Chapter 2: Storm Of Change
At a certain place, near a group of small islands, the loud sound of an explosion sweep through the area. Whenever the numerous black shadow hitting the surface of the sea, the explosion would bring the water into the sky.
Between the continuous of this explosion, a long floating metal ship rushed past the erupted water. Its sharp pointed nose leads its long body to glide left and right to avoid the showering explosive bullets.
However, its maneuver was not entirely successful as sometimes the showering bullets manage to land a direct hit here and there.
Not far behind, another ship with 3 frontal cannon keeps spitting bullets as it chases the smaller ship. Not long after, the ship started to slow down as the whole body turned to the right.
Ignoring the small ship that keeps getting farther, the ship started to stabilize it's 5 main cannon to lock on the target.
Noticing that its chaser prepared to shoot, the smaller ship decides to rush out of its range. Only to find that another company starts to approach.
From the sky.
The chaser keeps trying to lock and activated the communication.
[Hosho, she is almost at the location.]
[Roger. All unit, move out.]
2 squadrons of planes that appeared in the sky, bringing torpedo from each plane start to get near. The smaller ship started to counter-attack using guns at its side.
~Ratatatat
The anti-air guns started to split fire and made the sky to be covered with a bullet as the planes maneuvered to avoid while keep approaching. Unfortunately, some of the planes get hit and exploded, but not before they can drop their present.
A 4 torpedo rushing through the water as the planes pulled up to retreat, seeing the ships started to ignore the planes and focused on evading. Just as the ship able to evade, a loud boom from 5 main cannons from the ship that fallen behind sounded.
As the small ship focused to evade the plane's torpedo, it's forgotten that its chaser already preparing to shoot. And this time the smaller ship got a straight hit and also losing its rudder.
Before it could take a breath, a siren blared as 8 torpedos suddenly appear next to its right side. Losing its rudder and heavily wounded, the smaller ship could only stay still.
A loud boom then becomes a signal as the smaller start to wrecked apart. Hidden on the right side, another ship appeared with smoke on its torpedo tubes.
Suddenly, the surrounding area started to freeze and a notification appears.
[Congratulation]
[You're Victorious]
[You sunk the last Destroyer ship]
[Point: 368530 Exp : 2105 + Exp : 238]
[Total Damage: 25230]
A loading screen with a certain ship silhouette and round chain appear for a second before a dock with ships appears. The ship was quite small and has a flat deck with few planes above, an Aircraft Carrier.
~Ding
A notification appears and the mouse pointer move and clicked at the division chat.
「Aldebaran: Oi, you are using CV advantage and can't even hit lone DD?」
Seeing the first chat, I sighed and started to type. The DD here was shortened of Destroyer ship type and CV stands for Aircraft Carrier.
「Aldebaran: Oi, you are using CV advantage and can't even hit lone DD?」
「Keita: Shut up! Isn't you're the one nearby? just sink her!」
「Aldebaran: I just want to let you get the profit, Commander. :v 」
「BenStar: That's right Commander.. ( ｀^`)7」
「Keita: ^ You're not the one to talk! You Torpedo lovers! You overkill it with 8 torpedoes!」
「Aldebaran: Anyway, why you are always using Hosho every time we play? How about your Myogi? didn't you want higher tier BB」
「Keita: I do, but I am still stuck there and I still want to improve my Hosho to unlock a special upgrade menu for it」
「BenStar: Meh, aren't you just frustrated because you always sink your Myogi... Commander (' -3-)」
「Keita: ...」
「Aldebaran: ...」
「Aldebaran: Calm Down Commander! Every player always has a problem they need to face!」
「Keita: Can you stop calling me Commander?」
「Aldebaran: No. Division Leader.」
「BenStar: No can do. Division Leader. (' ｡_｡)」
Seeing my friends chat, I unable to hold my headache and just facepalming. Before long, another notification appeared. Hmm, it's different from before. I hurriedly check it.
[Warning: You have 5 minutes left, please close all the program before its end. Thank you for your patronage.]
Seeing it, I couldn't help but sigh once again. How many times did I sighed again, I shake my head and see another notification.
「Aldebaran: How about another round of hunting again? Try your Myogi, Commander.」
「BenStar: Right right, we'll cover you! (, -^-)/」
「Keita: Sorry, I don't have much time. Let's start again tomorrow.」
「BenStar: Meh, you're not cool commander (' -3-)」
「Keita: Did you forget, about our college homework ?」
「BenStar: Which one? (; `Д`)」
「Keita: ... Sakubun.」
「Keita leaving the Chat」
「BenStar : (;; `Д`)」
「Aldebaran: What is Sakubun??」
After I logged out, I closed all the apps and clicked the 'End Your Billing' button before standing up. As I prepared to leave, I saw a dozen people here, renting the computer like me which they use to play the game. There are 20 computers and it's full of people, from children to adults. I walked to the exit door and noticed a familiar person.
