Oswald Taker was Admiral of the 1st Fleet and the commanding officer of a task force formed between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Fleets that included all of their Airships apart from the stealth and reconnaissance type known as Wraiths which had been sent to Zephyr. He was responsible for forty airships and sixty strikers.325Please respect copyright.PENANA8dJYXiBIG5
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4hiFkzPBi4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAvljYHTTVUO
Oswald knew that everyone else thought him pedantic, inflexible, and obsessed with details. He didn't care - it made him a better Admiral, in his opinion.325Please respect copyright.PENANAOypyr3nMGm
325Please respect copyright.PENANAj8ebcqDrfm
325Please respect copyright.PENANAU2vQUBwOX3
Taker was not particularly fond of his commanding officer, Lady Sophie Exonault. He would have favoured the pragmatic and brutally honest Admiral Cosminè Raz if he was allowed to pick the Aeroadmiral of the Grand Fleet.325Please respect copyright.PENANAgCMltM1xtN
325Please respect copyright.PENANAPiOFFb5oNY
325Please respect copyright.PENANAojkh1G6j8A
Nonetheless, he could do nothing to remove her - the woman had been prepared for a career as an Aeronautical Officer by the previous Aeroadmiral, her grandfather - and so he would serve and obey.325Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Th8XVEoE
325Please respect copyright.PENANA3F0DT6oj1C
325Please respect copyright.PENANARPkYmsGBPs
For now.325Please respect copyright.PENANArECxB7HR3r
325Please respect copyright.PENANABS2pSwa6NH
325Please respect copyright.PENANAEfKECcTaM6
To Admiral Taker of the First Fleet,325Please respect copyright.PENANA8yWlJ8MApM
325Please respect copyright.PENANA97hAmAqkjn
325Please respect copyright.PENANAcUXf6UtV2p
Oswald, something needs to be done about the developments concerning the Grand Army`s Project Voltaire. It was bad enough when the High-Exarch of Luxequinox approved the initiative, but now both Elector Bremer Icicle of the North and Matriarch Vivi of Clan Yunta back the project. Those cryogenic beam projectors have been deployed to the freshly established Exarchate of Gaurd for testing.325Please respect copyright.PENANAMgl9POPU1F
325Please respect copyright.PENANAipxvcmhKFd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAi5Cs8CrYQy
Our own Project Zanzi is being cast aside because of this. The Grand Fleet must not rest on past laurels unless we wish to lose resources to our friends on the ground. Therefore, I task you with assisting in the Seige of Demos. Take the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets and crush Nwarth De Corsair`s massed flotilla in the name of Urlic IV & I.325Please respect copyright.PENANAtQA9W0lr0l
325Please respect copyright.PENANAlPuSBWE9E9
325Please respect copyright.PENANAxNkHqe5YHu
Do not let me down,325Please respect copyright.PENANA54J1QIKxig
325Please respect copyright.PENANATvcZp8fWay
325Please respect copyright.PENANAq0btHt5rAD
Lady Sophie Genevieve Exonault, Aeroadmiral of the Grand Fleet 🜚325Please respect copyright.PENANAGxcwqIkM11
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6KM7t5Uyt
325Please respect copyright.PENANAY6EWDvkJA9
The combined UEGNA Fleets had massed above the city of Seaport in Central Province. The city was roughly three hundred miles from the mighty river Dekè - the longest and largest river by discharge in Empyrea. Oswald Taker`s forces were composed of six Super-Heavy Cruisers, twelve Heavy Cruisers, twenty-two Light Cruisers and sixty strikers.325Please respect copyright.PENANANRnPQ2XWgZ
325Please respect copyright.PENANAN4vf8887Kl
325Please respect copyright.PENANAqj0z045v9c
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets had rapidly closed the distance between Seaport and Demos, the Regional Capital of the East, until they were interrupted around halfway there.325Please respect copyright.PENANAQX7kKo4VdN
325Please respect copyright.PENANAwyhY3thBNb
325Please respect copyright.PENANAQPA6EjUqrk
*Bzzt* "Admiral Taker, Sir?" came the voice of Aristo Sine, Admiral of the 2nd Fleet.325Please respect copyright.PENANAUeO8OP3LBo
325Please respect copyright.PENANAkAMzZ8M97F
325Please respect copyright.PENANArEAm3kuFCw
Taker leaned into the æther radio to reply. "What is it?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAKyPUBzkyzQ
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJWwKXoMo47
325Please respect copyright.PENANAkfnNXXCOuD
*Bzzt* "The High-Commander of the EDA Tolun reports radar contacts at around 35°E, 5°N!" He replied sharply325Please respect copyright.PENANA6HE91QDy7u
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4HMLwlDWEa
325Please respect copyright.PENANA5djzu2CWzR
*Bzzt* "This is UAC Nika, sensors indicate airships with V.A.C and A.F.C identification tags. Repeat, hostiles nearby!"325Please respect copyright.PENANAhvVmQav4aK
