The approaching fleet was relentless in its pursuit, steadily closing the gap from a dozen nautical miles down to a mere three or four. The urgency of the situation was palpable as the crew aboard the vessel, helmed by Captain Ren Ziquan, watched the approaching ships through telescopic lenses. The unmistakable flag of country M waved boldly in the ocean breeze.
Ren Ziquan's voice pierced the tension like a clarion call, his urgency evident as he bellowed, "Full throttle, increase the horsepower! Hurry, hurry!" The value of the cargo, more than 200,000 tons of grey-black metal fragments, was not lost on him. The people of country M harbored envy, and the possibility of them dispatching a fleet was very real.
With the "Blue Whale" at the forefront, the five vessels of the Global Enterprise Group surged forward, their engines straining to their limits, leaving the perilous sea behind.
After some time had passed, the first mate of the "Blue Whale" chimed in, surprise coloring his voice, "Captain, it seems they haven't caught up."
Ren Ziquan peered through binoculars, his tense demeanor relaxing as he observed the country M fleet. They weren't in pursuit but were instead converging upon the location where the "Blue Whale" had salvaged the grey-black metal fragments earlier. What could they possibly be doing there?
Ren Ziquan's mind swirled with conjecture as he continued to monitor the M country warships with his telescope. It dawned on him that perhaps they aimed to inspect the area in the hopes of finding more fragments on the seabed. The possibility loomed large.
As the distance between the two groups grew, the "Blue Whale" eventually left that sector of the sea, and Ren Ziquan finally lowered his binoculars, his tension ebbing away. The M country warships had not pursued them, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
The M country warships, meanwhile, had initially been the closest to the region and had been dispatched to investigate the shallow sea for a substantial amount of metal fragments. Both the Black Iron Company and the military of country M coveted this grey-black metal intensely.
Upon arriving in the area, they swiftly deployed submersibles and sent out frogmen to commence their search.
The following day, after over ten hours of sailing and covering a distance of over 200 kilometers, the "Blue Whale" and its companions felt safe in their escape. Ren Ziquan enjoyed the early morning serenity, witnessing the sun rise gracefully over the eastern horizon, casting a radiant glow across the sea. He began his day with exercise and a hearty meal.
However, in the morning, unsettling news arrived. "Captain, we spotted the M country fleet again yesterday, and they are tailing us."
Ren Ziquan's initial calm was shattered. "What?!" He exclaimed, his sense of security rapidly crumbling.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his binoculars and peered intently through the captain's cabin window. The grim reality became evident – the M country fleet was indeed following them, and their numbers seemed to have grown.
Ren Ziquan immediately picked up the microphone and issued a commanding declaration, "Attention, attention! The M country fleet is tailing us. Everyone, stay at your posts, and remain composed."
After reassuring his crew, Ren Ziquan reached for the satellite phone to relay the situation to the company.
Meanwhile, Liu Yong, the company's head, was astounded by the turn of events. He understood that some would covet the colossal haul of grey-black metal, but the unexpected pursuer being the navy of country M took him by surprise. Their seven formidable warships were a significant force to reckon with.
Liu Yong promptly dispatched Bawang, another vessel from their fleet, to hasten and join forces with the "Blue Whale."
Out on the ocean, the M country fleet and the Global Shipping Group convoy drew closer, with the gap shrinking to a mere two or three nautical miles. A crew member voiced his unease, "Captain, it seems they are attempting to outflank us."
Ren Ziquan, his expression growing graver by the second, nodded in agreement. He had discerned that the previously linear formation of the M country fleet had now broken into a flanking maneuver.
Their speed far exceeded that of the "Blue Whale" and its companions, clocking over 30 knots compared to their 27 or 28 knots at best. The largest vessel among them was likely a 10,000-ton guided missile destroyer or cruiser, a flagship of the Pacific Fleet of country M.
Commodore Wardhouse Lyell of the M country commanded this warship and had been tasked with detaining these vessels under a suitable pretext. The challenge was to concoct a legitimate justification that would stand up to scrutiny, considering the prominence of the Universal Enterprise Group and the delicate geopolitical situation.
"We need a valid reason, gentlemen," Wodehouse Lyle stated firmly, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the moral high ground in the public eye.
A colonel suggested a covert approach, "What if we let the Cairns submarine quietly surface to periscope depth and stage a maritime collision?"
Wodehouse Lyle's approval came swiftly, followed by orders to the Cairns submarine. The conventionally powered sub had stealthily positioned itself ahead of the "Blue Whale," hovering just a few dozen meters below the surface.
Unbeknownst to the "Blue Whale" crew, a periscope had breached the waterline and was now scanning the horizon. In the M country submarine, officers and sailors stood ready, a countdown ringing through the confined chamber.
"Bump on timing," they communicated.
"10, 9, 8, 7..."
Onboard the "Blue Whale," oblivious to the impending danger, the crew carried on at their 27 or 28 knots, maintaining their course.
Then, suddenly, a resounding impact jolted the vessel. The chief engineer exclaimed in shock, "We seem to have hit something."
Ren Ziquan, too, felt the jarring collision, causing the "Blue Whale" to sway momentarily. "Reduce speed; something isn't right!"
Considering that the ocean floor's depth in this region exceeded two or three thousand meters, encounters with obstacles were exceedingly rare. Yet, they had unmistakably struck something.
"Look, Captain!" a crew member pointed excitedly.
Ren Ziquan's gaze followed the direction and, through the captain's cabin window, he saw a nearby warship. It appeared to be signaling towards them.
"Captain, we are surrounded, and they're ordering us to halt the ship," another crew member reported urgently.
With little choice left, Ren Ziquan resignedly commanded, "Halt the ship."
Facing seven well-armed warships, there was no room for a daring escape. The "Blue Whale" came to a stop, followed by the other four vessels in their convoy.
It was at this point that a crew member exclaimed, "Captain, it seems we collided with that submarine just now."
Indeed, a country M submarine had surfaced, its periscope mangled, and its hull showing signs of damage.
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