Hellfire and Brimstone amongst the waves

[Sophie]

Hokkyoku, Kumosenkan. A massive, yet intentionally unassuming facility had been constructed on the coast. About a kilometer and a half long, and a hundred fifty meters wide. Covered in snow and deep within a military exclusion zone with no surrounding buildings. The contents of which were so highly classified that any discussion of it outside the contents of the building would result in immediate life imprisonment.

Inside was the world’s largest dry dock ever constructed, 1.2 kilometers long, 70 meters wide, and 40 meters deep it was over sixteen times larger than the previous largest dry dock. The dry dock itself was an ungodly construction. However, inside the dock was much more impressive. Battleship didn’t do the behemoth justice. Nor did superbattleship, though that was her title. SBB 001 Royal Battleship tobenamed. Codename titan.

Her stats:

1,150 m length
66 m beam
35 m Draught
386,452 tons (normal)
412,132 tons (Full Load)
60 x Kumopon boilers 750,000 shp, 550,000kW
10 x steam turbines
10 x shaft with double screws
17 knots max speed
3,500km max range at 10knots

Armament
6 x 3 762mm main guns
6 x 3 508mm secondary guns
12 x 3 381mm secondary guns
4 x 3 203mm secondary guns
46 x 2 127mm dp secondary guns
66 x 2 25mm aa guns
122 x 13.2mm aa guns
12 x bow 533mm torpedo tubes
6 x aft 533mm torpedo tubes

Armor
475mm Main belt
212mm Fore/Aft belt
287mm Main Deck
150mm Fore/Aft Deck
1000mm Conning Tower
111mm Super Structure
650mm Face Turret Armor
412mm Side Turret Armor
118mm Turret Top Armor

Aircraft Carried

12 x Floatplanes
2 x Catapults

The beast had more steel in her hull than an entire fleet of ships. She had on her decks the largest guns ever constructed, 18 of them in fact. At 762mm (30 inches) the shells for them alone weighed 7 tons and required a massive machined system to reload. It took over 120 seconds to reload. Nearly three times as long as the previous largest. None of her shells were to be armor piercing. A shell of that size would cut through any armor like a hot knife through melted butter. High explosive impact trigger shells would detonate into the hull of battleships and gouge open holes so large they could never be repaired.

Her “secondary” batteries contained more firepower than most fleets. She had below water torpedo tubes, enough to act as three submarines all on her own. Enough anti-air batteries to make an impassable wall of lead and fire.

However, due to weight constraints her armor had to be drawn in to increase the amount of compartment flooding she could survive. The armor that was sacrificed was primarily deck armor. She still had more deck armor than any ship before you. However this left her vulnerable to aircraft and plunging fire. To counteract this, two of the four newly constructed fleet aircraft carriers were assigned to, “babysitting.” Permanent assignment to the titan so their aircraft could act as guardian.

Present at her completion was Empress Reito Doku Kumo. A party was held on site to celebrate the incredible feat of engineering that was accomplished. During the festivities a glass of liquor made from rice, grapes, and a hint of the Empress’s own venom, was smashed against the hull, and the super battleship was christened the Royal Battle Ship Shiraori, first of the Shiraori class. The dry dock was flooded and the ship was crewed with 10,812 sailors.

With fingers crossed, Shiraori set sail. Once she reached the open waters everyone cheered as she stayed afloat. Her sea trials were to be done after she reached Fuyonouso and she was supplied with her appropriate munitions. Incredibly during her sail she was able to reach 20 knots of speed, 3 over her projected estimate.

---

A few months after the arrival of the Shiraori in Fuyonouso. She quickly became a citizen favorite and was the awe of all who saw her. A ship of that size, word got around, but the press was subdued to try and prevent news of the ship from reaching Kumosenkan’s enemies. People came from all around to see her, and it even inspired people to enlist in the navy.

Once she was supplied with her munitions she quickly made way to finish the combat portion of her sea trials. All systems were not only green, but most were blue. Meaning that most systems were exceeding expectations. She was ready. A fleet was assembled around her, with the Shiraori as flag. All four of the newly constructed fleet carriers, and the entirety of the Kogo Heika fleet began to make way for Hawaii. Fifty fleet auxiliaries carrying staol, food, and ammunition followed along.

