Great distress and anxiety pervades our military at the moment. There are two major areas of concern. We have launched our offensive across the Kotorei River, and the issue remains in doubt and largely dependent on what our ally Likuria is capable of achieving since we are unable to decisively break out from our bridgeheads. While our immeasurably courageous units endure incessant bombardment on the other side of the river from Bengarian units and fortifications, our burgeoning fleet base Kaleusthes has fallen under very intense shelling very suddenly. This matter is particularly burdensome on me, because as I write this I am trapped underground within a command bunker that has spotty communications with the outside world. The bombardment so suddenly began that I wasn't even able to shuttle out or come aboard our flagship. Focal points on two fronts are utterly infernal right now, and the isolation of our military's chief commander is having a substantial effect on morale that already wasn't spectacular due to the prolonged stagnation across the river. We hope to at least reliably restore communications over here tomorrow, and perhaps the enemy naval forces will be put to flight then as well.

Speaking of naval matters, we are substantially further ahead in one major regard. There finally was enough of a lull in the action on the continent to start giving our treasured Larien what he needed to resume expansion of Kaleusthes at a maximal pace. After a series of convoys and personnel redeployments across a period of over a week, he completed enough service building and supply warehouse expansions to justify calling the place a fleet support base, though its capabilities still pale in comparison to Marietta's. Approximately half the fleet is able to reside and draw supplies from there at any given time, though repair capability leaves much to be desired. As there is a terrible series of battles happening at the Kotorei River right now, we cannot get him what he needs to complete the next envisioned round of upgrades and augmentations at a satisfactory pace.

While the current period is extraordinarily stressful and inspires very little humor, us strategic officers had a lot of fun with an admittedly bizarre idea of mine. I have become extremely fond of the Terran humor videos known as Downfall/Der Untergang/Ranting Hitler Parodies. I have watched many more of these highly entertaining videos while on the bridge during lulls in demands on our focus. They are so entertaining for those who do not speak the Terran language German because of the several especially dramatic and tense scenes involving the highly excitable and delusional chief antagonist and his senior staff, paired with altered subtitles. It is a great testament to the skill of the director and actors that this is so exploitable as well as being highly riveting for those who actually do watch it for its historical reenactments. The several parodies featuring Hitler losing a game of their acclaimed turn-based strategy series within a bunker during a time of world war, combined with us fighting a world war here, has much inspired me to have several short videos fashioned featuring our actual strategic officers. While completely losing my composure over faring badly in a fictional world war while we ignore an extremely consequential real one greatly amused and inspired me, I feel it would also entertain and uplift the military and population in general, though there would no doubt be detractors- especially since KMO (OOC: Kantarian Military Organization, their name for what we often call 'the Armed Forces') resources would be used for this project.

Perredine, Shorin, Shinkema, Larien, and several other officers would be used. Some enthusiastically consented, some had to be coaxed/badgered by me. We would heavily emulate several scenes from the movie, going so far as to utilize objects (a large paper map, a message conveyed in a folder rather than on an electronic pad) that are utterly obsolescent for us, and me using similar noteworthy gestures and volume increases at appropriate times. As I have some training and much natural talent in acting, and I would be the one doing most of the dramatic and furious lines, the general incompetence of the rest of the officers in that regard was not a serious problem. The key difference between their parodies and our Takomenian emulation, of course, is ours was intended to be humorous to our own people from the start, while Downfall neither was made with humorous aspirations nor can be readily made humorous to those who speak that language. We did expect German Terrans in disproportionate numbers to reciprocate the adulteration of their movie by doing the same to our videos, which has indeed happened.

Several staff with the appropriate training and equipment made the needed preparations and familiarizations over a few days. I and the other officers expended a substantial amount of time across two days assembling at Mirukan for this personal project of mine of debatable cultural value. During the production we had to restart a scene several times because Perredine and/or I could not refrain from laughing at these absurd scenes. I had great difficulty correctly acting our version of the most iconic and well known scene in the movie due to the overwhelming impulse to laugh. Four times in a row, I ruined it completely. In that same scenario, where many random officers stood outside listening in shock and terror, five times someone erupted in laughter. Many have said that while I was convincingly furious over the loss of a fictional game war, my adolescent and extremely effeminate voice causes me to almost shriek when enraged, and this heightened the humorous quality because I sounded ridiculous, especially when juxtaposed with the voice of the one impersonating Hitler. This of course made our production more complicated due to the laughter it naturally encouraged while filming.

