***Hey All! Its been a while since my last update on Once and Future ship and alot has happened in my life since then. As a result I decided to start a new story. I may periodically update Once and Future Ship but this will be my main focus going forward. As before please keep your comments and reviews polite and constructive since this is my second story.***
Chapter 1
Isafjardardjup 10 km from Coalition Submarine base, 226 km north from Reykjavík, Iceland
Cold.
The wind whipped past as a man looked out to the escorting ships. He wore a black Ushanka with an emblem of a shield and crossed anchors on it. He stared with his crimson eyes at the enlarging sea as he was escorted out of the fjord by the escorts, a collection of tugs, intelligence ships and a couple of frigates.
Always so Cold. Just like this land. Cold and Hard.
He continued looking forward, noticing the lack of any birds this close to the Arctic Circle as his ship continued moving through the water. He could feel the wind chill getting through his thick black overcoat. The weather report that summer morning had read a high of 0 degrees Celsius that morning with the wind chill making it seem cooler. On the sail of the submarine, you could feel the wind all the more.
"Captain, we are 5 minutes to the entrance of the fjord. The Meeresjager is signaling us." A man next to him said as he looked towards one of the frigates. The Captain then looked to the leading frigate which began signaling them via light.
"HAPPY HUNTING SEEWOLF. GOOD LUCK ON PATROL. YOU ARE FREE TO COMMENCE MISSION." He saw flashed in morse as the escorts began to move away.
"Signal the Meeresjager and thank them for the sendoff. Continue the course heading 310 degrees, speed 20 knots till we get to deeper water." The captain ordered. "Prepare to submerge once our escorts have left, Commander."
"Aye sir." The Commander stated as he began giving orders down to the main part of the submarine. "Sir, you should come down now. Not much more to see from up here." The commander stated as he turned back to the Captain.
"Hmm, I'll stay for a moment longer Commander Hawker. Make sure the crew is ready once I come down." The Captain stated.
"Aye Sir." Hawker replied as he descended into the hull.
The Captain was left alone as the escorts began heading back to port. He continued to look toward the horizon seemingly deep in thought before he gave a heavy sigh and descended into the ship securing the hatches as he went down.
He descended into the control room of the submarine where various stations were arrayed with navigation being in the center with a table that had both a light table and map along with a computer that displayed their position via GPS. To the port side of the control room was the fire control and weapons stations including the area for control of the nuclear missiles, and the hydrophone, SONAR, Radar, ESM, and countermeasures stations. Centerline aft of the navigation table was the main viewing periscope along with the controls for the radar and ESM masts. Forward of the navigation table was the con with a brass steering helm and the various digital and analogue instruments which showed direction, depth, diving angle and plane, speed, ballast status and controls, and the controls for speed as well. To the starboard side was the engineering station that included all the instruments that showed the nuclear reactor output, engine, rudder and propulsion status, along with steam pressure, and radiation sensor readings.
All the stations had various digital and analogue instruments with computers helping the crew control, analyze and coordinate the stations, with various white, red, blue and green lights illuminating the compartment along with the main white and blue lights for the crew. On both starboard and port side of the compartment were walkways to allow the crew to move fore to the torpedo room which contains the 8 21inch torpedo tubes with 56 21-inch G32 torpedoes for reloads along with 12 MOSS MK-54 decoys.
[The G32 Wire Guided torpedo was the newest and most advanced torpedo produced with options for wire guidance, active and passive sonar tracking and an Otto Fuel with an oxidizer fueling an pump jet/gas turbine hybrid engine that gave it a top speed of 80 knots with a range of 40 km. The warhead itself weighed in at 300kg and any unused fuel could be added into the detonation.][Basically faster version of the Mark 48 ADCAP variant.]
