Yosuka Port: Immediately after I-401's arrival
"Gunzou, what is going on?" asked Iona as they walked along the dock.
"I'm not sure; there is a lot of commotion about a transmission from America." Said Gonzou, "All I know is that Ryuujirou asked us to join him in a meeting."
"So, I don't get why we all have to come along." Said Kyouhei as they walked into the Japanese Naval Headquarters
"Because the entire crew needs to be in attendance for this." Said Gunzou, pushing open the door to the meeting room.
"Ah, good of you to join us, Gunzou and company." Said Ryuujirou as the crew of I-401 sat down, "We received a message from the Americans, or should I say the North Americans."
"Err, what?" asked Sou.
"It would appear that in the last seventeen years the countries of Canada, Mexico and the United States have formed a single country over the North American Continent. While this does not change our original plan of delivering the vibration torpedo to them, it does show a way to solve the weakness of the torpedo." Said Ryuujiou.
"You mean bringing down the Klein Field, right?" asked Iori.
"Precisely, while we were thinking up the torpedo, it would appear that the North Americans have figured out a rather, American solution to the Klein Field." Said Ryuujirou, he turned and pressed a key on his laptop bringing up and image of a strange looking ship.
"Here you can see what the North Americans call, a Halcyon-Class light cruiser, and this is what makes it interesting." Ryuujirou pressed another key and a large section of the ship lit up in green, "The Americans call this, a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, by using rounds made of Tungsten, depleted uranium, and iron, they can accelerate these six hundred ton slugs up to 100 km per second. However, they have also informed us that only ships with "Heavy-coil" guns can perform this task."
"Uh, just a small question here, IS THAT THING REALLY A KILOMETER LONG!" shouted Kyouhei.
"Yes, and they sent us footage of one of these Halcyon-Cruisers in action against a Myouko Heavy Cruiser." Said Ryuujirou pressing a key.
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Clarion Spy Drone #00117: Play Log….
An image snapped into place on the screen, displaying two ships facing one another, each clearly distinctive. The Myouko cruiser looked distinctly evil with its orange glow, while the American Cruiser looked like a floating brick with guns, with the lettering UNAC Pillar Of Autumn on the side.
"Namby-pamby name if you ask me." Said Kyouhei.
"Shut-it." Said Gonzou leaning forward, the Haguro was clearly powering up its Super Graviton Cannon, while the PoA simply stood still, then a blue field snapped in place around it before disappearing while a golden glow began to appear from what looked like a massive muzzle in the ships prow. The Haguro fired its SGC at the Autumn, the red beam twisting and splashing over the massive ship. The blue field began to glow brighter and brighter as it absorbed more and more energy, the yellow glow inside the muzzle began to dim as the Captain redirected power to the Field surrounding his ship. Eventually the Graviton beam petered out and left the Autumn unscathed, its blue field glowing with a blinding corona. Finally, the Autumn returned fire, a small counter showing one hundred and fifty missiles streaking toward its target, just as the missiles began to hammer on the Klein Field of the opposing ship the Autumn fired its MAC at the stricken Haguro whose Point Defenses were being overwhelmed by the missiles. The spy drone shook as a yellow bolt of plasma containing the round was fired at the Haguro negating the Klien field and embedding itself inside the Haguro, practically splitting the bow open complete.
"Wow." Said Shizuka as she stared at what once was an invincible force, now simply a slowly sinking coffin.
"What happened next?" asked Gonzou, as the feed cut off.
"That task force sailed to Hawaii and retook the Island from the token force of destroyers and cruisers." Said Ryuujirou.
"And how exactly did we get this much data." Said Sou, gesturing to the ship classifications that lay strewn across the table.
"Ah, there is even more good news! The Americans have sent a single ship our way, a Halberd-Class destroyer, the In Amber Clad." Said Ryuujirou, "We received this burst transmission while they were passing into Japanese Territorial waters. They say that they will be your escort to San Diego Port."
"Wow, a single destroyer was all they could send?" asked Kyouhei.
"We should be grateful, that they sent anything at all." Said Ryuujirou. A tremendous explosion echoed across the water as klaxons began to blare from the defensive wall.
