Road to Train Station
A Black Car with a convoy of two Military Trucks filled with Red Army Soldiers, armed with SVT-40 Rifles, sat at the back. In the lead car, Zhukov, Comrade Ivan, and Rossiya sat in the passenger seats. The passing folks looked at the convoy as if it were just another ordinary Military convoy protecting a Higher-Rank official.
The convoy passed a section of the town, but Zhukov and Rossiya noticed the lack of people walking on the sidewalks and entering and exiting buildings, which was quite foreboding.
"Something's not right about this place," Rossiya said in concern, noticing the lack of people in the surrounding buildings.
Zhukov looked out the window and saw what Rossiya was worried about. "This place seems quiet..." he said, his eyes squinting through various buildings to find any absurdity.
The two were now alarmed at the total quietness of the place, like something was waiting at the end of the road. Comrade Ivan squinted ahead and saw something blocking the road.
Up ahead, two Military Trucks were parked in opposite directions, blocking the road path of the incoming convoy.
The lead car of the convoy stopped several meters away from the rushed-up erected checkpoint. The position of the trucks seemed to be hastily arranged, as was visible in the tracks they left on the road.
The Soldiers in the two trucks of the convoy seemed confused as to what was going on, wondering why their comrades were blocking their road path.
Inside the lead car, everyone seemed to have a bit of panic, knowing what this meant. Zhukov clenched a fist, knowing the KGB was at work. And from the looks of it, they were blocking his way to the truth.
"cyka!" he cursed, stopped in his tracks.
Comrade Ivan got out of the car to talk to the one in charge of this treasonous act being conducted in front of him.
He stopped several meters away from the car and shouted in an authoritative and frustrated voice. "What is the meaning of this treacherous act? Why are you blocking the way of Marshal Zhukov!"
The one in command of the checkpoint responded to Comrade Ivan's call-out. "Orders from Premier Stalin, we cannot let you pass through this road."
Comrade Ivan seemed confused by that response, wondering why Georgian-man would stop them from finding the truth.
Zhukov slammed the door of the car after hearing that, getting out and radiating an aura of anger and frustration. He walked towards the checkpoint with heavy, fast-paced footsteps. Rossiya followed him in concern as to what might happen during his outburst.
Zhukov grabbed the man by his shirt and pulled him closer to his face, conveying that he didn't care where or who the order came from. He was determined to dig up the truth that was covered in snow in Siberia.
"Listen here, shithead. I don't give a fuck about that order. I'm here to protect the people. So, I give you a choice... you either move that barricade yourselves or... I will remove you. Do you understand me?"
The man was literally quivering in his boots as the Marshal stared at him dead seriously, but the orders from the Premier terrified him, as he didn't want to displease him.
"So-sorry sir, I can't. I can't leave my post... that was the given order by the Premier."
"I don't care!" Zhukov shouted in the man's face. "This is for the Motherland. I have to go there to find it myself. So, you either move that barricade or I'll remove it myself. Do I make myself clear?"
Comrade Ivan and Rossiya tried to calm the fuming Marshal, convincing him to let go of the man who was quivering in his boots.
"Marshal Zhukov, calm down. The man is just following orders," Rossiya said as Zhukov calmed himself down, having vented most of his fury at the man.
He took some deep breaths to calm his posture after venting. "I can't find a reason why even if I choke this man to death, I would achieve anything from that," he said in a calmer tone.
"Now then... tell me what are the orders of Comrade Premier Stalin and for what reason do you have to place a barricade in the road?" he asked in a calmer tone with authority.
After the man just got his ass chewed by Marshal Zhukov, he took a breath to calm his beating heart from the pressure. "The order was urgent, as we just set up the barricade minutes ago, and our direct order from the Premier is to stop you here and not advance any further."
"Why?"
The man shrugged, not knowing why. "I-I don't know, Marshal... but the directive of the order is to stop you here."
Rossiya pondered why they were stopped with no other directive than to stop them on their tracks at this remote part of town. Then it came to her mind what the real purpose of their stopover was.
