122 – Operation Neptune (2)
Stendhal, Central Island of the Azov Islands.
National Liberation Front Headquarters.
All of them with shaggy beards took their seats at a huge round table. They were the commanders leading the National Liberation Front.
“Has anyone contacted you yet?”
“Nur Egenere would have been completely on the side of the enemy. Aren’t you the one who was skeptical of the Quernen invasion from the start!”
Lee Hardin, the commander of the homeland defense, said with exasperation. Since he was a political opponent who was completely opposite to the leader of the expedition, Nur Egenere, this was the only chance to tarnish his reputation.
No, to be precise, I didn’t have any particular reason to scratch it.
Nur Egenere was a complete failure. The fact that he would have surrendered by now was already guessed by everyone present here.
Rihardin’s attitude must have stemmed from pure malice toward his political opponents.
However, Mohammad Omar, the supreme leader of the National Liberation Front, was just as complicated. It’s still a lack of manpower, but we lost two excellent commanders and the most elite regiments.
Above all, the fact that the two ironclad ships provided by the Sobie Empire were not sunk but captured was shocking and terrifying.
Is that all?
“It is certain that the Ukrnians will strike back.”
“According to information from the Empire, yes.”
“You can’t tell the exact date, right?”
“It seems that it is probably scheduled for this week.”
Soviet Empire, backer and supporter of the Azov National Liberation Front. In fact, this invasion of Ukraine was also a war conducted in exchange for a legitimate price from the empire.
Even by handing over an enormous item called an ironclad ship.
The Soviet Empire, like the serpents of the old scriptures, plunged itself into the mire. Especially that red-eyed man.
The man who said he was from the General Intelligence Agency felt overwhelmed just by looking into his eyes.
-What do you think is the reason we have supported the Azov National Liberation Front?
-Is it a check on Ukraine?
– That’s the correct answer. The last Quarnen War was quite effective. Since then, Ukraine has started to walk an irreversible downhill.
-So, you guys have to play an active role this time too. This is the order of His Majesty the Emperor.
Because the fruit is young.
Time to trample again.
War supplies, including weapons and supplies, were also handed over within a few days by mobilizing a large navy.
Even Nur Egener, who was worried that he seemed to be too swayed by the Soviet Empire, gave up his will when he checked the amount of munitions that could not be converted into money.
Isn’t it impossible to undo anything like this?
Besides, the Soviet Empire was almost the only supporter of the Azov National Liberation Front, so it was obvious what kind of situation they would face if they refused the request here.
In the end, Mohammad Omar gave full permission to re-invade the Quarnen province.
The result was this month.
Now, the Azov National Liberation Front was about to face a fierce counterattack from the Ukrnians, and the Soviet Empire began to withdraw as if it had never done so.
Why did the military supplies provided come from various countries in the Imperial Alliance?
Why are the manuals and equipment needed to operate the prototype ironclad ships written in the common language of the Freedom Association?
It was the moment when all those doubts were cleared.
If you shake the Ukraine according to the strategy, that’s fine. However, at the moment of failure, the Soviet Empire intended to abandon itself without remorse.
Fast.
Omar clenched his teeth.
“…… Strengthen coastal defenses as much as possible and divert all available naval forces to shore.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Order the coastal fortress units to be alert and dispatch shamans. Even if we don’t win, if we kill more Ukrnians, we’ll do something. And Rihardin.”
“Yes.”
“There was someone who commanded that shaman army under you. The hero who played a part in achieving a great victory in the last Quernen War.”
“Ah… You mean ‘Old Man of Alamut’?”
The old man of Alamut.
If Ukraine had Claude Lane, the butcher of lightning, Azov had an old man from Alamut.
Azov’s best shaman with overwhelming force, who can be called a ‘great mage’ as they say.
“Let him find a way to stop the Ukrnian air fleet. I’m sure the old man knows how.”
“I’ll let you know that.”
“Okay. Then…”
The supreme leader commanded his subordinates in a calm voice.
“There is no surrender, surrender, or retreat. Kill at least one more Ukrnian bastard.”
It was natural.
In the first place, the Azov National Liberation Front was a group of madmen.
At one time, they were united in the cause of the end of discrimination and autonomy for the islanders.
In fact, now it was all about serving as a ‘preventing string that forcibly weaves the bonds of those who are out of line’.
And in the absence of Nur Egener, the last conscience and barrier of the Azov Islands.
They had no choice but to drag the Ukrnian army into the mire of death, sacrificing the blood of the islanders.
“Hey, Vismir.”
“Vismir Akbar!!”
The slogan of calling the name of God is the last one.
They were scattered.
***
Anyway, Sobie Empire’s intelligence was certain. The Azov National Liberation Front has entered a full-scale reinforcement of the front.
The guns of the coastal forts were open 24 hours a day.
All the ships that went out to sea to plunder merchant ships were returned to defense and patrol missions in the inland sea.
