HMS Ambush.
The British submarine was watching the Parlpadian fleet heading for Altaras, they were keeping a close watch on the dragon carriers to sink them quickly.
"While the Altaras fleet we saw on the way here may be outnumbered, it is not impossible that they could win the naval battle. However if the Parlpadian wyverns manage to take flight then your kingdom will be lost, princess." The one who spoke was the captain of the submarine.
"So the target is those dragon carriers? Can they destroy so many when they are being escorted by line fleets?"
"Don't worry, we'll be able to sink every one of them. Ready torpedoes! All 6 torpedo tubes should be ready to fire!"
Soon the crew began to prepare for combat, placing the torpedoes in the torpedo tubes and then began to load the batteries and memory to the fire control system. The tubes were filled with water to eliminate the air inside to prevent bubbles from reaching the surface when firing, the balancing valve was opened so that the pressure of the ocean would not affect the torpedo.
"Fire the torpedoes!"
Super Phishanus class 120-gun Magic Ship Pall flagship of the Parlpadian fleet.
The fleet's commander-in-chief, Sius, was hours away from meeting the Altarian fleet, he was quite confident of victory.
"But I'm surprised that the emperor decided to attack with the imperial army instead of using the subjugation army. It seems that things didn't go as well in Fenn as they said." the ship's captain asked Sius why spend to mobilize this fleet of more than 300 ships for an uncivilized nation.
"If we were talking about a common uncivilized nation then I would have the same questions as you." Sius replied. "However the Altarian fleet is no joke, during the time of Emperor Maximilian, twenty years ago, we made multiple investments in Altarus to combat the pirates of the Karakt Sea who were attacking the cargoes of magic stones and seafood coming into Parlpadia. These waters were full of pirates and the empire had to use much of its fleet to maintain trade routes, so it was decided to modernize the Altarian fleet through naval attachés and advisors."
"Ah, I think I understand the reason for that. Twenty years ago there was the conflict with the Meerky Kingdom over the Mois Islands, I was at the forefront of the negotiations after months of tensions and that little naval skirmish. If there had been a war against a central world country we could not have protected the magic stone trade."
"Exactly, at that time the empire needed a strong Altarus that could defend the trade in magic stones. Now the situation has changed and the empire needs to crush what is undoubtedly the strongest nation outside the civilized area and seize its mines." Explained the fleet commander-in-chief.
However the ship's captain was right about one thing, the attack on Fenn did not go as they had planned. The wyvern knights had encountered Argentina and they demonstrated an incredible anti-aircraft power, never in history two ships without air support had been able to stop a complete squadron of wyverns and much less cause so many casualties, in fact if it had not been for the Air Tactic N°47 the wyverns would have been anihilated.
In the Parlpadian high command they began to fear that Argentina would make contact with Altarus and that they would intervene, if the anti-aircraft and naval capabilities of both were combined it could result in a serious threat to the Parlpadian power.
"And all because the imbecile ambassador decided to demand the princess as a SLAVE! I hope that Emperor Kaios will judge him for sabotage in diplomatic negotiations or I myself will chain him to a cannonball and throw him into the Grameus Sea for the sirens to devour him!"Sius was angry, although he was in agreement with the gunboat policy and a strong hand so as not to show weakness in the face of recent events, it was a totally different thing to provoke and insult uncivilized countries in that way knowing that a country like Argentina was out there forming what looks like a massive coalition of uncivilized countries for who knows what purpose, in addition, of course, to Leiforia, who without hesitation will seek to weaken Parlpadia to take away their position as the third power. "If we don't hurry up and Leifor sends weapons and military attaches to Altaras we will be in serious trouble."
The sea was calm, few waves and the occasional seagull flying through the blue sky, that only made a strong explosion shook the waves taking everyone off guard.
"W-What was that?! What happened?!"
"One of our dragon carriers has exploded!"
"What?! Did a wyvern attack us?!"
"Sir, there is nothing in the sky or in the magic sensors!"
You could see how the ship had virtually disappeared, pieces of bodies and wyverns in the sea were washed away by the waves, a wyvern was alive but the mast of the ship had fallen on it so the flying reptile tried not to sink using all his strength.
"Perhaps... did the ammunition store explode?"
