OBERKOMMANDO KRIEGSRAUM, WOLFSSCHANZE, DIE EICHENWALDMEER

AUGUST 27TH

The air in the war room was thick and heavy, most likely due to the large number of cigarettes lit simultaneously among the participants of the Oberkommando, a mark of the palpable tension among all those present. Surrounded by steel and concrete walls ready to withstand any attack, hundreds of maps both on the tables and on the monitors on the walls, hands of officials and strategists pointing in different directions, the best minds of the Empire were present in session, faces full of years of struggles and disappointments. Countless time had been wasted discussing something that had no solution, the outcome of their last battle weeks ago could no longer be changed, but still, the muffled murmurs of disagreement were all there was.

In the corner of the room, leaning against a wall was Vilhem, although awake, he was with his eyes closed listening to the useless conversation, after all for him it was a waste of time to repeat the same arguments over and over again with no end in sight. Still, he was paying close attention to the conversation, stood in the shadows, observing without saying a word, accumulating knowledge., waiting for the right moment to intervene and move everything to a position that would benefit him more to present his ideas. Although he did not say them out loud, his mind was full of thoughts and new strategies to use, imagined scenarios where he fought, won, and lost against his rival and goddess, Adelis.

Claus von Stauffenberg stood a few meters away from him, a tall, dark-haired man whose scowl and stern look revealed his critical attitude toward the rest of the generals. Stauffenberg made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the losses he had suffered and his desire to find a new strategic approach to turn the situation around. Deep and full of conviction, his voice echoed in the room as an echo of defiance, perhaps too much.

Across the table and across the room stood Emil Bormann, supreme commander of the Imperial Exile Legion, the name given by those who even after losing their capital fled their nation in the hope of one day returning to it victorious. With an expression that denoted both weariness and resolution, the commander seemed to be an embodiment of the souls lost in an endless crusade. His voice, serene yet firm, resonated as a call for perseverance in the midst of adversity.

"There is no other way to look at it, not even Großadmiral Holtzendorff has managed to achieve the victory we need"

"Not only has their defeat been costly in resources! But also one of our scarce aircraft carriers has ended up in enemy hands!"

"With all the technological secrets it possessed and Großadmiral Holtzendorff himself captured as a result!"

"This ridiculous plan has done nothing but further weaken our troops!"

"And all for what? To sink the 5th Allied fleet?" Mr. Stauffenberg complained loudly to his superior.

"The plan relied heavily on surprise and speed of attack."

"Großadmiral Holtzendorff was aware that he had a window of a maximum of 12 hours to carry out the attack and of the risk involved"

"Nevertheless, he decided to go ahead as the duty of every good son of the fatherland."

"It is true that the earthquake changed the plans a little, changing the location of the attack from Tokyo Bay to Okinawa, but in the same way it had also affected the forces available on the island"

"By shifting their focus from a defensive role to one of supporting the population, there was no other way to look at it than as a great opportunity worth taking the risk"

"There was simply no way of knowing that they would be able to find our forces so quickly"

"The moment they received the surprise attack from the Korean fleet, the decisions taken on the ground fell completely under Großadmiral Holtzendorff, who decided to continue anyway"

"He was the one who decided the fate of his men and himself by staying to fight," Commander Bormann answered clearly to the doubts presented.

"Fortune smiled on us when the stolen carrier was the one without the portal machine and when Dandelion made it back"

"But other than that, I see nothing but a total defeat on our part"

"Due to our casualties and damage suffered from the attacks on New York and Okinawa, our forces have taken some pretty serious hits"

"I am afraid that right now we could say that we have neither the material nor the manpower to make another attack on a similar scale."

"Our men are spread too thin performing scouting work crucial to our long term survival"

"To be honest, the only thing we have in our favor is that the Alliance do not have the capability to attack us directly in the near future, so we can focus exclusively on the work of reconstruction and re-equipment lost in the Continental War"

"But how long will we have that advantage? 2 years? 5 years? a decade?"

"If we don't do something, I don't think we'll ever get our real home back."

"The government sacrificed itself by staying behind so that we could escape and take revenge."

"But I think that possibility is getting further and further away," said Erik Vogel, Secretary of Logistics, Finance and Resources.

"What is clear is that the Alliance has been better prepared than our information suggested."

