[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/zG1CMLw.png[/img][h3][i]HMS Dreadnought
4 miles off the Coast of Fuyuki[/i][/h3]
[@Paradox Witch][@floodtalon][/center]

[hider=1st Fuyuki Battle Squadron Formation Diagram]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v6pkJmG.png[/img][/hider]

Admiral Fisher's small fleet had just consolidated their position and had begun to form up further off the coast when the sounds of gunfire echoed from the shoreline. The Servant snapped her eyes landward and brought up her binoculars; other watch officers, likewise, did the same, searching for any sign of the interlopers.

The flare and spatter of muzzle-flash caught her eyes and the Servant felt her lips twist up in revulsion. The mysterious trio had progressed far faster then she anticipated and were, even now, showing little signs of slowing down. Despite many of the Marines maintaining their firing lines in the buildings and thoroughfares - placing well-aimed Lee-Enfield rifle and Lewis and Vickers machine-gun fire on-target - the enemy showed little sign of being wounded. One Marine jumped from a sandbagged firing line his section was ensconced behind, bayonet fixed to his Mk. I SLR, and charged one of the creatures. Though the blade struck home, the creature didn't appear to have been wounded; the unfortunate Englishman was now on the receiving end of potentially being torn to pieces.

Strategist lowered her glasses and turned away from the engagement, her eyes momentarily downcast. She [b][i]hated[/i][/b] this; she knew that in war, she'd have to make calls that would result in men being sent to their deaths, but still, she [b][i]hated[/i][/b] having to make such a call. She took a moment to compose herself, then turned her mind back to the grisly task at hand.

"CTN Bacon!" Fisher called to her 2IC. "Signal to all ships: [i]'Engage at will'[/i]!"

As Strategist's order rang out across inter-ship Morse transmitters and via [i]'Dreadnought's[/i] signal lamps, the fleet - continuing to sail at reduced speed West along the coast - acted. The screening destroyers readied their two-apiece 4-inch and twin 12-pounder guns, while the [i]Invincible[/i] adjusted its main guns' elevation. All of them would be shelling the outer Harbour area; at best, it was hoped that they could slow the oncoming Laeus' and allow the last of the ship-building by the docks' piers to be completed - not, however, without cost. The submarine [i]E21[/i] lurked at periscope depth beneath the darkened waters nearby, ready to surface and add its small compliment of surface firepower (or to evacuate anyone stranded on land) when called for.

[i]Dreadnought[/i], however, had trained its broadside elsewhere; acting on earlier intelligence, Fisher had deduced that the co-ordinates Tesla had supplied indicated that either the source of this infestation - or other survivors - had been gathered at those coordinates. As such, she ordered [i]Dreadnought[/i] to drop a continuing salvo of 12-inch High Explosive shells [i][b]away[/b][/i] from that position - if pulled off, this will likely take the pressure off anyone fighting in the area.

[i]'At least,'[/i] she reflected as she took her leave from the bridge, [i]'That is the theory.'[/i]

Arriving on the bow deck and perched by the jack's unadorned pole, the Admiral stood at ease and placed her gloved hands behind her back as her eyes fell on Fuyuki. She quietly surveyed the all-but-condemned city -  briefly wondering to herself if this was how the gods of war felt and saw Man when the latter flailed at itself in their self-destructive throes - before she puffed up her chest.

[b][i]"FOR KING, COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE OF FUYUKI, COMMENCE FIRING!!"[/i][/b]

Fisher remained unfazed at the thunder-claps and heat waves eminating meters behind her back, as for the second time in that hellish week in Fuyuki's history...

The sky above the Sea of Japan [b][i]shattered.[/i][/b]

[img]https://www.britishbattles.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1-AAA-HMS-Iron-Duke-Admiral-Jellicoe%E2%80%99s-Flagship-opening-fire-at-approximately-6-AAA.jpg[/img]