Alexander spent three days in the capital.
A convoy was prepared with enough gear for a hundred men.
This included the type-04 infantry uniform.
The type 02 full-brim helmet.
A black on black shirt and pants.
Black boots, blue puttees, water canteens, pouches, shovels, etc.
All of it paid for on Elizabeth's dime.
When the convoy was finally prepared to leave, Alexander was stopped by Prince Fredrick.
The man had a stack of papers in his hand, all sealed with the stamp of the royal army.
"The discharge papers of the men you requested, just got a hold of the last file."
Alexander accepted the stack of papers with a nod.
"You're not entirely useless."
Fredrick chuckled softly, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I'm sorry if I came off as rude earlier." He replied.
"I'm not intending to be, it's just, we're finally making progress. It's hard to treat this with the care it needs when there's so much at stake."
Alexander shook his head, "Whatever you say."
Alexander turned to leave, heading for the lead truck.
Elizabeth was waiting for him.
She watched as he entered the truck.
Then climbed in, sitting in his lap.
Hinata shifted the gear into drive.
As the truck rumbled down the street, Elizabeth looked over her shoulder.
"My love, I think you're being too hard on Prince Fredrick. He's a good man in a bad position."
Alexander glanced out the window at the passing scenery.
"Maybe, but I don't like how his answer to anything is us. I get we have the same goals but…"
"…you don't like that he's ordering you around without putting anything on the table."
Hinata chimed.
"Exactly."
Alexander replied.
"He can order an attack on a heavily fortified island like it's nothing, and to him it is nothing. What would he lose?"
Elizabeth sighed, pressing her back against his chest.
"You're looking at this the wrong way, my love. Prince Fredrick is risking everything for this, if you fail he'll be the fool who trusted a foreign princess and disgraced noble. If no one trusts him now, who'd trust him then?"
Alexander frowned.
"But if we succeed he gains everything, and all he's done is give me legitimacy. Why does it feel like you're taking his side over mine?"
Elizabeth's smile didn't waver, but her eyes softened.
She shifted in his lap, turning to face him.
"My love, I am only on your side…" Her voice was soft as she cupped his cheeks. "…but you and Prince Fredrick are playing very different games."
Alexander's scowl softened.
Elizabeth continued.
"He sees the big picture, but in that, he misses the small details. Which is why he needs you."
She lowered her hands.
"But, you can't forget that without him, you'd have no banner. And without a banner you'd just be… a warlord."
Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth. She was right, and he hated it.
This was a partnership, an extremely lopsided partnership.
Elizabeth poked Alexander's chest.
"Besides, you get to show the world the true meaning of the Daname name. Just as your father, you excel in the impossible."
Alexander finally smiled.
"Thank you, Liz. I needed to hear that."
The rest of the ride was a silent affair.
— — —
The convoy finally rumbled through the gates of Fort Daname.
The sun was setting, but the men were in the field practicing hand-to-hand combat.
Broken off into pairs, they practiced blocking, dodging, and attacking.
When the convoy came to a halt, all eyes turned to it.
Klaus dismissed the men with a hand, jogging toward the convoy with a curious eye.
The men stopped sparring and followed behind him at a respectful distance.
Alexander hopped out of the lead truck, followed by Elizabeth and Hinata.
"Klaus, how is the training going?"
"It's going well, sir." Klaus gestured towards the convoy. "May I ask what's in the trucks?"
Alexander grinned.
"Are you tired of the plain prisoner uniforms?"
He teased, "Because if you are, I think you'll like what's in the trucks, Klaus."
Klaus raised an eyebrow as he followed Alexander behind the lead truck.
Alexander reached for the truck's latch.
The doors swung open with a groan, revealing a stack of wooden crates.
Alexander climbed inside the truck, picking up a crowbar and cracking one open.
Inside, were neatly folded black uniforms.
Alexander pulled out a jacket, handing it back to Klaus.
