A Story Of A Country That Got Isekai'd

Chapter 81 - Beneath The Waves

CARDONIAN FISHING FLEET

Whilst the firsherman and researchers were busy in exploring the vast almost untouched resources of the dozens of large shoals and submerge island features. The Corvette Santan were busy in monitoring the perimeter, it has been three days ever since the fleet have casted their anchors here.

And there is already a couple of close contacts on what seemed to be the dreaded pirates. Only a few of the bravest fishermen from Archesia have occasionally fished here and when they returned, and they spread various stories about the vicious pirates and mysterious creatures that are rampant in these shoals, further scaring anyone in pursuing the resource rich seas.

But the said pirates were only cautiously observing the fleet from afar, and for some reason they are not taking the chance on capturing or harrassing the almost undefended fleet.

It might be the impressive aura of the grey corvette which basically towers over their sailing ships comparable to 17th century galleons and frigates. Well for others it might be the constant fly overs conducted by the crew of the lone Westland Super Lynx helicopter stationed at the Santan.

As such their days proceeds as normal as it can get, But.

"SONAR CONTACT!"

Shouted the woman manning the sonar station on the ships combat information center. She has led everyone on their guard.

"What is it Lt?" asked the XO, obviously stunned. He then proceeded towards the sonar module where a large screen displays the ship's sonar.

"I have something on sonar earlier sir! It seems it dived down!" replied the sonar operator.

"Switch to active! Identify the target, hopefully it is only a school of fish or a large fish, but it could be worse, we shouldn't let our guard down!" said the XO as the sonar operator began to actively hunt for the mysterious contact.

The Santan's hull mounted sonar is a proud locally made system by one of the largest defense companies in Cardonia and they are really effective sonar systems.

The operator quietly listens from the series of sonar pings. Then it reappeared.

"Oh!!! We got it!" shouted the operator as she listens to the sonar pings and observe the sonar display on the combat system.

Learning that they are onto something. The Captain ordered to turn on the ship's gas turbines and kill their diesel engines, this has made the ship a lot quieter, meaning less noise interference on the ship's own sonar, the ship began to pick up it's pace as they tried to identify the target as it tries to escape the ship.

The Captain even ordered to deploy the ship's Towed Array Sonar System to pinpoint the large underwater target.

This target is trying to get away from the ship, but it is only swimming as fast as the cruising speed safe enough for the deployed TASS.

The sonar operator, her assistant and even the XO then can't believe what they were seeing. A large contact were only a few hundred yards in front of the ship's bow and it's size is easily comparable to an Akula Class nuclear submarine.

"IMPOSSIBLE! IT HAS ALMOST EXATCLY THE SAME SIZE AS AN AKULA CLASS!" exclaimed the sonar operator, she is also lost on what she was actually seeing and hearing.

But then this creature began to dived further down, and soon after, it was beyond the range of the ship's sonar system. And the ship have travelled way beyond the shoals into the deep waters.

Confused and curious on what they have encountered, the Captain took charge of the ongoing situation.

"Last night, the research vessel, Inquiry possibly detected the same 'large fish' that I supposed were the one we have recently detected. They were at first suprised when their side scan sonar and fish finder detected a large fish. If we were able to detect the same fish, it would actually help our researchers to identify or study the said fish." said the Captain as he announced his statement from the ship's intercom.