Dawn of the Pacific (8)
Chapter 8: Railgun Battleship Kii
January 22, 2042 - Northwest Pacific Ocean, Hawaii
The shock of the torpedo impact still lingered in the ship's hull.
On the port side aft of the Kii, damage control teams were desperately working to contain the flooding.
However, the Super Yamato-class battleship did not sink.
Its massive armor belt and multiple defensive compartments absorbed the destructive power of the torpedo.
Flooded compartments, sealing complete!
Engine output, 95 percent maintenance possible!
Hearing the report, Soma gave a short nod.
Continue combat.
The clouds ahead parted, and the enemy's main battleship fleet appeared.
Montana-class battleships.
These super-heavy battleships, which were supposed to have had their plans terminated before the old U.S. Navy could complete them, had been resurrected by ASR.
Three quadruple 50-centimeter gun turrets.
Furthermore, they were equipped with the latest electromagnetic cannons as secondary armament.
Ito gasped involuntarily.
They are monsters...
Soma lowered his binoculars.
But we have the Kii.
Distance, 240 kilometers.
Within range of the railgun.
The gunnery officer reports quietly.
The Kii's first and second turrets lock onto the lead enemy ship.
The bridge lights are dimmed, leaving only the glow of the fire-control system.
Soma takes a deep breath.
Target, enemy battleship Montana.
First and second turrets, fire.
A pale blue flash.
Instead of a roar, a sharp, air-tearing impact sound pierces the bridge.
Two hyper-velocity shells fly just above the sea surface.
A few seconds later—
White sparks streak across the center of the enemy battleship.
A moment later, a massive explosion erupts.
Hit!
The operator shouts.
A penetration hole several meters in diameter has opened in the Montana's side armor.
At this distance, conventional shells would have been deflected.
But the railgun rounds pierced the armor with kinetic energy alone.
The enemy fleet begins its counterattack.
The Montana-class main guns open fire, and massive shells head toward the Kii.
Impact in twenty seconds!
Soma gave the order immediately.
Right rudder, fifteen degrees!
The massive ship slowly began to turn.
The next moment, a huge column of water rose hundreds of meters off the port side.
The impact felt as if the sea itself had been lifted.
But it was not a direct hit.
Third turret, prepare to fire!
The gunnery officer shouted.
Soma surveyed the entire enemy fleet.
Behind the Montana, he could see the silhouette of what appeared to be the flagship.
It was larger than the other ships.
It had an unusually large number of communication antennas.
So that is the command ship...
He made his decision.
Change target.
We will strike the enemy flagship.
The third turret erupted in flames.
The fired shells flew in a straight line beneath the clouds.
A few seconds later, a massive explosion occurred near the bridge of the enemy flagship.
The antenna array was blown away, and flames erupted.
On the radar screen, the enemy fleet's formation began to break.
"Enemy communications are in chaos!"
Elena's voice cut into the transmission.
"The ASR fleet's command structure is destabilizing!"
Marshal Shiina did not let this opportunity slip by.
"All ships, assault formation!"
"Carrier strike groups, attack the enemy carrier groups!"
The carrier-based aircraft launched from the Akagi and Kaga dove toward the enemy fleet at low altitude.
Bombs and anti-ship missiles were dropped one after another, sending pillars of fire rising from the ASR carrier groups.
However, the enemy was not going to stay silent.
The remaining units of the unmanned fleet approached the Kii on a collision course.
"It's a suicide attack!"
Ito shouted.
Soma ordered immediately.
"Secondary batteries, open fire with everything!"
The Kii's electromagnetic secondary batteries fired in rapid succession.
One unmanned ship after another exploded.
But a few broke through.
"Range five kilometers!"
"Three kilometers!"
The air on the bridge grew tense.
At that moment, the Kongo cut in front of the Kii.
"Kongo!?"
Soma turned around.
"This is Kongo."
The captain's voice was calm.
"Flagship, please move forward. We will take this."
The Kongo's anti-aircraft guns and CIWS opened fire, shattering the approaching unmanned ships at point-blank range.
The last ship exploded, and a massive fireball illuminated the sea surface.
However, debris rained down on the Kongo's bow, and its armor was glowing red from the heat.
Soma gripped the radio.
"Kongo, what is the damage!"
"Minor. We can still fight."
At that reply, everyone on the bridge let out a sigh of relief.
7:40 AM.
The Kii's fourth salvo caught the second ship of the Montana class.
The railgun shell pierced the forward turret and exploded near the ammunition magazine.
The enemy battleship listed heavily and lost speed.
Furthermore, an attack from the aircraft carrier Akagi's squadron hit home, and black smoke billowed from the stern.
On the radar screen, the enemy fleet turns slightly to the west.
The enemy has begun to retreat!
Ito's voice caused a stir on the bridge.
Soma did not rejoice immediately.
Proceed with the pursuit cautiously.
This might be a trap.
But Admiral Shiina's voice echoed over the communication line.
No, that is not it.
They are truly falling back.
His voice carried the conviction that only an admiral who has fought naval battles for many years possesses.
The morning sun shines through a break in the clouds, illuminating the battlefield sea.
An enemy ship in flames.
The wreckage of a drifting unmanned ship.
And in the center of it all, the Kii stands.
Soma whispered quietly.
A railgun battleship, is it?
It was not merely a new weapon.
It was an existence that would change the balance of power in the Pacific.
But in his heart, a different emotion was spreading rather than the exhilaration of victory.
This battle has only just begun.
The true power of the ASR does not end here.
And there was a strong possibility that the next move would be directed toward the Japanese mainland.
At that moment, the communications officer read out a new telegram.
“Emergency telegram from Tokyo.”
Soma turned around.
“Read it.”
The communications officer's voice echoed through the silent bridge.
“ASR has launched a second attack force from Hawaii. Target—the Japanese mainland.”
The air on the bridge froze in an instant.