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Oh no! They're being blocked from the front and pursued from behind. The two destroyers have escaped one life-or-death situation, but now they're being chased by the Red Navy again.
"Fire! The enemy ship has opened fire!" The people on the bridge shouted this, and they could hear the terrifying thunder coming from the other side of the sea, which turned into the approaching airflow, the bayonets whistling, and the explosions into a cluster of water droplets on the pine trees in the distance of the warship.
"Damn it, are we already within their firing range?" The captain was getting anxious. His ship didn't have any rear-facing guns, and not only were there few missiles left, but the violent maneuvering was causing the entire ship to tilt as well. How could they launch missiles stably? Survival was the priority, so he had no choice but to continue evading the enemy.
"Oh, another piece of bad news, Captain. There's a target that looks like a patrol boat rapidly approaching from the west coast of Rügen Island?"
"My God, this is outrageous!" The captain's beard was practically twisted with rage. "Being chased by smaller destroyers because we're outnumbered is bad enough, but why are patrol boats bullying us like this? Notify all combat personnel to bring out all the armed helicopters and KMFs, and call in the Anna Seiler too. Let's slaughter those sardines!"
Like large boxes being spat out of a truck bed, the two destroyers sailed across the sea amidst the relentless gunfire from the other side, while simultaneously opening up both sides of the helipad to launch armed helicopters or send KMFs up, whether they were firing from the deck or diving into the water to prepare for a surprise attack from below the surface. It was as if the entire crew of the warships were venting their resentment at the relentless pursuit on those tiny figures.
An armed helicopter was the first to approach. When its searchlight was turned on, it was discovered that all six or seven patrol boats only had one heavy machine gun. This was outrageous. The helicopter pilot unleashed a barrage of machine guns and rockets like a floodgate, quickly slaughtering most of the patrol boats. The spray from the explosions even flew into the engine air intakes.
"Violet, quite big and well-fed." The captain glanced at the battle situation in the distance and ordered the helicopters to cease operations. "The enemy patrol boat formation is preparing to turn around. The Portman team will proceed with the next expulsion."
"OK." Portman's team leader breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it wasn't a big problem. "It seems they tried to launch a suicide attack but failed and returned disappointed? Everyone, accelerate forward and prepare to unleash a barrage of torpedoes."
"No problem, Captain, but... why is something approaching us?"
"What? On the sea?" The captain counted the remaining enemy patrol boats; this was indeed all they had. "Is there something wrong with your sonar?"
"I guess not... Oh my god!"
Now everyone could see clearly that something was indeed suicidally charging towards the destroyer—two robust torpedoes, each twice the size of itself!
"Holy crap, that's what they were after?! Everyone, get out of the way! Get out of the way!"
……
"What's going on, Sergeant?!"
The captain was desperately calling out to the KMF squad, but after hearing a series of sounds of KMFs colliding with each other over the radio waves, all that remained in front of him was a ball of water that suddenly exploded on the sea surface, shooting up a wave ten or twenty meters high.
"Damn..."
The Red Navy destroyers have gone far away—leaving behind trails of fire from missile hits; it seems they are still worried about being ambushed if they get too close to the mainland.
"Haha, we did it, Captain! We did it!" The helmsman smiled happily, but then noticed the captain wasn't so happy. "Aren't we supposed to be heading back to port? They can't possibly have drained the water from the port entrance, can they?"
The captain remained silent, slowly walked to the porthole, looked up at the Royal Air Force aircraft that were faintly visible in the sky, and sighed angrily.
"A letter from Rostock reports that the enemy has laid a large number of mines inside and outside the harbor... We won't be able to return for the time being..."
Chapter 232, Section 307: There is still hope.
"A disaster..."
How to describe this feeling? Elizabeth had just learned that the Navy had successfully attacked Rügen Island with missiles, but was suddenly told that they could not go home—the water splashed from the mines dropped by Royal Air Force bombers in Rostock Harbor had traveled thousands of miles to drench her.
There was no way the garrison at Rostock could guarantee that they could clear the mines tonight, unless they disregarded the cost in terms of lives and resources; similarly, it was unrealistic to expect the destroyers to desperately clear the mines in the water, even at the cost of their keels being broken, just to sink them in the harbor.
We can't just send the two newly arrived warships back to the battlefield for a desperate assault, can we? Nor can we let them drift like desperate wanderers in the unknown northern Baltic Sea. They might discover a new continent like Columbus, but there's absolutely no chance of timely help coming to their aid on that new continent.
"Stranded on the beach!"
Well, it was a reluctant choice. The two warships chose a shallow spot next to a lagoon in their own territory, 45 kilometers northeast of Rostock, and rushed out. The personnel were all evacuated, the KMFs and attack helicopters that were still operational were preserved, and the remaining missiles were transferred out. There was nothing else of great importance.
