Chapter - I (Part 2)

SEPTEMBER 12, UNIFIED YEAR 1926,

A SALIENT ON THE EASTERN FRONT, THE SALAMANDER KAMPFGRUPPE

Despite mulling it over and over, Tanya still hasn't found a way out.

All she has found over these past days is an inexhaustible supply of enemies. She has to keep facing the obnoxious Federation forces day after day; it's a kind of torture.

That explains my current demeanor, I suppose?

Tanya is incredibly eager in her search for an escape or a change to the current status quo.

She's willing to do anything. But despite comprehensive efforts to acquire the necessary information, she still has no idea what to do.

Technically her unit has prisoners. And quite a few of them, at that.

Capturing enemy soldiers means holding people who know the inside details of the enemy forces. Tanya was anticipating that they would be able to get some idea of the enemy's situation.

Of course, any single soldier will have only a tiny amount of intelligence. But she figured if she gave a number of them to the Feldgendarmerie, they would come up with something.

That was her naive fantasy.

The results were utterly atrocious.

The prisoners answered the officers' questions all the same; the interrogators couldn't get anything out of them besides the cookie-cutter responses of hard-core Communist sympathizers. Thanks to that, apparently now they're looking to see if there is some sort of propaganda that would break down their will to fight and allow us to draw some intel out of them.

But I've received a report that even with this much effort going into the interrogation, the short-term results we can expect to see are limited. The Feldgendarmerie is awfully pessimistic about getting intel out of the prisoners.

In fact…

Given the way the Federation soldiers unflinchingly attack in our daily battles, I can understand why the MPs want to throw in the towel—because what can the Feldgendarmerie even do to them?

"But it's strange."

Right after the unit repels another clockwork attack from an enemy commando unit, Tanya turns to Major Weiss to ask him, "What is?"

It sounds like he's going to start a lengthy conversation, and she's sure her vice commander is a soldier who knows the time and place for it. Tanya has him continue1and listens closely because she can tell it won't be pointless griping.

"I was wondering… why do you suppose these soldiers go along with these reckless offensives?"

"I guess I'd say the Communists are merely hard to understand. It's not impossible to reason out their line of thought. But anything beyond that is tricky for us normal people. I have no idea why they think that way." It's when she murmurs, sounding fed up, "I really wonder what's on their minds," that it happens.

"Er, Colonel?" The one speaking is Lieutenant Serebryakov, who is standing by next to Tanya. She nervously makes a suggestion. "If… you have a question, then what if you tried asking them directly?"

In a way, it's a supremely reasonable idea. It's rare to have access to an intelligence source as useful as a prisoner.

But Tanya is forced to consider the nuisance of the language barrier.

And even if she could theoretically overcome it, the Federation is a multiethnic state… The prisoners' "official Federation language" is often heavily accented. Maybe to a native speaker it seems like just another dialect, but interpreting it is practically impossible with only basic language education.

Language really is an obnoxious issue… is what Tanya's thinking when suddenly, she recalls Lieutenant Serebryakov's background. Since her family entered the Empire as refugees, she must speak native Federation language.

But Tanya still turns her down for now. She may not have asked herself, but the Imperial Army had questioned prisoners along the same lines before.

The Feldgendarmerie hasn't been slacking on that count.

"I'm grateful for the suggestion, but they're already doing that. The Feldgendarmerie is surveying them."

"So what are they fighting for?"

"Good question, Lieutenant Serebryakov. I read the reports because I was wondering the same thing, but… it turns out we have no idea."

"A report from the Feldgendarmerie? I beg your pardon, Colonel, but may I see it?"

"Sure, I don't mind." Tanya hands over the document, and after scanning it, Serebryakov silently looks up at the ceiling.

She's so smooth, she even gives a little sigh. "…Lieutenant Serebryakov?"

"Here you go, Colonel."

"Hmm." Tanya takes what she discovers is a handwritten note. It looks like the sort of simple note she would get from the MPs after an interrogation…

"It's the outcome of briefly questioning some prisoners the Kampfgruppe captured just a bit ago."

