Hyme in Predicament

In a certain room in Hyme, a heated discussion is ongoing.

" We can't stall this longer! We've to bring some troops back from the frontline! "

" Can't you see that's exactly what the enemy wants? If we pull back now they will immediately take advantage and break through our lines. "

" I understand your point but Lord Hellios, wouldn't we be done anyway once the enemy gets to Austrivi? "

" I agree. This country would be finished if they took control of the entire western corridor. We would lose assess to all food and we would all starve to death. "

" Exactly! Right now, we don't have anywhere near enough soldiers to protect that region or even defend the city. Even if we call in reserves from the west and the south, we won't have anywhere near enough. That's why we have to call some of our troops back from the frontline! "

The atmosphere in the room is very heavy. The anxieties and fear of everyone's is leaking and contagious making everyone nervous and angry as a result. For the past months, the Kingdom was preparing for a full on assault. Although Hyme's army is way smaller than that of the Kingdom,

Hyme wasn't afraid to take on the numerically and technologically superior enemy because, for the last century, Hyme's army has been toughened and built up plenty of experiences. Many of the commanders here are veterans whose home is war and death and even more, they had a trump card to use in case of emergency so the HQ had made many strategies and measures once the assault begin. There was even a plan to counter attack and cripple the entire army.

Unfortunately, No one had expected the enemy to naval invade Bolhevia. It is not that the HQ was being arrogant and neglected the possibility of it. In the first place, from Hyme's point of view traversing the north sea is considered near impossible because of the neglected monster population of the sea and the people of the northern islands. They would attack and steal from passing ships whether they are merchant ships or even fully armed military ships. Their fleet by no means is large but they are superior in everything else, as in navigating or in sea warfare. They would lead the enemy ships to their advantage with their knowledge of the sea.

So in summary, they are one troublesome bunch.

So it's only natural for the HQ to assume any successful attack from the coastlines would be impossible. Even if they had sent a small force to disrupt the rear, it would be dealt with immediately by the reserves and the Chivalric Order. But they had been wrong, very wrong.

Not only had the enemy launched a successful invasion from the sea route, they even had enough supply to last for months. The intelligence of the enemy's supply has been checked and confirmed multiple times as it would indicate the involvement of Shemesh in this war which is the reason the

HQ is panicking as much as they are now.

Now, not only do they have to get rid of the enemy's holding in the heart of their land, they would now need to constantly be on guard with the coastlines. In the long run, Hyme's defeat is inevitable as its resources are limited compared to the Kingdom.

And thus the council is currently split into two sides. Those who want to end this war swiftly with the resources they currently have and those who want to kick the enemy out of Bolhevia and make revisions to war plan. And the debate with their nation's future at stake has been ongoing for 7 hours and it is still continuing and the participants are getting more and more furious.

*Bam!!

" That's why I've been suggesting a full on attack on the enemy capital rendering them unable to progress!!! "

" And where is that plan of yours!! I won't allow you to gamble our nation's future away like that! "

A man slammed the table and shouted and another one snapped and shouted back in return.

" Calm down you fools. "

As the debate is getting violent, the voice of a young man emerged amidst all this.

" Your Highness, but w- "

" I understand everyone's concern. Indeed, Hyme is now in a big trouble but isn't it a norm for our country? Have we not overcome problems such as this before? "

At the words of the young man, everyone went quiet.

" We Aldinians have been facing problems one after another starting from the reign of my great grandfather. Problems far worse than what we are facing now, but however, our forefathers have preserved our place under the sun despite all that, have they not? They all overcame the problems and did what was the best for our country.

If my grandfather and my father can, I too should be able to solve any problems I face and I bet I'm not the only one who feels this way or am I? "

As the young man's fiery words spread in the room, some people hung their heads in shame for losing their temper in front of their liege.

" Raise your head and raise it high. Don't make a problem of this calibre make us look down. "

The men began to raise their heads and looked at the young lad in front of them with golden hair and fiery red eyes. His fiery passion and willpower have overwhelmed the entire room.

" Listen, everyone! My name is Solance van der Bellrume, the descendant of the sun king and true heir to the throne of the Bellrume Empire.

Will you now listen to the plan I came up to bring our glorious nation to victory? "

" Yes, milord! "

As Solance said these words, everyone in the room kneeled in awe of the young man's overflowing nobility and might.

And thus the war council began scheming a plan to counterattack the Kingdom.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

I lifted the curtain and opened the windows to get some fresh air. It is wet and muddy outside since it rained last night. I can see men running in a distant field. The tents look like dirty rags and my sensitive nose can smell horse manure and moist air.

