RM Vol 2: National Development – Chapter 26: Narrow Margin

RM Vol 2: National Development – Chapter 26: Narrow Margin

You know something is dead wrong when you're working late into the night, only to be pulled to the situation room in the middle of your work. That's what happened to me and no, it's not wrong because Bryn is eyeballing me for overworking again. What can I say, we need to get those satellites up and running pronto, but I digress.

The situation room I talked about is part of an underground complex beneath ONI headquarters, not the one in the Obsidian Palace mind you. That one is reserved for the Empresses in a wartime situation and the circumstance right now is not war per se.

Stepping into the room, furnished with enough electronics, computers, and intelligence officers to run the entire Reich in the shadow, I am greeted by Section Head Agent. The black hair lady gives me a bow before giving me a rundown of the matter at hand.

"Marshal, as we expected, the Sardegnian Papacy has launched their subjugation fleet for Spain, citing that the Spanish Inquisition has gone rogue due to foreign influences and will be put down accordingly."

"I see." After we bombed their so-called supersoldiers to death, it's a given the Papacy would overtly react like that. "ETA and composition?"

I and Bryn take a seat at a large table with a digital map of the Mediterranean. Already there is Grand Admiral Karl Donitz that is eyeing the table with vest interest. Agent operates the instrument on the side of the table and updates the information on it.

"According to SIGINT and HUMINT, they are sending over four corps, amounting up to 200000 men and related equipment. Their army will be transported by a dedicated fleet of twenty auxiliary vessels and due to the amount of cargo they have to haul, we suspect it will take them twenty to thirty trips. The first trip with its accompanying escorts is ten hours away from Spain." Agent reported as the map showed pictures of the Sardegnian Army deployment and boarding the transports with their gear.

"200000 men, that's almost twice the number of the standing army the Spanish Inquisition is currently fielding, counting the military contractors also. Not to mention the fact that, albeit lesser in quality, the Sardegnian has an overwhelming number of armored fighting vehicles." Bryn commented, to which I nod.

"Adding in the unknown number of supersoldiers, or should I call them Crusaders by now, they can overrun Spain in a matter of days. However, to ferry over such a large force, they will need to obtain sea dominance and a good enough deepwater port to boot. I highly doubt the Papacy military is trained in amphibious warfare."

Agent nods before highlighting a section of Eastern Spain. "It's as you suspected, Marshal, our spies reported that they will attack Comberth Harbor, the largest and most heavily defended harbor of the Inquisition Navy. Knowing that they outnumber the Inquisition Navy, the Sardegnians are aiming to knock out the Inquisition naval assets and make landfall in one singular operation, titled Operation Judgement."

Grand Admiral Donitz whistle. "They sure dream big for an untested navy."

"That they are Grand Admiral. The Papacy assigned the Caesar fleet for this operation with the composition of 1 Aquila class aircraft carrier, 1 Littorio class battleship, 2 Conte di Cavour class battleships, 3 Zara class heavy cruisers, 7 Trento class heavy cruisers, 8 Condottieri class light cruisers, and 15 destroyers of different classes." Agent reported while adding the fleet composition on the screen.

"An aircraft carrier? Now that's an interesting choice." I said.

I admit the cold truth, not hiding anything. "It's why this discussion must never leave this room. We will be doing Spain dirty but the profit we gain from knocking out the Papacy outweighs the price. Until we can eliminate Erusea and Ustio, Sardegna must be contained in the Mediterranean."

Sometimes, hard decisions must be made for the greater good, for the V2 plan, and Bryn understands this clearly. She is, after all, Brynhyldr, the first Valkyrie of Norse mythology. No one understands war as she does.

"I will see to it that this plan will be a success, Marshal." Donitz gave his words. "The two submarine Captains will also take this chance and record the soon-to-begin battle. We can analyze the footage to gain more insight into the Sardegnians' tactics."

"Alright. With that out of the way, I think it's high time we retire for the night. Just keep me posted if there's a major development or when the battle is about to commence." I talked to Agent before I and Bryn headed out. The task of monitoring the situation will be left for Agent and the intel officers to handle.

On a side note, Agent is filling in the place of Section Head Quellec since the man is still preoccupied in Rusviet.

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Putting down the phone, Admiral Matias Torres of the Spanish Inquisition Navy sighs aloud. The grizzled veteran is clearly unamused by the news. His XO, who is nearby, asks.

"Trouble confirmed, Admiral?"

Nodding, Torres answers. "So it would seem. Sardegna just declared war. Belkan intelligence expects the fleet to be ten hours away."

"Not too long of a time frame, but also not too short." The XO said. "We may be able to give the evacuation fleet a headstart."

Torres grunts in affirmation before he, alongside his XO, makes his way to the flagship of the Inquisition Navy, the Tannager, a Littorio class battleship. Along the trip, they come to see the whole of Comberth Harbor coming to life as convoys of trucks, men, and supplies are moving all over the place to make sure the two fleets are combat-ready.

Though the truth is, only a portion of the Inquisition Navy is ready to bring the fight to the Sardegnians. The rest are stocking fuel and supplies to make their long trip to Belkan shore, unfit for battle. Had there been enough time, maybe all 32 of their ships could have gone to war after being refitted with newer Belkan technology. Sadly for the Inquisition, this is not the case.

Torres has to make do with bringing only 8 of his ships to contend with the might of 37 Sardegnian vessels in ten hours. Granted his ships have a technological edge over their Sardegian counterparts and the latter can't bring all guns to bear without risking their convoy. It doesn't change the fact that Torres and his fleet are outnumbered 4 to 1...

"Then it's an even fight." Torres had the shadow of a smirk as he said that.