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Post by aimway921 on May 17, 2021 3:17:56 GMT -5
"A full report on specifications as well as the financial side of things is available here," Yamakuchi said, as his adjutant passed a pretty fat file with a lot of paperwork inside. "Please pardon the possible grammatical blunders you might find, as we are not used to translating our technical literature into Commons. I imagine you would have more comfort reading through this file at a time when you retreat to your office. Now, I do believe we have done everything we could here today. I believe it would be wise to pack up and call it a day. I am, however, hoping to travel to the Elenrian border next and observe your defenses."
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Post by callmedelta on May 17, 2021 16:37:42 GMT -5
"Of course," General Ranulf replied, "I will inform the troops at the front to prepare the plans for our defenses to show you. I have copies here, of course, but I find it's much easier to envision what's on the page when you have the real thing right in front of you."
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Post by aimway921 on May 17, 2021 17:41:54 GMT -5
"I would rather you didn't," Ymakuchi said. The best inspections are ones that are unannounced." He paused for a second, realizing he may have sounded rude. "I mean no offense, of course. I am simply operating on my own experience of local officers maintaining a non-efficient level of combat readiness, while brushing everything up for an inspection. During the war we lost several battles, as this overestimation of our own forces led to underestimation of the enemy's ability to overpower us."
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Post by callmedelta on May 17, 2021 20:11:57 GMT -5
Ranulf thought a moment before responding. "I suppose you are correct. I should hope that, considering our circumstances, their combat readiness should be at it's peak, but I have been in the officer's position to know that that isn't always the case. A surprise inspection, then."
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Post by aimway921 on May 28, 2021 13:26:38 GMT -5
After the showcase of weaponry, Yamakuchi and his assistant retreated to the private rooms provided for them in the fort.
"So, Jori, what do you think of the Franch forces?," Yamakuchi asked for his adjutant's opinion. "And be honest. I don't want to be led into a false sense of security just because someone is afraid to report bad news."
"Well, Yamakuchi-Dono, the Franch are certainly proud of their Army. Probably too proud for their own good. They do not have the industrial capacity to build up and they know it, but they do not want to show it. I'm afraid that in future negotiations they might refuse industrial help purely out of pride. But they need it. And we need them to become more powerful for our alliance to be strong. As it stands right now, unless we ship a large portion of our forces into Franerre, I'm afraid that, Gods forbid, a war with Kumosenkan breaks out, Franerre wouldn't stand a chance. But if we do ship our forces here to help the Franch, then our own Home Islands will be underdefended. It would be a tough choice."
"Let's hope it's a choice we'll never be forced to make," Yamakuchi replied, after thinking for a minute. "Tommorow we shall take a look at their defenses on the border, and then our understanding of their capabilities will be complete. From there we can make assessments on how to advance both our standings in the world, or at least preserve our current ones. I shall be heading to rest, I suggest you do the same. We have a long day tomorrow."
With that, as the night passed, the Ashigawan delegation waited until everything was ready for Ranulf to take them to the border and show them the defenses.
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 2, 2021 18:31:16 GMT -5
In order to have the majority of the day to review the de Tain Line, General Ranulf and the Ashigawans would take an overnight train to the city of Elenerre, and from there to the Elenrian border where the fortifications lay. In the morning, after a short car ride, they would finally make it to the fortifications, where General Zelgius was there to meet them. The General was a tall man, blue hair and eyes, with the smile of a natural leader as he extended his hand to the Ashigawan party.
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Post by aimway921 on Jun 3, 2021 16:47:38 GMT -5
The Ashigawans stepped out of the train wearing their khaki field uniforms, rather than the dark blue dress uniforms they wore during the weapon demonstrations.
Yamakuchi accepted Zelgius's handshake, but still bowed while shaking his hand.
"Good morning, General. I hope to draw good lessons from today's excursion, be it for us or for you. Please, let's begin."
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