Chapter 36: 70 Hours War Part 3
Rear Admiral Kaelith Morvannis stood on the bridge of the HMES Invictus Arcanum, his grip white-knuckled on the railing as he gazed out over the tumultuous sea. The night sky, once clear and full of promise, was now a canvas of chaos, streaked with the fiery trails of missiles and the dark, menacing silhouettes of enemy aircraft. The once-proud Milishial fleet was struggling against the relentless Chinese onslaught, its advanced magical technology battered and blinded by the enemy's relentless electronic warfare.
The Chinese fleet, commanded with ruthless efficiency by Admiral Li Pengcheng, had effectively neutralized Milishial's primary advantage—its sophisticated sensors. DRFM jammers, GJ-11 stealth drones, and YJ-91 anti-radiation missiles had rendered the Invictus Arcanum's once-impenetrable shields and detection systems into little more than flickering remnants. The Senate's orders had been clear: provoke the Chinese into firing the first shot, but the gambit had backfired spectacularly, leaving Morvannis to face an adversary whose conventional technology was far more potent than anticipated.
"Admiral, we've lost all primary radar capability," Commander Laelia reported, her silver hair reflecting the dim lights of the bridge. Her voice, though calm, carried an edge of concern. "Our anti-air missiles are essentially useless without targeting data. We're down to visual guidance and manual targeting."
Morvannis clenched his jaw, his thoughts racing as he processed the grim news. The J-35s, the Chinese stealth fighters that now filled the skies with their predatory presence, were fast and maneuverable, their pilots seasoned and deadly. Without accurate targeting, the Invictus Arcanum's close-range weaponry, while powerful, was reduced to little more than ineffective bursts of energy.
"What's our status on the remaining defensive systems?" Morvannis asked, trying to maintain a grip on his escalating frustration.
"Point-defense systems are operational, but without radar guidance, they're severely limited," Laelia replied, her eyes focused on the flickering screens that displayed the chaotic aerial battle outside.
Morvannis's mind flashed back to countless strategic simulations and battle drills he had conducted over the years. None of it had prepared him for the magnitude of this disaster. The J-35s were closing in, their sleek forms darting through the sky with lethal intent. The Milishial fleet was essentially blind, vulnerable to the merciless assault of the enemy aircraft.
"We need something big… something unconventional," Morvannis muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His mind raced through past experiences, searching for a solution, any solution that could turn the tide of this battle. And then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, a memory surfaced—a tactical incident from fifteen years ago in the industrial city of Burkhart on the Mu continent.
The city had been ravaged by a massive industrial fire, and the HMES Aegis Protectoria, an Adamant-Class magic battleship, had been dispatched to assist. The ship's anti-wildfire shells, designed to extinguish fires by depriving the air of oxygen, had successfully quelled the blaze. However, two low-flying water aircraft had crashed as a result, their engines starved of the very air needed for combustion. The incident had been tragic, but it sparked an idea in Morvannis's mind.
"Commander Laelia," Morvannis said, turning sharply to face her. "Do we still have anti-wildfire spell in our computer?"
Laelia blinked in surprise, her eyes widening as she processed the Admiral's question. "Yes, sir. But that spell is designed to extinguish fires, not target aircraft. The magic isn't lethal to aircraft—"
"It's not about killing the aircraft, Commander," Morvannis interrupted, his voice gaining strength with each word. "It's about denying them the very air they need to fly. Their engines rely on oxygen, just like those aircraft in Burkhart. If we can strip the oxygen from the air around them, their engines will fail."
A moment of silence followed as the gravity of Morvannis's plan settled over the bridge crew. It was a risky and unorthodox move, but it was the best chance they had. Laelia's face reflected the seriousness of the situation as she quickly understood the potential impact of the proposed strategy.
"Get me Captain Draven and Captain Xander," Morvannis ordered, his voice resolute. "We need to prepare the Fortis Bellator and the Ultor Infernus for a coordinated strike."
