The next day, February 6th to the Japanese, was completely uneventful to the World Union fleet on the Baltica Sea. The World Union fleet was still sailing north at a leisurely pace of between 15 and 20km/h, including the Milishial fleet. The remnants of the Gra Valkas combined fleet were still fleeing north at more than double that.
The Empire at large was still unaware of the disaster that had befallen them. Unlike Japan, with its restored satellite communications, the Gra Valkas Empire still relied on radio communications transmitted and relayed as necessary. If it sent fleets outside of its areas of control-like the Leadership Conference and here at Baltica-they would have to wait for them to return to its spear of influence before it could get a full report on battles that could've happened days or even weeks ago at that point. There were plans to build more communication centers and relays as they expanded, but right now they didn't even have the means to communicate with their forces far south.
The ASDF was resupplied with more anti-ship missiles. The E-2C and YS-11EB, with F-15J escort, flew a mission closer to the Nigrat Union's border with the Sonal Kingdom. The western portion of the Sonal Kingdom was a small strip of land, barely 100km wide, squeezed between the Nigrat Union and Leifor that gave it maritime access to the Baltica Sea. The E-2C could still see more than 300km into Leifor airspace while remaining in the Nigrat Union.
Even without being aware of the Imperial Navy's crushing defeat, the Gra Valkas Imperial Army Air Service still had an increased number of fighter patrols up all over Leifor. There was no telling if the barbarians would launch attacks on land to complement their one at sea, after all. There was still a small detachment of warships near Leifor's maritime border. With the reference data they'd acquired from the previous engagements, the Japanese deduced it to be Two aircraft carriers, a battleship, three cruisers, twelve destroyers, and two supply ships.
The ASDF didn't attack it, not yet. They'd wait until the World Union got closer. Attacking that close to Leifor, there was a risk of land-based aircraft intervening. The airfield they were using was nearly 1200km from the nearest major Gra Valkan air base in Leifor. They didn't know the exact details of the enemy aircrafts' performances, but an attack was a very real possibility within their predicted ranges. To ensure the safety of the MSDF, ASDF, and the citizens of the Nigrat Union and Sonal Kingdom, things would have to be planned carefully.
There was a very real concern that the Gra Valkas Empire would lash out and start bombing other countries in the Second Civilization Area when they found out about their losses. Satellite reconnaissance gave the impression they didn't have the infrastructure or number of ground forces for overland invasions in Leifor currently, but they had plenty of airfields. An air campaign alone could cause a lot of damage.
There was one noteworthy event that day, but to the east of the continent. Defense Executive Mitsugi was sent an emergency message about it later that evening.
The 4th Escort Group had successfully delivered the renovated La-Kasami to the Mu National Navy. Escort Squadron 4 was on leave in Mykal. It was Mu's main port of trade with Japan, and had received considerable investment from Japanese companies, meaning there were a few thousand Japanese citizens in the city. Escort Squadron 8, the second component of 4th Escort Group, was bringing supply ships to the southern tip of the Nigrat Union to wait for Escort Squadron 6 to return. The plan had been for all three squadrons to meet up in Mykal. The personnel in Escort Squadron 6 would get a few days of leave themselves and then would finally return to Japan, letting 4th Escort Group take over anti-submarine duties in Mu.
The plan had met a speedbump. South of Mu's territorial waters, Escort Squadron 4 had encountered and sunk a Gra Valkan fleet made up of 23 ships.
The 52nd Fleet "Ishtam" was one of the Gra Valkas Empire's colonial defense fleets, although since the transfer it had been kicking its heels back in the capital Ragna. The fleet had a fearsome reputation in the Empire's colonies in their old world and a troublesome reputation in the Imperial Navy, both for the same reason: It was the preferred dumping spot for some of the Navy's least professional sailors. So many ruthless and callous men in one place made for a fleet that was effective in battle and instilling fear in subjects, but not much else. Navy HQ had dispatched them to raid Mu while most of Mu's Navy was fighting in Baltica, except the JMSDF had made sure they never reached Mu.
Right now, the MoD was scrambling to determine if the Gra Valkas Empire had sent out any more raiding forces. Satellites were useful, but they couldn't be sure they'd gotten a good handle on the enemy's total strength. They knew enough that despite the substantial enemy force that had just been sunk, there were still hundreds more ships near their homeland.
"How troublesome." Mitsugi let his stress in the situation show more than any of the SDF personnel. The Japanese had planned this specific battle carefully, but the entire Second Civilization was technically a warzone, at risk for sudden occurrences. The Japanese couldn't plan for that.
On the 7th, word of the initial clash made it to Runepolis, the capital of the Holy Milishial Empire. Lettal Kauran spent nearly all of the 6th writing out a full report of the clash, mixed with some discussions with the Japanese about their-and the Gra Valkas'-weapons. The Japanese weren't all that forthcoming, which frustrated him, but he had more than enough to put together a large report. He transmitted it back home, relaying it through allied countries. That was risky, since manacomms were at risk for being intercepted, but he felt the information enclosed was important enough to risk it. It made it home on the same day, was transcribed by bureaucrats overnight, and was in the hands of Agra Brinston, head of the Milishial Ministry of National Defense, the next morning.
