Volume 1: Raging Waves City Chapter 216: Surprise Attack on Brilliant Island
Mrs. Tasia accompanied Luke aboard Unit-01, and the crew also boarded the ship one after another. Everyone was very excited. Although they knew that this was a steel battleship, they did not dare to touch anything, for fear of damaging the equipment.
Luke asked the crew to follow the engineers who came with the ship to familiarize themselves with the operation of the battleship, and then took Lady Tasia to the bridge of "Unit-01".
Unlike the open bridge of a wooden sailing ship, the entire structure of the "Unit-01" is full of the prototype of a modern ship. The bridge is well protected and has a very wide field of vision. The command system and pipeline communication system are reasonably concentrated on the bridge , allowing the captain to understand the situation of the battlefield and the ship in a timely manner, so as to make timely judgments.
Luke handed Madam Tasia a manual. "This is the operating manual for the Unit-01 class battleship. You and your crew must learn while sailing. When you reach Brilliant Island, you will at least be able to fire accurately."
Mrs. Tasia took the manual and looked at the main gun at the bow of the ship.
Although it only has one main gun, it is the latest breech-loading artillery, equipped with a semi-automatic loader, caliber 240MM, firing rate can reach 1 round/32 seconds, and effective range 7500 meters.
This is a ship-borne main gun developed by Imperial Heavy Industries specifically for all-metal steam battleships. However, the Empire has not yet developed a battleship that can carry this gun, and the current wooden frigates simply cannot withstand the recoil of this gun.
"Chief Inspector, within the range of Unit-01's main gun, no cannon on Brilliant Island can hit us. When Lord Jeff sees this battleship, he will know what to do."
Luke looked at the Fishbone Island and the dark ocean outside, nodded and said, "I also think he knows what to do. Unit-01 is just a model of this type of battleship. We will build more Unit-01 in the future. You are the first captain of this battleship. Give your battleship a name."
Mrs. Tasia finally calmed down. The vertical pupils in her eyes shrank into a line. After thinking for a moment, she said, "The 'Loyalty'... It will represent the loyalty of me and the Naga of Fishbone Island to you, Chief Inspector. We will fight for you and wipe out all enemies on the sea for you."
"Loyalty...what a name!"
the next day.
When the sun in the east illuminated the sea, Lady Tasia declared Fishbone Island a wartime closure. The Nagas laid mines around the island, forbidding any ship to enter or leave.
Then the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet left the port and headed for the deep sea. Most of the ships in the fleet raised their sails, and the sides of the wooden hulls were covered with dense gun ports. From a distance, the cloud sails covering the sky were indeed spectacular, but everyone knew that this was the last sound of the sailing warships before the curtain fell.
The people on the island didn’t know whether the fleet would be able to come back after leaving.
Four reconnaissance airships took off from the interior of the island and chased the fleet ahead.
The surprise attack on Brilliant Island naval battle begins.
After the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet left Fishbone Island, it joined the "Loyalty" waiting there. The "Loyalty" raised the flagship flag and summoned all the captains of the fleet to a meeting on the "Loyalty".
After the brief combat meeting, the fleet formed a defensive cruising formation at sea, surrounding the "Loyalty" in the middle of the fleet. Four reconnaissance airships expanded the detection range, and the entire fleet avoided busy routes and moved in a large arc towards the direction of Brilliant Island.
Early morning of the 24th.
Brilliant Island wakes up from its slumber in the rising sun.
This small island with an area of less than 100 square kilometers was originally called Guano Island. Because it has rare fresh water in this sea area, it attracts birds to inhabit. When the first group of sailors landed on the island, they saw the guano all over the island and named it Guano Island.
Later, with the rise of the world's great navigation, more and more ships chose to repair and replenish fresh water here, and over time Guano Island prospered.
Later, Jeff's father took his pirate fleet and gained control of Guano Island through fighting, and then renamed Guano Island to Brilliant Island. Old Jeff, who owned Brilliant Island, quickly grew stronger and became one of the most powerful pirates in this sea area.
But old Jeff saw clearly the changes in the ocean, and the living space of pirates would become smaller and smaller in the future. So old Jeff made a bold decision. When the Golden Shield Empire attacked the Rio Republic, he spent almost all his wealth to make the Empire recognize his legal rule over Brilliant Island, and was canonized as Brilliant Baron by Emperor Augustine.
