715 Three Fronts (1/2)
In the Privy Council of Avalon, a pungent smell of burnt cigarettes filled the closed conference room.
Bluish-gray smoke floated in the air, stinging one's eyes.
Small hills had piled up in the ashtrays. The ministers who had been well-dressed in the past were presently unkempt, and God knew how many days had passed since they last bathed.
Everyone silently gazed at the sea chart hanging on the wall, and the staff officer from the military department was explaining it to them. ”Since four o'clock this morning, the lookouts of the Observatory have been sending reports of the Asgardians beginning their war preparations. After six hours of preparation, at 10:30 in the morning, they began to advance towards Anglo's territorial waters.
”After Gungnir attacked Avalon, having to maintain homeland security, Her Majesty was unable to divert her attention to other matters. After we lost our initial local advantage, they no longer intend to continue to pestering us in the northern waters.
”According to our observations, the Asgardians have divided their fleet into three formations according to the characteristics of the ships. The first formation consisting of ships with high mobility has departed from the Stronghold on Sea at the moment, and they all carry musicians of the school of modifications who specialize in fluid elements. Under the constant propelling and operation, the speed of the vessels far exceeds our expectations.
”According to the analysis of the Military Staff Committee, their mission is probably to get past our defenses and block our supplies from reaching our fleet. Moreover, after completing the mission, they will begin to carry out guerrilla warfare and harass us at sea, blockading our waters.
”The second formation consists of defensive warships loaded with a large number of shields for warships and aether instruments of harmonious melody. They flank the Stronghold on Sea and are sailing straight for Avalon under the lead of the Stronghold on Sea.
”And finally, the third is a mixed formation which consists of more than half of the warships of the original fleet. It has separated from the formation led by the Stronghold on Sea and begun to sail southwards...”
”Starting wars on three fronts at the same time.” The ministers inhaled their cigarettes forcefully, and their expressions ugly.
The Asgardians had hit the weakness of the Royal Fleet right on. After the Battle of Leviathan, the severely damaged Royal Fleet entered a new war without a buffer period at all. Although the formation was still maintained, at its lowest point, its numbers had been reduced by more than half. At the moment, the vacancies still had yet to be filled, and many warships were directly converted from merchant ships.
The Royal Fleet could still put up a fight in clustered battles, but once it was split up… then, simply put, their attacks would be equivalent to sending warmth and comfort to the Asgardians.
Even though a large number of the warships in the Asgardian fleet were transformed from merchant ships as well, it was Asgard that drafted the former maritime convention. Before leaving the factory, the merchant ships of those *ssholes had been directly manufactured according to the specifications of warships. With just a few modifications, plus a few aether cannons and instruments of harmonious melody, they would become ready-made small warships.
”Three formations...” Ye Qingxuan murmured, thinking silently. He looked up and asked a layman's question, ”Which one is more threatening?”
The expression of the newly appointed Lord High Admiral immediately turned resigned. He opened his mouth to explain the logic within to Ye Qingxuan, but soon, he understood what Ye Qingxuan meant.
The focus at the moment was not on the purpose and specifications of each fleet, but on how to solve the problem as quickly as possible. Therefore, it was actually the easiest to directly consider the worst possible consequences that the three formations could cause.
”The third formation.” The Lord High Admiral did not even need to think about it.
”It all comes down to speed.” The staff officer gave a detailed explanation, ”The first formation consists entirely of light, small warships. Although they are the fastest and can pass through our defenses, other than harassment, they cannot cause any more damage by themselves in the short term.
”Meanwhile, although the second formation is equipped with a large number of heavy weapons, they are the frigates of the Stronghold on Sea. They can deal the most damage, but their speed is the slowest. Even if we do nothing, they need four days to travel to Avalon from their current position.
”The third formation is the hardest to deal with. Without the Stronghold on Sea dragging down their speed, they are equivalent to an independent fleet. Furthermore, according to our prediction of their route, they will cross the territorial waters of Burgundy, then sail along another route, travel a long way about a big circle, and attack Avalon from the side. And in the course of the voyage, they will pass by four industrial cities and granaries of our country, as well as more than six important ports.
”If the mission of the first formation is to harass, and the mission of the second is to fight directly, the mission of the third formation is to destroy.”
Even though it was expected, but when the truth was put forth so straightforwardly, everyone's face still turned a little green.
Imagine a complete, elite fleet armed to the teeth beside and behind you, staring greedily at your own hinterland, while you face the attacking enemy...