Battle of Mykal Offshore

### Outcome

Gra Valkas Imperial Fleet attacks envisaged to the port city Mykal, which should have been running out, is annihilated by the JMSDF 4th escort group.

### Result

**Japan Decisive Victory*** Port City Mykal successfully defended

**Battle of Mykal Offshore** is a naval battle between the Gra Valkas Empire and Japan. Gra Valkas Empire attacks envisaged to the port city Mykal. Ishtam, 52nd Region Fleet battled with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Fourth Escort Group.

Total of 16 ships
* Pegasus-class aircraft carrier *Sharee*
* Heavy cruiser *Amatel* and 2 others cruisers
* Light cruiser *Murifein*
* Destroyer *Wesun* and 7 other destroyers
* 3 supply ships

**Air Squadron**
* Antares-type combat aircrafts (unknown number)
* Rigel-type torpedo bombers (unknown number)
* Sirius-class carrier-based bombers (unknown number)
* JMSDF Izumo-class destroyer
* JMSDF Akizuki-class destroyer *Suzutsuki*
* Fighters, bombers, and attack aircrafts shot down

## Background

It all started when Dallas, who had temporarily returned to his home country before the Great Battle of Baltica, proposed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who happened to be present at the meeting, that a separate force be used to launch a surprise attack on Otaheit, the capital of Mu, and the port city of Mykal. The operation itself was very logical and the Minister of Foreign Affairs adopted the plan. With the Emperor's approval, the infamous 52nd Regional Fleet, known as Ishtam, was ordered to sortie.

Meanwhile in Japan, *La Kasami Kai*, which has been repaired and remodeled, was handed over to Mu and was on her way back home. Because of the Eleven Country Leadership Conference, she was scheduled to be accompanied by a single escort group and a supply ship as an escort to Mu, and after the mission was over, they were scheduled to take a break at Mykal. This was not the case as the Japanese government predicted that "the Gra Valkas' troops, which had taken Cartalpas by surprise during the Eleven Country Leadership Conference, might take Mu by surprise during the Battle of Baltica," so the Japanese government decided to keep an escort group in Mykal under the guise of vacation for the protection of Japanese companies and Japanese citizens.

## Pre-Battle Situation

The day after the Battle of Baltica, a Japanese reconnaissance satellite spotted the Ishtam Fleet advancing south of Mu. Just as the devastation of the Battle of Baltica was being reported to the JMSDF 4th Escort Group, which had been taking a brief respite, an urgent telegram was sent from Japan announcing the approach of the Ishtam Fleet. The leave was cancelled, and they immediately prepared for battle and began searching for the enemy at a point 100 km east of Mykal.

At the same time, Maynard, the commander of the Ishtam Fleet, decides that it's both impossible to destroy both Otaheit and Mykal. Therefore, he takes the strategy of splitting up his forces on the front lines. Since the attack on the capital was mainly aimed at the psychological effect, he dared to make that one a diversion, and the strategically valuable Mykal was the main target of the operation. In accordance with this plan, under the command of Osniel, the captain of the *Orion*-class battleship *Meisa*, a fleet of eight ships was dispatched to Otaheit.

## Naval Battle

The next day on February 7, the 4th Escort Group was reported to have successfully defended Otaheit. Group commander Miura warned the Ishtam Fleet, "Turn back immediately. Because of the technological gap, it's not even a battle". He added the position and formation of the Ishtam Fleet as evidence.

However, Maynard, who never dreamed that Japan was stronger than his country, naturally refused to do so. Towards the position of the Japanese fleet, which was determined from the direction of the radio waves, an attack squadron was launched from the *Pegasus*-class aircraft carrier *Sharee*, but suddenly Ishtam Fleet's radar malfunctioned, and immediately afterwards, the Type 90 anti-ship guided missiles saturated the ship, the cruisers and destroyers were sunk one by one. Maynard realizes that Miura's words were true, but soon afterwards, the *Sharee* was hit by a Type 90 missile near the flight deck and port waterline, which punches a large hole in the ship and sinking it. All of the attackers that took off from the *Sharee* were shot down by medium-range anti-aircraft missiles.

Together with the Battle of Otaheit Offshore, the entire Ishtam Fleet was destroyed.

## Aftermath

Unfortunately for Mu, the annihilation of Ishtam Fleet did not immediately affect the strategy of the Gra Valkas Empire. At this time, Gra Valkas Imperial Army was preparing for a land invasion of the Mu homeland from Leifor side, and the Mu government, having noticed this, requested military support from Japan. Combined with the losses at Folk Strait and Baltica, Mu's navy was almost completely annihilated. Because the Ishtam Fleet was wiped out without reporting, Gra Valkas mainland was not immediately aware of the cause of their disappearance.

Imperial Navy HQ eventually learned of the fleet's annihilation, although it kept the news under wraps while it investigated. Aside from a few high ranking officials, information also made its way to a Gra Valkan senator and war hawk, Guinea Marix. The Navy officials and Marix both developed a slight fear of Japan, with Marix even started to advocate politically on a compromise to avoid fighting with Japan. The rest of the Gra Valkas Empire, including Eastern Fleet commander Caesar, learned about the fleet's annihilation when Mu revealed the events of the battle in a public broadcast.

## Note

* This naval battle is a book version original development that is not in the web version.
	+ It was mentioned on web version after the defeat of 4th Division at Kielseki plains.