Chapter 66: | 066 | Operation Hammer of Dawn: November Frontier Plan
On the northern coast of Crescere was the November Fleet of the United Navy. Recently joining the fleet was the modernized battleship, UNS Trinity of Solace. The capital ship of Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd.
Within the bridge of the UNS Trinity of Solace, Abraham stood at its center with various intelligence officers surrounding him. Captain Lux had recently sent him the detailed strategy of the November Frontier Plan.
It wasn't complex, to say the least.
The strategy of the November Frontier Plan was fairly simple. The UNS Trinity of Solace would utilize its 16-inch guns and blast the designated markers into damnation.
According to the captain, the designated markers were areas with the thinnest barrier of the ground and the cave system. Its rocks and sediments weren't also extremely dense compared to most areas of the northern plateau.
It was practically the perfect target for their operation,
With this in mind, Abraham wasn't resistant to the November Frontier Plan. It was a simple and cost-effective plan. However, its results might be somewhat questionable since messing with the internal cave system of the northern plateau had unknown effects.
But nonetheless, it saved them from needlessly spending the lives of their troops for intelligence and surveillance.
Through this thought process, it was already enough for him to nod in agreement with the given plan.
"Fleet Admiral, 5 minutes until bombardment." One of the intelligence officers reported getting Abraham out of his trance and getting back to reality inside the bridge.
"Understood, contact the fire control operators. Have them point our guns to the designated markers." Abraham glanced at the intelligence officer and nodded before ordering him.
"Affirmative, Fleet Admiral." The intelligence officer lightly bowed and immediately relayed the Fleet Admiral's orders to the fire control operators.
Abraham watched as the intelligence officer contacted the fire control through the communication operators. It didn't take long before the order was relayed and a response was received.
"Sir, the fire control is targeting the designated markers. But they are questioning what kind of shell-type we should use for the bombardment." The intelligence officer calmly reported.
Abraham raised an eyebrow as he remembered that there were shell types that the UNS Trinity of Solace could use. Most of the time, he used the high-explosive shells as they were effective against dealing with large numbers of adversaries.
But since the battleship needed to penetrate through the designated markers, high-explosive shells would be obviously far from enough.
"Use armor-piercing shells for the bombardment." Abraham immediately answered the intelligence officer. The armor-piercing shells were effective in dealing with underground target penetrations.
So, he picked the shell type instead of the former high-explosive shells.
The intelligence officer nodded and immediately followed up to the waiting fire control. The fire control operators swiftly received the recommendation of armor-piercing shells and rapidly loaded them to the battleship's guns.
"How many designated markers have been given to us?" Abraham asked a nearby intelligence officer who instantly responded to his question.
"The UNS Light Bringer gave us about a dozen designated markers." Hearing the reply of the intelligence officer, Abraham furrowed his eyebrows.
He found the number too high. They would create too many openings for the magibeasts to escape on. However, if they didn't strike whatever was available, their attack might not have been effective.
Abraham found himself in a pickle, but he soon realized that there was an underutilized reinforcing force coming from the Forward Operating Base.
An idea soon emerged inside his mind. He turned his jet-black eyes towards the nearby intelligence officer and ordered her to contact the incoming troops.
"Get me in line of communication with the reinforcing troops."
The intelligence officer promptly followed the Fleet Admiral's orders and had the radio operators open a communication line with the incoming reinforcing troops.
It didn't take long and the transmission was opened.
"Fleet Admiral, it is an honor to be under your command." A grumpy voice escaped the confines of the radio.
"The honor is mine. There is something I want your troops to do." Abraham accepted the honor of the random personnel and quickly went into the subject.
"The November Fleet is about to commence the November Frontier Plan. We will be opening a dozen holes in the northern plateau and sending incendiary missiles into them."
"However, there is no reliable confirmation that the magibeasts wouldn't start rushing out of the cave. So, I want your troops to take care of the escaping magibeasts."
"It's better to clean everything up than deal with a problematic issue later on." He calmly explained the November Frontier Plan and ordered the reinforcing troops what they needed to do for it.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral. Send us the locations of the openings and we will maintain distance until the conclusion of the November Frontier Operation." The grumpy voice of the other side wasn't against the orders of the Fleet Admiral and instantly accepted it.
