Tyranny of Steel

Immediately after Alexandros declared war on the Jalayirid Sultanate, the fighter jets onboard the supercarrier took to the skies above the Arabian Peninsula, with a single mission.

Drop bombs on critical targets.

While the Byzantine Army crossed over the border and prepared themselves for a battle on the land. The Luftwaffe was flying at breakneck speeds, zoning in on the capital of the Jalayirid Sultanate, where the majority of their civil and military leadership was concentrated.

German Intelligence had long since infiltrated the Arab states, and was able to accurately provide information on the current whereabouts of the Jalayirid Sultan, and his top advisors, who were gathered in his palace, where they were discussing how they would deal with this invasion from the west.

At the moment, the Jalayirid Sultan was in a heated debate with his top generals, who each had a different idea on how they would deal with their enemies.

"IT want a messenger sent to Salan! I need the support of the Timurid Empire if I am going to have a chance of winning this war! For years, he has been investing into firearms and cannons. If anyone has the ability to contend with these Byzantine rats, then it is him! Invoke our alliance, and call for the aid of the Timurid Army!"

While the Jalayirid Sultan was convinced that the only path to victory lie with the support of their allies, several of his Generals were quick to voice their disagreements.

"As long as the Germans do not get involved, then we still have a chance of defeating the enemy! We should muster our musketeers, and send them to the borders, to deal with these damned invaders. Sure, send forth for aid from our allies, but do not act as if all is lost without their support!"

Despite the General's words, the Jalayirid Sultan was not convinced. After all, his father had made the same mistake of underestimating his enemies many years ago during the last attempt the Arab states had made to secure the holy land.

Back then, their entire army, along with the previous sultan, were burned to ash by the Germans. To this day, nobody knew how the Germans had achieved this. Perhaps they had used a more potent version of the Byzantine Empire's Greek Fire.

Thus, the man was just about to argue against his General's point, when a terrifying sound startled everyone within the building. The roar of the supersonic jets filled the skies above Basra, giving the Jalayirid Sultan an intense feeling of impending doom. He was just about to speak when several 1,100 kg bombs fell on top of his palace. Thus reducing it, and everyone inside to dust.

With a single coordinated strike, the Luftwaffe had eliminated the entirety of the Jalayirid Sultanate's chain of command. And perhaps most terrifying of all was the fact that the victims had no chance of even preventing such an attack from occurring.

Immediately, the pilots who conducted the air strike reported that the target was eliminated back to the carrier's bridge, who in return relayed the communications back to the fatherland. Of which, Berengar then informed his son, the Byzantine Emperor, that the Jalayirid dynasty and all of their generals were now deceased.

Before the enemy could even muster their forces, they were now left completely leaderless. Thus, allowing the Byzantine Army free rein as they crossed their eastern border and into the Arabian Peninsula, where they would use lethal force to eliminate anyone who dared to oppose their occupation.

However, the war did not end there, after all, Alexandros had declared war on the Jalayirid Sultanate and all of their allies, thus while one quarter of the Byzantine Army marched into the Arabian Peninsula, another quarter marched into the lands belonging to the Timurid Empire, with the intent to conquer and annex the region.

Berengar sat back in his office without a care in the world for what was going on in the middle east and north Africa. His sons were both men now, and they no longer needed him to hold their hands as they embarked on their first wars.

By now, the Iberian, Byzantine, and Nordic Empires were now in control of his sons. However, if there was one more region that was left entirely forgotten, it would be the British isles.

Berengar had long since been keeping a close eye on the region. Officially, England's current king was none other than his son Lukas. However, the boy had never one step foot on the British Isles despite already being fourteen years old. Instead, he had been spending the last fourteen years studying under his father to become the next king of England.

Berengar had a soft spot for the children he had with Henrietta, and Lukas was the oldest of them. He looked almost exactly like his father did when he was the boy's age, except with one major difference: he was neither weak nor frail. Instead, he was a strong and healthy lad.

The boy was currently sitting across from his father in the man's office, with an anxious expression on his face. Berengar was reading a report about his son's latest academic achievements. He was not the genius that Hans and Zara were, but he was intelligent enough to be an efficient leader. And Lukas had displayed many leadership abilities during his tenure in the German Cadet Corps.

After carefully examining the reports, Berengar smiled before looking his young son in the eye and expressing his approval.

"You have been doing quite well for yourself. Both your teachers and officers give you praise. I believe it is time for you and I to visit England. It has been a long time since the Kingdom has submitted to the Reich, and I believe that your people should get to know their new King. What do you say? Would you like to take a family vacation to England? Your mother will be able to join us."

Though publically Lukas was Adela's son, everyone in the family knew that he was actually Henrietta's boy. Including himself. He was quite proud of his parentage, despite the taboo nature behind his mother's and father's relationship. Yet he was also wise enough to know why his true mother could not be made public.

Lukas' father and mother were siblings by blood, and the only evidence they had that countered this narrative was the unreliable word of a sympathetic father. Berengar had dug into the family records to prove that his father's story was correct and yet he found nothing about Henrietta being his half-aunt.

Berengar was convinced that his father had lied to him, to make it easier for him to accept Henrietta's love, but he could not prove either theory correct. And since he could not prove Henrietta was more distantly related to him than the public knew, he would never reveal their relationship to anyone who was not an immediate family member.

It was because of this complex relationship that Lukas thought his father was referring to Adela, and not his actual biological mother. Thus, he wore a bitter smile as he sighed and accepted his father's gesture.

"Sure... I would enjoy a brief vacation in England with you and Adela..."

Berengar's brow raised slightly as he heard his son's words, before correcting the boy on his intentions.

"When I said your mother, I was referring to my beloved sister. It has been a while since we have gone anywhere as a family. Naturally there are good reasons for this, but in a backwater like England, nobody will realize that your mother isn't Adela. Or would you prefer that Adela make another public appearance as your 'mother'?"

With this misunderstanding cleared, Lukas' youthful face immediately broke out into a wide smile. This was the first time that his father had ever offered an actual family vacation. He was so ecstatic that he jumped out of his chair and boldly questioned whether the man was actually telling the truth.

"Do you really mean it? It will be a real family vacation?"

Berengar returned the boy's enthusiasm as he nodded his head thrice before responding verbally.

"Indeed, it has been a while since I have taken Henrietta anywhere meaningful, and I suppose England is not the worst option in the world..."

Lukas was so excited that he had forgotten that his father was technically engaged in a war right now, and when he remembered this fact, he calmed his heart before bringing up this concern.

"What about the war? Won't you be needed here in Kufstein?"

Lukas was not the only one who had forgotten about the ongoing war with the Arab States. Berengar cared so little about the conflict, because he knew the outcome already, that he had not even bothered to factor it into his plans. Thus, he responded nonchalantly as he dismissed the idea entirely.

"War? Oh, you mean what's going on in Arabia? Not to worry, I am not needed for such a petty dispute. If something serious happens, my Generals have ways of contacting me, but I can't think for the life of me, how your brother could possibly manage to bungle such an easy victory.

We will depart in two weeks for England, and spend three months going around the Kingdom, so that your subjects can become acquainted with their new King. Now run along, Lukas.

I have much to prepare for..."

Lukas could not stop smiling as he followed his father's orders, and scampered off to tell his mother and siblings the good news. As for Berengar, he quickly got back to work, not even thinking twice about the ongoing conflict in the middle east.

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