6 - Death of an Era 1.1

"Thank you," Krumpf patted the back of the construction worker, having just handed him the logistics of the expansion of the docks.

There was an inflow of cash coming in from the king's personal bank account in a bid to satisfy the four admirals. With that, Krumpf was able to draft-up plans for a modernized dock. Just like the capital's.

Crane's docks were ladden with wood from the public all the way to the family's private dockside. However, Krumpf gave-in and modernized the whole of it (thank Pais and the Merchant's guild for that one).

Employing the help of the City's masonry craftsmen, and many construction workers; the docks were furnished with bricks ladden in bricks! Many many bricks.

Bundle was reminded of London when he saw it being built.

With the improved docks, Crane's merchants and seafaring citizens were beyond thankful for the upgrade. As the docks were widened a tad bit, the stores facing the river expanded and there were quite a bit more shops there now. It was akin to a wet-market.

In the private docks of the Wilmmer family, the four battleships had more wider piers for each ship. And dedicated stations wherein the sailors of the battleships can clean and maintain with more ease.

Bundle, understanding that his ship (the USS Oregon) attracted more lookers; made the ship accessible for viewing and deck-visiting for a little bit of money of course.

It has been two days after Wagner's and Atten's expedition towards the capital and Krumph knew that the signing of the declaration would be happening tommorow. And after that? That… That he didn't know.

"Father." Phoebe walked towards him, (who was sitting on a newly installed bench in the private docks).

"Yes?" He was admiring the warships from his seat, smoking a half-piped cigar.

"What is that?"

"A cigar, Admiral Bundle said it was a commodity in their continent."

"I do not like it's smell."

"Ah." He dropped then pounced on it, "I'm sorry. Come. Come here, sit by me." He patted the seat and smiled.

"What's in your mind, father?" She couldn't help but question, looking at his semi-lost face. "I haven't seen you like this in some time."

"Phoebe…" He stared at the battleship scenery. "War is coming," -she bit her lip, hiding a gloom sorrow-self- "and I don't know if I can protect you. In the past, I saw a path when the admirals came and told me that the problem with Sanzan could be solved. I thought that the problem can finally be done for, that I wouldn't be stressing over that and that I can finally be with you Phoebe. But… After all that. It seems that I've doomed myself after all. I'll be part of the war Phoebe. And when war's concerned; my life's also. And maybe even yours.

"I understand that the main battle'd be commencing far from us, but after that; what will happen if we lose? And what will happen if a detached army of the Sanzan were to come here? Hoping to retaliate? That's what I'm afraid of. And I apologize." Krumpf looked at Phoebe.

Phoebe was thankful to understand his intentions, smiling. "Father. I'm afraid that you don't need to be afraid."

"What do you mean by that?"

Phoebe observed as some sailors boarded the HMS King Edward. Seeing them chilling on the bow turret, eating a sandwich.

"I mean that we'll prevail."

( * )

"In proper accordance to the international pledges! I am your witness! The Dukein of the Southern Empire! According to the first law; in the declaration of war between two countries, a witness must be involved by a stronger or equally strong country. And: in the event of a declaration of war, the countries involved must state their reasons. The reason to reject, the reason to refute, and/or the reason to accept!

[A Dukein is a position in the Southern Empire that is 'higher' than a duke but held in the same regard]

A trial was being held in a makeshift courtroom converged at the borders between the Sanzan and Crane. It was a large tent, with hundreds of spectators and knights from opposite sides, a lot of horses, spears braced opponent-ward, swords in their scabbards a quarter opened so that drawing'd be faster.

Inside, Atten and Wagner sat together behind the king of Grand (who's name the author's been hiding but who's name is; Julius King Grand so in all technicality, his name has been said already).

And, the other side, the king of Sanzan sat, his arms crossed and his face angered. His hair was disheveled almost as if he had been forced to participate in the most pivotal, most damning point of history of a kingdom's life. A point wherein it decides the life of the people after the fact; the downfall of pride, or the upsurge thereof.

"Declaring the act of war, with proper document," the Dukein continued. "The Kingdom of Sanzan declares war against the kingdom of Grand. However, there are four other countries listed here."

The audience gasped, "four others? There is no way that king got the favor of the other countries of the South, maybe from the East?"

"Quiet!" The Dukein commanded, banging a gavel. "Now. I shall list and herein as follows; Imperial Germany, The United Kingdom, France, and the Uniteed States of America."

The audience was absolutely dumbfounded, was the Grand king merely writing names on paper? When in reality there was none? But no! That is impossible, for it is Illegal!

"King of the Grand," the Dukein, "are there any representatives from any countries you've listed here?"

