December 6, 1640

GVE-Occupied Valmara, Malmund Grasslands, Mu

The sound of machinery engulfed the captured defenses of Valmara as the Gra Valkas Empire hastily worked to rebuild and enhance their fortifications. The few Muan citizens who weren’t able to flee the city avoided the Gra Valkan encampments, hoping that no trouble would come to them. Indeed, the Gra Valkans were too busy to even be concerned with the Muans, for they heard a whisper that echoed louder than the tanks and construction vehicles around them.

General Flats surveyed the base, his mind going blank with attempts to improve upon their defensive capabilities. He could still see the smoldering remnants of the battle at Sylverton in the distance, and had to prepare for their imminent attack. Despite the constant reminders of his duties, he remained distracted. Although a brilliant tactical mind, he was preoccupied – concerned with what he believed to be a more pressing matter.

With news of a rumored coup against Emperor Gra Lux reaching him, General Flats found himself in a precarious position. The potential fallout from this rumored coup, coupled with the relentless advance of the Elysian Defense Initiative, weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that decisive action was needed to stabilize the situation and ensure victory over the Muans and their allies.

Seeking more opinions to supplement his distracted mind, he turned to his closest advisors: Lieutenant Colonel Regor, his second-in-command, and Captain Illiad, a mage from the Magikareich Community.

“The Muans have demonstrated their ability to use invisibility magic to enhance their infiltration tactics. Captain, is there anything you recommend?”

Illiad tilted his head in slight confusion. “You can try using thermal vision in order to spot them, although this is the first time I’ve heard of invisibility magic.”

Flats frowned. Though he had some devices that could detect infrared radiation, they were being prioritized for perimeter defenses and their special forces units.

Seeing Flats’ expression, Illiad explained, “The only magic I know of that can manipulate light is illusion magic, and it can only be cast in two ways: over an area like a wall, or to create fake images. There is no way to render an object invisible unless…” His eyes widened in realization, “The Muans must be casting an illusion over the back doors of the trucks!”

Regor caught on, “So if we conduct closer inspections and go inside the truck itself, it should dispel the illusion?”

“Precisely,” Illiad said. “As for distinguishing decoys from real targets, your new magic sensors should be able to separate the miniscule mana signature of the decoys from the mana signatures within each Muan soldier.”

Flats’ expression calmed down, shifting from nervous concern to relative relief. “Then, that just leaves the golems and tree creatures that the retreating forces reported about.”

“Summoned golems and treants,” Illiad rubbed his chin. “I can certainly see how much of a trouble they can be, especially since they can absorb bullets for their soldiers. Typically, mages defeat golems using concentrated force that targets their cores. A solid strike from a tank or heavy gun on the golem’s head should cause it to crumble. Dealing with treants can be done in a similar fashion, or by using fire.”

Flats nodded. “Very well…” His voice trailed off as concerns about the coup returned for another assault on his mind. This was something he had to address. “Regor, please gather our officers for a strategic meeting.”

Regor saluted before heading out to send out the order.

As the base bustled with activity, General Flats knew that it was only a matter of time until the rumors spread, so he sought to control the narrative before it could be taken out of proportion. He continued to stare out the window and survey his base while people streamed into the room. Spending a few minutes hosting internal debates over the best method to approach this situation, he eventually settled on the art of deflection.

“Gentlemen,” Flats turned around, his figure silhouetted by the light outside, “I know that many of you have heard the rumors about the coup against Emperor Gra Lux.” With a firm, but compassionate voice, he began to steer his audience’s apprehension and concern away from the rumors, “While we cannot confirm the validity of these rumors, we must recognize the potential implications they have for our mission and for the Gra Valkas Empire.”

The officers listened intently, their expressions reflecting a mix of concern and determination. Noticing the shift in attitude, Flats continued, “Our primary focus must remain on our current objectives. The coup, whether it be true or unsubstantiated, does not change the fact that we currently sit at the gates of Hel. Our enemies are knocking at our door, and we cannot afford to be distracted by uncertainty.”

He paced before the gathered officers, his gaze meeting each of theirs in turn. “We must remain unified in our purpose, regardless of the internal politics back home. We cannot influence what becomes of the imperial throne, nor can we do anything about the aftermath. What we can influence – what we can do, however, is work together in solidarity as we claim victory over our foes!”

The officers nodded as Flats’ words reached them. Seeing the resolve in their eyes, Flats felt a surge of pride for the men under his command. “I understand that this is a difficult time for all of us, but I have faith in your abilities, and I believe that we can overcome the hurdles ahead. We will not let turmoil back home break our resolve. And we will certainly not falter in the face of American technology or Elysian magic.”

After tackling the elephant in the room, Flats directed everyone’s attention to the task of evaluating and adjusting their strategies in light of the rapidly changing situation on the front lines. A map of the Malmund Grasslands laid out on the table served as a stark reminder of the stakes at hand. The officers studied the terrain and the positions of both their forces and the enemy. Some winced as Flats updated the map with recent defeats, marking yet another day of being pushed back.

“Given the recent success of the Muans and the potential for increased American involvement, we must reevaluate our tactics and consider new approaches,” General Flats declared.

His officers leaned in, poring over the map and suggesting various strategies to counter the Muans and the Americans. They considered preemptive strikes against enemy supply lines and key installations, ambush tactics to catch the enemy off guard, and coordinated defensive maneuvers to minimize their vulnerabilities.

