Main Command Tent, Northern Front
Axe arrived at the main camp, located 5 km away from the current frontlines. Snowstorms were an everyday occurrence, despite Pangea not being near the North Pole. The naked eye vision was a nightmare for the average soldier, unless their buddy was from Muscovy, then they could survive. Alex had been focusing on letting the 4th Legion get used to the cold so when the war began, they could fight effectively.
Axe entered the tent, which was guarded by Draconian Imperial Guards. Every front over a battalion size had Imperial Guards, the 'Shield of the Emperor' units, stationed to protect the commander only and not assist the battlefield unless needed. On the Olympus front, over 10,000 Imperial Guards from different divisions were stationed.
Axe observed the room and saw some commanders, who were Muscovy officers wearing their bear hide coats. Everyone turned their gaze towards him. Axe greeted them with a silent nod and gave a small smile to Zarina, who responded with a look that Axe understood.
"Since the necessary people are here, let's begin to re-plan the invasion. The progress so far has not yielded proper results," Zarina spoke and turned to look at everyone, locking gazes with Axe.
"We are currently facing unforgiving cold on all lines. Even with the assistance of Muscovy troops, the soldiers have a hard time resupplying. Enemy guerilla units attack them while they are resting, causing lack of sleep. I have already sent these problems to high command. They will most likely add that type of training. The cold blocks any aerial recon, making us blind to ambushes unless we send a team of scouts by foot," Axe said, picking up wooden figures and placing them on parts of the battlefield.
"Then we have the problem of enemy mercenaries fighting under Chronos. The biggest question is what the Chronos horde provides them. Reports indicate some logistics are being stolen, but we know their origin," he added.
"To be exact, those mercenary units have origins from Tyrell, including some famed human companies and elven bands," Zarina said, reading the report.
"Imperial Intelligence informed us that different empires holding grudges against the Draconian Empire have sent or paid Chronos to stagnate our advance. This time, their gods also intervened. Based on intelligence gathered from ground and air, the estimate is over 1 million. Some of them offer services in forging weapons and training soldiers. There are no naval units. Notable companies include the Storm Crows, who can field over 200,000 soldiers and have their own fleet. Their fleet was destroyed when they made landfall in Pangea, and they were promised the riches of the Draconian Empire," Axe finished.
Zarina massaged her temples, feeling a headache from the flow of information. She now had to worry about mercenaries capable of fighting well against her soldiers.
"For better results, we must slow our advance. We might be delayed by a few months," she said. Axe agreed.
"We can leave small detachments of soldiers to clear the rear lines and rejoin once they're done. We can only speed things up since we have to fight different groups," he said. Everyone agreed.
Over the next few days, their advance was slow but steady and painful. The advance caused some deaths of Draconian soldiers, who were picked off. However, their weapons and gear were not looted, as Alex had added a failsafe to track or self-destruct stolen weapons. In most battle areas, they left a battalion to search for enemies. As they inched closer, artillery shells reached the city of the Chronos horde.
Miltras
Miltras, a city with a population of over 150,000, was perched on a geological mountain slope. The city had many historical feats of making great armies fail to capture it by starving them out while the city was well-supplied underground. However, aircraft existed in the Draconian arsenal, and they were already preparing a paratrooper operation.
The operation went as planned. They secured the entrance and fought in the streets. Draconian soldiers, along with a mountain unit from the Muscovy army, joined the fray and fought in crumbling buildings, showing no mercy to civilians. Three hours later, the garrison surrendered. They left 20,000 soldiers acting as the garrison. A harrowing scene was shown in the aftermath.
Over 1,000 Chronos soldiers or POWs were gathered in the courtyard of the governor's palace. Surrounding them were Draconian soldiers and Muscovy infantrymen, who gazed at the tied-up prisoners with killing intent and anger, never forgetting their true objective: Extermination.
Axe sat on a wooden chair next to Zarina, who was drinking coffee and looked at Axe, waiting for something. A few seconds later, he stood up and spoke.
"It's time for your deaths, you filthy beasts," he said with deep anger, looking at the officer next to him.
"Fire!" After shouting those orders, gunshots were heard as Draconian soldiers began firing full auto at the titans in front of them, killing dozens. While they reloaded, the titans tried to run but were chained to the ground. Some hid their loved ones and comrades, while others tried to protest but were met with a spear to the face or chest.
This event would be known as the Miltras Massacre. Word about it spread fast. Empires beyond Pangea and in Pangea denounced this action, despite the titans ravaging their lands. They did this to gain the upper hand in the geopolitical sphere and bring other empires against the Draconian Empire under their protection.
Although this act was against conventions, in this world, there was no such thing. In the Draconian Empire, citizens agreed and praised the act, venting their frustrations. Even the small population of titans treated well also praised those actions. The act continued until the titan race was gone from the continent.
Bodies were gathered, piled, and burned. The city began its rebuilding with new defenses being set up. An engineering battalion was left to do the finishing touches.