He reached up for it, his stoic voice expression shifting to something akin to surprise.
He rubbed his thumb against the thick material, nodding.
"This is quality material, sir. Very fine." He stated looking up at Alexander.
The men were all craning their necks to see, murmuring amongst themselves.
They've been wearing loose-fitting fatigues for a minute and were grinning at the prospect of wearing something new.
Alexander smirked, turning towards the crowd.
"Alright men, listen up. Elizabeth's personnel will be handing out your new style. You should receive two uniforms and one standardized kit. Once you receive your equipment you'll wait for further instructions, understood?"
"Sir, understood, sir!"
Alexander turned to Klaus, Meet me in my office once everyone has been given their equipment. We have a lot to discuss."
— — —
Alexander's office was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few oil lamps.
A large, detailed map of Elena Island sat in the center of the desk.
Alexander studied it quietly, before he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"It's open," Alexander replied by looking up.
The door opened to reveal two men dressed in black uniforms with black caps and coats.
Alexander looked up with a smirk.
"Already wearing your new uniforms?"
Klaus and Hans stepped inside, their new uniforms crisp and imposing.
"They fit well, sir." Hans replied, adjusting his collar, "Plus, it helps with unit cohesion."
Klaus nodded, his eyes scanning the map.
"Take a seat, I meant it when I said we had a lot to discuss."
The two men pulled up chairs, their expressions serious as they leaned forward.
Elena Island, shaped like a hand missing fingers and giving a thumbs up.
At the tip of the 'thumb' was a watch tower.
Traveling down its length was a pier, nestled within the 'purlicue' (the space between the thumb and forefinger.)
And sprawled on the 'palm', was a star-shaped fortress, complete with cannons facing all directions.
"That fortress is problem number one."
Alexander slapped a hand on the map.
"Unfortunately I don't know how to solve it beyond knocking and asking to be let in."
Hans chuckled softly.
"That's funny…"
Klaus narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms.
"That fort is designed with interlocking fire in mind, and approach, comedic or otherwise, is doomed."
He shifted his gaze towards the watchtower.
"And that watchtower has the pier covered, that has to go first before any approach is considered."
He sighed, "Quite frankly, this mission seems… ambitious."
Alexander nodded, "Yeah, I said the same thing the moment I heard it. But I've done some thinking. Hinata could sneak into the watchtower, bring it down and we could sneak in through the blind spot."
Alexander pointed towards the pier.
"Then, we secure the ships and push forward towards the fortress."
Klaus frowned.
"What about those cannons?"
Alexander shook his head.
"Prince Fredrick said they shouldn't fire."
"And if they do?"
Alexander fell into a heavy silence, averting his gaze.
Klaus leaned forward, "Sir?"
"I don't know." Alexander admitted, "I-i thought about using Hinata, but she's just one woman."
"Sir, even if the D'élite managed to silence the cannons, the pirates are still armed with muskets. They could return fire, fix bayonets, or charge us head-on. Most of our men have never killed anything bigger than a rodent, and you believe they can reliably kill a man in that chaos?"
Alexander ran a hand through his hair, sighing.
"Any ideas, Hans?"
Hans shook his head.
"None immediately comes to mind, sir. Though if I were forced to attack tonight, I'd seize the dock, steal the ships, and siege the island."
He paused, "though, I couldn't guarantee that some other power wouldn't take advantage of the situation."
Klaus frowned.
"Then there's the fact we'd starve ourselves in the attempt. The whole reason we're stealing their ships is because we don't have any. Not unless we ask Ambur–"
"No!" Alexander cut him off strongly, plopping down in his seat.
"Not only would they have done it themselves if they deemed it worth it. But if we get them to assault the island, our men won't be tested. The whole point of this is to build an independent force under our control!"
He huffed, raising a hand to his forehead.
"Luckily we have time before we need to commit to anything crazy, you're both dismissed."