Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 35: Case Yellow (Day 12 – Primer)

As usual, Captain Ernst Lindemann finds himself gazing out at the sea once more. Since Reichsmarine vessels use void reactors instead of boiler rooms to provide propulsion, the Captain can enjoy the chilly silence of the Atlantic night without the constant fuming of a smoke stack. Unlike some sailors, Captain Lindemann finds comfort in the cold Atlantic breeze, finding it a fine tonic through long nights like this one. Come tomorrow, a major operation is slated to take place. Tonight will mark the last night of peace before Hell is raised all over this part of the Atlantic Ocean. Captain Lindemann owes to the Mother Goddess to savor this brief respite.

Still in his mulling, his brain running numerous future scenarios and orders, Captain Lindemann sweeps his gaze along the deck of his vessel, the Pride of a Nation, RMS Bismarck. From his position on the conning tower, the Captain can somewhat see the figures of night patrols conducting security passes on the deck of the Bismarck. Despite the nature of their work, the patrols employ minimal lighting equipment, an effort to keep the Bismarck and the rest of the fleet undetected visually during night time. The Bismarck herself also offers little illumination on the deck out of similar concern. It doesn't mean that the Bismarck and other Reichsmarine vessels can't light themselves up like a Christmas tree when needed, of course. Still, to counteract the lack of visibility, security patrols at night are formed by sailors and marines with innate night vision or are wearing OWL-vision visors. The latter, in particular, is a new update to the standard night vision goggles. The visor itself is a miniaturized night vision goggle, to put it simply, and uses the same technologies as the built-in night vision offered by Storm Trooper's or Mjolnir's helmet. It provides a variety of viewing options, ranging from green phosphorus and thermal imaging to photopic vision at night, all in high fidelity and combined into a lightweight package. The biggest win the visor offers is its ease of use in confined spaces, something the more widespread goggles fail to outperform. Understandably, it was the Reichsmarine that laid the first order for field trials, and the reason for that was clear for all to see. Most of the Belkan military, other than some specialized branches, are still using the bulkier and heavier though still capable goggles. It will be some time before the visor can be fully adopted by every soldier out there.

Nevertheless, Lindemann believes that his mind has wandered too far off. He shakes his head lightly to clear the totally unimportant thought out of his mind. Panning his gaze elsewhere, Captain Lindemann can barely make out the shapes of other vessels that compose the largest Belkan fleet to date. The High Sea Fleet, formed by not one or two but six Strike Groups, is currently sailing the North Sea and boasts a staggering amount of firepower:

• 3 x Yggdrasil-class aircraft carrier.

• 3 x Bismarck-class dreadnought.

• 6 x Bayern-class battlecarrier.

• 8 x Hindenburgh-class heavy cruiser.

• 18 x Munchen-class light cruiser.

• 23 x Elbing-class destroyer.

• 9 x Nassau-class submarine.

• 18 x Berlin-class fast combat support ship.

With the aircraft carriers and battle carriers as the center, the rest of the fleet is centered around them. Carrying hundreds of aircraft, sailors and marines in the five digits, and enough ordinance to steamroll a portion of the world map, the High Sea Fleet is the strongest naval formation to date. While not as numerically superior as the Royal Navy's presence in the Atlantic currently, the High Sea Fleet has the power of technologies and Gods on their side. More than enough to level the playground, if not bombing it to Kingdom Come.

Thinking of the Royal Navy, Captain Lindemann can't help but smirk sarcastically. Opposition to the Belkan High Sea Fleet is not the Royal Navy Home Fleet, not anymore. The hostile fleet has dubbed itself as the Grand Fleet, owing to its multi-nationalities aspect and sizeable fleet. Due to the growing Belkan naval presence in recent times, the Royal Navy has started pulling ships from elsewhere or constructing some themselves. Vessels from Canada, Australia, and Africa arrive in droves while Erusean shipyards constantly launching new warships. These are processes that take months, if not years, to complete. However, time is what everyone seems to have in abundance during the Months of Demons.

