Hello everyone, NicodemusV here with a new story for one of my favorite animes: Arpeggio of Blue Steel

I've been watching this fandom for some time now, and while everyone's stories on their own OC fleets and going off on tangents for background characters, the one story type that I've been looking for hasn't really come around yet.

So, time to do it myself.

I do not own Arpeggio of Blue Steel nor any assets mentioned in this story.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeoning of chance

My head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the soul,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul

Invictus

2039

United Nations Fleet for the Final Battle

It was an amazing sight.

Hundreds of warships, from carriers to gunboats, were assembled in a single vast expanse of ocean. Ships from over a hundred different nations were gathered here: The United States, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the People's Republic of China, the French Republic, the Republic of Cuba, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Japan, even ships from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were present.

It was to be the largest assembly of naval vessels since the Second World War.

Ironically, the opponents these warships were facing seemed as though they came right from the Second World War.

Seemed as though.

A large group of WWII era naval vessels, ranging from battleships to destroyers were facing the UN ships. Yet they were not the battleships of WWII that we are all so familiar with. Covered in ominous, otherworldly neon colored lines and symbols, these ships were not commanded by man. They were commanded by machines, by orders.

Not a single human was visible on the ghostly ships. Their bridges were dark, no light came from them. No one was running around on the deck, manning AA guns or watching for enemy vessels. No one piloted scout planes or managed screws. Absolutely no humans.

Shrouded in misty fog, these brightly colored and decorated ships charged straight into the UN fleet. One would think that whoever commanded these vessels was daft or mentally challenged, ordering an advance straight towards the enemy. But to make up for their lack of sound tactics or strategic thinking, they compensated in overwhelming firepower and unbreakable defense.

The first shots were fired.

Missiles came from the WWII era ships, flying up and diving into the sea towards their enemy. Launched like missiles, acted like torpedoes. A spread of them was sent towards every UN ship in the front line, speeding towards them at over hundreds of knots.

The UN ships did their best to intercept the torpedoes, sending interceptor missiles of their own into the water. Some were taken down, some passed through the missile screen, but the sheer volume of torpedoes were too much for the human vessels.

-Clink-

Detonator primed, contact established; the enemy torpedo spreads hit their targets. With devastating effects.

Several ships exploded in an enormous splash of water, their hulls splitting in half from the ungodly amounts of firepower that was lobbed towards them. Those poor destroyers and their crew, gone in an instant. The wreckage lay floating in the water, their decreasing buoyancy dragging any survivors downward.

The UN fleet made their move. Hundreds of missiles were launched from every guided missile destroyer and guided missile cruiser in the fleet. Fighters launched and dropped their payloads, adding into the frenzy of flying bombs. Their ghostly white contrails streaking towards the WWII era naval vessels. They impacted the disco fleet.

-Clunk-

Contact established, shaped charge detonating; the human missiles and torpedoes hit the enemy fleet, air bursts and contact detonations everywhere.

When the smoke finally cleared, the battleships and destroyers, which had taken on all of the missiles, lay undamaged. Not a single turret was out of place, not a single hull had a hole in them. They continued to advance.

Th battleships returned fire.

You would expect HE and AP shells from the battleships, you'd expect unguided torpedoes and AA flak leaping up into the sky.

But with WWII era ships covered in brightly colored lines and symbols, with no human crew aboard whatsoever, you should expect something different.

Three bright red beams of heavily gravitated particles shot out towards the UN fleet, their beams so bright it looked like one.

Several UN destroyers and cruisers exploded in a fury of black smoke and flame. They continued firing, targeting the carriers and munitions ships, torpedo boats and hospital ships. It became a free for all.

The disco ships continued their advance, firing haphazardly at numerous different targets. The UN fleet frantically launched missiles and torpedoes, fired their 5" guns in desperation against the charging enemy.

They didn't even wait for a sinking human destroyer to finish taking it's final breaths before a neon lined battleship rammed it amidships. The armor of the vessel held fast, resisting as best as it could against a warships that weighed thousands of tonnes more than it.

It gave way, splitting the poor vessel in two.

A squadron of bombers flew over the enemy ships, dropping their payloads onto the WWII era vessels.

Only for a vortex to appear above them from the dark, cloudy skies, showering the craft in red beams of particles. Their wings and fuselage were struck, losing stability and falling into the dark sea below.