The response to the productions was quite widespread and primarily one of amusement, with bewilderment being a strong secondary reaction. A few thought it was disrespectful to our military to be making such videos during a time of war, a complaint I remorselessly rejected by affirming we do not need to be miserable merely because our frontline units are. Many in the Strategic Council questioned the use of resources on a personal and cultural endeavor such as this, though very few of them were surprised I did it. Perredine's public remark on the general matter was both the most amusing and the most profound, "Roketsune is the sort of leader who, if you were aware of his antics and exploits but not the rest of his personality and achievements, would make the average person ponder whether this was real. He's just that goofy, capricious, and excitable." Larien injected humor of his own along those lines by insisting he actually believed this was genuine, feigning shock at it being a parody. In the end, even if the majority of my country thought this was idiotic, it made me and my friends happy and gratified and that would have been more than enough. Of course, the amusement value is augmented by Terran reactions. Those who are inclined to such hobbies have made various perversions of it in a very short time, and even the ones designed with venomous intentions I more often than not have found laughable despite understanding the verbalizations.


We would need all the humor and cheeriness we could generate and derive soon afterwards. On 17 May, our offensive across the Kotorei River was slated to begin in earnest. We had precise and elaborate visions for the offensive. During a final artillery and aerial bombardment before dawn, the 125k soldiers of the 1st Riverine Field Army would cross the river on the western section. Engineers would hastily construct light pontoon bridges to allow regular infantry divisions and light vehicles to cross and reinforce, while the main force gallantly assaulted the defending fortifications and mortared units in the open. Most of the images in the news came from this massive infantry assault, and I am very sure that will be the iconic and representative general image when this is covered in documentary literature. I feel it also is one of the best personifications of the tenacity and skill our combatant units possess in such abundance. Different compositions would be used on the remaining 4 avenues of attack. The medium and heavy panzer units would shell what positions they could reach while awaiting the construction of bridges to allow them to cross. We felt it was reasonable to feel we were potentially capable of one or more critical breakthroughs within 3-7 days, and complete large-scale envelopments or collapses within 7-14 days. We did not feel, barring a miracle, we could regroup our vehicular units and storm across the northern flatlands and begin turning the eastern flank on the Western Front for at least a month after invasion.
 
Preparatory bombardment had been going on for weeks by this point, but it wasn't generally at a peak level due to supply and logistics limitations, and we also had been subjected to very heavy counterfire. The Likurians were providing substantial logistical and supply support from the start, but it wasn't nearly enough to meet our maximal fire rate needs. Combined with the original strength of the system of fortifications in multiple lines, we were able to overall do little more than break things at a faster rate than they could repair. While we did increase the rate of fire and form grand batteries against planned avenues of advance in the final days, it merely degraded or suppressed the closest active defensive positions. Passive defense (OOC: this means such things as armor and underground fortifications) hadn't been degraded at all, and active defense (OOC: this means weapons and radar) from both units and emplacements was very high. The number of enemy forces in the area were of course quite high, and they were quite often determined to hold the line or die trying. These combination of factors, despite extensive use of artillery and panzers as such, made the cross-river invasions utterly unenviable- almost punitive in severity. I will never understand what causes people to willingly throw themselves into such situations.

On the 17th, the assortment of specialized units began crossing the river, totaling over 220k troops and 1,000 heavy vehicles. On the western end, the special lutrine light infantry divisions were the primary and virtually only force. While they more often than not were not detected while crossing, their presence on the opposite bank was almost always immediately detected and very strenuously objected to. They seemed to have the best luck with regards to speed of bridge construction and consolidation, though they were also the most vulnerable and sustained heartbreaking numbers of losses per day. In the middle segment, large numbers of amphibious panzers and infantry mounts (OOC: that is what they call APCs and IFVs) drove across and assaulted their preliminary objectives, while the brigades of mounted combat engineers stayed behind and constructed bridges. They certainly were more durable, but they also were larger targets in terrain and situations they were not designed for. In the eastern segment, the main contingents were regular infantry and panzers ferried across by special barges. As we feared, the barges began taking very severe losses early on due to them being priority targets, particularly when used to form a new bridgehead rather than reinforce an existing one. This would not remain a viable method of initial crossing for long, and we quickly limited their use to reinforcement of existing bridgeheads. We also had very light watercraft and hovercraft concentrated there and in general, but they were nearly useless when used to seize positions on the opposing bank because of their relative extreme fragility. Thus, our eastern section in particular floundered, and a division of paratroopers and paradropped panzers were sent in to make up for shortfalls.

