." She replied, her voice sounding like a snake's hiss. "MY men are always reliable. I sent a couple of squads over the forest to 'accidentally' loose info and posters about our upcoming new city regulations and the new dispositions for the civilian population in the area. If our so-called mage isn't blind, deaf and analphabet, then they'll know." She stopped for a moment to take a breath, before adding. "What they'll decide to do with the information we passed onto them, of course, depends on them."

Yeah, that was a point I had to agree on her. Even if we did everything to make sure they knew, we had to guarantee our mysterious mage would be present today to hear my words. Thankfully, that was plan A, and we had countless contingencies in place that we could use as plan B and so forth.

"Well, looks like a lot of people have arrived already. To make them wait any longer would be cruel. Shall we?"

The city's representant nodded as we all three walked in full view, the crowd noticing us in seconds as the chat started to become louder.

"Brothers and sisters, please, hear my voice." Our esteemed council's ambassador spoke through a loudspeaker, the chatter dying down as everyone focused on listening. "Our beloved friends of the Imperial Army, commander Frederick König and commander Tanya Degurechaff, commanders of the 205th​ and 203rd​ Rapid-Response Battalions of the Mage Aviation of the Imperial Army, who have helped our beloved city countless time by protecting our borders and eradicating the threats toward our children, will now speak."

"My friends," I took a step forward, my eyes scanning the crowd and searching for any expression that may signal our mysterious magic user. "I have come here today to send a message not by me or by the Imperial Army, but rather as a magic user. In the little time we and our mages have spent in your lovely city, we have learned so much about your people, we helped you as much as we could, and we've built unbreakable bonds that we hope will last forever as symbols of the newfound peace among the Empire and Russy. However, the message we're here to give you today is not a message for the city as a whole, but rather, for one soul among you, who long before the war even started, during the dark and grim tyranny of the Federation, had protected and watched over you using their own magical power."

A murmur ran among the crowd, and I suppressed a small smile from my lips as I struggled to keep my 'please listen to me, I'm your friend' façade.

"You may have heard rumors about, but recently, one of our squads, while on patrol above the forest surrounding your city, ended up 'intercepting' an unknown mage that, according to rumors who had been spread all over the city and who some of you have shared with us, had been active against the Federation for years. Both they and us weren't expecting to meet each other, and they ended up fighting because they knew no better. We, as members of the Imperial Army, do not blame you for what has happened, nor do we blame the mage who's been living among you for all these years. We are not enemies, the Federation was, but we fought the Federation and vanquished its army, bringing a new dawn of justice and prosperity onto you and allowing the rightful heir of this kingdom to retake the throne of her ancestors."

I stopped for a dramatic pause, and I could see the emotions on the crowd's faces, especially on those in the first row. The new Czarina was greatly loved among her nation, seen as a harbinger of good times that could once again benefit her subjects, and even without referencing her directly, just imply her was a good way to gain some positive points from the city's inhabitants.

"We came here today, to address you, people of Russy, as well as the magical individual of the region. We know about what you have done to protect this city, to fight the oppression of the Federation while struggling to hide your identity. We don't have ill intentions toward you, nor toward any of the people living here. We know that you may fear us, and for legitimate reasons: we know, and that's why we want you to know, that all we want to do is talk."

A rush of curiosity ran through the crowd. If the so-called mage was hiding among them, he was hearing my words, so I decided to press the issue further.

"All we want to do, is for you to show yourself, so we can talk and prove our goodwill. Even if you're not trusting us, and you're not comfortable with showing off your face, at least allow us some way of contacting you. Thus-"

Voices shouting, and something happening among the crowd caught my attention, as I saw Tanya give a silent signal to some of her mages to investigate, while I used my own magic to raise myself from the podium and check out what was happening.

As I approached, I notice a large burly man kneeling on the floor, his face grimacing in pain, while on the opposite side, a smaller man with glasses had been restrained by other people, all of them glaring upon him like they were dying to rip him apart.

"What's happening here?!" I yelled, and as soon as spoke, everyone's focus was on me.

"Commander König!" One of the people in the crowd yelled, as I descended from above. "This man is Chovokiv, he's one of the Federation goons! Back during Federation rule, he bribed the local Commissar to be officially appointed to distribute the food among us, and he used that position to blackmail many of us!"

"That's not true, that's not true!" The glassed sod replied, yet struggling to get free with a sense of urgency that surely didn't fit an innocent. "I have never been in this place before!"