325Please respect copyright.PENANAsqnrJMDgh6
325Please respect copyright.PENANAfqbFes5TlE
"Admiral, multiple airships off our starboard bow!" Warned the sensor officer, bringing the commanding officer back to the bridge of the GNA Egonault - a Super-Heavy Cruiser acting as his Flagship.325Please respect copyright.PENANA77O7kSqAXy
325Please respect copyright.PENANAMy6y4QCEMj
325Please respect copyright.PENANAVUVkEalNZh
"Analysis Officer Katyr? Report!" Taker snapped at the shortish young woman next to the Sensor Officer. Bridge Lieutenant Zara Katyr had straight black hair and hazel, teardrop-shaped eyes.325Please respect copyright.PENANAnaFBEue35g
325Please respect copyright.PENANA5cJkTYuGds
325Please respect copyright.PENANAzqvpJtwmZE
"One Fleet Carrier, two Light or Escort Carriers, ten Gun Cruisers, ten Torpedo Cruisers, two Mark Five Vanguards, fourteen Corsairs, and seventy-two strikers. Enemy Fleet is comprised of one hundred and eleven craft, of which thirty-nine are above fighter class." Katyr intoned smoothly.325Please respect copyright.PENANAKkZQdQCFNg
325Please respect copyright.PENANAQjvj6uMMrI
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZb7NRmSaE5
Oswald Taker racked his brains for a decent strategy to employ. And then it came to him.325Please respect copyright.PENANAbksStOpeEg
325Please respect copyright.PENANASI6dLmYV9K
325Please respect copyright.PENANAFcFJ9rqSb9
A flying wedge of eight Light Cruisers from Grand Wings E and F led by the Heavy Cruiser UAC Ursa under the leadership of High-Commander Farren is to break through the circle of Torpedo Cruisers protecting the eastmost Light Carrier - which had already been identified as the VFC Nouveau - and neutralise it. Arlo Farren was to command the GNA Highbrow, Luxator, Holcroft, and Rosen - all names after High-Exarchs - in addition to the EDA Kunza and Askar and the UAC De Napton and Lunder.325Please respect copyright.PENANAAztNtjiaq0
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXm5eIivBay
325Please respect copyright.PENANAGzHT0VYJfy
The other Light Carrier - the VFC Quintessencena - and its escort of five Gun Cruisers was to be shelled by a line of four Heavy Cruisers (EDA Xarai, UAC Tantina, EDA Enyo and UAC Delphine) protected by the firepower of the Super-Heavy Cruisers GNA Icaria and Magnus while the Light Cruisers GNA Worce, GNA Quil, EDA Temujin, GNA Victarine, GNA Onyx, and GNA Val from Taker`s Fleet launched Aerial Torpedo runs at the formation.325Please respect copyright.PENANAVbj0xtHxx9
325Please respect copyright.PENANAu4Pk2Du3me
325Please respect copyright.PENANAlfC99l7N16
The Super-Heavy Cruisers GNA Egonault, Emeric, Seraphina and Aurum; the Heavy Cruisers EDA Zuri, UAC Vivienne, EDA Zainara, UAC Nika, EDA Samanthè, UAC Rumina, and EDA Scheherazade; and the Light Cruisers EDA Zultan, UAC Hessen, GNA Cha, GNA Melodia, EDA Tolun, UAC Occid, GNA Lux, GNA Regimè, EDA Jian, and UAC Jassau were to flank Narwath De Corsair`s Flagship - the EADC Meritorious - and its escort of five Gun Cruisers, five Torpedo Cruisers and fourteen Corsairs.325Please respect copyright.PENANAIx6yKjUfaz
325Please respect copyright.PENANAUou3bYcYO7
325Please respect copyright.PENANAP2v9xVHtRh
The two Mark Five Vanguards were to be dealt with by anyone they attacked.325Please respect copyright.PENANAOiPTFmdyRV
325Please respect copyright.PENANAdBKjRuTMo6
325Please respect copyright.PENANA08bNYmSgcF
The UEGNA Grand Fleet`s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets took their positions. The Geirskögul Valkyrie Captain on board the GNA Exonault informed Grand-Commodore Saker that they were ready to repel any boarders.325Please respect copyright.PENANAOw70HqGZ0V
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXv99ldWNkq
325Please respect copyright.PENANAcWjPllqnq2
The 7th rank of the Grand Fleet was Bridge Lieutenant, above Aerospecialist but below a craft`s Lieutenant Commander / Executive Officer (XO). Super-heavy cruisers like the GNA Egonault had twenty (Æther, Analysis, Auxiliary, Aviation, Communications, Damage Control, Engineering, Gunnery Helmsman, Intelligence, Medical, Navigation, Security, Sensor, Shielding, Staff, Supply, Systems, Tactical, and Weather) and right now, all attention was on the Egonault`s Communications Officer: Ego Lieutenant Nyssa Luscan.325Please respect copyright.PENANAaRZi4tW72u
325Please respect copyright.PENANABPKIx5r69z
325Please respect copyright.PENANAvjE56vcP5W
She sweated as the dim red lights of the bridge bore down on her. "A-admiral Taker, the enemy Carrier is hailing us."325Please respect copyright.PENANAdHpd0xP40v
325Please respect copyright.PENANAj0VkG4KvxF
325Please respect copyright.PENANAI7MR0kXeSy
The tired face of the Counter Admiral of the Combined Fleet appeared on a screen. Narwath De Corsair looked like he had gone without sleep for many days judging by the bags forming under his eyes - which had a dull, empty look to them.325Please respect copyright.PENANAcTcgT01CCp
