1 Prologue

August 2nd, 2062

Abandoned US Pacific Naval Base

"Admiral, enemy surface contacts detected on radar at 075 heading at 255, ninety nine kilometers out. Current trajectory estimates their heading for the base at 28 knots."

"They reading any IFF transponders signaling their affiliation?"

"Stand by…affirmative. Contacts are registered as Red Dragon ships."

"They must be trying to capture the Ford before us. Ready our ships to intercept and engage them. Alert our airborne squadrons of the incoming threat."

The Red Dragon was one of the remnants of what used to be the Chinese Prople's Liberation Army. They were the largest, and most hostile, faction known to roam and control a large part of the Pacific Ocean. They terrorized many lesser factions and assumed more territory into their sphere of control with each passing month. However they weren't the most well equipped and smartest as despite the number of battles they engaged in, a lot of lesser factions managed to resist and beat them back enough to make them think twice. Either way they were still a threat.

Opposing them was a man who once operated a vast portion of the former United States Navy before everything went to shit back in 2032. Admiral John Q. James.

Formerly an Admiral of the United States Armed Forces, James still held much pride in the nation he once used to call home. Years after it all fell apart, he managed to locate and join several small US navy remnants under his command before settling and establishing their new home in an archipelago still known as Hawaii. This would become the foundation of what is now known as the Old Patriots, comprised mostly of former NATO forces across the globe. They were the biggest challenger to the Red Dragon faction that started terrorizing the Pacific Ocean about eight years years ago. In order to sustain themselves they acquired resources and materials by scavenging old bases, sunken cities, and conducting offshore mining.

This time they were raiding what used to be an old US naval base off the coast of one of the island of Japan, however it wasn't alloy, rations, fuel, or weapons they were after, but a ship.

The carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, last of the Ford class carriers, was docked here and has since been abandoned for over a decade. However her hull still remained intact and was capable of being revived and serving as a powerful asset for the Old Patriots if they got her out and moving back to the Hawaii Islands. Though it would seem they weren't the only ones trying to seize the large ship.

"Admiral, AEW&C has confirmed radar contacts has hostile ships! Counting four Type-055 destroyers and three Type-052C destroyers escorting a Type-075 amphibious assault ship! They're launching J-31 fighters and Z-20 Helicopters!"

"Set fleet to general quarters, prepare to engage all enemy contacts effective immediately."

"Aye sir."

Standing aboard the bridge of his ship, James could watch as his fleet set themselves to maximum alert and armed their offensive armaments and point defenses. Comprising his fleet brought to capture the Ford were two Ticonderoga cruisers, six Duke frigates, four Arleigh Burke destroyers, three Seawolf submarines and the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier.

The USS Nimitz was the very ship James was assigned command over before the war broke out. Since then she's been in his possession serving as a force multiplier for his fleets in achieving their current status in what the world has become today.

On the flight deck, four F-35C Lightning IIs, eight F/A-18F Super Hornets, and four F-14ST Super Tomcats were being lifted up from the hangers and taxied towards the launch catapults used by the ship to launch it's airwing. It's latest refit installed the EMALS used by the Ford class, reducing the maintenance cost while increasing the reliability and service life of aircraft.

The F-35s were launched first as they shot off the runway and took flight towards the approaching enemy craft to assist already airborne squadrons moving to engage and attack the enemy fleet. F/A-18s were next to launch followed shortly by the F-14s behind them.

Meanwhile a squadron of F-35s were already approaching the incoming fleet with another squadron on the way. A squadron of F/A-18s flew ahead with a Growler to jam the enemy's radar and tracking systems to give the Lightnings an easier task at taking out the enemy warships.

"Screecher to all squadrons, electronic countermeasure are now active. Enemy radar is down for the time being."

"Copy that Screecher, Dagger Squadron moving in for the kill. Mage Squadron form up behind us for second attack."

"Copy that Dagger Squadron, forming up behind your six."

"Watchmen report status on enemy aircraft approach vector, we have any bogeys needing to be dealt with?"

"Negative Dagger, all hostile aircraft are approaching friendly ships, you're clear to engage."

"Copy, master arm on. Standby weapon deployment."

The long range targeting pod mounted under the lead F-35's cockpit located and began painting one of the enemy destroyers for the JSMs the aircraft were armed with.