She was about to warn everyone of what could be the meaning of this, but the sudden rumbling and engine noise coming from the front and back of the convoy got their attention.
At the end of the checkpoint, a convoy of Military Trucks filled with Soldiers and Tanks was being led by a Black Car that screamed Higher-Up by its design.
From the back of their convoy, another convoy of Military Trucks filled with Soldiers and Tanks followed. Their convoy of one car and two Military Trucks was now surrounded on both sides, with no avenue of escape.
Soldiers from the Military Trucks disembarked and surrounded them, rifles pointed at them. The following Tanks in the Military convoy slowly turned their turrets and cannons at them.
Meanwhile, the Soldiers in their convoy were all scratching their heads in confusion as to why their comrades were pointing guns at them. And without ado, in order to protect the Marshal and other officials alongside him, they raised their rifles to safeguard Marshal Zhukov.
Marshal Zhukov's security and the soldiers who recently arrived and raised their weapons were all confused as to what was going on. Both sides of the men bore confusion on their faces.
"What is the meaning of this!" Zhukov's voice boomed, grabbing the attention of the Soldiers on both sides of the stand-off.
"What are you doing, pointing your guns at me! This is treasonous! Who's in charge of this treacherous act!"
At the Black Car that led the Military convoy at the checkpoint to halt Zhukov's advance, a man in a winter coat holding papers in hand came out of the passenger cabin and slowly walked toward the gunpoint where Zhukov and his comrades stood.
Zhukov, Comrade Ivan, and Rossiya looked at the man who walked slowly toward them, holding a paper. Sweat trickled down from Rossiya and Comrade Ivan's foreheads, as they knew who was approaching them. Zhukov, on the other hand, didn't give a crap about the man's appearance and title, only rage was visible on his face as he looked at the man.
"Merkulov!" he said with anger in his voice.
Merkulov, the Head of the KGB, stopped in front of him and stared back at him, challenging his authority.
"What is the meaning of this?" Zhukov asked with a murderous gaze.
Merkulov read out the contents of the paper for the people or Soldiers to understand the meaning of all the sudden and confusing turn of events.
"Federal Marshal Georgy Zhukov, you are under arrest on suspicion of conspiring with Foreign Powers, suspicion of odd behavior, and a plot to overthrow the Head of State, Premier Stalin---"
Zhukov burst out at the absurd accusations being thrown at him. "Don't you dare accuse me of conspiring with anyone of the Foreign Powers, and I'm not plotting to overthrow the current head of state!"
The Soldiers raised their rifles at him in response to his outburst, all their rifle ends pointing at his raging face. The only thing stopping him from killing the man were Rossiya and Comrade Ivan, who stopped him.
Comrade Ivan placed himself between the two men to prevent the tense situation from escalating further. One wrong move, and a fire-fight could break out on this road.
Merkulov continued. "The state finds out that you've also been conspiring with the Sirens, Humanity's number one enemy. And I hereby, in order of the Premier Joseph Stalin, arrest you and bring you to justice."
"Damn you, Merkulov!"
Zhukov cursed at the man, knowing, along with those who knew the truth, that it was all a set-up to prevent him from going to Siberia to find the truth, and this arrest was just a stunt to divert attention from the real threat that lay on the frozen tundra of that region.
"Wait, Comrade Merkulov, this must be a grave misunderstanding. Marshal Zhukov is no plot---" Rossiya was cut off as Merkulov continued to read the arrest warrant.
"And to those who are with the Field Marshal's side are also ordered to be arrested in helping Field Marshal Zhukov's plot to overthrow the head state."
Rossiya and Comrade Ivan's eyes widened, not expecting to be part of the KGB's plot to seize Marshal Zhukov.
"Seize them," Merkulov ordered the Soldiers.
"Wait—this must be a misunderstanding---" Before Comrade Ivan could reason, they were all seized by the Red Army Soldiers who surrounded them and pointed their rifles at gunpoint.
