Cannon Fire Arc

"Are you skilled in night battles?"

"We are the Commando."

Major: "Makes sense, I'll assign someone familiar with the forest terrain to be your guide."

At that moment, the Commando captain raised his head, looking toward the northwest—the beach was in that direction.

"Did you hear the sound of the Highland bagpipes?" he asked.

The Major also looked northwest: "No, I—oh, there does seem to be bagpipe music."

Commando Captain: "Why use bagpipes for enemy identification signals? It reminds me of a lunatic on duty over in Ante."

Major: "Is it Sir Jonathan? I've heard he's an odd fellow who uses a longbow and longsword in battle."

"Yes, an odd fellow."

By this time, the sound of the bagpipes was loud enough for everyone to hear; birds in the forest occupied by the Prosens were startled awake and flew into the sky.

Then, the tank engines, overshadowed by the bagpipes, also reached everyone's ears.

Major: "And armored troops, thank heaven, they're finally here."

"Reinforcements!" The sentinel on the arch of the bridge shouted, his whole body leaning out from the steel girder of the bridge, "Over there, reinforcements!"

The Highlander playing the bagpipes came into view, walking at a steady pace, with the tanks slowly advancing behind him.

But the infantry on either side of the tanks began to run at the officer's command, crossing the approach bridge to board the main bridge.

The jumbled footsteps made the steel beams of the bridge vibrate slightly.

————

Eagle's Nest, smoking room.

The Emperor doesn't smoke, so during the meeting breaks, the senior generals gathered in the smoking room.

"It seems in the coming month at least we'll be fighting on two fronts," General Moochi said, "Even if we finally succeed in driving the Allied Forces back into the sea, we won't have the strength to deal with Rocossov on the Eastern Front."

Celtic Marshal: "Organizing a defense on the Vistula River line is more feasible; it's just uncertain how long we can hold out. After this battle, the quality of our troops in the Empire will plummet."

"That's the best scenario," General Moochi sighed.

The worst scenario, though unspoken, was understood by all present.

If the Allied Forces aren't driven back into the sea, the Empire of Prosen's army would have to fight on two fronts. Then it wouldn't be a matter of declining troop quality, but whether there would even be enough troops.

Just then, the confidential orderly entered the smoking room: "His Majesty requests us for a meeting."

The generals stubbed out their cigarettes and walked toward the door.

————

"We must conduct a thorough mobilization and form a national militia. All males aged 12 and above must be mobilized to join the fight!" The Emperor spoke in a cold tone.

The senior generals exchanged glances.

Emperor: "In Abawahan, the Anteans used this method of total citizen soldiery to withstand us. They even glorified young soldiers as heroes! If they can do it, the more excellent Prosen nation can do it as well!"

None responded.

The Emperor continued his monologue: "We have reverse-engineered the enemy's anti-tank rocket launcher, which even children can use. If a child trades for one tank, soon the enemy will have no tanks left!

"We need to produce submachine guns that even children can use, along with lightweight grenades, and have the children take them to the enemy and detonate them. The Prosen nation will find a way to survive—and then achieve glory once again!"

The Emperor stopped and scanned the room, suddenly becoming hysterical: "Didn't you hear me? What do your expressions mean? Do you think I'm crazy? No, I'm not! This is the only viable solution now! It's the only way forward for the Prosen nation!

"We launched this war for living space! Now we will continue to fight for living space! We will bleed to the last drop for living space!

"The nation's! Yours! And mine! And mine!"