Codegease: Air and Land Warfare 1946

Page 192

"No, I meant a thousand eighth-generation fighter jets."

"That's not bad...wait a minute?" Lloyd seemed stunned. "Did I hear that right?"

“Let us explain in more detail so you don’t misunderstand,” Kelly said, taking over from her sister. “We now need a highly specialized Guiding Technology Department to provide us with a thousand eighth-generation fighters that have the flight speed of the Tristan fighter, the shield of Mordred, and the capabilities of the Lancelot Judgement. All their performance characteristics must be highly integrated into a single unit. As for this number, is it too much to ask?”

"Ah...not too much, not too much, hahahahaha!" The count chuckled foolishly. "Her Highness Elizabeth's joke is really funny. So many special-purpose machines, it's like a very pure dream, hahahahaha."

"A joke? Ha, you mean the more than 400,000 casualties of the expeditionary force are also a joke?" Elizabeth suddenly took a step forward, glaring fiercely at Lloyd. "Or let me guess what you'll prove next? It's true that the various knightly orders still use KMF, but you'll never get any praise from the expeditionary force soldiers!"

"Your Highness?" Lloyd asked, his face filled with panic as he avoided the princess's eyes. He dared not look back at Schneizel's somewhat displeased face, nor at the people behind Elizabeth—Duke Sassler and Dr. Flock—who showed no surprise at the princess's attitude.

“I’ve said it more than once, Count,” Elizabeth took a deep breath, “Don’t try to solve the problems of District 45 with your old ways of thinking. When you have time, go and see for yourself the streets in front of the Brandenburg Gate, the banks of the Elbe, and the road from Berlin to Leipzig. Is your KMF really as capable as you expect?”

“Enough, Elizabeth,” Schneizel growled in a low voice.

"Shut up! You have no right to offer your foolish opinions!" The princess turned around and glared angrily at her brother, completely frightening everyone.

"Let me tell you the truth, the truth that every general in District 45 knows." Elizabeth, no longer caring about her composure, directly spat at Lloyd, "Our capital to withstand these tens of thousands of powerful enemies is not those elites selected from hundreds, but the millions of mediocre people who cannot fully utilize the KMF's strength. It is they who harass the enemy's ground advance with fighter jets and attack helicopters; it is they who sit in assault guns and use shells to resist the steel torrent that the KMF is powerless against; it is even them who, without being in any vehicle, hold rocket launchers and aim at enemy tanks in the craters of open ground!"

"Of course, I don't want to deny that the KMF is still a good option for enemy infantry, but the facts have already told you that you are no longer worthy of being the protagonist on this battlefield, Dr. Lloyd Asbrood. What right do you have to interfere in the affairs of Sector 45? What right do you have to tell me that these things are insignificant? Do you think that using the remains of fallen soldiers to make bullets will make the KMF indestructible?! Do you think that tying the tombstones of warriors to the torso of a KMF will make it indestructible?!"

Elizabeth pushed Lloyd away, tried to calm herself down, and left Schneizel with these last words.

“Brother, I may have learned how to define the word ‘disappointment’ today, but I still suggest you never forget what happened today… I admit I’m not as senior as you, but you have far more influence than me. The expedition to District 45 was supported by you behind the scenes, and all the arrangements stemmed from your decisions. I can accept or carry out any orders you give. Removing me from my position as the supreme commander of the expeditionary force is fine; abandoning this hard-won glimmer of victory in this other world expansion plan is also no problem…”

“But,” she said, raising her chin firmly, “if you, the Prime Minister of the Britannian Empire, a prominent descendant of the royal family, were to joke about the lives of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of soldiers in the 45th District expeditionary force, and think that the warriors who lie buried in another world are merely like dust on clothes that can be easily wiped away? Would I, who shared in their bloodshed in the 45th District, agree to this? And what right do you, sitting here, have to do this?”

……

Elizabeth left with her entourage. The prince spoke briefly with the remaining people, and then another message arrived.

