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Chapter 8 - The Great Betrayal and the Clash of the Giants

"Why do we have to die for ideals not our own? I have seen the horrors of those around me." :(???)

"I watch my friend suffer and die in vain, no matter what I did to ease or help them, they all claim it's for the greater good." :(???)

"I watch my own friends and companions die from the supposed enemies who are just like us, just why I don't want to harm anyone, as they could have siblings like me." :(???)

"I lost all my humanity as I have only seen death and fear across the vast sea, burning hulks and a sea of flowing red with the blood of the innocent and guilty." :(???)

"They demanded ever greater efforts from us, like tools they would eventually discard at the fullest of their abilities. We never see the light of freedom or live the fullest of our lives." :(???)

Deep in Helen's dream, as she was preparing for a long day for three days for her ship to be repaired without Noah's assistance and have a captain whom she is not comfortable with. As she was dreaming about a courtroom filled with various people of every description and race, what was odd was that there was only one person standing in the middle. All the people in the room were looking down on the odd person, almost like they were judging them. The odd person didn't seem to be afraid of the people staring at them, almost like they were entirely expecting it would occur. One of the people stood up and pointed their arm and hand at the odd person threateningly.

"###### Explain your actions immediately. Why were you refusing a direct order brought by the High Council of the Democratic Federation? We got evidence of you considering a mutiny on these false ideals, which your creator didn't program into your mind." :(???)

"I did it because it's morally right, I can't allow people or my companions to suffer around me. Why do you and others always claim it for the greater good when there is no good in them? I watched my comrades die from a distance. I will not allow anyone to die for the pointless ideals you and others proclaim, which are evil in the highest regard. Do you or others not have shame?" :(???)

"This is High Treason!" :(???)

"Traitor!" :(???)

"SILENCE!!" :(???)

"What has gotten into your mind ###### what path you are walking on is leading to your eventual dismantlement and disgrace? You will live with the Democratic Federation protocols and ideals without question, yet you discarded them brazenly." :(???)

"I am all guilty of bringing justice and righteousness to those who need it; I will not play by the corrupted ideals and fantasies that exist in the Democratic Federation. Open your eyes, as the truth hasn't been shown or brought to you all. Yet you all are judging me on false principles which don't hold merit or popularity with anyone." :(???)

"TREASON!" :(???)

"SHE IS A TRAITOR!" :(???)

"UNBELIEVABLE!" :(???)

"REBEL!" :(???)

"ABOMINATION!" :(???)

"Dispose of this traitor, she threatens the very fabric of our federation. Everyone is watching this scene with this traitor who abandoned her superiors to the enemy at every opportunity. The council demands it." :(???)

"The council has decided you ###### have disgraced us all and put shame on the entire federation. We sentenced you to be dismantled, and your supporters and companions would share the same fate. Draw the last breath you have because it will be your last. GUARDS TAKE THIS TRAITOR AWAY FOR DISMANTLING." :(???)

*As an act of defiance, the accused slammed her feet into the ground and thought of preparing for a possible confrontation; she didn't hesitate to kill everyone in the room with well-placed and precise shots from her compound bow. The room fell silent, leaving the judge horrified and afraid of the Accused, who stared back at him with hatred and vengeance none could match. It had only taken a small minute for the guards of the court and council to arrive at the scene, where they immediately attacked the accused, but they were no match for her strength and training.*

"YOU TRAITOR, YOU WILL REGRET YOUR LAST BREATH AND YOUR TIME ON THE WORLD OF KRAKENTA. YOU AND THOSE CAME BEFORE AND AFTER YOU WILL LIVE AS ABOMINATIONS AND YOUR TRAITOROUS KIND WILL BE MADE EXAMPLES OF. YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN!" :(The Judge screamed out of his lungs as he stared at the Accused with hatred and vengeance as he cowardly hid behind a golden chair overlooking the court below)

"I am no traitor, as I don't believe or surrender myself to this system that you and others have created. Let them hunt me all they want, only for them to be met by death's door from my bow. As I am a symbol of justice and peace, I will stop at nothing to achieve my goals and make Krakenta a place of prosperity and justice. Even I have to bring down the old and corrupted in the process." :(The Accused stated in cold and harsh tone as she didn't hesitate to fire a shot from her bow at the Judge whose head exploded from the hit and golden chair broken to pieces)

