Through Trenches And Spaces

Through Trenches And Spaces

Chapter I: Prologue

The year of 2133. A military Junta has finally took control of Concordia, and with the might of their industry, created weapons of war to dominate the galaxy. After that, Tsardom of Planet Borodov fallen under the Junta, and their Tsar killed not long after. Seeing all democracy ceased to exist, few Junta commanders mutinied, alongside some of the navy, and spaceships got stolen.

Inside the planet of Lunica, peace lasted for over half a millennia. But now, it seems that it would ended shortly. Grand Countess of Lunica Emilia II, organized an alliance effort with the mutinied Junta navy and army officers to defend her planet from the potential invaders coming to destroy it. She also contacted Earth Nations, consisted of only several nations that are now unified or conquered, becoming a larger ones. Emilia's intentions are to secure food provisions, and also preparing a wartime economy to prevent inflation and famine. And with that, it is now ready. Conscription letters were sent to homes. And eventually came to the home of a young man named Ralph Juliann Thälmann.

He lived alone after both his parents died, and he wanted an adventure. As soon as that letter arrived, he joyfully left his home that located in a small fishing town of Meldeberg. "Name's Ralph, sir. I'm reporting." Said Ralph to the recruitment officer at Molodin, the Capital of Lunica. "Yes. Ralph Juliann Thälmann. Serial code NA-000F2U/MLDBG. I've heard about you from a local newspaper years ago. Now, welcome aboard, and proceeds to the army base for your basic training." Said the officer.

Ralph proceeds without any more words.

At the same time, a fleet of mutinied navy arrived at Lunica. Cloud pierced, as the giant heavy spaceship descended from the skies. Touching the tarmac of the biggest Lunican Airbase, the Bennett Air Force Base. Outside, dressed in royal outfit, Emilia and her ministers are waiting for their new allies. Not long, the door opened. From inside, a man stepped out. Still using Junta Army uniform, it's General Zee. Without talking, he bowed to The Countess. "Let us fight alongside you, Countess." Said the General. But to his surprise, Emilia responded, "General, you could destroy our planet and launch an invasion. But you offered an alliance?" In which Zee answered, "Freedom and democracy's fate is now on your hand, Your Highness. You are one of the few planet to not bowed before the Junta. With this alliance, we offered protection for Lunica, and also we need your help to bring back the federation."

"Follow me, Gentlemen." Said the Countess as she led the officers into the palace for a dinner.

Few weeks later, Ralph finished his fast paced conscript training and given the rank of private. Now in full uniform, he went back to his hometown on his bicycle. On the road, gentle wind moving around his helmet's ventilation, he felt peace and calm. Not long, he arrived at the cliff overlooking the ocean, the place that he usually hang out alone to write his diaries and ate his ration during a day off. Standing on the cliff, he light his cigarette from his pocket while looking at the setting sun. "I feel like this quiet and peace won't last. Something or someone will come to us."

Ralph was right. Danger is indeed coming. In Concordia, a fleet of 10 battleships, 20 troop carriers, and countless heavy cruisers are being refueled and armed for the upcoming invasion. Back at Lunica, the codebreakers of the Royal Lunican Intelligence Bureau received repeated codes. "Operation Starfell" being mentioned multiple times, but they can't figure out the operation's goal. Late at night, Railey was running to the Countess' Chamber with the code. She is Emilia's trusted aide. "Countess! Wake up! The code is here!" while gently waking up the countess who's now sleeping on her bed. She then continues after Emilia has been woken up, "Operation Starfell. I'm certain that this is the invasion of Lunica. Your highness, what's your opinion?" then she asked. "I agree. Right now, the Junta will care only one thing. Since it's only us that isn't yet under the sphere of influence, this being the invasion of Lunica is a certain. Have Admiral Solema be informed immediately under my command."

With that, the message was forwarded to Admiral Solema. The message travelled fast, and in no time, reached the heaviest ship in Lunican Navy, The Petra. She was the only three of the serviceable heavy cruisers, built almost 10 years ago just enough to fend off pirates. Armed with adequate quick firing 300mm triple mounted plasma cannons mounted two on the bow, and one on the stern, it can deal with another heavy cruisers, but not battleship like The Betelgeuse. The Admiral received the orders. "Fine. I'll do it." said Solema. Together with light cruiser Gabir and destroyer Damius, they sailed into empty space, to the nearest asteroid belt. "Coast is clear Admiral. What's your order now?" asked Falami, Admiral Solema's subordinate. "We'll wait here. This is the gateway to Lunica." Said the Admiral. Not long, Petra's radar detected incoming warship. "Admiral! We have incoming unidentified warship coming straight at us!" shouted the radar operator. And as Solema looked with his telescope, it was indeed true. A black silhouette, slowly approaching Lunican Inner Space. "What should we do, Admiral?" Asked Falami.

"Load the guns. Rotate them straight at the target." Said Solema.

"Yes sir! All guns, load! Armour-Piercing!"

The guns are slowly rotating. The crew, with the assistance of an autoloader system, slammed one round; Each for for every gun barrel.

"Shall we fire warning shots first, Admiral?" Asked Falami.

"There'll be no warning shot. No hesitation, I'm certain that they are enemies."

"But sir-"

"Falami, this is an order. We don't want mutinies while we are at war, right?"

Falami disagreed, but since it's an order, he orders the gunner to fire full salvo. After a long time, Petra finally fired her guns. Not long, the shells struck the unknown cruiser, turning off their targeting system, and effectively disarming their main batteries. But it kept charging forward. And one of her secondary gun fired and hit Petra's hull, causing a minor tremor inside the ship. In this undeclared war, Solema acted alone. He has no fear of court martial, nor death sentence. He will protect his native homeland at all costs.

Solema then contacted Molodin back. In his message he says, "We've engaged the enemy near inner asteroid belt. It's true that they sent a recon fleet to spy on our navy. I will stand firm, should the main invasion fleet arrived. Solema out.". After it was delivered directly to Emilia, she replied back, "Your actions are against my protocol, Admiral Solema. But since we've confirmed that invasion is imminent, you'll be not charged for this one time insubordination. Safe sails, Admiral."

Meanwhile, Zee is preparing for his first duty. Zee is a complicated man, coming from an orphanage before joining the Marine Corps at the age of 15. After he escaped the Junta, he hid himself in Japan, Earth due to his connection with the IJA and IJN, whom he was given an asylum, and dated a local girl there. He swore to himself upon becoming a General, "I'm tired of killing. I will always bring my enemies alive." as he loaded many rubber bullets to his personal pistol. During his time in the Marines, he lost one of his leg, and also his heart after being shot by a sniper during Operation Payback, a military intervention made by the United Nations to restore order in the newly annexed North Korea, after it collapsed and united with The South. But his medals won't matter now because it's all has been revoked by the newly established Junta Government due to his high treason. Now alone in his quarters inside the Betelgeuse, he wrote his memoirs after done loading his pistol. He then wrote to his only friend in the IJN, Admiral Daizou via internet, "My dear friend, I'm in sorrow. This war, is completely unnecessary. But the Junta cannot be stopped by simply a word." wrote him to his datapad.

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