Under the gray sky, the sea waves strike the hull of the giant ship advancing forward, while the sailors in orange-red vests are busy with their work on the deck.
They have been drifting on the sea for nearly 25 days, and during these 25 days, the giant ship beneath them has been advancing at a speed of over 30 kiloters per hour.
Working at sea is not an easy task. It is not only tedious and boring, but also filled with danger. The range of activities is very limited, and sotis even the quality of the food cannot be guaranteed.
The treatnt for sailors in Tang Country is considered good. Their transport ships have their own gym and recreational areas, with many ships so large that one can even run laps on the deck.
According to the industry standards of the Great Tang Empire, ships crossing the Endless Sea must have refrigeration systems to carry enough fresh food to et the basic living needs of the crew.
However, working on small transport ships in other countries is quite miserable. Many transport ships, to carry a bit more cargo, even have crew mbers using hammocks from decades ago...
The brand-new transport ship ahead has a displacent of nearly 20,000 tons. It can transport many containers at once, and its loading and unloading speed is several tis that of past ships.
Only newly built ports can help it quickly load and unload cargo, but almost all ports on the Eastern Continent are already or have completed modern upgrades.
The sound of the whistle echoes on the distant sea surface, and behind this giant ship, on the visible horizon, a convoy of ships is slicing through the waves rapidly.
Although the models are completely different, all these transport ships are flying the Dragon Banner of the Great Tang Empire. They have sailed from the Western Continent all the way East, already crossing the Endless Sea, which could not have been directly crossed decades ago.
Now, disregarding the influence of the monsoon and hardly being delayed by the climate, an entire fleet can, based on demand, sail through the Endless Sea to the other end, delivering countless supplies.
In the vast fleet, there are fuel tankers, passenger ships transporting personnel, and various cargo transport ships. The oldest of these ships was built over ten years ago, with the newest just launched in the past few months.
The Rules transport ship is such a new ship launched a few months ago. Luxuriously equipped with radar and advanced navigation systems, its level of automation has also significantly increased.
With less than 90 crew mbers, its displacent reaches nearly 20,000 tons, making it a colossal presence within the proper high-speed transport ship grade.
Therefore, in this sea transport operation, this newly commissioned ship serves as the flagship of the transport fleet, responsible for leading a convoy of over a hundred ships to the relatively unsafe Hotwind Port.
The unique flat bridge design at the front is almost completely obscured by the stacked containers, and the radar at the top is constantly rotating. The Red Dragon Flag on the mast is fluttering wildly in the sea breeze, indicating that the current sea conditions are not actually very good.
"The weather is not good... and the temperature is very low." Inside the bridge, the duty officer handed a cup of hot tea to his captain.
The captain took the cup of hot tea and said thank you: "After all, it’s already October. In the past, no ships would be operating on the Endless Sea at this ti."
"The waves are getting larger, but fortunately we are about to arrive at Hotwind Port." The duty officer smiled. This was their first ti executing this type of transport mission, yet it wasn’t truly their first ti.
He, the captain, and at least a third of the crew frequently travel across the Endless Sea. The captain even commanded larger-scale sea transport convoys on previous service ships.
However, after transferring to the new ship, it is indeed the first ti they are executing a similar mission: They have new communication equipnt, advanced radar systems, and teorological systems, even a device called satellite navigation, which used to be found only on military ships.
Compared to relying solely on nautical charts and experience in the past, now they have so many references that it almost feels a bit monotonous.
"Hopefully they are ready to receive us over there." The duty officer said while reaching out to grab the ringing phone hanging on the cabin wall behind him: "This is ’Rules’, please speak."
"Escort Fleet ’Heavy Hamr’ Destroyer... radar has detected a suspicious target, please prepare to face the enemy." From the telephone receiver ca the voice of the escort fleet liaison personnel.
Although the Tang Empire’s military only uses hull numbers to na destroyers, each destroyer secretly gives itself a na. This practice facilitates communication and gives the officers and soldiers aboard a sense of belonging. This habit only erged in the past year, and navy high command has tacitly approved this behavior.
Anyway, they also have a tradition of naming ritorious warships. Now it’s even more convenient: Whenever a warship has a comndable performance, the unofficial na can be directly used.
"Understood. Do we need to change course?" The captain of the Rules took over the telephone receiver from the duty officer, frowning as he inquired.
"For the ti being, it’s not necessary. Hopefully, you can calm the crew’s emotions. Soon... there might be quite a commotion." The person on the other end seed relaxed, suggesting the issue wasn’t too serious.
Nevertheless, the transport ship captain, not a formal combat personnel, appeared sowhat tense. After hanging up the phone, he imdiately ordered all crew mbers to prepare.
Then he grabbed the radio transceiver beside him again, adjusted the channel: "This is Rules, this is Rules... I am now speaking to all fleet mbers, repeat, I am now speaking to all fleet mbers!"
"Escort Fleet has encountered the enemy! Repeat, Escort Fleet has encountered the enemy! The fleet remains on course! The fleet remains on course! Pay attention to subsequent flag and light signaling! Pay attention to subsequent flag and light signaling!"
"Great Wind understands!" "Glorious understands!" "Freedom Sea 9 understands!" "Nanshan Port Beauty received!" A series of confirmation echoes were heard on the channel subsequently.
The sky color beca more gray, suggesting the weather indeed wasn’t too good, and a storm would soon arrive. The cool ocean waves shattered by the high-speed ships made everyone’s mood seem as oppressive as the weather.
After a brief silence, a burst of fire suddenly erupted nearby, a column of white smoke shot up into the sky, then accelerated toward the distant horizon under the sailors’ watch.
Soon, the sound louder than the waves was transmitted, and everyone heard the terrifying roar of the anti-ship missile launch.
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