Sovereign

"The world - once more in flames. And the pendulum - once more swings back violently. And the crimson tide of blood - once more floods the world."

- Duchess Maria Gutierrez, hours after the Asturian Coup.

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Fort Rulter, Free State of Wuringen

June 10, 2024

The door was opened by a military officer. Inside, the room was almost dark, with nothing but faint lighting. It was filled with shouts and discussions of treason.

Behind Heindhöff's chair, the screens didn't show the Orlish flag anymore. No, what was displayed was the NRF's flag itself.

The officer joined the masses of other plotters on the sides of the room, as they watched their leaders argue and discuss.

"Gentlemen, the time is nigh. To move now would be our priority. The Queen and Her Majesty's Government are distracted - while the moderates of the High Command are busy fighting the Larissans. This is an opportunity we cannot lose."

Heindhöff's speech created an air of approval from the groups of traitorous officers.

One such General smirked as he leaned forward. He was new to the plot and thus did not know the rest of Plan O's details.

"A Coup d'etat then? Much like what our Asturian, Lieplatzian, and Hebeian brothers did?"

"Indeed, General Kluge. We shall occupy all provincial governments that we can - as we drive to Halia. Her Majesty would be paralyzed - unable to react, and then, victory would be ours."

He nodded in response. Plan O, or Plan Orland - was a plot crafted and designed for already a year. It was Heindhöff's, and Bluch's ultimate trump card to a victory for men.

"Minister Heindhöff. When shall we begin?"

Another General inquired about the rest. It was a strange arrangement indeed, as many officers turned to the NRF at the last second. Many of them were thus left unawares - only aware that Heindhöff and the plotters planned for victory for men.

For once again - they had been defeated. More sorely, many of their fellow men had joined the ORP coalition with women. And with the NRF defeated in the elections, more joined.

But the final nail to the coffin was Her Majesty's incompetent prosecution of the war. The fool had left thousands of fellow men dead due to her indecisiveness and naivety. It was clear to these military men that Queen Amelie was not just undeserving of the throne - but a threat that must be removed.

Both for the security of Orland and for men's triumph in their struggle to gain rights.

And thus, with many in the Army, Air Force, and Navy by his side, Heindhöff smirked with confidence in his plans. They would triumph, much like the previous violent takeovers that their brothers had done overseas.

And with Orland secured - the global alliance of men, a coalition of free brothers, shall finally march to dismantle the system that had strangled them all for centuries.

"Tonight! The 12th Armored Division shall drive from here - Fort Rulter, straight to the capital."

The officers looked at each other, as Heindhöff finally addressed them.

"Air Marshall Hoffman."

"Aye, General?"

"How are your air wings?"

"All available air wings are prepared for military operations within 3 hours. Rest assured, we will clear the path to Halia."

He turned to the sole Admiral in the room.

"Admiral Rudolf?"

"General, I am confident to announce that the 4th Fleet is ready at the Port of Holtz. The ONS Matriarch is prepared to blockade Halia."

"Good."

Such irony indeed. The most advanced aircraft carrier of the Navy - the nuclear-powered behemoth that was the ONS Matriarch, would be the rebellion's greatest symbol in the sea.

A rebellion against the matriarchy.

And so, Heindhöff nodded as he felt himself satisfied with all the developments before him. Victory was close, and so was the great counter-offensive.

A counter-offensive that men had lost, 300 years ago.

But not anymore.

"Gentlemen, then I am pleased to inform you all that I have much confidence in our plans. Plan O shall commence. We only need to kick at the door - and the whole rotten structure shall collapse before us."

…

City of Halia

Ivory Palace

A call roused William from his daily tasks. It was already almost night, and while he had anticipated a call with the ongoing war, he had not expected it to come from Albrecht.

"A plot?"

"We have lost contact with all our garrisons in the Free State. You know what this means."

"General, when can Halia expect reinforcements?"

"The 4th and 7th Mechanized Regiments are moving quickly to secure the two bridges in the Ludendorf River. But I'm afraid the rest of the Armed Forces is still a confused mess."

"That means it's only going to be us, the Halian Garrison, and the 4th and 7th?"

"I'm afraid that is the situation, son. I am still restoring order in the OHC. Defend Her Majesty at all costs."

"I will."

He placed down the phone line as he rang Colonel Kleist of the Halian Garrison. The exchange between the two was brief, as both of them had talked before regarding the possibility.

Soon, he made his way toward Amelie's quarters, but a maid stopped him in his tracks.

"She had asked us not to be disturbed."

"I bear some important news."

"Her Majesty is asleep. Do leave now, Mister."

And while he would love to argue with the woman, her glowing eyes dissuaded such notions. Naturally, it irked him, why would Amelie ask not to be disturbed in the middle of a war?

He would talk sense to her next time.

And so he turned around. It didn't matter anyway. Amelie had no knowledge of urban defense. He didn't need to gain her approval either. He immediately rang both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, but again, Jacqueline was asleep as well.

He had to settle with Walter alone.

And so the minutes passed as he barked orders after orders to his subordinates. His trusty Captains mobilized the Battalion quickly around the Palace, alongside Lady Lubaine's Royal Guard Security Detail.

