Weltkrieg: A Youjo Senki Fic

Unified Years 1914, 1st trench line, Rhine 3rd Command Post.

I entered the camp, as radio and mage operators barking an order, chattering filled the hallways.

Flapping the tent, I was greeted with familiar faces.

"Major Degurechaff," I nodded at her.

"Major Richard, good to see you." She nodded back, yet her fierce eyes focused on the field commander commanding the post.

"As you've known, five weeks ago Francois launched a massive offensive against our lines, resulting in our operation in Theater of Rhine to almost fell apart. If this won't be fixed soon, there will be no lines to defend for." The field commander grimly said, taking several pawns off the table indicating the casualties on several sides of the Empire lines.

"But today, we will strike back, a counter-offensive has been drawn by the General Staff. As our doctrine dictated, we will push the Francois back off our territories with a fast internal mobilization, surrounding the Francois army in their offensive."

The empire was facing several fronts in this war, the Francois in the South-west, and The Norden in the North. They didn't have choices but split the main army apart.

They may lead in the foreground of Technologies, they were an effective war machine the same as their counterparts of the German.

In a one-on-one fight, they won't break a sweat against Francois. In light of the situation, the war could be won by the end of the year granted if we fight with our full-forces.

But, a two-front war? sure in short time the Empire may hold the lines, but as fighting goes down, the chain in Logistics will start to fall apart, showing cracks, as conscription raking up.

After several plans were enacted from the Imperial Depot on the backline, the counter-offensive will be launched tomorrow morning. Since as a major, we didn't have our flight squadron yet, we were temporarily transferred to 205th mage battalion, under special circ.u.mstances of "trial combat" to test ourselves whether to be determined as worthy of major rank or not.

Of course, this was just a mere ploy, to circ.u.mvent the rank limitation since our group leader will be a lieutenant. A rank under of ours.

"Is the empire grow desperate to transfer you who from the Training department to the Frontlines, Major Degurechaff?" I asked the girl beside me, as we walked to our appointed briefing camp.

"Hmph, make no mistakes, we're an ace of ace. It will be the waste of a resource if we didn't get the first slice in the feast tomorrow." She shrugged.

Then she continues, "Still, this will be the first major counter-offensive operation in the Rhine, of course, they will do anything to make sure it succeeds."

"Even throwing children to the graves?" I added.

"If it was necessary then so be it, everyone will take part in it, civilian, military, no matter who you are." She added with a fierce glare. As expected of a war maniac, her words didn't pull any punches.

As we caught up in the conversation, we've arrived at the front of the tent.

"Mage Major Tanya Degurechaff, the leader of flight 3, 205th assault mage squadron. Reporting for duty." Tanya saluted in perfect symphony.

"Mage Major Richard Leonhard, Second-in-command of flight 3, 205th assault mage squadron. Reporting for duty."

"Well met, Major. I'm the squadron commander, Lieutenant Iren Schwarzkopf." The man introduced himself, his hair slicked back in the typical male hairstyle of the era.

"Good to see you again, Major Degurechaff." He offered his hand to Tanya.

"Nice to see you, Commander Schwarzkopf." I offered my hand to him, in turn.

"Very well. Let's cut the chase, we will need every bit of your strength for tomorrow." He said plainly, yet his eyes still wandering to us, judging us of our worth.

As much as the Commonwealth Propaganda wanted to say, a soldier can't choose their company.

"You were granted a special circ.u.mstance this times, Major Degurechaff you will lead the Mage Flight 3 tomorrow in counter-offensive as support troops for the artilleries." He paused, before taking a breath.

"I'll be frank, our 205th Mage squadron nominally consists of Three full flight of mages, however, after the war started, we barely support 2 full flight, and it still deteriorating.

You'll lead a flight of veteran war mages tomorrow. Can you do that?" It was an order, not a request.

"Just point the target, and it shall be done, sir."

He nodded in satisfaction, "I have the greatest expectation both of you, Gott Min Us."

"Good now let's go to the briefing." He clapped his hand, making way towards the table with the Rhine theater map on it.

"I'm sure you've already known. We will launch counter-strike tomorrow morning according to the Empire Land forces of Rapid Internal Mobilization Strategy." He pointed to several points of the map, with the Francois in the middle, creating a sort of rings with the Empire forces as the ring.

"How about our Logistics and the mustering of our main forces, Sir?" Tanya raised her hands.

"Quite bad, the transportation truck has been mobilized to Norden Last week, the estimation they will return in 2 weeks, not less."

Without a proper Logistics chain, and good enough forces this operation was good as thrown to the mud and compromised. The General staff asked us to advance or to die.

"Isn't that quite bad, Commander."

"Internal Mobilization is to halt the enemy advances with western armies, then with the main forces of the empire we will fight a gruesome defensive war against the Francois." He said with a final.

"Yes, understood commander. Our purpose is to receive and fulfill order no matter what as simple as that."

"Well said, Major Degurechaff." He smiled at her before continuing.

"Back to topic, 205th mage squadron has been chosen as one of the mobile strike forces in the defense of the frontline. We will protect the advancing Main forces, hold our ground, and save as many soldier lives as possible."

"Isn't that quite the contradictory? Is it being a mobile strike force before functioning as defenses forces?" I asked who has been keeping quiet this time.

The lieutenant turned his attention to me, "Both, our goal is not to defeat the enemy, but to fend them off."

"Understood."

"Good." Then he took a dossier off the table and handed it to Tanya.

"Major you flight will consist of Major Richard, and both of your wingman, Second-Lieutenant Viktoriya and Second-Lieutenant Violet.

Normally we will be spread the composition apart, but your flight will receive a special order. Aside from performing as Mobile Strike Forces, you will also assist the Artilleries in the help of Saturating the ground and buried the Francois six feet under."

Doesn't that mean they will treat us as a VIP of sorts, to act as the heavy hitter among Imperial mages.

In response Tanya seems to ecstatic when hearing the news, I don't know why. Must be her Patriotism at work here, receiving the honor of special direct order.

As expected of my fellow Badge holder, she won't let you down.

I'll trust my back on your Major Degurechaff.