Youjo Senki: Sabaku no Pasta Daisakusen (Saga of Tanya the Evil: Operation Desert Pasta)

September, Unified Year 1925

Imperial Capital Berun, Imperial Strategic Headquarters

Strategy and Operations Colonel Erich von Rerugen

I'm a little tired of this.

Military Railways Captain Maximilian Johann von Uger

The railway folks feel the same way.

Every day, the same food. And not good food, at that.

The quality of food has a direct effect on morale.

In other circumstances, I'd be asking the cooks to exercise their creativity...

But we can't ask for luxuries.

The front lines, particularly on the southern front, are probably far worse.

The southern front?

The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion is there, too?

I suppose I can make a suggestion to General von Zettour.

What do you mean, specifically?

Our nominal allies in Ildoa have been making noises about wanting a closer relationship.

If we drop hints about wanting to share provisions, they might be willing to provide.

I'm sure the 203rd will love it.

Interstitial Episode Operation Desert Pasta

Southern Front, Imperial Military Temporary Base

Base Command

I've already drunk half my ration for the day.

203rd Aerial Mage Battalion Commander Major Tanya von Degurechaff

1st Company, Adjutant First Lieutenant Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov

It hurts not having enough water, doesn't it, Major?

Major Degurechaff? Are you there, Major Degurechaff?

What is it, Captain Weiss?

Vice Commander and 2nd Company Commander Captain Matheus Johann Weiss

Splendid news, Major!

Supplies from home!

Look at the size of those crates!

Let us through.

Oh, Major!

Look at this!

That's pasta!

Are all these crates filled with pasta?

Yes.

"We realized it was possible to transport dried short pasta by air.

The troops who've received it love it. I hope you'll enjoy it."

So the enclosed message says.

I've gotten so sick of that k-brot bread!

We wouldn't want to refuse HQ's kindness.

3rd Company Commander First Lieutenant Wilibald Koenig

Let's chow down!

2nd Company First Lieutenant Warren Grantz

I'll do the cooking!

4th Company Commander First Lieutenant Rhiner Neumann

Men...

Where do you think we are?

Desert battles are harsh.

Weapons. Ammo. Parts. Fuel.

All that, and even water, needs to be transported in.

I think the guys at HQ need to learn what it's like

to not have water come out when you turn the faucet.

So, did we get any water with this pasta?

No, not really...

Sheesh. So the Fatherland wants us to chew on raw pasta?

That wasn't in our orders.

If we used up all our water cooking pasta, it wouldn't even be funny.

It's as edible as a picture of a dumpling, or a pie that's floating in the sky.

What?

Now, let's get back to our mission.

We do force recon and strike their supplies, like always.

We'll hit their supply lines and see how they react.

Yes, ma'am!

This is 02 to 01.

We've sighted an enemy supply depot that looks like our target.

Very well.

Follow the plan. The 2nd Company will hit from above.

3rd and 4th Companies, strike from the flanks.

Don't fly into your allies' firing lines.

All units, attack!

Yes, ma'am!

Southern Front Free Republic Supply Depot

What?

What is it?

You see something?

Enemy attack! Enemy attack!

Imperial Mages!

Impossible! Where did they come from?

Hit them back!

They came out of nowhere!

Enemy mages to the rear.

They're panicking and rushing up here.

Okay. 2nd Company, draw the mages away.

Roger!

Major, detecting EM waves.

That's the comms facility!

Okay. We've got a present from the Empire for it.

This is the 4th Company. We see what looks like an ammo storage facility.

You should be able to see it directly ahead of the 3rd Company!

You guys can hit it, right, 3rd Company?

Right!

Thanks for gathering it all in one place for us!

What happened?

The ammo dump's on fire!

This place is finished!

Retreat! Retreat!

Get to the evac bunkers!

Leave the trucks! They're easy targets!

Okay, we're done here.

No enemy reinforcements.

Pretty good work, for a force recon mission.

Major, over here!

Did you find something, Lieutenant Serebryakov?

Look, Major!

It's filled with 20-liter water tanks!

We shouldn't lack for water for a while now!

Hmm! Just what we were waiting for.

Here you are, Major.

Thank you.

Hot, hot, hot, hot...

Good. It's al dente.

How long has it been since I've had pasta?

This water is so good!

I never thought I'd get pasta in the desert!

Good job, HQ!

This is, well...

It's nice and toothsome, but...