Original subtitles

Now I know exactly how it feels to want a new job...

The High Leadership is beginning serious discussions about conquering Ildoa.

The brass is taking a reckless gamble to avoid dying by slow attrition.

Now they risk us all getting totally screwed.

So now they're daydreaming when they should be trying to fight a war?

Screw that.

The problem is how to leave.

It's hard to accept an ending that would leave Being X laughing at me.

But I refuse to become a sacrificial lamb.

So what the hell do I do?

We've finished our analysis of the proposal.

As we thought, there is no chance of an invasion of Ildoa succeeding.

The best we could do

is launch a strategic surprise attack, betting everything on the initial battle,

and wipe out their field army near our border.

Assuming this worked, we could blitz our way down and conquer northern Ildoa.

We couldn't go any further.

And this is assuming every possible thing breaks in our favor, yes?

Yes. Even under the most optimistic assumptions,

our troops don't make it further than northern Ildoa.

And so the idea of reducing the Ildoan threat to the south,

and reallocating the troops stationed there to the east,

is just downright fantasy?

Yes.

But our troops are pinned down already, yes?

By Ildoa's breach of trust.

That dumb-ass Zettour is having trouble in the east.

I'd like to help him out.

I'm afraid pulling troops from the Ildoan border is... difficult.

I know. They're intent on refusing to take a side.

They talk so much about how we're friends and allies,

but they refused to allow our retreating troops

from the south passage through their territory.

I hate them so much.

Ildoa is a neutral country, intent on putting their own interests first.

As long as the Empire is in a stalemate, it's willing to be a good neighbor.

But what if we're too weak to fight?

What will they do then?

If I may, sir,

the Ildoans seem more likely to talk than fight.

We can talk to Ildoa. So we can find a way to survive through dialogue, then.

Yes.

But part of a strategic officer's job is to prepare for the worst case.

We must prepare for both peace and war.

And which shall we prioritize: peace or war?

We'll have to maximize our efforts at diplomacy with the time we have left.

Do you know how many frontline troops will die while we waste our time talking?

There's no time to waste.

You're correct.

We need to find an exit, and we need to do it now.

There's a new counselor in the Foreign Affairs ministry named Konrad.

The ministry has just done a major reorganization. I want you to help him.

Yes, I'll get to it immediately.

We have limited time left.

So I want you to give this your all.

I apologize for the sudden summons.

No, I can understand, given the situation.

There's no need to be diplomatic during your discussion with the foreign ministry.

Don't hold back.

Understood, sir.

Thank you for inviting us today, Counselor Konrad.

Hello, Colonel Rerugen.

And who is this young lady?

Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff.

She's here due to her deep understanding of the frontline situation.

She's a hero, a recipient of the Silver Wings medal.

Oh, my deepest apologies.

No, it's fine.

We are servants of the Imperial nation.

I hope we can work well together.

Now, let me just ask it bluntly.

Can we win this war?

I want to hear your answer directly.

Even directly, I can't tell him that all our sacrifices were meaningless,

and we can't win.

Nope. Not a chance.

I can tell you right now that there's no point in continuing.

Isn't that a little too pessimistic?

You'd prefer total victory?

Go find a con man and ask his opinion, then.

Any soldier with half a brain would tell you the same thing.

You're speaking on behalf of the entire army, at your age?

Her appearance aside,

Lt. Colonel Degurechaff is a talented soldier with a history of achievement.

Though I admit she could've said it a bit more diplomatically.

I see. Perhaps I'm being stubborn.

What evidence do you have, if I may ask?

The Imperial Army is strong,

but not strong enough to defeat every army in the world.

We defeated the Republic and the Entente Alliance,

but the Federation and the Allied Kingdom remain threats.

And we can't ignore the possibility of the Unified States joining the fray.

There are enemies everywhere you look.

We can't win this war anymore.

I believe it follows logically that we'll be trapped with no exit until we're dead.