A message was sent to the Gaelics to meet at pearl harbor. Onboard the Shiraori were classified plans, written by Empress Reito, to strike hell and fury into the hearts of the SU.

[Greywall]

UKUG Colonial Fleet

Admiral Grantham had been waging a war of hit and run strikes on the Galran navy and an area his subordinates called, 'the neck' the pipleline that supplies the Galran Silk Sea expedition. Over half of the Galran fleet was contesting the silk to keep the Kumo armada out of the war. Grantham was doing the best he could without risking the Colonial fleet, his best weapons were the carrier fleet. Seawolves and T-30a fighter/bombers kept his smaller fleet alive and in the fight well. 

When he received word from the Kumo, he almost seemed to dismiss it, despite receiving direct orders from the Taoiseach himself to respond he along with several Gaelic naval personnel were conditioned to prepare for war with Kumosenkan. That war was now fighting to keep the Kumo sea from being utterly overrrun. 

"What are your orders Admiral?" asked the helmsman, the Admiral handed the printed telegram back to his communication officer. "Take the fleet to Hawaii, inform the Kumo of our arrival, I want Seawolves in the air just in case." The bridge crew got ready with one officer asking, "In case of what sir?" the Admiral continued to walk to his quarters, "In case they forget which humans to not shoot at." 

UKUG Seawolf, carrier version of the Starwolf. 

[Sophie]

Fleet Admiral Akari Hana was the officer placed in command of the Kogo Heika fleet. She spent the majority of her time aboard the bridge of the behemoth that was the RBS Shiraori. The waters of the silk sea were positively infested with Galrans and Hana wanted to be ready for any surprises or assaults. To do so she was working on new fleet theory that was being work-shopped at fleet academies. The addition of a titan class vessel made all previous fleet organizations and theories nearly obsolete. Should the titan be thrown forward to tank fire? Her armor was unmatched, getting up close would protect her weaker deck and let her deflect any shots thrown her way. It'd make her fire significantly more accurate was well, and any connecting shots would devastate the enemy. Or, should she be kept in back? Titan can long out range any other ship ever designed. However her guns hadn't really been tested. There was no saying how accurate she would be at range. She did have the newest fire control suite designed by the Fuyonouso Institute of Technology. She also had the prototype RSDM 36 for the first time a radio detector that could detect longer than visual range at 50 kilometers.

Admiral Sumiko Isobe, the commanding officer of the RBS Shiraori, approached Admiral Hana on the bridge well into their fourteenth day at sea. "Good afternoon ma'am." She handed her a warm cup of tea. "I understand the critical importance of your work, however you've been doing nothing but for the past fortnight. You do know that our best ideas come when we allow ourselves to rest and our brains process in the background yes?" She stood next to her superior and looked over her plans while drinking her own tea. "Both plans seem solid, can I offer some advice?" Hana nodded. "Come grab a meal at the officer's mess. You need to eat something other than a bagged nasty."

"Very well." Hana agreed. "Let's go. I heard they have katsu chicken today anyway."

The fleet continued sailing forward at a snails pace with the titan class at the center. Ten knots was the pace of a civilian convoy. A military convoy never traveled so slowly, but the only way to make it to Hawaii was to travel at Shiraori's ideal speed.

[Greywall]

The Galran fleet moved across the Silk Sea with impunity, leaving wrecks of sinking ships behind them as they approached the Sai sebu islands, Hillingbee was convinced he would either crush the Kumo navy here and win the war or force Reito the child to accept Galran occupation of Koi and bend the knee. 

"That little cunt would make a good pet if she wasn't some abomination to the lord, maybe if we cut her top half off hahaha" he jestered to his top officers within his personal quarters on the IGS Omerta. "I'll have the Autarch's personal blessing after this campaign, i'll be the most important Galran of this war and all of your careers will be elevated by such." He took a drink of apple juice and ate some cheese on a plate before his personal chef provided a plate of water boiled chicken and slogged rice. 
"I hear the Gaelics are winning the Shawbalt, you think it wise for us to press against the Kumo while the Northern fleet struggles?" one officer asked, Hillingbee rolled his eyes, "Who cares about Colain and the skirt wearing queers his fleet struggles against, this is Kumosenkan. The greatest naval power in Ouhiri. We crush these knuckle dragging genetic retarded sinful abominations and who cares about the Northern fleet? Without the Kumo the worthless dregs of Ouhiri have to accept our new rule. The proper rule under a proper race. And once that is done then we can do what those island fairies couldn't do and exterminate every single one of them. We kill the children, we neuter the males and enslave the women. Harvest them for silk until they grow old and useless and once we milk them literally we slit their throats and erase them from our history books. Gentlemen in 100 years no one will know about the freaks that are Kumo, Inselni, Koian, Marrish or any other disgusting non human trash. Because we will win. And we will make the world...proper." 

