2100 hrs (Capitol District Standard Time)
June 5th, 2063
Planet, Teffilin
Zarethian Capitol Building
Operation: FALLING SKIES
ADM Regis F. Hermitage
|-Callsign: Overlord
Zarethian Hand Command Element
Zarethian Military Command
Team: Headquarters Element
The only thing i hear is the sound of cannons.
Spread into darkness eternal.
A spark of hope is all that can help us.
In the ever battle of nocturnal.
Regis rushed down the hallway at a fast walking pace as military and civilian aids trail him. He looks around the building, barely powered by emergency lighting, and flares. Wounded men laying in the halls, mirroring many scenes like it over the past 6 months. "Sir!" one of the aids started. "High Admiral Vaccon wishes to see you immediately." he informed Regis.
Regis nodded and quickly changed directions, heading towards Vas Vaccon's office. He continued to observe the weak, and wounded littering the area. A sight that would make any soldier sick to his/her stomach. He approached the door, and knocked.
"Come in Admiral." a weak voice called. Regis opened the door the the office and quickly approached Vaccon who was being worked on by a corpsman.
"How's he doing Doc?" Regis asked the medic, HMMC Rudder.
"Not too good sir. I'm not sure how long i can keep him stable, but he wants to speak with you." Rudder said.
Hermitage nodded and knelled down beside him. "Chief, go..." Vaccon said wearily and waved.
"Sir, you still need treatment." Rudder protested.
"I said go!" he exclaimed. Rudder got up and quickly left the room. "Regis... How is it out there?" he asked.
"Not looking to good Addler. The bastards are closing in, and we are sieged up. We've lost all communications with the other colonies, and the home fleet is at 90% capacity which wont do us much good if the enemy acquired the ships from the outer colony fleets. The last remaining councilman is in about as bad of shape as you are, half the Senate is dead, Other than yourself, i remain the highest ranking officer in the entire district, the Majority of the Hand is MIA or otherwise, and well, im not sure how long we can hold this out. " Hermitage told him. It was pointless to lie to Vas Vaccon.... He was a living lie detector.
Vaccon could only nod. "The Fleet Admiral? How is she?" Addler asked.
"Alive and kicking, sir. You cant expect her to go down that easily, but the highest ranking ground commander we have down here is Lt. General Puller, Lt. General Richards, and Vice Admiral Cole. As per your orders, I assigned them into the 3 outer districts surrounding the city. Major General Constantine has taken over command of the Capitol District Division since your injury." Hermtiage said.
"Regis... the Doc hasn't exactly been straight forward with me, but i know that I'm probably going to die here, son. How long do i have. Don't lie to me, and don't sugar coat it. We both have been soldiers long enough to handle it." Vaccon said. "Tell me the truth, and that's an order."
"Honestly sir, at the rate of blood you're losing, I'd give you 4 hours. With Doc in here taking care of you, 6." Hermitage informed his commander, and friend of his impending doom. "Doc will do what he can, but you wont see morning Addler."
Addler sighed. He knew this day would come. "Is Hamilton alive?" Vaccon asked.
"Yes sir. He is watching over the councilman along with the Field Surgeon." Hermtiage said.
"Get him... I want you and him in the Senate Chambers in 15 minutes. Don't be late. Time isn't on my side you know." Addler said.
Hermitage nodded and rushed out. "Doc, take care of him." Hermitage cold only say to Rudder as he rushed to Hamilton's position in the Council offices. The aids once more joined up with him. Hermitage flashed his badge and exclaimed "Zarethian Hand." as he immediately bypassed the council honor guards without giving them time to react. He immediately approached the office door and opened it.
"Allen. Senate chambers in 15." he said and closed the door. He left the wing, and headed to the Military Command Room. The aids could barely keep up as he ran to the War Room. He opened the doors to a scene of large screens and officers and personnel running around. No one was idle. "Sit-rep." Hermitage asked.
"We've lost all communications with all brigades 100 km out from the line of engagement. District 1, 2, and 3 Corps report all clear and are on standby for offensive orders, sir." A Colonel informs him. "Homeland Intervention has reinforced them as per orders of Colonel Tarkov, and the Air Force is currently paroling the skies 50 km out from the front line. They report a few patrols, but nothing more. 3rd fleet is..."
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
A loud beep from the communications station interrupted the Colonel as a large display came on the largest screen centered on the the room. "Incoming transmission from the Fleet!" A Communications officer shouted.
"Put it on the speakers!" the Colonel ordered.
"Any command callsigns, this is Foxtrot 3-6 Hotel. 3rd Fleet Admiral Aki Sora. Do you read?" a female voice asked.
"Foxtrot 3-6 Hotel, this is Overlord, Admiral Hermitage. Do you read Admiral Sora?" Hermitage called back.
"Yes sir. We read loud and clear. Overlord, Overlord, Foxtrot 3 has incoming contacts from ships entering defense grid. IFF Reads ships from Foxtrot 1, and 2, but both Fleets have been confirmed KIA. Orders?" she asked.
"Foxtrot 3-6, you have permission to engage all enemy ships. Change IFF, and dispatch of all targets. Do not under any circumstance let them get into orbit around the Capitol." Hermtage ordered.