An exit.

And you seek to find that through diplomacy?

Though it brings shame to our military for not being able to win...

That's correct.

We're at the point where we need to cut our losses.

So a soldier back from the front lines is allowed to say all this?

Colonel Rerugen, I'm quite impressed with our Imperial Army's education.

This monster grew up without me teaching her a thing, actually...

But Lieutenant Colonel,

even if we're cutting our losses, there are lines we don't want to cross.

How much, in the military's estimation, should we be willing to accept?

To be honest, I'm not sure how to answer that.

Unfortunately, opinions differ even on the front lines.

"In my estimation..."

we're not as stubborn as the public.

But there are few organizations who value their dead as much as the military.

But there's also no point in wasting time and then surrendering...

The whole Empire could fall.

If we accept that, we should be able to give up on pretty much anything.

I'm simply a field officer.

There are rules about what I can say when it comes to the strategic picture...

Lieutenant Colonel, I'd like your opinion anyway.

Could you give us something to start with?

Colonel?

All the High Leadership gives us is wishful thinking.

But even Strategic HQ can't come to an opinion on the matter.

What a coincidence.

We aren't that different ourselves.

So nobody in the bureaucracy agrees about what to do, either?

Ridiculous factional infighting and half-hearted populism...

We don't have time to work our way out of all the layers of restraint

that our predecessors put on us, I suppose.

So why don't we just do it ourselves?

We can present our results to the Empire as a fait accompli.

We'll have the military negotiate with Ildoa at the officer level.

We tried that with Ildoa, and failed.

And we were told to go win some more fights to get better conditions.

And that's why you're here, or did you forget?

I'm here because my predecessor got his ass fired.

Every organization wants results, not just yours.

You're saying...

I'll spread the word, quietly.

If things get worse, someone's going to have to take responsibility for that.

But in the strictest sense, isn't that illegal?

Colonel, it's against regulations

for the military to get involved in the ministry's internal matters.

But we have a duty to advise the nation,

and we certainly have the right to make any proposal we wish...

Yes.

It's just one of those little tricks we bureaucrats have.

External diplomacy requires internal diplomacy as well.

No diplomatic effort can succeed without internal preparations.

We need an exit, no matter the cost.

And I want you to know that for that,

I'll need to ask you to propose compromises that are humiliating.

Out of the question! Absurd!

Our military should not be offering these conditions!

Or are you saying we should surrender?

If this draft ever sees the light of day, there'll be public uproar!

What do we tell the fallen?

Don't you care about the Empire's honor?

This is treason!

You're just a defeatist!

Under present conditions, we need to be brave enough to find an exit,

even if it means enduring humiliating criticism and horrible compromises.

We need to find a way out!

We're going to win! Win an exit! Win the peace!

Colonel, the military can only pass through an exit if it's an honorable one!

The army's reputation is at stake!

Or will you tell the fallen that they died for nothing?

Could we really tell the Imperial family that this is our proposal?

An exit without victory is impossible!

I see these conditions are worse than the previous ones.

With each hour we squander, each opportunity we waste,

the conditions we must accept get worse.

Is time on our side, you think?

We have yet to lose this war!

Let's make the world admit...

That we, the Imperial military, are the world's strongest power!

But at the same time, we must admit to ourselves...

That we were not quite strong enough to fight the whole world.

Our fists may be scarred, but we can still land

a hell of a punch on the rest of the world.

But we're not strong enough to beat them to death.

And if we miss the chance to our lower our fists,

we'll be forced to fight until the very end.

We have little time left.

Isn't that why we have to find an exit?

Before we fight the world, I believe we must put effort into our struggle.

Diplomacy is like alchemy, in that you're creating something from nothing.

The most important ingredient in that alchemy is trust.

And its laws are all about fairness and equivalent exchange.

Or at least, making sure both parties believe they exist.

If war is the ultimate reality, diplomacy is the ultimate unreality.

