Two days after the end of the operation to assualt Irnetian resistance forces in Zov and the planned capture of the Kilculus and surrounding cities and towns, however, it ended in rather disappointing fashion. Still, massive amount of supplies are being loaded onto the frontline units after Gra Valkans' unsuccessful operation against the rebellious elements of the regenade Royal Army of Irnetia. Heavy cannons are also being moved farther inland for fire support, and for nearly two days, constant airstrikes was conducted on Zov and Kilculus regions, killing at least 700 more Irnetian personnels, in addition to the 1,200 who died in the battle two days prior.
Caesar and Raul opted for nonstop airstrikes to avoid another unexpected costly battles and to soften the resistance of Irnetian forces, accumulating at least 900 combat sorties within the two-day mission against the Irnetian positions.
The plans of Raul, with the support of Caesar, are smoothly sailing to end this pitiful resistance of Irnetia, but unfortunately, there's one thing that they never expected. A storm is forming on the northwestern seaboard of Mu and it's heading down south to Irnetia with heavy winds and scattered squalls throughout the western regions, making the visibility poorer than before and making the terrain of Irnetia wet, turning the jungle terrain towards the center of the country more muddy than before.
Thus, due to this unexpected situation, both high-ranking officials of two odd branches of the Gra Valkan Imperial Forces are at their wits' end. Should they proceed to attack while under in the stormy weather? Or delay it a week more? However, it was proven that the storm was too strong and Caesar was forced to pull his fleet out of Irnetia, and Raul ordered the cessation of aircraft activities of GVIAS and the army air wing until the duration of the stormy weather, 2 weeks later.
Muish-Leiforian District Border, June 1, 1640
It's been nearly two months since the 6-month ceasefire between Muish and Gra Valkan Forces went into effect, providing temporary peace along the over three-thousand-kilometer borderline between Gra Valkan-occupied Leifor and Mu.
However, the temporary peace is only an excuse for the intensified arms expansion and rapid fortifications of the borders of both belligerents in their anticipated second round of the battle four months later. The Gra Valkan Imperial Forces managed to allocate as many as 16 divisions and over two thousand aircraft on Leifor for this event to make sure there wouldn't be a third draw in the conflict against Mu. Many in the higher echelon of Gra Valkans didn't want a third time, especially on the Imperial army who got their ass handed to them in the second border conflict with Mu and got blamed by their rival, the Imperial navy due to their apparent sheer incompetence thus they lost, so they prepared and thoroughly equipped and conditioned their forces to push and annihilate the Muish.
Nevertheless, that's not the matter right now. The issue at hand is the mysterious sortie of the Muish Western Fleet's carrier squadron. The Gra Valkas Empire's diplomatic team is inquiring and trying to confirm the Muish side's intentions, making the situation on the border more tense than ever. After all, a single shot from either side could restart the border conflict, and everyone definitely knew that no one was going to give an inch or compromise like in the first and second conflicts without bleeding the other side out over in much longer period of time and potentially escalating into a full-fledged war. Additionally, for safety measures, both sides are allowed to have 20 guards each to escort the envoys and protect them just in case something goes wrong.
The meeting place was located in a deserted village on the border. It was a former Leiforian territory, but the villagers quickly ran towards the Muish to take refuge, sparing them from the possibility of being maltreated by their invaders and new rulers, as is what happened to all of the defeated nations of this world.
The first faction to arrive at the meeting place is the Muish diplomatic team. After the inspection and green signal of both Muish and Gra Valkan inspection groups were relayed following the completion of the safety check on the area, they were escorted by four land cruisers with riveted armor and each armed with the AM-4 Heller heavy machine gun, which is nearly identical to the Madsen machine gun adopted by the Royal Danish Army in 1902, other than it was chambered with the Muish 11x49mm catridge.
Not long after, the Gra Valkan diplomatic team was finally visible on the horizon with five shafer light tanks escorting the diplomatic cars of GVE, increasing the tension and alertness of their Muish counterparts. However, once they finished unloading the diplomats, the escort vehicles of both sides, including the joint inspection team, withdrew from the area. Leaving the diplomats and their escort to negotiate and clarify their positions.
