Volume 1: Raging Waves City Chapter 215 Unit-01
Speaker Grover returned from Oulu College with a full load. The all-metal steam battleship in the Ibul Shipyard was somewhat unexpected, but within an acceptable range. No matter what conspiracy Meteorite wanted to use this battleship for, it was impossible to change the balance of power at sea with a hastily built new battleship.
Not to mention that its maneuverability is extremely worrying, without prototype testing, continuous technical polishing and design improvements, there is a high probability that this all-metal warship will capsize and sink into the sea when launched.
Just alert the Saxon engineering fleet.
The biggest gain from Oulu College was undoubtedly Qingkong's change of attitude, which showed that his strategy of starting from common ideas was correct. Now Qingkong was holding on to the meteorite in the Magic Botanical Garden Ruins incident , and was attacking both land and sea. No matter how many tricks you had, under such an absolute crush, you could only be like a clown struggling to do somersaults in the stands.
Ridiculous! Pathetic!
…
The blockade of Cape Harbor by the Saxon Engineering Fleet was very effective. Their main fleet cruised the sea outside the City of Raging Waves, sending recruited pirates to intercept passing ships. Ships with passes to other ports in the City of Raging Waves were allowed to pass, while ships without passes or clearly entering or leaving Cape Harbor would be looted.
The Imperial Navy stationed in Nutao City was unusually calm. Even though the Cape District had repeatedly reported pirates at sea, the Navy remained silent. They even stopped routine sea patrols on the pretext that the fleet's warships needed maintenance, and only sent out reconnaissance airships to monitor the movements of the "pirates".
In addition to the ongoing construction at Cape Harbor, the number of ships at the dock has been greatly reduced. This has put many people's livelihoods at risk, and the Cape District has become unstable.
Shelley led the Rangers to guard the city day and night to maintain public order, but this was not a long-term solution. The prestige of the Chief Detective of Meteorite would eventually be exhausted, and when the Secret Service could no longer suppress the underground turmoil, once it broke out, it would be out of control.
Luke asks about the construction progress of "Unit-01" every day, and the Yanyang Group spends a lot of money every day to appease all parties.
In the seemingly prosperous and peaceful Nutao City, a string in the sky is tightening more and more.
Finally, the Ibul Shipyard sent the news that the construction of "Equipment-01" was completed, and Pan also sent the cruising route of the Saxon Engineering Fleet and the schedule for the next rest and supply.
Luke immediately ordered the "Unit-01" to go to sea with ammunition and fuel loaded, and sailed to the waters of Fishbone Island. Time was tight, and there was no time for the "Unit-01" to be tested. After arriving at Fishbone Island and letting Lady Tasia accept the battleship, all tests and training were carried out while sailing to the attack position.
Luke then took a boat to Fishbone Island.
At night, Unit-01 slowly sailed out of the dock. The moonlight shone on the hull, and the steel battleship, which had not been fully painted in time, had a bright metallic luster in many places.
The warship is nearly 3,000 tons fully loaded, but because its hull is made entirely of steel, it is much smaller than wooden ships of the same level. Compared with those 4,000-ton and 5,000-ton ships, it looks like a child.
Unit-01 was towed away from the Ibul Shipyard by a ship much larger than itself, so that even if it was discovered that it was completed, it would be considered that there was a serious problem with its power.
The steel battleship quickly disappeared into the night and sailed towards Fishbone Island.
In the Anno game, Luke went to Fishbone Island more than once, killing some Nagas to obtain materials, and then left in a hurry.
After the Clover Airship Heist, the Naga Queen, Lady Tasia, was hanged, and Fishbone Island completely fell into decline. It became a place for hunting Nagas, and a large number of Nagas were reduced to slaves and sold everywhere.
Only this time Luke changed the fate of Lady Tasia and Fishbone Island.
The connection with the route of the Cape District allows Fishbone Island to easily and cheaply obtain supplies from the land. The establishment of the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet allows Lady Tasia to command a powerful fleet.
With money, supplies, and ships, Lady Tasia stopped doing pirate business and started a pirate business. Fishbone Island became a free port, connecting to the Cape District. The supplies looted by pirates could be circulated here and then safely brought to Raging Waves City to be turned into cash.
The commission alone is enough for Fishbone Island to survive, not to mention Luke's unremitting efforts here.