"Target painted, firing Fox two."

The internal weapon bay doors opened and dropped a single missile for each F-35 as their engines fired and propelled them towards their target. The infrared targeting system picked up on the designated destroyer and shot towards it at 135 kilometers out.

The Chinese radars and sensors were unable to track them as they were tampered by the electronic countermeasures activated by the growler, the crew trying to correct and make the instruments usable again. However it would be too late for them.

Chinese sailors on the lookout platform outside the bridge started screaming as they saw the streaks of exhaust from the missiles heading towards them. With radar down they had to manually operate their point defenses in effort to intercept and destroy the incoming warheads.

Type-730 30mm CIWS batteries began firing upwards towards the incoming missiles trying to intercept them, however they were only able to shoot down two as the other six broke through and screamed towards the ships.

The Chinese crews braced as four missiles smashed against one Type-055 and the other two hit another. The resulting attack was enough to sink one destroyer while disabling another.

"Missiles connected. Firing second attack, Fox Two."

The F-35s each dropped another JSM that shot off towards the Red Dragon fleet again, intended to inflict more damage before their friendly fleet would attack and destroy them. Radar was still down for the Chinese ships so they had no way of knowing about the incoming second attack or where the aircraft that fired the missiles were. Again it was too late before they spotted the incoming ordinance and they were less lucky intercepting them as they only shot down one with CIWS. Three hit and sunk one of the Type-052Cs, two hit and disabled another Type-055, while two hit the Type-075 and blew holes into it's flight deck, destroying several parked helicopters and disabling most of it's CIWS.

"Attacks confirmed. One Type-055 sunk and two disabled, one Type-052C disabled, and the Type-075 has been suspended of air operations."

"Copy that, maintain air presence and await for further orders."

The Lightings and Hornets remained airborne around the enemy fleet as the allied fleet prepared to engage and destroy the incoming hostile aircraft. The newly launched F-35s, F-18s, and F-14s were intercepting the incoming planes as they prepared weapon lock with the Tomcats attacking first.

"Radar contacts locked on, Fox Three out."

AIM-54s mounted under the F-14s fired off in two for each aircraft, accelerating their solid rocket motors and hitting mach 5 towards their targets.

Twelve J-31 fighters were approaching them and received the radar lock warning as eight long range missiles were flying towards them. They broke off into four groups of three and deployed chaff and flares once the incoming missiles were within 1000 meters from their aircraft. Five missed but three scored hits as they splashed three of the twelve J-31s out of the sky, their burning remains falling towards the ocean surface.

"Splash three! Splash three! Five missed interception!"

"Copy that Wraith Squadron, standby AMRAAMs."

The F/A-18s and F-35s joined the F-14s and closed the distance with AIM-120s in attack range. However it would seem they pissed off their opponent as nine planes suddenly received radar lock warnings.

"Missiles in the air, fire and evade!"

"Copy that, Fox Three out! Evading!"

The sixteen jets all fired their AMRAAMs while four F-14s, two F-35s, and three F/A-18s broke off and popped chaff and flares. The incoming missiles continued tracking their targets while five broke off and detonated in the chaff and four continued chasing their targets.

"Reaper Three, missile still tracking! Going evasive!" One of the F-35s went evasive and flew erratically as one air-to-air missile continued tracking them. Two F-14s were still being pursued with an F/A-18, but after half a minute of maneuvering they managed to lose lock of the missiles and evade safely.

"Wraith Two, missile evaded. Going back to offensive."

"Missile launches connected. Confirmed splash of three additional hostiles. Only six confirmed remaining."

"Copy, ready Sidewinders."

"AIM-9s ready, standing by."

The two sides of aircraft closed in with the Old Patriots jets firing first with Sidewinder missiles, scoring three kills on the remaining J-31s who moved into gun's range.

"Incoming guns! Incoming guns!" 30mm rounds streaked between the F-14s and F/A-18s while the F-35s remained out of the firing lines. The receiving jets evaded but one of the F-14s was hit in it's starboard engine forcing it to be shut down.

"Reaper One in range, going for guns!" One of the F-35s came up behind a J-31 and lined up it's sights, firing it's 25mm gun. Rounds streaked through the air and tore into the Chinese airframe dealing extensive damage to it's engines and avionics. The jet caught fire and exploded without a chute. "Splash one, splash one!"

