Abyssus Abyssum Invocat

by Carlo Zen

  I can’t imagine the Federation Army is much more blessed on this point than the Imperial Army. Ultimately, it’s only two brigades of infantry. If it’s a night attack with no artillery or aerial support, we can take care of it.

  She declares it out of not arrogance or exaggeration but experience on the Rhine.

  “So the enemy’s first attack can’t last very long. We’ll watch for them to start running out of breath and then send in the armored unit.”

  We may be treating the symptoms, but our plan is perfect.

  It’s the standard method of defense that has been established in the east. If you hole up at one point, you can only defend that point, but if you can’t build a series of defense lines, all you can do is protect yourself.

  “We’ll break down their attack by launching into the holes where they can’t take much more. It’s simple. The important thing with these defensive lines is for us to not crumble first. Keep a tight hold on the reins so the newbies defend their positions.”

  We have to accept that we’re being surrounded.

  Then all we have to do to complete our positional defense is make it through the enemy’s first attack and succeed in countering.

  “Therefore, Captain Ahrens, your unit is the only one that is all reserves. We don’t even need defense support. Until further orders, stay inside the line and save your punch for later.”

  Stop them, hold out, drive them back.

  We’re merely repeating the classic siege battle pattern used across all places and time periods. Tactics are regressing to an awfully primitive level in the east.

  It’s a terrible shame to Tanya that they can’t put the creativity of civilization and intelligence on display. But she doesn’t have leeway to be picky on this muddy battlefield. There’s no need to fight with stones like in World War IV. We should be happy we get to do battle with firearms.

  “Any questions?”

  “Excuse me, Colonel. For the counterattack, wouldn’t Major Weiss’s 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion have more impact?”

  “And by that you mean?”

  Lieutenant Tospan follows his disgrace with a suggestion. He must be awfully sure about it. Captain Ahrens confidently gives his own opinion without hesitating.

  “Please give the armored unit defense support orders as well. Our unit is here to work with the infantry. Please let us help defend.”

  “No. The armored unit is best saved for a decisive juncture.”

  Tanya’s logic for flatly refusing is the idea of concentrated armored forces.

  Essentially, it won’t do to split up their impact. The classic theory for employing armored forces is that they should be saved for a single decisive strike.

  “Hold on. The theory of concentrated armored forces assumes that the defensive lines are in good condition. Without the armored unit, won’t the lines suffer too many casualties?”

  That’s certainly an ironic twist.

  I’m using the logic that the commander of an armored unit would use, and Captain Ahrens uses the kind of logic that someone who is the commander of not-armored forces like Tanya would use…

  “The lessons we’ve learned in the east urge us to use armored units as supporting defense. Surely you know that, Colonel.”

  As Ahrens asserts, in the east, defending lines without armored forces carries too high a price. The lines frequently collapse before the counterattack. That’s how fragile lines of infantry are without reinforcement.

  “That’s a good point, but our circumstances are different this time.”

  “Circumstances, ma’am?”

  “Captain Ahrens, we’re a Kampfgruppe. I’d like you to keep that in mind. Listen,” Tanya continues. “We have artillery, infantry, and mages building our defensive lines. This is the golden combo that protected our lines on the Rhine.”

  In some ways, the Salamander Kampfgruppe has advantages over other units. Its mages with experience on the Rhine have been through intense trench defense battles. And they’ve built a defense perimeter, albeit a simple one, around the village where they’re garrisoned.

  “So barring something completely unexpected, our lines will not break. We probably don’t need to worry.” She glances at the subordinates she trained, and they seem to have understood.

  It’s a bit too slick, but Lieutenant Grantz offers a witty rejoinder. “You can count on us, Colonel. We have the shovels for which we were so famous on the Rhine front. Leave the welcome of our Federation guests up to us. We’ll be sure to show them the finest hospitality.” He thumps his chest as he proclaims his willingness with a confident expression. Compared to many of the guys here, he’s young, but he has more military and combat experience than his age would indicate.

