Chapter 138
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: #Test (3)
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Captain Fowler raised his hand.
"Even though we've set up a siege net, we couldn't tighten it further due to pressure from the remaining Chinese forces—it's a deadlock, isn't it? So what's the reason the prey slipped out of its nest?"
Chadwick answered.
"It's not that our operatives got exposed. It seems they've gotten caught up in some factional infighting... We haven't gotten solid intel yet. They're in the middle of a massive purge over there. Our sources are laying low. A few have probably already ended up as fish food."
"So right now, we have zero information? We don't even know when or where it broke through? How did we find out the prey escaped?"
"Whoa, whoa. Let's take the questions one at a time. I'll answer in order. First off, there are a few things we need to verify. Codename 'Point Charlie 172'—apparently, Rear Admiral Lei Yanli has taken control of the newly seized destroyer Kunming. As you know, Charlie 172 is like the command center for the Haiyintang sector."
Winter flipped through a few pages of the documents. He didn't have a "speed reading" skill, but he quickly found the relevant section. A file on the former Chinese military faction that had absorbed refugee groups and criminal organizations.
Charlie (C) stood for the first letter of "China." Point Charlie thus referred to Chinese strongholds. Haiyintang (海銀堂) was one of them, dominating the waters east of San Francisco International Airport.
"Three destroyers, five frigates, numerous other vessels. Armed personnel estimated at over 30,000."
It read like a full-fledged warlord outfit.
The scale was impressive, but frontline action squads were armed with clubs and knives. Still, numbers made them threatening. The difference between an army and thugs went beyond weapons—it was discipline.
Chadwick continued with background not in the documents.
"Lei Yanli was originally in the General Political Department before transferring to the navy as a political commissar. He's more purebred Communist Party member than soldier. So he's clashed with mainstream commanders. Honestly, I figured he'd get purged soon, but things are turning weird. If it's true, he must've launched a surprise rebellion."
"Changzheng 9 is the opposing faction?"
"It's just a guess, but they probably didn't have time for that. Likely a mutiny onboard. If Rear Admiral Lei was in his right mind, he'd have planted his own people inside Moby Dick. The nukes are the core of their bargaining power. Without Moby Dick, their leadership takes a serious hit. They had to seize it."
The intel team leader kept swapping "Changzheng 9" for "Moby Dick." Winter found it odd that no one seemed bothered. It wasn't an ill-fitting metaphor. Both were elusive prey. But...
'It never gets caught in the end.'
Not only that—it attacks and sinks the pursuing whalers. Only one survivor. Depending on the view, it could foreshadow the deaths of most people in this room.
"We don't know the exact time or method of escape yet. The bay's inner waters are a total mess. But a Japanese sub that stopped by here after midnight picked up Moby Dick's acoustic signature on its way back to Angel Island. They crossed paths outside the siege net."
Acoustic signature meant a vessel's unique noise profile. Like a ship's fingerprint.
Talk about coincidence. Jinryu, of all subs. Captain Umehara seemed like a decent guy. For the long-term future of this world, more people like him would be better.
Would he make it? Winter focused on the briefing.
"Why didn't they sink it then? That would've ended this damn mission."
A complaint from someone outside the main Q&A duo. A Blue Skull team lieutenant. Winter didn't know him. The fatigue on his face was thicker than most.
Chadwick's response.
"They claim a malfunction let it get away."
"Malfunction?"
"That ship—Jinryu or whatever—defected before official commissioning. It was still in trials, scheduled for this spring. Great performance, but bound to have glitches. Funny how it conked out right then."
"You don't buy it."
"They've got quite a few Japanese ships over there."
The inner bay had shallow waters. Torpedo blasts would reach the surface easily. Underwater explosions had smaller range in air but greater power within, especially vertically.
"So they hesitated?"
"Risk of slaughtering their own civilians, plus the chance of a miss. Weighing both, we're hoping they chose to be conscientious idiots."
Hoping? Odd word choice, but no slip. The intel chief flashed a sly smile, teeth stained.
"I've alerted Angel Island. They're doing a thorough inspection. If they fooled us, they'll pay. Since they let the whale slip, might as well get a lesson out of it. Good warning for remaining collaborators."
Ugh. A low, soft groan. Joanna.
The rest of the room was split: half nodding along with Chadwick, half stone-faced.
If it wasn't a real malfunction, how much did Captain Umehara agonize? Winter imagined.
The needed knowledge came from accumulated loops. Once, Winter had met his end in humanity's last bastion—a submarine. A massive steel coffin where people hanged themselves in despair, one by one. It ended in scuttling. He recalled it, then stripped emotions, leaving only the experience.
Torpedoes hunted sound. Some pinged and tracked echoes.
But environment mattered hugely. In shallows, sound scattered off everything. The bay's jagged bottom. The floating city of ships. The ruined city's ambient noise—even late—would outdo a sub's.
'Heard it before. A sub at low speed is quieter than a vacuum cleaner.'
Inflowing river water was trouble too. Freshwater and saltwater formed layers, resisting mix. Sound waves distorted at the interface.
