"Sir, wake up."
In a very luxurious room, Isaac was being abruptly awakened by Josiah.
"Ugh, what happened?" Isaac asked, still trying to wake up completely.
"The Duchy of Ker has started moving troops to the frontier. Although it will take them about 3 days to actually get there, you wanted a preemptive strike, so I thought it would be justifiable to wake you up."
"And you were right." Isaac said with a little smile on his face. All the laziness he was showing a minute ago was simply swept away. "What time is it?"
"5:26 in the morning."
"Ok. I will put my military uniform. Start the preemptive strike I want phosphorus incendiary bombs in the enemy forces, and Mustard and Chlorine gas being delivered upon the major cities. Except the capital. Other thing: do not go overboard with the volume of gas. I don't want the cities to be completely annihilated."
"I will send the order right now."
"Excellent." Josiah smiled. "Prepare a helicopter, and get the family of that traitorous wench there. Both the son and the old man."
"Of course, sir." With that said, Josiah got out of the room, and Isaac started to rummage trough his clothes to get the uniform.
——
General Paulo Werx was a nobility member of the Duchy of Ker. Although not especially gifted, he was competent enough to be a general. Of course, the only reason he was the leading general of the duchy was because of his political connections. He was the Count of Werx, and was second only to the Duke himself.
After about 3 hours since departure, they were about 60 kilometers off the capital city when suddenly they heard something falling from the sky. Soon enough, about 20 explosions occurred, and a green gas started spreading around the army.
Those that breathed the gas almost instantly fell to the ground, with deep red eyes, while clenching their throats, unable to breath.
As chaos started to contaminate the army, like a thirsty man drinking water, they heard a sound, coming from above. They saw an "Iron Eagle" flying in the sky.
It was a helicopter, and this one was designed completely by Isaac and Josiah. It had a very powerful double-rotating inverse orientation X-shaped engine, running on Kerosene. Ot had a pilot and copilot system, but, instead of going through a corridor connected in the doors of the airship, the pilots would go in through the glass window, like in a F35 or F16. Actually, aside form the pilot and copilot, there wasn't space for more people in the helicopter.
In the middle section, 2 powerful multi-barrel machine guns were placed. They were retractable and could be rotated to any angle, had a range of 200 meters, and could fire up to 36 thousand shots per minute, each. The helicopter could have up to 360 thousand round. A powerful targeting computer also really increased accuracy, getting the lethality rate really high.
They could also carry some conventional explosives, but this one, especially wasn't load with these types of weaponry.
As soon as the helicopter passed through the 100 meters mark, the machine guns started, and hell broke loose. Those that didn't die from the gas, would become sieves with the bullets piercing through their bodies.
General Paulo, seeing this carnage, though that it was a good idea to do a "tactical regrouping" near the capital.
With that though in mind, he ran with his horse the fastest he could, while his army broke ranks and tried to flee from the Helicopter. From the original 30 thousand soldier, 27 thousand died from the gas, and 25 hundred died from the helicopter. Less than 5 hundred survived.
The survivors, after all hostilities ceased, would start calling this event as "The Dawn of Green Death and Iron Birds", while separately nicknaming the chlorine gas as "Green Reaper" and the helicopter as "Iron Thunderstorm".
This was the first time a chemical weapon was used in this world, and certainly wouldn't be the last.
——
It was fine morning in the city of South Desser. The birds were chirping happily, and the commerce was running well. The fishing boats were having an excellent time, with an excellent weather and high yields.
High Admiral Kirk Jeffer was an old man in his 70s. He was one of the vassals from the Count of Desser, governor of the city, and almost literally raised the man that sits in that position.
In opposition to his army counterpart, Kirk was a good man and was really capable. He was almost a god in naval warfare, having lost not a single battle to an enemy fleet. He was good, really good.
This was supposed to be his last assignment. After this, he would enjoy his retirement alongside his family.
As 9 o'clock was approaching, the fleet under his command started to set sail. They were tasked with securing the portuary cities of Judea, an easy mission, without much risk.
However, as they were about 3 kilometers off South Desser, an enemy fleet, composed of 5 destroyers, started approaching. They were 4 kilometers apart.
Seeing that this wasn't normal, Kirk started racking his brain on what would this mean.
Why send so few ships? Only 2 types of person would do this: if they were extremely foolish, or extremely capable.
Seeing that this enemy is new, and how fast he conquered an country the size of Swor, Kirk decide that it would be better to overestimate than underestimate these ships. As such, he ordered a full retreat.
As the armada was turning back, the enemy ships opened fire. And hell broke loose, again. Of the original 35 ships, 20 got completely destroyed. And, of the 15 remaining, only 2 were not badly damaged.
Kirk's ship was one of the ones badly damaged, and it was completely unsalvageable. Of course, as the good Naval commander, he stayed with the ship until the very end. Only after all of the crew got out of the ship did he decided to jump in the water.
Thankfully, nearby fishing boats saved most of the crews still alive from the barrage.
As for the Judean Fleet, after giving a second barrage to destroy the remaining ships, they went back home.
With that, the second front was won, and the capital was ripe for taking.
——
"Your… Grace,… we… should… surrender."