"Roger. Ships approaching kill zone in 30 seconds. All ships prepare for battle. All hands report to battle positions." She ordered through the comms.
The image on the screen showed the Home Fleet being approached by friendly ships from the 1st and 2nd fleets. Immediately the incoming ships flashed and turned to red now marked as enemies.
"This is Fleet Admiral Sora, we are engaging the Enemy. First Battle Group, Blanket the Destroyers, and take em out 1 by 1. Second Battle Group Focus on the carriers. Third Battle Group, Form a defensive perimeter around the Capitol Airspace. Fouth Battle Group, you're with me. We're taking on the Titans, hit their weak points, and take them out. Fifth Battle Group, and Sixth Battle Group, cover our flanks. Seventh Battle Group, Form an Offensive formation and attack the Dreadnaughts." she ordered. Several sounds of acknowledgements came through.
"Foxtrot 3, do what you can. Overlord, out." Hermitage ended the transmission as he watched the fleet start its engagement.
"Sir, you're need in the Senate Chambers." an aid informed him.
Hermitage nodded and rushed out of the War room. He exited the Military wing, and into the main area of the building that housed the Council room, and Senate Chambers. He flashed his badge once more to the guards posted but didn't say anything. He opened the large double doors to see several of the surviving Senators, and a few officers. On the stage stood Sen. Hamilton, and High Admiral Vas Vaccon. Vaccon motioned for Regis to come on stage.
Hermitage walked up the steps onto the stage and took his place behind Hamilton who was standing at the podium.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you High Admiral Addler Vas Vaccon, Supreme Commander of the Zarethian Military and Chief of Naval Operations." Hamilton announced as Addler approached in a wheelchair.
"Thank you Senator." he said. "I am here to do 2 things... Tell you what must happen, and give you your leaders of the new world." he announced wearily. "Senator Hamilton has informed me that Councilman Sora has died as of 10 minute ago. As per constitutional regulation, in the event of the death of all Councilmemebers, the Senate Leader is appointed as the Head of Council, and may assign temporary Council members. So i give you Councilman Allen C. Hamilton." he said.
The room erupted in applause, but only for a brief moment. "I need to inform you all of something... My death is not far behind Councilman Sora's." Vaccon told them all. "I must choose a successor to take my place and lead our men and women into battle against this enemy. I hereby, with the advice and consent of the Council, promote Regis Florian Hermitage to the Rank of Fleet Admiral, and vest upon him the full authority over the Armed Services, and the power vested within the position of Command-In-Chief of the Zarethian Military until a time where peace has been restored. Serve us proudly Director." Addler announced just before falling into a coughing fit, spitting up blood as HMMC Rudder rushed to him, and took him away.
"Stop..." Addler could barely make out as they passed Hermitage. "Regis... I want you to give them hope. You need to give them hope. You've done me proud, I just want to let you know that." Addler said.
"Its been an honor sir..." Hermitage said as Rudder took Vas Vaccon away. He and several officers rendered a salute as Vaccon was wheeled off stage. 2 Military officers quickly pinned a 5th star on Hermitage's collar, and handed him a 5 star patch with the stars arranged in a pentagon formation. He pulled his 4 star patch off and replaced it with the new one. "Lets get moving... No time for anything else." he said and rushed out of the room. He and several others made their way to the 3rd floor balcony that was usually used by the council to deliver speeches to the public.
He opened the doors to the night sky lit up by fire from cannons, ruined building, and the battle in orbit. Several Officers, Senators, and Hamilton lined up behind Hermitage as he approached and took the microphone.
"My People..." he started. "Son and Daughters, Mothers and Fathers, Brothers and Sisters of the Zarethian Empire. This much i vow -- The History of these days will be written in blood. By crushing the armies of our enemies, by using the very emotion they thought to turn against us. Revenge. A few moments ago, a great man has given his final bow, and we will not let that go unheard. We are fighting for our very existence! These soldiers, these revenge cultists are here to deny us peace.... Refuse us our rightful place in the universe.
Even now, they approach our walls to take by force what they cannot claim by right. They have no idea what awaits them.... WE WILL DESTROY THE INVADERS FROM OUR SKIES! WE WILL UNLEASH SUCH TERRIBLE VENGEANCE THAT GENERATIONS YET UNBORN WILL CRY OUT IN ANGUISH! Even as the bullets fly, and the blood sheds upon the land of our fathers, we will fight until the end. As their last breath tears at their lungs, as we rise again from the ruins of our city, they will know that Teffilin belongs to the Zarethians! For our people! For the Council! For Tefflin! Go now and prepare yourselves! Tonight we show these bastards who they have made war with! We must fight now.... or doom the future generations into a thousand years of darkness. Tonight we will fight as one hard, one arm, one people, fighting for what we have earned as our own. We will crush their dreams, and haunt their sleep.
Nam Zarethia et Aser.!" he concluded. The city erupted in applause in response to Hermitage's speech which was broadcasted over the city's PA system, and Civilian frequencies.
As he exited the balcony, Hamilton stopped him and put his hand on Regis' shoulder. "Good luck Admiral. Aser be with you." he said.
