Chapter 16: Into the Deep

11:39 AM
62.1 F
Sep 26, 1940

Enterprise is leaning in a corner of the Briefing room. David's voice is coming through the monitor. Alicorn's sub is displayed on the monitor.

"The Iron Blood military finally sent part of the Alicorn's specs." David informs. "Her basic capabilities listed here were as predicted. What's interesting is... this over here.

David continues. "In addition to the mains guns, she has a 600 mm/128 caliber rail cannon. The barrel exceeds 70 meters! Its range is over 3,000 kilometers. That matches what we calculated from the bombardment on Anchorhead Bay. The mini nuke they seem to have obtained has a yield of one kiloton. It'll destroy anything within a 400-meter radius of ground zero. Casualties are to be in the tens of thousands."

Skald speaks up. "I know some things are better left unsaid, but let me say it. That's less damage than I expected."

"Nice catch." David compliments. "Do you remember this speech?"

Alicorn's recorded voice comes over the monitor. "This boat has the means to end this hideous war, in a definitive and elegant manner. The world shall be horrified by the number of lives we will take. Only then will they let go of their weapons... Weapons that would have taken the lives of ten million."

"The imagery invoked by those words and the actual predicted damage just don't match."

"So, here's a question!" Count mocks.

David chuckles. "Sorry, got no quizzes for you today. She will launch the nuke on November, 11th."

"Why you so sure?" Húxiān asks. 

"Because that's the anniversary of the end of World War One. Anti-war demonstrations and victory parades are in full swing in D.C. There's about a million participants in total. That number will rise on the anniversary. However, this nuke isn't that powerful. She'd have to thread through the eye of a needle to achieve her desired results."

"Terminal guidance would be needed." Skald states.

"Right. How do they intend to achieve it when even GPS won't work...? 

"You're all thinking too much." Húxiān says. "If we sink her, it's problem solved."

"Crude, but effective. And we don't want to sink her, but if it comes to that, it will happen." David says.

"Crude?" 

"Alright, look at this. The Alicorn's expected course."

David continues. "We know she was off Anchorhead Bay and she has to get D.C. within range before November 11th. She must avoid being detected by Eagle Union and her allies' sound surveillance system and ships."

David continues. "Taking into account her maximum operating depth, this is the only possible route. Alicorn will move along the Azlea seamount chain and reach a rather blandly named body of water called PX80443. The waters here are shallow due to an undersea mountain range and nearby islands. This is where she'll be. We also know roughly when they'll arrive in the area."

"Quite the prediction you have there." Lanza says.

"Indeed. But if it makes it through, then you're looking at Peony Trench. The sub's max operating depth is 600 meters. Tracking her would be impossible."

Wiseman speaks up. "Right. Now I'm gonna give you the mission details so listen up. Our mission is to cooperate with the patrol aircraft to find Alicorn. In the first phase of the mission, multiple patrol aircraft will drop sonobuoys to build a sonobuoy barrier. Then, in the second phase, we narrow down the possible location of Alicorn by analyzing the data obtained from the sonobouys. The results of our analysis will be data linked and shown on an overlay on your radar. And for the final phase... Enterprise, you're gonna look for the submarine. We acquired one special MAD -- a Magnetic Anomaly Detector -- for this. It will be on Enterprise's plane.Fly over where we expect Alicorn might be. If the submarine is right beneath you, your MAD will detect her. You'll also have nautical charts on your radars, so use them. Once it's found, our fleet will commence a unified attack with ASROCs and damage her enough to put her out of action."

"ASROCs?" Lanza questions.

"Anti-Submarine Rocket." David states. "They were made to stop Alicorn, but there's one problem. We don't have them."

"What do you mean, we don't have them?" Húxiān asks.

"Only four were ever made, and they are currently sitting at the bottom of the ocean a few miles off Nanquet Cay. The place where Alicorn was raised."

"Well, let's go get them." Count says. "Wait, let me guess, somethings in our way?"

"Yes, most of Iron Bloods Azured ships are guarding this island." David states.

