The same way The U.S.S. Laffy challenged the Japanese battleship Hiei off Guadalcanal by targeting the bridge and super structure to try delay her for Texas to reinforce her. I realize that in all likely hood Maine is lost again but dammit she deserves to have a chance to prove herself in battle alters once. Instead of her fate being lost to an explosion.
The problem with that is Maine can only make 16 knots, and has only 10" guns (old model 10" guns, at that). The battlecruiser princess will take one look at her, go "lol" and promptly blow her out of the water beyond Maines effective range.
I don't think we're getting Wisky back for a while, most of the tonnage seems to have gone to Texas. Though on the other hand, we get a battleship who is capable of immediately going out and fucking shit up.
Also, as other people have stated, Jersey is going to be fucking furious.
I imagine we'll be seeing the first dynamic entry performed by a battleship soon, as some U-bitches (and U-511) get to see what happens when you fuck with the family of (well, barely) arguably the most powerful battleship ever.
More than likely, hell she will probably tear the Battleship Princess apart with bare hands after saying this line from Team Fortress 2 : "Let us wrestle little man! Put up fists!" She will be in that mode, the sort of mode where if you value your life and your an Abyssal, you will NOT fire at her. But knowing the Abyssals they likely will and much violence will ensue.'
Jersey is on the other side of the country sailing for Japan for combined operations with the Japanese to punch a line of supply from Australia.
She will still rip the Abyssals a new one though.
Jersey is on the other side of the country sailing for Japan for combined operations with the Japanese to punch a line of supply from Australia.
She will still rip the Abyssals a new one though.
Exactly the Battleship Princess is in the Pacific, still I seriously want to see Jersey using her new sword and MSSB, cut the Battleship Princess in twain, making everyone go "Well, shit, don't hurt her sisters if you value your life."
More than likely, hell she will probably tear the Battleship Princess apart with bare hands after saying this line from Team Fortress 2 : "Let us wrestle little man! Put up fists!" She will be in that mode, the sort of mode where if you value your life and your an Abyssal, you will NOT fire at her. But knowing the Abyssals they likely will and much violence will ensue.'
Well, according to the rules of BB, only ships that had actual crews are summonable. So Illinois and Kentucky probably won't show up on the side of our intrepid shipping fodder.
Well, according to the rules of BB, only ships that had actual crews are summonable. So Illinois and Kentucky probably won't show up on the side of our intrepid shipping fodder.
I was more exaggerating, more or less a sort of "she on such a RRR that even BB's rules and logic decided it was in their best interest to stay the hell out of her way".
I was more exaggerating, more or less a sort of "she on such a RRR that even BB's rules and logic decided it was in their best interest to stay the hell out of her way".
Tiger looked up at the soft voice, her uniform top resting in her arms, "Haruna?"
With only a limited time before they were due to head out on their new mission, the two...sisters...had been preparing rigorously. It was coming back from one of those familiarization exercises, that found the two in the baths. It was the first time they had been together in there, and Tiger had been looking forward to resting. She couldn't quite keep up with the Japanese battleship, and it had showed.
She was tired.
"Onee-san...your..." Haruna's already soft voice was worried, and Tiger had no idea why.
"What is it?" the old battlecruiser blinked, looking down at her torso, her red bra at least preserving her modesty. Not that she was anything to write home about to begin with...
Haruna shook her head, walking over to her sister. The Japanese girl had no such qualms, only a towel covering her fuller figure. As she brought a gentle hand up, running it along Tiger's back. The cold fingers sent a chill down the British battlecruiser's spine when she felt that touch. And not because of being touched like that. Because, as her violet eyes widened, Tiger remembered. As Haruna pushed aside her flowing brown hair, she remembered.
Oh no...
"Your back..." her sister whispered, voice filled with honest concern. Haruna's gentle touch traced along something Tiger had wanted to avoid her seeing.
Stupid...stupid...
"I-I," Tiger sucked in a breath, pulling away from Haruna, her arms self-consciously crossing over her torso. Violet eyes were downcast at the ground, the battlecruiser unable to face her sister in the face. "Haruna, I...with everything going on, I forgot about that. I didn't want you to have to see that."
"Why?" There was no condemnation in the younger warship's voice. Her amber eyes were shining with worry, her hand limply falling to her side. "Onee-san, Haruna is...worried. Why would you hide that?"
Tiger could only shake her head, unwilling to look up at that concerned face. "It's a long story. But the destroyers don't like seeing it...I took my baths alone. Amy's the only one...the only one who never commented on it."
