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Chapter 6: Bofor 57mm

It was another normal sunny day, or so it would be if it were not for the large crowd of people gathering around the port. Ever since the three strange ships docked here at Allure port, people from all over town have been looking at these strange ships with no sails. Furthermore, their bodies made of metal give it a sharp and different feel than any of the other wooden ships docked at port.

If not for our guards for controlling the crowd, they would have probably tried to enter the ship, although it was forbidden since those ships are not even from our kingdom. Furthermore, they are envoys from another country. Normally, ships from other countries are treated differently since they directly represent the country they came from. This is why we are doing so much crowd control around these ships.

However, it never stopped the people from all walks of life to look at these ships. Furthermore, the other day when they unloaded some strange contraptions which moved on their own, people were amazed and gawked at the miracle they just witnessed. Of course, no one here knew how they moved or how they were made. It could only be magic.

However, as I was overlooking the guards in charge of crowd control, one of my tower guards came running towards me.

"Port master! Port master, I have spotted pirates to our east! They number at least twenty ships."

"They carry no flag?"

"No port master! Furthermore, at least half the ships are large Galleons with 40 cannons on each side. Port master!"

This is serious. Although the pirate raids have been increasing as of late, it never reached this level. To think this had to happen while envoys from another kingdom are here.

"Guard, summon reinforcements from the west and east gates. Also request a contingent of royal guards to come as well. Their magic will be useful here."

"Yes port master!"

"Guards! Evacuate everyone from the port! Prepare for a pirate raid. We must not delay!"

The guards around the docks gave a firm response and began to move. They started to evacuate the people from the docks who were either working or gawking at the envoy's grey ships. There were more than 50 ships docked at Allure port. Its not unreasonable to think that great wealth lies here. However, we will not give in to these raiders.

"Guard, start to inform the other ships to unload their valuables and prepare for a pirate raid. Expect mass casualties and collateral damage to their ships."

"Yes port master!"

As I gave out my commands, I decided to personally address the problem at hand regarding the envoys. It hasn't happened very often, so I don't know how envoys would usually respond in this situation. If their ships get destroyed in the raid, it is unfathomable to think of how we would repay them for their expensive looking ships. But, considering they are made of metal, they shouldn't be too damaged in the aftermath. We just have to make sure the pirates are to not run off with the ships after the battle.

As I was thinking this, I was searching for one of their sailors, however I couldn't find even one sailor. Odd, usually they would be walking about doing their daily routine of walking around the perimeter of the ship.

I decided to enter the ship and look for their captain. As I climbed up the stairs onto the deck of the ships for the first time, I noticed that the ship was truly different. It had many doors and walls unlike any ships I have been on before. As I was wondering where to even begin, someone came up deck and greeted me.

"You are the port master correct? What has happened."

I explained the situation to the man in blue. He nodded.

"Understood, I will take you to the captain. He should be on the command deck."

He took me into the complex grey ship. We had to go through many narrow hallways and climbed many stairs. As I was beginning to think that I was entering a beast, we made it to a somewhat small room with windows on all sides. One could almost perfectly see the front of the ships through here.

"Port master, nice to see you again. Did something happen?"

The captain of the ship came up to me.

"Yes captain, pirates have been spotted to the east of the port. From the distance my guard had to run and the sighting, the pirates will most likely be here in 20 minutes."

"Hmm, 20 minutes. Lieutenant, where is our Legend-Class Cutter Kimball right now?"

"They should be returning now from their morning run captain. Should they engage the enemy?"

"I don't see any better options right now. Give permission to engage the enemy."

Huh? Are they just sending that one ship to fight them off? Or is it as a distraction so that they can leave before the attackers come?

"Umm captain, we are talking about more than ten Galleons here. There is no way one ship can destroy them all."

"Port master, do you know their effective range?"

"The cannons can easily reach the port if they sit at the entrance of it. But any farther could reduce accuracy."

"Then I don't see a problem."

What!?

Meanwhile, while I was panicking at the captains statements.

The United States Coast Guard Legend Class cutter Kimball was returning from their patrols when they receive a transmission from the envoys leading Arleigh Burke class destroyer [https://img.wattpad.com/6e3d4d9012f52aab5504a35f87c1141f621b39b6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5f644b336c3973775651435355513d3d2d3839303130373835382e313631313537313634626563666265353235373233313432333734322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

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The United States Coast Guard Legend Class cutter Kimball was returning from their patrols when they receive a transmission from the envoys leading Arleigh Burke class destroyer.

"I see. Understood, we shall engage the pirates soon to invade the port."

I put down the phone on the receiver.

"Men, prepare for battle, we are to engage and sink the nearly twenty hostile ships attempting to enter Allure port."

"Yes captain!"

This is the first time we even fired off this Bofor 57 mm artillery gun. But we still have an effective firing range of over 8,500 miles, so I don't think it will be too much of a problem considering they only have cannons.

"Captain, we have confirmation of the targets, permission to proceed with the attack."

"Are the targets accurate with the report we received?"

"There are 24 ships total, however they do match with what was sent over from our destroyer. Captain, permission to proceed with the attack?"

I looked at the front Bofor artillery gun that was about to fire.

"Fire at will"

"HE rounds loaded. Commencing fire."

