Chapter 61
The Invasion of Mu – Northern Mu, Northern Beaches
Second Civilization Superpower Mu, North of the Northern Ardennes Forest, Ardennes Beach, 11th June 1527 / 228
"Does anyone caught any sight of the enemy activities?"
"Nothing, so far."
The 5th Cadet Battalion from the 3rd Artillery Regiment is observing the beachhead of Northern Ardennes Forest. They've been assigned from last month to protect the beachhead to the Ardennes Forest from the beach. The soldiers are guarding the entrance to the Ardennes Forest, with the intel comes from the Flauvel Combat Fleet that the Gra Valkas Empire will soon launch the assault on this beachhead.
Inside the forest, there are five Javelin Tanks ready to wither the number of the invasion. The objective is to trap the Gra Valkas Empire and prevent them from getting off the beach.
"Spotted enemy warship! Seventy kilometers and closing in! The attack will commence in two hours!"
"I count three battleships and fifteen cruisers! They've also brought some personnel ship to transport the soldiers to the beach!"
"They're bringing in the air force! I count fifteen fighters and ten bombers!"
"Defense unit! Mount the Anti-Air guns! They must be preparing for an attack in waves!"
The soldiers immediately mount and operates the anti-air guns. The commander of the 5th Cadet Battalion, Captain Higa, immediately radio in the Artillery unit stationed at a small hill 40km away from the beach to prepare for bombardment on the beach.
"Artillery unit! Two hours to bombardment!"
"Roger!"
Ten A-22 Kodiak and 5 105mm Pounder are aiming at the beachhead. They will wait until the Gra Valkas Empire reaches the kill zones as ordered. For now, the soldiers are filling their positions, such as M-50 Machine gun, G-14 Gauss Turret, Flak 88R AT/AA, 50mm Bofors, GAU-8 Gattling, and Gr81mm Mortar.
Celestina set up defenses 1km from the beach as the objective was to prevent the Gra Valkas Empire from getting off the beach and suppress them until they can trap the Gra Valkas Empire's soldiers.
"Focus fire on the Aircraft! Fire!"
Celestina didn't have air support, and of course, this is all the parts of the trial to the higher league. Maya and Eleonora forbid any air support to defend the beaches. As the soldiers apply to become either a member of the Red Wings Army or War Maidens Squadron, they must display exceptional talent and survive the odds.
BOOM! BOOM! BAM!
The Gra Valkas Empire, 1st Assault Squadron
The first assault squadron, consisting of 5 Leo Interceptors, 10 Antares Fighter, and 10 Sirius Light Bomber, are approaching the beachhead.
"Oh, look at that. We have the prize down there."
"I didn't expect they gave ground for our army to land on the beach."
"We just need to soften them out. Let's find the artillery, so we can force these barbarians to retreat."
BOOM! BAM!
"W-what!?"
"Goddamn it, they got the anti-air network!"
"Let's teach these whelps a lesson!"
The aircraft descended to the assault position, but when the squadron is about to launch an attack five kilometers from the attack point, they lose the entire Sirius Bomber and half of Leo Interceptor and Antares Fighter.
"We can't do a bombing run! Our bombers are down!"
"What!? That's impossible! Keep going! We need to inflict casualties and lighten the work of our Army!"
But, as the Gra Valkas Empire's pilot is about to make a strafing run, the entire aircraft is obliterated by the Gauss Turret and GAU-10 Gattling. The Gauss Turret pierces through the nose and kills the pilot inside, while the GAU-10 is tearing apart the fighters, shredding it to pieces.
The Gra Valkas Empire, Flagship of Ishtan 52nd Fleet, Battleship Meisa
Fleet Commander Maynard saw Celestina's defenses shoot down the Gra Valkas Empire's fighters on the beach from the bridge of Battleship Meisa. He grits his teeth as the initial attack fails, and he immediately orders the aviation squadron to prepare the second attack while his ships will provide bombardment support to suppress the beaches.
