บท 3: Chapter Three.

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~~~Hiroake Abe, June 1942~~~

~~~Tharlan Shores, Xandar~~~

The constant struggle between our navies in the Pacific against the United States had resulted in disastrous encounters for both sides. The Allies were stopping the American advance at any cost. Fortunately, the burning of Pearl Harbor by the Allies had halted the American advance in the Pacific for the time being, giving the Allied forces breathing space to conquer territories in South Asia, causing the Empire to gain avenues for further growth.

However, we did not count on the arrival of a series of defeats in the Pacific at the beginning of the attack on Midway Atoll, causing the navy to fracture in various degrees, resulting in eight of the twelve destroyers that had gone to the battle escaping to avoid the loss of lives due to the American air attack.

The worst was the supernatural event after that when the sky darkened entirely as if the sun had stopped shining and the light had left everyone. The event only lasted a few seconds, but it was long enough to interfere with the telecommunications systems in the ships, damaging some antennas of the Morse communications systems. So, even after six days, we were still adrift, especially since the positioning systems were not working as they should.

"Vice Admiral," a soldier entered the command room, where many were looking at maps and trying to communicate with the mainland, efforts that were yielding no results, "land has been sighted, three miles south. We think it may be one of the islands that make up the Philippines."

The Philippines? We could not travel such a distance in only six days, especially since we were so far north. "Have you managed to identify such a place?" I asked to know if it would be feasible to reach that destination and thus avoid the American navies until we received communication with Japan again.

"No, vice admiral, the extension of land seen through the binoculars is gigantic, similar to Australia." That made the situation more precarious. If it was Australia, we could encounter a British navy, but at this time, it was more feasible to reach that place than to continue sailing aimlessly. "Set course for that unknown land, let everyone be alert for possible ambushes and enemy aircraft, and let the intelligence members keep trying to communicate with the empire."

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When the ship got close enough, I remained static to observe the place very well. It was a port city and a gigantic one, possibly bigger than Shanghai. It had giant buildings and walls similar to those used in Mesopotamia and Babylon, only on a massive scale. The surprising thing about them was that they were made of a strange material, black, capable of absorbing sunlight due to its color.

At first glance, it looked like a city from a children's story. It was very well-built, with thousands of ships anchored at the docks, and made of strange metal that glowed with purple and fluorescent colors.

"Vice Admiral, are you seeing the same thing I am?" the ship's captain asked, with the same surprised and confused expression as everyone in the command room. Yes, we have made contact with unknown lands. Let's take an alert but open path. We don't know the capabilities of this place, certainly not without knowing more about it."

We could not show hostility, not against a place with a level of infrastructural technology similar to that of the great powers of Europe. One false foot could gain us another enemy. We already had enough with the forces of Europe and the Americans, let alone now with a new piece on the game board.

"Ships approaching," a warning came on, urging me to look through the binoculars again and watch as twelve ships approached. They had a unique and strange design, and although they were half the size of our ships, that did not make them any less dangerous, mainly because of their peculiar glow protruding from all the ships, as if they were a set of lights.

As the seconds ticked by, the unknown ships rapidly approached within our range, cutting through the water with astonishing speed, especially since it was clear that the boats were propelled by paddles stationed at both ends of the ships, an antiquated propulsion system. Still, one that was now proven sufficient to propel said ships to a speed perhaps more significant than 25 knots, something thought impossible for such a scheme.

Taking the microphone from the ship's megaphones, I set about creating communication with the members of the strange vessels.

"We are members of the fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Please identify yourself." Waiting for a response, I remained engrossed, waiting for some sign of communication from the other party, only to see movement on one of the decks of the nearest ship.

"Vice Admiral, I see movement. It appears to be five figures. They are wearing some metal armor," the report seemed to be said by someone under the effects of alcohol. However, I had no choice but to agree with him when I observed, and yes, five figures were wearing golden armor.

'Who would wear armor of that style in the middle of the twentieth century?' I wondered, but suddenly, all my thoughts were put on hold when I saw a startling scene.

"All five figures are jumping!" The room was engulfed in exclamations and shouts as the five figures could be seen jumping over thirty meters and landing on the deck of the ship I was on.

"WIUUUUU!"

Alarms were not long in coming, urging all the ship members to leave their things and move to their battle stations, while it could be observed how the five figures remained in the same place where they had fallen after their jump.

On deck, soldiers were not long in coming, with Ho-103 machine gun operators aiming at the five figures but not yet opening fire.

I was confused. The jumping power of those figures revealed a terrifying power, much like that of those people with strange abilities imprisoned in the Empire. What made me uneasy was that these people with abilities seemed to work on behalf of their city, so there might be more of these in hiding.

I was also aware of America's interest in creating regiments with soldiers with super abilities, but none of that had taken effect. From the looks of it and the different flags displayed on the ships, these were not Americans.

"Vice Admiral, I've managed to contact the Empire!" Bingo, at least that was settled. Find out our location and share it with the Empire. We need reinforcements. Notify them that we've found an unknown nation with beings with superhuman abilities."

At this time, the most pressing thing would be to wait for orders from the top, but with these beings on deck, we could not wait that long, so plucking up courage, I left the command room to the deck to make contact with the strange beings.

Being a few meters away from the five figures, I could notice their appearance. With pale grayish skin, black eyes, and strange marks on their cheekbones, they looked like creatures from hell. As for their clothing, they wore dark armor with golden accents, plus a whip and... swords.

"You are in territorial waters of the Xandarian Empire. Identify your motives for such a sovereign invasion and stipulate diplomatic talks," one of the beings said in a silky, low tone that, for some reason, sounded fluent in Japanese.

"I see you speak our language. That makes things better. First, we did not know we were in waters under the power of a nation, let alone an unknown one such as Xandar. Nevertheless, we extended apologies on behalf of the Japanese Empire." I made contact peacefully, this being the safest course of action until more of these people's capabilities were known.

"I am Marggy, witch of the sixth division belonging to the Omega group stationed in Tharlan. On behalf of Xandar, I welcome you." The woman's words surprised several of the members on deck.

Something I knew I had to control before the situation became aggressive due to assumptions and biases towards these... Witches.

"Bang, Pam, Pam!"

Unfortunately, my actions were slow in coming, allowing enough time for a soldier to fire.

The scene seemed to happen in slow motion, with the shots coming close to the witch I was talking to, only to hit the armband of her armor once she raised her arm to stop the bullets.

That scene only took less than a second, enough time for another of the witches to grab the whip from her hip. The whip glowed, striking the firing soldier and killing him.