Into The Fires Of Conflict

The Anomaly

April 17th, 1950
Norwegian Sea, United Kingdoms of Europe

HMS Northern Light, Royal-class Aircraft Carrier, 12th Operations Fleet, Northern Fleet

In a stormy night, a fleet of ships steam through the rough weather. At its center were the massive carriers, Northern Light and the old but famed South, most their planes stowed beneath the flight deck.

On the bridge, it's business as usual.
Head of the fleet was Vice-Admiral Charles Allerson, a veteran of the Northern War. His eyes currently gazing on the charts of the sea lanes in European waters, as his ships were scheduled to be back in harbor 3 hours earlier.

It was then a thunder crackled through the air, startling the crew. He then looks out to the flight deck, knowing that he has currently 20% of his above deck while the rest are below in the hangars. But this isn't his full force as per regulation and protocol, half of a carrier's air group should be aboard in peace time.

With 2 carriers in the force, he has a combined total of a single complete air group. As he watches outside for the weather, it was then a communications operator called to him.

Communications Operator:"Admiral, a message from London."

He furrowed his brows, he was part of the Northern Fleet, and its HQ is in Hamburg, not London who commands the Western Fleet.

He takes the telegram from the man and reads it.

'Admiral, turn towards Ireland, strange readings received from nearby meteorology stations on the western coast of Ireland. Get there ASAP.'

He's confused by the message, why? Well, he is over a hundred miles away and they are asking him to check it out. Shouldn't they ask someone closer or is his carrier force is the closest to the anomaly. Regardless, he follows the order. He turns to the radio operator and orders him to relay the following message to the fleet.

Allerson:"All Ships, set a course for Ireland. Speed, All Ahead 2/3. Standard Escort Pattern."

All 37 ships turn towards Ireland, increasing their speed. The fleet's 2 carriers, Northern Light and the famed HMS South follow suit.

================================================================

Coast of Ireland

HMS Wakefield, Lafayette-class Light Cruisers, 32nd Cruiser Squadron, Western Fleet

The Wakefield steams through the waters of the Atlantic during the night, its crew currently doing business as they work in their stations. On the bridge, spotters are trying to find anything indicating the odd readings from the meteorology stations. So far nothing visual, but the scout aircraft crew says otherwise.

Reports states that when they flew over it, their equipment started to malfunction including some of the instruments for the aircraft. With the ships turning and steaming ahead to investigate, they soon suffered the same fate as the aircraft. In a 3 miles radius, every electronic started to malfunction or fry itself out. 'Atleast the radio works', the crew of the ships thought.

The captain of the vessel and the commander of the squadron is Captain Reginald Gerbrier, a Parisian French,who is a newly promoted officer who currently has no experience other than the 20 days and 4 hours he is been with the squadron. Even though he was given experience for commanding a crew of a vessel, he has no real experience leading a squadron.

This made sometimes a rash commander. Still in doing so, he kept the squad together but this didn't stop bad words from his officers and sailors that gave him a small reputation. But this doesn't count to the incredibly idiotic action he just did, which is to stay 2.5 miles from the epicenter of the anomaly.