Papaldia Empire, imperial capital Esthirant, Emperor Ludiusâs private room
All the wealth in the Third Civilization was concentrated in the capital of Papaldia, and the person who embodied all that national power, Emperor Ludius, lived in the imperial palace. He was chatting in his private room with a silver-haired woman.
âRemille, what do you think of the world, and what do you think of the Papaldia Empire?â
âYes, Your Grace. While everyone else scrambles around in the dirt, the empire stands at the top of the Third Civilization. We exploit fear in order to control other countries, a method I find extremely efficient.â
âCorrect. Ruling by fear is necessary in order to expand our national power. The Holy Mirishial Empire and Mu have chosen to live in harmony with their neighbors. It is torturous for our great empire to be ranked below such weak countries. Once we have total control of the Third Civilization, we shall reign supreme as the Great Empireâno, the Eternal Empire of Papaldia. Eventually, we shall bring the First and Second Civilizations under our heel, uniting the entire world under our rule, which will forever eliminate war and bring about true peace. This is what we envision for the people of the world⊠Do you understand, Remille?â
Remille trembled with emotion. His Grace was truly a magnanimous person.
âYour⊠Your Grace, you have thought so deeply about all the people of the world⊠I am truly moved,â Remille choked, tears welling up in her eyes.
âTo accomplish this task, there is much blood that must be spilled. It is an unavoidable sacrificeâa small price to achieve great results. Those standing in the empireâs way must be removed.â
âYou are absolutely correct!!!â
âBy the way, Remille, what became of the incident with the Kingdom of Fenn and Japan? We would like to hear the results directly from your mouth.â
âYes. As Your Grace commanded, the town of Nishinomiyako in Fenn was captured. At that time, our forces captured two hundred citizens of Japan, who proved to be useful in our meeting with Japan. We gave their diplomats our conditions and they refused to come to an immediate decision, so I used the magic image relay crystal to show them their citizens being executed.â
The emperor smiled faintly.
âAah⊠they are surely in a panic right now. As we suggested, simply give them the opportunity to be educated. So, how did they respond?â
âAs barbarians do, they became upset and raised their voices. Your Grace, I believe it would be better to simply exterminate trash like that. Why should we waste time attempting to educate them?â
ââŠWe believe that all barbarians should be given an equal chance to avoid oblivion. If they are fools who choose not to take such a chance, then they deserve to be eradicated.â
âI understand. Your Grace, after Amanoki falls and we capture all of the Japanese there, I will open talks with them again. And then, if they continue to refuse our demands, we will execute the prisoners again and likely start a war of genocide. At that time, I will leave everything to Your Graceâs judgment.â
âIs that so⊠it shall be done.â
A bracelet on Remilleâs left arm began blinking. Her face twisted in irritation.
âThat is for official business, is it not? âŠWe are not discussing any matters of import here, simply having a private conversation. You may answer your magical communications.â
Remille bowed to the emperor then tapped the communicator.
âJapanâs diplomats have requested an urgent meeting, are you able to receive them?â
âThat will be fine. Have them wait,â Remille ordered, then cut off the communication.
âYour Grace, Japan has come again asking to meet. This may be the result of their education, their answer to Your Graceâs mercy. I shall take my leave here.â
âThey may be barbarians, but their very existence is being threatened, so they must be desperate now. We hope you will forgive us for taking up your time with idle chatter.â\nRemille turned back as she was about to leave the room with a refreshing look on her face.
âYour Grace, do you have any other matters to attend today?â
âIn that case, once I am done with my duties, may I return here?â
Remille was smiling brightly as she left.
Second Civilization, superpower Mu
Technical Officer Myrus had been summoned by the upper echelons of the military.
ââŠso, that means, Technical Officer Myrus, Tactical Officer Lassan, the two of you are being sent to Japan as observers.â
After that declaration, they went over the logistics in more detail.
Mu was 21,000 km from Japan. This was too far for any single aircraft to fly. That being the case, they would first fly on the passenger plane with the longest range, the reciprocating engine aircraft La Kaosu (cruising speed 280 km/h, cruising distance 7000 km), to the international allied airport, then stop at 3 relay points along the way until they arrived in Japan. They would refuel as quickly as possible at each relay point, but it would still take 5 days in total. After having contacted Japan about it, as soon as they enter Japanâs airspace, they will be escorted by combat aircraft and land at an airport in the western city of Fukuoka. Japan warned that it was possible that they might carry out their rescue operation before the observers even arrived. Mu acknowledged this and decided to send the observers anyway. They determined that there was still a high possibility of being able to observe live combat.