"Wraith Four, splash one! Splash one!"

"Phoenix Two, reporting splash one! Hostile downed!"

"Nimitz air control this is Reaper One reporting, hostiles jets have been intercepted and destroyed. Should we proceed and engage enemy helicopters?"

"Standby…affirmative, proceed and destroy all enemy rotary wing aircraft."

The jets proceeded to engage the still approaching helicopters before they could endanger the land forces working to get the Ford out of it's harbor and tow it back to the islands for extensive repairs and reactivation. Meanwhile the fleet surrounding the harbor maintained their guard and tracked the still active Red Dragon ships approaching to try and steal the aircraft carrier from them.

"Admiral we have a situation! AEW&C has confirmed radar contacts of another fleet. Aircraft carrier Type-003 is among them and approaching!"

"Damn it!" James cursed. That carrier was gonna make this operation very dangerous, and he wanted to get the Gerald R. Ford with as little risk as possible. "How long until the Ford can be towed out and mobile?"

"Recovery teams estimate about two minutes. Mooring lines have been detached and they're beginning to tow her out of the dock."

"Good, issue the fleet to be ready to retreat. Contact the Enterprise to rendezvous with us and prepare for hostile pursuers."

"Aye sir."

After about two hours of work, the Gerald R. Ford's hull began to float out it's dock being pulled by smaller tug boats since her engines and reactors were inoperable after remaining dormant for so long with lack of maintenance. With the Ford now out and among the fleet come to retrieve her, the ships engaged engines and maintained a formation around her in escort as they sailed off to deliver her to their territory where she would be restored.

However the new fleet comprising of the Type-003, four Type-055s, two Type-052Cs, and one of the stolen Kirov cruisers pursued the ships with the intent of taking the Ford for themselves. However another fleet was coming to the aid of the Nimitz with the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), two Daring destroyers, two Maya destroyers, and four Independence frigates with two Seawolf submarines.

Lurking beneath the approaching Red Dragon fleet was a Virginia submarine remaining undetected before it fired a torpedo at the Type-003. The attack startled and alerted the Chinese sailors before an explosion blew open a hole beneath the carrier's water line, letting seawater flood inside as damage control teams worked to try and contain the flooding and save the ship. Two J-20s sitting near the edge of the flight deck were knocked off and fell into the ocean as the ship was rocked by the explosion.

The escorting destroyers initiated their anti-submarine warfare capabilities and began firing missile launched torpedos to try and take out the attacking sub as it dived deep and retreated after delivering it's blow against it's target. This resulted in the Red Dragon ships slowing down giving their carrier time to stabilize itself as it launched J-20s on it's EMALS catapults.

"Enemy aircraft launch on radar! AEW&C confirms multiple J-20s now airborne and approaching at Mach 2!"

"Destroyers stand by surface-to-air launch, shoot 'em down before they get too close!"

The Arleigh Burkes fired their VLS as they launched several quad packed RIM-162 missiles into the air towards the incoming aircraft. The missiles detached from their launch vehicles and fired their own thrusters as they raced towards the incoming Chinese jets.

The J-20s detected the missile launch and deployed chaff and flares, however three missiles failed to lock onto the flares and continued targeting their assigned target. The J-20 managed to evade two but the third struck and destroyed the aircraft, leaving only nineteen remaining airborne.

The J-20s returned fire with air-to-surface missile as they targeted the destroyers and aircraft carrier with the intent to sink them.

However unlike what happened to their allies they weren't using electronic countermeasures to jam the Old Patriot ships' radars and sensors and they detected the missile launch.

"Nineteen missiles launched and tracking us sir! Standby counter launch!"

RIM-116 missiles were fired and tracked the thermal signatures of the incoming missiles, intercepting ten of them while nine continued to steam towards the fleet.

This was where the Phalanx 20mm CIWS batteries activated and targeted the incoming missiles, firing away and destroying the other nine before they hit. No damage to the fleet or the Ford.

Twelve F-35s suddenly screamed over the Nimitz and her ships while firing AIM-120s at the J-20s, causing them to release more chaff and flares but were unsuccessful in evasion this time as twelve were suddenly blow out of the sky. The remaining seven were mopped up by launch of AIM-9s.