"Well, shit." Húxiān mutters.

"But we have a plan."

"The nearest Iron Blood military post is a port that houses a weapons factory." Wiseman speaks up. "But they have the rest of their HO ships guarding this place, including a destroyer packed with advanced weaponry."

"Then let's bomb the thing." Jaeger says.

"It has one of the most advanced air defense capabilities." David informs. "We've are separating this mission into four teams."

The door to the room opens and four short teens walk in.

"We have two submarine teams, one to take out the destroyer and the other to nab the ASROCs." Wiseman says. "We have Albacore."

"Hi-ya!" Albacore waves.

"And Bluegill."

"It's nice to meet you." Bluegill greets.

"They are going to be the team 1, they are going take out the destroyer." David informs.

"Then the second team that will get the ASROCs are, Cavalla."

"This mission is going to be a success!" Calvalla smiles.

"And Dace."

"Hi~" Dace smiles

Team three will consist of Strider Squadron." Wiseman says. "And team four will be a navel group."

"We've enlisted the help of Hood from the Royal Navy for these next two missions." David says. "Team 1, you'll have to go with without your rigging and subs, the destroyer's sonar will easily pick you up. From the information we've gotten, the destroyer is vulnerable in one place... Sixty feet below the waterline, near its thermal exhaust port. You'll get one experimental Proteus Missile. The destroyer is also carrying a few of Iron Blood's experiment Helicopters, so this could also give us a small advantage."

"Understood." Albacore and Bluegill say together.

"Once the destroyer is sunk, team 3 will begin their attack on the navel base while team 4 keeps the fleet distracted. We're hoping that the port will send out a distress call and lead the azur ship fleet away from Narquet Cay. And once the fleet leaves, Team 2 you will look for a cargo container with this symbol."

A symbol appears onto the monitor.

"Once you've located it, attach the balloons we'll give you and it'll float up to the surface, where a couple HO ships will come in and take it take to base." David says.

"Alright!" Cavalla and Dace say toghether.

"But be careful, Team 2. Narquet Cay is in Alicorn's path. If you encounter her, hide and do not engage. And Team 1, we're giving you some new weapons, APS amphibious rifles. Just in case you encounter any hostile wildlife."

"Alright, people!" Wiseman shouts. "Let's get this mission done!"

.

.

.

.

Albacore and Bluegill jump into the water from a small boat. They have diving masks and tanks on them. With a satchel of gear that they might need. Bluegill has a small yellow torpedo on her back with a drill in the front of it.

"Into the Deep"

September 26th - 03:57:27

"Descending." Albacore says into a radio that's hooked up into their masks.

Bluegill checks her rifle over as she follows Albacore down to a hole within the reef in front of them.

"Fifty meters." Albacore informs.

"Oxygen levels are good." Bluegill says and she laughs. "It feels weird using these, but I guess we need them without our rigging."

"Right, Scarecrow, start the clock." Albacore says.

Albacore moves throught the cave. "Come on, Bluegill~ This way! Crash site is five clicks out."

"Bluegill's gonna get her exercise today." The sub says as she follows Albacore out of the cave and along the reef.

Albacore notices some sharks swinging around the wreckage of a large plane. "Keep away from open water. We're not the only hunters our here."

Bluegill shivers. "Already had a bad experience with sharks before."

"I heard Dace nearly got eaten by a shark before."

The two subs swing along side the coral and past the plane.

"I think a lot of subs have had runs in with sharks before." Bluegill says as she observes her surroundings.

"True."

The subs swim past some large fishing nets and through an empty cargo container. A sonar pulse echoes through the water as the two subs swing through tall seaweed.

"They're using sonar." Albacore observes. "Easy." More sonar pulses go out. "Just move slow and along the ground. The foliage should help mask our signature."

"Scarecrow was smart for making us not use our rigging." Bluegill says as another pulse goes out.

They get to the edge of the seaweed and Albacore holds up her hand. "Hold up."

Bluegill stops next to Albacore and boats drive past them.

"Boat patrol." Bluegill says.