Now Agra was attending an audience with Emperor Milishial VIII to present it. It was a small meeting- only the Emperor, Agra himself, Minister of Military Affairs Schmill Pao, and Intelligence Bureau Director Arneus Freeman. Since it was only an update and the campaign hadn't concluded yet, it was felt there was no need for a larger audience.
"-in conclusion, the Gra Valkas Empire has suffered an immense number of casualties, so much so I doubt that they could contest us again." Agra finished his report. The emperor was still part way through the written report, and the gathered officials sat and waited patiently while he read the whole thing.
Even though he hadn't said anything, the officials all felt slightly intimidated by his aura. At 4,000 years old, the emperor always radiated a sense of power and wisdom that had humbled the dozens of different officials to hold offices over his unprecedentedly long reign. The Holy Milishial Empire owed just as much to him for its continued excellence as it did the Ancient Sorcerous Empire.
"It's welcomed news after the last meeting." Agra and Schmill Pao winced. They'd been here on the 5th with Hirkane Parpe, the Director of the Ancient Superweapons Analysis and Tactical Operations Department. They'd had to endure the report that one of the ancient superweapons had been damaged and forced to retreat before completely wiping out the enemy. The atmosphere there had been nearly suffocating. "Hmm. We destroyed their symbol of power just as they damaged ours." Although the Emperor's tone was neutral, the officials knew that he was still disturbed by one of their trump cards taking damage. But he was right.
"I'm sure Liage would agree that sinking the Grade Atlaster goes a long way towards restoring our image," Agra said, referring to the absent Supervisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister of National Defense was pleased, but he was let down by the number of casualties they'd suffered just taking the superdreadnought down. The enemy's anti-aircraft power was astounding, and even heavily damaged they managed to sink two of the Milishial's battleships. At this point, he still believed they'd win the battle, but he was sure now casualties would be higher than expected.
"Hmm." The emperor seemingly agreed. "So, Lettal Kauran is advancing with the rest of the World Union to stay safe from the Gra Valkans underwater boats?"
"Er…yes." Agra admitted. "That will delay their arrival to Leiforia, though." The existence of underwater boats and underwater bombs-whose existence had already been seen in reports from the Leadership Conference-was unsettling. The fact that they had to essentially hide behind Japan-a Third Civilization nation-for protection was bad for their image. "But they can and will still accomplish the original mission."
"Schmill Pao." Milishial VIII addressed the Minister of Military Affairs. "What do you make of Japan and the Gra Valkas Empire's battle?" Whereas Agra and the Ministry of National Defense was concerned with the Milishial Military, Schmill Pao and Military Affairs had a broader responsibility that included the militaries of other nations. Organizing joint exercises and operations like this one but also keeping an eye on their capabilities and development and advising the Military and Emperor as such. When the Holy Milishial Empire had first established contact with both Japan and the Gra Valkas Empire, members of Military Affairs had been in the research parties.
"Completely unlike anything we've ever heard of, which seems particularly fitting since both countries were transferred to this world. Admiral Kauran was right when he talked about them changing warfare."
"The Ancient Sorcerous Empire transferred themselves to this world to conquer it. The Gra Valkas Empire was transported to this world and have done everything in their power to destroy it. Japan was transported to this world and have upset the balance despite pursuing policies of peace." The emperor mused. "Just thinking." He explained to the two military officials and Freeman when they stared expectantly. Any country that was transferred seems to cause a headache in one way or another. "So, Japan and Gra Valkas practice underwater warfare. Is it safe to assume Mu will soon follow?"
"As far as we can tell, Japan still isn't selling weapons to Mu." Schmill Pao clarified.
"Japan is investing heavily in Mu's economy," Director Freeman admitted. "And there are thousands of Japanese citizens in the Second Civilization."
"So, I assume knowledge is being transferred in some way, so it's likely." Pao continued. "Barring that, Mu may figure it out just by observing the Gra Valkas Empire. They are both mechanical nations, after all. We may have to watch out for the Magicariarch Community too." That Second Civilization nation, south of Mu, imported outdated Mu technology and mixed it with magic to create an entirely unique type of technology, one that bridged science and magic. If any non-transferred nation had a chance of understanding otherworldly warfare, it was them. The emperor addressed Agra next.
"Do we have anything right now that can fight these underwater boats?" He questioned.
"As long as we catch them on the surface, we can sink them like any other ship." Agra stated.
"But we can't if they're underwater." Milishial VIII saw through his half statement.
"Not currently." Agra admitted. "I intend to meet with the Technology Research and Development Bureau and all our magical institutions across the country after this meeting. I already have a short-term plan to address this issue." The emperor motioned for him to continue, and Agra launched into a full explanation.
"Japan wasn't forthcoming about its own weapons, but it was more than willing to discuss the Gra Valkas Empire's. We know that the underwater bomb is called a 'torpedo', and not only can it be launched by underwater boats, but by 'destroyers' and aircraft. Japan classifies its ships as destroyers, even though they look more like cruisers. The Gra Valkas Empire's ships that resemble our small ships are also called 'destroyers'."
"They're from different worlds but the terminology is the same?" Schmill Pao asked. "That's very strange." He commented.
