KR:
"Do not open fire. I repeat. Do not open fire."
"Yes, Shogun. All hands. Stand down. We are not to open fire on the USA or EU." I barked out as I watched them pass our TSFs by less than a dozen million kilometers. From my Takemikazuchi C,
Ame, I had the ability to see farther than most of the other TSFs, and my communication equipment was more state of the art- thus, my data-link also included the sensor reports from the CV Amaterasu, of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Two ships of USA origin, with no active sensors, and massive size, were passing by at almost 10 million kilometers.
I recall that they did not have this course 10 hours ago, before the sneak attacks by the soviets were launched. But the EU ships, on the other hand, have active sensors, and are heading towards Earth.
"Shogun, please let me escort the EU ships." I chimed over the comms.
The situation was dire. We could not approach Earth considering the warning from Romanov, but if those ships are there to bombard either us or the Soviets...
"There is nothing you can do, Ryo. Ever since the Americans let the Russians settle Alaska, after their original territory fell to the BETA, they have been under the thumb of the Americans, and they will have to clean up this mess. Do you remember Red Shift?" She asked me.
"Red Shift? That American plan where they detonate 2,000 Hydrogen Bombs to create an artificial strait through the middle of Alaska?"
"And kill all the Russians living there, yes. That is the kind of thing the Americans will resort to. We cannot provoke them. We can just hope they do not do something foolish."
"What if they are going after us?" I ask.
"The Nagato-Kyu will handle it, and we will intercept any other vessels if it comes to that. But for now, we cannot move. We will have to wait for the Ground Forces to accomplish their goals."
"Roger, Shogun-sama."
"Mitsurugi, out."
I sigh and lean back into my cockpit seat, glancing over at the temperature read-out. 26 degrees Celsius. Still, it felt so cold.
MM:
I look over the reports of our current production, and building facilities. We took massive damage from the bombardment, yet this is only a best guess scenario, considering that the dust cloud is still blocking laser comm and deflecting even radio signals. In a few hours, they should be able to bounce signals from modified weather balloons, but still, even that will not be perfect, due to the charged state of the ionosphere, after those bombs.
Only a very few places in Japan have stations capable of producing a sustained signal at such high frequency to pass through, and if they were knocked out due to those bombs, it is quite possible that we will have to ask the Americans to relay communications for us. And if they refuse, we may be out of contact with Earth for months.
Akagi class Carrier 23,150 tons 543 Crew 5439 BP TCS 463 TH 1200 EM 0
5183 km/s Armour 6-72 Shields 0-0 Sensors 45/54/0/0 Damage Control Rating 48 PPV 44
Maint Life 4.82 Years MSP 5580 AFR 112% IFR 1.6% 1YR 396 5YR 5942 Max Repair 900 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months Flight Crew Berths 27
Flag Bridge Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons
FE-230-FHI-1200 ICFD (2) Power 1200 Fuel Use 47.32% Signature 600 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,750,000 Litres Range 28.8 billion km (64 days at full power)
Twin Quad Type 145b CIWS Turret (2x32) Range 10,000km TS: 31600 km/s Power 0-0 RM 1 ROF 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
iTSF Type 48 TSC (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 32000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Type 18b Capital Ship EMWT (1) GPS 180 Range 32.4m km MCR 3.5m km Resolution 1
Type 18 Capital Ship Sensor Mast (1) GPS 72000 Range 916.4m km Resolution 200
Type 40 Capital Ship Side Thermal Sensor Array (1) Sensitivity 45 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 45m km
Type 4 Capital Ship Side Passive EM Array (1) Sensitivity 54 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 54m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ise class Frigate 7,650 tons 142 Crew 2199 BP TCS 153 TH 600 EM 0
7843 km/s Armour 5-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 44
Maint Life 0.1 Years MSP 180 AFR 468% IFR 6.5% 1YR 1839 5YR 27586 Max Repair 900 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Spare Berths 0
FE-230-FHI-1200 ICFD (1) Power 1200 Fuel Use 47.32% Signature 600 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,200,000 Litres Range 59.7 billion km (88 days at full power)
Twin Quad Type 145b CIWS Turret (2x32) Range 10,000km TS: 31600 km/s Power 0-0 RM 1 ROF 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
iTSF Type 48 TSC (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 32000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Type 18b Capital Ship EMWT (1) GPS 180 Range 32.4m km MCR 3.5m km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Zuikaku class Destroyer 12,000 tons 351 Crew 4238 BP TCS 240 TH 1200 EM 0
10000 km/s Armour 4-46 Shields 0-0 Sensors 45/54/0/0 Damage Control Rating 21 PPV 40
Maint Life 2.64 Years MSP 2428 AFR 104% IFR 1.5% 1YR 493 5YR 7393 Max Repair 900 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Spare Berths 0
FE-230-FHI-1200 ICFD (2) Power 1200 Fuel Use 47.32% Signature 600 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres Range 31.7 billion km (36 days at full power)
Quad Type 120 CIWS Turret (2x16) Range 10,000km TS: 10000 km/s Accuracy Modifier 33% RM 1 ROF 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 155b Railgun (4x4) Range 180,000km TS: 10000 km/s Power 9-6 RM 6 ROF 10 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1
iTSF Type 46b TSC (1) Max Range: 240,000 km TS: 8000 km/s 96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
iTSF Type 48 TSC (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 32000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (1) Total Power Output 20 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (4) Total Power Output 4 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Type 18 Capital Ship Sensor Mast (1) GPS 72000 Range 916.4m km Resolution 200
Type 18b Capital Ship EMWT (1) GPS 180 Range 32.4m km MCR 3.5m km Resolution 1
Type 40 Capital Ship Side Thermal Sensor Array (1) Sensitivity 45 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 45m km
Type 4 Capital Ship Side Passive EM Array (1) Sensitivity 54 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 54m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
The ships in use by the Empire now are more than capable of operating in space for quite a few years, and the fact that they do not use expendable munition makes them perfect for scenarios like these. But at the very least, we could use the Shiranui with it's advanced atmospheric re-entry systems to relay communications, as it will not be detected entering the atmosphere, so long as it keeps it's actives off.