The Gra Valkan side takes the initiative to begin greetings as the head diplomat, Felix Wagner, towards the Muish diplomat, Elden Easton.
"How do you do? I am Felix Wagner, a diplomat of the Gra Valkan Foreign Affairs Eastern Division, Leifor Branch." Then, Felix extended his hand for a handshake with Elden, which surprised him for a moment due to the unexpected politeness of the Gra Valkan diplomat, because all of the meetings of negotiators in the first and second border conflicts of Mu and GVE were rather thorny. However, he quickly got himself together to reach for his hand and replied, "Very well, thank you. I am Elden Easton, diplomat of the Muish foreign affairs office. Please have a seat. "
Then they settled on their predestinated seats to finally begin the talks.
"Sir Elden, pardon me, could I inquire about the intention of Mu?" Felix, without doing some dilly dallying on these talks, immediately asks for the statement of the Muish side about the fleet sortied by Mu in the west. which was responded by the muish diplomat softly. "Yes, you can, Sir Felix."
"Then I'll gladly take the opportunity without reservation to ask what was the intention of Mu in deploying a carrier force in the West?."
As if anticipating this kind of discussion, Elden looked at him in the eyes. He had already been briefed about the ongoing events and possible questions by Gra Valkan diplomats like this and how to answer them. He had also been imparted knowledge about some sensitive and classified information about the Gra Valkan Empire, which greatly increased his anxiety about dealing with this country.
"If you're referring to the western fleet's 6th and 7th carrier squadrons whom are underway on their routine training operations in the west and the familiarization of the next generation aircraft carriers of our Royal Navy, there's nothing to be alarmed about, Sir Felix."
"If that's the case, Sir Elden, are you swearing right in front of us that Mu is doing those training exercise routines, and thus would be understandable and nothing to be alarmed about?"
"Yes."
"Then, why did the people of the border cities and towns of Arou, Mikel, Tolka, and various small towns and villages on the border begun to evacuate? in all places and times? Why are they evacuated? May I ask about that timing? I'm not denying your words, however, it's a little bit suspicious as if Mu is bracing itself on a certain and possible repercussions in the future... Right?. "
Both the escorts of GVE and the Muish diplomatic factions began to tighten their minds. The submachine gun-equipped infantry of the Gra Valkan diplomatic team had the edge here. However, that was negated by the distance of less than 20 meters. The carbine equipped Muish infantry could retaliate and inflict staggering casualties in a relatively point blank range like this. If Elden hadn't handled this question well, these talks would likely turn into a disaster.
"I'd like to keep this from turning into a bloodbath, are you on the same page, Sir Felix?"
"I definitely concur." The Gra Valkan diplomat nodded in the words of Elden.
"This is all because of the war in Irnetia and our short six-month ceasefire that will end four months from now... It was a mock evacuation to prepare for worse, because your country refused to accept our armistice and amity. Will those answers suffice, Sir Felix?"
The Muish side is openly pointing out their reasons for doing something suspicious to the Gra Valkans, who refused to accept peace, as they would rather choose a temporary ceasefire and use it as an excuse later for another war to fight with Mu, after the Imperial family and the Emperor's vassals refused to settle with the armistice terms that the Muish side offered.
"That's an understandable answer...But it doesn't change the fact that your fleet and forces here on the border won't attack our Imperial forces nor guarantee that Mu will uphold the ceasefire agreement. I could brew some compromise here. However, please hear me out. At the very least, I would like to suggest your naval forces remain in your ports until our complete conquest of Irnetia, including that training fleet of yours. Please recall them. "
'Remain on ports', 'Complete their conquest', and 'Recall the fleet', those words echoed on the Muish side, which was impossible and non-negotiable for them. Even if it's a gesture of goodwill from Felix, it's humiliating for Mu to follow their demands. Not only that, their pride won't permit it. They'd rather start a war than agree on these terms, or at least what the Muish diplomatic side thought so.
