Rhine Front Redux
April 1925
Strategic HQ
Capitol City Berun, Empire
"Rudersdorf, my old friend. I happened to have heard a rumor by way of the Railway Department’s Major Ugar that anonymous gifts of chocolate and coffee beans have been making their way into Major Degurechaff's coffers. You wouldn't happen to know anything about these, would you?"
"I’m afraid not! Well, I'm sure whoever is sending these gifts is simply grateful for Major Degurechaff's phenomenal service for the Fatherland. She certainly deserves them, if you ask me."
"Is that so? And it has nothing at all to do with potentially recruiting the Major? Currying favor perhaps, to sway a future career choice?"
"I couldn't rightly say, Zettour my old friend."
“Really now. Well, I guess there isn’t anymore for me to say. After all, rumors are just rumors.” Zettour turned to leave, before pausing. “Oh, did you hear the latest news by the way? I know you only just returned from the mop-up in Norden, so perhaps you haven’t.”
“No, though I know there was a meeting of the General Staff recently. What is it?”
“During the most recent meeting, it was agreed to send a battalion’s worth of mage cadets out for in-depth, firsthand war experience on the Rhine Front, to be trained by a former member of the instructor unit.”
“An interesting decision. I can see why it’s necessary, but I wonder if casting fresh-faced mage recruits directly into hell will end up being productive.” Rudersdorf shook his head. “Of course, I wasn’t back in Berun at the time, so I can only assume the rationale. I’d guess the idea is that because we need more active mages, sending recruits to the Rhine to become soldiers has become practically a necessity. Still, it must be an accomplished instructor if we’re forcing a whole batch of greenhorns on them.”
His eyes widened.
“Ah, Zettour, which member of the instructor unit is currently active on the Rhine Front?” Rudersdorf had a sinking feeling. “It would have to be someone with a proven track record at training mages as well. The only one there that I can think of is…”
“Why, Major Degurechaff of course.” Zettour was the epitome of smug. “She enjoyed training the 203rd so much, you know. I figured this was the least I could do to thank her for her efforts in Norden. I’m sure she’ll be positively jumping with joy!”
-=-=-=-
April 1925
Imperial Army Rear Garrison Facility
Rhine Front, Empire
After their stint along the coast of Norden, the warmer weather of the Rhine Front was almost a blessing. Ironic, since the Rhine Front was perhaps the closest place to Hell on Earth at the moment.
“Major, it’s time to get up.” Second Lieutenant Serebryakov called out from behind her superior’s bedroom door.
“I’m up, no need to worry.” Tanya called back, still comfortably curled up in bed.
Even with the somewhat warmer weather of the spring season and their new location, that didn’t make truly waking up any easier. Frankly, her hypotension seemed not to care, weather or location be damned.
It was even worse when she got up at the ass-crack of dawn to practice with the Type 95 and 97. Which she actually did less of now, out of necessity more than anything. The frontlines, and the Rhine Front especially, required her to be more active at odd times than Norden ever had. The result was that she had to cut her practice time down to a once or twice a week instead of every morning.
Admittedly, though the practice was self-inflicted Tanya was grateful for the amount of sleep she had been getting lately. Between early mornings in Norden and sleepless nights nearly anywhere else, she honestly hadn’t been this well rested since her near year of education at the War College.
Really, as long as nothing overly crazy or stressful entered her life soon, she might finally get rid of the ever-present bags under her eyes. They were a constant during her initial stint on the Rhine Front, had disappeared during her War College days, then had reappeared sometime during her training of the 203rd.
She felt like a raccoon at times. A stressed raccoon.
To no one’s surprise, teaching and training other mages for combat and survival was excruciatingly stressful. Thankfully, she’d only had to do it once with Viktoriya then once more with her battalion. Just the thought of having to do any of that again was enough to make Tanya shiver.
It was funny how she’d only ever trained mages after she had already left the instructor unit.
