by Carlo Zen
Not being able to make any predictions about the operation after the winter was exasperating. And on top of that, there was no telling what kind of attrition they would suffer during the winter.
Having to formulate a strategy under such opaque circumstances was…completely unheard of. How could they plan for the future when they didn’t even know what they would have on hand?
Still… There General von Zettour revised one of his opinions. There are infinite variables. But if we can define even one of them, it’s not a bad idea to nail it down.
“At this point, I’m going to get that proposal in front of Supreme High Command no matter what it takes.”
He was talking about the “autonomy” plan he had hit upon due to a suggestion from Colonel von Degurechaff.
He’d worked Colonel von Lergen to the point of exhaustion, but after the political maneuvering using Lergen’s contacts, combined with accepting the huge risk and fortune involved, he was beginning to see results.
It was tangible—Zettour could sense that there was something to it.
“The autonomy plan? I agree that it seems efficient, but—”
“Climax rhetoric, Rudersdorf! Listen…” He made his point as simply as if he was explaining a universal truth. “Rather than having an enemy country next door, it’s better to have a country that is not friendly with our enemy next door.”
“That’s for sure.”
“And a neutral country would be even better.”
“Of course. That makes sense.”
“In that case,” Zettour finishes as if he’s proposing an evil scheme, “the best for the Reich would be a friendly country that has interests aligned with ours.”
“Are you planning on becoming a midwife or something? That’s terribly commendable…” His friend smiled, and Zettour smiled back.
He wasn’t looking in a mirror, but he was sure of it…
My— Our faces must look so wicked. That thought suddenly flitted across his mind. But so what?
“If necessary, I’m not opposed. I’ve even prepared a place for the blessed event to occur. I’ll probably choose the godparents. Plans for the baptism are already set. Then if the government only recognizes it, our burden should lighten a little.”
“You mean the newborn baby will work for our side like a full-grown adult?” Rudersdorf scoffed as if he found the prospect ridiculous, but Zettour handily knocked him down a peg.
“Listen, friend. Even a little girl has been useful in this war. I’m sure infants and toddlers have their uses. At the very least, they can shield us from bullets.”
“That’s the worst argument I’ve ever heard.”
“Without a doubt. It’s absolutely despicable, and I’m aware of that. That being said,” Zettour continued, “I’m a fairly evil member of this organization despite my virtuous nature, and as such, I’ll carry out my duty as I must. All I’m permitted—no, all we as General Staff officers are permitted is devotion to our duties.”
They had pledged their swords to the fatherland, the Reich. On that day, the day they were commissioned, they swore to protect it from anyone who would do the country or the imperial family harm.
So if the fatherland deems it necessary…
Why don’t we, as General Staff officers, become as evil as it takes?
General von Zettour had even begun radiating an air of grim determination, so for a moment, he was taken aback by his sworn friend’s hearty laughter.
“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No, in theory, you’re quite right. But you seem to have one amusing misunderstanding, so I couldn’t help myself.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“What are our dear General Staff’s staff officers famous for?”
The cheery smile on his friend’s face was also a dry one. But rarely had he heard something that made so much sense.
“Well, it’s definitely not their great personalities.”
“Let’s be frank. Shouldn’t we make ourselves known far and wide as eccentric, formidable, and cunning?”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Yes, you’re right, of course.” Oh, we’re already here? “Every one of us looks sensible, but we must all be unreasonable. All we have to do is use brute force to do what must be done.”
The lid was open from the beginning.
So hell will beget hell by our hands?
Shit.
It’s all too easy to accept this future he’s painted.
[chapter] VI “Liberator”
NOVEMBER 15, UNIFIED YEAR 1926, THE COMMONWEALTH EMBASSY IN MOSKVA, MILITARY EXCHANGE RECEPTION VENUE
The Imperial and Federation Armies were focused on weathering the winter, leaving the front lines relatively quiet; meanwhile, those in the rear had long been plotting with an eye toward what would happen after winter ended.
Unlike the skirmishes on the front lines, these were plots where the boundaries between friend and foe weren’t so clear.
But it should probably be said…
Unlike the conventional battles where they suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the Imperial Army, the Communist Party had far more know-how when it came to conspiracies and scheming.
The party executives may have been reluctant, but they still admitted that the Imperial Army was an unsurpassable instrument of violence, precise beyond belief. But at the same time, the party members chuckled to themselves.
The Empire knows how to make a machine for violence. And they know how to use it. Though it was shameful, the party executives had to accept that.
And yet, the party elites could declare with confidence that it was all the Empire could do.
War is only an extension of politics. And on that point, the Communist Party presidium was sure the Empire was making a fatal mistake.
“It’s the Imperial Army driving the war. Apparently, the military has begun to dominate politics in the Empire,” it was murmured, and how cleverly, at the party meeting. This was the presidium’s collective impression. The military is only a means to political ends.