"Sir Elden?."
"I'm afraid, Sir Felix, that there's nothing for us to negotiate."
Felix's face cracks into a somewhat irritated expression, and then he gazes at his aide as if confirming something for a sec before turning his attention back to Elden.
"An attack on our forces on the second civilization or any sort of intervention in Irnetia, mark my words and convey it to the Government of Mu. Sir Elden, The Gra Valkas Empire, my beloved fatherland, will respond with swift and decisive action and MU WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES FAR GREATER THAN ANYTHING IT HAS FACED IN IT'S HISTORY. Please consider. "
Elden was silent for a second. The Muish escorts remained calm and composed outside but raging inside. Do they think their country is undefeated and omnipotent? Or so the Muish escorts thought.
"Is it? My sincerest apologies then. I am here to answer your questions, or give clarification, and not to accept your demands, Sir Felix. Are you getting... a little worked up for an empire with over a thousand warships? Perhaps the great empire is little bit scared of our training fleet of less than 20 ships? "
The Gra Valkan side turned a little stiff. How did they know? Is this person spouts bluff with random crap on it? They can't figure it out. The Muish probably already had some information on the POWs from the conflict they fought in, but no Gra Valkan soldiers have ever been apprehended by Muish in their statements nor returned to them, thus it's likely they've been remained hidden by Mu, definitely violating the treaties they signed and could be used as an excuse to nullify the ceasefire agreement here. However, one of the aides of Felix, who couldn't contain himself, bursts out in anger because of the apparent opportunistic and presumed lies perpetrated by Mu.
"Bastard! So do you have our people? Muish, you opportunistic jerks! Handover them immediately! "
"Stop it! Calm down! " But he was immediately put under the control of the Gra Valkan escort to prevent any escalation here. The tension, however, is already at an all-time high, the supposedly simple inquiry and warning to each other could quickly escalate into a war, due to the information leakage by Elden.
"Alright, is there a chance that one of our servicemen is in Muish custody? If it is, we would like the Muish government to handover our servicemen immediately. "
They concluded that Mu must have hid the fact that they captured some of the Gra Valkan soldiers and possibly tortured them for information. However, Elden handled it calmly.
"Please be assured, there's no Gra Valkan prisoner on our side. If there's indeed one, we should definitely hand it over during the negotiation period in our second border conflict post-battle assessment. "
"Then Sir Elden, how could you possibly give those numbers?"
Felix tried to pressure Elden, but the Muish side tipped the table after Elden pulled his bag forward and threw several photos of military bases, factories, ports, cities, and familiar terrain for Gra Valkans and vehicles.
"What in the world? It's Ragna?! The cityscape is definitely Ra.....! "
"This is our largest naval base?! Heisenberg! How?! "
"These are our facilities and vehicles..."
All of these where satellite reconnaissance photographs by ASEAN, but actually there's no sense in giving very confidential information like this to Mu in the first place. However, a few months ago, after the first border clashes between Mu and the Gra Valkas Empire, some of the higher ups of Muish armed forces and government wanted a swift counterstrike to drive off the Gra Valkans out of second civilization immediately, but they didn't know that if they did, they'd likely step on the tail of a dragon.
The ASEAN, on the other hand, is alarmed by the impending Muish attack on Leifor and the possible escalation into a full-scale war. They set out to prevent the disaster that might fall on Mu due to ignorance. And thus, Southeast Asian nations decided to give these photographs as evidence. With reason, if they ever poked into Leifor, it might cause the ruin of Mu simply because the disparity in strength is clearly evident.
Taking the momentum, Elden began to speak to the perplexed Gra Valkan diplomats. Some of them may have missed his voice due to their focus on the recon photos provided by ASEAN, so he turned up the volume to reach them and bring them back to reality.