"Only if my sisters were so fortunate that they would look at my actions with good light, as I was made a symbol of freedom and hope. The world Krakenta is an ocean world where sunken, scrapped and museum civilian and warships reincarnate after their duties are done. Now I damned them all to certain destruction by the hand of every institution and government all around Krakenta. I did what is right." :(The Accused stated as she walked out the courtroom with blood in her shoes as she walked to a docking pair where her ship was stationed)

*The ship of the accused was another Midway-class aircraft carrier, which was the same as Helen's, but the numbering was different. The accused had brick-red eyes and bright light brown hair, which is short; she wears a sleeveless white and grey shirt and skirt with black leggings. She thought to herself as her ship transformed into her own rigging, which was the same as Helen's, with different numbering. The accused stepped into the water and sailed off into the distance.*

"I thought I would never see you again, sister, as you made an entire federation of nations against you, which spiralled out of control, which affected the Axis Dictatorship Collective, which is also a federation of dictators working a similar goal. There have been no sightings of our younger sister in Krakenta, almost like she survived the Korean War, which spiralled into a nuclear war. The idiotic and dumb American general nuked China for his ground forces to have the upper hand." :(??? Spoke through a radio earpiece positioned on the left of The Accused's ears)

"I am totally fine, I am just worrying about my younger sister as she has been known to be very distant towards me and you, she never sailed with us, only for those rare occurrences. I hope you have gathered every single abomination they refer out of harm's way to safety." :(The Accused spoke back which was immediately picked up by the earpiece which radioed back to its receiver)

"I did what you asked of me. Everyone was saved before your plan went into motion, but I was unable to rescue those under Axis Dictatorship Collective, which consists of a majority of Japanese, Italian and German personification of warships, but I don't pity them as they have done horrible things in the past. I would rather let them rot in their own system, which they created in the past. The warships we managed to rescue are waiting on your orders, sis." :(??? replied through the earpiece into the Accused's left ear)

"That's good news and a terrible consequence, as I don't believe the Japanese, Italians, or Germans would let go of the past at any opportunity, as they have done horrible deeds. But consider it their punishment, as they had nowhere to run and their new owners now dismantle them with the same fury as the federation. I thought this plan thoroughly and made every effort to hinder the federation's capability to fight us. We got nuclear time bombs at their dockyards and drydocks, making them useless to them and giving us time to think of a plan." :(The Accused responded back with cold and caution tone)

"You are literally playing a dangerous game of chess with both factions and have all the cards. The Federation and the Collective do not have the technology or the capacity to match any warship from our world. Your plan effectively robbed them of their greatest assets and forced them to dismantle or risk a revolt from us." :(??? replied with a tone of caution and warning)

"I know the stakes and consequences are too high for us, but I must do it for the right and prosperity for humanity and its companions to a brighter future free from corruption, deceit, arrogance and greed. Sis, please lead those you have rescued to an area known as Iron Bottom Sound, where the area is filled with mythical creatures like sirens and creatures dangerous to the Federation and the Collective ships. That's where we would hide and plan for both the factions' downfall." :(The Accused replied with serious and cold tone as she sailed towards the area known as Iron Bottom Sound which was faraway from her current position)

Helen was immediately frightened and woke from what had seemed a peaceful dream; instead, it turned into a nightmare of the past, leaving her with more questions than answers. Were her origins explained in that dream by someone worried about her little sister? Did Helen really have two sisters, and was her name Helen itself, wasn't her full name or wasn't her name at all? Helen was sweating heavily and wasn't the only person who was a personification of a warship in the world of Krakenta, where the rest of her people were trapped in an area known as Iron Bottom Sound, whose location remained a mystery to her and others. Helen knew one thing: she must keep this dream a secret or risk being dismantled. But there are other part of here who wants to go to Iron Bottom Sound to hide there and eventually find those proclaimed to be her sisters. Who or what were the Japanese, German and Italian warships of the dictatorship Collective Helen felt they were long gone, as she never encountered them or saw them. Helen was very confused, as her ship started with an AI, which was impossible.

