Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 46: Case Yellow (Day 13- Introducing Your New Challenger)



RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 46: Case Yellow (Day 13- Introducing Your New Challenger)

"No one provokes us with impunity!" Admiral Tallulah swings down her left hand while her right is placed on her hip. "Sink them all!"

Sailing in the middle of a formation of disabled and sinking Erusean warships, the Belkan Task Force trains their weapons on those who are too stubborn to give up. On one side, naval guns sink limping cruisers and destroyers from different angles. On the other, torpedoes and missiles are launched to finish off the remaining heavy surface combatants of the Grand Fleet. The surface combatants included another Vanguard-class battleship, one still afloat despite being a priority target, and two King George V-class battleships. The atmosphere is once again lively with the booming of shells and missile motors. The finishing touches for this orchestral of death and metals are explosions and cracking of twisting metals.

"Inbound torpedoes! Bearing 60! Range 8 km!"

"Intercept!"

An Elbing-class destroyer, part of the Task Force's screening group, reoriented its anti-submarine rocket turret in the 2 o'clock position. Angling upward, the ASROC turret launches half of its complement in a horizontal spread pattern. The six projectiles follow ballistic trajectories before landing into the water, sinking right in front of the path of six Erusean submarine-launched torpedoes. The depth charges, actively guided by built-in sensors, seek out the sub-surface warheads. When the torpedoes come close to the ASROCs, the proximity fuzes on the depth charges are triggered. The ASROC depth charges explode underwater, taking with them the torpedo salvo poised to intersect with the Task Force's plotted route.

"Whoever just launched that torpedo spread, I need them found, now!" Tallulah commands with a frown, not wanting to let such a threat disappear.

Leftover threats may prove catastrophic for the deployment of the Marines, after all. So hunting down the thing that just engaged them is an absolute necessity.

"Detecting one enemy submarine, bearing 60, range 9 kilometers! They're turning away!"

"Destroy them!"

Once again, the ASROC on the Elbing-class destroyer unleashes another barrage of ASROC. This time, they fire all of them before the turret swings its launcher upward 90 degrees to reload. The rockets are boosted over to the retreating Erusean submarine and sink into the water in a circular pattern. Having heard the strangely disturbing splashes via sonar, the Erusean submarine starts panicking and actively maneuvers for a crash dive. Unfortunately, they're not fast enough. The ASROC depth charges are guided to the submarine's acoustic signature, surrounding it on all sides. At near point-blank range, the proximity fuzes on the ASROC charges are triggered. The weapons explode, using a combination of shockwave and shaped charge armor-piercing effects to eviscerate the Erusean submarine's hull. It takes but a blink of an eye for the submarine to be perforated and crushed by the merciless weight of the deep sea. It doesn't take long at all for sonar returns identifying the submarine as sinking with all hands.

"Confirmed! Enemy submarine sunk!"

"Maintain vigilance!" Tallulah reminds. "If one submarine could hide in the shadow of the Grand Fleet's carcass, then there may still be one or many more! CIC, I need that data package on how much of a fighting force the Grand Fleet still has!"

"We're trying our best, ma'am, but visibility is crap for our drones to identify the state of the Grand Fleet. Radar and sonar are only able to identify that some of the ships are still floating, seemingly to have contained the worst of their fire and flooding. However, given that none of the returns seem to be moving, we are having a hard time identifying whether they're abandoned, surrendered, or are laying in ambush."

Captain Lindemann adds. "And since we can't exactly move too close to verify it visually, we are left wondering about the actual state of the Grand Fleet. Most of the dangerous ones are down under, it would seem, but other than that..."

"So either we way for things to clear up for a bit or proceed with the amphibious invasion anyway." Admiral Tallulah interjects.

"Or you can just fly the UAVs low and steady." Grand Admiral Donitz interjects through a secured video call.

"Sir." Both Tallulah and Lindemann greet their boss.

"At ease, you two, fine work thus far, by the way. Anyway, at this point, there's no need to hide the existence of our drones. Get them down low to perform combat recon. Engage anything that's still armed and active." Donitz instructs. "Use them also to map a good landing spot for the Marines."

"Aye aye, Sir." Tallulah nods.

"Good. Carry on, Admiral, Captain. The U-boats will secure the perimeter for the Amphibious Invasion Force to come in." Donitz salutes them before shutting off the video call.

Tallulah gives Lindemann a look, prompting the other to contact the Task Force to disseminate their plan going forward.

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Inside the well decks of the six Bayern-class battlecarrier of the High Sea Fleet, groups of Belkan Marines are mounting up for blood. Identify by the Multitarn camouflage pattern on their gears, the Belkan Marine Corps are a rare sight in this conflict. Strapping themselves with enough gear and munitions to wage a whole day of intense fighting, the Marines board numerous Puma IFVs. Their mannerisms reek of professionalism and ingrained instinct. Other than the Pumas and accompanying Marine Rifles, there are also an assortment of vehicles being loaded up on large hovercrafts to be used during and after the landing on Dunkirk. Outside, on the flight decks of the Bayerns, there are even more Marines loading up on Ospreys. Surprisingly, there are Raven teams that accompany this air-deploy element as breakthrough units.

Despite the energetic hustle and bustle of machines and soldiers marching to war, one can feel the underlying tension. There is a sense of subdued eagerness in the Marines. They want to prove that they're not just any normal branch of the Reich's military.

Unlike normal Belkan soldiers or the more experienced Panzergrenadiers, the Marine Corps are the amphibious equivalent of the Belkan Airbornes. This means the Marines are formed by only the best and are trained in all manners of warfare. Much like the Airbornes, the Marines can plan, coordinate, and execute amphibious assault operations to seize terrain or to defend it. The Marines are trained to either assault the enemy directly or infiltrate and fight behind enemy lines. They are perfectly capable of conducting Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations against hostile vessels. These operations can be conducted by mobile teams or large division-sized deployments, covering large distances or areas thanks to their seaborne battlecarriers, aircraft, and even clandestine overseas installations.

Whereas an Airborne unit's deployment may not be possible due to various concerns like potential enemy AA network, the Belkan Marine Corps is the fallback card of the Reich's military for military intervention in a foreign territory, especially away from established bases. The Marine Corps and its expeditionary forces are essentially self-sustaining with an organic logistics capability and a full array of supporting arms. The Belkan Marines adopt the motto 'Honor and Duty!' to always remind themselves of their core tenets as the Reich's elite fighting force.

Though there are key differences in how the Marines and Airbornes operate, they ultimately achieve the same effect of being deadly, highly mobile action, and reaction forces. Unfortunately for the Belkan Marine Corps, they got one-upped by the Airbornes, with the latter earning their heroic deeds and accolades in Sardegna. Despite the fact the 501st Airbornes couldn't hold the Sardegnian land for long, they earned enough battle scars to be proud of. The same can't be said for the Marines who were tasked with protecting evacuation efforts. Something that their peers with metaphorical wings always use to tease them in the spirit of friendship.

That can not stand!

Let it be known that Dunkirk will be the first victory the Marines will come, see, and conquer from the grasp of the Eruseans! No one, whether it's the Allied forces or the rest of the world, will stop the Belkan flags from flying proudly in the sky! If there's someone dares to make a ruckus about that, then let them taste the fists of the salty Belkan Marines!

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