"Hmm? Oh, you did some quick questioning before handing them over to the MPs…? Huh?" Tanya does more than a double take, rubs her eyes. "That's strange… ," she murmurs. She could really use some eye drops.

The soldiers were talking in their normal, natural voices. To be frank, Tanya has never read anything like this before.

She's looked over mountains of MP reports, but she doesn't remember ever seeing a single one featuring "normal soldiers."

…It was a mistake to unconsciously assume it was because they were interrogating Communists. I had made up my mind that they were all committed to their ideology, but the notes from Serebryakov indicate the exact opposite.

What Tanya sees in the notes are normal soldiers answering the questions they are asked in a matter-of-fact way. There are no "Communists" to be found.

Just people.

Just raw soldiers.

In a nutshell, individuals.

In the reports Tanya has read up until now, the answers were standardized as if they had received resistance to interrogation training. What's going on when they talk to Serebryakov?!

…It's like they transformed from robots into humans.

"Wait a minute, Lieutenant Serebryakov. It's not that I doubt you, but you're saying you questioned these prisoners yourself?"

"Yes, we asked a few people, mainly noncommissioned officers, about their ranks and units. Some of them kept silent, but overall you can expect them to be fairly cooperative. You can even acquire intelligence through small talk during the interrogation."

How wonderfully proactive and inventive. This is what an officer should be like. Nodding in satisfaction, Tanya continues, "So then. You're saying that apart from the political commissars, they all put some distance between themselves and the 'Communists'?"

"Strictly speaking, they don't support the current party."

"Sure, I don't care about definitions. In any case, the guys who are supposed to be resisting as fanatical Communists actually detest the party? Was it a penal battalion or something?"

Given the unit the rebellious men were in, Tanya guesses they must be an old regime faction.

But her adjutant's reply catches her off guard.

"Judging from their badges, they were regular army, and not only that but a unit mentioned in the Eastern Army Group's intelligence documents."

"You're sure of that?"

"Yes." The reply is resolute and contains the pride of an expert who is confident in their words.

…What the hell? Tanya pinpoints something unsettling inside her.

She has overlooked something.

"Gather the documents right away and make arrangements for an officers' meeting. Lieutenant Serebryakov, can I see you for a moment?" Tanya asks. "If this is true, there's no way to explain why the Federation Army isn't collapsing. If their faith in their state's framework is shaken, why do they keep resisting so stubbornly?" Tanya nearly continues with How can this be? but shakes her head and stands up. "A picture is worth a thousand words. Guess I have no choice but to take a look for myself."

Her subordinates absentmindedly acknowledge her.

As if to ask them, Were you not listening to what I was saying? Tanya sighs and breaks down her intentions for them.

"…Major Weiss, I want you to come with me. Lieutenant Serebryakov, you can interpret, right? You come, too."

And so the heads of the Kampfgruppe appeared before the captured enemy soldiers.

The attitude of the restrained noncommissioned officers was rather nervous but not exactly brimming with hostility. Maybe it was more accurate to say they were thinking about the future in the abstract.

But Tanya decides she might be able to have a fascinating conversation with them. She is cautious, but incredibly optimistic.

Major Weiss is going to perform the interrogation, since he can make the scariest faces.

He's a decorated, mid-ranking magic officer, so he's the perfect interrogator. They hastily throw an enemy soldier into the room in one of the garrison buildings that has been designated for questioning, and the conversation unfolds as Tanya watches from the back.

"Oh, an officer? Could I trouble you for a cigarette? I ran out a long time ago…" "Sorry. I belong to an aerial mage battalion."

"An aerial mage battalion? Surely in the Imperial Army a unit like that is well supplied."

"I can't deny that, but regulations prohibit smoking because it ruins your lungs. We're not allowed to carry cigarettes."

Shrugging his shoulders and apologizing, Weiss takes an unmarked white paper box out of his breast pocket and nonchalantly places it on the table.