"Destroyers exist to protect cruisers and battleships from vessels that can launch 'torpedoes'." Agra was just reading from Kauran's report, so the emperor knew what the rest said about torpedo boats, submarines, and depth charges. "You intend to refit our small ships to fulfill the same roles?"
"In time. Launching torpedoes is an offensive action to allow them to battle cruisers and battleships." If the report was right, it was very effective too, which didn't bode well for the Navy's battleship centric ideals. "At the very least, we need to be able to defend against submarines." The emperor nodded in agreement. "So, we'll try and develop a sinking bomb that our small ships carry and drop." Agra explained. "It will be useful for any future campaigns and protecting our homeland going forward."
"Hmm. Very good, Minister." The emperor praised Agra. "I was unsure how many of my subordinates would be willing to learn necessary lessons from these outside nations."
"..." The Minister of National Defense had no idea how to respond to that.
"Schmill Pao, Arenus Freeman" Milishial VIII addressed the Minister of Military Affairs and Director of the Intelligence Bureau. "I want you both to double efforts to discover the Gra Valkas Empire and Japan's weapons. Cooperate. I suspect you'll find a great amount of overlap between them. "
"Of course, your Highness." Both men said simultaneously.
"This is only the first battle." Emperor Milishial VIII reminded them. "After this, we still need to drive them from the Second Civilization. If they still resist us after that, then we will take it to their homeland if we have to." The emperor was radiating quiet rage again, captivating the officials before him. "If we're going to accomplish that, we need to anticipate and counter all of their weapons. If that means adapting them for our own military, then so be it. They may even prove useful against the Ancient Sorcerous Empire's return. Our society is already built on their technology, is taking from other otherworldly powers really so different?"
"..." None of the officials had a response to that.
The 8th day of the month was when the Gra Valkas Empire finally realized how bad it had fucked up.
Technically, the information had already started to trickle back on the 5th. The Intelligence Bureau had agents all over the Second Civilization. One had noticed the Japanese taking over the airfield in the Nigrat Union, the planes launching on the 5th and consequently returning with zero losses, and successive patrols the following day. The Bureau's branch in Leiforia had it by the 7th, although it hadn't reached the headquarters in Ragna let alone the military.
The afternoon of the 8th was when the destroyers from the Combined Fleet finally made radio contact with the Leifor Defense Fleet detachment near the border. The fleet's commander, Andall, was there and got to be the first one to hear about how horribly things had gone wrong. He heard the first part of the report about Japanese aircraft, but he became incredulous when he heard about the aerial battleships and was initially in complete disbelief when he heard of the Great General Caesar's and the Grade Atlaster's sacrifice. But all ten destroyers transmitted the same thing, then fifteen more caught up saying verbatim.
That started a game of telephone much more elaborate than what the Japanese had had to deal with. Andall had to use the Imperial Army's relays on land to get in contact with Lars Filmyna, the Empire's largest joint base in Leiforia and headquarters for all operations in the Second Civilization, so now the Imperial Army wanted to know what the hell was going on while Andall was still trying to get in contact with the Navy and handle the mess suddenly on his hands. The 25 surviving destroyers of the Combined Fleet, completely out of fuel and still crammed with over a thousand wounded and dozens of bodies from the freshly perished, were suddenly his responsibility.
However it had happened, the Combined Fleet had been defeated, and the World Union was still on its way to Leiforia. It was an immediate crisis to start preparing for while they were still trying to get the reports transcribed to send back to the mainland. General Fantare, the Imperial Army commander in Leifor, put all troops guarding the borders on alert and ordered fighter patrols doubled. The stricken destroyers were towed to a nearby Leiforian fishing village, which also wasn't too far from a garrison watching the border with the Sonal Kingdom. Imperial Army soldiers took in all the wounded sailors to be treated and transported to bases further inland. The destroyers were left near the fishing village for now and Andall resolved to hold his ground here, ordering the other 50 warships and 27 submarines that made up the Leifor Defense Fleet to gather around Leiforia; given the distance, they likely wouldn't reach him before the World Union did.
By late evening, the information separately arrived at the Navy Headquarters and the Army Headquarters in Ragna, and soon after the Headquarters for the entire Imperial Military. It was safe to say, no one at all three agencies went home that night. Xand Pastall, the Direction-General of Military HQ, had a meeting convened with several Imperial Navy and Intelligence Bureau officials by 9 that night.
"How did you miss this?!" Xand Pastall roared. The Director of the Intelligence Bureau was receiving the most verbal abuse.
"Resources were extremely limited following transfer. The pull back from the Third Civilization Area was necessary to-"
"I'm not talking about fucking Japan!" Pastall cut him off. "We always knew the Milishials were our biggest threat. You were supposed to find out everything about them. How did you miss these?!" Content with the verbal lashing The Director-General was delivering, the officials from Navy HQ just glared.
Caesar's report had reached Ragna like he intended, but at that point it was up to the officials there to interpret it, and they had made a crucial mistake. The unconventional grabbed more attention than the conventional. Japanese aircraft destroying the Combined Fleet's carriers was the first thing in the report, but that matched with how they thought naval warfare went: carriers launched planes at each other and tried to sink important ships before moving in for surface engagements. It wasn't abnormal enough to grab their attention like the flying battleships, which had technically sunk more ships. Planes could be shot down, but all evidence pointed to flying battleships being mostly invulnerable. They didn't ignore Japan's contribution entirely, but right now the Milishial's was at the forefront of discussions.
