Into The Horizon: An NHS Fanfic

Chapter 2: First Contact

1442 Hours, AES Emerald

"Find those cretins! We must not let them get away knowing about us!" The captain of the Annonrial cruiser ordered as he look at his own radar display. The Conductive Magnetic Radar, the current development in radar technology by their people as a result of wanting to reproduce the Magic Detection Radar in more vast quantities along with the realization that their opponents in Mu are undetectable by the MDR. They are relying on its 23 nautical miles range in surface detection to see and aim at the enemy. Unlike their Mu counterparts, the Annonrial Empire has very little knowledge in science, and with most of their ships and weaponry being reproduction, though vastly inferior, to that of their masters, they have no grasp the concept of mechanical rangefinders. The only other equivalent they have are Mana-Point Rangefinder, a magic equivalent of Laser Rangefinder, but with little knowledge in science, much less microelectronics, they could not add an aiming system or automated computation modern systems have.

Compared to Entia, which is experimenting with Radar Rangefinders, along with its aiming assistance system, Annonrial can know the distance, but has to manually triangulate the firing formula. With this flawed system, their accuracy will still rely on mathematical skills of their own people.

"MCR Warning Receiver detected radio waves emanating from 21 nautical miles away! Bearing 356! traversing at 23 knots!" Called out the tactical officer of the cruiser. The captain, delighted, stood up from his seat. "Oh! Are those the damn cretins? Can we detect them?" He looks at the operator of the Magnetic Conductive Radar, the Tactical Officer.

Since the MCR should have 23 nautical miles range, they should be detecting the enemy vessels now. "N-No sir, there is nothing on the MCR.." The words of the tactical officer confused them. The MCR should be able to detect the enemy, but they are not detecting them?

In bewilderment, the captain used magic to look and zoom in at the direction of the contact with his own eyes. There, he saw 4 ships - 2 battleships and 2 destroyers. Soon enough, the Tactical Officer calls out. "MCR Detecting 2 ships, 2 light cruisers! Bearing 354!"

The captain turns to look at his tactical officer, confused he rushed to the console, and true to the tactical officer's call, it is indeed showing 2 "light cruisers". With confusion gripping his head, fear starts to sit in. Their Magnetic Conductive Radar in which they are proud of is either malfunctioning, or the enemy has low radar observability. Something that only records of their masters had.

With a firm resolve, he look sharply at the enemy group. "We need to take back atleast one of them with us. Battle stations! We are taking those barbarians! Destroy the large ships first! Tactical Officer, make them blind." With his pride and confidence in their ships, they decided to take on a seemingly more powerful enemy.

1445 Hours, HEMS Targe

"Enemy contact at bearing 15! speed 25 knots! 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers!" Called out the Tactical Officer as their radar ping the enemy ships. The lookouts also called out from all the other ships, indicating the same. As planned, the 4 ships formed up a battle line, with the Blueberry in the lead and the Coconut between the battleships. As the battleships train their gun on the enemy cruiser, the cruiser also does the same, only faster. A lot faster.

Soon, the battleships opened fire, but to their surprise, the cruiser also opened fire. They are still 20.4 Nautical miles away. Most cruisers they have equipped with 203mm guns only have a maximum range of 17, and effective range of 14. Although the battleships have a maximum range of 21 nautical miles and effective firing range of 18, their gunnery training allows them to have a 64 percent accuracy in this weather and sea conditions.