A few tense moments later, the faces of the two captains appeared on the main screen. Captain Draven of the Fortis Bellator was a grizzled veteran, his face marked by years of battle and command. Captain Xander of the Ultor Infernus, by contrast, was younger, with sharp eyes and a reputation for quick thinking in the heat of combat.
"Admiral Morvannis, what are your orders?" Draven asked, his voice a low rumble.
"We're out of options, gentlemen," Morvannis began, his tone grim but determined. "Our primary radar is down, and our missile defenses are crippled. The Chinese J-35s are closing in, and we need a way to neutralize them en masse. We're going to use anti-wildfire spell to deny them oxygen. It's unconventional, but it's the best shot we've got."
Draven and Xander exchanged brief glances, their expressions hardening as they realized the gravity of the situation. They both knew the risks involved, the potential for this plan to backfire. But they also knew that without taking this gamble, their fleet would be picked apart by the relentless aerial assault.
"Affirmative! Preparing to fire anti-wildfire spell!" Captain Draven confirmed, his voice firm and resolute.
"Understood, Admiral," Xander added, nodding sharply. "We'll make it work."
"Good," Morvannis replied, a hint of relief mingling with his tension. "Charge the main batteries and program the anti-wildfire magic into the warhead circuitry. We need a broad area of effect, so aim for maximum dispersion."
As the orders reverberated through the battleships, the three mighty vessels—HMES Invictus Arcanum, HMES Ultor Infernus, and HMES Fortis Bellator—readied themselves for a formidable assault. The seasoned gun crews, a blend of veteran warriors and skilled mages, moved with a practiced efficiency that betrayed years of combat experience. Their expressions, etched with focus and determination, mirrored the gravity of the moment. Unlike the conventional artillery of Earth, the Milishial battleships utilized an arcane form of firepower: magic-imbued ice shells. These unique projectiles were not crafted from metal but from the very essence of the sea they sailed upon. The ice shells, perpetually replenished by the boundless waters of the ocean, provided a nearly inexhaustible supply of ammunition—an invaluable advantage in the ongoing struggle.
"Charging the main batteries!" barked the chief gunner, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of battle. "Programming anti-wildfire magic into the warhead circuitry!"
The process commenced with the drawing in of seawater through the ships' massive conduits. This water was channeled through intricate magical apparatuses, where powerful enchantments transformed it into dense, crystalline ice. This ice was then meticulously shaped into 20-inch shells, their surfaces imbued with a faint, eerie blue glow. The anti-wildfire magic etched into the ice cores was designed to neutralize any enemy fire that dared challenge their path.
"Main battery gravity charge at 70%... 80%... 90%... 100%!" came the steady progress reports. The ship's hull thrummed with a deep, resonant hum as the magic circuits illuminated the darkened bridge with an otherworldly light. Unlike conventional artillery, these magic guns employed gravity spells to propel their shells at velocities that defied comprehension, achieving speeds far exceeding any conventional explosive projectile. The absence of explosive propellants meant the firing was nearly silent, save for the low, almost soothing hum of the magical machinery.
"Warhead circuitry at 82%... Main battery circuitry charging complete!" The urgency in the reports heightened as the countdown began, each second marked by the quickening pulse of anticipation. The bridge, filled with a tense silence, was punctuated only by the rhythmic beeps of the status monitors and the occasional whispered command.
"Main batteries are now ready to fire! Downloading target data from the visual drones... Ballistic calculations are complete!" The navigator's voice broke through the silence, focused and precise. "Set gun elevation at 41 degrees and azimuth at 22 degrees offset to the left of center! Calculating proximity hit probability within 2000 meters... we have a 53% chance of landing a hit near the enemy aircraft."
Rear Admiral Morvannis, resolute and unyielding, scrutinized the data with a steely gaze. A 53% chance was a significant gamble, but in their desperate situation, it was a chance worth taking. He watched intently as the visual drones transmitted real-time footage of the Chinese J-35s, their sleek, formidable forms cutting through the air with menacing speed and precision. Despite their swiftness, the overwhelming area of effect of the anti-wildfire magic offered hope.
