I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

"The 64th Task Force, an integrated air defense and missile defense force under the US 6th Fleet, has been re-established and is ready to intercept ICBMs and ballistic missiles that are expected to fly from Russia and China."

"Task Force 60 under the 6th Fleet has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and has shared command with the UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales."

"Those guys didn't have money to begin with. There was talk of selling them until two years ago, so it seemed like it would be possible... The problem is, I don't know if that will be enough to completely block the Baltic Fleet and the Arctic Fleet."

In the past few months, the entire world, every country on every continent on Earth has entered a state of war.

The 6th Fleet stationed in Naples, Italy, tried its best to resolve the situation in the Mediterranean that had become a mess due to the Omega Virus, but the world was plunged into darkness as nuclear bombs exploded in all directions, destroying military satellites.

When the communication network was restored to some extent, the 6th Fleet realized that the 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet, which were the mainstays of the US Navy, had destroyed about half of their forces in return for completely destroying the Allied Navy.

And when the entire defense system, including the air defense network, was paralyzed due to the virus incident, the Allied forces crossed the Atlantic Ocean by passing through the northern European region and clashing with the British fleet.

Although the actions were not swift, preparations for World War III continued.

One of them was the reestablishment of the 64th Task Force Integrated Air Defense Missile Defense Force under the 6th Fleet, and the full-scale operation of the 64th Mobile Force, which was in charge of bombing operations.

Dozens of AGM-129 ACMs, some of which were nuclear warheads - some of which were modified to carry conventional warheads - flew across the Mediterranean Sea towards the Sevastopol naval base, Feodosia, Novorossiysk naval base, and Crimean naval base.@@novelbin@@

The 15th Independent Missile Brigade and the 51st Independent Missile Division of the Black Sea Fleet belatedly responded, but even if they intercepted some of them, they could not cover the entire sea area.

Belbek Air Base and Gvardeyskoye Air Base, where the 4th Guards Air Force and the 38th Combat Aviation Regiment of the 27th Mixed Aviation Division of the Southern Military District were stationed, were reduced to ashes and suffered irreparable damage.

The distance from Naples to the Black Sea Fleet was at least 1,600 km, which was a distance that the Black Sea Fleet's P-800 Onyx and Iskander ballistic missiles could never reach.

The Black Sea Fleet was unilaterally dismantled, and several medium-range ballistic missiles were belatedly launched toward Naples, but they were all intercepted by SM-3.

A literal nuclear war had begun, but despite this, the response of the Russian-Chinese allied forces was lukewarm compared to what was expected.

The reason was simple.

"Don't you wonder what would happen if the Slavic friends of the Black Sea found out that all this was a butterfly effect caused by the friends of the New Haven team who rescued the moonfish?"

"Even if they found out, it wouldn't matter."

Of course, the one who came out here was New Haven.

The reason why the detachment members who gave up the latest strategic nuclear submarines, the Jin-class and Yasen-class submarines, were not only criticized for a long time, but also left a mark on history was right there.

Thanks to all the data contained inside the submarine, the United States had long ago gained the upper hand in terms of strategic nuclear warfare, and furthermore, the Allied Forces had already launched a preemptive nuclear strike on the 7th Fleet.

If it went beyond tactical nuclear warfare and became a war with tens to hundreds of MIRVs and multiple warhead ICBMs, the world would have been irreversibly ruined.

Even in that ruined world, it seemed as if the Allied Forces would not be able to win.

That was why neither side crossed the line.

However, the United States was not the only one continuing to make great strides.

"The 6th-British Combined Fleet in the North Atlantic engaged the Russian Northern Fleet and… was defeated."

"... That's how it happened. Now we'll have to mobilize our limited air power to stop them."

"If the 2nd Fleet is breached, the US mainland will be opened."

“We should take that into account. That’s a given. If they were in their right minds, they would have realized that they should have stopped when almost all of their navy was completely burned.”

“Sadly, that won’t happen.”

That’s right.

If everyone had chosen only the ideal outcome, if everyone had made only the ideal choices, there would have been no war, and everyone would have joined forces to rebuild the world, but it was true that humans had never cooperated in this form of a cause since the beginning of time.