"Should we wake her up?" He asked Lubaine as the two walked out of the Palace, activity around them at an all-time high.

"No, let Her Majesty sleep. She would need a lot of energy to lead us soon."

"I see. Well then, what about you and the Royal Guard?"

"I am mobilizing our units around Halia to the city. Rest assured, the city will be well defended soon."

"I see."

The two stopped straight toward his waiting SUV, and he bid her goodbyes as one of his captains saluted him.

"Captain?"

"The roads to the Palace had been closed and secured, sir. Barricades and sandbags are being erected as well, per your orders."

"Civilians?"

"We are dispersing them."

"The media?"

"Same."

He nodded as he fixed his uniform. The 16th and the Halian Garrison needed to be discreet at mobilizing in the capital, but it would appear that such prerequisites for a successful night defense were impossible.

"Just do the best that you can. No one is to get in the Palace without my permission or Lady Lubaine's. Understand?"

"Crystal, sir."

He turned to his SUV and immediately started it once he was seated. He drove through the impromptu checkpoints that his men set up on the roads to leave the Palace grounds.

Outside, the streets and roads were being closed down. Civilians, who knew no better, watched with anxious curiosity in the streets. He passed through Army soldiers - part of the Halian Garrison, who began patrolling the roads with their armored cars.

It took a few dozen minutes in the clogged room for him to reach the Halian Metropolitan Police (HMP) Headquarters. He also noticed that two other vehicles stopped right in front of the building's entrance.

As if by sheer luck, the two other vehicles were Walter's and Colonel Kleist's, which were his two targets in their impromptu emergency meeting.

"The Mayor and the Halian City Hall have already been alerted. Mayor Erica already approved any measures that we would take." Began Kleist as he walked to the two. Walter and William nodded.

"Good. Colonel, how is the deployment going?"

"It's smooth, Major. Mister Deputy Prime Minister?"

Walter shook his head.

"The rest of the Cabinet is still being alerted. Regardless, we have to act now. We're in a pickle."

"A massive one at that," William added.

"Right."

The trio entered the HMP Headquarters, as Royal Guard Knights and Policewomen seemed to be in a frantic rush to prepare inside. Wands, guns, and combat equipment were being distributed as they passed through the ground floor, the staff merely watching with anxiety.

They climbed up the staircase as they headed straight to the Chief of Police's office, their steps rapid but controlled.

By the time they opened her door after a knock three women, high-ranking officers, alongside the Chief of Police herself were inside, discussing something.

"Ladies, I'm afraid we need to speed up everything." William declared.

…

H-1 Highway, Free State of Wuringen

12th Armored Division "Trident"

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Tanks after tanks drove forward through the wide highway. The H-1 Highway, a highway that was 140 kilometers long, connected the City of Halia to the City of Eirhow. From Eirhow, it would pass through the massive Liene River (that separated Western and Eastern Orland) then through three more smaller rivers in the Grand Duchy, before the Ludendorf River near Halia.

Thus, it would be an 140-kilometer dash for the 12th, and they would have to cross five rivers. Clearly, it would be a rush of time.

Behind the tanks, IFVs and APCs of various kinds followed. A typical Armored Division was always accompanied by mechanized infantry, after all. And behind these were the trucks and HMLVs.

The standard Orlish Main Battle Tank, the Type 6 "Löwe" or Lion, was a massive steel beast. Mounted on its well-protected, boxy turret, was the 120 mm smoothbore gun that could eliminate hostile armor kilometers away. And they led the convoy from the front.

These 65-ton beasts ran through the highway at 40 kilometers per hour, already cleared of civilian vehicles who quickly cleared the highway upon sight of these armored columns.

Wide-eyed, civilians watched from the sides as the events unfolded before them. Many had thought that such images merely unfolded in distant, unfortunate countries. But such notions seemed wrong that night - and they could only merely watch. Powerlessly.

A few meters behind the lead tanks, a strangely customized M3 APC drove quickly. Atop it was General Kluge himself, his binoculars aimed at the side of the road before he placed it down.

He commanded the 12th, and thus, had the honor of being the first to the Royal Capital. His anticipation of eventual triumph excited him.

While new to the plot, the 12th was one of the most elite units of the Army that was located in the Free State. Thus, he was Heindhöff's main vanguard - and he also knew that the same venerable General also used this as a test of his loyalty to the cause.

Suffice it to say that Kluge was determined to prove himself.

"4 hours?"

"Well, if we don't find ourselves delayed, sir. We could reach Halia within 4 hours."

The CO of one of his regiments, his very own nephew, seemed skeptical of the plans. Nevertheless, Kluge laughed off such worries.

"Even if they manage to delay us, by morning, Halia would be ours."

"We are quite a vulnerable convoy here."

A sonic boom from the sky punctuated his remarks, which earned a chuckle from Kluge.

"Arthur, don't you worry. Hear that? The Air Force is with us. The skies are clear."

With a skeptical nod from Arthur, Kluge returned to his binoculars. He laughed as he saw the small silhouette of the massive bridge they were about to approach. It was the Liene River itself.

He could see helicopters and NRF flags already on it. Indeed, it should be an easy day.

The Queen, oh, that foolish, naive young Queen would not stand a chance.

Kluge would ensure such.