Ch.25The Eastern Advance of Prosnak (6)

# Chapter 25: Prosnack’s Eastern Advance (6)

When Prosnack first declared war and massively violated the border, everyone thought:

“Ah! Prosnack is attempting suicide!”

And now, everyone thought:

“Ah! We’re going to die!”

—————————-

The Kerzin Alliance Fleet.

Inside the command bridge of the “Immortal,” the Federation’s last battleship.

Admiral Brata, gazing at the vast sea of stars, was reminiscing about a day three years ago that now felt like the distant past.

‘…Until then, who could have predicted that the Federation would collapse so helplessly?’

The admiral, stroking his rough scales that had become coarse with age and puffing on his pipe, sank deeper into contemplation.

‘Our great homeland, our great army, our great fleet…’

But before long, the admiral rose from his seat, reminding himself that he couldn’t afford to remain lost in thought.

The honorable invincible fleet of the Kerzin Federation, which had commanded the entire universe until just a year ago.

That invincible fleet had, in just one year, collapsed miserably, reduced to a fleet of scrap without even a shell remaining.

The reality of having to command such a scrap fleet with an old, outdated battleship that couldn’t even be properly repaired.

Hot tears were about to flow from Admiral Brata’s eyes, which still had fragments of his molted skin, at this sad reality.

-Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

“Admiral! Prosnack fleet has appeared ahead!”

But the sad yet cold reality didn’t even give the aging Admiral Brata a chance to shed tears.

“…If this defense line falls, your families, homes, and nation will collapse completely under them!”

The admiral, struggling to raise his old and sick body, shouted while breathing into his pipe.

“Tell all troops, you must defend this line at all costs, and never let those Prosnack bastards lay a hand on our nation and our motherland!”

-“Waaaaaah!!!”

-“Long live the Kerzin Federation!”

-“May the Federation live forever!”

Hearing numerous communications responding to his speech, the admiral raised his baton and shouted again.

“Open all gun ports! The entire fleet, pour all firepower toward the Prosnack fleet!”

Even though the probability of anyone in this fleet, including himself, returning was non-existent.

————————-

Prosnack’s eastern advance could truly be described as an unstoppable force.

“Gather all resources and equipment and bring them to the defense line!”

“We can’t give them a single grain of food or a single bullet!”

Of course, the Kerzin Federation’s large-scale scorched earth tactics, which allowed for rapid movement through unresisted advance, played a part in this process.

But that was merely a trivial story compared to the numerous incidents.

“Our Federation’s invincible fleet cannot lose to those who are tired from traveling a long distance!”

“Charge! Now is the moment to teach those Prosnack bastards a lesson!”

When the Kerzin Federation’s proud invincible fleet tried to surround and attack Prosnack’s fleet from three sides…

“Idiots.”

“I agree.”

In the large-scale battle centered around the Toth star system, a catastrophe occurred where they were instead surrounded by Prosnack’s strategy and completely annihilated.

Of course, in this world, ships could quickly escape the battlefield through emergency warp…

“Retreat, retreat!”

“Prepare for emergency warp!”

“It’s wrong! We cannot enter warp!”

“What?!”

The existence of warp jammers, which Prosnack deployed for the first time in this war, took away all hope from the unfortunate Kerzin fleet.

“…The Western Fleet, completely annihilated?”

“How could this happen to the proud Iron Blood Invincible 3rd Fleet of Kerzin? This is absurd!”

Despite such shocking news striking the galaxy, the Kerzin Federation quickly showed signs of fleet reorganization.

“They weren’t completely annihilated. Fortunately, surviving ships are somehow returning to the homeland!”

To be precise, it wasn’t reorganization but rather a psychological victory.

But shocking news continued to spread throughout the galaxy…

“Our patron is in danger.”

“No matter how excellent their strategy is, they should be no match for the performance of our ships.”

The Golden Fleet of the Zeltech Conglomerate, renowned for being decked out with the most expensive equipment and armor plates in the galaxy.

That splendid fleet set out to rescue Kerzin, but…

“Gyaaaak!!”

“Director! The supply bays in the rear station have been captured by enemy marines!”

“What?! W-what is that speed?!”

The bewildered Zeltech people even resorted to ship-to-ship combat to block the enemy’s mobility.

“Based on our Zeltech scientific technology, we should be able to hunt them one-sidedly.”

