The Kuroshio (Japanese 黒潮 "Black Tide") is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. This is a story of KNF officer Katsuo Shimoe transfer into the KDS-Matsumoto and what he witnessed there.
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Lost in thought, Katsuo Shimoe stood in front of the door of the commander of the New Tokyo 5th Operational Wing, Daichi Takegawa. The reason why he had been summoned still wasn't clear to him, but he guessed it wasn't related to the frequency he lost fighters in his patrols, as he had been making an effort to improve his performance.
Giving a sigh, he pressed the call console near the door and awaited the response from within. He then entered the office and saluted the commander, who motioned to Shimoe to take a seat.
The commander's somewhat wrinkled but stern face examined some of the documents on the desk integrated holoscreen, as if looking for the topic of the following conversation. Shimoe could notice that amongst those files his record sheet, and several communications messages.
With a clearing of the throat characteristic of a man of his age, commander Takegawa addressed the pilot.
“So, Santo Kaisa Katsuo Shimoe, congratulations on your recent promotion. It's not common for a pilot of the Myoko to have such an active performance in such a short time.”
“Thank you sir. It has been challenging but I have received good guidance from the senior members.”
“Hmm, and I guess with the new influx of fresh graduates, you had to give some guidance yourself. It's time we start putting to use some of that knowledge you acquired.” The commander interacts with the hologram, and a image of a Genji class Kusari Battleship near a nebula appears. Shimoe easily recognized the Battleship Matsumoto, stationed in Hokkaido.
“As the Central fleet increases it's ranks, we need sometime to redistribute some of our personnel to other sectors who are in need of some pilots who are not recruits.” - pointing to the image, he continues - “The Matsumoto is the center of our operations in Hokkaido and beyond, and it's always in need of experienced pilots to help quell the presence of outlaws.
The Matsumoto is the base for 4 squadrons, and together with the police wing of the Otaru Border Station they compose the 1st Flight Wing of the North Fleet. An opening on the 82nd Mixed Squadron has opened up and I want you to fill that post, as squadron leader.”
Katsuo was perplexed. “ As the squadron leader? Surely there is someone already inside the squadron able to handle that position.”
“The former squadron leader was lost to an ambush by blood dragons on the upper Rishiri last week, and his second in command had retired the week before. His replacement is still unfit for such a role.” Commander Takegawa rose form his chair and looked trough the office window. Outside the landscape of New Tokyo was under the constant rain, already a week nonstop.
“I feel that you have been doing a good job upholding our standards and laws, either on your patrols and in your behavior inside of the Navy. It would be good to spread some of that example to our men who are under pressure everyday out there.” - he sighed, and added- “There are also some tensions inside of that Flight Wing, which prevent us to transfer one of the other officers to replace the squadron leader and instead rely on one of “ours” to diffuse some of that tension. I'm sure the Captain will welcome your presence.”
The commander picked up a data holder and handed it to the officer.
“Inside are the details of your assignment. You will depart in a shuttle for the Matsumoto tomorrow. Make arrangements to have your vessels shipped there too in the next convoy. Dismissed.”
Shimoe wasn't totally convinced of the explanation given, but did do nothing more than salute the commander and leaving the office with the data holder in his hand. He headed back to the hangars to talk with the quartermaster and the logistics department.
Katsuo looked trough one of the windows of the small freighter into the endless nebula surrounding them. The small ship had passed the Sapporo station a while ago and was crossing the system at a rather slow pace.
The freighter carrying supplies to Otaru border station was silent, with the pilots keeping the eyes on the instruments, while Katsuo was in a sort of trance, admiring the unusual sights and colors of Hokkaido system. From time to time, it seemed he could discern a silhouette outside, but it quickly faded away again, like a shadow of a fish that was no longer there.
Katsuo was so focused on this pattern that it took some seconds to notice the copilot trying to catch his attention.
"Huh, what is it?"
"Seems you were chasing the mermaids, sir."
"Mermaids? What do you mean?"
"Well sir, the system is quite dangerous. Sometimes our pilots get themselves lost chasing things without knowing what it's really out there. The pilots up there call it "chasing mermaids". Sometimes they hear the voice of a sneering GC over the short range comms, sometimes it's the figure of a sleek Blood Dragon katana appearing for a brief moment in th nebula. Sometimes though... they find something truly alien."
"That is the reason why all pilots are ordered to keep their wingman close, and not to pursue without backup."
