IMPERIUM

Chapter Two

Our Centurion armour comes off easily, once attached to the home port. I stood in the foot gripping and placed my hands into the shackle like holding. My overcoat lay in wait on the bunk, accompanied by my cap. The chest rose over my head and a criss-cross pattern of steel lay beneath. Each piece slid out and sprang up, showing the human skin that has been hidden for so long from the world. Pressure released from the joints in my boots and forearms as they clicked open and released me from the steel prison.
I found a clean white shirt with a gold rimmed collar and some black baggy sea leggings. I put these on beneath my black overcoat, complete with an Imperial Military broach upon my cap and left of my chest.
I took my cap and walked to dine with Captain Sarl and the other Commanders onboard the Dantalion. After a time of walking the hallways and stairs of the hidden enormity of the Dantalion I found the captains quarters. It was not hard to miss, the furnished interior reminded me of home, the light filled the following corridor giving the cabin a warm glow. As I entered the room it fell silent. I noted three Commander uniforms and Captain Sarl standing around a table containing a map. Lamps hanging on the wall echoed the men upon the furnished wall.
"Now that we're all here," Captain Sarl began. "We are here to discuss our war effort in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean.
Admiral Saig has charged us with laying waste to the NAUF, or the New Axis United Front."
"I believe you are all up to date with the current war effort towards the NAUF?" A man said from a open hatch door on the opposite wall.
"Commodore Drake," A Commander addressed him.
"Sir," Captain Sarl acknowledged. "I do not believe that Commander Wolf has been caught up to speed with our war faring."
"Well," Drake began. "Four months ago Imperium sent out orders to control the Indian Ocean and to establish forwarding bases and reinforce existing ones at checkpoints. These checkpoints include Madagascar and Sri Lanka."
"Australia, as our staging platform for Operation Imperium after the Imperialists affirmed political and military support, began creating the 'Victoria' class sub-surface Destroyers. Such as the Dantalion. And so the Imperial Fleet was created."
As I processed what I had been informed, I could confirm this. Boar and I had been in an advanced Imperial force known as the 'Animals of Anarchy' and had completed tasks for the Imperialists such as ruining international pirating threats.
"After this," Drake began again. "Imperium wanted us to secure our footholds in the Indian Ocean, as the citizens here did not like the terms of Imperialists upon their land. So we done this by sending two Victoria class Destroyers around to each base and unloading reinforcements and firing upon their threatening naval defences."
"Imperium told the world this was the 'Indian Tour' of our new class. And how the locals had been threatening to destroy our supply lines, and as the Victoria class Destroyers were on their way around on tour they were told to take out enemy defences," Captain Sarl commented as he set out wine for each man.
"Yes, indeed they did." Drake agreed. "As the Victorian class ships became known as a serious weapon, Imperium created a new design to increase productivity rates, cutting the amount of resources required to manufacture them. Soon the countries around the Indian Ocean became worried. Imperium now had an advanced fleet and footholds in which can be used to supply an invading force to the West and North West of the Indian Ocean."
"And that brings us to now. Forty six Victoria class Destroyers are in use, twenty two of these are being ordered by Imperium to advance upon possible threats to our Indian-Atlantic supply convoys. A further fourteen are being used along the coasts of the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean to conquer and plunder for resources."
Looking over the map I can see the plan unfolding. We are meant to escort this fleet, along with the Sea Lion, to the UK and America in order for Imperium to pay for their share and to stop them from interrupting or undoing our work upon Africa and Asia. But the Japanese are not wanting a war on their doorstep, and Germany feels they should also have payment for staying away from the Imperialists work, and that founds the NAUF, or New Axis United Front.
"So," I started. "The fleet off the coast?"
"A Japanese NAUF convoy," Captain Sarl answered. "Off the East Coast."
"And the Dantalion, she is ordered to intercept and sink the fleet?"
"Yes, Commander. The Dantalion is tasked with the sinking of the NAUF fleet." Commodore Drake answered.
"Or the prevention of the fleet from entering the Indian Ocean," Sarl quickly added.
"And you have asked me to be here, to make preparation, and yet I have no knowledge of naval warfare," A statement.
"My Commanders and the Commodore are very eligible to prepare the assault. I have requested you here for a quite different reason," Sarl said. "You have an excellent set of skills, Wolf. I have heard word that the NAUF fleet are transporting an old super weapon. Stärke."
I looked up from the map, the last time the battleship Stärke had troubled the Allies was in post World War II, where she was sent to the bottom of the ocean, and now it is claimed that she has returned?
"Sir," I started but was cut short by the quicker Commodore.
"The Stärke was sunk nearly ninety years ago. But if she returns, with NAUF technology it could spell the end of Imperium." He said.
"But how could she return?" Another Commander asked from the opposing side of the desk.
"We have yet to find out if the plans are onboard the fleet's capital ship, Azusa." Captain Sarl stopped the potential tsunami of questions before they could come crashing down. "Wolf, the reason you are here is for me to order you to perform an op onto the Azusa and find the plans on board."
As I listened to my Captain I knew that what he asked was to spare the lives of his crew on what would most likely be a suicidal mission.
Since the war broke out between Imperium and the NAUF, Japan has been performing a much higher rate of self detonations to protect valuable information than any other nation involved.
Sarl turned back to the map, beckoning for me to come over from where I had entered the cabin. I walked over to the desk and glanced over it. It showed the Indian and Atlantic Ocean with pins and string indicating our trade routes towards Britain and America.
"Now, Commander." Drake began again, "After we intercept the NAUF fleet travelling through Indonesia towards the Indian Ocean, two hundred kilometres east of Singapore, we will set a course for the South Atlantic Ocean where we will meet with a merchant convoy to Britain."
He traced a path on the map as he explained our orders, and finally rested upon Cape Town.
"So once we transport the cargo to UK?" I thought aloud.
"Then we return to Cape Town where you will meet with Admiral Saig as you were meant to today." Commodore Drake said, breaking his silence.