Cape Harbor is a commercial port, and the stationing of an armed fleet affects its profitability. Moreover, Luke regards this fleet as his own private armed force, and it cannot be stationed within the empire.
Fishbone Island became very important in Luke's heart.
Defensive fortifications are naturally also the focus of construction on Fishbone Island.
In Luke's vision, the Naga used the seabed around the island to build a reef area with a depth of one to two kilometers. Ships entering and leaving Fishbone Island can only pass through this reef area smoothly under the guidance of Naga pilots.
If there is a foreign invasion, we only need to lay mines on a large area of the reef area to effectively prevent enemy ships from approaching.
Permanent defensive artillery batteries are built on the islands, and the most advanced heavy artillery is purchased to launch devastating attacks on sea targets that come within range.
Although the current Fishbone Island has not been built as Luke imagined, the existing defense measures are enough to deter the Saxon engineering fleet from attacking by force.
After Luke landed on Fishbone Island, he immediately summoned commanders at all levels of the anti-smuggling fleet to hold a meeting in a newly built defensive fortress.
In the middle of the conference room, on a tactical table that was five meters long and three meters wide, a sea chart was spread out. The sea chart detailed the conditions of the sea area around Nutao City, full of intricate lines and symbols.
Luke couldn't understand the nautical chart, so he handed a piece of paper to Mrs. Tasia beside him.
Mrs. Tassia took the paper and quickly used the model to draw a diagram of the events of the maritime conflict.
After the arrangement was completed, Mrs. Tasia looked at Luke: "Chief Inspector, do you have any other instructions?"
Luke said: "This is a very accurate intelligence. I hope you can use this intelligence to eliminate the pirates who are challenging the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet.
Now, Madam Tasia will explain the details of this intelligence, and then you will give me an annihilation plan."
"Yes, Chief Inspector."
Then, Madam Tasia took up the command pole and explained the schedule of the Saxon Engineering Fleet to the commanders of the anti-smuggling fleet. Several staff officers took push rods and moved the ship models on the nautical chart according to Madam Tasia's explanation.
"Based on the sailing route of the Saxon engineering fleet, it can be seen that they are also afraid of provoking the imperial fleet stationed in Nutao City, so they dare not get too close to the waters of Nutao City.
If they follow this route, they can effectively deter ships traveling in this sea area and force ship owners to choose other ports in Nutao City besides Cape Port.
According to intelligence, the main force of the Saxon engineering fleet should be in the 7846:6894 area, and will arrive at the Brilliant Island Free Port for a replenishment in nine days. The replenishment of ten to thirteen ships can be completed on the first day, and all thirty-four ships can be completed on the second day. During the replenishment period, all crew members will take turns to go to the island for a day of rest. The next morning, which was also the morning of the 24th, the first batch of repaired crew members just boarded the ship, and the second batch of repaired crew members just disembarked.
You must know what the fleet is like at this time."
Mrs. Tasia's words caused all the commanders to laugh.
After drifting at sea for half a month, the crew must have indulged themselves once they landed. Alcohol and women could drain all their strength, and even if a bunch of weaklings discovered an enemy attack, there was no way for them to quickly turn the fleet into a combat state.
How can we fight a war if we can’t even hold a cannonball?
Mrs. Tassia and the commanders didn't know where the chief inspector got this information, but with this information, a beast that was suffocating them became a lamb to be slaughtered.
The atmosphere in the operations meeting room suddenly became relaxed.
A battle plan was quickly drawn up.
The main force of the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet immediately attacked, making a big circle at sea to avoid the reconnaissance ships and reconnaissance airships sent by the enemy fleet. Calculating the distance and time, they approached Brilliant Island on the eve of the 24th and launched an attack on the Saxon Engineering Fleet docked at Brilliant Island in the morning.
"The auxiliary fleet is responsible for forcing the defenders of Brilliant Island. I know Jeff, the Lord of Brilliant Island. As long as our deterrent power is sufficient, he will not fight with us for the Saxon Engineering Fleet.
We can't rule out the possibility that Saxon Engineering will offer a high price that Jeff can't refuse. We may suffer heavy losses, but I promise to lead the main fleet to sink the entire Saxon Engineering fleet in the port.
Chief Inspector, please give orders!"
Mrs. Tashia was very decisive.
