Sovereign

“Strike first and strike hard. For the defense of the revolution. War Plan ‘Salvation’ is now in effect.”

- Communique from the Federal Republic’s Foreign Affairs Ministry to all CFN member states, commencing combat operations against the Mandate of Nations, April 20, 2025.

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West Orland

Site-07A

OHC High Security Command Center

“I suppose it has begun then,” Amelie said, following the men of the Orlish High Command through the recently finished “Site-07A'' as she and William left the helicopter that brought them here. It wasn’t just any facility—it was now going to be the true brain center of the Orlish Armed Force. Beyond the former OHC headquarters, this was a true underground bunker.

Constructed just ten kilometers north of Eutstadt on the West Coast itself, right on the side of one of the mountains in the Roehann Mountain Range—this was a facility close to both the November Palace, the Orlish Government in Eutstadt, and of course, the various HQs of the different branches of the OAF, Royal Guard, and the intelligence agencies of Orland.

Except, Site-07A was completely underground. Not only was it both a port for the Royal Orlish Navy—and Amelie could see four FFGs (Guided-Missile Frigates) moored on the harbor, the surface itself was filled with multiple complexes, some still under construction, that would act as the Site’s primary defense, as SAM systems filled the area, alongside the silos for heavier anti-ICBM interceptors. It was a base designed to defend against nuclear attacks and survive a direct nuclear attack.

Amelie shivered as the cold rain on the coast turned her raincoat wet, as they continued through the entrance for the site’s main building—which was merely the entrance to the deep underground bunker designed to resist even a direct nuclear hit. Indeed, in the event of a full-on nuclear exchange, the leaders of Orland could reasonably use this place as a shelter while they led the Kingdom.

Though…Amelie swore to never let it reach that point.

“Yep, that it did,” William replied. “They’re already blitzing through Constania, Latia, the Central Vaeyoxan Coalition, and through Hebei itself…”

“The Empire of Kusari has already pledged to send half a million troops to both the Central Vaeyox Coalition and Hebei…” General Albrecht muttered. “And Asanai itself is now sending troops to Hebei.”

“That doesn’t take into account that their control of the high seas isn’t secure,” Admiral Halberd said as they entered the building. Inside, crowds of workers, techs, and officials mingled left and right. They weren’t just the OAF either. She could see so many civilian women around, as Site-07A wasn’t just an OAF project.

This was a place where her entire government could take refuge if need be.

“What’s the plan for that then?” Amelie asked, as they continued deeper into the site, soon, they were waiting for the VIP elevator down. “Is the navy soon to join them?”

“Of course we are,” Admiral Halberd said. “Five ships. Five ships had been sunk on both sides for the last few hours since the first shots were fired.”

“How many did we lose?”

“Nothing, only the Asanaians and the Hebians lost ships. We did kill an Asanian FFG. Aircraft from the ONS Rebenslof.”

“Strike Force Seven is deployed in the Hebeian Sea?”

Admiral Halberd sighed. “Your brother has a duty, Your Majesty. And he already willingly volunteered. Quite frankly, the ONS Rebenslof is still our best ship to date. The combat experience concentrated on that carrier makes it worth at least two or three. Sure, it’s old, but it now has a full LF-20 Phantom squadron onboard.”

“I see then…”

All of them went inside the spacious elevator, and Amelie had been pretty impressed by the quality of construction of everything inside. The white-colored walls. The cool lighting. It was almost as if this entire site was constructed with Orland’s best technology to offer.

Which made sense. Its construction already began three years ago, it was just rushed further by the outbreak of the civil war. A project that Amelie shelled an extra twenty billion Orlish Blancs a year ago since the OAF really warned her of the possibility of nuclear conflict.

Of course, that budget didn’t just cover this supercomplex, but also multiple redundant underground HQ bunkers all around West Orland, with the next phase that would cost upward to eighty billion Orlish Blancs soon to be constructed to give at least thirty or forty million people shelter from a possible nuclear conflict that would probably be approved in FY2026.

