Iserlohn; Tanya
Once Admiral Greenhill had left things began to calm down as the Third Fleet began to familiarize itself with its new posting and orders to act as a Defense Fleet for the station. It also helped that he took the Empire Soldiers who did not decide to join the FPA. As well as most of those soldiers who did join the FPA.
The instructions Admiral Greenhill received from Fleet Admiral Sidney implied that they were to be spread around the rest of the Alliance Starfleet itself. To be trained and integrate with the rest of the FPA military forces. But if the existence of the Rosen Ritter was anything to go by. There was a chance that they would be made their own special unit some time in the future if they did not integrate with the rest of the military. It may be worth pointing Captain Walter von Schönkopf in their direction so he can keep any eye out for them or maybe have his unit provide a helping hand to them to help them acclimatize?
After thinking about it for a moment it would be a good idea to do so which prompted me to write up a message for the captain.
It was as I was finishing the letter that I received an interruption in the form of a knock on the door.
"Enter," I called out.
"Admiral, you have a visitor who wishes to speak with you. He is requesting a transfer to your command to act as an intermediary and advisor to you about the Empire and its military." Ilia informed me as she entered my office and brought over several data pads. "Also, both Rear Admirals Bruno and Gale have submitted their reports on the readiness of the Third Fleet."
"An advisor?" I asked her as I took the reports and looked over them. Both of my subordinates were efficient as they should be and left out no details. "I do not believe I have need of a person in such a role." I told her as I finished filling out the reports and handing them to Ilia.
"I thought you may say that Admiral. However, as the commanding officer of a station you do need a liaison between you and the civilians. And since you are on the border between Alliance and Empire space. Having someone with knowledge of the Empire will be beneficial for you in making decisions." She replies as she takes the datapads back.
"Alright, who is he? Give me some information on him before I speak with him." I say and in response Ilia gives me another datapad with the information I want on it.
"Captain Paul von Oberstein, former Staff Officer to the late Admiral Seeckt prior to our capture of Iserlohn Fortress and before that serving under Fleet Admiral Gregor von Mückenberger. He advised Admiral Seeckt during the battle of Iserlohn advising caution and was against the deployment of the Defense Fleet having believed, correctly, from very little information that he had that our distraction was a trap. And later advised against returning to the station citing that the call to return was again another trap." Ilia told me while I looked over his personnel report that was kept in the station from the Empire. "He is also currently listed as dead by the Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire." She added with a smile.
Captain Oberstein seemed to be another brilliant mind rising in the ranks of the Empire. Though his progression was hindered due to widespread corruption and favoritism and numerous other failings inherit in a system based on a Feudal Society. But his rise was halted primarily due to his mechanical eyes and the Empires stance on perceived inferiorities. The report also indicated he was ruthlessly efficient and pursued goals with a logical end goal.
His career as a Captain and a Staff Officer was average for an Imperial Officer and if he were in the Alliance Navy, I am certain he would be a Rear Admiral at this point at the very least.
If I was going to be an Admiral and commander of a Station as well as Numbered Fleet. I should do my best to fill out my roster of command officers, since Euanthe and Manfred were now both Vice Admirals it did leave space for me to fill out.
"Alright, I will speak with him. Additionally, Ilia, I want you to interview officers within my command. If we are going to be stationed here for the foreseeable future. I'll need a full Command Staff." I tell her.
"Yes Admiral, I will send him in and get to work on filling out your Command Staff." Ilia replied with a nod. She gave me a salute as she held her smile and then left my office. A moment later a plain looking man with brown hair and two white bangs on the front of his hair walked in offering me a salute.
"Admiral." He said in greeting.
"Greetings Captain," I replied and nodded my head in greeting. "I understand that there is a clerical error involving you." I said and tapped on the datapad in the center of my desk. "It says here that you are supposed to be dead." I say and study him to see his reaction.
"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Was his calm response.
"I can see that." I say "But I am certain you wanted to talk to me for another reason beyond asking me to clear up such a simple bureaucratic error. Unlike the Empire we within the Alliance are faster to resolve such minor issues."
"Lieutenant Ilia has told me you want to be an advisor for me in relation to the Empire and its people. Even though I have gotten a good idea of the Empire already. Having worked with the people of this station for a few weeks now. How can you further assist me?"
"There is a difference between the populace of this station and the populace of the rest of the Empire, Admiral." He started coolly.