"He's lying, I recognized him!" The burly man replied, the anger in his voice clearly telling that, if I wans't here at that moment, he would have loved to beat the guy to death with his fists. "Back then, my family was starving and he actively withheld our food ration because he said I wasn't a true communist. When my daughter try to plead to him, he tried to force her to service him in exchange of his leniency!"

Okay, if that's false, this guys surely deserves a couple of days in jail, but if it is true... I looked upon the restrained man. If this is true, I'll make sure you won't be able to generate further generations for the rest of your life.

That said, I was an officer of the Imperial Army. And I had to remain impartial.

"We'll verify both claims and ascertain the truth. But by the book, not with a lynch mob. You two!" I snapped my fingers, as the two mages Tanya had sent rushed to my side.

"What are your orders, sir?"

"Take these two to the barracks, have both of them questioned and record their statements, down to the tiniest details they can remember. Have officer Viktoriya read them and start an investigation. You can ask anyone in town, but you must place objective proof foremost."

"And meanwhile, what should we do with them?"

"Keep them in custody, but treat them with respect, both of them, at least until we are sure which story is the most credible. Especially him." I pointed at the so-called traitor. "If it turns out the accusation is true, and that he is an actual collaborator for the Federation... we'll release him to the custody of local authorities, so he can be submitted to a regular process."

"A process? In a city filled with people who have unsatisfied grudges with the Federation and their mooks, and who are thirsting for revenge?!" One of the mages gasped. "We would be basically hand him over to be lynched! It would be more merciful to give him a gun with just one bullet, an empty room and tell him to do it quickly!"

"I know... " I replied before letting my own magic raise me from the ground once again, flying back with Tanya as I prepared myself to report the situation...

---

"So, how's Viktoriya handling the interrogation?"

"She's still busy cross-checking both versions. The man who accused gave us quite a long list of corruption and blatant exploitation the other man would have committed during the Federation's control. His family confirms, but so far most of the other people who he referenced either died during the conflict or escaped and are still missing. Quite convenient for him, don't you agree?"

"Have you tried to pass information to our other outposts in the region, to try and see if they can round up one or more people of the list? I know the chances are quite slim, but-"

"I don't know if Strategic Headquarters would approve on us using a communication channel reserved for officers of the Imperial Army to solve an issue among civilians." Tanya snickered, promptly shutting me up. "And besides, even if we could do that, we aren't sure those people would believe us. The people of Russy love their new Czarina, but surely they still treat with suspicion foreign armies on their ground. And according to the reports I have seen, there had been a couple of regions where our forces had to be redeployed earlier than we excepted, and entrust the former Russy Liberation Army with peacekeeping and securing the region."

"Did they already forgot that we were the ones that came to free them from the oppression of the Federation? All the bloods we had spilled, it was for nothing?"

"That's how the whole world works, it's the same lesson we've got ever since we had been reborn: no free lunches, no full trust, always be prepared for someone to stab you in the back."

I grumbled, looking outside the window one more time. "And what about... the other one? The guy who liked to play Scarpia?"

"He admitted he had been working for the Federation, but he says he wasn't doing it for his own decision but rather because, surprise surprise, he has been forced by the Federation to do their own dirty work. He says he's such a weak and pitiful soul that would never hurt a fly if he hadn't had a gun pointed to his head all the time, that he is sincerely regretful about having worked for the Federation, that he had no idea such massacres were done, and that he only wish to be releases so he can go back and meet again with his poor old mother."

"And what about the accusation that he basically blackmailed women into doing 'favors' with him?"

"He denies everything, of course. He said he had solicitations with a couple of women of the town, but he claims the true story is the opposite of what we've been told: he was the one using his position to secretly give them better food and more provisions, and those women were simply so grateful for that they willingly shared their bed with him. He also says that those women would of course accuse him of perpetrating such actions due to pressure from their families or because they're afraid of the reactions from their families."

"Well, if all their fathers or bigger brothers are like that one," I stopped for a second, thinking back at the burly man currently detained by us. "he may actually have a point. I suppose it won't be easy to find out the truth, right?"

"I trust Viktoriya's skills, plus we have a couple of spells that we could use, either to force them to be more honest or to get more actual proof. That said, we can still skip the whole thing and simply have the sod hanged to burn off some steam of the town's inhabitants."

