Chapter 55
The Delivery of the Fleet
Second Civilization, Superpower Mu, 18th May 1526 / 227
Admiral Brendas, with the Main Fleet he commands during the Eleventh Leadership Country Conference, consisting of two battleships, four armored cruisers, eight light cruisers, and two aircraft carriers, sets out to the Celestina Empire. On the carrier, there are a total of fifty Marin on the deck. The fleet wants Celestina to upgrade it as Mu is willing to pay any price to have a fighting chance against the Gra Valkas Empire on the sea.
Mu's Task Force Fleet consists of four battleships, eight armored cruisers, twelve heavy cruisers, sixteen light cruisers, five aircraft carriers, and five supply ships is on the waiting list to be upgraded by the Celestina Empire. Mu's Capital Defense Fleet is on the last row of the waiting list, as their main purpose is for capital defenses.
"Captain. Contact our men at Celestina, and ask them about their experience when operating Mu-class Battleship. If possible, I would like to learn about our new Battleship."
"Yes, sir."
Admiral Brendas pray that their journey to the Celestina Empire went without any incident.
The Celestina Empire, 300km South of The Mechania, 22nd June 1526 / 227
The Gra Valkas Empire, Submarine Black Fang, U-boat-class Submarine
A fox-eyed man raises the periscope and looks at a lone ship.
It was daytime, and the surroundings were nothing but blue and empty skies.
"Hehehe… Gotcha! It's a Celestina warship! We must let them know that the empire's arrow reaches far east… all the way to Celestina."
The Gra Valkas Empire's proud U-boat submarine finally reached the coastal ocean near Celestina from the various undisclosed fuel and supply bases established in this world's numerous uninhabited islands. It has ascended to periscope depth and sighted what they think is a warship from Celestina.
It was decided to commence raids on all commercial shipping in the Central World as a first step. They have also decided to know that the Gra Valkas Empire's blade has reaches even the farthest of them all, the Celestina Empire. A submarine, a vessel that does not exist in this world, has come all the way to the coastal line of the Celestina Empire from the Gra Valkas Empire's homeland. But, to gain access to the waters on Regnieburg, they have to pass the Kingdom of Embellia first.
"They're so pitiful, aren't they, Captain? We're just gonna sink them without them knowing it!"
The XO pities the crew of the Celestina that was about to sink into the ocean.
"It's the Emperor's will. Furthermore, I've heard they humiliate our crown jewel, and here they didn't expect our presence! Let's give them the taste of the Gra Valkas' Wrath!"
When the Captain looks through the periscope, his eyes fixated on the mermaids that happen to look at Celestina's warship that was holding position, where a crew comes out to yell at a mermaid for throwing a fish into the ship.
"Uwohohoho! They got a mermaid! This is quite a catch for us!"
"Let's catch him once we sunk the ship, Captain!"
"Begin flooding the torpedo chamber!"
The water starts to flood into the torpedo chambers one and two.
The mermaid notices it as she starts to dive into the water, while the Celestina crew also notices it and points to where the submarine is.
"Did they notice us? Bah! That's too late! Launch it!"
The seawater that was flooded into the tubes is pushed backward, and the torpedo screws begin to rotate. Both unguided torpedoes are leaving a wake behind as they were launched just before the enemy's eyes.
The Celestina Empire, 1st Expeditionary Fleet, Plasma-class Destroyer, Destructo
Lieutenant Commander Quattro Noa, the Captain of the Plasma-class Destroyer, Destructo, follows the Gra Valkas Submarine trace after Ishiene found them a day ago. Since the Gra Valkas Empire's submarine was reportedly approaching the Territory of Mechania by the 6th Ocean Dragoon Corps, Ishiene takes the initiative to investigate it.
They already found it but pretend to ignore it as they continue to monitor the submarine. To draw the Gra Valkas submarine's attention, Lapis Lazuli, recently promoted to a Lieutenant, throws a fish at them. One of the crew immediately yells. "Hey! What was that for!"
"Just to lure their attention! The Vice-Admiral wants us to set their sight on us, so she can approach their submarines."
"Is that so? Then…" When Lapis sense something and dive, the crew also realizes it. "Unguided torpedoes! Begin evasive maneuvers!"