She could remember the time at the beach with her best friend. The teenager had not commented on her...on her scars. At all. Amy had stuck her in that skimpy little swimsuit, but not even once talked about the scars. Just...just been herself. Her cheerful self, who had done so very much to cheer Tiger up when she was down. And now, Haruna...
Her sister had seen them.
And instead of being repulsed like so many others, she was just worried and concerned. If anything, Haruna didn't seem to care about how Tigerlooked. But how she felt.
"Onee-san, do you think you are ugly?"
Head snapping up, Tiger stared at her sister. There was still no condemnation in Haruna's voice, but it had hardened. Amber eyes stared directly into violet, daring Tiger to say anything.
"I..."
"You are not." Haruna's voice, for all the softness, was lined with steel under the velvet. Her arms rose from her side, as the battleship ghosted forward. Her bare feet slapped against the tile, echoing in the silent room. Her hands reached up, gently gripping Tiger, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Haruna knows that. You are beautiful, onee-san. Why would you care about how you look?"
Body shaking in Haruna's grip, her bare skin pressed against the towel that was all that covered her sister, Tiger shook her head, "I...I'm one of the only girls with any scars, Haruna. And the others..."
"The others are worried as well." The Japanese girl cut her distant sister off, shaking her head sadly. Haruna looked at Tiger with deadly seriousness, her gentle features filled with the same loving expression that Tiger had gotten so very used to. "You hide this, onee-san."
"Because no one else has these scars." Tiger whispered back, her voice pained. "Haruna...do you know how many battles were fought between battleships in the second war?"
It was Haruna's turn to not be able to get a word in, because when she opened her mouth to answer, Tiger just shook her head. Long brown hair fell in front of her pained violet eyes, the battlecruiser running a hand along her arm, despite Haruna's tight hug. A round scar, raised above the rest of her pale skin, stood out in stark contrast.
"Not very many, and none like Jutland or Dogger Bank." The old British battlecruiser continued, her tone very soft and distant. "This right here is from Jutland, when I almost died like the others. My turret was hit, right in the middle. The rest are from Jutland and Dogger Bank as well...most of the battles in the Pacific, from what I understand, would have seen you sinking instead of going home and being put back into service?"
Haruna nodded, "Yes. My onee-sans...they didn't make it home."
"Exactly. These scars are...they're part of me, in a way the damage you all took isn't."
Her finger rubbed at the remnant of her turret damage, Tiger sighing softly. Despite the tight hug, she couldn't look up. It was silly of her to worry like this, maybe. But her myriad of scars were something she really, truly, wasn't fond of. They were a reminder of battles gone, and friends lost. A reminder that stared her in the face, every time she saw someone stare at them. She tried not to think about it...but sometimes...
"Onee-san, come with me."
Before Tiger knew what was happening, Haruna had spun around. Her long strides tugged the battlecruiser along for the ride, Tiger unable to stop her sister. Not that she even knew what was going on.
"Haruna, what are you...?" The Brit got out, trying to pull herself free.
"We are going to spend today having fun." Haruna turned to look over her shoulder, her smile widening, if only slightly. "I don't like seeing you sad, onee-san. Haruna wants to see you smile."
And for the first time, Tiger was experiencing a reminder that, yes, Haruna was a member of the Kongou sisters.
With everything that implied.
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"What is even happening."
Amy Kirkpatrick was not one to be shocked easily. Her best friend, her sister in all but blood, was a ship girl. Shenanigans and questioning her sanity were the usual. Especially with Australia as the resident joker.
But getting snagged out of her bedroom by a widely smiling Haruna and tossed into a flustered Tiger's arms was probably out of the ordinary, even for her.
"I wish I knew..." Tiger muttered softly, her own voice sounding more than a little confused at the entire situation.
"Isn't Haruna the sane one?" Amy grumbled, looking over at the battleship currently leading them to an amusement park.
Tiger blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Uh..."
The teenager was saved from the need to answer that question by the target of the question, Haruna turning around and sending her trademarked smile at the pair. Her flowing miko gown spun with the movement, flaring up her hips by not once going too high. Magic. Amy had to hold her own skirt down if she moved too fast, and being tossed into Tiger had counted.
Bloody ship girls.
"Come on!" the battleship cheerfully called out, waving at the other two girls.
Who just shared a look, practically reading the other's mind.
What have we gotten into?
