02x10 - Katsuro

[bunniefuu]

Now I know exactly how it
feels to want a new job...

The High Leadership is beginning serious
discussions about conquering Ildoa.

The brass is taking a reckless gamble
to avoid dying by slow attrition.

Now they risk us all
getting totally screwed.

So now they're daydreaming
when they should be trying to fight a w*r?

Screw that.

The problem is how to leave.

It's hard to accept an ending that
would leave Being X laughing at me.

But I refuse to become
a sacrificial lamb.

So what the hell do I do?

We've finished our analysis
of the proposal.

As we thought, there is no chance
of an invasion of Ildoa succeeding.

The best we could do

is launch a strategic surprise attack,
betting everything on the initial battle,

and wipe out their field army
near our border.

Assuming this worked, we could blitz our
way down and conquer northern Ildoa.

We couldn't go any further.

And this is assuming every possible
thing breaks in our favor, yes?

Yes. Even under the most
optimistic assumptions,

our troops don't make it
further than northern Ildoa.

And so the idea of reducing
the Ildoan threat to the south,

and reallocating the troops
stationed there to the east,

is just downright fantasy?

Yes.

But our troops are pinned
down already, yes?

By Ildoa's breach of trust.

That dumbass Zettour is
having trouble in the east.

I'd like to help him out.

I'm afraid pulling troops from
the Ildoan border is... difficult.

I know. They're intent on
refusing to take a side.

They talk so much about
how we're friends and allies,

but they refused to allow
our retreating troops

from the south
passage through their territory.

I hate them so much.

Ildoa is a neutral country, intent on
putting their own interests first.

As long as the Empire is in a stalemate,
it's willing to be a good neighbor.

But what if we're too weak to fight?

What will they do then?

If I may, sir,

the Ildoans seem more likely
to talk than fight.

We can talk to Ildoa. So we can find a
way to survive through dialogue, then.

Yes.

But part of a strategic officer's job
is to prepare for the worst case.

We must prepare for both peace and w*r.

And which shall we prioritize:
peace or w*r?

We'll have to maximize our efforts at
diplomacy with the time we have left.

Do you know how many frontline troops
will die while we waste our time talking?

There's no time to waste.

You're correct.

We need to find an exit,
and we need to do it now.

There's a new counselor in the Foreign
Affairs ministry named Konrad.

The ministry has just done a major
reorganization. I want you to help him.

Yes, I'll get to it immediately.

We have limited time left.

So I want you to give this your all.

I apologize for the sudden summons.

No, I can understand,
given the situation.

There's no need to be diplomatic during
your discussion with the foreign ministry.

Don't hold back.

Understood, sir.

Thank you for inviting us today,
Counselor Konrad.

Hello, Colonel Rerugen.

And who is this young lady?

Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff.

She's here due to her deep understanding
of the frontline situation.

She's a hero, a recipient
of the Silver Wings medal.

Oh, my deepest apologies.

No, it's fine.

We are servants of the Imperial nation.

I hope we can work well together.

Now, let me just ask it bluntly.

Can we win this w*r?

I want to hear your answer directly.

Even directly, I can't tell him that
all our sacrifices were meaningless,

and we can't win.

Nope. Not a chance.

I can tell you right now that
there's no point in continuing.

Isn't that a little too pessimistic?

You'd prefer total victory?

Go find a con man and
ask his opinion, then.

Any soldier with half a brain
would tell you the same thing.

You're speaking on behalf of
the entire army, at your age?

Her appearance aside,

Lt. Colonel Degurechaff is a talented
soldier with a history of achievement.

Though I admit she could've said it
a bit more diplomatically.

I see. Perhaps I'm being stubborn.

What evidence do you have, if I may ask?

The Imperial Army is strong,

but not strong enough to defeat
every army in the world.

We defeated the Republic
and the Entente Alliance,

but the Federation and
the Allied Kingdom remain threats.

And we can't ignore the possibility of
the Unified States joining the fray.

There are enemies everywhere you look.

We can't win this w*r anymore.

I believe it follows logically that we'll
be trapped with no exit until we're dead.

