is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience
- Julius Caesar Quotes ...
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Reuental's command ship Tristan, Shann-tau xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"They aren't attacking, not in force, this is the fifth time this week that they send raiding parties to harry our supply lines and attack our scouts and vanguards on us and then withdraw." Reuenthal reported as the League fleet was holding it's position on the edge of the system as it withdrew without a fight while shooting at the vanguard units of Reuental's fleet
"The same is happening in my sector as well, tactically we are winning battles but they are small scale and this stretches our forces and supply lines and from their raids they end up forcing us to retreat. "Admiral Fahrenheit said from his fleet in another system.
"The raids are happening all over including my sector, when I gave chase, the enemy regrouped and continued to withdraw until they reached a favorable terrain and when I withdrew, they shadowed but refused to engage even when I intentionally put myself in a vulnerable position." Mecklinger said from his sector.
"You think that's bad, well have I got news for you then. I've been chasing the damned Staden fleet all week and the enemy has twice my number but they keep running away! I chased them from Odin to Geiersburg itself and they still refused to fight! Shouldn't have bothered, all it did was cost me supplies and ships chasing the yellow bellies." Bittenfeld reported.
"Similar activities have been on the frontier. Our fleet and the enemy has been having a cat and mouse game up and down the disputed areas, but our data shows that the enemy has shorted supply lines and has lost fewer vanguard units. This seems to be their new strategy." Kircheis reported from the Merkatz fleet on the frontier.
"This is quite the contrast from the previous gun-ho nobles. Oberstein what do you have to report that might explain this situation. The enemy has apparently adopted a Fabian strategy against us." Reinhard asked.
"Yes sir. My spies have reported that currently High Admiral Ovlessler, commander of the Grenadier infantry corps, has been given command of the Lippstadt forces. In conjuncture with the hit and run strategy we have been receiving reports that enemy forces have been performing practice maneuvers near their fortresses. It appears Admiral Ovlessler recognizes the disparity of quality between our forces and is taking means to avoid direct combat and train up the fleet. From the reports from the field commanders, he has organized a defensive line from Garmisch fortress at the frontier to several smaller ones that end at Geiersburg. They keep shadowing our fleets and only stopping in areas where it would be ill advised for us to fight them and they focus on small raiding parties and blocking our vanguard units. So far the losses in men and material are small, but they are constant and most important of all they are greater then what the League has lost." Oberstein reported.
"Ovlessler is a barbarian but he is no fool, in fact he is a very capable soldier. This is the kind of strategy that I would adopt in their stead and the more time passes the worse our situation gets, the League still has more resources than us, in a war of attrition they can outspend us." Mittermeier suggested.
"What you say is true but this kind of strategy will take months to work, months that I do not think the nobles have enough patients for, but as you say time is not our ally. We must force them to come out of their rat holes for us to hunt. A month has passed since this Fabian strategy has been implemented and it's hurting us, but more than that a month has passed since the death of the Alliance heads of state and fleet. We must win before the Alliance recovers. I want every fleet ready and stocked up and a message to be sent to our Agent Admiral Lynch to trigger the coup now so that the Alliance stops strengthening itself." Reinhard ordered.
"If I am correct you wish for us to bypass the defensive line, occupy territory in their rear in order to bate them to attack us." Merkatz said over the comms.
"Do you disapprove of the plan?" Reinhard asked.
"No, it is the right response to this. What will be our deployments?" Merkatz asked.
"That…will be something that the field commander of the fleet to decide." Reinhard said surprising all those present by giving Merkatz free authority to decide their upcoming campaign, it was a sign of trust and acceptance towards Merkatz, one that Reinhard put off until a moment like this so as to not seem like he was giving power to the old admiral as a bribe, that and he only now accepted Merkatz as one of this own, even if he was keeping his friend Kircheis away.
"Understood. Here is my proposed formation." Merkatz said and showed it to….well I suppose his master now
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Geiersburg fortress command room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ovlessler how can you once more say that we shall do nothing towards the blonde brat's fleet! It's bad enough that you keep having us run away but now they have come to Geiersburg and we will just sit on our asses in the fortress?" Braunschweig said in outrage as the other high noble fleet commanders all shouted their approval behind him as they glared at Ovlessler who was behind the commander's desk.
"Yes, that's exactly what we are going to do and by sitting on our asses we will beat that blond brat, isn't that why you gave me command?" Ovlessler growled back and several hundred nobles all hesitated as their courage left under the lion like voice of the Grenadier commander.
"We gave you command to fight, not to do nothing like an honourless wretch! We should mobilize and attack the brat and the traitor Merkatz." Littenheim said and the other nobles cheered.
