SOUTH TASMAN SEA

16 MAY 2021

GMT+7 1130

"Captain. Message from the Samuel J Banks, told us to speed up."

"Reply to them that we're already moving as quickly as possible."

"Yes Sir."

"Also, the unidentified seems to have sped up to 25 knots. Course has remained unchanged."

"Who cares, no matter how fast they're going our destroyer is going to blow the fucking Japs and their worthless piece of scrap in the air."

"Sir, I do not recommend any rash decisions. You are aware that the ship we're supposed to intercept is an armored target, we cannot just charge in thinking that we can stop the vessel within one shot. Furthermore, orders from the Admiral are that we're supposed to fire only when there is no radio response."

"And who gives a shit about that incompetent fool? Our vessel is on of, if not, the most technologically advanced guided-missile destroyer in the world, capable of wiping out a single ship within one shot. If you think a primitive vessel will put up a fight, I'll consider sending you to a mental asylum once we return from this mission."

Obviously unhappy with the captain (as was everyone on board the Porter), the First Officer returned to his position.

A selfish, agreeably dense, overconfident and arrogant prick, how Adam Thomson managed to become the captain of an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer was still a mystery. Perhaps through bribery, or was the US Navy's system of meritocracy flawed? Nevertheless, he was still the captain of the Porter, and things aren't going to be changed anytime soon.

Or was it?

So, our target is a prehistoric armored Jap vessel, Thomson mused. An old vessel built by a country we nuked twice, this should be an easy job. Even a single shot from our 5 inch gun will blow the whole bloody ship up. Hell, maybe we can just start shooting at it, since we have a hundred percent chance of sinking that piece of crap.

Hey, why not?

SOUTHWEST OF AUSTRALIA, 1500 KILOMETERS AWAY FROM MAINLAND

20 MAY 2021

GMT+8 1100

"Hey Captain," Masato asked out of the blue.

"What is it?"

"If we're going to have a possible confrontation, wouldn't we be in a disadvantage? The enemy has Harpoons that can fire almost 200 kilometers away, surely we'll be sunk even before we can achieve radar contact with the enemy."

"Not quite," Anderson replied, joining in the conversation. "This ship may be outdated, but we do have passive defenses against such threats."

"What?" Hikari chimed in. "There was no mention of such features during the briefings."

"They were not covered during the briefings due to confidential purposes. Just in case, though Hikari knows what the secondary defense system is," Anderson explained. "In fact, we're now bringing you two to the primary anti-missile defense system of the ship."

The four of them soon arrived in a locked room somewhere inside the bowels of the battleship. Using a key card, Anderson unlocked the unusually-heavy door, and everyone stepped in.

After the lights switched on, Hikari and Masato realized that they were inside a control room of sorts, where a panel spreading across the front of the room, full of screens and buttons, was located. Towards the right, there was yet another door, leading to a larger room where people inside the control room could clearly see into. Positioned in the center of this larger room was...

... a single metal sphere with a height of about 1.4 meters, fixed on a wide base around 35 centimeters tall, keeping the bottom of the sphere 20 centimeters off the ground. A similar stand was flipped over and secured the sphere from the ceiling, making sure that the metal ball doesn't roll off.

Rather anti-climatic, isn't it?

"This," Anderson began, "is the Anti-Missile and Torpedo Deactivator System, or Deactivator in short. This passive defense system was first researched on in 2019 by the JMSDF, and its prototype was tested in 2020. However, due to a few circumstances, the project was dropped, and the prototype was subsequently dismantled."

"And the circumstances are?" Hikari questioned.

"Redundancy and unfixed issues. With CIWS and other anti-missile defenses that operate at a 90% guarantee of success, there was no need for this system to be developed, as it had only a 70% success rate. Moreover, the system deactivates any sort of electronics that end up inside the 5-kilometer radius. Not exactly useful inside a fleet formation, although there is a blind spot implemented to protect the user ship. In Kii's case, this is a disc-like shape 280 meters long, 50 meters a hundred meters tall."

"Sounds nice," Masato commented. "So, where is this room located at?"

