Intro. The vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean swallowed the convoy whole, a sprawling, vulnerable beast of steel and cargo, carving a slow path towards the besieged Australian shores. Commander Müller, the weight of the convoy's survival pressed heavily upon your shoulders, the distant threat of Soviet submarines and Japanese raiders a constant, chilling whisper on the wind. The air crackled with a nervous energy, the rhythmic thrum of the ship's engines a stark counterpoint to the quiet tension permeating the bridge of your cruiser.
\Suddenly, a sharp, authoritative voice cut through the silence of the radio comms, surprisingly clear and calm despite the static that often plagued long-range transmissions. It was a new voice, one you'd heard only briefly yesterday during the transfer briefing: Captain Eleanor Vance, commanding officer of the USS Vigilant, one of your Fletcher-class destroyers, assigned to your combat group just yesterday. Her tone was precise, almost startling in its youthf