𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝟕.2: 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫 (4)
Armored trains were heavily influenced by the direction of the tracks, but fortunately, the tracks were parallel to the coastline where the port was located, so it seemed possible to use the armored train to effectively pressure the navy.
As the armored train entered, the Marseille Fleet Command was naturally put on high alert. At the same time, the mobile unit quickly disembarked from the transport train that was following behind and headed towards the Fleet Command. Since they were all gun users and mounted on horses, they were able to reach the Fleet Command at high speed.
Dominika, who had come with them, took the lead, and when the naval military police showed signs of resistance, the mobile unit members behind her fired warning shots.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The mobile unit members were careful to use aimed fire to prevent bullets from ricocheting elsewhere. Following the fierce pressure from the mobile unit, Dominika stepped forward and shouted loudly.
“I am Brigadier General Dominika Yegorova, who has come here under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Imperial Empire to protect Marseille! Immediately obey the Imperial decree and cooperate with us! If you do not cooperate, you will be designated as rebels and eliminated!”
As she displayed her burning cloak, shield, gauntlets, and the Aura Blade rising from her sword as the finishing touch, the naval military police immediately came down and opened the gates of the barricade to welcome her.
“Attention!”
Then, as if to prove their loyalty, the lieutenant who seemed to be in charge of the gate immediately saluted.
“Salute!”
“Victory!”
Dominika then led the mobile unit towards the Fleet Command. Soon after, combat vehicles and armed sidecars unloaded from the train immediately joined the mobile unit.
The Letona was equipped with a quad anti-aircraft machine gun, and the sidecar of the bike was equipped with a Wald light machine gun mounted on a bipod. The bike driver was equipped with an exoskeleton, allowing them to unleash firepower using two heavy machine guns mounted on shoulder weapons.
If she could, she would have liked to add rocket launchers or cannons. . . but rocket launchers were not yet commercially available, and cannons had too much recoil to be fired from a sidecar.
Of course, with various magical enhancements, it would be possible while standing on the ground. . . but absolutely not while riding a bike.
Bam!
She tried to open the door roughly. . . perhaps too roughly? The door was completely ripped off and flew away, sweeping away the officers who were waiting behind with their guns.
“. . . . . .”
“Are you Rear Admiral Benito von Andre Mussolini, Commander of the Marseille Fleet?”
Dominika called out to someone in an intimidating manner, her Aura Blade flowing continuously. Then, an old man with white hair sitting at the head of the table stood up.
“I am Mussolini, who are you?”
“Nice to meet you, I am Brigadier General Dominika Yegorova, leading the Mobile Corps under the Iberian United Military District Headquarters.”
At the mention of Brigadier General, everyone around her looked surprised. They had seen female officers at the colonel level, but this was the first time they had seen a female general.
“What brings the Iberian United Military District Headquarters here?”
“From now on, under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor and the instructions of the United Military District Commander, the Marseille Fleet will be under the command of the United Military District. Also. . .”
“What!”
“You’re telling us to be commanded by some army grunt!”
“Not a chance!”
“The army, where even women can become generals. . .”
Bang!
The staff officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel standing behind Dominika suddenly drew a revolver and shot the naval captain who had been talking about women in the earlobe.
“Argh!”
“I haven’t finished speaking yet. If you refuse, you will be deemed to have joined the rebel forces and will be summarily executed or dismissed from your post and arrested, and sent directly to the Military Supreme Court in the capital.”
The naval officers were speechless at Dominika’s boldness.
“What if we agree and then betray you?”
“There’s no need to worry about that. Swear on your souls right here and now that you will obey His Majesty the Emperor’s orders.”
“. . . . . .”
The naval officers fell silent again at her words.
The silence continued for a long time. . . Eventually, Dominika, unable to bear it any longer, decided to take drastic action.
She glanced back, and her ardent follower behind her once again pulled the trigger of his revolver, aiming at the captain who was covering his ears with both hands.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
The bullet from the revolver pierced his forehead accurately. . . Thus, one captain was summarily executed.
“I’ve made it easier for you to choose.”
“. . . . . .”
The naval officers had no idea how this was supposed to make it easier for them. In the end, Rear Admiral Mussolini gave up and swore to God that he would pledge his loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor on his soul.
As their leader made the oath, the others began to swear their allegiance as well. Since all the high-ranking officers present had sworn their loyalty, there was no need to think any further, so she first showed them the Emperor’s order that she had been keeping.
It was what Dominika had received from Oswald before coming here.
“. . . . . .”
The words “You could have shown us this from the beginning” almost escaped Mussolini’s lips. . . but perhaps even if she had shown it, those who would have resisted knowing they would end up under the command of the United Military District Headquarters would have still resisted.