Sakura Empire Territorial Waters
June 14, 1942
9:00 AM
CVN-80 USS Enterprise launches four F/A-18 Super Hornets armed with ground attack bombs. The Hornets race towards the Empire, as other F/A-18s, armed with cluster munitions and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, follow.
LHA-12 USS Essex launches F-35Bs in beast mode configuration, armed with Anti-Ship Missiles and Paveway Bombs. The airborne F-35s race alongside the Hornets as they fly towards their intended targets.
"This feels like RIMPAC, but it's more real now, huh?" Essex-12 remarks, as she watches the launches from her ship's bridge.
"Don't get carried away; this is real combat. Get serious, will you?" Enterprise-80 speaks through the comms, from her Ship's CIC, as she oversees the entire operation.
"Yes, Ma'am," Essex-12 replies.
CGN-76 USS Bunker Hill and DDG-200 USS Laffey's VLS cells open up. Smoke billows from the exhaust of the VLS cells as streaks of BGM-109 Tomahawks fly out of the canisters, followed by more Tomahawks.
160 BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles skim above the ocean to avoid detection, even though aerial supremacy is established within seconds, as US Navy Jets "shoot freedom" at the sky.
Azur Lane Carriers launch their own planes for the second strike against the Empire's Dive Bombers and Fighters armed with 500lb bombs. Enterprise-80 dispatches a few E/A-18 Growlers to provide ECM Support for the squadron of Azur Lane planes.
Enterprise-6 looks up and gapes at the sheer striking power about to fall upon the Empire. "This striking force... is quite... overkill," she exclaimed, as she watches a barrage of Tomahawks fly towards the Empire.
Cruiser Belfast speaks, "I've heard 'overkill' does not exist in their dictionary."
Enterprise-6 turns her attention to her. "Why is that?"
Laffey-200 answers through the comms, "The more we spend money on defense, the more dead the motherfucker is."
-By Fat Electrician-
"That doesn't make sense," Cruiser Belfast said.
"We don't make sense. We make dollars."
Cruiser Belfast raises both hands in the air, signaling her defeat. She knows she can't win against this 'drunk psychotic bunny'.
Enterprise-6 chuckles, she quite likes their 'drunk psychotic bunny'. "I've never seen you raise a hand in surrender," she says.
"I'd rather quit before I even get into a heated discussion with her," Cruiser Belfast says.
Imperial Army Air Corps Air Field, Sakura Empire
9:30 AM
A bunch of Planes, like Fighters and Bombers, are parked on the runway, ready to take off. The Bombers are doing an elephant walk on the runway; they are armed with typical WWII free-fall bombs.
The Bombers line up for take-off, as the Fighters circle above the airfield to provide air cover. They are ordered to strike the Task Force located off the Sakuran Empire's territorial waters.
The Imperial Soldiers working on the Planes and airfield stop on what they were doing as they hear and listen to the radio broadcast. The Aircrews cheer, motivated by the Empire's refusal to bow down to the Alliance. Then, the broadcast is cut off and replaced by a woman's voice.
"That's got to be a joke?" Pilot-1 exclaims.
"Don't listen to it. It's just another propaganda from the Eagle Union," Pilot-2 exclaims.
"Yeah."
Then, a maintenance crew shouts at the two pilots, "Hey, you two, your planes are ready for take-off."
The Two Pilots head out from their barracks and towards their Planes parked outside the hangar. They both notice a whistling noise and search for the source. They then see a contrail and a dot falling from the sky.
"What is that?"
Pilot-2 squints at the falling object. "I don't know?"
After he says those words, in the middle of the Taxing Bomber, the bomb opens and releases small cluster munitions above. The entire airfield is sprayed with Small Cluster Bombs. The cluster munitions explode, spraying tungsten metal everywhere; planes are engulfed in flames as they are hit.
The parked, Armed Bombers are engulfed in flames as their fuel tanks are hit. A few moments later, they all explode in a massive fireball as the bombs they carry ignite from the fire.
"We're under attack!" one of the Pilots screams.