"And let's look at how that went for you. After the first two weeks of the war you lost 45.000 ships and 14 million tons of supplies while the brat lost 5.000 and 3 million tons. I've been in charge for almost two months and these are the numbers: our losses last month 4.000 ships 1.3 million tons, the blonde brat 6.000 ships and 2 million. This month is was 5.000 ships and 4 million, the brat lost 7.000 and 5.5 million. We are winning just like you asked of me, so the only honourless wretches are you for lashing our without reason!" Ovlessler countered back and the crowd behind Braunschweig and Littenheim seemed unsure on who to support.
"We lost those battles only because we had a string of bad luck!" Flegel, Braunschweig's nephew said and this time only a part of the nobles agreed with him.
"You lost because our troops and officers are green, because you didn't have enough supplies, because the blonde brat, much as I hate to admit it, has a better fleet and better officers. You lost because you overstretched your supply lines and fought in the open a stronger army which is the last thing to do. You want to win, well this is how you win, you fortify key positions and only sally fort for raids and harassment and you fight defensively until we exhaust them. Look on any map and you'll see that we have more industry and agriculture than the brat, we cannot outfight but we can outspend him and we will continue to do so until our troops are up to snuff and the brat's troops are exhausted and that's my final decision, now…..leave my office." Ovlessler growled out the last part as the nobles took a step back before leaving.
"The commander has a point; we didn't do so well in the open against them."
"It's cowardly but we are making them lose more."
"Where is your warrior's pride?"
"Pride? It got shot up by the brat's force."
Braunschweig and Littenheim listened to how the tune of their fellow nobles changed from fully supporting them to the loyalty now being split between them and Ovlessler.
The two hated each other and would eventually fight to the death but for now it seemed like they found common cause in this new threat.
"If this keeps up the whole fleet shall back up Ovlessler and then it will be him who becomes the Kaiser's guardian." Braunschweig said
"Yeah, you are correct. We'll have to take measures against him but for now I'd say that we let him be. Much as it pains me to say his strategy is winning, we'll let him weaken the brat and we'll dismiss him before we go on the offensive." Littenheim replied.
"My staff estimates that it will take up to 6 months before the brat is weak enough and we are strong enough for that."
"Then we'll let Ovlessler rule for 6 months before we dispose of this usurper and then the blonde one."
As the two conspired the alarm sounded off and the commander of the League made their way towards the command room.
"What's happening?" Flegel asked.
"The brat has brought up 100.000 ships from his force and he's moving around Geiersburg. We're deploying 150.00 0 to counter them now." Ovlessler replied and this made the nobles smile.
The boarded the ships and launched flying parallel against Reinhard's fleet as it went deeper and deeper into noble territory.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Braunschweig flagship Odin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"When to we attack?" Braunschweig asked from next to Ovlessler.
"Our purpose is to shadow the enemy fleet and prevent them from reaching Rosenheim where our main supply junction is." Ovlessler replied.
"And there at the supply junction we will attack them with optimal supplies behind us and the brat's fleet with their overstretched then?" Flegel asked.
"If we manage to cause enough damage with raiding parties then yes, if not then we shall just sit and defend Rosenheim from a favorable position. And let me make it clear that we shall defend. We'll sit on our asses and do nothing and win, just like we've been doing since I took command." Ovlessler said and that intimidated Flegel.
"By the way commander and vice-commander, I want you two to approve this plan." Ovlessler said and when he presented them his latest document, they almost ripped it in two.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Edge of Rosenheim system, Flagship Brunhilda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ovlessler truly is a surprise. To think that he'd be the one to propose that the nobles acknowledge the Alliance and sing a peace treaty in exchange for supplies from the Alliance." Reinhard said in amusement.
"Yes, the plan would give them the necessary power to turn the tide of the war both in resources and allies since the Alliance would accept this without hesitation, but according to our spies there is heavy opposition to his proposal from the nobles since the Alliance is seen as rebels instead of its own nation." Oberstein replied.
"What a foolish motive. A peace can be broken and a declaration can be made invalid at a latter date. This plan would have hurt us badly…..if we hadn't already sent a similar proposal two weeks ago." Reinhard said amused at the idea that Ovlessler had a mind similar to hid own, but far from it's equal.
"Yes, as it stands all of the factions in the Alliance are considering it. No matter what happens we will be in an advantageous position regardless of who wins. The coup has been proceeding well with Heinessen captured and we estimate that the first clashes shall happen in a week from now." Oberstein said.