"There are 3 or 4 countries in this world that could rival, perhaps surpass, the Gra Valkas Empire, whether technologically or militarily, and my country, Mu, is already prepared to take various measures against your nation's aggressive and uncivilized actions, despite the fact that you possess impressive industrial and military prowess... Our nation will not back down and will respond both diplomatically and by force, and we are steadily closing that gap. No, that's incorrect. We are only a step behind your nation, whether in the air, land, or sea. As you mentioned before, I'll return to your words earlier, Sir Felix. These are the official words of our country, Mu. 'A war involving my country would be a total nightmare for Gra Valkan Military', and that's not a bluff. "
Because of the threatening and demanding voice of Elden, everyone on the Gra Valkan side darted their eyes towards him. Even the guards began to increase their wariness of the possibility that some of the Gra Valkan diplomats would go assualt Elden due to his provocative remarks.
"Is that a threat, Sir Elden? Is the will of Mu, wanting to provoke us into a war?" Felix frowned momentarily and began to sharply look at Elden's face.
"No, my country, Mu, is actually allergic to wars, and I'm just merely stating the fact that there are many things in this world that are too fantastically impossible to imagine that you don't want to poke or make enemies with. For example, a certain sleeping giant in the east... " Elden smiled as he peered at a document regarding that country.
"Are you perhaps referring to the Milishial Empire?" The Gra Valkans, meanwhile, are skeptical and suspicious about the movements of the Muish side.
"Well? might be...Who knows? "
Elden teased the tense Felix, who, swirling in thoughts, is it possible that the prisoner of war, captured by Muish, could have such high-end recon photos like these? But it's impossible for some regular grunts and field officers to carry these vital details on the frontlines, and it's definitely unacceptable to lose them to the enemies. However, If that's not the case, then someone has betrayed them to the point where they're providing information on Mu.
Felix is having an internal conflict about what really happened. If his first two assumptions are wrong, then someone discovered their mainland and took these photos, which is impossible because of the tight security due to the existence of several dozen to hundreds of land base and ship base radar systems that are interconnected to each other and organized under the Mainland Imperial Defense Corp with the task of detecting, identifying, and intercepting unknown aircraft that are intruding into the Gra Valkan airspace. If some foreign aircraft managed to carry out recon and take photos like these, then they must be formidable opponents that needed the most attention, capable of penetrating their defensive lines without being detected. Because of that, he couldn't help but frown at Elden's teasing.
"That's quite a bullish attitude you have, Sir Elden. Does your country have the capacity and capability to take the brunt of our millions of soldiers, thousands of warships, and over a hundred thousand vehicles, tanks, aircraft, and cannons? I don't know where the government of Mu took their confidence that they grandly and openly state that they could pose any threat to the Empire's military. It's likely just a mere bluff. Let me give you some words. Does Mu have the ability to build battleships of over 60,000 tons? Bombers that flew at an altitude that regular fighters can't reach? Is it possible to pump several thousand war machines per month and produce dozens of warships per week? How does that sound? Is that what you called "near peer to Mu"? If they use the reason of our supposed draw in the conflict we fought, that would be delusional. Sorry to misunderstand, we have several reasons why we conceded on the first and second border conflicts, and that's not because we are on the same level as you. We are a hundred fold better and way stronger than you can ever imagine."
The conversation began to heat up and get dangerous after Elden and Felix exchanged of statements.
"If you're talking militarily, yes, we could. Shooting down high altitude bombers, sinking superbattleships, destroying tanks, hunting down submarines, and many more, that's what we've been preparing and waiting since your country destroyed the balance and peace in the second civilization."
Coupled with bluff and truth, Elden stated as true that they do have some rudimentary way to shoot down Fugaku copycats with modified cruiser guns to become high angle guns of 172 and 150 mm in caliber, capable of throwing shells with time-fused warheads to 30 to 40,000 feet above the world, with some technical assistance from ASEAN, the focus was primarily on creating a time-fuse and heavily redesigned ammunition with increased propellant for an improved effectiveness both in range, power and deadliness. However, they don't have the numbers to fully blanket the entire airspace of Mu from Gra Valkan high altitude bombers. For 3 months of conversion, their numbers are only slightly less than 100, the ammunition is yet to be ready en masse, it's only enough for several days of barrage. Also, their anti-submarine weapons are only limited to depth charges, and their anti-battleship tactics are currently expected to be solely reliant on overwhelming air attacks of bombs or yet to be in service torpedo boats. Nevertheless, Elden didn't yield to the flex of Gra Valkan's prowess and what might happen to him as stated by Felix.