Pilots in their bunks get up, put on their pilot gear, and rush outside. They all run towards their parked Planes in the open field. Everyone gets onboard.
One GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb hits one of the parked Zeros, the explosion spreads fire to the other parked Zeros. The heat from the fire ignites all the parked Zeros in a row.
-Think of it as the Hickam Field burning, triple that destruction-
Anti-Air Emplacements are hit with the precise precision of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. The remaining Anti-Air Gun Emplacements are totally useless in combating an enemy that flies at higher altitudes.
The AA Gun Crews greatly underestimated the accuracy of the gliding bombs approaching their location. In their total ignorance and ego, this is the result of their... death.
Above the airfield, a bunch of A6M Zeros explode mid-air. They are shot down by F/A-18s armed with Peregrine Missiles. The skies above the airfield are filled with falling and burning Zeros.
Below is a sea of fire, as the bombers with their bombs and other parked planes are now burning wrecks. Aviation fuel litters the grassy field of the airfield, as fire consumes the vegetation.
The hangars are now on fire; inside, many aircrews are trapped in the burning buildings. The supporting beams of the roof collapse and block their way outside. Half of them are suffocated by the black smoke coming from the burning materials stored inside the hangar.
The alarms blare at the airfield, but it's all too late. The entire airbase is rendered unusable; the parked planes and infrastructure are ablaze. The scene is comparable to the Kuwaiti oil fields burning during the Gulf War, as jets fly above.
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs hit the Ammunition Storage, Fuel Depots, and Communication Towers throughout the Empire. Military bridges and any Infrastructure that could be used by Imperial Troops are also targeted and destroyed.
The fixed radar sites are targeted by AGM-88 HARMs. The radar sites are now craters; the Radar Operators cannot believe their own eyes. The brand new radar is now a wreck within seconds; worse, communication is cut or jammed.
Military Barracks and depots are also attacked by heavy bombs. Communication Rooms and other facilities holding commanding officers are targeted by thousand-pound bombs; cluster munitions deal with the unarmored targets.
Miles away, at a nearby village, the devastation of the bases is visible from afar. Many come out of their homes as they witness the bases burning and the sky turning dark from the smoke coming from the burning planes.
They all kneel and pray to the gods that their sons stationed at the bases are alright and unharmed, but given the true nature of war, the possibility of death in combat against a technologically superior foe is high.
The religious folks are terrified at the sight of the black clouds covering the area; many think a demon of devastation has awakened, because of the total destruction and roaring jet engines above. Many think it is the demon roaring.
1,000lb GBUs rain down on the munitions factory. The entire munitions factory blows up in a massive fiery explosion as stored bombs in the storage are hit by the 1,000lb GBUs.
No one survives the initial attack; the Factory Workers and Military Supervisors inside the factory are all killed in the massive explosion that engulfs the entire munitions factory. The nearby village is deafened by the massive explosion coming from the munitions factory.
Housewives and family members rush to the factory site, hoping to find their loved ones. But they are stopped by local enforcers as they try to put out the uncontrollable fire that engulfs the entire Munitions Factory.
The crying wives and family members only kneel on the road, as all hope for their loved ones' survival diminishes by the second.
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs target the strategic railroad that the imperial forces could use to mobilize. Many of the trains are derailed, and most of them carry civilian passengers.
The passengers of the train do not even know hostilities have started, as they converse in the train cabins. Children playing with each other and innocent passengers are the victims of this attack.
Lightly fortified targets are left for the Azur Lane planes to drop their payloads on the stationary targets.
Enterprise-80 structures the attack based on the successful air campaign of Desert Storm, targeting military emplacements, communication towers, and destroying the supply chain to disable the quick mobilization and counterattack of the Sakuran Imperial Military. Hindering the enemy air force's ability to counter and the mobilization of troops everywhere in the region. The military bases closest to the capital are prioritized.
Dug-in positions are left at the mercy of modified propeller planes, as they are marked as stationary targets rather than strategic targets.
Harbor
Ayanami, Yuudachi, Yukikaze, and Shigure are eating Dango at the harbor, living their happiest life, not worrying about the retribution about to come to the Empire's shores.
