RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 41: Case Yellow (Day 13 – Mark)

    "MARK!"

    The signal, given by AWACS and stratostation Okonkwo, arrives in batches as not all Belkan units will employ the same weapons. For example, aircraft carrying JSOW glide bombs or GBU guided bombs will drop their payloads first.

    "Knight Squadron. Pickle. Pickle."

    "Voidling Squadron. Bombs away!"

    The bombs either unfurl their wings and glide from high altitude or dive straight down at the lumbering Royal Navy capital ships and cruisers.

    Then there are Karl Donitz''s U-Boats. These U-boats are among the first Reichsmarine warships to unleash their weapons, starting with their torpedoes.

    "Open tubes 1 to 6. Fire everything!"

    HMS Vanguard, the lead ship of her class and perhaps the most modern vessel of the Erusean Royal Navy to date. Though armed with the smaller 381 mm guns, unlike the HMS Nelson and her two sisters that are recently pressed into service, Vanguard is equipped with the best possible fire control system and detection equipment money can buy. This, in turn, makes Vanguard and her two sister ships the pride of the Grand Fleet. However, underneath the veneer of arguable modernity and prowess lies the crippling trouble of subpar officers, crews, and sailors. To quickly fill the bulk of the Grand Fleet, the Royal Navy opts for a half-half approach in manning the fleet''s vessels, old and new alike.

    What this means is a vessel will be crewed by a group of sailors with varying degrees of skill and experience. Half of the crew is professional sailors while the remaining half is comprised of greenhorn recruits. This allows the Royal Navy to quickly send a vessel out into the ocean. Though it''s an understandable decision to make, given the pressing need for serviceable warships the Royal Navy has, it''s troubled by the fact that the new vessels also employed untested and novel equipment in day-to-day operation. This further complicated the training and servicing of the newer vessels, leading to a starkly reduced performance that only put these new vessels barely more efficient than the older King George V-class battleship, if one needs a direct example. Nevertheless, it doesn''t change the fact that the new warships are a force to be reckoned with. Morale is high with them around and surely the inefficient crew can be offset by modern instruments, provided they all work properly.

    So, moments before disaster, the crew of HMS Vanguard can be seen overwatching the proceeding evacuation of Dunkirk. Despite their overall alertness, one can see the clear haughtiness and arrogance in the ways they conduct themselves on sentry or patrol duties. Such baseless vanity is detrimental to any military force. Though he tries to reign in that behavior, Admiral Percy Addison must admit that there''s a certain pride to be had when hoisting his command flag over the Vanguard. So unless the sailors start spouting bullshit about underestimating their foes, Addison lets it slide as he doesn''t have the needed time to straighten out the Grand Fleet, at least not yet.

    While peering through the fog to gaze at the bustling evacuation beach, Addison silently hopes that tonight will be an eventless night. Unlike many of his peers, Admiral Addison doesn''t believe in the false superiority, given to them by unbaptized crew and warships. Quantity and arguable quality aside, Addison hates dealing with an unknown enemy the most. Belka is literally on the top of his ''Don''t fuck around and find out'' list these days. Yet, unfortunately for the man, he''s picked to be in charge of the Grand Fleet and this whole Dunkirk hot potato. It''s an order from the Royal Family themselves so he couldn''t exactly refuse it without losing his entire career built on blood, sweat, and tears.

    So, here is Addison right now, standing on the conning tower of the Grand Fleet''s flagship, the HMS Vanguard. A ship which is suddenly beset with faint whistling sounds from above.

    "Bloody He-" Addison can''t even finish his sentence before he''s forced to duck down when something punches through the armored roof of Vanguard''s A-turret.