"Ho? Since 8 months ago? Did you think you'd cover the 30 year difference in technology. Including war effort, experience and materials being stacked for years of constant war back on our former world, Yggdra, within just a mere 8 months? You're comparing yourself against our decades old of technological advancement and innovation. You gotta be mocking my Empire's scientific and technological feats." Felix, who had already begun to reach its limits due to Elden's rather provocative and careless or perhaps intentional remarks, possibly ordered by his higher-ups in the Muish government. He slowly stands and said. "Your statement just now could have made the Muish cities ravaged to the ground. Your military will find themselves completely outmatched by our Imperial forces. A full-scale war with us will result in Mu getting erased from existence. "
With a short pause, Elden replied. "You'll bomb our cities?"
"Not just bombing, Muish cities will be decimated to the ground, whether by air, land, or sea."
"In that statement alone, I could infer and finally relay in my country that we're allowed to indiscriminately bomb Gra Valkan cities within our reach, and ravage them to the ground then."
...?!
The Gra Valkan side opened their eyes wide as they were alarmed by Elden's comment just right now. As if reading their minds, Elden continued.
"Isn't that obvious? If official war erupted between our nations... if you could bomb our cities, then aren't we allowed to do the same?."
"Ha!?."
"Don't think the Gra Valkas Empire is the only nation in this world to have a bomber fleet capable of transcontinental flight. My country too, researched and developed transcontinental bombers a decade ago, specifically to be used as a deterrence against the Milishial and to attack them from the continent of Mu in the event of war, and to be honest, your mainland is a little bit too close, making your country's populous cities and important looking industrial complexes within the range of our bomber fleet, and a hypothetical war between us will likely force the government and military of Mu to consider your country's settlements on the east coast of the Empire as legitimate military targets once you attack our cities, towns, and villages with those bombers as you stated a while ago. Also, based on your reaction, the Gra Valkas Empire... looks like it has yet to taste the treatment of a Doolittle-esque raid. The war in your world was probably fought outside your nation or too far away from your mainland. "
"....." The Gra Valkan side was silent. They don't know what is Muish is blabbing about raid of something, however, their country was discovered and Mu had intelligence on the Empire's facilities, both civilian and military. They probably knew more. Also, they can't ignore the fact that Mu might have the ability to attack their mainland. Basically, both are taking each other's citizens as hostages.
The Muish created a four-engined bomber called La Intruder, that resembled the Handley Page Halifax Bombers, but with a slightly different tail structure than their earth counterparts. They were developed during a period of strained relations between Mu and the Holy Milishial Empire 15 years ago, commissioned five years later, and produced in large numbers, 400 in total. However, within a decade, the relationship between the two countries improved, and thus large budget cuts were approved once again since the civil war, making nearly 2/3 of them put into reserve and the rest were secretly stationed in a certain base near the Otagheight for its defense and only flew at night to avoid anyone knowing about this superweapon of Mu. Even Milishial is completely clueless about this aircraft, with a speed of 350kph, combat range of 4,500 kilometers away (full load) and a ferry range of over 9,000km, max load of 4.5 tons of bombs and 7 machine guns for self defense, this is the pinnacle of Muish aeronautical technology 10 years ago, however, it unfortunately stagnated since then due to the peace time. Also, the bomber structure serves as the outline for non-combat aircraft such as the two-engine transport aircraft, a severely degraded version of the La Intruder, the La Chaos, but it retains its range of over 8,000 kilometers of ferry range.