"I am quite sure Strategic Headquarters would frown, if they were to find out we basically handed a man to be hanged without definite proof he was actually guilty as claimed. And with our current effort to identify the mysterious mage, we can't afford to use such tricks and destroy any trust we could possibly take advantage of. We'll have to do this by the book, and not let our own prejudices decide."

"That said, it is quite a coincidence such incident happened during the proclamation. Do you think perhaps our mysterious unknown mage may be behind it?"

"You mean, by having the so-called collaborator shoved into the crowd and have one of his possible victims recognize him just so they could evaluate our own reaction to the event? That's surely a possibility, though not one I would lean toward at this moment. That said-"

My words stopped, my eyes widened in horror and a loud yell of fear and disgust escaped my lips as, just as I was gazing out of the window, something slammed against it, and blood splashed against the glass. One, two seconds, as I jerked back in shock while Tanya rushed forward, magic surging from both our bodies, our brins wearing off the shock as we finally started to see what that thing was.

The head was obliviously from a wolf, the eyes and a couple other details clearly having been removed by something sharp, maybe a knife, and two other furry items, that only after a more detailed analysis turned out to be bears' tails, were tied to both its ears. Some kind of box was just under it, covered with patches and uniform pieces taken from Federation soldiers (and I could recognize even a couple of badges from the Federation's own mage battalions too!) with some strange drawing placed upon them. And on the very center of it, visible to both of us-

"Is that... a written note?"

"Seems like we got a response after all, even if not the one we were expecting." Tanya nodded, moving toward another window and opening it as she flew outside, removing the strange item and bringing it inside. "No one in sight… Whoever it was, they probably used some hiding spell or had some other means to avoid being detected, I would put the whole area under control, but... I guess that's time wasted."

"The fact they used such way to deliver a message has a strong symbolic meaning." I nodded, as I glared upon the dead wolf's head. "I guess the unsaid part is that they're strong enough to protect themselves if needed."

"And that's not all," Tanya nodded as her eye began to inspect the message. "look at this!"

Silently, I moved toward her, taking the paper out of her hands as I began to read it, the words playing in my head almost as someone was telling them aloud:

To Frederick König and Tanya Degurechaff, commanders of the Imperial Troops.

I have heard your words, and this is my answer. As forthright you sound, I don't trust you. You are not the first foreign officers to set foot in our land, and you surely won't be the last. And while your soldiers may have attacked me out of surprise, I won't doubt that, if I had lost, you would have had them carry me to you in chains. Therefore, before I consider meeting you and show myself, I request one action of proof of your goodwill.

Further to the east, a corrupt officer of the Admiral's soldiers is using fake accusations of collaboration with the Federation to install his own fiefdom and reign of terror on the inhabitants of Pulansky, a small village ten miles from here.

Drive him away and I'll consider your offer.
​

 

[marids]

Well, that's quite the interesting way of making a reply. At least the message itself is reasonable.

But wow, corruption occurring this early after the revolution already? That seems depressingly realistic considering which country it is. Depending on how things go, Frederick may have to choose between diplomatic or pragmatic choices due to political reasons.

The best/worst part is, I'm not even sure if General War was responsible for this.

 

[Trunko]

Well, that's quite the interesting way of making a reply. At least the message itself is reasonable.

But wow, corruption occurring this early after the revolution already? That seems depressingly realistic considering which country it is. Depending on how things go, Frederick may have to choose between diplomatic or pragmatic choices due to political reasons.

The best/worst part is, I'm not even sure if General War was responsible for this.

Click to shrink...

Does omnipotent evil entities need to be involved for some humans to fall onto greed and revenge?

 

[Trunko]

​

Chapter 248 – Russyan Trials​

"So... this is Pulansky, sir?"

"Unless the locals have lied to us, and we ended up in some other place, I guess we should assume so." I replied, my left hand moving over my mouth to cover myself from the stink smell coming from the small town/village, Tanya and several other mages imitating me.

This place is filthy, you can basically sense this no matter where you look. Many buildings are damaged and crumbling, the road is little more than an expanse of dust that would turn into a quagmire at the first rain. Signs of the war are still visible here and there, for those who know how to recognize them: some craters left by bombs, and which the local population tried to fill in as best they could; the remains of the Federation occupation destroyed and abandoned in a corner; and so much more.

But it is the expressions on people's faces, their eyes, that give us the clearest clue as to what happened here.