As soon as the warships are reaching eight kilometers from the beach, the crew reports, "All guns are in position and ready to bombard the beach!"
"Begin the bombardment! Leave no space for them to run!"
The shelling starts as the Gra Valkas Empire Navy begins bombarding the beach. Unfortunate for them, the Javelin and Stinger Tank are out of range and well-hidden inside the Ardennes Forest.
"Quickly deploy the army while we suppress them!"
Immediately the Gra Valkas Empire's Navy prepares the Army to enter the landing craft to assault the beach. While the army is still loading, the bridge receives news.
"Sir. We've received news from our aircraft scout that the rain will fall in two hours in our location. The storm is also coming towards our fleet."
"Hmm… This news may be good in our favor to assault the beaches. The sea will rise, and we can push deeper to get a better shot. Let's prepare for—"
"S-sir! Additional reports are incoming! We've spotted a fleet inside the storm with a distance of 250 kilometers! The numbers are eight Destroyers and two Cruisers! The latest report indicates that the fleet is sailing right into us!"
"What!? How's that possible?! Did they dare to launch an attack inside the storm!? Get all fighters and bombers ready for battle! We must sink them even it was under the thunderstorm!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Keep around sixty aircraft for the second attack! I want those beaches secured as quickly as possible! One battleship will remain here to maintain suppression on the beach, and I want ten cruisers and fifteen destroyers to take our place in order to assist the battleship in suppressing the beaches."
"Yes, sir!"
Battleship Meisa quickly leaves the battlefield as it sets out to intercept the 1st Valkyrie DESRON under Randgris Flauvel's command. The troop transports quickly hasten the deployment by deploying six thousand infantries and fifty armors to assault the beaches.
The Celestina Empire, Flauvel Combat Fleet
One of the bridge crew reports to Randgris that their fleet has been spotted by the Gra Valkas Empire's scout plane before it turns around and withdraws.
"Ma'am. They've discovered our positions."
"Send the LSF-4 and have them equipped with Elemental Combination weaponry. They're free to fit any weapons that can match their abilities. Have them fly with reserve power for the element of surprise."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Tell the LSF-4 pilots not to trigger Fly Mode unless they're out of the cyclone."
"But why we can't do it?"
"Do you remember when some of our personnel died because of this weather?"
"Ah!"
Randgris remembers the Tragedy of the South Celestina Sea, where the Valkyries continue to take flight as Sacchito orders them to retreat because of the thunderstorm. Half of a hundred personnel flying through the sea in high altitudes died because of thunder and materials that flew right into them. Following the incident, the Valkyries that did not master NoE flight are not allowed to fly. Any Valkyries and pilot who wishes to fly through a thunderstorm must obtain a special license to be issued through the Aviation Master regardless of the rank they've held.
LSF-3 cannot take flight since visibility has been decreased from sixty kilometers to ten kilometers because of the storm and the risk of being splattered by a thunderstorm. Every aircraft's nightmares are thunderstorms, as the nature of the weather can potentially eliminate the combat fighter along with its pilot. Because the fleet is moving under the thunderstorm's weather, Randgris wants to use it as a cover to initiate a surprise attack on the Gra Valkas Empire's fleet. The best option is to use LSF-4 since it can fly close to the sea surface with reserve power and can levitate up to ten meters to avoid high tides. The LSF-4 can perform NOE (Nap of Earth) tactics more efficiently after optimizing the Reserve Engine to make complex movements.
"Lapis, I need your mermaids to guide us through this storm."
"Copy that. We will provide you a safe route."
Lieutenant Lapis guides Randgris to sail through the storm as the crew evacuates into the ship when the weather turns for a worse. The Aircraft Carrier quickly turns back when the twenty LSF-4 are deployed from the platform to launch the attack, clearing themselves from the storm.
The Celestina Empire, Ardennes Beach
"Their artillery is intensifying!"
"We need to reduce their attack rate, now!"
The Javelin Tank spotter marks the target for six destroyers and three cruisers. Once the battle data transmit into the Javelin Tank crew, they unleash the missiles.
