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[hr][indent][indent][sub][/sub][/indent][/indent][table][center][h1][b]The Empire Enters the War[/b][/h1][/center]
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[b]0510 Hours, 12th June, Imperial Carrier [i]Ibutsuryu[/i][/b]
The 1st Fusoan Combined Fleet, headed by the Imperial flagship [i]Amaterasu[/i], had spent the past week steaming towards the very heart of the Reiyk in Sueben. Its target was the port city of Emdavenn - seat of the Reiyksmarine and home port of the 2nd Northeast Fleet. If all went well, the Imperial Navy wouldn’t have any need to worry about the Reiyksmarine in the northern seas for the next few weeks. The operation would hopefully give the Empire free rein over their home seas, allowing them to cut off Reiyk supply lines to their troops in Longguo. Hopefully.

    No official declaration of war had been made against the Reiyk, nor was there even one on its way. The Divine Empress herself had decreed that the Reiyk did not deserve such an honor. As far as their soon-to-be enemies were concerned, relations with Fuso were still cordial and the port of Emdavenn was even expecting to receive a Fusoan merchant vessel in the evening. The Reiyk wouldn’t know what was coming until it was far, far too late.

    Aboard the [i]Ibutsuryu[/i] the pilots were on deck, standing at attention besides their aircraft and reciting prayers to their Empress. The warship’s spotters had their eyes on the east, awaiting the first glint of morning light. It came at exactly 5:10 in the morning, and the ship’s alarm klaxons sounded. The airmen jumped into action, clambering up onto their planes’ wings and jumping in the cockpit.

    “The sun rises!” Shouted the Ibutsuryu’s commissar, “Izanami-Kami has given her signal! Fly! Fly for your empire, fly for your Empress!”

    The commissar continued his passionate ranting, but the din of rotary engines soon drowned it out alongside speeding propellers as the first wave of attack planes departed the Combined Fleet. The die was cast.
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[b]0543 Hours, 12th June, RMS [i]Venetan[/i][/b]

    The Reiyksmarine destroyer [i]Venetan[/i] briefly fires on the periscope of an unidentified submersible off the coast of Emdavenn. It radios to Reiyksmarine Headquarters in Emdavenn to report the sighting and attempts to track the submarine beneath the ocean. Its initial report is delayed due to decoding troubles at Reiyksmarine HQ, and subsequent uncoded radio conversations lead the Reiyksmarine to believe that the so-called “sighting” was merely down to nerves as the [i]Venetan[/i] identifies no traces of the alleged vessel. The [i]Venetan[/i] is ordered to trade places with the RMS [i]Gillia[/i] and return to port for the spotting crew and captain to be reprimanded for their hysteria.

[b]0559 Hours, 12th June, Coast of Emdavenn[/b]

    “[i]Centurius[/i]! [i]Centurius[/i]! I have something on scopes!”

    The new radio locator tech’s panicked voice was the only one in the room. Indeed, of the small crew, he was perhaps the only one who was actually paying much attention to the scopes. Emdavenn was, after all, one of those sought-after posts for the Reiyk’s specialists. The only thing better than being behind the lines staring at a radar readout was to be [i]in the homeland[/i] staring at a radar readout. Or, far more likely for mobile radar units such as this, flagrantly breaking military regulations while taking occasional glances at a radar readout.

    “What is it, [i]Gefreiter[/i]?” Said the crew’s Centurius, putting down his barely disguised flask of altbier and leaning in to see the scopes for himself. The tech could smell the alcohol on his breath.

    “Big signal, sir! Just look! Is that an airship or something?”

    The Centurius checked his wristwatch and threw his eyes over to a crooked post on the wall which had pasted over identical ones plenty of times. The daily itinerary of the harbor and its airspace. He sighed and looked back at the Gefreiter.

    “Patrol flight, kid. It’s a patrol flight. Some big bombers coming back from the colonies. Mark it in the report and calm down.”

    A few moments passed, and the hesitant Gefreiter began to clumsily hammer out a summary on his typewriter.

