I do not own Arpeggio Blue Steel or Halo
"Are you absolutely certain that this is a wise choice?"
"No, but do you really want to rely solely on the Japanese Weapon?"
"I don't want to do this to the citizens of North America; they won't like the amount of men, and dollars we need."
"True, but, they are also sick of the Fog simply running over us like maggots."
"Very well, I'll sign the damn thing."
From the Desk of the President of the United North American Continent:
Citizens, for too long have we let the Fog dictate our lives on this planet. For too long, we have let them have control of the Seas and of our world. Mankind is on the brink of extinction without Maritime commerce, and communication. Now, our scientists from DARPA and private laboratories have come up with a new weapon to defend our ships from the Fog, the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. This weapon will allow us to fire 600 ton slugs at our enemies at nearly 100 KM/S. allowing for our weapon to have a destructive force of roughly 717 kilotons of TNT. However that is not all we have made progress on, by repeatedly destroying and observing the rebuilding process of Klein Field Generators, we have been able to build our own version. The Halsey Field Generator. While the Halsey Field is not as strong as the Klein Field, it does not have issues with saturation that the Klein Field struggles with, allowing for faster recharge times. In order to power these weapons, our current Navy is going to be rebuilt from the ground up.
But, in all things there is a price to be paid, in this case we need every able bodied man and women to be working to build this Navy and serve aboard these new ships. As your President, as your duly elected leader, I am begging you. Help us win.
Richard C McIntyre
"Send it out, and bring me the ship classifications."
"Yes, Mr. President."
Richard McIntyre turned in his chair and gazed across the landscape of New York, ever since the rise of the ocean, the White House had relocated to the UN building. He gazed at the setting sun, just beyond the defensive wall he could make out the mast of the… the mockery of the Enterprise that sailed past, the green lights pulsing malevolently.
"Just wait, you sonuvabitch, just wait." He muttered under his breath.
"Sir, the ship classes."
"Thanks, Mindy." Said McIntyre.
"No problem sir."
The Following is labeled as: Top Secret, OMEGA CLASSIFICATION
EYES ONLY
Charon-Class Light Frigate: 100
1 MAC Cannon
M58 Archer Missile* Pods: 50
M870 Rampart 50mm Point Defense guns: 4
Shielding: No
Hull: 60cm Titanium A Battle plate
Length: 490m
AI: No
Strident- Class Heavy Frigate: 100
1 MAC Cannon
M58 Archer Missile Pods: 100
M870 Rampart 50mm Point Defense Guns: 8
Shielding: No
Hull: 60cm Titanium A Battle plate
Length : 575m
AI: No
Halberd-Class Destroyer: 25
2 MAC Cannons
M59 Oversized Archer Missile Pods**: 26
M870 Rampart 50mm Point Defense Guns: 8
Hull: 200cm Titanium A Battle plate
Shielding: Yes
AI: No
Length: 485m
Halcyon-Class Light Cruiser : 5
Heavy Coil MAC Cannon: 1
M58 Archer Missile Pods: 300
M870 Rampart Point Defense Guns: 40
Hull: 200cm Titanium A Battle Plate
Shielding: Yes
AI: Yes
Length: 1.17Km
Marathon-Class Heavy Cruiser: 5
Heavy Coil MAC Cannon: 2
M59 Oversized Archer Missile Pods: 300
M870 Rampart Point Defense Guns: 50
Hull: 200cm Titanium A Battle Plate
Shielding: Yes
A.I: Yes
Length: 1.19 Km
Prowler-Class Submarine: 10
HORNET mines: 14
Pulse Laser Turrets: 6
SHIVA Nuclear missile launch system: 1
Hull: Matte Black Ablative Stealth coating
Shielding: Yes
AI: No
Length: 162m
Stealth Systems
Ablative Baffles
Counter ESM
Texture Buffers
Infinity-Class Dreadnought: 1
Heavy Coil MAC Cannon: 4
M58 Archer Missile Pods: 350
M75 Rapier Missile Pods: 250
M96 Howler Missile Pods: 500
M965 Fortress 70mm Point Defense Guns: 830
Mini-MAC: 1, dorsally mounted
HAVOK Nuclear Weapon System
Hull: 500cm Titanium A Battle Plate
Shielding: Yes
A.I: Yes
Length: 5.6 Km
*The Archer Missile can also be used like a torpedo
**Oversized Pods contain 60 missiles compared to the usual 30
By scrapping the current fleet and aircraft and our own resources, we can create enough material for this new fleet. However the UNAC Infinity will not be operational until after the rest of the fleet has already been activated. It is also recommended that any and all labor is made available as soon as possible. Also it should be noted that all vessels have the ability to dive, placing them on even footing with any Fog vessel, above or below the sea.
