After talking back and forth, they agreed once the Chronos War is over, they will focus their interest and manpower on the archipelago. For now, Erik decided to station 3 infantry divisions to build a forward operating base and station a fleet, most likely a wolf pack.
(Wolf pack, in the navy's terms in the Draconian Empire, is a group of submarines numbering 10 or more so this can be easily understood.)
And once that base is complete, I will request the 2nd fleet to send a wolf pack to guard the shores and scout out the conflict and send information back to the empire.
"Alright with this, the neutral party shall be under the protection of the Draconian Empire and shall pay no tribute for all shall be balanced!" Erik announced loudly, and everyone lightly clapped.
"Hey, let's have a friendly duel, do you mind?" the woman asked while gripping her spear.
"Sure, why not?" he said, and both of them headed towards a plain land.
On Erik's side, he wore Viking-style armor, but it's anti-magic plated armor and have a crimson hue and a red cape. He carried a huge battle axe equipped in his belt, along with a standard pistol and a long sword, which was his main weapon in case he lost his second weapon.
"Are you ready?" the black-haired lady asked as she equipped her helmet and aimed her spear towards Erik.
BOOM!
Both sides charged, and as the spear was heading straight for Erik's head, he equipped himself with a great sword. A second before they clashed, he smashed the axe down, causing rubble to fly, and both sides disengaged.
'Well, she's fast,' before he could strategize, he felt her presence to his left side and immediately stepped forward, dodging a spear thrust. Both sides clashed their spear and axe multiple times, and after a few minutes of repeated clashing, she got frustrated and sacrificed her spear. But when she drew her shortsword, a red flaming sword came out, and its tip aimed at her neck.
She realized that she'd been focusing on offense, and Erik also noticed this and monopolized.
"Yield," he said with a cold voice.
She pouted and turned around, leaving the battlefield.
Jin's POV
DRS Aroraio
Jin woke up to explosions and looked around at the windows. He saw that the battleship DRS Lepiz was firing its 30-centimeter guns at a target.
He left the room with his military coat on and headed to the war room, where he was greeted by several officers.
"Marshal, our preparation is about to begin. Lepiz is softening the target, and our bombers will launch carpet bombing for 1 hour. Our marines will launch the naval invasion while a separate force from the 8th Legion, the Forbidden Cavalry Corps, will land 10 miles away from the city to secure the surroundings," said one officer.
Jin nodded and began moving pieces and reading reports.
"I see she already crossed the border. All right, you have my authority to launch this operation for the empire and its expansion!" he said, and the men in the room repeated what he said.
1 hour later
For a while, Jin was watching the flight deck as fighter planes and bombers were launched by the catapult system on the deck, returning bombers from their missions. Even though it's somewhat a rough storm, he can handle it, and plus the 8th legion were given new equipment to test before the war against Chronos.
"Sir, the invasion has already begun."
Marine invasion force targets the port.
Soldiers checked their weapons as they were on the amphibious ship, shielded by a rooftop made of metal, and the driver also safely seated. Some were using the amphibious tank and APCS.
"30 seconds till target," said the driver, and the soldiers began checking their equipment.
"Hey, are you ready to see blood and smoke?" asked one of the marines.
"Maybe, but let's see if they are a challenge to us," one marine snickered as he fixed his bayonet on the muzzle of the rifle.
"Yeah, I heard their metal can contend against anti-magic. Is that true?" asked one of the marines.
"Yes, and the marshal said that their weak point is in the gaps. But we can shoot them at point-blank range, and their armor will be rendered useless," said the marine officer.
And as they continued, the driver's voice was heard again.
"Soldiers prepare to depart. We're getting close. In 5 seconds, the ramp will open," said the driver, and the soldiers got off their seats and got ready in a line formation.
"First one to die shall be a loser forever," said the marine captain with a bit of sarcasm, and the soldiers snickered also.
RUUUUUM!
