Chapter 1: The Encounter of World Lines

English Channel, 0800 hours.

Admiral James Abraham looked out of the bridge of the USS Nimitz II. It has been a year since the Third World War, more commonly known as the War that Never Was, had ended. The new Russian government had sent a small fleet for the new Coalition Fleet to prove their friendly intentions. Joining the US and Russian Navies were a joint EU Fleet, the Japanese Marine Self Defense Force, and the United States Home Guard Combined Fleet, a new force that was established during the outbreak of the War that Never Was. This joint exercise was meant to prove that the war was over and that the countries could trust each other again.

"Admiral, sir," said one of the officers. "A local British weather station has stated that a thunderstorm is coming this way. Shall we alter course, sir?"

"There will be no need," said Admiral Abraham. "Maintain course, but keep an eye on that storm."

"Yes sir."

The Admiral sighed. Ever since the war ended, he had wanted to retire from service. However, he couldn't leave the ship he commanded during the whole war. On top of that, he wanted to see what the Home Guard's new models could do…

On board the HGS Battleship Asahi, 0800 hours.

Andrew sat on the flight deck, looking into the sky. From where he sat he could see all the fleets that participated in the exercise. The Combined Fleet was the most technologically advanced fleet in the Home Guard. They were fielding heavily modified Sea Harriers while the rest of the Air Arm was using retrofitted MiG-21s at best. The ships were all decommissioned long ago, but were pressed back into service when the Russians declared war.

On board the Asahi, there were three new prototype fighter aircraft. Andrew was the pilot of one of them, the VF-35t. He didn't want to be a test pilot. He wanted to be a normal kid. With a normal life. The War changed all that.

Andrew looked into the distance. There was a storm brewing up ahead. He hurried back below decks.

Aircraft Carrier Petovkin, Renewed Russian navy flag ship, Bridge. 0800 Hours.

"Admiral," said a Russian officer. "The freak storm is coming straight at us. Should we ask Admiral Abraham to alter course, sir?"

"Niet,"said Admiral Romanov. "We are the American's guests. We follow his orders now." However, even as he said it, Romanov was slightly concerned about the suspicious storm, but he quickly forgot about it.

USS Nimitz II, Bridge, 0830 hours.

"Admiral, that freak storm is getting creepily closer. It's even emitting a slight EMP," said the officer.

"What?" said Admiral Abraham. "Is it possible to avoid it now?"

"Not anymore, sir," said the officer. "It's too close."

"Tell all the ships to prepare for EMP counter measures," said the Admiral. "We don't want our ships to just get stranded in a thunderstorm.

"Yes sir," said the officer.

HGS Asahi, Bridge, 0830 hours.

"Admiral," said a Home Guard officer, "Admiral Abraham is telling us to prepare for an EMP. Does that apply to us, sir?"

Admiral Eric Liu shook his head. "There will be no need. Our ships are all analog. The EMP might affect some of our planes and minor functions but we'll still be up and running."

The officer smiled. "So THAT'S why we use these outdated ships," he said.

"No, we use them because we are broke compared to the other militaries of the world."

USS Nimitz II, Bridge, 0849 hours.

"Admiral! The storm is upon us!" said the officer. The ship pitched and rolled in the high waves. The bridge shook, as if it were being hit by shells in battle. The lights flickered slightly.

"Status report!" yelled the Admiral. One of the officers replied.

"The storm is jamming all our communications!" he yelled. "We can't raise the other ships. An alarm sounded.

"Admiral! There is an EMP reading! INCOMING!"

"BRAAAAAACE!"

And the EMP hit the fleet with devastating force.

Alternate Universe, 501st Joint Fighter Wing base, Dover.

Wing Commander Minna sat at her desk and sighed. A Liberion fleet was supposed to arrive soon. However they were behind schedule by over an hour. The door suddenly slammed open. Major Sakamoto Mio stood in the doorway.

"Minna," she said, "That fleet you're waiting for, it's under attack."

Minna sighed again. "I figured as much," she said. This was going to be a bad day.

English Channel 0900 hours.

The storm finally subsided. Admiral Abraham got up and looked around.

"Is, is everyone all right?" he asked. The bridge crew nodded. "I need a status report."

"Most of our electronics are back online, sir. The GPS isn't working, though."

"Switch to standard navigation," said the Admiral. "CIC, are the communication modules back online, yet?"

"One moment sir, they're coming on… now."

The communication lines came back to life. Once it did, the American Admiral was bombarded with questions from the other admirals. He tried to brush most of them off. It would be around this time when the radar operator cut into the conversations.