  Even Grantz is now a seasoned veteran.

  “As you can see, he’s a bit of a brownnoser, but even Lieutenant Grantz is an elite soldier who earned the Iron Cross on the Rhine. You can trust him with the lines, Captain Ahrens. Oh,” Tanya adds. “I should also point out that the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion is borderline low on members. Lieutenants Wüstemann and Grantz are supporting the infantry. If I give the rest to Major Weiss, that’s only two companies.”

  “…We’re also just an armored company.”

  “Have you forgotten how numbers work in other branches? A mage company is twelve people. That’s twenty-four in total. There’s no way that many could hold a forward position for very long.”

  Even if they can keep dealing damage, an aerial mage battalion has very different qualities from an infantry unit. To reach for something similar, they’re probably closer to the air force. Even if fighter planes and attack helicopters can blow away enemy ground forces, they can’t take over that location.

  That’s a job for infantry supported by the armored forces. On battlefields of any time or place, the right number of infantry with armored support are critical for that last task.

  “You mean, in order to counterattack, you need enough people to hold the position?”

  “That is correct. A mage battalion packs a punch, but armored forces are the appropriate troops to counterattack and fortify our foothold. Luckily, it doesn’t seem like the enemy has armored units. So in this positional battle, we’ll fight infantry with infantry and mages with artillery. Well…” To put them at ease, she adds, “Of course, if it looks like we’re getting overwhelmed, I’ll send in the reserves early. But I want to keep the armored company as the ace up our sleeve. Questions?”

  “No, Colonel, none. I understand our mission. I’m sorry to have taken up your time.”

  “It’s fine. I always welcome a pertinent question.”

  On the contrary, I should encourage the officers to ask questions. What’s important is having the moderate attitude of an expert. You should always ask if you don’t know something.

  Of course, that means meeting the minimal requirements to be an expert.

  Naturally, Tanya has no intention of valuing inept workers who barely understand the area of their supposed expertise.

  Time is finite.

  “Any other questions? All right. Very well, gentlemen, time to get to work. All units to your positions on the double. Get going on your defensive battle orders.”

  Along with Captain Ahrens’s fearless salute and Lieutenant Grantz’s usual salute, Lieutenants Wüstemann and Tospan rush to salute as well.

  And then when Lieutenant Serebryakov gives her textbook-perfect salute as usual, Tanya responds with a salute of her own.

  Now then, time for work.

  No, this is a culture war to enlighten our uninvited nighttime guests as to what proper manners entail, whether via shells and bullets or bayonets and shovels.

  And is that the artillery getting things started?

  Tanya, the personification of atheism, is so tempted to believe the truth that artillery is God that it’s difficult to deny.

  “Colonel, incoming from Major Weiss. He says observed fire should be possible now.”

  Lieutenant Serebry
akov is in touch with Major Weiss via the wireless, and this message is truly good news that should be praised as such.

  Wonderful, she nearly murmurs.

  Tanya is about to smile in spite of herself when she controls her facial muscles and picks up the direct line to Captain Meybert and asks him pointedly, “…We got a message from Major Weiss that they can spot for the artillery. There’s no mistake?”

  “No mistake, ma’am. His patrol team took the long-range wireless set and observation instruments with them when they left.”

  This guy is crazy about his specialty, so he’ll be fine.

  How wonderful.

  No, even better is Major Weiss himself. What a guy.

  That was such a smart thing to do. This is what makes old hands like Weiss so dependable in a crisis. That said… Tanya doesn’t forget to draw the line at hoping for too much and overestimating their ability. Though Weiss and the troops are veterans.

  “We can’t expect the impact observation to be very accurate in the dark!”

  Whether anti-surface attacks or observations, the veil of night obstructs your view. The golden duo of artillery and spotters is no exception.

