Tyranny of Steel

Nearly a month had gone by, from the start of the war between the German and Japanese Empires, and the casualties were high on both sides. Though considerably less so for the Reich. So far, the German Empire had suffered approximately twenty-five thousand casualties, most of which were either wounded or missing in action. As for those killed in action, they were a minority of the statistic.

The Japanese, however, had suffered greatly in this time, with their casualties being nearly twice as men as the Germans, most of which were killed in action. During this time, the Germans had completely cut off their Japanese adversaries from reinforcing the Island of Borneo. Rather than rush the conflict in the region, they adopted a strategy of sitting back and bombarding the enemy forces for weeks on end. 

Knowing the exact details of the fortifications constructed on the island, as the Germans were the ones who built them in the first place, it was a simply matter of coastal, artillery, and aerial bombardment, Berengar did not know how many conventional and cluster munitions were dropped over Borneo during this time, but it was enough to drastically change the landscape in certain portions of the island. 

While the Germans continued to bombard the island, the survivors of the Majapahit Royal Army who were initially stationed in Borneo to resist the Japanese invasion had begun engaging in guerilla warfare against the Imperial Japanese Army, adding to the losses they suffered. 

As for the conventional forces of the Royal Majapahit Army, they had begun taking the front line roles of combat, while the Germans supported them via air and armor. The German marines had seen little combat after the initial invasion, preferring to use their Majapahit proxies as the primary fighting force. 

The same could not be said for Korea. Initially, the Germans made significant progress in the region. However, after the battle in the Taebaek foothills, the Japanese had done everything in their power to reinforce their front lines and prevent them from collapsing. To help combat the armored threat that the Germans presented, the Osaka Armory had come up with a rather crude improvised rocket launcher design that intended to be used once and then thrown away. 

Though not enough to penetrate through the heaviest portions of a panther's armor, this rocket launcher was more than capable of blowing out a tank's tracks, or damaging other critical components. Thus, the Blitzkrieg had come to a sudden stop, and instead the German Panzer Division which was supported by their Joseon allies, slowly began to march through every village, town, and city, facing rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank mines, IEDs, and machine gun fire on every street corner. 

Unlike in previous conflicts, the Germans couldn't just bombard these urban war zones into oblivion, as they were technically providing support to liberate them for the sake of their Joseon Allies, and naturally bombing the Joseon's civilians, who had endured the atrocities of the Imperial Japanese Army was not something Berengar was willing to do. 

Just like in the Bornean Theatre, the German infantry had taken a back step, and allowed their Joseon Allies to do most of the fighting. The Royal Joseon Army was equipped and trained by their German allies, and as a result, they were more than capable of fulfilling the task. 

In fact, they were not at all dismissive of the Germans' approach to the war. This was their land, and they wanted to be the ones to liberate it from the Japanese occupiers. If all the Germans did for the rest of the war was provide armored, naval, and air support, then they were happy enough. 

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Currently, Hans was sitting in his bunk on board the SMS Osterreich. It had been weeks since the battle of the Marshall Islands and during this time, the Sixth Carrier Strike Group, which he was stationed with, had returned to Singapore for repairs, resupply, and reinforcements. 

Germany had lost one cruiser, and all six destroyers, in their battle against the Imperial Japanese Navy, and these ships needed to be replaced, along with a fair portion of their crews. They had also lost quite a significant amount of aircraft. With the Sixth Carrier Wing losing over half of their planes and a quarter of their pilots, mostly due to Japanese flak guns. 

Thus, it had taken some time for these things to get in order. During this time, Hans had received not only a promotion, but one of the highest awards for valor the German military offered. Upon returning to Singapore, Admiral Nolthe Schriber had presented the young pilot with the Knight's cross of the Iron Cross with swords, oak leaves, and diamonds, gold variant. 

Aside from the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, which was almost exclusively awarded to Generals who were responsible for victories over major theatres of conflict, this was the highest award a German soldier could be given for an act of valor.

