Somewhere in the Arctic Circle, 29th of January 2030, 1200 hours:
There was silence in the long barren field of ice, besides the strong wind moving from the north and streaming down the ice. There was barely much life or activity until two F-35's were seen flying high up in the skies, leaving white trails behind. Its camera, just under the nose, was rotating 360 degrees, searching for any moving object from a distance, until a glimpse of reflection was seen on the white, cold ice layer. Three young girls were wearing digital pattern uniforms with a mix of white and some black and grey. Alongside that, there were riggings of multiple cannons and VLSs on their shoulders and their backs, including a bridge on each of their heads, waving the PLA naval ensign.
The three girls were walking while keeping an eye around; their feet were breaking through the thick ice layers, and their legs were struggling to move through, moving at a very small speed. One of the girls was looking up high in the skies, her eyes shining as a computer-like display was scanning the sky above for any activity, with the radar on the island on top of her head emitting waves and a low-pitched sound. Until she saw two foreign aircraft flying from high up in the sky, before alerting her two friends behind her of the presence of aircraft eyeing them.
Medellein was sitting on her captain's seat, wearing her NWU and a custom ball cap of her ship, with a large headset on her head. She was looking through her computer-like vision display at the girls that were moving in groups. Struggling to move through the thick arctic ice. Some even almost tripped down but managed to stand back up again and rejoin the formation.
"That's the 4th of this month. Those boys sure are handy with intel. Quite the force they're gathering in the Arctic." She took camera shots from her vision of the F-35's, taking notes on the hull numbers of the ships, feeling bad for the young girls having to walk across the cold barren ice field in their humanoid form.
"Alert, the fuel level of Hawkeye 1 is now at a low level. Should it be set to fly back to the deck?"Lisa's voice appeared.
"Uhh, yes. Send it back." Medellein consented. This new system sure is different from the last one; it's a lot more active compared to the last. "Don't forget to send up another."
"Will do, Rear Admiral."Lisa acknowledged.
She stood up and walked outside from her bridge, looking up towards the waving flag of the stars and stripes with a strong wind from the front of the carrier. She looked at the two Ticonderoga cruisers at the front that were a few distances away from her carrier, before looking towards the three other Arleigh Burke destroyers behind her carrier, which was a few kilometers away from the intended range in between each ship in the formation.
"Lisa, mind telling me what's the speed of DDG-127 right now?" Medellein requested while staring at the destroyer at the rear of the formation. It's as far as it's supposed to be, but too far from the main formation.
"The current speed of DDG-127 right now is 19 knots, Rear Admiral."Lisa informed her once more.
Medellein nodded after hearing the information; she then leaned into the headset's wire mic and spoke through. "DDG-127, you're lacking behind. Increase speed to... 25 knots." Medellein ordered through the radio while still keeping her eyes on the destroyer and the display in her vision.
"A-Aye.. Ma'am.." Lily's panicked and tired voice replied through the frequency. Medellein noticed the numbers began to increase on the display as the destroyer increased its speed and aligned with the rest of the destroyers.
"Right, just keep it at that current speed." Medellein went back inside the bridge and was walking towards her captain's seat, which is a soft red seat on a short rotating pole.
"Sorry that I messed up." Lily's tired and shy voice could be heard through the radio, with an apologetic and sincere tone barely audible.
"Don't worry about Lily." Medellein arrived in front of the chair and sat down on it. "People make mistakes all the time, especially rookies like you."
The fleet continued sailing on the wide open sea; nothing could be seen on the horizon until a buzzing sound of engines was heard as an E-2D could be seen from the distance, flying closer and closer to the aircraft carrier, aligning itself with the runway, and lowering its landing gear. The LSO continued giving light signals to guide the aircraft as it descended lower to the flight deck. Medellein went outside from the bridge, looking towards the aircraft. As it touched down, its arresting hook caught the second cable before coming to a complete halt. There, she saw the cockpit, all empty and without any humans inside.
"It's been a long time since I got hands on the first carriers." She reflected.
Then, an MD-3 tow tractor came towards the aircraft, attaching its hook to the aircraft's frontal landing gear hook before towing it off the flight deck and towards the large lift platform. Another lift platform was also ascending at the same time, as another E-2D appeared, and then towed by another MD-3 towards one of the catapults before stopping it in front of the hook and driving away. The E-2D's wing detracted, and a whining sound could be heard as the engine came to life, with the propeller blades beginning to rotate. A small buzzing noise could be heard, growing louder and louder as the blades were barely visible from rotating to full capacity.