"You know what they say sir, "If you drop your guard out here, even for a second, that's all that it takes.". That is the truth of this region."
At that time, a soft chime sounded from the main console of the ship, and the pilots began making preparations.
"We are approaching the midpoint. Put your helmets on and prepare for the Kyofu Burn maneuver." Said the pilot.
They put their helmets and secured themselves on their chairs in anticipation of what was coming. The pilots, although used to the maneuver, assumed a serious stance and concentrated on their timing. The fuel they had saved until now should be enough for the quick passage.
"Entering the gap in 10 seconds."
The ship continued on it's course, with no sight of the end of the endless nebula.
"5 seconds. Shields to maximum output."
The copilot inserted the command, and the shield levels began to rise quickly.
"Ready afterburner. In 3, 2, 1..."
The ship passed the last tradelane, and as soon has the shield reached it's maximum output, the nebula faded away, and very far away the bluish colors of the Crow Nebula became visible.
"Afterburners engage!"
The pilot immediately located the beacon of the next tradelane, and the ship sped up in its direction, and not without reason. As soon has the ship had left the nebula, the mighty light of Hokkaido's sun shone upon the vessel, and immediately the radiation alarms began resounding throughout the ship systems, the freighter shield unable to completely deflect it.
The passage to the other side took only a dozen or so seconds, but to Katsuo the first experience of the Kyofu Burn make it feel like it lasted for several minutes, taking forever to reach the safety of the other side.
Gradually, the ship entered the nebula, and connected to the tradelane successfully.
Immediately the pilots took off their helmets, and Katsuo followed their example. The copilot turned to him to check on its condition.
"Daijoubu sir? Any feeling of sickness?"
"No, seems I could handle it."
"Ok sir, let us know if it changes. Some of the new guys start to feel nauseous from the very first time."
"Hmmm, we came out slow, and didn't spare that much fuel compared to previous runs. It seems form 34 is the most efficient one yet." Concluded the pilot of the freighter.
He checked the navigation charts, and said to the copilot.
"Hail the Matsumoto, we'll be arriving in a few minutes."
"Hai." - Tuning the transmitter frequency, he began hailing the Matsumoto - “KDS-Matsumoto, this is Naval Forces Bothan 9, we are arriving at your location with cargo, copy.”
“This is the Matsumoto, we hear you loud and clear. What is your destination? over”- Came the response from the transmitter.
“We are going to deliver supplies to the Otaru, and bring personnel to you before that. Over.”
“Understood, your are coming in range, giving clearance for you to dock.”
A few moments later, the nebula cleared again, and the large battleship could be seen standing at a range from the jumpgate to Rishiri, which was flanked by the Otaru border station. The ship headed to the Matsumoto, and began to dock with it.
It's been 2 weeks since he had arrived at the Matsumoto. Katsuo had been presented to the members of it's squadron and started working under the command of Wing Leader Asuka Yukimura, who oversaw all the squadron operations in the Hokkaido region. Wl. Yukimura was really a stern and quick to act woman who demanded maximum preparedness from her pilots.
The members of the Flight wing were also impressive. Even if not all of them would be considered aces of the Navy, they exhibited an extraordinary fortitude and cool headedness in response to the constant dangers of their assignment.
Around that time the first batches of a new model of fighters began arriving at the Matsumoto. The Raijn fighters had begun being deployed in other stations a few weeks later, but here the squadrons had to be quick to adapt to them and use them in the field. The changes in handling of the fighters caused some losses in the first patrols, but the extra armor and increased resistance to the radiation started to show it's benefits soon enough against the lighter opponents.
The 37th Tactical Squadron was the youngest of the squadrons operating from the Matsumoto. It was the only with a mixed flight of fighters and bombers, and it's role was mainly act as support to the other squadrons and deployment to far regions of the system where regular patrols wouldn’t usually go. It's fighting capabilities weren’t comparable to the veteran 11th Fighter squadron which defended the Matsumoto and watched the tradelanes of Hokkaido, but it had already achieved some successes when escorting the resident Bomber Squadron, and sometimes stumbled some ambush by the Blood Dragons before they could set their sights on their targets.
Another month of operations was coming to the end, and the news of a new group of pilots were coming to integrate the Flight Wing ranks arrived to Katsuo ears. Wl. Yukimura confirmed this, and ordered the Squadron leaders to be ready for the arrival.