User blog comment:El Alamein/World War Wikia: Troop Deployment on the Eve of War/@comment-422690-20141107030844

“In addition to the other deployments,” General Lloyd Kumar says, dictating orders to his adjutant, a young Major Brendan Mark. “Put the 741st - Faulkner’s Falcons, I hear they’re calling themselves – in the Danzig corridor Orders are to hold the corridor. Should that prove unfeasible, he is to sow the ground with those Sarin mortars of his.”

“Isn’t it a little early for the gloves to come off?” Lieutenant-General Gage Beckham, another member of the Imperial General Staff says.

“My people have a philosopher,” Kumar replies, “Named Kautilya. His most famous work, the Arthashasta, contained a section on warfare. He said: ‘A king’s general should put down his lord’s neighbors with utmost ferocity, such that they do not rise again. For leaving a foe beaten but not broken is such like to clutching a sleeping viper to your breast; it will wake, it will bite, and the kingdom shall wither and die for it.’ Versailles only let Germany take a nap. I do not intend to repeat it. Now if you’re only here to second-guess me, sod off and get the hell out of my office.”

Beckham leaves, closing the door behind him. “Now then… send the 512th - Jenkins’ unit, I think, – down into North Africa. I want her attacking the Italian-held colonies in Libia.”

Mark takes down the orders, and looks up at his superior, questioningly. “Did Kautilya really say that, sir?”

“I haven’t the foggiest,” Lloyd says, continuing to ponder the maps on the table, “but it seems like something he’d say. When you’re part of an exotic,” he made the word seem a curse, “culture, you can say bollocks like that and get away with it. Send the 216th – that’s Sackler, yes? – down to defend Krakow. Tell him to take the fighting into the city itself if he has to. Krakow must not fall of our Polish allies are to stay strong.”

“I expect you’re right sir,” Mark says, still scribbling. Kumar sent him a brief glare; he’d been in his position not too long ago. He knew what that meant.

“Morale is one of the most important things to consider in a war. When you lose your largest cultural and economic center, your soldiers figure they’ve already lost. And once they think that, they truly have.”

“More Kautilya?”

“No, Major. Just basic battle experience. Stuff anyone would pick up on the front line fighting for their country.” Kumar smiles inwardly as Mark flinches as if struck. The Major had gotten his position here through family connections, not through merit of his own. “And put the 108th - Baldur Toove’s unit, if I’m not mistaken – on the Germany-Denmark border. It’ll be the biggest hindrance to Germany conquering his homeland. Make sure he knows that. Now I need to talk to the navy about getting fire support for the 741st, 108th, and possibly the 216th and 512th. Draft those orders and have them waiting for my review when I get back.”

Troop Placements:

Irvine Faulkner: Danzig

Max Sackler: Krakow

Brittany Jenkins: Somewhere near Libia (I'll find a town name later)

Baldur Toove: Somewhere on the Germany/Denmark border (Again, I'll find a town name later)