An exit.

And you seek to find
that through diplomacy?

Though it brings shame to our military
for not being able to win...

That's correct.

We're at the point where
we need to cut our losses.

So a soldier back from the front lines
is allowed to say all this?

Colonel Rerugen, I'm quite impressed
with our Imperial Army's education.

This monster grew up without me
teaching her a thing, actually...

But Lieutenant Colonel,

even if we're cutting our losses,
there are lines we don't want to cross.

How much, in the military's estimation,
should we be willing to accept?

To be honest, I'm not sure
how to answer that.

Unfortunately, opinions differ
even on the front lines.

"In my estimation..."

we're not as stubborn as the public.

But there are few organizations who
value their dead as much as the military.

But there's also no point in wasting
time and then surrendering...

The whole Empire could fall.

If we accept that, we should be able
to give up on pretty much anything.

I'm simply a field officer.

There are rules about what I can say
when it comes to the strategic picture...

Lieutenant Colonel, I'd like
your opinion anyway.

Could you give us something
to start with?

Colonel?

All the High Leadership gives us
is wishful thinking.

But even Strategic HQ can't come
to an opinion on the matter.

What a coincidence.

We aren't that different ourselves.

So nobody in the bureaucracy
agrees about what to do, either?

Ridiculous factional infighting
and half-hearted populism...

We don't have time to work our way
out of all the layers of restraint

that our predecessors
put on us, I suppose.

So why don't we just do it ourselves?

We can present our results to
the Empire as a fait accompli.

We'll have the military negotiate
with Ildoa at the officer level.

We tried that with Ildoa, and failed.

And we were told to go win some more
fights to get better conditions.

And that's why you're here,
or did you forget?

I'm here because my predecessor
got his a*s fired.

Every organization wants
results, not just yours.

You're saying...

I'll spread the word, quietly.

If things get worse, someone's going to
have to take responsibility for that.

But in the strictest sense,
isn't that ill*gal?

Colonel, it's against regulations

for the military to get involved in
the ministry's internal matters.

But we have a duty to advise the nation,

and we certainly have the right
to make any proposal we wish...

Yes.

It's just one of those little tricks
we bureaucrats have.

External diplomacy requires
internal diplomacy as well.

No diplomatic effort can succeed
without internal preparations.

We need an exit, no matter the cost.

And I want you to know that for that,

I'll need to ask you to propose
compromises that are humiliating.

Out of the question! Absurd!

Our military should not be
offering these conditions!

Or are you saying we should surrender?

If this draft ever sees the light
of day, there'll be public uproar!

What do we tell the fallen?!

Don't you care about the Empire's honor?

This is treason!

You're just a defeatist!

Under present conditions, we need
to be brave enough to find an exit,

even if it means enduring humiliating
criticism and horrible compromises.

We need to find a way out!

We're going to win!
Win an exit! Win the peace!

Colonel, the military can only pass
through an exit if it's an honorable one!

The army's reputation is at stake!

Or will you tell the fallen
that they died for nothing?

Could we really tell the Imperial
family that this is our proposal?!

An exit without victory is impossible!

I see these conditions are
worse than the previous ones.

With each hour we squander,
each opportunity we waste,

the conditions we must accept get worse.

Is time on our side, you think?

We have yet to lose this w*r!

Let's make the world admit...

That we, the Imperial military,
are the world's strongest power!

But at the same time,
we must admit to ourselves...

That we were not quite strong enough
to fight the whole world.

Our fists may be scarred,
but we can still land

a hell of a punch on
the rest of the world.

But we're not strong enough
to beat them to death.

And if we miss the chance
to our lower our fists,

we'll be forced to fight
until the very end.

We have little time left.

Isn't that why we have to find an exit?

Before we fight the world, I believe
we must put effort into our struggle.

Diplomacy is like alchemy, in that
you're creating something from nothing.

The most important ingredient
in that alchemy is trust.

And its laws are all about fairness
and equivalent exchange.

Or at least, making sure both
parties believe they exist.

