BXBX NOVEL Chapter 156: | 156 | Heavy Retaliation
The office of the fleet admiral in the branch office building was where important decisions of the United Navy were made. On the other hand, in the Command Center, it was in this place where the fleet admiral\'s important decisions were done.
And now, the current, troublesome issue they were tackling was the southern revolt perpetrated by the recently liberated slaves. The situation was complicated, and it was a mark of hostility towards the United Navy.
"Just when I got back, another war is already brewing." Walking through the hallway leading to the strategic command room was the second highest authority of the United Navy. Her name was Charlotte, a Vice Admiral.
She had just recently returned from the north with a battered fleet. She expected to be met with a particularly angry fleet admiral for damaging his frigates and almost destroying two. But unexpectedly, when she met her, he appeared to be in a good mood.
\'Wait, did he know that there would already be more work for me?\' Charlotte thought, thinking that their circumstances might be the punishment of the fleet admiral. But, she understood him the most. While him being angry was problematic.
He wouldn\'t cause the suffering of his subordinates for grudges.
With this in mind, she shook her head and got rid of her useless thoughts. Any problems regarding the situation would be dealt with in the strategic command. There was no need to waste her energy while heading there. It was better to use it during their upcoming discussion.
It didn\'t take long before Charlotte arrived in the strategic command. Several Captains have already arrived, awaiting for the meeting along with numerous intelligence officers. The commanding officers that couldn\'t participate were the ones already in a mission, or already participating the war.
She gazed at all of them with a serious expression and arrived at her respective position. It seems that she was the only one late. After her arrival, an intelligence officer began reporting their recent discoveries about the situation.
"Good afternoon, commanding officers of the United Navy. We will be reporting the current status of the southern colony, Austerus."
"It was in 0010 when we received a distress call from the Special-Response Units in the southern colony. According to them, out of nowhere, the liberated slaves began revolting against them. These slaves- no... rebels have ambushed many of our personnel, bringing about casualties."
"When we heard more about the information, a group of intelligence officers were swiftly sent to the fleet admiral\'s office. Even though we already know that the fleet admiral might not be in his office as it is currently the weekends, we still prompted to report to him."
"Luckily, he was already there with the legendary dragon, Laplace, by his side." Hearing the words of the intelligence officer, Charlotte raised her eyebrows with suspicion in mind. The Fleet Admiral and that Problem Dragon in the same room despite in the weekends.
It was even rare for the fleet admiral to stay in the office during these last days of the week, so for him to be inside with the dragoness brought forth some skepticism.
\'That man practices his routine with grace. He wouldn\'t work in the weekends even if there was a problem that needed to be solved. If we needed him, we had to come to his house and meet him there. In the weekends, his office had become his bane.\'
\'So, the fact that he was already there without our instigation means that something had occurred between him and the dragoness. It looks like they have done it in the office. How remarkable...\' Charlotte\'s inquisitorial skills weren\'t to be underestimated.
The edges of her lips rose as she wondered what must be done with this theory of hers. Though, before she could continue thinking about it, she returned her attention to the intelligence officer after hearing about the strange movements of the rebels.
"Further reports implies that the rebels are avoiding the colonists and are pushing all their resources against us. They appeared to have realize the hesitation of the Special-Response Units, and have become bold in their actions."
"As such, the Fleet Admiral of the United Navy gave an active-suppression order. The declaration of war has been accepted, and a reinforcing fleet will be sent to the southern colony, assisting the Special-Response Unit in their endeavors."
"The reinforcing fleet consists of two ships. The Advanced Airship, UNS Ceaseless Skies. And the Fast Sealift, UNS Wayward Son. In them will be the reinforcing military of the United Army, the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Mechanized Battalion, and 5th Armored Battalion."
The intelligence officer slightly raised her glasses and concluded her report. Silence perpetuated in the strategic command as the remaining commanding officers were left to their thoughts. After a short while, one of them finally spoke.