As we descend from the sky and enter the town, many of the locals, noticing us, quickly turn away (as far as their legs will allow them, of course) looking at us with fear-filled glances, very different from the faces full of joy and hope that cheered us on in Volgaria first, and in many other villages and small towns later.

The Federation fell, but for the locals this did not bring joy and liberation. In fact, it almost seems as if things have become even worse here than before.

"By the Emperor, is this what that mage had issued us to come and see??" Tragen gasps, just behind me. "At first I thought they were messing with us, but now... "

"Viktoriya." Tanya yells, the Russy-originated girl nodding as soon as she heard her name being called. "Do you think you could try to... find out more about the situation? You speak their tongue very well, plus you look less scary than all of us. Maybe if you ask, they'll be more eager to tell you what's going on here."

"I-I think I can, sir!" The female mage nods, detaching from the group as she stops flying, her boots hitting the ground as she marches toward a small building, several children dressed in ragged up clothes (other orphans, maybe? Or were they just gathered together?) scared at first and attempting to flee, only to stop as she starts using Russy words with them.

As tempting as it would be, I won't eavesdrop on their conversation. My own Russy might be good enough to understand what they might say, but she'll still report once she's finished, so I don't see the need to make sure of what they're saying. At the same time, I let my own magic raise myself up for a couple additional meters, tall enough to get a better view on the city.

Seems like when I called this place filthy, I was being an optimist.


(... )


"It is true, sir." Viktoriya spoke, telling us everything she had been able to learn from the locals, her voice broken with grief and shock. "Everything the wood mage had been telling us... is true. This village... after the Federation collapsed, it was occupied by a small detachment of the Russy Liberation Army, led by a men called Volkovov. They'd been treating the whole village as their own personal feud, disgracing themselves and the name of Russy with their actions: the fake accusation of being Federation's collaborationist were just the tip of the iceberg. Seems like they took over the former house of the governor, turning it into their own pleasure palace, hoarding the city provisions and anything the Imperial command and the new government had assigned to the city for their own needs! And they're spending their days and nights carousing while the people outside are starving, all while blemishing the name of our newest Czarina to the people's eyes!"

"So, long story short, they're all busy gorging themselves with food and any pleasure they can get their filthy hands off, while leaving the village to rot and wither." Tanya scoffed, yet I could see she too was irritated by the situation. "The only thing missing is them forcing the reinstitution of ius prime noctis!"

"This is bad, very bad." I replied, thinking aloud. "Not only such behavior is inexcusable, both toward the population and the new Russy government, but this is exactly the kind of situation the Strategic HQ had struggled to avoid, in order to avoid the counterpropaganda of whatever kind of pro-Federation resistance may exist in the Russy territories! How's that no one had been the wiser until now?"

"Russy's quite big." Viktoriya murmured, cold words departing from her mouth in an automated, emotionless tone. "And most people living in villages never get a chance to leave them. For them, the world ends at the border of their towns, and anything that may come from the outside may as well be an alien coming from Mars or Venus. I bet those guys were playing safe that no one had the means and authority to go and report on them to the people with enough power to do something; I wouldn't be surprised if they got one or more officers they bribed to help keep this thing hidden from our commands. The worst thing is, if we hadn't been told to come here and check the situation ourselves, we wouldn't have known either."

"I guess it is time to set this wrong right, I guess." I nodded, turning to face Tanya. As her eyes cross mine and we can see each other's expression, I know that, for once, we are in agreement on what to do. "Tanya, how many soldiers-"

"Around a hundred." she replied before I could finish my sentence. "Yet, from what we've been able to see, most of them are on the level as conscripts, either they never saw real combat before or they were enrolled recently, that is, after the battle of Moskva. Even if it just us, it won't take long to disarm them."

"Then, let's do it!" I turned to Tragen and Viktoriya. "Tragen, you take half of our mages and move on to disarm the troops currently presiding the town, have them questioned if they were willing accomplices on this whole abomination of corruption, if they were simply pressed into not reporting it. Those who are guilty of the former, strip them of their rank and uniform and make sure they're continued into some suitable place we can use as a temporary prison!"

"Yes sir!" Tragen's fist slammed against his chest.

"Viktoriya, you take the rest of the mages." Tanya nodded. "Find the closest resemblance this city has to a council, if there is one; if not, just find the best standing or respected inhabitants and have them gathered to the city center. Be careful to mention this is not against them, but rather for them: after what these people have endured, we must be careful not to cause further damage to what trust is left toward the Empire and the Czarina."