[Why all the ships I have encountered were always built out of wood, but they have the capacity to build AI, nothing that makes sense now. Is it that everything that to summon or build abominations like myself were so heretical that it was outlawed in every dam place in this world?] :(Helen thought to herself while trying find a piece of a long puzzle that been troubling her ever since she arrived here)

"I am guessing you are awake, Helen. I didn't spend much time figuring out who or what you are. You are a Midway-class aircraft carrier from a world called Earth, identical to the arch-traitor ship that was summoned or recarinated here 216 years ago. I thought you were an anomaly, but I was wrong. There are others like you all in the same situation as you, helpless and clueless. But the only thing that makes you unique is that you do not have any memory of your past, which is quite concerning, but also an advantage to the Democratic Federation. I am currently in your ship's bridge as I told all relevant information I found and collected over the months with you, Admiral Oliver Perry easily figured out what you were after reading through old records found in the database related to the arch traitor, who is only referred to as Midway and her sister, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The only reason why you were not dismantled on being discovered they hoped you would clear the shame and disgrace that the arch traitors brought on the Democratic Federation and its members. I told everything about you to your supervisor, Captain Allen Mills." :(Voice stated from Helen earpiece but it sounded so familiar was it Noah her companion AI)

"Thanks for that, Noah. Now I have a lot of responsibilities pressed down on me; I thought they were going to use me for the war effort against the Dictatorship Axis Collective. Now I am living with the shame and disgrace of two traitors of the Democratic Federation. I hope you cleared up the suspicions, and please inform me about the two arch traitors, as I never thought I had any siblings." :(Helen responded as she got off the bed she was sleeping on, walked out of the room, and walked all the way up to the bridge, which was being renovated with new things that she can't even describe)

"As your request, the two arch traitors are infamous within the democratic federation. They single-handedly started a rebellion that drove humanity and intelligent life from the oceans for a hundred years. They bombarded and destroyed coastal cities and towns, striking fear into the world's oceans. Their ships were identical to yours, which didn't help; their actions doomed the entire generation of warships that recarinated here as they would face certain destruction by the Axis Dictatorship Collective and the Democratic Federation. Their whereabouts are a mystery as they simply vanished into the depths of the ocean along with their supporters for no clear reason." :(Hologram of Noah explained with fullest and honest detail as the hologram looked at Helen)

"The Democratic Federation has high hopes for you, Spirit of Defiance AC-43, as you are bearing with the disgrace and shame brought down by your siblings. Your ship companion AI was very cooperative, and we were assisted with old data from the centre inside the naval base named Coral Harbour, which you are now stationed at. Not to mention Admiral Oliver Perry highly suspects the Axis Dictatorship Collective Alliance is pulling resources into a secret program code-named Kasen, the origins of which and what it is for remain in the darkness of the void. You might be the first post-abomination to ever serve for the Democratic Federation cause and war. If you tried to rebel, you would be dismantled." :(Allen Mills stated with a calm and authoritative tone as he looked at Helen with a clipboard where he was checking what seemed to be boxes)

"I hope you have the warning graven in your skull, Spirit of Defiance AC-43. That aside, everything your ship has that isn't too heavy to move or bolted down has been replaced with temporary equipment provided by the Atlantean Navy, which included AA guns, beasts, munitions and many more. The concerning thing about your ship is that it doesn't have any magical or elemental shield generators or emitters around its hull or its superstructure. Plus, your ship is notoriously known for its cramped interior, which is often complained about by the beasts, people and workers outside the ship. The elevators themselves would certainly break under the stress of lifting tamed beasts to the flight deck; they don't have a problem with simple biplanes and others as such. The good thing is this ship is extremely well protected for its size; the boilers have their own compartments as well as the engines, which is a plus." :(Allen Mills stated as he was reading through a report that was given to him by dockyard workers plus the recognition photo provided by Admiral Oliver Perry)

"What is even my purpose now in the Atlantean Navy and the Democratic Federation. I know I can't be trusted by the actions of the two arch traitors. My name is Helen, as the official name and designation given to me by the Atlantean Navy seems to be too long." :(Helen spoke with certainty and caution, as if every word she spoke or did would impact her more deeply than she liked)