Z-23 and Z-1 are eating their own Dango as they sit, talking about the upcoming battle.
"Looks like someone got your attention?" Z-1 teases Z-23, elbowing her.
"Quit acting like a 'Dammkoft'. We are going to battle at any given moment!" Z-23 exclaimed, almost spitting out her tea.
"Right, right, just don't get distracted."
30 BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles skim through the surface of the ocean as they head to the harbor. The Tomahawks use their ability to skim above the surface of the ocean to avoid detection. The cruise missiles fly through the harbor.
The shipgirls at the harbor are shocked and gasp at the Cruise Missiles. Many point as they fly over them.
"Whoa! Is that a Fritz-X?" Z-1 asks, pointing at the cruise missiles skimming above the ocean.
"Nein! It's a bit longer and..." Z-23 stops, examining the Cruise Missiles, but then it clicks in her head where the missiles are heading.
"It's targeting the fuel depots and ammunition storage!"
It's too late for her warning; the Tomahawks hit their targets. The fuel depots and ammunition storage are engulfed in fiery fireballs.
The shock wave from the explosions throws most of the Shipgirls and people in the vicinity of the explosions. The Ammunition Storage is turned into scraps, and the entire Fuel Depot turns into a fiery inferno as all the fuel tanks burn.
Yuudachi, Yukikaze, and Shigure crouch on the ground, covering their ears because of the massive explosions.
"AAAHHHH! My ears!" Yukikaze covers her cat ears as they ring from the explosions.
"My wars, its ringing!" Yuudachi cried.
Hiryuu runs towards their position; she sprints across the harbor to give orders to every Shipgirl who survived the attack. Urgency and apprehension can be seen at her face.
"Is everyone alright?!" Hiryuu asks them with concern and urgency in her voice.
"Hai. Everyone is alright," Ayanami replies, breathing heavily. She looks around at the devastation, eyes widened.
She and the rest got-up on the ground and watch the fiery inferno engulfed the Military Base.
"Good. Everyone get into your ships. The enemy might conduct a second strike!" Hiryuu gives orders.
"HAI." Ayanami, Yuudachi, Yukikaze, and Shigure comply, their daze cut-off by Hiryuu's booming orders.
Z-23 and Z-1 are thrown off the harbor; they both slowly get up from being thrown.
Z-23 dusts herself off and fixes her clothes as she gazes at the devastation. "Contact Eugen, the battle has started! Go, now!"
"Jawoll."
Z-1 runs towards the capital of the Sakura Empire and heads to the Iron Blood Embassy to warn everyone about the first strike and the coming second strike.
"They attacked as soon as the announcement ended," Z-23 mutters in surprise.
Z-23 was there when the Sakura Empire launched a surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She witnessed the devastation of the Azur Lane fleet as it was anchored at the harbor in the tranquil weather. But this attack, this attack is different. The devastation is comparable to a large-scale carpet bombing in sheer devastation at the harbor.
She looks up at the sky as a gigantic plume of black smoke rises from the burning Fuel Depots and Ammunition Storage. The sight horrifies her, as she ponders the implication of the attack against Iron Blood.
With shaking feet, she stays at the harbor to assist the locals to recover from being thrown by the explosions, but she hears a jet engine coming closer. Her gaze shifts towards the noise, and she sees an angular Dark-Colored Aircraft.
F-35Bs release their Paveway bombs and hit Aircraft Carrier Hiryuu and Battleships Kii and Suruga with precise accuracy.
"Such accuracy!" Z-23 exclaimed in awe.
Tokyo, Sakura Empire Capital
High-value targets, such as military buildings and government buildings, are targeted by a squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornets as they fly above the capital uncontested.
Fighter interceptors try their might, as they fly higher than the operational altitude of the Fighters. The Pilots lose consciousness and let go of the throttles. Many Fighters pass the boundary of their maximum flight ceiling before they can even point their nose guns. The engines are deprived of oxygen at the higher altitude. Now, the fighters, along with their pilots, fall from the sky like birds that have lost their ability to fly.
