The more things changed—the more they remained the same.
On all fronts, all Great Powers, old and new, found themselves in the same global conflict they had just exited. No more different than the last. The great alliances were at war. The frontlines solidified. And millions were now about to perish in a conflict no one knew how to stop.
On the Gallian–Pozneki front, the situation had been stabilized.
The demilitarized zone was now once again, the new battleline. The same place where the war started months ago. Orlish, Lorathian, and Gallian forces, side-by-side, were now fighting to shape the frontlines for a possible future offensive. Entire Pozneki cities and Gallian border towns had been evacuated.
Meanwhile, bombs, artillery, rockets, and missiles from both sides constantly rocked the blood-soaked lands, as casualties now reached the first half million of the war. Both civilian and military.
On the Valkenite front, Latian and Constanian troops remained in their trenches. The frozen, mountainous, high-altitude terrain of the Valkenite front was a horror for the two Kingdoms and the Coalition of Free Nations. Here, armored fighting was limited. Tanks and vehicles were too vulnerable in the frigid, rough, and hard-to-traverse region.
The Latians and Constanians however were outnumbered and outgunned. Their desperation to hold on was only answered by the Orlish and Lorathian Air Forces in the skies. Their air strikes and denial of CFN air cover for revolutionary offensives were the only things that the two sister Kingdoms could count on.
Yet casualties remained in the hundreds of thousands for both sides.
In the Hebeian front, the Empress had called for her forces to retreat and dig in. Ginzhu Province had fallen into the hands of the Northern Republic once more. The once shining city of Ginzhu was now nothing but ruins, its destroyed spires and skyline only a reminder of how many times the gigantic East Vaeyoxan coastal city changed hands.
Barely any civilians were left in the destroyed megalopolis. Even the soldiers of the Empire who wanted to resist for as long as possible had fully surrendered. On the frontlines, however, the situation remained the same. Gunfire and heavy artillery ruled the wide front, manned by nearly a million soldiers on both sides.
On the coasts, the Orlish Navy and Asanaian Navy battled the North Hebeian Navy continuously. A night when the Hebeian Sea wasn’t lit up by missiles was a night that didn’t exist. Entire cities of millions of people were being reduced to rubble. Casualties now ranged above a million for both sides. For there could only be one sun that may rule the Celestial Realm.
Down on the Kusari subcontinent, the flower of Orlish youth, young women in the Royal Guard’s Knight Detachment Units, continued battling the waves of CFN invaders side-by-side with their Kusari allies. Orlish Marines on the ground, supported by Asanaian Imperial Army units were dug in for heavy fighting in front of Rajabad, the Empire’s capital. The same was true in the Kusari front. Sky-high civilian casualties, both military and civilian.
And in Amelie’s lands—the Orlish Civil War raged on. The combined force of Orlish Royalists, Arkelian military, and Lieplatzan Royalists still struggled to resist the endless tide of Federalist assaults. On the Federalist side, desperation was rapidly becoming the norm. Besieged and surrounded at all sides, defeat wasn’t out of the possibility.
And just the same with all other fronts, casualties were sky-high. Civilian and military.
And thus, truthfully, to the average soldier. Everything remained the same.
+++
A Gallian soldier watched the DMZ from his guard post silently. The frontlines today were silent, somewhat. The skies were pitch black, but the horizon itself was slightly lit up. He was huddled with another one of his buddies, both of them hiding beneath a makeshift foxhole.
He listened to the distant cacophony of sporadic gunfire. Even the occasional artillery blasts. But here, in his area of the frontline, there was calm. And his buddy seemed to like that calm. He was sitting silently beside him, smoking his cigarette while reading what appeared to be a pocketbook.
The Gallian soldier sighed and lowered his head. He placed his rifle to the side and took his box of cigarettes too. He lit it up, joining his comrade in indulging a bit to pass the time for his boredom. But unlike his buddy, he wasn’t a book person. What he did have was a magazine. A magazine for various luxurious houses and properties.
“You planning to buy that one day?” his buddy asked with a chuckle.
“Probably not,” he replied. “I don’t think I’ll ever have money for it.”
“Heh, that’s unfortunate. You know, I bet all those fancy-pants houses are destroyed by the war anyway.”
“...I wonder what it’s like living in one of them though,” the Gallian soldier muttered. “Just…a nice silent property. Where you can live alone in solitude. None of this nonsense.”
“After this war, we’re going to break our bones working to death. Only to get a shoebox apartment,” his buddy chuckled. “You remember back during the Great War. When they said if we win, things would change?”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Nothing…we’re just here again.”
“Exactly.”
