Admiral Recina stoon on the conning tower of her flagship, the CHS Queen Helvia, and the Changeling lands most modern carrier. Although that wasn’t saying much in comparison to the modern Equestrian carriers. With a lower top speed, carrying capacity, and reduced range, they were an inferior model. Their pilots weren’t much better, the fleet aircraft were inferior in most ways to their Equestrian counterparts, and the pilots more inexperienced. Just about the only advantage that the Changeling carriers had was their superior radar and AA guns.

Recina was relying on the element of surprise, if she could locate the Equestrian fast carriers first and launch a mass strike in coordination with the Olenians, then they could potentially knock out the main equestrian strike capabilities before they could launch an air raid. If it came to a carrier battle, then they would lose.

Luckily, things seemed to be progressing smoothly. Beyond an odd transmission they’d received from Lysander, everything was going smoothly. It was an odd message though, reading only ‘Follow us south…await further orders’. If Recina had to guess, Lysanders crew had failed to transmit part of the message, or her own crew had failed to receive it.

Breaking radio silence, Recina had transmitted a message back asking for confirmation of previous orders. The HivesAdmiral had also gambled and guessed on the part of the message that may not even exist. At this moment, the crews were arming the reserve aircraft for a seek and destroy mission. Recina was banking on some target of opportunity presenting itself south, or something having spooked the 2nd fleets Admiral.

Glancing out across at the other aircraft carrier just a mile east of her own, she took in the majestic sight of the CHS Hives Victorum. The carrier identical to her own was the duty carrier for the day, its fighters running combat air patrol and flying scout aircraft. The companion carrier was also acting strange, more fighters were being brough onto the deck, and Recina had observed that the ship had gone to battle stations.

Recina couldn’t for the life of her imagine why, HivesAdmiral Mimic’s submarines showed the main Equestrian carrier force to be beyond strike range as of 3 hours ago. The Equestrians would have had to close the range all morning to even get in range, and that was assuming that they’d located them in the first place. It just led more credence to her theory that Lysander was spooked, probably by some radar ghost.

Recina slowly trotted back into the operations room of her flagship and picked up a mug of coffee with her magic. It looked like today was going to be another actionless day. Good, perhaps another calm day would stop everyling from being so jumpy and pouncing at shadows.

Lysander had been circling in a relatively exposed position for day, even dodging a few long-range float planes and Catalinas; it was obvious that the situation made him anxious. Some of his radar screens had picked up Catalinas shadowing them every hour or so, Recina’s fighters had run them down, but still.

HivesAdmiral Mimic was also a cause for concern, her wolfpack had gone totally silent. It could just be Mimic tightening up on radio silence, or it could mean that they were hunting. Truthfully, knowing where she was would defeat the point of a wolfpack, but the total lack of even a single sighting or transmission was of note.

Recina had to admit that she was nervous as well, it was impossible not to be. Despite the fact that she told herself they were out of range, and that Lysander was just being jumpy, she wasn’t truly convinced either. As a carrier commander, she knew the dangers of a carrier battle. Any piece of poorly transmitted information, or a false report could destroy an entire fleet.

And even though the Equestrians would have needed to close range all night, and lunch an un-scouted search and destroy mission to even hit them; it was still a possibility. It also concerned Recina, because its exactly what she would do. Sure they might not have detected them, but a seek and destroy mission could bear fruits if led effectively.

At least the New Mareland, Puerto Caballo and Red Navy ships were still in port. If they’d sortied with the Equestrians, then the Kriegsmarine would probably be in a fight where they simply didn’t have the ammunition to even consider victory. As long as they came in piecemeal, then the Kriegsmarine could beat them.

“HivesAdmiral.” A communication officer announced, getting the attention of Recina “Message from CHS Hives Victorum.”

Finally, some answers “Read message.” She ordered.

“From command Victorum to command Helvia, why are you not launching fighters?” the communication officer stiffly reported.

Now that was concerning “Radar, any contacts?” Recina asked.

“Nothing but our own.” A changeling quickly reported.

“Then what in the Hives are they scrambling fighters for?” Recina asked aloud. As was to be expected, noling replied. Something was wrong, this wasn’t just Lysander being spooked, her own ships were launching fighters on their own initiative now. “Flight officer!” Recina called.

A young changeling officer stood up from their console and stood at attention. “Yes sir!”

“Scramble the alert fighters, I want all available fighters armed and brought to the flight deck. Sound general quarters and man battle stations.” Recina barked.

The CIC flew into action. Orders were drafted and sent off into various other parts of the ship. Aircraft lifts pushed fighters out from the holds onto the flight deck, crews and engineers hurriedly arming and fuelling the fighters. The carrier, already sailing into the wind, launched the alert fighters. The aircraft taking up patrol positions over the fleet, a few making to higher altitudes to watch out for dive bombers.

The alarm sounding and rousing off duty crew from their sleep or food. Everywhere, Changelings ran to man guns, seal bulkheads, or don firefighting equipment. Most of them wouldn’t have any idea what was going on, just that they could be in battle or under imminent air attack.

Recina watched as the last of the combat air patrol took off from the deck, turning to gain altitude and distance from the mothership. “Flight officer; bring the bombers onto the deck and launch them immediately, seek and destroy south.” Recina ordered.