Soon, the boat shook a bit, and the ramp came down. The men charged out and began firing at enemy soldiers who were charging at them.
"Keep pushing, don't let them push us out!" said the captain as he fired a small burst, killing a soldier who was charging at them with a spear.
Soon, over 150 soldiers landed at the port, and the numbers continued to increase as the men pushed towards the city and were met with more resistance. But thankfully, air support came.
BRRRRRRTTTTTTT!
Three planes flew overhead as they unleashed purgatory over the enemy lines, tearing through the Valyrian defenses. The famous black brick could not withstand the famed A-10 Warhound.
The Warhound unleashed their Gatling guns upon the enemy, and the payload they carried were dropped upon.
"Continue to push on the east side. We can see them trying to reform their defenses. Prevent them, and how's the progress of the Forbidden Cavalry Corps?" Jin asked as he continued to observe the battle and giving orders.
"They're almost done. They just need the 3rd mechanized brigade, and the landing is complete. As of now, a division of the Forbidden Cavalry is cutting off enemy retreat," said one officer.
"I see. For now, we focus on the capture of the port," he said and focused.
BOOM BOOM!
The battleships rained shells on the positions.
"All units keep pushing," one of the marine captains said as he thrust his bayonet at the Valyrian soldier. It was parried to the side, but the thrust switched to a slash aiming for throat.
COUGH Cough thud.
The soldier fell to the ground as blood came out of his neck.
"Continue to push, don't show mercy!" said one of the marines as he surprised a bunch of Valyrian archers and shot them before they could speak.
"(Attention, order from the marshal: Capture the commander of the city's garrison and governor alive. If they have a family, disregard them. Focus only on those two.)" Every radio broadcasted this order, and the soldiers began to rapid their invasion and begin finding.
A few minutes later.
"I found him. Report it back to the commander," said the marine who had his metal visor torn off and some of his armor destroyed. He was dragging a person who was more beaten and bloodied, his hands clasped together with a knife holding them together, and was being dragged on one foot.
"Damn, did he have the fight of his life?" one of the Draconian soldiers said as he moved a metal box of supplies, and at the same time...
A squad of soldiers were escorting a handcuffed man with a downcast expression, and they seemed to be unscathed.
Medical tent:
"Hey, what happened to you?" said one of the medics as they helped remove the armor of the injured soldier.
"That guy is a mountain, and I mean literally. He was able to lift me up and smash me to the wall, and our fight took 10 minutes. I was able to stab his two hands together with my knife and knock him out."
As the battle came to a close, the soldiers began a final sweep, killing all remaining soldiers. But in the fortress, they faced stiff resistance.
"Sir, we can't break through. They've totally barricaded, and if we use explosives, the ceiling will cave in on us," said the marine.
"I see. Use the 'gas' on them," he said, and the soldier nodded and turned to his comrades.
"Equip gas masks," said the soldier, and everyone didn't need to listen twice as they began wearing gas masks. One soldier pulled out a smoke grenade, but instead, it had a label of a green skull.
Soon, the soldier removed the pin and threw it at the enemy location, and soon, green gas began to leak out, and heavy coughs were heard. The marines began to push and saw the soldiers trying to catch their breath but struggling.
"Kill them," the captain said as he pulled out his pistol and fired a shot to the head. The rest followed, not giving them time to struggle till death and giving them a swift one.
A few hours later:
Jin walked to the port and saw the line of tents and soldiers moving around.
"What about the civilians? Where are they?" Jin asked.
"They left once our bombardment started using the battleships as artillery," an officer said.
"Sir, how many soldiers do we have to station here?" asked a general.
"Just a division of infantry and a brigade of tanks," he said as he turned to the soldiers clearing the debris.
"As of now, let the engineer corps turn this into a forward operating base, and the second phase continues tomorrow," he said and headed towards the medical tent. He saw the commander of the city's guard on the medical bed with a few anti-magic cuffs on him.