325Please respect copyright.PENANATSLZ2NUimZ
325Please respect copyright.PENANArkhZeBpAc7
"On behalf of the Aquilorian Council of Meritocrats, the Technocratic Directorate of Vorantis, the Cerulean Council of Celestial Seers, and of course of the Eastern parliamentary chambers known as the Ubiqtorate and House of Representatives...CEDA demands that the Grand Fleet cease all operations within the East and turn in the destroyers of Eyraelynine for trial!" He said, rising in volume with each word until he was shouting. 325Please respect copyright.PENANACvaWA5vh2H
325Please respect copyright.PENANAf7Ps1Yyc46
325Please respect copyright.PENANAmnTpTyB306
"Failure to comply with these demands will result in.."325Please respect copyright.PENANAhheqGin4w7
325Please respect copyright.PENANAdJmuEbCeld
325Please respect copyright.PENANAas6ACrxVH8
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANAfvIeUdPc56
325Please respect copyright.PENANABdCu7EmKUg
Narwath De Corsair continued to speak, but the words fell on deaf ears. That puffed-up buffoon, Oswald Taker, lacked even the basic decency to let him finish, instead choosing to interject with "You are in no position to demand anything. I know you Narwath De Corsair - Rank four citizen of Aquiloria - and you will not win against the might of His Grace's Grand Fleet. Glory to UEGNA, glory to Urlic!" He retorted proudly.325Please respect copyright.PENANAD7PCosLLQz
325Please respect copyright.PENANAjRD1eDXDl6
325Please respect copyright.PENANAjfTe5gxsox
The screen went dead.325Please respect copyright.PENANAK8BL0jxuVx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJWEyLBV9fq
325Please respect copyright.PENANAjClh5CDVBV
"Narwath, what should I do?" Asked the actual commander of the Union flotilla preparing for an aeronautical showdown with the Grand Fleet, one Rear Admiral Tangent.325Please respect copyright.PENANAlzQ2gSOpmz
325Please respect copyright.PENANA2EfbS4PzU1
325Please respect copyright.PENANAqmTA2tM16p
The Aquilorian thought for a moment. His foot slammed down on the down as he bellowed at the bridge crew and anyone who was listening for battle stations to be set across the Fleet.325Please respect copyright.PENANAKsWU0raFPO
325Please respect copyright.PENANAvUysR9kCNC
325Please respect copyright.PENANAz2ieuRroZx
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANA9ylGeUAvmp
325Please respect copyright.PENANAfy0FtCsTmq
Complete and utter chaos was already erupting across the skies near Demos. An informant in the Regional Government had reported infighting between the Ubiqtorate and House of Representatives.325Please respect copyright.PENANAyaQNYmBmZR
325Please respect copyright.PENANAIOCrS6FvJD
325Please respect copyright.PENANAPMv9lTIGUb
High-Commander Faren rubbed his hands together in glee.325Please respect copyright.PENANA7TfSgxdP78
325Please respect copyright.PENANAPUxXz3KB5q
325Please respect copyright.PENANAM8RIlw9x00
This man had a talent for inspiring terror in others. Secretly a sadist, Faren took great pleasure in bullying his junior officers - a frequent occurrence that the Grand-Commodore of Grand Wing F turned a blind eye towards because of the results he produced: Faren`s heavy-handed command style and short temper had resulted in the heavy Cruiser UAC Ursa becoming one of the most efficient in the Fleet.325Please respect copyright.PENANAFxV9XEfJSo
325Please respect copyright.PENANAAwh5U3BZ6v
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZaTjFdq4mR
Outside of the Heavy Cruiser, explosions and Ætherical fumes filled the skies. "Enemy Light Carrier in range, permission to fire, sir?" Asked the Gunnery Lieutenant, one of the few people on board who liked Faren.325Please respect copyright.PENANA42g7LgQpM0
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXzn7bDOc3e
325Please respect copyright.PENANABObfQjFFoV
"Granted."325Please respect copyright.PENANAGXCiA0qqXc
325Please respect copyright.PENANAiqQYmAsyAU
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4kfAIc2oDl
The enormous guns spat death at the VFC Nouveau in a full broadside. The shells pierced the light armour and detonated directly inside the main hanger. The Union`s Light Carriers were not built to duel with the heavily armed Heavy Cruisers of the Grand Fleet and it showed.325Please respect copyright.PENANAolHUSfTaIJ
325Please respect copyright.PENANAB23PWN1N1q
325Please respect copyright.PENANAa4DV6UdOH1
The airships in front of the UAC Ursa - named for the sixth Erzherzogin of Umbracrest - were locked in intense dogfights with the carrier`s escorts.325Please respect copyright.PENANAnCBUQ9m4DL
325Please respect copyright.PENANA8JYKZUnVQx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAD0cwewwBCt
The flight officer shot the tactical officer a dirty look before delicately suggesting the launch of the squadron of ten strikers.325Please respect copyright.PENANALme9IQRW9w