It was a concerted policy of national defense for all of West Orland. Not only was the air being secured with the buildup of SAM systems everywhere that they could build it in, but they were producing thousands upon thousands of interceptors for the national Terminal Interception Defense Network (TIDN) to intercept ICBMs at their terminal phase, and hundred more for the more expensive Continental Midcourse Defense System (CMDS) to intercept ICBMs at their midcourse phase.

Of course, both the TIDN and CMDS programs existed for decades already, but Amelie’s regime had expanded it greatly. It was probably why Amelie wasn’t outproducing the Federal Republic in terms of frontline war materiel even with their more massive industrial base. She had shelled at least two hundred billion Orlish Blancs and a significant ratio of her industries for the defense of her citizens from strategic bombing and nuclear warfare.

Why? Because if ever the world came into complete blows, she wanted, deliriously, to ensure that West Orland would survive a nuclear war. Not only was their grand strategy all about encircling the seas, and starving out the CFN in global siege, Amelie wanted to deny them the ability to even threaten her core lands of nuclear warfare.

And she knew that none of them (except perhaps the Confederacy on a limited scale) would be able to do anything about it. Unlike her, they were funneling every industrial capacity they had to build offensive weaponry and to support their armies that would be driving deep through MN nations.

Thus, by year two or three, Amelie knew that not only would she have mobilized at least half of Royalist Orland’s economy to commence her own push, but she would deny them any chances of salvation by using their nukes. Of course, there was still the problem of them nuking countries that would not be able to defend themselves, but Amelie would only include them in the scope of her defense once she finished protecting the Orlish people from existential death.

Soon, their elevator stopped.

“Your Majesty,” General Albrecht grinned as the doors opened. “Welcome to Site-07A. Built on the west face of Mt. Triumph three years ago during the fears of Larissan nukes dropping on all of Orland, we finally finished it with the budget you gave us.”

He continued through wide hallways.

“This facility has everything it needs. Food production. Water processing facilities. Even factory lines with our best 3D Printer available should we ever need it. But most importantly, it is designed to withstand a direct hit of a fifty-megaton nuclear bomb,” General Albrecht smirked as he looked back at the Queen and her entourage. Of course, Amelie was very pleased with that, and a smile almost graced her face, until Admiral Halberd laughed.

“Oh piss off, mate,” the Admiral chuckled. “Why’d you mock our venerable Queen like that? This crapstain isn’t tested on a fifty-megaton bomb now is it?”

“Well, apologies, but I wanted to get some light on our situation,” the General said, and Amelie almost laughed herself. Of course…this thing was only “designed” for that. That didn’t mean anything was assured.

“As such, it’s up to you now how we would avoid getting the damned sun dropped on our heads,” William said to Amelie. “Now onto the war, General.”

“Aye. Follow me.”

They continued through the winding hallways, eventually reaching the “Emergency Command Hall” room, its massive doors opened to show what was inside. A gigantic display of the world map, filled with endless icons and who knows what, all inside a room that was dimly lit, aside from the bluish lights from the endless screens and computers inside.

Hell, Amelie could even see more flat screens that detailed zoomed-in views of every frontline. The Orlish–Lieplatzan Eastern Front. The Central Vaeyox Front. The Hebeian Front. The North Gallian Front. The South Gallian Front. The Southwest Vaeyox Front.

It was all highlighted for all to see, with the unit icons of both friendly and hostile units shifting at almost every second, alongside the colors of blue and red that represented allied territory and hostile territory.

Inside were hundreds of seats filled with officers and employees facing their computers arrayed in an almost semi-circle to the main displays at the center of the room.

“So…this is where the war will be led?” Amelie asked.

“Not really. It’s just one of the HQs we have coordinating this entire thing,” the four of them climbed on some stairs, going up to what appeared to be an observation area of the command room as General Albrecht continued explaining things to them. “Though, again, if things do get desperate, this is where we’ll all be.”

“I hope it doesn’t reach that level then…”

“Indeed.”

“What’s the situation on the North Gallian Front?”

