EQUESTRIAN/EARTH PORTAL

"Let em' have it!" Nimitz beamed as Iowa's taskgroup opens up against a GLA blockade setup around the dome portal, annihilating various Changeling Ironclads and Minotaur frigates while patrolling fighters clear out the Griffons and zeppelins in the skies. The Seventh had only just came through the portal and already the enemy were waiting to give them a warm reception, but this time, it was Nimitz who had the element of surprise. With the fleet through, it was full steam ahead for Manehattan. As GLA cannon balls and harpoons scratch, ricochet and slightly dent the lightly armored American destroyers, they retaliate with a torrent of torpedoes while the larger ships rain volleys of shells and carrier-based aircraft cleared the skies for C-47 Skytrains and C-54 Skymasters to plow their way for the makeshift airfield for supply runs and have it converted into a strategic air base.

As the enemy flotilla lied in ruins, the first ships of the Seventh were only around the corner from the harbor entrance, by the end of the day, the whole fleet had arrived. At night-fall, the USS Enterprise would be pulled off the shallow bay and temporarily dry-docked for extensive hull repairs before she would withdraw to Hawaii to be fully repaired. Escorting her back to the portal are the destroyers, USS Cassin Young, The Sullivans, Kidd, Charrette, and the cruisers, Cleveland, Chester and Helena.

The carrier and her escorts had only left Manehattan just as a storm was rolling in from the east, the formation was being hammered by heavy rain and five meter swells rocked the destroyers and threatened the flood Enterprise's crippled bow.

USS CHESTER (CA-27)
January 3rd, 1946; 2237 Hours

“USS Helena and Kidd, moving to alternate positions.”

“Roger that, Helena, Proceed with caution.”
“Lieutenant, are we expecting trouble along the way?”

“So far, we're expecting to cross paths with a guarded convoy, some of our mine-layers and a few Austalion Corvettes. No reports on enemy movement.”

“Looks like it's gonna be a long night, how far do we have till we reach the portal?”

“About fifteen miles to go, we should be there by midnight at our current speed.”

“Right, I'm gonna grab a coffee, I'll be back.”

It would be another fifteen minutes into the mission and so far the enemy have made no attempt to attack the formation. Earlier reports from the Missouri says that the enemy had possessed warships of Japanese design, she later clashed with pocket-battleships and destroyers of German and Italian design. There had been rumors running about lately when this got out, some of the sailors say it could be just a coincidence, while others say the Gorgons had somehow had gotten help from the Axis.

“I'm surprised the enemy hasn't even attacked us yet?” Chester's C.O sighed. “Or was that blockade all that they had.”

“The blockade that tried to ambush us earlier belonged to a terrorist organisation known as the GLA, who are being funded by the Gorgons wreak havoc on shipping routes and blockade key port cities. We believe that they control a few key islands across the Equestrian Seas.” Chester's X.O explained.

“It won't be long till our Marines are hitting the beaches again.”

“USS Cassin Young to Chester, we got multiple contacts on intercept, looks like a Destroyer formation with a Cruiser flagship.”

“All ships, prepare to engage!”

“Whoa shit!” A sailor shouted as the enemy formation spring out from beneath the waves and immediately open fire on the American carrier force.

“Incoming!” The X.O shouted a several green plasma like projectiles came raining down onto the group, most of which miss, but one shell from the opposing cruiser strikes the Helena's aft funnel, the Baltimore class Heavy Cruiser returns fire in fury.

As Enterprise's escorting destroyers break off to launch some fish, the three cruisers hang back to protect the carrier and retaliates with heavy gunfire. One enemy destroyer, an Akizuki is blown sky high by a volley of torpedoes while the cruiser, a German Emden class was taken by surprise with a torpedo to her forward magazines.

The opposing formation fire their volley, one shell destroys the Charrette's gun director, leaving her blind as a bat. The opposing cruiser maintains her focus on the Helena, sending more shells at the Baltimore, disabling her aft 8” and 5” guns and rupturing her fuel tanks. One shell drifts off course from the gale force winds and starts a fire on Enterprise's flight deck. The Cassin Young takes a hit below the waterline, causing minor flooding and the Kidd has her aft funnel blown in half.

The Sullivans, Cleveland and Chester were the only ship left unscathed, Both light and heavy cruiser train their guns on Helena's opponent, sending a combined volley of 5”, 6” and 8” shells at the enemy cruiser, tearing her apart in three. The remaining destroyers slips back into the waves and disengage.

“All ships, cease fire, they've had their smell of Uncle Sam.”
“Enterprise, report?”