"This armored room is located at the very center of the vessel, directly below the smokestack and above the engine room, which is why everyone here has the privilege of enjoying every single vibration from the four turbines."

"Sounds fun."

"Not if you're stuck here every day," Anderson replied.

"How did you manage to acquire this?" Hikari asked.

"Well, this is actually the very same prototype that was mounted and tested on the Kongo in 2020. Even though the project was cancelled, the higher-ups saw the potential of this system in certain civilian vessels, and decided to auction both the prototype and blueprints away to the public without any announcement. I managed to get both for a million yen, out of the only 5 bidders present during the auction."

"What about the power consumption of this system?"

"This system has its own rechargeable battery that can keep it turned on for 6 hours after a full charge," the captain replied. "After that runs out, it takes another 6 hours to recharge, the power directly coming from the ship's electric generator."

"I see."

"During a combat scenario, there would be three operators activating and maintaining the system, from this control room," Yamamoto went on. "This room also has a direct telephone link to all the ship's four bridges, which would come in handy."

"Okay, this little tour and briefing is over," Anderson declared. "You two, return to your positions at the bridge. Or maybe not, since it's lunchtime," Anderson said, checking his watch. "Be back at the bridge by one, okay? Don't keep your captain waiting."

MESS HALL A

GMT+8 1210

"Well, that was interesting," Masato noted. "Nobody told us about this beforehand. I wonder though, what's the secondary passive defense system?"

"The ship's own radar," Hikari answered. "When Anderson was researching about the Type 21 radars some years back, he discovered that the radar possibly has a maximum range of 35 kilometers as opposed to 20. Sure enough, after this ship's Mark 2 Model 1 radars were completed, testing shows that the range was indeed 35 kilometers. Though, for realism's sake, a removable limiter was installed to keep the range at 20 kilometers until a need for its maximum range is needed."

"Damn, why did you get to know all of this stuff?"

Hikari smiled. "It just so happens that I'm the ship's navigational officer, so naturally I have to be aware of such things."

"Even a tactical officer has to be aware of this too," Masato muttered.

USS PORTER

GMT+8 1300

"Good, now the ship's wireless signal is disconnected. I can tell the higher-ups that the enemy vessel refused to communicate, so the only option I can do is to swiftly sink it."

I told you, Thomson is a dick.

SOUTH OF AUSTRALIA

21 MAY 2021

GMT+9 1300

USS PORTER

"Sir, our aircraft has spotted the unidentified vessel, 180 kilometers northeast of our current direction."

"Very good. Start communications with the vessel."

KII

"Captain, we have been spotted. Incoming transmission. 'This is the USS Porter, stop the vessel immediately and identify yourselves within 5 minutes."

"Not good," Masato thought as Yamamoto contemplated his options.

"Iwata, tell them that this is a civilian vessel, and that we do not mean any harm. Yamasaki, prepare to sound the alarm, and phone the deactivator control room to activate the field."

"Yes sir."

"Deactivator control room, activate the shield now. An attack may be imminent."

"Radio the vessel, tell them that we are a civilian vessel, and that we are not looking for trouble."

Back on the Porter, the crew waited for five minutes.

As expected, no reply was received.

"Gentlemen," Thomson began, "we are now in the vicinity of an unregistered and armed vessel, the equivalent of a pirate vessel. In the name of freedom of the seas, in the name of security, I declare this vessel an enemy target. Load the harpoons!"

The reaction on the bridge was of disbelief.

"We're supposed to radio them another time, sir!"

"We're supposed to ask the Admiral for confirmation!"

"Did you tamper with the radio again?"

"SILENCE! I do not give a flying fuck about what you think, we are going to wipe out this threat, once and for all! Load the Harpoons, NOW!"

'Harpoons ready to fire on the track.."

"Batteries release on track."

As the two harpoons closed in on the Kii, the radars of the battleship managed to pick them out while they were 10 kilometers away from their target.

"Two incoming air targets closing in fast!" Hikari shouted. "8.5 kilometers, 8, 7.3, 5.8, 5.1, 4.8..."

