by Carlo Zen
...But why should he have to reveal his anxiety externally?
"Forgive me for saying this after hearing your thoughts, but...that's a matter for Supreme Command to decide. A mere colonel has no idea what Supreme Command would think."
"Not even a genius from Operations such as yourself? Your reputation precedes you. I understand you have the confidence of both Lieutenant General von Zettour and Lieutenant General von Rudersdorf."
Calandro's remark delivered so nonchalantly was significant. It went far beyond lip service or a joke.
...When they said the Ildoans were passionate, they really knew what they were talking about!
"Excessive modesty can be offensive, don't you think?"
Calandro's words implied that he was very well-informed.
When Lergen finally regained some composure, he took another good look at Calandro. A glance at the colonel's uniform made it seem like he belonged to an alpine regiment, but... Well, well. As Lergen's brain got up to speed, he began to get an idea of the man's true identity.
As far as he could recall, the alpine regiments all reported directly to the Royal Ildoan Army General Staff.
If an Intelligence officer was going to disguise himself as someone serving in the field, an alpine unit with a good reputation for combat would be fine cover.
But Lergen felt Calandro had far more field experience than him, given his dexterity. So perhaps the correct way to view him was as a veteran elite who had served in cross-border and other legally gray operations? Either way, he was surely a tough soldier who had come through quite a few fierce battles.
"Either way, I'm very fortunate to meet you here."
"It would have been great to celebrate our countries' friendship unconditionally..."
"As you know, a slight misunderstanding can cause complications. That's why I'm so glad we have a chance to discuss things frankly."
Calandro proceeded on his own with a face like he knew everything--- he must really have been a special envoy. And it's obvious why he's chosen me to contact.
Lergen must have been selected as someone who would be sure to deliver the message to Operations and the Service Corps.
"Allow me to first clarify our position. We---that is, the Kingdom of Ildoa---are not actively hoping for the collapse of the Empire."
"So why are you passively hoping for it?"
"How biting. I was sure you knew: the issue of Unredeemed Ildoa."
Ahhh. Lergen understood immediately. Whether expressed as territory, homeland, sovereignty, or any number of other words, the emotions involved were always genuine. Meanwhile, vexingly enough, it should probably be said...an active officer in the imperial military was absolutely not permitted to publicly acknowledge such an issue.
This territorial conflict had absurdly deep roots. The problem of Unredeemed Ildoa was a dispute over the ownership of an Ildoan-speaking region taken by the Reich when the Empire was formed.
The Reich wasn't about to extend its understanding to someone arguing that just because some residents of an area spoke Ildoan, the land should belong to Ildoa.
The Empire's official stance was that the issue was not even worthy of debate. It had always flatly refused to "consider" abandoning territory inherent to its makeup.
On the other hand, Ildoa couldn't accept the logic of not unifying Ildoan-speaking lands.
This was a territorial dispute that had always been smoldering between the Empire and Ildoa.
"Hmm? The issue of Unredeemed Ildoa? I'm not sure I recall an issue like that."
"In other words?"
"Officially, this is my first time hearing of such a problem. Perhaps I've heard of it in private before?"
Lergen's response was a repetition of the official Empire line. The imperial government refused to even acknowledge the territory was in dispute at all, so there wasn't much else he could do. Everyone would answer unanimously if asked, It's Heimat.
Preservation of Heimat---the homeland---was imperative and there was no room for argument.
That was how things stood inside the Empire.
And Calandro understood very well that Lergen was forced to stubbornly deny the question regardless of how he felt about it, so he didn't get upset about his response.
Likewise, perhaps it should be said...
...Lergen could easily guess the reason Ildoa couldn't give up.
It took only a little calm thought. Why should someone else think a certain way just because we do?
Many staff officers including Lergen were worried about just that.
"If I must explain... But it's rather ridiculous..."
Lergen gazed at him with eyes that said, Let's hear it, and Calandro didn't mince words.
"If we can have Unredeemed Ildoa, we're not averse to fighting alongside the Empire."
The man's persistence was tremendous.
The longing for territory a people or nation believed to be rightly theirs was a latent torrent of fury.
"Can that be taken in the sense of boots on the ground as well?"
"We're prepared to put up a united front in that sense, conceptually."
Ahhh. It occurred to Lergen, who was used to bureaucratic thought and grammar, that Calandro's comments seemed meaningful but actually guaranteed nothing.
It was all talk---a model empty promise.
...No matter how nice they sounded, words that weren't backed by action were powerless and devoid of meaning. In the world of politics, military matters, and diplomacy, good intentions weren't security enough.
They say a drowning man grasps at straws, but it's unreasonable to think a straw would save a man. He should grasp at a sure thing, like a boat, and if that isn't possible, the only option is to swim under his own power. A country that can't make it on its own has no future---because a state has no eternal allies and no perpetual enemies.
