We Are Still Standing

Imperial Capital, Eisenburg.

Instead of the Christmas carols celebrating the blessed Christmas Eve, a silence like that of a funeral hall hung over the grand conference room of the Imperial Palace. The only sounds were the intermittent clacking of typewriters and the sighs of the staff officers.

"……Sector 4 has fallen. The 12th Division is retreating."

"Communications with Fortress No. 5 have been cut off. Presumed annihilated."

It was one piece of bad news after another.

On the massive operations map, the blue flags symbolizing the Imperial Army were being pushed back helplessly. Meanwhile, the red flags symbolizing the Republic were surging forward like a breaking wave.

"The Western Front is… effectively over."

It was the Imperial prime minister, Count Leopold, who broke the silence.

"The 3rd Corps has disintegrated, and its surviving troops are fleeing without a chain of command. We must acknowledge it, Your Majesty. The border defenses have been breached."

Emperor Ferdinand IV, seated at the head of the table, grimaced in pain...