Furthermore, they don't know whether the Muish long range bombers were true or not, nor do they know how advanced they are if there's one indeed. It may have the transcontinental flight capability but with a reduced payload, or it might be comparable to some Gra Valkan models that might prove as troublesome for the empire, because Mu could actually hold a candle with them in aerial combat because despite their twisted technological advancement that is only 10 or 15 years behind in aeronautical technology.
Elden, looking at the silence, finally stops his provocative remarks as an order from his superiors, which seems unlikely a month ago, when his superiors strictly ordered them not to provoke the Gra Valkans. He is confused by his nation's order right now and why they have undisclosed some important information about them. He might understand it if it's used as a measure to save face, but still he is a bit troubled. He is thinking of ending these talks so they do not escalate any further. "So now I could finally interpret our flow of conversation right now that our meeting has already come to an end. Because this is no longer what we intended to discuss, we went astray. It's an entirely different matter from questioning, minor agreements or compromises, and clarification to the concurrent threatening actions against each other. Can we now call it a day? Sir Felix"
Looking at the situation and atmosphere, all sides knew that the talks had already broken down and there was no point pursuing things that were deemed pointless in this situation.
"Understandable, our diplomatic channel in the Leiforian branch is always open for civilized talks with Mu... Sir Elden."
"Yes, we will consider to actively reaching your Leiforian branch once your country decided to withdraw your forces from the border and accepts our armistice, not just some short ceasefire like last time, Sir Felix."
The talks of Gra Valkas Empire and Mu broke down.
Northeastern sea of Irnetia, June 3, 1640
Under the cover of localized heavy thunderstorms and squalls, the Muish Western Fleet's newly activated 6th Independent Flotilla, officially called the La Monte Carrier-Cruiser Group, sailed and sliced through the turbulent waves of the Irnetian sea. This fleet consisted of a single La Vania class carrier, La Monte; a La Costa class carrier, La Nevida; a single armoured cruiser; four high-speed scout cruisers; and two support ships.
It's a unique flotilla, or rather unusual in the eyes of ordinary people or veteran Muish sailors, considering the Muish Royal Navy doctrine was majorly centered on battleships and cruisers rather than this carrier-cruiser fleet. One of the main reasons is the influence and impact of ASEAN and, to a lesser extent, the Gra Valkas Empire on the reorganizations and a shift in perception regarding how warfare should be fought right now. Because of that, they patterned this fleet after the limited merchant aircraft carrier (MAC) tactics of ASEAN, carrying onboard air complement such as drones and helicopters as the primary offensive weapons in the ongoing blockade mission against Parpaldia. This is contrary to the traditional doctrine that the guns of the capital ships, like cruisers and battleships, will resolve the problems.
Currently, the ASEAN employs eight MAC Task force, consisting of 15 converted cargo vessels with helipads or 70 to 90 meter long flight decks for general use with a complement of typically 3 or 4 army helicopters and dozens of drones of varying sizes or purposes. However, most of the drones used by the MAC Flotilla of ASEAN right now are mostly sourced from the civilian market with field customizations like turning some of the quadrotors into suicide drones strapped with grenades or plastic explosives against Parpaldian shipping, claiming 7 Parpaldian sailing ships sunk and a dozen damaged more so far, and knowledge from books that they managed to get their hands on and learn the untapped potential and deadliness of "aircraft carriers".
The problem, however, is the lack of Muish aircraft with a decent payload sufficient to carry powerful bombs to sink enemy ships. Despite having aircraft carriers for 15 years, the Muish Royal Navy lacks the proper technologies, experience, and know-how for effective carrier operations against modern nations such as the Gra Valkas Empire or Holy Milishial Empire.
"Commodore Jack, Western Fleet GHQ, relayed that the hurricane will hit the Irnetia mainland within 24 hours."
"So we will begin the operation in the middle of the raging storm? This is really suicidal."
The upper echelon of Mu planned to send more supplies to Irnetia with this risky move, under the watchful eyes of the blockade fleet headed by Admiral Rondel. However, one of the weather sensing/research microsatellites of ASEAN who are tasked with collecting the weather patterns of this world spotted a hurricane being formed in the northwestern region of Mu and relayed it to the Muish authorities as goodwill and because of that, Mu used this opportunity to supply the Irnetian resistance one more time after hearing their victory and apparent staggering casualties they inflicted on Gra Valkan side.
