March 10th, 1939.
The icy waters of the North Sea churned beneath the gray sky as the colossal Ruthenian fleet began its long journey southward. Admiral Artyom Volkov stood on the bridge of the RNS Sovereign, his flagship, as the winds whipped around him. His steely eyes were fixed on the horizon, the weight of the coming conflict etched into the lines of his weathered face. The Ruthenian Empire had mobilized, and now, with Tsar Ivan's decree, they would sail to crush Valoria once and for all.
"Admiral, all ships are reporting ready," announced Captain Alexei Leonov, Volkov's trusted second-in-command. His voice, calm yet laced with urgency, carried above the howling wind. "The fleet is assembled and awaiting your orders."
Volkov nodded, his jaw set. "Very well, Captain. Signal all ships to commence the operation. Our target is Valoria. Let them feel the full force of Ruthenia."
Ruthenian Fleet Composition
