Two more weeks slipped by, and Bell wrapped up the reconstruction efforts in Saven. Most of the roads were now paved with concrete, and the skyline was dotted with newly erected power infrastructure. The military had also established a local garrison in Saven, primarily comprised of personnel from the recently formed 1st Infantry Division, armed to the teeth with LAV-6s and Stryker ADs.
As time marched on, news arrived from the RAA, bringing unexpected developments. Investigations had been conducted to pinpoint responsibility or, at the very least, suspicion in the grand scheme of things. Surprisingly, both humans and demons seemed hesitant in their resistance. The RAA's findings pointed fingers at the elves, suggesting Falael might have some involvement with them.
Sitting on a bench overlooking the city from a distance, Bell and Gerhard pored over the reports provided by the RAA. In the nighttime darkness, the twinkling city lights served as a testament to the progress made by Bell and the Federation over the past weeks.
"It's puzzling. Why would Falael allow our army into his town, especially knowing the Southern Coalition's stance? It's clear, but could it signify a shift in allegiance?" Gerhard mused.
"He must have had ulterior motives, sir. There's no doubt about that. Hussar was worried that Saven and your army would be wiped out by a Longinus strike from the south, so he did everything possible to maintain Saven's appearance of neutrality. But Falael's intentions seem sketchy," Gerhard explained.
"Saven doesn't exactly scream 'neutral' anymore, with Federation markings plastered everywhere," Bell remarked.
"Exactly. Which makes it a legitimate target," Gerhard concurred.
"Well, they'd probably target humans more than demons. After all, this isn't our first dance with a Longinus strike," Bell asserted, his confidence bolstered by the extensive air defense systems he had acquired.
The advancement in cluster-guided munitions led to the creation of a variant of the AMRAAM known as the AIM-130 Advanced Cluster Long-Range Air-To-Air Missile, or ACLRAAM, specifically designed to counter the threat of Longinus strikes. Each ACLRAAM missile could split into four separate projectiles, a feature tailor-made for dealing with such attacks. Considering that the ACLRAAM was only slightly larger than the AIM-120, one could easily envision the payload that a standard F-15EX could carry.
To further solidify his confidence, Bell procured another set of F-15EXs for defensive purposes, enhancing their long-range air defense capabilities. Additionally, he expanded the fleet with more C-17s and C-5s to facilitate airlift operations between Saven and Frostwood. In short, an air-train system was now established between the two locations.
Lisa tasked Hanna with discreetly evacuating the demons to Frostwood. The rationale behind this covert operation was the RAA's suspicion of an imminent counteroffensive by the Southern Coalition, especially now that the snow had begun to melt. It was only a matter of time before the Southern Coalition made a move to eradicate the demonic population from the Northern Continent.
RAA intelligence indicated that the assault would likely commence from the sea, with a fleet already en route to establish a beachhead for future operations.
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"Thirty ironclads with heavy cannons sailing to our shoreline is certainly cause for concern, wouldn't you agree?" Bell remarked.
"What's our course of action?" Gerhard inquired.
"Are these military vessels?" Bell confirmed.
"Yes, sir," Gerhard replied.
"Then it's a no-brainer. Let's sink them," Bell decided.
"Understood, sir. It'll be taken care of," Gerhard acknowledged.
"Coordinate with the air force, and keep me updated," Bell instructed.
"Will do, sir."
"Now, shifting back to the topic of Saven, what's your take on Mayor Falael?" Bell redirected the conversation.
"Mayor Falael's behavior has been rather inconsistent," Gerhard began, his tone thoughtful. "Publicly, he presents himself as neutral and cooperative with the Federation, but our intelligence paints a different picture. There have been clandestine meetings with unknown parties, and his financial transactions raise some eyebrows."
Bell absorbed this information, pondering the implications. "Is he playing both sides? Perhaps leveraging our presence for his own gain with the Southern Coalition? Or is there something more complex at play? The bigger question remains: how and why?"
Gerhard reclined, contemplating the intricacies of the situation. "It's all about perspective, sir. Falael may be aiming to safeguard his position regardless of the conflict's outcome. Engaging with unknown entities allows him to hedge his bets. If the Federation prevails, he's the cooperative mayor. If the Southern Coalition gains ground, he has avenues for negotiation or even a potential power position."
Bell pondered this insight, stroking his chin in thought. "So, he's playing the long game. But given our current dominance, particularly in military capabilities and infrastructure, it's a risky strategy for him. Saven is firmly under our control, and any overt hostility towards the Federation would be self-destructive."
"True, sir. But our adversaries aren't renowned for their strategic brilliance," Gerhard remarked.
"Should we counter with a bold move then?" Bell suggested.
"What kind of move?" Gerhard inquired.
"If we can expose Falael's machinations to Hussar, positioning ourselves as innocent bystanders, we could strengthen our grip on Saven and discredit him as mayor. It's a risky maneuver, but I'm curious to see his endgame," Bell proposed.
"Do you think the Southern Coalition ships are part of his scheme?" Gerhard speculated.
"Possibly. But any attack would likely commence with a Longinus strike, that much is certain," Bell acknowledged. "If those vessels are carrying troops, we should anticipate a direct confrontation. This situation is perplexing, to say the least."
"Sir, if I may, let's play along with Falael's strategy," Gerhard suggested.
"How so?" Bell inquired.
"The RAA suspects Falael has been in communication with the coalition, indicating that the ships might be his backup plan," Gerhard elaborated.
"He must be delusional to believe that thirty warships, easily detected, would make a difference," Bell remarked.
"Exactly. That's why we should play into his delusion. Here's the plan I've devised and received approval for from the chief of staff. The idea is to make Falael think his plan is succeeding," Gerhard explained.
"So, sacrificing some of our own troops?" Bell frowned.
"No, just a simulated retreat. However, we need Hussar to evacuate the human population from the town. Once that's done, the town becomes a battleground," Gerhard clarified.
"Well, you've certainly simplified my task," Bell retorted sarcastically, inwardly acknowledging that his relationship with Hussar wasn't progressing well, unless he could convince him of the coalition's impending attack.
"We have five days before the ironclads reach firing range. Do your best, sir," Gerhard urged.
"I will," Bell sighed, aware of the daunting challenge ahead. "But if we can't evacuate both human and demonic populations, those ships will be sunk without hesitation."
“I see no problem in that.”
“This isn’t going to end well, isn’t it?” Bell sighed.
“It will end well, sir. Falael’s sheer gamble is the testament to his obliviousness.”
“Right, and our gamble is the testament to our naivety.”