May 11th, 2023 – INS Angre, Colaba, Mumbai, India
The morning rays hit the docks of INS Angre as a formation of warships from various nations participating in the Southern Exploration Campaign assembled in a long line. Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia had each dispatched naval squadrons, contributing a combined total of 23 ships.
China, while less involved in joint activities, sent a detachment of 10 vessels, including 2 destroyers, 6 escort ships, and 2 transport ships, some of which were already preparing to depart.
India, playing a central role in the expedition, deployed a formidable fleet led by the new Vikrant-class carrier, supported by 3 Kalvari-class submarines, 5 destroyers, and 3 multi-role frigates. The Indian Navy had been entrusted with overall operational command of the campaign.
Admiral R. Hari Kumar was appointed commander of the operation. He was accompanied by a team of interpreters and linguists tasked with attempting communication with the natives of the continent. To safeguard against unknown diseases possibly carried by the newcomers, the Indian government also deployed chemical and biological warfare units aboard several vessels as a precautionary measure.
In his office, Admiral R. Hari Kumar gazed out the window, overlooking the naval base. A majestic lineup of warships from India and its allies stretched along the docks, their flags fluttering in the early morning breeze.
Suddenly, the telephone rang, snapping the admiral out of his quiet admiration. He strode to his desk, picked up the receiver, and answered crisply.
“Admiral R. Hari Kumar speaking.”
A voice responded without delay. “Admiral, we have an announcement for you.”
Kumar leaned forward slightly. “Has the United Nations Assembly approved our operation?”
“Yes, everything is progressing smoothly,” the caller confirmed. “We believe the Western powers are planning to launch their own expeditions to explore the remaining continents as well. Your fleet is scheduled to depart tomorrow night. If all goes according to plan, the multinational task force should reach the southern continent by the following morning.”
The caller continued, “We’ll send you an updated sea condition report tomorrow morning, once the space agency completes the latest mapping data. Also, one more thing: avoid anything that could undermine the military's image in front of our partners. I understand the pressure you're under, Admiral, but that’s the condition.”
Admiral Kumar nodded, though the other party couldn’t see him. “Understood. Let's just hope the ‘French’ sailors interrogated by Turkish intelligence weren't lying about the statistics of this ‘Rodenius Continent.’ If their strongest forces rely on wooden ships and dragons, our mission should be relatively smooth.”
There was a pause, then the voice on the other end replied, “Noted. Good luck, Admiral,” before hanging up.
Kumar placed the receiver back on its cradle and slowly returned to his chair. The weight of responsibility was clear in his posture as he stared at the strategic map pinned to the wall.
After a moment of silence, he leaned forward again. A thought had taken root—if the reports were even partially accurate, they needed confirmation before risking the full fleet.
They had to know who and what was waiting on that southern continent.
He picked up the desk phone once more. This time, he was calling the President.
“Admiral Kumar, is there something you need from the Prime Minister’s office?” a female staff member on the other end responded.
“This is Admiral Kumar. I need to be connected to Prime Minister Modi’s office immediately.”
Without hesitation, she transferred the call.
“Prime Minister Modi speaking. What’s the matter?”
“We need an AWACS and four fighters for escort duty.”
The request caught Modi off guard. “For what purpose, exactly?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, Prime Minister.”
United States 7th Fleet Command Center – Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Vice Admiral Karl O. Thomas, Commander of the 7th Fleet, sat in a secure virtual meeting with President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The discussion centered around the defense of Taiwan and broader strategic deployments across the Indo-Pacific.
“Before we move on to the main agenda,” President Biden began, “there’s something else we need to address.”
“What is it, Mr. President?” Vice Admiral Thomas asked.
“Defending Taiwan with only one fleet is a major challenge. I recommend stationing special forces in Japan to keep an eye on northern Beijing. As for India, the United Nations will handle their diplomatic position.”
Thomas nodded. “Understood. I’ll brief my subordinates.”
