by Carlo Zen
Tiegenhoff is an easy city to defend because it’s on a river…and it’s also near the sea, which is handy. On top of that, it has some distance from the border and is extremely close to a transportation hub. At one time, it must have been on a trade route from a port city.
Like this, it would be easy for the city to receive maritime support…and it would put pressure on that transportation hub everyone would be scrambling for in a mobile battle.
“I can’t have you forgetting that our fellow countrymen are trapped there. Imperial soldiers as well as civilians. Tiegenhoff isn’t a Federation city, you know!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Practically speaking, Captain Weiss, you make a valid point. They are definitely surrounded. But allow me to point out something else: Tiegenhoff hasn’t fallen yet.”
The two divisions are able to expect some degree of support from the rear, given that a city of their own country is under siege. Even the civilians can put up some resistance in an urban battle. Well, if heavy artillery decided to burn the whole city down, it would be futile resistance, but still.
Even with General von Zettour making the arrangements, it was impossible to take heavy artillery in the advance against the Republic. The siege guns always end up being available once things have already calmed down.
“S-sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Thanks, Visha… Uh, what’s all this?”
“The eastern armies gave me these aerial photos along with the map, Captain. They want us to understand the situation the trapped troops are in.”
Answering Weiss’s question, Serebryakov holds out a sheaf of documents categorized and plastered with all sorts of labels.
…When their head count is low, it’s easy to understand why the eastern armies would give us such materials. They must be desperate for us to help them with this rescue.
“Thanks. What about Lieutenant Grantz?”
“He’s currently occupied with an eastern army communications officer’s endless pleas for us to save those troops. If need be, I can show him in…”
“Wait just a moment.”
Saving allied troops…isn’t really our job. But we should be faithful to fellow freedom fighters confronting the evil of Communism. A liberal who would abandon warriors fighting for freedom and the market isn’t a liberal at all.
You can’t defend the world if you lose that stubborn refusal to back down a single step against the Communists.
If that’s the case… Tanya is determined.
“Captain Weiss, line up all the aerial photos and recon results. Let’s also look at the full reports from the Third and Thirty-Second Divisions.”
If there’s a chance the rescues will succeed, Tiegenhoff should be saved. Tanya prompts Serebryakov and Weiss to look at the map. “Let’s consider the area around Tiegenhoff as if we’re going to do the rescue.”
At least, that’s how the liberal camp Tanya knew worked. Now, with no threat of nuclear war—now was the time for good people to take up arms and put their bodies on the line to nip Communism in the bud. Of course, there are only limited reasons for Tanya to volunteer personally. It would be fine for her to support from the rear.
But standing by while in a position to lend a hand is unforgivable. As long as that’s true, then it’s your duty to lend one if you can.
“Major, what are you looking for?”
“Heavy artillery, Captain. It’s something we learned on the Rhine… Big guns sent up to the front lines from positions in the rear are always late. I expect the Federation Army does no better.”
“With all due respect, Major von Degurechaff, I don’t think our operations should count too much on the enemy making a mistake.”
Every word Weiss said was absolutely true, and Tanya smiles and tells him, “Of course not.” Your enemy being a fool and you expecting your enemy to be a fool are two different things. Even if they seem like the same, it’s too huge a risk to underestimate a potential enemy.
“I don’t mean to disparage the basic principle of preparing pessimistically and acting optimistically. I agree that we should assume it won’t work out. But…,” Tanya continues with a bit of conviction in her voice, “…if you’ll consult your fond memories of our battle to subdue the Republican Army, weren’t we under strict orders to assume we had no heavy artillery? The Imperial Army has a tendency to forget this, since we won, but…heavy artillery pieces are hopelessly slow. They never show up on time.”
The slowpoke artillerists are always late for decisive junctures. They’re a credit to the defense, and they contribute to offense, but…firepower in critical battles never manages to reach the itch.
“General von Zettour took pains to arrange them for us, but we were still often lacking firepower. Let’s see if the Federation Army is capable of having heavy artillery accompany their advancing infantry.” After frowning at the maps for some time, Tanya speaks again as if to say, I was right! “The enemy artillery seems to be lagging behind… There are two pieces of evidence here that back that up: I can’t see any heavy artillery in the aerial photographs, and there are no reports from our troops that they’ve been shelled.”
Assuming an absence of enemy heavy artillery is wishful thinking.
But in this situation, there is a real possibility that it’s actually absent. In any case, we can be confident that it hasn’t been detected yet.
“So they weren’t advancing with the intention of a siege battle, huh?”
The moment Weiss, also frowning at the map, nods that he thinks they can do it, Tanya murmurs her agreement.
Communists tend to be big on armies with lots of firepower, but this time even they’re without the heavy artillery they’re so proud of. In war, if the other side’s specialty, artillery, is missing and there are enough resources to wage our side’s specialty, mobile battles, then this is easy. We force our enemies to do what they’re bad at and what we’re good at.
“So, if that’s the case, Captain Weiss, wouldn’t Tiegenhoff make an even better forward position than we thought?”