"Fire!"
The SAAPM-1 launches forward before going up to the sky, aiming for the targets.
"Don't expose yourself to the artillery! Remain inside the trench and fire the guns as soon as the landing craft unload the troops! We have to suppress them once the first enemy unit lands on the beach!"
The observation continues as his unit remains suppressed under the intense barrage from the Gra Valkas Empire's warship.
"Man down! Man down!"
Some of Celestina's soldiers that are not in cover received severe damage from the artillery barrage.
"Squad twelve is down!"
When the SAAPM-1 hits the Gra Valkas Empire's warships, cheers erupted. "We did it! Keep holding the beach! We must not let them off from this beach!"
The Gra Valkas Empire, Beach Assault Fleet
Fifty Attack Transport Ships are unloading the troops and armor into the Landing Craft. They intend to rush the beach and securing it before the cyclone reaches them.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
"Troop loaded! We will move!"
The Landing Craft makes a rush towards the beach. Three kilometers before the landing area, they saw the Celestina Empire is launching something.
"Incoming attack!"
The missile ignores them as it goes to their warships, as the soldiers were alerted by its destination.
"Our warship is going to be hit! Contact the ship!"
Once the bombardment fleet that keeps bombarding the beach receives the news, they immediately order the crew for the anti-air combat.
"Prepare the anti-air combat!"
But, they are a step late as the SAAPM-1 quickly pierce through their armor. The explosion goes right in the middle of the ship, splitting it into two.
"What the hell!?"
"Abandon ship! Abandon ship!"
Chaos sparks around the Bombardment fleet as some of the destroyers bombarding the beach are now diverting themselves to rescue the sailors. The Orion-class Battleship, Crusher, also sunk with just one missile hitting the ship's citadel.
Luckily, the Attack Transports are distancing themselves further, as the Landing Crafts are now about to make landfall on the beach. For the first wave of the attack, the Gra Valkas Empire carries three thousand troops with ten tanks, consisting of Shafer Light Tank and Armored Halftrack. There are no mines or slanted poles to hinder their invasion, thus, allowing them to land and quickly return to prepare for the next wave.
The Gra Valkas Empire, 15th Infantry Division
Having landed on the beaches, the Gra Valkas Empire left little time to waste to charge ahead with the objective is to secure the beachhead and eliminate any fortifications inland.
"Let's go! We will trap those adventurers and humiliate Celestina!"
"Let's break out from the beach!"
The intelligence from the Gra Valkas Empire was spot on. Only Battalion-sized personnel is guarding the beaches, so the invasion went on smoothly, or is what they thought. The relentless defenses from Celestina force the Gra Valkas Empire to find cover. As soon as the first group of armored units lands on the beach, the infantries quickly take cover behind the Shafer Light Tank and Armored Halftrack.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
Unfortunate for them, the Shafter Light Tank and the Halftracks are quickly obliterated from a single shot from the Celestina Empire using a Gauss Turret. Each shot of Gauss Turret pierce through their armor, killing the driver, and for the tank, it also kills the engine. The piercing power is so powerful that it kills several Gra Valkas Empire's soldiers taking cover behind the armored unit.
"What the hell was that!?"
"They've just annihilated our armor like that so easily!"
"Did they use magic!?"
"Don't be ridiculous! We outnumber them!"
The Gra Valkas Empire infantries are waiting for the second wave before launching the attack as they take cover behind the husk of their tanks and armored vehicles.
The Celestina Empire, Shoreline defenses
Captain Higa looks at the Gra Valkas Empire infantries taking cover behind the remains of their armored units destroyed earlier by the Gauss Turret. As for now, the battle lines did not change as Celestina continues to suppress the Gra Valkas Empire's infantries on the beach.
"Telescope Recon reports that the Gra Valkas Empire is stacking the waves, sir."
"How many?"
"At least up to three waves of attack in one landing craft, some of the landing crafts are redirected to load the tanks and armored units."