Zhukov punched the Soldier in front of him as he charged toward Merkulov. Punches here and there, with some kicks, Zhukov plowed his way through the Soldiers shielding Merkulov.
Zhukov wasn't going to go down without a fight, beating the Soldiers trying to apprehend him multiple times. Zhukov tanked the attack as a rifle buttstock hit him in the body and face. He kneeled to his knees as his injuries got to him.
Soldiers jumped over to seize him, and the stack of Soldiers at Zhukov's back forced him to the ground and immobilized him.
They tried to struggle, but they were overwhelmed by the number of Soldiers apprehending them. Zhukov, Comrade Ivan, and Rossiya were on the ground as they were being cuffed by the Soldiers who were ordered to seize them by Merkulov's order.
Zhukov's Military Security raised their hands and lowered their weapons, not wanting to be part of the arrest warrant for those who took sides with the Field Marshal.
The seizure was chaotic, with all the struggle and subsequent shouting, but not a single fire-fight occurred during the seizure of Field Marshal Zhukov's group.
With the seizure of Field Marshal Zhukov and his accompanying group, the secrets of the region of Siberia would remain unknown to the people who lived and believed in the promise of security and protection of the Northern Parliament Government.
The Siren Facility was still there, standing still in the hellish frozen tundra, waiting to be discovered by any unfortunate soul who was about to be a Siren guinea-pig for experiments and procreation for multiplying the numbers of Siren Minions.
Would the Azur Lane Alliance take the chance of destroying such a facility in a sovereign country's territory, or would they stand by and let politics play out in this manner?
The threat of a third invasion of Siren Forces to any part of the world loomed above the concerns of the Alliance.
.
.
Royal Navy Embassy at Moscow
Hood, Wales, and Bunker Hill-76 were in the lounge area of the Embassy, taking a rest after the ride from the train station to the Kremlin and the meeting with the Head of State of the Northern Parliament, which were tiring enough for those who were not good at politics.
Hood took a sip of tea that was prepared by the Embassy Staff. The tea itself was not typical tea that the Royal Navy consumed. This tea was exported from the Northern Parliament itself.
She shook it a bit to analyze the quality of such tea. "I must say, this tea is different than I ever tasted," Hood said, amazed at the taste.
"I am glad you like it, Mistress Hood," the Ambassador said, happy that she liked the served tea.
"I never thought that the Northern Parliament were all incapable of making such a feat, such as making a quality tea," Wales said.
The Royal Navy feasted on the tea like it was god's descent into this world, but with fun and sunshine. Some were not amused by drinking tea for the past few days on this trip.
Yup, we are talking about Bunker Hill-76, an American Nuclear Cruiser stuck at the Royal Navy Tea Party from the Barents Sea voyage to the Embassy.
Hood noticed the long face on Bunker Hill-76's face as she stared down at her cup of tea. "Is there something wrong, Miss Bunker Hill?" she inquired, seeing her not enjoying her tea.
Bunker Hill-76 let out a sigh as she responded to her inquiry. "The tea is nice..."
"What seems to be the problem then?"
"Have you ever considered drinking something besides hot water other than tea? We've been drinking this for the past few days. I know the tea can help you calm down and warm up in this cold weather... it's just that..."
"Yes, we get what you mean, Mistress Bunker Hill," Hood said, knowing it was quite stereotypical of them. "In a world that is falling apart such as this one we live in, I wouldn't worry about this stereotypical trait to what you Americans call us."
Bunker Hill-76 curved up a smile, finding it humorous. Hood might be a serious woman when it comes to words, but she still pulled some humor out of thin air.
"So..." the Ambassador started the topic about the Siren Facility. "About the existence of this Siren Facility, what should we do about it? ... we can't just wait here for the Northern Parliament's response of denying its existence."
"Simple..." Hood replied. "We wait for Zhukov to act and discover what secrets lay hidden in Siberia that Premier Stalin is trying to keep secret."
"Why Zhukov? I doubt he would do something about it," Bunker Hill-76 said.
