The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 4: Dabit Deus His Quoque Finem

by Carlo Zen

  As the mainstream group in the General Staff, the western faction tried to argue against them, but the eastern faction stressed their success in the Battle of Trouncenberg.

  More than anything, the eastern faction’s achievements were so much more persuasive than the western faction’s victory on the Rhine front, which had come at the cost of a mountain of imperial corpses.

  Thus, the General Staff proposed and carried out a single plan. It was called “Operation Lakeside.” The idea was to push up the front lines via a major offensive. It was emphatically criticized from several quarters for being high-risk, high-return, but in the end, they bulldozed the opposition and pushed it through.

  It was ordered as Order No. 41. Thus, the Imperial Army’s great offensive in the east became known as Operation No. 41, or colloquially as Operation Lakeside.

  The Imperial Army General Staff’s Order No. 41 was top secret; it was delivered by officers themselves.

  Defensive combat in the Federation was nearing its end. We had already destroyed the Federation’s reserves at Trouncenberg. The situation was fluid, but the Federation’s surplus forces were drying up, and it had practically lost the advantage it had seized in the initial sneak attack.

  Amid these circumstances, the Imperial Army was tasked with seizing the initiative as soon as weather and ground conditions improved. The objective was to thoroughly annihilate the remaining forces the Federation Army had been holding on to and, to the extent possible, incapacitate their critical field army.

  In order to accomplish that, it first sent its main forces into the main operation in the east. Then, in order to defend their expanded lines, a mobile corps was formed. The general plan was to mop up the enemies on the front and take the road and supply base along the former forward-most line.

  The top priority, however, was to take out the remaining enemy forces.

  And at the very bottom, there was a comment that said:

  “Troops, our counterattack is soon at hand.”

  JULY 8, UNIFIED YEAR 1926, FEDERATION CAPITAL MOSKVA, LARGE SUBTERRANEAN MEETING ROOM

  Everyone present was clearly depressed.

  All they needed to do was propose a single constructive idea, but they were useless failures worried only about what Comrade General Secretary Josef thought.

  How utterly pathetic, lamented Mr. Loria, who was working diligently for the people, the nation, and the party on that day as well.

  He had a dream. He would spare no effort in making it come true. His efforts were so great, he could boast that he was the hardest-working technocrat in all the Federation.

  And it was because of that ambition that he felt young. Or rather, it was precisely because he had a dream that life was worth living. What’s the difference between a lazy oaf who doesn’t know what they desire and someone in the lageri?18

  With that on his mind, Loria got down to work for the time being.

  “To sum up the report, Comrade General Secretary, the Imperial Army is concentrating a large force in the region of the eastern border. It seems that, as you thought, they will launch a counteroffensive soon.”

  The report was so long it wasn’t worth listening to. In the Commissariat for Internal Affairs, if a field report wasn’t kept to three lines, he would send the author to the lageri for the crime of inefficiency.

  Come to think of it, the Federation was too inefficient. Bureaucracy was already spreading, and regrettably, not a single system functioned in a simple way. He could understand very well why Comrade General Secretary was irritated.

  “Thanks. Now then, comrades, that’s our situation. What do you think?”

  The question implicitly requested a plan for a solution.

  Really, it was dangerous to answer Comrade General Secretary Josef’s questions. If you gave an opinion and it went well, you could be given credit and authority. But if you were too successful, you could be purged as someone threatening his position. Even if that didn’t happen, there was still the danger of getting involved in and then ruined by internal party struggles.

  If you failed, on the other hand, you’d be forced to suffer the consequences right then and there. With that in mind, it was obvious why everyone stared at Comrade General Secretary Josef with earnest resolve, yet no one opened their mouths.

  That said…

  Like this, the inepts might as well have had their necks on the chopping block.

  He furiously clenched his pen and was seized by the urge to stab it right through the document. This was pointless. There was no time to lose, and things were far from ideal. Eventually I’ll send you all to the lageri, he decided. But first, he made up his mind about what to do.

  “Comrade General Secretary, we have succeeded in drawing the enemy in. Now I think we should make it so they can’t pull out.”

  “And you would do that how?”

  “Let’s bait a hook and have them bite it. What if we ceded the region near the border?”

  The Federation’s territory was vast. But the development of its infrastructure was conveniently lagging behind. For the country, it was a problem, but by the same token, it also created poor conditions for an advancing army.

  If the Federation could draw the Empire into an attritional battle, the advantage would be theirs. It was simple; even a child could understand by looking at the map. The Federation’s vast territory, with which it could defend in depth, was a good ally.

  Imagine ten people so strong it would take ten to beat each one. If those ten people could take on a hundred, it might be hard to beat them even with only a hundred people. But with a hundred against one, they could surely win.

  If the enemy spread out, they could win with numbers. It was only a matter of course. There is no enemy who can’t be crushed and killed with numbers, no matter how strong they are.