"Is that so? Prepare the Javelin Tank again. Once they reach the beach, we will sink every combat ship. Any transport ships trying to escape, obliterate it as well."
"Yes, sir."
"How many our men lost in the beaches?"
"Around two squad, sir."
"What the hell are they doing?"
"They get too cocky for that."
"Grrr..."
Higa sighs as there are always people who are getting cocky about the current situation, resulting in getting themselves killed.
The Celestina Empire, South of the Ardennes Forest
While the Northern beach of the Northern Ardennes is in battle, the 15th Regiment "White Knights" are observing the Gra Valkas Empire armies advancing through the forest and some plains. For the plan itself, some of the soldiers from several armies at the Battle Group Valkyrie will make some slight delay on their advance.
ROAR!
"Oh, it's here." Sasha quickly leaps away from the forest as the Gra Valkas Empire's armies are ambushed by a group of monsters local to the woods. The Celestina Empire manages to seize four Ardennes Dungeons around the Ardennes Forest and contain the monster's movement around the Ardennes Forest, preventing them from breaking out into the Town of Ardennes. But, Alicia and Maya want to use this opportunity as additional firepower to delay the Gra Valkas Empire's advance.
Celestina rates the adult Forest Bear as A+ Rank, with main traits are high mobility and serious damage. Solo Adventurers can do it at S- Rank, and the guild recommends engaging it with a party of A Rank. Adventurers below A- Rank is not allowed, except for supports with at least an A Rank survival rating.
The Celestina Empire has been keeping an eye on the Gra Valkas Empire infantries the moment they enter the Ardennes Forest from the south. Sasha would like to know how the Gra Valkas Empire deals with the Forest Bear.
The Gra Valkas Empire, 6th Mountain Corps
The advance so far does not meet any resistance. As the Gra Valkas Empire Corps continue to advance, however, they can hear some howl and roar around the forest, prompting the Infantries to group up near the tanks.
ROAR!
The Gra Valkas Empire infantry hears a roar close to their position, "What was that!?" The infantries and armored vehicles are alerted to its sound. When they were about to advance again, three Forest Bear came out from nowhere, ambushing them.
"Uwaah!"
"It's a monster!"
"Shoot it! Shoot it!"
The bear smashes the Halftrack with its paw, flattening the vehicles and killing those who did not make it out from the attack. The Gra Valkas Empire fires their weapons, but the skin is too tough to penetrate with 9mm and .45 ACP's ammunition.
"How's that bear's skin is so tough! They're way better than the bear we face in our home country!"
"Ask the Subjugation Army for that! We should have requested the Subjugation Army to deal with these monsters!"
The Gra Valkas Empire possesses several armies dedicating to subjugate monsters around their homeland. However, none of them could explore or enter the dungeon since the supply was limited, and they could not bring in armored vehicles and tanks because of the size. By chance, they can only set up a containment perimeter around the dungeon.
The Celestina Empire conducts a subjugation regularly, and they can stay for days to weeks or months, depending on how large the dungeon is and how difficult it is to conquer it. Furthermore, the dungeons around the Celestina Empire are the main source of income, as they can find every material to enhance the economy of the Celestina Empire.
"Move away! I need a clear shot on that bear!"
A Gra Valkas Panther Tank and M8 Scott Tank face one of the bears. The M8 Scott Tank fire its 75mm gun at the bear.
"Fire!"
BOOM!
ROARRR!
The bear was enraged when it got hit by the 75mm gun. Fortunately, the hide is weak enough to be fired upon by the infantries. After suffering at least two hundred bullets, the first bear is dead.
"Fire on that second one!"
BOOM!
The bear did not have time to react when it notices the AP shell fired from the Panther. The shell pierces through its chest and dies immediately. The third bear retreats to the forest, but the damage caused by the bear is quite something for the Gra Valkas Empire.
"Damage report."
The commander of the 6th Mountain Corps, Lieutenant General Heinsch, looks at the corpse of the Forest Bear. The Officer makes his report as soon as the damage report is complete.
