Farewell to the Subjugation Company
'The supply company commander won't come looking for me, right?'
Incidentally, the supply company commander also doubles as the supply squad leader, a middle-aged sergeant major.
'Today, I'll just play dead.'
Having set his course of action, he quickly headed up to the company commander's office.
The cozy company commander's office he arrived at.
For some reason, Lieutenant Aisa Lintun was sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
"What is it?"
"A letter arrived in the company commander's name, so I brought it."
"Hm? Then just leave it and go."
"Well... it's from headquarters."
"Damn."
A sigh escaped him unbidden at the sender's address.
He took the letter from Aisa and pulled out its contents.
Personnel transfer scheduled for January 2nd. Return to the capital immediately upon receipt of orders.
He didn't know who sent it, but that wasn't important.
'What? Winter isn't even over yet, and they're already doing personnel transfers?'
It felt ominous.
Not just vaguely ominous—extremely ominous.
"Can you tell me what it says?"
"Eh, nothing much. Looks like I have to leave the battalion tomorrow. Oh, right—now that I'm going, what happens to the deputy commander?"
For now, there was nothing in the letter related to her, so he couldn't tell.
'Well, I'll see tomorrow when the official orders come.'
If it was just his, he'd leave alone; if hers was there too, they'd move together.
"New Year's Eve turns out to be my last day here."
He'd done some rough calculations about when he might leave, but January was completely off his radar.
"So, are you going to say goodbye to the company today?"
"Nah, can't. The orders come tomorrow, so I'll do it right before I go."
It wasn't his first or second time dealing with this, so he didn't think much of it.
"The troops will be sorry to see you go."
"You think? I figured they wouldn't care. Anyway, I should start packing a bit."
He sorted his things discreetly enough not to draw attention, then headed to the mess hall with the other officers, including the battalion commander, right on time.
"There's plenty of meat, so anyone who wants more, grab it!"
"Woooah! This is insane."
"It's all meat. Wait, is this even possible?"
The mess hall was noisier and more overflowing with food than ever.
Even when the battalion commander entered, the lively atmosphere didn't die down.
"I heard Oclo Trading Company sent extra food today. I don't even know how to thank them."
The battalion commander said this while looking right at Palan, who was standing just behind him.
"You really worked hard this time. They said they prepared it hoping everyone would stay strong."
"There's no place like Oclo Trading Company. Everyone else just chases money."
His face mixed awe and gratitude.
Palan felt a twinge of guilt, like he was pulling one over on them.
'We're number one at chasing money, though.'
That was why image management was key if you wanted to make bank.
"Everyone, sit."
The officers took their pre-assigned seats with food in hand.
"It's New Year's—shouldn't the battalion commander say a few words?"
"Hm, you think so?"
At the supply company commander's remark from the kitchen, Lieutenant Colonel Kelvin pondered briefly, set down his fork, and stood.
'C'mon... keep it short, right?'
Holding back with fragrant meat right in front of you wasn't easy.
"Ahem."
As the battalion commander cleared his throat, signaling he was about to speak, the rowdy mess hall fell silent.
"Everyone's hungry, so I'll keep it short."
Battalion commander knows what's up.
"We had a tougher, more grueling year than ever with unprecedented events, but you all held strong—thank you."
Lieutenant Colonel Kelvin expressed his gratitude to the battalion, then turned to the officers.
"The transport company, always headache-deep in wagon repairs and operations; the combat companies, getting new supplies constantly as fights ramped up..."
Contrary to his promise of brevity, he went on praising each company one by one.
'Fine, it's all good stuff—I'll endure.'
Besides, it wasn't even the last day yet.
But trouble always strikes where you least expect it.
"And finally, the subjugation company commander, who took charge suddenly yet led the troops brilliantly—the heart of the battalion."
Maybe because of the subjugation company's importance.
He was mentioned dead last in the speech.
"And I heard just before clocking out: today is the subjugation company commander's last day."
"Pardon...?"
Palan had assumed it'd end on a high note with praise, but info he'd learned just two hours ago came out of the battalion commander's mouth.
"The company commander's last day is today?"
"Out of nowhere?"
Murmurs erupted throughout the battalion.
As expected, the subjugation company troops were the loudest.
"Word is he's headed somewhere good, so let's send him off with smiles despite the regret."
"Th-thank you, sir."
Dazed, he bowed to the battalion commander.
"Let's all stay healthy and smiling through the new year. That's all."
Clap clap clap clap.
Applause rang out as the battalion commander's words ended.
