The Final Voyage

Chapter 1: The Voyage Begins

Chapter 1: The Voyage Begins, August of 1945

Mykell sat at his desk in his home. He knew it would be the last time, at the least several months. He was dressed in his crisp clean Admiral Uniform, fidgeting with a pencil he had found on the desk. His eyes landed on a photo of him and his 2 children when they were younger. Now, both men in their 20’s, Mykell was growing rather old for a military officer, having lived 48 years on this Earth and counting. The photo also included his now passed wife. She had died in combat over Stalingrad as a pilot. He was still saddened over her death. She had taken down 4 German aircraft with her before her aircraft finally gave in.

He knew her death was honorable and not in vain. His family has an outstanding military record, as does hers. Alone, Mykell has sunk 12 German Ships while captain of the Battleship Poltava. Unfortunately, he was reassigned to the Shadow of Destruction due to supposed old age. He was, however, not dishonored, knowing the ships first and only assignment. He had not engaged with the Japanese at all during the war, while others have, and Mykell wondered what the experience of sinking a Imperial ship would be like, or if it would be the same as sinking a Nazi one. He would find out soon enough.

He rose from the chair of his desk slowly, to savor the feeling of it one last time in his home. He briskly fixed his collar and rank insignia, put his Admiral’s cap on, and walked towards and out the door. He locked the door behind him, placed the key on a window frame, and walked towards his awaiting transport. As he drove off, he glanced back once at his home for a brief time, but did not after that.

When he arrived at the shipyard, he looked up at the bridge of the ship in which he would be commanding. It’s twelve inch guns capable of leveling a city in the matter of minutes, and all under the command of one man. He smiled to himself. If this was the last ship he would ever command, he would not mind sinking with the beast of a ship. He walked aboard the ship, still smiling.

He met with his officers, Captain Lieutenant Kael Zerkov, Senior Lieutenants Marthe Chevklioza and Sergei Polesky, and Lieutenants Vladimir Mattlov, Klashmyir Malthus, and Aleksander Vorlski, in the briefing room. Each had outstanding records, despite being reassigned to a heroic suicide mission. The crew knew of the unorthodox assigning of an Admiral in a Captain’s place, especially an aging one, but they dare not question Admiral of the Fleet Chernov Bolovna’s orders, him being one of the most praised naval men that the Soviet Union had. Their route was planned out and they would make a bee line for Southern Japan. They would encounter little resistance as the Japanese were focused on the American Fleet. They quickly accounted for every crew member, every gun, all the rations, and every piece of ammunition they had, which was enough to survive at least a week if engaged with another battleship during that week.

As the Shadow of Destruction disembarked from the harbor, Mykell took one last good look at the mainland, knowing he would not see it for some time, if at all. They passed the Battleships Sevastapol and Poltava, each fired a gun as a salute for the men. Several minutes later, the Shadow had traveled for some distance when a scout reported to Mykell.

“Sir, we have contact with naval vessels several kilometers off our stern. They are unidentified,” said the scout

Mykell rose from his chair, taking the binoculars from the scout’s hands, and looked through them. What he saw surprised him. The Sevastapol and Poltava were following them. Their reasons unknown, Mykell hailed the ships, demanding to know the reason of them following

“We have received authorization to follow you, Admiral Mykell, and we intend to give you as much support as we can,” said a communications officer through the radio link.

“But why? You had the right to stay, yet you follow us,” Mykell replied sternly.

“You may need the Sevastapol and Poltava’s firepower, sir,”

Mykell sighed before replying, “As you wish. It is at your fault,”

The radio link disabled, Mykell sat down to rest, rubbing his forehead. He was already frustrated with this assignment, and now he had to babysit two other battleships. Later, however, he would regret his resentment