Emperor Hirohito watches the pride of his Empire's Marvelous Fighters fall from the sky, replaced by the real masters of the sky with their loud roar.
The falling Zeros fall into the residential areas of the capital; many fall onto houses where family members shelter from the falling planes.
He watches the Modern Planes fly above his capital city without being intercepted because the only interceptors are incapable of doing their job.
He clenches his fists as he sees the Empire that lasted a thousand years slowly being destroyed by a force he could not imagine was capable of bringing an Empire to its knees.
"How?" is the only word he can mutter in total shock. His ego grew large because of the lies his advisors fed him.
He is having second thoughts about Musashi's pleading voice for peace talks. His train of thought is cut by PM Tojo's voice.
"Your Imperial Majesty, get inside; it's dangerous out there."
The rest of the imperial guards escort the Emperor to the throne room because it is the safest place around the Imperial Palace, rebuilt to withstand a Siren bomb and artillery.
Two F-35Bs, armed with Paveway 1,000lb Laser-Guided Bombs, head deeper into the harbor, tasked with destroying a certain target.
Unknown Harbor
Orochi is in the dry dock, waiting to finish its refitting. Above Orochi's deck, Akagi and Kaga overlook the refit. A large "BOOM" was heard at the harbor; the dockyard workers stop what they are doing.
Akagi and Kaga gaze in the direction of the explosion, plums of dark smoke rose-up at the backdrop of thundering sound.
"What is that, Nee-sama?" Kaga asks, pointing at the rising smoke at the harbor.
"Looks like the battle has begun. Prepare Orochi for battle!" Akagi ordered.
"What?! We can't do that! The thing is still in the dry dock!" one of the Dockyard Workers exclaims.
Akagi curses under her breath. "Damn it!"
Then, the Black Mental Cube glows in Akagi's hands, this catches the attention of Akagi and Kaga. The two are bewildered at the odd behavior of the Black Mental Cube.
"Nee-sama, what is happening?" Kaga asks, her eyes fixated on the glowing Black Mental Cube.
"I-I don't know?" Akagi doesn't know why the Black Mental Cube is behaving oddly.
Then, the Black Mental Cube flies towards the middle of Orochi's deck. Then it slowly merges with Orochi. Orochi then glows with a reddish glow and suddenly activates its Force Field, surprising everyone in the dockyard.
The two F-35Bs release their payloads, the Four Paveway 1,000lb Laser-Guided Bombs race towards the large Siren Ship in the dockyard. But before they hit the target, the four bombs are blocked by the Force Field.
The explosions from the four bombs create a giant explosion and a massive shock wave that throws off the Dockyard Workers and Manjuus at the dockyard. Scaffolding collapses at the dock and falls flat on the ground.
Dockyard workers and Manjuus on the ground run from the falling scaffolds for their lives.
As the smoke clears, Orochi is not damaged by the sudden attack. The Force Field only glitches as it faces the four 1,000lb Paveway Bombs.
Akagi opens her eyes, bewildered at the power of Orochi, as it faces four bombs without getting any scratches.
Orochi retaliates and fires its AA Guns at the two F-35Bs. The two F-35Bs use their ECM to jam its targeting radar; the jets then hit their afterburners to escape the battlefield. Orochi's AA Guns fire shots at the fleeing jets, but all miss as the two F-35Bs sprint out of the scene.
"HAHAHA! Behold and tremble at the power of Orochi!" Akagi remarks, standing proudly on Orochi's deck.
"You're right, Nee-sama. This is the power of Orochi indeed," Kaga added, standing beside Akagi.
The Dockyard Workers cheer and clap their hands, praising Orochi's might and power.
LHA-12 USS Essex
Essex-12 is shocked at the outcome of her two F-35B bomb runs, the target is not destroyed but instead is in working condition. They are not able to predict this sudden awakening of Orochi.
"Miss Enterprise. We have a problem," Essex-12 reports to the flagship.
"What is the problem, Essex?" Enterprise-80 asks, gripping the comms.