325Please respect copyright.PENANAAdNNbn3gRS
325Please respect copyright.PENANAMOmk0AOlEc
Faren lazily agreed and the strikers shot out of his craft`s hanger bay.325Please respect copyright.PENANAI35SvGvkZ1
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7KrBsmwR62
325Please respect copyright.PENANA9MjaOIERP1
The sleepy sadist was torn from his daydream by the anti-fighter gun batteries going haywire.325Please respect copyright.PENANAhyBBmvsP7V
325Please respect copyright.PENANAvr507R1Yct
325Please respect copyright.PENANAV5WlTZSsOL
The Nouveau began to roll over and lose altitude, but the officers Ursa were not paying much attention to the completion of their objective.325Please respect copyright.PENANAsV5GP2WYEn
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZHaF8E2pOd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAm2awLMbPpB
They were too busy with the singular Vanguard-class striker leader flying directly towards the bridge out of the sun in an attack course.325Please respect copyright.PENANAcGCziqymd4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAmqqEh0OjoS
325Please respect copyright.PENANAOyvIvPt0KD
Faren`s blood ran as cold as the peaks of the tallest mountains in the Glacier Electorate as he realised what the Pilot was doing.325Please respect copyright.PENANAkjOpCbFm2U
325Please respect copyright.PENANAbBLQHIZ2J1
325Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ97dYZSGi
The comms gave a high-pitched shriek of static before a posh, female voice rang out on the bridge: "Lorian Galen Faren, do you remember little ol' me?" It taunted.325Please respect copyright.PENANA1taCdNsw4T
325Please respect copyright.PENANAHpqsG5Drpp
325Please respect copyright.PENANAyplhlbpPMo
A trickle of memories began to pour into his mind: The day he graduated from the Worcestershire Aeronaval Academy as an Ensign next to a cheerful-looking woman with striking blue hair. That same woman running away from his father...who was she exactly? 325Please respect copyright.PENANAe1NJXdWdcT
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1EfPJsp0vl
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1aOGa5mRKn
Then it clicked. The pilot was Lividia "Livid" Faren. His sister. A disappointment to the family despite being the most talented trainee pilot that the Grand Fleet had ever had.325Please respect copyright.PENANAN5KhD43cm2
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4F7jc2kIJd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAwCkmNxxe52
The one who had run away.325Please respect copyright.PENANAdv0rZ7zGBt
325Please respect copyright.PENANAg744jLPIoV
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1jXjCEM0nV
"S-sister?" The High-Commander`s trademark snarl collapsed into a weak smile at finally seeing her again.325Please respect copyright.PENANAxL6vhawMmj
325Please respect copyright.PENANA3mbuc56fH0
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKb3gdjBfRW
The connection went dead.325Please respect copyright.PENANAMmcz6y7gs0
325Please respect copyright.PENANAc8SVZPuBZx
325Please respect copyright.PENANATK1FKTwHeR
"Proximity alt- oh forget it, I'm hiding under my station..." Muttered the sensor officer, who was finally tired of putting up with Faren for minimal praise and the maximum possible amount of being screamed at for no good reason.325Please respect copyright.PENANAPhjfyVlMGk
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtNreuVjS4z
325Please respect copyright.PENANAnyRkelAti2
"Where is my AA?" Faren snarled at the Ensign acting as Shielding Officer.325Please respect copyright.PENANAH0L8mXxuFn
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0hUCAQUwgS
325Please respect copyright.PENANADvYYTF7YEa
The barely eighteen-year-old graduate gulped at the white-hot anger being turned on him. "I-I don't know, sir!"325Please respect copyright.PENANADZmMEWRlIG
325Please respect copyright.PENANAVne3KTQgJ9
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJLr6ZB22WA
"Do you want to die, boy? Because you will if that Vanguard rams into MY dammed Bridge!" He roared.325Please respect copyright.PENANANj2iCUPI5j
325Please respect copyright.PENANAapyQLOgGVr
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7lopuLiFJ9
The lone fighter zoomed towards the thick glass of the Ursa`s command centre.325Please respect copyright.PENANAoAE5WyOIoS
325Please respect copyright.PENANAyENilZ8Wsy
325Please respect copyright.PENANAX6G6ElKuRD
"AA is online!" Announced the jubilant Ensign in triumph, earning him a round of applause from everyone on the Bridge as the automated defences kicked in and blasted the skies above full of flack.325Please respect copyright.PENANAk9VQK2wBUX
325Please respect copyright.PENANApy1Ku6ZdTU
325Please respect copyright.PENANAmjQDeXeXGr
Faren`s small, cold eyes widened in horror as the Vanguard got ever closer to collision with the bridge.325Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0MzoBveZH