  All they needed to do was draw in the thinned-out enemy forces and batter them. Or perhaps create a place where they could lure them into a futile attrition battle. For example, a city whose capture would have significant political effects, a place they wouldn’t be able to give up once they took it.

  A city, in addition to having no resources, would be effective for drawing them into an urban battle of attrition. The most apt place near the front lines was Josefgrad. It would be typical for them to order the Federation Army to guard that city with their lives.

  And if the Imperial Army captured the city, they would probably never let it go. Especially if our propaganda kept saying that we would take it back.

  And regardless of what would happen if the Federation challenged the Empire’s mobile army to a field battle, in a battle of attrition, the Federation’s numerical advantage would take effect.

  In other words, dropping back, for the Federation Army, would mean securing strategic depth.

  The Imperial Army might get space, but the Federation Army would get time to reorganize.

  “Comrade Loria! Say what you will, but that puts the Federation’s honor at stake!”

  “Are you seriously saying we should give land to the Empire under the direction of our great commander, Comrade General Secretary?!”

  But the responses came from idiots who made his head hurt. If you looked, you could see how they flaunted their allegiance. It disgusted him to be contested by those imbeciles who were capable only of blind following.

  “Shut up. Comrade General Secretary, may I please continue?” I’ll put those guys first on the list of people to send to the lageri, he thought as he addressed the formal leader of the proceedings. At least Comrade Josef trusted him.

  Even if he said something that displeased him, it was out of loyalty.

  “…Go ahead, Loria.”

  And dictators tend to be sensitive to those sorts of things. Of course, Loria knew that only from experience, but still.

  Anyhow, the highest authority figure present waved a hand to have the protestors settle down and allowed Loria to continue.

  “Thank you.” Loria understood. He gave an ex
aggerated expression of gratitude, stood, and walked over to the map on the wall.

  It was a map describing their situation. What pained him was the crushing blow the Federation forces had suffered in Trouncenberg due to the major offensive those morons had insisted on.

  But apparently, the Imperial Army was also full of numbskulls.

  The desire to attack on impulse is a defect of soldiers in general. Loria chuckled to himself in his head.

  They didn’t understand the nature of invading enemy territory.

  “Cutting to the chase, if we retreat, we can force the Imperial Army into a battle of attrition. Furthermore, only by retreating can we force them into urban combat in a number of strategically important points.”

  There were some factories and the transportation network in the region to consider, but the chaos of an urban battle was optimal for the Federation right now.

  Combat in cities would take place on a fairly large scale.

  For the Federation Army, which was qualitatively inferior to the Imperial Army, that held a rather important meaning.

  “This is my personal opinion, but I don’t see any reason we should have to fight in the ring our opponents feel at home in. We want the opposite. It’s in the tight quarters of urban combat that we can use the advantage of our numbers.”

  Loria would guarantee that an urban battle was the optimal place if you wanted freshly conscripted troops to fight halfway decently. Or rather, it could be said that he had no other ideas how to wage an actual war with the Empire.

  He had some of his political officers on the front lines reporting both imperial and Federation losses.

  The ratios were never better than one to five.

  But the scale of the Federation Army was overwhelming. When it came to slugging it out in a city, organized combat and mobile battles—all those disciplined actions the Imperial Army specialized in—would be of only limited use.

  With the pure gaze of a mathematician, Loria calculated for their victory.

  “If we can get our attrition ratios even slightly more equal, the Empire will be the ones who surrender.”

  If they could lower their losses even slightly, hard math would give the Federation an overwhelming advantage. They could also increase their opponents’ losses a little bit.

  Loria sneered at that point.

  Ah, soldiers are such obnoxious creatures. They obsess over honor and appearance, plus pride—it’s too much.

  “But as long as they keep winning, the importance of the land will grow on its own.”

  Pyrrhus was great because he realized his victory was going to be Pyrrhic and had managed to retreat. Most generals would have been blinded by their success and expanded the lines in pursuit of further results.

  Naturally, the Imperial Army would invade Federation territory to increase their gains. But to do that, it would be forced to engage in battles over cities.

  “Once that happens, they won’t be able to retreat even if they want to.”

  Then they would need to reinforce their units to tighten their defenses. Yes, they would be paralyzed. The mobile ones who were so skilled at encirclement tactics would be stuck allotting more and more manpower to defend a fixed position.

  “Then all that’s left for us is to swoop in and retake our lost territory.”

  The Federation Army would simply employ their numbers to encircle them.

  And maybe it would be good to send in some spies via a third country to agitate public opinion in the Empire.

  Then they really wouldn’t be able to pull out.

  “Of course, so that we can resist to the last, Internal Affairs plans to dispatch blocking units behind various units fighting in the city.”

  They also required some live bait to lure them in. He would take anyone who had made anti-Federation remarks, as well as ethnic nationalists and reactionaries, then grind them down to nothing against the Imperial Army. Loria spoke matter-of-factly, but internally he felt like bemoaning the silent, trembling party executives and their stupidity.

  When he looked around, he saw a few horror-stricken faces among them.