Multiple people can look at the same thing and interpret it in many different ways.

It's not easy to come to an agreement.

And sometimes, compromises may not be seen as such.

And that's why a bold compromise is needed, but...

An abandonment of demands for reparations

and a de facto return to the prewar status quo.

These are the best conditions the Empire can offer right now.

Did the army really approve this?

Yes.

We're in sight of the goal!

The Imperial army set out on two offensives, with a view to end the war.

The stalemate in the east would be broken by a bold,

highly mobile offensive led by General Zettour.

A clear victory on the tactical level would be a show of the Empire's strength.

And in the west, General Romel

would lead a surprise assault on the Allied Kingdom homeland.

A political offensive aimed at influencing public opinion in our enemy nations.

But a chance encounter with an enemy fleet caused the plan to fail.

Information leaks were suspected as well.

It wasn't a perfect success.

But the Empire felt it had landed a solid blow.

The Empire hoped that if they could show their strength,

they'd be able to drag their foes to the negotiating table.

General Gassman was terrified, you know.

That she might be back to make another noisy entrance.

My apologies to the general,

but I hope we can get along with each other for the immediate future.

It's like I'm talking to a diplomat.

I'm a soldier. I'm acting this way because my homeland needs me to.

Now, let me hear from you directly.

What conditions can you offer?

I've prepared something that will end this.

No reparations. No territory changes.

Rights for smaller ethnicities. These are the three main pillars.

Is that... possible?

You really believe this can be done without reparations?

You're right to be concerned.

But the Empire will accept these conditions.

I'm sorry. Did you say "accept"?

Yes.

We're prepared to accept this.

Just in case, let me get this straight...

When you say no reparations, you mean you won't ask for reparations,

not that you're refusing demands for them from your enemies?

That's correct. Why?

So you have no intention of paying reparations, then?

Us? Pay reparations?

I-Impossible!

We're abandoning our demands for reparations!

Are you saying that even a huge compromise like this isn't enough?

So you're saying you won't be handing over Imperial territory?

Colonel Rerugen, to be honest...

Your proposal will likely be taken as a provocation.

But why?

You refuse to hand over territory or pay reparations.

From the perspective of your enemies, this is a clear provocation.

The Empire sees it as a shameful proposal we're accepting for the sake of peace...

But a third party would see it as an insulting provocation?

We live in entirely different worlds...

Colonel Calandro,

I'm sure you're aware that war started

when the Entente Alliance violated our borders!

That's right.

They started it.

We simply protected ourselves in a fight they started!

I'm sure they'd see it differently.

For instance, the Empire was the first to declare war.

The first to fire shots, too.

But that's absurd!

We exercised our clear right to self-defense against a border violation!

Yes. The Empire feels it was in the right.

But other nations see the matter differently.

I want you to understand that negotiations aren't possible

unless the Empire is willing to offer serious concessions.

That's how your enemies see this.

They're willing to continue the war, even if we offer these conditions?

I'm sorry, but too much blood has been shed.

Your enemies can't go home empty-handed either.

So we have to keep fighting?

Is it truly impossible for we and our enemies to come together,

in the name of restoring peace?

Colonel Rerugen, you're a loyal soldier.

In light of that, may I give my personal opinion?

Essentially...

The Empire is too powerful.

Too powerful, and too scary.

And we wish to see the thing which scares us destroyed.

It hurts to be the one who sits at home, waiting.

Lieutenant Colonel, Strategic HQ has sent you a sealed message.

Damn it! This is...

Things are as bad as they could possibly be.

How truly wonderful.

We can make an exit for ourselves after all.

Impossible.

This leaves us with no choice.

We're out of time.

Our fists are still strong.

We can still land a punch on the world.

But at some point, even if we invade Ildoa...

It won't lead us to an exit.

But if we don't punch now...

If we lose our ability to even do that...

What will the world do to the Empire?