325Please respect copyright.PENANAx2dLOgZBWH
325Please respect copyright.PENANAEgVJZfbRaF
"Helsman, take evasive action!" He shouted, but the Helm Officer was hiding behind the wheel casting terrified glances at the incoming threat. It was already too late to attempt to evade the Vanguard.325Please respect copyright.PENANA0cpwriXr15
325Please respect copyright.PENANA5TRaKIT3oZ
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1A3uP2X58A
One tiny craft was about to bring down a giant. A floating fortress of guns and armour sent tumbling to the ground by a pebble.325Please respect copyright.PENANArODSsPuJNB
325Please respect copyright.PENANA24RZMCdvkf
325Please respect copyright.PENANAw9cCAe486z
Faren`s bloated Ego and inflated sense of self, already fragile from the previous betrayal from his sister, could not stand up to the impact.325Please respect copyright.PENANAyQNVlTMTSx
325Please respect copyright.PENANA9GNtPqsSFn
325Please respect copyright.PENANAS1GmtOeq2K
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANAirvtFjvgft
325Please respect copyright.PENANAy6uHfwFwNg
325Please respect copyright.PENANAe2W5D5t7MM
"UAC Ursa? High-Commander Faren, respond! Oh for fu-"325Please respect copyright.PENANAe3YjHHKIGx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAIFVRwHNPT9
325Please respect copyright.PENANAz4o3z06Yia
"Enough, everyone on that bridge is dead and the airship is losing altitude. Ignore that Heavy cruiser!" Snapped Taker, who was watching all his plans crash and burn magnificently.325Please respect copyright.PENANAPkDseZTh1A
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtcu7Ks4O1J
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZH9soD60Th
Of the eight Light Cruisers in the flying wedge, four were fleeing to safety while a lone battle-scared Gun Cruiser perused them restlessly at full speed, one had been scuttled with all hands now being housed in the Geirskögul Valkyrie Marine quarters of the GNA Magnus. The other three had been destroyed. The Flying wedge had knocked the VFC Nouveau out of the sky and destroyed threw Gun Cruisers.325Please respect copyright.PENANAC7JS3hQSKX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAwlkxdaLUUe
325Please respect copyright.PENANAmmaheo5ljC
Meanwhile, the Line formation that had been tasked with destroying the VFC Quintessencena had managed to disable its Æther-based propulsion systems at the cost of being swarmed by angry Strikers. The Line`s command ship, Super-Heavy Cruiser GNA Icaria had sustained severe damage while a Heavy Cruiser (EDA Enyo) and three Light Cruisers had been forced to scuttle. 2 Torpedo Cruisers had been destroyed at the cost of wounding the gargantuan GNA Icaria.325Please respect copyright.PENANAeLXqJb7lEf
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7mqW0vmmFx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAsVmHOB6vWb
But the main force had suffered the worst: two Heavy Cruisers had disengaged to avoid being overwhelmed by fighters while another had been lost. Four Light Cruisers had been lost - one with all hands. Corsair`s Flagship had taken severe damage while his losses amounted to one Vanguard, twenty-one Strikers, eight Corsairs, two Gun Cruisers, and one Torpedo Cruiser.325Please respect copyright.PENANAItpmoYmg6j
325Please respect copyright.PENANAwjPZIAYkYO
325Please respect copyright.PENANAxjd7ZDsEaD
Things were not looking good for either side, to say the least.325Please respect copyright.PENANA9RmJiEPedP
325Please respect copyright.PENANAugosXOh4hS
325Please respect copyright.PENANAvkzx1sbGrR
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANACByUAW0RkK
325Please respect copyright.PENANApF4wuKIGUM
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKB5a19lpma
A full salvo from the nearest Super-Heavy Cruiser`s secondary battery slammed directly into the machine shop. The damage control crews were hollering at the Counter Admiral to open the compartment doors he had been forced to close to prevent a large inferno from detonating a munitions store.325Please respect copyright.PENANA1at61wX3M4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAMjxC4A5adS
325Please respect copyright.PENANAiijrt5Kzg8
Narwath De Corsair had watched in awe as his best pilot gave her life to destroy her brother`s Heavy Cruiser, before nearly crying when he noticed the damage indicted on the Quintessencena.325Please respect copyright.PENANA1PfUf18Tb1
325Please respect copyright.PENANA75YGbWqdze
325Please respect copyright.PENANAT5cYCAeijc
Now his attention was diverted from the battle by a coded radio transmission directly from the Regional Government itself.325Please respect copyright.PENANAqBpmXxiiny
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYDeZdPgXfO
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7T4wbRWEiV
"Counter Admiral Taker, you and your Fleet have fought valiantly to protect Demos. For this, you have my eternal gratitude." Came an infamous snarl.325Please respect copyright.PENANA7OReZWcUGl
