Chapter 106: | 106 | War For Liberation Part 25: Negotiations
Amidst western shores, the waters made way for a sharp metallic bow sailing through the turbulent seas. With a long and wide flight deck above its hull, it was gargantuan in the sea. Across the metallic hull was its name; UNS Jaeger of the Blue Seas.
The newly-summoned warship of the United Navy was an America-Class Landing Helicopter Assault Ship, giving meaning to its massive size rivaling that of the UNS Trinity of Solace in length.
Compared to the frigates of the fleet. It was foreboding and menacing. Like a hunter, or a floating building, with unrivaled firepower.
Inside the bridge of the UNS Trinity of Solace, Abraham watched in amazement as the lightning carrier sailed beside them. It was unlike anything he had gained before. Which was understandable.
After all, it was his first aircraft carrier.
"Sir, the UNS Jaeger of the Blue Seas wishes to connect to the data link. They desire your permission." A communication operator reported to the fleet admiral, bringing him out of his trance.
Abraham regained his calm and quietly coughed before turning his attention to the communication who reported the newly-summoned warship's transmission.
"Let them connect to the data link." Hearing the words of the fleet admiral, the communication operator nodded in understanding and transmitted the response to the lightning carrier.
*ZZzzzz...*
The buzz of electronics and machines echoed throughout the bridge. However, the metallic hum ended when a voice escaped the confines of the communication apparatus.
*Greetings, Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd. It is an honor to be a part of your fleet and naval force. I am Rear Admiral George of the UNS Jaeger of the Blue Seas. We await your command.*
A gentleman's voice was heard, and it came from the rear admiral who introduced himself as George. Abraham raised an eyebrow for a second before responding to the message.
"Good to see you, Rear Admiral George. We concluded our military operations just now, but your presence is appreciated. Vice Admiral Charlotte will be briefing you on our circumstances in this foreign world."
*Understood, Fleet Admiral. I will be hearing from the vice admiral about our situation.* With that, the transmission ended and silence returned to the bridge along with the singing of the machines.
"Charlotte, you will be taking care of the briefing. I want you to summarize our situation from the beginning to the end. Make it so that it wouldn't last too long." Abraham ordered the vice admiral beside him.
"Affirmative, I will be heading to the Combat Information Center," Charlotte responded and saluted the fleet admiral before taking her leave to the COC.
And so, Abraham was left alone on his own along with the naval personnel working in the bridge. He stood in silence while silently observing the lightning carrier and the horizon in front of them.
Inside his mind were surging thoughts about the Jaeger of the Blue Seas. Even though it wasn't a full-fledged carrier, but a special type of Amphibious Assault Ship. Compared to other carriers in his former world, it might as well be one.
Along with twelve Ospreys, it had six F-35B Jets, four King Stallions, several Viper Attack Helicopters, and two Knight Hawks. Its air force wasn't to be underestimated since it had the capability to rival a small nation on its own.
Not only that, it also had two battalions worth of Marines inside of it and waiting for deployment. The forces that the United Navy could deploy in battlefronts practically increased two-fold.
But numbers didn't mean anything if they had no idea how to employ it.
With this in mind, Abraham wondered if he should place the UNS Light Bringer and the UNS Jaeger of the Blue Seas together. Using the defensive capabilities of the UNS Light Bringer, and the long-range assault capabilities of the UNS Jaeger of the Blue Seas.
They would be a force to be reckoned with.
Naturally, of course. There would be intricacies he needed to take care of regarding the creation of the second fleet. For now, the idea would have to stay in the back of his mind until the United Navy returned to the Port of Dawn.
"Fleet Admiral, the briefing has concluded."
Not realizing that time had passed by. Abraham's thoughts were interrupted by the recently arrived Charlotte. He looked at her for a second and softly responded to the vice admiral. "Thank you, Charlotte."
The vice admiral merely nodded in appreciation to his words and stood beside him. Abraham glanced at Charlotte and couldn't help but inquire. "So, what do you think about the rear admiral?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow but answered the question of the fleet admiral.
"Rear Admiral George is a cold old man with a black beard and dark hair. He's about 51 years old and has a strategic mind. His loyalty is undeniable, but I advise the fleet admiral to meet him personally."
Her words were honest and straightforward. Abraham could only nod in agreement while creating an image of the rear admiral inside his head. Obviously, though, he understood that he needed to personally meet with the old man.