"Well, look at him all beat up," said the officer next to Jin.
"Yeah, for now, keep an eye on him," he said, leaving the tent. He saw the soldiers eating dinner and some preparing for the second phase of the invasion, and the assigned units were already moving their equipment.
Next day:
Jet fighters and bombers flew by the port city, which was now renamed Andronomos, and below, soldiers from the 8th legion exited the city and began heading to their assigned fronts. Jin was at the governor's palace as the place was renovated into a war room, and officers ate their breakfast rations and read reports coming in from the Recon battalion that was sent.
"Seems like the enemy is gathering an army at Krakor, and just over 40,000 soldiers they could gather for now," said the officer with a sad face.
"Send the 2nd armored division, 1 mechanized division, and garrison it with 3 battalions of infantry," said Jin as he finished eating, and officers nodded and began issuing a new order.
As of now, the 1st infantry division and a brigade of the 1st armored division will capture, and after capture, they will leave a regiment of infantry to keep the peace. A second group will capture a fortress city, and those units are the 3rd regiment of the special operations division of the 20th legion, and an air cavalry will be supported by airstrikes and be garrisoned by the 3rd infantry division.
A few hours later:
City of Krakor:
The Valyrian army that was gathering were unaware of the Draconian army heading towards them. But when they saw the fighter jets and bombers drop bombs, they immediately went into battle mode. But before they could react, a line of tanks appeared and fired upon the camp, causing untold deaths, and the firing of shells continued.
Tank commander POV:
"Sir, the enemy is trying to retreat to the gates!" said the observer.
"Let the troops disembark and order the tanks to set a new target on the walls," he said as the turrets turned to the walls and fired.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
After the first bombardment, the infantry disembarked from the APC and began heading to the camp and fired a few shots, killing them.
"Send two tanks and breach their gates," said the commander, and the two tanks from the right flank began moving with the infantry.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
"Go, go, go, go! Storm the city, use the smoke grenade!" shouted the sergeant as he threw a grenade inside a gatehouse. When he heard an explosion and cries of pain, he breached with two other soldiers and saw the exploded bodies of the soldiers.
Swoosh!
The sergeant immediately pulled back as a sword swung. When he turned to look for the source, he saw an armored Valyrian with a sword and shield.
BOOM!
The knight charged immediately, but the sergeant sidestepped and thrust his bayonet to the armor.
Cling!
He saw the knife not totally piercing the armor, but he fired a few shots, and the knight swung all of his remaining strength, slashing the right shoulder of the sergeant.
"Bastard!" the sergeant cursed as he kicked the body away and grabbed his bleeding shoulder. He was assisted by two other soldiers who came back, cleaning the room.
"Sir, the soldiers need armored support. Are we moving in?" asked the vice commander on the other tank.
"Sure, you and your platoon can go while I oversee the security of the surroundings," said the commander, and four tanks moved in.
Other army group:
One soldier was firing his gun at a dozen soldiers charging, but some bullets ricocheted, and some were able to pierce.
"Damn, my rounds are just bouncing off!" said one soldier.
"Well, call for heavy guns to cover us," said one soldier, and soon a machine gunner positioned himself and fired an entire magazine, killing the Valyrian soldiers.
"We need to keep pushing; the hawk says they still have 20k more soldiers deep into the city.
A few hours later:
The numbers of Valyrian soldiers whittled down to 6,000 after a long, drawn-out street-to-street fighting, and they were forced to surrender. But they didn't know that they would never see their homeland again.
"Per the orders of the emperor, send them back to Draconia to be sent to the factories, and sooner or later, they will not see their homeland again," said the tank commander.
"Sir, why would they be sent to Draconia instead of creating a POW camp here?" asked the driver.
"Well, because it's simple. They can be future citizens of our empire, and those people will be treated well in the mines, and that, in turn, will make them loyal citizens to the empire. Propaganda will deal with their mind"
To be Continued