"Admiral!" he said. "There seems to be an engagement a few miles away over on the starboard side!"

"Can you get me a visual?" asked Admiral Abraham.

"Right away sir!" The image popped up and everyone in the bridge of the USS Nimitz II gasped. A fleet of World War II ships were being attacked by what looked like a stealth bomber with red hexagons placed here and there. And it was firing lasers. And the said thing was also engaging what looked like teenaged girls with models of World War II aircraft strapped to their legs. The Admiral sighed. "What the hell is going on here?"

Battleship HGS Asahi, Bridge.

"Admiral Liu!" said the CIC officer. "There's a call for you. It's from Admiral Abraham." Admiral Liu picked up the phone.

"Hello Admiral," said the American Admiral. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"If what you're seeing is a black object shooting lasers engaging a fleet of antique ships and flying teenage girls with no pants, then yes. I am seeing what you are seeing," said the Civilian Admiral.

"What are you going to do?" asked Admiral Abraham. "The Russians, Japanese, and the Europeans want to help the lot. So do we. We need your decision."

"Why do you want MY decision, Admiral?" asked Admiral Liu. "I may have a military rank but I'm still a civilian. You have the overall authority here."

USS Nimitz II, Bridge.

Admiral Abraham sighed. He then put down the phone and turned to the CIC officer.

"Ensign, issue General Quarters and order all fleets to engage. Let's give that fleet a hand."

The Ensign smiled. "Yes sir. All personnel, General Quarters! General Quarters! All hands to battle stations! Repeat! All hands to battle stations!"

HGS Asahi, Flight deck.

The VF-35t rose up to the flight deck. Sea Harrier Kai-ni variable jump jets were already launching from the rear flight deck of the aviation battleship. From the other Home Guard aircraft carriers Sabre Kai-ni and Rapier Kai fighters were taking off.

"CIC to Dossel team, your objective is to intercept and destroy the Unidentified Aircraft in sector Alpha 2. Be careful out there. Those things shoot lasers."

"Dossel 1 to CIC, I figured you'll say that," said Captain Alex Bell. "This one's going to cost you extra." The squadron laughed. "Amy, don't fall behind. Dossel 1, launch!" With that, Captain Bell's SV-51G launched off the catapult.

"Right behind you, sir," said Lieutenant Amy Yamamoto. "Dossel 2, launch!" Lieutenant Yamamoto's VF-0F then rocketed off the catapult.

"CIC to Dossel 3, you're next. Do me a favor and don't get shot down. You're flying a prototype."

"In the name of my Great-Grandfather, I will NOT get this guy a scratch," said Andrew. He took a deep breath. A Sea Harrier took off from the catapult next to him.

"Let's do this buddy… Andrew Richthofen, Dossel 3, launch!"

Author's notes: Finally got around to doing this fanfic. It's a slight Strike Witches/Macross/Ace Combat crossover but only slight.

Facts:

-The Third World War, aka the War that Never Was, started in the year 2014 AD when the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine and Poland at the same time. When the United States declared war, Russia launched a preemptive invasion of North America. Russia's new carpet bombing tactic overwhelmed the US Military. Thus the United States Home Guard was born. Using outdated technology and superior numbers, the Home Guard along with what remained of the US Military pushed back the Russians to their homeland. The war ended when the Russian people revolted and the Home Guard's I-400 class submarines launched a Doolittle Raid style attack on Moscow. Fighting continued in Asia where North Korea invaded its southern neighbor and China invaded Vietnam. The Home Guard Combined fleet along with the US Navy then launched a counter attack in the Korean peninsula along with a Japanese Volunteer force and the South Korean Army. The war ended when North Korea surrendered and when China and Vietnam signed a peace treaty.

-Aviation Battleships were used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. When the Japanese lost all their carriers, they went on to convert some of their Battleships into carrier hybrids, thus creating the Aviation Battleship. This idea was used by the Home Guard fleets due to the nature of modern navel combat. All Home Guard ships (excluding light escort ships and torpedo boats) have at least two interceptors in the event of an aerial attack.

-The HGS Asahi is the fourth Yamato class battleship that was never built. When the Home Guard found that they would need a new ship that could cause havoc on enemy fleets, they built a modified Yamato class. Because it was the fourth of it's class, it was named the Asahi, as that was its intended name if the Japanese built the ship during World War II.

Maya: So you finally got around in doing this story?

Karl: Yeah. So?

Maya: Nothing. I'm just wondering how Auto-correct would react when it detects all the Strike Witches terms...

Karl:... Stahp! I didn't want to think about that!