"Good Evening, Mr. Budi."
"Ah, Redi? Good Evening too. Hm, what are you doing here?"
Mr. Budi was my neighbor, he worked as a government employee. He always comes to this internet cafe to type his report because he didn't own a personal computer. But now this person somehow starts to glare at me, with a cold sweat running at my back I answered.
"I-I just finished some college assignment. Yes. A-Anyway, Working on something, sir?"
"Yeah, I need to write some report. But..."
With my unconvincing word, I somehow manage to change the topic, Mr. Budi was bothered by kids who playing beside him. Yes, it's not only one kid, they are 5 kids. one holding the mouse and keyboard and the other becomes his spectators. And they are loud, as loud as little chickens who found a little worm. So loud. Deciding which and what to do.
I decided that this must the best time to retreat and arrived at the entrance door, where I meet her.
"Hello, Redi. Are you done? thanks for your patronage."
"Ahaha... It's fine, h-how do you do. Annisa."
"Hm? I am fine thank you."
The one who greets me was the daughter of the owner of this internet cafe, she was my classmate from high school. After she graduated she worked as a kindergarten teacher and helped her parent in the evening. To tell the truth, she was my first crush.
She has a beautiful face, petite body, and medium-size hair. A kind and polite girl that smiles at everyone. I bet her smile and kindness make her popular with the kid. I unconsciously smiled.
"What is it? Is there something in my face?"
"No! I-I just looking at the poster behind you!"
Ah, I become flustered because she noticed I was staring at her face for too long. And I make a poor excuse too! Look she was surprised, what a poor choice of word...
"Hn, do you mean the 'War of Worldships'? Ah, didn't you play it as well? It's quite popular this day right, even some of my male teacher mates always speak of it. I haven't tried it yet, though."
I blinked and blurted out, "W-well, I can teach you. Maybe..."
War of Worldships is one of the newest online game which takes the first top game in this year, the developers make a theme of Warships of the World War era and let the player experience this battle.
Almost all the ships of the world were present and they keep updating. From single mission to team battle, Infiltration to large scale sea battle, and it's completed with upgrade panels for each ship. Where players able to outfit their Ship with various weapons or armament.
There is 4 type of ships. BB or Battleships, the largest ship with strong gunpower and armor. bit slow but the devastating power is fearsome. CA or Cruiser, the small to mediumship with the multipurpose role. the basic ships which easy to play. DD or Destroyer, the main damage of this game. With a small body and fastest speed, usually used as a scout. Has a little hit point but their torpedos are frightening. And the last is CV or Aircraft Carrier, the ships which use a plane squadron to sink all the enemy ships and as a support ship.
Another advantage of this game is the real effect and vision, using the 3D system they make 'real' ships to control. Using a simple control or an advanced one, this game has become popular.
The game itself just barely 2 years and the players keep increasing, soon this game will keep updated and have good potential.
Annisa then smiled at me, "Really? Do you want to teach me? it promises okay?"
"Y-yes. Ah right. I need to go home now, see you."
Seeing her smile in front of me, I become too nervous, and without I noticed I already escaped. That's not cool at all, me! My cowardly still get over me as always!
To tell the truth, I am not one of the best players. I just an average player who just plays 5 hours once per 3 days, except where I am in bad mood. In battle, my result was 3 wins, 4 defeats. with the highest kills are only 4. Which I get only once!
Walking with my head lowered, I released a long sigh. Not long after, I hear a voice called me.
"Redi, come here. Please help me to hold this as we need to prepare dinner."
I turned to the side and found that my mother is standing there with a bag of vegetables on both sides. But, dinner!? isn't it too fast for a dinner? I was dumbfounded and finally noticed my surrounding. It's already dark.
I smiled wryly as I take both of the bags from my mother's hands.
As we walk together, my mother asks me a question, "So how is college going?"
I smiled, "It's okay, learning a foreign language is hard. But I'll manage."
She shakes her head, "Well, you are the one who chooses to learn the Japanese Language. But I hope you able to finish it. Understand?"
I smiled and nodded at her.