The aircraft lurched forward slightly but was halted by the holdback bar, holding it in place. It was only after a few split seconds that the holdback bar detached from the aircraft's frontal landing gear. The catapult pulled the aircraft at high speed, dragging it forward and throwing it off the flight deck. The E-2D fell off the flight deck before it began to ascend high up to the sky and flew away.
"Beautiful view. As always." A pop-up of active chatter appeared on Medellein's vision, coming from USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), which is Marie's ship. In a dead tone.
"What? Are you getting insane now? Well, we'll be making a port call in 12 hours, so hang in there." Medellein stretched her arms before releasing a yawn.
"Yay, but at the same time, aww. No more of the lady's potatoes." Another pop-up appeared from USS Antietam (CG-54), which is from Rosey's ship. Disappointment and sadness could be heard in her tone in her last statement.
"Again? Potatoes?" Marie responded to Rosey with a high tone. "Like seriously, is there nothing else you think besides that old lady's potato?"
"Hey! Don't you dare say that. Her potatoes' taste godly!" Rosey stated it with an angry tone.
"It's just deep-fried potatoes with powder, you dumbass." Marie scoffed.
"I can launch harpoons up your ass, stupid bitch-'' Rosey's anger through the radio was cut short by Medellein unleashing a loud, high-pitched static noise, causing both of them to release a sound of discomfort.
"How many times do I have to say never to threaten or joke around with weapons?" Medellein spoke in a stern voice. "Christ, Margaret really turned you two into rabid dogs when you two were transferred."
"Sorry.." Said both Marie and Rosey in unison.
"Uhm, ma'am, what's happening?" I asked Alisia through the radio in the midst of the tense situation.
Medellein heard Alisia's question, clearing her throat before responding back. "Uhh, nothing. Just ignore those two."
"A-Aye.. Ma'am." Alisia just responded back with an awkward tone.
"You two better get your act together, or else I'll transfer you two to CSG 5." Medellein threatened, and then there was only silence. No one talked or made any sound.
"Permission to speak." Nana's voice could be heard through, with a questioning tone.
"Go on." Medellein released a sigh, sitting back with a distressed look on her face, holding her head with one of her hands.
"What is with CSG 5? They sound scary from the way you said that." I asked Nana in a tired yet curious tone.
"Well, let's say they're a bit rogue." Medellein answered. "They're led by Madame Bertolt, one of the first comers like me. She controls the USS George Washington. She's known to be tough and radical."
"How radical?" I asked Nana once more. Just as Medellein was about to answer once more, Rosey slipped in.
"Flying fighters too close to Chinese bases, provoking a carrier fleet once and almost starting an accident that could cause war, doing mock attacks on newbie Chinese destroyers—she started doing those since like 2025. I don't know what made her do that or how she wasn't reprimanded, but being in CSG 5 is like a death wish." Rosey answered.
"Madame Bertolt is basically Madame Medellein but 10x worse." Marie added.
"Excuse me? Ten times worse?" Medellein's tone turned further stern after hearing Marie's comment about her.
"Oh look! A bird!" Rosey attempted to distract the conversation away, but what happened next was a very loud static noise through the radio, causing both Rosey and Marie to release a sound of discomfort.
"Ow. That hurts. But just that?" Marie said it with a sarcastic tone, as if trying to act tough towards Medellein.
"Well, I can get the transfer paper to CSG 5 once we're back in Iceland, if that won't shut your mouth." Said Medellein in a threatening tone.
"Ok! Ok! Jeez.." Rosey conceded, and there was then only silence on the radio, adding to the already silent Arctic ocean, with only the sound of waves crashing.
The fleet continued sailing in silence throughout the rest of the voyage. Hulls are crashing into the waves below. Two F-35s were seen flying closer to the aircraft carrier as they began landing on the flight deck. The wind continued to blow from the front, with dark clouds seen in the distance, coupled with the sound of thunder echoing. There is a shadowy feminine figure armed and armored with multiple riggings on her back in the middle of the sea as a storm was brewing, watching at them from afar as they sailed away.
"Commence testing..~"