As soon as the meeting concluded, Myrus and Lassan made preparations to leave immediately. Three hours later, they boarded the state-of-the-art aircraft La Kaosu with food and supplies and began the long journey to Japan.
Japan, Ministry of Defense
The prime minister, who had come personally to the Ministry of Defense, was being briefed by the ministers.
âAt the moment, the Papaldia Empire is preparing for another offensive in the Fenn town of Nishinomiyako. They have around three thousand ground infantry, and weâve also confirmed thirty-two âground dragons,â which are some kind of dragon though weâre unsure how theyâre used. Considering these ground forces, we believe they will be ready to depart soon.â
They referred to a detailed map and continued the explanation.
âRegarding their aerial forces, they have twelve dragon carriers supporting twenty wyverns each, meaning they should have about two hundred and forty dragons total for their air force. Since their wyvern lords are currently maintaining control of the airspace throughout Fenn, their primary role is to provide supporting fire for their ground forces.â
âTheir naval forces consist of two hundred and eleven gunboats, which are ships with large cannons on them; twelve dragon carriers, as previously mentioned; and a hundred and one attack transports that carried their ground forces there. So their fleet has three hundred and twenty-four ships total, and they are deployed in the waters around Nishinomiyako. Fortunately for us, twenty of their ships, all twelve dragon carriers and eight gunboats, are currently positioned about thirty kilometers west of Nishinomiyako. My guess is that theyâre trying to avoid any surprise attacks from enemy ships.â
The prime minister raised a hand.
âSo we know the enemyâs positions, but how will we drive them out?â
âYes sir. First off, we currently have no means to rapidly transport our Ground Self-Defense Forces. Even with three fully operational Oosumi-class LSTs, it would take us numerous days to deploy a full regiment of troops, so, based on the situation, we may need a small group of elites to delay the enemy forces.
âThis is just a rough strategy, but first we want to gain control of the airspace by sending waves of F-2s with anti-ship missiles to sink the twenty dragon carriers and gunboats at the location thirty kilometers west of Nishinomiyako. Then, together with F-15J Kais, shoot down all the wyvern lords in the air escorting their fleet. This will neutralize their aerial combat ability.â
âThe enemy ground forces are currently concentrated in Nishinomiyako, but we canât bomb them since it could affect civilians. In that case, since theyâre currently preparing to sortie, as mentioned before, we let them advance to some sort of plain or flatland. While theyâre doing that, the JGSDF use shuttles from the LSTs to land on the eastern shore of Fennâs capital, Amanoki. Based on the situation, there may be a need to attack the enemy forces to distract them. Either way, we can then evacuate as many Japanese citizens as possible on those shuttles.â
âRegarding the rest of the enemyâs naval forces, the Maritime Self-Defense Force can handle them. Because there are so many, anti-ship missiles would be inefficient, but we can take them out easily enough with just standard guns.â\nThe words of the JSDFâs leaders held a lot of weight.
âWe will avenge our slaughtered countrymen during this operation. Unless they surrender, no Papaldian soldier will be let off easily.â
âAfter we wipe out their main ground forces, our forces will shift into a supporting role and help Fennâs forces reclaim Nishinomiyako.â
âThatâs the overview of the plan to expunge the Papaldian army from the Kingdom of Fenn. The plan to attack the Papaldia Empireâs home country is still being formulated and will be discussed at a future date.â
The prime minister nodded in satisfaction.
Papaldia Empire, imperial army
General Cius ordered the empireâs ground forces to be ready to leave Nishinomiyako tomorrow and march 100 km southeast to the capital, Amanoki. Because there were land dragons assigned to each squad, they would be taking a detour around the mountains through the Coate Plains. Lieutenant General Dolbo didnât doubt that they would emerge victorious, but he still felt an inexplicable anxiety. It wasnât something he had ever felt before.
They had executed a bunch of citizens from Japan, a barbarian country outside the civilized areas. There was a chance that Japan would fly into a rage and come attack them. If it were any other country that did so, they would simply wipe them out and everything would be fine.
When Dolbo saw what those Japanese were wearing, he suddenly became worried. He held in his hand a self-winding wristwatch.