And actually, it was also sort of funny how Viktoriya’s knocking at her door was what woke her up half the time now. Back in their initial stints on the Rhine Front, Tanya was the one doing the waking. Such was the responsibility of an instructor.
To be fair though, she also slept a hell of a lot less during that time period from a combination of the stress of being on the frontlines, the stress of teaching and keeping the then-Corporal Viktoriya alive, the stress of finding out just how destructive the Type 95 could be on her body, the stress of-
Well, she had a lot on her mind back then, needless to say. You could say she still did now; she just learned how to manage it better.
“Would you like help with your hair this morning?”
“No need!” Tanya yelled back, hastily throwing off her covers. “I’m wide awake already.”
The Major rushed about her room, switching from nightclothes to uniform as fast as she could. If the military had taught her anything, it was the ability to get ready for anything in an instant.
“You may enter.” The Major called out, just finishing tying her hair back in the usual ponytail.
Viktoriya opened the door and quickly slipped in, balancing a tray between hands as she closed the door behind her.
“Good morning Major!”
“Yes, good morning. There’s a meeting today between Field Officers, right?”
“That’s right. It’s being held at the 13th Temporary Encampment.” The adjutant held up the tray in her hands. “Here, I brought breakfast so you wouldn’t be swamped in the mess hall. It’s potato slices again.”
“You’re a blessing Viktoriya. Truly.” Tanya took the tray from her and set it down on her bed. “Hn. I sure do enjoy eating potatoes for every meal.”
Viktoriya didn’t seem to catch the sarcasm, as she was too caught up on Tanya calling her a ‘blessing’.
“Yeah! They’re great, aren’t they?”
“Right, let’s go with that.” Grabbing one of the slices, Tanya took a hesitant bite. “…This is a bit stale, don’t you think?”
“Oh? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Well, I wouldn’t expect you of all people to notice, no offense. I don’t think I’ve met a soldier with a stronger stomach than you.”
“Eheh…” The adjutant glanced away.
“By the way, have you eaten yet?”
Viktoriya turned her gaze back to her superior.
“Well, I was in a bit of a rush to grab you some, so… no. I only had one of the slices before I came in.”
“Then here.” Tanya handed her a couple more potato slices. “I’d rather us both eat and be full than just me.”
Tanya finished off her original slice and grabbed another, before pausing. A thoughtful look crossed her face as she turned to look out the room’s lone window.
“It seems the farmers of this area still haven’t been evacuated, if the fields are any indication. But if the Rhine Front continues to expand, they’d also need to leave. As would the hundreds and thousands of other people that had the misfortune of living near the Empire’s western border. Whole generations of livelihood and accumulated gains lost in an instant. All because of the waste that is war.”
She plopped the whole potato slice in her mouth, chewing and swallowing in quick succession. The remainder of the slices were snatched up and deposited into one of her breast pockets.
“Even if it’s potatoes, we should be happy to get three meals a day. Others aren’t so lucky. The sooner we end this war, the sooner they and we can go back to enjoying peaceful, delicacy-laden lives.”
“Of course, Major. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Viktoriya said it so earnestly that Tanya couldn’t help but blush a little.
“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “By the way, how’s the unit’s morale been lately? Practically none of the men smoke, and we still have alcohol in storage from Norden, which tells me we aren’t drinking much. I’m sure you remember as well as I how draining the Rhine Front is.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t lie if you asked them yourself, but morale is very high right now. Everyone wishes to continue fighting under your command. We trust you, so you can trust your handpicked mages to keep fighting.”
Tanya shrugged noncommittally.
“I suppose I’ll take your word for it. Now, there’s a meeting to attend. No need to be late just because we get special treatment.”
Extra rest time, better accommodations, priority on food and water supplies, all these were benefits of being the most elite group of mages on the Rhine Front. Of course, the other side of that meant their elite abilities were put to work harder than anyone else.