"Hell, looks like some of I-401's compatriots have decided to show up." Said Ryuujirou as a stream of chatter began to stream into his ear. Gunzou, and his crew, stood up and ran out from the room heading for their ship. Only to be met by the Army, pointing their weapons at the crew.
"Ryoukan Kita would like to speak to you." Said the leader, a man dressed in black.
"No, we have to get going, Iona please bring I-401 here." said Gunzou.
"Yes captain." Iona said as her eyes began to glow, "Cracking, complete. Beginning dock transport and stop gap repairs. All critical systems engaged." A loud rumble shook the town as the gate fell, permitting the entrance of two Fog Battleships into Yokosuka Harbor, their green and orange lights casting an eerie glow across the water as they began to move in towards the town.
"Now, now boys, stop trying to intimidate the man with the living submarine." Said a voice. Turning the crew of the I-401 saw a man wearing the blue fatigues of the US Navy.
"This doesn't concern you, Herder." Spat the man.
"Well it does, because you see, by attacking in a naval docking area. You've made it my business." Said Herder as he snapped his fingers, prompting targeting lasers to sweep across the men standing on the dock, "That and I have snipers, waiting for my signal."
"Stand down." Said the man, "but this is not over."
"Yes, it is." Said Herder before looking at Gonzou, "Now I do believe that you have someplace to be, don't you?"
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Said Gonzou as I-401 surfaced behind him.
XXXXXXXX
UNAC In Amber Clad
"All right, Captain, we are coming into visual range of Yosuka Port." Said Ensign Kim.
"Thank you, Ensign, bring it up on the TACMAP." Said Captain Anderson. A live feed of the harbor was displayed on the screen.
"Oh, hell." Said Anderson.
"Lieutenant Hicks! Give me flank speed into the harbor, bring us up from dive! Lieutenant Crawford! I want the Halsey field and the MACs spinning up!" ordered Anderson.
"Sir! Yes, Sir!" shouted the crew as they began preparations to meet the battleships of the Fog.
XXXXX
Aboard I-401
"Alright, entering Phase 2!" shouted Kyouhei as he guided I-401 through the sunken buildings.
"Captain, I'm picking up a third ship on sonar! I've never heard it before!" said Shizuka.
"Iona?" asked Gunzou.
"It isn't Fog, nor is it Japanese." Said Iona, "Scanning sonar signature for known matches... match found: UNAC destroyer."
"No way! They're already here!" said Kyouhei.
"Never mind them right now." Said Gunzou, "Begin Phase Three."
XXXX
Aboard Fog Fast Battleship: Kirishima
"Well now, isn't this interesting." Said Kirishima, as a new contact popped up on her sensors.
"Which do you want Kirishima?" asked Haruna.
"I want them! They will be much more of a challenge than that sub. Her I leave to you." Said Kirishima as she came about to face the new comer.
"Let's have some fun!" she laughed as she launched dozens of missiles at the In Amber Clad.
XXXX
Aboard I-401
"Kirishima just turned away from us!" said Sou.
"Doesn't matter." Said Gunzou, "We'll continue our attack on Haruna, we just have to wait for the right moment."
"Captain, the torpedo mines are in place." Said Kyouhei, "I hope your gamble will pay off."
"Haruna had entered the kill zone, commencing torpedo barrage." Said Iona. Above them the fast battleship shook as it received hits from the torpedoes hidden throughout the sunken city. Haruna growled as she fought to stabilize her ship.
"Klein field holding at seventy percent, thanatonium detected." Haruna intoned, "Activating point defense systems." Across the hull of her battleship, turrets rotated and began to fire on the incoming missiles, knocking down ninety percent. However, Haruna had missed the corrosion missile that had been fired by I-401, and a pink graviton field blossomed into existence against her Klein Field.
"Warning, Klein Field at ninety percent capacity." Said Haruna.
XXXXX
Aboard the In Amber Clad.
"Sir, second battleship is coming about!" said Kim.
"Crawford, slave the PD systems to the NAV computer, prioritize thanatonium readings!" ordered Anderson.
"Sir, yes sir!" said Crawford, as she inputted the command into the system , "Captain, the MAC cannons are fully charged!"