"Countdown to salvo: 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Firing!"
The trio of magic battleships unleashed their devastating power upon the sky. The Invictus Arcanum fired its dual triple-mounted 20-inch main batteries, while the Ultor Infernus and Fortis Bellator released their full complement of six triple-mounted 20-inch batteries. A total of 42 magic-imbued ice shells hurtled toward their targets, each glowing with an eerie blue light. The projectiles shot through the atmosphere at twenty-five times the speed of sound, their trajectories meticulously calculated to intersect with the swarm of J-35s.
The J-35 pilots, their senses honed by countless hours of training and battle, detected the incoming projectiles. Instinctively, they broke formation, executing complex evasive maneuvers to avoid conventional anti-aircraft fire. However, these were no ordinary projectiles. As the shells reached their apex, the trajectory correction magic activated, subtly adjusting their paths to maximize the chance of intercepting the enemy aircraft.
"Impact in 3... 2... 1... Activate!"
The sky erupted in a series of spectral, silent flashes as the anti-wildfire shells detonated. To the untrained eye, it might have appeared as if nothing had happened. Yet, at a microscopic level, the very fabric of the air was being altered. The magical detonation caused the oxygen molecules to coalesce into a fine, glittering crystalline dust that shimmered in the sunlight, the atmosphere itself momentarily disrupted by the immense energy release.
Inside their cockpits, the Chinese pilots experienced a sudden, disorienting brilliance. The blinding flashes momentarily obscured their vision, their instruments and controls flickering with erratic static. The reality of the situation began to sink in as their engines sputtered and faltered.
"Engine failure! I'm losing power!" a pilot's voice crackled over the comms, panic evident as his J-35 plummeted from the sky, its once-proud form now a mere weightless debris falling toward the ocean below.
"We've lost eight of our aircraft!" another pilot reported, his voice trembling with disbelief as he struggled to regain control. The remaining squadron, now acutely aware of the danger, ascended rapidly, climbing to higher altitudes in a desperate attempt to escape the magic's lingering effects.
Morvannis watched as the enemy aircraft fell from the sky, his expression unreadable. Eight out of eighty—far from a decisive blow, but enough to give his fleet some breathing room.
"Admiral, the enemy aircraft are retreating to a higher altitude. We've bought ourselves some time, but it won't be long before they regroup," Laelia said, her eyes scanning the tactical display.
"Understood," Morvannis replied, his mind already racing to the next step. The use of anti-wildfire shells had been a calculated risk, one that had paid off—at least for now. But the battle was far from over. The Chinese fleet still outnumbered them, and their electronic warfare capabilities remained a formidable threat.
"Prepare to fire another salvo. We need to keep them off balance. And get me a status report on our secondary sensors. We need to start thinking about our next move," Morvannis ordered, his voice firm.
As the crew moved to carry out his orders, Morvannis allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. The odds were stacked against them, but he was not about to let his fleet go down without a fight. He had spent his entire career preparing for moments like this, and he was determined to prove that the Milishial Empire was still a force to be reckoned with.
The enemy might have blinded them, but Morvannis knew that even in the darkest of times, there was always a way to fight back. And as long as he drew breath, he would find that way. The battle of Irnetia Sea was far from over, and the Milishial fleet would not go quietly into the night.
Just then, the secure comms channel crackled to life, cutting through the tension aboard the Invictus Arcanum. They were his Silver-Class submarine forces. Just what he needed.
"Captain Leoric Gray of the HMES Silvanius Nox, ready for orders, sir," came the crisp voice over the comms.
"Captain Lux Mandiver of the HMES Unda Submersa, reporting in," followed another, his tone filled with calm resolve.
"Captain Keene Windlover of the HMES Tenebrae Venator, standing by," completed the line-up of the Silver-Class submarine captains.
