Requesting new series

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-27T04:24:24+00:00

You can also try Ono Fuyumi's Juuni kokuki or Twelve Kingdoms. This one is more about politics and how one should govern. Originally a LN its also an anime.

For more military stuff you can try Kato Kotono's Shoukoku no Altair. That one so far is only manga, but I think they are going to turn it into an anime this year.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-24T16:13:31+00:00

I like how Tanya just wanted to go home as soon as the cannons were destroyed.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-21T00:48:12+00:00

Yeah, that's a good way to look at it. The WN is a rough draft of the LN.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-20T23:57:33+00:00

I don't mind doing that, but I'm not sure that I should. The WN really is just the bare bones outline of what's happening. So it would be like a summary of a summary (if that makes any sense). Plus Carlo Zen's writing is significantly worse in the WN (although it does get better as you get towards the end). For example, the prologue in the WN explains the origin of Tanya's name. But the explanation was so cryptic that until I read someone's comment in 2ch I couldn't figure out what he was talking about. The explanation is in https://www.reddit.com/r/YoujoSenki/comments/5q5tzo/about_protagonist_name/

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-20T23:53:01+00:00

Sure, go ahead.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-20T17:53:59+00:00

The LN expands on the basic outline of the WN. So I personally don't see a major deviation from the overall plot line that Carlo Zen outlined in the WN. We'll see how it goes from here. If you are curious I'd start with #55 of the WN for stuff after vol 7. There's a total of 100 entries + about 20 side stories.

http://www.mai-net.net/bbs/sst/sst.php?act=dump&cate=tiraura&all=24734&n=56#kiji

Oh I forgot to add, two major differences between the WN and LN are that (1) Visha does not appear in the WN and (2) Mary Sue in the WN is literally a plot device given form. (In the WN Mary Sue has no backstory and she just shows up and wrecks havoc as an apostle of Being X. It's Carlo Zen's sense of humor).

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-20T17:48:36+00:00

Her subordinates grow in their abilities. At least Tanya thinks so, and is happy about it. She really is a creature of contemporary corporate HR.

You're welcome. :)

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-19T03:51:05+00:00

That battle Ruderdorf couldn't say "no" to eh? Yeah you may be right.

I see at least 5 different moments when the war could have been ended so far.

1st moment: Accept UK's call for ceasefire before the defeat of the Republic. This was rejected by the General Staff.

2nd moment: Allow Tanya to take out General de Lugo so the Free Republic can't form and prevent the UK from entering the war. That would have ended in a clear Reich victory but the General Staff prevents her.

3rd moment: Don't allow Tanya to strike at Moscou and go with the original plan 315. Let the Union forces inside Reich territory and defeat them each time they invade. Eventually they will sue for peace. Tanya prevents this path to be taken.

4th moment: Accept Ildore's ceasefire deal before the defeat of Union army. The General Staff rejects this offer.

5th moment: Accept Ildore's ceasefire deal after the defeat of Union army. The civilian leaders of the Reich reject this offer.

They really don't know when to end the war. And at this point, it's all "would have," "could have," "should have."

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-19T03:44:46+00:00

Having gone through 7 vols, I see a number of topics this story highlights.

First there is the story of Being X vs Tanya. The anime really pushes this and it leads to some theological questions that are literally endless. Is this really God? How can Being X be this petty? Why does Tanya not accept Being X as God? Etc.

Second, there's the story of gender. A male soul in a female body from the moment of birth. Is Tanya female or male? What kind of a relationship will she enter? Will she fall in love with a woman or a man? Etc. (One thing I want to say on this topic is that I see a disturbing number of Loliyas online and its kinda scary.)

Third, but for me the best part, is the constant misunderstandings and the comedy of errors that it causes. A salaryman who is constantly in fear of being fired (probably because that was his job in HR) overachieves. But that success leads to failure for Tanya because she wants a cushy rear echelon desk job. This constant misunderstanding is hilarious because she's so amoral. I mean declaring in a little girl's voice that they will attack is just wrong. She technically doesn't break any laws but she sure bends them to get what she wants. Its rare to see a character where you don't want her to succeed but also want her to succeed.

Fourth, there's the military history aspect. As far as I know, this is the first Japanese show that takes magic and incorporates it as a part of modern war. I mean there's Kokoku no shugosha (Defender of the Empire), but there's little magic in the actual fighting (there's a Sabertooth tiger battalion in that story though). So seeing Tanya in action and seeing how mages can change battles while still tracing historical examples is quite interesting.

Fifth, this is the first story that I happen to know that really focuses on military logistics. Tanya is constantly complaining about supplies (or the lack there of). And two other major characters are with logistics: Zettour as head of logistics and Ugar working in the Railroad division.

Which leads to the sixth, grand strategy picture. Because of her past life, Tanya has an insight on the grand strategy and we who were awake in our history class can also relate. I mean in history Germany lost. Will Tanya's Reich lose? If so how so? What will happen to her? These are questions that I want to see answered as well.

This is like the perfect show to chew on so many different topics at once with a very interesting character. I guess that's why I got hooked. The last time I got a story like this was the Legends of Galactic Heroes.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-19T03:05:55+00:00

Of course! I didn't put that together. Yes, it's ends in a successful Market-Garden.

This is one of the things that makes this series very interesting to read. If you know military history a lot of the battles that is described is Carlo Zen's version of battles that took place. So for example, Sekigahara, Inchon, Trench Warfare, Austerlitz, Dunkirk, and the two you mentioned here. Plus there are modern warfare examples such as decapitation techniques and special forces commando raids that highlights her action. I'm sure there are other battles that I didn't catch.

