Chapter 1: Preparations of War

This story starts a day after the Battle of the Labyrinth and Kronos's force is destroyed.

I double check my maps to make sure that what I am about to suggest has enough truth to get it started. Once that I done, I roll up the scrolls and maps that I was using and make my way to Annabeth. Once I get there, I tap her shoulder. "What is it? Oh it's you Riley. What do you want?" She asks me. "I have noticed an issue that I think that I should address so that we can think of ways to at least attempt to counter it," I tell her. She thinks this over for a bit. "Sure, I'll get a meeting together. Be at the Big House in a few hours," She tells me.

I nod and head back to my bunk. Once I am there, I gather up the maps and the several diagrams that I have been studying recently. I am a bit excited to be able to use some of my expertise to help the war out even more. I then wait by the Big House after going through my material to make sure that I have all of it with me. Once I get there, I sit down and plan out how to make my statements for the reaming time that I have till the meeting starts.

I wonder if my dad would be proud of me for what I am about to do. He seems happy to see me having fun when I go here, but I have a feeling that he is still worried about me. I can understand, especially that I will probably be hinted to the end of my years. But even if I could go back and change anything, I would not do anything to my life. I have made friends here, close friends like Robert. Ah, there are the others, the head consolers of all the cabins. I stand up when I see Annabeth. She waves to me to follow her inside the building.

When we get to Recreation/meeting room, I wait until everyone is settled done. Then I start to speak. "I appreciate the time that you all took to come here today. As you all know, the Titans have a ship of their own, The Princess Andromeda. That ship alone be is a huge ship and if they can afford to have one fully manned, then I have no doubt that they have more ships, both big and small, probably ferrying troops and supplies out here," I say, putting up a map of the Atlantic Ocean. "If they can land enough troops around this area," I say tracing a circle on the map around our location in New York. "They could place us under siege for as long as they want. They might not be able to get in, or at least the monsters won't, but enemy demigods could and we could not get out. Any newly discovered demigod would be on their own, and we couldn't do a thing to save them. Meanwhile, the enemy would probably starve us out."

I stay quiet for a moment to let this grim prospect sink in. Then Percy Jackson speaks up. "But you do have an idea to counter this right?" He asks me and I nod. "Two, in fact. The first is that we setup mines around our area and some length around it on the seaside. But this could just as well kill the innocent as well as the enemy. The second plan is a bit more radical," I say, pausing for a bit. "Ladies and gentlemen, I propose that we authorize the building of our own navy."

I fall silent after saying those words. The group immediately starts in huddled groups to whisper the merits of my idea. Then Percy speaks up again. "And what exactly is this 'navy' going to consist of?" I smile at this question. "Before I answer that question, I need to give a little background of something. In the 1942, this whole area of the Atlantic Ocean was the resting place of over a thousand war and cargo ships. The causes of these sunken ships were by the German submarines, the dreaded U-boats. If we do make our navy, I propose that we build our own submarines and/or midgets submarines. That is all that I have to say about this," I finish speaking, placing up two diagrams. One is the diagram of a Japanese midget submarine, the other is a diagram of one of the U-boat classes. Annabeth then speaks up. "Thank you Riley, you are dismissed." I nod, pick up my papers, and head out.

Once I am inside, I head back to my bunk. When I get there, I start plotting courses if the idea to have our own navy is approved. I lose track of time as I go for my maps and diagrams to plan the courses. Then I notice Annabeth is standing next to my bunk. I hurriedly get up. "So, what is the decision? " I ask her, a bit nervous on the inside. "If you can get a submarine, then yes," she tells me. A breath out a bit in relief. "That's good," I tell her. Of course that was the easy part. The harder part will be getting our submarine because I am not 100% sure that we could build one here. Annabeth then walks out of the cabin after nodding. Ever since she returned from her quest, I noticed that she seems a bit troubled. But I don't know what to do, so I leave her be. Meanwhile I have to figure out how to solve my own problems.

