NOVEL NEXT vol. 4 chapter 5 - Maiden Voyage of the Fleet
“The fleet has reached its planned complement.”
“Well done!”
The last of the destroyers had launched. Production would continue to build reserves, but for now the planned fleet, centered on a cruiser flagship, was complete.
“Eight Hedgehog-Class destroyers, plus the flagship Panas—a Panas-Class nuclear-powered cruiser—are now combat-ready. All dock inspections have been cleared. Only sea trials remain.”
“Ahh… magnificent, isn’t it?”
The cruiser and her eight destroyers had been ordered into a ring formation. Watching the drone feed, Commander Eve could not contain her excitement.
“See? A flagship makes all the difference! Now it finally looks like a fleet!”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Thank you.”
At the center: the flagship Panas.
Encircling her: six Hedgehog-Class destroyers.
Two more positioned forward in the line of advance.
This was the adopted ring formation.
High-altitude surveillance drones loitered above, providing constant vision. Flying at twenty kilometers, their theoretical line of sight extended over six hundred kilometers.
Thus they would be positioned not directly overhead, but aft or abeam, to obscure their association.
Power-supply drones were likewise stationed at a distance, minimizing detection risk. Efficiency suffered, but the nuclear-powered Panas could easily provide her own energy.
“The sea trial will run from The Tree to Fortress No. 2.
There we’ll complete standard resupply before proceeding to Telek Port City.
If all goes well, we’ll load the cargo holds with fuelstone and set out for the Kingdom of Lepuitari.”
“Right. They say Lepuitari’s preparing to send troops to Telek Port. If they take the initiative, it’ll be troublesome. We’d better make our point first.”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am.
Even Telek’s resident garrison should be enough to repel them, but ideally we prevent their arrival entirely.
It will also serve as a model case for future diplomacy.
Among the surrounding nations, Lepuitari stands a head above the rest—an excellent proving ground.”
The bot swarms infiltrating Lepuitari continued to collect intelligence. The kingdom’s present objective was control of Telek Port and acquisition of fuelstone.
Lepuitari’s power was fueled almost entirely by steam engines running on fuelstone—and the kingdom produced virtually none itself.
The principal supplier was none other than the United Kingdom of Aphrasia. In different times, Aphrasia might have claimed dominance as an energy-exporting power.
“Once we establish relations with Lepuitari, we’ll extend our influence to neighboring states.
By demonstrating strength, we can steer the situation to our design.
At the right moment, I recommend advancing inland into the United Kingdom of Aphrasia.”
It was not The Tree, but—outwardly—Paraiso that would intervene in Aphrasia’s civil war.
Seize the domestic resources, then reduce the entire nation to a colony: a bold plan.
And not one that Ringo had conjured on her own.
The reality was clear: Aphrasia’s territory was being carved apart by its neighbors.
Optical scans across the northern continent confirmed it.
The invaders sought fuelstone, abundant in Aphrasian lands.
A mineral with the rare property of stable heat output, it was prized for cooking and increasingly for smelting.
Until recently, output had been too low to displace charcoal, but its convenience was driving gradual adoption.
Now, with Lepuitari buying it up at premium prices, scarcity and inflated market value made it a strategic prize.
“Left alone, the United Kingdom of Aphrasia will collapse within ten years. Sooner or later, they’ll be finished. If that’s the case, there’s no harm in taking them first.”
That was Commander Eve’s conclusion.
With The Tree’s current strength, Aphrasia could be brought under control with little bloodshed.
Better that, than leaving it to fester under civil war and predation by foreign powers.
Staple grain in this continent resembled wheat. With farmland and chemical fertilizers, food supply could be secured.
Add textiles, building materials—the populace could be pacified easily enough.
Few would oppose a regime that guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter.
“All of Aphrasia under control—and the northern mineral veins with it.”
The northern continent’s center was split by a vast mountain range.
South of it—Aphrasian land—was a plain of ancient lava flows.
The greatest deposits, however, were likely to the north, where lava had pooled in valleys and basins, forming rich veins.
“Fortress No. 2 sits at the very edge of the lava flow. Not much reached this ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) far.
The farther north we advance, the thicker the lava fields. Depressions and valleys will have collected flows that now form the richest veins.
We must seize the land swiftly and conduct surveys openly.”
Raising Aphrasia’s national standing, importing foreign resources—achieving this would stabilize the balance sheet.
“Well, that’s the theory. First, we silence the immediate threat—Lepuitari.”
Commander Eve’s policy was to force concessions without fighting whenever possible.
For Aphrasia: a lightning strike with overwhelming force.
For Lepuitari: gunboat diplomacy with capital ships.
With resources still limited, the first step was to bring Lepuitari and its neighbors under Paraiso’s influence.
“I hadn’t planned to move this fast…”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am.
Still, it is fortunate we’ve learned Lepuitari’s internal situation now.
We can make the approach before their expedition fleet sails.
Had we met them at sea, combat would have been all but inevitable.”
“Submission without battle—that’s always the cleanest way. No grudges left behind… probably.”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Fewer deaths are preferable.”
The ideal was to gather strength, then seize all in one blow.
But now, confrontation with Lepuitari was unavoidable before that preparation could be finished.
The fleet being dispatched could not overrun the entire kingdom.
But for diplomacy, it was more than enough.
Even the capital, Moar, could be reduced to ashes if necessary.
That alone was deterrence.
“And if we can deal fuelstone directly, refusal will be difficult.”
The kingdom’s greatest problem was precisely fuelstone supply.
They traded with several nations, but at high costs and on unfavorable terms.
If bulk imports could arrive by sea, they would welcome it—hardly drive it away.
Though, the risk of monopolized supply was obvious. Lepuitari’s leaders would have a delicate helm to steer.
“Well then. Are we ready for departure?”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Without issue.”
“Good. Let’s go see them off. This is the maiden departure—The Tree’s very first strike fleet.”