"From a practical standpoint, we are prepared to mediate between the Empire and the countries it is at war with. Between you and me, though, we're also prepared, jointly with the Unified States, to invite all the warring countries to a cease-fire conference."
I see. Lergen nodded, but he couldn't miss the subtle difference there.
Calandro had been talking this whole time as a representative of Ildoa, but now Lergen wondered what country he was really representing.
"Will these peace talks be led by the Ildoan military or the Ildoan government?"
"It's basically a plan that was pushed by the army and approved by the government."
"That doesn't add up." Lergen expressed his doubt candidly.
The basic relationship between government and military was that of the government presiding over the military. Whether the administration was imperial, republican, or feudal, military power was an extension of political power.
Ultimately, war itself was a continuation of politics.
In that sense, the Ildoan military advocating for a specific foreign policy was a strange twist to the natural order. And the fact that they were sounding out Lergen of all people, an imperial soldier, couldn't be overlooked.
"I'm a soldier. In other words, I'm merely a member of the armed forces."
Lergen knew his place.
He was only a protector of his country, someone who had sworn loyalty to its flag and emperor. How could he withdraw with the people of his Heimat there, even if the enemies threatening his fatherland were going to cut him down?
If need be, he would hold his ground. That was a soldier's duty.
A wholehearted career soldier who followed regulations, whose training had become a part of their flesh and bone, and who was dedicated to their occupational morality honed by logic and ethics, was quite a troublesome creature.
Lergen believed that, most critically, a soldier was a person sensible enough to not jump to the words on my own authority in the face of empty promises and wishful thinking. If he was going to end up the kind of fool who wouldn't hesitate to interfere with his nation's governing power, then he wou
ld at least end himself honorably as an officer.
By both his nature and talent, Lergen was able to rein in his urge to leap at Ildoa's offer.
"The authority to perform diplomatic negotiations and whatnot doesn't rest with the army. The correct channel for this would be the Empire's embassy in Ildoa." When the logic wasn't following, nothing, no matter how small, could be overlooked. As that classic of the Orient said, The tunnel of a tiny bug can cause a long embankment to collapse.
There certainly was a lesson to be learned there.
"I beg your pardon. I just thought it would be faster to settle it between us military men."
What Calandro was saying was true, in a way. Lergen couldn't deny that omitting convoluted procedure and handling things on the ground was beneficial at times.
But he could deny this instance flat out.
"I don't mean to contradict you, but I don't think it's possible."
"...I'm sure we could make a decision right here. So what do you think, Colonel von Lergen?"
"If it were in the realm of tactics, a quick judgment would be fine. But as long as it's a matter of national strategy, isn't it out of the question for the hands and feet to mistake themselves for the brains? And besides," Lergen continued, "even if we decided among military authorities, this setup would still be strange. Don't you have an attaché at the Ildoan Embassy in the Empire? Or you could talk to the attaché we have here in Ildoa." He pressed on before Calandro could gloss things over. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but sneaking around with unofficial special envoys and whatnot makes me question General Gassman's judgment."
"That's just how seriously we take confidentiality. We want to keep the number of people involved to a minimum. It's only natural that we would keep secrecy at the forefront of our minds."
"So you want us to do this verbally? Even on the front line, orders come on paper."
Lergen could understand probing an enemy's feelings. Even envoys had their purpose. But getting asked to accept only the "words" from a half-politician emissary was shocking. This man was supposed to communicate, to leave a message, but he didn't even bring it in writing?
If he treated this shady dialogue as a meeting with a secret emissary and took it home, he could very well be stripped of his staff braid and kicked out of the General Staff Office.
"...I see. I understand your position. Still, I beg you not to turn me into some child on an errand."
Somehow, Calandro's courteous attitude rubbed Lergen the wrong way.
...Perhaps rather than liking or disliking him personally, he was anxious about the man's methods?
"Colonel Calandro, I understand your position. I don't mean to throw your words right back at you, but I'm not a child on an errand, either."
"In other words?"
"Could I get something in writing?"
"...Words aren't enough?"
No, they aren't. Lergen stared silently at him.
How long were their eyes fixed on each other? He didn't think it could be terribly long, but on the other hand, it felt like quite a while---a strange interval.
It probably wasn't right to say that Calandro resigned himself. It seemed like he somehow got over it as he looked up to the sky and then nodded before saying, "I'll prepare a sealed document. I can trust you'll deliver it to your country's General Staff Office?"
"I'm happy to fulfill the request of an allied nation." Lergen nodded. Calandro's expression stiffened for a moment, but he immediately plastered a gentle look on his face.
What a magnificent switch.
"Well, is that all you wanted to talk about? If you have no objections, I'd like to see the exercises."
"...Sure. Since I'm here, why don't I describe what we're doing? This way." Calandro offered to guide him. Nothing about his carriage or explanations struck Lergen as distant. He had been worried there would be lingering bad feelings but was relieved to find it wasn't the case. He could describe Colonel Calandro only as a sincere soldier rich in experience. The man showed him whatever he wanted to see and explained any details he asked about.
