"Captain, what shall we do? The Germans' warship has arrived."
At the moment the German naval destroyer appeared, the crew aboard the tanker *Liberty* was thrown into a state of panic.
Although the tanker was immense in size, the destroyer seemed a mere speck in comparison. However, in terms of combat capability, the tables turned dramatically. The tanker, despite its bulk, was sluggish, poorly defended, and entirely lacking in offensive power. In contrast, the destroyer, small as it was, could effortlessly reduce the tanker to splinters with its guns or torpedoes.
Moreover, with the destroyer's speed exceeding thirty knots, the tanker had no chance of escape.
"Captain, the Germans are signaling us to stop and prepare for inspection!" one sailor exclaimed.
"Damn it! Those accursed Germans, this is open sea, not their territorial waters! We are an American tanker—when did it become their prerogative to inspect us?" the captain fumed.
"Captain, should we resist? What if the Germans resort to force?" a timid sailor asked.
The captain hesitated. "I didn't expect the Germans to dispatch a warship. It seems our journey to Britain is over. Send a telegram to the Germans, stating we have strayed off course and will turn back immediately!"
"Yes, Captain." The sailor hurried to send the message. However, the reply from the German warship soon came, its tone unyielding, insisting that the *Liberty* must stop immediately for inspection.
"What now, Captain? The Germans demand we halt, or they will open fire."
"Pay them no mind; we'll turn back at once. They're merely trying to intimidate us; they wouldn't dare to fire. After all, we are Americans. If anything happens to us, it could spark a diplomatic incident between our countries," the captain reassured his crew, bolstering their spirits as well as his own.
Ignoring the German destroyer's warnings, the *Liberty* turned about, preparing to leave the area. Yet this action was clearly unsatisfactory to the Germans.
"Lieutenant! The Americans claim they've strayed off course and are departing," the radio operator reported to Lieutenant Smyle, the commander of the German destroyer.
"Hmph! The Americans' words are pure deception. How could such a large tanker get lost? If we allow them to leave, they might continue their course toward Britain after we depart. What then?" Lieutenant Smyle scoffed.
"Sir, should we open fire? But it's a tanker; if hit, it might catch fire and engulf the entire vessel," the gunner cautioned.
"Fire a warning shot—ensure we don't hit them directly. A tanker that size, with its cargo of oil, is no trivial matter. If we can capture her, we'll earn accolades," Lieutenant Smyle replied, a smile creeping across his face.
The naval command had ordered them to seize any vessels attempting to transport prohibited goods to Britain. These ships were to be sent to German ports, with no guarantee of return.
Besides, should the German army wish to land on British soil, they would require a substantial fleet for troop transport and supply logistics. Thus, seizing American ships would significantly alleviate the burden on German shipping.
"Yes, sir!" the gunner nodded.
Two minutes later, the destroyer's twin-mounted 105mm main guns began firing.
"Boom! Boom!"
Four 105mm shells hurtled toward the *Liberty*.
"Oh God! The Germans are firing at us; they mean to kill us!"
"Damn it, do they not realize we are a tanker? How dare they shoot at us? This is outright murder!"
The American sailors aboard the *Liberty* cried out in fear, fully aware that a direct hit would spell their doom. Even the captain was struck pale with terror, drained of all color.
"Boom! Boom!"
Shells exploded in front of the *Liberty*, sending sprays of water skyward. While the sailors were initially terrified, they breathed a sigh of relief at not being directly hit. If the German warship had landed a direct strike, their fate would have been sealed.
"Damn it, the Germans are warning us! Captain, we must stop the ship immediately, or we'll perish here!" the first mate urged.
"Very well, halt the ship," the captain conceded, knowing that failure to issue the order would leave him at the mercy of his frightened crew.
The *Liberty* gradually came to a stop, and the German destroyer drew near.
Soon, Lieutenant Smyle led a contingent of over ten marines aboard the *Liberty*.
Following the establishment of the exclusion zone, and to ensure formidable force during inspections, Marshal Tirpitz had specifically ordered that each warship receive reinforcements from the marines. One or two squads per ship would suffice.
"Sir, we are Americans. We truly strayed off course. I assure you, we will turn back immediately and will not violate your country's restrictions," the captain pleaded before Lieutenant Smyle, bowing and scraping in hopes of evading disaster. However, he would soon discover such tactics would bear no fruit.
"Search the entire ship and retrieve the navigation log," Lieutenant Smyle commanded.
Instantly, the captain's expression darkened. The navigation log recorded their intended destination.
"Sir, this is truly a misunderstanding," the captain attempted to explain, only to be met with the ominous barrels of guns, prompting him to raise his hands in surrender, silencing himself.
"Sir, we have found the navigation log; they were heading to Manchester," a German soldier reported.
"Now, what do you have to say for yourself?" Lieutenant Smyle turned his gaze upon the captain.
At that moment, the captain's face was ashen, leaving him at a loss for words.
"Hmph! On behalf of the German Empire, I hereby declare this vessel in violation of the German Empire's prohibitions. Effective immediately, she is to be seized indefinitely by the Imperial Navy!" Lieutenant Smyle stated coldly.
"You can't do this! We are Americans!" the captain shouted.
But his response was met with a brutal blow from the butt of a rifle.