It was nice being a mage, but that niceness was accompanied by a high level of not nice. It basically equaled out. And it was certainly much more preferable to being an artillery officer or and infantry soldier. The artillery ran themselves ragged firing shell after shell on enemy positions at nearly all times of day, and infantry literally ran and also bled and died in order to push forward frontline positions.
Of course, the main problem with this was that the Rhine Front wasn’t moving. It was a massive stalemate of unimaginably wasteful proportion.
Tanya complained viciously about this fact during the ride over to the 13th Temporary Encampment.
“I don’t get how we can just afford to waste soldiers like this. It honestly baffles me.”
Her adjutant nodded sympathetically in the seat beside her. Then again, what Tanya perceived as a nod might well have been the bumping of the open top military vehicle they were riding in.
An unfortunate side effect of being near the frontlines was that any and all roads inevitably ended up as increasingly shitty dirt and rock-laden paths at the best of times. In the worst of times, they were laden with mud, blood, and dead bodies.
“Training, equipment, pensions… what sort of price accompanies just one soldier? And yet we donate them to the afterlife in bulk. Is there no care involved? Or are they just numbers on a fatality report? The General Staff must have some sort of plan in the works, but for the life of me I can’t understand it. Then again, maybe that’s why I’m on the frontlines and not currently sitting in a comfy Berun strategy hall. ”
“I think soldiers are more willing to perform well when their commanders care about them. It’s no wonder the 203rd is so strong then, huh Major?”
“Ha!” Tanya looked up as their vehicle came to a stop. “I wonder about that sometimes. How often do you gamble our nonessential supplies on card games again?”
“Well that’s-”
“In any case, we’re here.”
Tanya hopped out. Viktoriya stuck her tongue out as the Major’s back was turned, before getting up and following suit.
The 13th Temporary Encampment was a small supply depot with a focus on artillery pieces and larger, multi-manned guns, located a little under half a kilometer from the Regional Army HQ.
It was more of an unloading point than anything else, which made it perfect for observing whatever new shit the guys back in Berun thought would be useful on the front. More often than not, it ended up as an exhibition in absurdity.
Another, larger supply depot more focused on arms and food supplies was attached to the HQ, connected to this encampment and depot by way of a rail line. Presumably, the HQ was where her other subordinates were.
A railway track ran parallel to the dirt road that led here, lined intermittently with stacked piles of wooden supply crates, loading and unloading ramps, and various military vehicles in use and not. Various soldiers and MPs could be seen among the crates, vehicles, and rails, as an ever constant, ever efficient cycle of loading and unloading supplies continued.
The two women had been dropped off directly next to two large wooden crate stacks, with a gap between the gave a direct line-of-sight to the railway.
An unfamiliar shape through the gap caught Viktoriya’s eye. “Did we get new tanks?”
“Ah, those are self-propelled guns actually.” A familiar voice chimed in. Warrant Officer Teyanen approached the duo, having just rounded one of the crate stacks.
“What’s the difference between those and tanks?” Viktoriya asked.
“Well, they can sell more if they give them different names.”
“Typical.” Tanya shook her head. “Teyanen, good to see you.”
“And you as well Major.”
“Where’s the rest of my battalion? They should be nearby. HQ?”
“Yep, pretty much everyone is at or around the Regional Army’s HQ at the moment. I believe Weiss should be on his way soon, but he had to handle an issue with one of our recent food supply shipments first.”
“Really? Adjutant, I’d like you to head over to the regional HQ and see if Weiss needs any help. Otherwise, check for new messages from Strategic HQ and the General Staff. I’ll join you there after the meeting.”
“Yes Major!” Viktoriya saluted, then ran off, eager to fulfill her duty.
“Teyanen, you can come with me to the Field Officers’ meeting or accompany my adjutant.”
“I’ll go with you, Major.”
“Then let’s be off.”
-=-
Tanya bore a deadpan expression as the latest of her various superiors’ genius decisions made itself apparent.
“Really, every second more I spend on the Rhine, the more feel like the collective common sense of our Imperial superiors is dropping.”