“HivesAdmiral.” Another officer called to get her attention “Message coming in from 2nd fleet command. ‘Confirmation of orders, break, follow us south and prepare for air attack, break, act as you see fit.’”

Recina froze, that was different from the message they’d received earlier. The difference at the end was minor, but it was enough to paint a picture in her mind of what had happened. If she had to guess, she’d probably picked up a message meant for the Olenians, and the CHS Hives Victorum the one meant for her. ‘Prepare for air attack’ Lysander was ready for a fight, an immediate fight.

“More coming through now HivesAdmiral, its from Admiral Lauri Virta.” The officer continued “Message reads ‘Apologies to command, but I have already launched a strike west. We will remain to recover our pilots before following you south.’”

On the outside, Recina was perfectly calm and showed no outward emotions other than confidence. On the inside however, it was a total blind panic. Thanks to some probable communications issues, Recina had missed the start of the battle unfolding around her. All around her, ships and formations moved to combat an enemy she had yet to see.

An air raid could hit her right now, with the hanger still full of bombers, the ship would go off like a Roaman candle. But if they launched the bombers now only for another target of opportunity to present itself, they would have wasted their strike. Not to mention the 2nd fleet, if Recina became to focused on the western threat, Lysander could be left to face the entire Equestria fleet on his own. Although, going to help Lysander would mean leaving the Olenians to fend for themselves.

“Transmission to TF, proceed south at best possible speed. Send my apologies to Admiral Virta, but we can’t remain in the area and risk air attack.” Recina ordered to noling in particular.

Regardless of who the order was directed at, it was carried out nonetheless. A transmission was sent out to the carrier task force ordering that they turn south. At the same time, another radio operator was sent to the Olenian fleet informing them that they’d be on their own.

The lumbering aircraft carriers turned their enormous bodies about, the steel behemoths throwing themselves about. All around them, destroyers and cruisers tried to avoid the manoeuvring carriers and maintain something of a coherent anti-air grid around them.

In the skies around them, Focke Wulf Meer’s, the naval variant of the venerable Focke Wulf, continued their orbits. At high altitudes, squadrons watched for dive bombers, while others skimmed the waves watching for torpedo bombers. The pilots ready to protect their carriers from whatever would show itself. Soon they’d get their chance.

“HivesAdmiral Recina, CHS Hives Victorum reports unknown radar contacts 8 miles out west and closing fast.” The radioling reported “They’ve already vectored fighters out to intercept them.”

“I’ve got them too!” the Radar operator called to the changeling admiral “Three groups, two at higher altitudes and one just 60ft above the water.”

“Dive bombers and torpedo bombers” Recina murmured “Right standard rudder, hard over!” she called “Direct CAP to intercept, get more fighters in the air now!”

High above the carrier, orders reached the carrier fighters. Heads swivelled bearing were called, within a minute, the CHS Queen Helvias alert fighters were directed to intercept one of the groups of dive bombers. Coordinating with the CHS Hives Victorum, its own squadrons were vectored out to intercept the other two groups.

Engines roared and smoke billowed from engines as the fighters accelerated to attack speeds. The Changeling pilots flying on for a few minutes watching the tiny dots on the horizon grow into the shapes of enemy aircraft. New Mareland Seafire fighters, the naval variant of the legendary spitfire, were aggressively manoeuvring ahead of various bombers.

A mixture of Skuas, Barracudas, and licence produced Hippogriff Helldivers followed behind, equipped with a mixture of armour piercing and High explosive bombs. The formations undoubtably gunning for the carriers of Helvias fleet. What else of value was there to target? Unless they wanted to sink some oilers or light cruisers it would be a waste of time.

The first waves of escorting fighters crashed into the first wave of intercepting fighters. In a bloody moment, fighters charged each other head on and sprayed cannons and machine guns with reckless abandon. Aluminium tore, and blood splattered on glass. A few fighters exploded mid-air, while others set alight and tumbled to the sea.

The fighters passed by each other as they slowed and broke apart. Each aircraft picked its own target and swerved after each other. The massive fur-ball immediately broke apart into dozens of single plane battles. A few changeling aircraft broke the picket line and began to make runs on the dive bombers. All the while, New Mareland gunners and seafires did their best to drive the interceptors away.

As the dogfights inched closer towards the carriers, the AA guns of the fleet started to fire. The collection of Changeling ships put up an impressive wall of fire, as the aircraft inched closer. Steering clear of their firing solution, the Changeling aircraft continued their battle as they began herding the dive bombers into the airburst shells.

A few were caught and went down, but the New Mareland dive bombers were too close now. The Equestrians pushing their fragile dive bombers into a near vertical dive onto the CHS Queen Helvia and CHS Hives Victorum. Each of their noses pointed dangerously at the decks of the carriers.

HivesAdmiral Recina barked out orders, the carriers already evasive managers turned even more desperate. The carrier threw itself to the side, deck crew pushed an unmanned bomber sitting on the deck overboard to stop any secondary explosions and sailors threw potentially flammable object overboard.

Bombs were released and eagerly charged to the surface. 8 bombs splashed into the water on both sides of the carrier. A single bomb detonated just behind the ship, the near miss causing some damage to one of the rudders. The shockwave of the explosion injuring engineers in the bowels of the ship.

