| 014 | Unfolding Naval Task

Abraham's cold yet calm words echoed throughout the Fleet Admiral's office. They had taken their time to prepare for the Naval Task, so he expected them to be ready. Fortunately, his high officers didn't disappoint him.

"The UNS Light Bringer is ready for the maritime-security mission, Fleet Admiral. We only need your official orders to start sailing." Captain Lux said with unrivaled confidence.

"It is the same for the Port of Dawn, Fleet Admiral. We have stored the needed supplies for the maritime security mission in the UNS Light Bringer. The highways are also near their completion." Lieutenant Commander Morgen reported with a composed tone.

Hearing their words, Abraham felt relieved as things finally came to fruition. He didn't wish to waste any time anymore, especially when their resources were getting emptied from their warehouse.

"That's good. I suppose it's time for us to talk about the maritime security mission." Abraham smiled at his subordinates and took out a map out of nowhere.

Where this map came from was a question that emerged in the minds of his officers. However, they decided to not question the ways of their Fleet Admiral.

Lieutenant Commander Morgen and Captain Lux stepped closer to the table. They observed the map with a scrutinizing gaze and noticed that it was an entire map of their waters.

How their Fleet Admiral managed to get a perfect map of their waters was another question. But, like before, they decided to not inquire about it.

"In this map is the route where our maritime-security mission will take place. As you can see, we are circling the island in a diameter of over hundreds of kilometers." Abraham calmly pointed at the map.

There were some islands on the map, but the Fleet Admiral didn't seem to be interested in them. It seems that only the route mattered, which was a piece of good news.

Traveling to islands were useless for their current operations. Besides, the UNS Light Bringer was a destroyer. Making it act like an amphibious landing dock wasn't an excellent idea for the United Navy.

"From the route you have given us, Fleet Admiral. It will take several days for us to complete the mission." Captain Lux muttered with a frown on his face.

"Correct, the route is somewhat long. Though… It is an accurate one. As such, we will have to spend a week at most in the sea." The Naval Task was something that needed to be completed.

If Abraham wanted the United Navy to grow, he had to roll the gacha and get more ships. Otherwise, they will be stuck in stagnation, which was the worst fate in Abraham's opinion.

"I see… The UNS Light Bringer can handle the duration of the travel. But… Aren't we completely alone on the high seas? Who knows how much danger lurks in its abyss. If something happens to the destroyer, the Port of Dawn will be too late to respond."

Captain Lux's opinion made sense. It was too dangerous to go on a voyage in an unknown sea with unparalleled dangers. 

But, never did the captain know, Abraham had a strategy to win the captain's heart.

"More warships."

"I agree with the route of the maritime security mission. For the growth of our United Navy, risk must be taken to achieve higher rewards." Captain Lux almost said instantly.

Lieutenant Commander Morgen turned his gaze towards the white-bearded old man and couldn't help but shake his head. This old guy was too shameless.

Well, shamelessness and thick skin were paramount to becoming a high officer of the United Navy. They needed to grovel if they desired more budget to be allocated to them.

"Since we have reached a conclusion, I'll also agree with the route. Although the Port of Dawn will not be able to support the voyage, we will continue aiding the growth of the United Navy." Lieutenant Commander Morgen aloofly said.

"Now that we have concluded our route, We shall talk about our strategies in the maritime security mission." Abraham decided to continue their meeting.

The second discussion was as simple as the first one. It was mostly about the strategies they would implicate into their warships. In other words, the maritime security mission was a test.

It was something that could help the United Navy understand how things work in this foreign world. The high seas, ocean life, deep-water ecosystems, and possibly monsters. 

These were subjects that needed to be investigated.

The tactics of the United Navy when dealing with a possible incursion of a sea monster was the deployment of the Seahawks with anti-submarine warfare capabilities. They were the perfect machines against the sea monsters.

This also included the destroyer, UNS Light Bringer.

On the other hand, when speaking of medieval warships. Well… The tactics they would use for this adversary would be seen sooner or later.