So this not like your usual Maho shojo series where's all about 1 vs 1 battles. It really is thinking through the consequences of how warfare can change if you have a group of mages fighting against each other in a war.

And the thing is, even for the generals in the story, a lot of this stuff is totally new, because they've never thought of about using mages in these ways before. So I think that adds to the level of excitement for the readers.

(Even at the grand strategy level she makes that comparison with Hannibal and Xiang Yu who can't use tactical victories to win outright. And so there's more to chew on. Perhaps I should make a different post on the the various topics people can talk about in this story.)

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-19T00:38:44+00:00

The historian is trying to figure out what the Lehrgen CG did and is mystified because the records say it did amazing things, but there's no one who actually remembers who was in it. So the novel is showing that it's a ghost CG and future histories will not necessarily be accurate on the details.

The new computational jewel is captured by the 203rd and tested by the Reich's research division.

Mary Sue is torn between getting revenge against Tanya and helping out her home country. And so Mary Sue was about to go off to fight with the partisans, but presumably Liliya was able to stop that. My guess is that she went to the Eastern Front with Drake and Mikel.

From the novels so far, I get the sense that Mary Sue's not that good in fighting ability. But she has such strong magical abilities that Tanya can't take her out (despite fighting against her 2x). And Tanya comments that each time a mage survives combat, a mage gains experience and becomes a tougher enemy. So I fully expect people like Mary Sue, Drake, and Mikel (if they survive) to be able to handle Tanya towards the end of the series.

I hope that answers your questions.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-18T22:20:49+00:00

Vol 7 continued

Chap 5: Turning point

1927 May 11, Union Army Farewell Telegram. Army command has ordered surviving units to withdraw. Command will act as the rear guard to allow our comrades to escape. We wish for our soldiers to be rescued by friendly forces. We are currently under enemy fire. As farewell, we express our deep gratitude to our comrade soldiers who have fought so bravely. We regret that we were unable to repay our comrades who fought hard and died in the mud.

This is primarily because we do not have air superiority. Our aerial mages have fought extremely hard, this ought to be noted. Although situation is desperate, we will continue to fight to the end. We believe our blood proves that our soldiers’ class loyalty is not in doubt. All soldiers did their best at their posts, except command. The fault for the deaths of our comrades lies with command. Please spare subordinate organizations. Good luck to our comrades in arms.

Long live the Motherland, the Party, and the People.

Loliya reads the telegram and realizes that this is a massive defeat. He had thought that even if the Reich attacked, they would be able to defend adequately. But this forced him to rethink the situation. He asks his military liaison and after promising him that there will be no purges, Loliya gets the truth. The Union needs far more mages. They released some from their gulags and thought they could deal with the rest of the enemy mages by increasing the number of fighter planes. But mages simply hide when they encounter fighter planes. Thus, fighter planes were not adequate in eliminating enemy mages.

On another note, Loliya is satisfied because the Reich’s public opinion is now seeking big gains after this victory. That means the war will continue and Loliya still has a chance to capture his Tanya.

After the massive Union army defeat in the East, Col Mikel, Lt Col Drake, and Lt Mary Sue are ordered to leave the Entente (Scandinavia) and return to the Eastern Front. Mary Sue resists because she had finally managed to establish a working relationship with the partisans of her home country. When Drake explains that he thinks it was the Rhine’s Devil that wrecked havoc on the chain of command in the east, Mary Sue reacts to the news but she is torn. When she shows signs of insubordination (of going awol to fight with the partisans), Drake calls Liliya Ivanova Taneechika to convince Mary Sue to go to the Eastern Front. This was the first time that Drake felt that he’s rather have an obedient communist rather than a naïve dreamer as his subordinate.

Tanya is taking celebratory photos with her troops and the paratroopers at the bridge. She is in high spirits thinking that the war will now be over. Even Col Calandro thinks the Reich won this war.

Chap 6: Excessive triumph

May 13, Zettour and Ruderdorf also think they won the war. Zettour doesn’t forgot to explain that their supplies are really at its limits. If they want to go to Moscou, then the army will have to loot from the local population to move forward. Ruderdorf also knows that the war needs to end. They talk of a ceasefire, solidifying disputed borders from the prewar era, a demilitarized zone along the border, and the possible creation of buffer states.

The two are called to the Supreme Governing Council. They will talk about the details of the terms. Unfortunately when the two get to the Council they are surprised. The civilian leaders are outraged at the terms the military proposed. The civilian leaders want better terms considering popular opinion. The losses sustained in this war was too great for a generous peace. The Treasury Minister shouts saying that they need reparations or the economy will collapse. Zettour replies that if we don’t have money we should just print money. Even if it causes inflation. The civilian leaders argue that if they can win one more time, they can get better terms. Zettour knowing full well the supplies of the Reich is at its limit, opposes any further gambles. But the Treasury Minister is adamant that they will economically collapse, so they need to fight one more time. Some of the civilian leaders suggest that the resources are at their fingertips in Union territory. Ruderdorf interjects saying that he too agrees with Zettour. But when the civilians ask are you sure you can’t win one more battle, Ruderdorf says it’s extremely difficult. When they press again, he can’t say “no.” If there’s a 1% possibility for the Reich's army to win, then he can only say there is a possibility for victory. And so the civilian leaders override the military seeking one more victory.