The United States didn’t know why the Allies had made that choice, but it didn’t matter. If they survived, and if they crushed their enemies’ heads, there would be some kind of conclusion.

But whatever it was, everyone felt it.

“A time like we’ve never experienced before is coming.”

If all humans on Earth weren’t wiped out by this war, and if historians could fully comprehend the horrors and timeline of the war and record them in their records.

The world would call what was happening now World War III.

And-

"...Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) radar...unknown objects approaching on bearing 240, at least Mach 2! Distance 600 miles!"

"Has it begun?"

Early September 2030, off the northeastern coast of the United States, Carrier Strike Group 12 of the Second Fleet.

The curtain rose on the great war.

-Slow down to 20 degrees port, 10 knots. Relay command recognized. Smolensk is about to enter combat formation. As of now, we are sailing silently. 520 km to target point.

-Almost no air support. We are biding our time until the RS-24 YARS and Sarmat are ready.

Clouds floating across the blue sky, and the vast ocean stretching endlessly below.

The moment the radar of the 12th Carrier Squadron of the 2nd Fleet sailing over the endless horizon began to buzz loudly, the ship’s interior became noisy and all ships entered combat readiness.

The moment the Oscar II-class strategic nuclear submarine Smolensk of the 11th Squadron of the Northern Fleet surfaced to launch the P-700 Granit, a submarine-to-ship missile (due to its range), and stopped surfacing at a depth of about 50 meters,

Eight anti-ship missiles rose one after another from the surface.

The moment the Aegis system caught several missiles weighing 7 tons and each with a warhead weighing 1 ton, two Constellation-class frigates launched SM-2 missiles to intercept them.

The fleet had been normalized by gathering its soul and supplying all the remaining missiles, so the number of interception missiles prepared was in the hundreds, but the meaning was clear.

The moment we break through here, the path to the US mainland opens.

The captains continued to spur their orders, raising their voices even more.

"The 31st Attack Fighter Squadron and the 37th Attack Fighter Squadron are taking off in order! The 124th Air Command and Control Squadron and the 142nd Electronic Warfare Attack Squadron, standby for takeoff!"

"If we take off this many aircraft in a short period of time, the catapults will be overloaded... No, we're going to take off! The entire maintenance team is on standby!"

"Damn it, if those guys on there get stuck, they can just land on the mainland! Just take them all off!"

Kwaaaaah!

A squadron of F-35Cs and F/A-44s took to the skies one after another to prepare for any possible situation, and the E-2D, an early warning aircraft, and the EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare aircraft belonging to the command and control squadron, took off.

The moment the carrier-based aircraft took off into the air, the amazing sight was seen. Anti-ship missiles continued to fly in from the eastern edge of Canada, and the Aegis ships struggled to shoot them down.

Fortunately, their efforts were not in vain.

Not long after, several F-35Cs carrying JSM cruise missiles took off and identified a patrol ship that had just entered the waters near Nova Scotia and some enemy aircraft approaching to fire Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

Less than a dozen minutes later, lightning shot up endlessly from the sky and the sea.

"Identified enemy frigates and patrol ships. We will engage immediately. Bruiser!"

As the Bruiser code, signaling the launch of air-launched anti-ship missiles, echoed over the communications network, the weapons bays opened and two JSM cruise missiles slashed across the sky.

Two per aircraft, but at least six. Unlike several F-35Cs that turned and maneuvered at the same time as the missiles were launched, the JSM cruise missiles flew low over the sea surface and slashed across.

Until then. It wasn't a sight I wanted to see for that long."

"Come to think of it, temporary control and aviation asset management... I think they'd be really useful at times like that. Could you tell me about them later?"

"I have a manual, so I'll tell you later. If you don't know anything, just ask."

...Is this the case that there's no end to learning?

I looked around here, thinking that way. Central Park had completely changed from what it used to be, and there were a ton of buildings built on top of what used to be just a park.

I wonder how this place will change after the war ends. There might be people who won't be able to see it.

I just hope that none of them are me, my acquaintances, or good people.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Mr. Logan patted his head and added.

"Everything'll be okay."

"... Will it be okay?"