  You people with your fake morals only pretend to be virtuous. There couldn’t possibly be a good person here, he wanted to jeer.

  “I’m confident that we’ll then be able to crush the imperials using a wall of civilians we’ll force to volunteer for the army and the riffraff from the concentration camps.”

  They would preserve the soldiers who were loyal to the establishment while disposing of potentially dangerous elements at the same time.

  “No, if we put it another way, all the Federation’s people will heroically resist the invaders.”

  And it wouldn’t be through a purge but sacrifice for the fatherland. It wasn’t someone from the establishment who would perform the purges but the Imperial Army. There was no need for the party to get its hands dirty.

  Loria was surprised by his own acumen.

  When their hopes and dreams are the motivator, people exhibit unbelievable strength and abundant creativity.

  “Under the leadership of Comrade General Secretary, all the Federation’s civilians will rise up as partisans. Don’t you think that would be wonderful?”

  “…I see. That could be an effective proposal, yes.”

  At least everyone could understand that much. No one questioned the ethical values, whether he was right or wrong.

  So the idea was accepted very easily.

  “Thank you.”

  “All right, I’ll put you in charge of that, Comrade Loria. But you know failure is unacceptable, don’t you?”

  “Of course. Please leave everything to me.”

  Failure is unacceptable—the warning was accompanied by a harsh gaze. A chill went up Loria’s spine, but he didn’t avert his eyes. He continued looking back, determined.

  For him, this was part of fulfilling his dream.

  “…Comrade General Secretary, I hate to ask for this in return, but there is one thing.”

  “If there are supplies you need, I’ll approve them. What is it?”

  “It’s about the criminal who bombed Moskva. I’d like to personally be the one to judge her.”

  That…that fairy. I want her.

  No matter what it takes—I’ll do anything.

  I’ve got to have her for myself.

  “We must proceed very carefully—yes, very carefully with that matter. I can’t promise you, Comrade Loria.”

  Loria had brought up that detestable situation in front of the general secretary, of all people. That alone was stepping on the tiger’s tail. In fact, the hand holding his pen was visibly shaking from rage and humiliation.

  “Comrade General Secretary. Then I’d at least like to have the little girl.”

  He knew it was reckless.

  But even so. There were times a man just had to act.

  “…Comrade Loria, is she your type?”

  “Of course! Er…that’s not exactly the right way to express it, but…”

  There were things he had to do, even if it meant sacrificing everything.

  There are times in life that you just have to speak up.

  “What?”

  “She’s what you could call my ideal. I would so much—so very much—like to make her gasp beneath me.”

  Pure determination. Loria could only plead.

  Was hoping all he could do? No, he acted. Would his hopes be allowed? That was something only God knew.

  But Loria had made up his mind. He had already decided. If they wanted to laugh at him as a fool, he would let them.

  “…Fine. If it will dispel your anxiety, then I’ll allow it.”

  “You can count on me. I’ll eradicate every obstruction and enemy to make this operation a success. Guaranteed.”

  And so Loria had acquired the wings he needed to make his dream come true. As soon as the meeting ended, he jumped into his car and sped back to headquarters, which was being rebuilt, to get back to work.

&n
bsp; “The general secretary gave me permission. Now—now I just have to catch her.”

  The situation was steadily evolving to make his dream a real possibility. That sense of fulfillment made him forget his age. He felt giddy.

  He was convinced he had lost the purehearted anticipation of a child long ago, so he was genuinely surprised.

  “The Imperial Army is walking right into my trap. If this goes well, I’m sure I’ll be able to lure that Salamander Kampfgruppe or whatever they call themselves deep into our territory.”

  But at the same time, he had the caution of a mature adult. He had his unadulterated feelings, but he had also learned patience—which is not to say that he wasn’t looking forward to the fun at the end…

  “I guess it’s one more reason to put up the best fight we can. I wonder how the army’s morale is…”

  Loria wasn’t about to spare any effort, so he called up the officers in charge to ask. To him, people could do only so much before the only thing left was waiting for fate. So he would do everything he possibly could in order to avoid regrets.

  “Probably not very high. We have reports that desertions are on the rise.”

  “Hmm, I guess we should send more blocking units than originally planned. Choose the members from within Internal Affairs. Send them as soon as possible.”

  Naturally, he would make every move possible.

  As a person chasing his dream, he would sacrifice everything he had for his ideal. His devotion was great enough that he was prepared to make an enemy of the entire world if necessary.

  “Understood.”

  “And improve conditions in the concentration camps.”

  But he also understood.

  He knew the importance of hopes and dreams. Without them, people couldn’t live as humans.

  “But that’s…”

  “Instead of throwing them in there for ten years, we should treat them well for a month and then pit them against the Imperial Army. Our national resources should be used in a meaningful way.”

  You don’t understand even that much? Still, Loria was tolerant of even his fretting subordinate.

  He was a missionary preaching hopes and dreams. People needed happiness. Which meant that people, including himself, needed to be happy.