It goes without saying that two experts will notice different things even if they walk down the same road.
When it comes to military exercises, whether it's a demonstration meant for outsiders or not, there is always something to take away. For instance, when Lergen glanced at the gear the Royal Ildoan Army officers were carrying, he saw items that looked exactly like the seized gear he had seen in documentation.
The main difference was that these were probably official imports. Considering how nice they were and how they had enough to go around, it would be difficult to think that they picked them up off a battlefield.
At a glance, you could say it indicated a significant fact---that the Kingdom of Ildoa was building close relationships with the countries the Empire was at war with.
On the other hand, from the point of view of someone well versed in logistics and operations, it could also be interpreted that the Royal Ildoan Army's equipment situation was a mess.
"...I seem to have seen a lot of this equipment somewhere before."
"It's all imported. Lately it seems like there are new innovations in military tech every day. It wouldn't do to fall behind, so we're working hard to modernize."
"I'm so happy to see an allied army keeping up with the times. A hearty congratulations to you."
"Well, that's an honor." Calandro bowed. He must have grasped the issue, too. Rather than diversifying, it was better to standardize your gear---otherwise logistics would be too complicated in practice.
An army was a massive organization.
If they didn't streamline even a little bit wherever they could, they risked weapon maintenance becoming nonexistent on the front lines. That was just what modern war was like.
The next part was what truly confused him.
Lergen couldn't figure out why the Kingdom of Ildoa was so proud to be using foreign-made gear.
"By the way, your aerial mage battalion combat doctrine resembles the Commonwealth's..."
"That's because of the instructors. They happened to learn it on an exchange program between Ildoa and the Commonwealth."
"...I guess we should be proud that the Imperial Army obliterated the conflict between Ildoa and the other countries on the southern continent."
"Of course we're grateful to our ally."
"That's an honor, indeed. Apparently, we're coming in handy."
Was Ildoa employing props to boast about its diplomatic position? Or was the army forced into using foreign-made gear despite their awareness of how disorderly it was?
If the latter, then the Royal Ildoan Army was no better than a paper tiger. If the former, then they were tough. He would have to think about what might happen in a counterattack.
Sheesh. Lergen was about to shake his head when he saw a familiar color scheme out of the corner of his eye, and his brain immediately began sounding the alarm.
The uniforms of the belligerents were that emblematic.
"...Who are they?"
"Hmm, I don't have a very good memory...," Calandro joked, but he couldn't hide the fact that his smile, which had been so natural up until now, had transformed into one that was awfully artificial.
There was something creepy about the way he was talking that made him sound more like a politician than a soldier. The man from just a moment ago would have spared no effort to introduce him, but now, no.
It seemed an imperial soldier couldn't request a friendly introduction complete with handshakes to people in Commonwealth and Federation uniforms.
"Oh, it's almost time for the air force to go up. Mages tend to get all the attention, but we're shoring up our fighter manufacturing, so we have some fairly nice aircraft."
He probably felt awkward. Calandro hurried in a way that seemed to say, Can you just pretend you didn't see that? Lergen followed Calandro as he led him in the opposite direction---"Over there"---and Lergen wondered how he should interpret what
had just happened.
Was this part of the act or a slipup?
Hmm. After thinking for a bit, he looked at the sky and his eyes rested on the Ildoan military planes flying in dreamy formations.
They seemed awfully well trained---which meant a lot of flight hours. Lergen smiled inwardly at the thought that their apparent abundance of fuel for training flights could be used as a test of loyalty.
"You seem to have no shortage of aviation fuel."
"As you know, Ildoa is currently one of the major oil importers."
Apologies to Colonel Calandro, who wasn't even going to hide the fact that they're importing, but I was indeed fully aware of that.
"...To tell the truth, it'd be great if we could trouble you for some high-octane aircraft fuel on the basis of the agreement between our two countries."
"Yes, it's just as you say. We would love to be able to assist you; however...there are some treaty issues. As you know, as a neutral country, duties and privileges come as a set."
"But you would like to help us out as a friend?"
"Of course." Calandro nodded dramatically. "It pains my heart. Not a day goes by I don't wish to help my friends. But I'm surrounded by evil war laws and lawyers. Vexingly, these legal people claim that exporting high-octane fuel to even allied armies would violate our status as a neutral country."
If someone's expression said that they sympathized from the bottom of their heart, Lergen could certainly accept it as sympathy. Of course it would become difficult to push an impossible problem onto such an individual.
That said, Lergen wasn't asking as an individual but as a member of an evil organization.
"...If you'll excuse another inquiry, then, do you also have reservations about us using motorcycles instead of our feet?"
"Hmm?"
"Will our officers visiting to observe not be permitted to use fuel inside our ally country?"
Lergen had been forced to become an expert in the law of war, so he boasted quite a bit of knowledge in the field.