A WWII era Heavy Cruiser passed by a sinking 21st century nuclear supercarrier.

It seemed that the power of the gun made it's return, putting the power of the missile in it's place.

The UN Final Battle of 2039 would be known as the single largest loss of human life in a military engagement that occurred in less than twenty-four hours ever in military history.

It was not the first battle, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

With the world's navies crippled, humanity lost it's ability to travel the seas as it pleased. The "Fleet of Fog," as many human admirals soon called them shortly after their emergence, would restrict maritime commerce between nations and enforce a global blockade of the seas, effectively isolating many countries from each other and decimating their economies.

The Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico were dominated and controlled by the fog. The world's seven largest bodies of water, under Fog control. If there was a waterway leading to it, a waterway large enough to accommodate even a single Fog destroyer, the Fleet of Fog would have access and eventual control of that body of water.

With the seas and the airspace above them under Fog control, the nations of the world slowly crumbled, their economies crippled by the lack of trade and imported goods.

In Europe, the numerous smaller countries were hit the hardest. Unable to feed their people, they attacked and looted precious food and supplies from neighboring countries. Soon, all of Europe was engulfed in war. Those that were able to protect their resources fell into civil war, the people restless and hungry after months of food shortages. Only the British Isles and France remained intact, their relationship deepened by world circumstances and mutual alliances. Once bitter enemies during the Medieval Age and the Age of Sail turned close friends and brothers in arms. Brave and daring blockade runners flew and sailed across the English Channel, carrying food and supplies vital to the continuity of society.

In Asia, the war torn states of Syria, Israel, Pakistan, and others would fall into an even bloodier war than the efforts of the United States to destroy terrorism. Missiles flew, guns were fired, people killed and were killed all in the name of not Allah, but in food and resources. Their conflict would soon spread to the borders of India and Russia, the latter having fallen into bloody civil war due to the immense focus of military arms instead of growing food and calming the people. The Russian population would continue in scattered groups throughout the nation, divided into loyalists and rebels. Only India would really stand tall against the anarchy that occurred outside of their borders.

In East Asia, island chains like the Philippines and Indonesia would fall, only the largest of islands surviving the rising seas and Fog onslaught. These islands became safe havens for their respective governments, but would soon also fall due to the sheer amount of people living on them, begging and killing for food and water. Their respective military forces would later commit some of the worst human rights violations in history. The population of these island chains would drop by nearly 60%. In the end, only the hardiest countries such as China, Japan, and the Koreas would stand united. Like in Europe, blockade runners would cross the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea to land and drop off supplies for heavily rationed populations. Old grudges and opposing ideologies were nought in the current situation.

Of all the continents that would fall into the throes of war and anarchy, the numerous countries on the continent of Africa would perhaps suffer the worst fate. With no effective standing army, these nations were ravaged by nearby warring Middle Eastern states. African society reverted back into tribes of people, separated by region and ideology. Using what little weapons they had, these people waged war on each other, enslaving fellow Africans to work small amounts of fertile land. Large populations of animals were killed to feed starving people; several species native to Africa would go extinct, and with the food chain disrupted, the animal kingdom of Africa fell into disarray. What little remains of African culture and society lives on near the coast in makeshift buildings and huts, the people heavily policed and rationed.

Humanity, dead and dying, would fall not at the hands of the Fog, but by the hands of fellow humans.

. . . And to the Republic for which it stands

One Nation under God,

Indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for all . . .

North America

In the American continents, it was a slightly different story.

As the nations of the world slowly fell into chaos, three nations emerged united, their bond strengthened by the threat of the Fog and the situation it has caused.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Since the mid 19th century, concepts involving a union between Canada, Mexico, and the United States have been proposed and rejected. Some involved the membership of Caribbean and South American countries as well. But the idea of a North American Union much like the European Union never gained enough traction, or support from both the governments and the people. Things such as opposing ideologies, opposing government interests, and the social problems that were sure to come from such a union always turned politicians away from the idea.

Until the Fog came.

Two years before the UN's Final Battle of 2039, it became clear to the governments on the North American and South American continents that the Fog had gained majority control of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, giving more evidence to the American nations that they were on their own economically. After the razing of major coastal cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Acapulo, the three nations agreed to set aside differences and establish a North American Union, no South American countries due to the chaotic situation regarding the many small nations of Latin America.

