Saga of Tanya the Evil (幼女戦記)

May, Unified Year 1927

The Empire's Unstoppable March Continues...

You're out of your office in the middle of an operation, huh?

And you're entering without permission.

Does the word "classified" mean nothing to you?

I simply thought you might join me for breakfast.

You stayed here all night again?

There's no one waiting for me at home.

Your wife and daughter are still at her parents' home in the south?

Yes. They haven't left since my daughter's fiancé died.

It's still badly affecting her, it seems.

I'm sure she knew it was possible, but...

It's a tragedy happening everywhere in the Empire right now.

You can come stay at my place, if you like.

I'll get you something more comfortable to sleep on.

I'll pass.

As long as I can sleep, it doesn't matter where I do it.

The operation's started.

A large-scale counterattack that will determine the fate of the war.

However it ends, I hope it ends here.

Yes.

This story is a work of fiction. People, organizations, locations, laws, names, etc. have no relation to any real-life counterparts.

How does our comms network look?

It's fine.

No sign of enemy airpower in the area.

"No reparations, no territorial changes, no other conditions" is not acceptable.

That's our leaders' determination.

Which means we need to win better terms for ourselves.

Security guarantees are our top priority.

A demilitarized buffer zone. And reparations, if possible.

It's fine to continue the negotiations, but...

Now the war's entirely political.

High leadership made the call.

I'm sure you have your own opinions as a soldier,

but I'll ask you to keep them to yourself.

It's time.

Episode Four Operation Iron Hammer

Let's get started, then.

A sealed order from command.

Now, let's see what they've got to say today...

Paratroopers? That's crazy.

The bridges are too far...

Get our officers together immediately.

Understood.

We still don't have our lines in good order...

Even if we push our lines forward, they'll just push them back.

We still don't have enough supplies...

This was supposed to end with unconditional peace!

And instead we're launching a large-scale attack?

Major, what should I be doing during this operation?

Don't worry. Nothing difficult.

If they tell you to go, you go.

If they tell you to return, you return.

You run around for a while, and then the battle's over.

Our trained officers have learned to keep their heads straight, but...

If you're going to fight, you need sweets!

Hey, don't keep them to yourself!

Hey, don't take every last one!

I'll have to take a lesson from them.

It's not like peace talks are off the table entirely.

I'll just have to do my job.

It's time, everyone!

Our goal for this operation is to surround and annihilate the enemy's field army.

We'll destroy the enemy's main forces

and eliminate their ability to continue this war.

The key to this operation is to use the river to the enemy's rear as a barrier.

The paratroopers have already deployed to make this happen.

They're attempting to lock down several bridges.

We will follow up and reinforce the paratroopers,

destroying the enemy's line of retreat and supply lines.

Of course, the enemy will do whatever it takes to get those bridges back.

We need to support the paratroopers and protect the bridges.

Thus, this operation will be about mobility.

We will smash into the enemy lines with a highly mobile "iron hammer"

and meet up with our paratroopers at the enemy's rear.

With their lines of retreat and supplies totally cut off,

we will then divide and surround the enemy field army.

Our allies will then annihilate our trapped foe.

So thoroughly the Federation's leadership never wants to fight a war again.

Our job in this operation is to be at the front of the charge.

We'll be breaking through the enemy's center.

If we're delayed, the paratroopers may be wiped out.

Our responsibility is great.

Lieutenant Colonel, an operation like this requires air superiority.

We can't move when we're being shot from the sky.

Don't worry.

Our allies have already secured air superiority, I'm told.

Even if that's true, the enemy's defenses are strong.

They don't have any trenches yet, but...

How do we break through?

Look at this!

A Federation command jurisdiction map?

That's right.

Strategic HQ intelligence has a plan for us

to slip through the gaps in their assigned combat areas.

But can we slip through the enemy's lines with an entire division?

Is that possible?

We won't be able to communicate with our allies, right?

I can understand your concerns.

So I've decided to prepare a little trick.

A trick, ma'am?

That's correct, Captain Ahrens.

Get us to the river, no matter what it takes.

Sitting on a tank hurts my butt more than I thought it would.

It sure does.

But it means we don't give off any magical signals like we do when we fly,

so the enemy will be focusing on the other mage units.

The Federation will be looking for mages in the sky, not on the ground.

And that means we're much more likely to succeed.

We have clear visibility on any approaching enemies too.

Enemy attack!

3 o'clock!

We're completely within enemy territory.

If the enemy finds us...

We're sitting ducks.

Hang on tight!

Ambush at one o' clock!

W-Wait, don't shoot!

Those helmets!

Those are allies!

Our allied paratroops.

Everyone! Wave your helmets! Wave them!

Comrades!

I'm so glad you're alive!

I'm so glad you're here!

I'm Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff, formerly in charge of this combat team.

Is there anything you need?

We've been here for three days and are running low on ammo.

I'll get it immediately.

We'll ask for some water in exchange.

Water?

There's plenty of water...

That's what you've won as a prize of war, right?

Let's have a trade, then. Water for ammo.

True. This is our war prize.

I'll take a photograph to remember the occasion later.

Of course. Let us prepare the cameras!

The charge was a success.

6th Airborne Regiment has made contact with the Rerugen Combat Team.

The Rerugen Combat Team?

Apologies.

That's the codename for the Salamander Combat Team.

Let's surround the enemy immediately with all our forces.

The troops have already started to move.

Okay, we've got them.

This is where the mission really begins.

We'll stop the enemy's attempt to break out.

Taking out their counterattack unit's leadership would be the fastest way.

Attack their HQ directly?

Which unit has resources to spare for that?

Don't play dumb, Zettour.

We have the perfect hunting dog for this job just waiting around in the East.

Them?

Indeed.

The enemy's camp is better defended than we thought!

None of the units are making progress!

Damn it... Strategic HQ never gives me a day off!

We're pulling back!