"U-understood sir! If I am allowed to speak, I may have some ideas on how to fix some of the damage caused: do I have your permission to take initiative, I'll start immediately."

"Permission granted, Serebryakov, but I want results!"

"You will have them, sir! Only, if I am afforded to ask, what will you and commander Konig do?"

"Don't worry about us, officer." I replied with the friendliest smirk I could muster. "I think commander Degurechaff and I already have a good idea of what we should do, while you take care of your ordeals."

Viktoriya seemed to hesitate for a minute, yet her long years of service under Tanya had taught her not to question her commanding officer's decisions. She saluted before flying away with the rest of the mages, leaving Tanya and I alone.

Just as we hoped.

"So, the town hall, right?"

"A bunch of fat pigs, stuffing themselves with food while the poor people they're supposed to provide leadership for suffer in hunger so they can go for seconds? You have no idea how much time I hated being on the wrong end of that, back when we were at the orphanage! And now that we get to see the whole thing from an external point of view, I don't think I can stay idle and do nothing."

"So, this is why you sent Viktoriya and all of your squad mage on that mission, huh?" I smiled smugly at her. "You weren't giving her permission just to solve the issues those idiots have caused, you also wanted them out of the way so they couldn't see you and what you are going to do now."

"Yeah, just like you did with that musclehead of yours." She replied. "So, are you ready to do this?"

"Tanya, my dear, I feel like you're inviting me to a wedding. A chance to be violent and cruel and still be seen as heroes? You know I would never pass such an occasion... "

---

The entrance to the town hall, now the 'pleasure palace' where Volkovov and his clique spent all their time carousing and exploiting the local population, had clearly seen better days. Even if the main structure of the building was still solid and the walls were still standing, the entrance was dirty and filled with litter, visible stains were on all over the walls and, from the inside, we could hear the boisterous laughter of the occupants, too busy enjoying themselves and accounting only for their own pleasure to realize that they were about to have visitors.

"Halt!" A guard in uniform that was clearly too large, slinging a light machine gun and wearing a collar that almost hid his eyes, rose from his chair and came toward us, trying to look intimidating. "You can't come in! Raise your hands and identify yourselves!"

"Don't be an idiot!" Tanya promptly replied, swearing at us so that the guard could clearly see her uniform and the ranks marked on it, as well as the medals pinned to her chest. "I am Commander Tanya Degurechaff, Imperial Army Mage Aviation Corps, and this is my colleague and peer Frederick Konig!"

"Listen, baby doll, even if you were the Czarina herself-"

The man let out a high-pitched scream when Tanya, with a swift movement of her boot, struck him squarely between the legs, causing him to fall to the ground paralyzed with pain as I immediately took hold of his machine gun, removing its essential components.

"You know, it's much better to witness your anger when I'm not the victim of it."

"I didn't like the way he called me at all, and he clearly refused to obey an officer's order. He's lucky if I don't have him court-martialed."

We proceeded, walking inside as we left the guard to his 'pain', and quickly we reached the main room where a large table had been set, with large plates of well-cooked dishes and alcohol of varying strengths arranged on top and, seated around the table, the Volkovov pack intent on eating and drinking and laughing loudly, the screwy voices and sudden bursts of laughter a clear indication that many around that table had been drinking far more than was healthy.

Tanya and I remained silent for a few seconds as we witnessed that pitiful scene, then suddenly her hand ran to her side, drawing her gun and pointing it up before pulling the trigger, the sound of the explosion rattling the plates and glasses and causing an immediate silence throughout the room. From the head of the table rose Volkovov's voice, slurred from the many libations, his eyes bloodshot:

"Who are you to come and ruin our time?! I don't remember asking for children!"

"We are not." I hissed back, as I let magic flown trough my body once again, raising me upward as I felt my boots detaching from the ground, the effect more than enough to make several people sitting around that table to stammer. "We are Frederick Konig and Tanya Degurechaff, commanders of the 203rd​ and 205th​ Rapid-Response Battalions of the Imperial Mage Aviation, also know, among the enemies of the Empire, as the Devil and the Dragon."

Volkovov, from where he was sitting, soot up, his eyes focusing on us as he tried to see trough his hangover.