Over the course of six months, the battle raged on as they entered the titan heartlands. All three fronts had a hard time piercing through the defenses. During that time, the eastern and western borders of the Draconian Empire achieved victories, fully repelling invasions and capturing valuable prisoners, who were tortured for information.
The 4th fleet withdrew from the sea but left wolfpack submarines to continue their raid operations.
1st Imperial Fleet, Northern Part of Pangea
The entire 1st Imperial Fleet was gathered in Pangea. On the five carriers' decks, there was bustling activity as multi-role fighter planes landed, re-armed, refueled, and took off again. On the flanks, a destroyer detached from the group was escorted by two frigates.
DRS Caltridas
An officer watching over the radar felt sleepy since there was no sign of activity for the past six hours until he saw multiple dots. Checking a nearby booklet, he identified them as either unknown civilian ships or enemy ships.
"Sir, I have identified over 3,000 unknown hostiles heading towards the main fleet."
"Over 3,000 what?" The commanding officer in the weapons room walked towards his station and looked down at the radar. He saw the number of dots and paused, then dashed towards the radio on his table and spoke with extreme urgency.
"Alert the Grand Admiral! A large Nordic Empire fleet en route to Pangea!" he shouted. The entire weapons room turned to look at him, some in fear, some in deep shock as they tried to process the information.
"I see. We will send the report to the main fleet," responded the captain. He turned to everyone on the bridge and spoke.
"Man battle stations. Prepare to retreat or defend. Have the other two frigates man battle stations," he said calmly. Everyone began moving while the communications officer spoke through the radio.
DRS Imperator
The large battleship, the second flagship of the empire, served as a personal flagship for the emperor when he was on board. Alex allowed the First Fleet Admiral, the Grand Admiral, to take command of the ship to stretch its guns for a while since it was retrofitted with new sensors and radars. Two experimental drones were also added to the arsenal, along with new magical runes that could protect against two god-level attacks from Alex.
The ship was essentially a sea fortress and an artillery unit. The main bridge, very large like a mansion, turned into a war room.
Grand Admiral Dietrich Incursio
His name long classified, he first served the emperor when he was just a wandering admiral. The emperor made him an admiral, not the grand admiral, only when the Draconian navy was founded and the empire began existing. He was given the Grand Admiral title to oversee the navy.
He never married but adopted a child attending high school. Thanks to his accumulated wealth, he funded his adopted child. He never planned to have a wife unless circumstances forced him.
"Grand Admiral, a report from Caltridas," said an officer approaching the admiral, who stood next to the throne where the emperor sat but never wished to tarnish the seat of power.
"Yes, what is it?" The admiral spoke, wearing his battle armor of Incursio, the name of the house he created and was fond of.
"Over 3,000 ships from the Nordic Empire were spotted on radar. They are currently awaiting orders and have taken up a defensive stance. The Nordic Empire's objective is either to make landfall in Pangea or attack us," the officer stated matter-of-factly.
"Alright, have the 1st and 5th patrol fleets, along with the 3rd wolfpack, join up with the 5th carrier strike group to intercept them. Allow for independent planning, just order them to intercept," he said and returned to observe the ongoing naval operation as the naval air force continued to conduct bombings.
**A Few Hours Later**
**1st Imperial Fleet: Newly Assembled Task Force Shield**
Over the horizon, more than 2,000 longships from the Nordic Empire appeared, displaying different banners from the various clans that made up the Nordic Empire. Their flagship was the Wolfskin, and the remaining 1,000 ships were foreign vessels from different countries. Onboard these ships were over 30,000 Vikings, ready for war, their armor and shields glistening under the sun, their axes sharpened and swords at the ready.
But sadly, it wasn't their day.
Admiral Samuel looked over the bridge as he gave out orders.
"Have the ships begin opening fire on the enemy ships, and have missile-guided frigates and submarines eliminate their supply ships," he spoke calmly, observing the developing situation.
**Vanguard Commander Flagship**
"Jarl, we are getting close to the enemy fleet!" shouted the second in command of Jarl Baerkenson. The man shouted to the entire fleet, or at least the vanguard section.
"Men, sharpen your axes and get ready to board!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. A surge of power spread through the entire section, and the clans that followed their high chief waved and shouted crazily.
During that time, they heard a whistling sound. At first, they ignored it, but then they felt it getting closer. Soon, a shadow loomed over them, followed by an explosion. People were in shock, but soon their vanguard fleet began receiving shells as battleship shells rained down. Their longships were split apart, and some men wailed in pain while others tried to move away, but it was too late.
"Come on, men, row faster! We need to get close!" the jarl shouted, passing the order with his booming voice. They followed his commands.
"Archers, get ready!" shouted a Viking to a group of archers.
As the battle continued to rage and explosions erupted, the jarl focused not on the fleet getting close to him but on the main fleet far ahead. Soon, pillars of water began to erupt.
"Maintain formation, men, just a bit clos—" Before he could continue, a destroyer shell landed on his flagship, instantly killing everyone onboard. It came from the DRS Noctus, with its 16-inch quad turret, one of the latest designs in the naval arsenal.
**To Be Continued**