POV Leon
As our fleet approached the Offley territory, our destroyers managed to down four enemy pickets, their shields shattering under the rapid fire of the destroyers' 125mm auto cannons. Any escaping armors were hunted down by the Werewolf battalion, leaving our approach completely undetected.
When we got within 25kms of the Offley capital itself, the defense fleet was scrambling to mobilize. Only thirty-seven ships were in the air to meet us, with a couple dozen armors launching from the ground to assist in their futile resistance.
The Offley vessels formed up in a battleline, expecting us to do the same, only for Ironblood vessels to accelerate ahead of our allied vessels, opening fire eight kilometers from their battleline. We brought down three vessels with our opening salvo, with more falling as we closed in on the unfortunate defenders.
What was left of the Offley fleet opened fire when we were only four kilometers away. Their volley was still rather inaccurate at this range, with only 40% of shells landing true, causing our shields to flare to life.
At that moment, I launched alongside nearly all of our knight armors, each loaded with two detachable 250mm airburst rockets. We flew towards the enemy fleet at just over 500 kmph, ready to rock. Enemy armors flew out to met us, just as we planned.
Over the com, Iris spoke a single word. "Fire!"
Our pilots launched the disposable rockets at the swarm of enemy armors that out numbered us two-to-one, the rocket booming as they exceeded the speed of sound. Four seconds later, the sky was filled with a wall of explosions that could be heard for dozens of kilometers.
When the smoke cleared, only a bit over half of the enemy armors managed to make it out of the surprise attack. We ripped through the rest of them like a hurricane. Our pilots and their machines proving superior to our opposition. This was made worse by our dirty tactics, our pilots abusing their range advantage and focusing down any enemy they found.
I managed to bring down three armors myself, all of whom were actually worse than the pirates we had been hunting previously. It seems that house Offley skimped out on properly training it's forces, believing that Marquis Frampton would protect them from any threat.
I flew towards the largest enemy ship that was still operational. The shields were down, allowing me to put a 60mm airburst round right through the middle of the bridge before cutting through its propellers with my bayonet. I flew to it's port side, and put a second 60mm round right the gundeck. A lucky hit to the ship's magazine causing the whole vessels to vanish in a violent conflagration.
We rushed past the rest of the beleaguered Offley fleet, leaving them for our less technologically advanced allies to capture. Our fleet moving to capture the Offley Palace before they could flee. When we were five kilometers out from the city, I heard Serena's voice on a fleet wide channel.
"Phase one is complete. Deploying ground teams now."
A second later, the razorbacks began leaving their assigned carriers, one after another.
"Armor squads are to form up around the Razorbacks. We will not let a single one fall!" Said Iris.
A series of confirmations ringing out from the squadron captains. Followed by the Werewolf battalion shooting ahead of everyone else, their brand new GUAIZs being easily recognizable at a glance.
"You all have fun with that, the Werewolf battalion and I are going to deal with the enemy ground defenses." Beatrix said while leading from the center of the flying V formation they had taken.
"Very well Werewolf one, but no harm must come to the Earl or his family. Am I clear?"
"Ja, ja. Don't be such a worry wort, this isn't my first capture operation." Iris just gave an annoyed hmmm in response.
The rest of the flight was mostly uneventful for us, though it was fun watching Beatrix little band of nutjobs blowing up the enemies few revolving cannons or flak guns.
As the Razorbacks touched down around the Offley estate, they were pelted by small-arms fire from the defenders. I fired my 60mm cannon at a team wheeling out a field gun, the airburst munition turning the poor bastards into little more than chunky salsa.
Our troops advanced behind a contingent of Spectre units, the robot infantry being highly resistant to anything short of a .338 norma magnum round. I watched them advance into the building through a back entrance that connected to the Kitchens before receiving a request for support from another team. "This is Sergeant Willbrook of Charlie team, requesting immediate support. An enemy knight is stopping us from advancing on the residential section. The bastard has already cut our Spectres apart, and one of my men is down!"
"Sargeant Willbrook, this is commander Bartfort. Heading to your location now." I heard the faint thank god coming from the other end of the line. Landing my gundam on the ground, I jumped out of the cockpit and ran as fast as I could to Charlie team's location. As I ran through the gaudy maze like hallways, Luxion projected the path on my HUD.
As I got closer, I could hear the distinct sound of automatic gunfire. Rounding a corner, I saw saw a swordsman adorned in Offley colors, hiding behind a magic barrier, the bastard surrounded by the dismembered bodies of a half dozen Spectres, and at two members of Charlie team. He was advancing on the rest of the Charlie team while they tried to keep him at bay by pummeling him with gunfire.