"Oh yeah, now I do recognize you. Well well, welcome into my village esteemed-"

"This is not your village!" Tanya replied, slamming her fist on the table. "And this is not a visit of courtesy. We came here to investigate the rumors about corrupt members of the Russy Liberation Army abusing their rank and authorities to exploit and harass the population, and from what we've both witnessed since we've arrived here, those rumors are nothing but the truth! You've exploited your so-called authority, ruined the name of the Russy Liberation Army and the Czarina's with your actions, utterly defamed the Empire and his friend, hoarding provisions and equipment that was supposed to assist into the pacification and development of the region!"

"Translation for those of you who can't understand my companion's words, you're guilty of embezzlement, abuse of authority, defiling your orders, crimes against the civilian population and treason against the Czarina." I smiled smugly, savoring the utter shock and terrors that began to appear on everyone's faces. "That said, I am willing to give you a choice: stand down and confess, and I'll make you sure you get better sentences!"

"You-you can't order me like that!" Volkovov shouted. "I am a noble, my grand-grandfather was the Baron of Keinpek! After my family lost his feud after the Revolution, I am entitled to get back-"

"If your family managed their subject the same way you did with the people of this village, it's no wonder the people decided to put you down. And even if the Federation was our enemy, that doesn't make us friends of everything they stood against. To act like a stereotypical noble, lording yourself with riches at the expense of the people you are supposed to lead! To completely disregard what the Imperial Command and the Czarina agreed, to do whatever the heck you chose for! You're not a noble, you're not a soldier, you're only a pig!" I yelled, as my gaze fell upon all the other commensals. "And you all, for participating in such actions, are accomplices!"

"You bloody Imperial!" Volkovov yelled once again. "You dare come here and tell us how we should act! And now you threaten us? And how much do you what to keep your mouth shut?"

"You think we're here to get money of you?" Tanya scoffed, her voice now filled with disgust. "It's over! Your crimes had been exposed, and now the people of this town will see a proper government watching over them!"

"You idiots! They are two kids, and we are at least twenty! Kill them and let's go back to our meal!" One of them, who apparently had been even dumber than the rest, took out some kind of gun and began to shoot at us, his bullets failing epically to even make a dent at our magical shields. "What the-?"

"Hello, mages." I waved my hand, as I reminded them of the obvious. "WE are all equipped, all the time, with a self-activating mage shield that allow us to withstand shots from guns, rifles and light gatlings. And you think that crappy old pistol may be able to dent, let alone pierce it?"

"On the upside." Tanya's smile was now growing even more wild and evil. "you just attempted to attack and murder an officer of the Imperial Army. That is a severely grave offense that, no matter how well-connected you may be, can't be underplayed. Hey Fred, what is the punishment for a soldier of the Imperial Army that tries to attack and hurt a superior officer?"

"Life imprisonment, that is, if the judge is a very rare and kind one, if the would-be victim does not makes charges and if the Army has strong interest into keeping the whole thing under the lid. However, none of those situation applies for him in this current situation; plus, from what I know, the Imperial Army is even harsher toward people who are not part of their ranks, no matter if they are soldiers of other nations who're supposed to be our allies. And that's without discounting how the Czarina may act, as soon as our report reaches her ears."

"Commanders!" A voice shouted as behind us, Tragen and Viktoriya walked on sight, both showing off huge grins that could clearly foretell us their own mission had been a success. "The whole town is under our control! All the men who refused to surrender had been disarmed and locked up, and the population is on our side!"

"And we can see you had your hand busy as well." Viktoriya sneered, looking over Volkovov and his clique like they were the most disgusting scum one could possibly imagine. "So, these are the ones who defamed our glorious restoration so much? These bunch of pigs?"

"Now now, young miss-"

"Hands off!" Tragen yelled in turn, looking at the officer who had tried to approach his girlfriend like he wanted to kill him with his bare fists. "Unless you want to see what an Imperial Mage's magic look from the ones we smite, I suggest you to stand down and don't try to do anything!"

"Sir, the town hall is surrounded!" Viktoriya looked at Tanya. "Shall we have them arrested and sent them away?"

"No." Tanya replied, an evil idea blossoming in her mind, as I watched in silence. "These men are no threat to us, and we did promise to show mercy, did we?"

I nodded, floating up over the table and leaving my own pistol on it, Volkovov's eyes widening as he realized the meaning of my words.

"Perhaps you'd like to avoid the red tape?"​