>>48347
If we fail, the best we can hope for is some warm, humane communication (read: “torture”) with the Communists.
We’re sneaking into the Federation, where they have a form of government even Communists have a hard time achieving with their lives intact.
If we’re hoping to get back in one piece, this is no time to cut corners.
“Captain Weiss, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, Major!”
Tanya makes up her mind and calls out to her trusted vice commander with a glance at the time on her watch. Luckily…
…it’s not an inopportune time.
“Sorry, but could you come here?”
The transport plane had been loaded with a mountain of low-altitude insertion gear, weapons, and ammunition, then packed with more aerial mages than anyone would think possible, making the interior terribly cramped.
Being on a military transport craft means not being able to call over a subordinate officer without a few others getting elbowed out of the way.
And Tanya has to raise her voice or it won’t carry.
This is a military vehicle, after all, not a passenger plane—it lacks even the slightest consideration for passenger comfort. For a military plane, the engine can be considered quiet, but it’s still a military plane. It annoys Tanya to no end that she has to scream to be heard over the incessant droning.
The saving grace is that she doesn’t really have to worry that her subordinates, no doubt listening with their ears pricked, might overhear them.
“Lieutenant Serebryakov! Lieutenant Grantz! Sorry, but please check everyone’s gear!”
““Yes, ma’am!””
After busying Serebryakov and Grantz, Tanya takes a thickly padded object out of the briefcase at her feet.
Weiss glanced over, so he must have noticed it was a sealed envelope of the type the General Staff uses. In response to his questioning eyes, Tanya nods and asks him to verify something.
“Captain Weiss, please confirm the time indicated on the envelope. I’d like you to check it against your watch. Does it match the current time?”
“Yes, Major. On my watch, it does.”
“Good. My watch reads the same. Then, in the presences of the commander and senior officer of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, both having confirmed the correct hour…let’s open the envelope.”
Tanya rips open the missive and removes several documents. One look at the summary is enough to tell her it’s what she expected.
<...>
A stifled voice tactfully asks her to reconsider, but Tanya sighs at him and pats his shoulder before continuing. “The mission is obviously to punch into enemy territory. We’ll confirm the start of the war and attack at the same time. The homeland’s literal intention is reconnaissance in enemy territory, but given our positioning, the true nature of our orders is to prepare for an attack. Either way, if war is declared, we’ll be expected to act on our own judgment. We should be ready.” After bitterly expressing her thoughts, Tanya realizes they need to explain the situation to their subordinates and adds, “All right, Captain Weiss, if you have no objections, would you kindly fill in the troops?”“Me, ma’am?”
From the confused look on his face, she gathers that he can’t fathom why she’s asking him to do it. Well, he’s probably capable of overlooking Tanya’s complexes, or perhaps you could say “her shame.”
…I’m jealous he can project his voice.
“Unfortunately, Captain, I can’t speak very loudly… My voice won’t reach everyone in this noisy plane.”
The vexing truth of the matter is that even if she raised her voice, the engine would drown it out. She already had to scream at the top of her lungs during her private conversation with Weiss.
No, it’s not that there’s something wrong with her. Even a grown man would have trouble being heard in the back of the plane, so it makes sense that a child would only hurt her throat trying.
Sadly, Tanya can’t use a formula to amplify her voice as suggested in the aerial combat manual, since they’re avoiding any and all magic activity. The unit is on a mission to infiltrate enemy territory. Using a voice amplification formula would be like flinging mana signal all over. She might as well announce to the enemy warning net that intruders have arrived.
…We have to at least make it across the border before we’re detected.
“Ah, well…I’m sorry, Major.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry to trouble you, Captain Weiss, but I’d appreciate if you would give the explanation.”
“Of course. I should have offered in the first place. I hope you’re not angry with me.”
Had Tanya unconsciously put on an annoyed face? Her subordinate’s guilty expression makes her feel that she owes him some consideration. Unable to do anything else, she pats him on the shoulder one more time.
Then, with a thank-you, she asks him to begin.