Richard McIntyre slumped back in his chair and ran his hand through his short brown hair.
"Mindy," he said, "Will it be enough, enough to stop the Fog?"
"Time will tell, but I think that if a fleet of this power were to be made. I doubt the Fog Enterprise, Yamamoto, or Musashi would want to be near it, especially the Infinity." She said. McIntyre leaned forward and grinned at her.
"Well then, we should see the christening of the frigates and destroyers today, shouldn't we?"
"Of course, sir." Said Mindy.
1 Month Later, I-401 has just protected the SSTO
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to christen the penultimate class of ships, the Marathon Class. These cruisers will take over their own battle groups and defend our country along with the Halcyon, Strident, Prowler, and Charon class ships. These new battle groups will be taking the fight to the Fog, after they are crewed. However, let us celebrate our new ships!"
With that little speech, President McIntyre smashed the bottle of champagne onto the lower engine of the massive UNAC Marathon, signaling the crewmen to release the straps and allowing the Marathon to join her sister ships. It was an awe inspiring site, seeing these huge black behemoths sitting in San Diego bay. As one their running lights lit up revealing the names of the ships that carried the hopes of an entire continent upon them. Marathon, Leviathan, Prophecy, Say My Name, and Dresden. The ships rumbled to life, the upper engine ports closing, leaving the lower ones to move the ships into the docks. Truly this day was a day of triumph.
"Hello Bridge Officers of the Marathon and Halcyon Class cruisers, today will be a day of secrets for you. For, you will now be briefed on the most valuable crewmember of your ship. All of you know of the danger of the Fog taking over our systems, while using ESM has mitigated this, we will now be able to fight the Fog in cyberspace as well. Gentlemen and Ladies, meet the Mk. V Smart A.I." said Dr. Halsey from atop her podium.
"By using a human brain, we are able to map the neural pathways, allowing us to create a matrix that allows for independent thought." Said Halsey after the murmuring had stopped, "Please follow your ship name to the room containing your new A. I." The Bridge crews filed out and entered the rooms that held the ten active . Infinity's was still being made, along with the ship that would hold it. Halsey sighed, as she thought about the procedure the Captains would have to go under, they would protest, she didn't want to order them to but she would if they made her.
"Problems, Ma'am?"
"Huh! Oh, I didn't see you there Captain…?"asked Halsey.
"Keyes, Jacob Keyes. Captain of the Halcyon-Class, Pillar of Autumn." Said Jacob.
"Well, Captain Keyes, what is it?" asked Halsey.
"I am finished acquainting myself with my A.I, Cortana." Said Keyes.
"Oh, excellent, I hope you can rein that one in a little. She's rather, um, spirited. However, there is one last thing the Captains must do." Said Halsey, gesturing for Captain Keyes to walk with her.
"And that would be..?" asked Keyes.
"The implantation of the Neural Interface." Said Halsey.
"The what?"
"Neural Interface, it allows for a real-time coordinating between ships, as well as aiding in advanced tactics." Said Halsey as she opened the door to the surgery suite.
"I don't really have a choice do I?" asked Jacob.
"Nope, orders from the Brass." Halsey said as she applied the local anesthetic, "Now you might feel a slight tingling followed by what feels like liquid mercury has been poured into your head."