    “Listen kid, loosen up. It’s Emdavenn - nobody’s ever heard of something as ludicrous as an attack on Emdavenn! Here, have a sip, calm your nerves.”

[b]0602 Hours, 12th June, IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i][/b]

    RADAR spotters aboard the Amaterasu detect the destroyers RMS [i]Venetan[/i] and RMS [i]Gillia[/i]. It is determined that the [i]Venetan[/i] is steaming for harbor and could possibly detect the first attack wave. Ordering the first wave to redirect is briefly considered, but following a debate on the subject, it is decided to maintain radio silence and have the first attack wave carry on as planned. The attack submarine A-070 is dispatched from the Combined Fleet to pursue the [i]Venetan[/i], unaware that it has already sighted an Imperial submarine.

[b]0639 Hours, 12th June, Skies over Emdavenn[/b]

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    Dozens upon dozens of aircraft appeared over the horizon of Emdavenn Bay, storming forwards on a direct course to the harbor. The only ones who spotted the incoming swarm of warplanes were the confused citizens of the city of Emdavenn, who could only stare upwards at the planes emblazoned with the Imperial roundel and wonder why and how they’ve come so far. By the time the force reached the outskirts of the harbor district, it was already far, far too late.

    Seeing that the Reiyk’s ships were in harbor and its forces were entirely unaware of the attack, Captain Nishikawa broke radio silence and spoke his eternal words with glee.

    “Climb mount Tateyama! All flights, all flights, climb Mount Tateyama!”

    At 0646 Hours on the 12th of June, the attack on Emdavenn Harbor began in earnest. Bombs and torpedoes fell like rain on the unsuspecting 2nd Northern Fleet as the Reiyk’s brass looked on in shock. It took almost half an hour for air raid sirens to sound, and the Reiyk’s fighters failed spectacularly to scramble in the confusion.

[b]0658 Hours, 12th June, Cockpit of [i]Kamikaze 1[/i][/b]

    “Princess! Princess, I beg of you!”

    Nariko-Hime ignored the frantic cries of her gunner, pulling the stick back as far as she could and pulling her plane out of the haphazard dive with all the caution of a mad bull. Her gunner shrieked, gripping onto her machine gun for dear life.

    “Steady!” Shouted her navigator, staring into her bombsight, “Steady! Steady!”

    Bullets whizzed by the torpedo bomber’s cockpit, some of the Reiyk’s seamen having finally managed to get themselves to their battlestations. The gunner had calmed down after nearly blacking out in the Princess’ flashy maneuver - she wasn’t exactly the most experienced of [i]Kamikaze[/i] squadron’s crew.

    “Hah! That’s it, that’s the [i]vab Gnieschen[/i]!” Yelled the Princess, “Good eye Sakiko!”

    The merciful lack of the gunner’s babbling and screaming ended when she turned around to look at their target, which was far too close for comfort. A few coherent words managed to escape her mouth after her initial squeal.

    “We’re gonna crash, we’re gonna crash! Princess! Pull up, pull up!”

    “Now, Princess!”

    The plane’s underslung torpedo fell from its mount, splashing into the water and barreling towards the monstrous enemy battleship. It was joined in the water by the rest of Kamikaze Squadron’s torpedoes, loosed at similarly perilous altitudes and speeds. The Princess’ gunner continued to babble uncontrollably as the Princess pulled back on the stick, narrowly missing the [i]vab Gnieschen[/i]’s enormous and ornate masts. The screaming was silenced by the thunderous explosion of the squadron’s torpedoes hitting their mark. Her gunner was treated to the glorious view of the battleship’s magazines erupting, rapidly plunging it into the harbor’s waters.

    Both coherent members of the plane’s crew broke out in silent cheers, briefly deafened by the immense blast. Despite it, the Princess barked orders into the radio, assigning new targets to the incoming bombers and reporting the sinking of the [i]vab Gnieschen[/i].