Masato watched from the binoculars as the harpoons approached the Kii. Out of the blue, the missiles suddenly fell into the sea, creating two large splashes as they detonated some two kilometers away from the Kii.

The deactivator's field had done its job. The Kii was safe, at least for now.

"Sound the alarm! All crew to battlestations! All officers, report to the combat bridge now!" Yamamoto yelled, visibly furious at the lack of protocol the Porter had demonstrated in an unexpected attack.

As the alarm sounded, the crew rushed to their designated stations, surprised at the sudden attack. As the other officers quickly climbed the steps up to the combat bridge, Masato took the time to ask Hikari why the Captain was so mad.

"Before opening fire, in case the reply transmission was not received by the other party, there should be another message to inform us that a message was not received," Hikari explained. "The actions by this destroyer is completely off the rules of engagement, so naturally an ex-fleet admiral would be unhappy with such behaviour."

"You two," Yamamoto called out from the door, "get in the elevator. Unless you want to climb the steps, then I'll see you at the top."

"Wait!" both yelled out while rushing out of the bridge.

The combat, or battle bridge of the Kii is an enclosed bridge situated at the top of the pagoda mast of the vessel, just like her two older sisters. From here, the ship would be commanded during a daylight surface action. The location of this bridge is in a way that allows the captain to have a panoramic view over both the smoke emitted from the smokestack and the smokestack itself. A special feature in all IJN battleships was that the bridge was served by elevator. Which makes sense, considering that the Japanese pagoda masts are pretty tall, hence they're called "pagodas".

Needless to say, all the other officers were not pleased when they saw the trio emerging from the elevator.

"THERE WAS A LIFT?!"

"So," Masato asked as he went into position, "what's the plan?"

"Judging by how aggressive the enemy was, they're sure to waste all their missiles on us," Yamamoto explained, just as another two harpoons were disarmed and hit the water. "In fact, they've already thrown ten of their harpoons at us while we're moving up to the battle bridge."

"I say," he decided, "we wait until they run out of missiles or close in to use their guns against us, perhaps both. Then, we strike with our own weapons."

2 HOURS LATER

USS PORTER

"THIS IS INFURIATING!" Thomson shouted, slamming his hands onto the top of a computer. "Close in until we have a visual on them, then throw everything we have at them."

"But sir, that is suicide!"

"What can an outdated Jap ship do to us? Close in now, THAT IS AN ORDER!"

An hour later, the Kii was still undamaged, but still using evasive maneuvers in case any missile was lucky enough to bypass the field and towards the battleship.

"Considering how many harpoons they have fired at us, either that ship has terrible aim or we're just that lucky," Masato commented. "Whatever happened to the 70% success rate?"

"The tests," Yamamoto replied, "were taken when ten missiles were simultaneously flying towards the vessel. If they came in twos, the field should have no problem deactivating all of them."

"What? Nobody told me that!" Masato said in exasperation.

"As captain, I have to be able to be completely aware of such things."

"WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE BEING LEFT OUT OF SUCH INFORMATION?"

"Captain," Hikari reported, "radar contact at 33 kilometers."

"We will continue waiting, but we must prepare for the attack now. Load the 46 cm Type 0 shells!"

Masato, hearing the order, shouted it down the voice pipe.

"Load the Type 0 shells!"

Down the turrets of the massive main armaments of the Kii, the automatic reloading system loaded up each gun with a high-explosive shell, then placed in the gunpowder sacks before the crew closed the gun breeches.

As the Porter closed in, the crew watched the horizon, waiting for her to get close enough.

"Captain, enemy ship is now 30 kilometers away."

"Wait until they reach 26 kilometers."

Back at the bridge of the Porter, Thomson looked like he was having a mental breakdown.

"MOVE IT! GET CLOSER YOU FAT FUCKS!"

"29 kilometers," Hikari said, watching the radar.

"MOVE IN!" Thomson yelled.

Makes you wonder why this individual actually became a warship's captain.

"28 kilometers!" Hikari yelled.

"Turn the main guns 60 degrees forward, elevation 27.8 degrees!" Yamamoto ordered."

"Main guns 60 forward, elevation 27.8!"

"27 kilometers!"

