Codegease: Air and Land Warfare 1946

Page 286

"This is a country with a illustrious reputation in their world, and a country whose name is somewhat too provocative for us. We have always lived in peace with this other world, and we are happy to coexist peacefully with a new world and a new friendly country at the right time. But things have clearly not gone as we hoped. This newcomer has used all sorts of despicable and opportunistic methods to deceive us."

"On October 28, 1945, the Holy Britannian Empire sent its troops to attack the Allied forces in Berlin and attempted to pin the war crimes on the Soviet Union in order to secretly undermine our peaceful relations with them and provoke a war between us so as to reap the benefits."

"In this exchange of fire, which we call the Berlin Incident, I want to tell you that, regrettably, thousands of our soldiers were killed or wounded in the fighting. Their lives and blood were taken away by these uninvited guests and disappeared silently from the city of Berlin. Not only that, but also quite a few British and French people shed their blood in Berlin."

"On October 30, when we were forced to evacuate Berlin, they attempted to follow the railway and attack the wounded on the trains."

"On November 11, the army of the Holy Britannian Empire broke out of Berlin, forcing the Soviet troops outside the city into a series of retreats."

"On December 26, the Holy Britannian Empire clashed with British ground forces stationed in Germany, more than 12 kilometers to the west, and attacked the Royal Navy fleet in the Baltic Sea."

"Overall, through this series of relentless military operations, we have gained a considerable understanding of this guest from the new world and its significance for the security of our nation and the lives of every citizen."

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have ordered all measures to ensure that our enemies do not act recklessly: On December 6, our Army Air Forces assembled nearly a thousand aircraft, which took off from every airfield in Britain, France, and Germany to attack the Britannian forces in and around Berlin. To this day, the air raids continue, and to this day, there are still American pilots who were shot down and parachuted into hiding in the lands they have occupied, waiting for our help."

"Our nation will bear in mind the nature of those who wantonly attack us. No matter how much time or cost we need, we will strive and we must win this war. We will win an absolute victory in the name of justice. I believe that we will not only do our utmost to defend ourselves and our fruits of peace, but we will also be even more certain that such a despicable and barbaric existence will be eradicated from this world."

"With such a hostile presence, our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger—this is undeniable. This time, we cannot wait any longer, we cannot stand idly by; we must take the initiative. We will never allow the tragedies of Pearl Harbor and Bataan to be repeated on America's head, we will never allow any more unreasonable aggressors to wantonly slaughter our citizens, never!"

……

On the radio, applause and cheers of approval rose and fell from the crowd in the Capitol, like a wounded lion that had been resting at midday awakening, facing a pack of hyenas that were about to approach it, and growling a terrifying and violent hiss.

"Do you have anything to say, Tony? If you're too annoyed to hear the end, you can go upstairs, close the door, and sit down by yourself."

The child didn't move, standing frozen in front of the radio, waiting for the applause to gradually subside.

……

"We have faith in our armed forces, we have faith in the unwavering determination of our people, we will achieve final victory, and God will ultimately bless us."

"Now, I demand that Congress declare!" Truman suddenly raised his voice, "that the United States and the Holy Britannian Empire from another world officially enter into a state of war, beginning Friday, December 28, 1945!"

……

The president's speech ended amidst applause. Tony and his mother stood with the helmsman in a daze for a long time. Only after the national anthem on the radio slowly finished playing did he slowly pick up his crutches and prepare to stand up.

"Hey buddy!" The door wasn't closed, and a middle-aged man came in.

“Oh, Haytham,” the helmsman recognized his neighbor next door. “You heard everything?”

"So, what do you want?"

"Can I borrow your truck?"

"Hey, honey, what are you doing?" his wife asked anxiously. "You're having trouble walking, could it be...?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Come on, buddy, here's an address, take me there."

……

A few days later, just two streets away from this residence, several buses gathered, waiting for people dressed in military uniforms to board their seats.

Among them, several soldiers were still waiting on the side, seemingly not intending to get on the vehicle for the time being.

"Phew, it's kind of exciting to wear this eagle head on my arm again." That's right, it's those guys from the 101st Airborne Division who were recently disbanded. "I can't say whether I'm happy or not, but I still have to thank this guy with the weird name for letting us go back to the barracks."

