UO 728

Written by Zach Batson

Conflict: The Joseon-Japanese War

Date: July 28th, 1937

Location: East China Sea

[The following transcript was recovered from the wreckage of a Joseon cruiser located approximately <REDACTED> miles off the coast of <REDACTED>.]

[00:37] Japanese movements have been suspicious for the past 4 hours. All vessels under observation have retreated out of range. Admiral <REDACTED> has ordered an investigation of the area. We are to accompany two other ships in the search, and are expected to report at 04:00. Communication with command will be limited due to suspected Japanese listening posts.

[00:59] Arrived at the search area. One of our port lookouts reported a trail of bubbles moving aftward. Sonar yielded no submarines nearby. Seaman likely spotted a whale coming up for air. No further observations were made.

[01:15] Maintenance check required before next mission. Sonar pinged a vessel far too small to match any known naval assets, Japanese or otherwise. Details on the error will be reported in full in the 05:00 Engineering Report.

[01:22] Our ship has sustained a hull breach near Prop 3. A lookout on the JNF Frigate <REDACTED> reported something emerging from the water near the site of damage. Unidentified Object [UO] appeared roughly the size of a small boat, and round in shape.

[01:27] Official alert has been raised. UO has resurfaced, sustaining heavy damage to <Frigate>. A 9 meter section of the hull appears to have been peeled from the starboard surface. Nonessential crew are being evacuated to sister-ship <REDACTED>.

[01:32] We have clear visuals on the UO! A vessel resembling a large crustacean temporarily surfaced. The UO deployed large appendages to sink <Frigate’s> lifeboats. Their hulls appear to have been sheared in half. The vessel is too elusive to counterattack. Sister ship has been ordered to sail clear of Ops Area to signal command for help. We are under attack!

[01:40] UO continues to evade guns. Vessel is too close to use large armaments. The crew has resorted to small arms fire. UO’s assault has continued on the <Frigate>. Its lower decks are now mostly underwater. The ship’s captain has ordered us to abandon the rescue operation and retreat.

[01:46] <Frigate> has capsized. We have started a full retreat. Earlier damage has been contained, however Engine 3 is still inoperable.

[01:53] UO has resumed its attack on our vessel! We have sustained heavy damage– –