Knowing that their respective nations wouldn't last very long until the people would rise up in dissent, the unified government set out to rebuild as much infrastructure as possible. Destroyed roads were rebuilt, electricity and running water restored, riots put down, residential and business areas rebuilt; many actions took place in order to prevent their countries from falling into anarchy. Lands suitable enough to be farmed were farmed, solving the food problem. Meat was a delicacy, distributed in small rations to prevent slaughtering too many animals. It was only freely given to serving members of the military, and even then they were just a hundred calories more than the civilian portion. Some people complained, but the majority didn't. They knew what the world had come to.

With the people satisfied, the pressing need for an effective defensive system came next. Numerous weapons companies approached the government with multiple designs, ranging from powerful lasers that would theoretically wear down the Klein field of the Fog to "Fog proof" walls to orbital satellites capable of delivering a kinetic kill weapon. The very last concept appealed very much to the unified government, but when the first rocket was launched and entered Low Earth Orbit, it was promptly shot down by a Fog vessel. The project was scrapped and the remaining prototypes recycled for other uses.

Military heads were dumbfounded on what to do. For hundreds of years, the military was both the sword and shield of their nation, the protector of the people against all enemies. Yet now they lacked the power to effectively do so. The people were without protection. Missiles were intercepted, only the fastest and most numerous made it through, saturating the Klein bottle by less than 15%. Torpedoes were easily intercepted as well, their slow speed making it child's play for the Fog. Guns seemed to be the only thing capable of effectively dealing damage, as it could not be intercepted. But they did little damage, fairing only a bit better than missiles.

And then it came. One man, one Leonardo Masterson, arrived at the solution. "If shells cannot be intercepted," he thought, "then let's take that and increase it tenfold!"

At first, his fellow military associates did not understand. "They'll just shoot it," one man said, "Static installations are the first to be taken down. Remember the Atlantic Wall!"

But Masterson was adamant. He went into the Office of Naval Research's archive and pulled out an archaic design for a land based installation of a railgun, scaled up for use as an ICBM defense installation. The design was actually made into a working, down scaled prototype, but the cost of powering it was tremendous, not suitable for with the amount of land available back then. Contracting Archimedes Defense & Security, he gave them the design and basically told them to modernize it and make a small prototype.

"I don't care what you do to the original design!" Leonardo told them. "Just make it powerful enough to damage a Fog vessel from miles out, enough to shatter the Klein field of a Fog destroyer even!"

And so they did. Seven months later, Archimedes Defense & Security presented their design and prototype to the U.S. Congress. They were skeptical at first, but capitulated when evidence was provided of the prototype being fired at a patrolling Fog destroyer, it's Klein field visibly dissipating and exposing the hull to the weapon. Scared that it would face destruction, it steamed out of range, amazing the politicians and convincing harder headed military officials. It was then on August 15th, 2038 that the U.S. Congress passed the Absolute Coastal Defense Act, allowing the railgun to take over as America's primary defensive system. Later on September 7th, the North American United Coastal Defense Act allowed the railgun system to be built in Canada and Mexico. Along the coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, 125 of these massive guns were built, quickly dispatching any Fog forces within 200 miles of the coast, extended by another 150 miles with guided munitions, of which many breakthroughs were made with over the last 15 years.

Along the coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, another 125 coastal defense railguns were built, also quickly dispatching any Fog forces in a total range of 350 miles. Some incursions by the Fog were made to destroy these installations of which a small number were successful. But the range and destructive power of the railgun proved to be too costly for the Fog to commit enough forces to, as many fodder ships such as destroyers and light cruisers were sniped before moving onto the hard hitters such as the heavy cruisers and battleships. With no effective tactics yet developed against the humans and their craft, aside from forming lines and shooting what was in range, the Fog slowly disappeared from the North American Union's coastlines. With the Fog threat diminished, the coastal defense railguns of the Union only got better as time passed. Driven by the need to survive and continue defending their livelihoods, Archimedes Defense & Security continued developing the railgun, cutting power requirements in half and increasing the kinetic energy imparted by an order of magnitude. Other companies followed suit, developing more weapons centered around kinetic energy and being uninterceptable.