L-Day
"Alright people, listen up, I want this to go smooth and by the numbers. We go out with our battle group first, then the Marathons will back us up. Our Prowlers have informed us that there is a small Fog battle group consisting of nine Nagara Cruisers and One Myokuo heavy cruiser. We are to engage the Fog, and then make best speed for Hawaii. Am I understood?" asked Captain Keyes.
"Sir yes, sir!"
"Cortana?" asked Keyes, causing the holotank to swirl to life.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Take us out under ½ thrust."
"Sir!", the avatar of the A.I turned to face out the bridge windows and the Pillar Of Autumn shuddered and began to push its way out of the harbor and into open water for the first time. She was accompanied by four destroyers and two of each frigate class, as well as a single submarine. Humanity was coming out of its shell, with new teeth.
Fog Heavy Cruiser, Haguro
"I'm borrreed!" said Haguro as she lay on the deck of her ship form, "Humans are so boring, hiding behind a wall, they don't do-." Her rant was cut off by a loud klaxon from across the water.
"Huh?" she got up and stared as the wall guarding the San Diego port began to slide apart. Permitting a fleet of ten ships to exit the wall, almost immediately the one shaped like a bird of prey sank and vanished from sight. The other ships were strange, blocky, and bristling with weapons, but, it looked like half the ships were underneath the water.
"Interesting, but pointless, there will never be any ships that will compete with the Fog." She said, as she ordered the light cruisers to attack. There was no sense in becoming involved with the execution of worms. The Nagara cruisers surged past her, while the other fleets flagship did something similar.
Aboard the Light Cruiser Pillar of Autumn.
"Lieutenant Hikowa, Status on the MAC?" asked Captain Keyes.
"Seventy percent charge and rising, the Frigates are fully charged and the destroyers are hovering around ninety percent. Sir." Said Lt. Hikowa as she typed at her station.
"Good, Cortana get me firing solutions, so that our Archers hit the fog at the same time as the MACs, Hikowa, make sure that the rest of the fleet gets the message."
"Sir, yes sir." Said Hikowa and Cortana.
"Ensign Lovell, take us in." said Keyes as he took out a pipe and clenched it between his teeth.
"Sir."
There were few things as loud as a MAC cannon being fired, one was the detonation of a Nuclear warhead and the other was whining baby, however there are few weapons that can concentrate so much energy into the area of a small bus. This was a lesson that the Fog were about to learn the hard way.
Haguro watched as the smaller ships weird split fronts began to glow yellow, before there was something akin to clap of thunder as one of the human frigates fired upon a Nagara Cruiser that had strayed too close the Human's line. The "round" if it could be called that, rammed through the Nagara's armor and split the ship in half.
"That's a new trick..." Haguro muttered as she ordered the Nagara's to raise their Klein Fields.
"Sir, the Fog have raised their Klein Shields!" said Lieutenant Hall.
"Understood, all ships are to fire their Archer's in tandem with their MACs, the numbers are left up to their Commanders."
"Sir!" said Lieutenant Dominique as she began relaying the orders to the other ships. Outside of the bridge windows, the Charon-Class Frigate, Aegis Fate, could be seen emptying Archer pods A-F, releasing 150 missiles at one of the Nagara cruisers. Then the Fate fired its MAC, the combination of the MAC and Archer volley left the Nagara disabled and sinking with numerous holes across its bridge.
"Sir! Enemy is returning fire!" cried Hall, "Sensors show fifty, no, one hundred and fifty corrosion missiles inbound.
"Cortana, slave all ships point defense to you, tear those missiles from the sky."
"Captain." Replied Cortana as she closed her eyes. As one the Rampart point defense systems installed on all of the ships began to fire at the incoming missiles, felling nearly all of them.
"Sir, the Eminent Domain is reporting that their Halsey Field is down for the moment, the Pioneer is reporting damage to their armor plating, and the Forward Unto Dawn is reporting severe damage to their port "arm". Said Hall.
"Understood, order the Dawn to pull back and send the Gorgon to reinforce the hole in the field." Said Keyes.
"Sir, we are at one hundred percent charge." Said Hikowa.
"Lieutenant, fire a heavy round at these two cruisers, along with Archer pods A-N and N-Z." Said Keyes marking them on the tactical map.