"Admiral, the Enterprise just came up on radar directly ahead. We have aerial and naval reinforcements." The news made the Admiral smile as he now had all the cards in his hand, and was waiting on what the Red Dragon ships would do. Instead of pursuing like he hoped and would allow him to finish them off, the ships all turned around and ran in the opposite direction, perhaps realizing the threat and deciding against attacking them and risk losing more aircraft and ships.

Smart bastards.

"USS Enterprise to USS Nimitz do you copy, over?" A voice called over the radio to which James answered.

"This is Nimitz responding, impeccable timing Enterprise, over."

"Glad to see we could be of assistance Admiral. What the status on the Ford? Do you have her, over?"

"Affirmative, we have her. She's quite dusty and will require a lot of work, but we're towing her with us and can make her seaworthy again, over."

A chuckle could be heard on the other end of the radio. "You were indeed right Admiral. With this new ship we're sure to bolster our naval presence with another carrier. Should I radio Pearl Harbor to receive her, over?"

"Affirmative, I want her worked on the moment she's docked in the harbor. The sooner we get her operational the better, out."

The two Old Patriot fleets continued sailing without opposition as they joint their formations and formed a formidable armada surrounding the Gerald R. Ford still in need of repairs. The Red Dragon have yet again been inflicted with another wound, and were sent away after another humiliating defeat.

_________________________________________

August 5th, 2062

Honolulu, Pearl Harbor

The armada approached the territorial waters surrounding the Hawaii archipelago where the Old Patriots established their base and called home since the US mainland was no longer an option.

Hawaii was spared from the nuclear armageddon and wasn't as badly affected from rising sea levels with only a few of it's beaches flooded. Much of the landmass was still viable and some US remnants established it as their home territory before the Red Dragon attacked them through an attempted naval invasion. If it wasn't for James and his fleet of Old Patriots intervening then the archipelago would well be under the control of the Red Dragon.

Surrounding the islands were a series of small floating artificial island platforms designed for offshore drilling and mining, agriculture production, and territory defenses as the islands were either fitted with drills for extracting oil and resources, farms for producing wheat and corn, or defensive weapon systems such as missiles, CIWS, and LaWS.

Since the islands were located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it became a common trading place with other factions and old world remnants, granting the inhabitants with a steady flow of overseas imports and a growing supply of silver, the new world currency since old paper money is now all but useless.

With the occasional attempted raid from rivals and pirates, Hawaii was considered as a stable safe region and saw many once nomads former old world remnants venture here to find refuge and a place of belonging.

Outside the entrance of Pearl Harbor, the island inhabitants and military personnel gathered to watch as yet another aircraft carrier was transported and added to their growing fleet of ships.

Their total arsenal consisted of acquired, stolen, and manufactured equipment on the island.