As of 2056, the number of coastal defense railguns was approximately 425, increasing the overall defense of the North American Union's shores. And as time passed they only got more and more deadly. The North American Union (NAU) finally with some breathing room, decided to begin projects that would take the fight to the Fog. In 2041, three years after the inception of the coastal defense railgun (CDR) they began a project that would finally let humanity hit back. Pooling their remaining resources, the NAU and the new Continental Latin American Union (CLAU) started Project Invictus. Putting in everything they had, the NAU and CLAU began a mad rush to bring the fight to the fog. Development work was nonstop, with potential candidates being chosen and acquitted daily, and scientists and manual laborers working around the clock to finish this project as fast as possible.

And on March 1st 2056, fifteen years later, their efforts would finally come to fruition.

2056

North America

North American Union

United States of America

Naval Base San Diego

"USS Halifax is leaving CDR-167's range, going one-two-two knots, heading two-six-zero."

"Approaching limit of laser link communications. Switching to communications drone 42."

"Laser link established with communications drone 42. Forwarding link to Halifax. Link established."

"Halifax has detected surface radar contact, heading one-zero-zero. Identified as Fog Fletcher class destroyer. Establishing visuals."

Base Commander Vice Admiral Matthew T. Thomas watched the monitor in front of him closely, paying very close attention to the distance between the Halifax and the Fog Fletcher class destroyer, designated as FD-1 on the screen. His eyes shifted to the smaller yet still noticeable visuals window on the screen, showing the Fog destroyer off on the horizon. It was approaching them quite slowly for a Fog vessel, steaming at about 50 knots, and coming in from the north.

"Reactor output at 65%, now rising. Current output at 85%."

"It seems Captain Darien is preparing for combat," Matthew whispered to his fellow officer, Canadian Admiral Nathan John, who was standing next to him.

"Mmm. I hope the downscaled version is as effective as the real thing."

"Halifax is turning right heading two-seven-five. Speed seven-five knots. Reactor output at 100%."

"He's placing the gun right into the path of the Fog."

"Let's hope it doesn't deviate course."

"Missiles are launching, Halifax has engaged the Fog destroyer. Fog destroyer at 111 km and closing. Time to impact: twelve seconds."

Matthew and Nathan stayed silent, watching the monitor intently. The missiles were three seconds away now.

On the screen, the Fog destroyer was enveloped in large balls of flame, numerous missiles impacting on it, blocked by a hexagonal Klein field.

"Impact, impact. Ninety-five of one-hundred-twenty missiles intercepted. Receiving weapons data from Halifax. Destroyer Klein field saturated at 19%."

"Those were the latest RIM-277 CloudLites from Raytheon," began Matthew, "And they saturated the field to only 19%!"

Matthew sighed. "Those things impart nearly two megatons of energy each. What will it take to bring those fields down..."

"Be patient, my friend. Darien has not yet used the main gun, neither has he yet used the multitude of other weapons on the ship."

"FD-1 is launching missiles. Corrosive materials detected. Bearing remains one-zero-zero. Halifax point defense is engaging missiles, engaging at ranges of 30-35 km. Speed remains seven-five knots. Reactor output at 92%, laser point defense draining 8%."

"All Fog missiles intercepted. Fog vessel speed is nine-five knots, heading one-seven-three. Detecting discharge, Fog destroyer has fired turrets one, two, and three. Time until impact two seconds."

This would be the moment of truth. For six years, scientists and material developers tried to figure out what exactly was the Fog's main weapon, and what would be the most effective armor against it. It wasn't until 2041 that scientist Maria Sherman figured out that the Fog weapons were accelerated particle cannons of some sort, with an accompanying plasma around it due to the speed at which the particles traveled. Going off this information, they developed a material that would theoretically provide some level of protection against the Fog's main weapon until it either boiled away or was punctured.

"Impact, impact!"

The entire room was silent, waiting for the verdict of the communications operator. The Halifax was still on radar, but unless the crew reported back, then it was a moot point.

"Halifax is reading, repeat: Halifax is reading. Receiving data. Port side armor is intact, ship functions online. No penetration, port side armor plate is at zero structural integrity. Combat effectiveness unaffected."

Cheers erupted all throughout the room. Scientists, Admirals, Generals, Invictus candidates, and spectators all cheered at the success of the armor plating. Granted, it was completely gone and the next hit would probably core the Halifax, but the point was that the armor had taken the hit. Humanity had finally developed a new suit of armor.