"Please take a look. The Seventh and Ninth Districts have now received orders from His Highness Prince Odysseus to halt all adjustments to military industrial units within their administrative districts. Many factories that originally produced tanks and aircraft are now refurbishing weapons slated for dismantling and providing them to the 45th District Expeditionary Force for any eventuality."

“That’s strange, I didn’t mention it to him.” Schneizel hesitated for a moment. “Oh, so it was when Elizabeth called him to Sector 45 before?”

"That should be true, Your Highness. According to His Highness Odysseus, he learned during his visit to District 45 that the expeditionary force might urgently need a large number of non-KMF weapons. And since you told her that due to the long production adjustment time in various departments, the demand could not be met in time, Her Highness Elizabeth hopes that he can mobilize some nobles to meet this demand."

"Is that so? It seems she was prepared for the current situation all along, and actually set me up like this in secret..."

With a long sigh of relief, Schneizel managed a forced smile—he was not unaware of the significance of changing weapons for the 45th District Expeditionary Force, but he hadn't expected his sister to be so brazen in confronting him, saying such things, and even enlisting Odysseus to secretly oppose Lloyd and the others.

"Elizabeth, when did you become an opponent even more complicated than Lelouch?"

Chapter 241, Section 321: Victory Garden is Only Dark at Night

To be honest, no matter what the environment is like, waking up to a pile of charcoal-black steel passing by while wiping toothpaste foam from your mouth always gives you the feeling that you've lost something in your sleep.

What passed before everyone's eyes was the Halberd of Poseidon, the railway gun that had been destroyed in a surprise attack by British warplanes not long ago. The last batch of wreckage transported back to District 11 was still covered with lightning-shaped charred marks and disintegrating structural materials. It silently told the story of the suffering and war that this world was filled with, and seemed to testify on behalf of the tens of thousands of fallen soldiers to the severe test that Berlin had endured in the past four months.

"Walking around the residential area? They're probably afraid that the people behind the scenes will find out about this."

This was the second day that Clark and the nobles had arrived in Berlin's 45th district. The night passed without anything unusual, though this is from a less rigorous perspective.

When the knights and officials first arrived, they were all somewhat unaccustomed to this environment—there was no luxurious furnishing in their beds, no rows of servants outside the windows and doors, no famous paintings in the corridors, and no golden bells in the halls. Those pen-wielders, bookworms, and bespectacled old men, who were rarely visited even by rebels, were truly suffering.

For military officers, those who had been here a few times could grit their teeth and bear it, but newcomers were often finding it hard to cope. Compared to the peaceful life on their homeland, there wasn't much scenery to see. Once you knew the area well, you could show others the way, look at the sculptures made of ruins in the streets, listen to the distant cannon fire tolling like earth clocks, and then wait for the aircraft to blow a burst of urgent brass music overhead. Hmm, when will the next evacuation siren sound? That completely depends on the enemy's mood.

So they were particularly puzzled: how could Clark, a small businessman who never got involved in the bloodshed of the battlefield, fall asleep so easily and quickly? Meanwhile, Clark, after waking up, secretly chuckled for a long time: "Damn it, a few months ago when I was stationed in Berlin, where could I find such a soft bed to sleep on? Not only was it uncomfortable to sleep on, but I also had to stand guard, and worse, I might have to patrol street by street in the dark—OK, OK, I can't say any more. If my former superiors heard this, they would pass it on to the military police as a complaint."

Well, enough of the small talk. Those old folks are slowly digesting the remaining ruins of Berlin—I say this because the city did become a bit tidier around the time Clark was taken to District 11.

After Her Highness Elizabeth's valiant attack, the bomber formations of the United States and Britain never returned, and the restoration of the neighborhood immediately resumed. Finally, the streets, which were the highest priority, were almost completely cleared. There were no craters, no rubble, and some of the renovated avenues were even paved with asphalt or concrete, with center lines marked. What else could be the problem? Perhaps the frequent passing vehicles and the tire tracks left by the KMF were a bit too conspicuous.

