Pax Propter Vim [Azur Lane Fanfic]

Chapter 14

December 14, 1941
Off the Coast of Guam

The Azur Lane Fleet departed Guam under the command of Admiral Halsey, pursuing a Japanese fleet attempting blockade maneuvers in the area. At the forefront of the operation was George, who launched waves of F-35s and F-18 Super Hornets, each laden with LRASMs. The fighters soared like sleek predators, releasing their payloads with precision, transforming the sky into a flurry of streaking missiles.

Yet something was off. The Japanese fleet, rather than engaging or fortifying their position, seemed to avoid conflict, retreating strategically. The behavior baffled the fleet's leadership, raising silent questions as they gave chase. For hours, the pursuit continued until the enemy’s intentions became clear—their destination was Singapore, a fortified bastion of the Japanese Empire since its capture from the British.

This decision perplexed the Azur Lane Fleet. Why retreat to Singapore instead of falling back to the Japanese mainland? It was a question they had no time to dwell on. Halsey saw the opportunity and seized it.

"Press forward to Singapore." Halsey ordered, his voice resolute. "Landing ships, stay in the rear. We’re not letting them regroup."

As the fleet advanced into range, Zumwalt, stationed aboard her namesake vessel, surveyed the horizon using her VIZ goggles. Beside her stood Laffey, uncharacteristically awake and alert, her usual sleepy demeanor replaced by an intense focus.

Zumwalt cast a fond glance at her companion, ruffling Laffey’s hair gently. "I will protect you, Laffey." She said with quiet determination.

Laffey muttered a soft reply, retrieving a beer bottle seemingly out of nowhere. "I should be the one to say that, Zummy."

Zumwalt frowned slightly at the sight. "Laffey, drink in moderation, okay?"

"Okay, Zummy…"

The calm moment didn’t last long. Zumwalt’s attention snapped back to the horizon as red dots populated her HUD, each symbol representing a target—a mix of airstrips, depots, and defensive installations. The markings came from the F-47 Shrike drones launched earlier by George, whose crisp voice soon filled Zumwalt’s comms.

"Zumwalt, I’ve marked everything. Give us your best fireworks!"

A faint grin tugged at Zumwalt’s lips. Her hands moved with fluid precision, almost as if conducting an orchestra. The twin 155mm railgun cannons on the bow of her ship roared to life, their projectiles arcing across the sky with a deafening thunder. Each impact brought destruction, shaking the earth and igniting flames across the enemy-held city.

For one full minute, the bombardment continued unabated. Over 100 railgun projectiles rained down on Singapore, obliterating marked targets with devastating force. By the time the cannons fell silent, the skyline of Singapore bore the scars of Zumwalt’s fury.

The fleet wasn’t without opposition. Thirty Japanese CAP aircraft descended upon the Azur Lane Fleet, but they were met by Enterprise and Hornet, whose propeller planes intercepted the attackers. The engagement was swift and decisive, with the Hornet planes holding back to monitor the battle.

Cheers erupted across the Azur Lane Fleet as Zumwalt’s bombardment concluded. The soldiers and sailors couldn’t contain their admiration for her precision and power.

George’s voice crackled over the radio again. "All targets hit! Some structures are still standing, but we’ve rendered 85 percent of their positions inoperable. Their airfields are down—they won’t be able to launch planes anytime soon!"

"What about their fleet?"  Halsey’s voice cut through the noise.

"It’s in disarray." George reported. "They’re scrambling to mobilize what they can. Estimated time until readiness: 45 minutes."