The Royal Navy turtled up and reinforced the Grand Fleet constantly. They smartened up for a while and stationed most of the fleet near Erusea. So, when the Erusean Expeditionary Force called for help, the Royal Navy was swift to aid them in hours. Numbering in the hundreds with more ships slated to arrive during the next few days, the Grand Fleet is now poised to cover the retreat of the EEF. More than that, they're positioning themselves for a showdown with the Belkan Reichsmarine.

By stationing dozens of the Grand Fleet's capital ships and hundreds more escorts in and around the Erusean Channel, the Royal Navy is challenging the Reichsmarine to come and get them. It's clear for all to see that the Royal Navy is banking on its humongous fleet and spanking new vessels to carry its fleet to victory. If the Reichsmarine didn't move for an engagement, Erusea would stand to win politically anyway. Many in the Kingdom of Erusea refuse to believe the Royal Navy will fail with a naval presence this large in the Channel. It's just a level of naval projection unheard of ever since the First World War, surely they can eventually push the Belkans back, right?

About that, it's up to Captain Lindemann and the High Sea Fleet to prove just how wrong the Eruseans are... But let's not forget about Admiral Tallulah who has been looking at him uncomfortably for the past ten minutes.

"Admiral." Lindemann nods at the mermaid who is also the Admiral in command of the High Sea Fleet.

"Captain." Admiral Tallulah returns the gesture of respect. "We haven't been able to see each other for a year, yet all I get in return is a single word after being neglected for...?" Tallulah checks her pocket watch. "The past ten or so minutes?"

"Not my fault you moved quietly to the point of being unnoticed... Did you try to jump-scare me or something?" Captain Lindemann asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I was, but then I decided not to for fear of you jumping overboard." Tallulah admits shamelessly while slurping from her thermos.

After their trip down to Spain, Lindemann and Tallulah grew to be good friends of sorts. They certainly are on good enough terms to trade barbs and jests at the other's expense.

Hearing her bubbling enjoyment of her Robusta coffee, Lindemann can't help but ask.

"Are you sure you want to drink that this late in the night? We will have to deal with the war come next ray of sunlight, you know?"

Tallulah shrugs. "Hey, don't stand in between a girl and her coffee. Besides, I can go to sleep pretty much whenever I want. Perks of being a mermaid, I guess. Not to mention tomorrow morning is basically just a game waiting to be set. No storm, unlike back then, only an overcast. We have all the ordinance in the world and if the Marshal's idea is anything to go by, we will be slinging from beyond visual range before we get anywhere closer for the Marines to deploy. Neptune be eating good these days."

Lindemann sighs, gazing at the night ocean. "Whatever the case, I am just glad that I don't have to repaint the Bismarck's coating again. Believe it or not, the crew decided to preserve the scratched marks that airburst dealt on the AA gun position back then. A sailor with artistic talent on board applied a coat of paint that mirrored the battle damages."

Tallulah has to forcefully swallow her coffee at that. She retorts "You serious!? That's literally my mark of shame that landed me back at the academy!"

"Well, it's also the mark of first blood of sorts for the Bismarck. My girl is prettier with a battle scar, don't you think?" Captain Lindemann replies.

"Really, sometimes, I wonder how your brain even works, Captain. Why the Hell are we still here, in the cold, and discussing meaningless topics even?" Tallulah suddenly asks.

"I don't know." Lindemann shrugs. "You're the one that came out for a chat, Admiral. I was just a man enjoying the finer things that nature gives and takes until a gun-toting Mermaid appeared."

"... Do I need to get your brain checked, Cap? Pretty darn sure that a normal person doesn't spout that answer out of the blue." Tallulah quips back. "And I only brandished the big gun one time in a duel. One time! Yet somehow people start giving me weird nicknames!"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Firebrand is one of them. I actually like how it seems to fit our profession." Lindemann adds unhelpfully.

"I am not a Draco, damn it! I am a refined lady of the Mermaids! At least give me a nickname that is tied to the sea or something!" Tallulah breathes out in annoyance.

"I don't think anything short of fiery will fit what you conducted back then, Admiral." Lindemann gives one last jab at the Admiral's expense before the conversation is derailed to something else.

The two of them continue their chat until midnight before both retire to their quarter. Come dawn, they will have to don their professionalism once more. This time, they don't dare to fool around anymore lest the Marshal will not stop at just breathing down their necks.