Summoning the HKA: Lords of Eternity

Chapter III: Heavy is the Head

Note: The date being 2526 XY is not representative of technological progress akin to our real world. While a direct comparison does not exist as in the world of Oikia [where the HKA is from] as technology developed differently. One can assume that 2526 XY can be equivalent to 2026 AD. So, most technology present within the HKA is similar to that of the 21st Century Earth.

Northern Sea, Qua Toyne

August 16, 2526 XY

A flotilla of four ships moved steadily against the gentle waves of the Northern Sea. The water reminded Utsuho of the Ginsukyan Sea back home. She let out a sigh as she stood on the deck, leaning against the railings. The ship's captain, that HKA officer, heck, pretty much everyone had warned her against it. "You could fall overboard, supreme commander!" one of the junior officers had warned. She couldn't care less about any of that, she wasn't going to fall, they were being paranoid.

The water looked exactly like back home. 'Home,' she thought, could she ever return home? She had been the supreme commander for 6 years now. Most of it, spent in a nation as alien as the world they were stuck in. Now she was stuck here, in a foreign land, transported to a foreign world. The absurdity of it all hadn't bothered her. She wondered what they'd find here. She couldn't lie, she had contemplated all the opportunities for a Private Military Corporation here. Within her 6 years of service, she hadn't accomplished much of note. Oikia had a few conflicts going on that the RSSI participated in, but nothing major was up. Now, things were different. She had been briefed about the new nation. She wondered if there were more. Surely, there were. And surely, there were conflicts where her Company would be hired. She took a small sip from a flask, the drink within was a mixture of 'Qu-Kola: Chan-Cha Lime' and brandy. The concoction was of her own design and she loved it. She let out a deep breath, the smell of the Qu-Kola masking that of the brandy. "We'll figure it out," she told herself before going back to the bridge.

The ship she was on was the largest of the four. A small frigate, built in the 90s. It had a dominating superstructure that covered pretty much all of the deck. The forward deck had a relatively small turret with two barrels, stacked vertically. Near the aft, the superstructure was flush, except for a grid-like pattern of VLS systems. Finally, there was the honeycomb-shaped anti-submarine defence system arrayed on both sides of the deck. The ship lacked the exhaustive fire-control systems, radar, and communications array that is expected of a former HKA vessel. That was expected, it had been an old vessel, kept in a reserve fleet.

Her corporation, the RSSI never maintained a sizable or modern fleet. Newer circumstances changed that. The transference, as she was briefed, saw a greater portion of the Royal Alaxian Navy disappear. One of the fleets had made contact soon after the transference, this led the smart folks to believe that the rest of HKA assets, bases, and all were transferred as well. They just needed to find them. In the meanwhile, the economy was in a downturn and most supply lines that propped up the HKA collapsed. All of this left the HKA short on funds, assets, and even manpower. So when the Defense Minister of the HKA himself paid a visit to make offers, she could hardly refuse. That's how the RSSI ended up with dozens of old Royal Alaxian Navy ships and a contract to explore the waters outside mainland HKA. This would be redundant if they had access to GPS or satellite imaging. However, it seemed that none of the satellites or other orbiting crafts were transferred.

Everyone within the bridge acknowledged their supreme commander entering with quick salutes. The RSSI were a professional force, but discipline was never their strong suit. They were also on edge, it wasn't every day that they'd be carrying the Commander-in-Chief of the RSSI.
"Remind me why you joined us, Miss Reiuji? You are not a part of the official detail of this mission." asked the RAN attache Martin Hawthorne with particular venom.