5 February 1942, 9 a.m, ESS Independence, Approaching Singapore, Perpective: Sparky

It was suppose to be uneventful ride to Singapore. But suddenly, a target appeared on the radar. The target was a Aircraft carrier, but it is not British, it was Equestrian.

"Twilight, you might wanna see this." I said, signaling for Twilight to come over.

"What?" Twilight trailed off as she saw ESS shining on the radar.

"It can't be..." Twilight said.

"Yep, it is ESS Shining." I said.

Twilight started to mumble something out but I can't hear it.

"So..., what do you suggest we do?" I asked, still confused over the matter.

"I suggest we talk with the Commander in charge (OC) of that Carrier."

"I agree."

Singapore, 9 a.m, ESS Shining, Perpective: Rain

"Ma'am, we just unloaded all your Land Armored Vehicles, and we are expecting Australian Infantry to arrive soon." A British private reported.

"Good, tell Percival that we will out at sea, to protect the incoming convoy." I said.

"Yes Ma'am!" the British private said, before going off in the distance.

I went back to the Command and ordered my troops to prepare to recieve the convoy.

The Carrier was being refueled and Planes were being reloaded. Sadly, we aren't getting resupply anytime soon from Equestria. Hopefully, the battle will be won soon enough.

1 hour later,

ESS Shining was out at sea. The only ship out at sea for the moment. I heard that the Austrailain navy are rushing ships to aid the British, but who knows if that is true. We are suppose to escort this convoy and head back to Singapore, nothing more, nothing less.

We met with the convoy at around 11 a.m. and started to turn back to Singapore.

Suddenly, the radar spotted another carrier near our position.

"Scramble Fighters!" I ordered.

Within 15 minutes, F-16s were loaded on deck and some started to take off. The first wave of fighters were suppose to take down enemy fighters and the second wave will be to sink this carrier.

When I least expected it, the Carrier started making radio contact with us.

"This is ESS independence to ESS Shining, do you copy? I repeat, this is ESS Independence to ESS Shining, do you read?"

My mind was filled with thoughts. How? Did they really join the Axis? No, It's unlike Sparky to do this..

In the middle of my thoughts, I saw Lyra went to the radio set and repiled, "This is ESS Shining to ESS independence, we copy, I repeat, we copy."

A voice that sounded like Sparky started saying things into the radio. "So, it really is you, may I speak with the commanding Officer?"

I stared into space, dumbfounded. I did not expect Sparky to join the Axis, it is not part of the plan.

Lyra then handed over the radio set to me. I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't notice that Lyra handed the radio set to me.

"Ma'am, the carier is Equestrian, should we still make the bombing run?" Spitfire asked through the comms.

"No! Head back to Carrier imediately." I said, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Yes Ma'am!" Spitfire replied.

"Hello? Is anypony there?" Sparky asked with concern.

"I am here! I am here!" I repiled frantically.

"Sorry for the delay, my mind was occupied with thoughts." I said.

"Oh, I see. Anyways, what are you doing here?" Sparky asked.

"Escorting British troops, Why?"

"Have you gone mad?"

"Hey, look, if you can alter history, why can't I?"

"Look, I don't care who you are but tell me that you didn't join the Allies."

"We did it a few days ago, and we also put some ponies in Singapore."

"What?"

"Hey, to be fair, I didn't anticipate that you will join the Axis either. So we are technically even."

"Alright, that's it." Sparky said, cutting off the radio.

I smiled, knowing that I have angered Sparky. I turned on the comms again and ordered, "Spitfire, continue the Bombing run."

"Yes Ma'am!" Spitfire replied.

11.30 a.m, ESS shining, Perpective: Sparky

As I cut off Radio contact with ESS shining, F-16s started to appear in mass, targetting ESS Independence.

"Prepare Electronic jamming and get those flaks firing!" I ordered.

"Electronic jamming?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, electronic jamming." I said, trying to hide my true emotions.

"Ok then..." Twilight said, getting the instruments for it.

F-16s started to fire rockets on the flight deck which caused some damage but not enough to destroy it. The flight deck is the biggest part of the carrier and it is usually heavily armored. This carrier was meant for to fight off with a fleet of Zumwalt-class destroyers and I am throughlt surprised that fighters would target the flight deck, rather than the belt armor. The belt armor is thinner than the deck armor which is the most vulnerable part of the carrier.

The flaks started to fire to put explosives and bullets into the air but the F-16s are far away from the flaks firing range. "Sir, the flaks aren't doing anything to stop those missiles!" Derpy said through the comms.

"Fine, then get those 25 inches to do Anti- aircraft!" I said, looking at the radar.

"Yes, Sir!" Derpy said.

Soon, 25 inches were raised to 40 degrees and started firing in all directions. "Sparky, why don't you want to launch figthers?" Twilight asked.

"Because Rain have the Air supremercy. We must make their air support gone so that our figthers could take off without Rain's air forces taking out our figther on the flight deck."

"Ok, that seemed reasonable." Twilight said, still meddling with the Instruments.