A Spearfish torpedo with a 300kg explosive head had hit the dragon carrier and soon another five would hit the others, one by one the dragon carriers were disappearing, the surviving wyverns were flying to try to land on another ship, but without their riders they would be useless in aerial combat although they are wyvern lords superior to a normal wyvern.
"Shit! What kind of magic is this?! all riders take off in their wyverns now! Get out of the dragon carriers!"Ordered Sius.
"But commander! There are still hours before the enemies arrive, our improved wyvern species are stronger and faster than ordinary wyverns but they spend a lot of energy! If they are flying for a long time then they will not be able to fight in conditions and it is even possible that they will die of exhaustion after the battle!"
A wyvern had flown towards the mast of a liner, causing it to break, which indicated that they would not be able to use ordinary ships as transport either.
"Damn it... We cannot afford to lose experienced riders, the air tactic n° 47 would not be as effective without experienced riders who can coordinate with the illusions and if the riders can not execute the air tactic n° 47 the Argentine anti-aircraft force will destroy them like flies... Let the Wyverns retreat to the Atom base! The rest of the fleet will continue to Altaras!"
HMS Ambush.
"All torpedoes hit the target, Captain!" Said the periscope observer.
"Ready the second round of torpedoes!"
Soon the crew was repeating the previous operation, readying the torpedo tubes, ready to fire, but they were soon interrupted by the periscope observer.
"The wyverns are rising, they've started flying north back to the mainland!"
"I understand... Princess Lumiess, the dragon bearers without wyverns are dangerous?" Asked the captain.
"I don't know much about naval warfare but I know that the dragon carriers are loaded with heavy cannons on the right side of the carrier, this is so that the ship doesn't sink from the weight of the wyverns perched on the left side flight ramp." She replied, somewhat anxious to learn that the wyvern lords were leaving the battle before it began.
"Do you know how heavy the cannons are?"
"No, however I had heard from my father that he had placed bombards on our dragon carriers."
"They are ships for attacking coastal fortifications, that means they will not participate in the front line fighting as they are too slow to reload... Very well, we'll keep the 6 torpedoes in case the wyverns return to the dragon carriers, if they don't return then we'll use them to shoot down the ships that give the most trouble."
Pall, Super Phishanus-Class flagship.
Sius was breathing a sigh of relief after an hour had passed without another incident, he had no idea what had happened. Was it sabotage by infiltration? A chain of errors over the storage of ammunition? He only knew that he had sent his air force home.
"And to make matters worse now there's a south wind, Altaras' liners are smaller but fast and maneuverable."
"Don't worry, commanding officer. With our antimagic steel upgrade they would need to get very close to do considerable damage to us." The Pall captain was still optimistic.
"You are right, they will try to use their speed to try to maneuver over our line ships and attack the transports, that way even if they lose the naval battle we will have no choice but to retreat as we don't have enough forces for the invasion."
"A static defensive formation with the transports in the center, our guns will smash anyone who comes close, if we see that the enemy can break through the defense then the line ships in the rear will use the tear of the wind god to get in front of the transports." Proposed the captain.
"However we still have the problem of the enemy wyverns, luckily the transports are equipped with the anti-aircraft ballistas with the new magic fire control system."
The magic fire control system is a spell imbued in the projectile of the ballista so that it travels to the nearest larger magic signature with a range of 300 meters. Although the anti-aircraft power of the ballista has been greatly increased thanks to this spell does not mean that there are no problems; The spell did not distinguish between allies or enemies so it could not be used in conjunction with its own air force, this is the reason why this system has not been imposed on the entire Parlpadian fleet and has only been put on the transport ships. Another problem is that the guided missile could not follow the target if it made an abrupt change of direction or if it dodged the missile at the last moment. This system could not be used in cannons either, this is because Parlpadian cannons use magical force, this same magic released to propel the projectile stays in the projectile and, as the magical signature is too close to the projectile, the spell believes that this is the strongest magical signature and ignores wyverns or other creatures in front of it.
"This will be more complicated without our wyvern lords but we still have the advantage." Sius relaxed smoking a pipe."
Altarian Fleet.
At an incredible speed of 17 knots downwind, the Altarian ships were about to meet the enemy fleet, unlike the Parlpadians with their heavy ships of the line with over 70 guns or super heavy ships with at least 120 guns they used light frigates with no more than 36 guns. The Altarian naval doctrine learned the hard way against the pirates made them reject the doctrine of superheavy ships for one with higher speed. the only heavy ships they owned were the 8 dragon carriers that can carried the totality of their air power; 150 wyverns.
