Chapter 2: A Better Strategist?
December 31, 2052 17:30 UTC -11
Pearl Harbor Naval Base
The sun was starting to set as the forces of the Pacific Command hasten their preparations for the otherworldly battle they know will be happening sooner or later, as Commander Charles West and his task force starts the engines of their ships before setting sail 200 miles north of the Hawaii installation.
"Is everything set?," he asked the engineers below deck, near the maintenance sector.
"Yes, sir. We aren't sure yet whether it will display its full power later, but from our diagnostics, we've successfully hooked it up with the reactor and so far, so good, sir," one of the teams working on the new module replied with a bit of cheeriness in her voice.
The first part of the good news sinking to him, Charles added, "I see you also placed the module controls to my station at the bridge. Have you called on the others working on the designated sample transport?"
"Hmm… Let me call on them for a sec, sir… Boys, all set on your part?... Oh, okay, thanks!... They're almost done except for low power output optimization, sir. They're ensuring that the system would operate even if the power gets tripped during the battle, sir," she answered back.
As soon as he leaves the maintenance sector, he calls on to base to confirm whether the plans they executed earlier were done. Receiving the 'all systems green' from them, he proceeds to the bridge, before calling to the ship captains to move in a diamond formation towards the designated area, with the carrier just behind the first layer of corvettes and frigates. Charles then calls for the air wing to assemble in the hangar to mark the execution of the first phase of his plan.
"Good evening, gents. I have some orders for all of you. As the engagements start, I know you all would give the enemy air assets the hell they deserve for messing with us. However, as soon as your fuel tanks hit 75 percent capacity, minimize air-to-air combat and prioritize assisting our ships in whatever way they need you to. Evacuations, strike packages, or thinning out aerial targets for them. And if your fuel tanks pass the thirty percent gauge, coordinate half of your remaining payload to damaging an enemy ship, before you break contact and land towards the air base back at Pacific Command.
Before you do that, though, radio us back because we'll have nonessential personnel evacuating this ship and you'll be the ones escorting them to safety. We'll try to form evac waves to accommodate your fuel situation… That would be all, and good luck to us all."
The pilots and hangar crews answered loudly in unison, "Yes, sir!", before he runs back towards the bridge.
December 31, 2052 22:30 UTC -11
200 nautical miles North of Pearl Harbor
He was in the middle of developing countermeasures against the Sirens for this battle until the alarms signaling the presence of enemy air assets were raised.
Charles then asked, "status report?"
"We picked up small fast-movers 75 miles to the northeast, sir. From what I can see in the radar, they look like an immediately-sent scouting group, sir," the target acquisition officer mentioned.
"Send three of our FA-35s. Tell them to push, or lead, the targets towards the range of our AA defenses. If they can find a target of opportunity without compromising themselves, have our pilots take it down, then return to the ship to refit and refuel. I'd say this is just them measuring our capabilities," he replied.
Less than thirty seconds after he issued his order, he looked towards the flight deck to see three of his fighters loaded to the launchers, before firing their engines and eventually flying out a few seconds later.
After watching the scene, he noticed a glimmering light to the north, and radioed to the captains, "all stations, proceed and sweep the AO from west to east. I say again, sweep from west to east. We'll have possible contact shortly."
"Sir, we have contact! Enemy vessels sixty miles north! They're using a similar formation as us, sir!" his radar officer called to him.
"All hands, prepare for combat! As soon as they're in range, open fire!", Charles ordered.
"Sir, we have a larger enemy fleet 90 miles to our west! They're bringing in lots of drones!"
Charles, expecting this turn of events, told his crew, "Focus fire on the first vessels that showed up! Have half of our air assets deal with the newcomers, a fourth to take down the small vessels, and the rest to defend the fleet airspace! Prepare the transporter ship and have it escorted with a few more ships, then tug down whatever shit there ends up out of commission! All nonessential personnel, initiate evacuation procedures! We'll only spare two waves for you guys, so move your asses!"
As soon as he finishes barking out orders though, he received a video feed from the captain of the destroyer designated as transport for the samples.