When they saw the wake generated by the torpedoes, with the repulsor engine installed, Destructo quickly dodges it as the crew saw the unguided torpedo along with its wake is passing through them.
"Vice-Admiral Ishiene is at the top of the submarine!"
"Get the mortar ready!"
Bringing out the Hedgehog Mortar, arming it with two shells, the crew fire it to the Black Fang's position.
The Kingdom of Embellia, CO of 2nd "Ocean Crystal" Division, Vice-Admiral Ishiene
Ishiene saw the opening then Lapis is pulling a distraction from the Black Fang submarine. When she sensed the injection inside the torpedo tube, she knew the plan was successful. She approaches the submarine to where it raises periscope to peek on the Destructo.
Pretending to be a curious mermaid, she examines the periscope for a bit, revealing her cleavage, much to her awareness that the Black Fang Captain desires to capture her. When she's away for a while, she uses this chance to chant a spell to silence the surrounding of the hatch.
"Sea of Silence. Water barrier."
As the sound barrier was applied around the hatches by her spell, she slowly opened the submarine hatch while creating the water barrier to ensure the barrier will breaks once it reaches at least ten meters in depth. To deceive the crew further, she casts another spell, making the crew not suspicious about her action.
"Deep Illusion. Magic Rope."
The sight from inside the submarine will make the crew believe if the hatch remains close, while the magic rope's purpose is to make sure they can't seal the hatch. She returns to the periscope that peeks on her again at the front and gives the Black Fang crew a surprise; she looks at one of the Destructo crew firing mortars to the submarine before she decides to swim away.
The Black Fang Submarine
"Here she comes, here she comes!"
The fox-eyed Captain looks at Ishiene, examines the periscope, and he's heating up when he saw her large cleavage. He tries to look around once she goes away, but his eyes fixated on the Celestina warship, Destructo, that happens to avoid it.
"How did they dodge it so easily? Reload the other torpedoes!"
But, Ishiene quickly returns to make another examination before she looks towards the ship and dives to the sea as the Destructo crews are firing the mortars. The pillar of water emerges around the submarine, indicates the Celestina Destroyer is targeting them.
"Shit! They're on to us! Dive, Dive!"
When the submarine was diving, as soon as they reached the depth of ten meters inside the sea, something catastrophic happened. The spell that was put by Ishiene earlier dissipates, and a surge of water immediately flooding the interior of the ship from the hatch.
"W-who the!?"
"Seal the hatch! Seal the hatch!"
"Mbh… Puahh! The water is too much! We can't seal the door!"
At the torpedo room, another disaster happens. Ishiene force opens the torpedo door and blows the torpedo hatches open, making water flood into the torpedo chamber.
"Uwaah! There's another one!"
"Escape! Escape!" But, as the submarine continues to sink because of water intake, the pressure starts to weaken the hull of the Black Fang, and it breaks in two once it reaches eighty meters in depth. Some pods are jettisoned to the surface, prompting the Celestina Navy and Ishiene to investigate it.
The Celestina Empire, the 1st Expeditionary Fleet, Plasma-class Destroyer, Destructo
"Hey, look!"
The crew found something emerges from where the Black Fang is. When they open the hatch, they found the Gra Valkas crew inside it.
"Looks like we got ourselves the prisoners of war."
The skirmish itself marks the first clash between the Celestina Empire and the Gra Valkas Empire. Additionally, the Celestina Empire secure the first prisoner of war from the Gra Valkas Empire. The prisoners that Celestina captured reaches ten in total.
The Gra Valkas Empire, Occupied Territory Leifor, Information Bureau Department Office
Information engineer Naguano was analyzing and considering different world forces for future battles.
The Gra Valkas Empire Information Bureau's engineering department, an organization that researches the enemy country's technical level and possible tactics, is where technicians are working to assess the enemy nation's potential threats. Due to the nation's great transition, after the absence of the Divine Kain Kingdom, the enemy of the previous world, another country in another world, it wasn't given much importance to the military, partly because of the consecutive victories with.
Due to the transfer to another world, the authority and personnel have been increased, practically after the New World's first defeat. Some of the worker's work remains unaffected.
Information engineer Naguano works as usual.
In front of him was a photograph taken in the Kingdom of Louria, a civilized foreigner.