The CHS Hives Victorum ,cruising a few miles east, was in a far better position. Being the more distant of the two, the carrier received less attention from the New Mareland bombers. The other carrier had also closed up with its escorts and put out a denser and more concentrated flak field.

The New Mareland bombers also had far more difficulty getting close enough to even make their runs. Having launched more fighters, the CHS Hives Victorum had a stronger air presence protecting it. Bombers in this section fought their way through increasingly dense clouds of Meer Wulfs. The first round of bombers heading towards the CHS Hives Victorum all either: missed, were shot down, or veered out of the attack.

The next wave of dive bombers descended upon the CHS Queen Helvia. With its steering impaired by the near miss, this squadron wouldn’t miss. 12 bombers released 12 bombs on the Changeling carrier, the result was far better this time.

HivesAdmiral Recina stood out onto the observation deck of the carriers bridge. Despite the carrier trying to manoeuvre, Recina knew these aircraft would hit. She watched helplessly as the heavy 1000ibl bombs charged towards the carrier.

Three planted themselves right on the deck of the carrier, detonating atop the armoured deck. The fourth dug its way into the hanger before exploding. Flames roared and Changelings screamed. Firefighters rushed out from the lower decks, using their foam hoses to create a fire barrier. The air was filled with shards of glowing metal, Recina herself was showered with the deadly fragments and thrown to the floor.

Recina staggered to her hooves, the explosions have thrown her to the deck. The HivesAdmiral was miraculously uninjured, despite holes having been torn in her uniform where shrapnel had pierced her, the changelings armoured Chitin had protected her. Thank Chrysalis for their sturdy biology.

As Recina stumbled back into the bridge, the deck behind her was anarchy. AA gunners continued to fire at the retreating bombers, as firefighters sprayed water down the holes in the flight deck. Medics dragged the dead and dying away as some of the deck crew continued to diligently launch aircraft still on the deck despite the anarchy. Wiping blood off aircraft canopies and sending wounded and fresh pilots up again.

The HivesAdmiral grabbed her second in command and dragged her in shouting distance over the air attack “get to engineering, tell them I want all the engine can give me!”

The HivesAdmiral turned and almost collapsed into the bridge. “How long till we’re hit by the second group?” Recina demanded the moment she entered the bridge.

“Within 5 minutes.” Came the immediate reply.

“What’s the Hives Victorum status?” She shouted. Recina already knew the status of her carrier, fucked.

The damage to the deck would prevent any future flight operations, the rudder damage would slow their turning. The carrier would almost certainly lose speed from the damage. With another group of dive bombers and torpedo bombers incoming, Recina didn’t like their chances of survival.

“The CHS Hives Victorum has not sustained any damage.” A lookout reported, staring at the ship through binoculars.

Recina shook her head. They were a sitting duck if they stayed by her burning carrier. Bombers were drawn to burning ships like flies to a flame. The other carrier would undoubtably be attacked if it stayed with her.

“Someone get me a direct line to the Hives Victorum, right fucking now!” She demanded from the radio operator.

Striding towards the radio operator, Recina lit up her magic and grabbed a receiver. After a moment she looked at the radioling who nodded. Raising the receiver to her face, she clicked it on “Command Victorum, this is Command Helvia, you copy?”

“We copy.” Came the reply from a male voice.

Commander Halcion of the CHS Hives Victorum was a decisive if unimaginative leader. He had a somewhat bland personality, but always acted quickly and with confidence. A reliable carrier commander with a good track record, the best changeling on hand for the upcoming task.

“Commander Halcion, listen very carefully because I will say this only once. Take your carrier and escorts south at the best possible speed and aid HivesAdmiral Lysander. I’ll try to draw as many enemy aircraft onto myself as possible.” Helvia grunted, resenting the situation she was in.

The other Changeling carrier commander hesitated over the radio. The line was silent for an agonising second before the commander got back to her “copy HivesAdmiral” he hesitated again “good hunting ma’am.”

Looking out of the bridge window, Helvia could see the CHS Hives Victorum start to pick up speed as she left the slowing CHS Queen Helvia behind. The escorts in close proximity to the sister carrier also began to slip away with the other carrier. As they departed, the other ships sounded their horns, saluting the other ships.

Recina could feel the gaze of the bridge crew on her. They were silently questioning her, they knew the danger that Recina was putting them in, and wanted to leave. For almost any being anywhere, self-preservation instincts would override discipline.

If their loyalty or discipline faltered, Recina would be in a very difficult situation. The HivesAdmiral dropped the radio receiver and turned to her crew. “Evacuate non-essential personnel from the lower levels and seal outer bulkheads. Have our escorts close up, we may need them to help with firefighting. We may need to counterflood compartments soon, get everyone away from the hull.

Apprehensively, their nerve held. The bridge crew confirmed their orders and set about following their stations. Recina smiled internally, thanking the stars for the discipline of the Kriegsmarine. Professional sailors who’d die at their posts.

Her second in command approached her on the side, the changeling officer huffing. She appeared in a much worse state than Recina, her uniform partially burned and some blood and oil staining her face.

“Engineering says they can get 18 knots, but our only operational engine will burn out in 3 hours if we keep that speed.” She reported.