But follow Haruna they did, one of the park workers sending a jaunty wave their way as they did so. It wasn't the first time that Tiger had been dragged here. Australia had done it once before, and Amy had done it several times. The workers knew that she was a ship girl and didn't charge them. And Haruna was, whatever else she was, very obviously a ship girl herself.
Still, at least it was a fun place?
"Haruna..." Tiger sighed softly, shaking her head, "She is too excitable."
Amy just smiled, "Well, at least she's getting us to spend some time out and about mate."
It was hard to deny that point, the dizzying array of brightly colored events surrounding the little group enough to make one go mad.
Tiger sighed again, but a soft smile crossed her face, "Maybe. I know I enjoy spending time with you, Amy."
Her friend turned bright red, coughing lightly, "Hey, don't get all mushy on me."
The battlecruiser blinked...before a small laugh escaped her chest. Her violet eyes danced with rare amusement, Tiger reaching out to gently jab Amy with her elbow. The teenager bounced back from the blow, turning a mock glare at the taller woman. Tiger raised an eyebrow in response, her smile actually reaching her eyes for once. And honestly?
Amy was happy for that. She truly was. Tiger didn't smile nearly enough.
"You know, Tiger," Amy looked up at her taller friend. "Your sister is very funny."
"She is?" Tiger asked, confusion at the change in subject clear in her voice. Her eyes trailed up to a dancing Haruna, before turning back to her old friend.
Amy nodded, laughing softly, "Oh yeah. I mean, I'm a bit annoyed at getting dragged out of bed for this, but at least we're going to enjoy ourselves. I mean..." The laugh faded, as the little teenager reached her hand out to grip Tiger's, holding it tightly. Her eyes stared up at the battlecruiser with a hint of worry, when she continued speaking, "You're going to be leaving soon, and it's to fight. So...I want to spend time with you."
Face flushing brightly, Tiger squeezed her friend's hand, "And I want to spend time with you too, Amy."
What neither of them noticed, was Haruna smiling in the background.
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Haruna was not like her sisters, she knew that. She wasn't as smart as Kirishima, as brave as Hiei, or as wise as Kongou. And she was filled with worry over what had happened to Hiei...if it weren't for her mission and Tiger, she may have went straight back to Japan when she found out. But she knew where she was needed, and that was with her British sister.
For while Haruna wasn't the smartest, bravest or wisest of her sisters, she at least knew one thing. She loved them all very dearly, and would do anything for them.
Tiger onee-san...
And when she had seen those scars on her sister, spidery lines running up her back and stomach? Haruna had felt like her heart had been shot by the same shells that had sunk Kirishima, so long ago. She had just wanted to help her sister, when she brought them up. But Tiger had been so...so...
Afraid. Ashamed.
Haruna hadn't known what to do.
"Hey, Haruna! You ever been on one of these?!" Amy Kirkpatrick's voice rang out, the little girl eagerly jumping in front of a ferris wheel.
"I have," the battleship sent back with her signature smile, waving the Australian on. "Haruna is going to find food for onee-san though!"
"Mate, come on!" Amy grumbled, but there was no real bite to her words. Especially when Tiger dragged her away.
For her part, Haruna felt her smile fade slightly, as she did move to go find food. Her thoughts returning to her sister, and the way she had acted. Tiger...Haruna loved her sister, just like she loved Kirishima-chan, Hiei onee-san, and Kongou onee-sama. But Tiger was always so sad. Haruna had made it her mission to cheer her sister up, and she tried so very hard.
But those scars had caught her by surprise, and it worried her that Tiger was so ashamed of them. They were a mark of pride, like Kongou's British habits!
"Onee-san..."
And yet, Tiger wore them like she was afraid of them.
Haruna looked down at her own hands, blemish free and as soft as the day she was launched. She wanted to see her sister smile...that was why she had come out here. And, maybe, she didn't really understand Tiger. But Haruna did know one thing.
And that was that food was the way to cheer someone up!
"Ah, hello miss...?"
That very reason, had her standing in front of a food stand. A confused cashier looking at the battleship, clearly not knowing what to think. But Haruna could handle that too!
"Um..." Haruna smiled gently, looking at the confused woman, "Haruna would like to order pie."
"Pie." The cashier responded, confusion clear in her tone. "What kind?"
"All of them," Haruna nodded assuredly. Her amber eyes sparkled with the beginnings of a plan. The best way to cheer her sister up was to give her good pie. Even the Americans agreed on that!
