02x06 - Decoy

[bunniefuu]

Major, are you all right?

W-who is that guy?

Well done, Colonel Mikel.

All thanks to the Party's guidance.

Why did you let the enemy go?

We must sh**t down that entire group
led by the Devil of the Rhine!

The Party's order for us
is to encircle them.

Are you going to miss
this golden opportunity?

Orders must be obeyed.

Or do you think our Party is wrong?

Can you win a battle
just by following orders?

Lieutenant Sue, that's enough.

He is the commander of our allies.

Show some respect.

Understood.

The Devil of the Rhine, huh?

[Saga of Tanya the Evil 2]

THIS PROGRAM IS PURELY FICTIONAL
Defeated by a mere multinational volunteer army?

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS,
Defeated by a mere multinational volunteer army?

AND PLACES, LAWS, AND NAMES MENTIONED
How disgraceful!

ARE UNRELATED TO ANY REAL-WORLD ENTITIES.
It's the Federation.

Federation's mages.

What?

The Federation should have purged
the symbols of the old regime for long.

I-I'm not mistaken.

The Federation actually has mages?

Were they released
from the concentration camps?

Those Communists
are so persistent with us.

[Episode 6: The Bait]

Gentlemen.

UNIFIED YEAR 1927, JUNE 18, MORNING
Why not send a rescue force?

Saving the encircled allies
should be a matter of course, right?

If we strike hard at the enemy's field army
encircling the Rerugen Kampfgruppe,

it will also support our main force,
Army Group A.

Andromeda Operation.

This is the heroic first step
to ensure the operation's success.

Sir.

The orders given to our Army Group B
by higher command are to hold the line.

Please consider
the Empire's current situation.

We are now at a point
where a single failure could lead to collapse.

Then just don't fail.

Make up your mind.

That is the duty of a commander.

If you're going to use your head,

use it for making decisions,
but not for hesitation.

Dragging this on is just a waste of time.

I understand your concerns.

Therefore,

act according to your convictions.

Ah, um.

Excuse me, could you call
Lieutenant Glanz over for me?

Then, by the authority entrusted to me
by the General Staff,

I ask this of you.

Lieutenant Glanz is reporting.

Lieutenant, do you like taking walks?

I contacted Commander Kramm
of the strategic reserve.

The other division commanders
will also accompany us.

Forgive me,

I don't understand what you mean.

It's about Sordim 528 Position.

You should know about
the Rerugen Kampfgruppe being encircled.

Please leave it to me.

I will immediately link up
with Commander Kramm and head to support.

Ah, wait.

Sir?

You don't need to see me off.

Sir!

Please stand back!

Denied.

Since the founding of the Imperial Army,
commanders have always led from the front.

All right, gentlemen.

Let's jump into the quagmire,

and start this battle together.

SORDIM 528 POSITION

Be on guard, watch out for ambushes.

Don't sh**t yet.

Take them out with sn*per formulas.

There is good news.

The rescue force is on the move.

Finally.

And Lieutenant General Zettour
seems to be heading our way.

What? He is coming personally?

FROM: ZETTOUR
TO: RERUGEN KAMPFGRUPPE

COMMENCE OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY
Commence operations immediately?

He wants us to launch the operation,

and choose
the most appropriate countermeasure?

What on earth is Zettour thinking about?

Enemy's tank spotted at 2 o'clock.

Prepare to intercept.

Sir, I beg you, please pull back!

Don't worry.

I've requisitioned mages as escorts.

With all due respect, this is too...

Well done, Lieutenant!

Thank you, Sir,
but let's withdraw quickly.

Of course I know there are enemies.

I'll leave it to you all to figure out
how to deal with them.

SAME DAY, EVENING
FEDERATION ARMY'S SORDIM ENCIRCLEMENT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

Enemy's relief force?

Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.

Our allies' early warning network
has confirmed new Imperial reinforcements.

The suspected enemy's relief force
has made contact with our picket line.

They are currently engaging our forces.

Then is the enemy's commander really
Hans von Zettour?

Based on analysis
of intercepted enemy radio,

it's very likely him.

If it really is him...

k*ll him. Eliminate him at all costs.

He would be a high-value strategic target.

We must eliminate him,
even by my unit alone.

Lieutenant Colonel Drake.

If I may speak frankly, please reconsider it.
The objective of this operation...

Our forces have autonomous
decision-making authority.

Well, we'll just
have to go along with it then.

Comrade Colonel.

Comrade Political Officer.

As we confront the Empire,
the world's reactionary force,

we are expected to maintain a common front
with the peoples of all nations,

while also being a Party army
that never ceases to advance.

Under these circumstances,

if we are to act alongside the coordinated units
under the Party's instructions,

we cannot simply leave them
to their own devices.

I guess so.

I understand.

I will countersign the order.

Well then, it seems
we'll be sortieing together.

How utterly absurd.

To have to put on a political show
just to discuss the operation's details.

NEXT DAY, EARLY MORNING

New enemy spotted at11 o'clock.

The guests have arrived?

Sir, we can't break through!

Hmm.

Since the enemy has come out to meet us,

I'll act as the bait.

What? Sir?

Stop the tank.

Pincer attack?

Yes.

Here's the current situation.

The enemy came out to meet us
before we even arrived.

And the Rerugen Kampfgruppe
will coordinate with us here.

Together, we'll pincer the enemy.

I see.

So you had coordinated
with Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff in advance.

If that's the case,

you could have told us beforehand.

Hmm?

This was my improvisation.

Huh?