Why had Hans been awarded this medal? It was because not only did he now have fifty five confirmed kills as a fighter ace, but because he had gone above and beyond the call of duty, by risking his life in a dangerous maneuver that ultimately saved the SMS Osterreich from a Kamikaze pilot's daring attempt to sink it. The Admiral's exact words during the presentation ceremony continued to ring throughout the boy's mind.

"Never in all my years of military service have I seen an act of valor so deserving of this award."

Rumor had it, the Admiral had to argue with Berengar whether Hans was truly worthy of such a prestigious honor. Something Hans knew was true because of his father's exceptionally strict requirements for his children.

As a Prince of Germany, Hans' ascension through the Ranks of the Luftwaffe was actually harder than the average airmen. Berengar did not like being accused of nepotism, and thus he made it deliberately difficult for his eldest son to receive the awards any other pilot would be given. 

However, Hans' achievments as a pilot were so great, that even the Admiral of the carrier he served on was willing to go to bat for him. After receiving a rather persistant request from Admirla Nolthe Schriber, as well as from Air Marshal Willehelm Krieger who was tasked with leading the Luftwaffe as a whole, Berengar was forced to agree to the award. 

While thinking upon all of this, Hans sat on top of his bunk and polished the prestigious medal before hanging it around his collar once more. Once he had done so, he stood up and jumped off his bunk, much to the chagrin of Haywire, who was trying to rest below him. The man was quick to voice his complaints.

"Jesus christ you nearly kicked me in the fucking face. Just because you're a Captain now doesn't mean you can abuse us peasants!"

By now, Hans was accustomed to the man's odd sense of humor and merely chuckled in response to it. Just when he was about to retort with a quip of his own, another member of their unit rushed into the room.

"Hey, if you guys need anything from Singapore, now is the time to get it. I just got word, repairs are finished, and all of our reinforcements have finally arrived. Within an hour or so, we're going to be heading back to the South China Sea!"

Haywire immediately tossed his magazine aside and jumped out of his bunk before questioning the pilot who had brought him the news.

"You say all I have is an hour?"

The man responded with a subtle nod of the head, which caused Haywire to swiftly pull his tunic out of the rack and placed it over his torso while making sure that all his medals were in place, and easily noticeable.

After doing so, he looked into the mirror and combed his hair. Hans could only scoff as he knew exactly where the man was headed, but the other pilot, who was a recent arrival as he was one of the replacements for those who had been lost in the Marshall Islands, was confused by this, and was quick to inquire about the man's odd behavior. 

"Liuetnant Wagner, sir-"

Haywire had also been promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant. However, if there was one thing he hated most, it was being called by his rank and name. He sharply turned his head over to the new pilot and glared at him before correcting him on his 'proper' title.

"I told you, it's Haywire!" 

The pilot lowered his head in fear of Haywire's stern gaze, it took several seconds for him to find his courage to ask the question on his mind.

"Haywire... Sir... What exactly are you doing?"

Haywire wore a charming smile after turning away from the mirror and placing down his comb. He then spoke with complete confidence as he adorned his socks and boots.

"We have an hour before we depart for sea! God only knows how long we wil lbe gone! I'll have you know that the local ladies love a man in uniform, and I will be damned if we leave before I get to say a proper farewell!"

Hans, who had climbed back into his bunk after hearing they were soon departing, snorted before responding to this comment.

"What he means is that he is going to have one last trip to the nearest whorehouse." 

Haywire shot Hans a glare as he heard this before responding with a quick quip as he rushed out the door.

"Hey, we can't all have five beautiful princesses betrothed to us by our royal parents!" 

Hans merely flipped the page of the book that he was reading while making one last sarcastic remark as he saw Haywire rush out of their cabin.

"Good luck!"

The new pilot had a bewildered expression on his face as he looked over at Hans and asked another question.

"Is he always like that?"

Hans response was far from reassuring as his sight never left the pages of his book. Still, he managed to respond with a casual tone in his voice.

"You get used to it..."

Just like that, within the next hour, the Sixth Carrier Strike Group would depart from the German Naval Base in Singapore, and begin patrolling the south China sea like the other two fleets who had already been dispatched to the region. 

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