"It seems that Orochi activated earlier than we predicted. But my F-35Bs were able to collect data from its attack and its reaction time."
"Good. Now send me the data. We need to calculate our countermeasures against it."
"Yes Ma'am." Essex-12 then sends the data that her F-35Bs had gathered.
Cortana, the carrier onboard A.I., starts to calculate the data it receives from Essex's F-35Bs. "The whole calculation might take some time."
Enterprise-80 thought, 'If this Orochi is that powerful? Then I have no choice but to use it.' Her thoughts drifted to the only option she had: to go Conventional or Nuclear.
Enterprise-80 then grabs the radio as she orders the weapon handler, "I want two F/A-25 Hellcats to be armed with HALO Hypersonic Missiles. Now!"
Manjuus on the Carrier's Flight Deck prepare two F/A-25 Hellcats to be armed with HALO Missiles as they hear a direct order from her.
Enterprise-6 notices the slight chaos on the Super Carrier's deck. Two F/A-25 Hellcats are being hastily rearmed with a new weapon she has never seen before on the carrier's deck.
"What is going on? Why is your deck in chaos?" she inquired subconsciously.
The whole Task Force listens to the sudden question from CV-6 in the comms. Everyone anticipates her reply.
Enterprise-80 takes a deep breath and speaks. "Orochi was not destroyed; instead, it awakened too early than we predicted."
Everyone is shocked and open-mouthed at the news that they failed to eliminate Orochi.
"You've got to be shitting me!" Queen Elizabeth screams through the comms.
~Flashback~
Briefing Room, Azur Lane Base
Enterprise-80 points a stick at the photo projected by the projector. The photo shows a trimaran hull Battleship Carrier Hybrid.
"This is one of the ships that the Sakura Empire was building with the help of Siren Tech. According to Arizona and his team, this is 'Project Orochi'."
Everyone is shocked and mouth-gapped as they see the huge ship that the Empire is building.
"S-So this is the weapon that the Empire is going to use against us?" Queen Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Yes. Your Majesty, this is their Super Weapon. In our world, we classified this ship as a 'Battle Carrier' or 'Hybrid'."
"Battle Carrier, Hybrid?" everyone asks in total shock and confusion.
"Yes, you heard me right. This is a Battle Carrier, a hybrid or combination of both carrier and battleship. This is only a proposal and concept in our world; many navies or just admirals propose this kind of ship into reality."
The projector then shows the 'Battle carrier' concepts: Ise Class Battle Carrier BBV, Kiev Class Aviation Cruiser, US Navy Strike Cruiser, Iowa Class Battle Carrier concept, and Kearsarge.
"Ise Class Battleships were modified in the middle of the war to carry planes at its aft, because of the lack of Carriers at the end of the Battle of Midway."
"I can see the urgency in needing a carrier in the battle," Adm. Nimitz remarks, as every carrier in the room nods in agreement.
"How do they land back?" Illustrious asked, as she sees the lack of arrestor wires on the deck.
"The Plane that was used was a modified Suisei Dive Bomber model 21. It's a one-way trip."
"Kiev Class Aviation Cruiser is not a full-time carrier because of the Montreux Convention. Carriers are not allowed to pass through the Turkish Strait. So, the Soviets just called their 'Carriers' as Heavy Aviation Cruisers to exploit the loophole."
"That seems stupid," Queen Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Hey. If it works, it works. Right?" Hornet says in a joking tone. Everyone just groans.
"The design of the ship was quite frightening," Wales commented.
Bunker Hill-76 spoke. "The Soviet Navy's tactic is to overwhelm the Strike Group Defenses with a barrage of missiles to deplete our missile interceptors."
"US Navy Strike Cruiser is the answer to the Soviets' Kiev Class Aviation Cruiser. It was cancelled because of funding issues plaguing the Navy. The cancellation of the Strike Cruiser is the reason why the US Navy has Ticonderoga Class Cruisers.
"Well, at least they have a Cruiser," Yorktown exclaimed.
"The Ticonderoga Class Cruiser was meant to be a destroyer when it was being planned. It was reclassified as a cruiser after the cancellation of the Strike Cruiser. It was also built on the keel as a Destroyer and was reclassified as a cruiser to appease the Navy Admirals."