Even faced with receding front lines, the party executives were still calm enough to boast. After all, they were sure that the Imperial Army was a bunch of idiots who acted on a purely military perspective.
Military might is but a single factor. Power, control, and government are necessarily a fusion of violence and politics.
“The politicians have fallen silent, and the bourgeoisie have begun fighting the war for their own aims. I see they can build a formidable army, yes. But while they may know how to defeat enemies, they don’t seem to know how to make allies.”
Why should the Communist Party be afraid of an enemy whose army treats war as an extension of military matters and completely lacks political perspective?
Surely history will bring an inevitable victory to the party and the fatherland, as well as Communism.
That was their rock-solid conviction.
So then…
“To meeting new friends!”
“To the military cooperation of our two glorious nations!”
Candid toasts rang out at the Commonwealth Embassy in Moskva.
Waiters served caviar and vodka, an orchestra invited for the occasion gracefully performed both countries’ anthems, and well-dressed visitors talked among themselves in whatever way they preferred. It was an elegant social space, no less luxurious than before the war. The only thing signaling that this wasn’t peacetime was the presence of impeccably outfitted honor guards and soldiers proudly sporting their dress uniforms.
But that was appropriate for the nature of the occasion. This was a banquet to celebrate the establishment of their wartime pact to expand cooperation and prohibit any separate peace agreements with the Empire. The diplomats calmly chatted over colorful glasses of deceit and hypocrisy filled with their shared interests.
“…They don’t have any allies. Does the Imperial Army mean to fight against the entire world to the las
t corpse?”
“It’s absurd, but I think they’re halfway serious. They give plenty of thought to winding up their punches, at least. After that… Well, you know.”
The men suppressed their guffaws.
“You’re exactly right. They still can’t escape the idea that everything can be solved through military might.”
“Ha-ha-ha. Well, I’m relieved if that’s how the Federation sees things, too. Let’s hit that powerful Empire with the truth—that they aren’t strong enough to take on the whole world.”
It was an exchange that blended empty words with each side’s requests. But when it came to directness, the Federation was capable of speaking without affectation.
“Yes, let’s. And we’d appreciate it ever so much, then, if you would establish a second front. As friends, we need to help each other out,” the man added—expressing, albeit as sarcastic inquiry, Where are your ground forces? This was the Federation’s explicit expression of their wish for the Commonwealth to carry more of the burden.
Yet they wouldn’t be able to call themselves diplomats if that little bit of sarcasm made them flinch.
“I’ll make sure to tell the key players back in Londinium.” Even a child could be sent on an errand. What government funds asked of diplomats involved much more wordplay. “But even at home, we’re currently fighting a major air battle. We would love to be able to defend our fatherland and also help out our brothers-in-arms, but there are so many tricky issues involved…” The Commonwealth diplomat who nodded in heartfelt sympathy added dramatically that they were having problems.
“Issues?”
“Yes.” He casually showered the Federation diplomat in snark. “We can’t neglect air cover for the convoy supporting the Federation, either. Why, just the other day, one of our ships that wasn’t safely under our air defense umbrella suffered terrible damages in an attack at one of your naval bases. Considering that, things are a bit difficult…”
After implying with that jab that helping out the Federation was causing its own problems, he feigned nonchalance and called to a waiter in a deliberately sunny voice.
We don’t have a grudge against you! was what he implied…but he could interact with such ease now precisely because the Federation owed them one.
But the Federation diplomat wasn’t a child who would get flustered and run out of words to say. Beneath his smiling mask, he heaved a conspicuous sigh, prepared to retort. “Well, we’re holding down the ground lines as the sole representatives of all the allied countries, you know. It’s a terrible shame we don’t have enough hands.”
“So I guess that goes for both of us. We’re in a very similar situation…” But in response to that biting reply, the Commonwealth diplomat gravely nodded. His brief comment took the end of the Federation diplomat’s words and transformed their meaning. “Not only did we lure the formidable Imperial Air Fleet to the west and protect our homeland, we’re also operating a support convoy for an ally country—fighting deadly battles all the while against patrolling imperial submarines, at that. The burdens on us are just so big, you see…”
“I understand those difficult circumstances, but don’t forget that we’re taking on the imperial ground forces almost entirely on our own.”
“Of course, it’s precisely with our ally nation’s hard work in mind that we launched the support convoy. We’re risking a crisis in homeland air defense in order to have escorts flying along the route! Our soldiers are bending over backward. My heart aches for them, but if it will save our ally…”
“My! I was just thinking the same thing. It must be because we’re luring the enemy’s main forces away from our ally.”
“Ha-ha-ha.” They both laughed, inwardly cursing, and shook hands. It was a peaceful, diplomatic exchange.
Though they attempted to conceal it with flowery language, what the men from both countries really felt was this: Your country should be stepping up to take more of the brunt.