Saying how sorry he is to disappoint the prisoner, he pushes the box toward him with quite the practiced motion… Soldiers at war have an incorrigible but very real love of cigarettes. I can't be critical of their personal tastes.

Nevertheless, it should probably be said… There are almost no smokers in any aerial mage battalion, much less the 203rd. The high altitudes and low oxygen concentration they encounter regularly are bad enough. Hence, Weiss's acquisition of cigarettes as a tool is praiseworthy.

"Oh, well, nothing to do about that, then. Could you at least lend me a light?" "What? You don't even have your own lighter? Sheesh, here you go."

It's a silly exchange, but the technique shortens the distance between the questioner and the prisoner. The smoke is unpleasant, but I have to prioritize results over my personal preferences this time.

"Now then, tell me something. What are you guys—no, what are you fighting for? For the Federation?"

Keep observing. Tanya watches over the proceedings as Weiss asks the question and Serebryakov interprets.

"Me and the other guys all fight for ourselves. Isn't that obvious?… We're fighting for a better future."

"A better future?"

"If we beat you guys, our society should improve somewhat."

That must be the message the enemy is sending with their propaganda. It may not be completely new, but it's important information. Just as Tanya is about to nod…

"…Let me rephrase the question. You think your society will improve by fighting us? Why? Do you believe in Communism?"

The moment Serebryakov translates Weiss's casual question, the atmosphere grows strange.

"…Yes, sir. About as much as you guys do!"

…Wait a second. What did he just say?

"What a witty reply. But I understand even less now." "What in the world is there to not understand?"

Weiss smiles wryly, as if to say C'mon, but asks, "Why are you fighting for Communism?"

Yes, that's the question. Where do they get the spirit to fight for an ideology they don't even believe in?

Weiss, the observer Tanya, and the attending interpreter Serebryakov all want to know the same thing.

Even if Tanya isn't personally dedicated to the Empire's history, traditions, or norms, she finds the current regime better than the alternatives, and it's her intention to support it.

Which is why this makes no sense. How can they fight for a no-good state? "Hey, Mr. Major. You stupid or something?"

"Hmm?"

Weiss's blank-faced reaction aside, the enemy soldier's question sends a chill up Tanya's spine.

"Who doesn't have feelings about their homeland? How can you even argue this point? Am I wrong? I don't think so!"

…It's not for the party. Not for the party but for my homeland. "Just to confirm, you're fighting for 'your homeland'?"

"I heard imperial soldiers were smart, but I guess you can't believe every rumor you hear. You're about on the level of the political commissars."

"That's a pretty dramatic way to put it."

Weiss, flustered by the sarcasm, and Serebryakov diligently interpreting no longer appear in Tanya's field of vision.

Don't make light of the word's Logos.

It has the power to change the world. When the frame, the paradigm, has its logic knocked out from under it, a shift must occur.

"Do you need a reason to fight for your hometown? Plus, if we do a good job, those annoying idiots in the party will have to listen to us at least a little bit."

"So if you defeat the Empire, your lives will get better?"

"Don't you think? I mean, the party is only so headstrong about everything right now so they can face you guys. Once we don't need to fight you anymore, things should get better."

"Hmm, very interesting. Now then, I'd like to hear a little bit about the unit you belong to…"

The conversation between Weiss, Serebryakov, and the enemy soldier continues. But Tanya doesn't care anymore. What matters is the truth she learned.

Our enemies, the Federation soldiers, aren't Communists at all.

That one sentence.

That right there is the key.

And she hates this feeling of being shown how incorrigibly wrong she was.

After the interrogation ended and once the enemy soldier had been sent away, Tanya can only stare absentmindedly up at the room's ceiling.

"Colonel?"

Her subordinates are probably worried about her. She would understand that under normal circumstances.

But right now, it's impossible. "…Fucking hell!"

The curse is directed at herself and her country's carelessness.