The F-16s started to launch a second volley of rockets at the carrier. Again, the rockets hit the flight deck. "Sir, we have taken another hit!" Derpy said.

"Somepony get me damage report!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Sparky, we got thier signal!" Twilight said.

"Good, start to hack their targetting system and radar."

"On it." Twilight said, returning to meddle with the instruments.

Perpective: Spitfire

"Sir, our targetting system are offline!" Daring Do said.

"What? That shouldn't be happening." I said, looking at my instruments.

"Never mind, Squadron 145, we launch our rockets witout our targetting system."

"But how?" Daring Do asked.

"We will apporoach the carrier and dive and release our rockets. Is that clear?" I said.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Squadron 145 replied

"Good, we will apporoach and dive on multiple sides. Daring do will take North-east, Easter will take east, and the rest will be with me. we will take South."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Perpective: Twilight

"Sparky, targets approaching carrier from multiple sides." I said, looking at the radar.

"Great, get those 25 inches to fire smoke rounds and prepare flaks to fire is multiple direction." Sparky ordered through the comms.

Smoke soon surounded the carrier and the flak cannons are turning to the anticipated direction of where the squadron will fly in from.

"Twilight, turn this ship 20 degree starboard."

"Yes, Sir!" I said, turning the steering wheel 20 degrees starboard.

Out of the blue, darkstorm clouds started to form. "Sparky, it is getting dark."

"Good, all guns stop firing." Sparky ordered through the comms.

"What? Are you mad?" I said, turning to look at him.

"No, I am not mad, stopping all guns from firing will not reveal our location." Sparky said, looking at the dark storm clouds.

"Yes, Sir!" troops repiled through the comms.

"Now, what do we do?" I asked in a corncern voice.

"We wait for the figthers to get close and start an anti-aircraft barrage." Sparky said, turning to face me.

Perpective: Spitfire

"Ma'am, dark storm clouds are forming, should we head back?" Daring Do asked.

"No, we continue our dive bombing run before we head back." I reply confidently.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Weird, there is no anti-aircraft fire. Probably because they need to reload or something or scare us so that we won't do the bombing run, I thought.

Soon, we are near our target. "Everypony, get into positions!" I ordered.

Some F-16s started to turn right or left, separating them from the main fighter group.

As we started to dive, the anti-aircraft guns started to fire. Some fighters were immediately shot down and crashed on to the carriers' flight deck, some were lucky to drop the rockets and fly away. I was one of the lucky ones.

But the anti-aircraft fire didn't stop there. The 25 inches tried to take us down even when we are far from the carrier.

Later, when we landed on ESS shining, some planes exploded as they are trying to land. The thought alone could scare anypony. The 25 inches are doing a darn good job of downing planes.

I was lucky, but not my pals. Out of the original 25 F-16s, only 3 came back not seiously damaged and another 4 came back with their F-16s seriously damaged. The rest was downed in the engagement.

As if things couldn't be bad enough, more F-16s was sent for a second wave. I wish them the best of luck in my mind, because I realised that they are going in for a suicide mission.

Perpective: Rain

So many fighters downed in such a short time, that carrier has some serious firepower. Hopefully, the second wave would do a better job.

"Prepare to separate with the convoy." I ordered.

"Yes, ma'am!"

I must bring this fight away from the convoy, I thought.

I stared at the flight deck, looking at the F-16 that just landed.

I smiled thinking about Twilight and Sparky.

As the Carrier started to appear out of sight of the convoy, I heard a soldier reporting, "Ma'am, the second wave failed, they were all shot down by the enemy carrier."

I tried my best not to smile at the report, thinking about all the the changeling pilots dying in the midst of battle. "Turn this ship 30 degrees port, face boardside with the enemy carrier." I ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Fire the self-defense missiles!" I ordered.

Due to the targetting system not working, the missiles that were fired dive down towards the sea and exploded.

Not bad, Sparky and Twilight, I thought.

Perpective: Twilight

So many good pony pilots, dead and it is all because of Rain, I thought, looking at the wreckage that the F-16s has produced during the battle.

"Twilight, look," Sparky said, pointing his hoof to the window.

"No, it can't be." I said, looking at ESS Shining turning boardside. You got to be kidding me, I thought.

"Since he is turning boardside, should we too?" Sparky asked, turning his face to look at me.

"Sure." I replied, going back to the steering wheel and steer the Carrier 20 degrees port, facing boardside with the enemy carrier.

"Prepare Starboard guns!" Sparky ordered throught the comms.

Soon, the guns were loaded and facing the enemy carrier.

"Hold Fire!" Sparky ordered.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Why?" I asked, facing Sparky.

"Look." Sparky said, pointing to the back of ESS Shining.

"I can't beleive this." I said, looking at Rain's crew abandoning the ship.

"What do you think is his game now?" I asked, looking back at Sparky.

"I think he is abandoning ship because he knows he can't beat us or he is just using it as a distraction." Sparky said, still looking at ESS Shining.

"Sparky, do you think he will really stop fighthing us?" I asked.

