Into The Horizon: An NHS Fanfic

Chapter 1: An Unknown Enemy

6 Months Earlier, January 1st 1898.
United Kingdom of Entia, Capital Saelum.

"Happy new year!" Festivities is blooming not just in the United Kingdoms of Entia, but the entire world of Winnos. Not only is it new year, but it also marks the 7th year anniversary of their victory against the Havik Empire that started a world war beforehand. In this small planet, comprising of only 4 continents, and with over 80 percent of it being oceans, humans have traversed and fought in the seas. The vast oceans, along with powerful storms, made it a harsh environment for land dwelling species, but humanity has thrived and lived, with many of their capabilities and technologies centered around their waters. 

However, unbeknownst to everyone in this world, as all nations celebrate, a bright light engulfed the world, and when they opened eyes, though seemingly nothing changed, a fight - a war for their very survival is about to begin.

February 18th, 1898. MTS Greenday, Sea of Lhorus, 0900 Hours.

In a bright Friday morning, a convoy of merchant vessel carrying various goods are traversing the northern side of the Sea of Lhorus. With de-mining efforts being done in the Sea of Winnos, the body of water that is in the center of the continents, many merchant ships choose to just do a detour rather than risk their vessels, cargo, and lives. 

Diego Marcelo, the leader of this convoy and the captain of MTS Greenday, is enjoying a cup of tea when a sudden jolt spills the hot drink into his chest. "Oww! What in the world!?" with an annoyed expression, he hurried wipes himself, only to stumble and fall as more sounds of explosions and splashes echo throughout his cabin.

Hurrying out, he can see frantic men running about the hallways, one of which stopped to warn him. "Boss! We are being attacked by pirates! No flags and are armed with warships to boot!" 

Confused as the man, Diego replied "What are our gunners doing then?! I thought you guys had experience being Q-ships back in the war?!" 

"We are! But those are no mere destroyers! They even got cruisers with designs I have never seen before! Havik cannot be here, and nobody in all nations have that aesthetic to them!" the bearded man replied frantically as more explosions occur.

"What are the convoy doing then!? Run!" Diego says, before running quickly to the bridge and talking to the helmsman. "Full escape speed ahead! I give no damn if we blow her steam out, we are making a run!"

The helmsman nodded and went for full speed ahead before rolling the helm hard to starboard. Then, Diego grabs the radio and relays a message to the entire convoy "Full speed on starboard, mid and rear ships, lay down the interference smoke, forward ships contact any military navy that can save our asses, that is no mere pirate armada nor are they of any known affiliation!"

After relaying his message, he takes a spyglass and looks at the enemy ships, disbelief coming out of his mouth a second later. "What in the world..?" What he sees are ships of no conventional design - they are angular in the citadel but similar to that of a tumblehome in the waterline. No visible smokestack or even smoke for that matter either. "Looks like one of those newspaper doodles." He mutters, before he saw flashes of light come from the largest of the enemy. Soon, large columns of water erupted around his ship, but so far only 3 of out the 7 merchant ships are lightly damage.

Soon, his relayed orders are being accomplished, and the smoke from the rear ships block his sight of the enemy. The smoke they are using are called Interference Smoke, it prevents radio waves from penetrating through it, disallowing radiowave-based rangefinders to make decent ranging on battle, though as an effect, it also prevents radio usage from ships covered in it.