"I-I don't know." The Director of the Intelligence Bureau was sweating profusely. A disaster of this scope meant heads were going to roll all over the Imperial Military and Government, and he knew he was on the short list.
"Fucking useless!" Xand Pastall was raging, quite nearly unprofessional. But even military men lost their temper in tense moments. He was already tired from a long day's work and knew he'd have to stay up all night still fixing this. And tomorrow morning, he had to go before Emperor Gralux and tell him potentially a third of his navy had been destroyed and ask for instructions. Before this meeting, he'd had to phone Kurtz, the Secretary of the Office of the Sovereign, to arrange tomorrow morning's emergency meeting. The other official had laid into him almost as severely as Pastall had laid into the Director, hence showing up already irritable.
"Get out of here!" He ordered, and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau scrambled from his chair and out in disgrace. Having been standing for his entire rant, Xand Pastall collapsed into his chair, head pounding. He turned to the Navy officers, pointing first to the ones from Navy Intelligence. The Intelligence Bureau collected all kinds of information for all parts of the government primarily through agents in foreign countries and processed it; the Army and Navy had their own intelligence organs to process specific information further as well as whatever each branch collected in the field. "The emperor will want to know if the Leifor District is at risk." He'd meet with the Imperial Army later. They were discussing a naval threat right now.
"As long as we dispatch reinforcements tomorrow, they can reach Leiforia before the enemy does. Even if the Milishial fleet separates and travels on its own, we can beat them." An official assured.
"Alright," Xand Pastell turned to the collection of officers responsible for operations across the various fleets. "What options do we have for reinforcements?" The ones from the defunct Eastern Fleet and Judgement Force looked defeated, but not even the others looked entirely confident.
The only major fleets left were the Home Fleet, the 2nd Submarine Fleet, and the West Fleet. The Home Fleet, containing the Capital Defense Fleet and several destroyer squadrons for sea lane protection around the mainland, was immediately ruled out as too necessary to risk. The Home Fleet was also where all the old colonial defense fleets had been folded after the transfer, but none of them were big enough. The 2nd Submarine Fleet had been dispatched on commerce raiding duties around the world soon after the attack on the Leadership Conference; it was a 2nd Fleet submarine the Japanese had sunk near Okinawa. Right now, the rest were scattered all over eastern Mu and the Holy Milishial Empire, and there was no hope of getting it back in time to stop this threat.
"There is the Submarine Special Operations Flotilla." An officer mentioned. The Judgement Force had been a surface special mission unit of the navy. The Submarine Special Operations Flotilla was a subsurface equivalent, specializing in stealth, infiltration, and ambushes and equipped entirely with Cetus-class submarines. It was here in Ragna and if it started heading east tonight, it could get in the path of the advancing World Union for an ambush. "But without something to contain the Japanese fleet, their impact may be limited." Not all of the officials were blind to the threat by Japan.
That just left the West Fleet. If it started sailing tonight, it too would probably reach Leiforia in time to defend it. But that still meant letting the World Union trespass into the Empire's sphere of influence, an unwelcome idea.
"We just found out Japan might have submarines." Another officer protested. "Do we really want to leave all our colonies around the mainland vulnerable?"
"That's not an immediate concern." Xand Pastell told them. "We need to defend the Leifor District and then re-evaluate our defenses. That crisis is the only thing that matters right now.
"We could send former colonial defense fleets from the Home Fleet to replace the West Fleet." One suggested. "Or…Lady Mirkenses is here in Ragna, is she not?"
"She is." Xand Pastell confirmed. The commander of the Imperial Judgement Force had stayed on shore when her fleet combined with the East Fleet; there hadn't been a point in making the chain of command more complicated.
"Here's a list of all colonial defense ships that are still in the Home Fleet after transfer." The officer explained. When the Gra Valks Empire was mysteriously transferred from their own world to this one, they'd been at peace. But war had been on the horizon, so it had recalled a very large portion of the Imperial Navy back to plan and organize-that was why so much of it had survived the transfer. All of their main fleets, submarine fleets, and numerous colonial fleets. The main fleets had taken on most of the work since, but the rest of the colonial fleets, like Ishtam, had been stuck near the mainland. The only exceptions were ships reassigned to defense fleets in Paganda, Leifor, and Irnetia.
Xand Pastell took the list and read it. Since most colonial fleets were concerned with keeping sea lanes open, a lot of them consisted of just destroyers, or sometimes destroyers and a light cruiser or two. Only the ones relatively close to the front line were equipped with battleships, aircraft carriers, or heavy cruisers. But both kinds had been recalled before the transfer. In total, the number of ships in the Home Fleet that were former colonial defense units were: 6 battleships (one Hercules-class and 5 Orion-class), 5 fleet carriers, a light aircraft carrier, 2 heavy cruisers, 16 light cruisers, and 114 destroyers. Numerically, it was greater than the West Fleet, but in terms of actual firepower it was still less than it and especially the Combined Fleet they'd already dispatched.