General Paulo, still breathing heavily, said to the Duke of Ker. They were on the primary hall of the Duke's palace. It was around 10 in the morning, and the General had just arrived. He almost became unconscious thanks to his tension, and, still now, couldn't really speak without breathing in between his words.
The Duke was still lively. He just discovered that his army, of 30 thousand men, was reduced to bleeding corpses. And worse, they couldn't even make a scratch at the enemy. Now, he didn't have enough troops to properly defend the capital.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Castor, now filled with rage, started yelling profanities directed to her sister. "THAT BITCH!!! SHE HAD TO MESS WITH SOMEONE THIS POWERFUL!!! I WILL GUT HER ALIVE!!!!"
General Paulo was surprised with this. Duke Castor was someone very graceful, with a head always high. To see him like this, it was a powerful shock.
"Don't worry… your grace. I will… Gather the remaining troops and… Draw a battle plan."
"Don't even try doing it. It is a lost cause."
Paulo could only look down. What could he say? It was a lost cause. They were defeated.
After a few minutes passed, 10 individuals got inside the hall, but not by normal means: they got inside by jumping through the windows. They were a special unit , Unit Alpha 1, made especially to surrender troops far beyond the frontline. They were a special infiltration unit. They were made, of course, completely by androids.
"Nobody move! You both, to the ground!" One of the androids started yelling, while the other pointed their weapons at both the duke and the general, and a few other staff at the hall.
General Paulo got up and asked "What is the meaning…" bang. His head popped open like a watermelon.
After the realization, a maid screamed, and 2 others got knocked down by the scene.
Castor, who was right in front of Paulo, got blood sprayed upon his clothes, and was numb. As he gazed upon the headless body, his bloodied clothes, and back to the body, two of the androids came down and contained him.
The leader got closer to him, and said. "The Supreme Commander would like to talk with you." After saying this, the androids dragged the numbed duke to his office. His family would soon be in the same room.
——
"Sir, the enemy leader has been contained, together with his family." Josiah and Isaac were in an rather spacious helicopter. Isaac was in a formal military suit, with his medals hanging in his chest. Josiah was in his normal grey business suit, with light blue tie.
"Excellent." Isaac answered. How about our 'guests' ?"
"The ex-duke should be arriving by now, together with the heir's mother and the heir himself."
"Excellent. How much time until we arrive?"
"15 minutes, sir."
"OK."
After 15 minutes, they arrived, and descende in the gardens. There was also other helicopter in the place.
After getting off the helicopter, Isaac and Josiah went into the office that the negotiation would occur, and what a scene they saw.
The Duke of Ker, Castor, was seated in one of the sofas in the room, together with his wife, Adeleid, and his daughter, the 5-year-old Ann. On the other sofa, directly opposite, was the ex-duke of Swor, Serwan ,and his heir, Frederick. By his side, on the ground, knocked unconscious, was Eleonor.
Isaac entered the room, and went to the armchair adjacent to both sofas. He then said "Duke Castor, let me present myself. I am the Prince of Judea, Isaac I. You tried to invade my realm, but was repelled. Now, You will surrender unconditionally."
"Yes." Castor said, defeated and disgraced.
"Excellent. The Duke Of Ker will be Integrated in the principality of Judea, that it itself will be elevated to Kingdom of Judea. Of course, all reforms implemented in the principality will have value in the now integrated duchy of Ker, including the reforms related to nobility and serfs and slaves. Is this understood?"
"… It is…"
"If you are worrying about yourself, your wife and your daughter, no harm will be brought upon you. However, your sister is a different story."
Hearing his mother being brought up in the conversation, Frederick asked "What will happen to mother?"
Isaac was dumbfounded when he heard this question. He wasn't expecting the boy to intrude himself in the conversation. "Your name is Frederick, right? Your grandpa talked really well about you." This was true. During the transition of government, Serwan and Isaac talked to each other a substantial amount, and, even though discretely, Serwan would talk about how happy he was about his grandson.
"Going back to your question: your mother betrayed the nation. She will face judgement upon that. Of course, the outcome is predictable."
"She will die?" The boy asked, emotionless.
Isaac was surprised by this cold reaction. "Maybe, maybe not. It will depend on wether there is enough conclusive evidence or not."
"Oh… I see." The boy said, with a hint of disappointment and relief.
"Anyway" Isaac said while getting up from his seat "I will go back to Swor. My business here is concluded. However, if you want to talk with your uncle and your cousin, I will leave the other helicopter here. But, Your mother will come back with me."
"thank you." The boy said.
"I will stay too. I want to talk with Duke Castor a little more." Serwan said.
"Oh right. Duke Serwan, Duke Castor. Both of your titles, of dukes of Swor and Ker, respectively, will remain unchanged. In your case, Duke Serwan, the title will be reinstated. Of course, you won't have any feudal power, but the title will remain."
Both men had faces of relief, especially Serwan. For the last 2 weeks, he was in a difficult spot, without any title or place, like that of free citizen.
"Now if you excuse me, I will be going back." As soon as Isaac said this, he went outside of the office, with Josiah following him. The members of the special unit took Eleonor away. The ride back to Swor was uneventful.
A military occupation would still occur in the Duchy of Ker, as a way to integrate and kill any revolts that may occur.
Nevertheless, Isaac won the war, and got a almost 50% more territory.