"Fufufu ..."
The color photographs of the Kingdom of Louria's warships, their retro style, and the neatly arranged arrow shields on the ship make him laugh.
"What happened? Naguano."
A colleague who was watching Naguano laughing eerily talked to me.
"No, look at this. It's a shield against the arrow on the sailing ship! It's strange to see where the historical drama is.
This world is really interesting because there are still many active countries like this.
It's more fun to be a hobby than a research study. "
!
"Here and there, if you say that, the director will get angry! Even if this is the case, my job is to study the tactics that the opponent can take, just in case."
"Oh, I'm sorry. This is too low a threat, so let's put it off."
He takes out the next photo.
Much larger than the warships of the Kingdom of Louria, it is mainly sailing but has a large number of guns on its sides.
"Is it a ship of the line ..."
There was a picture of the 100-class magical ships-of-the-line, which the Empire of Papaldia, the former Superpower of the 3rd civilization.
It's no longer an antique and looks good, so he gets hot.
The cannon seems to fly only 2km, so this is not a threat at all.
"It's an interesting promotion method."
It is a magical tool that creates a wind called the Tears of the Wind God, and it seems that the wind is blown on the sail to gain propulsion.
Of course, if you don't think about the angle of spraying, you won't be able to proceed, but with this tool, you can proceed even without wind, so Naguano felt that it was really interesting.
"If this is used for an aircraft carrier, will the takeoff run distance be shortened?"
I would like to study the tears of Wind God a little more and put the mark of "research required."
"A little good?"
He talks to a colleague.
"What?"
"You're a great power with this kind of equipment? In fact, my empire will dominate a vast area in this world... But…"
"The mail about Celestina has yet to arrive, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
A colleague looks into the photo.
"Is it a ship of the previous era, a ship of the line ... It's a ship before the appearance of the rotating turret.
It's a fixed gun, so I couldn't mount a large caliber gun, and I competed in numbers, so it was a waste of time ... well, it's cool. "
"The anti-aircraft capability seems to be low ..."
They also lose interest in the ships of the Empire of Papaldia.
Next, he took a picture of Mu, the second civilization Superpower, which boasts the world's second-largest national power.
"This is the main battleship of the opponent who will collide next ..."
It is equipped with a rotating turret, which is larger than the capital ship of the Papaldia Empire in the photo above.
According to the information, when they invade the Port Town Cartalpas, the speed was about 18 knots.
"This ship is rare in this world and seems to be all mechanical."
"Why does the level of civilization and the method of development differ from country to country?"
"No, but there were some primitive areas, such as the Alfrey district in the previous world, where underprivileged children continued to be mass-produced even after decades, so that's probably the idea of a great power."
Naguano considers Mu's battleship.
Looking at the range of the guns, the speed of the battleships, and the carrier-based aircraft's performance from the accompanying aircraft carrier, it seemed that there was a gap of about 50 years for ships and more than 20-30 years for airplanes.
"The technical level of airplanes has only been open for decades. It seems that the development of airplanes is high from the level of civilization… It's a little threat. "
"However, considering the tactics of our army, it will not fall unless a stray bullet hits it."
Because there is a flying dragon in this world, it makes sense to think that the evolution of flight technology was quick so that it could fight more favorably than the potential enemy. "
"Sure ... the battleship will sink as soon as the aircraft carrier task force attacks it, and it's not a big threat ... However, there is little information about what kind of equipment the Army has. I will instruct you to collect more. "
Naguano then took out a bunch of documents.
The Holy Milishial Empire, the strongest nation in the world, which we place the most importance on, and which the military places the highest priority on.
Master the unclear method of magic, systematize it, and incorporate it into the national system.
I hear that the Holy Milishial fleet, which engaged with the Gra Valkas fleet, scores a decisive victory at Magdola.
This country definitely has the "power" to damage our fleet and currently is the number two threat.
However, on the contrary, if you capture this country, you can get the world aside of Celestina.
Fortunately, the enemy's air power wasn't a big deal, and the ship's anti-aircraft weapons seemed to have a pretty bad hit rate.
Analyzing from the previous engagement record indicates there is probably no proximity fuze in anti-aircraft weapons.
And the acceleration and turning ability of the aircraft seemed to be higher for me.