A boat stops and four humans, in diving gear, drop into the water.

"Looks like we've got company." Albacore informs. "Let them separate." 

"They've also got amphibious rifles." Bluegill informs as she observes the humans.

Albacore nods. "Let's move up, stay low."

The two move up along the ground and get behind a rock.

Albacore looks over the rock. "We're gonna have to take them out. Their rifles can't hurt us to much, but do be careful, there's always that one lucky shot."

"I don't want to kill them, it doesn't seem right." Bluegill says.

Albacore turns around and puts a hand on Bluegill's shoulder. "We have to, I don't want to either, but we have a duty to carry out. If we don't take out that destroyer, more people will die then the lives we take today."

Bluegill sigh. "Okay."

Albacore checks over her rifle and she turns back towards the humans. Bluegill and Albacore aim their rifles at the two humans.

"Weapons free." Albacore says and the two fire out a few rounds and they kill the two humans.

Their blood fills the water.

Bluegill lowers her rifle and looks on in sadness.

"Remember, this is war, people will die. I feel sadness for taking lives, but we have to push that down." Albacore says as she swims forward and Bluegill follows her. "Let's move through the wreck to keep covered. Watch your distance from the surface."

"Makes sense, we don't want to attracts any more attention." Bluegill says and Albacore nods.

The two subs swim into a old steam boat wreckage. 

Albacore holds her hand out. "Slow down." She takes cover behind a large piece of rusted metal and Bluegill moves beside her. Light's move towards the wreckage. 

A couple of U-boat girls, using their rigging, swim past the wreckage, along with a couple along with them.

"Crap!" Bluegill shouts. "They've got Azur ships in the fleet."

"And Salvage subs. Not a good sign." Albacore says and she puts a hand up to her headset. "Scarecrow, we got a couple of U-boats girls with the fleet."

"Roger." David's voice comes over their radio. "We'll inform Enterprise and her fleet."

"Wilco." Albacore lowers her hand and motions for Bluegill to follow her as she moves deeper into the boat.

They move up to the windows.

"Hold." Albacore orders and the two stop at a hole in the side of the ship.

A balloon inflates and it carries up a container towards the surface, along with a couple humans following it.

The humans get out of sight.

"Close call." Bluegill says.

Albacore nods. "Right." She swims out the whole with Bluegill following her.

The two swim towards another boats wreckage and they see salvage subs and humans all over the area.

"Crap, they're everywhere." Albacore says and she puts a hand up to her headset. "Scarecrow, we're seeing a lot of activity down here. They're salvaging parts from wreckage." 

"They might be after weapons from sunken ships from the first war." David theorizes. "We'll call it in. Good work."

They come to a group of humans setting up some balloons on containers full of metal and other things. A U-boat swims by and into the distance. 

Albacore observes the area. "I count four. We'll take them out on my go." Albacore aims her rifle and Bluegill follows her leads. "Go!"

Albacore and Bluegill open fire and they manage to take all four out before they have any chance to react. 

"Clear." Albacore informs as she reloads her rifle. "Move!" Albacore quickly swims past the salvage.

"Right!" Bluegill follows as she reloads her rifle.

Albacore puts a hand up to her headset. "Scarecrow this is Six-Two. We are at rally point Bravo, zero visual on the target."

"The target is on the move." David says. "You need to hurry before you miss your shot."

The two subs move past another boat wreckage and a few salvage subs drive past in the distance.

They come to a large plane wreckage and a group of humans are moving metal and other items from it, then they all start to move off to another area.

"Contact." Albacore informs. "Looks like they got what they came for..."

They come around a large rock and they see the cockpit of a plane wreckage being held up by balloons. More containers are throughout the area.

"Find a good position to flank them." Albacore orders as she hinds behind a small rock pillar.

Bluegill moves behind a large rock.

"Weapons free." Albacore says.

The two subs fire onto the humans as they move through the area. A couple bullets hit Bluegill and they just bruise her skin and she groans.

A couple stay bullets hit the balloons holding up the plane an a metal groan echoes through the water and it lands with a thud.