"So they've thrown their ideology away to fight a 'great patriotic war'! No wonder they're so raring to fight, then! Argh, damn it! What the hell!"

Her second-in-command looks at her blankly. If this was combat, Major Weiss would pick up on her intentions and react right away, so she's frustrated by his lack of comprehension.

Why doesn't he see how important this is?

"You don't get it?! We've been fighting nationalists this whole time as if they were Communists!" she spits.

The significance of that: a nationalist war. The more she thinks about it, the more she wants to curl up in a ball.

This was a complete mistake.

This is idiocy of the finest order, foolishness that will make it into the history books.

Weiss sinks into thought next to her and will probably figure it out eventually. She knows he has a decent head on his shoulders.

But she doesn't have time to wait around for him to think things through at his leisure.

"We, the Empire, have been fighting a completely different enemy! We're helping them, not beating them."

"Our actions were benefiting the Federation…? Could that really be true?"

"Major Weiss. The way we've been fighting so far, the more we win, the more unified the enemy grows. We thought that if we won, it would chip away at their will to fight, but we were wrong! It doesn't lead to their collapse, but the reverse! It stimulates their solidarity and makes their resistance even stronger!"

When fighting an ideology, all that's necessary to win is to attack the validity or the righteousness of that ideology. And the flaws in Communism have been proven. At least, Tanya is personally convinced. It's not difficult to show how inefficient Communism is.

But fighting with nationalism is no good.

"…What did he say? 'Who doesn't have feelings about their homeland?'" "Yes, the prisoner did say that."

The fatherland is in crisis. We can't say that the Federation's people don't disapprove of or doubt the party or feel angry. But more than that, the citizens have been roused by their fatherland's desperation. We were convinced we were fighting Communists, but they have the fire of nationalism burning in their hearts.

Nationalism isn't logical. It's emotional, passionate.

Attacking Communism is like fueling the fire of their nationalism. Once that happens, even if the nationalists hate the Communist Party, they will still unite against the Empire, their common enemy.

Yes, we truly have been helping them.

"What a huge mistake. I should have realized sooner."

Apparently, Serebryakov has a much higher language ability than the guys in the Feldgendarmerie. She picks up the minute implications that might be lost in a literal translation and delivers suitable interpretations of the meaning.

A proper interpreter, a proper translator is a must, especially to grasp the core essence of the message. They say the devil is in the details, and I think that holds true for conversations as well.

The Federation soldier wasn't hiding anything; he said it straight out.

"We're fighting for our homeland."

"This makes my head hurt. Why didn't anyone realize this?"

This must be what it feels like to whine without even meaning to.

What kind of mistake did the Feldgendarmerie MPs need to make to interpret this as "They're fighting for their ideology"? It could be because they didn't dig into the prisoners' responses that they were fighting to protect the Federation. It might also be that they aren't as good at interpreting as Serebryakov.

Ohhh, crap. Tanya makes one correction.

"The MPs are always chasing after Communists. They have experience with them at home, so it's no wonder they were convinced from the start."

Year in and year out, MP units are conducting counterinsurgency against cells of domestic Communists back home. In the MPs' minds, Communism and the Federation had become one and the same without them even realizing it.

"So the Feldgendarmerie has been conditioned to uncritically connect anything with the Federation's fingerprints on it to Communism?"

"Conditioned, ma'am?"

"In other words, it's like assuming that just because a bell rings, it's time to eat."

Our guard dogs have developed an awfully peculiar habit. It's really quite a pain in the neck. Thanks to them, we're stuck in this difficult spot.

"They associate Communism with the very word Federation. Does that mean… the work they usually do misled them?"

"That's what I think, Major Weiss."

If she wasn't in front of her subordinates, Tanya would cradle her head and sigh. But she let them see a glimpse of her anger already. As an officer and commander, she can't conduct herself so disgracefully.