If w*r is the ultimate reality,
diplomacy is the ultimate unreality.

Multiple people can look at the same thing
and interpret it in many different ways.

It's not easy to come to an agreement.

And sometimes, compromises
may not be seen as such.

And that's why a bold
compromise is needed, but...

An abandonment of demands for reparations

and a de facto return to
the prewar status quo.

These are the best conditions
the Empire can offer right now.

Did the army really approve this?

Yes.

We're in sight of the goal!

The Imperial army set out on two
offensives, with a view to end the w*r.

The stalemate in the east
would be broken by a bold,

highly mobile offensive
led by General Zettour.

A clear victory on the tactical level
would be a show of the Empire's strength.

And in the west, General Romel

would lead a surprise as*ault
on the Allied Kingdom homeland.

A political offensive aimed at influencing
public opinion in our enemy nations.

But a chance encounter with
an enemy fleet caused the plan to fail.

Information leaks were suspected as well.

It wasn't a perfect success.

But the Empire felt it
had landed a solid blow.

The Empire hoped that if they
could show their strength,

they'd be able to drag their foes
to the negotiating table.

General Gassman was terrified, you know.

That she might be back to make
another noisy entrance.

My apologies to the general,

but I hope we can get along with each
other for the immediate future.

It's like I'm talking to a diplomat.

I'm a soldier. I'm acting this way
because my homeland needs me to.

Now, let me hear from you directly.

What conditions can you offer?

I've prepared something
that will end this.

No reparations. No territory changes.

Rights for smaller ethnicities.
These are the three main pillars.

Is that... possible?

You really believe this can
be done without reparations?

You're right to be concerned.

But the Empire will accept
these conditions.

I'm sorry. Did you say "accept"?

Yes.

We're prepared to accept this.

Just in case, let me get this straight...

When you say no reparations, you
mean you won't ask for reparations,

not that you're refusing demands
for them from your enemies?

That's correct. Why?

So you have no intention of
paying reparations, then?

Us? Pay reparations?

I-Impossible!

We're abandoning our
demands for reparations!

Are you saying that even a huge
compromise like this isn't enough?

So you're saying you won't be
handing over Imperial territory?

Colonel Rerugen, to be honest...

Your proposal will likely
be taken as a provocation.

But why?

You refuse to hand over
territory or pay reparations.

From the perspective of your enemies,
this is a clear provocation.

The Empire sees it as a shameful proposal
we're accepting for the sake of peace...

But a third party would see it
as an insulting provocation?

We live in entirely different worlds...

Colonel Calandro,

I'm sure you're aware that w*r started

when the Entente Alliance
violated our borders!

That's right.

They started it.

We simply protected ourselves
in a fight they started!

I'm sure they'd see it differently.

For instance, the Empire was
the first to declare w*r.

The first to fire shots, too.

But that's absurd!

We exercised our clear right to
self-defense against a border violation!

Yes. The Empire feels
it was in the right.

But other nations see
the matter differently.

I want you to understand that
negotiations aren't possible

unless the Empire is willing
to offer serious concessions.

That's how your enemies see this.

They're willing to continue the w*r,
even if we offer these conditions?

I'm sorry, but too much
blood has been shed.

Your enemies can't go home
empty-handed either.

So we have to keep fighting?

Is it truly impossible for we and
our enemies to come together,

in the name of restoring peace?

Colonel Rerugen, you're a loyal soldier.

In light of that, may I
give my personal opinion?

Essentially...

The Empire is too powerful.

Too powerful, and too scary.

And we wish to see the thing
which scares us destroyed.

It hurts to be the one who
sits at home, waiting.

Lieutenant Colonel, Strategic HQ
has sent you a sealed message.

Damn it! This is...

Things are as bad
as they could possibly be.

How truly wonderful.

We can make an exit for
ourselves after all.

Impossible.

This leaves us with no choice.

We're out of time.

Our fists are still strong.

We can still land a punch on the world.

But at some point,
even if we invade Ildoa...

It won't lead us to an exit.

But if we don't punch now...

If we lose our ability to even do that...

What will the world do to the Empire?