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With the space operation being pplanned, Arthur and Erich had no time to rest. They departed from the Mountain Base via helicopter, heading straight for the Capital.
Their transport helicopter soared through the skies, flanked by dozens of Comanche and Apache helicopters—old but still deadly in modern warfare. Their stealth systems and advanced weaponry ensured no enemy force could ambush them mid-air.
The capital city loomed ahead, a sprawling metropolis blending ancient imperial architecture with ultra-modern megastructures. The streets below were abuzz with activity—factories ramping up production, military convoys moving supplies, and air bases preparing squadrons for deployment.
As the helicopter landed atop the Imperial Palace's command center, Arthur and Erich were immediately greeted by generals, ministers, and intelligence officers.
War was coming.
Frechenia and Wallonia's allies would soon face the wrath of the Müller Empire.
The Formation of WNOFT and the March to War
The gears of war were already turning as Wallonia initiated its next grand move. Within hours of the decision, urgent notifications were dispatched to Osteria, Nagata, Frechenia, and Tresnia, each message concise but carrying the weight of an empire preparing for confrontation.
Each leader had four days to respond.
The world watched with bated breath, wondering how these nations—some battered by war, others struggling for survival—would react to the Wallonian initiative. Yet, one by one, the responses arrived.
"Yes."
Osteria, despite its recent collapse and puppet status, pledged its remaining forces.
Nagata, eager to rebuild, committed itself without hesitation.
Frechenia, still weak from past conflicts, saw this as a lifeline.
Tresnia, seeking an opportunity to secure its borders, gladly joined.
Thus, the Wallonia-Nagata-Osteria-Frechen-Tresnia (WNOFT) Coalition was born, shaking the political balance of Altaires to its core.
Mobilization Begins
Orders were swiftly relayed across Wallonia's massive military structure. 340,000 soldiers were deployed toward Frechenia, each division carefully split into units to reinforce key fronts against Murvacia and Vistara. Logistics trains, armored vehicles, and supply convoys rumbled across the land, ensuring every soldier had the means to fight.
The Frechenian Front was the primary concern. Unlike Tresnia, which was secure behind the buffer of Wallonian-controlled Soroental puppet states, Frechenia and Osteria remained on high alert.
To secure these territories, Wallonia dispatched four additional naval fleets to Osteria. Each fleet was a formidable force, bristling with modern battleships, missile cruisers, and aircraft carriers—an unmistakable message to any would-be aggressors.
Meanwhile, Osteria's military command received direct control over 340,000 Wallonian troops, the infusion of manpower transforming its defensive capabilities overnight.
With every movement, every deployment, and every strategic decision, the message was clear:
The war against Murvacia and Vistara was inevitable.
Vistara's Blind March to Destruction
After the WNOFT Coalition's swift mobilization, the geopolitical landscape of Altaires had shifted dramatically.
The World Union of Altaires (WUA), an informal alliance dominated by the Müller Empire, Vistara, and Murvacia, was the only faction actively resisting the changes.
However, three major nations—Przesky, Gaion, and Balerick—chose a path of neutrality. These nations, each with considerable influence, had refused to take immediate sides.
Przesky, a communist powerhouse, sought to observe how this conflict unfolded, preparing its own contingencies.
Gaion, the maritime superpower, calculated its economic and military options, unwilling to commit resources just yet.
Balerick, known for its vast wealth and opportunistic nature, chose silence, waiting for the perfect moment to benefit.
While these nations hesitated, the Vistarans, oblivious to the shifting tides, marched blindly toward their doom.
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Scene Change: Vistara's Invasion Plans
In the grand military headquarters of Vistara, the atmosphere was one of confidence, arrogance, and outdated thinking.
The High Command of Vistara, led by Grand Marshal Reinhart Velkos, stood inside a massive war chamber. Dimly lit by chandeliers, the room was filled with old-fashioned maps, brass decorations, and an air of self-assured authority.
Despite the modern age of advanced reconnaissance, radar, and satellite surveillance, Vistara still operated on 20-year-old doctrines. They relied on outdated intelligence and believed that Frechenia was still a weak, fractured state with no major reinforcements.