Morvannis took a deep breath, his expression set in grim determination. "Captains, we have a good opportunity. The Chinese sonar systems are currently incapacitated, giving us a temporary edge. However, this advantage won't last. Your mission is to strike swiftly and decisively, targeting their surface fleet while we still have the upper hand. Use your torpedoes wisely—fire and move. Do not allow them to counterattack."
A murmur of acknowledgement came through the comms. "Understood, Admiral. We'll strike with precision," Captain Gray's voice was resolute.
The HMES Unda Submersa was the first to act. The submarine glided silently into the depths, its sleek hull cutting through the water with practiced grace. Captain Lux Mandiver and his crew executed their pre-launch protocols with a quiet efficiency that spoke of years of experience. The vessel carried the dreaded Type-60 magic torpedoes, infamous for their devastating effects.
"Prepare to launch Type-60 torpedoes," Mandiver ordered. The crew moved swiftly, their movements synchronized. The Type-60 torpedoes were loaded into the launch tubes, their magic warheads shimmering ominously with an ethereal glow. These torpedoes were unique: instead of traditional explosives, they carried superbubble magic warheads. Upon detonation, these magic warheads created a multitude of tiny bubbles into the water, drastically reducing the water density. The effect was insidious—any ship caught in the cloud of bubbles would be pulled inexorably towards the ocean floor, helpless against the buoyancy shift.
"Fire one and two!" Mandiver commanded. The magic torpedoes shot out with a soft whoosh, their trails vanishing into the inky depths as they sped towards their targets—a pair of Type 056A missile corvettes and a Type 071 integrated landing ship.
The silence of the underwater world was soon shattered as the torpedoes reached their targets. The superbubble warheads activated with a low rumble, creating a vast cloud of bubbles around the corvettes and landing ship. The once formidable vessels were now at the mercy of the water's altered buoyancy. Slowly, the ships began to sink, their movements becoming increasingly frantic as they were dragged towards the seabed. The water churned violently, bubbles frothing around the hulls. The crews onboard scrambled in panic, their desperate cries muffled by the crushing pressure of the ocean.
The scene was a grim spectacle. One of the corvettes listed sharply, its stern rising as it fought against the downward pull. Within moments, it disappeared into the darkness, its lights extinguished as it succumbed to the depths. The landing ship followed soon after, its cargo and crew lost to the abyss.
Morvannis, watching from the bridge of the Invictus Arcanum, felt a grim satisfaction at the disruption caused but knew the battle was far from over. The Chinese fleet was regrouping and countering, and the clash was bound to intensify.
"Excellent work, Captains," Morvannis transmitted over the comms. "But remain vigilant. The Chinese will retaliate. We need to keep the pressure on them and maintain our tactical advantage. Continue to strike and evade. We can turn the tide in our favor if we press on."
The devastating loss did not go unnoticed. Admiral Li Pengcheng, observing the unfolding chaos from the bridge of his Type 004 supercarrier Nanjing, grimaced. The loss of the corvettes and landing ship was a significant blow. He turned to his staff, his voice sharp and commanding. "Deploy Nixie towed decoys and other soft-kill measures immediately." Nixie decoys were launched, trailing behind the Chinese destroyers and carriers. These decoys emitted a cacophony of simulated acoustic signatures designed to mimic the ships' true signatures. The decoys created a confusing array of noise that misled the incoming torpedoes, diverting them from their intended targets.
Simultaneously, the Type 055 destroyers and Type 004 supercarriers prepared their hard-kill measures. The Yu-88 anti-torpedo torpedoes were loaded and launched. These torpedoes streaked through the water, their advanced guidance systems locked onto the approaching threats. The Yu-88s were equipped with powerful proximity fuses and high-speed homing capabilities. As they neared the incoming Type-60 torpedoes, they engaged their warheads, intercepting and neutralizing the threats with explosive force.