"Fire a heavy round from the port MAC, time its impact with archer pods A through C." said Anderson.
"Yes Captain." Said Crawford as she drew up firing solutions. Anderson leaned forward in his chair.
"Firing solutions ready." Said Crawford.
"Fire." Said Anderson. A trio of popping noises signaled the release of the Archer Missiles from their oversized pods. With sixty missiles to a pod, Anderson had effectively launched 180 missiles at a ship that could fire at most, thirty at a time. A few seconds passed before the port MAC fired sending an echo through the port as the round left the barrel. The Kirishima shuddered as though it had taken a punch to the chin from the combined power of the missiles and MAC slug.
"Hicks, take us under." Said Anderson
XXXX
Aboard the Battleship Kirishima
"Warning, Klein Field at ninety-eight percent." Said Kirishima as she glared at the retreating ship, "Well let's see how you like this!" In unison all of the missile ports on her flashed open as Kirishima released her corrosion torpedo complement. The human destroyer came about and began to dive, Kirishima simply altered the firing solutions of the torpedoes to follow the human ship under the water.
"Hiding will not save you." She muttered.
XXXX
Aboard the Destroyer In Amber Clad.
"Vampire, Vampire! Detecting enemy anti-ship torpedoes!" cried Ensign Kim, "Counting thirty, sixty, one hundred twenty, one hundred and eighty total torpedoes.
"Rampart Point Defense system engaged! Prioritizing thanotonium signatures!" said Lieutenant Crawford.
"Hicks! Execute evasive maneuver Delta-Zero!" said Anderson, "Sound the collision alarm!" Klaxons broke out on the decks of the Clad as her navigator placed her in a series of spirals under the sea, the point defense turrets blazing away at the missiles.
"Count one hundred torpedoes, eighty, seventy, fifty, twenty torpedoes!" shouted Kim.
"All hands, brace for impact!" Anderson roared. The Clad rolled as the twenty torpedoes, five of them corrosion, hit the Halsey field of the destroyer.
"Halsey field nearing saturation!" said Crawford, "Halsey Field is down, repeat Halsey field is—" the lieutenant was thrown from her chair as a single corrosion torpedo hit the Clad on her dorsal "fin".
"Kim, report." Said Anderson as he got to his feet and glared at the display of the Kirishima.
"We have a hull breach on Deck One, minor and all crew had evacuated that section, sealing the bulkheads now." Said Kim, "With all due respect sir, it could have been much worse; we didn't take any casualties, but we cannot charge the port cannon, its power conduits have been too badly damaged."
"Understood, try and get us near the I-401, neither one of us can take on these ships alone." Said Anderson.
"Sir, yes sir." Said Hicks as he inputted a course to carry the destroy within a kilometer of the I-401. The black ship was nearly invisible to the human eye, apart from the yellow glow of its ion engines as it pushed itself towards the I-401. The Kirishima chasing it from behind, a glow from its forward photon batteries giving the ship a distinct green glow as it fired beams at the fleeing UNAC ship.
"Sir, the Halsey field is holding at fifty percent, but the enemy battleship is firing its photon banks at us." Said Kim as he monitored the sensors.
"Hicks, transfer control of the emergency thrusters to the NAV computer, I want—" the Captain was cut off by the bang of the trihydride tetrazine and hydrogen peroxide tanks fired and the ship jumped to left, avoiding a barrage of photon beams.
"Good job Hicks," said the Captain as he sat back down, "Willis, get me a line to the I-401."
"Yes sir," Lieutenant Willis said, as she began to transmit to the I-401.
XXXX
Aboard the submarine I-401
"Captain! I'm receiving a transmission from the American ship, they are requesting information about our plan." Said Shizuka
"Sou, transmit your data and the plan to the Americans, make sure that they now about the weakness of the Klein Field and the Super Gravity Cannon." Said Gunzou.
"Yes Captain," said Sou as he began to type the reply back to the American ship. "Captain, they are letting us know that if we can make it happen, they have a MAC round standing by to fire."
"Good, that means we won't have to fire a corrosion torpedo." Said Gunzou, "Transmit that we accept and suggest that they go dark."
"Their reply is, "Good Luck, going dark." Said Sou.