Naguano talks to a colleague.
"Mu's anti-aircraft weapons are outstandingly high at the level of battleships, but why is the anti-aircraft armament of the Holy Milishial Empire weak at the level of battleships? Still higher than Mu ... "
"Don't you feel the need because the world is full of low-speed aircraft called Wyverns?"
"... Well, surely, Milishial's armament is higher than Mu's armament, and without Celestina, it would definitely be the best in the world."
"But I don't really understand the structure of the battleship. I don't really understand what the material is, and the artillery has a pale tail."
I can't understand what the principle is.
"I don't know the structure and principle, but I can assume the strength from the last battle. Let's do what we should do!"
They got to work.
Evening
A postman delivered an internal report for his department, and the staff placed it near his office door. "An internal mail has arrived!"
"Thank you!"
The Gra Valkas Empire hire locals from Leifor, infiltrate Mu, and collect various information. Naguano and his colleague already feel tired, but when he opens the door and looks at the package, it has a memo written "Information about Celestina, read instructions when exploring information. The book was obtained from the Feather Bookstore," above it.
"Shall we open this?"
"Yeah, we should."
The Gra Valkas Empire suffers the first defeat and humiliation in front of the Celestina Empire. Determine to measure Celestina's technology level; the Gra Valkas Empire intensifies the research about Celestina.
When they open the package, they read some instructions. It seems the technology was more sophisticated than they thought.
"Shall we try it?"
"Yeah, sure."
Once both Naguano and his colleague finish reading the instructions on Mu's language, they start to open the book, which reveals the advancement of Celestina's technology. The sound of a young female surprises them as they begin to investigate about Celestina's capabilities. "Welcome. By opening this book, I expect the readers should have been finished reading the manual on how to operate this book. Tell us what do you wish to know."
Both Naguano and his colleague look at each other before nodding. "Information about the Grade Atlastar."
The information about the Grade Atlastar reveals right in front of their eyes. The ship's projection, the similarities, and to the point where all armaments and crew that was supposed to be classified are displayed with complete accuracy. Naguano and his colleague are shocked to see the full specification, even to the details that are deemed classified by the Gra Valkas military.
"No way…"
"Let's find more about this! Display all Celestina's vehicle and arsenals!"
"Please select the arsenals you'd like to view."
From all the view that Naguano and his colleague saw, they pick Scharlwarltz-class Superheavy Battleship. It displays the latest arsenals and specifications to the point where it could defeat the Grade Atlastar in one direct MAC hits. "Display the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon!" The view immediately goes to where the book displays MAC. The projectile's speed can reach Mach 50, which is the maximum restriction for Naval Warfare's velocity. In space, it can reach a speed of light when used in full power.
"This… This is…"
"This is absurd! They already reach the space! Let's try opening the Plasma Cannon!"
When the AI displays the Plasma Cannon, it views the devastating power of the Plasma bombardment. The Grade Atlastar will suffer a magazine detonation should any of these shells hit the main turret. It can boil and vaporize any armor when the projectile hits it.
More to their shock, the armaments, vehicles, and tanks wielded by the Gra Valkas Empire are listed as declassified and public knowledge from the Celestina Empire. Their secret weapon is also exposed, much to their horror. Naguano and his colleague remain in shock as the Gra Valkas Empire is messing with an Empire that has civilization more than what they can imagine. When they check on Celestina's vehicles and arsenals, they realize that the Gra Valkas Empire is declaring war with an Empire that can destroy them whenever they wish for. Starships, Orbital Defense Platform, everything seems to make Celestina already exposed the Gra Valkas Empire's location from the beginning.
"Let's file this report!"
"Quickly, quickly!"
Naguano and his colleague make a report, and they make it until late into the night.
The Next Day
Naguano and his colleague arrive at work, realizing something is amiss.
"What happened?"
A senior looks at him as he's compiling the report from the submarine Black Fang.
"We've lost contact with a submarine that was deployed to the east. The operator at one of the base reports that they lost contact with the submarine two weeks ago."
"What? How?"
But, Naguano and his colleague remember Celestina's arsenals, making it possible that Celestina possesses a submarine and countermeasures.
Speaking about the deployment to the east, they could reach waters off Celestina!