"HERE HERE!" shouted one of the officers as they raised their glasses, "We strike the Kumosenkan homeland gentlemen, our victory assured by god's proper hand we shall achieve it all and win we shall!" Hillingbee placed his glass on the table and ordered his officers, "Tell the Veraki we expect them. We finish the war here and become legends of holy purpose." 


The hulking Galran fleet regrouped West of Sai Sebu and began heading East, their target would be the destruction of ports and any Kumo ship they saw. 

Galran warships heading East, the calm before the storm.

[Sophie]

“Contact!” A voice shouted across Shiraori’s bridge immediately grabbing the attention of everyone on board. “Bearing zero-three-five. Extreme range!” The voice belonged to the RSDM officer. A dark circular screen with a spinning green line lit up a mass of dots towards the top of the screen.

A whistle blew, high then low, not just on board the Shiraori but on every ship in the Kogo Heika fleet. “General Quarters! General Quarters! All hands man your battle stations! All hands man your battle stations! The route of travel is forward and up to starboard, down and aft to port. Set material condition 'Zebra' throughout the ship. Reason for General Quarters: Mass of ships detected on RSDM.” A loud, obnoxious alarm began to blare over and over, and would continue to do so for the next three minutes until all ships were at full combat readiness.

“The ships are headed straight for us! Long Range!” The dots had kept the same location on the screen, but were now slightly closer.

Admiral Akari Hana immediately ordered the formation of a battle line. A decision was made regarding the positioning of the Shiraori. She was placed just behind the battleships’ line as a final line of defense for the less armed and armored aircraft carriers. All four of Kumosenkans fleet carriers were kept in visual range of the Shiraori, but well far back.

As ordered, carriers began launching their owls. A small parliament of 10 owls flew to scout out the size of the enemy force.

1 Shiraori class Super Battleship
4 Takayama class Aircraft Carriers
17 Kii class Fast Battleships
8 Kiseichū class Battleships
5 Wakayama class Battlecruisers
30 Aka class Heavy Cruisers
45 Niikata class Light Cruisers
20 Oyodo class Light Cruisers
100 Kawakaze class Hunter Killers
49 Michizuki class Hunter Killers
60 Harusume class Hunter Killers
26 Momi Class Hunter Killers

[Greywall]

Galran scouts reported Kumo movement, Hillingbee finally got what he wanted, the Kumo fleet moving in to intercept. 

"Have our strike force begin moving toward the enemy fleet, we send it to the bottom of the Silk and begin our victory march." 

The bulk of the Galran strike force began moving due East, resupplied and given replenished warships the Silk strike fleet was at full strength and planning to connect with the Veraki fleet. Hillingbee was too eager, he had the Veraki fleet joining him and was overtly confident to the point where he forgot other participants than Kumosenkan in the coming battle. 


Galran fleet



3 Carriers - 108 carrier bombers 108 carrier fighters
6 light carriers - 108 carrier bombers and 108 carrier fighters
20 fast battleships
70 battleships
120 heavy cruisers
120 super cruisers
100 battle cruisers
200 light cruisers
50 torpedo cruisers
60 submarines
25 large submarines
20 small submarines
Seaplane tender 4 (to scout locations of Kumo ships)
50 minelayers
650 torpedo destroyers
1000 escort destroyers
550 transport ships (fuel and supplies)



Verak fleet

20 battleships
4 light aircraft carriers
1 Aviation battleship
50 battlecruisers
15 super cruisers
30 heavy cruisers
250 light cruisers
60 torpedo cruisers
30 large submarines
120 submarines
200 small submarines 
120 destroyer mine layers
120 escort destroyers
100 frigates
200 corvettes

[Sophie]

"Fleet com this is Owl 37, we've got eyes on the enemy. Mark 80, no 85 kilos northwest of your current position. Estimated one to two hundred capital class ships. Mark 12 carriers but no owls in the air with us."