Then Old Jeff took advantage of the geographical advantages of Brilliant Island and made it a transit station for the Imperial Fleet. In just a few years, he not only earned back the money he spent on buying the title, but also made a lot of money.
The war ended and the Golden Shield Empire withdrew its troops from Rio. Although the war was not won, the Imperial Navy still had absolute strength in this important sea area. Old Jeff relied on his connections to get along with everyone, and gradually the Brilliant Island became worthy of its name.
Now the Brilliant Island has passed into Jeff's hands. He has spent a huge amount of money to build a palace on the top of the island, and then collected treasures to decorate the palace. Every day he sits on the golden throne at the top of the palace, holding his beauty in his arms and admiring the bustling city and busy port below the mountain.
Jeff woke up today, wearing a gold silk nightgown, his eyes still a little hazy. He stepped barefoot on the carpet, took out a bottle of wine from the wine cabinet, and walked to the open terrace.
Here was his golden throne. He sat down on it, and the woman who had slept here last night immediately lay in his arms.
Jeff caressed the woman's delicate skin, bit off the cork, and took a big sip of the liquor. There were many more ships coming to the port for supplies. This kind of life of lying down and making money was really boring.
Jeff kissed the woman in his arms, and a butler came to his side.
"Good day, dear Baron Brilliant! Yesterday, Adelaide Jonas, the commander of the Saxon Engineering Fleet, came to visit you, but you were drunk, so he had to leave with regret.
I wonder if you have time to see him today. Captain Jonas will lead the fleet away from Brilliant Island tonight."
"Saxon Engineering..." Jeff curled his lips. "I don't like them. They cruise back and forth in this sea area, constantly harassing the passing ships. It seems that they don't know who is the boss of this sea area."
The old butler knew Jeff's character, and he advised: "Behind the Saxon Project is the Empire's Cross Society, and the cabinet prime minister must take care of them. Only by maintaining good relations with all parties can Brilliant Island make money comfortably."
Although he was very unwilling, Jeff had to admit that the old butler was right.
"Well, please invite Captain Jonas to have lunch here at noon, and you can help me prepare a gift so that the Saxon Engineering Fleet can leave happily."
"Master, you have the same wisdom as the old master."
"Come on down, my beauty and I still have some morning activities to do..."
Jeff didn't finish his words, his eyes were fixed on the sea in the distance. Under the shining of the rising sun, a fleet was sailing quickly along the sea breeze.
Not the merchant navy!
Although Jeff lived a life of luxury, he could tell at a glance whether a fleet was used for war or for ocean trade.
A fleet of warships came towards them aggressively, making Jeff feel murderous. He immediately pushed the beauty in his arms away, picked up the monocular telescope next to him, and walked to the edge of the terrace to watch.
Adonis-class steam battleship!
Jeff recognized the four warships ahead. They were built by Saxon Engineering. Were they ships supporting Saxon Engineering? Why didn't they receive any notification?
The butler also noticed the approaching fleet. He had followed old Jeff across the oceans and had much more knowledge and experience than Jeff.
"This is an offensive formation, someone is going to attack us!" The old butler stretched out his hand and released a magic firework into the air.
As the fireworks exploded, the alarm sounded first in the palace on the top of the mountain, and soon the alarm sounded in the port below the mountain. The defenders of Brilliant Island rushed to the various defensive artillery positions on the island and pointed their guns at the fleet rushing from the sea as quickly as possible.
Jeff was a little flustered: "Why did Saxon Engineering attack us?"
The old butler initially thought it was an attack by Saxon Engineering, but when he saw the Saxon Engineering fleet still parked at the dock in the port, he shook his head and said, "No, it's not Saxon Engineering's ships! Judging from the composition of the ships, it's not the navy of the Golden Shield Empire or the Rio Republic.
Master, rest assured, except for the Adonis-class steam battleships, all the ships in this fleet are very backward and cannot break through the defense system of Brilliant Island."
The incoming fleet gradually became clearer in the telescope.
Jeff recognized that most of the ships in this fleet were converted from merchant ships, many of which had sails.
It is impossible to carry out an island-taking operation with this kind of force. As for the ships in the harbor, they can only wish for the best.