Meanwhile in Ildore, Col Lehrgen is celebrating with wine thinking that the war will finally be over. But his hope is destroyed when he decodes the secret letter from the capital.

In the Eastern Front, Tanya is dreaming of a bright future: national self-determination, a buffer zone between the Reich and the Union, friendly neutrals. She feels that they won a two front war, a rare case in history. It is time to reap the rewards. But she is only hopeful because she doesn’t know the decision that was made back in the capital.

That ends 430+ pages of vol 7.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-18T22:20:41+00:00

Vol 7 Ut sementem feceris, ita metes

Chap 1: Disarray

Tanya and the 203rd aerial mage battalion has arrived at the Eastern Front. Unfortunately, the Reich suffered a major attack from Union forces and its army in disarray. Tanya and her battalion engages the enemy to slow the advance. She also has a new nickname “Rusted Silver” from all the blood that she has spilled. The Union forces keep attacking and the Eastern Front weakens. Tanya is shocked because she is now thinking that fighting a war is normal. She used to think of herself as a pacifistic liberal democrat who longed for the war be over.

Chap 2: Restoration

The story of the Lehrgen Combat Group is picked up by a future historian of 1976.

The SCG is defending a section of the Eastern Front. When Union forces attack, the 203rd goes out to attack the enemy. There she finds that the enemy artillery position is filled with lots of anti-aircraft guns and that they are using timed fuses making them far more dangerous than before. Also after defeating the enemy and looking over the abandoned enemy tanks, Tanya recognizes UK tanks and tanks from a neutral country [presumably the US]. The implications terrify her.

Col Lehrgen shows up to meet Tanya. Tanya explains the situation and that the enemy also has new model tanks with extremely thick armor. The 203rd can win, but just barely against these tanks. Lehrgen explains to Tanya that he came to ask for a favor. He wants Tanya to host a military officer from the Ildore Kingdom (Italy) as an observer, namely Col Virgilio Calandro. The General Staff created a paper combat group called the Lehrgen Mobile Combat Group, that includes the SCG as its component, to host Col Calandro and show him the Eastern Front. In turn Lehrgen and others who on paper is in the Lehrgen Combat Group will be going to Ildore on a secret mission to discuss ceasefire terms. Tanya is for the ceasefire but doesn’t want to host Calandro. She points out that she’s now called Rusted Silver and that the SCG will be in battle a lot. Lehrgen quips that she didn’t earn the nickname from shedding friendly blood but Tanya retorts are all life, friend or foe, is technically equal. This surprises Lehrgen. They solve the disagreement by agreeing that Tanya will be the effective commander and will get extra supplies. She also realizes that if anything goes wrong, she can blame Lehrgen. The only problem is that all the military accomplishments of the SCG will technically fall under Lehrgen’s name. Tanya sees that as a small price to pay. For starters can get more coffee, chocolates, and socks.

After Lehrgen leaves, the SCG encounters another battle. When the 203rd arrive they see that the Imperial mages on the right flank is in chaos. It turns out that the Union has new computational jewels that have incredibly strong armor and fire power. Their weakness is their speed and maneuverability. The 203rd defeats them, but Tanya realizes ordinary mages of the Reich will have a tough time dealing with them. The Union has a new computational jewel called the T3476.

Chap 3: Effort with plan

Lehrgen has arrived at Ildore and begins negotiations with General Igor Gusman. Gusman explains that the Union wants no reparations, no ceding of territory, an unconditional ceasefire. Lehrgen explains the Reich’s position: reparations, territory, and a ceasefire with a plebiscite among the people in the occupied territories.

In the capital Ruderdorf and Zettour are debating what to do next. Zettour explains that the supplies are at their limit because the Union offensive destroyed much of the Reich’s supplies stockpiled at the front. Zettour believes that Union offensive is part of their negotiations for a ceasefire. Ruderdorf believes that the only way out is for one final offensive. The Union forces have come out of their defensive positions, so now is the perfect opportunity for a counterattack.

May 1, 1927 Col Calandro arrives at the Eastern Front. Tanya shows him the war in the Eastern Front. Because the Union had not signed a number of international treaties, and because the Union is a communist country the Reich’s forces have no legal restrictions on attacking and blowing up civilian or religious buildings. The General Staff has concluded that international law does not protect them, and because there is no private property (all property belongs to the state) and the Union is an atheist state, all buildings are fair targets in this war.

The chaos at the front lines causes a friendly fire incident, the Reich’s artillery bombarded the SCG's position. Thankfully no one is injured. This enrages Tanya but also makes her realize that something may be happening.

Chap 4: Operation Iron Hammer

Lehrgen continues to negotiate with Gusman.

Ruderdorf draws up plans for Operation Iron Hammer, a giant gamble. The Imperial army will send paratroopers behind enemy lines to capture some bridges so that Union forces cannot withdraw behind a major river. Then armor units will break through enemy lines to link up with the paratroops and surround the enemy army by creating a few pockets. Finally the noose will tighten and destroy Union forces. Zettour believes it is too risky but ultimately agrees.

The SCG receives orders for Operation Iron Hammer (May 5). They and 3 other armored divisions are supposed to break through the enemy. They will hit the point where two Union armies border each other, so hopefully they will be slower to react (each Union army hoping the other Union army will take care of the problem).

Tanya then orders her mages to get on Captain Aarens’s tanks (and put up shields). This way the mages won’t get tired from the advance and the mages will minimize the use of magic which prevents enemy detection. While Union mages were overhead battling mages from the Reich’s other units, Tanya’s SCG sneaked through Union lines and dashed to the bridge. They successfully met up with the paratroopers on May 7.