"And just how different are they?"
"The people of Iserlohn Station while being citizens of the Galactic Empire were not under the direct jurisdiction of any High Noble. Only the military and the Kaiser himself. While Admiral Thomas von Stockhausen ran the day-to-day affairs of the Station, he paid little mind to the civilian population beyond the few that were influential in maintaining parts of the station itself."
"So because Stockhausen left the people of Iserlohn alone. They are more open to the presence of the Free Planets Alliance?"
"That is but one reason, there are many other reasons as well such as taking the station without bloodshed or harming them or demanding the people give you anything that they are unable to provide or using your position as others might within the Empires High Nobility."
"So then what is so different about the people within the Galactic Empire? How can you assist me with them?"
"The worlds on the border of the Empire are often considered the 'frontier' of the Galactic Empire and are exploited by High Nobles who are either given the positions as a test of their skill and mettle to manage and develop the frontier worlds. As well as being worlds that are the least developed outside of the Valhalla Star Zone."
He then continued. "The people on the frontier worlds are used to High Nobles who are a mix of being distant rulers with only interest in extracting every ounce of resource they can without properly developing their world or its people. To Micro-managing nobility who are involved in the planet's development and its people. With the capture of Iserlohn Fortress, the Free Planets Alliance will most likely push into the Galactic Empire. As the nearest Admiral posted on the border to the Galactic Empire. You will be the most likely to be given the first orders to scout and engage the Empire in their own territory. Therefore it is important you have someone on your staff to advice you on interacting with the people of the Empire." He points out with certainty.
I hold back my urge to frown. He was not wrong about needing an advisor if I do start interacting with more people of the Empire. But at the same time. I am still hoping that the High Council decides to take a step back from the brink and stay behind the Iserlohn Fortress to rebuild and recuperate. Maybe the odd probing attacking or raiding party into Empire territory, sure. But nothing that would cause the economic collapse of the Alliance itself.
I had read up on some of the habits and social niceties of the Empire and its High Nobles. While I doubted few if any of the High Nobles would be willing to work with 'rebels' as the Empire viewed the Free Planets Alliance. Having someone who could help navigate it would also be useful.
So far he was playing more in line for an officer of the Alliance than an former soldier of the Empire. Plus he was not showing the ruthless efficiency that the report I had read told me.
"Say we are on campaign. We have come across a set of worlds. One is ruled by a distant High Noble whose world is designed to strip the resources of his world as quickly as possible without regard for his people beyond what they can give him. The second is a world ruled by a High Noble who has a hands-off approach such as the first. But he is involved in the daily ruling of his world and ensuring it and his people are well taken care of. While a third is highly involved in his people's lives to a detrimental degree. Yet his world is also highly developed and industrious. How should we go about liberating these worlds and their people?"
Oberstein looked at me for a minute. His expression neutral, but he eventually spoke as he came to an answer.
"If there is no order in which we must take them. The third world should be the first priority. As its industry will be useful in the campaign to take the other two. If there is no time limit on when the world must be taken. It would be beneficial to us to insert groups of infiltrators to irritate the populace and instigate them to rebel against their ruler. When the High Noble goes to crack down or stop the uprisings, we send in additional forces to force them to use lethal methods of pacification against their own populace. After which we spread the message that the ruling noble of that world is cracking down on their people and killing those who resist. Doing so until the whole planet is aflame. At which point we intervene and remove the High Noble and those loyal to him while promising fair treatment to the people of the world and assisting them in returning to work so that we can begin using their industry for our campaign."
"Our second target should be the first world. With the fall and capture of the third world. The other two are likely to be more warry of their people acting in a manner which those of the other did. However, the first world will likely have very little if any military presence on the world beyond what is necessary to maintain order and control. With the High Noble in charge being made aware of our presence they will likely attempt to increase their number of soldiers without care for his people's needs. Causing his planet to fall behind of his expected output and production. Lowering his own income and thus enraging him at his people's reduced performance. At which he will most likely begin punishing his people."
