An errand reached General Karl von Hohenspitz directly after mustering the Schultzdorf Brigade by the side of his Arch-Princeps. The letter the messenger has given him contained an invitation to Lord-Chancellor Erik von Südflosse's office. As his Princeps already mentioned this to the General, he was prepared to set off immediately.
'This must mean no good', contemplated the old man, as he rode up on the streets of Böhnstadt. When Princeps Erhard Berthold isn't making personal contacts, it always means something wrong is about to happen.
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| Mind if I illustrate the posts without any actions like this? |
The halls of the Chancellery were almost empty. A few guards on the corridors, that is all. 'Come on in General', Südflosse invited von Hohenspitz inside his huge office when he saw him standing at the doorstep. 'This is a most urgent task and therefore I must speak to you personally. Please sit.'
'Any inconveniences, Lord Chancellor?', asked the General. He did not really like Südflosse's attitude but had to admit his achievments. The Lord-Chancellor was an interesting person nonetheless, already at the head of the most important office in Böhnstadt and not even entering his thirties.
'Inconveniences it is, General Major', replied von Südflosse. 'There were numerous Union raids on our border guard posts around Rotsdorf and threatening Störkburg itself. Quite an insult, but as we are formally allies bound together, we cannot take any direct action.'
'That land has always disturbed our fellow Flossians somehow, I say-'
'Now, as I'm entirely sure you have already understood, we do not want to provoke war with the Union', interrupted the Lord-Chancellor, 'therefore the movement of our troops must be subtle to say the least.'
'What have you thought of, Sir?', asked von Hohenspitz politely.
'Well,' Südflosse cleared his throat, 'after the mustering in the capital, the Schultzdorf Brigade will be making its way to Störkburg for a month or two of practice with the cadets of the Military Academy. It's not a sign of aggression towards the Flossians and probably just the marching of the Brigade will stop those brigands' attacks on our outposts.'
'Sounds subtle enough. But why not send the Dreichholm Brigade if I may ask?'
'Simple as that, General. I do not want any atrocities down there which our dear General von Spülge tends to cause. He is my far relative and I am informed of his acquaintances every each time.'
'Reasonable', replied von Hohenspitz. 'Are you writing the orders?'
'The orders are already written, Herr Generalmajor. Signed by the Princeps himself.' He handed a thick envelope pulled out one of his desk's many drawers.
After the General rode back to his quarters, he opened the letter immediately. The first page (there was two) contained the following:
Current campaign orders
to the hands of Generalmajor Karl von Hohenspitz,
Schultzdorf Brigade, Böhnstadt
The Schultzdorf brigade marches to Störkburg where it officially joins the annual excercises of the Military Academy's branch of officers. In the case of increasing Flossian threat, the commander of the army (Gen. Maj. von Hohenspitz by appointment) is free to decide what actions the Brigade should take; but make sure not to provoke the Union forces as it is unwise to stain our prospering alliance in such ways.
'As if they hadn't stained it already', murmured the old general.
The second letter contained secret orders written by von Südflosse.
Dear General,
For your convenience, here are the secret orders which cannot be made public during any circumstances. As I am quite sure you would make this decision sooner or later, your Freelance Companies, led by Herr Oberstleutnant Alfons von Petzger, must make their way to Rotsburg and later on, if the attacks continue, to the threatened outposts by chance.
Yours truly,
Lord-Chancellor Erik von Südflosse
'Fine, fine', said von Hohenspitz again to himself. 'I'll see to that tomorrow. Long time since I had ridden my war steed.' He sat to his desk and started writing orders to his Brigade to march.
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