"Hey Jericho, who are we waiting for? It's just the few of us."

"Wait a little longer, just a little longer..."

As soon as they finished speaking, a truck drove up from the road next to them and stopped in front of them.

“Oh my God…” A man, also dressed in the uniform of the 101st Airborne Division, slowly walked down the road with his wife, who was leaning on a cane.

"Lieutenant Helmsman? What are you doing?" The soldiers quickly prepared to help him.

"Ahem, everyone, I'm late."

"You...your superiors ordered you to go and cheer for us?"

"No no no..."

"I know you'll miss us, but you don't need to force yourself to go to Europe, do you?"

“You’re half right, Corporal.” The helmsman smiled. “Jellicoe, they’re yours now.”

"Yes, sir."

"Then what are you doing?"

“We will always be brothers of the 101st Division, won’t we?” He choked up a little. “You’re going to fight, not to go sightseeing. It’s a life-or-death situation.”

"Hey buddy, don't make it sound like you're saying goodbye to your best friend who's passed away."

"It's no exaggeration. I really can't say whether you'll ever come back. If I hadn't come today, I might not have even seen you one last time before you left..."

"Lieutenant..." The soldiers slowly gathered around him and hugged him. "Take care, everyone, we'll meet again..."

"So, let's go back to the same question...who does the army trust the most?"

“Ai…airborne?” the men stammered as they answered the lieutenant.

OK, who is the ladies' favorite?

"Airborne!" the group shouted in unison, drawing the attention of people both inside and outside the vehicle.

“Alright, lastly…” the helmsman glanced around at those watching them and raised his voice, “Who is the Nazi fear the most?!”

"Airborne!"

"Get in the car, guys! Let's show those blind bastards what an American man is!"

System notification: Player Holy Britannian Empire has obtained the achievement: The Black Tide of the Ocean, The Raging Waves of the Bald Eagle.

Chapter 384 Special Volume: France - Hometown

As the capital of the Var department in France and a major naval base for the French Navy, Toulon was transformed from a beautiful coastal city into a gravel forest during the devastation of the World Wars.

This is the homeland of many French people, the homeland of many French warships, and also the graveyard of warships.

In 1793, Napoleon's war cries echoed through Toulon. By the 1940s, only military flags remained, bobbing and sinking beneath the seawall. Born here, they heard the Marseillaise and flew the French tricolor flag; they died here, silently departing, their remains turning into the silent corpses of those who committed suicide in the harbor.

The Mediterranean sea breeze blowing inland no longer carries the bountiful fishy smell that would be present on returning fishing boats. Instead, it carries with it the dust of ruins and the rust of shipwrecks, which settles on the epaulets of a middle-aged man who has lost his left leg.

He was riding in a farmer's cart, dressed in a French naval uniform, when a simple road sign flashed by—Roquebaron, his home, a simple and remote town, where the coastline was so close that one had to climb a small hill to catch a glimpse of it.

Having been away from home for so long, when he got off the carriage, people on both sides of the road stared at him with curiosity. It seemed that no one remembered that such a down-on-his-luck naval officer lived in their house. Fortunately, a few old people actually recognized his face and rushed over to give him a hug in surprise—that was all, except for a pastry chef who gave him the key to the officer's house.

It was a small courtyard. The walls of the house were old but not dilapidated, and the windows were clean. Most of the once lush vegetation had withered and been dug up, leaving only some scattered dead leaves and a tombstone with the wife's name on it. She was seriously ill and ultimately did not live to see the officer's return, nor did she live to see the news of the liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944.

But it shouldn't be completely empty. He anxiously and nervously used his key to open the door. Sunlight and his shadow fell on the cabinet directly opposite the door, reflecting a family photo of the three of them on the cabinet.

The house is neat and tidy, and apart from looking a bit dull from being old, the faint fragrance of lavender essential oil is enough to cover up all its shortcomings.

"Bono? Where are you?" He frantically searched the inner room for a long time, leaning on his cane, before finally finding a letter left for him by his son on the sofa.

The quiet town outside the window was suddenly awakened by the broadcast. While opening the envelope to read, I leaned against the door frame and listened to the voice of General Charles de Gaulle coming from the loudspeaker.

