A relative measure of peace has prevailed across our planet after weeks of bombardment and direct assault by all four powers, a combination of exhaustion and the need to prepare for still grander levels of destruction and maneuvering compelling all of us to greatly scale back offensive operations. The sense of anticipation and imperativeness that has prevailed has not fallen for any of the four nations, but our prospects in the expected epic conflagration at the heart of our military have improved. Additionally, over the last 72 hours Takomen has observed the Winter Solstice, a merciful reprieve from the tribulations of war during which virtually all personnel return home to family and friends. I very much hope that the number of current combatants who will not return home for the one next year (disregarding those who are prisoners, though that is also sad) will be under 20%, given the fact casualties have been dismayingly high and might not decline much over the next few months. 

I and my subordinates have continued to hold out hope we could launch at least one more major operation in support of our ally, but with each passing day and review of our strategic situation this hope dwindled. Every time we met to discuss our readiness or I reviewed information on supplies and manpower, we concluded it would not be wise to make another attempt either overseas or here while we were on the offensive on the Central Front and against Wesitarian naval assets. This hope remained until the start of this week, at which point it was clear we would not be well situated to contribute to Likuria's ground operations meaningfully anymore this year. The 6th Field Army periodically went on the offensive with their Likurian counterparts or held ground for them, but their exertions were comparatively modest and no other units from our nation were there. When the Likurian Grand Council announced they would be sending forces to our continent due to the grave concerns over our ability to protect our own home port against mounting numerical superiority, it seemed ludicrous to keep the 6th there any longer at a time we needed all available regular units to address various offensive and defensive concerns here. 

As the end of the year and the Winter Solstice neared, the image of a climactic confrontation of unparalleled proportions became progressively more entrenched in the minds of us officers and the population alike. Various circumstances and factors (not least of which being our assaults on naval facilities) have forced the enemy alliance to delay their plans until the new year, but we are fully convinced they intend to adhere to their original plan of directly assaulting our base of Marietta, and either destroying the base or landing marines to facilitate a grand Western Front encirclement. Both I and Marshal Taneru have been conducting a series of visits, speeches, and parades with the purpose of motivating the population to meet this great challenge, and similar efforts have been made by the other two nations. The whole planet has become increasingly expectant of this massive clash, looking upon it with a mixture of trepidation and hope. A defeat for either side would be at best a fiasco and at worst an unmitigated catastrophe, and our nation stands the most to lose materially and psychologically due to the location and our specialties. A major victory for either side, however, brings the promise of an earlier conclusion of the war, and each side believes they are more likely to win than lose this contest.

Wesitaria and Bengaria have shifted a great deal of industrial capacity to producing warships and related supplies, and their heightened mobilization gives them the ability for the time being to increase numerical disparities. They also are producing bombers as rapidly as we can destroy them and replace our defensive losses, and their strategy for facilitating victory at Marietta remains one of prolonged aerial bombardment of our factories and various military infrastructure to degrade our combat effectiveness. Meanwhile, to sustain our ability to attack their coastal installations and defending fleets effectively, more of our industrial output has been shifted to naval assets. The end result in general is the action on the ground on the front lines has fallen precipitously, but risen just as much at sea and on certain ground sites to the rear. I am not sure whether this is better or worse for the people in general, but at least for now fewer people are actively in combat as a result, and those who are often are in ships rather than on open plains. 

It is difficult to determine which side is making the most progress given the multitude of factors and the punishment we continue to incur from bombers, and there is a legitimate fear amongst the Kantarian Grand Council that our nation is falling behind and is close to being unable to hold off the enemy indefinitely unaided. The Likurian equivalent also has this fear, and they are extremely grateful for the reprieve our heroic resistance has allowed them. Likuria's economic reforms have been completed as they increased their territorial progress to 80% of their nation now. Thus, on the 17th, I was notified by Marshal Cometai that they were deliberating on whether to send a very large expeditionary force to our continent, and he urged me to recall the last field army we had there. They expected to come to a decision the next day, but a significant concern came up and they in response postponed a decision. On 21 December, we were notified to expect the arrival of the 1st Likurian Field Army along with their 4th Fleet, and we could deploy them as we saw fit for the foreseeable future. The next day they arrived, and the day after that they voted to send a force of 400k ground forces, 2,100 panzers, and 1,200 howitzers. Their naval commitment would be increased to 50% or more of their navy during our attacks on enemy naval capacity and their expected grand push in January.

