NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Strategy and Suspicion
"Come in," I ordered, my voice carrying across the quiet camp. I was standing near the center of our makeshift command area, a space that felt much too open and exposed for comfort. The soldiers entered, standing at attention as they awaited further instruction.
The Lieutenant Colonel raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the lack of a formal command tent. "Sir, we're in the open, and there's nothing here to enter—no tent, no structure."
Ah, the first mistake of the day. I had been so distracted by the whirlwind of everything else that I had forgotten to even consider basic logistics. Still, I couldn't let that undermine my position.
"Ah, yes, Colonel," I replied with a casual wave. "That was... a mistake. Muscle memory, you know? Happens to the best of us. Forget it, let's move on." I offered a quick smile, hoping to brush off the awkwardness.
The Colonel didn't seem phased, nodding with understanding. "Understood, sir. Moving on."
"Now, Colonel," I continued, refocusing. "Tell me about the surrounding environment. Have we managed to settle the soldiers and scout the area?"
"Yes, General," he answered confidently. "We've completed the soldier placement and dispatched scouts to survey the area. They should be back in fifteen minutes, and that will give us a much clearer picture of the environment."
"Excellent work, Colonel," I replied, nodding in approval.
He smiled, almost humbly. "It's my duty, sir. Nothing special."
"Well, Colonel, I have an urgent task for you and the rest of the battalion. It's critical."
He straightened at once, all seriousness. "Anything, sir. What needs to be done?"
"First," I began, "I need the spies to report back. We'll need their intel as well." I paused for a moment, trying to think of how best to proceed with the immediate logistics. "Also, I want you to start positioning the soldiers defensively. Make sure they're ready for anything. But before you get to that, I need a command tent built for me. We can't operate like this."
"As you command, sir," the Colonel said, saluting and turning to carry out the orders.
(Fifteen Minutes Later)
I had been pacing inside my small command area, mentally preparing for what was to come. This was my first real test as a leader, and I couldn't afford to falter. The success of this mission—and possibly my survival—depended on it.
A soldier appeared at the entrance. "Sir, the scouts have returned," he announced.
"Good," I said, straightening up. "Send them in along with the captains and the Colonel. I'll meet them inside the tent."
"Yes, sir," the soldier responded before quickly leaving to relay the orders.
Minutes later, the scouts, along with the Colonel and several Captains, entered the tent. They all saluted and sat, ready for my instructions.
"Sit down," I commanded, doing my best to sound authoritative. I could feel the tension in the air as I noticed that there were only a few seats, none of which were particularly comfortable. My mind raced as I realized once again that I had failed to prepare adequately. But instead of letting the discomfort show, I simply sat on the floor, doing my best to keep a calm and collected demeanor.
"Now, let's get down to business. What can you tell me about the area we're in?" I asked, looking first to the spies who had just returned from their reconnaissance mission.
The Senior Spy, Ivan, spoke up first, his voice calm but filled with urgency. "Sir, our surroundings are as follows: we are in the Bakhmut urban hromada, in Donetsk Oblast. The city lies on the Bakhmutka River, around 90 kilometers north of Donetsk. It is strategically vital. If we manage to hold Bakhmut, it could open up a route further west, possibly to Kramatorsk, which is home to around 150,000 people and is of significant strategic importance. This area is vital, not only for its own sake but because controlling it could turn the tide of this conflict."
I nodded, mentally piecing together the information. The geography was almost identical to my world's version of events. The importance of Bakhmut in this ongoing conflict was undeniable. If we held the city, it could pave the way for further advances. If not, it could lead to our undoing. This wasn't just a city on a map—it was a key to the war.
"I'm sure you're aware," Ivan continued, "that the Ukrainians are likely planning a counteroffensive soon. They're going to try and retake this area. It's expected that on May 9th or 10th, they'll attempt to push us back, especially around the Berkhivka Reservoir, which is just to the north. We need to be ready."
I absorbed the details carefully, letting them settle in my mind. The situation was clear: we were on the verge of something major. We had to defend Bakhmut, and if possible, we needed to push further.