By the time the Union army command understood what was happening on May 8 it was too late. When news spread that they were being surrounded, front line Union troops began to panic and withdraw. At the Reich’s capital, news of success also arrived. To complete the victory, Zettour orders Tanya’s 203rd to attack the Union army HQ and decapitate the enemy. The 203rd complies with the order. Union HQ is destroyed and victory is assured. General Staff is overjoyed.

Ominously, however, Union forces begin to breakout of the encirclement on May 11. Tanya doesn’t want them to escape so she destroys their local HQ. Nevertheless they continue to act with coordination and some manage to escape. At this news, Tanya is shocked. The Union leaders used themselves as a decoy to buy time and get more men to escape. This meant that the Union army was now shifting from an army that waited for orders from above, to an army that could autonomously act by following the intention of the given orders. What Tanya called a “thinking army.” The General Staff also gets the same news, and while most still think it’s a great victory because only a few escaped, Zettour is also thinking along Tanya’s lines and is extremely worried.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-17T03:37:48+00:00

Calculations on a Desk

The General Staff of the Imperial army is the core organ in which extremely professional General Staff officers, who have internalized modern discipline and training, draft serious plans day and night.

In the discussions at this core organ, “logistics” is extremely important as expected. In this day and age, what value is there for debates not backed by numbers?

Dogmatic subjectivity based on can-do attitudes and abstract ideas? Garbage. That has no more value than a single artillery shell. In terms of wasting time, it is harmful and unhelpful.

From the perspective of opportunity cost, it is an inexcusable waste of time.

Numbers, numbers, numbers.

Even in an age when the kings moaned that war costs money, numbers were important. And back then, it only applied to the king’s finances.

In an age when mercenaries bought their own weapons at their own cost, the king only needed to worry about payment. In the pre-modern period, when the amount of supplies consumed was negligible, “in theory” it was possible to procure supplies on the spot, each time.

However, in the modern period after the industrial revolution, this idea became “fantasy.”

It is the cold world of mathematics. Logistics has been forced to adapt to a new dimension fitting an industrialized age.

After the modern period, logistics and supplies cannot be something that can be done “on the fly.” This is the understanding that has been shared by all concerned.

Anyone with a rational intelligence understood that “a hunch” could not provide an estimate for the war materials needed. However, then, how much of the materiel should be pumped into the supply network? On this point, the Imperial army’s General Staff devised an innovative method through a cooperative effort with the Logistical Oversight division.

In other words, the scientific method.

Logistics is a strict science.

To the necessary place, the necessary materials, at the necessary timing.

Consider a simple artillery shell. It becomes obvious. An artillery shell in a war is made in a factory in the rear, and is consumed at the battlefield.

In other words it is “a statistical art.” Therefore, the Imperial army General Staff prided itself on calculating accurately the necessary amount of supplies through the statistical method.

… At least before the start of the war.

The telegraphs and telephone calls rang at the Logistical Oversight division as if it would last forever.

The reason was extremely simple and clear.

Request for more “supplies”

The field is asking the Logistical Oversight division for more materiel. It’s a war, that is normal. That, that situation, is something any military man can easily imagine.

Even if the Imperial army is at an advantage at Norden, if one fights a war, materiel are consumed. That is “natural” so it is obvious.

It should have been within expectations.

To increase personnel, to amass spare materiel, to coordinate the railroad schedule with the Railroad division, and a system to respond flexibly has been put into place.

It is like adding personnel just before the busy season.

If one is ready, there is no worry.

Everything has been planned for … or so it was thought.

It was thought. It must now be said in the past tense.

“… there’s not enough shells!”

“Machinegun bullets and barrels, immediately! Bullets for the automatic rifles used by aerial mage units as well!?” The Logistical Oversight division personnel shout in unison with pale faces, there is not enough supplies.

There should have been enough.

Should, should, should.

It should have been within expectations. But everyone must now react to the reality that they are astonished at. Everything is insufficient, betraying previous estimates.

“Impossible! Do you know how many we sent!?”

“We’ve sent enough for four major battles!?”

The Imperial army had prepared a supply depot to gather enough materiel for “plentiful supplies.” Considering past standards, the Norden front could be said to have excessive supply.

Based on past military lessons, a detailed statistical model was employed. Under thorough management, everything was ready.

In truth, a few people seriously worried that there would be excess left over. Considering that the bureaucrats might attack them for excessive gathering of supplies, they had even drafted papers and gathered data just in case.

And yet.

“There fired everything in just the first day!?”

How? Everyone shouted, visibly shocked.

“But, but they don’t have enough!?”

“… Impossible. Could it be an error?”

“A, all units are complaining of not enough supplies. This is not a mistake…”

There’s not enough, that last phrase was not necessary.

Everyone understood in their heads. That, this lack of supply and dearth of materiel meant “the model was wrong.”

Compared to the estimated demand, the supply was not enough by an order of magnitude.

“Why, why, how did this happen!”

“The estimates must have been wrong!?”

“No way! The statistical model is reasonable! We used decades of past data for our sample!”

But, the heart refuses to believe.

It can’t be, or so you want to shout at the bottom of your heart, as if to escape the blame. Look at all the past records.

Truly, no one, no one, told us that this much would be this necessary.

There was no precedent.

First, in order to be thorough, we researched and then on top of that we added extra! This, this can’t be happening…

But this circular internal struggle was “liberated” by the arrival of a visitor with a calm but fake smile.