The roles had been reversed as a result of this decision, becoming more akin to late 2012 and utterly dissimilar to late 2014. I was extremely ambivalent about this, as there were major consequences negative and positive as a result. As they were now coming here to assist us rather than the reverse, this was a clear indication to everyone we were not faring well against the enemy, and they had in a way defeated us. However, we obviously are in substantial need of additional manpower and weaponry, and such an extensive series of deployments on our behalf greatly increases our chances of at least not losing. I wasn't sure whether to be jubilant or upset, but I ordered our forces nonetheless to give the Likurian 1st Field Army and 4th Fleet a grand reception as they came ashore. Our troops and theirs were excited to see each other once again on our soil despite the reality this conceded to friend and enemy alike, and the 1st's commander and I tightly and enthusiastically embraced as they disembarked at Marietta. 

I believe in general their arrival and the expected arrival of more has and will have beneficial rather than deleterious effect on morale and the level of fear. Of course, I have reminded our forces that allies support each other and the level of support from each changes with circumstances, and war is a very volatile and dynamic endeavor. I also have stressed we have suffered so much to achieve as much as we have with little support from them, and now that they are stronger they are repaying their debt. Of course, that doesn't change the fact they are coming here because we are severely endangered right now and quite possibly cannot repulse a combined naval assault with even our renowned fleets if no help arrives, and that is never pleasant to admit. That being said, as the Grand Strategist of Kantaria, I feel less insecure now, so I'll gratefully accept this help and make our allies feel as welcomed and valued as possible. 

We expect that when they feel they are strong enough and/or cannot increase their chances of success any further, a combined force comprised of the majority of both navies and maritime ground forces will mount a direct assault on Marietta, which is about 700 km from the front lines and 1,050 from their primary staging base of Kalobol. Perhaps as many as over 800 vessels will oppose an estimated defending force of no more than 600, and no doubt enemy land-based air power will be used to facilitate their naval push. If they succeed sufficiently at this stage, they would land many marines, paratroopers, regular army forces, and panzers, and send them on a headlong advance to the northeast while their forces far to the north launch a massive and ferocious regular offensive on our Narenda and Tannenberg Lines. With our navy decimated and home port destroyed, captured, or besieged, we would have to decide between having our Western Front forces surrounded in their fortifications and hope we can relieve them weeks down the road, or fall back across the Nansing River with great haste and hope most of them survive AND remain able to destroy or evade the southern enemy forces. This would be utterly catastrophic to our nation spiritually and physically. Even if they just level Marietta and leave, this would have a terrible effect on morale and naval readiness.

Perhaps counterintuitively, we have decided to actually encourage them to attack us here, with the goal of causing maximal damage to their naval forces and accompanying marines, so that the deadlock that has developed can finally be broken. Our strategy is to deploy our fleets so that the heavy coastal batteries and our capital ships can open fire on the enemy simultaneously rather than attempt to intercept them further away, while at the same time allowing maximal ability to maneuver. Some of our warships will be close to the coast so that they can sail in between the base and the enemy fleet to prevent landings or outflank them, or retreat to the next major base if necessary. Having to engage the base fortifications and our warships simultaneously, they will incur greater levels of fire and thus be at disadvantage. Our flagship and I will be at the front but protected by screening forces a few kilometers ahead, though with so many warships on both sides our firepower won't be comparatively very significant. If we clearly are winning the engagement, a couple of fleets will be situated to outflank the enemy and force them to plow through those fleets to retreat to Kalobol, which will no doubt cause severe losses to those fleets in exchange for being able to sink many more of the enemy vessels. 

Due to the ongoing threat to our primary naval fortress, I ordered the creation of the Marietta Perimeter and extensive fortifications to be erected along it and a few other crucial sites in close proximity. The perimeter is less than 30 km long and a fraction of what a typical 'Line' on the front line is, and some of the sites will only be deep entrenchments, so the cost to industrial and logistical capacity was not great. In the event the combined enemy fleet drives ours from the field and lands troops, they will be met by these static siegeworks and multiple divisions of marines who not only are the best on Takomen but will undoubtedly be extremely angry over their main base being under assault. The facilities might be destroyed if we can't maintain enough point-defense, but the perimeter will not be easily overcome. Additionally, various ground forces further north will be in lines of trenches or pre-existing fortresses to thwart any attempt at a hammer-and-anvil type of grand envelopment. They would also need to traverse a thousand kilometers to get from Marietta to the powerful defensive works across the river, as well as the river itself and the attendant fortifications from two years ago. They could always land further north to shorten the distance and avoid some of the defenses, but that would assist us as well as them. Their ground campaign for all of these reasons, while it would be doable, would be extremely difficult and take many days even with thousands of panzers and even if Marietta is flattened and in their hands on Day 1.

