Fragile (Slow Updates)

Chapter 15: Boiling Point

The RTO's radio crackled with chatter as chaos of the fighting came through. He pressed the receiver pressed against his ear communicating with Lieutenant Macdonald.

The Canadian CSOR operator watching the shit show unfold as his Commando Jaubert counterpart was already radioing in for danger-close air, naval barrage and coastal battery fire. Nearby outposts joined the fray, especially those with a familiar type of weapon seen on the modified Montana class. The shells with devastating effect tore mass produced Siren ships apart like a can opener opening a tin can or firing a HE shell that produced a thick orange explosive ball of fire and destruction as shrapnel was sent forth.    

"Raider 1-1, Godfather, mark targets for immediate support, over." The Legionnaire ordered his voice slicing through the noise of the helicopter blades and distant gunfire. He braced himself, ready to unleash hell as several formations streaked past.

Heavily armed Mirage 2000s, Rafale Ms, Jaguar As and Mirage F1CTs flew past, flanked by his legacy F-4E Phantom IIs - mordized more times than he could count - alongside A-7E Corsair IIs, Super Étendards and even more Mirages, Rafales and F-8P Crusaders providing air cover. Overwhelming firepower wins the day; sometimes, overkill is necessary.

This didn't count the around the clock continuous aerial refuelling, surveillance and bombing missions. A flight of P-8 Poseidons firing off AGM-84K SLAM-ERs while a formation of B-1Bs dropped munitions indiscriminately, everything and anything as long as it was conventional. B-52Js acting as a payload delivery systems, raining down general purpose bombs, GBU-31s, AGM-154 glide bombs, Harpoons and more. Anything and everything was sent up to put a dent into the joint Red Axis Siren fleet.

Meanwhile, the CP-140 Aurora monitored the situation, documenting every new detail and providing updates alongside the E-3 NATO AWACS and P-8.

Shells exchanged in the distance, getting ever closer to the two opposing forces. CIWS systems worked over time as the rapid buzz of machine gun fire filled the air. 

'How do we even get here? Oh, right...'

The Sakura fleet continued to evade and the UN forces stayed in pursuit - each side waiting for the other to fire the first shot, each waiting to see who was willing to escalate.

"9th Fleet, additional contact bearing 67.5, closing fast." Called out the P-8, announcing the arrival of the Iron Blood.

"All elements, Magic, ROE still in effect." The NATO E-3 Sentry reaffirming the UN ROE despite how shitty it may be.

Sous-lieutenant Vogel sat behind the screen of his battle management system, managing every detail despite Magic technically acting as mission control. The AWAC monitored all elements, orchestrating the sky and sea around them like a conductor with too many instruments. The Legionnaire's fingers danced across the screen, zooming in to study the new contacts.

Kansens - some familiar, some not. Yet their designs were unmistakable, eerily similar to ships he had requested long before his medical leave. Though now these ships had been altered with Siren influence. A H-class and not Friedrich. Dam. The Iron Blood had certainly upped their game. Two Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers? Now that was interesting. And both Deutschland-class sisters? Finally, a chance to pummel that little brat. Thrown in was the Iron Blood fleet aiding the Sakura Empire and various destroyers.

Among the fleet were other Iron Blood ships - escorting the Sakura Empire ships - along with various destroyers. A part of Sous-lieutenant Vogel felt a twinge of guilt toward the smaller ships. But this was war and war made no distinction for age of innocence.

'Would I kill a child? A child Kansen if it came to it?' The thought gnawed at him between drags of his cigarette. 'There was that kid in Mali...' He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke drift upward. 'But that little shit tried to kill me. If it came down to it with a destroyer... Yeah, I'd do it.' The cigarette returned to his lips, glowing faintly as he inhaled again.