“Good,” Biden replied. “Now, I need you to dispatch a carrier strike group to join the Expeditionary Fleet. You and Ambassador Emanuel will accompany them. You’ll be representing the United States in establishing diplomatic relations with the new races there, so tread carefully.”
“The Ronald Reagan will depart for Cam Ranh Port to rendezvous with allied fleets from other nations, including task groups from Guam,” Thomas confirmed. “From there, we’ll cross the Malacca Strait toward the southeastern part of the new continent. Naval forces from Singapore and Thailand will also join us.”
Secretary Austin added further details. “We’re assigning the Nimitz and her escorts to approach the continent from both the east and west coasts. Destroyer groups will remain behind to pressure the northern Beijing region. Also, prepare special operations flights launched directly from the carrier into Continent A. The success of the entire campaign depends on your fleet. Carry out your mission—and good luck.”
“We’ve received our orders and will begin preparations immediately,” Thomas responded, before ending the call.
The White House, Washington D.C., United States
"Well, Austin, what are your thoughts on deploying an expedition to explore the continent to our west?" Biden inquired.
"Certainly, Mr. President, it's a must. However, it will pose significant challenges for us on the international stage, given that the current diplomatic campaign of the United Nations is still in its infancy. So, we should consider initiating it after the UN expedition concludes. Additionally, I know that some continents in this new world possess structures and means similar to Earth. Therefore, we need to carefully consider deploying an aircraft carrier task force for diplomatic missions with them."
Biden shifted the conversation. "Regarding the so-called ‘Napoleonic French’—the ones calling themselves the ‘Parpaldians’—currently detained in Turkey, we need intel on this empire. I want you to coordinate with Ankara and extract as much information from them as possible."
"Ankara is quite cooperative, so our personnel should have no trouble approaching the Parpaldians. What's interesting, according to the translators, they were there for a military exercise before assuming the Turkish were hostile due to our transference and technological level being allegedly similar to an ancient tyrannical sorcerous empire feared by this world." explained Austin.
Biden chuckled with interest. “Magical Space Nazis ruling this entire planet before we arrived? Now that's something. Oh, and about drafting proposals to increase the defense budget for Congress—I'm assigning that task to you. When can we resume economic activities with other nations?"
"Well, we have a more pressing issue with military bases in Asia. The logistics will be horrendous if we don't expedite exploration campaigns toward the East. If we don’t push forward through those continents, our bases in Europe, Hawaii, Africa, and the Middle East will struggle to sustain operations. Fortunately, we still control the shipping routes in the Americas, which gives us a major logistical advantage. As for restarting the economy—frankly, it's hard to say. Asia is completely severed from the Middle East and Central Asia. There’s only one viable transport route that avoids the cut-off zones, and that’s through Europe and Russia. But as you know, Joe, that’s going to be expensive.
"Instead of heading west—where NASA and other space associations say there’s a massive ice wall—we might be better off purchasing compatible parts from Japan to reduce logistical strain."
Upon hearing the grim news, Biden leaned back in his chair, weighing the situation. "Hmm... Should we start the campaign earlier? Even if our allies can't keep up with our pace, it might be the only way to pull the global economy back from the edge. The longer we delay, the deeper this crisis sinks us. The costs might be high, but at least we avoid a collapse that could spiral Earth's economy into a true catastrophe."
Austin nodded. "It’s a double-edged sword, Mr. President. But if you're set on launching the westward campaign, it could take enough pressure off the global economy to buy us time. I’ll prepare the proposal for Congress. We’ll also explore whether we need UN approval—or if we should proceed unilaterally. That’s the strategic fork we’re facing."
"It would’ve been great if we could use that—this whole damn crisis might’ve been avoided, but for now, we can’t risk announcing it to the public", Biden sighed, rubbing his temples. “I think we can wrap up here, Austin."
"Understood, sir. Have a good day," Austin replied before exiting the call.
President Biden remained for a moment, staring out the window of the Oval Office. His expression was tense, weighed down by the storm looming over both the United States and his own legacy in this critical turning point of history.