Outside, the AA guns lit up again. Sirens were sounded, and fighters vectored out to intercept the incoming dive bombers. The New Marelanders were coming for a second round.

6 hours later 2nd Fleet

Lysander often thought about his career choice. He’d thought about it when his first post went under. He’d thought about it when a test depth-charge had gone off in his face and scared him for life. Now, as shells landed all around his ship, he continued to question it.

The entire 2nd fleet was in a headlong charge towards the Equestrian main fleet. After locating the carrier formation, Lysander had ordered the entire fleet to full speed and to charge towards it. Now the entire fleet was racing towards destiny.

By some sort of divine intervention, the first Equestrian airgroup group had overshot his ships. The total chaos of Mimics apparently brilliant attack had disrupted the launching and organisation of the carriers air groups. The one sent to the bottom had also taken the fleets chief air director with it, causing total anarchy in the fighter direction. The result was a completely scattered air group and the attacks losing much of their effectiveness.

The first dive bomber group had been the only one to depart in good order, but was directed onto the wrong coordinates and overshot Lysanders forces. In the hours since, the 2nd fleet had been in constant action against piecemeal air raids and squadrons.

Now, he’d entered gun range. The Equestrians had bided by their sinking carrier, staying nearly stationary as survivors scrambled aboard other ships. It gave Lysander exactly the shot he’d needed, to race into weapons range. Now he was in the running battle, the slightly faster Changeling ships were running down the Equestrian’s running forces.

Lysanders heavy units were throwing shells at the Equestrian fleet, and the ponies were responding in kind. The long-range artillery duel at a rapidly decreasing range promised to be deadly. Not to mention that the Equestrian carriers were still launching bombers.

The Changeling HivesAdmiral watched the shapes of the Equestrian fleet through his binoculars, passively participating in the duel and debating his life choices. No hits had been scored yet, both sides struggling with the range. What he really needed was a lucky break, something to get the range down even further.

“Hit!” Someling shouted, causing Lysander to turn about “CHS Vraks reports 2 hits on Heavy Cruiser 3.”

Lysander nodded in approval. If the Vraks had found its range and could pummel that heavy cruiser, the Equestrian surface ships would need to make a choice; turn and fight, or leave their comrades to their fate. Knowing ponies, they’d never leave a comrade behind.

The artillery duel continued, metal machines throwing high explosive shells across the ocean at their counterparts. Lysander held a pocket watch in his magic, counting down the seconds between a volley from his guns and their impact.

Another volley landed around his leading ship, creeping closer every volley. Pillars of water being thrown up and blanketing the battlecruiser. The AA guns banging away at Equestrian fighters and bombers as they descended in pairs on the formation, machine guns raking the hulls and bombs shaking the water around the behemoths.

“Sir!” A radar operator called. Lysander tore himself from the battle and turned to the changeling “Some of the Equestrians ships are turning about.”

“Which ones?” The HivesAdmiral calmly asked, not wanting to get his hopes up.

“The heavy units sir. The carriers are staying on their original course south.” The sailor reported.

So this was it? They were coming for a fight. Lysander smiled, then he laughed. This was it, this the battle that he’d waited a lifetime for. The decisive battle of the naval war, one that would decide the fate of thousands.

“HivesAdmiral, transmission from the leading destroyers.” A radioling shouted as the entire ship shook with the forward guns letting off another volley.

In a line abreast of the main fleet was a small squadron of 6 destroyers, the picket group sweeping the area for any submarines. They were also in the optimal position to launch a torpedo attack if any of the Equestrian ships lagged behind. Their torpedoes would make short work of most armour.

Lysander pocketed his watch and grabbed the phone on the console in front of him. Bringing the receiver up to his head he clicked it on “Command High Tower here.”

“DG-3 lead to High Tower, Equestrian destroyers accelerating towards us, 7 surface contacts closing at 21 knots.” One voice reported.

“DG-3 flank here, they’re splitting up, going to hit us from three sides!” One of the other destroyer captains shouted over the radio.

Another voice cracked over the radio “DG-3 2.I.C to High Tower, we see the same, looks like they’re coming in for a scrum!”

Just like Lysanders torpedoes would make short work of Equestrian armour, the same applied to him. Equestrian destroyers had a higher torpedo load than Changeling ones, and their commanders were, without a doubt, better than their changeling counterparts. They were a rare breed, true death or glory types.

“Copy DG-3, engage at your own discretion. Good hunting!” He chanted before placing the receiver down.

“Rudder left! Take us on a south easterly course!” Lysander shouted.

His orders were carried out as the battlecruiser shifted its course and turned slightly. Its guns let out another deafening volley as the ship shook. Moments later, columns of water erupted right where the CHS High Tower would have been had it not changed course. The Equestrian gunners were getting their eye in.

Following Lysander, the line of Changeling capital ships followed him into the turn. The turn was gradual however, not enough to open up the arc of fire for their rear guns. They still needed to close the range with the Equestrians and prevent bad damage.

Changeling ships carried more modern radars and combat equipment, plus mounted better engines, but the trade-off was their light armour. In particular, their decks were lightly armoured and made the capital ships especially vulnerable to plunging fire. The only option was to get within 7 nautical miles, or risk catastrophic damage with every exchange.