"Isn't it a little strange quickly they were able to stop our supply routes in New York?"

"How they secured an entry point for their own elite forces such as the 82nd Airborne Division or the 5th Fleet?"

"How they managed to find and defuse the red mercury bomb on the day of President John Smith's visit?"

"Or how they managed to find the weakness of the Dandelion air fortress despite having no knowledge of its existence before that day?"

"For all we know they probably already have the means to counter our advantage, just as they did with the DOLLs."

"It's as if they have a spy in our midst working for them," said a concerned Claus von Stauffenberg.

"No doubt you are making a courageous comment, Mr. von Stauffenberg."

"Recriminating all our past actions now that the defeat has become evident"

"Especially as it is very hypocritical coming from someone who did not participate in any of the operations"

"Did you know in advance that they would fail?"

"Wouldn't you be the traditor, Claus von Stauffenberg?" replied annoyed commander Greta Müller.

The atmosphere of uncertainty in the war room enveloped these men, whose destinies were intertwined in an uncertain present and a future plagued with unknowns, the weight of the responsibility of deciding the course of the war was enormous. Their crossed gazes, full of expectation and mistrust, revealed the magnitude of the decisions at stake. As the doubt of a traitor grew, eyes shifted with suspicion and distrust, while Mr. von Stauffenberg remained impassive, defiant in the face of unjust accusations.

In the midst of this scenario, Vilhem remained silent, observing and listening to the words being thrown around him. He knew the time to intervene was now, his voice had to be heard in this sea of conflicting opinions. In his mind, a bold plan was being forged, a different approach that could lead the Empire to victory.

"I am in favor of Mr. Stauffenberg in several respects"

"One thing is clear from all this, the Alliance is better prepared than we think"

"We do not know to what extent, but it is valid to say that they were aware of our possibility to attack anywhere quickly."

"They may not have the means to prevent our attack but they do have the means to create an effective counterattack in a short time."

"We should work under the assumption that the Alliance has at its disposal something like a rapid response team, with global or near global reach."

"The 5th carrier strike group should probably be part of this team."

"Undoubtedly a truly formidable force to face, especially given their experience gained over us throughout the war."

"But even more important than the fleet itself, there is one key person who is undoubtedly in charge."

"The coordinator of the high command of the alliance, Adelis!"

"Adelis? Who is she?"

It's the first time I've heard that name" asked commander Greta Müller.

"Again that name...."

"Adelis is like a ghost, only rumors and suspicions exist about her."

"She is said to be someone who directs every move, every attack at key moments during the war."

"Although she is supposedly not a military officer, intelligence reports speak of her astuteness and unparalleled strategic ability."

"Somehow she assumes command by relieving the officer on duty and doing whatever she wishes in his place."

"That desire has been what has brought us to this state in the first place," broke the silence of Supreme Commander Emil Bormann, in a mixture of anger, concern, respect, and caution at hearing that name again.

"I imagine you must have more information about her, Vilhem," asked Müller again.

"Mrs. Adelis a the real threat, I know this because I have faced her on a number of occasions"

"Almost all of my setbacks can be attributed to her name"

"And I'm sure our last two failures have her name written all over them as well."

"She is not a general or anything like that, her background is different, the tactics she employs are quite out of what an army commander would think."

"She specializes in thinking "outside the box"

"The fact that foreign armies are entrusted to her name can only mean that she is someone important in politics, the fact that her name does not appear in the news only makes her look even more powerful and cautious."

"As they said before, someone who pulls the strings in the background, moving the world as she needs to."

"And it is clear what this motive is, she, like us, is seeking revenge."

"At the beginning, she was a shy general, but since the attack in Norway, she has been the person in charge of the main office"

"My personal guess is that she probably lost a loved one, maybe a husband, maybe her son"

"Be that as it may, it is because of this motive of revenge that she has focused on us, to create all possible means to stop us."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"She will not rest until she is done with us for good" Vilhem said with a smile, as if he were a child, he was obsessed with the subject at a level that others did not know he could have.

"I am still not able to see the connection between her and all this?" Greta Müller asked, now attentively, for it was the first time she had seen Vilhem be so serious about something, as if he were professing his faith.

"It's simple, if we get rid of Adelis we can have a much easier time to deal with Alliance."

"They lost a very important person in the war and her leadership and organizational skills" added Claus von Stauffenberg, not too thrilled to say so.

