Chapter 3: A test run.
Tsukaba City:
The city of Tsukaba was usually deserted early in the morning but this time, cars filled the streets and technicians swarmed around the large airfields as they struggled to ready the huge flying warships for the inspection tour by the command staff for the operation.
Most of the focus of the preparation centered on getting the engines up since the airships formed an integral part of the plan. Despite the experience gained from the Mysterian crisis with the Alpha class Aerial Battleship as well as the assistance of those engineers who actually worked on the first prototype of the Gotengo design back in 1963 during the Mu Empire crisis, the engineers labored all night to activate the engines and ensure that they could stay active for a long time in harsh conditions. It was only last night that the scientists managed to get the engines online for any appreciable period of time. Now the crews were making desperate final checks to ensure that everything worked at peak efficiency.
Nakano watched grimly as the crews of the three airships worked themselves to exhaustion in last minute checks. He wished that he could have had more time but as he learned during the war, higher level commanders didn't have to heed the advice of subordinates if they felt that it would get in the way of the job. That aroused another groan of anger as he observed the time on his pocket-watch wondering when the command staff would arrive.
Suddenly, Udea interrupted his thoughts by stating, "Sir, the generals have arrived and a waiting in the control tower".
Nakano took a deep breath before whispering, "Here I go again, playing host to politicians". He turned to Udea and ordered, "Make sure everything is ready to go while I stall them". Udea nodded and took over as Nakano headed down toward the briefing room.
The commanders of the operation were engaged in separate small conversations with the Westerners and Japan on one side while the Soviets and Chinese stood on the other end when Nakano arrived. He immediately saluted before one of them, a Japanese general walked up to him, "My apologies if we're a little too early but we wanted to get a good look at these new weapons while they're currently inactive". Nakano silently nodded before they headed back down the way he came.
Soon the entourage arrived into the hanger deck where the generals marveled at the sight of the huge flying machines with the westerners somewhat impressed in awe while the others, especially the Chinese being edgy since they felt rightly that Japan could eventually stab them in the back again.
Nakano soon dove into explaining the functions of the huge aerial warships and while the Japanese had some good experience, he still had to go slow so that his foreign guests understood and felt at ease around these menacing weapons of war that clearly violated Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution. After finishing his conversation, Nakano awaited for the inevitable questions.
The American general Reynolds went first, "How long can they fly before they have to land to recharge"?
Nakano replied calmly, "Based on the performance of the engines of the aerial battleships, these new ships can last for a longer period of time". He then added, "It also allows for a larger more powerful weapons complement". Reynolds nodded in thanks for the clarification while General Brezarin asked, "Can our other crews learn to use these weapons in a short period of time".
Nakano nodded and said, "We've been training very hard for the past weeks and they seem to be progressing very well", "By the time we launch, they should be ready to go and if there any problems, the commanders will be able to help interpret the different orders of the crews". He then added, "We mainly based our bridge control systems on that used by contemporary submarines today".
General Brezarin nodded at the news before asking, "Can our fighters be used as well on these ships since they were designed by you"?
Nakano nodded and replied, "The hangers have been designed accommodate different types of fighter aircraft so there really should be that much of a problem for your fighters operate from these ships". He paused before stating, "As for training, we attempted to replicate the training on a carrier since it seemed closest to the environment the hanger deck crew would encounter on these ships".
Out of the corner of his eye, Nakano saw Udea nod and understood what he meant. Turning to the generals, he said, "If you'll follow me, we'll begin with the demonstration".
They soon returned back to the control tower while on the tarmac, the international crews rolled out the huge warships out on the tarmac. Once the warships were in position, the crews activated their engines; a huge gust of air blew out from the many vents as the huge airships slowly lifted upward into the air.
Nakano and the others involved in the project breathed out a large sigh of relief as the first test proved a success. The look on the generals sobered their thoughts as they realized that each successful pass at the category only lead to more trouble and they prayed that everything else would go right today.
Next came the testing of the maneuvering controls, especially in exceptional circumstances and then the weapons. While there were several close calls, especially in the maneuvering section and especially trying to work together as a team, the operation of the ships in the different terrain features impressed the generals. Next on the agenda were the important tests for the weapons systems.