“As expected, the Confederacy is sending everything they have,” the General answered. “Chief Air Marshall Zimmerman is going into another hell week this time around, dealing with the combined CFN air force over the skies of Gallia. That, and they already punched through our first defense line, as expected.”

“So they’re out of the DMZ?”

Amelie looked at the displays. Indeed, it seemed that there were already a few areas captured in the DMZ, with one Gallian town already falling near the border. General Albrecht merely sighed.

“Our forces in the front are holding as best as they can,” he said. “But really, what the Gallians have are just holding units. The good news is, we have now received a tally of their armored losses in the first three hours…”

Amelie smiled. “How much?”

“Fifty-seven Confederacy tanks have been confirmed destroyed. Mostly by infantry-based ATGMs, but also from the limited Gallian tanks in the area.”

“And of the I OEF Corps?”

“Still held in reserve,” the General pointed at the map. “Notice how they’re advancing so many spearheads on eight roads. That’s a lot. A lot of diversions. We don’t know yet which sector of the DMZ defense line they are aiming to encircle. But we’ll know it in a few hours. Maybe even tomorrow.”

“So that’s what they’re countering?”

“Correct. I OEF Corps is operating as a full-on mobile QRF, not as a direct frontline unit. Once we’re sure which pincers are real, the Gallians will begin pulling out, while the I OEF Corps will duel them and cover their retreat. Once the Gallians safely pull out, the I OEF Corps will withdraw under the cover of Gallian reinforcements. Rest for a few days, then we’ll do it again once the enemy conducts another encirclement attempt.”

William laughed. “We really went far from the Great War’s ‘hold them at all cost’ policies.”

“The Gallians are willing to trade land this time for a chance of victory,” General Albrecht said. “And I am too. The goal of our current strategy isn’t to hold the land northeast of Toldoi, no, it’s to make sure that each step that the Confederates take will be a bloody affair, all while preserving our forces.”

“Wait,” Amelie stopped them. “I thought we need to buy time with this? The Parliament is still yet to vote for mobilization.”

“So what?” General Albrecht smirked. “Do you really think that the OAF is so stupid to rely on the political developments of our ‘motherland’? No, we already have our own contingency plans. We’ll be shipping off six of our armored brigades next month.”

“You’re what?” Amelie was astounded. “This is a grave altering of our plan. What if…what if the Federalists launched an offensive? What then? What if they detect our plans or our ships and they sink them?”

“Oh come on, now you’re just making fun of the navy, Your Majesty,” Admiral Halberd said.

“The OAF will act, Your Majesty,” the General reiterated. “We are betting on the Gallia plan to work with full success. And that requires armor. If there will be consequences, then so be it. Losing Gallia isn’t acceptable. We’re taking the risk.”

“So that’s what all that indecisiveness would lead into…” Amelie muttered. “What if you screwed up?”

“Well, we’d be pushed by the Federalists considerably next offensive if they discovered our weakness and exploited it. But remember, they are also just as cautious. It’s time to be bold to achieve victory. Especially when the enemy is banking on attacking us only after we lose Gallia.”

“Is that…are you sure of that?”

“Nope, no one is. But I know how OAF officers think,” General Albrecht said. “We’re no stupid buffoons. And I know that the Federalists are trying to optimize their next punch at the right moment. Most likely, that right moment would be after we lost the OEF in Gallia alongside Gallia itself.”

“So your plan is…to fully deny them that?”

“Exactly. If the OEF, LEF, and the GAF successfully bait the Confederation–Pozneki Army into an encirclement that would go down in the history books, or force them into a brutal rout that would destroy most of their equipment—what would the FOAF do then? They’d make a mistake. They’d hold off an attack, thus, ensuring that they would absolutely lose the attrition war. Or, they’d attack—right as the elite OEF is returning home to screw their offensive.”

Amelie couldn’t believe it. This man…the Lion of the Western Front, truly was some ambitious man. His plan hinged on a lot of things going right. But at the same time…Amelie liked it. It sounded ambitious and…decisive.

And she liked decisiveness.

“Okay then. If that’s the best plan you can conjure, then we shall do it.”