That's right, I am a college student who studied Japanese Language Education, from Cultural Faculty, second year. Some of my study somehow about the warships of Japan, that's why I liked the 'War of Worldships' games. In the future I want to be a teacher or started working in Japan, What job is it? I don't know myself yet.
At home, it's only me, my sister, and my mother. That's why when it's time I would always help my mother to cook. After losing my father 3 years ago, my mother starts to focus on us and she could sometimes become overprotective. Even though I am a already university student!
There was a time when I finish high school, I thought that my mother would make me chose her choice at University. However, she surprisingly let me chose it by my self.
Now that I already second year in university, the assignment for me starts to drown me. I hope I could play more games! Sometimes I envious of BenStar or Aldebaran or other people that could play as they please.
Completing someone's expectation could be hard sometimes. I smiled wryly.
Today I have homework and that's Sakubun or writing a description. This type of assignment was what makes some of my friends suffered in agony. Well, I do though.
It's only writing description, you say?
It's should be easy, you say?
Right! I challenge you to describe yourself in 200 words, in Kanji! I am sure you'll know our despair!
Haha! ~Tear
After at least 2 hours of writing, I nodded at my work. Well, I guess it's enough? I stared at the full word paper in front of me with a satisfied smile.
Turned around to look at the clock and found that its still 8 PM, I give a thought for a moment and scrolled my class list on my phone. As I thought, tomorrow's class starts at 3 in the evening.
I smirked. It's okay if I am a bit bad right?
Tip toed as I walk to the entrance door, I found that there is no one in sight. Safe.
"Redi, where are you going? it's already night."
Dang, right! I was found!
Turned to the side, I saw my mother lay on the sofa as she stared at me. Her focus swapped from watching television and at me.
I scratched my cheeks and smiled wryly, "Don't worry mom, I already old enough to protect myself!"
My mother stared at me then raised one of her feet as she pointed at it, "Sigh, but who will massage my feet. It started to get ache."
I almost fell when I hear her, "Isn't sister here? And it's just 8 PM, I will go out in just 2 hours."
Hearing me, my mother's eyes turned cold, "Wait! Are you going to smoke? are you buying alcohol without me noticing? isn't that money in your hand? Don't tell me, you are going to pay for a $%#!?"
Wait wait!, I rushed at her side and pleaded, "That's not it! Look at me mom, I have a thin body. I will get sick if I smoke or drinking. I just going to an internet cafe. Okay?"
My mother still staring at me with cold eyes, "How is your assignment?"
I gulped my saliva for a moment and stared at her eyes, "It's completely done."
She suddenly smiled, "I see, you want to visit that kindergarten teacher? Why can't you honest with yourself."
Hearing her I left dumbfounded. I forget the only net cafe in the area just one location, and she knew about this!?
With a sly smile from my mother, I rushed out of home as I hide my embarrassment. You win this time mom!
****
「Aldebaran: I see, and you didn't make your homework now?」
「BenStar: Meh, I can do that tomorrow morning! (' ~3~)」
「Keita joined the chat」
「Keita: You sure is something.」
「Aldebaran: Commander !?」
「BenStar: Commander !? (; `Д`)」
「Aldebaran: Why? Aren't you doing that 'thing' ?」
「Keita: It's not that 'thing'. It's homework. And it's already done.」
����BenStar: Are you here to help your stress (｀・∀・´)」
「Keita: You know it very well.」
That was half the truth, making a sakubun is... how do I say it. Confusing. I really can't believe someone who studying Mandarin, I just can give them my applause. Well done Kanji.
my other reasons, was actually to try to meet with her-
Cough. Anyway, I came here in hurry and what greeted me as I arrive was a bearded old man. It seems that Annisa has something to do, what a shame. Now I want to punch a hole in some enemy ship!
「Aldebaran: If you're here, how about a division?」
「Keita: Let's do this」
「BenStar: (｀・∀・´)」
「Keita invited Aldebaran to Platoon Division」
「Keita invited BenStar to Platoon Division」
Division, in the 'War of Worldships' there is a system of Platoon Division or at the other game called a party. It's a bit different, though, one division was only 3 ships. After the Platoon Division was created, it's time to choose the game.
This time we choose the random mode. I still choose Hosho the petite Japanese Carrier tier 4, Aldebaran with Japanese Battlecruiser Atago tier 6, and BenStar with Japanese Destroyer, Hatsuzuki tier 5.
I and BenStar was one division at first because we are university friends and one day we somehow meet with another Japanese ship lover Aldebaran, he uses real money to buy premium ships, though.