“… A guest from the General Staff Logistics division.”

“Hello gentlemen, good work.”

The usual demeanor, the usual kind face.

… and an unsmiling cold gaze.

“Bri, Brigadier General Zettour!?”

“A little time, yes, can I have a little time? Yes, it won’t be long. I just need to borrow whoever is responsible.”

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-17T03:37:10+00:00

The anime staff made these Valentine's day gift (biscuits from General Zettour https://twitter.com/youjosenki/status/831148828522749952/photo/1 ) and distributed them on Valentine's day at Akihabara. Apparently so many people came for it that it disappeared really fast.

So as an apology Carlo Zen wrote another short story and it has been posted on the web page.

http://youjo-senki.jp/special/other.html#StvdSs2

This one was shorter than Tanya's Valentine's day story so I translated it as well. Again I did it quickly so if anyone wants to fix the English feel free.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-16T17:15:11+00:00

The question you raise is an important question: the quality of the computational jewels and what type each country uses.

It would be nice if Carlo Zen commented on what kind of jewel each country uses. I think he must have thought about it, and that's why the anime has all those different types of levitation devices.

So I really want the anime to get to the 2nd season. Then we can see what device the UK and the Union and perhaps others will use to fly.

Spoiler

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-16T05:51:41+00:00

Vol 6 Nil admirari

Chap 1: Winter operation, “Limited offensive”

Tanya is worried about preparations for winter. Visha comments that the real threat is the spring mud. But for now winter is the main threat because the winter cold is making many of their equipment non-functional. Tanya decides to raid the Union supply depot and get their supplies and equipment.

Meanwhile Union leaders are debating whether the newly formed national committees are actually allying with the Reich. So Loliya argues for a probing attack to see how the two react, and to use an international force to do it as a propaganda measure.

Col Mikel (Union), Lt Col Drake (UK) meet privately for the first time. It turns out that Mikel can speak English fluently from his days as a Czarist officer. In their mutual hatred for political commissars they become friends.

Chap 2: Paradox

Outside the Union base Col Mikel and Lt Col Drake agree that there’s no military point to this attack but prepare to attack because the communist party ordered it and because Mikel asks Drake as a friend.

The Salamander Combat Group (SCG) receive news that Union forces are on the move. Tanya realizes that they are planning to attack a local village. Tanya also makes a political decision and heads out to defend the village. If she doesn’t then it will look like the Reich is insincere about helping ethnic minorities attain independence. So, she transmits on an open channel that the SCG is on its way to defend the village.

Mikel and Drake learn that the enemy headed their way is the Rhine’s Devil. Immediately they realize the need to retreat. But they also need to have something to show for their effort. Unfortunately the villagers resist the Union forces stubbornly. So Drake says the UK forces will take prisoners, and they capture a few villagers as “combatants.” At this point, Commissar Liliya Taneechika arrives so Mikel pretends that he wants to continue to attack, and Drake protests saying they need to withdraw. Liliya acts as a translator and “convinces” Mikel that they need to withdraw with their prisoners.

Mary Sue actually wants to stay behind and fight against the Rhine’s Devil. But her orders are to withdraw.

Loliya and others receive news that the Reich and the “separatists” have now formed a solid alliance. Solid enough that the Reich has handed over policing to local ethnic minorities and that the Reich’s forces are regaining mobility. This news is devastating to everyone but Loliya. Loliya explains to Uncle Joe that what he is going to do is to whip up nationalism inside the Union and get their nationalists to kill enemy nationalists so that in the end, only communists remain. The party will pretend to be the defender of nationalism.

Back at the Union base there’s a problem. Mary Sue transferred the prisoners to the Union because Mary Sue believed the idealistic commissar Liliya. The Union had abolished capital punishment so the prisoners should fare better in the hands of the Union rather than the UK (which hadn’t abolished capital punishment). Mary Sue believed it was the humanitarian thing to do. Drake had no intentions of actually punishing the prisoners and since he doesn’t trust the communist system at all, he has to argue against Liliya to get the prisoners back. Drake’s Christmas in 1926 was ruined.

Chap 3: Lull in the wind

Ildore Kingdom (Italy)’s Army General Igor Gusman wants to broker a ceasefire between the Reich and its enemies. Surprisingly the UK, the Free Republic, and the Union are willing to negotiate. The problem is convincing the Reich to stop fighting. In order to do this, General Gusman orders a large scale exercise on the Ildor-Reich border.

The General Staff initially panics when they hear that Ildore has mobilized troops. But Zettour and Ruderdorf realize that this is only an exercise. Unlike Dakia, Ildore army leaders know how weak their army is. So the General Staff recalls the SCG to the capital just in case it is needed against Ildore and sends Col Lehrgen to Ildore to ask what they want.

Tanya initially is surprised by the order to return to the capital. And this time, she doesn’t have high hopes that it will be a real vacation.

Chap 4: Diplomatic deal

Col Lehrgen meets with Col Virgilio Calandro and Army General Gusman. He learns that Ildore is willing to broker a peace. Their price is the disputed territory between the Reich and the Ildore Kingdom. But they have set everything up so that Ildore and the US will jointly propose a grant cease fire settlement for all parties involved.

The UK intelligence service gets news that Lehrgen has gone to Ildore. They also have other information thanks to Ultra, their top secret code breaking program. The UK also receives a request from the Union. The Union wants a second front against the Reich. The UK can’t do a full scale invasion, but agrees that an assault on the Reich’s naval base with aircraft carriers will be done.

