Sky of the Albatross_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 2] A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until she's in hot water. ③

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[Part 2] A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until she's in hot water. U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt ③

"Did you inherit your ability to survey the battlefield from your old man? It's a waste to keep you as just a pilot."
"That's just the kind of guy he is. He loves putting his body on the line for his comrades on the front lines."
He said that with a grin.

He had much more aptitude for being a quarterback than I did, but he preferred moving himself over moving others, and he insisted on being a running back.

"You don't usually talk about people so happily. Were you close?"
"He's my best friend. We were roommates for a long time and were in the same club."
"I see. You should cherish your connections with your peers."
"Don't worry. We're planning to go out for drinks when we dock in Yokosuka."
"What, then take me with you."
"I have something important to talk about this time, so maybe another time."

Anan wore an 'ah, I see' expression and grinned.

"Is that how it is? Well, I'll wait for the next opportunity."
"Thank you."

A blip appears on the monitor.

"Well, here comes the flagship."
"As expected, she's brought a lot of spectators with her."

In the direction he was staring were the 'Nagato' and several ships of unknown nationality deployed on the surface and underwater around it, likely intending to gather intelligence.

"Why don't we show them a spectacular show? Let's make them realize that it would take them a hundred years to catch up to our level of proficiency."
"Of course."

Anan patted Makimura on the shoulder and brought the microphone to his mouth.

"All hands, general quarters!"

Clang, clang, clang—the shrill sound of bells rang throughout the ship.

"I'm counting on you, Makimura. Show them the best brain in the JMSDF."
"Roger."

Responding to Anan's intent, he issued instructions to various locations in rapid succession. It had been less than two years since he was assigned to the Ashigara, but now he was someone everyone on the ship respected.

"Gunnery Officer, please keep the Phalanx in off-mode until I give the order. They will definitely use decoys to shake us up. If we fall for it and fire into the air, we'll be taken out while reloading, so please shoot them down with the main guns as much as possible."

'Phalanx' is the product name given to the CIWS manufactured by General Dynamics of the U.S. It is the last line of defense for a combat ship, equipped with its own independent acquisition and tracking system separate from the ship's air defense system, firing a barrage at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute against enemy missiles that have broken through the triple defensive net of ECM, anti-aircraft missiles, and main guns.
However, since the ammunition capacity per load is 1,550 rounds, it runs out of ammo in less than 30 seconds. Reloading is a manual task said to take at least 15 minutes, so running out of ammo is fatal. Therefore, he wanted to conserve it as much as possible.

"You're asking for difficult things as usual. Roger that."

The chuckle of Gunnery Officer Commander Yudai Inoue could be heard.

"Watch standers, keep your eyes on the horizon. You're above the radar, after all. Hey, Lieutenant Miyama, are you listening?"
"So annoying, don't call me out by name over the ship's intercom. I know."

The CIC was filled with laughter at the sulky reply. Lieutenant Junior Grade Wakaba Miyama of the Operations Division. A handsome young female officer. She was two years Makimura's junior at the National Defense Academy, and he explains to those around them that they have had a complicated relationship ever since.

“As long as you understand. The lives of 300 crew members are in your hands. I’m counting on you.”
“Roger that.”

He caught the subtle nuance in the tone of her reply.

“Even the sharpest mind in the JMSDF is no match for her.”

Teased by Anan, Makimura laughed through his nose.

Only the captain knew everything. And Makimura’s own true identity as well.

Well then. It’s a battle show between the JMSDF’s strongest spear and shield. Let’s do this right, partner.

He called out in his heart to his best friend, who was hundreds of kilometers away and surely feeling the same way.

＊

“No, that’s impossible.”
“Why not? Toshio, back then, you sank both the George Washington and an Aegis ship, didn’t you?”

After the briefing, the members of the Nagato squadron waited on standby until their sortie. This exercise involved an anti-ship attack on the Aegis ship Ashigara.

As someone who had been shot down by the US Aegis ship John Paul Jones during RIMPAC, Yuuhi wanted to settle the score, but Katsuno had only given instructions on the attack start point and altitude, and for once, there was no specific tactical briefing.
Taking it to mean that the tactics were left to each squadron, Yuuhi had suggested a tactical plan to Toshio, but...

“That was only possible because there was a massive missile attack by our fleet first, and because you and the others charged in, which luckily created a momentary opening. That’s how I was able to thread the needle and reach the Washington.”

I didn’t know that. To think that my own reckless attack, which I now look back on as a dark chapter in my life, had actually been a little bit useful.

“But the Ashigara isn’t alone.”
“The Ashigara this time is fully loaded with missiles and CIWS, leaving absolutely no openings. Plus, the sharpest mind in the JMSDF is in the CIC.”
“Hmm? Is Makimura on the Ashigara now?”

Osakabe, who had been listening to Yuuhi and Toshio’s conversation with a look of exasperation, reacted to the name.

“Yeah. I got a message from him before we set sail.”
“What? Then it’s definitely impossible.”

Osakabe snorted and sank back into his chair.

“Who?”
“The best friend of ours from the Defense Academy I told you about before.”
“Eh? The guy who graduated top of his class and was a quarterback?”
“That’s him. Honestly, if the Aegis ship he’s on is our opponent, I see even less of a path to victory.”
“Then what are we going to do?”
“The right answer is for us to act as a slightly formidable target and contribute to improving the Ashigara’s proficiency.”

So that was why there were no special instructions.

“No way! I don’t want to lose.”

Ever since that RIMPAC, I had been wanting to somehow shake off the sense of inadequacy I felt toward anti-ship exercises.

"Setting aside who wins or loses, in a real combat situation, you'd avoid that scenario first. Rock can't beat Paper no matter how hard it tries, right? It's the submarine's job to be the Scissors that sinks the Aegis ship, which is Paper."

History has proven the superiority of fighter jets in air-to-ship combat, but the Aegis ship, the ultimate shield, is a different story.

"...If it's a scenario you'd avoid in real combat, then there's no point in doing training, is there?"
"For us, maybe, but for Ashigara, it has meaning. The objective is dealing with saturation attacks. If improving Ashigara's proficiency strengthens our national defense, then that's a good thing."
"...I see, that's how it is."

Still, I didn't feel satisfied. As I stood there feeling uneasy and unsettled, Toshio stood up quietly.

"Do you have a moment?"
"What is it?"

He beckoned me over, and I was led out into the corridor.

"It's still a while away, but it seems Ashigara will be accompanying us on our return to Yokosuka, and I promised to have a drink with Makimura then. Would you come with me? As I said before, I want to introduce you."

…It was here. The long-awaited introduction-to-best-friend event. At this unexpected timing, his invitation instantly cleared away the unease I had been feeling until just a moment ago.

"...Yeah. I'd love to."
"Huh?"
"Oh, no, I mean, I'd be happy to."

At Yuuhi's reply, he happily patted her head.

Alright. Even if I get shot down, I have to make his best friend think that Toshio's girlfriend is amazing.

I'm so fickle; my motivation for the training with "Ashigara," which I had been so uneasy about, suddenly skyrocketed. I felt the urge to hug him, but PDA on board is strictly forbidden. Just as we were about to return to our rooms, the general alarm bell rang throughout the ship.

"We will now begin the air-to-ship exercise! All hands, battle stations!"

"Alright, let's go! Idea!"
"Roger, Gaia!"

Feeling like I could get better results than ever in today's exercise, Yuuhi followed him to the deck with a light step.

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Next Story Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 3] Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. ① | Kyo

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Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 1] Love is an action. We were born with the power to love. Even so, we have to train it like a muscle. ① | Kyo