When I saw the distinctive rings of reinforcement magic appear around his legs, I launched myself at him like a living freight train. He turned just in time to see me right before I slammed him right through the damn wall! He hit the ground hard, the force of a five hundred kilo living war machine keeping him were he lay. I grabbed the dazed knight by the gorgat and punched the lights out of him. Pulling his unconscious body back through the hole in the wall, I made my way to Sergeant Willbrook.
"Take him back to your ship and lock him in the brig." I said while throwing the knight in front of Willbrook.
He had the look of awe in his eyes. "Yessir! And thank you. If it wasn't for you, the rest of us probably wouldn't made it."
I nod in return. "I'll send a team to retrieve your comrades once the fighting has stopped. Their sacrifice will not go forgotten, or unrewarded for that matter." Willbrook gave me a salute, the action mirrored by the rest of his unit.
As I continued further into the estate, I encountered a number of deceased Offley guards, a handful of destroyed Ironblood Spectres and a handful of deceased Ironblood marines, before finally meeting up with bravo team. They were exchanging fire with the last of the Offley guards in front of the Earl's study, slowly pushing up behind the Spectres. I lined up on one of the guards to the rear, and let loose with a string of armor piercing rounds. They smashed right through his skull, the exit wounds splattering his brain across the wall.
I knew the guards were trying to stall for time, so I charged forward, after all, I knew that my Mjolnir could take multiple rounds from anything short of a .50 BMG. The guards were surprised by my aggressive tactic, not expecting me to charge in like a madman.
Another burst saw another guard drop. A handful of rounds pinged off my shield, not even managing to bring it down to 90%. Two of the bastards who shot at me were rewarded with armor piercing rounds from Bravo team, and another ripped apart by a burst from yours truly. Seeing their numbers cut in half, the remaining guards threw down their weapons and put their hands in the air.
Bravo team set a breaching charge on the door with surprising speed considering the rather short training they received. The charge went of with enough force to blow the reinforced door right off the damn hinges! A corporal from Bravo Team threw a flashbang into the room. After a couple seconds, we saw a the flash, and I took point entering the room. I dispatched a knight, while the members of Bravo took down the remaining guards. With the shooting over, my men and I cleared the room, finding the quivering form of Ricky Fou Offley hiding under a table, the fatman too slow to escape before we came crashing through.
I called Serena to update her on the situation. "Bravo team and I have breached the Earl's study. We did apprehend Ricky, but the rest of the family managed to make it through the evacuation tunnel before we arrived."
"It seems that even you, the great Ironblood commander can fail at times. Worry not my dear, for Beatrix sent word that the rest of the family is in her custody."
I smiled. "That's good to hear. I hope you're ready Serena because when I head to the academy, you'll have to deal with all the annoying crap!"
She chuckled. "These spoiled children shall soon learn what a real noblewoman is like."
---
POV Mylene
"What were you thinking?" I asked my longtime friend, Duke Vince Rapha Redgrave.
His put down his teacup with a grace that comes from decades of practice. "House Offley was a blight upon this kingdom. They disrespected the royal family, to the point of treason. As a loyal vassal and friend, how could I possibly allow their treason to go unpunished?"
I was about to retort, when the third individual in this meeting decided to intervene. "It's as the good Duke said my queen, how could we possibly let those traitorous trash continue. Their pirates have killed or enslaved thousands of the kingdom's subject over the years, including a fair few ships from the royal army. Such actions cannot be forgiven." Earl Roseblade said, his tone dripping with malice.
They were not wrong in their assessment, and that makes this far more tricky. I took a sip of my orange chamomile tea. "I understand why you chose to do what you did, but you both know that you took drastic actions without approval from the Royal Palace. That means that I must levy some form of punishment on both families."
Both noblemen nodded in agreement with me. "I have decided that Houses Redgrave and Roseblade will pay for the reconstruction of the former Offley territory, along with providing a defensive force for it's security until such a time as it can defend itself."
Earl Roseblade bowed his head. "House Roseblade accepts this punishment, and thanks you for your leniency."
I nodded back to him. Turning my gaze to Vince gave me a small smile. "House Redgrave accepts this punishment, your majesty."
I took a long sip of my tea, it's sweet flavor helping me unwind. "Very well then, I believe we can now put this nasty business behind us."
Vince's face became stern. "I'm afraid we still have one more subject to discuss." I looked at him questioningly. "How will you reward commander Bartfort and his Ironblood Legion for their part in uncovering this conspiracy."
Earl Roseblade nodded enthusiastically. "That's not even mentioning the fact that his forces did almost all of the fighting in this operation, and consequently bore the majority of the casualties."
Ah yes, commander Leon Fou Bartfort, the adventurer, turned mercenary. One of the biggest forces for good, while simultaneously being one of my biggest headaches. My agents reported that he not only commands an impressive mercenary force, but is both a knight of highest echelon, and holds significant sway over almost a dozen noble families.