"Those two might be bastards in their own rights, but they have different views in life." Hood then raised a finger. "Stalin is solely focused on maintaining his iron grip on this nation and authority; he doesn't care about the people at all."
"Knowing Stalin, he would be more concerned about his power even in a different world," Bunker Hill-76 said, agreeing with Hood's words.
"Zhukov, on the other hand, is more concerned about the people. He's not perfect, to say the least, but... we can trust him when it comes to handling the Siren threat more than anyone here in the Northern Parliament."
"What if Zhukov fails?" the Ambassador asked out of nowhere, catching the girls' attention.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Bunker Hill-76 was the one who responded to the Ambassador's inquiry. She glanced, knowing the answer would be the American way of dealing with threats in a manner that you don't need conspiracy theories pointing fingers at who did such things.
"We will strike it down... by force."
"Sorry, I don't want to be rude, but..." he looked at the photo of the Siren Facility and back at her. "The Siren Facility seems to be big for a small strike. We need an entire Squadron of Bombers to eliminate such a facility," he said with doubt.
"Yes, to destroy such a facility, you have to level the whole thing with Carpet Bombing, but... technology back in our world advances so much that you only need a small Strike Squadron of Fighters to do the same damage as Carpet Bombing with precise accuracy," she bragged about the Modern Technology's advantageous massive-scale bombing of the 1940s.
The Ambassador nodded slowly, having no bragging rights to counter such capability. He had heard enough absurd reports of the Modern Kansens in their unbelievable feats that even undermined Siren Technology and what Iron Blood called the superior technology.
"If you say so, Mistress Bunker Hill," he said.
Hood and Wales had a little chuckle, finding the interaction of the two funny and how the Americans bragged about their capabilities. She would also call that a bluff if she heard about a weapon that could fly 1,000-3,000-km and go beyond the speed of sound. She would be on the floor, losing her mind thinking such a weapon existed.
To be honest, Hood, you've been sitting right next to the person who had such a weapon hidden onboard at one of the VLS Cells at the Nuclear Cruiser.
As everyone seemed to enjoy their relaxed conversation of topics not related to politics but random chit-chat about the development of Azur Lane, Hood once teased Bunker Hill-76 that she wouldn't get a man if she continued her strict personality, asking her to loosen up a bit.
As the chatter went on, a member of the Embassy Staff barged in, bearing some news that they didn't expect to happen so suddenly. Everyone dropped their haughty attitude as they heard the urgency of the report.
"My apologies for the intrusion, but one of our informants said something bad happened to Zhukov," the Embassy Staff said with urgency.
"What happened?" Hood asked.
"The details are in these papers," the Staff said, handing over the decrypted notes from their deciphering machines.
Hood took the paper and read the content, her eyes flew open as she didn't expect Stalin would react so soon and dispatch the KGB to handle the issue regarding Zhukov.
"Seems like Zhukov is out," Wales said, shifting her gaze at the person beside her.
Bunker Hill-76 anticipated the failure of Zhukov, but she didn't expect it to end like this so quickly. She gazed and nodded at the Manjuu Marine who acted as her security detail.
That Manjuu Marine received the confirmation and started fiddling with the long-range communication device that didn't rely on Satellite Connection to function properly. It then sent a heavily encrypted transmission to the waiting Nuclear Cruiser in Port of Murmansk.
.
.
USS Bunker Hill CGN-76, Port of Murmansk
At the CIC, Meowfficers gathered around the table screen where the current plan was being shown. After the confirmation of the transmission, Meowfficers at their stations inside the Nuclear Cruiser identified the authenticity of the message.
Next thing led to another, the verified mission was transmitted to the USS Essex LHA-12, sailing close to the region of Siberia. The ice sheets that covered the Arctic were not that thick, and they didn't need an Ice Breaker to deal with the ice.
After the rescue of the captive people in Greenland and the subsequent transference of onboard passengers to one of the Ocean Liners that the Eagle Union rented for the departure of the rescued people out of the active warship heading to its next mission.
