Late Regret
Late Regret
The next morning, on the Eastern Front.
7th Armored Division command tent.
"Is everyone here?"
Division Commander Mordon, seated at the head of the table, looked over the faces of those gathered inside the tent.
The staff officers and the commanders of every regiment and battalion were all present, enough to make even the spacious command tent feel cramped.
Having confirmed everyone was present, Mordon cleared his throat and rose from his seat.
"As you are all aware, we have achieved a decisive victory against the Allied Nations' 12th Armored Division. I trust everyone here saw firsthand how those advancing bastards were utterly crushed and sent fleeing."
A ripple of laughter spread through the tent at Mordon's words.
They were recalling how the Allied forces, realizing their operation had failed, had fled like a ragtag mob.
Mordon smiled, as if to affirm their laughter.
"We have once again shown those rat-like Allied Nations that the Empire is a great nation. But His Majesty the Emperor was not satisfied with just this level of victory."
"What do you mean?"
"Indeed. His Majesty has commanded it directly. Seize the forward defense point held by the routed Allied 12th Armored Division!"
It was an order to launch a counterattack and expand the front line.
Having dealt a heavy blow to the enemy in the recent battle, it was not an impossible task.
Mordon surveyed his subordinates, who were steeling themselves with serious faces, and continued speaking.
"According to aerial reconnaissance analysis by the Intelligence Bureau, the defeated Allied 12th Armored Division is currently in a state of extreme chaos. Not only have troop deployments to each sector been properly carried out, but there have even been desertions."
Winning against an army whose morale had plummeted was an easy matter.
Moreover, if they were striking a unit immediately after its rout, victory was practically guaranteed.
"So, should we not send that rabble home and raise the Imperial flag across the entire Sceolan Front? Am I wrong?"
"You are not wrong!"
"Good. Then, we will advance on the enemy defense point as soon as noon arrives. Everyone, prepare accordingly. Let us use this opportunity to ensure the Allied rats never again covet Imperial soil..."
Mordon stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
It was because Daniel Steiner, who could be considered the primary contributor to this battle, was raising his hand as if he held a dissenting opinion.
After a moment of deliberation, Mordon looked at Daniel and spoke.
"It seems our Chief of Staff has a separate opinion. Go ahead, speak your piece."
Daniel nodded and lowered his hand.
"I must ask that you reconsider the advance."
Taken aback by Daniel's statement, Mordon furrowed one eyebrow.
The staff officers seated in the tent and the commanders of each unit were equally bewildered.
Those wondering why Daniel Steiner was acting that way exchanged glances and broke into a cold sweat.
And for good reason—the order to attack the enemy defense point was not simply Division Commander Mordon's opinion but also a command from His Majesty the Emperor.
It was only natural that Daniel Steiner, who was openly asking for that to be reconsidered, seemed odd.
However, a few, including Intelligence Staff Officer Pelf, were leaning in with the thought, 'If it's Daniel Steiner, there must be a valid reason.'
But Daniel had no particularly valid reason for opposing the advance.
'The battle just ended, and they want to fight again? Are they insane?'
It was simply that for Daniel Steiner, whose absolute priority was survival, consecutive battles were obviously to be avoided.
'On top of that...'
He had confronted the division commander, Mordon, figuring that voicing a dissenting opinion in a favorable situation could lower his evaluation as a frontline commander.
Because if he succeeded in lowering his evaluation, his posting could potentially be shifted to the rear.
"Reconsider the advance?"
Mordon, unable to know Daniel's petty, self-serving inner thoughts, asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Chief of Staff. This is a direct order from His Majesty the Emperor. So what is your reason for asking that the advance be reconsidered?"
Daniel, who did at least have some reasoning, answered nonchalantly.
"As you know, Division Commander, we have nearly three thousand prisoners. We can use these prisoners to negotiate with the enemy or extract intelligence. Perhaps we can properly assess the enemy's movements based on their testimonies."
"...The assessment of their movements is complete. Did you not hear? The aerial reconnaissance analysis indicates the enemy is behaving like a ragtag mob."
"Sir. You must not place blind faith in aerial reconnaissance. Looking down from above, in other words, means those below can prepare for it. What will you do if they are concealing troops under camouflage nets in dead zones?"