“Major, I may be missing something, but what’s the point of sending us these new railway guns and self-propelled guns if we don’t have enough people to run them?”
“That’s a good question Teyanen. And the answer is simple: because they felt like it.” Tanya sighed and turned to walk away from the utterly massive railway gun she and Teyanen had been staring at in exasperation and awe for the past few minutes. “If push comes to shove, we could always melt them down for ammunition.”
“You don’t suppose we could try to operate them with magic?” Teyanen glanced back at the gun one last time before following. “I know you’ve experimented with computation orbs and spells before. I wonder if guiding a shell into enemy headquarters would be possible with enough mana behind it.”
“I’ve only officially tested the Type 95 computation orb, and my spell experimentation is unfortunately limited thanks to this war taking up all my free time. That being said, I’m fairly certain the mana expenditure for such an ordeal would be impossible. Remember that one overpowered, long-range optical spell I used back in our first operation in Norden? Anything beyond that range would be a crapshoot at best.”
Tanya side-eyed another railway gun as they strolled by.
“Really, the only other option the hit enemy HQ like that would be to hope we get lucky. That, or you could put a mage inside the shell to guide it from within.”
“Strapping a mage to an oversized artillery shell? I’ve heard crazier.”
“Would you strap yourself to an artillery shell Teyanen?”
“Only if you asked me too, Major.”
“Well, I can appreciate your loyalty, but maybe you should think that answer through a bit more. The shells more liable to explode, with you on it, over anything else.”
“Well then, I hope I’ll make a lovely firework show at least!”
Tanya snorted.
“I hope you can keep that energy going forward.” She looked up, spotting two things in quick succession.
One, was the regional army HQ and its adjacent supply depot that ran by the railway, just a few meters ahead of them. It seems their stroll had gone a bit faster than she’d thought. Two, was the approach of both her Vice Commander and her adjutant, along with the majority of the 203rd in various groupings behind them. None of which looking particularly enthused at the moment.
“Judging by the looks on their faces, we’ll need that hopeless optimism of yours.”
“You don’t suppose the General Staff wants to strap us to artillery shells, do you Major?”
“I certainly hope not, but if they did then at least we can try to make it, as you said, ‘a lovely firework show’.” Tanya shot him a rueful half-smile, before shifting to a more serious expression and turning her head back forward to address her approaching subordinates. “What’s the situation with our food supply?”
Weiss and Viktoriya slowed to a halt in front of her, the rest of the 203rd forming a loose semicircle behind and around.
“The latest batch had a serious issue of freshness.” Weiss began, after exchanging a glance with Viktoriya. “There’s nothing to do about it now, since we’ve already been eating it, but I was assured that the upcoming shipments would all be of better quality. Apparently, they’ve recently converted Arene into a full-on logistics depot.”
Arene? That’s good news, I think. It’s supposed to be a major railway hub for the west. But weren’t there worries of Republican sympathizers since it’s technically still disputed territory?
“Anything else?”
“Not about supplies, no.”
“Major.” Her adjutant spoke up, seeming just a tad bit nervous, “Mage reinforcements have recently arrived at the Regional Army’s HQ. HQ has asked for you to see to them.”
“Mage reinforcements?” Tanya raised an eyebrow. “The 203rd needs no reinforcements now. We haven’t had any serious casualties. Not to doubt the local Army HQ, but are you sure they know what they’re talking about? Was there some sort of miscommunication?”
“No, I double-checked, as did Weiss once I told him. There’s no mistake.”
“What?” There was a sinking feeling in her gut. A feeling telling her that she absolutely should not have gotten out of bed this morning.
“It’s not quite confirmed, but” Viktoriya leaned in, “there’s a rumor that the General Staff and local HQ wants us to act as a training unit for recently graduated mage cadets.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
Tanya glanced around at the others, hoping for someone to chuckle and give up the joke. No one laughed.
All she could do was sigh. “And how did you hear this rumor?”
