Tension was high as navel crews checked and rechecked their weapon systems. They would soon be firing full barrages of all weapons at maximum ranges. The elevations and wind speed for all guns had already been checked and factored in. No one wanted to be any closer than need be if the decision was made to start dropping any nuclear weapons on Jormungander if all available artillery didn't look like it was doing enough damage.
The plan was for Major Takarada to fly in low over Bokak Atoll and release the last of his uranium powder at the target point where over ten thousand pounds of explosives were waiting, hoping to stun the creature as the ships rained their artillery down upon it.
* * *
Takarada now came in at just two hundred feet over the atoll, releasing a trail of the uranium powder behind him as he passed over the explosives. Jormungander then came in right behind. Takarada hit his afterburners as the explosives went off right after. The creature fell to the ground and rolled right past the target point, but at least he was stunned for the moment. The gun crews adjusted their aim even as the firing began. Shell after shell hit around or landed directly on the monster, quickly obscuring it in plumes of smoke, dust, water, sand, and other debris. It's cries of pain and roars of rage could be heard throughout the fleet.
The bombardment seemed to last forever. Jormungander himself was obscured from view within the huge clouds of smoke and dust. Once the firing stopped, it still took several minutes for the winds to blow it all away. There lay Jormungander, still thrashing about, coiling over on itself in pain. Although he was broken and bloody, with chunks of flesh and hide missing, the damage didn't look critical.
It was then decided to use the nuclear weapons after all. Since Jormungander wouldn't be going anywhere soon, the ships were given an hour to pull back before any bombs were dropped. As the sun set, three nuclear bombs would be dropped and their effects analyzed before any more action would be taken. Most found it hard to believe more than one would even be needed, but not opposed two extra as a 'precautionary' measure.
Two neutron and one fusion bomb were then dropped at the same time. This made it impossible to see what had become of Jormungander for several hours. As the time passed, the world watched to see what had become of the creature. But to their horror, as the plume of nuclear smoke and ash cleared, there was Jormungander, even larger than before, it's eyes glowing, turning very angry eyes on the ships that had just tried to destroy him...
“
Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." - Bhagavad Gita, Hindu scripture.