As the audience observed the weapons demonstration, aides handed them notes on how the crews operated the guns while Nakano walked them through it, "Since the airships will be constantly maneuvering, a mechanism within the vessels will stabilize the transportation of the ammunition from the magazines to the turrets". He paused for a moment before switching to the discussion of the missile batteries, "As for the missile batteries they'll be serviced in a similar fashion in which after a missile battery has expended all of its munitions, the crews will rearm it with another set". Nakano then switched to the targeting systems, "In collaboration with scientists from all over the world, we've installed specialized targeting systems all along the aerial warships that can track the explosions on the monster's body and spot any sign of damage".
When the ships fired all of their weapons at once, the sight greatly impressed the commanders. Nakano allowed himself a grim smile as his mind said, "We've learned a lot from you Americans during the war, especially your desire for enormous firepower".
Finally came the test for the deployment of fighters, which was something that all wondered whether the idea actually worked in practice. Launching fighters from the water was one thing but doing it from another larger aerial platform was pure madness.
On the Gotengo, crews started to clear out of the way as the first F-86 Sabers, MIGs, and other jet fighters prepared to launch from the flight deck. Inside, the pilots sweated as they prepared for the signal that would both succeed and add a new chapter to being test pilots or all die in the attempt. As soon as the signal turned green, the pilots turned on their engines and suddenly, the catapults threw them out into the sky.
At first it seemed that the test would fail as the planes suddenly lost altitude but surprisingly, the pilots managed to get their planes under control and soon all of the fighters managed to clear the decks of the huge aerial warships. Seeing this Reynolds admitted out loud, "You know with all of this, it would seem that all of those science fiction authors may well as have been predicting the future".
That earned a remark from Kitagawa who replied, "You Americans always seem to be dreamers".
Reynolds asked back, "Is it always bad to be dreamers and hope for the future".
Kitagawa laughed and replied, "Not really but considering the circumstances, it is somewhat better to have lower expectations". He paused before stating though, "But then after seeing the destruction of Tokyo, I hope that we can finally break the cycle of constant destruction that seems to inflict the modern world these days". Everyone, all veterans of World War II, and some of Korea and other places throughout the globe, nodded solemnly at that statement as they all relived the horrors of combat and the death and destruction occurring all around them. It was almost enough to give weight to the old adage from the philosopher Plato "Only the dead have seen the end of war".
As the fighters landed back onto the deck of the aerial battleships, Nakano took a deep breath before he turned to the generals. Kitagawa took a deep breath before stating, "Congratulate your men and tell them to prepare to participate in the exercises". A huge weight lifted off Nakano's shoulders as the words sunk in. He saluted before heading down to the tarmac to greet the returning crews and tell them the news. The captain reminded himself to drinks ready to celebrate and allow his men to relax since he did push them exceptionally hard during the last few weeks.
Antarctica.
Despite the permanent harsh weather, landing teams had already secured areas for which the military forces of the world would land troops and support them as they battle against Godzilla. Already, recon teams fanned out though the harsh weather in search of their target while scientists and supply officers set up the facilities to house the enormous force in the hellish winter and ensure that the equipment functioned correctly without bogging down in the snow, freeze solid, or slipping on the glaciers to their deaths.
Off-shore, warships from nations all over the world circled the area as they covered the landing zones or functioned as gate keepers for their prey. Despite the weather, the tension rose to red hot levels as the crews struggle to do their jobs while dealing with each other and their surroundings. The commanders were even more concerned since they all knew that if Godzilla came out right now, they stood no chance of keeping him pinned in. Everyone in the area wondered when the generals would make up their minds and launch the all out assault.
Author's notes.
Sorry if this was short since as I've said before, I can't really write well "non-battle pieces".
If you look carefully, you'll see references to the Mysterians (mainly the Alpha-class battleships used in that movie) as well as Atragon.
Since this does take place around the same time as real world events, should I add them in so as to create complications in the movement of forces?
How am I doing with the human characters for this particular Godzilla story?