"Very well then, young Bartfort was already going to made a baron of the lower sixth for his achievements as an adventurer, same as his father. How about the Royal Palace elevates him to the upper sixth instead, this would make him a half-step above his father."
Vince frowned at me. "Mylene, are you trying to turn him against you?"
I sharpened my gaze. "Do you find issues with my decision Vince?"
"I know what you are worried about him gaining to much power, but to not reward him properly for his achievements will hurt the Royal Family far more than he could with a title befitting his achievements."
I don't know what was more frustrating, the fact that he saw right through my plan, or the fact that he was right the situation. "Then what would you recommend as a reward?"
"I believe that giving him the title of count, and having him oversee the former Offley territory would be appropriate, considering all he's done for the kingdom this year alone."
Giving a boy just barely an adult the title of count and a matching territory?! The Idea was simply ludicrous, commander Bartfort already has great military power and wealth, giving him the political power of a count is far too risky. "Vince, you know as well as I, that if I were to promote a mere boy to the position of count, the other noble houses would not accept it."
He raised an eyebrow in response. "Other noble houses would not accept it, or the royal family would not accept it?"
I was shocked that Vince would argue so much for the sake of one boy, especially since our families future were so intertwined with Julius and Angelica's engagement. I was about to retort, when the Earl interjected. "Your majesty, this kingdom is built on achievements, to fail to properly reward an extraordinary individual such as young commander Bartfort would not only risk souring relations with his mercenaries, but more importantly undermine the very nature of the kingdom. If you think the rank of count is too generous, then promote him to the rank of viscount."
I paused for a second to consider his idea. The title of Viscount is low enough to avoid major scrutiny, well being far more impressive than a baron, especially on the frontier. The black knight is also a viscount, and from what reports say, young Bartfort and his mercenaries hold the best chance of defeating him. "Very well Earl Roseblade, your idea is seems to be the most reasonable path forward. Commander Bartfort shall receive the title of Viscount, that is my final decision."
Earl Roseblade gave a light bow, well Vince nodded. I was glad to be moving on from my newest headache.
---
POV Leon
Looking around at my girlfriends, all adorned with the Ironblood dress uniform, I was thoroughly impressed. The design was based off of the UNSC officer uniform, but grey with silver trim instead of the UNSC white and gold. A large Ironblood cross was prominent being on both our left shoulder and caps.
While my father understood that I was appearing as the commander of the Ironblood Legion first and foremost, my mother was a little more critical. She really wanted me to wear something more flashy for her "baby's big day!" Finley seemed indifferent to my choice of attire, but Jeanna claimed that I was embarrassing her in front of the whole court. Luckily for me, I couldn't care less about comes out of her mouth any day of the week.
Colin, adorable little guy he is, looked at me with stars in his eyes. He ran around the four of us like a cocaine addict before asking me something I didn't expect. "Big bro, big bro. Can I wear one of those fancy suits too?!"
I froze for a second before looking towards my father for help. He shrugged and gave me a smile that was of no help.
I looked back at my little brother bouncing in excitement with mixed emotions. "Maybe when your old enough."
He looked a little down, but I planned to bake him some macaroons later to make up for it. Best bro Nick's hugged Colin from behind protectively. "Recruiting a little young aren't you Leon?" He said sarcastically.
I gave him a smug smile. "I already have a uniform ready for you."
He blinked before pointing to himself. "Me? I'm not some kind of super knight like you are."
I put my hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. "We share the same blood Nicks, with a good effort, you could be one of the best, but only if you're willing to try."
He looked at me surprised for a few seconds before his nodding his head. "Let me think on it."
I gave him my most genuine smile. "Of course Nicks. We Legionaries give our lives to protect the people, it's not a choice easily made."
He nodded before I turned towards the three beauty women in uniform with me. "You ready?"
Serena smirked. "You should worry about yourself first my love. As the face of the Ironblood Legion, it would be particularly embarrassing if you were to trip in front the whole court."
I rolled my eyes. "You know that if I fall, it will be on you. Have fun carrying my fatass!" Beatrix cackled at that one.
"Would you really have one of us carry you like a helpless princess? What of your masculine pride?" Iris asked with a snicker.
I pointed to myself with faux shock on my face. "Pride? Me? No such thing."
It was at that point that one of the Palace servants decided to interrupt us. "Excuse my Lord, but they are ready for you." She said with a bow.
"Very well." I said before turning to my girlfriends, "alright ladies, shall we."
With a nod we each took our positions in a diamond formation, myself in the front, Serena to my right, Iris to the left, and Beatrix taking up the rear.
A pair of guards opened the massive wooden doors, as the herald announced our arrival.