USS Essex LHA-12 CIC
Meowfficers and Manjuus, along with Essex-12 and Arizona (who was injured from the previous mission on Greenland), stood there waiting for the report to be cleared for authenticity.
"Bravo, Lima, Yankee, Alpha, Tango," the Communication Meowfficer read.
The other Meowfficer read the other copy in their safekeeping for confirmation. "Bravo, Lima, Yankee, Alpha, Tango. The message is authentic. We're clear to start the operation," he said.
"All hands to your battle stations," Essex-12 said to confirm the commencement of the Strike Operation deep in Northern Parliament territory and region.
Manjuus and Meowfficers rushed to their stations as the operation started.
At the Flight Deck, F-35Bs ascended to the level of the deck as the deck edge elevator lifted them from the Hangar Deck to the Flight Deck.
Ordnance Crew readied the 2,000lbs Laser Guided Bombs from the Weapons Elevator into the parked F-35Bs that were fueled and ready for take-off.
The Amphibious Assault Ship sailed towards the wind like any WW2 Carriers to help launch planes to gain lift as they took off.
The single Pratt & Whitney F135 Turbo Fan Engine roared to life as concentrated flames came out from the rear of the F-35B. At the midsection behind the cockpit, a single cover lifted up, revealing a massive Turbo Fan that helped the aircraft to have the ability to hover like a Helicopter without compromising its Fighter Aircraft design.
The Shooter gave the hand sign for take-off, the F-35B sprinted off the Flight Deck as it carried the ordinance to finish off the remaining threat to humanity hiding in one of the isolated places and located in one of the hostile nations, according to Earth's History.
Two Squadrons of F-35Bs, numbering four aircraft each squadron, totaling eight F-35Bs, flew toward the region in Siberia.
The operation mimicked that Movie: Top Gun Maverick of how the bombing operation was being conducted. Avoid all the Air-Defense, fly lower than 500 meters, traverse a mountainous terrain to avoid detection, and then bomb the single target deep within enemy territories.
This operation didn't need Tom Cruise and F/A-18s but an F-35B conducting a bombing mission on a nation with WW2 Technology.
F-35B's ECMs activated as soon as the two squadrons entered the Northern Parliament aerospace. The stealth technology covering the F-35Bs was enough to make WW2 Radars useless in this future warfare, but no one wanted to take any chance of loss in this bombing, and for double safety, their ECMs were used.
The F-35Bs skimmed at the surface of the snow and maneuvered their way through the formation of the untouched beauty of nature.
USS Arizona SSN-803 Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean
USS Arizona lurked beneath the thin ice sheets that were covering the whole Northern Arctic. Control Room, Manjuus, and Meowfficers looked at the various monitors and the clock that indicated the commencement of their mission.
The clock hit zero, signaling the commencement. The Submarine emerged at the thin sheet of ice, breaking it. The top of the Submarine was visible, sticking out at the ice sheets, antenna connection was erected at the Submarine Conning Tower, and waited for the F-35Bs to relay the signal of the target.
~Back to Siberia~
F-35Bs flew closer to the mountains of snow and Pine Trees that covered the area. The F-35Bs flew so low that the gusts of snow were blown as the aircraft flew low.
At last, at the end of the mountainous terrain, up ahead lay their target, hidden in the cover of the snow, only the small entrance door that led to the Siren horror experiments.
"This is Bravo Lead, Target on sight. Sending the coordinates," the Lead F-35B sent the coordinated data to the waiting Submarine.
Coordinates received, one of the doors of the four VPMs opened as it revealed three sealed canisters of missiles with a diameter of 2.87ft or 0.87m.
"Coordinates received, one Prompt Strike Missile ready and armed," the Weapons Operator (Manjuu) said after recalibrating the missile about its intended target.
"Missile secured, waiting for orders."
"Fire," the CO (Meowfficer) of the Submarine ordered.
"Order received, fire."
At the push of a button, one of the seals broke, and a missile popped out. Like any rocket launch, it broke the sound barrier as it flew toward the sky in a ballistic trajectory arc.
