[hr][color=pink][sup][h1] [center][img]https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BarrenWiltedAnnashummingbird-size_restricted.gif[/img][/center] [b][center][color=96D2B7]UNITED STATES OF AMERICA[/color][/center][/b] [/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=6DC09B][I]June 10th, 1955[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=6DC09B][b]Departure[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr][indent][indent][sub][COLOR=6DC09B]Treasure Island Navy Base, San Francisco[/color][/sub][/indent][/indent][indent][indent][indent][color=BFE4D3]Connected to Yerba Buena Island and Interstate 80, Treasure Island stood proudly as one of the country's first artificial islands. Previously the nearby island, Yerba Buena, was used as a training station during the Great War. Then, it closed down and left abandoned for decades. That was until millionaire Lewis Harrison proposed plans of a "miniature city" as a solution to San Francisco's recent population boom. Initially, there were only a handful of backers due to the rise of the Marincello development project. However, the McWilliams administration took notice of the proposal and invited Harrison to the White House. After private talks on the matter, an agreement was reached between both parties, with the government assisting in constructing the artificial island. But then, the administration ended abruptly with President McWilliams' assassination in 1939. With the new Lindbergh administration, the agreement ended up being void, and the government straight-up took up the land. Lewis sued the government for taking his privately owned land without cause, but the lawsuit was tossed out in a year. Meanwhile, the United States Navy moved in to secure the land and build a naval testing facility for submarines. It still functioned like any other naval base, but with the Japanese threat growing, the Pacific Fleet needed to prepare for possible war. Thus, Treasure Island Naval Base was born. Officials began moving to the artificial island almost two years, but testing didn't start until a year ago. One of those people was General Patrick Noel. Patrick joined the military right after his own father, a Great War veteran, was arrested during the Great Cleansing. He had a lot to prove to his superiors, who feared that he was like his traitorous father. And that hard work and determination earned him the rank of General. Now, his services were needed to protect their only colony in Asia: the Philippines. Governor-General Norman Merino-Lowe requested reinforcements after Japanese forces took the Dutch city of Soerabaja. Patrick honestly didn't give two shit about some backwater colony; however, the American government cared enough to approve the Governor-General's request. The former Spanish colony was still rich with mineral resources essential to the "continued development of the United States." Of course, it was also valuable to keep an eye on both China and Japan in case they were planning something sinister against America. Losing the colony island would put the country at a severe disadvantage, leaving only Hawaii as the significant naval base in the Pacific. However, high command didn't care about how Patrick felt about the assignment. They expected him to follow through or face the consequences. And based on what happened to his own father after being punished, Patrick understood it was stupid to resist. But it meant telling his wife the bad news. She assumed that the naval base was going to be easy sailings until his retirement. And now, her husband was a heartfelt letter instead of telling her in person. While finishing off the letter, Patrick got a knock on the door. [color=5FBA91]"The ship is ready to depart in a few minutes, sir."[/color] the voice on the other side announced. [color=5FBA91]"I will be there in a few."[/color] Patrick responded and then waited a second before sighing. He processed to finish the letter and sealed it up in an envelope. Then, he departed for the post office located near the docks. The USS Benham was waiting nearby when the general entered inside. There weren't a ton of people inside besides the workers. He made his way to the PO box and then processed to drop the envelope before leaving without saying anything to the clerk. Outside, he took in a deep breath and then marched his way towards the destroyer.[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent] [hr]