Underwater off the coast of Irnetia Island
The interior of the Cetus-class submarine Shemali was permeated with a sense of fatigue. The boat had survived the defeat in the anti-Japanese commerce raiding operations and had distinguished itself in the Second Battle of the Folk Strait as a seasoned boat. Her crew members were involuntary veterans of many battles. However, due to their high level of training, they were being pushed to their limits. Currently, the Shemali was deployed in the defense of Irnetia. This operation required great caution because there were Self-Defense Forces stationed on the Mu Continent.
The Gra Valkas Navy submarine fleet harbored an indelible trauma against Japan. The failure of the anti-Japanese commerce raiding operations had a profound impact. The navy, which had its entire dispatched fleet crushed in Operation Super Hammer II, became convinced of the existence of Japan's artificial satellites. Therefore, submarines were obligated to stay submerged during the day and move only at night without lights (Gra Valkan submarines were nothing more than "surface ships that could dive underwater in case of emergency"). The submarine fleet, having suffered in the Third Civilization Area, faithfully adhered to these strict rules, but it only accumulated fatigue and stress among the crew. Due to such stringent restrictions, the Shemali's arrival at the operational starting point was considerably later than planned. Upon reaching the operational starting point, the periscope was raised, and communication with the dispatched fleet command was established.
When the captain read the message, he looked troubled, prompting a question from the XO who saw him.
"Captain, is it good news or bad news?"
"Both. Which one do you want to hear first?"
"If you put it that way, it sounds like both are bad news."
"Let me correct that. It's a bit of good news and quite a bit of bad news."
"...I'll leave it to you, Captain."
"Bad news is, out of the Cetus-class boats participating in the operation, we've gone from five to three. Two haven't arrived at the operational starting point yet and are missing."
"That's a 40% reduction in firepower... We can't say much about others, but we're not in a great position ourselves."
"The good news is, the target has changed from aircraft carriers to supply ships. The enemy is not as vigilant as they would be near aircraft carriers."
A silent questioning voice rose from the crew on the bridge. Sensing that, the captain continued.
"Even if we could sink all enemy aircraft carriers, the headquarters doesn't want our submarine fleet to be completely annihilated. They want us to survive in this area and continue to threaten the enemy fleet."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression became complicated. Certainly, they didn't wish for death either. However, continuing to hide underwater without being allowed to withdraw would mean enduring more hardships than before. Wasn't this just an extension of suffering in exchange for delaying death? It wasn't unreasonable to think so.
"The enemy will eventually send reinforcements. We want to keep a means to prevent that. Even if we sink all enemy aircraft carriers, the headquarters does not want them to easily approach the island."
"Is headquarters planning to drag this into a war of attrition? Considering the distance from the rear area, we have an advantage, but..."
"Not like that."
The captain denied the XO's words.
"We can't expect supplies from Leifor. Supply from the home country has been cut off, and Mu is preparing for a counterattack from the land. It seems impossible to withdraw more forces or supplies from Leifor."
"Then, even just maritime power..."
"The Japanese fleet has reportedly left the anchorage in Mu's territory. It seems to be coordinated with the movement of the Muish Army. If the sea is left empty, what happened in Leiforia will be repeated in every inch of Leifor as well."
"Then I don't understand the point of stalling for time, sir!"
The XO, who had been repeatedly denied, spoke with frustration. The captain grimaced and rechecked the telegram.
"...I can't believe it either, but the Foreign Ministry is reportedly attempting a separate peace treaty with Japan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carsline Company, Ragna, Gra Valkas Empire
Arlie Trigger was tired from continuous overtime. However, the Carsline Company wasn't a particularly special black company. In the present-day Ragna, everywhere was dark.
What troubled Trigger was the new bomb to be loaded onto the bomber. The mock-up of the new bomb delivered under Siegs' orders was larger than the existing bombs that required modification of the bomb bay. Moreover, the new bomb seemed to be a precious commodity and wasn't possible to be mass-produced, so they couldn't fail in actual combat.
Trigger, carrying an unhealed stomach ache, worked on modifying the bomber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Off the coast of Irnetia Island
The Mangan-class magic ship Axe of the Holy Mirishial Empire's 4th Magic Fleet was standing by at the outermost end of the ring formation. The Mangan-class warship had a displacement of around 3.000 tons, too large for coastal defense forces and too small for fleet main forces. It served as an auxiliary vessel used in situations where the main force ships could not be deployed due to cost considerations. While the Gra Valkas Imperial Navy had torpedoes capable of sinking even large ships, the Mirishial Navy lacked such weapons, and the Mangan-class was unable to sink battleships. Therefore, the status of the Mangan-class in the Mirishial Navy was lower than Gra Valkas Navy destroyers and light cruisers.
Outside the Axe's bridge, a wolf beastman commanding officer of the ship named Roen was observing the sea around them. Such a scene was not uncommon, but the situation was different for the Axe. Roen was a wolf beastman.
Although the Holy Mirishial Empire is still effectively ruled by elves, it is a multi-ethnic and multi-racial nation. Citizenship was recognized for non-elf races, and there were many non-elf soldiers in the military (with the elf ratio increasing with higher ranks). Beastmen, including wolf beastmen, were no exception, but most served in the Army. The high physical abilities, a significant feature of beastmen, were most effectively demonstrated in infantry combat. While the large size, strength, and agility were advantages in naval service, they were not decisive factors. The navy required personnel who could skillfully operate warships, and ships were not so simple that they could be handled with brute strength alone. Most beastmen chose the army, where promotion prospects and survival rates were the highest. Roen, who chose the navy, was quite an outlier among beastmen.