"Sir, the small vessels here are no longer responding after we managed to shoot their turrets before they fired at us. Shall we tow one of them?"
He told him, "No, just pick up hull samples. Have a team check for the insides, take samples as well. Call on the air wing leader, he's above you, have him get aerial photographs as well. Hmm… wait. You shot it down easily? Fuck, the enemy ships are rigged! Fall back to formation, they're trying to crush our transports!"
His intuition was right, because as soon as the transport and its escorts was five miles away, it detonated thrice larger than what they expected for the size of the ships. And right after that incident, their comms went haywire, until everyone in the bridge noticed two women with undoubtedly terrifying presence in their screens, one with blue eyes and the other has the trademark yellow eyes but with tentacle-like appendages.
"… (static noises)… Ooh, so this is how you do it. Can they see us now? It's already running? Okay, fine. Hello commander-kun~ I hope you enjoyed our surprise for you, prepared by my dear Strategist-chan! Wait, it didn't work? Oh dear. Anyways, I am Observer α, and I'm one of the leaders of the fleet you're bullying right now… you piece of trash~ But anyways, I'll have this entertainment run for longer, before I toy with you forever~ I'll let Strategist play with you for now, because you're mine… (static)…"
After a few more seconds, the captain in the destroyer said, "Sir, thanks to your warning earlier, we're safe and still kickin', but what in the world was that about?"
Captain Lauren Mitchell, commanding the cruiser next to the carrier, also watched the Sirens appearing in their screens, knew what that actually was, and is currently keeping her hands from trembling.
Charles answered, "those were one of their leaders, and I'd say they're really toying with us just now. Comms, you recorded everything, both what was on the screen and BattleNet logs, on that, right? Save multiple copies of it to archives, to your phone, to the holographic chip, then secure them with you and evacuate now. I'll have you on the destroyer after we get samples of the enemy ships. The world needs that, okay?"
"Y-yes, sir. But what will you do now, sir?"
"Finish this fight for most of us to go home… Use the RHIB on Section 3-2, portside. As soon as the destroyer pulls to our side, don't look back. I want that back to central command. The rest of you, proceed with the plan! Shift your fire towards the enemies on the west! Continue evacuation procedures!", after strengthening his resolve, Charles moved his pieces.
One hour later, they managed to take down one of the cruiser-like ships from the Siren strike force, and the destroyer was tugging it away.
"Sir," the captain called, "we found these blue, shining cubes from the ships that blew up earlier. This guy behind us also has one. What should we do with them, sir?"
Charles said, "Bring them all to the carrier except three. Have those analyzed by the science division back at central command. Carry my comms officer with you, he has the records of the incident earlier. I think these might be key to defeating them, after all… All hands at the carrier, those who wish to live and save the fight for another day, fill the RHIBs on both sides of the ship, then move towards the fleet escorts. Those who won't get accommodated, have the Sea Knights and the Ospreys as your transports. They'll be awaiting at the flight deck. The rest of you who want to die honorably, action stations!"
"I told you before, didn't I? I'll never allow you to die, not if I can prevent it."
"Ren… As stubborn a woman as you are, thanks. I owe you one on the afterlife, I guess… Did your crew stay with you?", Charles asked while chuckling a bit.
"Most of them, except for damage control, main battery and anti-air operators, those on the Tomahawk systems, and us here at the bridge. Cheeky bastards," Lauren recalled with a smile.
"Get out of the bridge, to the deck. I'll give some of the blue stuff to you, 'cause you look like you don't really wanna die yet," Charles called from the edge of the flight deck as he tossed Lauren two of the cubes. He held three.
"Fuck, it almost slipped. Speaking of fuck, if we both get through this, I'll have you fuck me all night afterwards," Lauren said with a smirk.
Charles just sighed with his friend's revelation before walking towards the bridge, "haaah… not funny. Come on, we still have a battle to finish."
Lauren, quite disappointed, thought, 'How dense are you? Ah, whatever, I'll destroy those defenses of yours sooner than you think! Then I'll have you under me on our own night battles! Heheheh…'
As soon as they finish the conversation though, a torpedo managed to get past the screen of destroyers from the southwest, hitting the carrier and shaking it a bit but not managing to score a hole through it.