The bullets die down and the waters go silent. 

"Area clear." Albacore says as she swims out from behind a rock. "You good?"

"Just a couple bruises." Bluegill informs.

Albacore nods. "On me."

Bluegill reloads her rifle as she follows Albacore.

They come to a pile of containers. "Looks like there's an opening through the containers. Ok, check your regulator. We're going down through the cave."

Albacore goes through a hole between some rocks and a container and Bluegill follows her and they start to head further down as the cave leads down.

"Alright, we're going further down. Keep an eye on your depth gauge." Albacore says.

You are reading story The Predator of the Depths at novel35.com

"Right." Bluegill replies. 

As they head down a sonar pulse shakes the area. They keep moving through the cave and another sonar pulse goes out. The cave starts to move up and they see a hole.

Their target destroyer sails overhead.

"There it is." Bluegill points out and a sonar pulse goes out.

Albacore puts a hand on her headset. "Scarecrow, we have visual on the target. Moving to intercept."

The two moves up the hole.

"We're picking up large sonar blasts in your area." David informs. "That amount of water pressure can hurt you two, even having possible lethal effects if constant. So stay in cover as you chase after it."

"Wilco." Albacore responds.

Albacore and Bluegill come to a container door in their way.

"We're gonna have to cut through it." Albacore says.

"Okay." Bluegill responds. 

The two subs go up to the door and pull out waterproof blow torches and they cut top part of the door. The door swings open and barrels pile out.

They swim out and the destroyer is in front of them and it releases a sonar blast.

The force pushes them back and they both grunt in slight pain.

"We gotta move!" Albacore yells."Follow me!"

"Moving!" Bluegill yells back.

The two sub quickly swim into a container as another sonar blast goes out.

Albacore puts a hand up to her headset as she swims through another container with Bluegill following. "Scarecrow, we're tracking the target, but we're unable to engage."

"Roger Two-One." David sighs. "Recommend you pull back immediately, we'll figure out another way to do this. Team 3 is ten minutes out."

Albacore stops at the entrance of a container as another sonar pulse goes out. "Negative, negative! We'll find another way!"

"i don't want you girls to get hurt, so I want you to pull out!" 

Albacore moves out of the container with Bluegill following. "We can do this, we knew what we were getting into."

The sonar rings as the two subs get into a small outcove and then it rings out. There's a sunken light house in front of them.

"Get inside that light house!" Albacore yells. "Go!"

"Following!" Bluegill yells.

The two subs swim as fast as they can to the lighthouse and they get inside as the sonar blast goes out, shaking the lighthouse.

The two get to the top of the light house.

"There it is!" Albacore shouts and she pulls out a tablet from her gear. "Sync up on me!"

Bluegill grabs the Proteus Missile off her back and turns it on. "Ok. Proteus missile is online!"

"We've only got one shot." Albacore says. "Take out that ship." She hands Bluegill the tablet and Bluegill tosses the missile out of the lighthouse and she uses the tablet to control it.

Bluegill guides the Missile into the red spot and the missile slams into the ship.

The boat explodes in half. 

"Nice!" Albacore yells. "You got it!"

Suddenly the force of the explosion hits the lighthouse and it breaks in half and starts to fall.

"Oh, crap!" Albacore yells. "Hold on!"

Bluegill slams into the spiral stairs and Albacore gets thrown out of the lighthouse as it falls deeper.

"Nooo!" Bluegill screams and the lighthouse slams into the ocean floor and she slams into the ground with it. Knocking her out.

Bluegill comes to a few seconds later and she has trouble breathing. She then sees a hose that's supposed to be hooked up to her mouth piece, flailing around in front of her. Above her is parts of the destroyer sinking.

"Talk to me, Bluegill! You okay?!" Albacore calls out through the radio.

Bluegill looks to her right arm and it's stuck under a large piece of rubble and she struggles to move it as the rubble cuts into her arm. Her left arm is also stuck under a piece of rubble.

Bluegill starts to cough and she starts to black out. Water starts to fill her mouth.