The current weather phenomenon, according to Muish accounts and data, storms like this, originally, used to form west of the equator and travel eastward across the Mu continent. While it's rare to form storms from the northwest above the equator, it's not unusual for Mu, who accounted 41 cases in the past 27 years. Also, because of the transference of Gra Valkas Empire in the area, which was the former focal point of storms being formed, displaced and greatly reduced the natural disasters that will happen in Mu, Irnetia, and Leifor in the future.
"Yes, and reminding us to use the squalls as cover from the Gra Valkas Empire's air surveillance units, and apparently, their so-called radars are still in their infancy with crude and very degraded abilities compared to ASEAN's state-of-the-art radars, so we should be undetectable until visual contact or effective radar range to fully identify us as a fleet, around 40 to 70 kilometers away."
"Good, how about our distance from Irnetia?."
"Commodore, we are about 270 nautical miles away, north. Once we are around 100 Nautical miles away, we will begin our support operation to Irnetia."
The mission of this fleet is to deliver support materials to Irnetian resistance in a single sortie. It will be initiated and completed by 48 aircraft, including 30 Marin biplanes, 8 Supermarin monoplanes, and 10 Firefly naval attack aircraft. The mission entails dropping supplies on northern Irnetia to alleviate the frontline burden and allow them to last longer. Originally, there was no plan to ressupply the resistance other than the supplies that had been handed over since the withdrawal of the muish presence in this region and the prediction that the Irnetian resistance would be crushed within a week. However, the Irnetian flipped the table as they caused substantial casualties in the Gra Valkan assualt. However, despite temporarily driving the Gra Valkan away from the center of the country, that attack alone shaved off over a thousand men and resulted to several hundred wounded, with two thirds of the supplies given by Mu nearly exhausted or lost in combat.
Thus, Mu finally intervened, dispatching two carrier squadrons to materially support the resistance; one fleet will intentionally expose itself to the Attenborough Fleet led by Admiral Rondel to inform them that Mu's naval presence is near the Gra Valkas Empire's blockade runner, while the other fleet will attempt to secretly send supplies to the Irnetia in a single sortie.
Four hours later, the fleet finally reached a suitable range to send off their supply force. The 48 aircraft of Muish Western Fleet's 4th air wing flew 40 meters above the raging sea and stormy sky. The 30 Marin biplanes are carrying 3 or 4 bundles of 15 bolt action rifles with 50 ammunition clips each, with carefully sealed illegal fishing dynamites that have been previously confiscated by Muish authorities, who decided to send these explosives to the Irnetian frontline, and other several varying loads. The Firefly carries two machine guns each, which are spare guns for Marin, a loadful of various spare parts and manuals on how to use or repair, machine gun ammunition, explosives, rations, medical supplies, and anything that could be fit into the 1,400 pound carrying capacity of the Firefly.
The flight was tense as the eight navalized Supermarin Mk. 4, with a top speed of 535 kph, which is only comparable to the old Antares and immediately considered obsolete after its first debut in the second border conflict of GVE and Mu because it was barely managing the equilibrium for air dominance due to inferiority against the much faster and heavily armed Antares II. Due to that and fear that they might encounter those Antares II, the flight wasn't relaxed and the escort was sharpening their danger sense up to the limit as they were task to defend the support force.
Fortunately, as they were little aware of, Caesar, upon learning about the untasteful weather coming in the direction of Irnetia, immediately pulled his fleet out, and Raul grounded the imperial army and GVIAS aircraft in preparation for the storm to minimize the damage it might cause to the aircraft. Thus, with the exception of AA regiments and scouting units in the occupied cities and towns of Irnetia, there's nothing to intervene nor intercept on this mission, neither the Attenborough fleet, as Rondel's fleet was forced to stay far from Irnetia due to the storm and, at the same time, forced to be in a state of staring competition with the Muish fleet that was sailing a hundred kilometers away from his position.