The cannon began to spew out smoke as round after round was fired from the naval cannon. With a firing rate of nearly 220 rounds per minutes, this should be able to tear through those ships in no time at all.

As I was thinking this, the ships in the distance started to fall apart immediately due to the fire of the explosions caused by the rounds. Ship after ship were being destroyed, seemingly not knowing where the enemy was firing from. Of course, you would need to use a visual aid to even see our ship in the distance.

"Captain, confirmed three ships down, 21 to go."

"Continue to fire."

While all of this was happening, one of the pirate crews were relaxing on one of the ships. They have yet to notice they are being attacked.

"Ahh, I miss those girls already. Say captain, when can we head back up north? Why are we down here anyways."

"Its an order from the boss. Got no choice lads. Anyways, all we gotta do is bombard the hell out of the navy dock then take some goods while were at it."

"Oooh, i'm guessing we can grab some other "fine" goods while we are there right captain?"

"Sure sure, by all means. I can't stop you anyways."

While we were all anticipating the raid, the spotter from up top screamed something.

"Captain! Our fleet is under attack!"

"What? Say that again!"

"Our first ships were destroyed captain! They blew up into smithereens!"

"Lads! Prepare for battle!"

Everyone on deck ran to their stations to prepare for broadside battle. However, when the captain asked how many ships there were, he was shocked.

"One?! Are you blind?!"

"No captain! I am sure of it, there is only one ship in the distance that is firing on our ships captain!"

"Impossi-"

As he was shouting, the captain was blown away before my eyes. Along with him was a series of explosions and fire coming out of nowhere.

"Put out the fire. Bring the buckets and rope!"

"Gah! My arm, my arm!"

"Someone help me! I can't see anything! Bring me something, anything!"

I stood there unable to move from my spot. All I saw was untold carnage of my fellow sailors who were either dead, or struggling to live. I have seen my fair share of battles, but this is too much already.

Since the captain was already dead, I decided to make a run for the edge and jumped. Right as I was doing so, a huge explosion behind me occurred and could feel the heat on my back. Then, I felt the cold embrace of the ocean hit my face. I swam back up and saw that the entire ship has blown up completely.

Bits and pieces were flying everywhere. I also saw one cannon fly up and hit an unfortunate sailor who jumped like me. All I could do was stare at the flaming spectacle that was my ship.

And while this was all happening, the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball continued to attack.

The artillery piece continued to spew out explosive incendiary rounds from its barrel effortlessly. No men were needed since it was automatically loaded. Empty shell pieces continued to fill the deck as they emptied from the Bofor 57 mm navy artillery cannon. In the distance, one of the ships gave off a huge explosion. It seems like we ignited their powder storage. Truly, nothing really beats the real thing compared to training exercises.

"Focus fire on their powder storage in the center of their ships. Ensign, how many more to go?"

"Captain, 16 more to go."

"Excellent, keep laying down fire. As we continue to decrease their numbers, begin to approach closer so that we can pick up any survivors."

"Yes captain."

The sound of the cannon fire kept going. From here, the cannon was billowing smoke as each round was fired from the cannon. The effortlessness of the first almost concealed the power this cannon can release.

Meanwhile, at Allure port.

I saw the ships falling apart one by one. The mighty galleons boasting more than 50 cannons on each broadside started to rapidly catch on fire, or blow up into smithereens. Most likely due to their powder storage blowing up. As more and more ships started to blow up before my eyes, the cannon fire from their white ship began to slow down.

It seems that most of the ships were destroyed. The only thing which laid in the entrance of Allure port was wooden shrapnel and scraps, but also burn't remains from the explosion of powder kegs.

It was truly a one sided battle. I eventually saw their white and orange "Coast guard" boat enter the waters to retrieve any survivors. Although I presume few would survive. In fact, out of the nearly 20 something pirate ships, all perished under the strikingly accurate gunfire of their white ship.

"Captain, what kind of warship is that? How can it destroy a fleet nearly 20 times its size?"

"Warship? Hmm, I guess it is technically a warship, but it really isn't even our navy's ship."

"What do you mean? Isn't that your ship?"

"Yes, although its technically used for patrolling our coastal waters since its part of the Coast guard. However, this class of cutter is specially designed as part of a deep sea water program, although its budget was cut recently."

"You are saying that ship is only for patrolling!?"

"Yeah, this ship you are standing in is technically my country's designated warship. It costed more than twice the amount to build this ship compared to the legend class cutter. The only reason why we brought one of those ships is because of this kingdoms proximity to Guam."

How can a ship like that become more capable? Does it summon our protector himself from the sky and bring destruction on their enemy's? For some reason, I feel a indistinct fear when I think about that very scenario. Just who the heck are we dealing with?

I continued to look at the scene from afar as their coast guard ship pulled stragglers out of the water. Hopefully, one day I won't have to be pulled out just like those pirates.

As I was looking on, one of my men found their way into the ship.

"Port master! I have summoned the reinforcements! What were those explosions? Are we under attack?"

I looked at the guard.

"No, you can send all of them back. The battle is won already."

The guard looked confused.

"As you order port master."

The guard returned to the docks. I could only stare at the aftermath and wonder if I should fear them or worship them.

Later that day, I sent a guard to send a message to his majesty, praying that negotiations have went well. No, they must go well.