Sovereign

“The last stand of the Matriarchy is before us. It is imperative that the Free World, formed by the Vanguard Republics, in an equal coalition of Free Nations must aggressively liberate the world from the Monarchical-Feudalistic-Matriarchal world order. The room to back off is no more. From the Hebeian Republic, our Confederation, the Asturian Republic, to the isolated but powerful Federal Republic of Orland, and everything in between, all must band together in the ironclad defense of the revolution, and most importantly, band together in a grand offensive for a global liberation. The cost will be high. But now is not the time for men to shy from the costs of blood, for we paid enough that to back out now would be a great shame that would render our fallen brother’s sacrifices null and void. An unacceptable shame we must not accept.”

- Chancellor Pyotr Kerensky, first Confederate Chancellery Address.

“The sins of our mothers hang a great shadow upon us all. We had made our brothers and fathers fight, and shed blood, just to protect us from tainting our pristine hands red for far too long. It is but an illusion to be shattered if we wish to end the disunity between us and men. The fight against radicalism is not a project that our brothers must solely bear only for us to turn back on them once the job is done. It is a fight every woman, with her wand or rifle, must take side by side, and with grit, fight to pave a victory for our future. If victory is to be achieved, it must be fought equally by both of us, and we must both share the fruits of it in the end. That is the policy of this government, and the new direction of our war effort.”

- Princess Xue Li, upon passing Imperial Code 25, which introduced mass conscription of young women in the Empire of Hebei.

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West Orland

November Palace

She beat me to it.

Amelie, today, was both utterly disappointed and elated. Disappointed in herself, and elated by the news that came from the other side of the ocean. Princess Xue Li, whom she regarded as her good friend who was in a worse position than her, somehow managed to strangle her government to pass a female conscription law.

And now, Amelie was talking to the Prime Minister for updates regarding the matter.

“Well, it’s not exactly that easy, Amelie,” Jacqueline said. “I’ve been trying to talk to most MPs in my party, but the air is…uncooperative. They’re still stuck at protecting the status of women of being the protected class from conflict.”

“The conflict is on our homeland for Goddess’ sake!” Amelie almost shouted exasperatedly. “I swear, I’m holding off from using my emergency powers to force this bill through for the sake of democratic processes, but I’m starting to reconsider.”

“That would tank our approval ratings,” Jacqueline warned. “I get that you won’t need it, but, my government does. I need it.”

“Can I postpone elections until the war ends?” Amelie asked, suddenly finding an idea to work around that issue. But Jacqueline frowned.

“No, absolutely not that. You’re starting to get the wrong ideas in your head,” Jacqueline said.

“Pardon me please, but I’m tired,” Amelie replied. “The OHC is sending me dreadful reports about manpower projections, and I’m not liking it one bit. We already killed a good chunk of our ‘disposable generation’, and if we don’t find more, we’re in great trouble.”

“I know, I’ve seen the reports,” Jacqueline said. “It’s just, look, I’m still trying to move the political air into supporting that change. They want the current model of evacuating women from the war zones and supporting the refugees in the cities of West Orland instead of sending them back with arcano rifles to the front. Plus, most of these women would literally murder us if we even suggest it.”

“How did Princess Xue Li even pull it off but we can’t.”

“Hebei isn’t that democratic,” Jacqueline said. “The Princess is viewed there as the unfallible, absolute authority. Sure, she’s doing everything to democratize the Empire, but at the same time, her powers are still absolute. Her court bows to her. You on the other hand have to deal with the likes of the Archduchess and her faction.”

Amelie rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t remind me of her. Plus at this rate, the Archduchess is starting to become more favorable to me than your party members. At least she wants to put women to the front to fight for victory.”

“More out of pride than empathy to men.”

“Still works, and at least she’s honest,” Amelie said. “Your UOP seems to be filled with two-faced hypocrites. It’s strange how they can say ‘we love men’ one moment before scoffing at the idea of fighting with them side by side.”

Jacqueline gave a bitter laugh. “Well, but that’s how the UOP turned popular. Liberal enough for women who like to look good, but supremacist enough to keep them from actually doing good that would be counterproductive to our privileges.”

“It’s tiring,” Amelie said.

“I share the same opinion. Still, it’s my party, and I believe many of my peers are still decent people,” she said. “Just a bit confused…and…”

“Stuck in the past?”

Jacqueline laughed. “They still think this is the Great War. A distant fight they can distance themselves from.”

“Foolish.”

That was when, with a knock, the door to Amelie’s office was opened. Amelie sipped her tea calmly, as she knew her headache today would definitely increase upon this man’s entrance. The Deputy Prime Minister entered without much of a greeting, as Walter stared them both down.

“Look,” the Prime Minister tried. “I’m still trying. I’m sorry it’s slow, Walter.”

“Yeah, I’m used to your sorries, Jacqueline,” he said, taking a seat for himself. “How are we doing?”

“Not great,” was the one thing that Amelie said. “Quite terrible, some would say.”

There was a mirthless laugh from the man. “Orland eternal.”

Amelie placed down her teacup. “So Walter…how are you men doing.”