[b]0709 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Field[/b]

    Imperial planes carpet bomb the hangars and runways of Emdavenn Field, multiple Reiyk fighters being destroyed during takeoff and countless more finding themselves buried under collapsing hangars. The local aerial forces of the Reiyk are entirely neutered, and the Imperial planes may bomb the harbor with impunity. They reported this victory to the Combined fleet, which proceeded to move into an ambush position outside of Emdavenn Bay.

[b]0712 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    The destroyer RMS [i]Velkschtagt[/i], zig-zagging in panic near the mouth of the harbor, spots and engages the Imperial submarine A-070. It damages the submarine slightly with gunfire, and a depth charge hit causes flooding in the engine room. The Captain of the A-070 orders the boat to flank speed and rams the [i]Velkschtagt[/i]. Most or all torpedoes aboard the A-070 detonated, causing an explosion which sunk both vessels. It is believed the Captain or one of the boat’s weapons officers intentionally ordered the detonation as a suicide attack.

[b]0734 Hours, 12th June, Imperial Combined Fleet[/b]

    The attack continues as planned, and the second wave of aircraft depart the Imperial Combined Fleet. A number of remaining fighter aircraft are launched afterwards, in the absence of enemy air units, to scout for any unaccounted vessels of the 2nd Northern Fleet and any possible reinforcements. The Imperial Combined Fleet advances its cruiser submarines towards the harbor at periscope depth to intercept the few destroyers and corvettes attempting to flee the aerial assault.

[b]0801 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    The Imperial submarine A-068 torpedoes the RMS [i]Schengum[/i], a heavy cruiser which the submarine’s spotters mistake for a Reiyk battleship. The [i]Schengum[/i] fails to retaliate and a second volley of torpedoes founders the cruiser. Submarine A-068 reports the sinking of an enemy battleship to the Combined Fleet, but aerial spotters correctly identify the [i]Schengum[/i]. The A-068 continues to advance into the harbor for a time, but turns back to meet the cruiser submarines as the waters become too shallow for it to operate effectively.

[b]0821 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    An emergency order is given by the Reiyksmarine HQ for all ships to abandon the port and make for open waters. Headed by the flagship, August V Class RMS [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i], and followed by the fleet’s aircraft carriers - many with the wreckage of their planes still burning on their runways - the battered Second Northeast Fleet steams at flank speed for the mouth of the bay and the Imperial fleet lying in wait. The carrier RMS [i]Helene vab Norden[/i] humiliatingly runs aground and is damaged beyond recognition by glory-seeking dive bomber pilots.

[b]0828 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    Reports are relayed by the second attack wave to the Combined Fleet that the Reiyk’s 2nd Northern Fleet is on the move. The Combined Fleet sails towards the harbor entrance to corner the retreating ships, and the first attack wave preys on the unscreened, slow-moving capital ships of the 2nd Northern. Many of the warships take serious damage from air-launched torpedoes and dive bombers. Another Reiyk carrier, the RMS [i]Maria Erstus vab Gnieschen[/i], is sunk by torpedoes.

[b]0923 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    The second attack wave reaches the retreating ships and the harbor. Most aircraft continue on to their targets in the harbor - having been assigned to hit cruisers and the like - but a good number choose to harass the fleeing capitals in search of glory. The portion that continues on to the harbor sinks most remaining ships and heavily damages port facilities and drydocks.

[b]1042 Hours, 12th June, Mouth of Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    The remnants of the Reiyk’s 2nd Northern Fleet finally reach open sea, and due to having sustained heavy damage, the RADAR systems of the fleet’s battleships and carriers are inoperable. Spotters aboard the RMS [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i] report scout floatplanes in the air, and the Admiral of the 2nd Northern Fleet realizes far too late the scope of the attack. The first salvo of twelve eighteen-inch shells from the IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i] hits the water off the bow of the Reiyk’s flagship. The other battleships of the Combined Fleet follow suit - having laid in wait for the retreating ships, they are in the perfect position to strike.

