The sudden air raid alarm shattered the tranquility, with the lights aboard the ship switching to the combat-ready red. Crew members scrambled to their respective battle stations. Soldiers in the turrets, ammunition depots, and engine rooms donned their gas masks. Bags of propellant and shells were transported by ammunition conveyance systems into the turrets as all calibers of artillery aimed outward. In the hangar, maintenance personnel, wearing magnetic boots, pushed tool carts and ammunition trolleys aside to secure them. The fully-prepared MDSs were hooked to the catapults, awaiting the green "launch" signal. At the ground crew's signal, more than 30 carrier-borne MDSs would be catapulted into the air within 3 minutes.
"11 minutes and 09 seconds."
Following the first officer's report that "the entire ship is battle-ready," Freya pressed the stopwatch, and a hint of a smile appeared on her serious face.