Random Mode was a battle with 10 ships on each side with the random area, a familiar loading screen of ships silhouette appeared and the battle arena appears.
this time was at the ocean. No cover at all, really bad for me as a ship without long artillery.
Was this my bad luck today?
#Shiver~
What? I turned around as I feel a sudden shiver but I didn't found anything wrong. There are also 2 people beside me, and one of them, a girl noticed me looking around.
I smiled wryly at her staring and turned back to my monitor. Oh, I see something bad feature right now.
「BenStar: It's raining... (' o_o)」
「Keita: Is that what bothers you! You know it's bad for me?」
「Aldebaran: Commander, this is bad if you are discovered by enemy ships」
「Aldebaran: Let me lead on this battle」
I smiled. The other good thing in our division is how good we are when communicating, even though we are only playing together for a few months we already understand each other gameplay. So it's already normal for each of us leading some battle, and fortunately, Aldebaran was quite an expert in the open sea combat.
After the countdown ended, each ship rushed elsewhere, but we decided to stick together. The formation was Atago sailing at the left side covering my Hosho and BenStar Hatsuzuki will be tailing behind. We sailing to the right side of the map. I didn't launch any planes yet and we keep moving.
Not long after we sail, Aldebaran started to ask in the Platoon chat.
「Aldebaran: Wait, isn't the rain become a storm here?」
「BenStar: As I said, I hate rain... (' -3-)」
「Keita: Eh? it's so strange…」
At first, my monitor was showing the eagle eye style but after I change the point of view to the ship view, I could see a complete storm.
The sea wave hitting the lowest part of our ships, but it was getting higher and I can see our small 'guardian', Hatsuzuki was dancing as it gets hit by the wave. It's quite funny but as the game sure uses some realism but was the storm added feature now? I changed back to an eagle eye and I noticed something strange happening as I scroll around the map.
The platoon chat pinged.
「BenStar: Something is wrong」
「Aldebaran: What the!? BenStar didn't use any emoticon!! This is bad news!!」
「Keita: This is bad! If he didn't use it, a Calamity will befall us!!」
The storm continued, and as I see it each ship from both sides started to disappearing. The icon that shows the survived player also gets disappeared one by one.
What is going on here!?
And then I noticed something, a mysterious dark cloud appeared ahead and start to cover our ships. Before I can react to this strange situation, a blackness also covered my vision.
****
Guuh.. my head hurts, what was this feeling. I feel like I was flying, no was it floating?
I could feel my body swaying from right to left, the cold metal in my cheeks was uncomfortable but my head hurts. Uh, since when the plastic keyboard feels this cold. I trying to move my body, but the ache in my head makes me refraining any action.
I groaned in pain before a pair of hand shaking my shoulder. Don't tell me, I got asleep in the net cafe and my mother decided to visit me! No, she will cut my pocket money. It's a nightmare, Get up my body!
The shake becomes stronger and I also could hear the noisy voices of people talking. With a cold sweat, I slowly open my eyes. What greeted me was an unfamiliar location, it was like a control room in a military movie. And Iron wall, outdated computer with radar and communication system?
My mind blanked for a moment.
Where in the heck am I!?
"Admiral, are you alright? Did you hurt somewhere?"
In my frozen state, another shake from my shoulder let me know who was the one shaking me to wake up. From her melody like voice, it's not my mother, not even Annisa. My mind suddenly interrupted again.
With the sound of an explosion.
~Bang !!
"Ah, Secretary officer we are getting shoot from unknown ships. What do we do?" A man wearing a headset turned to the girl and shouted.
The girl makes a calm expression and ordered. "Check our ship condition, is there any damage appear? prepare some men to bring a fire extinguisher."
""Yes!""
Another man turned his head and shouted. "No critical damage can be found. But the flight deck got burned a little, the crew started to fix it."
"Good. Turn the front secondary armament for self-defense. Admiral, if you're not in good condition let me handle it, okay?"
Hearing the concern filled voice, I blinked and asked while in a confused state. "W-Who are you?"
The explosion sounded for few times and the impact makes me stagger, it's good that I manage to hold at something. My eyes focused on the figure beside me, she is a young woman in her mid-twenty. With bright skin and long black hair tied in a ponytail, She wears a modified scarlet kimono, short dark hakama, and also wearing a wooden samurai-like shoulder guard. Somehow this figure was familiar yet unfamiliar.
The girl blinked her eyes, "Admiral... Did you forget? Good grief, let me introduce myself. I am secretary officer of Hosho Class Light Carrier, Hosho."
_____
Next Chapter: Chapter 1 Sudden Crisis
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