She is Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff.

Improvising is a piece of cake for her.

She should be preparing by now.

As great as the Lieutenant Colonel is...

Lieutenant.

I've heard some people call
Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff a monster.

But if you ask me,

that is the ideal form of a staff officer.

Lieutenant Colonel, the Federation forces'
communications have changed.

What? Decode it.

They're intercepting the rescue force.

How are our allies doing?

They're engaging in battle.

The enemy also mentioned
a high-value target and command function.

The enemy is exalted
that our headquarters is exposed.

Wait.

Headquarters exposed?

Would Zettour make such a mistake?

L-Lieutenant Colonel?

He's not the kind of idiot
who can't even play a game of hide-and-seek.

Don't you get it yet?

He intends to be the bait himself.

W-why is that?

Concentrating the enemy's focus
in one direction.

What else could it be
but to force us onto the front line?

I-is he...

Is he telling us to sortie?

Exactly.

Everyone other than the mages
continue the defensive battle.

Major Weiß takes command.

He can handle some talk.

Yes.

The 203rd Battalion will suppress
their magical signatures and sortie.

Pass through the Federation encirclement
and head to the rescue force's location.

We'll stab the enemy in the back.

[Saga of Tanya the Evil 2]

Begin the attack.

AT THE SAME TIME
Any movement from the enemy?

SORDIM 528 POSITION
No.

Are they scared by our encirclement
into hiding?

Would the Devil of the Rhine be a coward?

Understood.

We will continue to lock onto General Zettour
and maintain the encirclement.

Change in situation.

The enemy's mage unit
has broken out of the encirclement.

So before striking the enemy's rescue force,
we'll take their position first.

We'll mop up their rescue force along with them,
and we'll have a great victory.

Lieutenant Colonel,
rapidly changing orders is unfavorable.

We're adapting
to the changing b*ttlefield,

what's wrong with that?

We've already arranged our deployment
to eliminate General Zettour.

If we overturn everything now...

The Devil of the Rhine is no longer here.

We must strike while they're vulnerable.

That devil

is gone?

Darn that reckless girl.

SORDIM 528 POSITION, UPPER AIR

Mage reaction at 3 o'clock.

I can't just leave them to die.

Go take out the enemy over there.

HQ.

We will pursue what appears to be
the sortieing enemy's mage unit.

Yes.

The United Kingdom forces
are acting quite willfully.

Only they have set out
to pursue the Devil of the Rhine.

What?

Comrade Political Officer?

This is the Party's top-priority order.

Support the United Kingdom forces.

Also, if the Devil of the Rhine is present,
sh**t her down.

Capture her alive at all costs.

Almost there.

We'll be able to meet soon.

Little fairy.

Move fast, or the enemy will notice.

Locked on.

This is 05.

The enemy took the bait.

Did they take the bait?

This will lighten the burden
on the rear guard.

Whoa, wait!

I can't, no...



I was tricked.

That scoundrel.

It was bait.

Darn it, that was a brilliant move.

Is it Sordim?

Or the relief force?

Which way will she go?

NEAR THE RESCUE FORCE, UPPER AIR

I see them, it's our allies.

Prepare for ground support strike.

Hit the enemy from behind.

What...

Lieutenant Colonel, it's him.

He's the one who shot down Major Weiß...

He's that Federation's mage?

It seems he's seen through our intentions.

Release magic suppression.

Let those old-era heroes
experience modern long-range fire.

What?

What kind of formation is that?

Is this the coordination
they built in the concentration camps?

It's no use.

We can't break the protective shell.

Has The Communists' orb technology

become this advanced?

At least their defense is very solid.

Try other tactics.

First, spatial burst.

I'll burn your lungs out.

Lord, in thy holy name,

repel the enemies of God.

Grant peace to the world.

Compared to the cold winds
of the concentration camps,

this is just a breeze.

Sir, please withdraw.

Now is the critical moment.

I can't lose either.

Sir.

Heck.

Only at times like this
do I envy the young people.

We're already at the limit.

Even squad leaders are beginning
to suffer casualties.

Stop your sniveling.

If we withdraw under these conditions,

the entire army will collapse.

But...

Raise the army banner.

Show them that I am here.

If this continues...

Lieutenant Glanz, it's me!

Lieutenant Colonel.

You came?

We're short-handed, come help!

I'll break the protective shell
in close combat.

You take that opening
and hit them from behind.

Yes.

But who will protect General Zettour?

Don't worry about me, go!

But...

Are you defying my orders?

I can't just leave...

Sir!

Go.

A high-ranking general dying in battle
is not bad.

This should wake ones
at the rear up a little.

We must make the most efficient use
of our soldiers' corpses.

w*r has come to this point,
it's truly the pinnacle.

Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff.

Let me see your dance.

Then let me offer you a dance.

Engage in close combat.

Follow me.

Now!

Fire!

Drop dead!

It's over.

Darn it.

Has it reached its performance limit?

Enemy's mage unit withdrawing.

Commence ground support.

Prepare for as*ault.

Everyone, rescue General Zettour!

as*ault!

Wipe out the enemy!

Fire!

Sir.

Oh my.

That was a truly splendid dance.

Once this is over, please do me
the honor of joining me for tea.

How elegant of you.

Is the b*ttlefield
a good spot for invitation?

Culture is the line that separates us from beasts,
the routine from the extraordinary.

Don't you think?

Lieutenant.

You lack a sense of camaraderie.

W-what do you mean, Sir?

Sorry, I'm hungry.

[Next Episode: Purgatory]