"I propose we form a relief force out of all those fleets with Mirkenses in command. If they leave tomorrow, they could make it to the border in time to reinforce Commander Andall." The Navy officer laid out his plan. "Without the aerial battleships present, their firepower might be sufficient enough to stop the World Union. If not," It was clearly a difficult thing for him to acknowledge but he did anyway, "then the amount of damage they inflict will make the coalition's defeat by our other reinforcements assured."
Xand Pastall pondered the option. Right off the bat, the plan was essentially sending second line forces to beat back the enemy's elite. The best and brightest sailors and officers always went to the main fleets and the competent but unremarkable or old went into the colonial fleets. And the colonial fleets were where ships spent the later half of their lifespans before getting shuffled to either the reserve fleet or the sent to the scrapyard. For most of the World Union, the Gra Valks Empire's second best were still very superior. His concern was the Milishials, especially now. Were they really equals, or were they more?
And despite all those colonial fleets being folded into the Home Fleet, none of them had really worked together. This wasn't like the main fleets with organized subordinate squadrons and a clear chain of command, it was casting one commander as the commander of nearly a dozen separate fleets and expecting them to all work seamlessly together. If given time to familiarize and train, it could be possible but deploying them immediately to battle ruled out any chance of building cohesion. All in all, it was a sloppy option.
But Xand Pastall expected it might be the one they went with. If they could do anything to prevent the enemy from entering their sphere of influence, then that was likely what the emperor would order. It wasn't just a military concern; it was political and diplomatic. The Gra Valks Empire was a colonial empire. It ruled by fear. Its whole plan in destroying the most powerful national fleets at the World Conference and the World Union's coalition fleet sent to counter-attack (before it had gone horribly wrong) went towards instilling fear into all the nations of the world. It was a proven strategy that through intimidation they could force a great many lesser countries to surrender themselves willingly without a fight, letting the Empire focus all its resources on the few larger countries that would be stubborn.
That entire strategy has gone down the toilet now. The air of invulnerability and overwhelming power the Gra Valkas had been crafting since their transfer here had shattered like a mirror. After this, very few countries would fear them enough to willingly surrender their sovereignty. The Empire would have to take it all by force now. It was strong, certainly, but the hard truth was the transfer still had lasting effects. The mainland had lost nearly the entire empire and millions of citizens and military personnel overseas from the transfer. Its government agencies were stretched thin trying to maintain all their new colonies. The Imperial Army too; compared to the Imperial Navy, not as many veteran units had been recalled at the time of the transfer. Almost 40% of their troops were men conscripted after the transfer. The Imperial machine would have to stretch even further.
Xand Pastall scolded himself. Even though it was natural to think of the big picture as the Director-General of the Military, he should be focusing on the immediate problem.
"I'll present it to the emperor." He'd probably need Mirkenses and her staff at the meeting too, if that was the case. Something else he had to organize.
Xand Pastall stayed up all night long with other officials from the Army and Navy. The Imperial Army had spent the last three years fortifying Leifor with defenses and stockpiling supplies. They weren't fools-they'd made preparations for declaring war on the entire world. Even if the World Union arrived to blockade Leiforia, he had assurances that Leifor was not going to fall. Even if the entire weight of the world bore down on the border, the Imperial Army was confident it could hold them off.
And Lars Filmyna was their largest port in the Second Civilization, but there were others. Paganda and Irnetia had been gateways to the west, so there'd been major ports in Leifor opposite those island countries, ports the Gra Valkas Empire had renovated. Leifor could still get supplies even if Leiforia was damaged.
The Leifor District wasn't going to fall. It might take damage, but they weren't going to lose their hold on the Second Civilization. All discussion moved to intercepting the World Union's ships. The Imperial Army had a substantial number of aircraft at Lars Filmyna they could use to support the Navy but otherwise stayed out of the discussion. Xand Pastall and the Navy officials mostly worked out the logistics of moving either the West Fleet or the colonial fleets out so quickly, finding it challenging but possible. The one action they did take was ordering the Submarine Special Operations Flotilla to start heading for Lars Filmyna. The Navy at least had that authority, but moving their other fleets and especially the West Fleet away from the colonies would need the emperor's approval.
Hundreds of men and women worked through the night.
Bright and early at 8 A.M the following morning, Xand Pastall found himself approaching Nivels Castle, location of the Office of the Sovereign and the official residence of the Emperor and Royal Family. His eyes ached and his whole body felt heavy after staying up all night. Aside from Mikrenses and her staff, he would be the only representative of the Imperial Military at the meeting.
There hadn't been time to write a proper report and distribute it beforehand for briefing material, so Pastall would have to present everything to not only the emperor, but other government officials. He dreaded the prospect, but for the sake of the Empire he pushed his tired body towards it. He hadn't had time to dwell on if his career would be at risk for this, and he was trying to avoid doing so until after the crisis was handled.
Imperial Guards allowed him onto the grounds and escorted him to the Castle proper, at which point staff from the Office of the Sovereign took over escorting him. He knew damn well where the meeting room was-he'd been here before-but it was a matter of procedure. Even then, Pastall felt an unusual tension in their steps. And his suspicion was confirmed when Secretary Kurtz was waiting to receive him outside the meeting room.
