Chapter 45 – Midway to the Elven Nation

RonTheBlackCat

Discord -->  https://discord.gg/mhjetEK

Read a chapter ahead -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=33496388

"To fight the United States is like fighting the whole world. But it has been decided. So I will fight the best I can." - Isoroku Yamamoto

https://youtu.be/OaYchEJBZMY Sabaton Midway

0629 April 8th, 2020 CE

0614 Sun 8th, 196 AE

Elven fleet, NN Conqueror

“The weather is not favorable, but the rain is light and the wind is gentle. The enemy will not expect us for we are the winds of our great nation. The inferiors shall face hell from above. There will be no retreat! By our almighty Goddess and our Leader, we shall secure victory!”

A massive cheer rose in the room. They saluted multiple times in unison at the picture of the Leader and the Elven flag below it. After doing so, small glasses of beer were passed out to everyone. They raised their small glasses and gulped it down.

From a door, the pilots ran onto the deck of the aircraft carrier. Torpedoes and bombs were quickly loaded on. The propellers of their planes spun to life as the ground crew prepared them. A flag was waved and the blocks on the wheels of the aircraft were removed. The flag was then waved down and the first plane went down the runway. 

Masses of planes in v-formation filled the sky.

30 minutes earlier

US Fleet, USS Gerald R. Ford 

Vice Admiral Angela Walters stared at the screen that was shown to her.

“Holy Jesus! What the fuck is this?!”

The radar screen was filled with green dots bunched on one side. 

“An uncountable amount of ships.”

An officer nodded his head as if in understanding.

“Seems like the elves already know where we are. They may have sent their entire fleet after us”

Angela looked surprised. 

“I thought we were jamming their comms?”

“It isn’t working then.”

Multiple F/A-18s were being launched from the three aircraft carriers: USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Harry S. Truman, and USS Theodore Roosevelt. The launching didn’t stop for a rather long time. 

Elven Fleet

“Sir, multiple destroyer squadrons have been destroyed.”

Calmly observing the situation unfold, he looked towards the official that made that comment. 

“No change.”

“But sir!”

“Keep going forward.”

Admiral Edyrm Vaynore knew that the only way for him to succeed was by sacrificing a lot of his fleet. The Leader has told him that heavy losses were acceptable as long as he sunk the human fleet.

About two hours earlier

Admiral Vaynore had been called to the magram room by one of the operators. He was told that the front page had “TOP SECRET” stamped onto it which meant it was only for his eyes.

“Admiral. This is extremely sensitive information that so far only a few government officials and chief generals know. You are the first lower-ranked personnel to learn about this. Disclosure of this information to anybody else is considered treason against the nation. After reading this document, you are required to burn it. 

Although I have given you information about the United States of America in my instructions, I have not given you the entirety of what we know. I understand that this information will prove vital to your victory. From the Intelligence Department’s compiled reports, I will list out some of what we know. 

Use this information well.”

Edyrm put his lighter next to the paper. It slowly crumpled into black. 

Present

US Fleet

“Uh, Admiral, we have another situation. The Hawkeye is detecting… multiple signatures.”

“What’s with this many dots again!?”

“Hundreds of aircraft I believe.”

“Have the F-18s reloaded, refueled, and in the air as fast as possible. Also, prepare to launch the missiles once they get close. I don’t think our F-18s will be able to stop them all.”

A few minutes later

“Um, we have another problem. Our acoustics are detecting multiple underwater contacts.” 

“Dammit, it’s a coordinated attack.”

“Should we send out the Seahawks?”

“Too risky with those enemy aircraft approaching. Use the ASROCs when the submarines get close enough. Focus on the enemy aircraft for now.”

Elven Fleet

The aircraft carriers of the elven fleet were abuzz with elves. Aircraft were being endlessly launched in five to ten minute intervals. Even planes from under the deck meant for reserves were being launched. 

“Admiral, are you sure that we should commit everything to one attack?”

“This is the only chance we have.”

More than 500 aircraft were in the sky. 144 Ea-192N (naval-modified) fighters, 192 Ra-189N (naval-modified) dive bombers, and 186 Ra-1 torpedo bombers. On both sides of the fuselages on each one was a roundel. It was a red circle with a smaller yellow circle in the middle and a black cross on it.

E-2 Hawkeye above the Carrier Strike Group

“This is worrying.”

“The problem is how are we even going to coordinate this? There is a literal shit ton of targets.”

A few minutes later

In the sky a few miles away from the US Fleet

“Fox Three! Fox Three! Fox Three!”

132 Super Hornets released their load of AIM-120 AMRAAMS towards the horde of elf aircraft. This was one of the biggest deployments that the aircraft carriers have ever done. It was going to be a major headache landing them. 

Streaks filled the skies as the missiles traveled to their targets.

Less than a two hundred miles away

A seemingly endless amount of explosions started occurring. Aircraft crumpled or were blown to bits. Metal fell from the skies.

“No retreat! Fighters shield the bombers!”

US Fleet

“At least more than half of the elve’s aircraft are still in the air!”

“Launch the SM-6s!”

The VLS on the Arleigh Burkes and Ticonderogas opened up. A giant puff of white smoke came out as missiles took to the sky.

“We have launched nearly 70% of our SM-6s.”

“Hmmm. Tch. We will have to stop launching them. Leave a few for emergency situations. Ready the SM-2s and ESSMs. Fire when they get in range.”

A few minutes later

“Enemy submarines are getting within range now. Admiral, should we switch to the ASROCs?”

“Switch half of the fleet to deal with the approaching subs. The rest will continue focusing on the aerial threat.”

ASROCs launched upward into the air. They flew straight forward over the ocean before each one seemingly split apart. Torpedoes dropped into the ocean. 