As for whether to destroy the warships? Let's wait until the situation becomes clearer before making a decision.
Tsk, thinking about it carefully, this somewhat probing naval attack ended up like a joke? But then again, the first nobles to step into Berlin through the portal didn't fare much better in the first few days, did they?
“This is all due to the commander’s lack of composure, and it has always been so.” Elizabeth nodded to herself, convinced of this statement. The day when all twelve army groups would set out was drawing ever closer, but she still had some reservations about the current counter-offensive plan. Was it really a good idea to do it this way?
She glanced at the two plans in her hand: one was a plan she and her brother had put together, instructing the newly arrived troops to proceed cautiously and gradually reclaim the territory the enemy had occupied; the other was a bold night attack plan that combined the opinions of her generals and Lieutenant Colonel Caronville—somewhat similar to the large-scale airborne operation that the expeditionary force had launched its first breakthrough of Berlin more than two months earlier.
There are only a few days left, but it's still hard to make a decision. Who knows what changes might occur on the battlefield in this short period of time?
"The airship responsible for the first combat test is the Archivk, a Calian-class, a 'purebred' ship that has never participated in pre-testing." Well, let's see how much of a commotion this aerial behemoth can cause in Sector 45.
"For the safety of the portal and the Skyship, the operation will still begin at night. After the teleportation is completed, the escort force of the Archivk will be responsible for the safety of the ship, and we will not need to deploy any more troops for protection."
……
"Hmm, Your Highness." While still exchanging opinions with the Duke, Iska came over to report, "Should we say goodbye to the guest who came to your room last night?"
"I think it's better not to. After all, we should give that sunny and lively captain some face... But since you've said so, could you see them off for me? Oh, right, take them to the Brandenburg Gate first. I have a gift for them there."
"A gift? Uh, yes, please."
What was the gift? The princess hadn't told Iska, and the two who were leading the way seemed quite surprised by it; they must have been quite delighted. However, the atmosphere between the lovers was much more awkward than yesterday…
"You and Her Highness Elizabeth had quite a deep conversation last night, Angelina?" Griffin rubbed his sleepy eyes, looking dejected. "Don't you know how it feels to wake up without you by my side?"
"Shut up...shut up..." The young lady's face turned bright red, and the reason was obvious. The captain seemed to have guessed the reason as well? Because Angelie's ears seemed to be a little red, as for whether it was a lip print or a hickey...it was too dark to see clearly.
So, they've already reached the Brandenburg Gate, where's the gift? Iska only has a photograph with a jade ornament with a crescent-shaped corner, which the princess says is somewhat related to the gift?
"Captain!—" A shout full of excitement at the long-awaited reunion startled the three of them. When they turned around, they saw a lively young woman with a head of long, flowing black hair jumping towards them.
“Ypel? Oh my god, you’re recovered?!” Griffin exclaimed excitedly, his words tumbling out incoherently. “Wow, this is wonderful! This gift from the princess is absolutely amazing.”
"The bandages can be removed today, hehe." Ypel showed off her arm. "How are you guys doing, Captain? Julia, Lily, and the others?"
“Lily’s drug addiction has relapsed, and Sisian and Juliet are injured and need care…” Angeli continued, with a sigh, “Be thankful that you’ve avoided a lot of life-or-death situations and close calls. If it weren’t for this period of rest, I think the wounds in your heart would have become infected much faster than the ones on your skin.”
“I understand, I’ve thought about these things…” Ypel’s eyes showed a hint of expectation, but she frowned slightly. Angelie, on the other hand, hadn’t expected that this hospital stay would actually improve her mental resilience.
“During this time, I’ve been worried about whether I’ll ever see you again. In my dreams while I’m in the hospital, the blood you leave behind is always the tears on my pillow when I wake up… I’m afraid of losing you, Captain, so I can only try my best to imagine this outcome. After a while, I get used to it, and when I actually hear the news, I won’t feel so bad.”
"Looks like you've grown up again. Your brother will be so happy to know." Griffin smiled, bent down to touch the new medal on Ipper's collar, and then suddenly picked her up. "Hehe! I knew you, my little angel, would come looking for me again, hahahahahaha!"
Angelie glanced at the two of them, rolled her eyes, and pouted like the mouth of a vinegar bottle. Helplessly, she covered her face and tried to smooth her hair, but when she touched the rope that tied her ponytail, she felt something was wrong.
I took it off and held it in my hand. Oh my god, did I mistakenly take one of the princess's guards' headdresses? The bright green jade in my palm was the same color as the headdress of Ypel, which was still giggling in Griffin's arms, and it sparkled.
"We're leaving, Griffin. The front lines need us."
"Ah, no problem. Then, Ypel, what about you?"
"I'll be right back, Captain. I have some good news for you: my aircraft has been completely redesigned, hehe!"