"You may go." He said flatly to his two employees, who immediately took their leave. Pastall and Kurtz stared at each other, two powerful men in their own rights, near equally indispensable to the Gra Valkas Empire.
"What the hell happened?" Kurtz demanded.
"I'll be covering that when I present it." Pastall had no time for the other man's games. Kurtz was an idealist, a zealot, the kind of man that believed will was enough to accomplish things. Pastall knew logic and reality would just bounce off his head.
"Come on, then." He was impatient. He led Xand Pastall inside. The audiences with the Gra Valkas Emperor weren't the same formal meetings Japan or the Holy Milishial Empire conducted. Everyone present, officials from every branch of the government (and Mirkenses and her staff) were standing up on either side of the room. The only chair was there the emperor sat on an elevated section of floor at the end of the room. A handful of Imperial Guards and other Office of the Sovereign staff members were hidden in the shadowed alcoves.
"Your Highness, Director-General Xand Pastall. This emergency meeting was insisted upon by him." After Kurtz's passive-aggressive introduction, Xand Pastall bowed to his sovereign, a gesture repeated by everyone.
"You may rise." Emperor Gralux said. Sitting straight in the elevated chair, the emperor already looked imposing. The fact he himself was a very tall man only added to it. Everyone stood up too. Kurtz officially called the meeting to session and moved to stand at the foot of the elevated section of floor. Xand Pastall was left standing by himself in the middle of the room with the eyes of many on him. Government officials and the most powerful man in the Empire, the emperor who would one day rule this entire world. He'd done this before, but it only got somewhat easier. Taking a deep breath, Xand Pastall held up his notes and began.
"Let me summarize the facts first for all present. On the 25th of last month, we assembled a Combined Fleet in Leiforia made up of the East Fleet, The Judgement Force, and other forces to meet the fleet of the World Union, the alliance formed by the Holy Milishial Empire to drive us from the Second Civilization Area. On the 5th of this month, in the morning, our Combined Fleet made contact with the World Union fleet approximately 3000km south of the Leifor District, off the coast of the Nigrat Union." Pastall paused to take a breath. "Our Combined Fleet took massive casualties and retreated. Admiral Caesar Roland perished in the battle, fighting a delaying action to allow the wounded to be evacuated from the battlefield. The World Union's fleet is still advancing towards Leifor." He finished.
No way dared have an uncontrolled outburst in the emperor's presence, but they didn't control their facial expressions. It was shock and disbelief mostly, but also some scorn directed at him, the head of the Imperial Military. Mirkenses looked absolutely livid; Xand Pastell could feel her eyes piercing him like daggers. But he only cared how the emperor reacted. Gralux leaned forward intently, perching his fingers in thought.
"How many casualties?"
"Only 25 destroyers returned. All our aircraft carriers and battleships, including the Grade Atlaster, were lost." Mirkenses' gaze burned against him even higher. Her and her staff understood the magnitude of those losses. The other officials didn't, but they did know how important the Grade Atlaster was to their national policy. "The two submarine fleets haven't returned yet. This is covered more in the full report, but there was a country in the World Union with advanced anti-submarine weapons. At least four were lost, maybe more. We won't know for certain for another day or two." At this point, the Imperial Navy didn't-couldn't-believe that both submarine fleets had been wholly destroyed.
The emperor unperched his fingers and sat straight again, arms laid out on the armrests, deep in thought.
"And how did that happen?" Of all the people in the room, Kurtz was the only one who could speak freely. Part of his job was communicating the emperor's whims, after all. "We are superior to even the strongest nation in their alliance, are we not? How were we defeated?" All eyes, including the emperor's, were on Xand Pastall again.
"Once Admiral Caesar realized his fate, he had a report on the battle transmitted with the escaping destroyers. Everything is contained in this report." He held it up. Emperor Gralux motioned for him to read it. Pastall took a deep breath and started. Since he hadn't memorized it so quickly, he read directly off the pages. He was grateful for an excuse to not have to look the emperor in the eye.
He read the first third of the report mechanically, describing the first strike by Japanese aircraft that had dramatically set the tone of the battle, the Combined Fleet's efforts to bounce back, and the surprise reveal of Japan's advanced anti-submarine aircraft. Xand Pastall took a break there to convey the late Caesar's frustration. "He insists that we find no fault with any member of the Navy and that all blame for this upset belongs with the Intelligence Bureau for failing to warn about the capabilities of the Japanese Military." To Xand Pastall's immense satisfaction, the emperor's eyes narrowed and turned to the side of the room where the Director of the Intelligence Bureau was standing.
"Step forward." At his sovereign's command, the Director hesitantly stepped forward until he was in the center of the room beside Xand Pastall. The Director-General could immediately tell the man had not showered since the previous night. "Why did the Imperial Navy go into battle without adequate intelligence?" The emperor asked a single piercing question.
"Lack of resources, your Highness. Since Mu is on our doorstep and the Milishials are our equal, the Third Civilization wasn't considered a priority. We thought it more important to have robust-" The Emperor raised a hand, and he shut up immediately.