Aft of the Control room was the crew quarters, missile launch bay which included 16 nuclear missiles with a MRVS capability of 12 warheads, each having the output of 500 Kt. Going further aft the nuclear reactor powered 1 geared turbine that moved a single shaft with 60,000 shp to bring the ship to a top speed of 28 knots submerged and 20 knots with silent running. It also had a pump-jet propeller and a secondary propulsion submerged motor. All told the ship weighed in at 14,000 tonnes and was the most advanced and quietest nuclear ballistic missile submarine produced with a crew of 15 officers and 130 crewmen, a combination of Ironblood, Royal, Northern Parliament, and Vichiya technology. And it was his, or nearly so.
"Captain, Commander Richter to see you in your quarters. It is time to open the orders." Hawker stated.
'Ah, the ONI(Office of Naval Intelligence) spook.' He thought. "Very well, I'll meet him there. You have the con." He responded as he headed aft to the one quarter given to one man. He made his way over to the door and opened it seeing the blond Ironblood officer sitting at his table going through one of his books. "And what exactly are you doing here Commander?" he asked the commander as he put his overcoat and ushanka into his closet.
Richter looked up at him. "I am here to see to the health, well-being, and loyalty of the crew Captain Strider. Especially with the amount of your kind on board."
"My kind you say?" Strider said as he closed the closet and looked at Richter. "And what would that have to do with anything?" he asked.
"Simple, you are beings with great power. Your predecessors could destroy whole cities if they wanted to and often disobeyed order from their chains of command until we carted them off to the Pacific. The fact that you have so many hybrids like yourself on this ship in particular, is somewhat concerning to the European Coalition command." Richter responded.
"Are you questioning my loyalty?" Strider asked pointedly. "Loyalty no. Commitment yes. That is why ONI put me here to oversee operations so that they run smoothly." Richter replied.
"And what would be the problem with my commitment that over 25 years of loyalty has shown?" Strider asked.
"Your constant strive to, how should I say it? Keep your hand clean as I believe you Royals would say, has cast doubts on your commitment to the Coalition, especially on what needs to be done." Richter answered.
"And the fact that I strive to reduce collateral damage and avoid unnecessary bloodshed gives you the right to invade my privacy?" Strider asked as he crossed his arms along his chest.
"Privacy is not a major concern in the Coalition, comrade." Richter answered nonchalantly as he looked back into the book. "It is often contrary to the collective and greater good of the Coalition."
"For I have come not to bring peace but the sword. Matthew 10:34" Richter said as he looked up." And what's this? Not only do you seem to have a Bible on you but also have that phrase underlined."
"No, this Bible belonged to my fiancée. I keep it for sentimental value." Strider stated as he took the Bible and put it in a cupboard nearby.
"My condolences, your fiancée was a beautiful woman, her death was unfortunate." Richter stated. "I am only doing my job, it is my responsibility."
"How many agents did ONI put on board my boat?" Strider asked as he turned to Richter.
"Your boat Captain?" Richter asked.
"Yes." Strider answered sternly.
"This Boat belongs to the people of the European Coalition. Besides, if Berlin, Paris, London, Moscow, or ONI have any agents on this boat I would be the last to know." Richter responded amused. "I suggest we open our orders, Captain."
"Very well." Strider answered as he turned to the safe that was lodged in the wall across from the table which had a tea set on it with freshly made tea. This safe had 2 key holes in it to which Strider put one key in that had been on a keychain around his neck. He put in the key and twisted it before gesturing to Richter who gave his key that he had also hung around his neck and put in that key and twisted it as well opening the safe. Revealing a set of folders and papers within that Strider took out, some folders stating ONI and others for his eyes only. Strider gave Richter the ONI folder while he looked through his own as he sat down.
"From Commander Strategic Submarine Force to Northern Fleet given on 23 February 1974. We are to proceed North to grid square reference 28-10 to rendezvous with Type 40 Wolfpack number 4. That's Captain Wagner's Wolfpack if I'm not mistaken. I heard he has an interest in you, Captain." Richter states.
"Wagner is only interested in himself. He views himself as a model Kreigsmarine Officer, at least before the Ironblood were consolidated in the Alliance. The fact that my fiancee was his sister which he never approved of, and that he views me as uncaring about her death means that he will seek to outdo me and embarrass me by trying to be the better submarine officer." Strider stated as he looked through the navigational charts.