He stood up, "yes there is." he scooted over to showcase the two of them behind him. "Here is Sir Atten, representing the United Kingdom. And here is Acting Chancellor of Imperial Germany."

Atten and Wagner stood, bowing slightly. Their sly smiles and confident posture were impossible to miss. Atten spoke first; "Good Afternoon, to you Dukein of the Southern Empire, we hail from the continent of Europe."

Immidiate commotion.

"Another continent?" The Dukein chuckled, looking at the King. "You've found another continent, king of Grand?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I have."

Then Wagner spoke second; "Dukein of the Southern Empire, do you mock the legacy and pride of our countries?"

"No." He grinned sarcastically, "I do… Not!"

Wagner chortled, "Dukein of the Southern Empire, do try your best not to enrage us. You haven't a clue what our kingdoms can do. No, I shouldn't phrase it like that… In another case; you shall see the power of the European continent."

Many scholars, many nobles, journalists alike. Were all silenced, shocked. The tenacity of the european fellows were a little too inflated. Were they truly from this other continent? Or were they merely dolls for the king of Grand? Was this an intimidation tactic? If so, (looking at the King of Sanzan) it did not seem to be working.

The Sanzan King cried out a comedy, his tears ejecting from his eyes in a greate flood; he couldn't contain himself. "Is this what you resort to, King of the Grand? If so, you are pitiful! I pity you! You haven't an army emassed the week after you tried to repel us? You hid in the law! The self-defense clause, eh? You bastard! You incite war with this cowardice tactic, now you attempt to back down using this… What is this? I don't even know what you're even attempting with this one. Dukein! I continue my declaration of war!"

"And I shall accept that!" Cried the King of Grand.

There was a delirious astonishment to the Dukein with how the two sides took the declaration like it were some common occurrence. Like a common farce that could be settled by doing one simple action.

"And!" Continued the King of Grand, "as the Kingdom of Grand is the challenged, I have the right to choose the location wherein war shall wreak," -he stood from his seat (with a map) threw it to the Dukein- "there! We, " -he turned to the Sanzan king with a sinister smile- "we! We will fight in the city of Hombult! Bring your whole army. If you dare."

The Sanzan king's nerves were boiling, his head reddening and his veins popping. "How dare you! Insolent king of the Grand! I shall break your ego! You dare break the egg of an eagle, and the eagle will hunt you down!"

"Ah!" The king neared him, striking a power-stance; "even if the eagle dares strike it's foe, with only muscles for a head, even a snake can dethrone it!"

The Sanzan king leapt from his position, unable to contain his fury, the ire that brewed within him, he swept his hand towards his scabbard and unleashed the sword within.

"Do not test me, king!" The blade, a hair's breadth away from his neck.

Yet, the King of Crane remained calm, no, he was even more confident! This irked the Sanzan king even more so.

"Both of you!" The Dukein yelled, striking his gavel (knights from both sides approaching cautiously towards the two). "Stop this needless quarrel! You shall have plenty of that at Hombult!"

The Sanzan king tisked his tongue, spitting on the Crane king's shoe.

His resolve clear, the Crane king extended his arm, "here's to a great future."

The Sanzan king didn't accept it, going back to his table.

( * )

"You should have witnessed the hearing Bundle." Wagner walked over to Bundle, gently commanding the USs Oregon with his bridge officers. "It was very dramatic. Something out of a Brontë novel!"

"Would've loved it." He put his binoculars off. "However I regret to say we're nearing war an' I prefer to be more serious during these times."

"Ah," Wagner patted his back. "I've never took you to be a sentimental man in a sense."

"We are admirals, Wagner, we live to protect and live to destroy. We are at the crux of evil yet aren't considered to be. An equal and opposite to our cause." He smiled, walking away and towards the wheelhouse.

11:30 AM

It was exactly the day after the court-room declaration and as delievered, the Sanzan showed up with almost the whole of their army. The commanders of the Sanzan were deeply concernede for the Grand army for they saw little to none in their company-whole of knights, which all were bowmen.

"What are they getting at?" The king of Sanzan was furious by how he was belittled, does the king of Grand think that the Sanzan were a nothing force? "Maybe they're going to hit me with a flank. Does the Grand kingdom even have Dragoon forces? I doubt it. But I prepared an anti-air squad just in case. Just in case for this bastard-bitch king."

The Sanzan king ordered for a detachment of his army to answer to the weak left flank of theirs. If in anycase the other half of their puny army were attack from the forest (which was to the left of the invasion force) then atleast his left-flanking knights could take it out.