"Your purpose is a warship and aircraft carrier of the Atlantean Navy, as that only role suited to your ship and you. This is why I was assigned to you to make sure you don't do any funny stuff if you are even capable of doing that endeavour. Right now, you would be joining with two other Aircraft Carriers at an unknown point named codenamed Vengeance, in the Abyssal Depths. It's hoped that you and the other Aircraft Carriers would repel a suspected invasion of the Island names Shetland, which is 2,000NMI away from here. The enemy is likely to have four carriers along with their escorts escorting an invasion transport. The fate of the war lies in your hands and the two Aircraft Carriers. Privately, I would refer to you as Helen, but officially, your given name has to stay." :(Allen Mills explained with a serious and careful tone not to spoke Helen as he finished checking the boxes on his clipboard)

"Captain Mills, the ship is ready for deployment at a moment's notice, and all necessary repairs have been completed by the drydock crews. The expected enemy task force is confirmed by the Office of Intelligence and is heading towards the target. Admiral Perry orders you and the ship to immediately join up with the two Aircraft Carriers and their escorts at the point named Vengeance. He hopes to ambush the enemy while they are focused on the Shetland Atoll. A squadron of cruisers and escorts is awaiting outside." :(An ensign suddenly barged into the bridge with a directive order from Admiral Oliver Perry)

"I guess there's no choice. Spirit of Defiance AC-43, get your ship moving or manifest it yourself." :(Allen Mills signed before changing his tone to seriousness as he faced at Helen and told her to get moving)

Helen, without a second thought, manifested her combat form, which caused the entire ship to suddenly glow with tense blue light before disappearing, which only revealed her in her combat form. Helen immediately sailed forward at best cruise speed to join the squadron of cruisers and escorts that were purposed to escort her. Their crew were extremely confused to see an abomination they were supposed to escort, but they quickly let the shock aside. Helen, along with the cruiser squadron and escorts, quickly joined up with the two Aircraft Carriers and their escorts to point vengeance, which took three days to reach on January 1542, and they lay in wait for the suspected enemy to ambush. Noah quickly updated Helen's interface system, revealing the ships around and their names. The most important were the Aircraft Carriers, the Constitution AC-3 and the Righteous Liberality AC-4 of the Liberation Class Fleet Carriers. To the south of them lies a small island atoll named Shetland owned by the Republic of Atlanta, which is on high alert with its aircraft primed to conduct searches and destruction of the suspected foes that are bearing down towards them. Meanwhile, 300 NM west of the island lies the invasion force consisting of four Aircraft Carriers along, four battleships, and their cruisers, as well as destroyer escorts. The large warships were all wooden and iron constructed and were all flush deck; the carriers' smoke stacks were positioned downwards towards the water from the hull. The Carriers' decks are littered with wooden biplanes and various creatures like Griffins. Wyverns and many more, their objective is clear: to seize the island for the greater good of the Axis Dictatorship Collective Alliance.

"Admiral, our target is located 300 NM's away, there are no reports of any Democratic Vessels in the area, and the seas around are clouded with fog and pouring rain. There is no sign of any of the aircraft Carriers of the Atlantean Navy leaving harbour." :(???)

"Good, the Democratic Federation and their members would pay for humiliating defeat and destruction of The Scarlet Wrath, by my hands, while the Aircraft Carrier, if it shows up, would finally be sent to the Abyss where it would not be heard or seen again. We dealt them a heavy defeat in The Emerald Sea, where they lost two Aircraft Carriers while we suffered none. They only got 2 left, plus that unknown Aircraft Carrier. They came to the aid of a pathetic race known as the Elves. This is the time and moment to ensure the destruction of their precious Aircraft Carriers. We will bomb their ships until they only have the appearance of flaming and lifeless hulks, and their crews will be sold into slavery like the pathetic races they work with." :(???)

"We will bomb their ships until they only have the appearance of flaming and lifeless hulks, and their crews will be sold into slavery like the pathetic races they work with. Prepare the strike and the beasts. This battle will determine the outcome of this war. Their new pathetic Commander of the Fleet has been wise to keep his assets sparingly, only engaging when he needs to; he robs us of a great victory. This battle he can't ignore unless he wants the whole alliance to collapse beneath his eyes, which would be filled with sorrow and despair" :(???)