“That’s right! Zeltech’s scientific technology is the best in the universe!!!”

“While putting Kerzin in our debt, how about broadcasting our ship-to-ship combat footage?”

Unfortunately for the Zeltech people who wanted to record a peaceful hunting vlog, Prosnack’s marines were beings beyond their imagination.

“Aaaaargh!!”

“P-please spare me!”

Under the counterattack of genetically modified super soldiers, Zeltech’s airborne troops ended up broadcasting an unedited gore video to the Galactic Alliance…

“Welcome to being conscripted by Prosnack’s invincible marines, assei!”

“Tahang!”

What made it even more shameful and unfortunate was that the source of the broadcast was none other than Zeltech itself.

Finally, the entire Zeltech fleet in charge of the northern front among the three-nation allied fleet was humiliatingly toyed with by the overwhelming mobility of the Prosnack fleet, and the scene was broadcast unedited throughout the galaxy.

As a result, Zeltech IPs were completely blocked from accessing the Galactic Alliance by the Alliance’s video management AI, but what does it matter?

Meanwhile.

The last of the three nations, the Ztrakfor Council, had relatively uneventful news while the other two nations were engaged in all-out war.

Or more precisely…

“The fleet gathered near the border has been annihilated.”

“Stop them, not an inch of land should be given up!”

“We’ve already lost five star systems.”

“…”

“I think we’re quite weak.”

Unlike the other two nations that were at least maintaining their territories while being beaten, from the beginning, there was only news of being pushed back from the border.

But Ztrakfor was not destined to disappear so pathetically as a great power.

“Such incompetent fellows.”

“Get out, all of you! We’ll handle this from now on!”

The former cabinet, which had retired after resource negotiations with Sebeli, expelled the incompetent current cabinet and took over to direct the war, changing the situation.

This bizarre situation, hard to find precedent for in the entire galaxy, was enough to generate numerous stories on its own, but…

“Rise up on your six legs, citizens!”

“If we surrender to the evil Prosnack, the flame of democracy will collapse!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

A competent cabinet.

Sufficient justification.

And finally, citizens full of fighting spirit.

The chemical reaction created by these three elements showed an amazing power that forced even the mighty Prosnack fleet to temporarily retreat.

“They’re trying to break through the defense line.”

“This won’t do. Mobilize even the reserves in the rear to crush them.”

But in response to Ztrakfor’s efforts, Prosnack mobilized forces they had been holding in reserve and threw a serious punch.

In the end, at the original border area, the Proton star system, Ztrakfor’s main fleet retreated under Prosnack’s counterattack, causing the front line to be pushed back once again.

———————-

At the same time, inside the grand hall of the Holy Sebeli Empire’s palace.

“Did you see, everyone?”

“…”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm…”

Just a year ago, these people were busy tearing me apart.

But now that my predictions have become reality, they’re just keeping their mouths shut.

“Tsk.”

“Khm.”

Moreover, public opinion in the palace and the empire was still in a state of great confusion.

“As expected of Duke Arto! He had foreseen everything!”

“But it’s only been a year!”

Debates throughout the palace were one thing, but…

“Minister, domestic public opinion is in absolute chaos.”

“I don’t want to know…”

The fact that people who didn’t want to become food and soap for Prosnack were pouring into the empire as refugees was breaking the mental health of civil servants.

“Oh shibaaa…”

And then another situation arose that grated on my nerves.

“Kerzin, Zeltech, and Ztrakfor have issued total mobilization orders for their entire populations!”

“The Sir Citizens’ Alliance and the Mekt-Fuks Free Trade Association are sending relief fleets at Kerzin’s request.”

“Hahaha, it seems things won’t go according to the minister’s predictions after all.”

“Minister, the angle of victory is still alive…!”

People encouraged by the news of the three countries’ mobilization and support troops deliberately came to me to irritate me before leaving.

“Why are they like that, Minister?”

“I don’t know, I just want to ignore them now.”

I really didn’t want to understand why they were so desperate even though we hadn’t made any bets.

“But Minister, honestly, in the current situation, it seems like Prosnack might lose, as those people say.”

However, I didn’t want to see those around me having the wrong idea…

Stroking Riel’s head, who was puzzled, I coldly made a definitive statement.

“No, Prosnack will definitely win.”

“Heee.”

“Of course, I won’t bet on anything.”

“…Tch.”