So the road surface is completely OK now, what's next? Of course, it's the buildings in the entire city. According to the repair plan that Her Highness Elizabeth and the generals devised in their spare time, the repair order is different for different types of buildings and buildings with different degrees of damage. And the first level of slightly damaged buildings, which do not exceed three stories, is also not far from completion.

To be honest, Baron Holt, who was accompanying Clark, slept in one of these two-story buildings last night. These buildings, with some missing exterior walls but not much structural damage, could be quickly put into use after a renovation. Nowadays, many generals and officers live in similar places, and some are even used to serve the ground floor of soldiers—of course, most people still live in tents scattered everywhere.

Even the square could be used, but not for people to live in. By setting up fences and barriers, the captured soldiers and civilians from outside Berlin could be brought to Seri and enclosed, serving as a transit point for the soldiers to escort them. Whether they were forced to march in formation at gunpoint or herded into trucks and sent back to the 11th district like cargo depended on luck.

As for the buildings that can be abandoned for now, let's leave them aside for now. Those buildings that can still be salvaged are worthwhile because they are surrounded by scaffolding and construction workers day after day. So why not waste such a good foundation? While maintaining the internal load-bearing structure, we can also remove and repair the damaged parts on the exterior walls. If the windows and other things have already been installed, then you can consider moving your bed and furniture in and temporarily living in this unfurnished room.

However, some of the restored buildings are still empty, and we'll discuss why later.

……

The above is what Clark and his team briefly observed and heard about the surface yesterday. Today, it's time to go and see what's underground.

Unlike the surface city, the construction of the underground city has been ongoing. Based on the Berlin Metro tunnels, excavation has been underway in all directions. Four months later, looking at the aerial view, the long, winding metro lines already resemble a large garden. The lighting system is already visible, with several trash cans visible along the tunnel walls. The ventilation system, building upon the original German design, will soon be able to supply fresh air. What remains for everyone is perhaps the unfinished walls and floors—aesthetic issues that are difficult to resolve for the time being.

The underground city was divided into several layers, one inside the other. At the very center, near the Victory Gardens—the city center area where the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate are located—was a massive medical unit. Large numbers of wounded and sick soldiers from the 45th District Expeditionary Force were brought into Berlin from all directions and then transferred here for the best treatment and care. Of course, this "best" only applied to the 45th District. Aside from being perpetually dark, this medical center offered the best conditions for the wounded, as it provided protection against enemy attacks and eliminated the need for constant relocation.

The decision to keep the medical center here was made by Her Highness Elizabeth's order, and there are many speculations about why she did so.

The veteran soldiers of the expeditionary force believed that, as their commander, Her Highness the Princess was the one who frequently visited them when they lay on their sickbeds in despair, and that when their lives were in danger, she needed to assure them that she was protecting them. This rumor grew stronger after Her Highness personally wiped out the bomber formation with a hadron cannon that day.

In contrast, many officials in the original world, drawn by the aroma wafting through the streets of the capital, discerned a hidden agenda. In their view, saving a life and bearing the same or even greater risk of death was a powerful tactic for winning hearts and minds. Elizabeth's actions did indeed bolster the loyalty of many expeditionary force commanders, to the point that many officers returning for rest now readily remark, "You should know what happened between Her Highness Elizabeth and me in Berlin."

For historians, poets, and painters, this becomes an even more fertile ground for their creative interpretations. Imagine this: underground lie the soldiers recuperating, while above lies the headquarters of the expeditionary force, the core defensive zone of the expeditionary army. With a little imagination, one could conjure up a scene of Her Highness Elizabeth standing atop a mountain, waving the Britannian flag at the wounded soldiers on the hillside… Oh, sorry sir, I shouldn't have spoiled your magnificent creation.

So what does Clark think? This medical center is in the city center, and the expeditionary force's main portal is also in the city center. When you first pass by here, aren't the hospital beds and body bags telling you to come back and visit often?

