The First Shot

March 4th, 1939 - The Tides Turn

The air inside the Volkshalle command center was suffocatingly tense, each officer anxiously awaiting the next report from the front lines. Alexander stood before the vast map of the Valorian coastline, his fingers drumming rhythmically against the polished wood of the table. The distant rumble of artillery echoed faintly through the telegraph line, signaling that the standoff between the Valorian and Ruthenian fleets had reached a critical juncture.

Julieanne's fingers flew over the telegraph keys, transmitting Alexander's orders to the fleet. She looked up, her usually calm demeanor cracking ever so slightly. "Admiral Reinhardt reports that the RNS Imperator has fired another shot, sir. It landed dangerously close to the Valeria. The Ruthenians are pushing us to the brink."