20,000 XM5s

10,000 XM250s

50,000 M4A1s

20,000 M249s

50,000 M16A4s

20,000 M60E4s

10,000 AR-15s

10,000 AK-47s

10,000 AKMs

20,000 AK-74s

10,000 PKMs

5,000 AUGs

5,000 SCAR-Ls

5,000 SCAR-Hs

6,000 G36s

3,000 M82A1s

1,000 M24s

5,00 AWMs

60,000 M1911s

40,000 M9s

30,000 M17s

3,000 M113s

3,000 M2/3s

2,000 M1128s

3,000 BMP2s

2,000 T-55s

1,000 T-62s

1,000 T-72s

2,000 M60A1s

1,000 M1A2s

1000 M48A2GA2s

1000 Leo1A5s

500 Leo2A5s

1,000 Type-90s

500 Type-10s

500 M110s

500 M109s

500 K-9s

500 PzH2000s

200 F-4Es

200 A-7Es

200 Harriers

100 Su-27s

100 Su-33s

100 MiG-29s

100 MiG-31s

200 F-15Cs

200 F-15Js

200 F-15Es

200 F-14STs

200 F/A-18Fs

200 F/A-35Cs

200 A-10Cs

200 F-16Cs

100 M-2000s

100 EF-2000s

100 IDSs

100 F-22As

100 MQ-1s

200 MQ-9s

10 C-5Ms

20 C-17As

50 C/AC-130s

50 B-52Hs

50 Tu-95MSs

20 B-1Bs

1 SR-71A

100 UH-1Hs

100 UH-1Ys

200 UH-60Ms

100 AH-1Ss

100 AH-1Zs

200 AH-64Es

50 MV-22s

50 CH-53Es

100 CH-47Ds

100 Mi-24Ps

50 Mi-26Ms

50 Ka-50s

100 NH90s

10 Duke frigates

10 Oliver Hazard Perry frigates

10 Independence frigates

10 FFG(X) frigates

10 Los Angeles submarines

10 Virginia submarines

2 Typhoon submarines

2 Seawolf submarines

20 Arleigh Burke destroyers

10 Daring destroyers

10 Maya destroyers

10 DDG(X) destroyers

2 Zumwalt destroyers

10 Ticonderoga cruisers

10 CCG(X) cruisers

1 Kirov cruiser

2 Wasp amphibious assault ships

1 America amphibious assault ship

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

USS Missouri (BB-63)

ETC.

This vast arsenal made them the second largest faction in the Pacific Ocean bellow the Red Dragon to the west and New America to the east.

Pearl Harbor served as the largest militarized location within the Hawaii islands with the west, middle, and east lochs seeing major expansion for addition docks with the addition of dry docks and shipbuilding yards, with the complete militarization of Ford Island as the main HQ for all military operations.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport was converted into a full out Air Force base to accommodate the vast air wings of the Old Patriots. International commercial flights officially went out of commission following 2032 after the nukes were dropped.

The Ford was pulled in through the entrance into the harbor and was guided towards one of the dry docks where staff were ready and waiting to receive her and begin her revitalization. The ship was indeed a sight, even given her current state, and she would be made anew as her hull glided into the dry dock and was lifted out of the water.

Standing on the observation platform on the side of the bridge, Admiral James was given a good view of the Ford while leaning against the safety railing preventing him from falling off.

"Thinking of switching ships sir?" His ship's XO, Lieutenant Ewan Johnson asked behind him. "I'm guessing you'll be transferring command of the Nimitz to someone else once the Ford is seaworthy once again?"

The admiral chuckled in response. "Actually I thought about it during our voyage home. I think I'll stick with the Nimitz. She's served me well and I feel like she's got more to prove than what's she's already done. Someone else will take command of the Ford, but the Nimitz will be mine till the day I die."

"Aye sir, who will take command of the Ford then?"

"I dunno yet Lieutenant, but I'll figure it out sooner or later. For now we let her recover after being abandoned for over a decade. There's a lot of work to be done to her before she's seaworthy once again."

The Nimitz pulled into it's own assigned dock within the East Loch while the Enterprise was assigned the West Loch. Following the reactivation of the Ford she would be assigned a dock within the middle loch.

With the Nimitz now docked and moored in place, the crew were cleared to safely disembark and commence a quick maintenance and restock for her next voyage. The islands were well stocked on materials and resources from trade, scavenging, and mining they had no difficulty maintaining the ships or equipment on the island.

"Admiral John Q. James!" A voice called down from the gangway as the Admiral spotted a man he was well familiar with on a political scale. "I see you once again proved yourself you crazy bastard."

Governor Pilipo Aneko, official leader and civil representative of the Hawaiian inhabitants. The governor and admiral worked in tandem as the government heads while Aneko dealt with internal and civil affairs and James handled foreign and military affairs.

"Governo Pilipo Aneko, a surprise seeing you greet me upon my return from another successful voyage."

"Just though I should come out to greet an old friend when I heard you would be returning today. And I see your plan was a success in regards to the new rusty mass in our dry dock."

"Indeed, and it was a good thing we brought the Enterprise too. We had another incursion with Red Dragon forces who tried to contest us for the ship. They've been growing bolder and pushing farther out of their territory these passing months. We may have to set up more Dragon Hunting ops to push them back into their waters."

"Perhaps, but for now I would oppose since they aren't bothering us for the time being. Trade with other factions and New America is going unhinged so I wouldn't grow much concern on it." The governor expressed his opinion. "But if they do start causing problems for us or our trade partners, I have no doubt you'll see to it they are dealt with."

"It's pretty much my role as admiral. We'll ensure they think twice before they start crossing the line with us and our interests."