Chapter 0601: The Battle Begins

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" 

Orange-red flames flared from the cannon mouths, and shells screamed toward the three German "Blücher-class" battlecruisers. Upon striking the sea, explosions erupted, sending towering columns of water into the sky. 

"Damn it, have the Americans lost their minds? How dare they fire? Are they trying to provoke a war between our nations?" Rear Admiral Lübeck stood in shock. He had always assumed the Americans were merely bluffing. He believed they would never dare to fire, but now, the American fleet had indeed opened fire, shattering all expectations. 

"Do the Americans seek death? Immediately send a telegram to the fleet command: we are under attack by the Americans. The war between us and them has begun!" Rear Admiral Lübeck bellowed. 

His voice carried an edge of excitement. Initially, for the commanders of the German Navy, once the battle with the British was concluded, the war could be considered over, which left them feeling somewhat disappointed. They had hoped for the war to drag on, for the chance to gain more military achievements, ensuring more opportunities for advancement after the conflict. Now that the Americans had entered the fray, their wishes had, in some strange sense, been fulfilled. 

Though the American Navy was formidable, it was no match for the might of the German fleet. The German Navy could easily dispose of the Americans. 

However, the shout from the staff officer shattered Rear Admiral Lübeck's moment of triumph. 

"Sir, those ships have hoisted the St. George's flag! They are the British fleet!" the officer shouted. 

"What? The British fleet? That's impossible!" Rear Admiral Lübeck refused to believe it. He grabbed his binoculars and saw the St. George's flag rising slowly, his face growing pale. 

"A conspiracy! This is undoubtedly a plot. Those ships are clearly American, but now they're flying the British naval ensign. This is a joint conspiracy between the Americans and the British aimed directly at the Empire!" Rear Admiral Lübeck ground his teeth, his voice full of venom. 

"Sir, what should we do?" 

"Return fire! Immediately return fire! Whether they are Americans or British, since they have fired first, the battle has already begun! Return fire and sink their ships! Send them all to the bottom of the sea!" Rear Admiral Lübeck roared. 

Despite facing six British battleships with only three battlecruisers, Rear Admiral Lübeck was unfazed. 

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" 

The three German "Blücher-class" battlecruisers retaliated. Each battlecruiser's triple 305mm 50-caliber main turrets unleashed a barrage at the British fleet. Despite the British fleet's six ships, four of which were equipped with 356mm main guns, the Germans remained undeterred. 

"Boom!" 

A shell exploded about fifty meters off the port side of the "Blücher" battlecruiser, sending a towering plume of water skyward. As the flagship of the formation, the "Blücher" was being relentlessly harassed by the two most formidable "Nevada-class" battleships of the British fleet. 

Although the Americans' gunnery equipment was not particularly advanced, the exceptional training of the British sailors compensated for this, making their fire accuracy comparable to the Germans'. This put the already outnumbered German Navy at a distinct disadvantage. 

"Sir, the British have six battleships and we only have three. We don't stand a chance!" a concerned officer reported. 

Rear Admiral Lübeck's expression darkened as the suspicion that this was a trap grew stronger. 

"These ships, their shape and the caliber of their main guns, they look like the Americans' 'Nevada-class,' 'New York-class,' and 'Wyoming-class.' But why are they now flying the British naval ensign and daring to fire at us? This is all too strange!" Rear Admiral Lübeck continued to mull over the mystery. 

As a naval officer, he was well-versed in the main battleships of every nation. The German Navy's intelligence network had thoroughly gathered information on the flagship vessels of other countries, ensuring that their commanders could make accurate judgments during engagements. 

"Yes, sir. They are indeed the Americans' 'Nevada-class,' 'New York-class,' and 'Wyoming-class,'" the staff officer confirmed. 

"Damned Americans! They must have colluded with the British, or perhaps they sold the ships to them. It's even possible that the Americans are operating these ships themselves. Their actions are clearly designed to undermine the Empire!" Rear Admiral Lübeck cursed. 

The German officers quickly deduced the Americans' nefarious intent. 

"Report our situation to the command and request reinforcements!" Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered. 

"Yes, sir." 

"Also, increase speed. If the situation turns against us, we'll need to make a quick retreat!" Rear Admiral Lübeck issued further commands. 

After all, the "Blücher-class" battlecruisers had a top speed of over 25 knots, faster than the American battleships the British had acquired by at least 4 knots. If the Germans decided to retreat, the British would have little hope of catching up. However, retreating at the first sight of trouble was not the German Navy's style. They wanted to fight on, ideally winning a decisive victory despite the odds. If they could sink the British ships, it would be a remarkable feat. 

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" 

The battle raged on as both sides fired relentlessly. The roar of the main guns filled the air as the gunners desperately sought to hammer the enemy's ships with as many shells as possible. 

On the "Nevada" battleship, Rear Admiral Martin's face broke into a smile. To him, six battleships facing three German battlecruisers meant the odds were heavily in their favor. Moreover, six more British battleships were approaching, preparing to surround the German fleet. At this rate, encirclement would soon be complete, and victory was all but assured.