There was no other reason why the Azov National Liberation Front could stand on par with a fully independent principality.
They, too, were possessors of military power that should not be taken lightly.
The Azov Islands consisted of a total of four islands. At least one coastal fort was installed on each island, except for the ‘farm’, which was the smallest and couldn’t properly build a fort.
Most of them were outdated cannons that were left behind by the Rus Empire troops dispatched to the islands during the old Rus Char Empire.
On Stendhal, the central island, there were coastal guns produced directly in the kingdom of Adaliya.
With coastal artillery like this, it was able to exert sufficient deterrence even against ironclad ships that had been captured.
They had been looking at the distant horizon for several days with their shells loaded.
So it didn’t take long for Stendhal Island itself to transform into a huge fortress.
The coast is defended with coastal artillery and coastal fortifications.
By actively deploying artillery and ballista units on high ground where the enemy can infiltrate, the ‘air fleet’ in question is checked.
If you look at it in a way, it was a pretty good eye.
At least the concept of ‘anti-air’ shooting had been established.
Several days passed like that.
Around the time when the fatigue of the soldiers of the National Liberation Front of Azov, who had been waiting in a tense state, was slowly reaching its limit.
Quaaang!!
With the roaring sound of gunfire waking up the gradually brightening morning, flames soared from the coastal forts.
The sight reflected on the Azov soldiers rushing towards the coastal guns.
“My God, Yahar… ….”
It was a large Ukrnian fleet that filled the sea not far away.
***
From noble mtl dot com
The maneuvers of the Ukrnian landing force proceeded almost simultaneously in three directions.
The 1st front is ‘Hill 921’ where the 8th Assault Magical Infantry Combat Team is deployed to infiltrate the island’s main defense line, cut off the supply route, and neutralize the enemy’s artillery.
The 2nd Front is the ‘Damasco Coast’ where the 32nd and 19th Divisions land based on fire support with two ironclad ships and battleships.
The 3rd Front was ‘Guadalca Island’, where the remaining battalions of the Special Response Brigade, excluding the Mado Infantry Combat Team, would board a corvette, a small sloop.
Everyone knew that the second front would be the most intense battle by far.
Thus, the second front was planned to be opened immediately after the first and third fronts were deployed.
It was the 8th Assault Magical Infantry Combat Team that was in charge of the spearhead and signal fire without fail.
So they arrived in the Azov Islands much earlier than the main fleet.
Originally, it was a Diabola that had no choice but to operate at a distance of less than 1km in the sky.
Thanks to continued performance improvement and continuous support from the Reinhardt Empire, it is now possible to operate at a considerable altitude of 1.8 Km.
Of course, it still couldn’t compare to modern aircraft, but it seemed far away when seen from the ground.
Fortunately, we were able to infiltrate the skies over Azov without any hindrance.
Even so, the hull was white and there were a lot of clouds, so I couldn’t properly identify it with the naked eye.
“Squad, prepare to descend!”
“Prepare for descent!!”
A loud sound came from the passenger compartment. 1St Company led by Captain Nikolai Hilbert and 2nd Company led by Captain Luna Aire.
Enoch Levandel slowly ordered the pilot to lower the altitude, looking at the soldiers who were conducting inspections just before the descent.
The current altitude is 1.1 Km.
Because the limit of the Type 1 Zeppelin Magic Descent Noble Phantasm used by soldiers to descend was 500m, they had to descend within it to safely descend.
[This is a Zeppelin, descending altitude.]
[2Nd ship Lewandowski good reception.]
[Good reception on ship 3 Enoch.]
The time when the three airships were descending while checking each other’s distance.
Something began to glow all at once from below.
It seemed that something was reflected in the sunlight.
“…… ?”
It was before Enoch could clearly decipher what it was.
Something like a long pillar on a bridge quickly passes by. It rose from below.
An anti-air ballista.
As soon as a terrifying sensation swept through Enoch’s mind, he grabbed the communicator and hurriedly broadcast a warning message.
“Listen up everyone, Ballista! The enemy has anti-aircraft weapons. Say it again!! The enemy has anti-aircraft weapons!! Evade everyone!!”
But now that we are within shooting range, it is too late to respond.
[Ship number 2, ship number 2 hit!!]
[Emergency evasion of the 3rd ship!]
I never dreamed that the enemy would have anti-aircraft weapons, so the airships of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Combat Team were helpless.
Amidst the barrage of ballista fire like rain pouring backwards, Enoch witnessed the second ship Lewandowski spouting thick smoke.
Indescribably small flames rise above the cloth used as an air bag.
Purple flames.
It wasn’t just a fire. It wasn’t enough to oil the ballista’s tip, and even cast a special spell to create an eternal flame that would never be extinguished once attached.
Like that.
As if they were just waiting for them to come.
The 8th Assault Magic Infantry Combat Team faced the enemy’s fierce attack for the first time.