May 13th, 2023 – Prime Minister’s Office, New Delhi, India
Inside his office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked through an intimidating stack of paperwork, the desk buried under files and documents. Despite the sheer volume, he pressed on, determined to finish every detail. Outside, the streets of New Delhi bustled with life, a sharp contrast to the calm, focused atmosphere inside.
Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door broke the silence.
"Who's there?" Modi called out.
"It's Foreign Minister Jaishankar, Prime Minister. We’ve received an announcement from the United Nations!"
"Come in, and speak freely," Modi said without hesitation.
Jaishankar entered, setting a tray on the table before pouring tea into a glass and handing it to the Prime Minister. Modi rose from his desk and moved to the sofa.
"So," Modi began, "what’s the United Nations announcing?"
Jaishankar’s tone was measured. "They’ve changed the schedule for the special campaign—without the consensus of member countries. And guess who’s behind it."
"The Americans?"
"Exactly."
Modi’s expression darkened. "Changing major decisions without unanimous approval… that’s become a tradition for showcasing American dominance at the UN. How did they manage this without our agreement?"
Unfazed by Modi’s displeasure, Jaishankar continued. "Regarding naval coordination—have the other nations’ fleets arrived at the base?"
He glanced at his phone. "As far as I can see, only one Chinese ship hasn’t arrived. Are you thinking of starting without them?"
"Not exactly, Jaishankar. We’ll leave a few warships behind. When they arrive, our navy will guide them to the fleet," Modi replied.
Jaishankar nodded. "If that’s the case, I have nothing further to report. Goodbye, Prime Minister."
After he left, Modi returned to his desk, lifted the landline receiver, and spoke into it with quiet resolve:
"I authorize the Air Force Commander to execute Operation Herodotus."
0121 hours – May 14th, 2023 – AF Station Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Ever since the entire world shifted to this new reality, the Indian government hastily ordered the infrastructure of its air bases to be upgraded, ensuring that all of the IAF’s assets could be operational. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport had been undergoing expansion for the past few weeks to accommodate the needs necessary to deal with the current geopolitical nightmare affecting all countries in several ways from importing supplies to handling military logistics.
Although renovation for the airport hadn’t been completed yet, the proud southwestern airport now boasts hangars for aircraft instead of leaving them to be exposed to the outside elements as in the past. On the tarmac, an IAF Beriev A-50EI equipped with an Israeli-made EL/W-2090 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) radar system assigned to AF Station Trivandrum taxis itself into the runway, its escort of four Dassault Rafales equipped with three external fuel tanks each for their long night journey.
"Control Tower, this is A-50EI Omega Nima 647, requesting permission to take off on Runway 14."
The control tower responds, "Omega Nima, you are cleared for takeoff on Runway 14."
Omega Nine lines itself up on the runway as its four turbofan engines power up, accelerating the massive aircraft as it begins its ascent, soaring into the night sky and disappearing into the darkness. On the ground, its escorting fighters taxi on the newly constructed Runway 21 completed just the day before.
The pilot of Omega-1 taxis his Rafale B onto the tarmac of the runway, giving enough space for his wingman flying a Rafale C to pull up beside him while his WSO gives him a friendly salute. Once both jets are lined up, Omega-1 contacts the control tower. "Tower, this is Omega-1, we are ready for takeoff on Runway 21."
The observation tower replies, "Omega Squadron, you are cleared for takeoff on Runway 21."
Both French-made jets ignite their afterburners as they gain speed and altitude. Their red afterburners contrast the night sky. Not far behind, Omega-3 and 4 follow suit and they enter a V formation, Omega Nima in the middle, followed by Omega-1 and 3 with Omega-2 and 3 guarding the outer perimeter.
Night sky over the Southwestern Continent
The formation cruises at an altitude of 49,000 feet as it advances into the mysterious airspace above the continent. Inside the radar room of the AEW&C, observation team members are diligently carrying out their mission. One of the monitoring personnel, Sergeant Kabir Nagar, turns to his colleague, Abhinav Ghose.
"Hey Abhi, you were on Clash of Clans a few days ago, what level is your Town Hall now?"