"Halifax is launching missiles, FD-1 distance at 80 km. Time until impact, ten seconds. Reactor output at 100%. Detecting electrical buildup on main gun chassis."

This was it. This would determine whether or not their work developing the Halifax was all for nought or if it had real potential. The missiles were three seconds away now, the Fog destroyer frantically intercepting as many as possible with low powered, rapidly fire particle beams.

"Main gun has discharged, repeat: main gun has discharged! Missiles have impacted, seventy of one-hundred missiles intercepted. Main gun has impacted, simultaneous impact with missiles. Receiving weapons data..."

The room was silent, the air filled with tension.

"Klein field has over saturated, field is broken! Reading structural integrity loss on Fog destroyer, turrets one, two, four, and five are destroyed!"

Once again, the room was filled with cheering. Cries of joy rang out as people saw their work finally come to fruition.

But it was not over yet.

"Halifax speed at one-four-five knots, FD-1 distance at 35 km. Laser point defense engaging Fog destroyer! Reactor output at 75%, laser point defense energy drain is 25%!"

In an unprecedented move, Captain Darien utilized the laser point defense systems, generally for intercepting enemy missiles and torpedoes, as an offensive weapon by maxing the power drain and carving into the Fog destroyers unshielded hull.

"My god, he's carving into the hull!"

Already, the Admirals, Captains, and tacticians were forming new ways to fight the Fog, developing new tactics revolving around what was displayed by Captain Darien. Matthew's own mind was working overdrive as he went to apply what Darien did in a single ship engagement, into a fleet wide tactic that could change naval warfare as humanity knew it.

On the visual window, which was expanded for everyone to see, the laser point defense of the Halifax was visible carving into the hull of the Fog destroyer, which was now just a few scant kilometers away. The armor of the destroyer held fast for a few moments before melting away, the lasers cutting into the ship with ease afterwards. Oddly enough, it did not fire back. Wherever a turret or system was being regenerated with nanomaterials, the Halifax would direct it's lasers there and cut off the regenerative process short.

Minutes later, the fog destroyer gave out. It had exhausted it's supply of nanomaterials in futilely repairing itself, and was now dead in the water. The lasers started cutting into the bow of the ship, the beams visible from the amount of energy being poured into it. It was so hot that it was igniting the air around it, forming a bright beam of death for the people to see.

The bow of the Fog destroyer fell into the sea, a clean cut made right down the hull.

"Halifax launching missiles, numbering two."

Two RIM-277 CloudLites launched from the quad packed 80 cell VLS Mk. 98. They maneuvered and impacted the destroyer almost immediately, engulfing the vessel in a ball of flame.

"FD-1 is gone, enemy Fog vessel has been sunk."

And as if the room wasn't full of joy enough, it burst once more into cheers.

2056

North America

North American Union

United States of America

Pacific Ocean

367 miles of the West Coast

"Nice work guys," congratulated Captain Darien. "We're the first humans to sink a Fog vessel."

"Well," began Lili, "Not really. The Japanese and their special submarine did. And that Japanese guy with his Fog submarine did too."

"The first humans to sink a Fog vessel with human weapons then."

"Woo, let's have a party later," Mike said sarcastically. "While you guys were talking about the kill, I was busting my ass trying to keep the reactor from blowing us all the fuck up!"

"Oh please," mocked Katelyn. "All you really did was press buttons and make faces."

"Press buttons? You call it that, but I call it managing heat and stopping it from fucking overloading on our asses!"

"We all love you equally, Mike," stated Darien, the rest of the crew agreeing.

"Some love this is..."

"Anyways," Darien began issuing orders. "Mike, put the reactor down to 50%. Katelyn, plot course for San Diego, put us as fast as possible at 50%. Lili, watch for Fog and keep the point defense online. Oh and Mike, engage silent running."

"Silent running?! You want me to silent run after the sauna I just stopped?!"

"Yes."

Mike muttered some curse towards Darien, but engaged silent running anyways.

As the Halifax steamed away towards San Diego, the Fog destroyer had finally finished dissolving into nanomaterials, the silvery particles floating away into the vast ocean.

A Fog Union Core lay in the sand.

Hey, NicV here.

Now, this story will not take precedence over The New World. Updates for this will be sporadic, as my schedule with The New World is strained enough.

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