IX - The Northern Standstill

image in comment: map of latessia

Firstly, the news:

THE NORTHERN STANDSTILL

The German Times - September 11

The Yamato Fleet cannot move without the aerial force penetrating the Lottidenty Empire's mountains. The German Aerial Force and subsequent Army wishes to prepare for Auferstehen and daily training rather than any military operations.

THE LOTTIDENTY STAYS HOLED-UP

The Hesianic - September 13

Cutting off the Lottidenty Empire's foreign trade, the Lottidenty are officially completely 'land-locked.' Laplace and Campbell have expressed their concern with any further military expressions after the fall of Kerfeliz during September 3. And have surrendered to German forces, though in peaceful ties, the government confirms extra-marital rule over the two countries, preventing the Lottidenty from making any probes in trading.

MEETING WITH THE MIDDLE CONTINENT?

The Academic - September 15

Led by newly elected Governor-General Marisse, there have been careful considerations in foreign relations with the middle continent and possibly beyond. In a recent press conference in the White Manor (from the German Times Publication), Gov-Gen. Marisse says; "hoping to further better the German agenda, and to repair relations with the middle continent, we have been starting many 'diplomatic missions' and are hoping for further news from our diplomats."

Now it's September 16. And nothing had changed from September 3rd. "We have absolutely no clue what's happening inside that mountain fortress." Hierd fidgeted his finger, clacking the table in a staccato. "What happened to my one hundred pilots?" He looked at Adelheid.

"You'd get it by next week."

"Great." Hierd stood up from his seat, bitting the donut-pastry, then quickly just gobbling the whole thing up. "The airstrips in Kerfeliz are done right?"

"That too." Adelheid non-chatalantly confirmed, flipping the various papers upon his hand. 

"And in Ruska?"

"Yes, sir-r."Playfully saluting, busy still with the papers.

The sun was falling, his view of Unchean's sea-side upon the White Manor was entrancing. Distinctly red and orange, a blue-violet creeping in, creating this harmonious balance of a gradient.

The sea was riddled with fishing boats, liners, and some small coast-guard gunboats. People upon the pier, the sailors, passengers, and captains. Conversing, playing around, doing work. Busy, un-busy, everything was happening all around.

The lights of the stalls, the shops, and houses. The low rise buildings offering mellow, warm lighting for the streets. Not to mention the vintage black lamp posts dotted around the streets. As well as the hanging christmas tree-like lights at the small vendor-marketplaces.

Hierd sighed. Pushing his head upon the glass. "What will happen?"

"Hmm?" Adelheid glanced from the top of his paper stack.

It was just them two upon Hierd's office. It was supposed to be a formal meeting with them two, but soon turned informal as they knew each other at a personal level.

"What will happen with the middle continent?" He turned around, "I am not sure with the middle continent, do we even know if we can rival them in power?"

"I am sure we can." Adelheid put his paper stack down, "the only reason there's a little bit of un-sureness, is because we don't like the middle continent, historically."

"What happened?" He grabbed another donut from the plate on his desk.

"Once in a country's life (here in Latessia) anyways." Adelheid spoke in a academic manner, soothing at best. "A ruler thinks that they can become a colonial power. Become an Empire. And the Northern Continent is quite small. So we expanded East, towards the Central Continent.

"But… Slavery, extortion, all these political movements… This, that, and the third happened, and then a great war happened. Thankfully (in part for the middle continent) they won, we lost, and now our relations have severed since then.

"Many have tried relationships, but all-in-all, we do not know their technological wisdoms. We should caution, but I don't think they'd be so ambivalent to try and risk another war wherein they attack our diplomatic convoy."

"Aye that," Hierd cheered with another donut upon his hand. "But… Hmm…" Chewing another donut, he turned back around to the window. "I fear this war was over sooner that I had thought."

( * )

The land ship chugged along the newly built Northern Railway covering North Betelion to the less battered lands of Eastern Kerfeliz (as a region than a country). It ran through no towns, only kilometers upon kilometers of green hills, flat lands, and farm land of the countryside.

As December was nearing, the farms were barren, and the few public roads were mainly only ever used when a farmer was going to-and-fro marketplace and farm.

Chugga-Chugga the iron engine-house went. Clank-clank, it went upon the metal rails. From a distance, were you standing upon a public road, you'd think a hunk of wall the size of a Unchean building was moving in the horizon and separating the lands. Hill by hill, green by brown.

Not only did it separate lands, but it had also segregated the skies. The long colombus-like steam cloud that erupted from the engine-house ran for almost the entire length of the rather long Land Ship, it was like that simply because of the huge demand that speed and it's fortifications would require.

