C39 Wars Dawning Horizon

I let out a slow breath, watching the dockworkers labor tirelessly.

"Good. See that production remains uninterrupted."

Lucilla, standing slightly behind me, cleared her throat before speaking.

"Imperator, shall I schedule a more detailed review of the naval expansion for a later date?"

I glanced at her, then back at the submarine's unfinished frame.

"Yes but after the unification Is finished...."

I said not expanding on my plans but saying enough to let evryone know what I had In mind after all I didnt refer to my nation as Ducatum but as Imperium.

...

February 1 1936

The cold wind bit at my face as I sat on a makeshift wooden chair atop the observation platform, my half cloak with furrs draped over my shoulder, my hands resting on the armrests.

Before me, a vast airfield stretched into the horizon, surrounded by patches of dense forests and rolling hills.

What had once been a neglected, poorly maintained strip of land had been transformed into one of the Imperium's most vital military assets.

Beside me, the highest ranking members of my government, ministers, Legates, and key officials, sat in a row, each dressed in service uniforms same as mine.

Some, like the Minister of War, were nearly bouncing in their seats with anticipation. Others, like Lucilla, remained composed, her notepad in hand, ready to record observations.

Flavia sat quietly beside her, wrapped in a thick coat, her eyes darting around excitedly, still too young to truly understand the scale of what was about to happen.

The air was thick with tension. This was the largest military exercise in the history of the ducatum. A full scale combined arms assault simulation on the airfield, incorporating the newly reformed Paratrooper I Cohort.

The First Armored Cohort, and a half strength First Infantry Legion, 6 thousand men strong, sighty light tanks, and the fifty transport aircraft of diffrent models I had managed to scavenge from international markets.

I glanced at my pocket watch. Right on time.

A distant, growing hum filled the air. It was subtle at first, but within seconds, it became a deafening roar.

48 fighter biplanes followed by fifty transport planes, a mix of foreign made aircraft hastily acquired through backdoor deals, appeared in formation, dark silhouettes against the overcast sky.

A crackle of radio static, then the command rang out.

"DROP! DROP! DROP!"

From the bellies of the aircraft, dark shapes poured out, their parachutes snapping open against the gray sky.

A thousand paratroopers descended upon the field, their disciplined formations evident even as they plummeted toward the earth.

Unlike the green recruits from weeks prior, these were regular legioneers now hardened through relentless training, their bodies tougher, their movements sharper.

Their landing was swift, efficient. They touched down, rifles raised, moving in perfect coordination as they regrouped and advanced toward the simulated defensive positions.

Smoke grenades billowed as they stormed their objectives from behind, working in contuberniums, laying down suppressive fire, flanking targets, clearing structures in seconds.

"They move well,"

The Minister of War noted, stroking his lush and trimmed beard.

"Before, they would have scattered like headless chickens. Now? They fight like wolves."

"If youre that Impressed then you should see my death squad In action"

I muttered, watching as the paratroopers stormed the first enemy positions. Within minutes, their advance teams had captured key buildings and established a perimeter.

Then came the second wave.

From the treeline, a deep rumbling shook the ground. The First Armored Cohort emerged, sixty light tanks rolling across the frozen grass, their tracks churning the earth beneath them.

Two modified Panzer IIs led the charge, their reinforced armor glinting in the dim sunlight, while the remaining tanks unmodified originals followed close behind.

The ground forces were not far behind. A half strength First Infantry Legion nearly 4000 men advanced in formation using panzers as cover, rifles at the ready, their movements disciplined, nothing like the ragged, undisciplined recruits they had once been. The transformation was undeniable.

"Three weeks ago, they would have still been tripping over themselves,"

The Minister of Industry muttered in awe.

"Now, they run like veterans."

"Its still not enough"

I said flatly.

The battle raged. The simulated enemy, played by the second Infantry legion, was quickly overwhelmed.

The tanks rolled over barricades, machine guns rattling as they provided covering fire for the advancing infantry.

The paratroopers, having secured their objectives, coordinated with the approaching ground forces, locking down the airfield with brutal efficiency.

