“All forces occupying the Army Training Ground, hear this. Immediately disarm and surrender! Disarm and surrender!!!”
“Get lost, you bastards! There will be no negotiations with the rebels!! How can you even show your faces when you’re just trying to extort us with your ranks! Aren’t you ashamed of your ranks?!!”
Continuous shouts were going back and forth at the Army Training Ground.
Surrounding outside were the Capital Guard Division and the National Gendarmerie.
In addition, units under the Eastern Corps, which were supposed to participate in this military parade, were broadcasting that it was preposterous for the Army Training Ground Commandant to forcibly detain the Public King and engage in a siege.
Of course, the troops at the Army Training Ground, who knew all the facts, did not budge and responded with abuse.
If we look at the situation itself, it could not be said to be good.
The training ground was surrounded. The number of troops on the rebel side was several times greater than ours.
Furthermore, with the Capital Guard Division and the National Gendarmerie pointing their guns, even if they were trained soldiers educated with the latest doctrines, they were overwhelmingly lacking in experience.
If we were to assume the worst-case scenario and face them head-on, the exchange ratio might easily reach 1:3.
This fact was not unknown to others.
“How much supplies are currently stored in the training ground?!”
When Commander Lichtenharck asked while nervously picking his nails, the logistics officer replied, drenched in cold sweat.
“Although the number of recruits this time is quite large, there is plenty of food. However, the problem lies with ammunition.”
Even though it was a training unit, enough ammunition could be supplied to each recruit during training.
But that was only in the case of assuming a training situation.
If a full-scale war were to break out, where the coup force would have to endure a certain level of casualties and forcefully push through,
It was clear that the first thing to fall would be ammunition for the recruits.
“Colonel Enok Revendale! Surely you must have a plan!”
Commander Lichtenharck’s gaze turned to me. I nodded firmly at him.
“Yes, sir.”
We held the moral high ground.
Indeed, Public King Orlando Rus III was here, and since he supported us, whatever the coup force said, it would inevitably be considered rebellion.
Moreover, the media was in my hands.
They only know one thing but not the other.
Since the media had not been around in Ukraine for long, the coup force did not understand their true power.
“We will immediately distribute newspapers from Sarah Ronald’s Wilson Times as soon as day breaks. All citizens in the capital will know about the coup force.”
The military and economic reforms by Orlando Rus III over the past few years had been very stable and moving in a good direction.
The citizens also clearly recognized this.
To them, Orlando Rus III was a prophet who presented a new future to the dark Okhraine Duchy, a great victor who led the country to victory, and the only monarch who reclaimed lost territories.
This was why the coup force wanted to co-opt rather than eliminate the Public King.
The moment they eliminated the Public King,
They would surely be dragged down by an enraged mob.
“The public opinion war is definitely in our favor. The problem is that the more desperate they become, the more radical their breakthrough strategy will be…”
Think carefully.
Their plan has already fallen apart.
If civil strife erupts, that would be a perfect opportunity. But if the coup force decides to turn the entire capital into a ‘killing field’?
Even if civil war leads to our victory, the aftermath cannot be guaranteed.
“There’s likely an involvement of the Soviev Empire behind them. In the worst case, they might intervene.”
The moment the coup force decided to fortify themselves within the training ground, the main forces of the Eastern Corps, which were the core of the coup, began to move.
Naturally, this created a gap in the border region.
Although the suppression of the Eastern Corps was left to Brigade Commander Joseph Lebandovsky, whether this despicable bear would strike at the kingdom with its front paws was uncertain.
No, perhaps…
The current situation in Ukraine might even trigger a world war.
Intervening actively in a small country experiencing civil war to establish a government to their liking or to gain some territory is a common strategy, even in Hearts of Iron.
Would the coup force, which collaborated with the Strigoi, a blatant criminal organization, and the remnants of the Azoff National Liberation Front, a rebel group, refuse the sweet touch of the Soviev Empire?
Perhaps their reason for acting was due to the influence of the Soviev Empire.
But even if it was just a hypothesis, if true, the situation would become quite complicated.
However, two years ago, I was convinced that a coup would occur.
After speaking with people from the Southern Corps and the Special Response Brigade, I also spoke with individuals from the Northern Corps.
I also met many bureaucrats and honorary nobles, as well as merchants, beyond just military personnel.
Thanks to this, despite the extremely unfavorable circumstances, I managed to pull through until now.
And the people I’ve networked with are not limited to Ukraine alone.
“So, what should we do then?”
Listening quietly to the conversation, the Army Training Ground Operations Officer asked in a trembling voice.
I answered calmly.
“We must continue waiting. Until everything falls into place in our favor.”
*
As dawn approached,
“A large-scale disturbance occurred in the capital, Kaieff. The Army Training Ground Commandant and the 8th Assault Infantry Battalion Commander kidnapped the Public King and are under siege.”
The urgent departure order of the Eastern Corps Commander was transmitted to all his subordinate divisions.
From those who knew something about this incident to those who received no notice,
No one remained unmoved by the unprecedented event of the Public King being kidnapped.
The details of the incident were not important.
Those who supported the coup force did so to save their own lives.
Those who were unaware of the coup did so out of loyalty to their country.
The Eastern Corps quickly mobilized for various reasons,
“…What?”
“The main routes are all blocked!”
“An urgent report from the 54th Cavalry Regiment. The main bridge heading to the Central District has been destroyed.”
“The messenger from the corps’s direct cavalry regiment has arrived… The regiment suffered a devastating defeat. The regiment commander is dead…!”
Units advancing on the front lines began to stop one by one. Some were even defeated with heavy losses.
Who could have possibly hindered the advance of the corps?
A reconnaissance reported that some forces from the Northern Corps had deployed, but they were likely infantry.
How could a cavalry regiment be completely annihilated?
The Chief of Staff of the Eastern Corps, who had taken command from the corps commander in the capital, felt as if his head would explode.
At that moment,
A liaison officer rushed into the makeshift tent used as the corps headquarters.
“Chief of Staff!! Come out and look at the sky!!”
“Sky?”
“Flying ship! It’s a flying ship!!”
The moment he heard this, the Chief of Staff immediately realized who had repelled the vanguard units.
As the Chief of Staff hurriedly exited the tent and looked up at the sky,
As the twilight gradually cleared, a massive battleship was sailing proudly across the brightening sky.
A Zeppelin airship.
“Special Response Brigade…!!!”
Before the Chief of Staff could spit out these words,
A sharp voice came from the airship. A voice the Chief of Staff had heard before.
“Greetings, dear comrades.”
Joseph Lebandovsky,
the brigade commander of the Special Response Brigade.
