A chill mist clung to the water, swirling around the hulls of warships and transports alike as they creaked against their moorings. The air was thick with the mingled scents of salt, tar, and coal smoke, and the distant toll of a chapel bell echoed faintly from the town behind the docks.
A month had passed quickly. Hundreds of ships now gathered outside Hannover's port. 26 ships of the line, 40 third-rate ships and 10 rocket ships were all available for the Luxenberg invasion force. Taking command of the fleet was the Holy Trinity and Grand Admiral Nelson. They were tasked with defending 360 specialised troop transport ships, each able to carry 700 men.
From the Luxenberg Army, 5 Corps were deployed for the first invasion. Field Marshal Schwarzenberg's 10th Corps, General Lasalle's 14th Corps, Marshal Lannes's 9th Corps, General Hill's 5th Corps, and General Kamensky's 8th Corps. They would also be accompanied by King Victor, Marshal Bessières and the Royal Guard.
Victor was insistent that he participate in this invasion. Not only would his presence be good for morale, but he might be able to use his system to help in any way. He still had 50,000 Store Points that he could use. To be safe, Victor left 400 Royal Guard infantrymen to protect his family.
Towering masts rose like a forest of spars, rigging strung taut with canvas sails furled and ready. Cannons were stowed and covered, and powder barrels had been loaded with the utmost care.
Orders rang out in crisp, commanding voices, competing with the groan of ropes and the shouted farewells of sailors leaning over rails. Horses stamped nervously in their stalls below decks, their breath visible in the cool morning air. Above it all, the flags of the kingdom—bright and defiant—snapping in the rising breeze.
Clarisse and her children could watch as a swarm of over 400 ships sailed into the distance, slowly blending in with the horizon. The kingdom was in very good hands, Clarisse was beloved by the people and quite competent at handling domestic affairs. Victor put his complete trust in her to look after the kingdom in his absence.
The time had come to take the fight to the Simbar Continent. It was their turn to face an invasion, and Victor would be the one to lead it. He stood on the upper deck of the Holy Trinity and watched Hannover slowly disappear in the distance.
The horizon darkened with sails as the invasion fleet carved its path across the open sea. Dozens of ships, each a floating fortress of timber and iron, moved in disciplined formation. Sea salt waters were sprayed onto the decks as the invasion fleet traversed the open waters.
Dolphins could be seen frolicking in the distance, enjoying the warm sun beaming down upon them. Victor felt nostalgic as he looked out upon the open waters. It reminded him of his pirate hunting adventures, which had slowly become a distant memory from a simpler time. A time when he only had to worry about his city and his sister. Now he had to shoulder the responsibility of a continent, a kingdom.
The voyage to Hunyuan was a simple but tiring journey. Thousands of soldiers were suffering the queasiness of seasickness. Barrels were slowly being filled with vomit, and many soldiers clung to the edges of the ships, spewing over the side of them. In the end, the barrels filled with vomit were tipped overboard.
For some, the 2-month journey to Hunyuan was not too bad. Shanties were sung, bonds were strengthened, and the sea breeze was refreshing. It made the journey bearable. Before they knew it, the city of Hunyuan was on the horizon.
Its walls were domineering, but the size of the city was not overly big. Hunyuan was more of a military port than a city. The city was one of the main manufacturers for the Gu Fleet. They produced a dozen ships within a year. Armaments and ammunition depots were abundant in Hunyuan.
Pillars of smoke rose out of the city, ascending to the heavens. Industry was the main focus of Hunyuan. It was not a region known for agriculture or trade. Taking Hunyuan was a city that could cripple the production of more battleships for the Gu Navy. In addition, there were plenty of military supplies to plunder, so Hunyuan was an excellent choice to strike first.
Thankfully for the Luxenberg invasion force, they had not encountered any Gu ships during their voyage. This meant that there was a big chance that their plans had remained a secret. If they could capitalise on their element of surprise, the Luxenberg forces could claim a dominant victory early on in the war.
Alarm bells could be heard in the distance. Guards stationed on the walls had spotted the enemy fleet. Fear grew amongst the garrison as their city was soon to be assaulted. They were decently garrisoned; however, they lacked any ships. Most of the Gu navy was in Guangdong, recovering from the botched invasion. The rest of the fleet was in the south, defending against Kislev raiders.
The commander of the garrison began to marshal his forces to prepare for a sea assault. Barricades were set up throughout the city. Civilians were evacuated to the southern end of the city, far away from the impending battle.
Cannons were loaded and ready to be fired upon the invading force, albeit they were drastically out-gunned. The city had 50 cannons at most, with over half of them stationed near the southern walls. In comparison, the Luxenberg navy boasted an absurd amount of firepower, including the rocket ships.
Victor was most curious about the performance of his new rocket ships; he had only heard good things about them from Field Marshal Wellesley. As a result of this, Victor expressed his interest in seeing the rocket ships in action. "Grand Admiral Nelson, I would like a demonstration of how the rocket ships will perform. Would you be so kind as to show me?"
The Grand Admiral nodded and replied, "Certainly, my Liege."