“The situation regarding the revolutionary struggle is turning grave. Reactionary forces are now attempting increasingly desperate tactics that threaten the liberation attempts made by the Coalition of Free Nations. As such, the new Republic is now calling on all able-bodied citizens of Poznek. Nearly all men are now recorded to be either mobilized on the homefront or on the frontlines. Women aged eighteen to sixty-five are now required to report either to the War Recruitment Office to be mobilized into special auxiliary detachments for the defense of the homeland or to newly formed labor training units. Further strict rations are to be enforced. Deserters, looters, criminals, and other vagabonds disrupting the war effort will now be shot without trial by the State Police and any member of the Pozneki Army. There will be no effort that the Republic will fail to take for the defense of the revolution.”

  - Zbaweini Radio

  +++

  West Orland

  Duchy of Rimwurz

  Site-07A

  December 31, 2025

  “Tea, perhaps?” Nia asked.

  Amelie respectfully shook her head as she smiled.

  “Thank you, but no, I’m fine with water.”

  “Alright,” Nia said, patting her back. “I hope it all goes well.”

  “I hope so too,” Amelie said. Soon, Nia left the meeting room. It was just her alone now, waiting…and waiting. Screens were already lit up inside. Laptops and tablets were strewn over the table that they used earlier. They were all in recess, which…well, Amelie had no appetite for.

  For some reason, not even her sugar rush during this stressful situation kicked in. Amelie merely felt…empty. She didn’t feel any sense of confidence that she had previously when they drafted these plans. She felt as if at any moment, the entire plan would fall apart at the first seams.

  She was afraid. Extremely afraid.

  What if it happens again?

  She looked down at her hand.

  What if I have to pull the trigger this time?

  She closed her hand as her lips formed a thin line. She also closed her eyes. And all she could do was take a deep breath. She planned for this big day. She worked for it. She poured her soul into this. To save two nations that weren’t hers. Yet…all her efforts felt quite inadequate.

  “Hey,” she felt someone massage her back. “Are you doing alright over there?”

  Amelie tried to smile a bit.

  “I didn’t notice you opened the door, William.”

  “Well, I pride myself on being a sneaky bastard,” William grinned. “Hey, you really shouldn’t look that down now. It hasn’t even started yet.”

  “People are about to die because of my orders…”

  “We’ve been on this same tired road all the time, Amelie.”

  “It doesn’t change my view on things. You can tell me all those things that you want to tell to my ears. It doesn’t change that whenever I open my hands, all I see is red.”

  He removed his hands from her shoulders. With a sigh, he went for the seat right beside her.

  “You’re too much of a bleeding heart,” William tiredly said.

  “I’m not,” Amelie quickly denied.

  “The people about to die in the next weeks would die regardless of your orders. The goal is the hasty end of this war. That’s the important job you’re doing.”

  Amelie pulled one of the folders near her. She mindlessly began to flip through the pages of documents that were placed inside of it.

  “Whatever you say, William,” Amelie said. “Whatever you say.”

  “It’s so hard to keep your spirits up high,” William replied, chuckling a bit. “Very tricky.”

  “I appreciate the attempts regardless.”

  “Well, in any case, the troops on the ground are ready now. We’ve got most of our squadrons ready. The MLRS platforms and other ballistic missile launchers are already being pre-positioned. We’re…fine and dandy.”

  “And the navy?”

  “They’re doing their own thing. To be honest, I doubt the North Hebeian navy would be audacious enough to commit to full resistance. I bet that within two days, the three squadrons of Tiger-Class Frigates we sent recently will be in the range of Ginzhu for their naval guns!”

  “Awfully optimistic, and you’re betting on people’s lives,” Amelie said. She shook her head a bit. “It’s just so…you…”

  “So…me?”

  “Mhm. William the tactless jerk.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Ah, we’re going with name-calling now huh? And here I thought I made a good friend from the Royal Family. I guess this is life.”

  Amelie shook her head as she laughed a bit.

  “...You make things feel awfully normal even when they’re not,” Amelie pointed out. “Thank you.”

  William on the other hand merely grabbed his bottle of water.

  “Glad you’re satisfied with my services again,” then, he drank it all. Behind them, the doors finally opened. Officers, government officials, staff, and aides, all flooded inside the room.

  Amelie naturally stood up to welcome the rest of the Orlish High Command. Most of them nodded and removed their caps as they walked past her. Then, they went straight for their posts. Then, straight in her direction, were the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

  “Been a long drive here?” Amelie asked.

  “It was fine,” was Walter’s dry answer before he took his seat.

  “Yeah,” was the only thing Jacqueline said as she took the seat left to Amelie. On the other hand, the three leaders of the OHC—General Victor Albrecht, Admiral George Halberd, and Chief Air Marshall Lewis Zimmerman all went straight to the presentation area.

  “Well, they’re going to start at last,” William said. Then, they were all ordered to take their seats. The screens soon began switching to the next topic at hand. After a few moments of deliberations between the three chiefs of staff, the last two left—leaving General Albrecht alone.

  He took a deep breath, before announcing his next plans.