"There's more metal than water down there." Owl 35 interjected. "They look like locusts."


Admiral Sumiko Isobe swore under her breath. "They outnumber us nearly ten to one." She looked back to the fleet commander. "Should we retreat?"

Admiral Akari Hana leaned forward and pressed her hands into her chin while she thought. Hana was a Kure loyalist. At least she thought she was. Kure ordered her to retreat from any battle she was outnumbered 3-to-1. Reito ordered her to meet up with the Gaelics in Hawaii, priority one. Her stomach twisted. Kure had been the defacto ruler of battlefleet since the Hawaii war, but these orders were strange. Why retreat? Shouldn't we be fighting? We should be showing the incredible might of a titan class vessel. Not running and hiding at the first sign of trouble. Isobe was too a Kure loyalist, and she knew this. She knew that Isobe was expecting a retreat order, and doing anything else would be reported to Kure.

Hana thought of the defense of Hawaii report she had just read. How many Admirals declared their loyalty to Reito after her incredible success. Maybe she really does have the guidance of thousands of Empress's ather fingertips. She won that battle with much worse odds than we have now. "We fight. They may outumber us but they do not have the Shiraori. They do not have the Kii. They do not have the silk bound lance. We will show them what real might is. Quality, not quantity."

Isobe glared in horror at Admiral Hana. Hana, glared back with deathly vigor. 'Follow my orders, or die.' She attmpted to transmit her thoughts through just her looks. "Aye aye, Ma'am." The massive, 5,000 ton main turrets of the Shiraori began to turn. With a full broadside ready, she waited for the fleet to enter her range of 50 kilometers, well outranging any other gun ever made, and fired all 18 guns."

Sever massive explosions launched the 2.5 ton projectile. From a third person perspective it looked like the entire ship detonated on one side, but once the smoke cleared, she was fine. The worlds most devastating weapon had been fired, and the poor souls on the receiving end would learn what hellfire looks like.

[Greywall]

Hillingbee got what he wanted, contact, "It must be dozens of heavy ships Admiral!" no, the scouts reported the same. A massive hulk of metal due East, the Kumosenkan had created some wasteful and infatuated warship to coax their ego further. Hillingbee saw a hulk to sink. 

"They think bigger is better, we shall sink that abomination along with the entire crew. Ready carrier fighters and send our submarines into screens I want all enemy ships hit. 

Galra began springing her carrier fighters and bombers to begin flying East ahead of the fleet while Galran battleships moved to return fire. The Galran fleet spread, letting its massive numbers stretch across a large C shaped formation where smaller vessels formed the outer edges to allow heavier ships to move in at slower speeds to open fire. 

"We estimate we outnumber them Admiral." 
"Good, then the hunt will be quick. Kill them all." 

A mass of Galran battleship and heavy cruiser fire opened up sending shells toward the Kumo fleet hurling them in a volley only possible with modern technology. 

Verak

Veraki Admiral Gerald Rigatoni had his fleet enter the Silk Sea toward where the Galrans had engaged the Kumosenkan. His fleet had remained in the Gulf north of the Trident Strait, they began attacking Kumo shipping entering the Trident and headed West to connect with the Galrans. Admiral Rigatoni was not as confident as Hillingbee, the Veraki navy had for years measured out the threat that was Kumosenkan and came to the conclusion if the UKUG couldn't beat them then no one really could. But Galra had their indominable armada, better technology and aircraft. With the Verak fleet it was possible to dislodge the Kumo out of the war entirely and force an early naval victory. But only if they won. 

Rigatoni was well aware of what failure could bring. 

[Greywall]

Casualties

Kumosenkan: 4 Aka class, 10 Kawakaze class, 2 Odoyo class, 1 Kii disabled, Shiraori hit but not damaged
Galra: 1 Fast battleship, 2 battleships, 4 light cruisers, 10 escort destroyers, 5 torpedo destroyers
Verak: Spaghetti they just now entering