As our Likurian comrades were coming ashore, their naval forces and ours simultaneously launched numerous raids on Bengarian and Wesitarian naval infrastructure. Situations such as this is where our superiority in speed and versatility are most effective and keenly felt. We actually hadn't expected to conduct such large-scale raids this week, but the arrival of a second Likurian fleet and the conclusion of the disembarkation of the ground forces added another 150 vessels and several hundred aircraft to our available forces. Naval opposition to our raids on their facilities was quite strong and was primarily Bengarian, and this increased both our casualties and use of ammunition. Nevertheless, as was the case over a week before, they were not well prepared and were not as responsive as we were. Volleys of our new Long Lance Torpedoes from well outside artillery range cause substantial damage to the warships and some damage to underwater structures at bases, and later our artillery set ablaze multiple locations and vessels. Our finishing touch was a large-scale assault on Kalobol, though the damage was predominantly psychological. Attrition overall substantially favored us, but we burned through a quarter of our naval artillery stockpiles to achieve this. 

We also had some success on the ground, made possible by recalling the field armies we had sent overseas. On the Western Front we have been seeking to cause casualties and destruction rather than take territory for the last couple of months, but for December we could not do more than defend our fortifications due to lack of manpower. We pounced on opportunities on 22-23 December to breach defensive lines and cause destruction to infrastructure and personnel further to the rear. We deliberated putting these actions off until the 27th due to the mutual ceasefire that starts at Midnight on the 24th, but elected to proceed sooner. Our troops mounted their raids with a substantial level of enthusiasm and anger, having been frustrated at the prolonged defensive stance we had to resort to. These vigorous assaults by panzers, specialized infantry, warships, and artillery caused 10s of thousands of casualties and destroyed some fortifications and other things here and there, with far fewer losses to us as a consequences. We also launched similar attacks on the Central Front with somewhat greater effect, though we used more ground howitzers given the distance from the coast. We hope we can do more than exacerbate their attrition after January, but for now this is the best we can do.

At 0:00 on 24 December, the battlefields of Takomen mercifully fell silent. Officer, soldier, and civilian alike went on vacation en masse, leaving only a handful of critically essential personnel and employees remaining at their posts. The Karamesh Convention guarantees 72 hours of peace for the Winter Solstice every year even during world wars, and thus virtually all soldiers who did not perish over the preceding year may return to their loved ones or do whatever else they wish. As the war was on hold, the most senior officers such as Perredine and I were also free to take off (though Supreme HQ is still functioning and we can be contacted in a dire emergency), and we proceeded to do that. 

There are many celebratory social functions at this time of year within the military as well as outside, and many people within the military are quite desirous of meeting me casually. We also have functions on bases for those who cannot leave their posts, and naturally they as well would be pleased if I attended. I obviously cannot be everywhere over a 72-hour period, but I was at the function at Marietta, and a few other places across Kantaria. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the number of people who do not recognize me as the supreme commander when I am not in my distinctive uniform. My appearance is common knowledge to the whole country and there are very few raccoon prancers with fire-orange hair cavorting within the KMO, but every time I get at least a couple of people asking me what my name and title is. Usually I merely relay the truth and ask politely how they don't know this, but occasionally I'll give an outlandish answer that's often sexual in nature. A couple of times I identified myself as the Chief Inspector of the Sexual Welfare of Personnel Children, another time I went with Supreme Disparager of Terra. Once I just went with Incompetent Blowhard-in-Chief. 

I spent some of my time off to myself, and activities ranged from sleeping to watching programs of interest to masturbating (sometimes alone, sometimes on camera for a partner or entire audiences). Some of my time I casually socialized with those I consider friends, both within and outside the KMO. A fair number of hours total I spent yiffing with various sexual friends, many of whom are children. I'm not much older than the children I generally prefer and I myself am a libidinous adolescent, but my position and intellectual prowess causes all of those relationships to have a fully pederastic feel and appearance. On much of Terra I probably would face severe prosecution, but here everyone understands they and I are happier and better from such relationships. Of course, while sexual activity with beautiful pubescent children is extremely enjoyable, this is very much not the only thing we do when together. I'm as much a mentor and role model as I am a yiff partner for them, probably more so. The parents and the cub and I discuss sexual behavior with the cub very casually and without reservation, as well as the loftier things. 

