Rust - Chapter 495



Only Krnovel

RUST -495

Maru led a fleet of five Aegis ships into the Atlantic Ocean.

Now that we know where the Southern Forces and the 2nd Carrier Strike Group were going to negotiate, the plan was to go there first and take up position and wait.

If the Confederates sent a ship, we had to cut it down and eat it, and we decided to settle down first and wait in case they contacted us using something like an airship.

[You’re using radio interference.]

“okay.”

If they approached disguised as Southern troops and boarded the aircraft carrier, it was only a matter of time before they could do anything. As long as the guys on board didn’t scuttle it, that is.

Srrrrrrrr-

Maru’s forehead wrinkled as he pulled out Eclipse. The scabbard and blade used to fit together perfectly, but now they felt noticeably loose.

‘This flew further than I thought?’

I was wondering how it could hold up well up to 12.7mm, but it seems that blocking the 30mm machine gun while attacking the smuggling village was a big deal.

If you feel like the cutting power is lacking, you can increase the cutting power by shooting the blade directly with Rsh-12, so attrition was unavoidable.

‘But it doesn’t decrease that much like this.’

What should I do?

First, Maru was collecting swords made from monster byproducts.

‘Because bullets made from monster byproducts are effective. A knife would probably work too, to some extent.’

Warheads using monster byproducts were effective against biological tissue.

The bullets effectively pierced the monster’s hide, and the fragments that broke off as they dug into its flesh hindered its regenerative abilities. They worsened its wounds, almost as if they were causing an immune rejection reaction.

Instead, the armor penetration was relatively weak. It was weaker than a regular armor-piercing bullet. Its performance was barely similar to that of a regular bullet.

This was also the case when it was made into a sword. It was strangely effective at cutting through leather or bone, but somehow it was not very good at cutting through things like armor or reinforced concrete.

Tsk-

‘Eclipse was the best because it could write anything well.’

I used it sparingly because the researchers said it would be consumed, but I decided to use it with determination because I thought it would be okay, and then it suddenly decreased so quickly.

[This is a report from the Crow Scouts. Five coastal patrol ships are approaching the negotiation point.]

“Coastal patrol ship?”

[Based on information gathered, it has been confirmed to be a High-Endurance patrol ship.]

“Isn’t the Coast Guard part of the Department of Homeland Security?”

After the declaration of the Empire, the Department of Homeland Security became an intelligence agency under the Empire, so those ships were Empire-affiliated ships.

[Yes.]

“I think I smelled something from the empire?”

It seemed as if they had received information that the Southern Forces had seized the 2nd Fleet and were rushing towards it.

But what can I do?

The carrier battle group cannot yield.

[Approaching patrol ships. Three Legend-class ships, two ocean-going patrol ships, and a submarine.]

The Empire must be desperate, too. After all, it’s a problem involving an aircraft carrier battle group. If we’re going to sit down at the negotiating table, we have to bring out everything we can, no matter what.

Maru nodded.

[What should I do?]

“Have you confirmed where the carrier battle group is?”

[Outside reconnaissance range.]

“Expand the reconnaissance range. Find them first and go out to meet them.”

The blue sky and crows scattered in all directions.

The situation was becoming urgent. The Imperial Coast Guard Fleet was heading to the meeting place, followed by an Aegis destroyer approaching from the southeast. It appeared to be a destroyer belonging to the Southern Forces.

If it weren’t for the radio interference, one Aegis destroyer would have eaten them all up, but because of the radio interference, the radar range of both sides was reduced to around 40km, so by the time the two sides observed each other, they were already within engagement range.

The Imperial fleet was the first to attack. They fired ship-to-ship missiles from the Legend-class patrol ships that had been modified, and the Southern Aegis ships successfully intercepted the 12 ship-to-ship missiles fired by the Empire.

At the same time, the Southern forces’ missiles that counterattacked were aimed at the Imperial fleet, but the Southern forces’ Aegis ships began to sink before they could confirm the results of their counterattack.

A torpedo fired from an Imperial nuclear submarine hit an Aegis ship. The first 12 ship-to-ship missiles fired were decoys.