The meal proper began.
But Palan couldn't eat his meat properly.
"Company commander, you're really leaving tomorrow?"
"Winter's not even over—why? Is something wrong?"
The moment the battalion commander moved to eat casually, the troops swarmed like they'd been waiting.
Answering their barrage of questions wasn't easy.
"Uh... I don't know the details of the transfer either. But even in our short time, thanks for everything."
"You can't go, company commander."
"Can't you just stay here?"
'I don't wanna go either.'
But what could he do?
Transfers were routine in his military life.
"Stay healthy, and let's meet again in better, higher places."
"Waaah."
As they shook hands, one trooper suddenly burst into tears.
'What? Why are you crying?'
Crying over an officer leaving?
Palan had danced for joy at transfers before but never felt sad, so empathy didn't come easy.
'Shouldn't have planned to turn in early tonight.'
His gut feeling proved right; as expected, he was dragged around until 2 a.m., chatting everywhere.
Subject: Captain Palan Oclo
Reassignment: 32nd Division Defense Regiment 3rd Battalion Subjugation Company Commander → Standby
Hereby ordered as above.
32nd Division Commander
Major General Luke Develro
Subject: Lieutenant Aisa Lintun
Reassignment: 32nd Division Defense Regiment 3rd Battalion Subjugation Company Deputy Commander → Company Commander (Acting)
Hereby ordered as above.
32nd Division Defense Regiment Commander
Colonel Peron
The personnel orders arrived first thing in the morning.
Unlike the letter, they clearly stated what Lieutenant Aisa had to do.
"Only the company commander is leaving."
"Sadly, yeah."
He'd half-expected it.
Appointing a brand-new commander at this time would be way too risky.
"Are you really sad?"
"Huh?"
She stared straight into his eyes with a serious tone.
'What's with this pressure?'
It felt like a wrong answer would spell disaster.
"S-sad. We've synced up over this time together."
"I see. I'm sad too, but duty is duty—no helping it."
She brushed back her hair, looking somewhat satisfied.
"I'll see you after winter ends and things wrap up. You're my mentor, after all."
"Hope so. Thanks for all your hard work—take good care of the company."
"Yes, sir. Don't worry."
He shook hands with Lieutenant Aisa and boarded the wagon.
Rumble rumble.
Soon after the door shut, the wheels began to turn.
'I'm leaving.'
Was it attachment?
Or worry about the future?
His heart felt much heavier than expected.
'Maybe I just didn't sleep well.'
A fleeting thought.
But it didn't take long to realize that was wrong.
"Company commander!!! Safe travels!!!"
A booming, familiar voice came from outside.
He cautiously opened the window, and dozens of soldiers waiting at the battalion gate waved at him.
"Thanks for everything!!!"
"Climb as high as you can!!!"
"Salute to the company commander!"
"Sir!"
Right before the wagon left the battalion, the troops saluted him.
There was only one thing to do.
"Sir!"
"Your Majesty, Osiris Kingdom is acting vengeful again. We can't let this slide."
"Sigh, what nonsense did they pull this time?"
Emperor Simon sighed at General Maemold Sikaite's anger-laced report.
"The twenty Elth warships that entered repairs last month are delayed. Now they're not even giving estimated completion dates."
It wasn't public knowledge, but relations between the two nations were extremely tense.
The cause? A mind-control magitech device developed in secret, exposed via Lycan Empire channels.
"Should we have shared the intel?"
Even after the magitech was exposed, they could have preserved ties by sharing circuit info at Osiris's regretful request.
But rejecting it outright sparked Osiris's retaliation.
"We mustn't waver at the foolish actions of a mere island nation's petty kingdom."
Duke Seto spoke firmly to the conflicted emperor.
"True, but with their retaliation, what can we even do?"
Anything but all-out war with Lycan Empire, and they'd snap Osiris back to reality—but now wasn't the time to make more enemies.
"Your Majesty, we need a solution soon. Winter's ending, and many Elth warships need repairs. At this rate, the navy could be crippled."
At the commander-in-chief's words, Simon turned to Duke Abiel.
"It's already in enemy hands anyway—sharing the circuits with Osiris shouldn't be an issue, right?"
Duke Abiel had been the hardliner rejecting Osiris's request; the emperor had favored sharing from the start.
"Your Majesty, even if the magitech fell into enemy hands, sharing the circuits is an entirely different matter."
She explained calmly.
As she said, even if stolen, security measures prevented perfect analysis or replication.
But granting Osiris's request would hand them the full circuits intact.