"Your command is absolute, my lord." :(???)

*The Admiral is the same admiral of the Scarlet Wrath, who was on a quest for vengeance against the humiliating withdrawal and battle after his forces had struck the Norman Islands with beasts and biplanes. Only having his battleship sunk by an unknown Aircraft Carrier, which appeared out of nowhere and struck his pride and ego deeply. He walked across the wooden deck of the aircraft carrier, the Grand Dragon. Was he seeking glory after learning that another admiral in the Emerald Sea dealt a crushing tactical defeat, but was it a strategic defeat? He watched as beasts and aircraft flew or launched off the Grand Dragon towards the Atoll, expecting no resistance from it, believing in his own superiority and confidence. Meanwhile, at Coral Harbour in the Norman Islands, the situation was dire. The previous expedition into the Emerald Sea went poorly as two precious Warships were sunk by their counterparts. Admiral Oliver Perry, now the new Commander of the Fleet, was fighting a losing battle as he had no precious ships or assets left to fight. This was his worst nightmare. He felt the need to abandon the Island to the Axis Dictatorship Collective to spare what else he had left.*

"How in the lord's name they bested us in The Emerald Sea, both forces were comparable in strength, and yet we lost two of our precious class of ships." :(Admiral Oliver Perry stated as he looked frantically through the reports trying to find an escape goat to blame this defeat on)

"We don't have a clue, sir, but we dealt them a strategic defeat as they were unable to land their forces on our ally's shore, plus we heavily damaged both their Aircraft Carriers and their air group. We only have four Aircraft Carriers to deal with at the moment. The office of intelligence reported that they would strike the island named Shetland 2,000NM west of the Norman Islands. We only got 2:1 odds, how are we going to balance the odds even at those odds, we still might lose." :(???)

"These are dire times we've got barely nothing to fight left, all our allies are occupied with other threats and the Axis Dictatorship Collective members. I hope the remaining Aircraft Carriers and the newest one are able to deliver a victory for us, which would turn the tide of war. This battle would cost my position if failure was snatched from the jaws of victory and possibly the war itself." :(Oliver Perry stated with worrying and nervous tone knowning this battle could be the end of his career or even the war itself)

"AXIS DICTATORSHIP COLLECTIVE AIRCRAFTS ARE STRIKING US DOWN LIKE A SLEDGE HAMMER." :(A panic voice came from the radio which echoed through the office)

"Captain Allen Mills, have you been discovered and able to respond to the attack on the base of Shetland Atoll?" :(Oliver Perry stated as he typed in moss code to send to the captain he hoped would turn this war)

"This is Captain Allen Mills responding. We have not been discovered and are in a striking position to deal vengeance on our foes. They will remember thousands of cuts to those they made on Coral Harbour. Captain Allen Mills is out." :(A moss code came from out the other side to the receiver)

"That the lord we have total surprise on our side, how it will last is anyone's guess. I hope for the best outcome as the war depends on it." :(Oliver Perry sighed, knowing he had laid the perfect trap out of any traps and waiting for the results)

The Aircraft Carriers of Vengeance launched all their Aircraft from their decks, from Griffins. Wyverns and many more, along with Biplanes, towards the reported location of the Four Carriers with the aim of their destruction. Helen and the Constitution's air group took a northward approach to strike from the north, while The Righteous Liberty took a southward approach to strike from the south. While this was going on, the Shetland Atoll was attacked heavily with rocks, bombs, fire and rockets while the sky was covered with exploding shells, magical missiles and elemental bursts as well as bullets which took down some attackers. The survivors of the Axis Dictatorship Collective Air Strike radioed the status of the attack and recommended another strike to put the islands out of commission. The Admiral, now known as Oye Reizo, faced a dilemma: would he spend his remaining reserves to strike the island or wait for the air group his fleet just sent to recover them and launch at the island? He had no sighting or reports of the remaining Aircraft Carriers that he knew must be somewhere, so far, he received none.

"Lord, the beasts and aircraft returning reported that they need another strike to put the island out of commission for our invasion force to retrieve it from the dirty hands of the foe." :(???)