"We lost three half-tracks and at least sixty men… Around three dozens are wounded, sir."
"It seems going through this forest is harder than what we can expect. We should request some of the Subjugation Army to assist us in exterminating the monsters while we advance."
"According to the intel, Mu barely touch this region. So we could advance with less resistance."
"Not exactly. These monsters are proof that our advances will be more difficult than what we initially can expect. We may encounter more monsters aside from these bears. Inform the HQ to send a Subjugation Army as quickly as possible."
"Yes, sir."
After some regrouping, the Gra Valkas Empire continue to march. This time, however, they scout the surrounding area for possible monster ambushes.
The Celestina Empire, 15th Regiment "White Knights."
"Seems these soldiers are not trained to subjugate monsters…. The Main Council have to know this."
Unlike the Gra Valkas Empire, the Celestina Empire soldiers are proficient in subjugating monsters because of their nature as an adventurer. If Celestina can let the monsters at the Gra Valkas Empire's homeland run amok, it can be a huge advantage for the war.
"Let's see if the Main Council can send some adventurers to explore the resources." Sasha withdraws after the Gra Valkas Empire resumes marching.
The Celestina Empire, Ardennes Beach
It's already the fourth wave incoming, and the number of the husks of the tanks and the armored vehicles continues to increase. The Gra Valkas Empire gains six hundred meters from the landing bay, four hundred meters away, before making it out from the kill zones. They already deploy around seven thousand infantries, but they can't advance because every armor they deploy, it always destroyed by a Gauss Turret.
The Air Force sent by the Gra Valkas Imperial Navy also can't penetrate the defenses as no fighters nor bombers can even reach Celestina's defenses three kilometers before the drop point.
"I think it's time…" Looking at the map, Captain Higa orders a finishing blow. "Destroy everything. We will assault them once we destroy all of their warships and transport ships. Let's wrap this up! Capture those who surrender!"
"Roger!"
The Javelin tank aims and fires its missiles to the remaining warships and transport ships. Some of Celestina's units are preparing for the offensives to capture the Gra Valkas Empire's Army.
The Gra Valkas Empire, Imperial Army
"Dammit! Just how strong are they!? We never get any intel like this!"
"Sir! Another incoming missile!"
"Initiate the anti-air combat!"
They already lost half of the bombardment fleet, and Fleet Commander Maynard is moving to prevent Celestina's Navy from reaching the shoreline. And now, the anti-air crew are firing their anti-aircraft guns to stop the missile from striking down to them.
The missile is up in the sky, and once it reaches three hundred meters altitude, it immediately goes down like a dive bomber and slams into their warships as the Attack Transports and Landing Crafts are also not spared from the attack. With just two waves of a strike, the morale of the Gra Valkas Empire's Imperial Army plummeted.
The Commanding Officer of the 10th Corps, Lieutenant General Huffington, witnesses the horror as the entire Warships, Attack Transports, and Landing Crafts are destroyed effortlessly by the Celestina Imperial Space Command. Their means to escape is now gone.
"Incoming artillery!"
"What!?"
KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!
"W-what the hell!?"
"So much intel is off on this fucking beach!"
"Sir! We can't get off from the beach at this rate!"
"We don't even have the fucking information about that artillery! What the hell is our recon doing?! Can't they do the job properly!?"
"I-I'm afraid can't, sir! Our scouts are always intercepted when they were about to do a recon! It feels like they knew where we are at all times!"
"Rrrrggghhh!"
The Celestina Empire, 3rd Artillery Regiment
"Fire!"
BOOM! BOOM!
The A-22 Kodiak and 105mm Pounder start shelling the beach. Their objective is to demoralize the Gra Valkas Empire and keep the Gra Valkas Infantries inside the beach line until they surrender. Any attempts to break out will be pulverized immediately by the relentless barrage of Celestina's artillery.
Under Captain Higa's command, the shelling did not stop as Celestina's objective succeeds in halting the Gra Valkas Empire's advance on its track. The shell stops when the nighttime comes, as Celestina intends to give them a rest and cuddle up when the sea is on high tide.