Once again watching the enemy ships through his binoculars, Lysander spotted an explosion against the superstructure of the leading Equestrian ship. He nodded in grim approval “was that hit us?” He questioned.

“Aye sir.”

“Good, tell firing control I want more of that.” He shouted. Moments later, the two forward guns roared again, having found their range. Two minutes later, two more hits were scored.

“Incoming aircraft, dive bombers!” A voice shouted.

Lysander turned his head and saw a lookout pointing a hoof up to the sky. Following it, he saw the incoming aircraft. Four dive bombers already halfway through their dive, the target obviously being his ship. The AA gunners tried to throw up a flak field, but their guns wouldn’t raise high enough to hit them.

Lysander shouted an order to turn about, and the behemoth of a battlecruiser made an emergency turn. The helmsman threw the rudder hard over and the ship lurched. Three bombs splashed into the sea, the underwater explosions rocking the ship, and shrapnel crashing into the superstructure.

One bomb however found its mark, landing right on the bow. The 1000lb bomb landed right on turret number one and detonated, failing to penetrate the armour. The turret remained unharmed once the smoke cleared, however the impact would have almost certainly killed the entire gun crew. This was confirmed in the next moment when the gun fell completely silent.

As the crew recovered from the hit, pillars of water erupted around the battlecruiser. Then two further explosions on the superstructure shook the ship. Lysander was thrown to the floor of the bridge, as his whole world was rocked. Forcing himself up, the changeling admiral barked “What just hit us!”

“Battleship!” A distant voice shouted.

Following the shout to the outside lookout area, Lysander galloped onto the platform. The outside of the ship didn’t look good, the High Tower seemed to have taken at least 2 hits from heavy guns, 15 inches or higher. The fore turret was also silent, its crew having been killed by the shockwave from the dive bombers.

“Right there sir” a lookout informed him “just through the fog bank.”

Gripping his binoculars with magic, he aligned against the fog bank and began to scan. Initially, there was nothing, then a series of flashes running up and down. Straining his eyes, Lysander made out the silhouette of a huge battleship. It was one he recognised well, the ERNS Luna, lead ship of the diarchy class.

The diarchy class were a pair of Hippogriffian Novo class battleships produced under license in Equestria. Lysander had studied them well and was rightly afraid. 16-inch guns, 12 of them located on 3 quad turrets. Cutting edge radar and fire control equipment, feet of armour and a top speed rivalling his fast battlecruisers. They out-toned his ship by an uncomfortably large margin.

With one of the best drilled crews in Equestria, and led personally by Admiral Evening Squall; It was a juggernaut in battle. Already in the war having rampaged through his cruisers at the battle of Trotland, and sunk two battlecruisers in a night battle off Las Pegasus. Lysander was scared stiff of it.

ERNS Celestia and ERNS Luna were the only ships in the Pony navies he wasn’t confident in victory against. Luckily ERNS Celestia had been bombed in port at the start of the war, and ERNS Luna was presumed out of action after being torpedoed by a pair of aggressive destroyers during its last sortie. Now though, he had the most fearsome ship on the continent bearing down on his exposed flank.

Lysander galloped back into the bridge and issued a flurry of orders “All mounts local control, turn starboard and concentrate all fire on the battleship. Fire as they bear! Tell CHS Changeling Supreme and CHS Inexorable Phalanx to follow our fire!”

The guns on the lead ship of the battlecruiser line lumbered its guns starboard. Behind it, the next two battleships in the line also lumbered their guns over. Their volley was near synchronous, the thunder of guns was deafening. The force of the guns was so much, the whole ship shook.

Lysander trained his binoculars towards the ERNS Luna, watching as flashes ran up and down the ship in double time. They weren’t even measuring range, already having found it, they were just throwing shells at his ships. Then an explosion, followed by two more in rapid succession. Some magnificent gunner had gotten the range right first try.

There was no time to celebrate however, as shells started to land around them. CHS High Tower was bracketed by heavy shells, the ships behind them taking two hits between them. The Equestrians were shooting well today, they knew the stakes just as he did.

Tearing his attention away from the artillery duel, Lysander orientated his binoculars towards the rest of the Equestrian fleet. His other capital ships were doing a good job of pummelling them, but they were making good speed away. The Equestrian cruisers and destroyers having delayed his ships long enough for the carriers to have slipped out of gun range.

“Sir!” A lookout shouted “An Equestrian destroyers broken through the screen.”

The clash of destroyers in the no man’s land hadn’t left his thoughts. Driving his way through the bridge and out onto the far lookout deck; sure enough, Lysander sited a single Equestrian destroyer in a headlong charge towards his fleet. A good torpedo volley was all it would take for his battleline to collapse.

The range was staggeringly close, just 1 mile out. As the guns thundered at the distant ERNS Luna again, the CHS High Towers secondary guns opened up on the aggressive destroyer. Then the destroyer turned to port.

Stunned by the destroyer turning away for a moment, Lysander realised it had a different target. The heavy cruiser CHS Ponies Folly was the closest ship to the destroyer, and a worthy prize. The destroyers bow was pointed right at the heavy cruiser, its speed increasing.

With its broadside now visible, Lysander could make out its wrecked torpedo tubes and signs of damage. It was toothless, except for its mass. Even CHS High Tower shook again, and then rocked with the impact of a shell slamming it, Lysander paid no mind.