Admiral Bordo watched as the Parlpadian fleet moved into firing positions.
"Admiral, the air scouts confirmed that the enemy has no wyverns and that the transports are in the center of the formation.
"Those damn Parlpadians are taking us lightly if they didn't bring their wyvern lords, they're going to pay for it... Activate the tear of the wind god! We're not going to let them shoot us for long!"The admiral ordered them and so they obeyed, but instead of activating the tear of the wind god behind the sails they began to activate one in a device in the stern of the ship, soon the wind was trapped in that kind of machine and the wind escaped through some kind of tubes that guided the wind towards some propellers, making it rotate and making the ship reach 21 knots.
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This new magic stones engine was obtained thanks to Mu, this was the price to pay for Altarus to sell magic stones to them at a reduced price and not to sell to the countries under the sphere of influence of Mu. Although the Muans did not use the magic stones much, they resold most of them to the countries under their sphere of influence at a higher price.
While he enjoyed the speed, he felt euphoric not only to feel how he was approaching the enemy with greater speed but also to see how the world was moving in a completely new direction.
"The superpowers continue to believe that their secrets and technologies will always be hidden, that we countries outside the civilized area will never be able to reach them... Maybe that was in the past, but it's not something that could be kept forever. The superpowers need resources to keep growing, resources that we have, and there is a limit to the resources that you can obtain through conquest without the other powers turning against you. To get these resources, it is necessary to open up to trade sooner or later and the opening of trade means that technology begins to flow and soon it will be impossible to keep its sciences secret." Bordo meditated to himself while the enemy cannon shots fell into the water.
"Smokescreens! Let's show what we learned from the pirates! "The admiral ordered and soon the fleet began to fire the ballistics forward, being at a distance of one kilometer. Using the wind god's tear to make the projectile travel further.
The projectile was not an arrow, but a sphere, which exploded in front of the Parlpadian fleet releasing a black smoke and which, thanks to the wind, was advancing towards the fleet. The thick smoke made the sailors' throats burn causing a strong cough, the gunners had no choice but to close their eyes if they did not want the eyeballs to dry out.
Pall, flagship.
Sius was coughing through the thick smoke, trying to cover his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.
"Coff Coff! What the fuck is this?! How come the Altarian ships are so fast?!"
After a few minutes the smoke had passed, but when they could open their eyes they saw how the enemy frigates were about 100 meters above them.
"Shit! at that distance they will be able to break through the antimagic steel! open fire now!"Exclaimed the captain of the ship.
"No matter how close they are, a barrage of our cannons would make those small frigates disappear."Sius was still confident of victory, although it was certain that they would receive considerable damage., which bothered him.
However, the Altarian ships did not begin to turn to aim their cannons, instead they continued to advance in the direction of the spaces between the Parlpadian ships of the line.
"Tsk, it looks like they are going to ignore us and go straight for the transport ships... Warn the rearguard to advance and defend the transports!"
However, soon the ballistas of the ship passing in front of him began to shoot hooks to the bow of his ship to hold on and thus avoid being carried by the wind, soon another ship did the same with the stern of the Pall.
"W-What's going on?! Are they going to board?"
He soon saw the same thing happening with all the Parlpadian ships of the line at the forefront of the formation. Soon Sius understood what the Altarian plan was.
Soon the two enemy ships began to fire their cannons, tearing apart the bow and stern of the Pall. the 120 guns of the super ship of the line pointing to the sides of the ship were useless in this situation, only the four chase guns distributed between the bow and stern could respond to enemy fire, but still in total there were only four guns against 36
Some Altarian ships switched from ammunition to shrapnel if they found the chase gunners annoying, others simply focused on filling those huge ships with holes.
A few lucky shots hit the ammunition depot and caused a big explosion, quickly killing the ship of the line.
"Damn it! Let the rearguard advance to support us! If their entire fleet is attacking us then that means they will use their wyverns to attack the transport ships, the magic fire control system will take over the aerial threat!"Sius ordered as he watched as the wood was blown to pieces by the impact of the cannons, injuring some.
"Sir! The magic detector has detected the enemy wyverns! They are approaching from the flanks! It's 110!"
