Azur Lane: Konvergenz

Chapter 17: Arrival

TASK FORCE: Special Anomalous Investigation Strike Force 'LACUNA - 1'

Task Force status: Nominal

Operation 'Abyssal Incursion' MISSION UPDATE:

Primary Objective:
Escort FGS Hessen/Proceed towards extraction point and RTB via Gateway Protocol

Secondary Objective:
Limited focus on Secondary Objective authorized by HMS Queen Elizabeth/Parameters changed.
- Establish proper contact with faction "Azur Lane".
- Recover remaining intel regarding FGS Hessen from target faction.

CLASSIFIED//MAIN CARRIER AND FGS ALSTER EYES ONLY
As agreed upon in classified meeting [][][][][][][][][][][][], Intelligence ship FGS Alster is being entrusted with the following directives:
- Gather information about internal security within faction "Azur Lane".
- Ascertain capabilities and potential danger of faction "Azur Lane".
- Recover and/or erase all blueprints and information about classified NATO weaponry from any and all "Azur Lane" archives and other storage locations.

Due to the task force intending to establish friendly relations, force is only to be applied in emergencies. Exception: Failure of NATO-blueprint recovery.

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Gerald R. Ford was standing within the deepest and most well-secured part of her carrier. Around her, walls, floors and doors showed a much higher degree of armor and reinforcement than almost everywhere else.
The entire area was quiet, only interrupted by the sounds of planes launching and landing on the launch deck many floors above her, as well as the humming of her ship engines propelling the nuclear carrier forward.
She stood silently, using the chance of her task force members being occupied with resting, deep in thought about matters which were troubling her.

In front of her, tightly secured to the best of her ability inside the safest weapons magazine the carrier had to offer, a type of weapon was stored. One that both her and Queen Elizabeth were strongly against even carrying in the first place.

In front of her, a particular type of bomb was stored. An identification number was imprinted onto each of them - a serial number revealing the true nature of what horror was slumbering here.

'B61-12'

A single one of these hydrogen bombs is enough to wipe out an entire city. And Gerald R. Ford was forced to carry several of them.
She did not like this at all. Why entrust her with one of mankind's most terrifying instruments of war ever invented?

It was clearly stated that deploying a nuclear weapon is strictly reserved for 'life-or-death' situations. Yet despite this, the mere prospect of being able to wipe out an entire city, and with the current amount of warheads even wipe out a small nation in one go, made her feel more and more like a monster.

Isn't it almost ironic? Nuclear power - the power of the atoms themselves... it both powers me via my two reactors, allowing me to proceed forward - while annihilating everyone unlucky enough to be caught in its blast, engulfing them in a fireball.

Gerald R. Ford, on first glance, seems to be worried about nothing. Hessen was rescued, information was gathered, and they could soon return home. All that remains is a quick visit to the Azur Lane, and they could get out of here.

Yet... i still have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind... as if something will go wrong...

She continued glancing at the weaponry in front of her, continuing to stay troubled within the depths of her mind.
She dearly hopes that these terrifying weapons she has unwillingly stored will never have to be put to use. She does not wish nuclear annihilation on anyone.