325Please respect copyright.PENANAVBQhutYDkg
325Please respect copyright.PENANAyA3aGi1vRe
It was the authoritative, no-nonsense, biting tone of Catherine "The Red Tigress" Rawrchart. Leader of the party with a majority in the House of Representatives - Revolutionary Dawn, sometimes also known as the Aurora Party - and incumbent Prime Minister of the Second Pheasantine Republic.325Please respect copyright.PENANA2lXI3bjk1Z
325Please respect copyright.PENANAkTL7Ar7XXM
325Please respect copyright.PENANAgXGKF8NuXp
"Your Excel-" He began, inclining his head humbly out of respect.325Please respect copyright.PENANAz1TVeRPdFL
325Please respect copyright.PENANANrb1tbdpvl
325Please respect copyright.PENANAdexpDQJjuh
"Do NOT start that wishy-washy title rubbish with me Corsair!" She chastised, pausing for a brief moment in which her voice softened in its sadness as she proceeded to add, "It doesn't even apply anymore, martial law has been declared and...and there's been a vote of no confidence!" She wailed.325Please respect copyright.PENANA23pIFHUoZh
325Please respect copyright.PENANAmNOK97BM4n
325Please respect copyright.PENANAzOMlECImgh
"What?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAo1yXcm4ahr
325Please respect copyright.PENANAPMz8gZghJd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAG0WzQlc7C1
"I'm not Prime Minister anymore, and the East is being run by a provisional Council formed from Lateral Alliance and Sevitan Blood MPs. The only reason we are still fighting for the Union is the Ubiqtorate dismissing all the Sevitan Blood members and using Veto powers to block everything they attempt."325Please respect copyright.PENANAqKljxIedlF
325Please respect copyright.PENANAos9Pn2lgSW
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4rPZgotBpy
"You want me to let UEGNA come blow you all to pieces? Better men and women have been reduced to red smears on flight decks to protect a bunch of snivelling politicians on the ground!"325Please respect copyright.PENANAb15GGBzkav
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0XqbsW3RBX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAfh262WMAap
"Absolutely not! Beat Taker black and blue and send Sophie Exonault a love letter from me!" She laughed before hanging up.325Please respect copyright.PENANAKnbxtznlYJ
325Please respect copyright.PENANAIeeIFSjKFm
325Please respect copyright.PENANAm0W1CJ3gFm
"Sir?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAU8tQinPPoK
325Please respect copyright.PENANAjQXqWqoleP
325Please respect copyright.PENANAGusbPyauU8
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANAVTnJZVPynW
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJqtlUzqFIe
Admiral Aristo Sine swore to destroy that Fleet Carrier even if it was his last act in Empyrea.325Please respect copyright.PENANAP4X422oLSB
325Please respect copyright.PENANANNCAd5yMcE
325Please respect copyright.PENANANNebBpQ5ww
The GNA Seraphina had used...unorthodox maneuvers to avoid a barrage of high-yield Aerial Torpedos: the airship was currently trying to pull itself out of a barrel roll that was making nearly the entire crew violently ill.325Please respect copyright.PENANAClLGD2gHNi
325Please respect copyright.PENANAfYjj6KXxJH
325Please respect copyright.PENANAI3RMU0jeva
"Helm! Stop that bloody barrel rolling!" Sine moaned as his face turned slightly green.325Please respect copyright.PENANADl3CwNj97T
325Please respect copyright.PENANAoQrIDRbAd3
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXWFCnFFKIF
Aristo Sine stumbled and fell over. While he was dusting himself off after getting himself to his feet, he noticed the targeting laser for the Super-Heavy Cruiser`s oversized Ætherical Beam Projector was aimed at where he suspected the carrier Core was located.325Please respect copyright.PENANACWb5HYHLMS
325Please respect copyright.PENANATRSZpkPjYl
325Please respect copyright.PENANA6GVDsCBECO
"All power to the main weapon and set the AA to 100% alertness!" He ordered calmly. 325Please respect copyright.PENANAZL04AhPBxp
325Please respect copyright.PENANAsrG00V2LJ4
"The beam projector? But that will kil-"325Please respect copyright.PENANALspVZ5HSVf
325Please respect copyright.PENANA44jiMEuLyM
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtopHhO7qUX
'Exactly. Listen, son, you don't need the blood of an entire Fleet Carrier`s crew on your hands...let me push the big red button.325Please respect copyright.PENANAqKvWVIpKCv
325Please respect copyright.PENANArPhuIhzRqd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAVBDqySadW0
"But-"325Please respect copyright.PENANAQgJU889olj
325Please respect copyright.PENANAqcxkaM1ltY
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYZNWyO3puX
Sine`s gloved hand slammed down on that big red button, causing the Admiral to howl in pain as the GNA Seraphina began to hum even louder than normal.325Please respect copyright.PENANAlWtxqO0Ysx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAWdMnNNUHRT
325Please respect copyright.PENANAaZuFakspmv
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANA79yg3ogrRY
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYs7qi3rejn
325Please respect copyright.PENANAlajf7vaVWV
"Counter Admiral," began an anxious Boatswain, "What are they doing?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAj0YSX9UOeh
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1MRW7CR9Dd
325Please respect copyright.PENANAT9iFAxvcgg
Narwath De Corsair knew exactly what that airship was charging up. He leaned into the microphone and said, "All hands, abandon ship!"325Please respect copyright.PENANAH7ZEka4tFS
325Please respect copyright.PENANASRq8G0TKZX
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0nPSIIKgv1
Wailing sirens sent arcs of angry crimson light sliding down corridors all over the EADC Meritorious.325Please respect copyright.PENANA84qQW3yRBX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAN0Jpfm65bK
325Please respect copyright.PENANApudAlbDzwT
Corsair wasn't going anyway, though - He had gambled and lost despite this probably being a stalemate.325Please respect copyright.PENANAPOgMmLE1XE
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJPTVgHdzGe
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZdTpy40m85
"Tell my son..." He asked the XO softy as he walked off the bridge.325Please respect copyright.PENANAqRNNF49dD0
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKOZGWizom2
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0h2COIkkVr
"I'm going to Sisi anyway so consider it done. It was an honour to serve under you, Counter Admiral Corsair." She replied, offering him a salute.325Please respect copyright.PENANAdTiHs5ciYb
325Please respect copyright.PENANAU4VXCoeyfU
325Please respect copyright.PENANABcvj44jr5C
He returned it.325Please respect copyright.PENANARyuP2spqXG
325Please respect copyright.PENANAjByYDkhhn6
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtzTgH1wonx
It was his final act before everything went very, very bright.325Please respect copyright.PENANAEdrduynhIV
325Please respect copyright.PENANAa4aDiiIG0T
325Please respect copyright.PENANAEyeCITmcH2
________________________________________325Please respect copyright.PENANAGSeQbYLhSo
325Please respect copyright.PENANAueijrf1ugW
Oswald Taker sat in a chair in the Ubiqtorate`s Chambers.325Please respect copyright.PENANA4j4DRoQJ6e
325Please respect copyright.PENANAboZvo85Xng
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2Nqde0txP
The east had given up. The Second Pheasantine Republic had fallen.325Please respect copyright.PENANArTOqpU8S4v
325Please respect copyright.PENANAr8Urd4T57A
325Please respect copyright.PENANAFbRCNjSLyg
And yet Lady Sophie Genevieve Exonault did not look pleased at all.325Please respect copyright.PENANA8dzlCHwTlX
325Please respect copyright.PENANA8OM0M0bfvN
325Please respect copyright.PENANASPkC9NfPSZ
"Admiral, do you know what I am holding?" She asked, her anger concealed carefully within her falsely sweet tone.325Please respect copyright.PENANAhXrX5hicdJ
325Please respect copyright.PENANARotgb95Sxv
325Please respect copyright.PENANAeOqidfKmKP
"Care to enlighten me?" He grumbled back, too tired to come up with a witty retort.325Please respect copyright.PENANAcBQEvvhpit
325Please respect copyright.PENANAxGDHTR3Uef
325Please respect copyright.PENANAkQhNMybWUc
"It's a summary of the battle created by Analysis Officer Katyr. It tells me that the GNA Icaria, EDA Enyo, UAC Rumina, EDA Scheherazade, UAC Ursa, EDA Temujin, GNA Victarine, GNA Val, EDA Zultan, GNA Cha, GNA Melodia, UAC Occid, GNA Luxator, UAC De Napton, GNA Holcroft, and the EDA Askar were all destroyed. Of the forty airships entrusted to you, you somehow managed to lose forty per cent? That's excluding the unacceptable amount of strikers that were shot down!"325Please respect copyright.PENANASSoOBYudEl
325Please respect copyright.PENANAMVqn57Awgq
325Please respect copyright.PENANAqIpPiTUr9b
Taker gulped.325Please respect copyright.PENANAdIZjCnX5hP
325Please respect copyright.PENANAwS8oZWmO26
325Please respect copyright.PENANAakhYOQ4BqX
"However, Narwath De Corsair is dead and the report also states that his Fleet lost twenty-two of thirty-nine airships and nearly all of its strikers. That's a much better percentage."325Please respect copyright.PENANAEqANInWBBX
325Please respect copyright.PENANA2O08j0z4ye
325Please respect copyright.PENANAgxvHceNpam
"Are you pleased, Exonault?" He sighed.325Please respect copyright.PENANAD0nX42FtEs
325Please respect copyright.PENANAaMv6x4gToI
325Please respect copyright.PENANAEBXxOENMki
"I suppose so, but it is Harlo Grosso that will be taking the lion's share of the goodies up for grabs, much to my disappointment."325Please respect copyright.PENANAdz5jd4PumU
325Please respect copyright.PENANADLVN613HUq