"Line them up nicely, sir." Said Hikowa as she coordinated with Lovell.
"Exactly."
The Pillar of Autumn began to rotate on her axis, bringing her heavy MAC to bear on two Nagara cruisers that were harassing the Strident.
"Fire." Said Keyes. There was a slight popping noise as the covers of twenty-six archer pods unloaded their cargo, sending 780 missiles at the two hapless cruisers. The two cruisers responded with their own point defense weapons, but the number of missiles was beyond the processing power of the Nagara class. Then the bridge of the Pillar of Autumn shook as the heavy MAC fired, thanks to the impact of the Archers, the round passed through the first cruiser with nary a change in its path and went on to tear through the second.
"Sir, all ships report that their targets are destroyed, the only one left is the Myouko." Said Hall.
"Good, launch a Clarion, we've never been able to observe an even fight with the Fog before, I want this recorded." Said Keyes as he stood up, "Open a line to the Dawn I need to know her status."
"Sir."
Aboard the Fog Heavy Cruiser, Haguro
"This feeling, it's new, it feels like there is a knot growing in my stomach and my head hurts." Said Haguro as she watched on of her Nagara's sink to the bottom, "We've never lost so many ships against a human fleet, we were only able to hurt them by using ripple fire on our missiles, I've never seen PD that's that effective." Haguro stood up and glared at the largest ship in the human fleet, her strange emotion melted away into a new one, anger. How dare they, how dare they attack and destroy her fleet. Well, she would show them, she flung her arms out and her ship groaned underneath her as she brought out her Super Graviton Cannon.
'Let's see how well you handle this!' she thought as the Cannon began to spin up.
Aboard the Pillar of Autumn
"Sir! The Fog Cruiser is beginning to spin up its Super Graviton Cannon!" shouted Hall.
"Order all ships to move behind us, divert all power to weapons and the Halsey field." Said Keyes as he ran to the TACMAP, the powerful fusion reactors of the Autumn began to hum as power flowed into the Halsey Field and the MAC cannon.
"Sir, MAC cannon charge is rising at 2% a second." Said Hikowa.
"Cortana sound the collision alarm."
"Yes Captain." Said Cortana. Throughout the Autumn, klaxons began to blare as Cortana's voiced echoed through the kilometer long ship.
"All hands, brace, brace, brace." Said Cortana, and the Fog Cruiser fired. A huge red beam flew across the water and against the Autumn, the superstructure of the ship groaning under the strain.
"Hikowa, status!" yelled Keyes as he gripped the railing.
"MAC is at ninety percent charge!" said Hikowa.
"Good enough, divert power to the Halsey Field." Said Keyes
"Sir!" said Hikowa as her fingers flew across her keyboard. An eternity seemed to stretch before the beam stopped.
"Status." Said Keyes.
"Halsey Field is at twenty percent integrity, however I believe I may be able to adjust the frequency of the shielding to better handle that type of cannon's frequency Captain." Said Cortana.
"MAC is at eighty-six percent and dropping." Said Hikowa.
"Good enough, fire it and Archers AA-FF." said Keyes. He glared at the ship across the water as it shuddered under the Archers and then imbedded with a MAC round.
"Captain, the Clarion is showing something interesting on that cruiser." Said Dominique.
"On the TACMAP, Lieutenant." Said Keyes.
"Yes, sir." Said Dominique as she transferred the feed to the TACMAP.
"Well, that is unusual, commence boarding operations Ensign Lovell." Said Keyes as he sat in his chair.
"Sir, yes sir." Said Lovell as he guided the Autumn next to the Fog Cruiser, "Major Silva, the Captain wants the girl on this cruiser in the brig yesterday."
"Got it." Crackled the radio.
"Well, gentlemen, ladies, I believe that we are supposed to be in Hawai'i soon. So, Lieutenant Dominique, please send the all clear signal to San Diego. Once the boarding operation is done, I want us underway."
A chorus of agreement rang out from the bridge crew as they smiled. No longer did Humanity have to fear the sea.