When it came time for war, there were formal procedures that take place. And one of them in the Southern Continent was the fact that before the first battle starts, the two kings must meet up in the middle of their forces and announce their fight. It was a sign of respect and to maintain dignity to the sides even after the war ends.

And yet?

The Sanzan king couldn't contain himself when he's been waiting for a good ten minutes. A good ten minutes of boring nothingness. The king of Grand hadn't come. Where? Where then was the 'bastard-bitch?' The Sanzan king couldn't take it,

"Bah!" He cried in ire, "first he incites war, now he pussy-es out of it! Truly a great king!" He laughed, the first command of knights laughing along with him, creating a foreboding sneer of laughter that swept across Hombult's outer perimeter.

The Sanzan king was going back to his army, when;

"Your majesty!" A scout pointed out behind him. "The king of Grand!"

"Ah! Finally, you've shown up!"

The King of Grand's horse galloped at top speed, with he himself riding the horse with a warbow at full draw.

The Sanzan king couldn't understand what he was doing. When…

*splat

The whole knight army was completely dumfounded.

Distraught.

Angered.

The arrow went straight into the king's eye socket, planting itself deep into the king's brain with the treumendous force of the war bow's hefty draw power.

Assuming second in command, the General cried; "Men! Charge! Charge! Kill the bastard-bitch!"

The war cry reached the Crane forces with a shiver in their bones. The Sanzan army rapidly advanced towards the city of Hombult, their arrows draining the sky of it's light in turn for it's darkness.

The Crane archers dropped their bows and immidiately retreated within the city walls, hiding in one of the houses near the gate. The Crane king whipped his horse to it's ultimate thrust, dodging the arrows like it were second nature to him.

The Sanzan army, plenty near to the city, the Crane king yelled; "Close the gates!"

He swished his horse within the city just before the gate dropped.

The Sanzan general observed from a distance with his council of other advisers. "He hides in his fort. Indeed to siege is to lose a lot more than just a normal fight. Finding an entrance while being bombarded by opponents is not a fun one. While my army does contain ladders, I'll need to bombard them first with cannon strikes so my men aren't hit by their clash."

"Sir!" A scout reached him, panting; his breath escaping him. "T-there! The ocean! See!" -the scout gave the general his telescope- "Monster!"

"What the fuck is that?"

---

Atten laughed the melody of a carribean pirate. "Feast! Feast in my navy!"

Leading, the HMS King Edward (with her guns drew land-ward and ready to fire) was storming ahead at fifteen knots before the USS Oregon, her great and bigger calibre guns trained in the same direction.

"There could only be two ships perfect for a shore bombardment job such as this." Atten chuckled to himself. "My battleship's stable, like the Oregon, and the my 9.2 inchers can do lots of stingy and fast damage while my bigger 12 inchers can haggle the saturated army. And, no knight, not even a European soldier would dare continue when faced by a rapid fire of explosions that they seemingly can't escape!

"Then? The USS Oregon is just built for shore bombardment! Though it's rangefinders are still primative unlike my battleship, since we're in the same course, and are not being actively hit at, there's nothing to fess about! Since we could just share ranges! Truly perfect!"

"Fire!" Atten shouted, "Fire. Everything!"

---

Unlike the arrows (that darkened the sky) the battleships and their volley made the sky heaven, and the ground hell. Explosions radiated the once green field before Hombult, the main guns of both the Oregon and the King Edward blasting through the siege weapons, the puny men in metal armor, and while they reloaded, the eight incher secondary turrets en echelon amid Oregon's midship and the british nine incher casement-like secondaries fired in rapid volleys, eradicating Sanzan's main force like they were cake fudge.

The Crane army, the Hombult lord were as equally confused and despaired as the Sanzan generals and fear-retreating knights. "This power has never before been seen… Never before been witnessed by mankind… The devil! The devil works within them, the devil works in the Crane! This power could only be… From the devil." Thought the Sanzan general before a 13-inch round pierced his body in half, before in success exploding behind him.

His body was gone.

Before the Sanzan force could even react to the rapid firepower of the Crane warships the majority of their knights were retreating in a fright and even if they superiors were yelling them to continue to fight and advance, none listened, and, even the commanders themselves started to flee in the same fright as their subordinates.

"It is truly the most definite definition of a one sided battle." The king of Grand laughed maniacally, falling to his knees in excitement.

"Your majesty!" The knight leaped to him, helping him up.

"No, no." He stood by himself, "thank you. It was truly luck. It was truly a miracle that this extraordinary power trusted us as I had trusted them. This world will witness the death of an era," -and he walked towards his knights, cowering in fear of the explosions- "and up comes an era where we! Where you, my men! Will prosper!"