187 Prompt Global Strike
October 18, 1927 1100HRS.
At the Command Ops, located underground in the General Staff Building. Alexander Romanoff was racing down the hallway.
Fixing his tie and smoothening out his jacket, Alexander arrived in the Command Ops.
The civilian and military personnel stopped what they were currently doing as they rose to their seats and bowed in front of their emperor.
Alexander lost count of how many people were bowing in front of him whenever he approached or arrived within their presence. He started to get bored of it and so he offered a suggestion.
“Come on, ladies and gentlemen, you don’t have to stand up to greet me even if it’s a common courtesy. We are in the middle of a war, so I’d suggest you continue doing whatever it is you’re doing as it might play a crucial role in the war.”
“But Your Majesty, that would be disrespectful. We, your servants, must always present ourselves to the emperor with all possible decorum, otherwise, he will take offense when we do so.” The man standing behind him stated.
Alexander turned around and nodded toward the man to show understanding. “I know, but you don’t have to worry about getting reprimanded for not bowing or greeting me anymore. I’m just saying this so that we can save time. Okay at ease everyone.”
All personnel returned to their seats and resumed their work. Alexander sat in his respective chair and took a glance at the LCD screen mounted on the wall where it shows the map of the Choson Empire.
The Choson Empire was highlighted red. From the top, blue color slowly crept into the peninsula. Indicating the movement and the current territorial control of the Ruthenian Empire in the country.
“Seems like it’s progressing smoothly,” Alexander remarked, a smile spread across his lips. “So what’s the situation?”
Alexander began and the Minister of Defense, Alexei promptly began the briefing.
“Your Majesty, as of October 18, 1927. 1100 HRS. The Ruthenian Empire managed to capture key cities in the northern peninsula. We’ve pushed back the Yamato Army down to the city of Kusong and Chongsu where they are linking up with their main force.”
The LCD screen shows the cities the Ruthenian Empire has captured. Sinuiju, Yongchon, Yomju, Chagaewon, Pihyon, Tongrim, and Taegwan.
“We have complete control over those conquered cities, am I correct?” Alexander asked for clarification.
“100 percent Your Majesty,” Alexei confirmed. “Moving on, the civilians, mainly the Chosonese, are presenting a new problem for our invading forces. They are slowing down our approach by getting in the way. We could’ve chased the Yamato down but there were a lot of civilians on the line. Hell, even the Yamato Army is using the civilians as shields to stop us from attacking them with artillery…”
“It’s okay,” Alexander interrupted. “As much as I want to crush the Yamato with our superior might, we don’t have to take everything a little bit too fast. I want to win this war decisively so that we can make it resoundingly clear that their army is no match for our military. So it’s okay if things are going slow. In fact, logically, this gives us more time to show off our new toys and gather more data. With that, we can convince the Imperial Council to increase the military budget and make more of it.”
Alexander is sounding a little bit more of a politician here despite the fact that the war started due to the attempted assassination of his sisters by the Yamato government. He should’ve been ruthless and merciless against them. But should he act like that, then nothing will come out of this war.
Yes, the Yamato Empire deserves to be annihilated by trying to take his sisters away from him, but as an emperor who leads a giant empire, he has to balance his persona. As a brother and father, and as an emperor.
For now, this is the emperor of the Ruthenian Empire speaking.
For starters, the Ruthenian Empire has been pouring a lot of money into the military. Coupled with a lot of mega infrastructure projects and welfare programs, You can see that Ruthenia is losing a lot of money.
Infrastructure projects and welfare programs can be justified easily by saying that it’s for the betterment of the country to catch up with their neighboring superpowers in terms of economy and infrastructure. But for the military? Especially during peacetime? It is quite challenging.
The only way for military technology to justify its significance is through war. Without war, the Imperial Council is not going to approve more budget increases, not to mention the space program that was almost denied by the Ruthenian Armed Services Committee.
This war gives the Ruthenian Empire the opportunity to introduce the military technology they have been building for four years.
And once they win this war, Alexander is going to face more challenges in terms of geopolitics.
The advanced weapon systems the Ruthenia used during the course of the war is something the world has never seen. The war correspondents who are bound to the war theater are going to document the war machines used in the war and report it to their government.
And once they get the wind of it, the Ruthenian Empire will be subjected to deep scrutiny and could go as far as deeming them as a threat to their national security since they have no countermeasures against the Ruthenian military.
Alexander believed it was going to happen. So now he is thinking of a diplomatic maneuver to get the Ruthenian out of isolation.
“Your Majesty, may I have your attention?”
Alexander, who was deep in thought, snapped out of his thoughts. “Yes, what is it?”
The Minister for Defense, Alexei continues, “We also want to inform you that the Yamato Army garrisoned in Hanseong has already crossed the 38th parallel, which means we can initiate one of our operations we have planned some time ago.”
“Okay, Alexei, I’m all ears,” Alexander prompted him to continue.
“Your Majesty, the plan is called ‘Prompt Global Strike'” Alexei quoted. “You see, in the southern tip of the Choson peninsula, the Busan port is being extensively used by the Imperial Yamato Army to reinforce the peninsula and supply their troops. If we cut it off, then they will have no means of sending more troops and supplies. And the soldiers they sent to the frontlines are going to be trapped within the peninsula.”
“Hmm…” Alexander hummed in thought. “That sounds like a plan. Okay, how do we do it?”
“We will use long-range super heavy bombers, ‘Aletina’. To bomb the port of Busan. Now it is expensive, but it is very fast, impossible to stop, and perfect for demoralizing the enemy.”
A simulation plays on the LCD screen, showing the icon of the super heavy bomber “Aletina” a copy of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress taking off from the Dalniy Air Base, crossing the Yellow Sea, into the Port of Busan. There, an animated explosion covered the Port of Busan.
“—After the bombing run, we will task our Pacific Fleet to surround the entire peninsula to prevent future amphibious landing attempts of the Yamato Empire. But to do so, we have to establish command of the sea.”
“Command of the sea…huh?” Alexander repeated. “So our Pacific Fleet is going to face the entire forces of the Yamato Imperial Navy, which is the largest in the region and among the largest navies in the world.”
“I understand your concern, Your Majesty. But rest assured, the Ruthenian Navy is going to emerge victorious thanks to its advanced weapon systems and the highly trained soldiers sailing in each of our ships.”
“Well, I’m not doubting them,” Alexander waved off his concerns, “So, how long would the operation take?”
“Just say the word and bombs will be dropped over Busan Port in one and a half hours. Keeping the Yamato from crossing into the Choson peninsula.”
Alexander ran a tongue around his cheeks before giving his answer. “Do it.”