Indeed, there's a reason why the medical center specifically designated such a large centralized area underground.

……

Surrounding the medical center were the residential and living areas, which were actually less comfortable than the former. Soldiers could at least relax here when resting in the rear of the city, but the living areas were not reserved for them.

Returning to the initial point, District 45 was the world the Empire intended to establish itself as a new continent. This required both the military to expel the native inhabitants and the Empire's own settlers to modernize the region's underdeveloped conditions, preparing for future colonization. Additionally, there were the families of soldiers and nobles—everyone who would be residing in District 45 long-term. Of course, the selection process for these settlers is not yet publicly disclosed.

So how should these non-combat personnel in the rear be accommodated? First of all, they certainly can't sleep in the military camp with the soldiers, so there are several options: either live in the existing houses in this world and endure the dilapidation, or live in the shacks they build themselves, and the underground living area is the third option for them.

Nobles and officials naturally had the right to choose resettlement sites and expel commoners, but they were more often caught in a dilemma of choice.

The buildings on the surface of Berlin are dignified and elegant. You might even wake up one day to find that there are many achievements in the "circle of people" downstairs. But it is hard to say that one day the bomber groups that have not been seen for many days will once again bring a rain of destruction to the city like in the war videos. This is naturally worrying for newcomers. When will the US and Soviet troops next come to Berlin? What more terrible things will they bring? No one can guarantee.

And underground? Well, it's certainly safe, but can one tolerate this environment? Perhaps things will improve a lot as various systems become more complete, but is this current, rough quality of life worthy of one's status? Can one's family and friends live peacefully in a slum similar to Area 11? Before the water supply system is improved, water still needs to be drawn from a certain place, and sometimes, due to power outages, candles are needed. Hmm, think about how the Britannian pioneers lived when they first landed on the New World of North America many years ago.

Forget it, let them solve these problems themselves. They chose this path, and there's no going back.

……

Beyond the living quarters, the area is under military control. Logistics warehouses storing military supplies and maintenance stations are located here, and items from the living quarters are not allowed to be left lying around. This is probably the brightest place in the underground city—the sparks from the welding torches of the repair technicians are the only thing that requires people to wear sunglasses to cover their eyes underground.

There is still a lot of unused space here. It is said that once the external threat to Berlin is further reduced, high-ranking officials will decide whether to continue setting up the repair factory or to set up a factory for manufacturing weapons and vehicles. In this way, a small part of the logistical burden on Area 11 can be relieved.

The outermost ring, closest to the sunlight, consists of defensive fortifications, soldiers' makeshift underground barracks and combat preparation points, scattered throughout the original Berlin city area near subway stations and the city's outskirts. Their role and importance are self-evident. Interestingly, while this area boasts numerous and reliable pre-positioned defensive points, it is also where the support system is least robust, dominated by night vision goggles and flashlights.

The reason it looked like this was naturally due to insufficient manpower, forcing them to make compromises. However, some soldiers jokingly said that since the enemy wasn't good at fighting in the dark, they had created their own advantageous terrain. Haha, perhaps it's a funny joke, and they certainly hoped to watch the KMF catapult tracks in the fortified area be slowly repaired amidst laughter.

……

Well, after taking a general tour, I'm a bit tired. After all, there aren't many underground passages that can accommodate vehicles. They're either not wide enough or only suitable for tracked construction machinery and KMF vehicles that walk.

Now the group has arrived at the exit of the underground city in the southern suburbs of Berlin. After passing through the concrete gate guarded by KMF and infantry, they can finally escape the oppression and tension and breathe a breath of free air.

However, their journey isn't over yet. There are several cars waiting to take them to their next stop, a large pit that's still under construction.

"what is this?"

Upon inquiry, it was discovered that a circular underground gun emplacement was being prepared for the installation of a new railway gun. It would still be able to rotate 360 ​​degrees, be slightly deeper than the railway gun barrel, and have a larger diameter. In addition, a set of surface-colored camouflage netting that could automatically open and close would be constructed, and at one end of this large circular pit, there would be a straight tunnel.

