“The State of Lieplatz announces general mobilization. Troops are now rallying into remobilized units of the Great War, with the State of Lieplatz’s Armed Forces now expected to swell to an estimated half a million troops by the end of January or early February. The State of Lieplatz has also conducted flyby exercises on the Orlish–Lieplatz Border, showing the Junta’s LF-20 Phantom squadrons that are ‘ready to defend Lieplatz’ from ‘foreign aggression’. Both the legitimate monarchist government of Queen Amelie Ludendorf and President Rimpler’s Federal Republic seem to be threatening the Lieplatzan Government to ‘surrender’ and ‘cease’ their crimes against humanity, in what appears to be a race on who would get to control the Lieplatzan nation.”

- Geopol Press

+++

West Orland

North of Eutstadt City

Fort Amelie

Complex 41

“It’s an unfortunate thing, but it’s to be expected,” William said as he gave the SUV another turn. Their vehicle stopped in front of the entrance of Complex Forty-One of Fort Ludendorf, the new OAF Headquarters after their loss of Fort Rulter. Today was a big day, as the General Staff, the Admiralty, and the rest of the Ministry of Defense would meet for their plans regarding the Lieplatzan question.

There were many vehicles, civilian vehicles of all kinds outside of Complex 41, as even the members of the Royal Guard were attending the first-ever interservice meeting between all branches of the OAF, the RGO, and even the disparate intelligence agencies of the Kingdom. Amelie looked up at the simple building, hexagonal in shape, which mostly housed the different research and command and control departments of the OAF.

It was raining hard as well. “I expected it too. Of course, the Lieplatzans would not just lie down without defending themselves,” Amelie sighed. “This just means that if we conduct the invasion, it would be really bloody.”

“An understatement, Amelie. Just the route to Nordia alone is a grueling forty kilometers of frozen lakes and thick forests, and then there would be almost eight major towns and small cities that we would have to capture, plus the river Heln.” William parked their vehicle at last, as the rest of the Queen’s Royal Convoy scattered through the parking lot. “It’s going to be an ugly road to Nordia if we attempt to invade.”

“But…perhaps, if our armored units would be quick at their drive…” Amelie took another visual look at her memories of the map. Nordia, something which she had looked at for many nights, had been something a bit too far from the Orlish–Lieplatz border. To get through that, her troops would have to rush through a frozen hellscape, and as William said, a few urban centers, the Heln River, all through a route of just one road and railway.

It’d be a road of blood. Amelie realized. But I can’t just let the Lieplatzan State out of this. And I cannot just abandon restoration of Queen Wesley’s legitimate rule over Lieplatz. She needed an ally in the north, and damn it, she would be restoring her own ally herself if that was what must be done. The LSS-2 is unlikely to be ready within a few weeks, which means that we would definitely be using normal armored units in the breakthrough and infantry.

Amelie already left her vehicle, and was en route inside the Complex, as she deeply thought about it. To be at war with Lieplatz would be a severe gamble on her part, and on Orland’s part. Breaking through such a distance would certainly lead to casualties that I would be held responsible for. Her government would take a severe hit should it fail, or should it be too costly. Perhaps, that was the stratagem that General Richstoff was banking on to beat her.

Bleed Orland enough, and the Lieplatzan State would inflict enough damage for us to back off. Or, even if she didn’t back off, the loss of reputation from her citizenry would be something she would not be able to take in the midst of this civil war. But to back off now would be just as damaging, again, as she could not just simply lose all of Lieplatz to the Federal Republic.

It was a balancing scale that she would have to tip to her side carefully. Any wrong move and the scales could easily tip in her favor. At this point, Amelie had already changed, while her self last year would find this entire thing scary, she felt the corners of her lips slightly tug up. At this point, it almost seemed a grand game of cards for her.

And she realized she was smirking subtly. Perhaps, the idea of leading a nation, a Kingdom, was becoming second nature to her. A game of fates. For the fates of millions, both in Orland and Lieplatz.

Let’s see what the OAF has to offer. What a deranged game it indeed was. But it was a game she would have no choice but to participate in. And if that was what must be done…she was starting to be used to it. I’ll cast my dice then.

+++

Before the conference began, Amelie, William, and Nia found themselves flanked behind by a group of high-ranking officers as they walked in the halls. Amelie’s eyes merely turned to the side, straight to the wide windows, to the flying flag of Orland on a nearby building as she heard the first words come from General Victor Albrecht.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Your Majesty, I have a few brief reports to you,” the General respectfully said, as he followed her. Amelie didn’t look back, as she merely gave a brief nod. “The Armed Forces is now deploying in the Orlish–Lieplatz Border.”

Amelie hadn’t given the order yet, but it seemed that General Victor Albrecht already took the initiative. Quite frankly, she would have found it distasteful if she wasn’t dead set on declaring war on the Lieplatzan State and liberating the oppressed women of the Junta. But, she was already dead set on the idea of a liberation war against them.