So torpedoes could easily miss. A lost torpedo hunted anew. Hit meant disaster; miss, catastrophe. To boost odds, fire multiples.
Or die together.
Wire-guided, one sufficed. But no hiding after launch. Exposed till end.
Mutual suicide minimizing civilian deaths.
What a choice. Winter pictured the captain grimacing, rubbing his gut. "Anyway, which way did the target head? Do we need to relocate our base?"
A natural question. Chadwick switched screens again. Map with Changzheng 9's projected path. Not far from ops HQ.
"As you see, no need to pack. Last confirmed heading was southeast... Few factions to run to. Not far from our secured ops zone... Even linking with the farthest, Point Charlie 989, we won't have to abandon here."
Winter checked the docs for Charlie 989. Changbaishan. 25,000-ton transport. Another Chinese warlord base.
"Even a whale must surface to breathe. Can't rely on squeezing starving refugees for full supplies—especially fleeing like this. So crew, ready your harpoons for when it surfaces."
Nuclear subs lasted years on fuel. But food forced frequent surfacing. Given sea-city scraps, even looting wouldn't suffice.
On one hand, it might be how warlord bosses controlled subs. Just Winter's guess.
The briefing dragged on. But as details piled up, Winter's grasp was limited. Docs were thick; scanning while listening had limits.
Joanna seemed better off. Makes sense—she'd prepped.
No immediate deployment anyway.
After briefing, Captain Fowler called Winter.
"You're assigned to my team from now on. As I said, my team and I only trust what we see. Rank alone won't cut it. Prove your skills if you don't want grunts disrespecting you."
Winter tilted his head.
"How do I prove it? Lots only show in combat."
"Basics first. Shooting, sims. Rest comes with time."
To the FBI agent:
"Observer, you're free to go. I said it earlier, but average skill won't suffice. No offense. Teams need baseline sync. Sorry for the rudeness at first."
Joanna replied calmly.
"Well, I want to check my skills too."
"...If you insist."
Let's go. Captain led. Chadwick waved playfully.
They moved to an automated range inside the ship. Unlike Fort Roberts—targets never over 21 feet (6.4 meters). But complex shapes, self-moving, timers here.
'Emphasizing reaction speed in confined spaces and ranges.'
Might fight inside Changzheng 9. Even vs. warlord goons, shipboard combat skills mattered.
Captain Fowler to Winter.
"San Francisco Bay fights mimic urban warfare. Obstacles everywhere, enemies pop from anywhere. Hard to distinguish foes from civilians. Sharp observation and snap response are key. 0.1 seconds can mean life or death."
Thus, fast draw under varied conditions was basic, essential. Fail this, no field deployment—even if superior elsewhere.
Good for Winter. Chance to quantify improved combat skills.
Captain gestured.
"Let's start. Skylar. You guide from here."
He stepped back, arms crossed.
Skylar—same rank as Winter, lieutenant. Command hierarchy unknown. Force Recon had captains as platoon leads. Strike teams reorganized per mission. Needed org chart time.
As temp instructor, Skylar explained to Winter and Joanna.
"Observer'll get it watching, but Lieutenant Han probably hasn't seen this training."
Not entirely true.
"First stage: rear draw test. Turn and fire. Fixed targets first, then letter targets, movers."
He hit remote. Timer beeped. Beep.
"Sound means turn and shoot instantly. Over 1 second: fail. No vital hit: fail. FYI, no one on our team exceeds 0.8 on fixed. Means even if they sneak for backshot, they die before 0.8—if we're equal."
Boast with hyperbole. Foes don't announce. But in confined equal fights, reaction ruled.
'Simply put, 0.5-second guy beats two 1-second guys.'
Winter recalled old Western showdowns.
============================ Author's Note ============================
#Moving
The author is moving today.
Yes, today. If I sleep now, up in two hours.
...ㅠㅠ
Next post might be late. Begging pardon from my wicked readers.
#Q&A
Q. Moonlight Sword: @Hearing "three weeks with a bullet to the head," made me think... How's the pain system implemented here?
A. Varies by personal settings. Winter's just using shock-death prevention. Pain's one of realism conditions.
Q. Launellis: @Been thinking since forever with zombie stuff! Why no bugs or animals in zombie apocalypses!? Humanity too disadvantaged!?
A. Well... yeah, probably. Zombie mosquitoes? Hardcore.
Q. Toothbrush in Rice: @OMG... Am I only one who caught Justin Bieber ref!? Evil author... Mind-controlling pure Joara readers... Tunguska this dangerous, folks.
A. Hit recommend to avoid mind control. Works for Wind, Stars, Herd too.
Q. Fake Grin: 이래 뵈도 > 이래봬도
A. Thanks. Fixed.
Q. Petting Ferret: @Tossing 1-month coupons for author's innocence recovery! Pool for chicken. Chimend RIP
A. Yes, received Chicken God with gratitude. Haha.
Q. Lewd Demon F: @Winter, life-ruining like MW3 sub rampage? Seems negotiations with stronger foes always +50% failure.
A. Hmm, makes me sound like bad old thing... Nah. I'm good old thing. Readers know.