“Well, my classmate and roommate from Cadet School is a mage at the main Rhine Front HQ a few sectors away. Her most recent letter said, ‘I heard you’re going to be teaching! Good luck!’ with a smiley-face on the end.”
“…Viktoriya, your friend has sharp ears. Too sharp.”
Viktoriya hung her head. “I know.”
Why would they ask us to instruct greenhorns? Of all mage units on the Rhine Front, we’re probably the busiest with how hard they push us on every mission. Unless… shit. It’s my fault, isn’t it?
“Apparently, the General Staff gave the idea their seal of approval immediately, once they heard about a highly accomplished former member of the instructor unit currently operating on the Rhine Front. At least, that’s what I gathered from my classmate’s letter.”
“The General Staff must be desperate to end the war.” Weiss said, crossing his arms. “Did you have to be such good teacher, Major?”
“Yes, otherwise you all would be drinking ersatz coffee in actual Hell rather than with me on the Rhine Front, which is only mostly Hell.” Tanya shot back, before scoffing. “I suspected they were desperate, but to have it show so obviously is more than a bit stunning.”
Weiss agreed wholeheartedly. “Honestly, sending a whole battalion of greenhorns to us. Do they expect us to babysit while fighting a war? Should we act as shields for rookies that can’t even hold their guns properly? Bullshit!”
I understand your frustration Weiss, really, I do. And by letting you, my normally cool and collected Vice Commander vent this frustration, it keeps everyone else from speaking out. They’d be too busy holding you back to say the same. Still, I don’t really want morale dropping. Especially after such a bombshell.
“We were all greenhorns at some point, though.” Viktoriya pointed out.
“That’s true.” Tanya smirked, an idea springing to mind. Yeah, jokes were great for raising morale, weren’t they?
“I wonder, Serebryakov. The officer that trained you must have been harsh.” Weiss said, his anger fading as quickly as it appeared.
“They were rather devilish, I’d say, but I definitely learned a lot!” Viktoriya replied cheerily.
Some of the 203rd members around them began to chuckle.
“If we’re lucky, there might be a hidden gem or two among them.” Tanya interjected. She smirked knowingly. “You know, I trained a recruit here once, back before I attended the War College. She cried, puked, nearly passed out from fear, and once forgot to leave up a sign on our tent flap when she was bathing.”
“Major!”
“But, if you can believe it, that recruit became a veteran mage.”
“One-on-one training with you must be pretty harsh.” Weiss laughed. “Ah, sorry, forget I said that Major.”
“Did you say something Weiss? You want more training, perhaps? I could always stick you with the greenhorns.”
“No! I’m perfectly fine, thank you Major!”
The entire battalion was chuckling or outright laughing now. Tanya watched them continue to joke with a smile on her face.
Teyanen elbowed her softly and leaned in, speaking quietly under everyone else’s laughter.
“Are you sure you’re fine with this Major?”
“I have to be. There’s nothing else I can do with them but my best.” Tanya crossed her arms, her smile dropping. “We were all recruits once, before trials of steel and fire made us soldiers. I was one of those cadets once.”
A joke from Neumann got the laughter going stronger than ever.
For them though, it was simply background noise.
“Cadet School feels like such a long time ago. I hardly think about it at all, Major. Do you?”
"Sometimes. Sometimes I think about those early days. When I was just another promising recruit, when I hadn't yet touched the world with both hands and found that it burned.” Tanya sighed then, feeling a lifetime older than she actually was. “But that’s what becoming a soldier is. These greenhorns will go through the same. I can only hope our tutelage if enough to let them survive the process.”
"You’re the White Silver and the Devil of the Rhine. If anyone can… Hm. Say, Major, do you ever wish you could go back? Be just another recruit again? It must be hard being-"
"No.” Tanya cut him off. “Never. Even if I did, I wouldn't belong anymore. All I can do now is go forward."
"Ever forward, right Major?"
She chuckled. "That's right, Teyanen. I'm going to see just how far I can go."