"When we started our plans to unite this world under our flag," he reminded them all, "I said there were only two countries that worried me. Which countries were they?" His gaze bore into the Intelligence Director.
"Mu and Japan."
"The Holy Milishial Empire is strong." The emperor conceded, "So I have no problem with the military focusing on them." Japan had powerful weapons, that much was clear. But in terms of national and military scale, they were much smaller than the Gra Valks Empire, hence why even at that moment Xand Pastall wasn't too worried about them. "But Mu and Japan, more than any other, have the ability to understand and adapt to us. So, at the very least, I expected the Intelligence Bureau to be keeping an eye on them. Why weren't they?" The room went deathly silent for a moment.
"There is no excuse." The Director finally admitted. "We made a grave error."
"Xand Pastall." The emperor addressed him. "Is his failure the reason for our defeat?" The Director-General chose his next words carefully. He held no professional respect for the other man anymore, and he knew what he said next would sink his career even further. But it also meant addressing the fantastical elements of their defeat.
"He is, your Highness, but not purely for that reason. Japan alone wasn't the reason we lost. The Holy Milishial Empire ultimately caused us the most losses. What I'm about to say sounds outlandish, but thousands of surviving servicemen and Caesar swear upon it." Xand Pastall read the rest of the battle report, detailing the flying battleships, the man who commanded one of them and their supposed origins, the bombs they carried that could destroy a regular battleship, and the one in a million shot from the Grade Atlaster that had finally fended them off. Everyone was so in shock by it, Xand Pastall wasn't sure all of them heard the final parts of the report where Japan sank the support fleet, and Caesar led a final charge against the Milishials.
When he was done, there was only silence.
Everyone was in obvious shock. Even Mirkenses' rage had subsided and now she only looked troubled. Everyone, even the emperor, was making the same flaw in judgement Xand Pastall and the military officials had: Japan was strong, but it was conventional so it could be overcome. But the Milishials had something unconventional they only fended off through a fluke. It was something that might put a halt to their plans of world conquest. How were they supposed to overcome it?
As any leader should, Gralux brought them out of their stunned state. And he did so by punishing those at fault for the current predicament. "Kurtz." He ordered. "When this meeting is over, assign an escort to the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Make sure that after he returns to the bureau, he fixes these glaring oversights and appoints a replacement. Then see to it he's in custody until we can determine the full extent of the Intelligence Bureau's mistakes."
"Of course." Kurtz was glaring at the man in question. All the disdain for Xand Pastall as head of the military had been redirected to him now. The Director didn't even try to fight it. He'd just said they thought resources were better spent on the Milishials, but then they'd missed these magical superweapons that had devastated their fleet; he had no excuse.
"This is a grave situation." The emperor acknowledged. "Xand Pastall, is the Leifor District in danger? Is the mainland in danger?"
"No, your Highness." He was pleased to finally give some good news. "Now that those flying battleships have retreated, we need only worry about the World Union's fleet. The Imperial Army has Leifor secure enough that it won't fall even in the event of a blockade of Leiforia, and we have backup supply routes in that case anyway."
"So, you have everything under control now?" Kurtz questioned.
"A portion of the Leifor Defense Fleet is near the maritime border. The Navy has dispatched the Submarine Special Operations Flotilla near Paganda to blockade the route, but neither will be enough. We have two primary options for defeating the World Union, but both will require your approval." Xand Pastall told the emperor. Gralux motioned for him to proceed. "The preferred option by the Navy is to reassign the West Fleet to the east. If it is ordered to move out today, it can reach Leiforia in time to defend it, although this option will mean the World Union will pierce our sphere of influence."
"N-now hold on!" The Director of the Conquest Office interjected. "What about our colonies!?"
"Have you already forgotten the emperor's orders?" Kurtz wanted to criticize too. "The point was to keep those barbarians as far from our territory as possible! Now you're suggesting we just let them walk in?!"
"Allow him to finish speaking." Gralax spoke, and the two immediately shut up.
"If it concerns the Conquest Office so much, we have several colonial fleets that were folded into the Home Fleet that can be dispatched to replace the West Fleet. The second option," Pastall glanced towards Mirkenses, "is giving Admiral Mirkenses control over the former colonial fleets currently folded into the Home Fleet. They're second line forces and they aren't as powerful as the West Fleet, but if they leave now, they could reach the border before the World Union does. Even in this case, we still recommend moving the West Fleet, just to be sure."
The Emperor glanced towards the only female of the Three Great Generals and raised his hand. She immediately marched forward to stand on Pastall's other side, her military boots powerfully thumping on the stone floor before her body pivoted perfectly to face the Gra Valkas leader. "These are the forces available to her." Pastall had wisely brought two copies of the roster of available ships for both individuals. He handed Mirkenses one directly. Kurtz took the other and handed it to the emperor. Both read over it. Mirkenses was nodding to herself, finding it serviceable. The emperor read it and made his decision.
"Mirkenses." Gralax addressed her. "I will entrust this task to you knowing you will match the late Caesar's willpower and devotion to the Empire." That statement was a massive compliment-acknowledging her as an equal to the now revered former East Fleet commander- and a repeat of the same order Caesar had died by-keep the World Union from breaching the Empire's borders or die trying.
