Chapter 79: Boarding the Ship

Two black rigid-hull inflatable boats cut through the water, slowing down as they pulled alongside the damaged corvette.

Six sailors in dark tactical gear, Kevlar vests, and ballistic helmets held carbines at low-ready. A mounted machine gun sat on the front of the lead boat, but it remained pointed toward the water.

One of the men, wearing lieutenant bars on his vest, raised a megaphone and looked up at the wooden deck.

"This is the United States Navy boarding team," the officer called out in clear English. "We are requesting two representatives from your command to accompany us to the flagship. Unarmed only. Keep your hands visible."

Captain Daniel looked around in a panic, clutching his injured ribs. "What is he barking at us now? Are they preparing to slaughter us?!"

"No," Ayanokoji said calmly. "They want two unarmed representatives to go with them to the aircraft carrier."

"Representatives?" Daniel’s face turned pale. "They want hostages!"

"If they wanted hostages, they would take the whole ship," Ayanokoji replied flatly. "Sending ordinary Solarian officers who don’t speak their language or understand their customs will only cause a misunderstanding. Miyuki and I will go."

Miyuki blinked, clutching her cracked staff before looking at him. "Are you sure, Ayanokoji?"

"We are the only ones here who understand what they are," he said. He laid his silver spear down on the deck and gestured for Miyuki to leave her staff behind. "Leave the weapons. Bringing them violates their terms."

Miyuki nodded, setting her staff against the railing.

Ayanokoji walked to the edge of the broken bulwark, raised both hands slightly to show they were empty, and looked down at the inflatable boat.

"We... come," Ayanokoji said in thick Japanese accent. "Two people. We... no weapon."

The Navy lieutenant blinked in surprise, exchanging a quick glance with his coxswain. He hadn’t expected someone on a medieval wooden boat to respond in English, even with a heavy Japanese accent.

"Understood," the officer replied, lowering the megaphone. "Come down one at a time via the netting. Keep your hands where we can see them."

A rope ladder was lowered over the side. Ayanokoji climbed down first, stepping cleanly onto the rubber deck of the boat. Miyuki followed right behind him, carefully stepping down with her hands raised.

Two sailors immediately moved in, conducting a swift, professional pat-down search. Finding no concealed blades, wands, or weapons, they signaled to the officer.

"Clean, sir."

"Take seats on the center bench," the lieutenant ordered, tapping his radio. "Command, this is Boarding Team One. We have two representatives in custody. Proceeding back to the carrier."

The twin outboard motors roared to life. The inflatable boat turned in a wide arc, spraying saltwater as it accelerated toward the monolithic gray wall of the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Up close, the aircraft carrier was even more massive than it looked from a distance. The sheer steel hull towered over them like a cliff face. The boat pulled up to an open sponson platform near the water line, where an elevator platform took them directly up into the cavernous hangar bay.

As they stepped off the lift onto the steel deck, Miyuki stopped and looked around, her eyes wide.

Rows of fighter jets, transport helicopters, and weapon carts filled the brightly lit hangar. Mechanics in color-coded jerseys moved around with tools and clipboards, and armed Marines stood guard along the walkways. The smell of aviation fuel, grease, and heated metal filled the air.

"It really is an aircraft carrier..." Miyuki whispered in disbelief, hugging her arms. "It feels like we’re back in our world."

"Keep moving," an armed escort instructed from behind them, motioning toward an open passageway leading deeper inside the ship.

Ayanokoji walked forward with his hands out of his pockets, his calm, indifferent eyes taking in every hatch, camera, and piece of equipment along the bulkhead.

They were inside the belly of the beast, and the real conversation was about to begin.

The armed escort led them through narrow, fluorescent-lit corridors. The steel hatches, non-skid flooring, and overhead bundles of cables felt completely foreign compared to the stone castles and polished wood of the Solarian Empire. To Miyuki, it almost felt like an impossible dream.

Eventually, they stopped before a heavy blast door. Two armed Marines in full tactical gear stood guard with rifles resting across their chests.

The lieutenant knocked once, opened the hatch, and stepped aside. "Guests are here, Admiral."

"Bring them in," a voice replied.

Ayanokoji and Miyuki walked into the flag conference room. In the center sat a long conference table surrounded by leather chairs, with multiple glowing digital screens mounted along the bulkhead displaying theater grids, satellite overlays, and live status feeds.

Standing near the head of the table was Rear Admiral Donovan, Commander of Carrier Strike Group.

He was a broad-shouldered man with graying hair, dressed in standard naval working uniform with two silver stars pinned to his collar. His expression was stern and professional as his sharp eyes measured the two teenagers.

Beside him stood the Ford’s ship captain, Captain Hayes, and an armed master-at-arms.

"Have a seat," Admiral Donovan said in plain English, motioning toward the chairs across the table. "I admit, when my boarding team reported two Japanese teenagers stepping off a Solarian warship, I had to double-check the feed."

Miyuki hesitantly pulled out a chair and sat down, her hands resting tightly on her lap. Her voice was slightly shaky. "Thank... thank you, Admiral."

Ayanokoji sat down next to her without showing any hesitation or nervousness. His posture remained relaxed, his brown eyes looking directly at the strike group commander.

"You speak English," Donovan noted, leaning both palms against the table. "That makes things much easier for all of us. I am Rear Admiral Donovan, Commander of Carrier Strike Group. You are currently aboard the flagship, USS Gerald R. Ford."

"I am Ayanokoji," he said in slow, steady English. "This is Miyuki. We were summoned to this world from Japan."

Donovan exchanged a quick glance with Captain Hayes. Neither officer looked surprised.

"Summoned," Donovan said, nodding slowly. "Matches the intel from Eagle Actual."

"Eagle Actual? Who is he?" Miyuki asked.