[b]1119 Hours, 12th June, Mouth of Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    Having repositioned itself to face its guns towards the Imperial fleet, the RMS [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i] fires her first salvo at the IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i]. Hampered by the smokescreens laid by Imperial escort craft, the shots land far from their intended enemy - with the crews having instead mistakenly targeted the light cruiser IFN [i]Suma[/i]. The first two salvos miss, with the third straddling the [i]Suma[/i]. The final salvo strikes true, and the unfortunate cruiser is torn into pieces by the salvo of 16-inch shells.

[b]1132 Hours, 12th June, Mouth of Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    A volley from the IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i] straddles the RMS [b]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/b]. Her next salvo squarely impacts the 2nd Northern Fleet’s flagship. The [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i] sustains heavy damage to her superstructure but continues firing, finally sighting the [i]Amaterasu[/i] and turning her guns on the ship. Having perfectly “Crossed the T” on the Reiyk’s fleet, the Fusoan battleship task force unloads the full complement of their guns upon the battered 2nd Northern Fleet.

[b]1153 Hours, 12th June, Mouth of Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    The IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i] scores another direct broadside on the RMS [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i]. Having sustained significant damage, the commander of the fleet orders the flagship and the rest of the fleet to return to port, where they can more safely scuttle and abandon their ships in the hopes of recovering them in the future. The Imperial fleet continues to hound the Reiyk’s ships, with repeated airstrikes by Fusoan aircraft destroying many of the coastal guns that could have covered the retreat of the 2nd Northern Fleet.

[b]12:59 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    Sailing low in the water and listing badly, The RMS [i]Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i] runs aground in the middle of the shallow and narrow passage to the harbor of Emdavenn, blocking the retreat of the rest of the 2nd Northern. Though the ship continues to sink, no order to abandon ship is given, and the crew continues to fire her guns in desperation against the Imperial fleet. At 13:13 hours, under relentless assault from the IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i] and dive bombers from the carriers, an armor piercing 18 inch shell strikes the magazine of the [i]RMS Wilhus Drittus vab Tirpen[/i], destroying the ship in a massive explosion. The nearby destroyer, RMS [i]Knessus[/i], is severely damaged in the blast and shortly thereafter destroyed by Fusoan dive bombers.

[b]13:49 Hours, 12th June, Emdavenn Harbor[/b]

    Trapped between the blocked harbor and the Imperial fleet, the 2nd Northern Fleet descends into chaos as it is systematically destroyed by Imperial guns and the Combined Fleet’s bombers. At roughly 16:00 hours, the entire Reiyksmarine force is eliminated, and the Imperial Combined Fleet leisurely takes up positions in the harbor as civilians cower in fear and Reiyksmacht soldiers prepare to fend off an expected amphibious landing.

[b]16:45 Hours, City of Emdavenn[/b]

    A full broadside from the IFN [i]Amaterasu[/i] turns Emdavenn Square into rubble and levels the surrounding buildings. The entire Imperial Combined Fleet opens fire on civilian targets in Emdavenn, able to bombard the coast with impunity. Carrier aircraft harass and disrupt civilian evacuation attempts, bombing and strafing any incoming or outgoing vehicles surrounding the city. Reiyk fighters slowly stream in from surrounding areas, but the fractured forces are only able to limit slightly the range of Imperial aerial operations.

[b]~1920 Hours, 12th June, City of Emdavenn[/b]

    It is estimated that the deck guns of the Imperial submarines and the artillery guns of some of the fleet’s older carriers have fully expended their ammunition at this time.

[b]2400 Hours, 12th June, Harbor of Emdavenn[/b]

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    The clock strikes midnight, and the terror bombardment finally ceases. Gunnery crews collapse at their battlestations from exhaustion. Allegedly, thirteen torpedoes are thrown off the deck of the carrier IFN [i]Ibutsuryu[/i], their safeties having been sabotaged by overeager flight crews to allow the carrier’s torpedo bombers (which ran out of land munitions) to drop them on Emdavenn. The Combined Fleet steams for the ports of Fuso, having carried out to perfection the orders of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.

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(written by [@Keyguyperson], course of the battle collaborated with me)
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