The underwater battlefield was a chaotic maelstrom of magic and technology. The Nixie decoys created a dense smokescreen of false signals, further complicating the torpedoes' trajectories. Meanwhile, the Yu-88 anti-torpedo torpedoes streaked towards their targets, their proximity fuses activating in anticipation of impact. Explosions erupted in the water as the Yu-88s intercepted and destroyed several of the approaching Type-60 torpedoes, sending up plumes of bubbles and debris.
Back aboard the Nanjing, Li Pengcheng observed the tactical display with determination. The effectiveness of the Type-60 torpedoes was being compromised by the Chinese countermeasures. "Get those Z-20F and Ka-28 ASW helicopters on the air. Equip them with dipping sonars, sonobuoys, and torpedoes. Increase speed and maneuver unpredictably. We cannot afford to be easy targets."
The deck of the Nanjing erupted into a flurry of activity. Helicopters roared to life, lifting off from all four Type 004 supercarriers and the eight Type 075 landing helicopter ships. The Z-20Fs and Ka-28s began their search, spreading out in a meticulous grid pattern. Their dipping sonars were lowered into the water, sending out pulses to detect the presence of submarines. Sonobuoys were released in a wide pattern, their sensors designed to pick up even the slightest disturbances in the water.
Meanwhile, Captain Keene Windlover aboard the HMES Tenebrae Venator prepared for his own strike. His submarine was another of the Silver-Class, carrying a different set of weapons and a keen sense of timing. "Prepare for launch. We have to make every torpedo count," Windlover instructed. The crew worked with practiced precision, loading and arming their torpedoes as the submarine prepared to fire.
The tension aboard the Invictus Arcanum was palpable as Morvannis observed the unfolding operations. His gaze was fixed on the tactical display, watching the movements of the Chinese fleet and the positions of the submarines. "Report status on the Chinese ASW operations," he demanded.
"Their Z-20Fs and Ka-28s are deploying sonobuoys and dipping sonars, sir. Their fleet is also increasing speed and implementing anti-torpedo countermeasures," came the response from the operations officer.
Morvannis nodded grimly. "We need to stay ahead of their countermeasures. Keep our submarines moving and avoid predictable patterns. They have no idea where the next strike will come from."
As the Chinese anti-submarine operations intensified, the atmosphere aboard the Milishial submarines was one of heightened tension. The crew of the Unda Submersa worked diligently to evade the increasing number of sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly detectors. "Deploy countermeasures. Use noise makers and decoy buoys," Captain Mandiver ordered, his voice steady despite the stress.
The submarine's systems hummed as they released noise makers and decoy buoys, creating a chaotic backdrop of sounds and signals designed to confuse the Chinese sensors. The underwater battlefield became a maze of echoes and distortions, each side vying for dominance in the murky depths.
As the ASW helicopters closed in, the Z-20Fs and Ka-28s deployed their sonar systems in a frantic effort to locate the Milishial submarines. The sonar pulses swept through the water, searching for the telltale signs of a submarine's presence. The magnetic anomaly detectors were also engaged, their sensors probing for the massive metal hulls of the submarines.
The underwater tension was palpable, each side acutely aware of the other's capabilities and limitations. As the battle raged on, the outcome hung in the balance, the cat-and-mouse game beneath the waves continuing with deadly seriousness.
The first signs of the Chinese response emerged with unsettling clarity. As the HMES Tenebrae Venator glided silently through the ocean depths, its crew was abruptly jolted by a warning from the sonar station.
"Captain, we're picking up increased sonar activity in our sector," the sonar officer's voice cut through the tension on the bridge, his tone urgent.
Captain Keene Windlover, his face illuminated by the flickering lights of the control panels, narrowed his eyes. "Deploy countermeasures immediately," he ordered, his voice steady despite the rising danger. "We need to stay concealed. Prepare to fire counter-torpedoes if necessary."
The Chinese Z-20F helicopters roared overhead, their rotors slicing through the air like the blades of a grim reaper. The pilots, their faces set with grim determination, deployed sonobuoys into the churning sea below, each one a sentinel, listening intently for the telltale echoes of enemy submarines. As the sonobuoys hit the water, they sent out pulses of sound, their pings reverberating through the dark depths, painting a clearer picture of the unseen predators lurking beneath.