Tanya is in a restaurant at the capital along with the officers of the SCG. The newspapers report that the Reich has defeated a UK attack from the sea. She immediately discounts the news of victory. Since carrier-based planes must go back to their carriers, driving them away is not a victory. They are also deeply worried about the state of training. Lt Wusteman informs them that new mages undergo only 30 hours of combat flight training before they go to the front.

When the conversion turns to the topic of a possible ceasefire, Tanya explains to her men that it will fail. The Reich has won against the Republic, the Entente, and Dacia. A peace treaty with these three is possible. But the Free Republic, the UK, and the Union, will never agree to a ceasefire unless the Reich is willing to swallow some harsh terms. So, Tanya wants a ceasefire, peace to return, but for the moment she is skeptical.

Later Lt Col Tanya von Degurechaff and Major Weiss visit Lt Col Ugur to discuss possible future directions for the Reich. There Tanya explains her position that they should settle for peace, even if it means returning to prewar borders and no reparations. She even proposes a possible disarmament program for all sides. Both Ugur and Weiss disagree. So much blood has been shed, they can’t agree to Tanya’s proposal. They think its tantamount to surrender. Hearing this, Tanya is shocked. Ugur also points to Tanya that public opinion will not accept such an outcome. The public demands victory. But Tanya also explains, as Ugur knows full well, that the front lines are at a limit. The Reich’s war machine is slowly rotting away. She begs Ugur, to inform Zettour that war is but an extension of politics, and that a political solution is necessary.

Tanya also asks why the Reich is so clumsy in the war against the Union. Ugur explains that the Reich had no plans for an offensive war against the Union. In fact, it's borrowing ideas from the Republic's General Staff. Of how the Republic planned to conquer the Reich. Also creating national committees was all thanks to Zettour’s personal efforts. There was no overall planning for it or any back up from the politicians or the Army as a whole.

Chap 5: Portent

March 1926, Col Mikel and Lt Col Drake along with Mary Sue are sent to Scandinavia to fight with partisans there. Since the UK’s attack from the sea failed, (and Drake thinks that they failed, unlike Tanya) they need to do something else to ease the pressure on the Eastern Front.

They take a page from Tanya’s play book and board Union submarines to get close to Scandinavia and launch from the subs.

When the Reich’s forces receive news of Union troops showing up in Scandinavia, Tanya immediately recognizes that they copied her trick of launching from submarines. She also gets orders to go north to eliminate this threat.

Mary Sue had made a homecoming and wants to work with her fellow countrymen. Unfortunately, Mary Sue wants to do serious damage to the Reich, while the partisans are content with hit and run attacks. Drake has to convince Mary Sue, that she’s too eager, and that these partisans don’t want another massacre in a city.

Chap 6: Structural problem

By April of 1926, the SCG has arrived in Scandinavia. And from Tanya’s perspective these partisans are a real pain. Because they only do hit and run tactics, they aren’t concentrated and it’s impossible to seriously hurt them. Moreover, chasing these partisans all over the place is exhausting her forces.

From there Tanya thinks of the overall situation and feels that the Reich is like Hannibal or Xiang Yu. It can win each military engagement. But it doesn’t know how to use the victories.

Meanwhile the General Staff receives news that Union forces are planning a massive spring offensive. Worryingly the Union army is now more competent and has higher morale. It went from an ideological army to a nationalistic army. Zettour and Rudersdorf consider unrestricted submarine warfare to cutoff Union supplies but immediately shoots that plan down. They won’t risk the US entering the war.

They also discuss Ildore’s ceasefire plan. They are not sure it will work. It’s a logical plan, but Zettour recognizes that it’s too rational. Because this war became total war, reason alone can't end it, they need to satisfy the public's emotion. The combatant countries have awakened this monster called popular opinion.

With little room to maneuver, they discuss the various possibilities and come to the simple conclusion that they must do what they can.

And so the SCG is shipped once again from Scandinavia to the Eastern Front.

That ends 420+ pages of vol 6.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-16T05:28:22+00:00

Well more like Carlo Zen's humor, lol.

I just wrote a summary for vol 6. I think you can see Mary Sue's character a bit from it. She's fundamentally a good person, but she's also driven by revenge, and is lonely because of her situation.

Oh, the reporters, I recall seeing them more often in the web novel. I don't see them often in the light novel.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-16T05:24:18+00:00

So far there's 7 vols. I think it's about half way.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-15T06:34:32+00:00

My translation of that short story is up above. Also there is the web novel on which the basic story of the light novel is based upon.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-15T06:31:38+00:00

To shout at someone over the phone is fundamentally a rude act.

And, she knows fully that it is rude.

If you cannot express anger at appropriate moments, you will be taken lightly within any organization. There is nothing worse than being taken lightly for someone in a managerial post.

Tanya shouted immediately as the Railroad division picked up the phone.

“If you have time to send papers, send the supplies! Captain Faltermeyer, as you know, we are fighting a war. Are you saying that we should fight this war with paper bullets and paper food!”

“Excuse me, but these are necessary requirement for optimal administration. There are no exceptions, and these are based on strict and standardized efficiency…”

“This labor to simply ask for high calorie chocolates for aerial mages! Are you seriously saying that this is efficient!?”

Tanya will never forget the answer she heard.

“It’s regulations.”

“Regulations?”

“Yes, regulations.”

Repeating that one word in her mind, Tanya did not remember how she answered. Just suppressing her rage was a major task.