Lieutenant General of the Military Railways, (or Lieu Gen Ways, as abbreviated by many soldiers in passing) a certain Mr. Fachusmuch. Although many of his peers and subordinates found that the nickname: Fachus rolled off the tongue better. He was sitting in one of the many front-row officer states. It was quite narrow, about a two people's armspan, though it featured a second floor and better luxury than other quarters within the train.

At current, the land ship was speeding towards a town nearby Southern Lorent. Cresent Town so it was called. Because of it's strategic location, being that it was upon a large hill overseeing a vacant, flat land; it's inhabitants mainly consisted of German soldiers and the occasional Kerfelizian. 

With him, was Friedrick. Ex Corporal, Major, Brigader Major… "You're beyond stacked," as said in 'so-to-speak' fashion by Fachus, "relatively new, that's who I am. And you're a vet, pro at this at every regard. Humble to be acquainted with you Brig. Major Friedrick-"

"Just Friedrick," he interrupted, "it's unwise for me to call out, but I am not in the military… The army any more."

Fachus put his hand upon his mouth to gasp, then soon flailed it in comical gesture; "why!? You'd have such a prosperous career in the military, it's all the world is for anyways with the advent of the German lands!"

"Not the best, but I'm joining politics as a whole."

Fachus was much intrigued, he was confused at first but accepted this quite quickly. "At first I was thinking that joining politics is not something one can do. But that is a thing possible in Germany! How truly I've become forgetful of the fatherland's ways. It is a truly unique system, like Handerbour's Republic, but less barbaric by ten-fold."

"Y-yes…"

"Why politics, Mr. Friedrick?" Fachus found himself comfy upon his deep-cushioned red seat. "I find it hard to enjoy managing the railways, even as a lieutenant General. To manage a whole country, sorry I meant; a part of this manager-ing  a whole country… I'd be upon the floor in tears… People are difficult to please, unlike the disciplined army."

"That is true," Friedrick, his legs getting numb from hours straight of sitting, stood up and walked around, cautious not to fall. "But politics is a gateway for me to help my country in a way that doesn't involve violence. I haven't left that world, but I find an inner peace with merely managing the sector where I work in, I'm placed in Overseas Trade and Relations. Working to have my name out there, since I need votes to get to a higher rank."

"Ah, I see…" Fachus sighed, "what a different world… See, if you did something good, did something that impressed someone higher-up, you were instantly promoted, given extra training and education, and more pay. And that's what I pulled off, but uh…" -He leaned closer, in a whispering-like voice- "from me: the railroad business is definitely way more better than exhausting navy or army. N-not that I don't like helping or work or anything…"

Friedrick nervously chuckled.

Fachus stood up, walked toward the mini bar and grabbed a cold glass of ale. "Although, I do think my work will be very heavy soon. Kerfeliz is not happy."

Friedrick looked at Fachus, there was a strange 'thing' within the eyes of Fachus. To Friedrick it looked like a distinction, as if Fachus could see into the future. It was quite weird, but Friedrick quickly looked away.

( * )

Night had fallen.

Though Kerfeliz was in a flux. An inconceivably strange and broken flux. One half of the region was full of German-abiders. And the other half were patriotic, full-blooded Kerfelizians.

The land ship was a deterent. As the railroad tracks directly split the cities where there were more of each faction. At current, Germany was trying to calm the two down, but since one faction didn't like Germany, it became a bit more complicated.

There was some speculation, that the Lottidenty was using this unrest to restock their foods, that the Lottidenty was behind this whole speel. But no one knew what was truth in this, but Germany wasn't to blame… It was Betelion.

---

[ 2:47 AM September 28 ]

A Betelion battalion was marching their way towards the hilly city of Hagelbound (East Kerfeliz), although it was quite a lot of stretches of plain land. The green monotony stopped when the battalion arrived at their destination.

Some say it was poor communication, bad intellegence, or just shallow managing. Hell even all of them combined, however, what everyone knew: was that the Betelions incited a rather peculiar battle.

It was known from German intellegence that the town of Gourd was full of pro-Kerfelizian people. It was evident through the silent discrimination a German would get if ever one were to come to Gourd. In fact, a day before the battle, there were two Germans found dead in the back of an alleyway. The culprits were quickly found and apprehended (through much brute strength).

"Look at that," the Captain pointed out, with his finger. "Apparently, from some stuff I've read, Gourd's a rebel-place. Despises us, more so the Germans. And they've killed people. A lot of people (so I've heard)."

"Despicable," a soldier said.

"Despicable is the right word," the Captain repeated with a smile.