"We've got a contact at bearing 315, range 2200 meters," crackled the voice of a Z-20F pilot through the comms. The tension was palpable in the command center of the Chinese fleet as Admiral Li Pengcheng leaned over the screen, eyes narrowing at the tiny blip that represented a Milishial submarine.
"Deploy additional sonobuoys to confirm," Li ordered, his voice cold and methodical.
On the surface, the sleek, deadly silhouettes of Type 056A missile corvettes cut through the waves, launching HSU-001 underwater drones into the abyss. These drones, small but potent, were designed to sniff out the enemy like bloodhounds, sending back real-time data to the fleet while also serving as decoys to lure the Milishial submarines into deadly traps.
Deep below, in the heart of the ocean, the crew of the HMES Unda Submersa felt the oppressive weight of the sea pressing in on them. The submarine, a marvel of Milishial engineering, was equipped with a shimmering magic shield, a protective barrier that deflected sonar pings and absorbed physical attacks. But even this advanced technology was not impervious to the relentless Chinese onslaught.
"Captain, we've got incoming sonar pings from the Z-20Fs," the sonar officer reported, his voice tight with strain. The rhythmic beeping of the sonar grew louder, more insistent, a harbinger of the impending danger.
Captain Mandiver's jaw clenched as he issued his orders. "Adjust course and depth. Deploy decoys and prepare for evasive maneuvers. Increase energy to the shield."
The Unda Submersa responded with the grace of a predator, diving deeper into the abyss, its hull groaning as the pressure mounted. Decoys were launched, small pods that emitted misleading sonar signals, hoping to confuse the Chinese hunters above. The magic shield, a translucent dome that shimmered with an otherworldly light, flickered as more energy was pumped into it, amplifying its strength.
But the Chinese were unrelenting. The Z-20F helicopters adjusted their sonar parameters, their pilots expertly fine-tuning the settings to cut through the noise and hone in on the true target. "Target is moving deeper. It's deploying decoys. Adjusting sonar parameters to maintain tracking," one of the pilots reported, his voice betraying no emotion.
Above the waves, the imposing Type 055 destroyers, their sleek and angular profiles bristling with an array of advanced weaponry, prepared for a critical assault. The deck crew executed their final checks as the first salvo of CY-10 missiles was prepared for launch. These were not ordinary munitions; they represented a leap in anti-submarine warfare technology, designed as China's superior counterpart to the U.S. Navy's RUM-139 VL-ASROC.
The CY-10 missile, with its streamlined, aerodynamic design, was equipped with a powerful rocket booster that ignited with a deafening roar, sending the missile skyward. Upon reaching its designated location 30km away, the missile's payload—a Yu-12 supercavitating torpedo—was ejected with precise timing. The Yu-12 torpedo, encased in a sophisticated gas bubble sheath, was engineered to achieve speeds of up to 200 knots. This supercavitating technology created a gas bubble envelope around the torpedo, dramatically reducing water resistance and allowing it to maintain high velocity underwater.
Underwater, the Tenebrae Venator, a sleek Silver-Class submarine of the Milishial fleet, was on high alert. The alarm from the sonar station pierced the tense atmosphere. "Incoming torpedoes!" The warning echoed through the command deck, triggering a flurry of activity. Crew members scrambled to launch counter-torpedoes, their movements a blur of frantic precision as they prepared to defend their vessel.
The counter-torpedoes, each one a sophisticated piece of magical technology, were designed to intercept and destroy incoming threats. They shot through the water, their trails of bubbles a brief flash of white against the dark, churning sea. As the counter-torpedoes raced toward the incoming Yu-12s, the ocean erupted in a series of violent detonations. The violent explosions sent shockwaves through the water, creating a tumultuous scene of chaos and destruction.
