-=+ +=- [COMPLETED] The Second Universe -=+ +=-

Part 3: As Fast As Lightning

The fleets arrive at the eastern Balingian coast 20 seconds later. Balingian coastal batteries spot them, obviously shocked at their sudden appearance, after which, identifying them as the enemy, they open fire with 305mm AP rounds from twenty cannons. These pitifully slow rounds are intercepted by air defense systems placed on board the ships, after which they retaliate with their own attack. 

Missiles and grenade launchers from the fleets rain hell down on the Balingians, annihilating their entire base. Cannons, personnel, and vehicles are obliterated, turning the whole area into no man's land. The transport ships begin to deploy smaller landing boats, which crash into the shore. The 1st Division begins to deploy, and race out of them towards the ruined base.

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"Gender Reveal?!"

December 3, 542 - 06:20:13

Royal MoD Mallory

Portsford Palace Defense Wing

Portsford, Balingian Empire

Newly appointed Royal Minister of Defense Mallory (bro's name is foreshadowing frfr) is sitting at his desk in the Defense Wing of the Portsford Palace. The desk is positioned at the center of the room, with the top forming a kind of letter n, encompassing his sides and front. 

He was sitting in a newly made swiveling chair, spinning around in it, where externally he seemed to be testing its limits though internally he was rotating it like a child upon receiving a new toy. A helper came in, placing and fixing a machine they referred to as a 'telephone'.

The helper wordlessly placed an instruction manual, as the helper was clearly a very busy person. A few gentle knocks from the door entered the Minister's ears, resulting in him speaking. "Come in." The doors open, with two well-dressed Balingian men walking in to deliver their reports. "Sir, we are here to report intelligence gathered." Mallory nodded.

A Balingian walked forward, saluting the Minister as he did so, before he began speaking. "Our spies have...um." He paused. "To be completely honest with you Minister, our direct spies have almost constantly been met with failure when trying to infiltrate the so-called New World Union's bases on Condetena. 

Furthermore, those that entered, likely by our enemy laughing at us ended up being shot by several canine-like contraptions with guns mounted at the tops of their backs firing blue bullets at our spies anyway." Mallory's face showed pure disappointment for less than half a second, before he spoke. "Were these attempts occurring now or-" "Before the war started, sir." Fear enveloped Mallory's eyes for what felt like a planck length, before he turned to the other man. "And you..., Randel?" 

"My branch of 'indirect' spies have made a grand discovery, as there is in the New World Union a sort of information 'web', containing unbelievable amounts of information. Millions upon millions upon millions of information, and possibly more. They described it as like a massive library, accessible from the mere thought of it by any ordinary person." 

Mallory's face grew pale with fear, and noticing this, the man known as Randel paused. To him, if they had this kind of technology available for ordinary people, then what would their military have? "Continue, p-please." A very slight sliver of shakiness, of fear, was present in his voice, though it was quickly nullified as Mallory calmed and recomposed himself. 

"My spies have found plenty of useful open-source military information, and sir, to be frank, it scares me." Mallory was also partially frightened by this, but maintained composure. "So, extracted from multiple sources, their army has about... 19 x 10 to the 87th power of troops. And this number is growing. In other words sir, they have 19 octovigintillion men."