Swallowing many of the things she wants to say, Tanya instead declares they'll look into it. "Lieutenant Serebryakov, sorry, but I'd like you and Lieutenant Grantz to reinterrogate the prisoners. I want to do a thorough analysis of the enemy psyche," she continues with a bitter smile. "I'd like to ask them myself. But I only have a smattering of Federation language ability from the short accelerated course at the academy. I can't flatter myself and say I'm capable of picking up subtle emotions."

The Feldgendarmerie must have been conceited.

Those types do exist. There's no doubt because I know idiots who make a mess of things due to the difference between studying a language and actually speaking it. Even though I worked in HR, I had to struggle with the same issue. We had to be able to speak English or we couldn't do our jobs. There are so many people who brag they're good at languages even though they couldn't score that many points. And the parade of idiots who then fail to communicate in the language they're supposedly good at is never-ending. It was so sad I always wanted to scream, Know your limits!

"In that sense, it's really great that we have Visha."

Tanya nods emphatically in response to Weiss's remark and responds with "Indeed."

Near-native ability in a language might seem vague and difficult to grasp from a pure data perspective, but when someone can comprehend an essential point, you can really tell the difference.

I never thought I'd be tormented by language issues during a war. Geez, the people who thought to build the Tower of Babel and the god who destroyed it can all eat shit. Anyone driving up communication costs is an enemy of society.

A question from Serebryakov, however, sends Tanya's righteous indignation out the window. "But, Colonel, may I ask why you want Lieutenant Grantz to do the interrogation?"

"What?"

"The subtleties of emotion appear in more than just words. I realize you're busy, Colonel, but if we could capture those subtleties, wouldn't it be better to have you with me?"

Lieutenant Serebryakov suggests that in order to grasp the emotions the prisoners

reveal, it would be better for me to interrogate them personally. Certainly, under normal circumstances that might be the case.

The Federation soldiers' will to fight is a serious problem.

The Federation Army is putting up a repetitive, crude, yet fierce resistance along the entire front. If we could get a handle on their combat psychology, we might even be able to crack their mental defenses. I'm sure the General Staff would be terribly interested in that.

The Imperial Army is desperate for accurate intelligence.

But Tanya spits, "Listen, Lieutenant Serebryakov. Look at me." "Huh?"

Her subordinates look puzzled. "Look at me, guys."

As she is about to say, You don't get it? she realizes this is a waste of time. Apparently, not a single one of them has any idea what she's getting at. She inadvertently sighs at their lack of understanding.

Of course, she collected the members of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion based on their fanaticism for war, not for their empathy or thoughtfulness… If she chose them for their combat abilities, she can't very well be upset at them for their ignorance of emotional subtlety.

Although it is annoying. "Guys, I look like a kid!" "…Mm."

Grantz apparently has no clue what I'm talking about, and Serebryakov looks confused. If both the lieutenants are no good… She turns to her vice commander but immediately thinks to herself, Tch, he's worthless, too?

She's explained this to some extent before, but apparently they all forgot. Maybe they

shoved it into a corner of their minds because it didn't have anything to do with combat. This is the problem with war freaks.

"Major Weiss, I'm a child. They may not take me seriously based on my appearance. I'd really like for you to realize such things before I have to say them…"

"Huh? Oh! V-very sorry, Colonel."

-x-X-x-

THE SAME DAY,

THE SALAMANDER KAMPFGRUPPE'S GARRISON, THE COMMANDER'S ROOM

And so, Tanya holes up in the space she's been allotted for her personal use to think. Coffee is on hand.

The smell, out of place on a battlefield, hangs lightly in the Kampfgruppe commander's room. The mellow fragrance of the arabica beans from Colonel Uger, the brew's unadulterated flavor. Normally, she keeps the beans refrigerated and drinks in tiny sips to make it last; this coffee is a rarity from her personal stash. But just for today, she's gulping it down like standard-issue muck water; she can't even taste it.

What she's staring at with a pale face are the transcripts of the prisoner interrogations First Lieutenants Serebryakov and Grantz did. Tanya was somewhat prepared. She had guessed the report's conclusion to some extent at the time she ordered the survey.