There were watches in the Papaldia Empire as well, but they were all enormous and could only be hung up on walls. When he saw the souvenirs his wealthy friends had brought back from the superpower Mu, he had been amazed at their tiny, manually-wound wristwatches. He remembered feeling movedâthis was truly a wonderful invention, devised in the most advanced mechanical country in the world, the superpower Mu!
But then⊠what exactly was he looking at right now?! Everything about it was better than Muâs wristwatches: weight, design, texture, intricacy. And it wasnât like there were only one or two people with these wristwatches; the vast majority of those Japanese had one. Furthermore, more than half of the wristwatches⊠had second hands that all moved at the same time.
Just remembering it made him shudder.
Lieutenant General Dolbo made his preparations while mulling over his uneasiness.
It was a long flight. Definitely not a flight that could be made on wyvern.
On the fifth morning after leaving Mu, the reciprocating engine passenger aircraft La Kaosu was finally nearing Japan. They would soon enter Japanâs âair defense identification zoneâ at which point Japanâs combat aircraft should arrive to escort them.
âI wonder what kind of combat aircraft will come?â
Technical Officer Myrus had heard last time that Japan had a propulsion method other than the reciprocating engine, so he couldnât wait to find out what it was. In contrast to Myrus, Tactical Officer Lassan was much more reserved.
âIt wonât be very impressive either way.â
The moment he said thatâ
There were two booms of thunder that could be clearly heard even from inside their plane. They both involuntarily turned their necks to look out the window.
A combat aircraft shaped like an arrowhead with no propellers passed by them. The machine made a sharp turn, came up next to them, then slowed down to match their speed.
âItâs⊠so fast!!!â
The two officers were stunned.
âIt doesnât have any propellers!!!â Lassan shouted, shivering.
\nâOh, one more thing: if you decide to surrender, please use a simple white flag.â
The meeting ended with Japan clearly conveying its intention to fight back.
Papaldia Empire, imperial capital Esthirant, 1st foreign affairs department, inner office
Remille was reading over a summary report that she dictated to one of the secretaries. Next to her was the Department Head Elto, reading over her shoulder.
ââThe barbarians⊠wish for their own destructionâŠâ Huh⊠âTheir leaders are so stupid itâs almost unbelievable. For Japan to feel no sense of crisis over the extermination of their people is something that I cannot understand.ââ
Elto felt a little sympathy for Remille. The empire had completely destroyed many other countries. This would just be yet another. The peaceful image of executed barbarians rose unbidden in his mind.
Deputy Head Hans ran in holding various documents. His face was pale and he looked extremely nervous.
âWhat is it?â Elto asked.
âRegarding our conflict with the Kingdom of Fenn, we have been closely monitoring any requests for observers from the other superpowers.â
âIf youâre referring to the Holy Mirishial Empire, they have already informed us that they do not intend to send an observer.â
âYes, as always. So, when will Muâs observer be arriving?â
Hansâs face scrunched up.
âThatâs, um⊠Mu has declared that they will not be sending an observer to the empire.â
âHoh, how sad, for them not to send an observer. Have they gotten over their obsession with collecting combat data?â
Hans appeared conflicted.
âHm? Whatâs wrong?â
âWeâve discovered that⊠Mu has sent observers to Japan instead.â
They zoomed over the ocean, just above the water. There were ten of them, painted blue to blend in with the color of the sea; they were nearly invisible when looking down from the sky. The ten F-2 multirole combat aircraft were flying about 20 meters above sea level at Mach 0.9, subsonic. Their main wings were equipped with four anti-ship missiles each. Their objective was to destroy the dragon carriers currently 30 km west of Nishinomiyako. Since there were twenty ships in the area, ten fighters were dispatched in case they all needed to be sunk.
Between the ten planes, there were forty anti-ship missiles, which was clearly overkill, but they approved the redundancy to ensure they would sink the carriers without fail. An E-767 AWACS was flying in the sky above and behind them and had already identified about twelve enemy units in the sky above the fleet. Those twelve enemy units would be taken care of by the F-15 Kais.
The anti-ship F-2s continued advancing at subsonic speed. Their distance to the enemy fleet quickly shrank, and they had already entered missile range. When they got within 100 km of the fleet, they received the order over the radio from command.
The squadron of ten planes fired a total of forty air-launched anti-ship missiles, which blasted towards the Papaldia Empireâs fleet of dragon carriers.