Prologue (English Version)

Into the Jaws of War Prologue - I saw a boar fighting an eagle yesterday! That overgrown pig just ripped his wings, can you imagine?! – Benjamin said enthusiastically after a minute of silence. It was the 21st of June, a warm summer evening. Well, you can hardly call it evening… The clock, at that moment, was showing 2 AM, which is why Benjamin said “yesterday” – So what? – Emile snapped, without said enthusiasm –animals fight quite often. Especially for food. – in response, his roommate began staring at him, not surprised by the reaction. – you really are a bore, Emile… - I think it’s awesome! But who won the fight? – Joining the discussion said Lander, the youngest of the three. He was only 19, so it’s unclear, how he managed to get into the cadet corps, before 21. Clearly pleased by his younger one’s interest, Bemont kept on with the story – That boar held out for long. In the end, he did chase the bird away, but didn’t manage to kill it. That’s quite the pity! – he finished, loudly exhaling– There. – Visibly shocked by his comrade’s story, Blau didn’t even notice, when he opened his mouth in surprise. –WOW! – Wish I was there… - don’t ya worry, kid. The phrase hurt Lander’s feelings Hey! I’m just two years younger than you! It’s not that much! In constant arguments as such they had spent the rest of the night. As soon as the warm summer sun began peeking over the mountain range, the three hopped out of their beds, rushing to the galley. Even Emile, who was usually very cold and level-headed, ran, as if it was for his life. As expected, the cadets arrived first, grabbing the biggest looking plates. – seriously, buckwheat again?... – Lander moaned, displeased – for the 100th time now! - better shut it and eat, what they give you. – Emile snapped, as the three sat down at a table. - say – Blau mumbled, his mouth full of buckwheat – why’d they start mobilizing reserves? We’ve been stuck here for a month, and we still don’t know why. Are we EVER gonna be sent to the front??? – the entire trio, except for Rocher, of course, began a heated discussion of the situation, mentioned by the youngest of them. The war, that was going on with the Reinheil Empire, at that point, was lasting for less than a year, and Rophia had already lost about fifty percent of it’s territory. Their discussion had come to a simple conclusion: This is not the way things should be. Now finished with the damned buckwheat, they all went to the designated meeting point, where the training was to commence. Meanwhile, the rest of the corps was just receiving food. Due to something unclear to the recruits, the meeting point was suspiciously empty. To the sides of the stand, from which, usually, their sergeant yelled at the recruits, were two gold and grey flags. In the middle of each one was “La Citadelle Imprenable”. The Unbreakable Citadel, better known as the symbol of the Rofian kingdom. - Well, would you look at that? – Emile said quietly – that’s something new. Are they staging a performance, or something? - Apparently… Wait. – Blau held his hand up, trying to catch the sound he just heard. The sound, that was, most likely, caused by hooves hitting the ground was getting more define with every second, until from behind a small hill, just about 50 meters away, a surprisingly big carriage, dragged by three horses, emerged. They stopped right next to the so-called stage. As soon as the horses’ hooves hit the ground for the last time, the coachman got off of the carriage, opening the door of the latter. Out of the shadows inside, a tall figure, dressed in military clothing, emerged. All three, Blau, Rocher and Bemont could only look on in awe, as the King of Rofia got out of his carriage. The man was dressed in snow-white uniform and kepi, as well as a red epaulet on his shoulder. He “brushed” his black moustache with his hand, looking around. –Well, it’s not as bad, as it could’ve been. – The king’s eyes transferred to his soldiers. – Ah! – He exclaimed, raising his hand into the air in a friendly manner, as if he was talking to his old comrades. The king’s face stretched out in a smile – and you must be our valiant fighters for freedom? – The monarch shook the hand of all three, to which they responded in shocked silence. - Well? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost! – as surprised, as the soldiers, the man said – am I really that scary? - he smiled, raising his eyebrow. - NEGATIVE! – Lander, Emile and Benjamin cried out. That yelp was, in fact, true. They were much more flattered, than intimidated. – Splendid. Anyway… Why is there only three of you? Hmm? Shouldn’t all the recruits be here? Rocher was first to answer – Negative, your majesty. Well, not entirely. Just that we are the first here. - Will it take the others long to get here? - I don’t think so, Sir. - I’ll take your word for it, soldier! – the king answered. – My name’s Moris, by the way! Not sure, if you don’t know it already… Stress the “O”! – He exclaimed, with quite unusual daringness for a king. - Yes, sir! – In sync, the three answered. By this point, most of the other corps members were already there. In about 2 minutes, 5 lines, each containing 20 men stood before their king. If you could look at the formation from above, it would be easy to assume, that the said formation was a strange grey and yellow rock. Grey helmets with a yellow cocarde on their front and top parts could easily be spotted, when in “green” terrain, but in battles in Rofia’s mountainous terrain they gave the bearer a huge advantage over the enemy. Camouflage-wise, that’s for sure. It’s worth noting, that, apart from infantry, the royal army had almost nothing to rely on. There were immense problems with ground vehicles, and Rofia didn’t even have a proper air force. The best the government could wish for, in terms of vehicles, were the land-lease policies of neighbouring empires. For example, the Aurian Empire, that was, by coincidence, if you may, a neighbour to Rofia. But even they were not prepared well enough for the war, that had set the world ablaze. Ever since Reinheil began their bombardments of Rofia, the world was torn apart by chaos and destructions, as alliances were triggered and armies put on high alert. It’s been 30 years, since the last major war, but it was a lot less destructive, than the one, that had begun on that day. Ever since the end of the First war of Alliances, warfare was changed forever; now, no country could attack another one, without the defendant’s allies entering the conflict. And thus, on that fateful day, began the War, that would change the world forever. The War to end all Wars.