……

"This is a letter to the entire French people."

"Three days ago, on March 15, 1946, the coalition government of the French Fourth Republic formally agreed to General Eisenhower's request to join the North Atlantic Strategic Defense Alliance. From that day forward, the French people would once again take up arms and enter a state of war with the Britannian Empire, which was invading and plundering from another world."

"This is the first war of national defense we have to face after the liberation of our motherland, and it is another difficult test for our country and our people. The world has never been too merciful because we have just escaped the fate of Nazi occupation. Reality is full of cruelty and challenges. The Eiffel Tower still stands on the Champ de Mars, and the indomitable spirit of the French people has never fallen."

"The enemy's war machine is still far from our land, but like every great hero, the French people do not even need to ask where the enemy is, because we will not hesitate to turn every inch of the land around us into a fortress of resistance."

"When the French line up on the spot, they form a defensive fortress that is easy to defend and difficult to attack; when the French forge ahead, they form an unstoppable torrent of fortresses; when the French soar through the blue sky, they form a fortress that protects the sky; when the French head to the sea, they form a fortress that defends the deep blue ocean."

"There is no enemy that the French can't reach with their retaliatory artillery fire. If there is, then we will continue to advance to the front without hesitation, bringing the enemy within the range of our artillery fire, and they will be reduced to ashes under the wrath of the French people."

"Do not fear the arrogant aggressors, nor show any leniency to the aggressors who are so close yet so far. I have already made a request to the parliament of the coalition government that, starting today, every patriotic Frenchman should go to Germany to embark on the war to resist the invasion of the Britannian Empire."

"Europe is in crisis, our homeland is in crisis. Let us take up arms again to save our homeland and this world, the world we will always wish for peace!"

"Viva La France!"

……

Nearly two weeks later, the officer put on his uniform again and returned to Toulon port, back to the warship with which he had sailed for five years.

Today is April 2nd. Just two days ago, the French Navy was incorporated into the North Atlantic Fleet and began joint operations with the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet—assisting in bringing Allied forces from North Africa to Europe.

This time he was unable to set sail. His disabled left leg left him among the sailors on shore, waving his hands with them as the battleship Richelieu, after a few days of brief adjustments and maintenance, raised the French tricolor flag and the blue battle flag of the Northern Union and slowly sailed out of Toulon.

The wake slowly lapped against the sunken warships all around—the Provence, a Brittany-class ship, its broken rust reflecting the setting sun; the Dunkerque and Strasbourg, on the other hand, appeared even more listless, lifeless like cold reefs.

Watching the last remaining French naval warship still capable of sailing and fighting slowly disappear into the horizon, tears finally streamed down her face, dripping onto the letter her son had left in her hand.

……

To my dearest father.

"By the time you receive this letter, I will have already embarked on my journey to report to the military camp. In a few months, I will likely receive orders to be sent to the front lines in Germany, and I will carry them out without hesitation."

“My mother passed away more than two years ago, and there are fewer and fewer people in the town. I try my best to take care of everything at home and work with the uncles, aunts and other relatives I know to maintain our home.”

"The naval officers who returned with the Allied forces who liberated France told me this sad news: you unfortunately lost your left leg in the battle and will need to stay in the East for a long time for treatment. It may be difficult for you to return even after the Japanese surrender."

"You weren't by my side when I turned eighteen, which is a regret we both share. I'm also very sorry that I couldn't let you witness my growth during the four years the country was occupied. I only have a missing person report for you: the child who used to pour lavender essential oil into the pot thinking it was olive oil is no more."

“A lot has changed in town. Aunt Petit’s restaurant has moved, but there’s a new one up north where the cream of mushroom soup might suit your taste. Uncle Antoine seems to have moved to Cannes, and you and Mom won’t be able to buy the strawberry crepes you and Mom like for a long time. Mr. Edien’s shop has closed, but he still lives at the east end of town, so you can just go to his house to buy lavender essential oil if you need it.”

"Please stay here in peace and wait with everyone for this new war and its end. I will take up your mantle and go to the front lines. When I return home, I will bring you news of victory."

"This time, the French people will never let the Richelieu lose its homeland and wander the world again."