According to the design drawings and the architect, the previous method of photographing the turret on the surface and then using buildings to cover it with cloth was ingenious but too risky. This time, they spent a longer time digging a large pit to move the railway gun into the shallow underground. The appropriate depth would not affect the gun's firing elevation. When concealment was needed, the gun could be moved to a designated position. The extended tunnel could also hide the lowered gun barrel, eliminating the need for special disassembly as before.

……

"Well, from now on, the train gun crew can sleep peacefully during the day without having to worry."

Baron Holt was delighted, but Clark was frustrated. He couldn't get such a large amount of crucial information out, which was really frustrating for him.

"What's wrong, sir?"

"Ah... I thought this was a tomb, a place to bury Poseidon's Halberd."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Everyone looked at them with surprise.

To say that these invaders were digging their own graves? Of course, one cannot reveal their true thoughts.

"I was thinking... since our Princess Elizabeth respects every soldier who dies in battle, wouldn't it be only natural, given her saintly heart, to give her a broken cannon to dig a resting place? Hahahaha."

Yes, in the hearts of "District 45 people" like him, this princess has probably mourned countless times for all the lackeys who died on this land.

Chapter 242, Section 322: Fading Reputation

The day, filled with mixed feelings, was drawing to a close. Baron Holt pulled Clark up the steps in front of the Parliament House, intending to go inside with them to see Her Highness Elizabeth, who was said to be sulking.

"Why? Because we can't get the new railway guns?" Clark could now secretly gloat. "Those generals who are clamoring that railway guns are as precious as the Knights of the Round Table, tell them either the guns should be placed in this pit, or they should be buried in this pit, how about that? Hahaha."

“Actually, this gun emplacement itself was a downgraded version…” the Baron sighed. “The original plan was to build the gun base on a liftable platform, so that when not firing, the railway gun could be taken underground, and one or more protective hatches that could be opened and closed would be built under the surface camouflage.”

"How?"

"Some people plan to refer to the air raid shelters and protective walls of the Germans in Berlin and build reinforced concrete hatches. This is the simplest approach, but it also provides the weakest protection. Others plan to build metal protective hatches with extremely high thickness and strength, but this is much more difficult to manufacture, requiring specific metal materials and unprecedented thicknesses. As for the small group of talented people..."

"They plan to add a high-intensity energy shield layer to the artillery silos, modeled after the Skyships... In short, Her Highness is annoyed by these people. She doesn't want to worry about much else and wants the engineers to dig a hole first, at least to get the most basic work done before making any decisions..."

"Oh dear, opportunity favors the prepared mind. There's no harm in reserving a spot first, hahaha."

Clark was still amused when he noticed several slightly arrogant noble officials approaching from behind.

"Do you need to tell me if Princess Elizabeth is here?"

"Huh?" Not to mention Clark, even the Baron was taken aback by the serious yet contemptuous atmosphere. "The last time we heard that His Highness was at headquarters, so you must have come to the right place."

"Very good. What you just said will be very helpful for your future development in District 45."

Watching this person lead a group of people in brightly colored clothes forward with such a rigid and methodical manner, and then thinking about the words in the text, something doesn't seem right...

……

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Elizabeth, the Eighth Princess. It is my honor to introduce you to Marquis Franz Louises, who has been entrusted by His Highness Schneizel to deliver a message to you."

Elizabeth and Kelly were both surprised and furious. These people dared to come looking for them by name, directly to their own guards. If they were to break into the command center while they were discussing battle plans, as the guards had been instructed, someone might die.

"Since the implementation of the expansion plan in District 45, the hardships and obstacles encountered, as well as the great achievements made, have been recorded in the long history of the Britannian Empire. It has been an exceptionally tough game. For Your Highness, on the one hand, the military merits and achievements you have made belong to you, but on the other hand, you also need to silently bear the pressure and obstacles you have faced during this period."