At any rate, the meeting of the highest of commands lasted for some time. But after two hours, the meeting was adjourned by Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd. 

They had already discussed what needed to be talked about. The only thing they needed to do was to start applying their discussion to reality.

Captain Lux and Lieutenant Commander Morgen saluted him once again and slowly left the confines of the Fleet Admiral's office. Abraham was left with the tranquil silence of his office.

Abraham then turned his gaze towards the tinted windows of his office and saw the marvelous view of the UNS Light Bringer anchored on the dock. The warship was amongst the greatest testaments of modern warship engineering. Which made him a bit proud.

He also noticed a hundred naval personnel going in and out of the destroyer, resembling an army of ants. It was quite an intriguing sight to see.

'They are working hard…' He smiled before furrowing his eyebrows after remembering that he had little to no information about this foreign world.

'This will be the United Navy's first naval operation. We have to be cautious of threats from both the heavens and the abyss below us.' Abraham clenched his fist and became unwavering in his fears.

Who knows. It might actually be a goddamn world brimming with all kinds of sea monsters or some abyssal horrors of the deep ocean.

 Just imagining the implications of wildlife on the island gave him chills of thought about the things that could be below the sea. 

But, Abraham decided to not think too much about it. He shook his head and threw the thought in the back of his mind. There was no need to fearmonger himself.

The only thing he needed to do was prepare and stay cautious.

"I have dozens of freedom warheads in my arsenal. I'll bombard those sea monsters, if they ever exist, to bits." He muttered as a smirk appeared on his face.

'Damn, those cavemen are beginning to affect me with their single brain cell logic.' Abraham sighed as training with the Marines changed him. He felt his IQ decreased for some reason. 

But, he was getting better at doing his job as the Fleet Admiral. His acting was award-winning since he could command those scary-looking men without having his body freeze out of nowhere.

He didn't even need the aid of Systema when talking to his subordinates, which was a sign of growth on his part.

Speaking of Systema, Abraham asked.

"Systema, can you open the Naval Task screen again?"

*Ding!*

●| Sea Surveillance(Maritime Security Mission) |

➤| The United Navy has little to no information regarding the seas they found themselves plunged into. Their security is in a critical state. To stabilize the security of the United Navy and its region, the Fleet Admiral must deploy a warship for maritime security. The warship must follow the given sea routes and challenges encountered along the way will be considered a part of the mission's subtasks. (Reward: 1,000 Naval Points) |

The day after the meeting of high command...

Early in the morning, the UNS Light Bringer sailed from the Port of Dawn and into the uncharted waters of the high seas. The destroyer followed a route provided by their high command, Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd in traversing such waters.

Where the route came from was a question of many. But they merely thought of it as the unnatural powers of their honored Fleet Admiral.

It was the first for the United Navy to navigate the foreign oceans of an alien world. This gave them trepidations and excitement of what was to come. 

In any case, several hours have passed since the UNS Light Bringer left its respective port. It was hundreds of kilometers away from the island it came from.

Nevertheless, nothing could be seen on the horizon of the high seas. It was but an empty water of limitless solitude. 

Both Captain Lux and Fleet Admiral Shepherd understood that such vastness was natural for the high seas. But there remains a question about how big the new foreign world really was.

Though… This question of theirs was about to be answered as something came into the detection of the UNS Light Bringer's radar array.

――<● >――

1100 Military-Time. 

In the middle of the high seas was the UNS Light Bringer plowing through the roaring waves. The warship's radar antenna rapidly rotated with intense power. It resembled a metallic sea monster hunting for its prey. 

Inside the Combat Information Center(CIC), a radar operator of the UNS Light Bringer detected something in the wide radar array. He furrowed his eyebrows and swiftly announced it.

"Sir, Tango detected 28 degrees, 145 clicks from the Light Bringer." The radar operator calmly reported to Captain Lux, who furrowed his eyebrows and relayed it to the Fleet Admiral.