World of Sandbox – Chapter 364

Chapter 364: A Spectacular Grounding
“Zetes, main tank blow. Commencing surfacing.”

“Engine output increasing. Commencing maximum acceleration.”

The ‘s hull integrity (status) displayed on the holographic screen changed dizzyingly.
The output of its two onboard Fusion Reactors increased, and the pressure in the water current accelerators installed in the lower section rapidly rose.

“Commencing dispersal of foaming filler. All equipment within the target compartments will be unusable.”

“You’re filling the entire compartments, huh… I guess it can’t be helped. There’s no time to evacuate them…”

To prevent further flooding, the had apparently decided to completely fill all outer watertight compartments with a foam structure.
Naturally, the compartments were packed with transported materials and equipment.
There was no time to move them, and in the first place, there was nowhere to move them to.

As the foaming filler was injected, it rapidly expanded due to a chemical reaction, filling the gaps.

“It will need to be dug out when used, but it also functions as a cushioning material, which will help suppress damage. This is likely the best choice in this situation.”

“You’re right. If we can get through this, we can manage anything else…”

Faced with this situation, side had decided not to dispatch a rescue force.

In the first place, no matter how quickly they deployed forces, a fleet would take five days to arrive.
Furthermore, an air unit would be far too conspicuous.

Even using ballistic missiles would require over 30 minutes.
It was impossible to know how the situation would develop in those 30 minutes, and in the first place, launching any number of missiles wouldn’t lead to a breakthrough.
If the goal was to pulverize everything, including the , then it might be an option.

The ‘s propulsion system was Water Jet. It converted pressurized seawater, ejected from multiple slit-shaped water jet nozzles on the hull, into thrust.
And while it was better than a screw-type system, if those nozzles were damaged, it would significantly affect navigation.

“We probably should have equipped it with plasma jet engines for emergencies…”

“Yes, Ma’am. We should have planned for multiple propulsion systems.”

There were almost no countermeasures against an underwater Body Blow attack. Fleeing was the only option.
However, the problem was that the thrusters were only installed underwater.

“Attack ongoing. Anomaly detected in nozzle number 6. Internal pressure rising.”

“It seems there was a collision near nozzle number 6. The nozzle may be damaged.”

“Sensor data lost near nozzle number 6. High pressure and explosive vibrations detected just before. High probability of damage.”

“Pressure in some high-pressure lines is rapidly dropping. The pathways are likely damaged. Line closure initiated. Damage control reaching processing limits.”

“Deploying backup processors. Transmitting command. Bring internal equipment online, extract processing power.”

“Request for synchronized attack calculation received from and accepted. Commencing return of calculation results.”

With each new damage report, green sections of the hull schematic turned yellow, then red.
Nevertheless, looking at the whole, it was still maintaining functionality.
But if this situation continued, the damage would spread throughout.

There was almost no time left.

“ has initiated a synchronized attack. Anti-submarine missiles selected. Vertical launch system activated.”

“Missile launched. Next, surface-to-surface missiles are being loaded.”

◇◇◇◇

From the four vertical launch systems installed on the ‘s deck, anti-submarine missiles were launched, spewing out copious amounts of smoke and brilliant propulsion flames.
As programmed, the missiles began to loiter for a simultaneous attack, spiraling above the while adjusting their altitude.

Furthermore, an additional four surface-to-surface missiles were launched.

The roar of the rocket motors echoed all around.

The launched missiles consisted of four anti-submarine missiles and four anti-ship missiles.

First, the anti-submarine missiles jettisoned their warheads.
The released high-speed Torpedoes deployed parachutes, decelerated, and splashed down onto the sea surface.
At almost the same time, the launched Torpedoes from both sides.

Surface-to-surface missiles, falling vertically from above.

Torpedoes streaking through the water.

Everything moved according to calculations and detonated at the calculated time.

The explosions generated by high-performance explosives became shockwaves in the water and spread out. The blast pressure, transmitting through the water as intense vibrations, violently shook the surroundings.

The shadows of fish swarming the broke apart as if unraveling and dispersed.
Had they been damaged by the blast pressure that spread through the water, or had they become wary?

The accelerated. Its destination was the shallows near Point 4.
The acceleration of the massive ship, 210m in length and with a displacement of 40,000 tons, was gradual, but its kinetic energy was immense.

The Water Jet Propulsion units achieved maximum acceleration efficiency by finely adjusting the water flow.
Belying its massive size, its speed visibly increased.

And then.

Due to the earlier synchronized explosions, the behavior pattern of the surrounding fish shadows changed.

The once-dispersed school of fish regrouped diagonally behind and then accelerated.
As the accelerating school approached the water’s surface, they leaped into the air with the same momentum.

Enormous, cylindrical fish bodies, perhaps 2 meters in length.
They must have evolved precisely for charging. Their round, bulging heads were covered in large scales.
Perhaps to secure propulsive force, their tail fins were sharp and widely spread.
And, as if capable of aerial control, their pectoral fins were also spread wide horizontally, undoubtedly gripping the air.

Their appearance closely resembled the anti-ship missiles equipped by .

The scales covering their entire bodies were black, and wet with seawater, they glittered, reflecting the sunlight.

If this school of fish had attacked a typical wooden sailing ship,
charged with such momentum, its superstructure would have been pulverized and destroyed in an instant.
Or, even if it were an Iron ship, it might have met the same fate.

However, the was a combat ship designed with the utmost care by and its affiliated Superintelligence. Even if classified as a Reconnaissance Mothership, it was designed for independent operation, and thus its defensive capabilities were extremely high.

The short-barreled and Multi-barrel Railguns, along with laser Cannons, installed as anti-aircraft weapons, reacted instantly.

Warheads fired from the Railguns pulverized the fish bodies, and irradiated lasers caused them to explode.
Furthermore, close-in defense machine guns scattered a massive amount of bullets, shooting down the school of fish flying through the air.

The ‘s anti-aircraft defense system operated as perfectly as could be, and the shoals of fish leaping from the sea surface were shot down one after another.

Originally, the strength of these large fish likely lay in aerial assaults.
Creatures living in the sea are extremely vulnerable to attacks from the sky. Judging from their aggressiveness, it was presumed they had an ecology of hunting large Sea Beasts in groups.

Fortunately for the , no unreasonable (fantasy-like) phenomena were observed in the durability of these large fish.
They appeared tougher than ordinary fish, but 15mm machine gun full metal jacket rounds were able to inflict sufficient damage.

Analysis by side revealed that their heads were extremely tough. However, parts other than the head seemed to have conventional hardness.
There were also observations suggesting their scales contained metal, but well, it was within manageable limits.

And so, the somehow continued to fend off the assault from this school of fish, racing across the sea.

Just like that, it plunged into the targeted shallows.

Splitting the sea surface spectacularly, the enormous hull ran aground on the gently sloping seabed.
Regardless of minor obstacles, its 40,000-ton weight did not lose momentum.

Blowing away seabed sand, pulverizing reefs, and making a destructive sound as its bottom scraped, the ran aground at the target point, just as planned.
Anchors shot out from both sides, piercing the seabed.
The surviving Water Jet nozzles powerfully ejected streams of water to decelerate.

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This is an emergency at an unprecedented distance.
Reactions to anything will be delayed, so the local AI is our only hope.

★The Starving Fortress Wants to Build a Great Battleship in Another World: World of Sandbox – All 3 volumes now on sale!

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