How to Start a War (2.1)
―――The time shifts back, just a little.
On July 4th, Star Calendar 876, the day of the Anfaughlia Brigade’s military parade.
One particular carriage departed from the parade grounds, following almost exactly the same route the brigade would later use to rotate the Royal Residence’s security detail. It made its way to Fuchstelun Boulevard in the New City District and came to a stop in front of the Orcsen National Army General Staff Headquarters, which faces the Victory Arch commemorating the Dutone War.
The carriage was opulent.
Drawn by four horses.
A Year 74 model from the Vega Carriage Company.
It was basic design considered use by orcs, so the vehicle was quite large.
The Year series was the highest-grade line from Vega, the largest carriage manufacturer in Orcsen. Each unit was effectively custom-built to order.
Exterior features like color and lanterns, and of course interior touches like wallpaper and cushioning—everything was finished with Vega’s finest craftsmanship and the work of the nation’s top artisans under their contract, all to suit the customer’s preferences.
The leaf springs were intricate and precise, and without needing to request it, maintenance engineers from Vega would come regularly to keep the ride perfectly smooth and silent.
The carriage that pulled up before the General Staff Headquarters was painted an exceptionally flamboyant light pink.
It was adorned with Gloroyal-style brass decorations, the kind you might expect of royalty or nobility, and so gaudy that the more reserved citizens of this country, who preferred subdued tones and minimal flourishes, would be inclined to quietly frown at it.
A similarly ostentatious retainer in a matching revival-style uniform opened the carriage door—
And the one who stepped out drew even more attention than the carriage itself.
Wearing a flashy light pink outfit with heavy use of frills and embroidery.
A wide-brimmed lady’s hat decorated with swan feathers.
The occupant was a Lovarna Wolfhound-type Kobold, large for her species. Her long, glossy white fur was carefully brushed and adorned here and there with ribbons matching her outfit.
She had her butler, also of the same species, hold a parasol for her, and climbed the grand front steps of the National Army General Staff Headquarters accompanied by her secretary. Beneath the Pantheon-style great colonnade, she greeted the receptionist with a graceful nod, nothing more.
The duty officer, long since used to her presence, showed no hint of exasperation, simply attached an escort soldier with courteous formality and showed her through.
She was led to a room on the third floor of the General Staff Headquarters. Among the many similar rooms in the building, this one was near the very back.
She raised a single eyebrow.
It was one tier more formal than usual—a location of near-maximum importance to the males who ruled this building.
―――It was the Deputy Director’s Office of the General Staff Headquarters.
"Ah, Mrs. Farlens. Welcome. You’re looking especially radiant today."
She was greeted by Major General Erich Greben, an Orc, Deputy Director of the General Staff and Director of Operations Bureau.
"My, how unusual, Major General. And a compliment, too. I do hope you’re not about to tell me something frightening."
With a soft laugh, Isabella Farlens, head of the nation’s largest trading conglomerate, the Farlens Company, replied.
She took note that Major General Karl Rottenberger, head of the Military Topography Bureau who usually greeted her, was also standing beside Greben, both towering in stature. She nodded in acknowledgment.
"Major General Rottenberger as well. You didn’t attend the inspection parade of that newly-formed brigade? It was quite splendid."
"Well, we can observe them whenever we like, after all."
Rottenberger gave a wry smile.
Inwardly, he thought, “As gaudy as ever, this chairwoman”.
―――Incidentally.
In this country, when a male greets a female, there's no custom of kissing the back of the hand in imitation.
Especially not between different species.
After the unification of Orcsen’s various races, there had been attempts—motivated by diplomacy—to adopt human customs and etiquette. But when orcs tried to mimic such gestures, other races often misinterpreted the action as a prelude to being devoured or attacked, leading to fear or even involuntary urination. The practice died out almost immediately.
"Please, have a seat."
Isabella was offered a chair, along with coffee and confections.
She received the locked document case her secretary had carried and had both secretary and butler wait outside.
"I imagine you military men don’t care for tedious preambles, so—let’s get right to it."
Isabella retrieved a thick bundle of documents, neatly bound in four-fold leather.
"The usual."
Rottenberger accepted it and silently skimmed the summary of updates on the first page, then flipped through several more pages to confirm the contents.
He then handed the documents to Greben.
Greben had apparently already known what he wanted to see. He opened to a particular section and began studying it intently, his focus entirely absorbed—he might as well have forgotten anyone else was in the room.
"As thorough and excellent as always."
"My pleasure."
Rottenberger sipped his coffee.
The bureau he led—the General Staff Headquarters Military Topography Bureau—was the sixth division established within the General Staff and was sometimes referred to as GGS VI.
The Topography Bureau was nominally responsible for producing military maps and compiling topographic intelligence reports that included climate, geography, town sizes, and economic conditions across various regions.
But.
In truth, it had another role, one that had become its de facto main purpose over time.
As it began gathering topographic data not only from within the country but across the entire Star-Euro continent, it came to serve a new function—one it now carried out as its primary task:
That of a military intelligence agency.
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