At current, his soldiers were behind a long hill. They were proned, with only their heads and rifles showing from the other side of the hill. They used an experimental kind of gun, similar to the Lottidentian magical rifle, and the German Kar98k. However this one was not bolt-action, it was semi-auto and box-fed.

They called it the MO8O, the soldiers gave it the nickname; Big Mo because of the rather thick wooden stock and the barrel being heavier than the previous, 'traditional rifles' of the Betelion military. All just so it could house magical gems within.

They were tired, the soldiers (in all actuality) were ordered by their Captain, with the Captain, to siege this German town. The name was Cpt. Fallengo, and; "through this mission of ours, I believe we'll be able to reach stardom, an appreciation that will rank us Generals, men!"

It was a silent yell, but they said; "Yeah!"

Invigorated for a rank; Fallengo had did the unthinkable. He yelled for a charge.

---

"He stormed the public houses," the representative said, the woman's voice was in the same cadence as someone reading a letter to a crowd. "His battalion stormed houses in the early hours of the morning, the police station, the residential houses, the hospital, other and all establishments within Gourd.

"And simply, the Kerfelizian people are not happy. Although we would systematically try and mediate the situation through control, our organization duely thinks that lack of control would benefit us better."

Hierd stood up, his eyebrows were flared. His frown was evident upon his face, and his veins were popping. "How many died?"

"Of the one-hundred people population," the representatives flipped a few papers, "we estimate twenty deaths, seven civilian and thirteen 'so-called' rebels. Fifty were injured in this event, from gun wounds, to wounds from fragments."

"Goodness." Hierd massaged his forehead. "Take that captain to court, order that whole battalion to retire, and tell Betelion to apologize," -he stood up from his seat- "this is deeply… Deeply! I say! Deeply grave for our campaign! Tell the Betelions to also not intervene in our affairs! And else? We shall remove them as a member of our Germanic Board!"

"Y-yes, my lord."

( * )

[ 3:05 October 1 ]

It worsened.

Lieu Gen Way Fachus exited the Land Ship at Hagelwood, Siren. Sitauated in the middle of this internal conflict. Just as Fachus had exited the Land Ship, he could see the overwhelming divide of the crowd watching the train from the station.

One side viewed the train like it were wall, and the other side viewed the train as the wall. "Mr. Fachusmuch, it is great to meet you." It was Algemmener.

"Our current Head Ambassador of German Affairs?" Fachus shook the man's open hand. "It is great to meet you too! I've heard of you Mr. Algemmener, however please; call me Fachus."

Algemmener chukled a little, turning around, escorting him out the station like he were some celebrity. "I'm sorry Lieutenant General, but out here, we must make ourselves strictly professional. Outside, we shall refer to ourselves according to our roles. So again, Good Afternoon Lieutenant General, I am Head Ambassador,"

He offered his hand again, but unlike the time he departed from the Land Ship (which was still in the station), the offered hand was more stiff and formal. Algemmenr was a diplomat through and through.

Fachus was quite startled by this change of attitude but adjusted quickly enough when they started walking within the streets.

"Is it that bad?" Fachus questioned.

"Please, Lieutenant General, not in the public should we speak of such matters." He looked to have been playing it cool, not even looking at Fachus when he had been saying it.

Fachus sweated, trying to chuckle it off, but with the sturdy and serious posture of the man before him.

The streets were crowded with people. A lot of them stared at them, Fachus tried to just focus on where they were going, tried to just focus on where his feet were and if he was going to overstep and stab his shoe onto the back of Algemmener's leg.

Then they swiftly pulled a corner, and in they were a building.

"Mr. Fachus," he turned around, his overtly stiff posture was rid away, as he exhaled, the Algemmener Fachus met with: returned. "That was a disaster."

"W-what? What had I done?"

"You talked. You looked this way and that, even if I was looking dead-ahead, I knew where you were looking at. And that's a disaster…"

Fachus put his cap upon the coat hanger, same with his great coat.

"It's really that bad?" He said once more.

"It's worser than you think," he chuckled. "You probably saw, but in case you didn't; there were a hundred journalist eyes lookin' at you like you were… meat. And they were wolves, or something like that." The two of them walked upwards the wooden stairwell.

The hallway then after was quite barren, but was clean. It was obvious that it was a newly made building. "And each and every journalist in that crowd, was writing, observing, and carefully taking notes of every movement."

"Who're they? Our journalists?"

"No, no. They're full of journalists from the freedom movement, I'd say remnants of the Betelionic Rebels, and journalists in-general that oppose our methods. You know, a secret unrest 'has' been swelling up ever since we took Handerbour, and Kerfeliz was just the breaking point. Let us see what the Lord has in show in this; what'll be his great plan I wonder…"

Algemmener opened the door at the end of the hallway. It was his office, it didn't need a pair of eyes, yes even if you were blind, would you understand that the room was full of paper. It smelled of paper, it reeked of ink, and it was unbelievably pungent, this smell. It smelled so sharp that Fachus had to get out of the room for a moment. "By, goodness, how do you work in that room!?"