Turning to the group, I spoke with determination. "Gentlemen, as you can see, we're in a very high-risk area. The Ukrainians will likely strike soon to retake Bakhmut. Our priority is to hold the city, but if the opportunity presents itself, we should consider advancing further." I paused for a moment, looking around at the officers. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Sir, I have a question," one of the Captains, a young officer with an eager expression, raised his hand.
"Go ahead, Captain," I gestured for him to speak.
"Sir, I apologize for the interruption, but I must ask: why are we even involved in this war? Why are we fighting for Russia? And why not Ukraine? Why not try to establish our own position?" The Captain's question hung in the air, challenging.
I didn't immediately respond. The truth was that I couldn't just tell him the real reason: because I owe Russia. They helped my country in the past, and I'm here to repay that favor. It sounded ridiculous even in my own mind.
"That's a fair question, Captain," I said, finally. "But I'll explain it once we've discussed the more pressing matters at hand. Right now, we need to focus on the upcoming battle. Afterward, we'll have time for that discussion."
The Captain nodded, still curious but willing to wait.
"Now," I continued, "you all have five minutes to come up with a strategy for this defense. I want your best ideas. Be ready."
"Yes, sir!" the officers said in unison, the air filling with energy as they turned to discuss the situation.
As they conferred, I found my mind drifting. I knew that a well-crafted strategy could make all the difference. But the pressure of leading an army was weighing heavily on me. I had no experience in leading men in battle. What if I made a mistake? What if my decisions led to unnecessary deaths?
"System, where are you?" I muttered under my breath.
[YES, HOST. YOU CALLED?]
"Yes, I did. You said that my soldiers would follow my every command, but now they're questioning me. What's going on? Why are they raising concerns? They're supposed to follow my orders without hesitation."
[HOST, YOU ARE MISTAKEN. I SAID THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WON'T ASK QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE THEIR OWN OPINIONS. QUESTIONING IS A NECESSARY PART OF MILITARY STRATEGY. IF THEY JUST FOLLOWED YOU BLINDLY, IT WOULD BE A DISASTER. THINK ABOUT IT—IF YOU GAVE THEM A WRONG ORDER AND THEY DIDN'T QUESTION IT, THE RESULTS WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THEIR QUESTIONS MAKE YOU MORE EFFECTIVE.]
I paused, reflecting on the system's words. "I suppose you're right. I didn't think of it that way."
[I AM ALWAYS RIGHT, HOST.]
I chuckled under my breath. "Fine, fine. But I still need help. Can you help me come up with a strategy?"
[YES, HOST. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A STRATEGY, BUT YOU LACK THE PRESTIGE POINTS TO PURCHASE IT RIGHT NOW.]
That was a blow to my plans. I had no points to work with. "I guess I'll have to come up with something on my own then."
(After Three Minutes)
"Time's up, gentlemen," I announced. "Let's hear your strategies. I'll go first, as the leader. But feel free to point out any flaws in my plan."
I could feel the weight of their gazes on me. I needed to make a decision. A quick one.
"My strategy is simple," I began. "We'll use an ambush. We'll wait for the enemy to lower their guard, and when they're least expecting it, we strike hard. Fast and deadly."
I looked around, waiting for their feedback. To my surprise, no one spoke up right away. They just exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
And then, one by one, every single person—including the spies—raised their hands.
I felt my heart drop. This wasn't good.
"Yes, Colonel," I said, trying to remain composed. "What's wrong with the strategy?"
"Sir, there are several problems with your plan," the Colonel began, his voice firm but respectful. "First, we don't have the necessary equipment for an ambush. We lack camouflage suits, which are essential to hiding our positions. More importantly, we don't have enough intelligence about the enemy's numbers or equipment. If they have thermal vision, our army will be completely exposed. Additionally, we must consider the risk of satellite surveillance. While Russia has taken out many satellites, there are still risks from Ukrainian military satellites, and they might have already spotted our position."
My confidence plummeted. I hadn't even considered these factors.
"Sir," the Colonel continued, "we also have reports of movement behind us. I suspect it's the enemy closing in."
The weight of his words hit me harder than I could have imagined. My strategy had failed before it even began. The situation was far more complex than I had anticipated.
The pressure was mounting. My first real test as a leader, and already I was failing.
I had to think fast—before it was too late.