It was a perfectly sound argument that could not be refuted.
As Mordon fell silent, Daniel continued.
"To lift the fog of war, we must extract secrets from the prisoners and send soldiers out for an all-out reconnaissance to acquire multifaceted intelligence. Issuing an advance order simply because we hold the advantage, without doing so, is unacceptable."
"His Majesty the Emperor has commanded that we attack the enemy defense point immediately. Is the Chief of Staff now attempting to deny His Majesty the Emperor's command?"
"Carrying out the designated objective is correct, but the operational discretion rests entirely with the division commander. If one is to simply follow His Majesty the Emperor's orders blindly, what need is there for the position of division commander?"
Listening to this, Mordon slammed his fist down on the command table.
It was because Daniel Steiner's words had gotten on his nerves.
"Chief of Staff! Just because you've achieved military merit does not make you my superior! I was viewing you favorably, and now you forget your place and get cocky! Do you dare doubt His Majesty the Emperor's decision, and even insult me to my face? Know that once this battle is over, you will be referred for a court-martial!"
This was exactly what he had wished for.
Daniel wanted to convey his gratitude to Mordon for taking the bait, but to solidify his image as a chief of staff defying his superior, he furrowed his brow.
"You will regret this decision."
Having said that, Daniel turned and walked out, as if there was no longer any need for him to be there.
The sound of the division commander shouting in anger came from behind, but Daniel ignored him entirely.
'A perfect exit. If things go well, with this opportunity...'
Thinking that he might actually be able to take off his uniform, Daniel smiled inwardly.
*
Mordon, having ignored Daniel's opinion without a second thought, ordered the advance toward the enemy defense point as soon as noon arrived.
Upon receiving the order, the Imperial 7th Armored Division moved to the enemy trenches with their high mobility, but the Allied Nations launched no counterattack whatsoever.
Finding this suspicious, the 7th Division inspected the trenches and realized that the Allied forces were not present.
They had all either fled or vanished from the defensive line.
Receiving this report, Mordon, though doubtful, decided to sortie personally to grasp the situation.
Thus, riding in an armored vehicle with the staff officers to the Allied Nations' defense point, Mordon was able to confirm that the report was true.
It was because not only the enemy trenches but even their headquarters were utterly empty.
Wondering what on earth was going on, Mordon dismounted the armored vehicle and surveyed the surroundings.
At the current Allied Nations defense point headquarters, only friendly forces were moving about, sparsely scattered.
"Hmm."
Something felt out of place.
As Mordon waited with his arms crossed, Intelligence Staff Officer Pelf, who had dismounted from the vehicle ahead, approached him.
"Division Commander. The enemy has truly left, emptying even their headquarters. Could it be that they sensed our counterattack and evacuated in advance?"
"Possibly. More importantly, what of Daniel Steiner?"
"Ah. As for the Chief of Staff, he is positioned in the rear, saying he is securing a retreat route in case of an enemy surprise attack. I am told he is digging trenches and setting up machine guns and mortars."
"He's doing something useless."
Clicking his tongue, Mordon uncrossed his arms and spoke.
"Contact headquarters. Inform them that the Allied 12th Armored Division seems to have fled in terror. When we report that we have even captured the enemy headquarters, His Majesty the Emperor will be pleased as well..."
While Mordon was speaking, the operations staff officer came running up.
The operations staff officer, whose face had turned deathly pale, opened his mouth before he could even catch his breath.
"D-Division Commander, sir. A report has come in from the personnel on guard. Enemy forces are simultaneously infiltrating from the north and south."
Mordon's eyes went wide with shock.
"What on earth do you mean? According to the Intelligence Bureau's data, the enemy clearly showed no signs of employing deception tactics..."
No. If the Intelligence Bureau's data had been accurate from the start, the very fact that the Allied Nations had emptied the front line made no sense.
Just as he realized the source of that nagging feeling, Mordon heard the distant roar of aircraft engines.
Lifting his head, he saw a flight formation in the western sky slowly descending.
Judging by the lion insignia painted on the wings, it was an Allied Nations bomber formation.
Only then was Mordon forced to admit it.
"This is insane..."
—that Daniel Steiner had been right.