The Gallian soldier stood up again and looked at the distant frontline. To this day, even after that victory, they are back here.
Nothing really will change.
+++
West Orland
Duchy of Rimwurz
November Palace
November 6, 2025
Amelie had just finished a speech in front of the November Palace.
It was a standard one. She called for unity amongst the Orlish people. She called for the peaceful surrender of the Federalist rebels. She called for international cooperation between the Mandate of Nations. And she called for the CFN to de-escalate the situation. Of course, when she spoke to the cameras and microphones, Amelie knew that her speech wouldn’t change much.
Yet, she did it anyway. Everyone must be reminded that this war should be ended. One way or the other, the war must end after all. Even if none on the other side listens yet, I have to remind them. We can still have peace if they lay down their arms. She continued walking back toward the palace.
“The ONS Rebenslof and Strike Force Seven have now departed for the Pardan Ocean,” William reported, as he followed Amelie from behind. “The OHC has also given us the report that Kusari and Hebeian forces have now, albeit temporarily, stabilized the frontlines. All enemy offensives had been halted.”
“That means the CFN are licking their wounds,” Amelie replied. “Not exactly the best development, since it means they still threaten the Kusari Empire’s capital, but I’ll take it.”
“Mhm,” William nodded. “The frontlines…are really static right now.”
“I know.”
“We have to break it before it solidifies fully,” William said. “Even after Operation Eastern Jade, I think we have to continue our momentum. Keep attacking. Just like the CFN. Even if it costs us too much manpower and equipment losses.”
Amelie sighed, as they finally entered the palace. She then turned around to face him.
“Are you sure about that, William?” Amelie asked. “Because as far as I can tell, looking at the grand strategic picture…we’re fragile if we lose too much.”
“Amelie, I’ve taken a look at the scenario already,” William replied. “Across all fronts, our forces are becoming more and more dug-in. More and more demoralized. More and more…stretched to their limits. At some point, both sides will be sapped of too much strength, that it will freeze the battlefield.”
“I knew that already. We’ve been in that situation already for months.”
“Yes, but at least, we built up some stockpiles to launch an offensive,” William placed his back on the wall. “You’re the Queen. You have to be more proactive in the war as well. Give more nudges to the OHC. I changed my mind from the cautious approach consensus that we had.”
“Why?”
“The Corinthian crisis,” William frowned. “Seeing it play out made me realize the gravity of now letting this turn out like the Great War did.”
“...”
“So yeah, we have to break the stalemate, absolutely,” William declared. “I am staunchly in support of that idea. And we have to take the initiative fully. That’s why, in the coming months, we have to be the one in the constant offensive. Retake Kusari land. Then retake lost South Hebeian land. Then push hard into Poznek. Then we’ll try to make a southern punch from the Valken front, and invade the Confederacy.”
“What about here?”
“Same thing,” William replied. “We should punch the Federalists off from their occupied zones in the Grand Duchy and the Free Confederation. Then punch them off from Archduchy. Keep the tempo on, and press on them. And then, shower them with diplomatic assurances.”
“Everything…to make them surrender.”
“Exactly,” William frowned even more. “Because Amelie, if they do not surrender within the next year or so, they’re going to be more unlikely to surrender in the year after that. And in the year after that. And so on. And if they do not surrender, they will take the nuclear option out.”
“Hmm…but we’re not yet ready for a nuclear exchange.”
“We’re fast-tracking it anyway,” William shook his head. “But I digress. We should now do the unthinkable. Push them to the utter limits, then get them to raise the white flag. I think that’s a more reliable possibility than hoping that our nuclear defense program can save us.”
Amelie breathed in deeply, and she looked down.
“You know, I wonder again, William,” Amelie mumbled. “Do you still believe in me?”
“Of course I do,” William answered. “What kind of question is that? Of course, I believe in your ideals. Even more now. I’ve been with you through most of your triumphs and defeats during this entire charade.”
“...You were.”
“Exactly,” William smiled. “And that’s why, even when things have gone down the gutter—I believe in you, Amelie. I may sound cynical, but all of this is just done to advise you. To finish the great cause you and I and everyone supporting you believes in.”
Amelie turned back to him.
“Even when…at this point, almost nothing has been fixed, and the world is only getting worse?”
“Of course,” William nodded. “You promised the world the light of a good future. Well, I tell you what, the world may be burning, but it’s always the darkest before dawn. And I for one want nothing more than seeing that light at the end of the tunnel you promised everyone.”
“...Alright,” Amelie’s determined smile returned. “The work continues then. I’m going to get to another meeting with the OHC.”
“That’s the Queen’s spirit I was looking for.”