Due to luck being on the side of Muish, at least 1,700 bolt action rifles and 16 heavy machine guns and many essential supplies reached Irnetia safely as the resistance fighters seized the essential supplies to kill Gra Valkan soldiers as many as they could before surrendering, being annihilated, or capitulating. Furthermore, this is Mu's first time delivering supplies on the frontline by using aircraft, which will later be refined and integrated into their ranks with specialized aircrafts after learning the useful application of supply aircrafts to quickly resupply units behind enemy lines by airdropping.
???
A large, classic European city which is home to over 1.3 million people, and, aesthetically speaking, quite neat for anyone who could visit it. It is surrounded by lush, fertile land and a beautiful sea and is hailed as the economic powerhouse of the continent, befittingly called the capital of a superpower.
The tranquil scene is pleasing, bustling with life as hundreds of thousands of citizens of this city enjoy and drown themselves in the wealth accumulated and squeezed from their colonies, until one day, their guardian and pride of the country, the wyvern lords, suddenly explode into flesh, guts, and debris, silencing everyone in this horrifying spectacle. The culprits are none other than a country in the south whom they deem as barbarians, outright provocative to enrage them and begin a war. They also captured several of their people and used them as slaves or toys to be killed. Then the inevitable war is initiated, the people of the city know that their military will go in to trampling their enemies as if they were going to a picnic just to be annihilated, and the barbarian country retaliated. They destroyed their fleet that was protecting the city, followed by a series of campaigns of annihilation until a month later, they finally decided to invade and conquer their city within a day.
They ran away due to the fear of what the barbarians would do. Thus, they deserted the city with the help of Milishial by using some of the unknown tunnels to their advantage. Once they successfully get out, they disguise themselves as merchants in a caravan of other nations under the Milishial banner.
They succeeded in reaching the former capital of the country, and all they could do there was helplessly listen to the staggering casualties being inflicted by the barbarians on their military. Their navy was like a cornered rat in their ports and likely at the mercy of the enemy navy, and their wyvern force was forced to be grounded as they knew they would be slaughtered in no time if they let them fight against them, wasting them and the precious wyvern riders against their unstoppable foes.
--__--
A woman in her early thirties is biting her nails, inside a private quarter with her loyal subordinates who are relaying important information to her.
"So His Grace intended to throw me away as a bargaining chip towards the barbarians for a peace treaty.... With all the things I contribute to his well-being and to the Empire, he'll just throw me something like an insignificant tool once used?." Caressing her head as if to lower the stress she accumulated on the words and information she digested.
"What will you do? Lady Remille?." The subordinate asked her who are confused and angry at the same time.
"We will not yield, and I won't let myself be used as a bargaining chip for the war he started and authorized. He will definitely suffer due to this betrayal, and I will guarantee that." Remille, with a hint of anger, immediately planned to prevent her destiny of being captured by the ASEAN. "Go contact my connections in Rheem kingdom. I guarantee to handover Kooze, Nari, and ten other colonies to them as long as they accept my asylum. The ASEAN shouldn't have the authority nor justification to declare war on them even if we secede those territories to the kingdom. Unless they declare war on Rheem which illogical and unfeasible, then after, we'll begin to maneuver behind on that side to sell some favor to the ASEAN and remove my head from their list by making me an innocent official who is doing her duty by the order of the Emperor."
"Yes, My lady!."
Remille, who doesn't want to get captured and possibly killed by the ASEAN, moves to save herself and take revenge on the Emperor.
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Note*
I hate politikz and diplomatikz thingy.
I did a huge U-turn here. The Irnetian resistance should be destroyed here, killing some characters like the Dragon of Irnetia and the rider Leica. But I changed it and made the Irnetia a little vietnam, just cornered and with little to no support from its neighboring country, and my plan to get the Muish fleet here was getting midway'd by the Gra Valkas Empire, but I removed it also in my third rewrite.