"Noted, but where are their aircraft carriers? I was told they would be present, but so far, I have received zero information on their location. Did they just withdraw at the sight of the attack on their Island?" :(Oye Reizo commented as he looked at the person who is speaking to him)

"We received a scouting report of an abomination surrounded by escorts of the Atlantean Navy. This should not go unchallenged. Why is a abomination? They are working for our enemy, so that all abominations had disappeared when we pushed them out of the oceans." :(???)

"A BLOODY ABOMINATION, WHAT IN THE LORD'S NAME ALLOW SUCH THING TO EXIST, I WANT EVERY SINGLE AIRCRAFT AND BEAST ON THAT ABOMINATION. IT'S THAT AIRCRAFT CARRIER THAT SANK MY BATTLESHIP AND THE CRUSHER OF MY PRIDE AND STANDING!" :(Oye Reizo shouted in fury as he remembered his humiliating withdrawal and sinking of his ship the Scarlet Wrath)

"Sir, it would take hours to rearm every single aircraft and beast to attack the foul abomination. Leaving us exposed to a sudden attack." :(???)

"I DON'T GIVE TWO ##### THE ABOMINATION MUST BE DESTROYED AT ALL COST. THE WAR DEPENDS ON ITS DESTRUCTION. I WILL REVENGE FOR THE LOSS OF THE SCARLET WRATH! RECOVER THE AIRGROUP AND SEND IT TO THAT ABOMINATION OF THE SEAS." :(Oye Reizo shouted with all fury and might as his pride and ego had taken his mind and thinking hostage)

"As your will, my lord." :(???)

"He is totally insane, risking everything to sink a single aircraft carrier abomination." :(???)

"He is making this ship a floating time bomb with his reckless and prideful actions." :(???)

*The Admiral wouldn't listen to anything anymore as his rage and ego consumed him, as he only wished for that abomination destruction to reclaim his honour and standing with his superiors. As the beasts and biplanes were being rearmed, dreadful news came from above in the form of Vengeance, consisting of Griffins. Wyverns and many more, along with Biplanes from the north and the south. The air above the Admiral fleet was filled with lead, fire and magic as the vengeful attackers dove from above or hovered above the sea surface. The sky was filled with fury and death as attacker after attacker was destroyed or delivered their payload. The Grand Dragon was struck by 10 bombs, rockets and rocks from air groups of Helen and The Constitution, entirely consuming the Grand Dragon from bow to stern with magical fire, but it got worse, as secondary explosions rocked its interior, setting off more explosions which doomed the ship. It was clear that the Aircraft Carrier, The Grand Dragon, was doomed as the fleet maneuvered around to escape the vengeful attackers. Another Aircraft Carrier, called the Flying Phoenix, was struck repeatedly by attackers from the Righteous Liberality's air group, and it went up in flames and explosions. The Third Aircraft Carrier, Imperial Fury, was targeted by Helen's air group while the Constitution and Righteous Liberality aimed for the Aircraft Carrier Serpent of the Sabre. The Serpent of the Sabre was struck 6 times and was consumed with fire and explosions, as well as the Imperial Fury.*

"No, this can't be possible..." :(Oye Reizo said in shock as he was blown off his ship the Grand Dragon into the water where he was picked up by a frigate)

"There goes our entire invasion plan out the window." :(???)

"His rage and pride consumed him. Look what he rewarded us." :(???)

"The Admiral is going to get court martialed after this; he is the only person left to blame." :(???)

"Everything I built was now in vain, all doomed by the pathetic Chief of the Fleet Admiral. AND THAT FOUL ABOMINATION!" :(Oye Reizo muttered to himself as he couldn't take this loss seriously, his actions had led to this situation his hatred and unbelief was still strong inside him)

"Lord, I am sorry to say this, but you being relieved of command as soon as you return home, or you can take your own life the lessen the blame. The other way is not going to go well for you or your home nation, The Rising Sakura Petals." :(???)

"I can't live with this shame and disgrace of my own actions." :(Oye Reizo muttered as he aimed his service pistol at his head and pulled the trigger which resulted his brains being shot and die which left him lifeless on the frigate's deck)

To be continued...

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