The scarred changeling admiral watched the heavy cruiser desperately manoeuvre as the destroyer approached. Then the impact, the small destroyer crashing bow first into the larger ship, both rocked. The plucky destroyer kept going, its mass practically disintegrating against more armoured ship.

Then they parted, the destroyer almost immediately flipping over and disappearing under the waves. CHS Ponies Folly meanwhile began to heavily list to one side, it was a miracle the ship didn’t also tip over. Perhaps they’d already counter-flooded the opposite end to offset the damage.

Striding back into the bridge, Lysander barked “We can’t keep this up. Prepare to have the fleet begin to withdraw north.”

It was crushing, just minutes ago, they were victorious, now they were doomed. The Equestrians had drawn his ships into a horseshoe position, his ships firepower halved by the head on attack, while the Equestrian heavy units were broadsiding them at will.

Damage to his fleet was light so far, but it was a battle he couldn’t win today. If he could withdraw north in good order and reposition west, then this was still winnable. But now, now would take an act of divine intervention to defeat the better positioned Equestrians. Tomorrow he’d come back with a new plan.

“New contacts sir, airborne targets incoming from the north.” A radar operator called.

Well shit, if those were from the New Mareland or Puerto Canadian carriers, then they were royally screwed. Lysander doubted that they were his own, the Olenians were in battle with the entire revolutionary navy; and noling had any idea where Recina was.

“They’re ours!” A lookout shouted, joy in her voice.

“Are you sure?” Lysander asked, his voice once again being drowned out by the thunder of the battlecruisers guns.

“Positive, they’re our carrier aircraft.” The same lookout answered.

Lysander paused for a moment, trust his instincts, or gamble it all? Fuck it, it was time to trust fate. “Delay the withdrawal order, have the cruiser and destroyer wing get as close to the Equestrian carriers as they can, sink anything they find.” The admiral turned to the communications officer “Tell CHS Changeling Supreme and CHS Inexorable Phalanx to follow us into a turn. I want the rest of division 1 and all of division 2 cutting southeast, rear admiral Chirp’s discretion for what she shoots at.”

High above the ensuing fleet battle, the air wing of CHS Hives Victorum had finally arrived on station for their attack. The lone carrier had launched its entire air group, and even directed its entire CAP away for the coming battle. Leaving his carrier completely undefended was a risky move, but one which may just carry the day. Bolstered by the aircraft emergency landing from CHS Queen Helvia, some 100 aircraft were currently racing towards the Equestrian fleet.

Around half the group were fighters, the Meer Wulf aircraft, the rest being a mixture of torpedo bombers and dive bombers. They could turn the tide of battle in Lysander favour, all they needed was a good run.

The skies ahead were jammed with Equestrian fighters, aircraft who’d previously had free rein over the air. The Equestrian aircraft came in piecemeal, picking off one or two bombers and fighters here or there. It was an ideal situation for the Changeling carrier forces.

Lysander watched bellow as the aircraft began their attack run, it seemed that they’d selected the heavy surface units as their targets. Splitting into two groups, the carrier aircraft went after the ERNS Luna and its escorts and the mixture of Equestrian battleships and heavy cruisers screening the carriers a few miles out.

His fleet too had parted, the battlecruisers dividing to attack the Equestrian carriers. Closing on the ERNS Luna, Lysander could almost feel the victory that would soon be his. How fortune had shifted again: he’d had victory, lost it and potentially gained it again in the span of about 10 minutes. That of course relied on him sinking that damnable ship.

The world turned white, everything was ringing, and everything hurt. Staggering to his hooves, Lysander felt his pupils shrink at the carnage around him. Sitting in the middle of the bridge was an unexploded shell. The impact force and direction of explosion weapon had butchered most of the bridge crew, only three other changelings were definitely alive in the room.

Stumbling outside onto the viewing deck, he saw the true carnage of the ship. The ERNS Luna had fired a brilliant volley, and he’d suffered for it. The fire control director tower, just wasn’t there anymore. Turret 2 and 3 were bent horribly out of shape, the midship was burning, and the superstructure more akin to Flowenan cheese.

Things then got worse. Another volley from the ERNS Luna descended on his ships, this time on CHS Changeling Supreme. In any admirals worst nightmare, the shells plunged through the deck and deep into the bowls of the ship. The vessel lit up like a Roaman candle, then split in two. Both halves of the vessel drifting apart from each other.

As the bow slipped beneath the waves, CHS Changeling Supreme’s turret 1 let off a final shot, scoring an improbable hit on ERNS Luna’s radar array. Then it slipped beneath the waves, taking nearly 2000 changelings with it. CHS Inexorable Phalanx behind it swerved port to avoid the wreckage, momentarily taking it out of the fight. For now, it was just Lysanders crippled battlecruiser against the pride of the Equestrian navy.

Staggering back onto the bridge Lysander saw one of the surviving officers had taken up the radar station. The changeling fiddled with the knobs before looking at the admiral “Turret 1 is requesting orders, what should I tell them?”

Wiping a trail of blood off his forehead, Lysander sighed. He knew what he had to do, the fire control director was dead, no one was sighting the gun. The HivesAdmiral was perhaps the only living changeling on the ship qualified to manually aim the gun, the only one who could.

