| 034 | Sea Brawl

"Brace!" The maritime aviation warfare officer yelled at his crewmen as the Seahawk trembled violently from the passing freedom warheads of the United Navy's armada. 

*SWOOOSSHH!!!* *SWIIIISSHHH!!!* *SWUUUSSHHH*

The pilot skillfully maneuvered the helicopter and controlled it with great expertise. The Harpoon stabilized and the shaking of the helicopter ended without any troubles.

All of them could see the trail of white smoke left behind by the barrage of tomahawk missiles. There should be over a dozen of freedom warheads in the first strike.

The officer sighed in relief when their helicopter didn't lose stability and fell into the ocean. It would have been embarrassing and dangerous for them. 

At any rate, with the multiple launches of the United Navy's armada. The first-strike protocol had officially begun. Not only was the officer curious about the results, but he also wondered about the high command's reaction. 

Meanwhile, in the Combat Information Center of the UNS Light Bringer. Abraham watched the radar relay of the missiles piercing across the distance. 

The radar signature of the Leviathans kept blinking in and out while the naval personnel in the CIC watched with anticipation. 

Sadly, however… Things weren't meant to be smooth sailing in this world.

"Target Group 152 degrees. Distance 33,561 meters, closing in. Speed 36 knots, stable. Depth 6 and lowering." The newly arrived report made Abraham furrow his eyebrows.

The herd of Leviathans was submerging, which wasn't a piece of good news. After all, as the sea monsters get deeper, the tomahawk missiles would become less effective upon impact.

Luckily, bad news wasn't the only thing that emerged. There were also pieces of good news.

"Foxtrot closing… Distance 2,553…2,024…1,489…1,001…561…058… Impact!" One of the radio operators reported the status of the first strike, which was a success.

An impact was made before the Leviathans could fully submerge themselves into the high seas. 

"Target Group Status. Alpha Track Numbers. Alpha 111111 to Alpha 100012 confirmed hit! Three hostiles sunk." Another radio operator reported to the Fleet Admiral.

"Now, Alpha 100001 confirmed hit! Hostile sunk." 

"Alpha 100011 confirmed hit!" 

The pieces of good news kept piling up for the Fleet Admiral as several Leviathans were directly hit by the tomahawks. An impact of the missile would probably be enough to split their body into two.

Though… Not every sea monster was successfully hit by the barrage.

"Alpha 100111 has submerged! Strike missed."

"Alpha 101111 failed to strike."

"Alpha 100112 has fully submerged! Strike ineffective."

Three Leviathans of the herd managed to escape their doom and submerged into deeper waters. When the news of their actions was reported, Abraham felt the need to eat fish for dinner.

He wasn't happy after the first-strike protocol failed. 

Wasting millions of dollars for freedom warheads should have complete results. But he understood that reality wasn't as simple as the games he had played.

There were dozens of variables, which was why when striking a target. Any military would send more than one bomb just to be sure.

Silence encapsulated the Combat Information Center, though the alarm kept blaring throughout the metallic interior of the UNS Light Bringer.

"Target group has not changed its trajectory. Distance 27,143 meters. Speed 45 knots. Depth 125 and sinking." An intelligence officer reported the relayed information of the radio operators.

Although, it was saddening that all of the sea monsters didn't get terminated by the first strike. Their chances of survival were greater than before as only three Leviathans were left.

"Harpoon is on sight and is requesting for landing. Sending permission to aviation control." A communication operator said while relaying the permission order.

"Connecting Harpoon transmission to aviation control." Another communication operator uttered and sent the connection to the aviation control of the UNS Light Bringer.

*Ding!*

While Abraham carefully listened to his naval personnel, a familiar mechanical bell rang inside his mind. He raised an eyebrow, not because of its arrival, but for its lateness.

'The sub mission prompt is incredibly late.' He thought to himself as the monotone voice of Systema resounded inside his head.

●| Escape(Sea Surveillance Sub-Mission) |

➤| A Herd of Leviathan has set its sights on the United Navy sailing across the high seas. While engagement against such creatures is probable, it is the most destructive and gruesome path. The Fleet Admiral must save the fleet from inevitable doom. Because of this sub mission, the maritime security mission will be pronounce a success after the sub mission's completion. The reward for the sub mission's success will be 1,000 Source Points. |

When Abraham heard and read the digital screen before him. His eyebrows furrowed as he realized something significant that Systema had indirectly declared to him.

'I was half expecting Systema to ask for the termination of the Herd of Leviathan. After all, despite not completely eradicating them, we are on the path of victory.'

'Perhaps, there is some unknown variable I am ignorant of.' Abraham wasn't stupid and understood the implications of some things.

At any rate, the more he thought about it, the more confident he became about the theory of an unexpected variable lurking in the abyss of the high seas.

