1 Distress Signal
September 201X, South Okinawa islands water
Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF) ship, DDH-114 Kurama, is doing her routine patrol in that area. The ship captain, lieutenant colonel Ichiro Umeno, is looking at the weather in front of the ship by using binoculars.
"Any development on the weather news?"
Captain Ichiro ask the navigation staff, lieutenant Saburo Tanaka.
"There's cumulous nimbus clouds formations 100 miles south-east our position, captain. its move to the north with speed ten knots probably will become a storm in the next hour"
"Hmmm….I don't like this kind of weather. I hope there are no stupid fools that sailing in this area when storm about to come"
Hearing the captains words, all the crew and staff in the bridge grasped in shock. They all know their captain nickname Ichiro 'the Jinx' Umeno, not just an empty nickname, because often what he said mostly become the opposite reality. Like when their ship patrolling near Kanmon straits, it was a foggy weather that time. But captain Ichiro said, "Don't worry, nowadays all ship equipped with sophisticated radar. They won't be colliding with each other even in this foggy weather". But the reality is really bitter because JS DDH-144 Kurama collides with South Korea cargo ship which causing fire on the Kurama bow and 3 crews are injured during the collision.
Chief weapon staff, Tomoaki Matsunaga, gather his guts to remind his captain
"Captain, no one knows what will happen in the next minutes or hours. Please don't say something that brings bad omen like that"
"Eh, did I say something wrong? Even if there are some fools that make their ship sink because sail to close to the storm, that's still our obligation to give rescue right?"
All the crew and staff in the bridge are silently cursing the captain thinking. 'It would be nice if there's nothing happen during our patrol' that's what they might have in mind.
But like don't know what the crew thinking, captain Ichiro still keep talking
"Maybe you don't know, but this ship about to retire soon. There's new ship in build on Ishikawajima-Harima dock. That ship will replace our Shirane-class destroyer ship as the backbone of JMSDF. So, before she really retires, I hope this ship can give some contribution at least"
"Captain, is that true?"
"That's true after she gets decommissioned maybe we all be transferred to the new ship. But, I still love this ship after many years being her captain"
"What kind of ship is that new ship?"
"It's our latest development research on ship product. It's a brand new ship with a new class, I heard those higher up called it Hyuga class. It's a big ship that almost looks like aircraft carrier ship"
All crew and staff silenced. This news is really something new for them. After many years sailing with Kurama, of course, there's a bound created between the crews and the ship.
For a couple of minutes, no one is speaking on the bridge. Until lieutenant Masayuki Onda, the staff of telecommunication breaks the silence.
"Captain, I receive distress signal"
WHAT! What a jinx! That's what all the crews thinking when they hear Masayuki words.
"Where's that signal come from?" captain Ichiro ask at Masayuki
"Seventy-five miles south-east direction, Sir!"
"That's close with those storm clouds. Is there any other ship near there?"
"No, Sir, our ship is the closest one" Radar staff gives the information.
"Alright, full speed, direction south-east. How long we will arrive there?"
"With our full speed 31 knots, we will arrive there ETA 2 hours, captain" Engine staff give the information.
"I hope we don't arrive late there. Is there any other information from the distress signal?"
"No Sir, the only message I receive is mayday...mayday repeated many times"
"Try to contact them. Ask about the detail information if we made the contact"
"Aye aye, sir!"
DDH-144 Kurama with full speed heading to the distress signal. Captain Ichiro looks at the clouds in the sky in front of the ship. The dark clouds are swarming in the horizon and the storm is sure will come.
The crews and staff feel tense with this sudden development. They hope this is just an ordinary rescue mission and not causing anything bad like what happen in Kanmon Straits. All crews in the bridge are standby on their respective positions and ready to update and carry any news and order. The captain also already broadcasting for all the crews in the ship that Kurama is doing rescue mission and all crew should standby and ready to deploy any time in the accident site.
….
….
Nearly two hours after receiving distress signal, DDH-144 Kurama approaching the location of the distress signal coming from. The clouds already turn into the storm and high waves hit the ship and make the ship shaking left and right. The black clouds blocking the sunlight from giving light over the sea surface, thunder and wind take turns to whistle in the ears of Kurama crews.
"Masayuki! Where the location of that distress signal?"
"It's near us captain. Somewhere in front of us"
"Anyone get visual?"
"No, sir! It's too dark to see!"
"Turn on the spotlight! Blow the horn! Make sure they see or hear us coming"
"Aye aye, sir!"
"Captain! Something happens on the screen!"
Almost all the crew that watching monitor screen screaming together.
"What happen! Why you all screaming at the same time"
"We lost GPS system, Sir!"
"Radar not functioning Sir!"
"Sonar malfunction Sir!"
"We lost telecommunication system, Sir!"
"The compass keeps spinning sir!"
What? What happen? That question still unanswered in captain Ichiro mind because he also doesn't know what happens with his ship. This is the first time he experiencing this kind of mass malfunction.
"Engine! Did we still have the engine?"
"Sir, the engine still operating normally, Sir!"
Suddenly the weather becomes pitch black everywhere outside the ship. The crew on the bridge shocked by this unnatural phenomenon. Captain Ichiro quickly grab the microphone and give the broadcast order to all the crew in his ship
"Attention all crews. Do not panic, I repeat do not panic. For all crew that on the deck and bow, grab anything that you can hold near you and don't move around until this blackout is over. For all the crew inside the ship, do not come out from the ship. This is captain order!"
Inside the darkness, no one knows how long it takes until the storm finally recedes and the darkness that envelope the ship faded and sunlight breach the dark clouds giving illumination over the sea.