Type 94d Shiranui Improved class Tactical Surface Fighter 500 tons 5 Crew 331 BP TCS 10 TH 120 EM 0
24000 km/s Armour 2-5 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 3
Maint Life 3.13 Years MSP 41 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 6 5YR 95 Max Repair 90 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months Spare Berths 5
FE-145-FHI-120 ICFTD (2) Power 120 Fuel Use 916.6% Signature 60 Exp 30%
Fuel Capacity 20,000 Litres Range 0.8 billion km (9 hours at full power)
Type 100 Assault Rifle (1x4) Range 60,000km TS: 24000 km/s Power 3-3 RM 6 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
TSF Type 94 Targetting Data Link (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 32000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (3) Total Power Output 3 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Type 18b TSF EMWT Sensor Mast Extension (1) GPS 18 Range 3.2m km MCR 353k km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
And, finally, the very last option:
Interrogation of Soviet survivors tells us of this system, one jump away, with a semi habitable planet. The colony ships we used to colonize Luna are still mothballed in orbit, and if push comes to shove, this is our one and only option.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. This is going to be a long day.
"Someone bring me a coffee. Tell the 88th IJA to stand by for orders."
Static entered into my ear, and then I heard Koubuin Yoma's voice.
"Shogun, we are under missile fire from the Soviet Bogeys to the north-east. Suspected LPs are the three Osa kyu ships."
I thought about that. The Launcher Platforms he refers to are 25,000 ton ships, but they do have the sensors, and there are three of them, concurrent with the data we are receiving. But there was something odd about it. The missiles were supplemented by a salvo of 12 other missiles.
"Mark the Zhdanov-kyu as a potential LP as well. Can you take down the missiles?"
"Cannot tell, measuring speed by thermals right now."
That meant they were producing a lot of heat if they were detected by heat before the active sensor.
"This is the Susanowo, update on missile speed: 20,000 km/s. You were right, the specs on these missiles are different also. There must be another launcher platform with them. What is the plan, Shogun?"
"Stand your ground, we will flank around and destroy them."
"As you wish, Shogun. Koubuin over and out."
"Kusanagi, this is Mitsurugi, prepare to deploy for combat. We are going after the bogeys to the North East."
"Roger, Shogun. We are ready."
"We will advance to 100 million kilometers, then I am releasing the Royal Guard TSFs. How copy?"
"I copy: Advance to 100 million kilometers, then deploy the Royal Guard TSFs."
"Mitsurugi, out."
Miura Takuya, pilot of Type 94d Shiranui Improved 'Akikaze', on board the Carrier Susanowo:
"Sundiver, be advised, you are launching in 60 seconds, and advancing towards the enemy."
"Roger that, Mother. Sundiver is ready." I reply to the Chuui, who has been watching over us since the early days of the 'Chicken Divers'. And that is a funny tale in itself for those non-initiated. Back in the day when we had to complete orbital drops, the survival rate was 10% for each drop. Of 100 in a squadron, 10 survive on the first jump, and 1 of the original group survives the second drop. They say only chicken make it to a third drop. Do the math.
But that is how Sundivers came to be. The elite of the orbital brigades, the chicken who did not become roast upon re-entry, either due to laser irradiation, or lithobreaking, find themselves in the Imperial Japanese Army, taking on the iconic sun of our flag into our new name. Until we are roasted that is.
Fighting BETA has been our one and only goal, to fight the Russians now-- it all seems like a joke. Like a dream.
"Oy, Miura, you are not having second thoughts are you?"
"Shut up, Hiro. This is not funny." I replied in frustration at hearing his jovial tone. Hiro was my wingman, the only other one piloting a Shiranui in our Squadron. It is quite likely we will have to separate the Himeis from the Shiranuis, since we are faster.
"Sure it is funny. We always used to say how the Russian girls look like BETA."
"You can say that again." That was Mitsuzaka, the coordinator of the Himei-kyu TSFs.
"Maybe that's why they are attacking the Empire."
"You guys..." I drawled, trying to suppress my laughter.
"Sundiver, 10 seconds."
"Oy, stow it. We are deploying in 10 seconds." I barked out.
A massive cheer followed my command, and a lot of chicken onomatopoeia.
I sighed.
"Who's up for some chicken when we get back?"
"Great idea, Miura-dono! Cluck cluck!"