"So, the destroyer takes the role of the Cruiser?" Cruiser Belfast asks, somewhat confused.
Enterprise-80 continues, "Well, Lexington Class Cruisers are based on the Cruiser Long Beach, and a few designs were taken from the Zumwalt Class Destroyer. There's that..."
"So that's why the destroyer takes the role of the cruiser, because of the silly reclassification?" Adm. Philips remarks. Everyone nods in agreement.
"So, your Commanding Officers are bitching for cruisers?" Queen Elizabeth pointed out.
"Your Majesty, America is in the 'Big Wiener' competition, and you showed up in that competition with a Destroyer? Not quite the 'Big Wiener' energy you want to show-off," Enterprise-80 replies.
The two Admirals frown and groan. "She's got a point."
The Shipgirls blush, and many just straight-up laughed and chuckled. Queen Elizabeth turns red. Enterprise-80 then continues her explanation.
"This is the Iowa Class, designed for the Marines' amphibious capability. The addition of a hangar and flight deck on the rear to help the Marines in amphibious missions. The problem was... the cost of modifying the ships is high. So, instead, we only added the Tomahawk Box Launcher to its superstructure for more land attack capability."
The projector shows the Iowa Class in the 1980s and 1990s, the modernized Iowa Class. Everyone feels a bit of excitement and jealousy, especially the other battleships in the room.
"Can we add this weapon system to the current Iowas?" Adm. Nimitz asked, as he feels the heat and excitement from the other battleships.
"Maybe? This is the 40s, and this technology is in the 80s, so... if we skip a couple of decades in advance. So, maybe?" Enterprise-80 is not sure about her answer.
".... I see," Adm. Nimitz said in acknowledgement, how complicated it was to modernize the Iowas with 80s and 90s tech.
-would you like me to add some tomahawks to the Iowas in the story? And maybe add some Battleship movie reference? –
"And then there's this bitch." She pointed at the frankencrack of a battleship and carrier.
"Kearsarge?" Adm. Nimitz asks in surprise.
"You know her, Admiral?" Enterprise-80 asks.
"Well.... She's currently in development as a priority PR Ship to counter Axis Shipgirls," Adm. Nimitz said.
Enterprise-80 continues, "Remember, Orochi's capabilities are still unknown to us. We need to be careful with its two massive laser cannons. We predict that this laser cannon can cut through battleship armor, so be careful. Our plan is to eliminate it first, before it begins to move. I don't want this kind of monstrosity let loose in the Pacific."
~Flashback Ends~
"Bloody Hell, are you kidding me! I told you before we need to strike before that thing awakens!" Queen Elizabeth yells through the comms.
"What should we do now, Miss Enterprise?" Wales asks, somewhat worried about the awakening beast that the Empire is harboring.
"Don't worry; I have the weapon ready to face this threat in case the first strike fails," Enterprise-80 reassures the Task Force of their concerns.
"Oh, dear. I hope you have the right weapon. Because I have a bad feeling about this one," Illustrious adds.
"I hope that weapon is enough to damage or sink Orochi?!" Queen Elizabeth exclaims with a hint of doubt in her voice.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I still haven't summoned the... 'Big Bang' yet."
Underground Bunker, Sakura Empire
11:00 AM
Every remaining high-ranking Sakuran Empire Official gathers in the top-secret bunkers. Everyone is shocked at the surprise attack they didn't prepare for; everyone is pointing fingers for the failed defense of the Empire.
Cmdr. Shin is not having any of the finger-pointing and blabbering from the higher-ups. His brows twitch as everyone points fingers and blames.
"Shut up! We are here to assess the damages to the Empire's Military and make an organized counterattack."
One of the Officers in charge of the damage assessment of the Imperial Military of the Empire reads his report.
'Sir, all of our airfields are in wreck, all of the bombers that were designated to bomb the Task Force... are now in ashes.
'The radar installations we just recently commissioned were destroyed and are now craters. According to operators, the radar was jammed and hit by Bombs with precision."
