My Little Pony: Sleeping Giant
Chapter 15: 'The Great Gathering'
The time has come. It is time for our fleets to clash for the supremacy of the seas. It was bound to happen with the buildup of the fleets from the superpowers of these lands. And I, Admiral Water Lily, have received word from our Air Force of a massive fleet being spotted in the Southern Celestial Sea. The board is now set, and the pieces are moving.
I was having my tea after breakfast with the crew in the mess hall. I look out at the sea. There is a battlefield that has no boundaries. For our fleets, this will be the greatest of the sea battles. The great clash of the naval powers. I have been informed that my ship, the 'Jimmu', has been selected to lead a fleet into battle. What a magnificent honor it is.
"The call to arms will soon spread," I stated
"We are not alone, Admiral," said Fair Orchid
"True, I'm thinking every fleet allied to us will want to engage Celestia's fleets," I said as I sipped my tea, "set all engines to 'full', we move out, and we are to head south...to Capricorn Reef" Fair Orchid made a bow, and set the steam turbines to 'full'. The horn of our mighty warship groaned a roar like the awakening of a mighty beast from a slumber
We were joined by her sister ships 'Iwami' and 'Shikishima' The fleet battleships 'Yayoi' and 'Asuka' also joined the battle fleet, "If I have the pleasure of speaking to Miss Suiren, this is Admiral Adelaide De Bonelli, mind if we offer you our assistance?" she asked, having found our communication channel. I know of this Mountain Hippogriff. She's a big one
"We would be honored," I replied
"Then here is 'Le Roi'," she praised
The Pride of the Chefalien Navy. It was the battleship 'King Guillaume'. A handsome, and powerful vessel he is. We also got our own assistance in our battlecruisers 'Azuma' and 'Yoshino' along with her sisters 'Izumi' and 'Yakumo'. We also had our light cruisers 'Agano' and 'Yahagi' as well as our grand fleet aircraft carriers 'Shusui' 'Mizuryu' and 'Mizuchi'
These Hippogriffs are bringing all their best for this battle as I saw their fleet. Along with the 'King Guillaume', there was the battleships 'Le Soleil Royale', and 'Le Tonnant'. They brought the battlecruisers 'Vigilance' and 'Le Triomphant'. They have heavy cruisers 'Gloire' and 'La Princesse Royale', and their fleet aircraft carriers in the 'Aigle' and 'Chevalier'.
"Is this Miss Suiren?" asked a voice
"Have you come to join in?" I asked
"We have, Admiral, this is Admiral Gena Von Falke of the battlecruiser Kaiserin, may we offer our assistance?" she asked, I looked through the binoculars to the fleet of the Royal Griffon Navy. At the head of their fleet were the battlecruisers 'Kaiserin' and 'Konig Guto'. They were soon followed by with the battleships 'Konigin Gustel' and the 'Konig Grover'
They matched our strength in their aircraft carriers as they brought in the 'Valkyrie', the 'Greif', and the 'Condor'. They have their heavy cruisers 'Diamant' and 'Saphir', and the light cruisers 'Ritter', 'Grunwald', and 'Krieger'. They have brought the destroyers 'Z19', 'Z20', and 'Z21' which matched our own destroyers 'Fubuki', 'Shimakaze', and 'Minekaze'
"Suiren-sama, I see the Imperial Fleet,"
"Thank the ancestors for Orel" I smiled
"This is Admiral Galinka Graywing of the battleship 'Tsar Gorlov the First', the Tsarina sends her highest regards," she said in a thick Orelian accent as her fleet joined up with all our allied warships. The Tsarina sent her regard with the battleships 'Grand Tsarina' and 'Tsar Grigori the Great'. Assisting them are the battlecruisers 'Sokol' and 'Grand Duchess'
They also brought their cruisers to join in the fight. They brought the heavy cruisers 'Gromoboi' and 'Aurora', and the light cruisers 'Slava' and 'Berkut'. I find it interesting that they too have embraced aircraft carrier technology. The Imperial Navy brought the aircraft carriers 'Grand Orel', 'Gormov', and 'Korsar'. What a sight it is to behold seeing them.
"I believe we are the last ones" said a voice
"But not the least," I radioed with a smile
"I am Commodore Armando De Gavilán, in the name of her Majesty the Queen Maria-Elena, we will fight alongside you," replied the male wolf-griffon, the Wolf-Griffon Kingdom of Castillo is a rising power, and they want to show their might on the grand stage. They brought the battleships 'Gustavo V' and 'Real Castillo'. They are the pride of the Armada
The battlecruisers 'Isabella V' and 'Alejandra II' along with their heavy cruisers 'Gorion' and 'Gerifalte', and their light cruisers 'La Paz' and 'Libertad'. They have brought three of their destroyers in the 'Terror', 'Pluton', and 'Furor'. The fleets are present. It also presented the largest naval strike force ever assembled so far during the war. To battle we sail.
"The ponies know we're coming," I said
"All sailors to battle stations!" I ordered
After the sinking for the 'Royal Celestia', and the 'Royal Luna' during the course of the war, the Equestrians have less battleships and battlecruisers, but they have more aircraft carriers, and more smaller vessels like cruisers and destroyers. They are still strong, and one would be a fool to underestimate them. I can see the logic behind our massive fleet
Sailor-ponies on our ships scrambled to the guns, and anti-aircraft positions on the ship. Even our main guns were loaded, and ready. It is all about patience. One does not know when an enemy will strike, or what form it comes in. I smiled seeing Bottlenose Dolphins swimming near us. It is ironic. Such peaceful creatures swimming alongside a battleship
"Oh! How lovely!" swooned Fair Orchid
"Indeed it is," I smiled to the helms-pony
On our journey to the Southern Celestial Sea, it was nice to see the wildlife greet us. A little bit of peace in a time of war. Off the coast of Chefal, we saw Fin Whales and Striped Dolphins. As we neared the deeper seas in and around Capricorn Reef, some of our sailor-ponies pointed out Humpback Whales. It's only a matter of time before the great battle