This opportunity was too rare to be missed. It could reverse the power ratio between the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet and the Saxon Engineering Fleet. As long as the auxiliary fleet could contain the firepower of the Glory Island defenders, she could break the blockade of these days in one fell swoop.
The other commanders were also filled with anger. Seeing that they could block the Sachs engineering fleet in the port and beat them, they immediately asked Luke for help.
"Chief Inspector, please give orders!"
Luke looked at the war scenario on the nautical chart. The anti-smuggling fleet blocked the Saxon engineering fleet in the port of Brilliant Island, as if ready to swallow up the enemy.
If he wanted to win, he had to use all the sea assets he had accumulated with great difficulty. The only variable now was whether the defenders of Brilliant Island would help the Sachs Engineering Fleet, and to what extent they could help.
Most of the anti-smuggling fleet are warships converted from merchant ships, and they have no advantage in confronting coastal defense artillery.
"This attack plan should be a backup plan first..."
Hearing that Luke did not agree to this attack plan, Lady Tasia was a little anxious: "Chief Inspector, if our fleet wants to approach Brilliant Island without being discovered by the Saxon Engineering Fleet, we need to make a big circle on the sea. If we waste time in making plans, we will most likely miss the best opportunity to attack.
Once we are resupplied by the Saxon engineering fleet, we will be no match for the enemy fleet in a head-on battle at sea.
Chief Inspector, given our current capabilities, there is no better way."
Luke said, "A new ship will arrive tonight. I believe that after seeing this warship, you will have a more reliable battle plan."
"A new ship! Stumped..."
When Lady Tashia heard Luke say that a new ship had arrived, she instantly became excited, and the scales on her neck and cheeks fluttered slightly uncontrollably.
Luke made a confidential gesture and said, "Let's talk about it when we meet. First, you should see if it has the combat capability, so as not to make everyone happy for nothing."
"Yes, yes, Chief Inspector."
Mrs. Tashia's voice trembled with excitement.
She knew that the Chief Inspector had commissioned the Ibel Shipyard to secretly build an all-metal steam battleship, but she didn't expect that the battleship would be built so quickly.
If it really has the ability to fight at sea, it will be the world's first all-metal steam battleship. The Chief Inspector has promised that I will be the captain of this battleship.
"Let's adjourn the meeting first...Everyone, go back and mobilize. The battle for Brilliant Island must be fought."
"Yes, Chief Inspector."
Although the commanders at all levels were puzzled about what kind of warship could make Madam Tasia so excited, the Chief Inspector said it was confidential, so they did not dare to ask more. They could only leave with curiosity, because they would see it sooner or later anyway.
At night, Mrs. Tasia accompanied Luke to a dock that was separate from other areas of Fishbone Island. Hundreds of sailors were standing neatly on the dock. They had all completed training on the Adonis-class steam battleship and were the crew members who received Unit-01.
Naga warriors are on guard around the dock and on the sea, and no one is allowed to approach this area.
The sea breeze blew the blanket on Lady Tashia's body. She straightened her tail to make herself stand taller, and looked out at the dark sea, her eyes full of anticipation.
Luke didn't disturb Mrs. Tashia's mood. He wanted to smoke a cigarette, but after thinking about it, he put a candy in his mouth.
After waiting for a while, a Naga warrior jumped out of the sea and onto the dock. He saluted Luke and Lady Tasia, his expression full of shock and excitement: "We received the 'Unit-01', this invincible battleship is coming."
“Here it comes!”
Mrs. Tashia raised her body again, almost supporting her entire body with the end of the snake's tail.
Soon, a metallic color appeared in the distant darkness under the moonlight, and then a huge steel ship emerged from the night and moved quickly towards the dock.
It has a streamlined hull, and the bow lightly separates the sea water, giving people a feeling of ease when sailing.
"Great!" After just a moment of admiration, Mrs. Tasia couldn't help but exclaim: "It's hard to imagine that a battleship made entirely of steel actually appeared before my eyes. Judging from its speed, it can definitely catch up with the Adonis-class steam battleship. Although I don't know how its acceleration and turning performance are, I can be sure that it is capable of handling any naval battle environment.
Chief Inspector, this is an invincible battleship. No ship on the sea can sink it. No... there is no cannon that can sink it.
The ocean of the future is your ocean! "