"Before it doesn't work out, we just have to shoot them all down."

"... ."

…is this advice right?

But I had a gut feeling that it was true, and I just smiled bitterly. I had felt it many times before, and it was thanks to that that I was still alive.

I was ready, and all that was left was the actual combat.

It was three days before the airborne troops poured into the northeastern United States.

The Tir-ME air defenses kick in, and the Gatlings and interceptor missiles fly in in an instant, shooting down about half of them, but even so, about three survived.

It wasn't long before the entire bridge of one Grisha-class corvette was blown away.

───Kwaaaaang!

"Hit confirmed, hit confirmed. Two out of three are disabled."

"The enemy flagship is turning and retreating. A separate attack is needed."

"Bravo Squadron carrying LRASM long-range anti-ship missiles is following behind. Don't let a single one of them survive."

"Understood. I will turn around and return."

While the fate of the Gorshkov-class frigate hung in the balance, the skies a few kilometers above it were not so quiet either.

While a dozen or so Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were launched from a high altitude of a thousand kilometers away in preparation for interception, several Tranche 0 hypersonic missile tracking satellites still in orbit began to track Kinzhal.

A little below, a Gorshkov-class frigate was hit by a series of anti-ship missile attacks and sank, while an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer launched at least four or five interceptor missiles into the air.

It didn’t take long for Kinzhal to be shot down.

While flames and explosions erupted from all directions, the 12th carrier strike group began to maneuver southward in the opposite direction of the missiles.

Missile attacks continued from at least 1,500 kilometers away. However, they did not want the kind of intense conflict they had experienced in the South China Sea, the East Sea, or the Bering Strait. They simply fired blind missiles and ran away.

The goal of the Russian-Chinese coalition was simple and clear. To eliminate the 12th Carrier Strike Group in the northeastern United States, and if possible, destroy it all. However, that was not going to be easy.

That is why they mobilized everything they could.

"Anti-ship missiles are flying in endlessly!"

"These damned bastards…!"

In the span of several months, the enemy submarines that had managed to break through the 6th Fleet and the British Fleet had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and were preparing for this one attack.

However, while dozens of SS-N-27 anti-ship cruise missiles and Granites were flying toward the 2nd Fleet one after another, the United States did not just sit back and watch them attack.

The sonar and other devices installed along the continental shelf off the northeastern coast were doing a great job of detecting enemy submarines that would normally be impossible to detect, openly firing dozens of missiles.

However, the anti-submarine missiles they had were too far away to be useful, and it was difficult to openly launch submarine ballistic missiles at enemy submarines.

However, they managed to get to that point.

The 2nd Fleet had already figured out what kind of naval battle was going to take place, and they had almost all of the Aegis ships scattered across the eastern United States driven in to defend against the anti-ship missiles pouring down like rain.

There was a lot of friction and noise because they had to rush in, including the manpower and air defense cruisers, in order to prevent the loss of control of the northeastern United States, and it is still true that there is still some.

At least that is why the 12th Carrier Squadron is still alive.

However, it was not the end.

"Constellation-class Lafayette has entered the battle, informing you that there are not many interception missiles left!"

"Everyone except the minimum number of operating personnel, prepare for the explosion shock! We will conduct rescue operations as quickly as possible!"

"I will fight until the end. It was an honor to be with you."

Kwaaang!

How long had it been since then? The Constellation-class frigate Lafayette, with all of its silos emptied, was hit by Granit on the bridge with a loud noise, and the hull shook with a huge explosion.

They could not retreat without suffering any damage, and some of the frigates were inevitably destroyed, but that was not the end. The squadron launched from the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier had identified several enemy aircraft over Nova Scotia.

The targets were the Tu-124MR radio repeater and the A-50U airborne early warning and control aircraft, and it did not take long for them to be shot down by AMRAAM missiles and turned into a ball of flame.

The aircraft on board, including the F-35C, were almost completely refueled despite the risk, so returning was not much of a problem, but the carrier itself was in danger.

As previously agreed, the carrier-based aircraft headed for New York JFK Airport instead of the aircraft carriers, and the anti-ship missile attacks began to die down.

However.