"This is all being done without us having to even set foot upon the planet. We simply wait until the ruling noble creates a cycle of reducing his own work force while punishing them for their reduced output. When he has more soldiers in his employ that are former workers. We begin landing troops and establish a beach head. At the same time, we begin a campaign of discrediting the ruling noble and promising the people and soldiers peace and clemency if they step aside and allow us to remove the High Noble. By the time we are ready to move on the High Noble in charge of the planet most of his forces will have either fled, laid down their arms or be willing to defect to us upon us marching. With the only real fighting being from the demoralized loyalists who will have seen the noble's entire army disappear in an instant. And will be to shaken to provide a sufficient resistance to our forces."
"As we come to the last planet. The last High Noble will most definitely be prepared for us and after having seen the other two worlds fall to us. Will be expecting us to try and use his military and people against him. Or that we could make use of an information campaign to discredit them. This noble will likely have a good rapport with their people. What with being involved enough in the lives of his citizenry that people know of them and that they are distant enough to not be involved in their personal or family life. They will only ask for volunteers and offer rewards to those who do volunteer. As they will not want to harm their worlds production and development or interfere with the lives of their people."
"For this world we target not the people or his armies. But the noble themself. We extend an olive branch to this noble. Allow them the chance to surrender and maintain their position until such a time that the world can be properly brought into the Free Planets Alliance and its people be allowed to vote for a new leader. If they take it, we establish that we are willing to offer High Nobles an opportunity to maintain their position for a time and we are not going to remove them by force. If they resist our offer. We begin a proper campaign against the world and its people. Constantly reminding the people of the world that their master refused our offer and decided to choose war. It will be a bloody affair. But after taking two worlds and defeating two High Nobles. Our soldiers' morale will be high and the fighting they will have seen will make them familiar enough with all kinds of battlefields and tactics that they can make use of here. Meanwhile the defenders will always be reminded that we have previously taken two worlds and deposed two High Nobles. The defenders might have the support of an entire world behind them. But we would have the logistical support of two planets. One highly industrialized and the other specialized in resource extraction. The conflict for taking the third world would be dangers, but so long as we keep approaching the High Noble in charge. We will eventually convince them to surrender to us and give us the third world and see that part of our campaign ended." He finishes.
After listening to him there are many gaps in his plans and reasoning. But I was not looking for a fully detailed plan on invading and conquering the worlds of the Empire. I wanted to see how he would think and if he would prove to be as 'ruthless' as his report stated. Which he showed a glimpse of it, but not enough to where one might consider him to be ruthless. After living a full second life filled with two world wars and having multiple people consider you 'ruthless' for one reason or another. What I was seeing wasn't it, although that was most likely him holding back due to him seeing me as an officer of the Alliance and our military having different standards from the Empire. He did show promise in on-the-spot planning that if I took him on would need to be further tested to ensure that he was fit for the role I had in mind for him.
All told, he would be a great officer in the FPA. But that left me with one last question.
"So then, why do you want to help me? Why help the Free Planets Alliance?" I asked him.
"The Galactic Empire does not recognize the Free Planets Alliance sovereignty." He states, but he gives the impression that he has more to say. So rather than interrupting him, I let him speak for now.
"The Galactic Empire cannot recognize the Free Planets Alliance sovereignty. To do so would undermine everything that the Goldenbaum Dynasty stands for. A dynasty which has oppressed and committed atrocities against humanity since the founding of the Galactic Empire. A dynasty that if I were born in the age of Kaiser Rudolf von Goldenbaum, or even a hundred years ago I would be dead." He says and then covers one of his eyes to take it out and shows that his eyes are artificial.
"While the Galactic Empire and by extent the Goldenbaum Dynasty no longer actively enforce the Inferior Genes Exclusion Act. It would only take one ruler to resume enforcing it." He says and returns his eye. "I want to help you removed the Goldenbaum Dynasty."
I remember the history lessons I had been taught as well as what I learned through my own self-study. The IGEA stank of old 'theories' from old Earth from the early twentieth century that died out near the end of the late twentieth to early twenty-first century. Theories which were revived and put into practice by a monster who made himself the first Emperor of all Humanity. Which saw the death of almost four billion people within the first year of it being implemented, but what was truly monstrous and just as devastating to Humanity was the mass sterilization. Which reduced the Human population so greatly that even now five hundred years later and with a one-hundred-and-fifty-year long war included. The total Human population has only recovered to twelve percent of what it once was.
