OCTOBER 25, 3:14 p.m.
Off the coast of Tori-shima
S-282 Kurushima, Kirov-class battlecruiser, combat
Blue Mermaids battle group engaged with hostile fleet
The roar of several point-defense guns filled the hostile skies above Tori-shima with as much lead as their magazines allowed. Jet black flyers, dashing across the skies with impunity, responded with an endless rain of bombs on the surface fleet. Whistling death put human sailors at the edge of their seats, even as most of them end up in the water. The black flyers shot down present themselves as another threat as they attempt to take a ship with them to a watery grave.
Shells and missiles ripped across the air in a mixed bag of results. Some find their marks and wreak all sorts of havoc, while others erupt as columns of water too close for comfort. Both sides absorb a lot of punishment, but the outlook remains grim. Abyssals, a hostile fleet from another universe, with their show of numbers, drove humanity's defenders to a corner with walls of concentrated fire.
It was a losing battle, but one a prominent Blue Mermaid, Mayuki Munetani, couldn't afford to lose. Still, chatter in the Kurushima's bridge continues to paint a bleak picture.
"Lost contact with Kouzu and her squadron. Reestablishing uplink…"
"Hachijo's squadron now engaged with another wave of attack craft."
"Benten under attack by enemy fleet. They're requesting backup."
"Miyake is listing heavily to starboard. She's sinking."
With every incoming report, she's forced to make decisions on the fly. It was much harder than her desk job as the principal.
"Keep trying. Once you get a response, order them to pull back."
"Tell Hachijo's squadron to hold their ground while we rally the fleet."
"Order Benten to rendezvous with the Tsugaru and hold the flank."
"Take us to Miyake and commence rescue. Maintain point-defense barrage."
Getting to the isolated Miyake meant breaking through a powerful battle column of Abyssals, every gun loaded for bear. Despite the harassment by the enemy flyers, the fleet maintained its heading to another fierce action. Distress calls from the sinking ship put more pressure on the fleet.
Mayday! Mayday! This is the Miyake! We're abandoning ship! I repeat: the Miyake is abandoning ship! Transmitting coordinates! Requesting rescue!
"Chief Munetani," said one of the aides on the bridge. "The Miyake's coordinates will take us straight through that blockade. I suggest we go around them."
"There's no time for a flanking maneuver," Mayuki replied. "The battle's everywhere. Break through that blockade at all costs. The Miyake's counting on us."
The Abyssal broadside erupted in a lethal fusillade of cannon fire. Shells landed too close to the Blue Mermaids ships, save for two which struck a frigate holding up the rear. "The Natsushima has taken a direct hit! Their bridge is on fire!"
"Press the attack," Mayuki said. "All ships return fire."
Main batteries and missile launchers roar in retaliation. In the devastation that followed, the whole battle column ceased to exist, with the survivors scattering in the chaos. The Blue Mermaids ships steamed ahead, picking off any counterattack that came too close for comfort. Within minutes, half of the sinking frigate could be seen from a distance, as well as an approaching enemy skirmish. The helpless crew was at the Abyssals' mercy.
"Engage the incoming enemy fleet from starboard," Mayuki ordered. "Don't let them reach the crew of the Miyake in the water."
Cannons from both sides opened up once more. But at ranges close enough to see the yellows of the Abyssals' eyes, the Kurushima staggered under the first of several hits. The sturdy hull shrugged off the insult, but two of its point-defense guns lay silent after a few direct hits. Such a tactical victory for the Abyssals, however, came at a heavy cost for their side. The lone survivor broke off and fled.
"Good work, everyone," Mayuki said. "Recall all remaining ships to our position and provide cover. Get the rescue team to work immediately. Once everyone's aboard, set a course for Hachijo-jima."