Marshal Velkos spoke with unwavering certainty:
> "The Frechenian dogs have survived long enough. They are fractured, desperate, and exhausted. Our forces will storm their coasts, crush their ports, and march straight to their capital in two months. Their leaders will kneel before us."
His officers nodded in approval, many sharing the same outdated mindset.
The plan was bold—but disastrously misinformed.
Their intelligence suggested that Frechenia's only allies were remnants of old Osterian forces. They had no idea that Wallonia had entered the war, nor did they anticipate the deployment of 12 fully armed Wallonian fleets.
The Invasion Forces Depart
Vistara's military mobilized at an unprecedented speed.
120,000 soldiers, divided into six divisions, were ordered to march toward Frechenia.
Five naval fleets, numbering 428 ships, set sail from Vistara's naval bases.
These fleets were modeled after stolen designs from the Müller Empire and Przesky Commune, featuring battleships, carriers, and cruisers of outdated designs.
Their goal? A swift and brutal amphibious invasion of Frechenia's coastal cities.
But fate had different plans for the Vistaran forces.
They were sailing straight into a catastrophic trap.
A March to Ruin
Azimuth Battleship Detects the Enemy
The vast ocean stretched endlessly beneath the Azimuth-Class Battleship stationed in Frechenian waters. The towering vessel, with its dark, polished hull reflecting the midday sun, floated like an iron leviathan amidst the gentle waves.
Inside the command bridge, a low hum of machinery accompanied the rapid clicking of keyboards and the occasional beeping of radar systems. The room was dimly lit, filled with holographic displays and tactical maps showing real-time data on regional military movements.
A sudden, sharp ping disrupted the calm atmosphere.
Lieutenant Sofia Krantz, the lead radar operator, immediately locked onto an unknown formation appearing on their long-range sensors. Her sharp eyes scanned the data, her fingers swiftly inputting commands to confirm what she was seeing.
Moments later, her voice echoed across the bridge.
> "Commander, we've got incoming. A massive formation—120,000 ground troops and five enemy fleets totaling 428 ships—are moving toward us."
The murmuring of officers and analysts grew into a tense discussion. The Azimuth-Class Battleship, while a formidable warship, was not meant to face an entire invasion force alone.
Commander Koshida Skyler, standing tall at the center of the bridge, clenched his jaw as he analyzed the incoming threat. His silver-white uniform, bearing the insignia of Wallonia's Expeditionary Defense Fleet, contrasted with the dark surroundings of the bridge.
Without hesitation, he turned toward his communications officer.
> "Patch me through to Admiral Vastar. Immediately."
The officer nodded, opening a secure communication channel. A flickering hologram of Admiral Vastar, the seasoned Wallonian fleet commander, materialized before them. His rugged features and piercing gaze showed no hint of surprise at the dire report—only cold calculation.
Commander Skyler saluted.
> "Admiral, we have confirmed a large-scale invasion force advancing on Frechenian territory. Ground forces numbering 120,000 are marching, and five fleets—428 ships—are heading in our direction. Orders?"
Vastar's expression remained unreadable, but a smirk played at the corner of his lips.
> "So, the Vistarans have finally decided to act… and with outdated intelligence, no less."
He turned to one of his staff officers, issuing a rapid sequence of orders.
> "Send word to the 140,000 Wallonian troops under Frechenian command. Have them begin their maneuver to cut off and encircle the Vistaran army. Ensure our Osterian and Tresnian allies are aware and mobilized."
The order was relayed swiftly, activating a counteroffensive strategy that had been prepared for months.
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Wallonian and Allied Troops Mobilize
As Vistarans unknowingly marched to their doom, a massive coalition force began its strategic deployment.
140,000 Wallonian troops, veterans of countless battles, moved under Frechenian command.
80,000 Frechenian soldiers, hardened from their previous defeats and desperate to reclaim their homeland, followed suit.
34,000 Tresnian troops, eager to prove themselves in battle, prepared for engagement.
This 254,000-strong army would execute a pincer movement, cutting off Vistaran supply lines and encircling them before they could advance deeper into Frechenian territory.
In the coastal regions, the Wallonian 12th, 14th, and 18th Fleets, each comprising 132 warships, mobilized to intercept the five approaching Vistaran fleets.
The trap was set.
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