"Good, I'll send you the marker locations." Abraham nodded and glanced at his intelligence officer, giving a signal to send the locations of the designated markers to the reinforcing troops.
With their assistance, he wouldn't have to worry about magibeasts escaping the cave system who would start procreating in thousands once again.
It was another possible problem that was dealt with through sufficient preparation and procedures.
Perceiving the glance of the Fleet Admiral, the intelligence officer quickly moved and sent the locations of the designated markers.
"Locations received, Fleet Admiral. We will be waiting for the November Frontier Plan's conclusion." The voice from the other side confirmed the acquisition of designated mark intelligence.
"Good, I'll hear your report later." Abraham nodded and the communication line between the UNS Trinity of Solace and the reinforcing troops got cut off.
Following it was the commencing of the November Frontier Plan. An intelligence officer stepped forward and reminded the Fleet Admiral of its initiation.
"Sir, it's time for the first phase of the November Frontier Plan." With the words of the intelligence officer, Abraham glanced at his watch and saw 5 seconds remaining.
He swiftly looked at the officers and ordered the firing of the UNS Trinity of Solace's 16-inch guns.
"November Frontier Plan commencing! Open fire to the designated marks, four salvos." What followed his orders was the immediate blasts of the 16-inch naval guns.
*BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!*
The UNS Trinity of Solace trembled from the firepower unleashed by the 16-inch guns. Flame and smoke escaped each and every barrel of the turrets while small tides formed in the ship's starboard.
Every naval personnel on the bridge watched the northern coast before hearing the confirmations of various intelligence officers.
"All designated marks, hits confirmed!"
Hearing the report of the intelligence officer, the next salvo immediately followed.
*BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!*
The blasts of the naval guns rang throughout the modernized battleship. It shook from the firepower brought about by the salvo, but it maintained its balance with ease.
However, another salvo followed without any hesitation or delay.
*BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!*
Abraham stood his ground and observed the northern coast closely. Shelling an entire coast was an intriguing feeling to have, and it made him wonder what a bombarded army would look like.
'Wait, wait… I'm not a madma-'
*BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!* *BAM!!!*
The final salvo finally blasted from the barrels of the 16-inch naval guns and the first phase of the November Frontier Plan reached its conclusion.
Following the explosive and deafening blasts was silence, Abraham turned his gaze towards the intelligence officer who analyzed the data being sent from the designated markers.
"All shells are hit confirmed, Fleet Admiral! An opening is currently residing throughout all of the twelve designated markers." The report of the intelligence officer made Abraham sigh.
He nodded at her and immediately ordered the communication operators on the bridge.
"The first phase has been completed. Send the locations of the openings to the UNS Light Bringer and UNS Zarya. Have them start the second phase of the November Frontier Plan."
With Abraham's orders, the communication operators sent the newly gained intelligence data to the data link for the UNS Light Bringer and UNS Zarya to unveil.
From the completion of the data transmission, the job of the UNS Trinity of Solace had ended. It was the frigate's and destroyer's turn.
"Data intelligence sent, Fleet Admiral. Intelligence officers from the other side have confirmed the data transmission's success." The communication operator reported to Abraham.
'Finally…' Abraham thought to himself and closed his eyelids. He wanted to relax and relinquish himself from responsibility, but as the Fleet Admiral, it wasn't something he could do.
Besides, there were still many things he needed to do for the United Navy.
'I'm getting somewhat jealous of that dragoness.' He thought while watching the lines of the boundless horizon.
Meanwhile, in the Combat Information Center of the UNS Light Bringer. Captain Lux was recently informed of the intelligence data sent by the UNS Trinity of Solace.
He understood that it was time for phase two of the November Frontier Plan. So, he immediately ordered his subordinates to target the locations sent by the UNS Trinity of Solace.
"Target the received locations. Open the VLS caps of the incendiary missiles. Fire two dozen of them toward the targets. Each target will receive two incendiary missiles for utter effectiveness."
Captain Lux's orders were numbered. But his naval personnel efficiently followed them. They moved swiftly and fast inside the Combat Information Center as the captain watched the monitor screens showing the northernmost of the northern plateau.
It didn't take long before he heard an intelligence officer's voice.
"Captain, VLS systems are ready!"