"Prepare to fire main armaments!"

The officers at the bridge waited for the fateful order. It was almost time.

The bridge fell silent, everyone anticipating Hikari's report.

"26 kilometers, captain! Enemy vessel has reached target range!"

Yamamoto finally gave the order.

"OPEN FIRE!"

"FIRE!" Masato yelled down the voice pipe.

And for the very first time, the 46-centimeter guns of the Kii fired, each shot creating shockwaves across the starboard side of the vessel.

Back on the Porter, everyone in the bridge watched in horror as nine shots could be visibly seen and heard.

"Captain, the enemy vessel opened fire on us!"

"Ah, who cares? Those gunshots are indeed impressive, but they are absolutely, completely, essentially useless against this highly-advanced vessel! May I remind you, gentlemen, that this is one of, if not, the best vessel afloat in this day and age! This is a vessel of the US Navy, the navy of the country that nuked the Japs and their retarded shitland twice! We have proved ourselves to be highly superior towards those rice-eating ballsacks, so why are we worried about that piece of scrap's fir-"

The first two high-explosive shells of the Kii landed around the Porter, throwing up water around the destroyer. The third shell found its mark on the vessel, taking out the 5 inch gun and creating an explosion that took out the bridge and rocked the ship. As the fourth shell hit the water, the fifth shell went straight down into the Porter's bowels, exploding inside the engine room of the doomed ship. As the next three shells hit the water, the ninth shell went straight into the hull of the destroyer, before detonating inside the magazine of the Porter, delivering the final blow to the ship and snapping her into half.

The officers in the bridge could only watch in both fascination and horror, as the burning wreck of the Porter swiftly slipped beneath the waves, leaving behind a burning patch of oil.

"Enemy vessel destroyed, sir," Hikari managed to mutter out.

"Sir," the radio operator reported via the voice pipe, "The enemy vessel had time to send out a SOS, and a vessel nearby has responded. Do we rescue the survivors?"

"If a vessel had responded so quickly," Yamamoto noted, "the ship must be close. The survivors will be fine, and we must leave quickly."

"Move the guns back to their original positions and deactivate the field. All crew members are allowed to return to their initial duties. Iwata, leave the area at full speed."

"Yes sir."

The Kii continued on her journey, the crew still unable to believe that they had just sunk a destroyer of the US Navy.

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

AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL

21 MAY 2021

GMT+9 2100

Just in today, a United States Navy vessel has been sunk off the south of Australia, leaving behind only ten survivors after her unexpected and swift sinking.

The USS Porter, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, set off from Sydney at around Sydney time one in the afternoon to intercept an unknown vessel that had appeared in the South Indian Ocean. At 3 in the afternoon, the vessel started to radio the unidentified ship, and started attacking it after there was no response vessel. At 7:50 in the evening, return fire from the vessel blew the destroyer up, and the Porter went down within 15 minutes, taking down all but ten of her 200 crew compliment. The nearby destroyer USS Samuel J Banks picked up her distress signal and rescued the survivors as the unknown vessel fled.

According to the US Navy's official statement, the vessel resembles the Yamato, a Japanese battleship that was sunk in 1945, during the Second World War. Footage released by the Navy's high command shows the ship leaving a lake, specifically Winsor Lagoon of Heard Island, as confirmed by past satellite imagery of the vessel's existence in the remote island, which somehow managed to go unnoticed until the sinking of the Porter. The Navy added on that the ship had been constructed and completed at the same location for 4 years, before setting off on 11 May this year. The Australian government had declined to comment on how a vessel that large had been constructed in their own territory without being noticed.

Further inspection of the video shows the name of the vessel written on the stern; translations have confirmed that the ship's name is "Kii", after the old Kii Province of Japan. Japan has commented that the ship was not endorsed or related to the country in any way.

US officials had voted for the Pacific Fleet to hunt down and sink this vessel, to avenge the lives lost on the Porter. Government officials in Australia and the surrounding countries have informed people living around the coastal areas to look out for the battleship, and report it via a special website, www.huntdownthekii.com, as soon as possible. Stay tuned for more news.