Two more officers galloped into the room, the chief engineer and commander of the ship. The timing was impeccable “commander Stinger, you have the con. I’m going to manually fire turret 1.”

The commander barely hesitated “aye sir I have the con. Sealing, go with the HivesAdmiral, keep in contact.” The commander pointed a hoof at another one of the bridge survivors. The young changeling carried a radio, he could keep Lysander talking to the bridge.

Without another word between the two, Lysander galloped onto the observation deck and leapt over the barrier. Extending his wings, the HivesAdmiral caught himself midair and drifted to the deck. Thank Chrysalis none of the shrapnel had tore his wings up, otherwise he’d be needing a Oberarzt to clean his remains off the deck.

The deck was anarchy, and the 20-metre sprint to the turret was the single longest trip of the changelings life. Shrapnel filled the air around him like flies on a summers day. AA guns continued to keep up a steady stream of fire, all the while Equestrian fighters strafed the deck, and bombs landed around them.

The ship shook like it was stuck in a perpetual earthquake. Explosions going off so often, that they merged together into one continuous screaming sound. All around him, were dead changelings, wounded sailors crying for help, and Oberarzt’s tending to those they could.

Galloping as fast as his legs would go, he charged into the single remaining turret and found the gun crew still manning their stations. Despite the anarchy, the navy’s discipline held together.

The room was full of hectic shouts as the various changelings argued about what to do in the absence of orders. Piled roughly in the corner, were the bodies of the original gun crew, killed by a direct hit previously.

The 5 changelings in the cramped room immediately stopped their bickering the moment Lysander entered. Immediately, he started barking orders and whipping the sailors back into shape. “Fire control is down, I’m taking direct command of this gun.” He shouted as the entire ship shook with another hit.

“FCD’s out, how are we supposed to hit them?” One gunner asked.

“Leave that to me!” Lysander announced.

Situated behind the guns themselves, was an open section filled with range finding equipment. Here too, the bodies of the original gun crew lay dead. The bodies remained at their stations, the crew dying at their post.

Climbing into the slightly elevated section, Lysander sighed in dismay. The radar rangefinder was broken, likely knocked out along with the FCD. That left only the old-fashioned way. Luckily, he was the (self-proclaimed) best gunner in the Kriegsmarine.

Locked into the ceiling was a periscope, if all electronics failed, the gunner could target the guns through a range table, and the Coincidence rangefinder situated on top of the turret. It was old fashioned, but worked just as well; any gunner worth their rank could use one of these.

Luckily for Lysander, he’d already memorised the range table. It was a piece of knowledge he’d written off as completely useless years ago, thank the hive he’d remembered it. As Lysander figured out the range, the carrier fighters made their runs on the ERNS Luna. Maybe three bomb hits and one or two torpedoes belted into the battleship.

Triangulating the range, Lysander huffed “range 10000 yards and decreasing. Fire at 20 yard intervals, turn this turret 5 degrees left.”

Following his orders, the turret span ever so slightly to the left. The gun crews meanwhile locked in the range, each of the 3 guns parted, preparing to fire a spread of shells. Falling to the ground, the gunners opened their mouths and put hooves over their ears.

“Fire!”

The sound was deafening. Three guns, of a calibre capable of causing minor earthquakes, fired simultaneously. Lysander could actually feel the sound travelling through his body. For just a moment, he envied Trimmel for being deaf.

Shaking out of his stunned trace, Lysander took control of the turret again. “Reload AP, retarget 9900 yards and closing at 20 yard intervals.”

Shouting and the grinding of metal from the direction of the guns was all Lysander needed to hear. These sailors were carrying out their duty despite the hardships of the situation. The Changeling admiral briefly wondered where these lings had come from, they weren’t the original gun crew afterall.

“Reloaded and retargeted sir!” One of the crewmen reported.

“Fire!”

Once again, Lysanders whole world was turned upside-down by the sound wave. Rippling through him on its way into the outside world. He almost missed this, being a gun captain was noble work and one of the most important jobs in battle.

Pulling his eyes away from the periscope, Lysander grabbed a pocket watch in his magic. Holding it up, the changeling watched the seconds tick by.

“Sir!” The radioling send with Lysander called “commander stinger reports a new group of air contacts coming from the east! It’s a group of 27 coastal command aircraft. Looks like they’re going for the carriers.”

Well that had come from nowhere. There were countless questions to be asked about their sudden appearance: how had they know where the battle was, how did they arrive at exactly the right time, how in the hives were they miles beyond their fuel limit?

Coastal command bombers could only be out here if… oh. The pilots were miles beyond their fuel limit, they wouldn’t have enough to return home; this was a one-way mission. Those pilots had taken this flight, with the knowledge that death was a certainty. Unless they’d found his ships and managed to ditch in their general vicinity.

He had only a moment to reflect on their bravery before duty called once again. Pressing his eyes to the rangefinder again, Lysander watched as the first round of three shells splashed into the water just beyond the battleship. A few seconds later, the next three landed, and a single hit was scored a midship.

Tearing himself away, the changeling threw himself at the gunnery desk. Grabbing a range sheet, he began to furiously scribble down calculations. “Ask the bridge for our course and speed!” He shouted at the radioling.

