RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 56-4: Eastern Developments (Part 4)

RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 56-4: Eastern Developments (Part 4)

Aboard the conning tower of the IJN Taihou, Vill-V is surveying a fleet exercise alongside Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku. The 1st Air Fleet is one of, if not the most modern Imperial Japanese Navy fleet currently at sea. Moving away from the older Kaga and Akagi aircraft carriers, which have been regulated to a training role, the 1st Air Fleet fields the newer Taihou-class and Unryu-class carriers. It has taken some effort, but Vill-V and Amaterasu have managed to get a personal fleet directly under their rule, commanded by none other than Yamamoto himself.

The fleet composition is quite large, and a powerful one at that:

1st Carrier Command

1st Carrier Division: Touhou, Ryuhou (Taihou-class aircraft carrier)

2nd Carrier Division: Chiyoda, Chitose (Unryuu-class aircraft carrier)

4th Carrier Division: Zuihou, Shouhou (Unryuu-class aircraft carrier)

10th Cruiser-Destroyer Squadron

Cruiser Division 7: Ibuki, Takahashi, Nachi, Gokase (Yodo-class AA light cruiser)

Destroyer Division 4: Nowaki, Arashi, Hagikaze, Maikaze (Harugumo-class AA destroyer)

Destroyer Division 10: Kazagumo, Makigumo, Yūgumo, Akigumo (Yamagiri-class destroyer)

Destroyer Division 17: Urakaze, Isokaze, Tanikaze, Hamakaze (Yamagiri-class destroyer)

The Japanese Admiral nods thoughtfully after hearing Vill-V's concerns. "A Jack-in-the-box situation, huh."

"Yep." Vill-V popped the p. "And now that I think about it, with how close the Chinese are now with the Reich, who knows what sort of tricks they have installed on those surplus vessels now?"

"Unfortunately, what we can only confirm are the number of vessels in the Dynasty's service. Even that, however, is changing monthly as the Chinese keep commissioning new vessels after a period of training in Belka. Due to our inept intelligence department, we don't even know whether or not they've received any refit to fit the contemporary era. What we do know at least, is that they don't have any battleship in service for now." Yamamoto said.

"Nevertheless, with how many surplus vessels Belka is giving away, one must wonder what the current strength of the Reichsmarine is. How many and what sorts of vessels do they have?" Vill-V added.

"I believe that the question will be one without an answer for the foreseeable future." Yamamoto smiled wryly. "Best we focus on the present for now."

"Build up our force and refit the old, am I right?" Vill-V asked.

Yamamoto nods in return, with them both putting a hold on their conversation one of their cruisers is about to test out the new missile system.

Unbeknown to any of the IJN elements in the quarantined test site, a lone but daring periscope is poking out above the waves. Barely outside the perception range of the patrolling destroyers, the owner of the periscope, a Chinese submarine, has been spying on the exercise for quite some time. To remain undetected, they have been staying at the very edge of the periscope's view distance. Though this doesn't give them much visibility on the entirety of the Japanese's maneuvers, the Chinese submarine still manages to acquire enough intel of the important bits, making it worth the trouble hiding out in the ocean for days.

When the IJN Ibuki launches her anti-ship missile at a decommissioned cargo ship, the spying submarine records everything down, including the subsequent explosions and misses. After the missile test, however, the commander of the Chinese submarine decides that they have enough data on hand, it's better to retreat rather than be greedy. His submarine is, after all, a purpose-built intelligence-gathering design with limited offensive capability. If they got caught, it would be their doom alongside the treasure trove of critical information they have painstakingly staked out.

... They can only stomach instant noodles and bread for so long. What they wouldn't do to get some braised pork with rice right now.