Sovereign

“Second General Strike in the Empire of Asanai! While the Empress’ reforms had largely dissipated the possibility of a pro-male revolution in the Empire, the deadlock over the issue of the ‘unequal retirement age’ had once again sparked a full mobilization of ‘male-aligned unions’ against the government. Male rights reformists argue that the retirement age of sixty-five is ridiculous when the average Asanai male lives at the age of fifty-eight, in comparison to Asanai women who live up to eighty-two years on average while enjoying a retirement age of fifty-five. ‘They’re squeezing us till death, every last drop of our productivity to feed their lavish lifestyles,’ one of the union leaders remarked in fury. While this is only one of the issues that these unions have cited as a ‘grievance against the order’, the wider Asanaian Male Rights Movement is now rallying under the same banner — ‘No Economy Without Equality!’”

- Geopol Press

“Media blackout in the State of Lieplatz. Internet and news media have been shut down by the Junta, and foreign journalists are now being ‘escorted out’ of the country. The only indication of what is happening is coming from ‘approved’ mouthpieces of the Lieplatz Junta, declaring a ‘state of internal war’ and its developments whenever the Junta’s anthem isn’t playing on TV and Radio.”

- Geopol Press

+++

West Orland

County of Wittfield

City of Eutstadt

November Palace

Amelie gave the document on her desk a passing read as Admiral George Halberd spoke.

“They’re intensifying their interdiction activities,” Admiral Halberd said. “We are already seeing other ‘revolutionary navies’ in international sea lines, shooting down merchant vessels without the flags or identifications of their home countries. Or flying the banner of the old pirates, the skull and bones. Others…they’re even flying the flag of the Federal Republic.”

“That’s…concerning,” Amelie placed down the document, as Nia silently checked it for herself. Three of the highest officers of the Admiralty — Admiral Herard Tresckow of VACCOM, Admiral George Halberd of the 2nd Fleet, and Minister of Naval Operations Daniel Fisch, were in her office today. “They’re using fake identities to hide their operations? Why? More importantly, why would they do this already? I thought the last reports showed that these countries are still at an impasse in the Loviedo Conference.”

“No alliance has been met fully yet, Your Majesty. But they are already in a de facto common alignment. All of them have one common interest. Bring down the order, and create a new one from its ruins.” The Minister of Naval Operations sighed. “I’m afraid that we would have to deal with their navies, one way or another.”

“Their tactics are devious,” Nia commented, frowning to herself as she flipped through the pages of the report. “Attacking civilian shipping, raiding defenseless ports…they’re acting as pirates. There’s not even a question to dispute it.”

“Indeed, Nia. And someone would have to deal with these ‘pirates’. The question is, can the Orlish Navy do it? I don’t need to remind the three of you about our priorities. We need more raw materials to feed our industries. Foreign raw materials,” Amelie’s voice turned cold. “I need that shipping, and I’m asking you three to do your job. Can you do it?”

“...No we cannot,” Admiral Halberd said. “The Orlish Navy is powerful, but the oceans of Pollos are gigantic. We are stretched thin. At every point. So much so that if the Putschist fleet ever conducts an attempt to attack us with a concentrated force…we’d bend before we’re able to effectively respond.”

“Wait…” Amelie genuinely didn’t understand that. Hadn’t Albert and the Navy won so many decisive battles during the war with the Empire of Larissa? “How did that happen? We have ten aircraft carriers, with a massive supporting fleet with them. How would that be possible? We literally hold more than half of the world’s naval forces.”

“And?” Admiral Halberd asked. “Eleven aircraft carriers in total, one now in rebel hands. Four were seriously damaged by the Larissan surprise attacks that they wouldn’t be repaired for at least eight months. And another four are now stuck in drydock because we literally can’t maintain them without Eirhow and Rebenslof.”

Amelie silently counted the numbers with her fingers. Eight out of ten of her ships were gone from the high seas?! Already, she started panicking. Those aircraft carriers were literally the face…no, the backbone of Orlish Hegemony. She was planning to use the navy to heckle the other nations of the MN to her side. And out of nowhere, she learned this?! “Wait, we have two? We only have two operational carriers. Admiral, that has to be a joke of some sort.”

“Not exactly, we have six, but we cannot place them all in the seas at all times. They are being rotated on our available port facilities because we seriously lack Eirhow’s industry and skilled workers to maintain them. And with our shipyards bombed in Rebenslof, and with Halia’s Shipyards permanently out of commission, all we have left are our smaller docks in Eutstadt and Rolentz. And these docks are operating badly. We have a lack of both machinery and men to man them. So we are stretching our maintenance efforts thin, preventing us from keeping six of our technically ‘operational’ carriers in the field.”

Amelie sighed. “Then…what about the rest of the Navy? Our frigates, our destroyers, our cruisers. Surely, the Orlish Navy can still project our power in the world, no? I…I need that, badly.”

“Why?”

Amelie didn’t realize her lips spilling the beans, but instead of denying it, she decided to double down instead. The Navy and Admiral Halberd were her close allies after all. There was zero point in keeping him in the dark regarding her grand plans on the international stage. The Navy was a part of her plan, a plan to reassert Orland’s place in the Mandate of Nations, to place all other nations in line with her grand strategy to combat the revolutions everywhere.

A martial alliance led by a democratic and reformist Orland. With everyone directly affected by the revolution fully on board.

