The moment of open conflict was surreal and Captain Hiro saw the scene of hell on water as if it were a slow-moving opera of deadly motion for a second. Neither they nor the Americans had ever engaged in such open outright warfare before.
They had only fought slight skirmishes through the years, but this was something else entirely. This was all out war, only the Americans weren't firing on them, but rather with them.
So many were dying. So many were already dead. The death count would only continue to rise as guns blazed and energy bolts sizzled, but Captain Hiro could not deny the beauty of open conflict as men gave it their all and made the ultimate sacrifice out of loyalty to protect those who would lose their lives in grotesque and inhumane ways if this battle was lost.
Captain Hiro pulled himself as if partly reluctant from his quiet interlude found within the hectic hell of the battle to call out to the signal man, "Single what's left of the fleet to shoot through the gaps of the Americans as they make their move to circle around the city as we just did! Then tell those who are able to continue the fight to circle back and attack the city once again after we've made the turn!"
"Yes Sir!"
Captain Hiro left the bridge to go out onto the forward deck. The repercussions of many guns was deafening within this hallowed amphitheater of war and gunpowder smoke. It was an infectious feeling of triumph to hear the heavy resistance of firepower and smell the defiance of each powder laden shot on the breeze.
An American destroyer slipped by and Captain Hiro found himself lifting a hand in a salute to the captain of the American ship. How did that old Roman saying go, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' That was certainly the case today!
The hard-hit American battleship was listing heavy in the water, but it continued to plow blindly on towards the city with all guns blazing. It was a kamikaze run and Captain Hiro took his hat off in reverence to the ship and its crew for their bravery. His sign of reverence was echoed by every other officer and sailor in attendance.
The injured American battlewagon didn't make its target. The enemy, as if sensing the threat a collision would affect upon the city centered all outgoing fire from the city on the battleship that was approaching head on.
The explosion was so great that it literally lifted the battleship out of the water for a moment and then burning debris sloughed across the face of the water in every direction. The shockwave from the blast blew all those gathered at the railing backward against the bridge.