The besieged battle group found the respite it needed as it pulled alongside the Miyake crew, whose ship has all but slipped beneath the waves. The looming threat of another attack gave little time for its crew to lament on their loss. Instead, they struggled to swim to the nearest rescue boat, ladder, or doughnut they could find. In a matter of minutes, the Kurushima's deck swelled with rescuers and the rescued alike, some being treated for wounds.
In the bridge, Mayuki gave a sigh of relief. A few dozen suffered varying wounds, but nobody among the Miyake crew perished. For her, this was enough of a victory for now. She yearned to set sail for home and rethink as to how to best approach this unknown threat from beyond.
"There's no reliable intelligence regarding these unknowns," her aide reported. "All we know is that they began rallying around the anomaly detected earlier, which we have trouble analyzing."
"But at least they aren't invincible," Mayuki replied.
"For a fact," the aide continued. "They seem to lack guided weapons, although they did a number on a few of our ships."
"Don't let their weapons of choice lull you," Mayuki warned. "Keep in mind that today's ships have traded armor for speed. A single hit even from a Musashi-equivalent gun can lay waste to our fleet."
"O-Of course, Chief."
The subject matter shifted as quickly as the battle began. "Any word from the Second Fleet?"
"They just finished their joint exercises with several navies in Hawaii," the aide said. "They've been trying to get permission from Atlantis to join the fight, but Atlantis ordered them to stay put."
"And the First Fleet?"
"Still docked in Gibraltar, Chief. It seems news of the outbreak hasn't reached them yet."
"The enemy doesn't seem to know the extent of our strength yet. I'd prefer to keep it that way. The Third Fleet will contain the enemy and organize a counterstrike. But first, we have to rally the fleet. Send word to the remaining ships to rendezvous at our location."
"Will do."
Despite the lull in the action, radio chatter kept pouring into the Kurushima. Out in the open waters, half of the fleet still had to fight their way through blockades. The distinguished Blue Mermaid only had worry for her colleagues deep in the danger, but also fear for the enemy at the gates. And it only began with a missing cruise liner.
"Chief Munetani," called one of the signal officers over the radio. "We intercepted a transmission from an unknown source. It's riding on our frequency bands."
"Patch it through," said Mayuki. "Let's see who's intruding on our frequency."
The bridge waited in anticipation of perhaps the brains behind this grand scheme of things. Instead, the loudspeakers played a maiden's mesmerizing song. The soothing tone lulled even the most wary into forgetting the chaos still raging outside. If not calm, the select few including Mayuki exchanged gazes of confusion. Not a trace of humor could be found in this enigmatic message.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" she said in indignation.
"I-I'm sorry, Chief," replied a frantic officer. "This is really what the transmission says."
"What in the world is going on?"
Not a second too soon, all of Kurushima exploded in panic.
"Radar and weapons systems are offline!"
"Communications are also offline!"
"This is the engine room! We just lost power to the screw shafts!"
Report after report, Mayuki winced at the development of an already-grim situation. Later, the ship shuddered under the first of several salvos from out of the blue. "Multiple silhouettes approaching from all sides! They're attacking!"
"Tell the deck to hurry up with the rescue!" yelled Mayuki. "We have to get out of here!"
The mighty flagship staggered under more direct hits, serving to increase the number of wounded. Its impressive array of weapons lay either silent or destroyed by the relentless attack. Some sailors fell back into the sea in the chaos, while those on deck scurried in panic. The Kurushima, created for the sole purpose of total war, and its battle group were a sitting duck.
"Damage control, restore power as much as possible," yelled Mayuki.
More bleak news came from the engine room. "We're trying to restart the engines, but they're not responding. We're sitting ducks!"
Blow after blow, the armor began buckling under withering fire. Several compartments lit up like a match, burning anyone unfortunate to be inside as the attacks hit home. The decks became slippery with a mixture of blood and char.
From a distance, one Abyssal's main gun fired a shot that would seal the fate of everyone inside the Kurushima's bridge.
Lightning and Sword Fan Fiction Productions proudly present…
KANMUSU OF TWO WORLDS: The Second Act