The Southern Aegis ships were unable to avoid the crossfire of two nuclear submarines. A single torpedo hit blew off the stern of the Aegis ship, and it seemed that the battle would end there, but three of the eight ship-to-ship missiles fired from the Southern Aegis ships hit the Imperial fleet.

One Legend-class ship was sunk, and one ocean-going patrol ship was severely damaged. It barely avoided sinking, but had to be immediately handed over.

Since one ship was in short supply, the ocean-going patrol ship could not be abandoned. In the end, a Legend-class ship left, dragging the ocean-going patrol ship with it.

The Imperial fleet was now reduced to one Legend-class ocean-going patrol ship and two nuclear submarines. Then, a Southern submarine arrived a little later and targeted the departed Legend-class ship.

Maru, who watched the fierce naval battle in real time, shook his head.

‘It’s a mess.’

If only the satellite had worked properly, it wouldn’t have been like that. Or, if there had been no radio interference, so we could have launched reconnaissance planes or drones, it would have been like that.

‘There are no birds in the middle of the ocean, so it would be reasonable to fly a reconnaissance plane or a drone, but why didn’t they do that?’

That was the reason why I decided to take over the aircraft carrier. Since there would be no attacks from flocks of crazy birds in the middle of the ocean, I could operate my fighters freely.

“Tell them to look into the situation as closely as possible.”

How much time had passed since the crows were ordered to closely observe the situation?

The crows that had gone out on a long-range reconnaissance mission to find the carrier battle group were the first to return.

[The 2nd Carrier Squadron has been discovered. Here is the reconnaissance footage.]

The fleet in the reconnaissance footage looked miserable.

The aircraft carrier had clear black marks here and there, and the marks on its deck were obvious. The same goes for the escort ships. There should have been at least four Aegis ships in the carrier battle group, but there were only two here. Even one of them was half-destroyed, and the rest were not in good condition.

[1 aircraft carrier, 2 Aegis ships, no submarines confirmed.]

The aircraft carrier is still alive, so it is a carrier battle group.

“How long will it take until we meet?”

[At this rate, it’ll take 3 hours.]

“Full speed ahead. Crow bombers are ready to launch at any time.”

Caw!

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The Atlantic Fleet, which was disbanded in 2011, was re-established seven years later in 2018. This was due to increasing pressure from Russia in the European region. Its home port is Norfolk, Virginia.

The Atlantic Fleet was tasked with maintaining the security of the Atlantic Ocean as well as supporting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

So, in the early stages of the situation, they were waiting in the North Sea to put pressure on Russia during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

‘Where did the problem start?’

Rear Admiral Edmund Garfield, commander of Carrier Squadron 2, lit a stiff cigar. The flight deck, seen from the bridge, showed the dire situation at the time.

A treatment that had been supplied stably was suddenly discontinued. After that, a treatment that needed to be taken once a week suddenly changed to needing to be taken three times a day.

It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been distributed properly, but the medicine was discontinued due to problems with Riser Pharmaceuticals and Monad Pharmaceuticals, which were in charge of production.

As the mutant virus spread, soldiers with intermittent explosive disorder began to act up.

The situation deteriorated to the point where the infected pilots boarded fighter jets and launched missiles, starting with a shooting incident.

There was even an incident where soldiers infected with cannibalism took over an Aegis ship. There was a fight with those who tried to take over the Aegis ship and desert, and there was massive damage.

What’s more, while the ship was being repaired in a French port, it was attacked by a force that tried to seize it. In the end, on the way here, two submarines, two Aegis frigates, and a supply ship were lost, and half of the aircraft on board were blown up.

Fortunately, about half of the cannibals cooperated voluntarily, so it ended at this level. If not, the fleet would have been lost.

[There are 3 hours left at the current speed to reach the sea area promised to the Southern Army.]

“Is the reconnaissance plane ready to take off?”

[Yes, takeoff is possible, but landing is not certain.]

“···Radio interference?”

[It seems to have gotten a little worse.]

Even the high-performance radar of the Aegis ship was limited to a range of only 20 to 25 miles (32 to 40 km). It got worse, so now it must be around 20 miles. In that case, there was no choice but to launch a reconnaissance aircraft.