"You barged into my headquarters and even put my soldiers on high alert. You're not trying to play the sympathizer on me, are you?"

“You seem to be in a hurry? Let me put it simply.” The Marquis was not flustered at all. “In short, His Highness Schneizel has appointed me as the head of the administrative body of District 45. I will take over from Your Highness and handle all the work related to the management of the natives and prisoners of war in District 45, the distribution of immigrants from the Imperial mainland, and the management and construction of non-combatant areas.”

"Wha, what do you mean?"

"In other words, you will still be in full charge of the military affairs in District 45, but the trivial administrative matters of District 45 will be handed over to me and my colleagues. At the same time, you and your brother will not have the right to interfere with us. The development plan for this new world needs to be handed over to people with more leisure time to plan it calmly. Otherwise, people will wonder why our city in District 45 looks like a fortress."

"This?" The siblings gasped and looked at each other in disbelief, taking the order from the Marquis's hand and examining it carefully over and over again.

“Alright…” Elizabeth pondered for a long time before leading him to a photograph of the initial state of the Capitol Building, taken by the Vanguard. “But there’s something I don’t know if you’re prepared for, Marquis. District 45 isn’t like a retirement home in North America. You should understand that this palatial building has undergone months of renovations, not something we were supposed to leave in this state.”

“I understand what Your Highness means, hahaha, but this place is indeed quite bleak. I think we can make a good plan on how to rebuild a more beautiful Berlin.”

"Then you'll have to play your role as an embroiderer. Just as you guessed, there's a lot to do here that needs your help, so hurry up and get to your post. Guard, see the guest out..."

……

The teacups in the hands of the siblings were rather heavy.

"What are you doing, brother, sister..."

“He knows that my voice on stage has already reached other theaters and is stealing their customers, so he has a legitimate reason to strip me of my absolute power in District 45… Brother, what are you thinking…”

“How could he think that way?” Kelly didn’t understand. “We’ve done so much, all for the future of this new world. If we’re not allowed to take full responsibility, are we supposed to let the Duke and the General listen to him playing chess remotely from District 11 or the capital?”

“I’m not sure what my brother is thinking either, my dear brother.” Elizabeth shook her head. “But that’s not the main issue right now. It’s that good-for-nothing Franz. He took my brother’s appointment order and, based on one clause that ‘the Eighth Princess continues to serve as the highest military commander of District 45, but may not interfere with the administrative agencies without permission,’ and started acting all high and mighty with me… Tsk tsk, if this were an imperial envoy sent by Father, he probably would have been riding on my back just now?”

"So... what's more worrying for you now is that those pedantic officials and nobles keep flooding into District 45, and sooner or later they'll turn the atmosphere of the expeditionary force into a complete mess? Sigh..."

“Let’s go.” Elizabeth smiled slightly as she took her brother’s arm. “Some people need to realize that they can no longer use their status to speak.”

……

At this time, a small squad of the Knights Agincourt, stationed near Berlin to recuperate, was unaware that night was about to fall.

"So, everyone's changed into Vincent's clothes, haha!" Griffin chuckled as he sat on the ground. "Hey, things are going to be much easier for our Knights from now on, right?"

"So should I tell you the bad news?" Turning around, Angelina helped the still somewhat weak Sisian up. "Lilizia is still in critical condition and remains unresponsive in the intensive care unit."

"Okay, okay, honey, let's not talk about this anymore... Do you remember what she was thinking when I found out she was on that front? And after that barrage of fire, my head felt like it'd been pulled out of hell..."

"So on the one hand, you need to thank His Majesty the Emperor for giving you good luck in not having a misfire, and on the other hand, you should reflect on why you didn't use your own human radar back then?" Angelie's reproach remained unchanged. "Well, perhaps the cluster bombs in Canterbury weren't powerful enough, leaving quite a few survivors like Lily on the front lines? Indeed, apart from Lily and another young man, there were countless Soviet wounded soldiers who could be moved."