A mock explosion erupted near the runway, signaling the destruction of an "enemy" stronghold. The armored units pressed forward, their turrets swiveling to engage targets, firing blank rounds that sent clouds of smoke into the air.

The infantry moved with practiced precision, leapfrogging between cover, laying down suppressing fire as they advanced.

The exercise lasted just under an hour. When the last target was neutralized, a final signal flare streaked into the sky. Silence fell over the airfield. Then, a single voice echoed from the battlefield.

"VICTORY!"

A cheer rippled through the ranks, but only for a brief moment before discipline took hold once more.

The officers barked orders, calling for reorganization, casualty assessments, resupply drills. This wasn't just for show this was the Imperium's future, and I would not tolerate complacency.

The Minister of War turned to me, his expression unreadable.

"What do you think, Imperator?"

I exhaled, watching as my legioneers secured the field, the panzers rumbling to a halt, their engines idling as crews dismounted.

"Barely ready we still have a month,"

I said at last, my voice carrying the weight of certainty.

A cold breeze swept through the observation platform, ruffling my half cloak as I rose to my feet. Lucilla instinctively straightened, waiting for my next command.

"What's next?"

I asked her.

She flipped open her notepad, scanning her neatly written schedule.

"Nothing for now Imperator the nearest event you have to attend Is the test flight of the first fighter prototype"

She answered.

"Got It, back to the palace then"

...

February 8, 1936

The wind howled over the snow covered airfield as I stepped onto the observation platform, my heavy half-cloak billowing behind me.

The sky above was a dull gray, thick with winter clouds, but none of that mattered. Today was a milestone the first test flight of the Imperium's new fighter prototype.

Beside me stood the Minister of the Air Force, a lean man with a hawkish nose and sharp eyes, his service uniform immaculately pressed despite the biting cold.

Behind us, a small crowd of officials, engineers, and high ranking officers had gathered, all eagerly waiting for the demonstration.

In the middle of the runway, a sleek twin propeller fighter sat ready. Painted in a dull gray blue at the bottom and ground based color schemes on the top, its angular design was a stark contrast to the outdated biplanes still in service.

One of the lead engineers, a bespectacled man with oil stained gloves and a clipboard, stepped forward.

"Imperator,"

He began, clearing his throat.

"This aircraft is truly epoch making those designs you provided are truly out of this world so allow me to present the TX1 Falcon, the future of the Imperium's air power."

I nodded for him to continue. He gestured to the aircraft, tapping his clipboard.

"Stats are as follows, maximum speed of 531 kilometers per hour, operational range of 495 kilometers. The TX1 is equipped with self sealing fuel tanks to prevent catastrophic leaks in combat, as well as an armored cockpit to maximize pilot survivability."

The Minister of War, standing a few steps away, let out an approving grunt.

"Good. Our pilots need machines that can take a beating and keep flying."

The engineer continued, pointing at the wings.

"Armament consists of two 30mm cannons mounted and two 20mm cannons mounted In the nose thanks to the empty space compared to traditional one engine fighters, providing devastating firepower against both air and ground targets."

The Minister of Industry, flipping through a ledger, frowned slightly.

"Our current production capacity is limited. We can only manage about eleven of these per year at present."

I exhaled through my nose, my expression impassive.

"That will change. Prioritize fighter production, we'll need them soon enough."

"Yes, Imperator,"

The Minister of Industry acknowledged quickly, making a note.

A moment later, the test pilot, callsign Pebbles, approached the aircraft. A veteran from the old air force, he was one of the few with actual combat experience from border skirmishes years prior.

He saluted smartly before climbing into the cockpit, pulling the canopy closed with a sharp hiss.

The ground crew signaled all clear. The twin engines roared to life, the aircraft trembling slightly as it came to life.

Snow and dust whipped around it as the propellers spun faster, the noise building into a deafening roar.

"All systems green,"

Came Pebbles' voice over the radio.

"Preparing for takeoff."

I watched as the TX1 rolled forward, gaining speed down the icy runway. Then, with a smooth ascent, it lifted off, climbing steadily into the sky.