Suddenly Albacore sims in front of her. "Stay with me!" She grabs the hose and connects it back to her mouth piece and the water flows out of her mouth and air replaces it. 

Bluegill takes a few deep breathes.

Albacore grabs the rubble on top of Bluegill. "Let's get this stuff off you." Albacore grunts as she moves the rubble up, Bluegill gets her arms free and helps push the rubble off.

Albacore looks over Bluegill then gives her the okay symbol. "You okay?"

Bluegill nods. "Yeah, thanks."

Suddenly a loud crash is heard behind Alicore. "What the?" She turns around to see one of Iron Blood's experimental helicopters crashing towards them. "Move!" She yells and she swims away.

The helicopter crashes in front of Bluegill and she gets thrown a few feet away and she looks up to see half of the Destroyer coming down towards her.

Albacore swims above her and motions her to follow. "C'mon, time to go!"

Bluegill follows after Albacore and she grabs her rifle off her back. Parts of the ship and helicopters crash down around the,

Albacore puts a hand up to her headset. "Scarecrow, this is Six-Two! Target has been Neutralized. Team Three and Four are clear to move in!"

"Copy Six-Two!" David responds. "Sounds like you've caused quite the stir."

Part of a helicopter's blade slices into Bluegill's leg and she grunts.

"Just make sure the others move in fast, use the confusion to their advantage! Six-Two out!"

The two move through a ship wreckage and the bow of the destroyer crashes into it and starts to crush the ship. 

Boats and Salvage subs, carrying humans, move into the area. Bullets fly towards them.

"More divers! Take 'em out!" Albacore orders as she fires onto the humans.

Bluegill grunts as she takes cover as bullets fly past her head. She pops out of cover and fires back onto the humans. After a few seconds they take them out.

Albacore pushes out of cover. "This way! Move! Move!"

More divers appears and the two subs take them out on the move.

Another Salvage sub appears, bringing more divers along with it. Bluegill moves behind a rock and reloads her rifle.

"Behind you!" Albacore yells.

Bluegill turns around, just to get tackled by a human that tries to stab her with a knife. Bluegill grunts as she drops her rifle and grabs the human's arm and starts to push the knife away.

Albacore appears and tackles the human off Bluegill and grabs the humans knife and stabs him in the chest multiple times before kicking his body towards the ocean floor.

Bluegill takes a couple breathes as she swims down and grabs her rifle off the ocean floor.

"You alright?" Albacore calls out.

"Yes, thank you." Bluegill thanks. "I really want a hug, cause this is not how I expected my first mission to go."

"I'll give you one, once this is done."

They move onto the next area and suddenly barrel looking items get dropped into the water and after a couple seconds they explode.

"They're dropping depth charges." Albacore informs. "Those'll actually kill us if we get hit." She swiftly swims towards the sunken ship. "Take cover in that ship!" Bluegill follows her.

Depth charges blowing up around them as they swim into the ship.

Albacore stops once she's a ways into the ship. "Slow down. We should be safe here, so catch your breath." 

After a few seconds she starts to swim further into the ship wit Bluegill following her.

They come to a large area of the ship and Albacore looks around. "Area clear."

The exploding depth charges shake the ship. They come to some hallways and Albacore looks around the corner. "Zero contact." She motions for Bluegill to follow.

They sim down the hallway it becomes blocked off, but there's a hole next to the blockage and Albacore looks through the large hole and sees a shark swim by. "Oh, crap."

Bluegill sees the shark and she whimpers.

"Easy, if you can see 'em, that's a good sign." Albacore says. "And before we go." She reaches into her pack and pulls out some kind of tape and she swims over to Bluegill. "Might want to patch this up." She motions to the bleeding cut on Bluegill's leg.

"I can hardly feel it." Bluegill says as Albacore wraps it up with the tape.

"There, let's move and hope the sharks not hungry anymore." She motions to the chewed up human body floating to the side of the hole.

"Eep!"

Albacore swims through the hole with Bluegill following her.

They swim down a hallway and come to a hole leading up.