"And you are not concerned about this competition?" Richter inquired.
"I was the one who taught him. It would be concerning if he was unable to at some point surpass me. That being said he is too aggressive and can be easily provoked if necessary." Strider replied.
"Hmm… We are to rendezvous with the Wolfpack and test out the stealth and diving capabilities of the ship before heading to Holly Lock for further orders." Richter stated.
"Is that all?" Strider asked.
"It appears so. I am quite surprised we haven't been ordered to do a polar cap break test. Those always get the propaganda machine working. I take it you are unsatisfied with the mission?" Richter asks pointedly.
"Not the mission no. Rather the port of call after the mission." Strider responded.
"Ah you mean Admiral Thatcher. I am surprised, I heard that you two are family." Richter states somewhat curiously.
"Family in blood perhaps. Not by choice, there are enough bad memories there that I don't feel it's necessary to talk about it." Strider stated pointedly.
"Come on George, as the ONI officer for this vessel it's part of my duties to look after the well being of the crew." Richter tried to press.
"It is of no consequence. I am a professional naval officer and will behave in such a manner when reporting to him. And it's Captain Strider or Sir to you Commander." Strider said warningly.
"Very well then, Captain." Richter stated as he rose from his spot. "Do I have permission to post the orders?"
"Go." Strider stated. "And Commander Richter." He said as Richter was opening the door. "Do not forget that while ONI has been given authority to advise the captain of the ship, I am the ultimate authority on this ship. Should I hear of you or any of your agents' making moves against my crew, I will not hesitate in throwing you overboard. Am I understood?"
Richter turned to face Strider. "Crystal, Sir." He said as he left the room with Commander Hawker coming in right after and closing the door.
"I take it that relations with ONI are as frosty as ever." He quipped.
Strider glanced up at him. "Sit down Commander. We have much to discuss."
Hawker sat across from Strider as he was passed the charts and an overview on the orders. A silence passed as Hawker read through the orders with Strider making some tea across from him and leaving him a cup.
"It looks like it's going to be an uneventful cruise. Wagner might be an issue, but we have dealt with him before. It'll be interesting to see how his wolfpack will operate, he has authored several articles on how to properly coordinate and attack convoys and single ships. He even has an article on wolfpack tactics against Sirens that he recently published." Hawker stated.
"I've read it, he comes up with some interesting ideas but since he has never encountered the Sirens before and has only read the reports, he misses a few key observations. His wolfpack tactics are sound although he dismisses some aspects of electronic warfare that would render much of the coordination necessary for his tactics to be ineffective. That's not why I am concerned though." Strider admitted as he put down his tea. "Look at the location for the rendezvous."
"It's past the arctic circle, no land within 300km of the area. Nothing particularly remarkable about the area." Hawker stated as he looked at the map.
"Hmm... you would think so at first glance. Do you remember the Dreadnought?" Strider led.
"Audacious… it rings a bell. Wasn't it a new nuclear attack sub the Royal Admiralty built a while back?" Hawker asked.
"Yes, it was built and put to sea around 10 years ago. Supposed to be the fastest and quietest boat in the fleet, along with the Royal's first attempt at building a nuclear-powered submarine. Unfortunately, it was lost with all hands on its maiden voyage. Officially it was due to a torpedo malfunction that caused a hull breach which led to a ballast failure that sank the boat." Strider said as he took a sip of his tea.
"Unofficially?" Hawker asked.
"Unofficially there was much more damage than a simple hull breach. Also, the hull plating in the wreck folded inward pointing to an outside explosion. Combined with the fact that the area was and has since been declared off-limits due to unidentified traffic and you have one hell of a coincidence." Strider stated as he took another sip.
"Unidentified traffic?" Hawker asked.
"Yes. Traffic that couldn't be identified, hailed, or seen by our instruments at the time. The investigation afterward held that there was no European or American sea traffic anywhere close to the area at the time." Strider explained.
"You think they were attacked by Sirens." Hawker stated.