XXXXX
Aboard the Battleship Kirishima
"Where did they go? A ship that big would show up on radar, no matter how stealthy it is." Said Kirishima as she scrutinized the sonar readings, "Sister, it would appear that they are sunk, how does the battle with I-401 go?" asked Kirishima.
"Annoying, they keep hitting me with torpedos." Said Haruna as her point defenses chattered around her.
"Well, we can't have that can we?" asked Kirishima, moving herself next to Haruna.
"No, I suppose we can't." Haruna murmured as aligned herself with Kirishima.
"Well, I suppose that the best way to find a submarine, is to reel it in." said Kirishima as her ship form began to transform.
"Initiating fusion, beginning docking protocols, docking around Super Gravity Cannon." Said Haruna, as her ship formed the lower half of the massive Super Gravity Cannon. As the cannon began to charge, the sea split, revealing a stricken I-401 and her crew. Using a tractor beam the two battleships began to haul the I-401 to the surface, right into the Super Gravity Cannon's firing lane. The submarine began to unload its torpedo complement as its Klein Field attempted to break free of the beam. However, with both Mental Model's processing the attack, it was a useless attempt to break free.
XXXXX
"Kim status on the Fog?" asked Anderson as the Clad lay under a parking garage.
"They are at seventy percent degeneracy and rising." Said Kim as he monitored the sensors.
"And the Klein field?" asked Anderson as he stood.
"Retracting, wait no, it's retracted! That cannon is about to fire!" said Kim.
"Emergency Ascent!" said Anderson as his ship rumbled to life, jets under the prow forced it upwards at a precise angle, and the massive ion engines ignited.
"Surface in two seconds." The NAV computer warned.
"Surprise…" Anderson muttered as the Clad erupted from the water, and before it fully landed in the water, the starboard MAC fired. The shot was true and impacted the SGC as it was about to fire, sending the power flooding across the two ships, causing the ships to detonate. Anderson grinned as the two battleships sank below the surface. The crews of both ships were too busy celebrating to notice the object that flew towards the Port.
"Alright boys, let's get this ship back in action, I want that MAC gun online in two days!" said Anderson as he stood up. His bridge snapped to attention, before turning back to their stations and began issuing commands across the ship.
XXXXX
In Amber Clad: Engineering
"Somebody put that fire out!" roared Chief McCarthy.
"Sir!" shouted a crewman as he hosed down the offending station with a fire extinguisher.
"And someone let the Cap'n know, that letting a MAC capacitor getting hit is gonna take a little longer than two days!" shout McCarthy as he tapped away at his PADD.
"Got it, sir!" said another crewman as he tapped out the message to the bridge.
"Sir, the primary reactor is ready to fire!" said one of the reactor techs.
"What are you waiting for boyo!" said McCarthy as he strode to the main panel.
"Warning, Warning, Warning, Main Reactor Startup in five seconds," the Main Computer intoned the lights in Engineering brightened before dimming as room warmed up slightly, "Main Reactor now online."
"Let's move boys, come on, hop to!" said McCarthy as he strode to reactor control.
"Sir!" echoed the room as the engineers ran to the Humvees that would take them to the damaged sectors. McCarthy grinned as he saw systems coming back online, the big girl would be back to tip top condition.
"Sir, I have good news and bad news." Said a crewman over the COM.
"Hells Bells boy, what's the good news?" asked McCarthy as he scowled.
"Well, We've replaced the blown MAC capacitor, and repairs are ninety percent complete on the port cannon."
"And the bad?"
"We don't have nearly enough replacement armor, mountings were wrenched off in the blast and so, we erected the ultra-light armor—"
"Please tell me that's it." McCarthy interrupted.
"No, we also lost the super-conducting filament." Said the crewman.
"Fuck." Breathed McCarthy as he slumped, "Good Work crewman, see what you can do about the armor, I'll inform the Captain."
XXXX
Aboard the I-401
"Huh?" muttered Iona as she felt a tug on her Concept COM system.
"What is it Iona?" asked Gunzou.
"I'm sensing Haruna's mental model, she needs help." Said Iona as she stood up.
"How? It's been a day since we sunk them." Said Kyouhei.
