01x07 - The Battle of the Fjord

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Entente Alliance, Port Arnelus

Gu: Please understand, Mary.

Gu: It's only a matter of time until the w*r reaches the cities.

Gu: It's safer for you to leavethe country while you can.

Gi: What about you, Dad?

Gu: I'm sorry.

Gu: I wasn't a good father, was I?

Gi: No, you're a good dad.

Gi: Oh, but you should shave your beard.

Gu: Yeah, I should.

Gu: Mary, take care of your mother.

Gu: And stay healthy.

Gi: Okay.

Gu: I'm sorry.

Gi: Good luck, sir.

Gi: Daddy!

Gi: It's a little early,

Gi: but take good care of your Christmas present!

Gu: Colonel Sioux...

Gu: Major Gunner.

Gu: This is from your daughter.

Gu: What is this?

Gu: The latest model of submachine g*n.

Gu: Why would my daughtergive me something like this?

Gu: Perhaps she wants to help her fatherfight for his country?

Gu: "Anson Sioux."

Gu: Your initials, aren't they?

T: Thus, we'll deliberatelypull back the battle lines

Gu: Imperial Army Northern Theater, Command Strategy Conference

T: and reduce the distance suppliesmust travel to the northern army.

T: I believe this will make it easierfor us to mount a spring offensive.

Gu: As always, the ideas front-line officerscome up with are quite unique.

Gu: Well? What's the opinion of the northern theater's army?

Gu: Major Degurechaff, was it?

T: Yes, sir.

Gu: You seem to plan ondragging this out beyond winter,

Gu: but we don't want the w*r to last any longer.

Gu: Our priority is to put an end to itas quickly as possible.

T: But if we do attack, we'll run out of supplies almost immediately

T: and quickly reach the limitsof what we can do.

T: We're under no obligation to pleasethe enemy by wasting supplies and troops.

Gu: At minimum, we have enough for a three-week offensive!

Gu: We just need to take out their front-line forces.

T: The interventions by the Republic and the Allied Kingdom

T: have greatly strengthened enemy resistance.

T: I see no way we can take them outin such a short time.

Gu: Enough!

T: I am obligated to register my objections to this.

T: At this rate, I believe we'll just put severe stress on our front lines.

Gu: That's enough out of you!

Gu: Are you saying we aren't concerned with the lives of our troops on the ground?!

Gu: Watch your mouth!

T: I'm sorry, sir.

T: Compared to when I was out westand saw our soldiers starving,

T: Northern Command hereseems to want for nothing,

T: so I forgot myself.

Gu: Y-You b*tch!

Gu: Return to the western theater, then!

Gu: We don't need cowards here!

T: Is that the consensus of the northern theater?

Gu: Shut up!

T: All right.

T: Excuse me.

T: Why won't you stop them?

T: With our present supply situation, a full offensive is reckless.

T: Its failure is obvious.

Gu: Major, I want you to tell me what you really think.

Gu: Without the formalities of a proper proposal.

T: Sir, I humbly remind you that I am a strategy officer.

T: I appreciate the request,

T: but I believe that, out of courtesy for my hosts, I must remain silent.

Gu: That's a rather acrimonious way to express one's opinion.

Gu: Very well. I'll get to the point.

Gu: If, hypothetically, the theater forceswere to proceed with their attack plan,

Gu: what benefits would it bring?

T: It would bring some benefits to the western Rhine theater.

T: It could blind the Republic toour coming offensive against them.

Gu: If it went well, isn't it possible it could reduce strain on the western front?

T: I'm sorry, sir, but I believe that would be difficult.

T: I can't see the Republic sendingthe north enough reinforcements

T: to affect the Rhine front.

T: If you wish to look at things that way,

T: we should consider this full-out offensive

T: nothing more than a decoy to distract the Entente Alliance.

T: If we consider the front-lineoffensive a decoy,

T: its true benefit would be in opening the rear to attack...

