Arthur was in his room, sitting at his desk, reading the latest reports sent to him. Due to the explosion in military orders, factories had begun producing weapons, cannons, and ammunition at full speed. Although the war had not yet begun, the increasing military exercises were causing a significant amount of consumption. The reports detailed how much ammunition was being used just for training, even before a single battle had been fought. Arthur shook his head as he reviewed the numbers, realizing once again how war was not just about strategy and bravery but also about resources and money. He had always known that war demanded immense financial and material support, but witnessing the sheer scale of production and consumption firsthand gave him a new perspective on the matter.
Turning his attention to naval production, Arthur examined the continued deliveries of newly built ships. He estimated that by the time the fleet was fully assembled, he would have at least 15 warships along with various numbers of steam-powered cargo and landing ships. However, because shipbuilding efforts were primarily focused on warships, there weren't enough cargo ships being produced to sustain a long campaign. To compensate for this, he and his advisors had decided that sailing ships would be used for logistical support. These older vessels would play a critical role in maintaining the flow of supplies, even if they were not as efficient as steam-powered ships.
Arthur's strategy was clear—after defeating the Aragonese navy, the first step would be capturing the fortress at the Maraz Strait. The initial stockpile of ammunition and supplies being transported would be enough for this phase of the operation. Once the fortress was secured, the fleet would reposition itself to guard against any counterattacks from the White Sea. With the enemy's ocean-side navy neutralized, Aragon's ability to interfere with supply lines would be greatly diminished. A supply fleet, consisting mostly of sailing ships and a smaller number of high-capacity steam-powered cargo vessels, would ensure that the army in the field remained well-equipped.
As he reviewed these plans, Arthur realized that he was focusing more on logistics than direct battle strategies. This made him recall the words of great conquerors from history—many of whom had emphasized that wars were won not just on the battlefield but through superior logistics. The truth of those words had never been clearer to him than now. A well-supplied army could hold out indefinitely, while even the strongest force would crumble without food, ammunition, and reinforcements.
For the next two months, warships continued to be delivered, and factories kept producing war materials at full speed. Meanwhile, Aragon was making its own preparations. Reports from spies indicated that the Aragonese were focusing on repairing damaged sailing ships, maintaining their medieval-style cannons, and stockpiling black powder. They had also completed the production of arquebuses, which were mainly used by their sailors. However, due to the limitations of black powder technology, these muskets were slow to reload and lacked sufficient power, making them ineffective compared to modern firearms. As a result, Aragon's land armies still relied heavily on swords, spears, and other melee weapons. To meet the demands of war, blacksmiths worked tirelessly, producing swords, shields, and armor around the clock.
During this time, thanks to intelligence gathered by James, who was stationed in Aragon's capital, Ardenzia, the Pendralis military adjusted its battle plans. The reports provided crucial details about enemy troop movements, supply lines, and fortifications. Using this information, Arthur and his generals fine-tuned their strategy to counter Aragon's preparations. Every decision was calculated, every move planned with precision.
Finally, after two long and exhausting months of preparation, spring arrived, marking the moment both sides had been waiting for. The time for war had come.
At the end of months of relentless effort, Arthur had assembled a formidable fleet. It consisted of 16 warships, various numbers of heavy and light armored cruisers, cargo ships carrying essential supplies, and specially designed landing ships built for amphibious assaults. In total, the fleet comprised 50 ships, each prepared for the grueling campaign ahead.
The time for departure was set—at dawn the following day, the fleet would set sail. Before that, however, a final war council was held in the throne room of King Cedric. Arthur, along with ministers and generals, gathered around a long rectangular table to discuss the battle plan one last time. Every possible scenario was reviewed, every risk assessed. Once the discussions were complete, Arthur stood and addressed the room, presenting the final strategy.
"First, we will engage in a decisive naval battle against the Aragonese fleet blocking the entrance to the strait. Nearly all of their ocean-side ships have been concentrated in this fleet, meaning that if we destroy them, we will eliminate any major naval threats from the ocean. Once this is accomplished, we will move on to the next phase.
Next, we will capture the fortress guarding the strait and establish defensive positions. Our navy will then be stationed on the White Sea side of the strait to protect against any potential attacks from Aragon's forces in that region. Although we have the advantage in firepower, by this stage, our ammunition reserves will be significantly depleted due to the naval battle and the assault on the fortress. Therefore, rather than pressing forward, we will adopt a defensive stance.
Meanwhile, new cargo ships will begin transporting supplies through the ocean to establish a reliable supply line to the strait. Since our main forces will be holding defensive positions in the White Sea, our objective on the ocean side will be to inflict enough damage on the enemy fleet to prevent them from disrupting our logistical operations, even if we cannot completely destroy them.
Once the fortress is secured, we will reinforce it with enough weapons, ammunition, and supplies to withstand an inevitable Aragonese counterattack. Despite being outnumbered, we will hold the fortress with superior firepower and defensive positioning. Unlike the failed defense of the Fasi Kingdom, we will not be overwhelmed.
After a prolonged war of attrition, Aragon will eventually realize that they cannot capture the fortress. At that point, they will have no choice but to come to the negotiation table on our terms."
As Arthur finished, King Cedric turned to the assembled generals and ministers, asking if there were any further questions or concerns. The discussion continued for another two hours, covering every detail of the campaign.
The next day, the people of Pendralis gathered at the harbor to witness the departure of the fleet. The excitement was palpable. As Arthur, dressed in the military uniform he had personally designed, rode his horse toward HMS Victory, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Soldiers stood proudly on the decks of their ships, waving farewell to their loved ones as the fleet slowly pulled away from the shore. The sight was both inspiring and bittersweet.
The fleet set sail toward the Maraz Strait, moving steadily through the open waters. Three days later, at dawn, they approached the entrance to the strait but halted their advance—overnight, a dense fog had rolled in, obscuring visibility.
Lookouts stood at their posts, scanning the horizon through telescopes, struggling to see through the thick mist. An hour passed before the fog finally began to lift. Then, suddenly, a lookout aboard HMS Victory, equipped with a superior telescope, spotted the enemy fleet. His voice rang out across the deck:
"Twenty-four enemy ships sighted!"
Moments later, he called out again.
"Twenty-seven enemy ships sighted!"
Then, after another moment, he shouted once more.
"Thirteen more enemy ships sighted!"
By this point, the Aragonese fleet had also spotted the Pendralis fleet. Both sides scrambled to make their final preparations. Arthur, knowing that battle was imminent, felt a surge of tension.
On HMS Victory, Captain Edward Smith barked orders to his men, ensuring that every weapon was loaded and every station was battle-ready. Across the fleet, crews worked with discipline and urgency, preparing for the inevitable clash.
Arthur then turned to the ship's signal officer, John Pasco. "I need to send a message to the fleet," he said.
John Pasco received Arthur's words and quickly began transmitting the signal using flags.
Aboard HMS Glory, the signal officer noticed the message and relayed it to his captain. The officers gathered, waiting as the full message was decoded.
Then, the signal officer turned to them, his voice firm and clear, as he repeated the words that would go down in history:
"Pendralis expects that every man will do his duty !"
Across the fleet, captains and crew members alike took heart from the message.
The battle was about to begin.