  “Alright, everyone,” he said as he checked his clock. “It’s time. It is, as of now, 22:40 hours, Orlish Eastern Standard Time. That’s…14:00 hours near Ginzhu province, ladies and gentlemen.”

  Amelie rested her back on her chair as she crossed her arms.

  “...In twenty minutes, Phase One of Operation Eastern Jade is set to begin. Godspeed to all of our boys and girls down there.”

  +++

  East Hebeian Sea

  2nd Fleet (Orlish)

  Strike Force Seven

  “This is Rear Admiral Albert Ludendorf speaking to you,” Albert spoke into his microphone. His voice was now broadcast to all vessels under Strike Force Seven. Crewmen, marines, mechanics, airmen—all listened to his words. Today was a massive day. It was going to be New Year soon.

  But Albert knew, and everyone knew—it wouldn’t be a festive one. Still, he needed to raise the spirits of his men.

  “I know you’re all out there, still doubting what we can do. But what I can tell you, is that we will be doing our best. It’s not just us out here, gentlemen. The best of the Mandate of Nations alliance is out here. We will be doing our job steadfastly. No matter what.

  “To the boys onboard the ONS Rolentz—you’re all doing great. The upgrades you have received for your SAM defense systems, I believe, will be of great use today. The entire fleet will appreciate your contributions, I imagine. Please keep the skies clear. And do it well.

  “To those onboard the ONS Seafire, ONS Blackgem, and ONS Rumwall, I know you will fight well. You bastards have always helped keep the enemy’s missiles off my boat, I know that. And I know you bastards are very good at targeting enemy ships. This time around, I’d like to see your best once we conduct land strike missions.

  “And to those onboard the Rebenslof, well…what other words would I have? CVW-3’s fighter wing has been expanded to six squadrons. So all of you out there in the hangars, maintenance, rearming, and other services, no need to cry. I get it, it’ll be a painful few days, especially since you poor sods now have to handle two different multi-role aircraft, but I know you can all do it well. For the rest of you, work hard, and do your part. You will and I know that.”

  He took a deep breath as the rest of the men on the Rebenslof’s bridge had a good chuckle. Then, he grinned.

  “So, what more is there to be said? Let’s fucking go, everyone! Shoot down the planes of those CFN bastards! Shoot down their missiles! And let’s place their raggedy-ass fleet underneath the waves of this rough sea. Because we’ve sunk a lot of fleets already. Back in the Great War. Back in the early days of this war. And today. And tomorrow. Because that’s what Strike Force Seven is. Gentlemen, remember our motto!”

  He turned around and held it up, as the rest of the bridge shouted.

  “We shall carry on the struggle!”

  He turned back and placed his microphone close to his mouth.

  “Gentlemen, we will be starting once High Command gives us their starting order. Synchronize your watches, because that’s fifteen minutes out. Let’s win this one.”

  He placed it back down. Then, he turned to his bridge crew and clapped.

  “Well, there it goes everyone,” he turned to the Rebenslof’s CO—Captain James Vogel himself. “Get this ship and the rest of the fleet to speed up. Let’s catch up on those Rizalians up ahead of us. What’s the status of the Lorathians?”

  “Heh, they’re close behind. Just forty kilometers southwest of us. I have also received reports that the Princess of Wales has now launched two of its LF-20C squadrons in the air. They’re going to be—”

  The bridge crew was distracted by a formation of planes that made a flyby on the far side of the fleet. It seemed that the Lorathians had already sent their planes ahead of time.

  “Well…there they are,” James said as he laughed. “The impatient bastards that they are.”

  Beside him, the overall commander of CVW-3, the Rebenslof’s air wing, Captain Ray Schlatt, spoke up.

  “So, should I send my boys up there now?” Ray asked. Then, he grinned. “VFA-24 is now on the ready back at the Rebenslof’s deck. It should only take a few minutes.”

  “And the rest?” Albert asked.

  “Give me ten or twenty more minutes. They’re already finishing their final preparations. VFA-24 and VFA-18 will be on their air-to-air configurations. The twenty-four LF-20Cs will be carrying four AMATA-80 Block IV missiles.”

  “Heh, they’re going to be shooting a lot of enemy birds down then.”

  “Indeed. The LF-12s of VFA-13 will be on their air-to-air load-outs as well. VFA-16, VFA-22 on the other hand will go up there on full naval strike loadouts. Both will be carrying ASCMs, four of them each. A bit vulnerable, but as you’ve ordered, we’re going all in with them. Only VFA-20 will be carrying the balanced loadout. Two ASCM each alongside two AMATA-80s and two SAA-10Bs.”

  “That’s good,” Albert nodded. “After all, I believe the three original squadrons of the Rebenslof will be up to the task of clearing the skies. They’ll do it well enough.”

  “Hopefully. The Princess of Wales’ LF-20Cs are also going to be in their air-to-air configuration, so I think we should be able to cover things well.”

  Albert turned back down to his flight deck. Down there, the first LF-20s were already being prepared in their catapults. They seemed to be all ready now.

  “Alright then,” Albert said. “Send them off now. We’ll see. We’ll see.”

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