The Rise Of Australasia-Chapter 1184 - 887: Carpet Bombing_2

Even if I could return safely to the Island Nation after the war, I was destined to be seen as a good-for-nothing and a traitor in the eyes of the Islanders. To preserve my honor, after suffering defeat, perhaps the only path left to me was seppuku.

In the over ten minutes that followed, the Island Nation Army progressed very smoothly, which finally allowed Murai Nobuo to relax.

Based on the current pace, it seemed possible that within half an hour they could be approaching the defensive positions on the outskirts of Naha.

If they could catch the Australasians by surprise, perhaps they could quickly capture their defensive positions and engage in urban warfare within the city.

Although urban warfare would likely result in greater casualties, the Islanders never shied away from close-quarters combat in Naha.

After all, urban warfare greatly leverages the advantages of terrain, which for the Island Nation Army, familiar with Naha's urban layout and terrain, was an inherent advantage.

But soon, Murai Nobuo could no longer smile.

Just a few minutes later, the buzzing sound filled the sky again.

Unlike the last time, this buzz was clearly en masse, obviously indicating many aircraft.

This also meant that either they had encountered a large-scale Australasian reconnaissance squadron or their whereabouts had been exposed, and more fighter and bomber aircraft were on their way specifically for them.

Regardless of which situation it was, for the Island Nation Army at that moment, it was definitely a major crisis.

"Quickly seek cover!" Murai Nobuo hurriedly issued the order.

The good news was that they had already left the environs of Nago, and the surrounding area was forest, where cover was relatively easier to find.

It was quite easy to hide in the surrounding forest and grasslands. If the Australasia Army didn't observe carefully, they were unlikely to spot the Island Nation Army.

With this thought, Murai Nobuo and the division's high-ranking officers quickly hid in the forest.

The forest offered better safety than the grasslands, not just because the leaves obstructed reconnaissance aircraft's line of sight but also because there were few large rocks that could serve as cover.

"Your Excellency Division Commander, something seems off," remarked Tanaka Taro, the commander of the first infantry brigade, with a grave expression and a serious tone to Murai Nobuo. "According to the map, our march is on the shortest route, which is exactly in line with the flight path of the Australasian reconnaissance planes.

About 20 minutes ago, Australasian Aircraft just conducted a reconnaissance over this area. If it were a regular situation, they wouldn't likely carry out two consecutive reconnaissance missions within just 20 minutes.

That also means they might have already detected our movements, or they have noticed something amiss and are searching for us."

Murai Nobuo nodded, as he too had noticed the unusual behavior of the Australasian Air Force.

Although Australasia had completely secured air superiority, reconnaissance was definitely not done this way.

Conducting reconnaissance on the same route every 20 minutes was just a waste of time and fuel.

"Hold positions for now, let's see how the Australasians react," Murai Nobuo considered for a moment before slowly saying: "If anything seems wrong, immediately retreat northward."

If they were really intercepted by the Australasian Air Force mid-way, they would have no capability to resist. Although the Type A Division's firepower was formidable, it was a comparison with army forces, not with air force units.

Aircraft flew in the sky, and aside from some special anti-aircraft weapons, most of the weapons simply couldn't hit those airplanes.

Moreover, after such a prolonged duration of combat, the Island Nation Army had also recognized that Australasian airplanes were all made of metal frames.

These aircraft, though more expensive, were far more durable than wooden planes.

The machine guns on airplanes could easily destroy a wooden aircraft but could only cause minor damage to all-metal frame aircraft.

Facing these metal "turtles" in the sky, the Island Nation Army was helpless, unless they could have an air force of similar scale.

Unfortunately, at the start of the war, the Australasians swiftly wiped out the Island Nation's Air Force stationed in the Ryukyu islands, with the objective being to render the Island Nation defenseless against their air force, left only to await slaughter.

Hearing Murai Nobuo's words, Tanaka Taro silently nodded, his mind awash with myriad thoughts.

Why flee to the north? Because a part of the Type B Division was stationed in the northern part of the Native Land, and joining forces with them would increase the chances of survival, or at least delay for a longer time.

More importantly, the Type B Division stationed here controlled a small-scale coastal defense fleet with the capability to go to sea.

If it really came down to a life-or-death situation, perhaps boarding ships and quietly heading to the larger islands further north would be their only choice.

But the question is, was fleeing to the larger islands really an escape route for them?

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

The larger island was the northernmost of the three larger islands in the Ryukyu Islands and not far from the Native Land.

If they deployed their defenses on the larger island, they could also receive support from the Native Land, which could at least hold out for a longer time.

But the mission the Island Nation government gave them was to hold the main island and protect Naha. If they lost the main island and Naha so quickly, even if they could successfully escape to the larger island, they were destined to face the punishment of the Island Nation government.

Under various influences and indoctrination, the Island Nation Army still took military honor seriously. Officers like them, who had lost battles, would become severe criminals to many Islander soldiers and officers, even if they avoided a military court's judgment.

As Murai Nobuo and Tanaka Taro conversed, the Australasian airplanes were drawing closer and closer.

Peering through gaps in the woods, the two men could clearly see at least about ten Australasian aircraft in the sky.

From the sounds above, it seemed likely that this time the Australasians had mobilized dozens, or even possibly hundreds, of airplanes.

Murai Nobuo and Tanaka Taro exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with horror and despair.

"Damn it! How did these Australasians find us?" Murai Nobuo asked with a grim expression, his face filled with shock and suspicion.

"Perhaps there was a problem with the movement of our military, or perhaps there was an issue with the troops stationed in Kaian County. Your Excellency, Division Commander, this is not the time to worry about where the problem is.

The Australasian Air Force is coming on strong; our attack plan has already failed," Tanaka Taro said with a wry smile, his fighting spirit seemingly lost as he spoke to Murai Nobuo.

"After the Australasian Air Force's bombing, let's find an opportunity to flee north," Murai Nobuo said, looking a decade older in an instant, his face filled with despair, "Not because our Imperial Army is too weak, but because the enemy is too powerful."

Boom! Boom boom!

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Bang!

Regardless of the mood of these Islanders, the Australasian Air Force would show no mercy.

From the various sounds of weapons, it was clear that the Australasian Air Force did not hesitate in their bombing.

Machine guns, bombs, and missiles were deployed in full force, creating upheaval in the Ryukyu Islands like an earthquake, turning the area several kilometers away from Nago into a living hell in an instant.

"Ah! My leg!"

There were always some unlucky Islander soldiers who, although they kept their lives in the bombing, lost parts of their bodies.

Enduring the pain of amputation without any anesthetics was a torture even for the elite soldiers of the Type A Division.

Hearing the commotion from outside the forest, Murai Nobuo and Tanaka Taro's faces grew even paler. Even Murai Nobuo, who usually looked dignified, instinctively shrank his body beneath a large rock, trying to burrow deeper into cover.

They had already witnessed the large-scale bombardment of the Australasians; surviving such intense bombing was a matter of either very good luck or divine intervention.

But the problem was, the gods of the Island Nation had no jurisdiction over the Australasians, and even if they prayed, it would be of no use.

Because the Island Nation Army had dispersed into forests and various places, during the bombing, the Australasian Air Force indulgently employed carpet bombing.

Simply put, they bombed every possible hiding spot for the Island Nation Army, covering all the areas with bombs like a carpet, leaving no chance for any Islander soldier to escape.

Carpet bombing consumed a huge amount of bombs and missiles, but its effect was quite obvious.

Under such intense bombing, the Island Nation Army was decimated, with many unable to find a single body with intact limbs.