……
In that short moment, they probably learned that the terrifying hammer and sickle flag was almost visible over the city buildings of Berlin—something Marshal Zhukov, the commander-in-chief of the Soviet forces in Germany, wanted to see, but could not be optimistic about.
"We're late." It wasn't just that they encountered setbacks in their encirclement and annihilation of the enemy forces in the south, resulting in many pigs still unable to be swallowed, and the British and American forces planning to cross the river to attack were also later than expected at the Elbe. Now, the three sides have finally reunited after many twists and turns, but unlike nearly ten months ago, the bloodline of the American continent and the offspring of Siberia have not yet had time to embrace and celebrate their victory.
The situation isn't too bad. According to the last report, the Soviet army group to the south is still at least 50 kilometers from the center of Berlin, and this group of Western Hooks, who have joined forces with the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack, is doing quite well, even capturing several airfields. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should be able to set up artillery positions on the shore of a lake by noon today and begin bombarding Potsdam on the opposite bank.
Everything resembled the scene during last year's siege of Berlin, yet surpassed it. Not only the Field Marshal himself, but also General Eisenhower, who had spoken with him on the phone earlier, was quite helpless. Everyone had their difficulties, some caused by the enemy, others by themselves.
"The US Air Force and the Royal Air Force are not yet able to get close to Berlin airspace. We have also learned that the Soviet forces on Rügen Island were attacked by large enemy surface ships. The Allies have imposed an air blockade on Rostock. Next, we will find and sink those few warships that have escaped. At the same time, the Royal Navy will reassess its commitment to the Baltic Sea."
There was nothing more to arrange. The Marshal only needed to wait for the Soviet troops from Szczecin to break through from Polish territory in one fell swoop and strangle the enemy in Berlin. Then the outcome of the war would be decided.
Chapter 233, Section 308: Spring Thunder Descends from Heaven
Poznan was quiet at midnight.
The streets were just like during the day, with no pedestrians or passersby, only patrolling Soviet soldiers and anti-aircraft gun crews on duty. There were almost no lights, not even on the heavily guarded building on the outskirts of the city.
It was an estate with the Soviet flag flying overhead and a sign that read "Headquarters of Army Group North," formerly the famous 2nd Belorussian Front.
The fact that there are no lights in the house does not mean that the owner is resting. When someone is suffering from insomnia, they may wander outside. The guards can tell you where they have gone.
Fifty kilometers east of Szczecin, in Poland, the host, wearing two gleaming gold stars on his chest, calmly listened to a general's report.
“Szczecin’s situation is a bit strange. Comrade Rokossovsky, Britannia didn’t even have time to save the troops surrounded by Marshal Zhukov. He’s determined to ruin our offensive route in this direction. The Second Shock Army and some of the Third Shock Army that withdrew from Germany had already basically completed their assembly, but they were also thrown into chaos by the shells and bombers coming from Berlin.”
"Keep calm, comrade." The marshal smiled and waved his hand. "If we can set off on time, it will be like tightening the last knot in the enemy's noose. If we can't, then we are relieving the pressure on our comrades in the south. Moreover, the 65th Army is already working on crossing the Oder River from near Kostyan using a pontoon bridge. What we do is always meaningful. The enemy is not so meticulous as to be without flaws."
“Just like in Kursk, we understand, Marshal.” The general nodded, then took out a file folder from the side. “In addition, this is a report from the 3rd Assault Army, which has been equipped with new individual weapons, from units that have recently conducted infiltration reconnaissance.”
"What do you comrades think of these things?"
"Those who have used the SVT40 with the SKS rifle say they're quite used to it, but as for the RPD, everyone's quite curious..."
"strangeness?"
"It's strange how it managed to overpower DP with its lighter and shorter size, and even achieve a level of strength close to that of Goryunov."
"That would be good news for the comrades at the weapons design bureau, right?"
Rokossovsky was pleased and prepared to say something more.
"Generals, Shicheqing reports! The enemy has started air strikes on the city again."
How many planes?
"No planes, comrade."
What does "no planes" mean?
"A machine more terrifying than an airplane has arrived."
……
First, we need to go back to the outskirts east of Szechechin, which we were just a dozen minutes ago.
Is the Third Shock Army finally going back to Germany? That's really good for the war. Look, do you see those two familiar yet unfamiliar faces?
"Come on, let's see who gets to Stralsund first? I'll bet this gold watch." Tsk, it's been so long since I've seen Ekaterina, her sniper rifle is still as sharp as ever, but why is her temper getting more and more extravagant? Ilya didn't really want to talk to her. It was still a bit cold, so he continued to sleep with his gun as a pillow against a wall.
The comrades, still not quite done with their excitement, picked up their accordions and sang, enjoying the tranquility before battle around the campfire in the early spring night. Ekaterina, after all, was still a young girl; she sat in front, holding her rifle, and unknowingly drifted off to sleep to the melodious strains of the accordion and the rhythmic clapping of her comrades.
