Chapter 484 The Birth of an Empire! (I)

As the Air Force Commander of the Principality of Idar and the head of the Griffin Knights, Major General Rolf Hawthorne's presence is the smallest among the three major branches of Idar's military.

In fact, in many cases, the main mission of the Griffin Knights was not to patrol the air, but to serve as a guard of honor to receive foreign guests.

Especially after the long-distance communication device based on mental power was officially put into use, even the responsibility of delivering messages has become a thing of the past for the Griffin Knights.

But that’s why…

When Rolf Hawthorne heard that Idar's CIA Director Krell and Idar's Defense Minister Sarah Coren asked him to go to the Alhambra Palace in Idar for an emergency meeting...

His whole being was filled with excitement.

There is no way. Although the name of the Idar Air Force sounds impressive and the daily training tasks have never been delayed, the opportunities to participate in actual combat are really too rare!

There are only two armies belonging to the Idar Air Force - the Griffin Knights and the Hot Air Balloon Reconnaissance Battalion.

Among them, apart from the hot air balloon reconnaissance battalion that occasionally received reconnaissance missions, the members of the Griffin Knights had long been eager to go to the battlefield and serve their country.

so……

When Clare handed Rolf Hawthorne a top-secret military action plan... the young Air Force major general almost immediately patted his chest and guaranteed to complete the mission.

"Your Excellency the Duke wants to destroy the Colossus near the holy city of Bethlehem, but we need to consider that sending ground troops deep into the heart of the church would be too risky and might expose the hidden lines that the Idar CIA had previously laid."

"So... after much deliberation, we decided that this mission should be handed over to the Idar Air Force, who should destroy the designated targets on the ground through aerial bombing."

"Don't worry, the Air Force will definitely be able to complete this task! Because this is also the most important training subject of the Idar Air Force on weekdays."

Hearing this, Rolf Hawthorne promised solemnly.

"only……"

Although he had heard Rolf Hawthorne's promise, Claire still had some doubts in his heart: "In a sense, the Air Force is indeed more qualified than the Idar Army to take on this task, but..."

"If you have any concerns, just speak up!"

Claire said in a deep voice: "It's the problem with the hot air balloon!"

"Huh?"

"If you want to destroy the Colossus on the ground from the air, you must carry a sufficient number of magic crystal bombs. Am I right?"

Rolf Hawthorne nodded: "That's right."

"So... this mission cannot be completed by the Griffin Knights."

"Although the Air Force's hot air balloons can enable the Idar Air Force to carry out such a sneak attack, after the sneak attack is completed...can these hot air balloons and the Idar soldiers on board return safely?" Clare hesitated.

This is not because Claire thought too much, but because the distance between the holy city of Bethlehem and the mainland of the Principality of Idar is quite long.

Even if they set out from Conte Territory west of the Almis Mountains, the fuel stored in the hot air balloon might not be enough to allow the air force soldiers on the mission to return safely.

You know, neither Krell nor Defense Minister Sarah Coren, nor Duke Idar himself who set the goal of this operation, would watch Idar soldiers fall into the tiger's mouth in order to complete the mission.

indeed,

Destroying the Colossus is important, but the lives of Idar soldiers are equally important! Never abandon! Never give up! This is the basic principle that the Idar Army has always adhered to since its establishment! Hearing this,

Rolf Hawthorne understood immediately, but he just smiled and said, "Actually, you don't have to worry about this, because the Idar Air Force has never thought of using a hot air balloon to complete this mission!"

“No hot air balloon?”

Even though he was not a member of the Air Force, Krell knew very well that the bombing accuracy of the Idar Air Force now depended entirely on luck.

And if one wants to completely destroy the statue outside the holy city of Bethlehem, then one must carry a large number of magic crystal bombs.

So when he heard Rolf Hawthorne's words, Claire was slightly stunned: "What are we going to use? There is no way the Griffin Knights can carry enough ammunition!"

"Use an airship!"

For people of this era, airships were undoubtedly an extremely unfamiliar concept.

However, this landmark flying vehicle has left a significant mark on the earth.

At the beginning of the 20th century, rigid airships represented by the Zeppelin airship were not only more powerful than aircraft of the same period, but could also carry large cargoes of considerable weight.

Especially the Zeppelin airships of the 1930s, which even performed extremely well on transatlantic routes! Even more exaggerated, an airship from the United States once set a world record of 264.2 hours of continuous flight, with a total flight distance of 15,200 kilometers!

Moreover, compared to the hot air balloon of the Idar Air Force, the airship can fly normally in more complex weather conditions!

Even in bad weather, as long as the wind speed does not exceed 30 knots, you can continue flying.

At the same time, since the Idar people had learned the lesson from the crash of the Hindenburg airship, they naturally would not repeat the same mistake in the selection of gas. They gave priority to eliminating flammable and explosive safety hazards, greatly improving the safety of the airship.

In addition, the gas used is helium, so there is no need to worry even if the airship is hit by a bullet during flight.

If the bullet hole is not big, then there is almost no need to deal with it; even if the bullet hole is large, due to the extremely slow leakage rate of helium, the airship will have enough time to return.

It is precisely because of the above advantages that airships have undoubtedly become the only choice to replace hot air balloons to perform bombing missions!

…

Almis Air Force Base is located northeast of the foothills of Almis Mountain, not far from the Sky Gardens, the temporary residence of Bruno Stuart, Duke of Idar.

Bruno uses the Hanging Gardens as his residence for most of the year.

Therefore, the Almis Air Force Base is not only home to a large number of troops, but is also the headquarters of the Idar Air Force and has the largest new weapons testing ground in Idar.

The new weapons test site located in the Almis Air Force Base is a military stronghold with a security alert level equivalent to that of the Venice Arsenal.