And their frank assessment of each other was: We can’t trust that these guys mean well. Yet, they found a common interest in the fight against the Empire.
So as experts in politics and diplomacy, they could be sure that despite the vast differences between the Commonwealth and the Federation and their deep-seated distrust of each other, circumstances could arise that would allow them to cooperate on this one thing, the fight against the Empire. That was how sure they were that the Empire knew nothing about politics.
If a leader who paid even a little attention to the diplomatic and political situation had been at the Empire’s helm, it would never have been besieged from all sides like this.
If the Empire had taken advantage of the Commonwealth’s and Federation’s traditional discord, would the two countries have even managed to create a superficial alliance against a common enemy? Actually, if it hadn’t gone ahead with the Northern Expansion Doctrine, the Republic never would have had to enter the fight, and the whole war could have been avoided in the first place.
In other words, the Empire was digging its own grave.
After observing, hypothesizing, and verifying, the party executives, who were specialists in politics and conspiracy, were able to believe it wholeheartedly as a logical conclusion: The Imperial Army is only capable of comprehending war from a military point of view.
Of course, victory would be costly.
Still, with General Winter’s support, the land of Mother Federation would stop the Empire. Then time would solve things.
Their firm belief was that due to the Empire’s mistakes, victory was certain.
Until Loria, head of the Commissariat for Internal Affairs, called an emergency meeting of the presidium, that is.
“Comrade, you said there’s an emergency?”
“Yes, Comrade General Secretary. Something has occurred that needs to be handled immediately.”
“And that is?”
“…The Imperial Army has…”
It was rare for Loria, and out of character, to trail off. And he had never let his eyes glance around the room like that before.
“The Imperial Army has joined forces.” Getting a look that asked, With? he hesitantly spoke again. “Yes, with…them.”
“Comrade, who did the Imperial Army join forces with?”
A direct question from the General Secretary himself. A query from the very top was enough to make a man tremble, yet an officer of Loria’s caliber failed to reply.
That alone was a sign of bad news.
Someone perceptive may have noticed—that the head of the Commissariat for Internal Affairs, Loria, that devil in human’s clothing, was terrified.
“They’ve shown signs of joining forces with the separatists… A provisional government has been established in their occupied territory, and they’ve begun the process of transitioning to a civilian administration.”
He seemed to have braced himself, and the next words came. The moment everyone heard them, they had trouble comprehending what the small man before their eyes was saying.
“Listen, comrades. The Imperial Army is…in the process of forming an alliance with the separatists. Yes, the nationalists and the Empire have joined hands.”
His report lacked energy, which was rare for Loria. He didn’t even try to hide his despair but relayed the news in a shaking voice.
A curtain of silence had nearly fallen on the room when, finally, a few people’s brains belatedly began to understand what the report meant.
The trash calling for separation from the Federation and the invading Imperial Army were both simple obstacles to the party. Luckily, the plan was to have them kill each other.
After all, the violent machine of the Imperial Army, incapable of compromise, and the nationalists who had no intention of bowing to anyone were sure to get along horribly. In fact, Loria and the rest of the Communist Party executives expected it to be excellent PR.
…The Imperial Army as tyrant and the Federation Army as liberator was to be a great attack in the p
ropaganda war.
And they thought it would be perfect precisely because of the people’s wavering faith in the party.
They needed to convince the masses they were on the theoretically correct side. The plan was to sell them the dream, but the damn Empire turned out to be surprisingly unsporting.
“We should probably assume that the Imperial Army’s—the Empire’s—policy has done a one-eighty. I’m repeating myself, but this report is nearly a sure thing. It seems the Imperial Army and the separatists are building very close relations.”
But the idea was supposed to be that the more the Imperial Army rampaged on its “war of suppression” or whatever against the partisan activity, the more the separatists would hate the Empire and cling to the Federation.
Instead they were joining forces?
Not even just that but transitioning to civilian rule?
“As head of the Commissariat for Internal Affairs, I must warn you. The Imperial Army is coming to destroy our ethnic policy.”
This would overturn their very foundation.
No, worse than that.
Several people stood up, seemingly without thinking. They stared at Loria with eyes wide open, and the moment he nodded at them to say, It’s true, they all began to shout.
“…They’re helping the separatists transition to their own administration?!”
Shocked screams echoed throughout the room.
“Of all the—!”
“It can’t be!”
“Are you sure there’s no mistake?!”
Though bewildered, the ones who all shouted denials were the veteran party leaders. Even the ones who had fought through the hard times were distraught.
Wow, their exclamations have no individuality and intelligence, thought Loria with a wince. Do extreme situations somehow limit the verbal abilities of humans?
On the other hand, he did understand. It was no wonder. With a heavy expression, he turned to the General Secretary and held out the latest report. “Comrade General Secretary, please take a look at this.”