The pressure waves from the detonations battered the Tenebrae Venator's magic shield with the force of a giant's fist. This shield was a dazzling barrier of light, its surface shimmering with an iridescent glow as it deflected the incoming attacks. The shield, a marvel of arcane engineering, was designed to absorb and dissipate the energy of incoming threats, converting it into harmless pulses of energy that dispersed into the surrounding sea.
Despite the shield's impressive capabilities, the relentless assault was taking its toll. As the Yu-12 torpedoes continued their assault, the shield flickered under the strain. The magical barrier struggled to absorb the energy of each new impact, its glow dimming as the pressure mounted. Each torpedo that struck against it created a brief flare of light before the shield managed to push back the force, but the cumulative impact was proving to be overwhelming.
"Deploy more counter-torpedoes!" Captain Windlover barked, his knuckles white as he gripped the railing of the command station. His voice cut through the cacophony of alarms and the frantic shouts of the crew. The crew members, working with feverish intensity, launched a new wave of counter-torpedoes, their trails cutting through the turbulent water as they raced to intercept the incoming threats.
Despite their best efforts, the Yu-12 torpedoes were merciless and precise. One after another, they struck their targets with lethal accuracy. The Unda Submersa, another Silver-Class submarine, was hit hard. Its magic shield, already straining under the pressure, flickered erratically before finally collapsing entirely. The force of a particularly powerful Yu-12 explosion sent a violent shudder through the hull, the sound of rending metal echoing through the submarine's compartments.
"Hull breach in sector seven!" The damage control officer's voice was strained as he shouted over the wailing alarms. The cold, dark water of the ocean began to seep into the compartment, a silent and inexorable threat. The pressure from the flood was relentless, the water pouring in with an almost unnatural force.
"Seal off the affected compartments!" Captain Mandiver ordered, his voice cutting through the din with steely resolve. "Initiate emergency repairs!"
The crew moved with practiced precision, their faces set in grim determination as they worked to stem the flooding. Valves were closed, and patches were applied to the breaches, but the damage was severe. The Unda Submersa was suffering; its systems began to fail one by one as the relentless assault continued.
As the crew worked desperately to stabilize their vessel, the magic shield was the last line of defense against the relentless barrage. Its energy reserves were rapidly depleting, and the shimmering barrier was becoming increasingly ineffective. Each successive impact from the Yu-12 torpedoes pushed the shield closer to its breaking point, the once-brilliant glow now flickering weakly.
On the bridge of the Tenebrae Venator, Captain Windlover could only watch as the situation deteriorated. The vessel's systems were struggling to maintain operational integrity, and the hull was groaning under the strain of multiple impacts. The water continued to flood into the compartments, and despite the crew's best efforts, the submarine was slowly succumbing to the relentless assault.
In the chaos, the submarine's weapons systems were still operational. As a last-ditch effort, the remaining Type-60 torpedoes were fired in a desperate bid to strike back at the Chinese fleet. The torpedoes streaked through the water, their trails of bubbles a final defiant flash in the murky depths.
"Impact in three… two… one…" The drone operator aboard the supercarrier Taiwan barely had time to process the warning before the magic torpedoes struck. The water exploded into chaos as the warheads detonated, releasing a multitude of tiny, shimmering bubbles into the sea. The bubbles, charged with arcane energy, drastically reduced the water density in their immediate vicinity.
On the bridge of the Taiwan, the initial impact was met with an eerie silence, followed by the sudden and horrifying realization of what was happening. The supercarrier, a colossal vessel weighing 110,000 tons, was caught in the grip of the superbubble cloud. The ship began to sink as the water density beneath it plummeted. The Taiwan, once an invincible fortress of the sea, was now succumbing to the insidious forces unleashed by the torpedoes.
"We're losing buoyancy!" an officer shouted, his voice rising in panic. "We're going down!"
"Reverse engines! All hands, brace for impact!" the captain ordered, his voice straining to maintain control amidst the chaos. The crew scrambled to respond, their faces pale with terror. The supercarrier's engines roared in defiance, but the battle was already lost. The ship's massive bulk was dragged inexorably downwards, its bow plunging into the dark abyss as water cascaded over the sides in torrents.