"110?! Are they not planning to attack with all their air power?!"
Altarian Fleet.
Bordo was under cover, the Parlpadian sailors were firing with their muskets and he was returning fire with his.
"Come on! We must sink those bastards before their other half of the fleet comes to help them!"
At that he felt as if a sudden and stabbing burning took over his abdomen, soon he took his hand to his abdomen and discovered that he had been given, feeling how little by little his strength was leaving, although he felt the hot blood gushing through his body adrenaline prevented him from feeling a very that prevents him from thinking about something else
"Shit."He exclaimed as he sat down on the floor, trying not to let more blood come out of his wound.
"If I die here at least I could give a blow to the pride of those bastards."He said starting to laugh, while still holding his wound. listening to the sound of the firing of muskets and cannons.
"Win or lose, this battle will show the world that the line between civilized and uncivilized is becoming increasingly blurred..." Remembering the news about a nation called Argentina that was able to impose its interests on Rodenius over the Parlpadians and Leiforia's surprising announcement to promote an uncivilized nation like Gra Valkas.
"We have been able to make civilized countries sit down to negotiate and trade... A new era for this world has begun and those who believe that they will be able to apply gunship diplomacy forever will find themselves in great difficulties - Gh!"Soon the pain began to gradually seep out of his body, to the point that he could no longer move a muscle.
"Ironically, the first to understand this first was the previous Parlpadian emperor, it was he who helped us modernize our fleet and army because he saw that it was more beneficial for Parlpadia that we can maintain trade routes, that wanting to be an omnipresent force will only make the empire overextend itself and be vulnerable if one day they come into conflict against another superpower or some country in the central world... But that stupid Emperor Ludius dedicated himself to opening multiple fronts at the same time, even now he continues to open more fronts even though Leiforia is just behind them"
He felt like the eyelids were getting heavier and heavier, and he could barely hear the battle that was unfolding around him.
"If the Parlpadians continue in this way, their empire could disappear... Unlike them, Leiforia understood the need to close possible fronts and won the favor of a potential competitor even if that means ceding valuable technology..."Bordo raised his eyes to the sky, finding himself 40 Muans biplane aircraft but with the national coat of Altaras on the side.
"Mu understood it too... If they want to keep the countries of their sphere under their wing, they know that they cannot allow another superpower to take away the mines of magic stones that feed the industry of their vassals... And that for that he must cede part of his technology to us unless he wants to enter into a direct war."
His eyes were beginning to close, with the arrival of the flying machines he smiled knowing that he had won this battle against a superpower.
"I wonder if the people of Mirishial would understand that too…" These were his last thoughts before he breathed his last.
The wyverns had gone to set fire to the ships of the line of the rear to prevent them from joining the battle, burning the masts and sails with multiple fireballs, the planes instead went for the transports. The machine guns were destroying the wood and anyone who was outside the ship.
The Parlpadian transport ships were unable to use the magic fire control system due to the Muans aircraft not working with magic. This was one of the reasons why Mu agreed to give planes to Altaras, because Altaras depended on Mu to export fuel to maintain that air fleet and now that relations with Airpadia were broken that meant that Altaras depended economically on Mu.
Seeing how the rest of the fleet was immobilized by destroying their masts and sails, Sius had no choice but to surrender.
HMS Ambush.
"That was incredible!"
The entire crew was surprised by how the Altarians fought in the face of a larger enemy.
"Indeed... did we win?" Lumiess could hardly believe that they could have stood up to Parlpadia. "Thank you! Thank you for getting rid of the wyvern lords of Parlpadia! If it wasn't for that we couldn't have won!"She thanked the divers with all her heart.
"Give more credit to your own fleet, they fought fiercely and were able to win on their own merit."
Everyone was celebrating, but soon Frank interrupted.
"I don't want to ruin the party but ... we still have work to do."
Imperial Palace of Esthirant.
"Who is responsible for this shameful act that our imperial navy has suffered?! I want his head on a pike for this dishonor he has committed to the greatness of our empire!" Emperor Ludius was furious at the defeat suffered by a barbarian country. Although the empire has had a few defeats against countries outside the civilized area, these were defeats of the subjugation army who used obsolete equipment, but this time it was the imperial army itself that was defeated!