With this in mind, Abraham desired to change their strategies to complete retreat and withdraw to the Port of Dawn for resupply and repair.

He looked at Captain Lux, who immediately noticed his gaze and humbly lowered their head.

"Does the Fleet Admiral wish for something to be done?" Captain Lux calmly questioned while Abraham merely looked at him for a second before gazing back at the monitor screens.

"Order the change of strategies. We must completely retreat. Full speed ahead, withdraw to the Port of Dawn." Abraham ordered with a serious tone.

Captain Lux was dumbfounded by the unexpected order of the Fleet Admiral. He wondered what could have happened to their operation that forced the Fleet Admiral to complete withdrawal.

However, despite his shock, Captain Lux followed the orders of the Fleet Admiral with unparalleled loyalty.

"Send a transmission to the data link. The Fleet Admiral has ordered a complete withdrawal. The UN armada will be changing its routes and returning to the Port of Dawn."

His stern words echoed throughout the Combat Information Center, which poured cold water on the anticipating naval personnel. But their excitement wasn't out of place.

This was their first time fighting against a monster, so they might find themselves interested in putting Sea Monster Hunter in their resume.

However… Even though they had some resistance from the complete withdrawal order, they understood the consequences of failing to follow the issued commands.

At the minimum, they would be court-martialed. At worst, executed.

So, the naval personnel swiftly followed the commands of Captain Lux and sent a transmission of the order into the data link. As such, every ship would be able to hear the withdrawal orders.

"Transmission sent!" One of the communication operators relayed, while another one followed.

"UNS Zarya has acknowledged the orders of the Fleet Admiral."

"UNS Guardian of the High Seas has acknowledged, Sir."

With the confirmation of the two warships, the complete withdrawal order was undergone. The leading warship, UNS Zarya, changed its routes while the others behind it followed.

Abraham watched through the radar system relay and noticed that one of the remaining Leviathans was directly heading toward them.

But since the Leviathan was submerged, a lot of anti-ship or anti-surface missiles couldn't be used. Though… There were always anti-submarine missiles and torpedoes.

"Take it out." Abraham calmly ordered and another weapon release was granted to the CIC of the UNS Light Bringer.

"Unlatching torpedo tube, Fox open." One intelligence officer reported as another followed.

"Firing Mark 54 lightweight torpedo in 3…2…1…"

"Mark 54 lightweight torpedo launched. Designated target, Alpha 100112."

A torpedo was launched from the torpedo tubes of the UNS Light Bringer. It was pushed outward and fell to the waters with a splash before propelling towards the submerged target.

"Foxtrot distance to target, 12,315 meters!"

"Distance closing in! 10,154…7,561…5,111…2,745…121… Impact!"

In the radar system array, the blinking dot of both Alpha 100112 and the Mark 54 lightweight torpedo faded from the machine as though they hadn't existed.

Abraham calmly watched the results of the impact and saw no more issues with it. This made him sigh in relief as it would be problematic if something did happen.

"Sir, Harpoon has been transported to the hangar deck. Operatives have been withdrawn." One of the communication operators reported the status of the Harpoon.

Abraham nodded at the operator as the safety of his personnel was paramount in his eyes.

"Good, have them take a res-" Before he could continue responding to the communication operator, one of the naval personnel shouted at him with bad news.

The naval personnel was a radio operator who discovered something significant.

"Fleet Admiral! Our active sonars have detected a large creature at the bottom of our nearby location. It has a bigger radar signature than the Leviathans we have seen!"

The report shocked Abraham, but sadly, it was merely the beginning of what was to come.

"Sir, look!" An intelligence officer pointed at the monitor screen recording the status of the merchant vessel.

The waters below the Pinguis Arca got rougher as bubbles began to escape from underneath.

"Unknown signature is elevating its depth. 250…164…100…45…12… It's on the surface!" 

*BOOM!!!*

What followed was a reverberating explosion that echoed throughout the high seas. The merchant vessel was rammed into pieces, and a massive sea monster leaped from the rough seas.

It resembled a Leviathan, but a lot bulkier, stronger, and had dozens more tentacles. Its appearance wasn't the thing that amazed Abraham. It was its size.

The length of the newly-emerged adversary was at least 250 meters in length. It was a monster amongst monsters. 

Watching the unknown Leviathan take space on the monitor screen made Abraham realize why the sub mission focused on the armada's retreat.

Fighting against such a massive sea monster was suicide. Especially with its distance from the small fleet. A withdrawal was probably the only option they had.

And Abraham wasn't against it.

"Prepare yourselves! Concentrate on the withdrawal and don't attract the attention of the unknown Leviathan." Captain Lux gave several orders to the naval personnel.

He finally understood why the Fleet Admiral wished to withdraw.

"Target Identification. Tagging… Target Classified!"

"Leviathan Alpha."