The bridge was a scene of frantic activity as sailors and airmen struggled to cope with the rapidly deteriorating situation. The ship's lights flickered, and the sound of creaking metal filled the air as the Taiwan listed at a horrifying angle. Despite the crew's best efforts, the supercarrier continued to sink, its massive structure unable to overcome the relentless pull of the superbubble cloud.
Admiral Li Pengcheng, commanding the Chinese fleet from the Nanjing, watched the unfolding disaster with a mixture of horror and disbelief. His face was a mask of grim determination as he observed the sinking of the Taiwan, a critical blow to his fleet's strategic position. "Damn it!" he muttered, clenched fists at his sides. "We need to respond immediately."
Back aboard the HMES Unda Submersa, Captain Lux Mandiver watched the destruction of the Taiwan with a grim satisfaction. The sight of the colossal supercarrier succumbing to the superbubble torpedoes was a moment of twisted triumph. However, Mandiver's victory was short-lived. The Chinese ASW forces, incensed by the loss of their supercarrier, retaliated with a relentless barrage of torpedoes.
"Prepare to abandon ship!" Mandiver ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos that was unfolding around him. The crew, though visibly shaken, sprang into action, initiating emergency procedures with practiced efficiency. The submarine's alarm systems blared a constant, insistent warning, while the crew members worked frantically to evacuate the vessel.
The first wave of Chinese torpedoes struck with devastating force. The Unda Submersa, already crippled by previous engagements, had no chance of evading the onslaught. The hull of the submarine buckled and twisted under the impact, the metal groaning as it contorted. The pressure from the deep water began to crush the already weakened vessel, and the internal systems began to fail catastrophically.
"Captain, we're not going to make it!" one of the crewmen shouted, his voice tinged with despair as he struggled to maintain his footing amidst the shaking of the submarine.
"Stay calm!" Mandiver ordered, his voice resolute even in the face of impending disaster. "All hands, cast the Mana Bubble Spell! We need to protect ourselves from the pressure!"
The crew members, despite their fear and the dire situation, gathered in a circle and began to chant in unison. Their voices rose in a harmonious incantation, and a shimmering bubble of magical energy began to form around them. The Mana Bubble Spell, a powerful protective enchantment, enveloped the crew in a sphere of shimmering light. The bubble, resonating with the combined mana of the crew, began to rise slowly, lifting them away from the crushing depths.
Inside the protective bubble, the crew watched in silence as the Unda Submersa continued to sink, its hull twisted and battered. The pressure of the deep sea was now held at bay by the protective magic, but the sight of their submarine's final moments was a stark reminder of the cost of their desperate strike.
Mandiver, his face a mask of grim resolve, surveyed his crew. "We're safe for now," he said, his voice steady. "Maintain the spell and prepare for extraction. We need to get back to the surface and signal for rescue."
The crew nodded, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion as they held their positions. The Mana Bubble Spell continued to rise slowly, carrying them upwards through the turbulent waters. The magical sphere provided a brief respite from the chaos of the battlefield, allowing them a moment of calm amidst the storm.
As the bubble ascended, the moon light from the surface grew brighter, casting an eerie glow through the translucent shield. The sea around them was a chaotic maelstrom of churning water and wreckage, but the protective sphere provided a sanctuary from the devastation.
The crew of the Unda Submersa, despite their losses and the destruction of their vessel, clung to the hope of survival. The Mana Bubble Spell, their last line of defense, carried them upwards towards the surface, a beacon of light amidst the darkness of the abyss.
Above the waves, the battle continued to rage. The Chinese fleet, having exacted a heavy toll on the Milishial forces, pressed its advantage with renewed vigor. The loss of the Taiwan was a significant blow, but the fight was far from over. As the surviving submarines and their crews struggled to escape the depths, the battle for control of the South Irnetia Sea remained uncertain, with both sides locked in a deadly struggle for dominance.