The Prompt Strike Missile flew at the exosphere beyond any Air-Breathing Aircraft could reach. The missile broke off from its Booster, and the Delivery System pushed the payload even further.
At last, the payload broke off from the Delivery Payload and started ascending beyond speeds unimaginable back in the time of the 1940s. The Glide Body or the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle descended to its intended target.
Prompt Strike Missile, or commonly called Conventional Prompt Strike by the US Military. The creation of such a system is the response to the rising threat of the Hypersonic Missile. Prompt Strike works like a Medium-Range ICBM, to hit its target with kinetic energy with precise precision deep within enemy territory.
The sheer kinetic force and velocity it carried from its hypersonic descent from the exosphere punched through the thick layers of concrete above the Siren Facility. The Hypersonic Glide Vehicle broke the ceiling of the Siren Facility and dug all the way to the lower floor.
For the Sirens inside the Facility, everything just happened in the blink of an eye as there was a massive hole in the ceiling where the snow trickled down after the dust and force of the impact settled.
"This is Bravo Lead; the target is open, All Aircraft prepare for a stiff dive," the Lead F-35B radioed the other following F-35Bs.
"Wilco."
The two squadrons of F-35Bs ascended as it broke through their cover to dive down to the open hole that the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle left on its strike.
The F-35Bs guided the 2,000lbs Laser Guided Bombs at the hole, and every F-35B performed a stiff dive-bombing run.
Eight F-35Bs released sixteen 2,000lbs Laser Guided Bombs at their intended target. After the release, they all watched as all the bombs went through the hole, and a few seconds passed, an underground explosion followed as dirt and snow were thrown above from the underground explosion.
"This is Bravo Lead, Target destroyed, I repeat. This is Bravo Lead target is destroyed," the Lead F-35B radioed back at the successful attack on the Siren Facility.
All the F-35Bs flew back out of the scene, they flew to another route of escape as they didn't want to use the same route where they came in. That route was deemed dangerous as the enemy might use it as an ambush point at their exit, so another route was made.
Back at the CIC of USS Essex LHA-12, everyone celebrated the successful mission conducted.
Arizona stared at the monitor screen, his gaze a stern. "Using Top Gun's Plot to bomb Siren Facility with the same exact copy, but with F-35B."
"I could have hired Tom Cruise to do that," Essex-12 said, chuckling. "But I don't have enough budget to put him into the cockpit of one of my F-35s."
"So, you used a Prompt Strike Missile as 'miracle one' as Tom Cruise stated on the Movie," Sheffield said.
Sheffield and the rest of the Maids, and also Seattle, who partook in the previous mission on Greenland.
To those who didn't watch the movie, Top Gun Maverick, like Suffolk, Kent, and Seattle, were all mouth-gaped at the bomb run being conducted and the complexity of the execution of such a mission.
"Yes, I used the two consecutive 'Miracles' that Tom Cruise said. 'Miracle One' is to create a hole wide enough for the bombs to pass through." Essex-12 said with finger raised.
"'Miracle two' is for all the bombs to pass through the hole and create an underground explosion," she said, explaining the idea she got from the movie.
"Northern Parliament aerospace is all clear of Hostile Aircraft, no major Army-Air Force Bases are assembling for interception. Our birds have safely avoided being detected at their retreat," the Radar Operator (Manjuu) said as his eyes were glued to the Radar Screen.
"All good to well..." Essex-12 muttered. "Contact Bunker Hill about the successful Strike at the Siren Facility," she ordered.
"Roger that, the message is transmitted to the Nuclear Cruiser Bunker Hill," the Communication Operator (Manjuu) said as the rhythm of the tapping keyboard sounded.
"Encrypted message sent," the Communication Operator said in confirmation.
"Good... let's leave the area of operation and return to base, the mission ends today," she said.
After all the F-35Bs landed on the Flight Deck of the Amphibious Assault Ship, the Fleet sailed away and returned to Eagle Union Naval Base Anchorage located in Alaska.