“We’re going to negotiate the possibility of turning the Mandate of Nations into a military alliance,” Amelie said. “We have to. It’s the only way. If these revolutionaries form their ‘Coalition of Free Nations’ first, and they attack us all at once…”

“Both West and East Vaeyox would fall to them, completely steamrolled,” Admiral Halberd completed. Admiral Tresckow seemed to share the share opinion, as he nodded in agreement to Admiral Halberd’s blunt words.

“In that case, Your Majesty, we would have to get the Navy on the move to reassert our power projection. I believe you desire to have every MN member on board?” He smirked. “And I should add, I’m surprised that the bleeding heart Queen is now interested in using coercion to get her way.”

Amelie frowned at the accusation levied against her, but she couldn’t deny it. But Amelie already learned. In this world, she had to use what she had. Orland had military and economic power. Both were powerful tools to force other lesser nations to cooperate with her goals and plans. These smaller countries were too distracted by delusions, petty disagreements, and conservative lunacy that prevented proper reforms and changes to prevent revolutions.

If she needed to whip them forcefully to become decent and finally prepare for the upcoming brewing storms, she would do so. That was Orland’s role as a hegemon anyway. The sheer economic and political power that her Kingdom held was something she had to leverage to create a world order that would survive and change for the better.

Especially with Larissa completely knocked out of the superpower game with its fleets wiped out, the Asanai Empire still stuck and paralyzed once more, the Hebeian Empire’s once-promising industries gone, and Gaul and Lorathia still in permanent decay…Orland, or whatever was left of it, would have to pick up the reigns to restore global order.

“If it must be done to place everyone on the same page. My page, then I shall do it. I have a vision not just for Orland, but for Pollos as a whole. And I need the MN united in achieving that vision.”

Admiral Tresckow laughed at that. “I’m on board then. Perhaps, the Navy can whip out a carrier or two off the drydocks if we brute force the ongoing repairs and maintenance. The rest of the fleet is stretched thin, but we should be able to do a few show of force exercises to assert our continued legitimacy at being the world’s policewoman.”

The Minister of Naval Operations sighed, conceding and agreeing with Amelie’s proposal. “Fine, I suppose we can force something out. We still are the biggest navy after all, even when more than half of our ships are technically not at full operational status…”

“Though, I wouldn’t suggest any more fleet battles, at least, not with our current situation,” Admiral Halberd said. “I’m not joking. It’s still pretty bad. We may have won against the Larissans, but they still badly mauled VACCOM and the reinforcement fleets, except for Strike Force Seven. It’s why the only ship carrying the Orlish banner properly on the high seas is the ONS Rebenslof.”

“...Shamefully, I’d admit I’ve lost more ships than I should have in the Northern Sea Campaign,” Admiral Tresckow added. “I apologize for that. The lack of aircraft carrier support early on really dented the numbers of our destroyer and cruiser squadrons.”

“Don’t worry about that, Admiral Tresckow,” Amelie reassured. “You were just doing your job as best as you can. I just hope you learned from those defeats.”

“I did, Your Majesty. I did.”

“Good.”

“Still…” The Minister of Naval Operations said. “Turning the MN into a global military alliance? Would that even be possible? The crowns of Gallia and Lorathia alone detest the Imperial Family of Hebei and Asanai.”

Amelie scoffed, crossing her arms. “It’s just a silly family feud between royal houses. Even House Ludendorf technically ‘hates’ the Larissan Imperial Family. I’m supposed to be tossing acid at Princess Anastasia on a daily basis, or to the Empress, but I’m ignoring the both of them instead. I’m sure the houses of West Vaeyox can reconcile with the thrones of East Vaeyox. And if they don’t, I’m going to make sure that they will be chummy with each other whether they like it or not.”

Plus, I doubt Princess Xue Li is petty, Amelie thought to herself. And Queen Alois is too old to be that petty either. Goddess…why would they even be feuding with each other over a stupid war a hundred years old already? We have a bigger fish to fry here. Why would anyone have to be petty? All of us women should be united here.

She shook her head, just as Admiral Halberd gave off a little laugh. “Well, to be fair, you are being cold to House Illyenov. Their Princess, who I might add, was a major anti-war voice, is practically groveling at you in our diplomatic channels to give her some support against the Confederates, all while you refuse to even meet Empress Katerina.”

Oh…indeed. That Empress, Amelie thought. She had completely forgotten about her. At the moment, she was still held in a noble estate down in the County of Weirloff, under strict house arrest. Amelie had completely placed Empress Katerina at the lowest of her priorities, as she had long handwaved the problem with the simple, ‘she’d get her trial once things calm down’.

Amelie rolled her eyes. “I’m not being hostile to them though. Quite frankly, I consider this treatment as friendly. They almost killed my brother.” She avoided adding the last part of her opinion about Princess Anastasia, that being her straight-up belief that House Illyenov should be removed from the Empire.

Nia shifted back a bit. “You know, I think I’m in agreement with the Admiral on this one. Amelie, your tone is certainly not friendly. Not even neutral.”

“Shut up, they’ll get what they deserve.”

“All as she calls the other royals petty for their feuds,” Halberd laughed even more, but that only made Amelie pout as she looked away. “Your Majesty is certainly irate against House Illyenov, even to its more innocent members.”

“No, I’m not!” Amelie said back. “I’m absolutely not.”

“Yeah, sure. You’re not.”