Those historians or other curious people who have read most of my diary entries have deduced I have one favorite cub and family, and I absolutely would not miss the evening of the 25th with them under any but the most dire of circumstances. Lucien, evidently fixated on yiffing that afternoon (hardly surprising for a pre-teen pubescent Takomenian zooanthro), elected to answer the door completely naked and immediately attempted to seduce me.

"Joyful Solstice, Roketsune! I haven't pawed off all day since you were coming over, and I read that book on political theory you wanted me to read. Can we play now, pleeeeease?!" Lucien unabashedly pleaded with a developing erection.

I stared at him with a mixture of astonishment and lust, utterly unaccustomed to someone being more forward and dominant than me. "It's- it's nice you undertook that learning I insisted you ought to do. You want to play right now? But I'm hungry and I expected to at least say hello to your parents first." I deemed my original plan impractical since we were both highly aroused now and didn't care to speak to his parents in that state (and Lucien knew this all too well given my gender and choice of clothing) , so I sighed exaggeratedly with feigned displeasure, "Alright, fine, since I have to because of you."


Several orgasms later, we emerged from his bedroom (he fortunately consented to wearing clothes now) and I greeted his parents as I had planned to over an hour before. They amusedly informed me they heard my and Lucien's orgasmic yelps and moans and thus knew I had arrived, and were preparing dinner and doing other things while we catered to each other's more primal needs. Most of the rest of the visit was not carnal in nature and consisted of a combination of casual commentary on recent personal events and conjecture on the course of the war. I and the two adult otters were concerned about the result of the seemingly inexorable battle near the base Lucien's father worked at and oversaw for over two years. Lucien seemed rather oblivious to the potentially dire ramifications a failure would have for the nation, and gleefully relayed a request to be on the Procyonidae when it happens.

"I hope you're not planning on having repairs done at Marietta while all of this is going on. I'm extremely sure the base is going to be shelled to some extent." Marshal Larien sternly reported to me, somewhat unsure how much I expected from him.


"No, of course not. I've spoken to you and repair personnel enough times on the matter to know repairs can't be conducted in combat conditions without extreme risk to equipment and personnel. Actually, I want you and most staff out of the base. Only the garrison soldiers should be present." I reassured my subordinate and friend.


"You want me out of there as well? I'm the commanding officer of those garrison forces, remember."

I hmmmed, and very candidly responded, "You're right, and I probably said that because of our friendship. That was unprofessional of me, but, I cannot ignore this aspect."

Larien chuckled sympathetically, "And you would probably tell your entire staff the exact same thing if this came up in conversation, too. I wonder if you've ever told a lie in your whole life."

"I lied when I said you were competent when I promoted you." I retorted with a wicked grin, eliciting laughter from Lucien and his mother but a facetiously angry glare from him. 


"I wanna be on the bridge with you when you repel the invaders! You'll let me do that, right?!" Lucien blithely interjected. 

"What? No, of course not!" I rather horrifiedly answered.

"But you said it's very safe on the flagship usually!" he protested.


"Usually it is, relatively, at least on the bridge. We're still getting shot at, sometimes with nuclear weapons. This time we expect well over a thousand warships, and that doesn't count all the planes and cannons joining in."

"But you're the best admiral on the best ship in the world! I'll be safe there, and I can give you a special victory present when the enemy runs away!"


"I'm sure you and I would give each other more than one. You're as lecherous as I am now, I swear! But, no, I am not letting young children on a vessel of war during the largest battle at sea our planet has ever seen. It wouldn't be appropriate and it would be dangerous. Some of my staff are pleading with me to stay in Mirukan because of how unpredictable this is, and I cannot blame them."

Lucien protested some more, but eventually he gave up. The four of us discussed more pleasant subjects afterwards as we ate dessert. After a few hours of relaxed conversation and consumption of video media that interested us, Lucien became yiffy again and wanted to play, something I was not opposed to in the slightest. The parents smiled and waved us off when I mentioned that was my cue to retire for the evening. After some frotting and resulting mutual release, we cuddled and fell asleep in each other's arms. I hope I will be in the mood to do this with him after the great battle he so badly wanted to watch from the bridge.