"Quite a large army to quell some rebellion." A Russian Commanding Officer of a frigate remarked since one would think that the United Army was conquering a small nation with the amount of personnel it was sending.
"That\'s to be expected. Our rebels numbers around the thousands, and the southern colony is vast. Am I right, Vice Admiral?" Another Russian Commanding Officer responded to his fellow captain\'s remark.
Vice Admiral Charlotte squinted her eyes, seriously thinking about the situation. She understood why the United Army was sent, and she knew why a lot of them was deployed to pour water into the flames spreading throughout the south.
"Correct, but the most important reason is simple. The southern colony must be quelled before the upcoming operation against the Colonial Dominion of Terra. We don\'t have any more time to enjoy our peace. We have to make a move."
"Otherwise, we wouldn\'t stand a chance against a heavily-defended, and reinforced colony. The Fleet Admiral wants to take care of the southern colony as fast as possible. If the problem in the southern could be solved, this would allow us to change our focus to the north."
The commanding officers in the strategic command nodded in understanding, accepting her words about the matter. It made sense, especially with the reason about why they should solve the problem in the south as quick as possible.
"At any rate, the southern colony must be dealt with."
...
Meanwhile, amidst the heavens between the southern colony and the island of Crescere, the UNS Ceaseless Skies soared with no obstacles in its wake. It was amongst the reinforcing warships sent to the southern colony to deal with the rebellion.
Its primary mission was reconnaissance and strategic airstrike.
"Sir, the UNS Guardian of the High Seas has called." A communication operator reported to the commanding officer of the UNS Ceaseless Skies, Captain Himmel.
Himmel was a young captain, a talented one like the famous vice admiral of the United Navy, Charlotte. Although his rank wasn\'t as high as hers, he was still a renowned commanding officer in his own right, assigning him to the one and only advanced airship, Ceaseless Skies.
"Open communication." He nodded at the communication operator and responded. The later swiftly opened communications between the UNS Ceaseless Skies and UNS Guardian of the High Seas.
*Congratulations for becoming a part of our fleet, Captain Himmel.* After connecting to the UNS Ceaseless Skies, Captain Howard of the UNS Guardian of the High Seas immediately congratulated him. After all, Himmel was part of the newest commanding officers in the United Navy.
"I am grateful and honored, Captain Howard. How is the situation in the southern colony?" Captain Himmel questioned, wanting to know deeper details about the problematic south. Hearing him, Captain Howard sighed and honestly answered his question.
*It has gone worser. Casualties in the SRU are racking up. I thought of pulling out from the southern colony, until I heard the active-suppression orders of the Fleet Admiral.*
"They are still being beaten back even with the active-suppression order? I thought that the Special-Response Unit are amongst the best units in the United Navy?" Captain Himmel was honestly surprised as he considered the natural strength of the beastfolks as excellent.
*You must not forget that they are fighting against their own kind, Captain Himmel. The Special-Response Unit has mostly considered themselves as liberators. They have been fighting against human colonists since the beginning of their duty.*
*Them fighting against their fellow enslaved beastfolks must have taken a toll on them. It\'s not hard to understand why casualties are getting higher. Though, I doubt that the dragon would be happy with the news.* Howard calmly explained.
"Would the dragon be angered by the high casualties?" Captain Himmel found it understandable as the Special-Response Unit were directly under the authority of the legendary dragon, Laplace.
*There is that, but there is also another reason.* Howard agreed with the words of the young captain, but he understood that it would be far more complicated than that. Especially after knowing the dragoness himself.
Despite her seemingly easy-going demeanor, she was someone who was far stricter than everybody else.
*She would probably reprimand them for their hesitation. I can already imagine the punishment she would give them after they had rested back in the Port of Dawn.* Captain Howard knew that the dragoness hated hesitation the most.
It could lead to them losing their own lives, or causing their allies to lose theirs as well. It was something she surely made sure to stomp on during their training. The fear they had towards the colonists practically got destroyed.
*Anyhow, I\'ll be sending you potential reconnaissance locations. You can target them for strategic airstrike if needed.*