"Of course, your Excellency." Mirkenses didn't even flinch.
"Be weary of Japan." He ordered. "Going forward, I expect the Imperial Military to treat them as an equal." He directed that at Xand Pastall. "I will allow the West Fleet to be redeployed as well." The emperor continued. The Conquest Office Director made no verbal complaint, but his body language signaled defeat. "Right now, the entire Empire's priority is defeating the World Union. After that, we will have to re-evaluate everything." He leaned back. "Complacency has wounded us gravely. It will not destroy us." He addressed everyone in the room then. It wasn't a declaration of resilience; it was an order: Don't mess up again. Not when the Gra Valkas Empire's fate hung in the balance.
Everyone was dismissed, Mirkenses and her staff went directly to Home Fleet headquarters to take charge of her new post. Another collision of power had been set in motion.
Day 15, 2nd Month, 1643. Near the Leifor-Sonal border
"Tomorrow?! What the hell kind of deadline is that?" Colonel Erfan of the Gra Valkas Imperial Army Air Service said out loud. The commander of the Imperial Army's airbase in southwest Leifor grumbled at the extremely large bundle of orders and documents a liaison plane had just delivered. It was a lot to work through, but there was a shorter and more concise summary enclosed.
The 14th Air Wing is ordered to sortie and neutralize the Japanese military stationed in the Nigrat Union. The 16th Air Wing will support.
The Intelligence Bureau was a part military, part civilian agency. Unfortunately, it inherited the sluggishness common to the latter. Emperor Gra Lux had told the Director on the 9th to get things in order. It was late on the 10th by the time that was relayed to the Leifor branch, and that lit a whole other fire before it was even read to the rank and file on the 11th.
As it turned out, an Intelligence Bureau member in Leifor by the name of Naguano had only recently secured a book from Mu that had been published in Japan that gave insight on Japanese weapons. The book, a comparison of the Self-Defense Forces' and Gra Valkas' different weapons and tactics to entertain readers with how an upcoming conflict might go, had thoroughly spooked the young man. But when he brought it to the head of the branch, he'd been lambasted. The specifications of Japan's weapons were so outlandish that they'd been dismissed as unbelievable. That entire half of the book was disregarded, and instead the publication had been passed higher up the chain as an information breach concerning the Gra Valkas Imperial Military's weapon performances.
Then when he read about Japan's power in the air and at sea and the orders for more information, Nauguano's superior had been startled enough to spill hot coffee all over his crotch. Everyone had a bad morning, but he especially had one. After that, Naguano's full report was examined again, and reassessed to be "partially accurate". It was sent back to the mainland. In the hustle and bustle of the abrupt upturn, the information from field agents that Japan was using an airfield in the Nigrat Union and not an aircraft carrier managed to get paperclipped onto Naguano's report. It all reached Ragna by midday on the 12th, and it was in the Military's hands the next morning.
Xand Pastall personally read it and conferred with Imperial Army officers on the feasibility of neutralizing it. It was nearly at the max range of their airbases in Leifor. But now that they were working under the assumption Japan was at the very least equal to them, then they couldn't discount that Japanese aircraft could hit them as well. The threat to the Imperial Army spurred them to action more than the possible threat to the Navy, but no matter the reasoning the decision was made: the Army Air Service would launch an attack to neutralize the Japanese squadrons and render the airfield unusable.
The final reason it was arriving on the 15th was secrecy; radio communications could be intercepted. Indeed, had they transmitted it over radio, the Japanese would have found out what they were up to. So, to be extra cautious, everything was physically sent. But with it came a strict deadline; the 16th was about when the bulk of the World Union would arrive near the maritime border. That gave Colonel Erfan, his staff, and his subordinates roughly 18 hours to put together an operation.
"What even are these specifications?!" His own head of intelligence said. "'1000km/h max speed'? 'Accurate bombing from high altitude'? No aircraft can have these specifications!" He was incredulous.
"They must be comparable to the Antares at least, considering they drove back the Imperial Navy." Colonel Erfan reminded them. The gathered officers scoffed; the Gra Valkas Empire's military had its own branch rivalries. "Whatever planes Japan has, we have our orders."
"Not to mention anti-aircraft weapons. Our target is the only airfield in the Nigrat Union capable of launching planes." The head of operations pointed out. "It'll likely be defended."
"The 16th Air Wing out of Love Air Base further east will be launching its own attacks against the Sonal Kingdom. That might draw in the Japanese fighter squadron, along with any wyverns in the so called 'World Union'. HQ wants us to launch our own attack half an hour after." Erfan told them.
"When the base is undefended by fighters." His intelligence officer realized.
"Ideally. Japan isn't quite the same as the barbarians we're used to facing, so we can't assume how they'll react."
"Still, it's an entire air wing against one airfield. The Japanese have less than 30 planes, and only half are probably fighters. The balance is overwhelmingly in our favor. Even if their fighters are faster than ours, we need only to tie them up while our bombers bypass them and hit the base." The operations staff officer said. "It is simple."
"It should be simple. But don't let your guard down. We're not going to embarrass ourselves like the Imperial Navy."
A drastic escalation of the Battle of Baltica was decided upon.