Naguano shudders immensely.
Mu, 200km southwest of the Celestina Empire, Mu's Main Fleet, 20th June 1526 / 227
Admiral Brendas was relieved as the sail went without a hitch. They make a stop at the Kingdom of Verlaine to refuel before they reach the Celestina waters.
"Seems we arrive without incident."
"Admiral. We got a transmission from Celestina."
"Patch it through."
The radio operator listens to Celestina's radio chatter, asking Mu's purposes to Celestina.
"This is Embellia's 6th Ocean Dragoon Corps. Tell us your purpose of being here."
"This is Admiral Brendas. Under the instruction of Mu's Military Command, we dispatch a fleet used during the Eleventh Country Leadership Conference months ago. We have notified the Grand Duchess of Mechania, Fleet Admiral Feena Minazuki, and Grand Duchess of Studia, Fleet Admiral Alicia Permeal, that we're going to upgrade the ship to have a fighting chance against the Gra Valkas Empire."
"We will relay the information to the command first, reduce the sailing speed to eight kilometers per hour."
"Roger that."
Mu complies with Celestina's command, and thirty minutes later, they receive a transmission from Feena.
"This is Grand Duchess of Mechania. We welcome you to the Mechania. Myrus already inform us about Mu's desire to upgrade the ship. We have prepared drydocks for the upgrade and the War Games to train your crew. We will prepare the accommodation, so please enjoy yourself while being here, and train yourself to the fullest. The mermaids from the 6th Ocean Dragoon Corps will guide you to the port."
"Admiral Brendas here, copy that."
"Sir! Look at the front!"
In front of them, they saw a group of mermaids is waiting for them. Mu's crew that are on different ships are surprised to see the mermaids on this world.
"Is that Celestina's mermaid?"
"How's that possible…"
They sail until they reach the Clements Military Dock, where they can see Mu-class Battleship is near completion and ready for the sea trial.
"Look at that ship!"
"It's bigger than we thought!"
The specifications have yet to be made public, but according to the Mu Naval personnel that was dispatched from the military to train at Celestina, they obtain several specifications:
Armament:
2 x Triple 380mm LMRI B-2 MAA
4 x 127/64mm 4th GEN MHM
10 x Twin Bofors 40mm 5th GEN RAS B-2
96 VLS RAS Mark-88 (96 AAPM-1 Naval)
4 x SDAPM with four reloads each tube
6 x twin 20mm Point Defense Gun RAS G-2
2 x triple torpedo launcher with 533mm tubes Anti Ship
2 x twin torpedo launcher with 333mm Anti Submarine
Equipment:
Wavecom Datalink 8 channels
Acoustic Sonar (Passive up to 32 kilometers in speed.)
Augmented Sensors Datalink with fast IFF
Titanium Nanolaminate B-Class 150mm to 320mm
Propulsion:
Integrated Ocean Fusion Reactor UOI-2 (4 GW)
Triple UOI BB-2 Propeller
Maximum speed 70km/h
Size:
202.5 meter (length)
12.3 meter (draft)
34.7 meter (beam)
While this specification has yet to be finalized by the Celestina Empire, it seems with these arsenals alone; Mu could stand a chance against the Gra Valkas Empire. Arriving at the dry dock, Mu's Main Fleet crew leaves the ship as Celestina's crew starts assessing the ship's arsenals and capabilities.
"Welcome, Admiral Brendas." One of the Celestina Military Officers greets them as she guides him and the crew to the accommodation prepared for them.
"What are we going to do when they upgrade our ship?"
"You will be attending War Games to hone your skills and learn to use our arsenals."
"War Games?" Brendas tilts his head as the War Games is commonly a training, but somehow he got a hunch that Celestina has a different interpretation about it.
"Yes. You will perform a combat simulation against the Gra Valkas Empire and, if possible, the Ravernal Empire. Through combat simulation, all of you will learn how to understand the new arsenals that we will install inside your ship. The more you understand it, the better chance you will perform when fighting the Gra Valkas Empire's Navy."
"I see… I will be in your care then."
Mu's Main Fleet was safely delivered without any incident, and with the current timeline, they have to understand how to operate the new arsenal installed inside their ship.
Author's note: Assignment week, so the release will be delayed from next week