"A noble cause and a very personal reason for wanting to see it through." I say and give an understanding nod of my head. "But what is the real reason you want to help me, beyond your goal to bring the end of the Goldenbaum Dynasty. I can ask any former Imperial Officer to be my advisor should I get orders to invade the Empire. While you could have gone to any other Alliance officer and told them you wanted to be their advisor in order to remove the Goldenbaums. So why did you choose me?" I asked him, Ilia had run a background check on him, and I had already more or less concluded my battery of questions to help decide whether I wanted him to work for me or not. But there was something else I needed to know, because so far everything seemed to fit for the ideal candidate to be an officer in the FPA. But it was all too convenient, there had to be more to his reasoning that he had not shared.
"Because you have experienced loss and tragedy at the hands of the Goldenbaum's when the last Kaiser had your family placed in debtor's prison on behalf of Duke Otho von Braunschweig. Unlike many of my contemporaries. I pay attention to reports both official and not of my allies and enemies."
"How would you know of my history or my family's fate?" I asked him while remaining calm. My name and the fact I was an orphan was plain enough to guess I came from the Empire for reasons unknown. However, not even I knew why I had been brought to the Alliance beyond the fact I was being hunted for some reason. I had asked father, but he told me he could not find any information about my familiar and it had never really occurred to me to look any further into why I had been carried away from the Galactic Empire into the Free Planets Alliance.
I mean sure I could recall the days me and a mysterious woman who carried me hid inside small, cramped compartments with only room for a single person. But it had been several years since those early years and after the woman left me at the orphanage all those years ago. I never really thought much about where I came from as other things took precedence.
"It is important when planning the downfall of a dynasty and the Kaiser himself. You do not miss out the smallest of details of people who would most likely have something to hold against the Kaiser and his family. I have been studying likely courses to destroy the Goldenbaums for a long time. My most likely means of destroying them was with Count Reinhard von Lohengramm before you captured the station."
"However, I am aware I am not exactly a likable person as people tend to find me cold, calculating, and ruthless, willing to use everything at my disposal to achieve my goals." He admitted. "So with my route to working with Count Reinhard von Lohengramm closed. I choose to instead work with you. A former Imperial with no ties to the Nobility or to the Kaiser who has been wronged by the Empire and the Goldenbaums. You represent my greatest opportunity of destroying the Goldenbaum Dynasty completely."
So that was why he chose me. Aside from him knowing something of my family. Which I will need to look deeper into later. If a single Imperial Officer could find out who my family was with limited resources. Then I should be able to do the same. Father should have been able to do the same if not better, which raised more questions.
I stopped myself before continuing down this train of thought. Who my parents were did not impact who I was today. They may have given birth to me, but they did not raise me. I had no attachments to them. Of course, I could allow myself to be curious. But I was not going to make learning more about my family a top priority. Not when I had so many other things to take care of first.
"So you seek to use me to destroy the Goldenbaums and the Galactic Empire?" I ask just to make sure I understand him properly.
"I seek your aide in destroying the Goldenbaum Dynasty and those who would perpetuate the atrocities that their Dynasty has committed for the last half a millennia. In return I will provide you all the advice you will need in seeing the Galactic Empire defeated and the Goldenbaums destroyed." He tells me with a nod of his head as he agrees with my assessment of his intentions.
"Very well." I say with resignation. I can deal with someone who is open with their intent. If he intends to use me. Then I will use him in turn. I need another staff officer and if he proves himself in the coming weeks, he will fill yet another spot that was left open when my two most senior officers were promoted and moved out from my command.
"I can work with you Captain Oberstein. I am used to people using me to their own ends." The majority of all my suffering at the hands of Being X in my second life is the most prominent example I have. I am glad I kept my memory of him admitting I beat him. He still sent me to another world that was at war afterwards. But I will cherish and hold on tightly to that memory for as long as I can. "But you should also be aware that I will use you as well. I expect every officer under my command to be aware of the forces they are commanding and are responsible for. I expect them to show respect their subordinates, peers, and deference to their superior officers."
"Very well I can accept that." He responds but I hold up a hand to stop him.
"However, you should be aware of something while working with me. I am not fighting this war to destroy the Galactic Empire or to destroy the Goldenbaums. I will assist you as best I am able in achieving your goal of seeing the Goldenbaums destroyed. But I will not make your personal goal my own. My personal goal is to one day retire from the military life and start up a logistics company plying the space lanes and filling in the gaps of the Alliances crippled and limping economy."