"I'm sorry to say it, but it's not an easy thing to do"

"On the contrary, it is perhaps the most difficult part of all this"

"Although it is relatively easy to try to predict where she might be, after all, just think about where most of the leaders are gathered and she will probably be with them."

"She is aware of this, which is why she has personally taken it upon herself to recruit an elite security team."

"And let me tell you, this team is nothing like anything we've ever seen before."

"In the beginning, she hired a professional assassin, Warlady, as her bodyguard."

"Someone who has somehow managed to stop several of our agents with ease."

"But since the end of the continental war, she is at a new level."

"Adelis knowing of our DOLLs combat capabilities somehow went a step further and got the so-called "White Demon"

"There are only rumors about her among the troops, but if there is one thing they all have in common is that she appears just at the crucial moments of the combat."

"It was a team led by her in the attack on the bridge in New York, she was in the recapture of the Empire State Building, she was the one who stole our Mercury Bomb and she was the one who took alone the aircraft carrier where Großadmiral Holtzendorff was traveling."

"It is also the same person that Dilan puts as responsible for stealing 2 DOLL-EW-2X"

"Which were probably stolen by Mrs. Adelis to further increase her power within the Alliance."

"This is the way she plays, she is not here to win, she is here to dominate."

"Any attempt at a direct conventional confrontation will not work." Vilhem spoke with enthusiasm, as it could not be otherwise.

"Since you seem to know her better than anyone else in this room, surely you are the best person to deal with her?"

"So then, what do you suggest?" The general commander gave the young man the floor, and with it his confidence.

"Operation Valkyrie" Vilhem said with absolute certainty.

.....

"You must be kidding me right"

"You're not talking about the same one, are you?"

"Didn't that go very wrong?"

"The red mercury bomb was a total failure, we must not do the same thing again"

"I am not saying that we do the exact same thing"

"But the general idea is the same"

"We should disengage from it in a less direct way."

"The only thing we know for sure is that soon all the top leaders of the Alliance will meet in Korea."

"Adelis will not miss the opportunity to take advantage of the moment when she could talk to so many politicians in one place."

"She will undoubtedly attend, it is just that her meetings will be off the public agenda."

"With so many people from around the world it will be easier for us to make one or more attacks on her."

"We just need someone to have the opportunity to drop the charge near her."

"After her, depending on who else she was together with would be a gain."

"And then what?"

"Put the bomb under the table too?"

"Besides, just look around, no one among our forces looks Asian."

"Don't you think they would notice something strange about a two-meter blond man named Dong-chim who can't speak Korean?" said Erik Vogel, stressing the difficulties of the operation.

"I have an idea of how to get the package to the site undetected"

"The only thing we need is someone to put it in the same room as the meetings"

"Someone local preferably, one of the hotel staff."

"But the most important part of the plan is not the only thing we do"

"We must distract Adelis' security detail somehow"

"Look for other targets that they would want to protect, something that even Mrs. Adelis would seek to protect above herself"

"Preferably to get the white girl away from her"

"....."

"Okay, all right, we are interested in what you suggest, Mr. Vilhem."

"Anyway, as Mr. Erik Vogel indicated, you are not in a position to do anything risky at this time."

"At least this will be better than doing nothing, and in case it fails there will be very little lost."

"Is there anyone against this?"

"...."

"...."

"Alright, since you seem to be in the know with the plan, you will be in charge of it."

"Prepare as best as you can, although I'm sure for you those words are redundant."

"But keep in mind, I don't want them to be able to target us in case it fails."

"No loose ends, understand?" Said supreme commander Bormann, tired of Vilhem's insistence and the lack of support from the others to propose other things.

"Yes sir!"

By the end of the day the meeting was over, a long day of discussions and talk that led nowhere, tomorrow would be the same, and everyone tired returned to their dormitories to get some rest. But not for Vilhim, there, surrounded by maps and strategies, he immersed himself in planning his next move. His brilliant mind was working frantically, looking for ways to unravel the mysteries of Adelis and take advantage of any weakness in his plans, he was extremely excited, in his mind he was already fighting against Adelis from this very moment, for it was in this very part that his goddess always appreciated being one step ahead of him, as always untiring for the others. Their duels had reached the point of transcending time, even when the attack was not even finished, she was already trying to transfer her ideas and look for weaknesses.