At this time, the port where the alarm sounded was in chaos. The ships that were repairing and replenishing supplies started up urgently and rushed to leave the port, wanting to get away from the battle that was about to break out.
The Sachs Engineering Fleet was anchored together. They arrived at Brilliant Island yesterday, and most of the ships had not yet completed their supply. Moreover, half of the sailors had just disembarked and indulged, and the other half of the sailors who returned had not yet sobered up from their drunken state.
The entire fleet was paralyzed, lying motionless against the dock.
At this time, the approaching fleet raised its fleet flag and sent flag signals to Brilliant Island.
"We are the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet under the Golden Shield Empire's Nutao City Secret Affairs Bureau. We came to Brilliant Island to destroy a pirate fleet. The pirate fleet is anchored at piers 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. Please leave immediately if you have any unrelated ships or personnel in the vicinity.
Our only target this time is the pirate fleet. Anyone who attacks our fleet or any ship will be regarded as declaring war on the Empire!"
Flag signals were continuously sent to Brilliant Island.
Jeff identified the ships docked at the piers in the port, and then said to the butler, "Saxon Engineering Fleet! They blocked the Cape Port in Nutao City, but they didn't expect to be blocked by the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet in our Brilliant Island.
You said... they arrived yesterday?"
The old butler replied: "Yes, the Saxon engineering fleet arrived at the Splendid Island yesterday."
Jeff laughed. "The Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet arrived on time. The Saxon Engineering Fleet is doomed today. I've heard that the Meteorites of the Secret Affairs Bureau of Nutao City are very powerful. This time I have to admit... they are really powerful."
The old butler asked, "Master, what should we do? Allow the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet to destroy the Saxon Engineering Fleet?"
"What can we do?" Jeff shrugged. "The Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet is affiliated with the Imperial Fury City Secret Affairs Bureau. As an Imperial Baron, can I take the initiative to attack?"
The old butler said worriedly: "But if the entire Saxon Engineering Fleet is sunk on Brilliant Island and we do nothing, we will completely offend Saxon Engineering. Now the new nobles of the empire are highly valued by His Majesty..."
"But Chief Inspector Meteorite is the princess's man." Jeff was also very embarrassed: "Wait a minute... I think Captain Jonas will come to me soon. Let's see what price Saxon Engineering can offer."
Jeff continued to stare at the incoming fleet through the telescope, and then a warship that appeared behind the fleet caught his attention.
The battleship was gleaming with metallic luster, and its shape and structure were completely different from the other ships. Although it was much smaller than the surrounding ships, the sense of oppression it exuded far exceeded that of the other ships.
Is it a new type of wooden armored ship?
Jeff looked at the Adonis-class steam battleship in front of the fleet. Compared with the mysterious battleship, this wooden armored ship was so ugly that it was horrible.
Jeff turned his gaze back to the mysterious warship, and the more he looked at it, the more a terrible guess arose in his mind.
But...how is this possible!
No country in the world has announced that it has successfully developed an all-metal steam battleship. Even if the Empire really built such a battleship in secret, shouldn't it be equipped to the Imperial Navy first?
Why would they give them an anti-smuggling fleet first!
No, no, no, this is definitely not an all-metal battleship. It must just have thicker armor plates.
Jeff comforted himself.
At this time, the old butler beside him said: "Master, Captain Jonas is here. His clothes and state are very shabby. He must have just climbed down from some woman's bed.
I think we can raise the conditions a little bit. If we can get a dozen Adonis-class steam battleships, it will greatly improve the strength of our fleet."
But just as Jeff was about to smile as if ready to extort money, an explosion sounded in the sea in front of the port.
Bombardment!
Seeing the splashes on the sea, Jeff didn't know where the bombardment came from. He immediately picked up the telescope again and searched the sea surface, and found that the bombardment came from the mysterious warship.
He was stunned...
The battleship was 7,000 meters away from Brilliant Island!
And what kind of huge recoil would be generated by firing a shell at 7,000 meters? The wooden hull cannot withstand such a large recoil. Only...
Only full metal battleships.
Jeff stared at the mysterious warship. Its metallic luster was extremely dazzling in the sunlight.
"Tell Captain Jonas I don't have time to see him!"