The populations of both sides were aware of the importance of the battle when news broke of many divisions of lutrine infantry and amphibious vehicles having crossed and starting to assault their targets. A decisive victory for Bengaria would cost us dearly in strength and preserve the integrity of their grand central redoubt. If we even just stalemated at the area, it would be severely demoralizing for them. Conversely, if Kantaria achieved a decisive victory, there would be panzer country for 100s of kilometers ahead and facilitate a cascade of debacles which might end the war before the new year. Whether a nation's heroes would be victorious or tragic or a combination of the two would not be immediately known, but everyone knew this would be very large, and very bloody for at least one side. Many times parallels were drawn between this offensive and the Nansing River Offensive 26 months ago, sometimes correctly and sometimes erroneously. While both of these are about as significant and are rather comparable in scale and ferocity, this one is much harder for us. The Bengarians did not substantially fortify their traditional border with Kantaria and were more badly led and organized at that time, and we were able to use naval firepower and marine landings on one section of it. Many more would perish and be wounded here due to those factors being the reverse this time.

The units that attract the most interest and curiosity from every conceivable group are our lutrine riverine combat infantry and engineers. Our populace, our military documentarians, the Terran military historians and documentarians, the furries, EVERYONE. Everyone shows such great interest in that type of crossing weapon, and I'm not sure if the primary reason is people are just fond of otters or if it is the general appeal of that manner of crossing rivers and seizing bridgeheads. There were many pictures and videos of such units in 2014 gallantly and stealthily crossing the Nansing River before dawn, but now the fixation on them is both greater and markedly more tragic. In 2014 they were our spearheads in a heroic blitzkrieg offensive. In 2016, they're being systematically butchered with the hope their attacks will facilitate the breaching of lines of fortifications.

As Kantaria's population is 80% zooanthro, I have emphasized many times the importance of exploiting our biological assets and diversity, and the manner of usage is very simple, the vast majority of our assets for crossing rivers to establish bridgeheads are in fact units of otters and a few others who have a natural proficiency in swimming. No other race on Takomen has a heightened swimming capability worth noting, and there is no artificial method of augmenting one's crossing abilities that is also stealthy and inexpensive. Additionally, they are able to operate rather easily in water that would be cold enough to start causing hypothermia for everyone else. The specialized riverine divisions are given special hydrodynamic containers to store various things in while they cross, which is highly inexpensive compared to a vehicular version. Those that lack such equipment and specialized training generally can still cross with more limited equipment, though such divisions are almost always sent to reinforce an existing bridgehead. The former category we predicted from the start would incur losses that would be deemed completely unacceptable in virtually any other scenario even if they were highly successful. 40% casualties in three days in a successful bridgehead operation was far from beyond the realm of possibility. We have 250k lutrine personnel in combatant roles, 150k of which are in riverine divisions. If the attacks were severely repulsed, conceivably over a third of an entire race on the front lines could be casualties in a span of a day or two.

In every region and at every one of the 6 planned major bridgeheads, the general experience was the same: the assault was a miserable exercise in attrition warfare against an extremely well entrenched enemy who quite often was prepared to die before yielding. To achieve breakthroughs on merely the first line of defense along the northern bank consumed massive quantities of lives and ordnance. Even the infamous Battle of Breandan wasn't as bad as this, as here there was a river and three main defensive lines to overcome, the first of which was on elevated terrain. Reinforcement was extremely difficult or impossible if the proper bridges were not present, the bridges themselves were constantly under attack and so very difficult to properly fortify, and tactics of encirclement which we would ordinarily use were impracticable here. From one end of the river to the other, maelstroms of flak and exploding aircraft and intercepted ordnance raged overhead, while exploding ordnance from all manner of delivery transformed the landscape into some nightmarish lunar terrain. The amount of resources that went into producing all of that ammunition and all of those fortifications was depressingly massive. Repeatedly since the start of the offensive, I have had come to mind the words of a brilliant commander from an evil regime on Terra known as the Confederate States of America. "It is good that war is so terrible, else we would grow too fond of it.". I am thoroughly convinced that after so many troops have had to endure such miserable and horrifying scenarios such as this, Takomenians will never again take up arms against their fellows after this war ends, and against others only as a last resort.