The throne room itself was as large and gaudy as one night expect from a monarchy like Holfort. The white pillars were rather attractive, but the walls were covered in gaudy gold, silver, and silk decorations. It was pretty clear they were trying to show off, to inspire fear and see in their vassals.
As we walked down the blue carpet, I noted just how many nobles were in attendance, there must've been two hundred or more. Some looked intrigued, others jealous, and some looked outright disgusted. More than a few looked at my girlfriends with lecherous stares. I made a note to ask Luxion to watch them carefully after the ceremony. Finally there was a fair few nobles who showed a mix of pride and appreciation for us, among them was the family of every house we were allied with.
As we approached the throne I took a second to appreciate Mylene's beauty. From her sparkling platinum/silver hair, to her bright blue eyes, and of course who could forget her exquisite curves that no dress could possibly hide. Dear God, how the king doesn't make love to this woman constantly is just a mystery, and that's despite knowing his preference for underaged girls.
As for said king, he was about what I expected. Sharp features and striking blue hair that clashed with the sheer boredom written across his face. He was leaned over to his right, cheek resting on his fist like a child.
We stopped just a couple meters from the throne, the four of us taking a knee in near perfect synch. Mylene's gaze focused on me for a second before she turned to address the court.
"We are here to honor these brave heroes who have taken up arms to defend the kingdom, at great risk to themselves. They hunted down many a pirate who threatened the frontier, and brought down the righteous hammer of the King's Justice upon the treasonous Offley household."
The nobles in attendance started clapping, some more enthusiastic than others. The sight of Marquis Frampton struggling to maintain his smiling facade brought a smile to my face. I knew that he was only clapping in order to look innocent.
I saw Roland's face twitch with annoyance at not being the object of all this praise. He held up his hands to silence the crowd, the clapping puttering out in a matter of seconds. He rose to his full height, the douche puffing out his chest, trying to grab as much attention as he could.
"Beatrix Bremhe, Dame Irisdina Fou Bernhard, and lady Serena Fou Holz. You three have fought hard for the safety of this kingdom and her people. Such service must be rewarded," he turned to the gathered nobles, "would you all not agree?!"
They responded with a boisterous affirmation. He stood there for a second, basking in the attention before turning back to us before it became awkward. He was fairly good at putting on a show when he wanted to, I'll give him that. "For your service to the crown, I grant each of you the title of Baronettess."
Looking up, I saw Mylene's eyes widen in surprise for a fraction of a second before returning to normal. Clearly she didn't plan on promoting my three girlfriends. Roland waited for the clapping to die down before putting up his hand to silence the crowd. "Of course we can't forget about young Bartfort here. Leon Fou Bartfort, you shocked us all when you became the first adventurer in a century to discover new islands, not to mention that fancy ship of yours." He said the last part while tightening his gaze towards me. "Now some would use that to further there own goals, but Leon Fou Bartfort did not." His smirk was incredibly irritating, especially since I wasn't quite sure what he was planning. "No, instead he used his new found strength to hunt down pirates whom make their way by preying on the innocent people of our kingdom. Then he apprehended an Earl's house guilty of treason against the crown."
He paused long enough for a number of cheers to ring out. "Leon Fou Bartfort...for your outstanding achievements as an adventurer, and in administering the King's Justice, I grant you the rank of Viscount of the lower fifth." A shocked gasp went out through the crowd. It had been over five-hundred years since the last time a new house was made with a rank above baron of the lower sixth. While the gathered nobles were shocked by this, the promotion was fully within our expectations.
"Upon my honor I swear to fight for the kingdom and her people, upon my blood I swear to shield the innocent from the unrighteous, and upon my iron I swear to destroy those who see our kingdom harmed." Mylene tightened her gaze on me, clearly not pleased that I left out the crown in my oath. Roland on the other hand, gaze me a Grinch-like smile.
"Very good! Rise viscount Leon Fou Bartfort, defender of the frontier!"
As I stood up, he walked over and draped his arm over my shoulder before whispering in my ear. "There's a lot of frontier to defend, I trust the Ironblood Legion is up to the task?"
'Trying to spread us thin Roland? I think you're in for a surprise.' I thought. "Of course your majesty, after all, the royal army can't be everywhere at once." I gave him a wink. 'That's right fucker, I'm calling your army out as negligent and incapable.' His eye twitched in irritation at my comment, and that made my fuckin day.
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AN: Okay, finally done with this chapter, thank god. The past couple of chapters basically wrote themselves, and were enjoyable to work on, but not this one. I ended up rewriting each section multiple times, and frankly I'm still not super happy with it. Tell me what you guys think about it in the comments, I'd love to hear what you guys would do to improve on this one.
Anyways, next chapter we will finally moving on to the next major arc! I hope you all have a wonderful day!