The breeze of cold night air touched his cheek, which terrified Vilhem to death, he never under any circumstances left his office windows open at night, he reached under his hand into one of his drawers for his gun, but a dagger was grazing his throat. Beside him was a smiling girl.

An exquisite woman, an oriental beauty without equal, a beautiful white skin. She wore a tight black qipao that enhanced her curvaceous figure and showed her confidence. Her yellow eyes, piercing and full of determination, contrast with her night-black hair, double buns long twin tails. A young woman with a voluptuous body and slight curves giving her a magnetic presence, lethal skill, and impeccable style, she possessed a mysterious and seductive aura, a sign of her reputation as a highly-skilled assassin matched only by her sister in both skill and unparalleled beauty. Her name was Mei Ling, the Crimson Lotus.

"Good evening dear Vilhem"

"It's good to see that this place is still as easy to enter as ever"

"How have you been? did you miss me?"

"If you ask me nicely I can give you a view of my body without any problems."

"Mei Ling!"

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought we weren't doing any business since last time!"

"Is it Adelis who is behind this?"

"Oh relax honey, I'm not here today for work"

"I'm here on business though."

"My mother wants to talk to you, and has sent me to make sure you answer the phone."

"She told me that this is important to our family, so I'm personally interested in seeing this through."

"Here, here's the communication orb."

"Could you put your dagger away now?"

"Oh how boring, it's no big deal either"

"All right, I'll remove the dagger."

"But the shotgun behind your head stays there."

Vilhelm was quite nervous, he hadn't even noticed that he had a gun pointed at him, he hadn't heard it. But with no other option I took the orb to turn it on.

"Hello again Mr. Vilhelm"

"I am very sorry to have to contact you in this unsophisticated way."

"But I had to make sure that what I want to talk to you about is as direct with you as possible and that it is clear."

"After all I don't like my existence to be famous." spoke an elderly lady on the other side of the magical artifact.

"You must be really important to go to so much trouble to come and talk to me, Mrs. Xian Fang"

"Tell me, what are you planning this time?"

"Oh well, a little birdie told me about the details of the empire's recent plans and I thought there was something that aligned with what I was looking for."

"So why don't we collaborate together this time?"

"Isn't that a wonderful idea?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm sorry I'm not following your lead, ma'am."

"Your attempt to take down Adelis is a plan that serves me well if it is completed."

"And no doubt you too."

"From what I heard you were discussing how to carry out the attack in South Korea, apparently you need local help in the area."

"Surely that's what you were working on right now in your office?"

"Or am I mistaken?"

Vilhelm inwardly panicked, but he struggled hard not to show any signs of panic. He had no idea how, but Mrs. Xian Fang was already aware of the plans, which had been discussed only a few hours earlier, plans that were still in the vague phase of ideas that had already been leaked to an unrelated person, which only indicated that the old lady's hands were longer than anyone imagined.

"I understand what you mean ma'am"

"But right now I still don't have anything fixed"

"I have no idea how we could help each other."

"Oh, these youngsters of today so lost in their way"

"..."

"Don't worry young man, let Aunt Fang and her daughter take care of everything."

"I heard you speak, you said you knew how to get the bomb to the site."

"We can take care of putting it in the right place while you distract the security team."

"Then we'll take care of the hard part."

In the back of his mind, Vilhem was grateful to hear these words, he had to do almost nothing to defeat his rival. But at the same time, he was angry and offended by the idea, to let someone else take care of his rival? it was worse than defeat, it was to accept not having even the strength to fight head-on and to look for someone else to defend himself. In his head that had no place, he had to be the one who was the winner by his own means, it was all or nothing.

"I'm sorry but I can't accept that"

"Adelis is my problem and it's something I will solve without help!"

"Goddamn moron!"

"It's not her I'm talking about"

"Although I can't hide the fact that I was interested in her in the past, now it's something I don't care about anymore."

"The difficult part I'm referring to is the "white girl"

"She has something I'm looking for, and also something that belonged to me."

"This is a personal problem between her and us."

"You do what you want with Adelis, but the white girl is ours."

"The white girl is what you are looking for?"

"She's just her bodyguard."

"What could she possibly have that's so important for you?"

"Something that only true emperors should seek and possess, the power and authority to make their vision a reality."