Chronicles Of Two Powers

[Rewrite] Chapter 4 - Japanese-Aetesian Skirmish.

Aestesian Sea, Former South China Sea

4th Carrier Task Force, JS Itsukushima

| 4:12 | 16:12 | Hours.

"Damn, it's scorching out here!"

The captain grumbled, his brow furrowing as he squinted against the relentless sun. He stood on the deck of the JS Itsukushima, the lead ship of the Itsukushima-Class Missile Cruiser, as it sailed across the seemingly infinite expanse of the Aestesian Sea, formerly known as the South China Sea.

The sun's rays bore down unrelentingly, turning the metal deck into a scorching hotplate beneath his boots. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and the glare of the water was blinding. It was the kind of heat that made every breath feel like inhaling fire.

Yearning for relief from the unforgiving heat, the captain sought refuge back on the bridge. The moment he stepped inside, a rush of blessed cool air greeted him, offering solace from the punishing sun. Yet, even within the air-conditioned room, a persistent warmth clung to his skin, a constant reminder of the blazing sun outside.

Returning to the left bridge wing, he was met once again by the scorching rays of the sun. The sea stretched endlessly in every direction, its surface mirroring the intense blue of the sky.

"Status report: What in the world prompted the 'Amagi' to send us to this remote location?" He inquired, his disappointment evident in his expression. While he had half-expected this outcome, he couldn't help but question Tokyo's decision. They were operating in a desolate location, grappling with sporadic technical glitches in their equipment.

He glanced back at the captain, who shared his sense of frustration. Then, with a sigh, he cast a quick scan over the empty expanse. Standing beside a radar display, all he saw was vast emptiness stretching out into the horizon, stirred only by a gentle breeze—just another mundane day in the relentless heat of the Aestesian Sea.

For the past two days, they have maintained a vigilant watch over the situation since Queen Savannah's departure for the conference. They relied on their recently acquired systems, carefully selected from the Navy's arsenal. The conference garnered significant attention and resulted in an alliance with two superpowers, Japan and the United States of America. In light of these developments, they were committed to returning to the nation's capital to organise another well-coordinated meeting with their newfound allies.

Examining recent events in Japan from a Japanese perspective was nothing short of astonishing. They observed how, despite earnest efforts, the American populace had resorted to such barbaric actions against their government. Anti-government riots had erupted throughout the United States, while protests continued in Japan. However, what struck them was the marked difference in the reports of violence or looting between the two nations. It led one to ponder why Japan, despite facing its share of civil unrest, seemed to have managed it more effectively than the United States.

Disappointed, he shifted to the other side of the CO's seat, his frustration evident as he muttered something under his breath while addressing the captain's back. Meanwhile, his executive officer, with a thoughtful expression, continued to peer through his binoculars, scanning the vast expanse of the sea.

"I heard that the 3rd Carrier Task Force recently had contact with them," the XO explained, "and just beyond this point lies an empire known as 'the Artesian Empire.'"

The captain turned to the XO, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his eyes. "I did not know of that; where did you come across this information, Lieutenant?"

The XO leaned in, his voice low and filled with intrigue. "They mentioned they were contemplating establishing diplomatic relations back in Sollan. However, a colleague from the academy informed me that the Aetesians warned the ambassador sent there that they would declare war on us if we attempted to establish diplomatic ties, no matter the intent."