325Please respect copyright.PENANApNfbJhMMKA
"What he is getting?" He asked tentatively.325Please respect copyright.PENANAGILoZ0Z0zl
325Please respect copyright.PENANAy2oTRrDWZ9
325Please respect copyright.PENANASj4tEzxWNZ
"Let's see...the title of Grand Duke or Großherzog of Greater Ashfyre and everything that comes with it in addition to the Hero of the Earldom Award. The question you should have asked is what are YOU getting?"325Please respect copyright.PENANADfbFoWC64B
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0as9nHUBwX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAOSdLER5N6J
"Nothing?"325Please respect copyright.PENANApehR8UHFeP
325Please respect copyright.PENANAK0ngeF6BFR
325Please respect copyright.PENANAAo6s1ltHfY
"Not quite. The Clans up north are pleased, you are to be made a Ritter."325Please respect copyright.PENANA6LzugBHoGD
325Please respect copyright.PENANA6GnHLiVgqK
325Please respect copyright.PENANAUqj1bSAuYT
"A what?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAmTJwvZFnR6
325Please respect copyright.PENANARUN6IPKlLR
325Please respect copyright.PENANATdpLUsaYoF
"That's what I said. It means blessed one or something. It's derived from a similar title, Riddara, that the Ayerians had. Well done Ritter Oswald von Taker."325Please respect copyright.PENANA2iJFG4qrrj
325Please respect copyright.PENANAimusTU32fO
325Please respect copyright.PENANAB2JPrRQDn3
"I heard we have a spy of some sort. Faren was giggling about it. I'll admit that I laughed when I saw that Vanguard collide with his Bridge if you tell me who it is." He half-joked.325Please respect copyright.PENANAFWp69rPzRL
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKjck9dQOTX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKvMxtGwFLA
"I don't blame you but it isn't our Spy. He belongs to the Vizier for Diplomacy, Rector Olaris De Rio. Come, let's go meet this spy.325Please respect copyright.PENANA3BqT5zJObH
325Please respect copyright.PENANAM8cMG0gcDs
325Please respect copyright.PENANAG4pQ7a37Fs
Aeroadmiral Exonault led her subordinate to the chamber of the House of Representatives, where a gaggle of worried-looking MPs watched a man in a dusty Band Corps uniform and a struggling woman with a muzzle.325Please respect copyright.PENANAEcY3pAUaa1
325Please respect copyright.PENANAVyqXfmql2O
325Please respect copyright.PENANAemfD6tfT4M
"Meet Dorian Gemworth, Ego Lieutenant of the 3,251st Platoon and member of the Bandmaster`s Corps."325Please respect copyright.PENANA6eCWXKmukx
325Please respect copyright.PENANAN0qMM4ftE7
325Please respect copyright.PENANArtnvFLwwZs
"It is an honour to meet you, sir." He said, bowing respectfully.325Please respect copyright.PENANAvLjE7B8HiF
325Please respect copyright.PENANA64PDfFgoJX
325Please respect copyright.PENANAR3MMxssNFi
"Who`s the girl?" He asked in confusion.325Please respect copyright.PENANA2puSAK7JaZ
325Please respect copyright.PENANAv4zwFp3S5I
325Please respect copyright.PENANAIFYzh2oq90
"Her? You might not believe me, but that's the most dangerous woman in the East now that Catherine Rawrchart is swinging from a rope. Her name is Anya Orlè, former lover of Reinhart Narravo. The Brünnhilde Valkyries caught her stirring up trouble in Aurin."325Please respect copyright.PENANAi98ffHCcso
325Please respect copyright.PENANACXseKvjltL
325Please respect copyright.PENANA0y35oDXCzd
"Ah yes, Anya." Dorian echoed sadly.325Please respect copyright.PENANAoOZsUU4hPf
325Please respect copyright.PENANAJDUxlFQPNi
325Please respect copyright.PENANA48JO1QANlF
"Is she as pissed at Navarro as I heard?" He asked bluntly.325Please respect copyright.PENANADCdzlkVtO4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAWBzr3Hu3U6
325Please respect copyright.PENANApkpXpy8PET
"Aye."325Please respect copyright.PENANA9tJty8NJbA
325Please respect copyright.PENANAquISycL21g
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXRCbAr83Ki
"Let her go, tell her she`s even with the Grand Fleet. One less Reinhart Narravo would make Empyrea a nicer place to live anyway."325Please respect copyright.PENANAQE06rbMK2k
325Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ch8D8zB9U
325Please respect copyright.PENANAyubUyMPido
"You always were a schemer, Oswald." Mused the Aeroadmiral of the Grand Fleet.
325Please respect copyright.PENANA1BtGfwbJik
Dorian removed the muzzle from Anya. "You're both going to let me go have a crack at assassinating a Grand Army officer because you don't like them? How very...Narcissian of you." She remarked wryly.325Please respect copyright.PENANATnKeDaSBLL
325Please respect copyright.PENANAxF6s0JYmuy
325Please respect copyright.PENANAhrr7TcIhnZ
Lady Sophie Genevieve Exonault bent down to her level and smiled. "Pretty much. Welcome to the Grand Fleet, Ensign Orlè." She said, handing the Easterner a ring with her seal 🜚 on it.
"I think we are going to get along *very* well, don't you?"
ns216.73.216.238da2