"Bring us about Iona, get us as close as possible to them." Said Gunzou.
"Sir, the Americans are asking about our intent." Said Shizuka.
"Tell them we are defending a valuable asset." Said Gunzou.
"Sir, the Americans are opening a COM channel!" said Shizuka. The main screen flashed before displaying the bridge of the In Amber Clad, it was larger than the I-401's and the scheme was a slate-gray and blue. One man, obviously the Captain by the insignia on his blue uniform was standing, was evaluating Gunzau with harsh green eyes.
"Captain Gunzou, just how valuable is this asset." Said Anderson.
"Iona, my ship's mental model, says that the asset is protecting the inventor of the vibration torpedo. That's how valuable that asset is." Said Gunzou.
"Well then, I hate to tell you, but the Japanese Army is already at that location." Said Anderson as he read a PADD.
"What? The Army is attacking the ment- I mean, Asset." Said Kyouhei.
"Captain Gunzou, is this asset, Fog?" questioned Anderson.
"Yes, but its protecting a human." Said Gunzou.
"Really now, well that changes things." Said Anderson, "Alright, but the mental model and the designer, they stay on my ship. Well away from the sample that is in your cargo bay."
"What, why?" asked Gunzou.
"Because, if you get involved then you lose support of your government, however, my ship is sovereign UNAC territory. An attack on us would be seen as an attack against the UNAC." Said Anderson.
"Fine." Said Gunzou, "Sou, cut the channel." The screen blanked out as Sou hit a few keys.
XXXXX
In Amber Clad
"Hicks, prepare for Launching Manuever." Said Anderson as he sat down, "And Kim, sound the Launch Alarms." Across the Clad a klaxon began to blare two short blasts followed by a long blast. Down in Engineering the entire place resembled a beehive as the sailors made the preparations for a Launch.
"Sir! Launch engine covers are disengaged!"
"Adjusting motors are active!"
"Captain, Engineering is ready for Launch Maneuver." Said McCarthy as he grinned.
"Understood, All hands, prepare for Launch!" said the Captain, "Ignite the engines!"
XXXXX
I-401
"Captain, I'm picking up strange noises from the Clad." Said Shizuka as her hands skimmed across the keys.
"Pull up a feed of her." Said Gunzou.
"Yes Captain." Said Iona as the screen flashed showing a live feed of the In Amber Clad. On screen the circular shields over the back of the destroyer disengaged as the Launch engines came online. The glowing ion engines began to change from a yellow to a light blue as more power was forced to the engines. Finally, the main engines came online as a circle inside the shroud made a revolution before glowing with an unearthly blue light. Then the bow began to rise as the engines under the prow began to lift the ship into launch position. The sea began to froth as the main engines slipped beneath the surface, then the impossible happened.
"In Amber Clad's depth is decreasing!" said Shizuka as she muted her headphones to protect her ears as the deep bass of the Clad's engines began to crescendo.
"No way." Breathed Kyouhei as he watched the screen, "I don't believe it." Onscreen the Clad began to force its way out of the water, slowly at first, but then it began to move faster and faster until its entire 545 meter bulk had exited the water and began to rise up the cliff.
XXXXX
"Huh, rain?" asked one of the soldiers as felt water fall on him. Looking up he blinked as if he couldn't believe it, he shook his head. Nope, it was still there.
"THIS IS CAPTAIN ANDERSON OF THE UNAC NAVY, I ORDER ALL JAPANESE UNITS TO STAND DOWN!" boomed the floating behemoth that currently hovering above the mansion. The soldier that spotted the ship first shook for a few seconds before tossing his rifle away and running for the command tent. Inside the commanders were arguing as he burst in.
"Requesting permission to run away sir!" said the soldier.
"No! Get your rifle and take down the target!"
"But-but, ship." Said the soldier weakly pointing to the Clad.
"All Land-Crab units, attack that ship!" ordered the Commander. The crabs turned away from Haruna as they turned and fired at the Clad. The rockets hitting the Halsey field with no damage to the hull.
XXXX
In Amber Clad
"Crawford, use the Ramparts to squash those crabs, and Kim?"
"Yes sir?" asked Kim.
"Deploy the Marines."