T: The rear?

T: The rear...

T: Behind.

T: Back?

Gu: What's wrong, Major?

T: So the goal of this offensive is to

T: create a diversion for our troopsto land from sea?

R: Where did you hear that?

T: Hear what?

R: About the landing!

R: Did General Zettour tell you?

R: I can't believe it.

Gu: Well, that's a surprise.

Gu: You guessed a plan that only a few officers know about.

T: I simply realized that it would bean effective plan under these circumstances.

Gu: Then we'll use you, after all.

Gu: The rd Mage Battalion will go in advance of the rest of the landing force.

T: Yes, sir. We'll do everything we can.

Gu: It goes without saying that, strategically,this is close to a surprise attack.

Gu: Thus, our landing point needs to be wherethe enemy would never expect it.

T: Which means?

Gu: The Orse Fjord.

Gu: Episode The Battle of the Fjord

Gu: Entente Alliance, Orse Fjord

Gu: Quite a view, huh?

Gu: A narrow, labyrinthine fjord, covered with capes and islands.

Gu: The cliffs are steep,

Gu: and twenty cannons in the arealet us attack from any direction.

Gu: No navy in the world could pass through this sea.

Gu: Truly a natural fortress, isn't it?

Gu: Is there any real need for us to be here?

Gu: It does need defenders, though.

Gu: I don't like the fact that only our battalionwas sent here as reinforcements.

Gu: But it's understandable, really.

Gu: The Empire has launcheda winter offensive on the front lines.

Gu: So the brass has their hands full?

T: Men, you have my gratitude for rising up to defend our homeland.

T: With the help of youth like you,

T: our victory is assured!

T: You have already been promised honor.

T: So I expect you to fight hard, not fearing death!

T: Yes, sir!

T: At this point, all our country can dois ask its youngsters to die.

T: That's exactly why we adults have to keep fighting, too.

T: December, Unified Year

T: I guess it's possible, huh?

Gu: Target point approaching.

Gu: Cutting engine and preparing to glide.

T: Everyone, get ready to drop.

Gu: Yes, ma'am!

T: Again, this plan relies on surprise.

T: We have thirty minutes to capture the fjords.

T: Second Lieutenant Serebryakov, you're a back-up officer.

T: If you lose contact with meand the first lieutenants,

T: command the retreat.

V: The retreat?

Gu: If the first lieutenants and I go down,the mission's a failure.

Gu: The rest of you can't beat enemies withthe kind of equipment that can take us out.

Gu: Man, I feel like a canary in a coal mine.

Gu: Let's sing them a pretty song, then.

Gu: How does a canary sing, anyway?

Gu: "Chirp, chirp," right?

T: I don't want to hear you guys sing.

T: Get ready for work.

T: All right, troops,

T: it's time for us aerial magesto do what we do best.

T: You're ready, right?

: Yes, ma'am!

T: Excellent.

T: Jump!

Gu: What's going on?

Gu: I don't know.

Gu: For some reason, we've lost contactwith a patrol ship.

Gu: Equipment trouble?

Gu: What about the other ships on the patrol line?

Gu: The same.

Gu: None of the three are responding.

Gu: What?

Gu: What was that?

T: Next! Hurry!

Gu: Prepare a*tillery spell!

Gu: Fire!

Gu: Enemy attack...

Gu: Enemy attack!

Gu: Wh-Where did they come from?

Gu: They paradropped.

Gu: Damn it.

Gu: Let's get out there!

Gu: Coastal g*n platforms are engaged.

Gu: They're requesting reinforcements.

Gu: Get them out there via rail!

Gu: Why are they only attacking the cannon emplacements?

Gi: Battalion Commander, enemy reinforcements!

Gi: Battalion-sized unit of mages is approaching fast!

T: They responded fast.

T: Company , prepare to engage!

Gu: Major, engaging with a single companyis too dangerous.

