The days rolled on, and my Carrier Strike Force continued its island-hopping spree. We’d just discovered Port Tres, followed by Port Kwatro, and then Port Cinco. Each new island brought its own mix of relief and anxiety. Relieved because I hadn’t stumbled upon the enemy we’d tangled with before, but anxious because the silence is almost too peaceful. What if they are there, just waiting for the right moment to strike?

I slumped at my study desk, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a incoming bomber ready to drop their payload towards me. My fingers tapped impatiently, I stared at a small, nondescript cubes, my latest investment in fortifying our position. These little block, costing 120k credits, is more than it seemed. It would house an airbase and radar towers, crucial for keeping an eye on our surroundings and providing some much-needed protection.

I scribbled down my plans on paper, feeling a bit like a general trying to navigate a chess game with pieces I barely understood.

My plan is straightforward: at Port Tres, once an undetected vessel or aircraft is spotted, the airbase would initiate a naval strike. At the same time, the base would alert the Carrier Strike Group to reinforce the island under attack. Unfortunately, my Long Island Light Aircraft Carrier is still in its infancy, lacking the capability to launch a full-scale offensive of payload torpedo and bombs. since I am currently torn between equipping it with dive bombers or torpedo bombers.

My heavy cruiser under air superiority would provide support with its 9-inch guns. Sure, the plan is more about big guns than airpower, but I needed to save up for more aircraft and another carrier. The Long Island could only handle 25 F-1 Fighters, and I’d managed to fill that quota.

Frustration bubbled up inside me as I ran my hand through my hair. “Why did I build those heavy cruisers again?” I muttered, glaring at the design blueprints scattered across my desk. Hindsight is really rubbing it in my face, laughing at my mistakes. I slammed my hand on the desk, sending a few papers fluttering to the floor. “Ugh, what a mess. I should’ve focused on the carriers and aircraft from the start!”

I stood up, pacing back and forth, my frustration bubbling over.

Eventually, I flopped back into my chair and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper. Time to refocus. What I really needed is a proper fleet carrier. The Long Island is just a light carrier, and facing off against real carrier threats, my planes would get shred out of the sky.

I write "FLEET CARRIER" in bold letters at the top of the page. Below, I write out some ideas for a new design. My heavy cruiser is all well and good. But I need something.

"Maybe a new cruiser, something with a focus on anti-aircraft capabilities," I mumbled as I scribbled ideas. I crossed out a few notes and jotted down new ones. "But what’s the point of heavy AA cover if the enemy can just outrun it? I need a ship that can keep pace and not just rely on static defenses."

I added a new section to the design: "Anti-Air Light Cruiser." It needed to be nimble, with a focus on agility and firepower, capable of intercepting enemy aircraft before they could get too close. Maybe even some advanced tracking systems to ensure those AA guns hit their mark.

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. My current designs are too focused on big guns and heavy armor, while what I really needed is a flexible, well-rounded fleet that could handle various threats. I made a few more notes, each one feeling like a step closer to a solution.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“There’s got to be a way to make this work,” I said, determination setting in. “I’ll get this right, even if I have to redesign everything.”

As I continued sketching, a plan began to take shape. My ideal Carrier Strike Force would include two fleet carriers, each capable of accommodating at least 200 aircraft in various roles. This would give me the ability to strike and protect my fleet with a balanced mix of dive bombers and torpedo bombers. I jotted down ideas for aircraft configurations, envisioning how they would operate together in a coordinated assault.

To support the carriers, I’d need four light cruisers specifically focused on anti-aircraft defense. Their job would be to fend off enemy planes and protect the fleet from aerial threats. I envisioned them armed with 40mm and 5-inch guns, complete with proximity fuses. The expense should be worth it—those weapons had proven invaluable in previous encounters.

For dealing with more formidable gunships or other heavy threats, a battlecruiser seemed like a solid choice. It would provide the firepower needed for significant challenges. But, after some thought, I decided that two heavy cruisers might offer better flexibility, allowing me to distribute my firepower more effectively. I made a note of this adjustment, feeling it's the right call.

Finally, specialized destroyers would complete the fleet—some equipped for anti-aircraft duties and others for anti-submarine warfare. This combination would ensure a well-rounded and adaptable force.

I took a step back from my work, feeling a wave of accomplishment wash over me. The plan is solid, and I am confident it could work. “Yes, this could work,” I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. My confidence is growing, and I felt ready to tackle the next steps. But then, reality hit me like a cold splash of water.

The cost. Of course, there is the cost. I hadn’t even started calculating it yet, but my mind quickly flashed to the Scharnhorst, which had set me back around 27 or 28 million credits. I winced at the memory. This new fleet is going to be a whole different beast.

I glanced at my notes, mentally adding up the figures. Two fleet carriers, four light cruisers, a battlecruiser or two heavy cruisers, and specialized destroyers. This is shaping up to be a major investment. I estimated I’d need at least half a billion credits to cover the fleet, and that didn’t even account for the aircraft, ammunition, or fuel.

Good grief, this is going to be a massive undertaking. I slumped back in my chair, staring at the stack of papers before me. “Well, I guess I need much more than just paper,” I muttered, letting out a resigned sigh. “I need paper money. A lot of it.”

The thought of the financial mountain ahead made my head spin, but I knew there is no turning back now. I had to find a way to raise the funds and make this plan a reality. Time to get creative with my resource management and maybe look for some new revenue streams. After all, if I wanted to turn this fleet into a reality, I had to start looking beyond the paper and figure out how to turn ideas into the cash needed to back them up.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed aside my growing irritation and refocused. Aside from needing more fleet firepower had more pressing concerns, as my ever-growing need for money grows bigger. The Color Class Destroyers needed sonar and depth charges for more adequate cargo ship convoy protection, and their numbers had to increase. Production is sluggish—only one destroyer every two days, despite the millions of credits I earned daily.

As I scrutinized my budget screen, I just saw something troubling. My fleet income is heavily boosted by cargo deliveries—700k credits from successful shipments—but my income from territories combined are only 500k. This discrepancy highlighted a major opportunity I hadn’t fully exploited. Convoy shipping is providing more money than territorial control, a frustrating realization.

My cargo ships needed to form convoys with my Color Class Destroyers. Currently, I have 21 destroyers, not including those in my Carrier Strike Force. However, my convoy fleet comprised 54 cargo ships and 44 oilers. The ratio is far from ideal, offering only 4 or 5 destroyers per convoy, especially with lingering threats in the waters, not so great when you are in desperate need of money.

I needed to get shovels and picks and start digging into this untapped gold mine. I stared at the numbers, envisioning a plan to balance the convoy fleet and enhance efficiency. More destroyers, better protection, and increased cargo routes are essential. There is a lot of work ahead, but I am ready to tackle it head-on.

“Alright, We Ball” I said, rolling up my sleeves and gathering my thoughts.