Ooops!

"Well, that's bolloxed my plans, Von Willich!"

"How do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Simple, if Hannunter cannot deploy his men to his right, because the ground is too deep, then Muller will not be able to take them in flank, because if the ground will not support foot, what d'ye think the result will be if horse try to charge over that same ground?"

"Ah, I see, Your Highness."

"Good. Send a rider to General Muller, he and his Reitere are to return to the main position, by a covered route, mind you, and are to form up to our left rear."

"At once, Your Highness."

"Ah, Von Smallhausen. How went the parley?"

"Your letter has been accepted, Your Highness. And I believe you will have your meeting."

"Good, good. Who is the Hannunteran commander?"

"Von Wenigkirche, Your Highness."

"Von Wenigkirche, hey? H'mm, Von Willich, what do we know of him?"

"A stern disciplinarian, Your Highness, and somewhat choleric of temperment. A reasonable man would see his position, if not hopeless, is at the least disadvantageous, but Von Wenigkirche is not particularly reasonable, and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that disadvantaged or not, he would still order an attack."

"But that goes beyond choler, into the realms of insanity!"

"True, Your Highness, but Von Wenigkirche may not be entirely sane."

"How d'ye mean?"

"Well, Your Highness, it is commonly held that Von Wenigkirche is of the firm belief that the earth is flat and square in shape. Indeed, it is rumoured that he had an officer cashiered for insubordination, merely for trying to demonstrate, with the aid of a globe, that the world is, in very truth, round!"

"Herr General, are you making game of me?"

"Indeed not, Your Highness, I would not dare! I appeal to you Hauptmann Von Smallhausen, has not Von Wenigkirche this very reputation?"

"It is indeed true, Your Highness, but if I may be allowed?"

"Yes, go on Von Smallhausen."

"Your Highness, Von Wenigkirche, has, in the past, come to the notice of Herr Flick, who has compiled quite a dossier on the Feldmeister; if I recall the case, he has a greater than usual fondness for spirituous liquors, which, together with his red hair, may help to explain his choleric tendencies; however, he is greatly admired and trusted by his troops who habitually refer to him as "Onkel Karl", or even as "Großvater Karl". This respect stems from his concern over their health and welfare, and even survives his periodic attempts at their extermination through pointless attacks. He lacks subtlety, and his most usual - and most successful - method of attack is a headlong frontal storm. He is reputedly contemptuous of all foreigners, and firmly believes that Hannunter has only been deprived of her rightful place as Weltführer through the machinations of lesser beings who are afraid to face her in battle."

"I was right! The man is insane!"

"Insane or not, Your Highness, this is the man with whom you must deal."

"Thank you, Herr General, I had not forgotten that minor point!"

"If I may suggest, Your Highness, that a degree of circumspection may, in dealing with Von Weinigkirche, be beneficial."

"How so, Von Smallhausen?"

"Without wishing to put words into Your Highness' mouth, may I suggest that a conciliatory approach, may best serve our needs. That is, if Your Highness does not wish to take the opportunity of handing the Hannunterans a... a... oh, yes, a 'demmed good thrashing', was it not?"

"As I have had occasion to remark on a previous occasion, Von Smallhausen, you sound more like Flick every day. But your point is well taken. We are here to fight the Franklanders, not other Germans. I will heed your impertinent advice!"

"Your Highness is too kind."