As for the airship mentioned by Rolf Hawthorne, it was naturally parked in this military base.

Although Krell was the director of the Idar CIA, he was mainly responsible for intelligence activities against other forces, so he didn't actually know about this new type of equipment of the Air Force.

so……

When Major General Rolf Hawthorne first proposed the new weapon "airship" to him, Krell naturally wanted to come and find out for himself.

Because only after seeing what an airship is with their own eyes, Krell and the staff of the Idar Ministry of Defense worked out a more reliable action plan.

after all……

It would be simple if it was just bombing, but the Idar military also needs to consider the safety of the air force soldiers and the possible retaliation by the Church of Light.

Thus, a convoy of Benedict cars set out from the Alhambra Palace, carrying a number of Idar military officials including Krell, Sarah Coren and Rolf Hawthorne, and slowly drove into the Almis Air Force Base.

However……

The moment they saw the real airship, everyone present became Spartan except Air Force Major General Rolf Hawthorne.

The airship docked at Almis Air Force Base is named "Sorenborg".

It is a huge monster built by military equipment researchers from Idar Public University using the rigid airship provided by Bruno Stuart, Duke of Idar as a template!

Especially with its length of about 200 meters and height of more than five stories, it can crush the regular hot air balloons of the Idar Air Force into dust in seconds as soon as it appears! "This big guy... is it an airship?"

"With this weapon... the success rate of this operation will probably double!"

Although Sarah Colen, the Minister of Defense, had long known that the Idar Air Force had acquired a new type of equipment called an airship, and that this equipment was personally ordered to be built by the Duke of Idar Bruno Stuart.

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But due to the insignificant presence of the Idar Air Force during this period, this was actually the first time that Sarah Coren saw the "Sollenberg" airship docked at the air base.

There is no doubt that

This airship has extremely graceful lines and an unimaginable size. If it could really soar in the sky... it would definitely be a shocking aerial behemoth!

Air Force Major General Rolf Hawthorne naturally took in everyone's expressions, and seeing this situation, he could hardly conceal the pride on his face.

This is the air force! This is the confidence of the Idar Air Force! At this moment, he seemed to have seen the Sorenborg take off into the sky, and seemed to imagine the high-powered aircraft engine at the back of the airship making a unique buzzing sound while pushing this behemoth to break through the sky!

Rolf Hawthorne finally said with great confidence:

"This is the Sorenborg airship! The latest equipment of the Idar Air Force! It has an extremely long range and a terrifying load capacity! It is enough to carry dozens of Idar Air Force soldiers and several tons of magic crystal bombs!"

"Not to mention flying from the Principality of Idar to the Holy City of Bethlehem, even if we fly directly to the Kingdom of Cecil, that is absolutely no problem!"

At this moment, even the knowledgeable Krell could not help but stand there in a daze after seeing the "Sorenborg" airship with his own eyes.

Defense Minister Sarah Coren was at least mentally prepared, knowing that the Idar Air Force had recently acquired a big guy.

But Claire was not prepared at all! It was not until he heard Rolf Hawthorne's words lingering in his ears that Claire suddenly woke up.

Claire didn't hear the rest of the introduction.

But he keenly caught a word - tons! Tons of magic crystal bombs!

An explosion of this magnitude, let alone bombing the Colossus outside the holy city of Bethlehem, seems like... it could also bomb the holy city adjacent to the Colossus, right?

then,

Almost immediately, Claire stared at the air force commander in front of him with blazing eyes, and said with some trembling:

"We have several airships like this in the Principality of Idar!"

Hearing this,

Major General Rolf Hawthorne couldn't help but reveal a trace of regret: "There is only this one in service at the moment, but..."

"But what?"

"But there are two more airships under construction!"

Claire then asked, "When will the two airships be officially put into service?"

Don't forget Krel's origins! Since being entrusted with an important task by the Duke of Idar, the young Idar CIA chief has commanded and participated in several special operations of the Principality of Idar! Back then, he played the role of an Idar bandit who robbed caravans on the road, and he also personally commanded the "Basel Scalpel" plan. In addition, he has also participated in many intelligence and sneak attacks behind enemy lines.

Claire's abundant combat experience made him clearly aware that the results achieved by the first sneak attack would definitely be the greatest.

so……

If time permits, Claire naturally hopes that as many airships as possible can participate in this bombing plan! Major General Rolf Hawthorne pondered for a moment, and then said:

"Probably... another half month? I'm afraid we'll have to wait until the end of December."

Upon hearing this, Claire's face immediately lit up with joy: "It seems... there is enough time!"

"Huh?"

Claire and Sarah Coren looked at each other and said:

"The most important task of the Principality of Idar at present is to prepare for the independence of the Principality of Idar and the coronation ceremony of His Excellency the Duke!"

"So... according to our original plan, we intend to bomb the colossus standing outside the holy city of Bethlehem in early January of next year, after the Principality of Idar officially declares independence! It can also be regarded as a gift to the people of Idar!"

"When the time comes, the three airships will set off together! We will definitely let the Church of Light feel the power of Idar's army!"

Yes!

In November of this year,

The members of Idar's lower house voted unanimously to pass the "Outline of Proposals for the Formal Independence of the Principality of Idar" and, together with the nobles of Idar's upper house, placed the proposal on the desk of Idar's government hall.

then……

With the permission of Bruno Stuart, Duke of Idar and the approval of the Idar Government Office, it is planned that the Principality of Idar will officially declare independence on January 1, 540 of the new calendar!

Hearing this,

Rolf Hawthorne's eyes could not help but flash with excitement: "Don't worry, everyone! The Idar Air Force will definitely live up to your expectations!"

"To the Principality of Idar... no, to the establishment of the Empire, I am offering the first gift of the New Year!"

(End of this chapter)