While the United States of America was beginning their operation on Chinese soil, further south and west of the Philippines, the biggest decider of the war was about to play out. Sailing northwards through the South China Sea, the Royal Australian Navy had been smashing apart the PRAN's defences on their man-made islands.
Sydney: What islands? You see any, Canberra?
Canberra: (over radio) Who are you asking, Sydney?
Sydney: Never mind.
Warramunga: You really like breaking the 4th wall, don't you Sydney?
Canberra: We better keep an eye out. The PRAN might have a submarine in the area which could ruin our plans.
Parramatta: The carrier has a point. If the Chinese have a sub near us, it could jeapodise our mission.
Arkansas: (via transmission) Doubt that.
Warramunga: Who is this?
Arkansas: (via transmission) I'm USS Arkansas, pennant number SSN-800. I've been patrolling Chinese waters for quite a bit lately. After Midway, PRAN activity has been a little build-up with the South Sea Fleet.
Sydney: Thank you, Arkansas. Mind you being our extra pair of eyes for this operation?
Arkansas: (via transmission) Sure thing.
Toowoomba: Sydney?
Sydney: We'd need the help as the Collins-class aren't here, and gives us extra experience with the Virginia-class before we get ours first.
Parramatta: That makes perfect sense to me. Canberra-class? How's your air groups looking? You two ready for a big bloody fight?
Adelaide: Don't get so cocky, Parramatta. Our air group won't be enough in case the hostiles bring the PRAAF will them.
Canberra: Sister. From what intel we've gotten, a fair amount of what we're facing is the remaining survivors of the Midway fleet that Eagle Union crushed last month.
Adelaide: Ah. You have a point there.
Warramunga: Are we sure we're enough, Sydney? Two light carriers, two destroyers, three frigates and a submarine vs what could be the entire PRAN.
Sydney: We have experience on our side, plus we have friends in these waters.
Arkansas: (via transmission) Right, I'm detecting a force of around 20 enemy surface vessels and six submarines. Shit... fair amount are Type 052D destroyers, six of them.
Hobart: Are we going to be enough? 20 hostiles vs eight of us? They outnumber us 3.25:1, very one-sided in their favour.
Adelaide: Hobart, I trust Sydney has a plan. Her name is the most decorated and I'm certain she'll lead us to a decisive victory.
PRAN South Sea Fleet
Qingdao: Nanchang. Report from Changzheng 18.
Nanchang: Read it to me, Qingdao.
Qingdao: She's reported a fleet of seven enemy vessels heading north through our territorial waters that their allies keep saying are "international waters" when it's clearly ours.
Changsha: Seven ships? (Laughs) Easy targets, Nanchang. Let's blow them out of the water right now.
Nanchang: Be quiet, Changsha. Did that report mention anything about their nationality? Filipino? Japanese? Maybe the Americans wanting more after Midway?
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Out Of Many, Always Be One: Voyage Of The United States
FanfictionOriginally a rusted relic from a glorious age of American post-war prosperity and the crowning jewel of the nation, the former liner SS United States is taken and commissioned into Eagle Union as an Attack Transport and with the onset of what could...