"I need to get closer, ufufufu~ I want that ship be my new playground!", the Siren named Lurker swiftly moved underwater together with two more subs, checking on their radar, until…
BOOOOOOOOM!
"Kyaa! W-w-wh-what was that? Are they hitting me with depth charges?", she said, sending the two subs to clear her way but they both exploded after pushing further contacts with something.
"Not fair… I want to join in the fun too, but whatever, I guess I'll let Strategist have her way for now."
This was one of Charles' plans with Pacific Command, with the Ospreys carrying radar-absorbent underwater mines and dropping them to a huge area right in front of Lurker earlier.
Upon confirming through sonar that two of the three enemy submarines were destroyed, with the last one retreating, Charles orders the rest of the fleet, "all stations, initiate Phase D! Full speed ahead to Pearl Harbor! We're just fifty miles short from the range of their air support! All available fighters from the carrier, defend the convoy! We'll cover your retreat! All other ships, stay close to the destroyer and make sure it reaches the mainland! Alright, Ren! Let's keep these bitches busy for a bit!"
Those were the last words the rest of the fleet heard, as they near the start of another year with hope for humanity, and search efforts later on will prove to be naught, for remains from either of the ships will not be seen.
December 31, 2052 23:58 UTC -11
Aquarius, now devoid of its air wing (aside from spare aircraft not used earlier) and most of her personnel as it steamed away from the retreating detachment of the task force, continues to harass its enemies with anti-ship missiles and distracting the drones using its anti-air batteries.
Strategist had other plans with him, though. "Oh no you don't."
She fires a powerful beam towards the still-intact ships moving towards Pearl Harbor, only for it to be stopped by a bluish dome of light.
"How the hell do they have that technology? They weren't supposed to be THIS smart!"
"Ara ara, Strategist-chan~ It feels refreshing seeing your own plans fail, but that look on your face! One I wanted to see for so long! Ooh… so this timeline was where you'll find your archenemy, ehh… I wonder if they knew about the cubes," Observer α said in a teasing manner, before continuing, "it looks like I'll have to show who's boss now."
And with one of her tentacle appendages, she shot a salvo to the unknowing carrier, scoring holes through the upper hull and tripping the power, with one of the shells hitting the front of the bridge and setting it on fire.
The over-penetrated shells flew to the cruiser too close to the carrier where they exploded upon contact. Main batteries disabled, the bridge with a gaping hole to the front left side, and fires from areas caught in the explosions.
Strategist, a bit worried with his 'stress toy', calls to Observer α in front of her, "is he dead? I hope not. That was our toy, you know?"
"Want to take him out of that tin can now?"
"Ooh… I wanna see his face before we take the living lights out of him! Hee-hee-hee!"
Right at that moment, though, the thoughts of a man and a woman both lying down on the bridge of their ships, synchronized together with the blue cubes that shone brighter than they saw them earlier, screamed:
"I AM NOT GOING TO DIE HERE!"
As soon as the two Sirens heard their voices, a bright light blinded them, and they realized a few moments later that the two ships are now missing.
"Sister, where did they go now? With what I saw, they're not capable of moving anywhere like us," Strategist asked the elder Siren, now with a hint of what happened.
"Ara ara… So they actually listened to them, huh? Things are getting more interesting, more than I want it to be…", Observer α muttered to herself, before opening portals for the withdrawing Siren forces keen on pursuing their masters' new "plaything" instead of the vulnerable portion of the task force that lost its leader.
At an unknown time, somewhere on a beach…
"Cough… cough… where… the fuck… am I?"
Let's end this here for now! Whew! I tried to pack action scenes as much as I can here, sorry if we're not meeting the shipfus in this chapter but I'm definitely sure they'll show up soon! As always, feedback is appreciated, I'll write (or rewrite) while I still have the time, so see you guys on the next chapter!
As usual, only the plot, the OC (and bit OP) commander, and his friend, are mine. I don't own Azur Lane nor any of its characters.