After a few moments, Lysander was presented with a series of number he added into the equation. Scribbling down numbers and throwing around numbers in his head, Lysander finally got an answer 9978 feet. He’d found his range.

“All guns to fire at a range of 9978 feet, continuous rolling barrage!” He barked.

The next few minutes, Lysander truly was deaf. The loaders pushing in the enormous armour piercing shells, and the gunners adjusting their aim and firing. Every 25 second, another shell flew into the air. Watching through the periscope, Lysander watched as the fruits of their labour paid their due. Hit after hit was scored on the enormous battleship, the shells piercing its armour.

Some landed high, peppering the superstructure and setting it ablaze. Others punched through the deck and set off smaller secondary explosions. One hit buried itself in the aft turret, the resulting explosion throwing the turret a hundred feet into the air.

The battle was also rejoined by the CHS Inexorable Phalanx. The other battlecruiser had come around after its evasive manoeuvres and had moved about to cover Lysanders crippled battleship. Now she joined in firing broadsides at the ERNS Luna. The fight was one-sided and decided by another torpedo hit from a straggling aircraft.

Lysander knew what it was like to be battered by more numerous enemy ships; pure hell on earth. On the receiving end of this, was the ERNS Luna, which was pummelled for seven hellish minutes. It wasn’t a good fate, wasn’t a good way out.

As the battleship was being shelled, the radioling tapped Lysander’s shoulder to get his attention and shouted at the admiral over the noise “coastal command aircraft have hit 4 carriers, the Equestrian fleet is burning and in full retreat!”

Lysander could have kissed the radioling. He definitely would have if they were a couple feet closer. This was a victory, and sweet victory. The ship shook again, another hit being scored on his ship. Lysander brought himself back to the present, and the danger. The ERNS Luna was still bearing down on them.

If Lysander was captaining that ship, he’d stay behind. If the rest of the fleet was to withdraw in good order and without the risk of a running battle, there’d need to be a rearguard. She’d stay behind and fight to the end, it’s what he’d do.

Neither ship was really in a good position to be fighting right now. Lysander own flagship CHS High Tower and ERNS Luna had both taken dozens of hits, fires and debris rendering the superstructure nearly uninhabitable. Their crews were exhausted and wounded, guns knocked out, and engines flooding.

Despite that, Lysanders crew fought on, backed up by the rest of the fleet. In the face of uncertain odds, the Equestria crew also fought on. No transmissions of surrender were sent out and the blue battle ensign still flew.

Lysander directed more and more fire onto the lone battleship which put itself between the Changelings and the retreating Equestrian fleet. Taking fire from the entire Changeling 2nd fleet, return fire from ERNS Luna quickly dwindled to nothing.

Stepping away from the turret, Lysander watched the deck of the battleship through the periscope. Watching pony’s abandon ship and fight fires, it was the first time he’d ever actually seen the enemy. Fire continued to pour onto the ship, cutting down the ponies where they stood.

They couldn’t shoot back, they couldn’t hurt them anymore. At this point, it wasn’t a battle, it was murder. The changeling Hivesadmiral turned to the radioling “Tell the fleet to wave off the pursuit and pick up survivors, ponies and changelings. That’s enough fighting for one day.”

With the guns having fallen silent, Lysander suddenly felt the silence was deafening. It seemed to be ringing, maybe he’d got tinnitus in the past half hour. On autopilot, Lysander congratulated the gunners and gave a few words about their skill and bravery.

Making his way outside and onto the deck, Lysander trotted through the chaos to the bow. From here, he watched the titan that was the ERNS Luna collapse into the water, slowly slipping beneath the waves. The radioling who’d diligently followed him also watched in grim fascination.

The water around it was filled with small boats picking up survivors and ponies trying to stay above the water. There were too few for Lysanders liking, only a few hundred at most, battleships had crews of thousands.

“Tell the bridge to take us over and start picking up survivors.” Lysander told the radioling.

As his orders were repeated, the enormous battleship finally went under. As its bow went under, a single pony stood on bow holding the Equestrian battle ensign aloft. The changeling took off his hat and waved it at the Equestrian.

This war wasn’t over, the Equestrians spirit was unbroken. As long as the ponies didn’t consider themselves defeated, they weren’t beaten. The Equestrian navy may have been beaten today, retreating with their heavy assets burning; but the war on the continent still raged, and this victory was meaningless if Trimmel failed to capitalise on it. At least he’d stop complaining about a lack of oil now they import it again.

Author's Note

I'm still figuring out how to use this website lol, just figured out I can Italicise stuff.

Anyways, this is the end of the navy arc for now. Mimic is still alive, so is Lysander, Helvias fate and what happened to the Olenians will be revealed next chapter. Honestly, it's hard to write a full naval battle without it getting confusing. I went through a few rewrites and still aren't fully happy with this version, but I'll post it now or never get it out.

Next chapter will be more chill, focusing on just a few characters having a conversation and a small action bit setting up the next arc. I'll also drop some info on what happened to Flurry if anyone's desperate for that.

I'm going to be honest, this whole changeling arc is going on longer than I planned. I've got the next arcs and sections planned and its longer than I originally thought it would be. So I'm going to try and cut down on chapter length (back to 6ish K) and get them out a bit faster from now on. Unless people like the longer chapters, in which case I'll just keep chugging along.