I go outside and pace around to work out the particulars of getting a sub. Capture one? No, no, too risky, not enough good to balance out the bad. Build one? Maybe, but it will take time, trial, and effort. And I don't think we may have enough time for that. Maybe if we raise a sunken one…

I am a bit startled when a hand taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and see Clair Brekwald standing in front of me. We aren't exactly exactly enemies, but we weren't friends either. What she says next shocks me almost to the core. "I was wondering, if I could get you a boat, if I could serve on it?" She asks me. I let out a little laugh. "If you can get me a submarine, I'll do more than that. I'll make you the executive officer," I say, partly meaning that as a joke. But Clair just nods and walks off. I shrug my shoulders and go back to my thinking. Eventually it is time for dinner. I have some steak and water for dinner, after giving a portion as sacrifice for the others. I eat quickly then head back to my bunk. I pull out the charts. Once I do that, I start making notes on how far each sub type could go and trade routes, ect. I soon grow weary from my work. After a bit, I decide to take a little nap. I place the map over my head and fall asleep rather quickly. Big mistake.

I have dreams again. The last time I had any was that day during capture the flag. I still have nightmares of that horned warrior. This time, he doesn't appear. What I do see are a series of images. Iron hulls, shaking from some explosion, orders to fire, and the shouts of men echo in my mind. Then I hear my name. At first I think that I am still dreaming. But when someone shakes me, I realize that I need to wake up. "Riley!" The order jolts me out of bed. The map and other scrolls come flying off me. Annabeth and my other siblings are strapping on weapons and armor to themselves."You might want to head to the beach," Malcom tells me. I nod and grab my long sword which I keep near my bunk at all times.

I then start running to the beach. What should I expect? Another invasion force? A god? I have no idea. Then my blood slightly freezes at another possibility. The apparition of my nightmares could be there. With that thought, I buckle on my sword sheathe as I run towards the beach. When I get there, I almost stop at what is there. At first I think that this must be another dream, but when I look around and see the shock and disbelief reflected on the other campers faces, I realize that I am very much awake. In the water next to the beach is a German U-boat. There seems to be some sort of zombies in deck. I look around to see Percy Jackson standing nearby. I call out to him. "I'm going to board the ship." He turns to looks at me and nods. I walk over to the submarine and call out to the zombie sailors. "Permission to board?" I ask. The guy who is in a captain's uniform calls back. "Permission granted." I come aboard and head for the conning tower, which has the numbers 184 on it. I briefly stop as I make sure that I carefully read the numbers. 184, could it be? No, it can't be. The ship is listed as missing in action since 1942. Then again, this ship shouldn't be here either. I continue walking albeit with a slightly faster pace. When I get to the captain I ask him a question. "Captain, what boat is this?" When he speaks, I note that his English has a German accent to it. "U-184." I nod, my suspicions affirmed.

I then head down the conning tower to the control room of the U-boat. There, to my new immense shock, is Clair. "Clair? What are you doing here? Do you have any idea of how this got here?" I ask her. Yet again I am surprised. I wonder how many times will this happen before I can't be surprised any more. "She summoned it," Robert says behind me, coming out of the engine compartment. I am confused, until I remember hearing about something. What was it? Ah yes, that every side who loses a war owes tribute to Ares. And Clair is his daughter. Now I turn back to Robert. "How long until you can get her up and running at full capacity?" I ask him. He shrugs slightly. "If my whole cabins works on this, maybe a few months at least. Maybe six at the most if we also include weapons." I nod at this. I know that this will take time, but it's better than nothing.

"What about the Enigma machine? Is it working? Can we make several more of them as well?" I ask. "Needs repairs, but yes, we can use it and make several more of them." That is good. Now, I will make my choices in command. Clair, as I promised, you are the executive officer of this vessel. Robert, if you want, you will be chief mechanic."

Robert thinks over this for about a minute. Then he grins and nods. "Ay captain," he says to me. I then speak up. "Well, we'd better introduce our ship to our fellow campers," I say. My two officers' nod and I head up the ladder. When I get back up to the top of the conning tower, I see that almost the whole camp is present. I grin slightly to myself before I speak. "Fellow campers, as you have heard, today the Camp-Half Blood Navy was formed today. I am proud to present the flagship of our new navy: U-184!"

MorgothII: And thus introduces my new story! A little fact about U-184. She was a real U-boat, a type IXC/40. She went missing in 1942, all hands lost. If anyone who is reading this is related to the fifty men who were lost, please know that I mean no disrespect to the ship or her crew. Anyways, as always, both R&R and enjoy!