One officer, Major Renaldi, spoke up, "I believe our losses can be attributed to their growing integration of magic in their weapons and tactics, as well as the increased presence of American anti-armor weapons. The enemy primarily uses infantry, so our weapons aren’t the problem. The issue lies within our capability to strike the enemies true. We must find a way to deal with decoys and the monsters they send at us.”

General Flats nodded, “I reached the same conclusion, Major. Captain Illiad, if you will.”

Captain Illiad detailed his proposals earlier, pulling out a pair of mana goggles. He demonstrated its use to the officers and explained, “We have about a hundred of these goggles, but they should be enough to fool the Muans. Once they realize that their decoys are being ignored, their mages should stop wasting mana on illusion magic. Instead, they’ll be forced to use their mana on other tasks, such as summoning.” He then described the weaknesses of golems and treants, explaining how they could take advantage of the situation.

As they wrapped up the discussion on anti-magical countermeasures, the meeting shifted focus toward American weapons – the main culprit behind the Muans’ growing list of victories. Though their small-arms were similar to Gra Valkan guns, their anti-armor capabilities were leagues ahead of anything they could field. One shoulder-fired launcher was enough to destroy a Wilder Heavy Tank, making armored assaults difficult to pull off.

This time, however, they were on the defensive. Hoping to take advantage of this fact, Regor suggested, “We should have our medium and heavy tanks dig in and bolster our fortifications. Conceal them with camouflage to the best of our ability, cover them up to reduce their profile and make them as small a target as possible, then reserve our lighter units for mobile strikes. This will improve our response to possible diversionary tactics.”

Another officer added, “Considering the Muans don’t have substantial armor, unless we consider their golems of course, I think we should emphasize the use of canister rounds. These should be able to tear through their infantry and treants with greater efficiency than if we were to use standard high-explosive.”

Other officers proposed similarly effective ideas, from using aerial patrols to coordinate with artillery for preemptive strikes to emulating the guerilla tactics seen during the battles in the Alue region. As they refined their strategies, General Flats emphasized the importance of flexibility and adaptability. “We cannot afford to be rigid in our approach. The Muans have shown a remarkable ability to adapt to changing battlefield conditions, and we must be prepared to do the same. Any word of new tactics or spells will receive the highest priority on our communication channels.”

After hours of intense discussion, General Flats and his officers finalized their new strategic plan. It was a delicate balance between offense and defense, making use of underhanded ambushes, mobile strike forces using hit-and-run tactics, and traps that made them question their pride. With their new plan in place, General Flats ordered his officers to disseminate the updated strategies to their respective units and begin preparations for the impending Muan offensive. As the officers dispersed to carry out their orders, General Flats remained in the command room, his mind racing with thoughts of the challenges ahead.

As night fell over FOB Ironclaw, General Flats found himself retreating to his personal quarters for a rare moment of solitude. Outside, distant sounds of machinery and silhouettes moving against the shadows were the only signs of his soldiers’ hard work. As he sat in his modestly furnished room, he allowed himself to reflect on the implications of the coup and the War Hawks’ egregiously aggressive stance.

He pondered the potential escalation of the conflict, which could lead to disastrous outcomes for the Gra Valkas Empire. Were the War Hawks truly willing to risk everything in pursuit of their objectives? And what would be the cost to their nation if their strategy failed? The more he thought about the Americans’ capabilities, the more he distanced himself from the War Hawks and their ideals.

Flats was also deeply concerned about the internal divisions the coup might cause. He knew that loyalty and unity were essential to the success of any military campaign, and he feared that the rift between the War Hawks and the Doves might weaken the Gra Valkan forces and open the door for further unrest or even civil war. As he wrestled with these thoughts, General Flats found himself struggling to reconcile his loyalty to Emperor Gra Lux with his responsibility to serve his country. He questioned whether he should support the War Hawks’ strategy, even if it meant following them would lead to ruin.

His mind wandered back to the beginning of the conflict, when the Gra Valkans had first encountered the Americans. He recalled the awe and curiosity he had felt at the sight of their advanced technology and the possibilities it represented. He couldn't help but wonder if the Gra Valkas Empire could have chosen a different path – one that might have allowed them to learn from the Americans and Elysians, rather than engaging in a seemingly endless – and increasingly hopeless – conflict.

In the quiet of his quarters, General Flats allowed himself to entertain the notion of negotiating with the Americans and the Muans. What if there was a way to forge a new alliance that would benefit all parties involved? Could they find a way to coexist peacefully, sharing their knowledge and resources for the betterment of all?

But even as he considered these possibilities, he couldn't shake the nagging doubt that plagued him. The War Hawks were on the verge of seizing power, and their aggressive stance showed no signs of abating. Would they ever be willing to entertain the idea of diplomacy, or was their thirst for conquest too strong to resist?

As the hours ticked by, General Flats found himself caught in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions and thoughts. He knew that the situation was far from simple, and the choices before him were fraught with consequences. But through it all, he clung to his sense of duty and his commitment to the Gra Valkan people. He resolved that, regardless of the political turmoil and the uncertainty that lay ahead, he would do everything in his power to protect his nation and ensure its survival, whether or not it aligned with his leaders’ intentions. With renewed determination, General Flats prepared himself for the difficult days ahead, knowing that the fate of the Gra Valkas Empire hinged on the choices he and his fellow commanders would make.