"That doesn't seem good." Albacore says as she sees three sharks circling the large area with a couple of human bodies floating around.

"We'll have to go one at a time." Albacore says. "I'll go first. You stay here and cover me."

Albacore slowly swims up and past the sharks.

"Okay, you're up. Remember. Move slow, and keep your distance."

Bluegill take a deep breath and leaves the safety of her cover and slowly swims past the sharks.

The two subs move into the front of the ship as a U-boat swiftly moves by.

"Down the hatch, move." Albacore orders as they move down through a hole in the ship.

They move out of the ship and Albacore looks around. "Looks like we're in the clear. This way, let's get back to our subs."

Albacore moves a hand up to her headset. "Scarecrow, this is Six-Two. We are approaching Rally Point Echo."

"Roger that, Six-Two." David says in relief. "It's good to hear from you, we've got reports that the Azur fleet from Nanquet Cay is moving towards the port. Team Two is on the move as we speak."

"Roger that. Six-Two out!"

.

.

.

.

.

September 26, 1940

04:47 

"Scarecrow, this is Six-Three, the Azur Fleet is responding to the distress call." Cavalla says as she sits on her rigging as many ships sail over her.

"Copy, Six-Three." David says. "Six-One and Six-Two are on their way out of their area, they're both fine."

"Copy, Scarecrow. We're going to look for the container now."

"Roger, good luck, Six-Three, Out."

Cavalla looks to her right and sees Dance watching the ships sail over them. "Let's move."

Dace nods. "I wish I could torpedo all those ships!"

The two subs start to move along the sea floor, past many sunken ships.

"You have an unhealthy obsession with torpedoes." Cavalla sweat drops.

Dace crosses her arms and pouts.

The two move along the sea floor, checking any container they come across. 

Then Dace comes to a container and she wipes away some sand and dirt. "I think I got it!" She points to Alicorn's symbol on the side of the container.

Cavalla comes over. "Yup, this is it! Set up the balloons, I'll call it in."

Dace nods and she pulls out some balloons and starts to attaches them to the container.

"Scarecrow, this is Six-Three we've secured the container." Caballa says.

"Good work, Six-Three." David cheers. "The retrieval team is a few minutes out."

A dark shadow covers Cavalla and Dace. Dace looks up and her eyes widen in horror.

"Copy, that Sca-" Dace shakes Cavalla and points up. "Huh?" Cavalla looks up and her eyes widen in horror.

Alicorn's sub sails just above the two.

"Six-Three, come in Six-Three!"

"Scarecrow, we've got a problem! Alicorn is at Nanquet Cay."

"Stay put, Six-Three. Do not engage, We'll tell the retrieval team to wait. Keep us inform of Alicorn's status."

"R-Roger."

Alicorn's sub passes the two.

"That's the biggest sub I've ever seen!" Dace nearly yells.

"No one why people have had a hard time with her." Cavalla says. "But what's she doing here?"

.

.

.

.

.

Inside the run down facility we see Alicorn standing in a hallway, looking down at a skeleton that's sitting against a wall.

A torn lab coat stained with blood covers the skeleton. 

Suddenly a tear falls from Alicorn's right eye and she brings a hand up and touches her wet cheek. Her face slowly grows to one of anger.

"Damn, humans!" She yells and brings up a leg and stomps down on the skeleton, but her leg stops right before it touches the corpse. "Huh?" She tries to stomp again, but her leg stops. "Damn body! Why don't you listen to me!"

She kicks the wall next to the corpse, leaving a large dent. Alicorn takes a few deep breathes then chuckles.

"I'll just have to get Onee-chan Purifier to look at me again." Alicorn walks off and she suddenly starts to let out a mad chuckle. "Oh, Salvation is going to be so beautiful!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02-04-2023

4595 words

You can find story with these keywords: The Predator of the Depths, Read The Predator of the Depths, The Predator of the Depths novel, The Predator of the Depths book, The Predator of the Depths story, The Predator of the Depths full, The Predator of the Depths Latest Chapter