Good then. If the OAF is already starting the preparations before any official green lighting, we’d be better prepared for the assault. Still, Amelie needed more ideas and intel about the situation. After all, they had three options. They could call in the Navy to land at Nordia, or they could send a pure armored spearhead on a pure land operation, or they could land air assault brigades through the route to Nordia as a ground armored spearhead pushed forward.

Each option had its own advantages and drawbacks.

“Do we have eyes on the ground already?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Both the Royal Investigations Unit and the Army Intelligence Unit are collaborating at infiltrating hostile garrisons and formations.”

Amelie nodded, as they turned toward the conference halls. “Then General, make the best of the presentation today. I want to know everything about our planning and preparations.”

“I’ll make sure of that, Your Majesty.”

+++

The Archduchess arrived at the conference hall. She was flanked by three high-ranking RGO officers, the three “High Dames” themselves. The equivalent of the OAF’s four-star generals. She found it distasteful that many officers of the OAF looked at her and her three RGO officers lowly. Quite frankly, men had already developed a sort of longstanding pride in their military service.

One of the few things they always found themselves full of pride in. And it became a way to look down on women of the Kingdom. Pristina knew how they looked at her and the RGO, as nothing but the same incompetent stooges who once “monitored” and “guided” the OAF back in the Great War, and led it to its greatest defeats.

Or now, as a women’s only club of arrogant pigs that would never step a foot on the frontlines. It was almost ironic, how even in a society where women ruled and reigned supreme, they would be looked down upon by the same men that were below them. Though it was a recent development, a development that resulted from the RGO failing at properly leading the OAF in the Great War (and subsequently losing control under the orders of the previous Queen to enhance OAF performance), it was still a stain, no, a shame that Pristina wanted to wipe out.

The RGO’s honor had been stained and stained one after another. The Great War. The assassination of Queen Areya. Queen Amelie’s seemingly disfavoring of the RGO. And their almost absent performance in the Second Orlish Civil War. What good were her women then? At beating protesters? At being glorified guards behind the frontlines? At being second-rate garrison troops? At merely hunting down spies and saboteurs?

Pristina sat down beside the Queen, who barely batted an eye on her. Pristina, prideful as she is, had always found the Queen’s relationship with her as something…too lamentable. She was supposed to be Queen Amelie’s closest official, being the Director of the Royal Guard of Orland, and the Minister of Defense. Instead, the Queen treated her, and the RGO, as nuisances. As competitors. Pristina even thought that the Queen viewed her as a traitor at times.

She wondered sometimes if her ideological views were just simply too incompatible with the Queen. Perhaps she and the Queen would never see eye to eye at the status of men. But Pristina still hoped to prove herself to Queen Amelie. This time around, as Minister of Defense. And with the upcoming operation against the Northern Demon…she’d find that opportunity.

The RGO must act, and show itself in its best to support the invasion. Pristina wanted to serve the Queen, for even when they were not of the same minds, it was her duty as the head of the second highest noble house of the Kingdom. And as the Minister of Defense. To serve the Queen. She’d organize this entire thing well…this time around.

+++

Amelie was surprised at the lack of scathing remarks from the Archduchess. Instead, she sat beside her, and remained silent, as the lights turned off.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, as you well know, we have quite the operation ahead us,” General Albrecht said, taking in the attention of the entire room, as he took center stage. The presentation screens showed both the maps of Orland, West Lieplatz, and the road to Nordia, the mines that surrounded the coasts of Nordia, and three operational maps that showed arrows and symbols about the OAF advance. “And I’d like to say, we are short in time for this operation. But the Queen would like to have a word with all of you.”

Amelie took the prompt, stood up, and cleared her throat. “Everyone, members of the Orlish Armed Forces and the Royal Guard of Orland, as all of you may know, the situation up north has deteriorated. The Lieplatz Junta finally directed their repression, rage, and brutality against our Lieplatzan sisters, and brothers even. For this reason, we have no choice but to plan for war.

“The Civil War naturally takes centerstage, yes, but we cannot deny that the strategic implications of us losing all of Lieplatz to the Federal Government, or to the Junta, would be something unacceptable. I would not allow Orland to be attacked from the north from a new front out of nowhere. No, if that’s what’s going to happen, then I have no other choice.

“I know a lot of you are probably finding this operation distasteful. That we are in fact planning to invade a sovereign nation. But I implore all of you, to understand, the Junta is not a legitimate nation. It’s a rogue criminal state. It is a state whose boots leave marks of blood on the floor. To let it exist any further is a crime itself. A crime against humanity.

“I hate war, ladies and gentlemen. It is vile and disgusting, and it represents the lowest of humanity. It requires that we sacrifice the lives of the young, of the poor, of the innocent. But today, to pave the path to war, we have no other choice. We have to defend ourselves and defend the lives of our Lieplatzan sisters and brothers. As such, I have decided how we would approach this matter.

“I may hate war…but I’ll wage war. For it is the only option.”

The room was silent. Any doubts about the operation, both budding in the ranks of the OAF and the RGO, were silenced. If even the pacifistic Queen was down for waging war against the Northern Demon, then anyone who went against it would be an irrational fool. Amelie looked back at General Victor Albrecht and gave him a steely nod.

“General, you may begin.”