"...Relay from the 100th Missile Defense Brigade at Schreiber Space Force Base! A reconnaissance satellite passing over Orenburg and Omsk has identified a large number of unidentified projectiles! At least 20 ICBMs are estimated!"

"The defense brigade has launched a ground-based multi-interceptor. The Aegis Ashore stationed on Governors Island in New York will also assist in interception, and the SM-3 ballistic missile interceptors deployed on each Aegis ship and the optical weapons on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier are ready to operate."

"EMP protection system is operational!"

"Good. Then..."

Now all that's left is to pray.

The captain looked up at the sky, holding back the thoughts that were about to burst out of his throat. At the point when only a few wisps of cloud remained in the blue sky, everything was ready.

And how long had passed,

───!

From the west - the US mainland - dozens and hundreds of anti-ballistic missiles soared across the blue sky, and at the same time, a nuclear warhead detonated hundreds of kilometers above the sky.

The moment the sunshade automatically deployed, missile experts instinctively knew that it was a deception system that detonated a nuclear warhead in advance to spread EMP in order to break through the US missile interception system.

How long had passed,

"Reentry vehicle identified on radar. Intercept laser firing!"

"...May the Lord protect us."

A breathtaking moment passed, even the 150km range laser on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier being activated.

From now on, there was only evasive maneuvers, fleet division, and prayer.

And that day, a third of the 12th Carrier Strike Group under the 2nd Fleet was reduced to ashes, but the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier barely managed to avoid the aftermath of the explosion.

It was half defeat, but half victory.

"...Everything we've done so far seems like child's play."

"On the contrary. If there had been no such child's play, the 12th Carrier Strike Group would have been fish food by now."

"Hey, why are you discussing things that have already happened? The important thing is that the Great War is about to begin. Who knows if airborne troops will fall from the sky at dawn today?"

"Who doesn't know that...but it's really horrible either way."

Central Park HQ, 10 AM.

The base was extremely noisy. It couldn't be otherwise. It didn't take long for the news of what had happened to Carrier Strike Group 12 to spread.

Everyone walking around Central Park was talking about that story. Even the civilians knew it. The reason was simple. There were only things that had to come out.

The Geiger counters installed everywhere were often beeping, so it was a given that the HQ officials would work hard to protect the civilians.

In addition, someone said that they saw the light of a nuclear bomb exploding in the distance.

If the battle had happened at dawn, everyone would have seen the light of a nuclear bomb exploding.

It was a very strange feeling.

To be precise, I should say that it didn't feel real. If I had been dropped at a US naval base or something and become a sailor... I wonder if I could have been caught in the middle of them.

The engagement killed about 1,500 people in an instant, and the US responded with an ICBM launch right after intercepting the ballistic missiles… It’s hard to believe that they’re still just fighting each other.

Laurentina added.

“Fortunately, the 12th Carrier Strike Group was declared annihilated, but it didn’t lose all of its core forces. There were almost no losses of aircraft… JFK International Airport was a bit busy, though.”

“I remember the air traffic controllers being so shocked that they took a helicopter there. Did Eagle Team and Olivia go there for a bit too?”

“Yes. The bodies weren’t all burned. Instead… there was a horrible smell everywhere. There were piles of remains.

Until then. It wasn't a sight I wanted to see for that long."

"Come to think of it, temporary control and aviation asset management... I think they'd be really useful at times like that. Could you tell me about them later?"

"I have a manual, so I'll tell you later. If you don't know anything, just ask."

...Is this the case that there's no end to learning?

I looked around here, thinking that way. Central Park had completely changed from what it used to be, and there were a ton of buildings built on top of what used to be just a park.

I wonder how this place will change after the war ends. There might be people who won't be able to see it.

I just hope that none of them are me, my acquaintances, or good people.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Mr. Logan patted his head and added.

"Everything'll be okay."

"... Will it be okay?"

"Before it doesn't work out, we just have to shoot them all down."

"... ."

…is this advice right?

But I had a gut feeling that it was true, and I just smiled bitterly. I had felt it many times before, and it was thanks to that that I was still alive.

I was ready, and all that was left was the actual combat.

It was three days before the airborne troops poured into the northeastern United States.