"The major responsible for this failure, General Sius, was captured by the enemy. Not even death could take away the shame of being captured by the savages." Arde said in a clear tone of contempt.
"However we cannot deny that Mu was involved in our defeat, they sold those flying machines called planes that escape our magical censors." Elto, the head of the first foreign affairs department spoke.
"YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF DIPLOMACY WITH THE POWERS! HOW COULD YOU NOT STOP MU FROM HELPING THE ENEMY?" The emperor lashed out at Elto, she was beginning to tremble fearing that she would be demoted, or worse, killed, for this mistake.
"I-I am so sorry your grace! But we are so surprised why a superpower has decided to help an uncivilized country like Altaras like you. We would never have imagined such a scenario!" Elto was trying to justify himself.
"That's funny, in my report on Altarus I explained the strategic importance of the trade of magic gems for the Muans to keep the industry of their countries in their sphere, yet you, Miss Elto, dismissed my report because 'The first department of foreign affairs cannot stoop to deal with savage countries like those of the third department'. If you had reviewed the report you would have learned that the ties of Mu and Altaras are much stronger than you think. You misinformed the emperor by saying that Mu was beginning to influence Altaras, when the truth is that they have been taking over the magic stone trade right under our noses." The one who had spoken at this point was the head of the third department of foreign relations, Kaios, who was not about to pass up an opportunity to attack the first department.
The emperor glanced at Elto, she felt her blood run cold. "S-silence! That war happened because of the men under your command! It was the ambassador placed by you who demanded that Princess Lumiess become a slave! If it wasn't for your negligence in your work King Taara XIV would have ceded the magic stone mines to us!" Elto counterattacked knowing that his neck was at stake.
"All I'm hearing are reasons to behead you both." The emperor spoke causing them both to turn pale with fear.
"T-The truth your grace, is that although the division between the different departments has facilitated bureaucracy for centuries, it has the defect that, many times, we cannot make a proper diplomatic reading. A-although the second and third departments may notice to a greater or lesser extent the interference of a superpower in the countries with which they deal, we cannot see the full picture that superpowers have with other countries. This has caused us to misjudge the behavior of the powers." Elto was trying to give an explanation convincing enough to make it seem that it was not all her fault.
"Your grace, because the third foreign affairs department deals with countries outside the civilized area many of our diplomats feel the need to show themselves as superior to them, plus the universities always send us the worst graduates because of the belief that the diplomat's behavior will not have a negative impact on our empire. While I agree with your grace's tough policy, disrespect of this caliber should not be tolerated." Kaios explained the problems in his department.
Emperor Ludius was pondering what the two directors were discussing.
"If so then a reform of our diplomatic system is necessary. I declare my intention to dissolve the division of the various foreign affairs departments and unite them into one. In that way a reading of the diplomatic relations between the powers can be made in a correct way and that will stop the universities from sending their mediocre garbage to the possibility that it will lead to the possibility that they will be encounter with a Mirishial delegation."
Having said those words, a loud explosion is heard in the city.
"What was it-" Ludios was about to ask when a strong shock wave shattered the windows of the council chamber, pieces of glass fell on everyone present. The emperor was able to cover himself with the heavy cloak he was wearing, so he only received a few superficial cuts.
"Healer here!"One exclaimed when he saw how the other had a piece of glass in his side, being lying on the ground and bleeding.
"An enemy attack?!"He wondered Arde while watching where the explosion came from. The port of Esthirant was on fire.
"They attacked the port and the shipyard! There was a shipment of weapons there!"
"Can you see where the ship is or wyvern attacker?!"
However, soon a gray figure emerged from the water in front of them, it was there for a few minutes until suddenly a voice of that metallic object began to be heard.
"You, who think you are the cradle of civilization when you are nothing more than barbarians who love violence and intimidation. You demanded that our people become your slaves, you threatened to murder us, you murdered our diplomat in the most vile and despicable way as the nation of cowards that you are!" he speaker was Frank using a megaphone powerful enough for his voice to reach the shores.
"You have decided to step on the tail of the English lion, now we are going to bite hard and we will show you what it is to be truly civilized!"
"No one is going to enslave us! No one is going to make us kneel! Remember what happened here today when you go out to sea again, Britannia Rule the Waves!"
From the megaphone Frank began to play a song, a song that will stay in the memory of those who witnessed this moment:
When Britain first, at Heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."