Despite our sacrifices, we consistently encountered failure or mitigated success. We managed to have across 255k troops and 1,200 panzers by 20 May, the day we launched a major and concerted offensive effort to link bridgeheads together and expand northward. Not only did we fail to do the first and had limited success with the second, but one of those we established was overrun and the remnants forced back across the river. At this point I ordered our reserve crossing-capable infantry- primarily otters not specially trained in and outfitted for riverine warfare and a few others who claimed heightened swimming capabilities- to cross the river and reinforce the remaining bridgeheads en masse. Half had assembled at the staging areas, but the other half had to be hastily reassigned from wherever they were stationed and trickle in over the next couple of days. Despite the terrible level of artillery fire and bombing on our bridges, our network was consolidated and allowed for heavy panzers to cross in the two bridgeheads which had established a sufficient buffer at enormous prices of blood and equipment. Our effective combat strength on 23 May was 365k soldiers, 1,100 medium panzers (mainly Cavaliers; they are horribly suited for this job), 600 heavy panzers, and 225 of the venerable new Pathforgers. Of course, we had sent across about 3,200 panzers and 500k soldiers, but the difference was the casualties we endured in those few days. We estimate the Bengarians have lost maybe half that many if we're really lucky. We were- and still are- rapidly hemorrhaging to death as a military at this river.

We decided to start a renewed offensive on 23 May with the hopes of achieving a major breakthrough, or at least linking together some of our isolated bridgeheads. We succeeded in merging the two western bridgeheads, and the ravaged 1st and 4th Riverine Divisions wrested control of a significant section of the middle Kotorei Line from the defenders. However, by the evening of the 24th, it was apparent to us we failed in our major operational objectives. The Wesitarians began a counteroffensive near the western zone while the Bengarians launched theirs in the other zones, severely burdening our already exhausted and mauled units. Several bridges were knocked out of commission for hours at a time, including a heavy one that had allowed our Pathforgers and Commanders to cross. If nothing changed, due to logistics, supply, and other factors, we would soon start to rapidly lose territory because we would be losing weapons and troops faster than we could furnish them, or they would run out of supplies if we kept up with attrition.

My staff have noted that my demeanor had shifted as the days elapsed, becoming progressively more subdued and uneasily pensive as success eluded us. The prospect of having so many of our finest citizens perish and endure the worst of what modern war had to offer for zero benefit was quite distressing to me. This was probably noticed by Likurian Supreme Strategist Cometai when I spoke to him on the morning of the 25th, after it was made clear to me we almost certainly required massive Likurian intervention to prevail. I unambiguously stated we needed them to send everything they had to offer if we were to breach their natural and artificial redoubt. Compounded with all we had lost and would lose, a failure to remain on the other side could prolong the war with them for over a year. The matter was so important I flew over there and physically spoke to him. He said he would speak to his council and pledged to do all in his power to turn this hitherto expensive quagmire around.

There has been a substantial buildup of Likurian forces since he and I spoke. Over a thousand aircraft have temporarily rebased at our airfields to better assist us offensively and defensively. The number of Likurian cannons arrayed on the Central Front has risen by over a thousand to 2,500. Ground forces from Likuria on the southern bank of the river have risen by 50k, and the northern bank by about the same. There is a plan to jointly deploy paratroopers at one or two critical locations should indications point to success. Overall right now, we are on the defensive, our infantry where possible sheltering in the Bengarian-constructed fortifications they paid so dearly to seize. Temperatures have skyrocketed lately, which has started taking an additional toll on our mostly furred ground forces. If we will have to conduct a general withdrawal from the area next week, it will be an utterly miserable affair for what will remain of our field armies. At least by then we will be able to commiserate rather than suffer alone.

The general health of our military was- and continues to be- sapped further by an offensive by warships and fortress guns on Kaleusthes. The intention was obvious: cause a debilitating additional strain on our overextended logistical system, and cause further demoralization. I must admit, they are thus succeeding far beyond their most optimistic projections. Not only have they caused substantial damage to our base and created additional demand for resupply, but they began their cannonade and bomber runs while I was touring the place AND have severely disrupted the base's ability to communicate with the outside world. This means I have been abruptly isolated from the entire military beyond this garrison, at a time the fate of our offensive on the Central Front is in doubt and our troops need their supreme leader's reassuring. Needless to say, I am most disconcerted by this, though at least my friend Marshal Larien has been keeping me company in the main subterranean defensive network.