“Still at rock bottom,” was his blunt reply. “All statistical data for men are still on the downline. Quite consistent for the past decades, just a bit more accelerated.”

Amelie nodded.

“Some are on the upside though,” he said, more cheerfully, which unnerved the two women in the room. “Like the frontline death rates. Or suicide rates. And most importantly, anti-women sentiments in my party.”

“Yeah that sounds bad…” Jacqueline said. “I thought…”

“Look, I’m trying to hold the line,” Walter said. “But last time I talked to some of them, things were going bad. Hegel, Sobiesky, the other MPs, the Party leadership…”

Amelie felt her heart sink and sink as Walter spoke. “Damn it.”

“Look, something has to change if this coalition would survive,” Walter said. “And the main contention is the conscription laws. Just right when our pleas to make women fight too fell flat, we sent our boys up north almost unanimously. Everyone understands, even we are outraged. Very outraged at what that madman is doing. But look, we didn’t even send a single Knight Detachment Unit to participate. Just the OAF. Just our same old Joes who’s been in the front since the first shots were fired, once again getting sent into a harsh environment to meet even harsher imagery of war again…or dying to stiff Lieplatzan resistance.”

He laughed. “It’s a joke. It’s a fucking joke. And most men are silent about it, because, one wrong word and we’d look like a traitor to your ‘equality, liberty, and democracy’ project, but, but look. We’re down the drain right now. We’re bearing the brunt of all of the cost of these wars…and we’ve yet to taste even a sense of appreciation or support, or anything.”

Jacqueline looked down.

“As I’ve said, I apologize, but…”

“Stop apologizing. For fuck’s sake, I doubt any boys down on the muddy trench line want some high noblewoman to sweetly apologize to them right now. Or any platitudes for that matter. Quite frankly, I know most men right now are downright apathetic at this entire thing and are just biting the bitter bullet before their next firefight. What they need now is work done by you women on the front. Maybe deploy the KDUs at last.”

“The Archduchess said that they’re still training and preparing,” Amelie said. “Those new tanks, artillery, mechs, and arcano rifles are new to the Royal Guard.”

“Oh, maybe they can train a year more, and we’ll see LSS Mechs piloted by women fuckin decimating Rimpler’s zombie horde.” Walter sarcastically laughed. “Look, don’t let her kid you. For fuck’s sake, we send boys at the age of eighteen with three weeks of training on their shitty metal coffins into the frontlines. They’ve been training for months now.”

“Doctrines are still being developed. Using magic in conjunction with modern weaponry is a new thing,” Amelie said. “The Royal Guard is trying, but I can’t make them rush.”

“Anything please,” Walter almost begged. “Anything to make it look that you women are doing something in this war too. It’s hard to keep explaining, defending, and justifying our coalition to my party members with these conditions. I’d take a damned PR stunt at this point. One KDU liberating a Lieplatzan town or something. Anything so that I can go out and tell them, ‘Hey, look, women, they’re changing, so we gotta stick with them longer!’”

The two women sighed, looking at Walter with utter pity. Amelie felt extra bad knowing the fact that he must be getting fried and toasted by criticisms from the ORP. At this point, poor Walter was their meatshield. Endlessly defending the Queen and Prime Minister while taking the beating from the bad criticisms of men. He’d been called and branded a lapdog so many times that Amelie sometimes wanted to comfort the man for literally taking the smelliest of defecations being slung at her government.

Both from men and women.

“They’re calling me delusionally stupid,” he laughed. “Or spineless. Everything. Someone even accused me that I’m bending to your whims because of special romantic favors or something.”

Jacqueline turned red. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

“Yeah, the Prime Minister’s stupid man-servant, who can’t help but defend her weak stance on her own party members because if I don’t, you’ll zap me or something.”

Amelie sipped her tea. “Now that’s just cartoonishly comedic.”

“I’m so sorry Walter,” Jacqueline said. “I didn’t know it was that bad for you. If you need it, I’ll even follow you to your party leadership to dispel these scandalous accusations.”

“Look, I’m just saying this so that you two wouldn’t be blind and find yourselves surprised if a punch from an unlikely direction is suddenly pummelling both of you,” Walter said. “The ORP represents the political will of men. If we break away, the Armed Forces will break away. The fucking war will be over because suddenly, the Federalists look better.”

“We understand,” Amelie said, turning to Jacqueline. “You heard him. You have to act faster. And I’m not losing the ORP or this war. If you’re too slow, I’ll do the emergency measures myself, and I’ll drag the UOP to approve it kicking and screaming.”

“I see…” Jacqueline said, still seemingly guilty at Walter’s plight.

Amelie turned to Walter, who was now chugging a bottle of water to calm himself down.

“And, I should say, I’ll be trying to get the Archduchess to deploy some of the newly formed KDUs to Lieplatz. The OAF could definitely use some extra hands.”

“Now that’s the news I like,” Walter said, now seemingly elated. “Plus, better to give them some combat experience before throwing them to the Federalists.”

“Good point,” Amelie said, looking at the clock. “Anyhow, the two of you, that’s all. I have to go meet the OHC.”

The two of them nodded.

“Have a good day, Walter and Jacqueline.”