"Let him in."
The door opened, and Alexander walked through with his palms open and a firm grin.
"You called?"
His cockiness could be felt from miles.
Charlotte nodded, "Yes."
She gestured to a seat, "Your timing is perfect."
Alexander sat down with exaggerated grace.
Charlotte turned to Davout.
"Please, explain to him what you told me."
Davout steepled his gloved fingers as he rested his elbows on the table.
His metals clinked softly as he raised his shoulders.
"Commander Alexander, in my history of service I have read the works of geniuses, madmen, and fools."
Alexander smirked confidently.
Davout continued, "You've managed something unique. Something I wasn't even sure was possible."
"And that is?"
Davout reclined in his seat as he pressed a finger against the table.
"You've shown signs of being all three. You're effective at both destroying an opponent's army and your own in the same breath."
Davout continued.
"And that's if you even reach the battlefield, you show no concern for logistics. Not for their protection or use. You'd starve your armies… and that's if they don't kill you in a mutiny."
He laughed dryly.
"And a mutiny is almost guaranteed with how many men you'll execute. It's a compounding problem, your men complain and desert because of the lack of resources. In retaliation you execute them, which in turn leads to more desertion or them just straight up killing you in your sleep."
Davout pushed Alexander's packet across the table.
"So tell me, how great a commander are you if you either lose your army before the battle or after it?"
Alexander's smile faded as he leaned forward.
He looked down at his answers.
He had to admit that his answers were solely focused on fighting and winning.
He didn't put much thought into how he'd get there, or where his forces would come from.
But since they were bringing it up.
"You're saying my lack of concern for logistics directly hinders my ability to fight a war?"
He smirked, "But I think you're looking at this all wrong. You asked me in-the-moment questions, so I gave you in-the-moment answers. You can't judge me on grand strategy when you didn't ask about it."
He then tapped the packet.
"The answers in here are for battles, if you want better answers, ask better questions."
He laughed.
"But to answer your question, no, I won't use marines as anything but what they are, killers. Anything else will be handled by a separate core of support women."
The room went silent except for Alexander.
"From cooking to driving, they'll handle everything that keeps my men from shoving their bayonets down my enemy's throat."
The tension in the room was so thick it was almost suffocating.
The other two generals looked horrified, their faces flushed.
An entire core of women? Was he mad?!
Davout simply raised an eyebrow.
"Women…" he said softly, as if testing the word.
"Entire units filled with untrained, and vulnerable women. Not only did you just make a large target vulnerable, but you just damned the next generation of soldiers as well. You're genius knows no bounds."
He spoke with a subtle, humorous tone.
Alexander narrowed his eyes.
"Who said anything about untrained? These women will be as fierce as my Marines. And if push comes to shove they can kill like 'em too."
"Preposterous!" One of the other generals finally barked.
"You can't just throw the innocent into the meat grinder! And the men, you'll put their mothers, daughters, and sisters in danger!"
Alexander turned to him, slamming a fist into the table.
"And what happens when our lines break?! Those women are targeted and abused anyway! You cry so much about morale, think about that! I'm giving these women a means to defend themselves and their kingdom! On top of that, my marines will fight even harder to ensure these women don't see combat."
Alexander pointed a finger at the generals.
"You claim I don't understand logistics, but the truth is you're a slave to it, to tradition. You think war is a game only for gentlemen. I see it as something that should be ended as fast as it begins. I know logistics are important, but I will ALWAYS choose speed first. You can always slow down, but you can never seize the initiative when it passes!"
The room stood still as Alexander's declaration lay bare.
"Alright," Charlotte cut into the silence,
"Field Marshal Davout, your assessment was as flawless as always."
Davout smirked as he twirled his mustache.
"You're right that he can win battles, and spectacularly. But he'd lose a war in the same breath."
She turned to Alexander, "At best, you're naïve about the importance of logistics. At worst, you are purposely ignoring them."
Alexander crossed his arms, but said nothing.
"However, you've had a very important insight about logistics. I see no reason women shouldn't serve in the military, especially if they're strategically positioned."
The other two generals looked as if they were about to explode, yet they dared not speak.
This time Alexander grinned.
"We can look into finding a training regimen for them, and deploy them by age and family."
She laid a hand on the table, "Single, older women can be deployed closer to the front. They'll do the more dangerous tasks, sure as driving logistics vehicles or, even sniping if given the chance. While younger and married women can man the back lines, fire artillery, and perform other tasks that don't require them to be on the line of fire."
She smiled, "If that goes well, we could even look into creating defensive units to supplement our forces if we're ever besieged."
General Lannes gawked, the same one who shouted earlier. "You… but your majesty, what about.. what if complications arise from men and women sharing the battlefield?"
Charlotte glanced at Alexander, who shrugged.
"Worst case scenario, we treat them as traitors and execute them for treason. It's the same as killing your fellow soldier in my eyes."
Charlotte turned her attention back to her generals.
"He's nuts." The third general whispered, crossing his arms.
Davout ignored him, his eyes fixed on Alexander.
"Let's say we entertain this madness," his voice was low and rough.
"You'd be doubling your logistical burden and complicating supplies. A woman's needs far outweigh a man's. What was once a simple shipment of underwear and rations becomes bras and pads, uniforms need to be resized and the list just continues."
Alexander laughed.
"Are you serious? What do you think would happen if I wanted to expand with just men? An additional 20,000 soldiers is what it is. Except now instead of being destined to peel potatoes, they're doing what they were bred for."
He pointed a finger at Davout.
"Not to mention the Pathfinder core is 30% female, and they're doing just fine. And don't give me bullshit about scale, because these women will BE the supply lines. They'll be so close to the cities already producing this shit, that it's a simple redirection from factory to soldier."
Davout scoffed.
"The pathfinder core is different, those women are as ruthless as the men. But you're talking about large scale, it takes time to implement something this radical… or more precisely, stupid."
Alexander chuckled.
"Just admit you're afraid of my genius."
"BOY–"
Charlotte raised her hand to silence them both.
"You both have made some excellent arguments. Now it's time for negotiations."
She turned to Alexander.
"I have a proposition,"
"I'm listening."
"You're training a new, large unit of Marines, correct?"
Alexander nodded.
"That unit will take six months to train, in that time I'd like you to study under Field Marshal Davout. In exchange, I'll give you an army quartermaster and five pathfinder sergeants, all female. They can be used to train your new support core. Do we have a deal?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"No."