"No, I don't." Sparky paused before continuing, "But I don't want his crew to die for him. So, unless he tries something funny, I will not allow the firing of the 25 inches."

I stood there, speechless. To know that Sparky is still Sparky is so touching.

He turned and looked at me with a smile. "So, what is that mind of yours thinking now?" Sparky said, before he broke out laughing.

"What are you laughing about?" I asked, embarrassed.

"That look, it is funny to know that you are still you, Twily." Sparky said, smiling at me.

"Yeah. I feel the same way about you too." I said, before we both looked at each other, blushing.

We stood there, not realising that Derpy has been hollering for us.

"Hey are you guys listening?!" Derpy shouted frantically.

"Thats it!" Derpy shouted, pulling out a MG42 out from nowhere and pulled the trigger.

The bullets coming out of th MG42 was blanks but the sound broke us apart.

We were shocked at the sound that we immediately ducked for cover before we realised that it is just Derpy.

"What do you want now, Derpy?"

Derpy started to pull up her hooves, as if counting something and said, "The enemy carrier is heading right for us!"

"What?!" Sparky and I said in unison. Sparky and I looked out of the window and saw the flight deck of ESS Shining apporaching our carrier.

"That Bucking pony!" Sparky and I shouted.

"You know what? Fine, if you want us to sink your ship, we will." Sparky said angerily.

"Fire those cannons!" I ordered throught the comms.

Without a reply, the 25 inches fire their shells at ESS Shining.

It sank within 15 minutes.

But, there was no pony in there, all the ponies have abandoned ship before Rain sent ESS Shining at us.

Perpective: Rain

I smiled as the ESS Shining sank. I didn't tell my crew that this was part of helping Sparky with the capture of Singapore, if he wants to. So much innocent ponies dead, just to win a battle that they are not suppose to fight for, I thought. I cried on my way back to Singapore. So many thoughts overwhelming my mind.

What will I tell Percival? That a Equestrian carrier got sunk by another Equestrian carrier? The thought of Percival and the British troops dying in the incoming battle is too much. So I alter history to keep them from suffering? Funny story, but it is what I must do., I thought.

I let out a sigh and asked myself, "Is this worth it?"

"Yes, it is." A familar voice answered. It stopped and continued, "If you belive that you are doing the right thing, than do it. It is not worth it to stop halfway for so many ponies killed."

I looked around and found nopony talking to me. It must be me imagining things. I replied, "Thanks for supporting me."

"You are welcome."

I smiled, letting myself sleep on the boat that I was on.

Perpective: Sparky

After the battle, I turned and look at Derpy, "Thanks for alerting me about it."

"You are welcome. If you don't mind, I will be returning to my duties now."

"Sure."

Derpy walked away, heading downstairs.

I turned and look at Twilight. "Soooo, where do you think we should go?" I randomly asked.

"I think we should go in and invade Singapore." Twilight said in a serious tone.

"Say What?"

"Nah, I'm kidding. Let's head back to Pearl Habour." Twilight said jokingly.

"For a moment there, I thought you were serious." I said.

"Of course I am not serious, I mean, we don't even have the troops for it." Twilight said, smiling at me.

"You're right, let's head back to Pearl Habour." I said, moving closer to Twilight.

Twilight moved towards the steering wheel and steer the carrier 30 degrees starboard.

"You know, now that we are alone..." I said, moving towards Twilight.

"Sure, why not?"

Twilight and I sat close together and we both took out a diary and start to write our experience of the battle in it. This was done usually privately because we didn't want our troops to read our private thoghts and use it aganist us.

Perpective: Narrator
Battle Report:

The Battle took 80 ponies' lives. 50 from Rain's forces and 30 from Sparky's forces. The casualties are quite small as both sides tried their best to reduce the casualties count. Rain evacuating ESS Shining before sending it to crash with ESS Independence minimise further casualties. And, Sparky and Twilight not pursuing Rain's fleeing crew also helped to minimise Casualties even further.

The engagement lasted for only 1 hour as Sparky managed to limit the choices Rain has. This lead to Rain stopping further airstrikes to reduce the casualties' count.

This battle will mark the first time two carriers go head to head without much air support on both sides. This will change the mindset of Naval commanders. This will make Carrier commanders think that a carrier's self defense is as important as the abilty to launch planes.

The British, thinking that ESS Independence victory is a Japanese victory, will cause a decrease in British morale as it means that the 'Japanese' has Naval Supremacy. This misunderstanding will turn the situation in the Battle of Singapore.

This Battle/Engagement will be one of the defining moments in WW2. For it cause a change in Carrier tactics on both sides of the Pacific war.

Author's Notes:

1) Rain sudden change in character is intentional 2) 'A familar voice answered' Who is the pony that answered Rain? Feel free to speculate 3) Hope you all like the Battle report. As the story continues, I think I will be making more Battle reports. (A Hint of future events) 4) This battle was Inspired by the Battle of Midway
5) Please leave Positive or Negative comments so that I can Improve this story for you guys.
That is all, General Sparky out.