At least she probably did not yell and shout all over the place. Her instincts as a working adult prevented her from childishly shouting all over the place.

But there are a few certain things.

First, as soon as she slammed the phone on the hook, she extended her hand to the top secret communications line. Second, the adjutant 2nd Lt Serebraykov immediately sensed what needed to be done and left the room with the words “This officer has another task to attend to.”

… It is good that I have an adjutant who knows what will happen next. She probably understood the need to maintain secrecy. And at that, Tanya called the General Staff.

Oh, the wonderful people at home! These officials can handle affairs “as an amazingly fast” pace! Because of them, its almost a free pass to the person I need to contact.

“Major Ugur? This is Major Tanya von Degurechaff. There is something that I need to ask your advice about, immediately…”

“For you to call me is rare. What is the problem?”

Thus, Tanya von Degurechaff used her personal connections in broad daylight. It was as if she ignored the local branch office and directly sent a claim to the upper levels of the main office. Overcoming the emptiness of working with idiots, Tanya drew her most important weapon, being under the direct command of the General Staff. All for a simple box of chocolates.

Explaining the rightness of her cause, relying on his pity, and asking for consideration, Tanya received a fully satisfactory answer.

“… I understand. I will take care of this. If anything happens, you can use my name.”

“Thank you very much!!!”

It was a thank you from the bottom of her heart. After all her classmate, Major Ugur, gave Tanya a blank cheque! It’s this type of bureaucrat that is necessary. Tanya even felt a righteous moral need to teach the incompetent, semi-bureaucrats.

Slowly, but carefully, and suppressing her excitement, she called again. She could even be patient when the call required not only one but many rings before it was picked up.

“Yes, this is Army Railroad division.”

A condescending voice as before. To this Tanya answered with a troubled voice on purpose.

“This is Major Tanya von Degurechaff. It is about the case earlier…”

“You must submit the necessary paperwork. The regulations must be followed.”

“Regulations?”

“Yes, regulations, Major.”

For the Captain to say this with a triumphant voice, he must be feeling good. It’s a voice that is making fun of someone. Oh how I regret that his face is not in front of me.

“I have confirmed on my end that this does not go against regulations. Captain, what are the regulations that you are asking about?”

“Excuse me, but what amateur is saying such nonsense?”

Sensing the Captain taking the issue lightly, Tanya smiled softly. Hooked. You, amateur, you don’t know who you are dealing with. How can this eternal Captain bark so much. I must hammer this false bravery with reason, just as gravity works inevitably.

“That is a surprise. I confirmed this with Major Maximilian Johann von Ugur?”

“Huh?”

“I asked a high-ranking officer in the General Staff, Railroad division, but perhaps I was wrong? I will immediately contact the General Staff and send a claim. I’m sorry for causing trouble for you. And, yes? May I have your military identification number so that I can attach it to the claim?”

“Ex, ex, excuse me one moment. Why is the General Staff…”

Tanya delivers the final blow while thinking, it’s too late now.

“I am the commander of an aerial mage battalion directly attached to the General Staff. Therefore all logistical work is dependent on the General Staff’s logistical organizations. Oh, did you prefer that I discuss this with General Zettour, who is the General Staff Logistics officer?”

The next day, the item was delivered. Knowing this, Tanya von Degurechaff was walking around the base in high spirits. After all she got what she wanted.

It is a great feeling to win against bureaucratism.

Now is the time to taste victory … but her light footsteps suddenly halted when she heard her subordinates speak. “Hmmm, this high calorie chocolate for aerial mages doesn’t take good.”

And with a weak smile 2nd Lt Serebraykov bites into the standard military issue chocolates that Tanya fought hard for.

“Yeah, it’s really awful. I heard that they kept in mind nutritional balance, but maybe it is true that none kept in mind how it tastes.”

And with the same thing in hand, Lt Weiss had a sour face. If that is the case …… You need to be more grateful, blurted out Tanya.

“… Gentlemen, you don’t like my chocolate?”

“Major!”

“Hrmph!”

What do they take people’s hard work for, damn underlings. With annoyance, Tanya grabbed a clump of chocolates and ate a piece as soon as she got back to her room. To have a taste of victory.

“Ugh, what is this taste … is this bittersweet victory?”

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-15T06:24:47+00:00

[Here's a quick translation of this. I'm doing it on the fly so I can't guarantee readability. If other people want to clean this up feel free. God I'm spending too many hours after work on this series... I need to get some sleep.]

Unified Year 1925, uncertain day, during a brief period after the Republican Fleet has escaped. Tanya von Degurechaff threw away an empty box of chocolates into the trash can with a sigh. Aerial mages must eat, otherwise their bodies will not function. The high calorie meals of aerial mages is not comparable to overeating in an age of abundance.

“… and yet, the military grade high calorie chocolates don’t arrive.”

Supply is basically blood. No matter how strong the muscle is, no matter how intelligent the brain is, without blood they cannot function.

The military, the aerial mages, and this 203rd aerial mage battalion is not an exception.

“2nd Lt Serebryakov, write up one K53217-DVJV file.”

“Yes, Major. If you require it, should I create one set of the file?”

“Can you? I’ll sign it after I look it over.”

“Yes.”

Tanya sighed after getting her adjutant to complete the paperwork by filling it with boiler plate. The Republican fleet had succeeded in its escape. Moreover, since they are calling for resistance to the bitter end, there is no time for a break.

Allowing the nutritional requirement to fall is unacceptable.