I had just finished inspecting the fleet and base, and I had just conferred with the council on the matter of launching an offensive we had been entertaining conceptually for a while. We concurred we could not adequately supply one with the overwhelming supply needs of the artillery and aircraft and regular divisions on the Central Front, which was a substantial disappointment to us and the military as a whole. I was attending to a few last matters and interests after 15:00 today, and I was above ground near the primary fleet service area which had been so heavily expanded this month. Our above-ground active defensive installations suddenly opened fire defensively, causing me and everyone in sight to bolt for the nearest of a myriad of entrances to our passive underground defensive installations. I was immediately notified through my headpiece that artillery from land and sea en masse had opened up on us, and it seemed as if they were still mobilizing the combined naval forces. Roughly half of our navy was at or very near Kaleusthes and was providing a huge portion of the defensive fire, but the other half was mostly at Marietta and could arrive by around midnight. Obviously, our aerial forces were preoccupied with the Kotorei River campaign and had to be rediverted to be useful at all.

I was told it was too dangerous to venture outside to leave because of how often shells were impacting the base. While I probably would have made it out intact, a 5-10% failure chance was more than high enough to dissuade me from such an action. I pulled up a map of the complex on my headpiece and navigated to the main command chambers, greeting fellow refuge-takers and conversing on various urgent matters on my way there. As I arrived at one of the central chambers, I heard a familiar voice.

"Oh, no! I have to cubsit you in addition to everything else I have to do?", cried out Marshal Larien.

"Well, I was bored and everyone else ran away for their lives, so I figured I should see what you're doing.", I riposted with a playful grin.

"I thought you were off screwing my son or one of your subordinates, but you seem to be doing actual work instead. Most impressive!"

"Ehh, that's only because none of them are available... Wait! He's not here, is he?!", I queried with great concern as I looked around.

"No, no. He's near Marietta with his mom."

I sighed relievedly and rubbed my snout, "Oh, good. He should be in school or modelling, not in an active warzone."

"Speaking of that, do you have any idea how many times that's brought up every day? Several people a day mention they're a fan of him, or ask me whether I masturbate to him as well, or whether I masturbate to you, or ask if that's his intended lifetime career. They're practically more interested in him and you than the war!"

"My secretary does a great deal of the monitoring of Terran news broadcasts pertaining to me and the war in general, and he tells me they're highly fascinated by all that, in a sort of disgusted incredulous way. They don't understand how I can openly have an affair with a pre-teen and have him pound my butt for an erotic publication, yet have the full confidence of the military and respect of the enemy. They can't comprehend how we can be so insane."

"Bah, why care what those primitive savages think? It's not like they can invade us or cut off trade."

"I don't for the most part, at least beyond a reciprocal disdain and disgust for them. Though, I seem to be having some effect on them. I had a Terran reporter come here recently to interview me on that and why we allow cubs so much freedom, and some unrelated secondary topics. A few over there are curious and are questioning their societies' approaches when they see how much better we live."

"I don't expect them to ever be half as good as us. I'm amazed they haven't killed themselves with atomic weapons by now. They're obviously stupid enough to do that. Anyway, you might not be able to talk to Lucien or even the Council for a while. The Wesitarians apparently tested a new weapon on us and it is preventing wireless communication. Nothing's getting through."

"What?! I'm not only stuck here, but can't confer with anyone outside of here?!", I exclaimed with alarm.

Larien shook his head, "We have to send messages via alternative methods, like couriers or the ancient signal flags. Seems to be some sort of radiation interference. They also got lucky and knocked offline our main external transmitters. Either one alone could be compensated for. Combined, it's awful. We're trying to devise countermeasures, but right now our communications ability is spotty and inefficient at best."

"Damn those people. What atrocious timing!", I angrily responded with accompanying gesticulation. "Well, I suppose I'll be here for a while. Where is my underground palace? Also, I need tasty food and your prettiest subordinate!"

Larien placed a paw on his snout and loudly groaned.

I very much hope the bombardment soon subsides at least long enough for me to safely return to Mirukan. I have not been able to meaningfully communicate with the military all evening, effectively incapacitating me. Perredine thankfully can fill in for me at times like this, but I am very restless nonetheless.