"Captain, the sonar has been repaired. The fish finder is operational," the XO called out from the bridge.
"Speak of it as the sonar," Roen replied and returned to the bridge.
. . .
The Axe was an experimental ship equipped with a fish finder imported from Japan. However, it was not a dedicated test vessel like the JMSDF's Asuka. Instead, it had been chosen as a testbed simply because it happened to be in the dock for routine maintenance. Additionally, the Axe was not part of the magic fleet but belonged to a regional fleet as a multipurpose ship. Originally, there was no intention to involve the experimental ship in actual combat, so it was natural not to allocate ships from the magic fleet.
The fact that this experimental ship was participating in actual combat as a part of the 4th Magic Fleet was due to the trauma of the Second Battle of the Folk Strait. Even though it was said that Japan was monitoring submarines with artificial satellites, the Mirishial Navy's fear of submarines could not be completely erased. The Mirishial Navy persuaded the Runepolis Magic Academy to provide experimental anti-submarine weapons.
. . .
"Power up."
Under Roen's order, the engine room crew echoed the command through the manacomm.
"Powering up."
Emulating Japan, mana was infused into the modified lightning-type rotary magic engine, referred to as the generator (referred to as the thunderforce generator by the Mirishial Navy). Once the power supply from the activated thunderforce generator stabilized, the fish finder came online.
"Sonar activation successful."
This time, a water surveyor on the bridge reported.
"Commence the scan."
"Scanning."
The staff member responsible for monitoring the fish finder swallowed his spit before making the report.
"Unknown objects detected underwater. Judging by their size, they appear to be Gra Valkan Cetus-class submarines!"
. . .
The surprise was not limited to the sea surface.
"Continuous sonar pings from the sea surface, they may have detected us!"
Upon the operator's report, all crew members on the Shemali were shocked.
"Impossible! Mirishial isn't supposed to have anti-submarine equipment, right?"
The XO voiced his skepticism, but the captain responded with a bitter expression.
"It was probably supplied by Japan. We should have anticipated this. From where do the sonar pings come from?"
Upon hearing the operator's report, the captain immediately ordered a course change and depth adjustment. The plan was to momentarily exit the sonar detection range.
The operator made another report. "Splashing sound directly above the sea surface. Enemy depth charges!"
. . .
The Mangan-class had three 127 mm twin gun turrets, but those on the Axe had been replaced with depth charge launchers. As an experimental ship, it carried three types of prototypes, each mounted one at a time. The single launcher at the forefront rotated and launched a depth charge. The size and mass of the depth charge were comparable to the main shells of the Mithril-class. However, the depth charge launcher looked nothing like the Mithril-class main turret, differing not only in the number of barrels but also in the short and thin design of the launcher. While the maximum firing range of the Mithril-class main guns exceeded 30.000 meters, the depth charge launcher could only throw depth charges up to a maximum of 1.000 meters. Additionally, the launcher had no armor; the metal plate covering it was merely a cover against salt damage.
After the first shot was fired, the launcher turned and fired a second shot after about 30 seconds.
"The second one missed too."
Roen confirmed this fact based on the operator's report and his own observation. In the center of the bridge was a display showing an enlarged version of the fish finder's screen. Instead of directly outputting the fish finder's screen, the screen's image was provided by a camera operated by a magic circuit.
"It seems a single shot won't hit after all," Roen muttered, continuing with a sigh. "And the rate of fire is slow."
Unlike artillery shells, depth charges were slow, especially when sinking underwater. Moreover, they didn't directly target the enemy; instead, the crew had to predict the future position of the enemy based on the rough location provided by the fish finder. Nevertheless, the reason for using that launcher was that it was the only way the depth charges could reach. To use the other two launchers, the Axe would have to move and approach the enemy submarine.
"Full speed both sides, hard to starboard," Roen ordered while adjusting his hat. It was a sign that he was in a good mood.
. . .
"Enemy depth charge detonated about 10 meters behind us."
Upon the operator's report, the crew inside the boat felt a small sense of relief.
"It exploded in the wrong place. It seems the enemy isn't using magnetic fuses."
"Dropping one at a time... It seems the enemy doesn't know how to use depth charges."
Following the captain's statement, the XO voiced his opinion.
"While equipment (hardware) can be imported from Japan, it's not easy to imitate operations (software), is it?" the captain responded, muttering his dissatisfaction.
"The source of the sonar pings is starting to move. It's approaching our ship!"
Upon hearing the operator's report, everyone's attention turned to the captain.
"Is there only one source of sound?"
"Only one at the moment, sir."
"Very well," the captain answered the operator and calmly conveyed the plan to the crew. "We will attract the enemy destroyer and leave this area. The execution of the operation will be entrusted to our two companions."
Those who heard it felt relieved. If the boat could leave the battlefield early, the chances of survival would be higher, and accepting the enemy destroyer meant having a just cause. This also aligned with the higher-ups' policy of conserving strength. Although there might be resentment from the other two boats, there was no fear of reproach. The only problem was being persistently pursued by the enemy destroyer, but with their skill level, shaking it off should be relatively easy. Conversely, if they could sink it, they would be able to act more boldly in the future.
Realizing that it was a calculation based on a "catch-as-you-go" strategy, the Shemali's crew became optimistic.