Still, she can't help but grit her teeth. Subjectively, we've been fighting Communists. Which is why we've been fighting to break the Communists' spirit. And why we're doing that even now.

But the Federation soldiers are fighting for their homeland in the name of ethnic nationalism.

"I'm such a fool."

It's impossible for Tanya to ridicule herself even if she wants to. She's that huge of an idiot. Who is? Me. I am.

Overlooking the fact that we were failing to fight what we should have been? A fool who understood neither the enemy nor myself? Yes, me of all people.

At that moment, Tanya von Degurechaff screams in her room. "Those bastards got us!"

We've been tricked.

"Damn Communists, of all things—of all things—you took our cause away!"

Usually, Communists endlessly criticize nationalism. They crow that the truth of the world is not represented properly in ethnic nationalism, when it's actually a class war, as viewed from the perspective of scientific history. How careless of me to assume they followed such a creed! Embarrassment is only the beginning for something like this. I'm so angry I want to shoot my past self.

"Why didn't I realize something so obvious?! How did I miss it?!" I'm aware that I'm not controlling my emotions very well.

But… there are times when you just want to pound the table and scream. I'm so disappointed in my rawness and my contemptible carelessness. This is the definition of an untenable position.

What a stupid situation.

I should have known how easy it is for Communists to cast off their policies! I keep asking myself how I could have forgotten—it's that grave of a mistake.

Unconsciously, or perhaps she has merely closed her eyes…

"This is the Worst"

-x-X-x-

[Image]

-x-X-x-

…Tanya von Degurechaff weakly curses her failure.

They got me.

Now I can't scoff at people who get tricked by Commie propaganda. They really had me going, meaning I'm no different from those schmucks.

No, I know how the Communist Party works, so my error is incomparably worse… I'm simply incompetent. This is the fruit of indefensible stupidity. No matter what I say to excuse myself, I can't trick my own heart.

I shouldn't have been going on about analyzing the situation in enemy territory with such a worldly-wise look on my face.

I have to oppose the mobile offensive.

It's not even an issue of winter anymore.

Penetrating farther into enemy territory will only unite the enemy further. "Annihilating their field army? Impossible."

I need an alternative to suggest instead. And quickly—as soon as possible.

"Let's take a historical view. There are extremely few instances where a relatively small regular army was able to get guerrillas under control… And even the examples of success that we have are only limited victories."

In Vietnam, even the American empire's overwhelming mate´riel resources couldn't solve the issue. In Afghanistan, the Soviet and American armies proved how difficult it is to maintain control over mountainous regions. It was only an option to burn down whole resisting cities like the Mongols during eras when the law of war didn't exist yet.

Nowadays, our hands are tied.

If you look for an example of counterinsurgency that ended in victory, you have the British Army in their colonies in Malaya, but those were colonies, so… hmm?

"Colonies? Yes, colonies. Where the suzerain state is the minority. You can rule with

small numbers through military, but…"

Ohhh, thinks Tanya, forced to realize that her brain is depressingly rusty.

It's simple, isn't it?

To be perfectly honest, there's no need to take them all on. "We'll divide and conquer."

"Hoo-hoo-hoo." Tanya laughs because she has it completely figured out. But in one respect, it's also the plain truth. If you succeed in dividing the enemy, the number you have to fight is smaller. If we do it right, we might even be able to use some of them as allies.

And for better or worse, the Federation is a multiethnic state.

If, beneath the pretty words ideal Communism, the party is suppressing the self- determination movements of different ethnic groups… it might be possible to forge an alliance. If we're merely speaking about the possibilities, any of the ethnic minorities within the Federation could potentially become imperial allies.

"After all, we're not asking for their land. Frankly, the Empire is like a big hikikomori. Its interests don't come into conflict with ethnic groups within Federation territory that want independence."

That's how we solve it.

"I found the answer! I found the way out!"

All I can do is race forward.