  “Please let us do it. These aren’t the same conditions, but we were trained for night artillery battles on the Rhine.” Captain Meybert is full of confidence.

  It’s not the sort of claim an officer who talks big out of ignorance would make. At the very least, the unyielding craftsman temperament he has when it comes to his work can be trusted as reliable skill in this case.

  So Tanya makes up her mind to let them do it.

  “Okay, fire once you get the request from Major Weiss.”

  The artillery is the true ruler of the battlefield. Or perhaps it’s the only god—a real one—you should believe in. Either way, Tanya adds another prayer. “But one thing, Captain Meybert: Make sure you stick to your ammunition allotment. Unfortunately, we need to be frugal with our shells.”

  “So we can’t just go all out?”

  Even Tanya thinks how great it would be if they could. It felt so invigorating on the Rhine front when the artillery opened up on penetrating infantry units!

  If it were possible, I would definitely want to do it. But, exceedingly unfortunate as it is, the Imperial Army’s shell situation won’t allow it.

  A person can’t give what they haven’t got.

  “It’s dark. It wouldn’t be worth it to go all out.”

  “So we can’t? But we…?” he asks feebly, but the answer doesn’t change.

  “Sorry, but I want to prioritize the Kampfgruppe’s ability to continue fighting. If given the choice between a Kampfgruppe whose artillery can do its job and a Kampfgruppe whose artillery has run out of ammo, I’m compelled to choose the former.”

  “…Understood.”

  And Captain Meybert proves through his actions that he’s an artilleryman who can do his job with care.

  Almost as soon as she hangs up, the first shot is fired for observation.

  The report roars in the night.

  How pleasant even a single bang can be!

  The moment the shell hits the ground, Major Weiss and his unit must be sending detailed observation data to the Fire Direction Center.

  This is gonna be great, thinks Tanya, and the moment she is waiting for arrives almost immediately.

  Readied gun points all roaring at once create the best music for a battlefield. Ahhh, she nearly sighs in awe of the splendid thunder!

  How reassuring this is.

  “…The artillery is doing a good job.”

  “Captain Meybert is an outstanding soldier.”

  “Lieutenant Serebryakov, he’s just obsessed with his field. If I loosen the reins, he’ll fire every last shell. And then he’s the type who’ll say, I did a good job, so give me more ammo please with a straight face.”

  “Oh, ha-ha-ha-ha.”

  That said… Tanya does acknowledge that he’s doing a good job.

  The shots sound at extremely regular intervals. It must be due to a tremendously high level of discipline. No signs of bad maintenance or breakdowns, either.

  “…I may have underestimated him. He may be obsessed with his field, but within that field, he knows what he’s doing, without a doubt.”

  In any case… Tanya gives her spirited approval to the artillery’s vigorous barrage.

  Major Weiss is spotting, and there are no enemy mages in the air to obstruct him. The fact that she doesn’t even detect any speaks to the imperial air supremacy.

  Of course, the Federation Army has launched this night attack probably because they realize they’re at a disadvantage in the sky. Theoretically, it was smart to attack at night when the fighter planes can’t do anything.

  The only problem is… Tanya grins, laughing at the Federation’s mistake.

  The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion is capable of all-weather combat…to a limited extent. Technically, I should add that it’s everyone besides First Lieutenant Wüstemann and his company.

  The only aerial mage unit capable of long-distance flights at night, my baby the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion…probably isn’t who the Federation side was expecting.

  “Sorry to interrupt your fun, Colonel. It seems like the Federation Army’s advance unit is approaching. They must have been attracted by the sound of the guns.”

  “I see, so Lieutenant Grantz and the infantry are engaged with the vanguard?”

  Yeah. Tanya goes so far as to extend her empathy to the poor Federation soldiers.

  Usually it’s extremely difficult to get a handle on the enemy’s location during night combat. But we, the Salamander Kampfgruppe, are doing something to expose our position: the artillery fire. The Federation advance unit must be grinning right now, thinking to themselves that we’ve revealed our main camp’s position by firing blind.