Abraham wanted to thank Charlotte, but before he could do so, an intelligence officer reported a disruption in a nearby magnetic field. A spatial distortion has also been detected through their drones.
"Fleet Admiral, an enemy fleet has arrived!"
When Abraham heard of the intelligence officer's words. He didn't hesitate and swiftly raised the alarms of the fleet. "Get the fleet combat-ready! Prepare for battle."
There was a reason why he didn't hesitate for the United Navy to prepare themselves to fight against their incoming adversaries. It was simply because the island beside them was the former territory of the Colonial Dominion.
Naturally, they would be here to take it back.
"How many ships are in the enemy fleet?" Abraham questioned the intelligence officer, who swiftly replied. "Five enemy battleships are in the incoming fleet, Sir."
Five was a sizeable number, but it was something that they could handle.
Thoughts raged inside his mind as this would be the first proper fleet-to-fleet naval battle since his arrival into this world. He didn't know if he should feel excited, or the exact opposite.
*ZZzzzz... I am the fleet commander of the vanguard fleet of the Principatus Humanum. I am here to express the desire for negotiation. I repeat! The fleet is under the intent of negotiation.* A voice echoed from the runic communicator, coming from the adversary's fleet commander.
Abraham furrowed his eyebrows, a bit confused by the words of the voice. He quickly signaled Charlotte to halt any attacks toward the incoming fleet and responded to the runic communicator.
"This is the Fleet Admiral of the United Navy, Abraham Shepherd. Speak of this negotiation of yours." His resolute words resounded as he wouldn't hesitate to destroy the fleet before his fleet.
*The Colonial Dominion is negotiating for the release of civilians trapped in the town of Servusarator. Along with any captured soldiers belonging to the local garrison of the plantation colony.*
Hearing the words of the enemy fleet commander, Abraham realized that this was an opportunity.
While prisoners of war could be helpful in the development of the planned town beside the Port of Dawn, it would be too troublesome to keep them for an indefinite period of time.
Though, obviously... He wouldn't be releasing anyone that was a treasure trove for intelligence.
"Affirmative, we'll accept the negotiations." Abraham accepted the negotiations for the prisoners of war and the citizens of the town of Servusarator. And so, it was time for the negotiations. He'll let Charlotte handle this.
He looked at Charlotte, while the vice admiral merely sighed and nodded at him.
"I am Vice Admiral Charlotte of the United Navy. I will be handling the negotiations."
With that, the negotiations for the prisoners of war and the civilians began. Charlotte opened with the price of the prisoners' release. The United Navy wouldn't release their prisoners without a price tag, otherwise the military operation would have been useless.
Most of the things that Charlotte desired from the Colonial Dominion were artifacts related to magicraft along with knowledge regarding magic. If the fleet commander could provide the artifacts and knowledge to the United Navy, the prisoners of war would be released.
On the other hand, the civilians of the town of Servusarator were immediately sent to the fleet in front of them as the United Navy had no control over their movements.
The fleet commander of the vanguard fleet accepted the deal as knowledge and some artifacts of magicraft weren't a big deal. In the foreign world, magic wasn't forbidden knowledge. Instead, it was a power only a few could control.
As long as they didn't give special artifacts with great importance, it shouldn't be much. The knowledge was also something that they could give. Basic knowledge about magicraft should satisfy the curiosity of these heretics.
The negotiations ended great for both sides.
The United Navy got the magic artifacts and magical knowledge while the Colonial Dominion got their important manpower.
"We'll end the negotiations here, fleet commander. The United Navy will deliver the prisoners of war to the northern seas where they will be picked up by your fleet. And while doing so, we expect you to maintain your side in the deal."
"Otherwise, things will be bad for the both of us." Charlotte coldly warned before cutting the transmission between the bridge and the enemy fleet.
After the negotiations, Charlotte sighed to herself while noticing the fleet admiral gazing at her with expectations and satisfaction. She could only sigh again as she shook her head and began discussing with the elated Abraham.
Meanwhile, in the captain's quarters of an expansionary battleship. The fleet commander relayed the negotiations to the Colonial Dominion. It seems that the voice from the other side was satisfied with the deal he had gotten.
'Why am I handling the negotiations?' The fleet commander thought to himself as it should have been a diplomat in his place negotiating with the heretics.
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