"It used to be at level 5, but I hate waiting, so I decided to just pay my way into level 9."
Kabir scoffs at his colleague, "Typical pay-to-win players, always using real money to get ahead of others."
"Who cares, man? I play games for entertainment, not to play fair."
Airman Vishal Dayal approaches and speaks up, "What do you two think about cleaning the toilets? Working separately in enemy territory can affect the entire squadron. Focus on your work." The non-commissioned officers return to their tasks. "Consider this a warning; if you two repeat this, the superiors won't go easy on you." Both of them flinch as they clear up their minds.
"Sir, we don’t want to clean that hellhole, Sergeant."
Suddenly, someone calls Sergeant Dayal over to examine something recorded by an external camera. He quickly approaches.
"What's going on?"
"Sir, take a look. Those are lights from civilization!" The cityscape with insignificant twinkling lights conveys great significance to the campaign.
Not too surprised, Sergeant Dayal says, "So, we've finally arrived. Have we identified the incoming bogeys?"
"No, sir."
He turns to his companion, "Connect my system to the Rafales."
The man in charge, Ankit Rana, opens his eyes in surprise, "What are you planning to do with them?"
"I intend to have Omega-1 and Omega-3 to lower their altitude and take some shots of the city below."
Ankit objects, "It's a bad idea, Sergeant."
Vishal Dayal gets irritated and replies, "That is an order. Additionally, instruct the squadron to return to base after this. That's it." Ankit has no choice but to comply, "Understood, sir, I'm on it."
Dassault Rafale B/C, Omega Squadron
The crew of Omega Squadron relax in their seats, some deciding to look down at the city. Suddenly, the voice of the Sergeant echoes throughout their headset, "Can you hear me? Over." All of them respond in unison, "Loud and clear, over."
"Omega-1 and Omega-3, we request you to lower your altitude and take pictures of the city below, over."
"Roger that." Then, the pair of Rafale Bs dive down from the formation and lower their altitude to 14,000 feet.
The WSO of Omega-1 turns off his night vision equipment for a clearer view of the city. He takes out a camera and snaps several shots of the city below. While taking photos, he hears a warning from the radar system.
His pilot speaks up, "We've got company! About 10 objects detected on radar, heading our way." They were Qua-Toynian wyvern knights, trying to reach the altitude of the two aircraft. The WSO immediately stops taking pictures and activates his night vision goggles, "How did they know we were here? Requesting support from Omega-2 and Omega-4."
Omega-1 and 3’s pilots hold their fingers over the trigger of their GIAT-30mm autocannon, ready to defend themselves from the incoming swarm.
Omega Nima responds, "Omega Squadron, return to base immediately, we’re gaining altitude to escape those lizards!" The two Rafales find themselves in a moment of panic and then regain composure to analyze the situation. Omega-3’s pilot was the first to break the silence, "First the Russians and some lightning dragon or whatever, now it’s us with a wyvern family. What next, the Chinese dealing with a wind dragon or something?"
His WSO follows suit, "Should we chase after them and check on their condition..?" Omega-1’s pilot continues to question the condition of Omega Nima before responding, "They’re still being guarded by Omega-2 and Omega-4, the issue now is dealing with those oversized lizards." His thoughts were cut off by Omega-3’s WSO looking out down at the wyverns, “Omega-1, we don’t have time for chitchat, one of those damn things is gonna launch a fireball at you!”
His words take the other Rafale by surprise. The wyvern aims its fireball with some help from its rider before releasing a fireball towards Omega-1. Despite the dangerous situation, the jets refuse to drop their fuel tanks to increase their speed and maneuverability. "Don't drop the fuel tanks, we won’t be able to make it home otherwise!"
Omega-3’s WSO urgently reports the situation to Omega Nima as his pilot evades several other fireballs from the supporting wyverns, "Omega-3, we need support from Omega-2 and Omega-4 NOW!”
Sergeant Dayal gets onto the microphone, “Omega-2, Omega-4, permission to engage granted, do not let our brothers get shot down!”