  But that’s a fantasy. It’s fleeting, futile, wishful thinking.

  Those poor soldiers compelled to jump into our defensive lines, which have long been prepared for the welcome party—I pity them so much I don’t quite know what to do.

  “Would you like me to confirm?”

  “I don’t want to bother officers in combat any more than necessary. I’ll leave it up to him. I don’t think Lieutenant Grantz is such a numbskull that he can’t command some defense.”

  “Understood— Hmm? Colonel, it’s Lieutenant Grantz himself on the phone.”

  Serebryakov holds out the receiver, and Tanya takes it. “What?” She can’t believe it, but then her subordinate’s voice reaches her ear.

  Rather than giving a report of some disaster, he sounds confused. “Colonel von Degurechaff, this is Lieutenant Grantz.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “It’s a bit strange. The enemy infantry’s attacks are sporadic. It seems like their aim is to keep us pinned down on this line as a distraction.”

  “So you’re saying two brigades aren’t putting much pressure on you?”

  The artillery may be doing a good job, but defensive combat is still intense. Yes. Tanya’s belief on that point is firm.

  After all, it’s only the defensive position of a single Kampfgruppe. The only way to stop two brigades with a regiment’s worth of troops is to make good use of your position and put up an out-and-out resistance. Hence having Grantz and Wüstemann commanding the infantry.

  …So if they aren’t feeling the pressure?

  “To be honest, ma’am, the enemy attacks are too scattered. The infantry attacks hardly seem coordinated at all.”

  “Thanks for your thoughts. I’ll take them into consideration. Report in immediately if anything changes.”

  “Understood.”

  After setting down the receiver, Tanya heads for the long-range wireless machine. She calls Weiss, who is currently in flight.

  Out of the slight fear for what if, she asks, “…Major Weiss, any more enemies coming?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Lieutenant Grantz is reporting that th
e enemy infantry’s attacks are sporadic. If it’s a feint, we should see more coming or a mage unit. I just want you to check.”

  “Right away.”

  The wireless disconnects with a bzzt, and Tanya resumes thinking. It’s actually fairly difficult to understand why the attacks would be sporadic.

  And because she can’t read the enemy’s intention, it seems even stranger.

  “Sporadic attacks… Could it be search and attack? No, our location should be somewhat clear from the artillery barrage…”

  Then what if the enemy advance unit was purely recon-in-force?

  “…Are they trying to find a weak unit along the defensive line?”

  Hmm, Tanya thinks again. Just like in a trench battle, a reckless charge would result in a marked increase in casualties. Poking the line a bit first to see how it reacts isn’t a bad approach if you can allow for a certain amount of tactical losses as necessary costs.

  Basically, that would make it an ultimate form of search and attack where they send in a sacrificial unit… Given how rich the Federation is in human resources, it could employ such a method. But I can’t be sure.

  “Lieutenant Serebryakov, do me a favor and get me some coffee. Brew it a bit strong. I want to clear my head.”

  “Understood, ma’am. Right away.”

  With a thank-you, Tanya reabsorbs herself in her thoughts.

  The periodic sound of gunfire is proof that the artillerists are following her directions and limiting their use of ammunition. But Tanya suddenly senses something is off.

  Even the shots that should be continuing around the edges of the perimeter seem to have grown sparse. Does that mean they’ve shifted to hand-to-hand combat?

  No. Tanya immediately rejects that possibility. Though the enemy charged, there hasn’t been any report of the lines being broken. And besides, there aren’t any of the shouts you would expect from a close-quarters fight.

  “…I guess waiting is hard.”

  “Ahhh, sorry to keep you waiting, Colonel.”

  The one who responds to her quiet utterance is Serebryakov, who has returned.

  I didn’t mean to imply she was bringing the coffee too slowly…

  A wonderfully fragrant cup of coffee is handed to her with a smile.