……
I am just a white birch tree in the forest, silently illuminating the bay of your heart.
Autumn is coming soon, please put on my dark red clothes.
The melting winter snow has long buried the past, and spring has returned home.
I will still be here waiting for you, my girl.
……
The melodious tune had ended, leaving behind a fading sadness, but in her half-awake state, she vaguely heard the accordion's pitch getting higher and higher.
"Huh?" Startled awake, he looked up and saw that the accordion had stopped playing in the stunned comrade's hands, but it was still screaming—screaming with a terrifying echo like a Nazi bomber.
"We're in trouble, comrades! The enemy has brought their warships into the sky!"
The news came from the west, and the air raid sirens blared from all directions, drowning out everything else. In the direction where the sun was setting, the sky shone with dazzling light, and the golden stars, like the Milky Way, clustered together to form a colossal object in the sky, gracing the night of Szeching.
"Attention all ships! We have entered enemy-occupied territory. All turret crews and shield control center personnel, be on high alert and commence firing!"
The welcoming ceremony for the Archivk was quite enthusiastic. Before its green navigation lights could even give a few more greetings, anti-aircraft gunfire and searchlight beams, densely packed like ears of wheat swaying in a storm, surged onto its body from the entire Szczecin region and the depths of the eastern bank of the Oder River.
The Soviet soldiers on the ground could not believe their eyes, because they had never seen anything other than an airship exist at an altitude of thousands of meters. This metal beast with a strong mechanical structure did not look like something full of hydrogen. What was even more disheartening was that the anti-aircraft shells that should have shattered and exploded on it like a flood did not seem to have touched it at all.
"The shield system is stable and can withstand the pressure."
Between the Archivk and the land lay a constantly shifting green glass barrier, its hexagonal pieces pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle to form a spherical net that blocked all fire aimed at the ship. It was a pane of glass, a barrier placed before elegantly dressed nobles. You could pour your cannon fire, turning it into sewage, onto it, but the sewage would only flow down the shiny surface of the glass to the ground, leaving the nobles' clothes unsullied, and even the glass itself would hardly get dirty.
"As expected of the enemy from District 45, their counter-fire is indeed rampant." The Chief of Shield frowned, then casually exhaled a breath of relief. There was no tremor beneath his feet, and he couldn't feel the shells exploding less than a hundred meters below him. "When will the artillery crew be able to lock onto these targets?"
"Enemy fire positions have been captured."
As he spoke, several gaps appeared in the shield protecting the skyship—oh, of course, not due to weakened anti-aircraft fire, because the shield is a double-edged sword. It can block external fire, but with it, one's own artillery fire can also detonate on it. In some situations, it is necessary to make exceptions and let one's own side pass. Of course, these gaps are not enough to allow enemies on the ground to pose an excessive threat to one's safety.
Emerging from the gun barrels and shields, massive shells spewed from the Archivk and crashed into the earth. Szczecin's city center, though not a target of the railway artillery a thousand miles away, was still torn apart by the equally enormous fire clouds. Streets and buildings, forests and mountains—all their opposing lights were locked onto by the large-caliber artillery, transformed into bonfires illuminating the night sky.
"What should we do? Like we're taking cover from an air raid?"
Catherine pulled the startled Ilya along and scrambled into a secluded trench—it was obvious that the warship that had taken to the skies was there to target their heavy firepower, so they shouldn't try to be heroes.
They had no other choice but to do this. See that 85mm anti-aircraft gun on the hill over there? Yes, that piece of scrap metal lying to the side. Now you can't even find the hill anymore. Even so, Ilya was still tightly clutching a 25mm anti-aircraft gun magazine. What's scary is that there are basically no comrades around who are still firing.
……
The pressure from the new guest was considerable, and Marshal Rokossovsky immediately ordered his Fourth Air Army to send all available night fighters that could take off nearby to challenge this monster.
"Soviet fighter jets are approaching from above the three o'clock position. Full left rudder, second speed. Shield control center, be prepared to respond."
The captain hurriedly notified the escort forces near the Archivk—a very embarrassing fact: apart from a few machine guns, their Calian-class airships only had these five large-caliber guns, and in critical moments, they would have to rely on helicopters and air-to-ground (KMF) aircraft that could take off and land on them to deal with aerial threats. Seeing this, the control personnel could only begin to allocate shields to the starboard side, thankfully there were still reserve resources.
"Get moving, Captain! The skies of District 45 won't tolerate any disarray!"
This was their first time here, and they were indeed not as capable as the seasoned veterans who had been working their way up for months. One fighter jet after another swept past them, grazing the body of the Archivk as it slowly turned around in the air, constantly provoking these rookies in the night sky.