“We’ll be there with you. I’ll be there with you. Let us share your burden.” Teyanen gave her a kind look. "Even through Hell, I'll follow you forever Major."
"Thank you Teyanen.” As Tanya looked around, noting the happiness and amusement of her battalion in this one moment in time, she found herself wishing, hoping it would last forever. “I’ll hold you to that.”
-=-
It was as she stood on a raised wooden platform with her adjutant and Company Commanders, overlooking a crowd of recruits so fresh and green they might as well be brussels sprouts, that Tanya got the distinct feeling that she hadn’t wished or hoped quite hard enough.
“Recruits! This is the Rhine Front!” She yelled. “Also known as your new home. Welcome to the closest place to Hell on Earth!”
A battalion-worth, really?! Why are they so efficient at shipping “reinforcements” when we don’t need them?
“Don’t worry though. As long as you stick behind your seniors, you’ll probably make it more than a few days! I am your main instructor and new Commander, Major Tanya von Degurechaff! Serve me and my men well, and you’ll be just fine!”
She paused and waited for a moment.
Absolute silence.
“…Weiss.”
“Right.” Weiss stepped forward slightly and puffed out his chest. “Listen up greenies! When the Major is finished speaking, you are to respond immediately with a loud ‘Yes Commander!’. If anyone forgets this basic curtesy again, I can assure you that medical will be more than happy to treat your wounds once I’m through with you. Is that clear?!”
“Yes!” “Yes, Commander!” “Yes Lieutenant! Uh, Commander!”
Tanya shared an exasperated look with her Company Commanders and adjutant.
They’re so green it hurts my eyes. Tanya thought darkly. What the hell does the General Staff think it’s doing? Do they expect me to work miracles? …Well, maybe they do. Dammit all.
-=-
Second Lieutenant Grantz’s first impression of the famed White Silver and her inner circle was this: Scary...
“As I said, the Rhine Front is practically Hell.” The White Silver said, seemingly only barely attempting to hide her displeasure, “It’s a mass graveyard, where the souls of soldiers both alive and dead mingle in pits of blood-soaked mud and despair. The Francois Republic has taken to hosting welcoming parties for any lost Imperial soldier, with the party favors being lead, steel, and shells. If any of you decide to stray too far from your seniors, or if anyone would like a swift post-mortem double promotion, feel free to venture into the Rhine with all that ‘pride for the Fatherland’ I’m sure Cadet School and the Officers’ Course filled you with.”
To Grantz, she almost looked… bored, in addition to her apparent displeasure upon seeing them all for the first time. He’d admit to feeling a bit insulted, but this was the Head Commander of the Empire’s most elite mage unit. He and the other recruits would just have to prove their worth, that’s all.
And there was no doubt in his mind that they would. After all, he was near the top of his class academically and was a graduate of the same Cadet School and Officers’ Program that the White Silver had gone through.
“Let me tell you this right now: that pride will only get you and your fellow recruits killed.” She continued. “It’s fine to be a patriot. I understand, truly I do. I love the Fatherland with all my heart. But on the frontlines, all you should be worrying about is survival. Not patriotism. The Empire has no shortage of patriots willing to join the cause. This especially goes for you officers; don’t think you’re special because you volunteered out of some misguided sense of duty. Your big head will only make it easier for the enemy to shoot you.”
What?
“In case that wasn’t obvious enough, let me give you a bit of a morbid example. As you are aware, I am a Major. A Magic Major, to be specific, though the addition of the word ‘Magic’ is purely cosmetic. Despite being a mere Major, an innumerable number of officers more senior than I are receiving double promotions en masse. As such, I, a mere Major, am one of the more senior officers currently operating on the Rhine Front. Sooner or later, I will likely be the most senior officer. Think about these unwilling double promotions of your senior officers before you decide to pursue one yourselves. Now, I think- Hm?”
The Major turned her head to the side as an MP ran up to the stage and interrupted whatever tangent she was about to go on.
“Pardon me Major! There’s an urgent report!”
“What’s this? Go on then.”
