March 17th, 1939.
The pitch-black depths of the ocean surrounded the VNS Sea Serpent, a Valorian submarine that had been silently patrolling the suspected path of the Ruthenian fleet. Captain Marcus Renner peered into the dimly lit command room, where the faint glow of red lights illuminated his seasoned crew. The tension was palpable, each man listening intently for the slightest sound that could confirm the presence of the enemy.
"Captain, sonar is picking up multiple contacts," reported Lieutenant Armand Steiner, the vessel's chief sonar operator. His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of urgency. "I count at least twenty signatures—large displacement, likely battleships and carriers."
Captain Renner's eyes narrowed as he studied the sonar readings. "Looks like we've found them," he murmured. "But we can't be certain until we confirm their identity."