" Umm, what an awful morning as usual. "

But something even shittier is that a notice came by this morning. It's been 2 weeks since the war went south and I was getting anxious that my academy admission would be swept under the rug but I got a notice. I was overjoyed to be finally able to leave this moist, cold, dirty and smelly dumpster for good. Although the inner parts have nice and fancy buildings, low ranked officers and common soldiers can only stay in the outer camps.

Eventhough I technically get to stay in a nice dormitory because I'm of noble blood being next to the camp is not a very nice place to be in.

But the problem is that the notice was not about my application being accepted. It was a recommendation for transfer.

When you hear the word recommendation, you would normally assume that you are being promoted or given a choice to move to a better position but for a soldier the word recommendation means order. Refuse and you will be either hung or shot but since I am a noble I will be revoked of my noble status and still gonna get hung and shot.

In a militaristic state like Hyme, the army is trained and moulded in a way discipline and loyalty are ingrained into the very core of every soldier and it is structured with the nobility at the top of the command. Not a very flexible system but decades of instability and rebellions had made this absolutism a necessity or else the entire country would crumble.

I closed back the windows to prevent the continuing assault on my nose and started preparing to meet with commander Hans.

The letter was an order to transfer to a new division under the direct command of the crown. It is said that this new division wouldn't be under the army and that it would be independent under the direct command of His Highness Solance.

I guess it won't be too different from the Order which is an auxiliary of the army.

But. . .

I put on my hat finishing the preparations.

The army standard uniform is a dark grey tunic with a collar and 5 buttons and a shoulder strap and belt in dark brown colour. Compared to the army the Order has more knightly uniforms with a white shirt and an indigo jacket with anchor pants. A short navy blue cape is included in the formal ceremonial wear with a decorative sword although some people still do use the sword in real combat.

My uniform is all black though, custom made by my family tailor. It is weird to me how grey is an okay colour and black is the representative of death and the devil himself.

It's a little payback to those higher ups who kept tossing me around like a coin.

As I finished preparing I headed towards Count Hans's office which took about 20 minutes. Orders are orders but I still do need a briefing to understand why though. When I knocked on the door the count answered immediately.

" Come in. "

" Excuse me. "

When I entered the room I saw another three people besides me in the room. None of them looks much older than me.

" Nice timing, I was just about to explain these three about the new assignment. Listen carefully, the new division or it is called a division but it is an entirey different organization. This new organization the four of you will be assigned to will be entirely independent from the army and will be under the direct command of His Highness himself. That means you will no longer be part of the army or included in any future operations. "

" But sir! Our family has been contributing a lot to the army for generations, I can't accept being kicked out for no reason like this. "

A young man with blond hair interrupted looking a bit agitated. Don't interrupt you bastard, it sounds like something good is about to happen to me in a while.

" I understand your concerns but let me finish first. "

" . . .Yyes sir. "

" As I said before, you won't be in the army anymore but that doesn't mean you will be removed from the frontline. In fact, it will be quite the opposite.

You will be conducting special operations under the direct jurisdiction of His Highness. Until now, although His Highness is the supreme commander in name, most of the decisions have to go through the Dukes before the final decision is made and this new organization is for His Highness to be able to move outside of the army's scope and there is a reason youngsters like you are chosen rather than experienced veterans.

All of you will, from now on, undergo harsh training and will have to do missions like sneaking into the enemy's base, sabotaging their communication and taking strategic positions in their rear. I can't say much more besides the fact that this is the new army doctrine that was being experimented and you will be the first to test it out on a real battlefield which will later be adopted by the army.

More details will be given later so any questions? "

* Silence *

The room went silent as the commander finished. I mean what do I even ask, I blacked out midway and didn't quite follow what he said. He just said outrageous things like going behind the enemy ranks and sabotaging and disrupting stuff but that is literally, an order to kill yourself. Are we straight up being sent to be slaughtered? Is he saying that if we will die anyway, die profiting our nation?

" Ahh. . I. . ."

" Hmm? What is it, lieutenant Walter? "

" . . .It is nothing, sir. "

A young man with red hair spoke up but hesitated. I don't blame him. From what the commander just said, we are basically, being put on a death sentence for no reason after all.

" I understand you are all anxious and unsure but it's not like His Highness will be sending you to get killed meaninglessly. Our nation is in a pinch now. We must do whatever we can even if it means sacrificing ourselves. "

The commander stood up giving us a fierce gaze.

" Lieutenant Walter Redfield! Sir Roid Rein! Major Bell Hannes! And finally Lance Corporal Daniel! You are all now dismissed as of today and will serve under His Highness for the sake of our country! "

Commander, No, Count Hans raised his voice and dismissed us from duty, raising the tension in the room to the peak.

" May luck be in your favour, comrades. "

And we left the room without uttering a word.

Refuse, we die and proceed, we will still die. None of us could say anything back. We can't hide or run away and that's what it means to be born into nobility. All we can do is accept our inevitable fate.