The North PacificBoard

The Illuverendian 256th Bomber Squadron (designation Schmetterling A), composed of 6 B-2 bombers then arrived by the pass. It was empty, as unknown to them, the Larenians dug in the defensive. Its escort, the 274th Fighter Squadron (designation Schwarze), consisting of 10 advanced XFA-33 Gaia fighters and 8 Su-37 aircraft, then detected Larenian aircraft ahead.

"Schwarze Squadron, prepare for sortie. We have bogeys ahead," squadron leader Vincent Gleaves declared through his radio. "Let's do this. Attack formation, now!" - in which the squadron then began to enter attack formation. The bombers also changed formation to avoid them being all shot down at once in case the Larenians pass through the fighters.

At the ground, the 44th Panzer Corps "Suffolk's Finest" began to move across the narrow pass, in which the Larenians left undefended. Nearly a few kilometers from the entry through the pass, the 110th Artillery Regiment set up their Panzerartillerie 2/TOS tanks. Equipped with a Yakuvonian missile artillery platform, they began firing a barrage of 24 incendiary missiles towards the other end of the pass. The regiment also had at least 12 Panzerartillerie 2/TOS(es) firing barrages. Seconds later after the incendiary barrage was began, SPGs with a caliber of 15.5 cm began firing across the pass as well to support the 44th Panzer Corps.

There was more to come. Azusa Nanami Takanashi, in Einsvertstadt, then ordered reinforcement via air. The debut of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Parachute Regiments (Fallschirmjäger) would then come soon. In Lancaster, the 3rd Parachute Regiment then began to assemble at Western Region Air Force Base, in which C-130 transport planes were waiting to be loaded with troops ready to die for their country. Operation Zeke was going to be fiercer than expected by the Illuverendian supreme command.

Satisfied with their answers, Queen Natalia visibly smiled, nodded and sipped her tea, sighing with clear relief just as Paulina leaned forward and asked Tiara
“So how are you gonna train us? When do we start? Do we get to stay here? How long? Do I get free food?”

“Manners, Paulina!” Said Natalia loudly. Paulina drew back, bowing her head and smiling with guilt
“Sorry, Mom.”

Natalia gave a comforting smile and shrugged. She then let Paulina say to Tiara just a little more politely
“On the other hand, um, Miss Tiara, I’d just like to say thanks for being nice to my mother. Not everyone at home is always like that. I think you know what things are happening in our country.”

Natalia nodded, bowing her head with shame. She admitted to the two Rynese

“I am not afraid to tell you that I am not the strongest Queen on this world. Not even I was able to slow down the events that happened anyway if I did slow them down.
In addition, I am only a young woman. I may be a mother now and I have completed my education and I have served my country as a soldier but… I fear I am inadequate.” She reached out to Tiara and Nia, telling them more vividly “You see, my dear friends, I am the newest Queen that Azenyanistan has to look up to. My mother can no longer rule and the other princesses are not yet ready. I am the only one who can handle things and although I can say that I have a cabinet and a candidate for regency, I still am afraid that I may be the only one who can hold my country together during this era.

So I must humble myself and ask you, Lady Tiara: Will you help me learn how best I can hold my country together as you do yours?”

Gleaves and his squadron, though destroying much of the Larenian fighters, suffered casualties as well. One of the XFA-33 fighters were shot down. The pilot, unable to eject, activated the self-destruction module of the highly-advanced fighter. It crashed into the pass and exploded into a fireball upon impact, decimating much of its parts. The Illuverendians now had their first leg of casualties.

The 256th Bomber Squadron then went back into attack formation. Gleaves still continued to provide fighter escort. The bomb bays of the attacking bombers opened, and the first five bombers, upon approach to the other side of the pass with remaining enemy forces being bogged down by Illuverendian artillery fire, began carpet-bombing the remaining enemies.

Coinciding on the ground, the 44th Panzer Corps's first group of tanks and infantry cleared the pass after the shelling and incendiary bombardment from the 110th Artillery Regiment ceased. The ground was heavily torched from the firebombing, requiring the soldiers to mount on the tanks for a while as they mobilized through. The Illuverendians looked at some of the wreckages of the Larenian war machine, and some of the slain soldiers fighting for the defense of their country.

The tanks began to assemble in a fanned formation after clearing the pass. Smoke and dust was prevalent, putting every member of the panzer corps to be on alert. They assembled in a small area just from the pass's end away from the designated target of bombers to avoid friendly fire. As the carpet bombing commenced, they all maintained alert as the howling sounds of bombs falling down from the skies above roared around them.

Back in the Illuverendian mainland, the Fallschirmjäger regiments were loaded in, and departed Illuverendian air bases, bound for Larenia-Haberny to reinforce the offensive. The 3rd Parachute Regiment was the nearest one, and headed southwest towards Dolker Pass. The farthest one was the 1st Parachute Regiment, departing from Franziskehafen, and the second-farthest being the 2nd Parachute Regiment from Einsvertstadt.

Operation Zeke was becoming successful, and with the Fallschirmjäger regiments departing for their brethren that has finally entered Larenia-Haberny, the Supreme Illuverendian Command was becoming confident. With the return of the Illuverendian supreme commander Mary Catherine Alcott Midford to the country, troop morale maximized, though she remains cautious of their actions.