"It isn't that bad once you get used to it," he proceeded to nonchalantly sit upon his desk chair. Fachus (when he had entered) didn't know where he was at first, his head was behind a stack of papers, all equally tall.

Algemmener pushed the papers outside, "and we're here to calm down the issue. Try and do something about the tension, even if we're kind-of the main issue but also kind-of not." -Fachus sat upon the chair before the desk- "all this happened because of Betelion, and now we're paying the price that shouldn't have needed to pay."

"Where do we start?"

Algemmener cracked a half-smile, putting his fingers together like he were some evil villain.

"We start with Germanification."

( * )

Secondly, the (other) news;

GERMANY HELPS KERFELIZ

The Illustrades - October 4

The Germans, as of this day October 4, have made many advancements to improve the infrastructure of both sides. The Illustrade movement sees this as a way to mediate the tensions between Kerfeliz's lands. Although we hope for a united nation, we also hope for a free nation. The military presence has dwindled ever since, and only do they focus upon their Northern campaign. How will the rest of the movement respond to this?

KERFELIZ IS EVEN MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER

The German Times - October 7

An Eastern-Side Kerfelizian killed one of the Illustrade movement's bigger officers at eleven-PM yesterday night. The East and the Western side ever since that day have been going at it ever since. Advancements made by the Government to ease this tension has been (as said by leading figure; Mr. Algemmener Wright) "All for naught."

"Shit has hit the fan, and since I can't stop the fan, we're going to be all covered in shit." Algemmener tisked, wiggled, all sorts of movements: all were basely irritation.

"What do we do?" Fachus, a much more disheleved Fachus, questioned.

"We have to talk to the lord."

( * )

[ 10:08 AM - The White Manor ]

"There are a lot of things I can do. But that… That I can't." Hierd twiddled the pencil on his right hand, carefully spinning it and making it jump. "I've made up my mind about Kerfeliz… See, in the building of a nation, you would expect people who would oppose rule. Be free. All that and more. But… I have seen countless of times, that nations who… Supose rule on these people, more often than not, get bitten on the balls.

"Issue my ultimatum," Hierd looked at Algemmener attentively this time, dropping his pencil. "Split the two regions apart. Relay this to the illustrades, that if they want autonomy, they may have autonomy. But we will still have the power to control the Lottidentian flanks.

"If they don't accept this one thing, then I will not listen to anymore from them."

---

[ 5:34 PM - Unchean (as a whole) ]

There was talk amongst the scholars that Germany should have cracked down on this much more militarily. Like how they did Handerbour. But from Hierd's acting-spokesperson; "this isn't total autonomy. Germany is the homeland of Kerfeliz. The Illustrades will have their land, and they will have the right to govern. But will not be able to lawfully oppose the Germany military and other government subsidiaries."

Auferstehen may be nearing, and there may not be many military movements up North, but it didn't meant the military wasn't doing anything. In Venit-Ille, a major plan was brewing. Led by Naturvege himself.

It spanned a lot of days of preparations. Months of course. And now the Aerial force finally had; "a hundred and fifty trained pilots and three-hundred in training!" Naturvege screamed in delight, slamming the table like it were his thigh. "With the Northern railway tracks now complete also, we can use the Land-Ship and the combined planes, with our heavy tanks… To do a full-on assault of Lottidenty."

"Terrain's an issue sir," A certain Lieutenant General said. "There's one land entrance at our major outpost, three others deep East, and one further West. I'll have my Light Infantry platoons approach from this point of South-West Lorent. And, Brigader General-Sir, Erwin; may you please help me in securing these outposts?"

Erwin stood up, looking at the point. It was near the coast. He knew the Yamato would strike the first naval gun fortification after the planes had come in swooping. "I can't bring anything heavier than a Sherwin (three of thouse in actuality), but I can supply you more of my M24 Chaffee tanks, about seven."

"That's perfect." The Lieutenant General thanked Erwin.

"Alright. We begin at dawn of Monday." Naturvege said, "any questions?"

"What about the illustrades?" Questioned Erwin. "I'm sure they'll interupt in some way or another, this campaign happens just after their freedom."

"I'm sure everything will be fine." Naturvege shrugged, "evacuate the towns nearby just in case we get any rogue shells hitin' the areas. And… We can't push any later than this date. Since Auferstehen is starting in two months, I can't have more delay with this war."

"Yes, sir."