"It is also my personal hope that we do not push further than here to Iserlohn. I can accept probing attacks and scouting missions. But it is my sincerest hope that we do not go any further and that the Free Planets Alliance does not go any further. As the FPA is at the breaking point. Any further and it will break. Any further and there will be sever issues that will make themselves known to all within the FPA. That will make it all but impossible for us to properly resist the Empire should they make a push to retake Iserlohn."
"If you can accept that I have not made the destruction of the Galactic Empire or the Goldenbaum Dynasty to be my own personal goal to achieve in life. As well as the fact that I hope we do not push any further in this war. I will accept you as a probationary officer within my Fleet pending a review by your peers and a review from me. Can you accept that, Captain?"
He frowns for a moment as he thinks over what I have told him before he responds. "I believe you are mistaken about the Free Planets Alliance not pushing the war into a new stage. But I can accept that you have not made the destruction of the Empire or Goldenbaums your own personal goal. So long as you help me achieve my own goal. I will help you achieve your own."
That suited me just fine. Standing up from behind my desk I walk around it to greet him and welcome him into the fleet by shaking hands. "Very well then. Welcome to the Third Fleet. Report to Lieutenant Ilia for your first assignments and aptitude testing." I tell him giving him my best HR smile.
"Aptitude testing?" He asked raising an eye brow as he shook my hand briefly.
"Yes. It is a test I personally made to test the physical, mental and leadership capabilities of all the officers under my command to find the best place to put them. You will be my advisor for when I must interact with the Empire. But when we are not. You will have other duties within the fleet. Duties that will not always overlap with you being an advisor. And some that may have you doing different tasks entirely."
"I put the entire 3rd Fleet through this aptitude test when I was first assigned to it and I used it even before when I was a mere Lieutenant to train my squad mates when I was a pilot. I have been gradually changing and modifying it as I rose through the ranks. Taking input from my officers and soldiers to refine it into what it is today."
I did not get a chance to put the 13th Fleet through the full aptitude test. But I did give them a crash course while we were training with Manfred and Euanthe. In essence I took my training regimen from my second life, making changes to it as necessary. Especially since I could not use magic anymore nor could anyone else for that matter. But I could still use dummy rounds and live fire rounds to ensure my pilots knew how to avoid being shot while flying between two ships exchanging fire over vast distances. Or having my ships officers make use of combined arms tactics, by making use of every tool available to them. While also being self-reliant as well.
I taught the men and women of my Fleet to think fast and on their feet. I taught them to work together and rely on one another. I taught them that there is a time to unwind and a time to be serious and focused. I taught them to know their equipment as well as they know themselves. But most of all I taught them that if there was something to fear more than death or the enemy. It was me.
The rules may be different in the Alliance military compared to the Imperial Army of my second life. But few things change as the fear that can be instilled in person so as to not disappoint their superior officer for fear that not even death can save them from their superior officer's wrath.
I didn't have any magic. But I had grasped enough of knowledge to conduct first aide in the field to keep a man from dying or bring them back from the brink of it.
I could not purposefully, physically harm or kill a person. But I could make them wish they were.
What's more, I openly included myself frequently in these 'aptitude tests' whenever there were large enough groups of new officers and recruits who were sent my way. That way nobody could claim that I had purposefully made the test itself impossible.
After all, I was not someone who was incredibly athletic. But I was fit enough to put to shame many that were my junior and many that were my senior. That said I was also outclassed by many within my own Fleet who were physically fit and some of those same people had gone and made my aptitude testing into a joke by making parts of it a part of their own physical fitness routines! I would be only slightly insulted that they did not take my testing seriously, if I was not proud of the results those insane men and women displayed while carrying out their duties.
"I see." Oberstein says as he mulls over the idea that he will be tested on something.
"You will not be going through it alone. There will be a batch of new officers and soldiers who have recently been promoted following the battle of Astarte. Everyone who receives a promotion has to go through the next stage of the aptitude test. It was a tradition started by the rest of the officers under my command and it stuck. Meaning you will also have to go through it as well if you get promoted. I will also have to go through it as well, again. Since I was promoted to Admiral and I need to figure out how to best tailor the test itself to people who get promoted to Admiral while under my command." I explained to him earning a look of what I assumed was concern. Then again it could have very well been skepticism or disbelief. After all, who heard of an Admiral subjecting themselves to an aptitude test on purpose?