"It's not so much thinking as knowing." Strider stated as he rose. "We have been fighting a war without battles, a war without headlines for years. But not one without casualties. Random contacts that seemingly fade in and out, some in regular patterns others not. Submarines that suddenly go missing with no warning, no evidence of attack, just up and disappear. All of them eventually return to this area." Strider stated as he pointed at the grid with the rendezvous point.
"But Wagner's wolfpack is surely there. After all, we are to rendezvous with them there. Surely, they would have reported something if they saw anything." Hawker pointed out.
"Wagner's boats are Type 40s which, despite the technological bells and whistles they have, are still electric diesel submarines and are unsuited for long voyages so far from port without support especially for just a training exercise. Also, there are no refueling stations north of Reykjavik meaning that a long voyage followed by extended exercises for over 2 weeks would leave their fuel supply dangerously low since the refueling support ships won't go that far north. I am led to believe that since we have not seen any new submarines near Iceland during our preparations and launch that he is currently on his way to the rendezvous point as we are, probably having refueled as Scapa Flow." Strider deduced.
"But still, Sirens? They all but disappeared since the last war. Hell, the only actions that have been recorded were with disparate holdouts in the Pacific with Azur Lane, surely had there been activity Command would have dispatched a few to check out this area." Hawker stated.
"Would they? This is an area far off the beaten path. No major convoys go through this area. I think the Sirens aren't as dead or defeated as you would believe." Strider said.
"Say your right. Say the Sirens are active and in force, how would that affect our mission?" Hawker asked.
"It means that we have to approach this far more delicately than a simple training and testing mission." Strider explained. "We must treat this as a reconnaissance mission. Any contacts we pick up must be analyzed and categorized. Any transmissions we make must be coded and short. We must spend the least amount of time on the surface as possible. Finally, we must ensure complete radio silence unless absolutely necessary."
"That will aggravate both Captain Wagner and the Admiralty." Hawker pointed out.
"We are simply testing the stealth and endurance capabilities of our ship." Strider said with a grin. "That is after all why we are out here is it not."
"Very good sir." Hawker said with a sigh running a hand through his short cropped blond hair. "And in the event we find a Siren?"
"We'll track it but not engage it. We have too little information to go on about them currently. Perhaps we may gain more from this exercise." Strider clarified. "This discussion was in confidence Arthur, no one among the crew is to be told about this, understood?"
"Why Sir?" Arthur asked.
"Besides the fact that most of them believe the Sirens are gone. I do not trust ONI getting wind of this." Strider explained.
"Why would ONI be a problem?"
"ONI acts on its own authority. Although they are supposed to answer to the Coalition council, they often mislead the council and act on their own authority and silence those who oppose them. They are similar to the Gestapo and KGB, their forebears, in that regard, and any advantage they can gain they will absolutely use to consolidate their power. If they knew we are aware of a Siren threat, they would look to acquire any information and technology they can get from the Sirens and then dispose of the loose ends. I have no desire to see my ship and my crew get involved with them." Strider stated.
"Very well Sir. Is there anything else?" Arthur asked. Crimson eyes looking into similar crimson.
"No Commander, that is all. I will be joining you shortly at the Con." Strider said.
Arthur got up and left the room while Strider looked at the map on the table.
'What are they hiding?' he thought as he looked at the map with a red mark at the rendezvous point.
***So I definitely pulled a few references from the Hunt For Red October, which by the way is an awesome book by Tom Clancy if you haven't read it yet. For the mistakes with the names of the submarines parts, let it be known that I am open to correction and I have only been on 2 subs before; the USS Torsk and U505 so I am not the most knowledgeable person about that. That said I hope you enjoyed this chapter and constructive criticism is appreciated. Disclaimer I own neither Azur Lane nor the Hunt for Red October. If I did own Azur Lane I would have added USS Texas, USS Lexington CV-16 and her sisters(Yorktown, Hornet, Wasp, etc), and USS Midway in by now, but fictional and paper ships apparently are cooler than real ones so whatever. Also please help support those museum ships.***