“Launch a reconnaissance plane.”

[Prepare for takeoff of the reconnaissance plane.]

Where did the United States go and suddenly there is a Confederacy?

What kind of dog bone is that, Confederate Army?

Even if China launched a surprise nuclear attack, the United States of America would not collapse because of something like that. There had been talk for a long time that the southern regions, centered around Texas, would secede from the Union.

But the United States really was dissolved…

With the White House out of contact, the Pentagon out of contact, and even the direct satellite line down, a Confederate agent, Virginia Langley, offered to negotiate.

‘If we continue like this, the fleet will be annihilated without doing anything.’

The agent stabbed him where it hurt the most.

‘If the commander takes off his clothes, that’s it, but what crime did the officers below commit?’

Whatever the reason, it was only natural that the power had been blown. Major General Edmund Garfield had no intention of evading responsibility.

‘The Federation is gone. The East, centered around New York State and controlled by the Department of Homeland Security, has declared itself an empire.’

With the Empire, the East was completely unified. The debts of the United States were paid off, and the military command was reorganized under General Dan Brown.

If there was something to be gained, there was also something to be lost. Just as the Confederacy, which declared secede from the Union, lost the support of the Union troops, so the Easterners, which declared an empire, lost the support of the Union troops stationed overseas.

The federal troops dispatched overseas are also in a difficult situation. With the United States of America gone, the immediate problem for the federal troops is supply.

In a situation where they had to stand in line no matter which side they were on, the Southern Forces proposed sending agents to the 2nd Carrier Strike Group to negotiate.

Just sitting at the negotiating table, they said they would provide some supplies along with the original cure, so it wasn’t a situation where they could unconditionally refuse to negotiate. General Edmund Garfield decided to negotiate first, secure supplies, and then check the situation on the mainland.

‘They said there are 7 Aegis ships in the Southern Forces.’

It was information the agent proudly revealed.

‘It matters how many ships come out.’

If you’re thinking of something else, I’ll bring more than three ships. Since the agent went to see the situation here, if you’re only thinking of negotiating, one ship will come. Otherwise, more will come.

[The reconnaissance plane has returned. Five Aegis ships are approaching.]

“Five feet?”

[Yes, there are airships. They are huge airships.]

What is an airship?

[I am uploading a video taken by a reconnaissance aircraft.]

An image appeared on the monitor. Two huge airships and a flock of crows flying in formation. Below them, five white stripes cut through the waves.

Five Aegis ships were heading this way.

‘Those guys. It was a trap.’

There was no supply ship. They said they would provide supplies even if we just negotiated.

[Chief, give your orders.]

It was too late to run away. The situation was not good enough to shake off the pursuit of five Aegis ships. Fighting was pointless. However, they could scuttle it and make it a mess.

“Send a reconnaissance plane and tell them. If they get too close, we’ll scuttle them.”

Rather than hand over the legacy of the United States military to those who practice deceit, it would have been better to bury it in the ocean.

[We received a call from a reconnaissance plane. They said they were not part of the Southern Army, but of the Holy Ark Kingdom.]

Where is that again?

General Edmund Garfield’s eyes furrowed.

[The current King of the Holy Kingdom, Vladimir Kalin, wants to negotiate directly.]

“Vladimir Kalin? Wasn’t he the war hero?”

“Yes, that’s right. He is someone who made brilliant contributions to the Japanese retreat and the war against China.”

What the hell happened on the mainland?

The Confederacy, the Eastern Empire, and now the Holy Kingdom?

[The Holy Kingdom wants to meet the King in person for negotiations.]

“The King? How many people are coming?”

[The King says he will come alone.]

“What? Alone? Without any attendants or bodyguards?”

[yes.]

“Do you have time until your scheduled meeting with the Confederates?”

“Yes. There are about 4 hours left.”

If that’s the case, then yes.

“···Okay. I’ll listen to your story. I’ll treat you with respect.”

A king who was a war hero.

You want to come alone? Are you an idiot or a hero?

A faint frown appeared at the corner of General Edmund Garfield’s mouth.