“For the mobile mission, you mean? If, as you say, the enemy heavy artillery really hasn’t advanced…”
Tanya and Weiss murmur that they can hit the city, but then Serebryakov, who has been paying them no mind, her attention silently focused on the map, speaks up with an argument for caution.
“Please wait. Certainly, that’s how they appear to be equipped, but can we really rule out the possibility? For instance, there are a number of movements along the border. Please consider the chance that long-range units including railway guns might be getting deployed.”
“Lieutenant Serebryakov, I find it hard to imagine railway guns would advance. Do you really think our enemies are stupid enough to move such large equipment through an area where they don’t have air supremacy?”
“I’m not talking about their intentions, ma’am. Please consider their ability.”
The Federation Army has already positioned a number of railway guns along the border. The unit the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion fought—or more like trampled—earlier was Federation railway guns. “And,” continues Serebryakov with a grave look on her face.
“Even on the Rhine, enemy railway guns in the rear were a serious threat. Please take into account that even artillery positions and communications trenches fortified with concrete couldn’t take a direct hit from a railway gun.”
Certainly, neither Tanya nor Weiss could deny that. Perhaps recalling his time on the Rhine, Weiss makes a bitter face, while Tanya remembers how Dora raged in Warsaw.
“Major, Tiegenhoff has far weaker defenses than we did on the Rhine. And if this estimate of their railway gun positioning is correct, there’s a good chance we would be in range.”
Though they’re lacking the artillery making the long advance, they do have an extended range with their railway guns. Serebryakov’s comment that we might just barely enter it is correct.
For a moment, Tanya fears the dearth of en
emy firepower upon which the rescue would be premised may be short-lived, but then she finally realizes—Oh.
“Lieutenant Serebryakov, you’re right to point out the possibility that enemy heavy artillery may exist, but I don’t think it will be a significant threat. You let your Rhine experience influence your thinking too much.”
“Do excuse me, Major, but what do you mean by that?”
“Captain Weiss, you feel the same way?”
Tanya smiles wryly. They’ve learned too much from their experiences.
“It’s simple. Indirect fire becomes possible only with incomparable teamwork. Remember that on the Rhine front both the Empire and the Republic had artillery scouts stationed on the forward-most lines or had aerial mages like ourselves flying around as observers to collect data in peril of being shot down; only then was effective fire possible.”
Cannons fired at random…won’t find their mark. Without a scout to give you adjustments and observe your impacts, you’re only wasting shells. If there’s an exception, it’s strictly the times you want to fire at a large city on a map, like Paris, so that it’s fine as long as it lands in the ballpark, and you let loose with your Paris Gun.
“Oh yeah, now that you mention it… I took it for granted and just assumed indirect fire could happen anytime.”
“That’s what I’m talking about, Captain Weiss. If you read the frontline reports closely, the scariest thing for ground troops—observer scouts—weren’t spotted.”
“I heard that Federation Army artillery operate as a group…so it’s doubtful the frontline units have spotters, then.”
Weiss nods—It’s just as you say, Major—and Serebryakov looks as though she understands. Tanya is satisfied that she has managed to remind them that the battalion’s priority is to eliminate enemy observers should they appear.
…The mobile mission and the rescue of the Third and Thirty-Second aren’t actually conflicting objectives. The two divisions have been overwhelmed by enemy wave attacks in an isolated location, but…that position can be used as a stepping-stone to attack the rear enemy lines.
“I say that rescuing these two divisions contributes to the General Staff’s objectives with the mobile mission. I’m asking permission.”
If you can consider the risks and returns and still decide it sounds worthwhile, there’s no reason not to do it.
Tanya declares they’re going in for the rescue.
The fact that Weiss and Serebryakov happily approve is a good indication that the battalion’s opinion isn’t split.
Tanya’s subordinate officers are raring to fight as usual, and she’s happy that she knows that she can count on them even in a difficult situation.
Almost as an afterthought, she directs Serebryakov to prepare first aid supplies.
“Lieutenant Serebryakov, have your unit take as many medical supplies as you can. We’re planning on a long-range advance, but we may have to air-drop them, so attach parachutes.”
In other words, Tanya says to herself. “Guess we gotta try some kindness.”
“Major?”
When Serebryakov asks her, “Is anything the matter?” she replies, admitting that it’s uncharacteristic of her, “Ah, I just thought if they’re in a jam, they might have run out of some of this stuff. It would be nice to take them whiskey and cigarettes, too, but I figure in the thick of a fight, they need medical supplies.”
When Tanya continues, lamenting that they don’t have any whiskey or cigarettes, anyway, she ends up nearly scowling at a comment from Weiss.
“I don’t doubt that. But, Major, there should be alcohol from the southern continent in the battalion treasury.”
“Captain Weiss, what are you talking about? Nobody told me that!”
Everyone brought back a little something with them as a souvenir, or they could have even had something sent via military post, but…bottles in the battalion treasury? The fact that she hadn’t approved the expense or sanctioned the purchase is, to Tanya, almost embarrassing.
