13th Guards Rifle Division - Domitian

[Domitian]

At the end of the day, the Mayor goes through his files one last time, having passed the command to the 39th Guards Rifle Regiment on the same day. Hunched over the map and the briefing, the mayor wonders how his regiment should best proceed. Both the road to Lipetsk and to Jelets could be mined. Accordingly, it would be better to avoid the streets and move on normal terrain until the pioneers have cleared the way. Since Jelez also represents the larger city, it would be wise for the time being to attack this city first with the strike forces available to us in order to eliminate a large part of the exercise opponents. The nearby airfield could also play a role. Deepening himself more and more into the cards, the Mayor begins to write down his thoughts and work them up for the next briefing.

Later that night, the Mayor suddenly heard his secretary stumble in the anteroom and he asked himself what she was doing so late in her office ...

[Domitian]

After a long day cooped up in his office, the Mayor has some free time for the first time today and so he decides to devote himself to the note that he found a few days ago on the desk of his secretary Anastasija.
Although his secretary's behavior had improved somewhat in the last few days, Mayor Domitian was perfectly aware that something was still going on. He just didn't know what, and even less did he know what to do with this sequence of numbers that he had found on Anastasija's desk. What was that supposed to mean? Was this a connection or service number? Or did it just have no meaning? But why should she underline the number in bold and red? The Mayor pondered on, but for the time being he did not come to a conclusive answer that would even begin to satisfy him. Instead, he called his adjutant, Leytenant Popov, who immediately enteres the office.

Comrade Mayor
Did you have called for me?

Very well, Comrade Leytenant. I have had called you because I trust you and I have a little, shall we say, secret mission for you. Although I don't want to overuse the term "secret mission", because apart from expenses, it couldn't get much around for you.

The Mayor hands the Leytenant the sequence of numbers and a file from his secretary Anastasija.

As you may have noticed yourself, Anastasija behaves strangely since the last weeks. She is often absent, late and often absent-minded. She does her job conscientiously, at least as best she can, but she always evades me when I ask. I want to know what's behind this Ivan. So I ask you to take a closer look at her. Above all, I want to know what she does in her free time and what prevents her from showing up at my office on time, but also why she is sometimes in the office late at night, well after her working hours. Furthermore, she left a suspicious number on her desk, but I don't know what it could mean. So if you still have time besides the observation, I would ask you to check it out. It could be anything, service or phone numbers, or any code. If anyone asks you questions or gets in your way during your research, tell them that you are acting on the orders of Mayor Domitian. That should be enough.

Leytenant Popov looks a little puzzled but composed at the Mayor.

Comrade Mayor, don't you think that….

The Mayor interrupts his adjutant in the middle of his sentence.

That everything we'll do is inappropriate? I hope so anyway. But I don't have a good feeling about the whole thing. Ivan, trust me. After all my years of experience, I know that something is up.

Very well, Comrade Mayor. I didn't mean to offend you, of course I trust you completely. I will get back to you as soon as I have new informations.

The adjutant looks at his superior with a steadfast and trusting expression, salutes and says goodbye to him in order to pursue his new assignment.

[Domitian]

In the early evening the mayor receives the first report from his adjutant regarding the special assignment he gave him a few days ago. So far, however, his secretary does not seem to have done anything wrong. She was in the office a little later this morning than usual, but nothing to worry about. Could he have been wrong? Or did she notice something? Mayor Domitian decided to remain calm and to continue the observation while he turned back to the mysterious combination of numbers.

[Domitian]

In the evening, Anastasija goes back to visit Mayor Dome. She leaves the office, being closely watched by Leytenant Popov, who is hiding behind the next junction. He slowly pulls his face back from the edge of the wall so as not to be spotted by the secretary. He waits until the sound of her heels has faded on the floor, only then does he decide to follow her on, until he suddenly stands in front of a door whose letters at the top clearly show that it is the division commander. Popov decides not to jump to conclusions, he would rather trust him to keep watching Anastasija and see if these strange visits should repeat themselves at an obscure time.

[Iwan Prohaizev]

The phone rings the bell

Rriinngg, Riinggg...

[Domitian]

Mayor Domitian picks up the phone and answers.

Comrade Kapitan, I am glad to hear from you. How can I help you?

[Iwan Prohaizev]

Hello comrade Mayor,

I salute you!


I have two questions:

First: How do you rate the current state of the infantry, especially the troops under your control? Are the troops in good shape, how does the coordination with the armored forces and the artillery work?

Second: Do you have any other interesting suggestions for the current exercise? We can incorporate these innovations into the exercises if they can be implemented.
Further details we can develop and manage at the briefing room.

[Domitian]

Thanks for the questions Kapitan.

As for the condition of the troops, I have to repeat my ambiguous impression that I have already described once. In the meantime, many of the officers and soldiers are better trained than they were two months ago, but the missing tasks are probably leaving their first marks on the soldiers. Many simply can no longer wait to face the enemy. Otherwise the general condition is to be assessed positively. The missing ammunition from Stalingrad arrived weeks ago and the general combat readiness is established so that we are, at least theoretically, prepared for the fight.
With my remarks on the units I command, we can actually go straight to your second question. Although I have no direct suggestions for the current exercise in mind, it would be a good idea, with an eye on the mood in my troops, to strengthen the ties and the exchange between the individual regiments, possibly also between the individual divisions. A close exchange between your and my division has to exist for a campaign against Japan, so integrating some RPG elements would not be a bad idea for this exercise.

[Iwan Prohaizev]

Thank you very much!

I will try to build in some of these useful suggestions and we will see how it works out.

[Domitian]

I have to thank Comrade Kapitan, for this constructive talk.

The Mayor hangs up and continues his work.

[Domitian]

A telegram informs the Mayor that his specially commanded 42nd Infantry Regiment first came into contact with enemies during the exercise near Voronezh. It looks like his regiment is doing well with the support of the tanks from the 61st, and it looks like they're going to destroy the enemy as soon as possible. In addition, his commanded units will soon receive support in the form of additional fuel in order to be able to maintain the speed of the offensive. Inwardly, the mayor is happy about the first successes of the two divisions in this exercise and immediately devotes himself to further planning.

[Benutzer DSU]

After a long time in the division, Mayor Dome is once again checking that everything is in order. So he makes his way to Mayor Domitian's command post, where he enters the anteroom.

[Domitian]

While Mayor Domitian is talking to his adjutant Leytenant Popov in the empty anteroom, Mayor Dome suddenly enters the room.

Mayor Dome I am glad to see you here
You probably already know Leytenant Popov. How can we help you? You are definitely not here for nothing.

[Benutzer DSU]

Ah Leytenant Popov we haven't had the honor.
Comrade Major, I just wanted to see how you are getting on here and how the division is doing.

[Domitian]

Everything is in order within the division. Thanks for asking. As for the exercise, we are now making initial progress. Both the 42nd Infantry Regiment and the tanks of the 61st fought very well against the enemy northeast of Voronezh, whereas our remaining regiments had not yet come into contact with the enemy. These continue to advance north to face the enemy at Jelez. The only thing that worries me is the weather, as it will snow heavily in the next few days, but that will cause our enemies at least as much trouble as we'll have. I am currently planning how to proceed in this exercise, which is why this is what it looks like here. Without further ado, I relocated the planning staff to the anteroom. More space, you know?