The Fires of Time

by Inverter

In 2028, the world is in flux. When the air force of Indus sinks a Vedian cruiser, war breaks out and nuclear weapons are launched. Osean CIA agent Avery Danielson must get to the bottom of the conflict before the war engulfs the two nations in flames—or perhaps even the entire continent. Contains strong language and jargon.

1. Prologue

Prologue

Spangdahlem Atomic Facility

Spangdahlem, Belka

February 11, 1996

Commandant Emmerich Biermann surveyed the skeletal remains of his factory floor. The Belkan War was over, and the Allies were closing on his facility. "Soon," he said, turning to a subordinate standing next to him, "our dreams of victory will be smashed."

Biermann stood on the catwalk, looking out over the remains of the machinery that had been assembling V2 rockets. He chuckled impotently. "You know, Klaus, we only made twenty-four of these. Twenty-four. Now they are useless. We cannot defeat these imperialist bastards with only twenty-four missiles."

Klaus had no apparent reaction. Behind him, Commandant Biermann heard the tap of footsteps on the concrete floor. "Emmerich," a voice said, approaching him, "Our time has simply not yet come to pass. The real victory will come with dedication and perseverance. Their work will ensure that true victory."

The voice picked up the intercom mouthpiece and called out at the factory workers below. "This is Colonel Hanke Dreher of the Belkan Army. Commence Operation Black Eagle. Begin packing up the vehicles. They will have a better use for us in the shield."

He patted Emmerich's shoulder reassuringly. "Schenze and I will take care of it, commandant." Looking down at the floor, Emmerich saw the workers scurrying to move all of the key parts out of the vehicles and into crates marked for the scrapyards. Perhaps there was hope after all.

---

Somewhere in the Vedian Strait

On board the VNS Abarimon (Vedian Jīnlóng-class)

January 16, 2028

0016 hours

The Abarimon had been tracking an Indian carrier for at least two days now. Captain Jibril Lin was hardly concerned. The carrier was within striking range of his cruiser, but Captain Lin had utmost confidence in his anti-air and anti-missile crews. These were trained by the Verusan Navy and already had some marginal combat experience. Captain Lin went back below and began patrolling the radar stations, waiting for the first sign of enemy movement. The cargo below decks was of great importance to his handlers in Panyu.

In the primary radar station, a voice called out. "Captain, aircraft inbound, bearing two-niner-zero to one-one-zero!" Lin stood stock still, trying to collect himself while looking properly dignified. Then he got on the intercom, barking orders to the anti-air crews. "Anti-air, prepare for attacks. Bastard fighters bearing one-one-zero are vectoring to our location. Situation compromise, repeat, situation compromise." Lin glanced at the radar screens and saw the blips. Based on the size, they were probably Aurelian-built Rafales. Dangerous at long range and capable of disarming his ship from such range. At this point, he had to pray that the firing pattern of the Rafales was too poor, or that his blip recognition skills were bad. After all, they had to be from the Indus Air Force, unless some foreign naval force was operating here.

Watching the blips approach, however, it became clear that they did not have friendly aspirations for Captain Lin's ship. He got on the radio with Vedian command.

"This is the Abarimon. We are under attack by Indian jets. This is a distress call. We request any assistance available."

That was the last anyone heard of the Abarimon.