General address to all Gallic military personnel

[Lanakov]

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MARINE ROYALE GAULOISE

Nouveau message entrant.
Identifiant : Amiral de Gaule Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup
Unité : Cuirassé Le Téméraire, Nouveau-Londres system
Destinataire : ALL GALLIC MILITARY PERSONNEL, POLICE, INTELLIGENCE, EMBASSIES

Sujet : Fin de partie.

10 août 742 A.G.S.
Ile-de-France

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Chanteloup appears on screen, significantly more nervous and agitated than usual. Her surroundings are typical of that of a Valor bridge.

Messieurs, mesdames,

The Bretonian campaign is coming to a close. Last week, I have been instructed by our betters to expedite our offensive on London. Most of you are already aware that these instructions have been carried out and the bulk of our forces are now poised for what should be our final blow against the liberto-bretonian alliance. I don't know that a more formidable fleet has ever been gathered under a single banner before. It seemed an apt occasion to assume, once more, the command of the Téméraire.

I'll be frank with you, as I've always been in the past. This situation is not ideal, and not the one I had been aiming towards. Although we have managed to corner our enemy's fleet and cut them off from any possible reinforcement, our advantage is not as decisive as it should have been if this campaign had been run with the necessary precautions and foresight. Because of this, I have joined you, and I will lead unto the end, whichever that may be. The future of our entire nation lies in those next few days ; I will explain why, although I'm not expected to.

We may not find a welcoming parade when we return to Gallia with our victory. What was, during my days in internal security, a mere uprising content with information warfare and occasional skirmishes, has become an all-out revolution. Picardy is now firmly under the Conseillards' yoke, and there is very little the Marine can do about it now. They now possess functioning shipyards and several battlegroups a few systems away from Paris. I don't have the figures in mind, but I wouldn't be surprised if the current Bretonian navy wasn't a match for the Conseillard fleet.

The domain of our King diminishes with each passing day, while we've been bleeding to extend his reach beyond the confines of our homes. There it is, this terrible truth that's been haunting me for months and that I couldn't bear to keep it to myself, and myself alone. But don't let it bring you down, camarades. Not now. Instead, use it as a fuel. If we lose now, we lose everything. No matter what happens, Gallia will enter a new age, and its new ruling class will not look favourably upon us. Nor will the Sirians, for fairly obvious reasons.
But if we win, and I strongly believe that we shall, we will be the ones in positions of power. The Sirians will know us as the new guardians of Bretonia and the Taus, the Conseillards will fear us as the mighty fist of a once powerful king, that managed the impossible and beat back three nations, vassalised one and annexed another, in the span of a decade.

She smiles, faintly. I know I wouldn't want to have to deal with us, especially once London falls. So hear me, camarades. This is our time, the summit of our efforts. The prize of all your devotion, your sleepless nights, your watches, your dead friends and colleagues. It all stands before us now.

Come with me and take it.

PS : I'm keeping this channel open. If you have questions, ask, and I'll see what I can do. I won't do this again, better make the best of it.

The transmission fades.

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