"Then the only problem are the nobles, or rather Ovlessler. Yare, yare he is far from being Yang Wen Li but he is a most troublesome opponent." Reinhard said as they looked at the defensive position that they assumed above Rosenheim.
"What is our next move?" Oberstein asked.
"We wait, I suspect that within the coming week they will attack us, if they stay more than that then we withdraw. But I doubt that the nobles will last more than 3 days before attacking. Even a beast like Ovlessler can do so much as to tame the rats that are the high nobles." Reinhard said in assurance.
This was an unexpected event.
"Sir."
"Go ahead Kessler."
"Turn of your monitor! Big news is happening in the alliance!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx National Salvation Front headquarters, Heinessen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How are things going with our forces?" Commodore Fork who was leading the coup asked as Lynch watched the proceedings with an amused smirk.
"Our loyalist fleets has managed to shake of the main command fleet and will reconvene at Heinessen in a month's time. By then we will gather enough supplies to fortify Heinessen against the loyalist forces, once then"
….ALAAAAAAAALALALALALALALALAL
The report was interrupted by the sounding of air raid alarms being heard overhead.
"What's happening?" Fork asked.
"A fleet has just appeared over the planet…it's….it's a small contingent from the Fast Response force!"
"How? They travelled a month's distance time in less than half!"
"Enemy transmissions are being broadcasted!"
"On screen." Fork said as Vice-Admiral Geary's face appeared.
"This is the Winged Hussars. We have come here to put a stop to this madness and save the heart and soul of democracy. Or rather we have brought those that can." Geary said and stepped aside to allow the face that kept Fork awake at night to appear on screen.
The man who denied him glory and now denied him his place under the sun again.
The man who seemingly cheated death itself.
"Good day. My name is Yang Wen Li. I apologize for faking my death and that of the top Admirals but it was a necessary fiction to draw out the coup that has been sponsored by the High Nobles lead by Braunschweig and Littenheim of the Galactic Empire. As an apology for that I have assigned Admiral Geary to stop the coup on Heinessen and there will be replies for the Lippstadt Forces that have done this attack on us. I am also happy to present this proposal that we have just accepted to you all." Yang said and broadcasted Reinhard's offer for the Galaxy to see.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rantemario System xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, you wish to surrender now that the coup has failed?" Bewcock asked the opposing fleet commander.
"Y…yes. We ask for a lesser sentence in exchange for surrendering without a fight."
"You'll get that, but for now get the engines going and switch course to vector 4-6." Bewcock replied.
"Where are we going, Heinessen is in the opposite direction."
"The Empire." Bewcock replied.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Admiral Lennekamp flagship, Iserlohn corridor. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"All units fall back while keeping a defensive formation!" We must delay them long enough for reinforcements to arrive!"
Lennekamp said as the Alliance fleet invaded from Iserlohn lead by Van Huu in his tiger stripped ship to raid Imperial territory.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fezzan xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Wasn't the Winged Hussars on Heinessen?"
"Must have been part of them. Beside there are elements from other fleets here and many other on the way." Boris Konev said to another person in the bar.
"Are they invading the Empire?"
"I think it's worse than that."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Edge of Rosenheim system, Flagship Brunhilda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ships of the Alliance have already been spotted beyond our ends of both corridors. We are dispatching Admiral Kempf to reinforce Admiral Lennekamp against the Van Huu force and Admiral Bittenfeld is requesting for him or Fahrenheit to be dispatched to deal with the Winged Hussars. The Alliance seems to be bypassing industrial and agricultural worlds and targeting stations and supply dumps. Excellency this is not an invasion but a raid meant to weaken both our faction and the nobles." Oberstein replied.
"If we retreat to block the Alliance the Nobles become stronger. If we ignore the nobles the Alliance can cripple half of our supply system before we turn around. Yang Wen Li….not bad….not bad at all… Tell Lennekamp to fall back until Amritsar, he is to hold them there. Bittenfeld is to go to stop the Winged Hussars but Fahrenheit stays here and redirect Lennekamp to join us." Reinhard ordered.
" So it is a battle of attrition then to crush the nobles before turning to the Alliance. Regrettable but I see no choice in the matter."
"And that is why you are not in charge Oberstein. Once Lennekamp and Fahrenheit arrive we bypass Rosenheim and make them come to us."
"How?"
"By occupying this planet."
"That planet has no military significance."
"No, but even still the nobles will die for it."
"Understood. The main fleet shall make it's stand at Westerland against the High Nobles. The rest of our forces shall fight at Amritsar and…..The Earth system."
"Amritsar. Westerland. Earth. This is where the fate of the Galaxy shall be decided."