“We've taken a hit, small fire on the flight deck but nothing serious.”

“Roger that, Enterprise, we continue for the portal.”

“Roger that, Enterprise, out.”

"And so, our enemies take refuge in the eye of the storm.
And here, we will wait for the moment to strike our foes under the cover of darkness" - Anonymous RAN sailor.

“In the wake of the Gorgon's attempt to sink the Enterprise, U.S Naval Command established near Manehattan has ordered search and destroy operations on any hostile ship we encounter. Update on tonight's forecast, all vessels expect heavy swells of six feet, strong gale force winds and heavy rain...”

Somewhere near Equestria...
USS San Francisco (CA-38)
Seventh Fleet, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla.

An hour has passed since “Big-E” was evacuated from Equestria along with some of her damaged escorts and the Gorgons aren't easing up on their attempt to drive the American fleet back through the Portal. But we're not gonna give up that easily, the U.S Navy had faced their greatest challenge yet in fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. This however, blows any naval war humanity has seen out of the water.

“Enemy ships ahead, three light cruisers with destroyer escorts.”

“Sound General Quarters, prepare to engage.”

“USS Allen M. Summers, moving to launch some fish.”

As the U.S flotilla maneuvers to broadside, three Agano class cruisers burst out of the water with their Fubuki and Narvik class escorts and charges the group. The San Francisco opens fire first while the 'Summers' launch their spray of torpedoes, the enemy group responds with evasive maneuvers and return fire.

Two Narvik's each receive two torpedoes and slowly get overwhelmed by the six foot waves while the Charles S. Sperry is hit by several shells. The San Francisco fires a volley at one of the Agano's, obliterating her bridge and Fire Control center, putting her out of action.

“Captain, I don't like how this is gonna turn out, we're pretty outnumbered here.” And he was right, with the eight American ships, they were facing a larger force of eleven ships.

“Can we get more support?”

“Command says there should be an Austalion FFG in our A.O and the Nevada is nearby.”

“Get whatever help we can get.”

“Yes, Sir.”

As the battle raged on, two Fubuki's are sunk at the cost of losing the Charles.

“Charles is going down, sir!”

“Get the Summers to pull the survivors out before the storm finishes them!”

“USS Wallace L. Lind, moving to aid in search and rescue.”

“This is the Austalion Guided Missile Frigate, CANS Hoofberra, we're on station, ready for long range support, over?”

“Roger that, Hoofberra, first target. A light cruiser at Echo-1, over”

“Echo-1, missiles away...”

Back in the fight, the remaining two Narvik's are sunk with one Fubuki, the USS Laffey was forced to withdraw with her weapons system disabled. The Maddox finishes the crippled first Agano, while the second is wasted by Hoofberra's Anti-Ship missiles. The battle suddenly flipped into the Americans favor. The San Francisco claims two more Fubuki's while the Stormes kills the last one. The third Agano Disengages.

“Allen M. here, we got something big heading our way.”

“What is it?”

Before the Summers could reply, a massive vessel exploded out of the rocking seas, it's large 14” guns turn onto the flotilla.

“BATTLESHIP! Kongo class!”

“All ships, engage!”

“This is USS Nevada, we're engaging.”

“Hoofberra, aquiring target.”

The Kongo opens fire, several shells narrowly miss the destroyers while one sends the San Francisco's port anchor onto the deck. The Hoofberra sends a few missiles at the battleship, doing little damage to the 'invulnerable' sections while Nevada's heavy shells annihilates her engines. The battle would go on for another half-hour, the Allen M's launch their torpedoes at the Gorgon Battleship while it and the Nevada slug each other with heavy shells and the guided missile frigate would throw more missiles at it. But in the end, the Kongo would succumb to her wounds, and die.

Like all battles, none could be won without sacrifice, the American flotilla had lost the Charles but saved most of the crew. The Laffy and Wallace were badly damaged while the Nevada and San Francisco suffered light damage.
Tonight will mark the Americans first night time victory, tomorrow will mark the start of the American/Equestrian Naval Campaign to retake the Equestrian Seas, then the Hoofcific.

Author's Note

Hey guys, sorry this took me a while to do, have been busy with a few RP's and getting settled back into school for the last time. It's hard to believe that it's nearly been a year since I sailed into FIMfiction, I have met a lot of good people and have read many great stories, and here I am, writing one myself! But it wouldn't have been possible if wasn't for you guys, the feedback, suggestion and historical facts you have given me had really helped me get this far, so to all my fellow readers and followers... Thank. You!

"I'll see you on the Naval Battlefield, sailors, Missouri, out!"