“Our forwardmost position was infiltrated by a Republican mage battalion. The enemy mages’ aerial bombardment from the attack left the 35th Division’s Artillery Battery largely incapacitated!”
All right, it’s time to fight! It’s a shame what happened to our men, but this is our chance to show the White Silver what we’re made of!
“Is that so? War truly is Hell, and reality even more so for allowing it.”
The White Silver shrugged, then turned to face the battalion of recruits once again. The recruits all stood at attention, ready to earn their place and show their true capabilities. Saving people, they could do that.
Just give us the order, White Silver! Grantz thought, believing himself more ready for this than he ever had been for anything else in his life. We’ll show you why you should be happy to teach us!
“It’s a shame what happened to our men, but killing and getting killed is a constant in war. Still, their sacrifice won’t be in vain. Recruits…”
All right, let’s do this!
“…your orders for now are to stay here and stay out of the way.”
Huh?
She addressed the MP once more. “You said they ‘left’ the Battery incapacitated. Then, am I correct in assuming the Republican mages have already retreated?”
“That right, Major.” The MP answered promptly.
“Then there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let HQ know that they need to boost their detection net for concealed mana signatures. Not that it’ll help any, since it seems to me that this was a premeditated attack. It’s more likely they would have stuck around or pushed farther forward were it just a random attack. But that’s just my opinion.” The White Silver waved the MP off, before giving them all her attention again. A calming smile adorned her face. “All right recruits. We’ll probably be together for only a short while, but let’s all get along.”
-=-
Meanwhile, up on the stage, Tanya was, for the millionth time, lamenting a situation she had unwillingly found herself in.
“Weiss, why are there so many of them? What can they even do?”
“Major, of the 36 recruits, 9 are graduates of the Officers’ Program.” Weiss shook his head. “Other than those 9, the rest are considered ‘potentially useful outside of combat’.”
“In other words, most of them will be trench assets, though I hesitate to use that word here, and observers. If they’re lucky or slightly better than inept.” Tanya sighed dramatically. “If they’re just going to be that, then why are they even here? Our battalion’s not exactly strapped for mage observers.”
Weiss grinned. “You know Major, there was that one mage observer that ended up earning the Silver Wings Assault Medal.”
“Haven’t you heard of them, Major?” Neumann asked, chuckling.
“I heard they were only 15 at the time.” Koenig cut in amusedly. “I’m sure you would know about it.”
“Not at all!” Tanya shot back. “I surprised to hear this! Really, you’d think I would have heard about this mage observer. I bet they’re devilishly good looking as well.”
“I’m not sure, Major.” Weiss said. His grin became mischievous. “What do you think, Serebryakov?”
Koenig and Neumann grinned as well, as the intent behind Weiss’ comment became clear.
“What?” Viktoriya jumped. A shot of color rushing to her cheeks, as the subtle tease struck home. “W-well, Major- I mean, the observer… I’m sure that whoever this mage observer is, that they’re very, um, devilishly good looking. Without a doubt.”
“Really? I’m sure they’d be glad to hear that!” The male Company Commanders laughed as Viktoriya pouted. Tanya only gave them a bemused look.
Honestly, at this point it seemed likely that the only member of the 203rd not aware of Viktoriya’s crush was Tanya herself. To absolutely no one’s surprise. As talented and prodigious as their Commander was, emotional intelligence did not seem to be one of her strong suits.
-=-
She’s so relaxed. Even though an artillery battery was attacked, she’s still calmly observing and assuring us.
Grantz looked across the stage, noting the way the White Silver’s subordinates mirrored this attitude. The Vice Commander that threatened them all earlier even appeared to be cracking jokes with her and the others.
They’re all so calm about this. Are these how elites are meant to be? It’s incredible! This is the attitude of the frontlines. In other words, this is the norm! Fine then, I must try to be the same. This is how elite mages are, so I will follow suit to the best of my ability!
Grant clenched his fists.
Just like Major Degurechaff! For the Empire!