"Let's take a shift to guard the beach. If any Gra Valkas Empire infantries tries to attack in the middle of the night, kill them."
With the command from Higa, Celestina's soldiers are taking turns to rest.
Night Time, Ardennes Beach
Lieutenant General Huffington and his men are moving forward but not exceeding the line of where the furthest armor was destroyed by Celestina's defenses during the assault earlier today. Before they can make their advance, they will wait for the information from the radio operator to know about the updates from the Ishtam Battle Group.
The radio operator tried to contact every Gra Valkas Empire's ship deployed to intercept Flauvel Combat Fleet. He finally got patched through to one of the warships after three hours of searching.
"General! We got through to one of the ships!"
"This is Lieutenant General Huffington. Our entire warships and Attack Transports are destroyed before the sun is down, and we're trapped on the beach. We need an immediate evacuation! How fast you can reach us?!"
"T-This is Captain Runera, Captain of the Star-class Destroyer, Bright Two Eyes! To hell I want to go there to the beaches! We're running away because they obliterate almost the entire Battle Group! The Commander is also dead!"
"W-What?! How many ships survive?!"
"Bright Two Eyes and Bright Seven Eyes! Both of our warships are already packed up with survivors from the battle this evening! They attack us in the middle of the cyclone! I can't get to you, Bright Two Eyes out."
Hearing the report from Captain Runera further plummet the Gra Valkas Empire's soldiers' morale. The cyclone did not reach them. As such, they were safe from the weather. But, this means they got no way to escape. For the first time in history, they realize that there were opponents far stronger than what the Gra Valkas Empire has faced before.
"Celestina…!" Clenching his fist hard, Huffington prepares for his last stand. "We will launch the attack in the middle of the night! At least some of us have to make it off from the beaches!" Rallying his men, the Gra Valkas Empire 10th Corps are preparing for their final assault.
Celestina Empire, 5th Cadet Battalion
"Commander! They're preparing for the assault!"
Captain Higa observes them through night-vision binoculars. He knew that they would try to break out from the beach.
"Wake everyone up! We will not let them pass this beach!"
Quickly Celestina soldiers are mounting their defense emplacements. As soon as they hear a battle cry, Higa orders his men to open fire.
"All units on the encirclement! Move in to encircle them! Fire!"
Celestina unleashes their defense capabilities, firing a relentless amount of Mortars, Machinegun, Gattling Gun, and Gauss Turret. The Artillery stationed 40km behind also open fire to support the defenses.
Countless people are killed by Celestina's superior defenses one after another. The Gra Valkas Empire cannot find a gap as its defense network is airtight.
"General! They encircle us!"
"What!?"
Some of Celestina's detachment arrives to attack them, and casualties continue to build up. Then, the worst news happens as the spotter observes the activity near the shore.
"S-sir! There's a warship! It's… A winged shield with a staff! It's Celestina's Navy! We… We're trapped!"
"W-what!?"
Huffington saw two Plasma-class Destroyers are approaching the beach with the guns aimed at his units.
"Sir! We have to surrender! We can't win like this! It's either we die or live for another day!"
Huffington endures this humiliation, but it's also a chance to witness Celestina's national power with his own eyes. After losing two thousand infantries in a futile charge, he makes a decision.
"Issue a surrender… Deploy white flags."
"Yes, sir!"
The battle that lasts the entire day at Ardennes Beach ends with the Gra Valkas Empire casualties of five thousand infantries, sixty tanks, and one hundred and fifty armored vehicles. Celestina disarms five thousand remaining infantries and calls for extraction as soon as the process of disarmament is complete.
Captain Higa leads the burial of the deceased Gra Valkas infantries and Celestina soldiers that fell in today's battle. Once the ceremony is complete, the 5th Cadet Battalion packs up and move to reinforce the Ardennes Forest.
Author's note:
I will change the release schedule for every two weeks temporarily. I got pressed to make a dissertation and still stuck on the literature review.
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