Underwater about 15 miles away

“We are approaching the target.”

“Sir, we have detected multiple torpedoes heading our direction!”

“Evade them.”

The submarine squadron split up in order to avoid the torpedo heading straight at them.

“Ummmm… sir it’s following.”

“Following?! What’s following?”

“The torpedo.”

“Evade again!”

“It’s still following!”

“What do you m...”

An explosion rocked the side of the submarine and split it in two. 

Ten minutes later

“Admiral, we are running low on our SM-2s and ESSMs.”

“Dammit. How much do we have left?”

“Around 30 for each.” 

“Stop firing. We will reserve them. How’s our ASROC inventory?”

“The elf submarines seem spread out. They shouldn’t pose that much of a threat.”

Twenty minutes later

<<<“We have spotted the human fleet! Attack! Attack! Attack!”>>>

With only 25 aircraft left after being hit with hundreds of explosions seemingly conjured out of nowhere, they have finally found what seemed to be a part of the human fleet.

<<<“What is with this ridiculously small amount of ships?”

“Their main fleet must be close. We probably won’t be able to attack the main fleet but let’s do some destruction here. Attack!”>>>

11 Ra-1 torpedo bombers swooped in for an attack in various directions. They started getting closer to the water.

BRRRRRRRRR 

A wall of 20mm slammed into the torpedo bombers. They were ripped to shreds and some of them caught on fire after being hit.

The Phalanx CIWS on the Arleigh Burkes, Ticonderogas, Nimitzs, and Gerald R. Ford had already all swung around to target the torpedo bombers. 

A single torpedo bomber caught on fire as it was hit with the 20mm. It’s torpedo dangled below it before being dropped into the ocean. Miraculously before blowing up, it was able to release a torpedo towards an Arleigh Burke. It silently sped through the waters. However, the pilot had grossly underestimated the speed of the Arleigh Burke. It passed behind without hitting anything. 

The Phalanx CIWS instantly readjusted to target the 10 Ra-189N dive bombers that had just started their dive. They were ripped out of the air in the same fashion as the torpedo bombers.

The pilots in the four remaining fighters who were flying overhead looked on in horror as their brethren were swatted out of the sky in mere seconds.

“R...Retreat!”

Elven fleet

“Admiral, the mission failed. We have lost 518 total aircraft. Only 4 Ea-192Ns are currently returning. They have reported absolutely no damage to the human fleet.”

“Retreat…”

Apprehension was obvious in Edyrm’s eyes.

“...will we even survive…”

US Fleet

Angela conversed with her officers. 

“Admiral, do we continue? It seems like they are retreating. We can blow them out of the water.”

“How many anti-air missiles do we have left?”

“We should still have at least 10 SM-6s, 20 SM-2s, and around 40 ESSMs. The F-18s are extremely low on AMRAAMs. We do still have the shorter range Sidewinders though. And a butt ton of Phalanx CIWS 20 mms”

“We should retreat. This could be a trap and we do not have the capability to deal with another massed air attack. We will experience an unacceptable number of casualties if we continue.” 

“I agree, Admiral, if the elves launch another 500 planes, we won’t be able to deal with them. The elf who is commanding that fleet knows what they're doing. They used their numerical advantage. That's probably the only advantage they even have and their commander used it perfectly. We have to be cautious

The others nodded at that.

“Then set a route to home base immediately.” 

Washington D.C.

President Hayes was given the latest report on the Navy’s effort to cut off the elves. 

“They blunted our naval attack.”

“Any ships lost?”

“None. The carrier strike group ran extremely low on anti-air missiles. The Vice Admiral Walters made a snap decision to retreat since she didn’t want to risk losing 3 aircraft carriers.”

“Basically mission failed. We didn’t cut off the elves.”

“We did do substantial damage to their naval air wing. We can’t consider this a major failure. The carrier strike group was more armed against surface threats than aerial ones. We didn’t expect that they could bring their carriers so close. We will return with a larger fleet and cut them off.”

Afvalin, Elven Nation

A few days later

Edyrm showed up in Tarron’s office. Tarron looked up to see who came and smiled.

“Ah, Admiral. Congratulations! Although you did not destroy the human fleet, I commend you for stopping their advance. You have saved the Army from perish.”

“Thank you.”

“Now what are you here for? Do you want a reward? I will gladly give you anything if it’s within reason.”

Edyrm handed Tarron an envelope. Tarron took it and took a glance at what was scribbled on the front. 

“... notice of resignation…?! Admiral! What is the meaning of this?!”

Edyrm shook his head. 

“Admiral, you didn’t fail. You did an excellent job! Your mission was to stop the humans from cutting us off. Sure we lost a few destroyers and more than 500 aircraft but they are minor compared to losing millions of soldiers and thousands of magipanzers.”

Edyrm shook his head again and started to leave.

“Admiral, wait.”

Tarron was ignored. He sighed and sat down after Edrym walked out. Looking at the envelope, he opened it and read the contents.

“I live with the guilt of more than a thousand lives. I may have partially accomplished my mission but at what costs? The enemy has not even been scratched. My Leader, I understand that these are treasonous words. But I will express them nonetheless. I beg for mercy for the words that I write in this letter.

I do not see victory for us. Defeat is clear. The path forward is bleak. We have lost the moment we started. 

I implore you, even if you scorn me for suggesting this, to negotiate with the humans. Especially the United States of America. 

Former Admiral Edyrm Vaynore”

Tarron slammed his desk. He threw the paper at the wall. He then threw a random paperweight that was sitting on his desk

“How dare he! GUAR…”

Tarron stopped and took small deep breaths. Edrym was one of the most revered admirals in the Navy. If he killed him off, the Navy might mutiny. 

“I still need him too.”