“A member of the battalion won it in a poker game at the headquarters of the staff of the southern continent expeditionary forces, so I’ve been holding on to it. And it’s just the kind of thing you’d expect HQ to have—nice stuff.”
“You’ll have to excuse me, Captain. I thought you were the serious type who wouldn’t even touch gambling.”
Upon receiving Tanya’s glare that all but demands details, Weiss gets a bit flustered and hurriedly says, “Actually, it was Lieutenant Serebryakov who won it…”
“What? Is that true?”
“Umm, I was just playing for fun…”
She bows and explains that she somehow won big and she took the alcohol because of the general mood at the time; she didn’t have anything to do with it, so she tossed it into the battalion treasury. Since they’re dealing with an emergency, Tanya shelves the issue for now but is forced to make a mental note to talk to the troops later.
That’ll be for after we complete this rescue mission. In reply to Tanya’s proposal, the General Staff say they approve of the idea, in addition to authorizing it. And since the orders are official, the General Staff will take care of making adjustments to other areas.
The Eastern Army Group assists with weapons and ammunition, which Serebryakov handles. Once Grantz and his unit receive a briefing on documentation about the region from the eastern staff, Tanya gives the battalion details on their objectives and itinerary.
Basically, we’re delivering hope. When she finishes telling them that, the veterans are all pumped, as expected. “Let’s do it!” they shout aloud, and implicitly they cry, If our troops are in trouble, we’ll run to the rescue! That’s what mages live for! Their fighting spirit is running high.
Normally, mages hate delivery missions because of how much fatigue they entail, but this time it’s only natural that delivery should be a part of the mission, so they shoulder the first aid supplies and other goods without a single complaint.
Unexpected additional supplies show up right as Tanya and the battalion are lined up on the runway ready to take off. The Eastern Army Group staffers who came to see off the already heavily laden battalion brought bottles and cigarette packs as if they’d just remembered they had them. Officially, Tanya declines their request to take the items to their friends on the front lines because they would be too heavy, but she announces that she’ll honor her subordinates’ free will.
Her men put the slightly off-the-record goods into their packs—the alcohol and cigarettes are treated as personal items—and with a farewell a bit grander than usual, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion takes off and begins their push toward besieged Tiegenhoff.
Their goal, naturally, is to break the encirclement.
Maintaining combat formation in anticipation of encounter battles and invading the occupied area at full speed is a chance for the battalion to apply the search-and-destroy skills they polished on the Rhine and down south.
And so the hammer of this augmented battalion is wielded by the Imperial Army and brought down with all its might on the Federation Army.
To get straight to the point, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion succeeds in smashing into the encircling Federation Army units with perfect timing.
“Advance, advance! Cut right through!” Tanya roars at the front of her unit, and they begin an anti-surface strike to all but obliterate the units attacking the imperials, starting with their flank.
“Ready suppressive fire! Choose your own targets!”
With one call from Tanya, who’s not about to let them engage in organized combat, enemies who appear to be the commanders are, to the last man, wiped out by a mix of scattered explosion formulas and optical sniping formulas raining mercilessly down on the ground.
As long as the return fire is sporadic, there’s no need to pay attention to it, so the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion dominates the battlefield as if they own it.
Even a mage in a defensive shell will be shot down if they get careless on a battle
field where bullets are flying. But if the shooting isn’t done in a structured way, the chances they connect are thankfully microscopically slim.
Kicking apart the Federation Army, now incapable of organized combat, is like child’s play to these elites who toyed with the Republican Army on the Rhine front.
“Major, look!”
Tanya follows Serebryakov’s prompt to see a corner of the enemy army crumbling and nods at the punctuality.
“Our troops! Great timing!”
Though surrounded, the trapped divisions were still fit to fight. It was only natural for them to hit the enemy where they were weak. As the friendly mages fly out in response and begin raining formulas down on the Federation troops’ heads, Tanya confirms that it’s a rout.
“Act together! Punch through! Pry their lines apart!”
The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion concentrates their fire on a single point and supports the breakthrough while moving into position to join up with the others. Meanwhile, the friendly units are quick to pick up on the objective and readily begin to cooperate.
Thus, the breakthrough and combining of forces gets accomplished quite easily.
Satisfied with the coordination that could have been pulled off only among pros, Tanya walks over to greet a man with a big smile on his face, whom she guesses is the commander.
“Major Hofen, Third Division, 213th Mage Battalion! Thank you for coming! That was a close call!”
“I’m sorry we were late. I’m Major von Degurechaff, 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion reporting to the General Staff. We were ordered to make a counterattack and just barely managed to rush over here—I’m so relieved. And by the way, nice job surviving such a heavy encirclement.”
Tanya and Hofen shake hands, wishing each other luck in future battles. Of course, the exchange is a formal courtesy, but the gratitude and praise are genuine. Unlike etiquette that remains only as a shell of its sentiments, on the front lines, it helps officers bond through their shared experiences.
“We escaped right before the heavy artillery showed up.”
“I’m just glad we made it in time. In the academy, they drilled it into us that tardiness was not tolerated so much that even just the word late frightens me!”