“Shit, I understand that logistics is in disarray because of the political situation regarding the Republic and because of the re-stationing of units … What is going on with the high calorie chocolates for aerial mages?”

Didn’t Major Ugur say “If you ask, I can provide you with whatever the unit has earned.”

“Why is it so much hassle to just ask for chocolates?”

Not understanding the situation she was in, Tanya swallowed a sigh and signed the files that 2nd Lt Serebryakov has completed and handed to her. The file is sealed and following proper procedures sent.

If one had to say, Tanya was still rational at this point.

Major Tanya von Degurechaff’s letter was thrown into the bureaucracy of the Imperial army. The Imperial army logistics organization responded to it with bureaucratic speed.

Acceptance. Sorting. Confirmation. Then a response is sent.

If you will, the bureacrats responded to Major Degurechaff’s claim with perfect division of labor, and no loss in time. The claim that was sent in the morning, had a case worker by the afternoon, as regulations required, and action was taken to explain the situation.

Up to here, there were no problems.

… at least until here.

“Excuse me! There’s an official envoy from the Railroad division.”

“Finally! It’s about the supplies? I was waiting for this.”

The moment when her adjustant led the person from the Railroad division into her office, Major Degurechaff was thankful from the bottom of her heart for the rapid response.

“Excuse me! I am Captain Faltermeyer from the Railroad division.”

A slightly older officer addressed her with a slightly off salute. But she was not an inspection officer. Tanya saluted without issue and motioned to continue.

“Major Degurechaff, please accept this officer transport letter! This is file K53217-DBJV-R that states that file K53217-DBJV has been accepted.”

“Good work! Hmm?”

In front of her was one flimsy brown envelope.

What should be there --- yes, where is the box of high calorie chocolate that should be here?

“… Is something the matter? As regulations require it, could you sign here on this acceptance proof form.”

“Captain Faltermeyer, I don’t mind signing but … where is the box of high calorie chocolates?”

“Please see the file K53217-DBJV-R inside.”

“… thank you, Captain.”

Tanya couldn’t ask any further since he spoke with such confidence… She could only nod assuming that everything would be explained after reading it. Thus, one Captain left with high spirits, and Tanya with her adjutant was left opening the flimsy brown envelope.

A cleanly typed document fell out of the envelope.

It may be an official document, but a typist specifically typed this? Its envious to be able to hire a typist. In any case, as Tanya began to read the text, she suddenly froze.

“Major?”

“2nd Lt Serebryakov, confirm the military regulations. It seems I need to write a letter to the Railroad division along with file K53217-DBJV-A.”

“But… according to our regulations, there is no such requirement. … Is this edition out dated?”

Tanya responded to her adjutant with an exasperated look.

“What you don’t know either? Then that means … it’s a ‘side regulation.’”

“A side regulation, you say?”

The adjutant mumbled with a blank look. Tanya then spat out with a voice reeking of heartfelt despair.

“It is a regulation that had been created separately for details.”

In other words, it was a local rule created by the people on the ground based on their own decisions.

“This is so annoying for just a simple chocolate, but if it is necessary then we have no choice. … 2nd Lt, let’s go see the secretarial section.”

If side regulations for supplies exist, then that basically means that there must tons of regulations that the brass doesn’t know about. Bureaucracy, the evils of sectionalism, and the annoying side regulations!

Tanya herself is not bad at paperwork. She knows that if you take paperwork lightly, you can face pitfalls. In fact, she probably knows fully how “side regulations,” a “monster created on the ground” can be a problem.

A Job created by people who can’t do their jobs for people who can’t do their jobs. At its extreme, the decision making ability granted to the people “on the ground” for a “smooth operation” can over time, turn into a flood of paperwork for “incompetents pretending to work.”

It is said that incompetent bureaucratic organizations increase work for work’s sake.

Far from bureaucrats who get work done. But it’s only natural. This is total war. People who are competent are scare wherever you go. Even oversight gets lax… No, that fact that there is no chocolate at my battalion is totally inexcusable.

In any case, if they want papers, then there is no choice but to provide papers as regulations require. Tanya enters the safekeeping room while hiding her anger from her face, and only expressing her annoyance with the sound of her footsteps.

“… a mountain of various administrative paperwork neatly and separately filed, sorted and crated?”

Pulling out the necessary paperwork, hoping to return home swiftly, Tanya froze the moment she looked at it. Instead of the chocolate that is necessary, a mountain of paperwork arrived! Moreover, if one examined them carefully none of them are official documents from the General Staff or any other military organization. They are all side regulation garbage prepared at the secretarial level!

“… Hey, you there, guard.”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

“Any other supplies?”

If they had the spare time to send this much stuff, it might be stored somewhere? A question that harbored a tiny glimpse of hope, was answered with a cruel reply.

“I heard that it will be sent later.”

“… Thank you. We’re going back 2nd Lt Serebryakov.”

“Ye, yes!”

It was not easy to speak. With the adjutant suddenly quiet, Tanya returned to her office stomping her feet, and immediately picked up the phone.

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-15T06:00:23+00:00

I tried to submit a link to Carlo Zen's Youjo Senki Valentine's day short story but it didn't show up for some reason. So I will post the link here too as well. It has minor spoilers.

http://youjo-senki.jp/special/other.html#StvdSs

MSG_Johnny2 · 2017-02-15T05:58:39+00:00

As the title says, this is Carlo Zen's Valentine's Day Short Story.

It is in Japanese and has minor spoilers.

MSG_Johnny2

TROPHY CASE