T: We can handle it!

T: You silence those damn g*ns!

T: You silence those damn g*ns!

Gu: Roger!

T: Company , follow me.

T: I don't like it,

T: but it's better than having them take out my troops and trap me.

Gu: Incoming counterattack.

Gu: The enemy is company-sized.

T: Company-sized?

T: They don't see us as a threat, huh?

Gu: We're heading in.Prepare for close-range combat!

Gu: By now, the North Sea Fleet should havecrossed the enemy patrol line.

Gu: If those g*n emplacements can't be taken out in thirty minutes,

Gu: the fleet will have to turn back.

Gu: If that happens, we'll have performed the largest, most spectacular

Gu: "landing training exercise" in the history of man.

Gu: And our reputation will be ruined.

Gu: Trap them!

T: Don't let them trap you!

T: Maintain altitude! Take them out!

T: Do they have those g*ns down yet?

Gu: Are we done?

Gu: Not yet.

Gu: They're here!

Gu: Fire!

Gu: Enemy mages sighted.

Gu: We're running out of time.

Gu: Just keep firing.

Gu: Don't stop for a second!

Gu: Multiple casualties! We're being pushed back!

Gu: Hang in there till reinforcements arrive!

Gu: But at this rate—

Gu: Major Gunner!

T: I'm dying from overwork here.

T: But I can't bail just because this wasn't in the contract.

Gu: God...

Gu: Why?

Gu: Why... Why is she here?

Gu: Out of my way!

T: If I run, there goes my career...

Gu: What?

T: Wonderful.

T: No overtime today.

Gu: I repeat.

Gu: All companies have succeeded in silencing the g*ns!

Gu: Reporting!

Gu: Our defensive forces are losing the battle!

Gu: We will head to the coast and aid the defense.

Gu: Thus—

T: Mission complete.

T: Everyone, withdraw!

Gu: Not yet.

Gu: It isn't over yet!

V: Enemy pursuit.

V: One mage incoming.

T: Damned fanatical patriots!

T: With that speed, he has a lot of kinetic energy built up.

T: Oh, Lord,

T: in the Father and Son's name,

T: bring down the lightning of judgment.

Gu: God, I pray you give me strength to destroy that devil!

Gu: I will never let my homeland fall!

T: I've seen you somewhere before.

T: Not that it matters.

Gu: M-Mary...

Gu: It's a little early,

Gu: but this will make a perfect Christmas present to myself.

Gu: Capture the railroads!

Gu: And the supplies!

Gu: Cheers!

T: Quite a sight, huh?

Gu: It's not over yet.

Gu: Our defeat isn't set in stone yet.

Gu: The North Sea Fleet'slanding mission has succeeded.

Gu: Orse City railroads are under our control.

Gu: Now, we can use the enemy's railwaysto resupply ourselves.

Gu: Bold as ever...

Gu: So you kicked the enemy's assfrom behind, huh?

Gu: We can attack from both front and rear now.

Gu: We can end a battle that's lasted too long.

Gu: It feels a bit early to say for certain,

Gu: but we have landed a truly decisive blow.

Gu: Unified Year Unified States, State of Arkansas

Gu: And now, in world news,

Gu: an update on the Norden situation from DC Broadcasting.

Gu: Last December,

Gu: the Empire ran a successfullanding operation at Orse Fjord,

Gu: in the Entente Alliance's northern region.

Gu: The coastal defense forces were wiped out,

Gu: and many casualties were incurred.

Gu: After occupying Orse City,

Gu: the Empire launched a large-scale assaultfrom the north and south,

Gu: which resulted in the de facto occupationof the nation's capital.

Gu: It's believed to be only a matter of time before the Entente Alliance surrenders.

Gu: The situation will continue to be monitored.

Next time: Next Time Trial by Fire

Next time: This program is fiction. All persons, groups, places, laws, and names appearing in it have no relation to the real world.