He paused gaining the reaction of the grim situation they were in.
'The factories were hit from the sky; a single bomb destroyed each factory with great precision. Bridges and any supply lines are also targeted."
'Our dry docks are hit; most of the ships are still in dock while being dry-docked. The damaged dry docks will be our least worries, as all the ships in the dock only received minor damage to their superstructures."
'Fuel depots are burning, and our ammunition storage for our Kansens are hit too. We only have three days of ammo and fuel left if we continue fighting."
Everyone sinks into their seats as bad news floods them. The one that breaks their egos is the remaining ammunition and fuel storage, which would only last three days in continuous fighting.
'Hiryuu, Kii, Suruga, Tone, and several Cruisers and Destroyers are hit at the harbor from aerial bombs with precise accuracy."
Eugen spoke. 'Looks like they already knew our plan from the start, huh. Commander?'
PM Tojo spoke in a sad and disappointing tone. 'The majority of our high-ranking officers are dead in the first day of the attack. Is there any good news other than bad ones?'
At the first strike, Enterprise targeted the building where all the high-ranking officials were gathering and discussing the upcoming battle that would mark Sakuran History.
The atmosphere in the room is gloomy as every bad news keeps piling up. Many doubt their ability to fight, as their supply of ammo and fuel were cut and destroyed. Amidst the grim atmosphere surrounding the high-ranking officials, there is one good news.
'Hai. There is one. Orochi survived the attack," Akagi announced. The High-Rank Officers in the room shifted their attention toward her.
'Please elaborate, Akagi,' Cmdr. Shin said without changing his mood.
She smiles and continues her report. 'Project Orochi' proves its power and might as it faces four bombs with its force field. Orochi is only 95% operational, imagine what it can do now that it's 100% operational.'
Everyone in the room breathes a sigh of relief, because they still have a card to play in their hands. The devastation of their ammunition, fuel depots, and factories in ruins is still lingering in their minds, but the news of Orochi surviving the attack is like a light in the dark.
'Lady Musashi, what is our counter plan to this surprise attack?' Cmdr. Shin asks, as everyone shifted their attention to her.
Musashi is in deep meditation, hiding her worried and concerned feelings about the attack. If the High-Ranks and Shipgirls saw her shaking in fear, it could decrease the morale of the people inside the bunker. She then opens her eyes, preparing to speak.
'Let's continue with our original plan. Does anyone remember it?' Musashi remarks. The Shipgirls nod as they remember their battle plan.
'Good, let's face them on the battlefield, like the warriors we are.'
'HAI!' The Sakuran Shipgirls raise their motivation and willingness to fight as they hear the Flagship and Orochi will fight by their side.
Every Sakuran shipgirl prepares their melee Weapons (Katanas) for the upcoming battle with Azur Lane. Many of them put on rising sun headbands, performing a ritual only for warriors. Others go to the shrines to get blessings and protection from the gods.
~
CVN-80 USS Enterprise, CIC
Enterprise-80 watches the data stream from Essex-12's F-35Bs on the main screen. Cortana's calculations are displayed alongside the sensor readings, showing Orochi's force field's energy signature and projected trajectory.
"Cortana, what's the projected effectiveness of the HALO missiles against that Force Field?" Enterprise-80 asks, her voice steady but laced with tension.
"Calculations are still in progress, Enterprise. The Force Field's Energy density is fluctuating, making a precise prediction difficult. However, based on preliminary analysis, there's a 67% chance of a direct hit penetrating the field. A 92% chance of significant damage if the field is weakened." Cortana replies, her holographic form flickering slightly.
"67%? That's not good enough. Prepare the F/A-25s, but hold fire. I want to weaken that field first. Order all available aircraft to target Orochi with continuous bombardment. I want that force field strained to its limits."
"Understood, Enterprise. Sending orders to all air wings now."
The CIC hums with activity as crew members relay orders and monitor sensor readings. Enterprise-80 stares at the screen, her gaze fixed on Orochi's image. She knows that this battle will determine the fate of the Pacific.