She didn't notice the stunned look on the worker's face, or the panicked shouting as they brought out quite literally every pie in the store. Haruna didn't notice the awed look they gave her when she easily picked up the stacks upon stacks of delectable food, or the money she had given them. The battleship didn't even notice when they started gossiping behind her.
All her attention was on a nearby table, where she would set up the pies.
Claiming that table, the battleship set her pies down and set about moving them around. Little fairies crawled and rappelled down her arms, a chorus of desu ringing out while they pushed and tugged on pies, Haruna humming quietly as she did much the same. Cherry here. Apple there. Even a pumpkin pie, set up at the center of the grouping.
The average passer-by would have absolutely no idea what was going on, other than there being a bunch of pies. And a bunch of adorable little figures, scurrying along the table to prep it.
Onee-san will be happy! Pie makes everyone happy, Onee-sama told me that once!
Nodding happily at her work, Haruna turned her amber eyes down on one particular fairy, with a tiny backpack carrying a radio. "Can you call onee-san down here?"
"Desu!"
Haruna smiled at her fairy, putting the finishing touches on her little grouping of pies. And when she heard the footsteps of her sister and the cheerful voice of Amy, that smile only widened.
"Whoa...that's a lot of pie!" Amy's shout had Haruna giggling softly, when she brushed a lock of grey hair from her eyes.
"Haruna wanted to have enough for everyone!" the battleship replied, holding her hands out over the table...or two...or three...worth of pies.
"Well, I won't eat that much. Tiger here has a good appetite though, right mate?" The little Australian grinned at her much taller friend, looking up at Tiger.
Who, for her part, was staring in evident awe at the feast of sugary goodness laid out in front of her, "I...I..."
Stepping forward, Haruna gently reached out and pulled her sister into a hug again. "Haruna wants you to be happy, onee-san. And Kongou onee-sama always said that food makes someone happy."
"Sounds like she knows what she's talking about," Amy nodded sagely, already seated at the table and eagerly digging into a strawberry pie provided by a fairy. "I mean, at least about food."
While the Australian dug into the food, the Japanese and British warships just stared at each other. Haruna with her gentle smile, and Tiger with an uncomfortable look. At least...at least until she finally sighed under the unwavering smile and love of her sister. Tiger returned the hug, her violet eyes wet. But the tiniest of smiles had crossed her face, and that was what really mattered.
Because she leaned forward to whisper in Haruna's ear, so that Amy wouldn't overhear.
"Thank you...Haruna. I...I know I'm not good at things like this, but thank you." Tiger tightened her grip on the taller girl, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "I know I was an arse to you earlier about my scars. But...thank you. For everything."
"You are my sister, onee-san." Haruna just shook her head, gently squeezing Tiger back. "And Haruna loves you. I would do anything for you."
While it was clear, even to her, that Tiger didn't quite know how to react...Haruna could see the way her sister finally relaxed in her grip. And it brought a wider smile to her face.
Were they about to go into battle? Yes.
Would one of them be hurt? Probably.
But they were sisters, and they would both come back. And even if she had to return to Japan soon, Haruna would do it knowing one thing.
Tiger onee-san loves me, and I love her. We will always be together, even if we aren't in the same place. Because we are sisters.
The logic here is reasonably simple. We know that the girls can have scars from Jersey. But it requires something major enough to have it reflect on them. Kirishima? Mushi? Hiei? They took a hell of a lot of pounding before going down, but they went down. No real difference from any other ship that got sunk violently, and that's why they don't have scars reflecting that damage.
Tiger?
She is far from the one with the most damage at either Dogger Bank or Jutland, but she still got shot up pretty badly. And since she actually survived the damage and since these events are very important to her it's reflected in old scars. I imagine Enterprise or Lexie or Warspite are much the same. Warspite is much the same.
I might be late here but I'd just like to point out most modern aircraft are painted in low-visibility gray. So, you know, painting them blue may or may not be relevant at all. Just saying.
The zoomies might give anyone who paints their precious airplanes Navy-camo blue a tongue-lashing to end all tongue-lashings. Or they might just take the bombs out of the bay and put the painters in instead. Maybe both.
The zoomies might give anyone who paints their precious airplanes Navy-camo blue a tongue-lashing to end all tongue-lashings. Or they might just take the bombs out of the bay and put the painters in instead. Maybe both.
Nah, they would paint them Army Green with white underbellies. The Navy would paint their planes light Navy Blue with white underbellies. The Marines would paint their aircraft dark navy blue with white underbellies.
Yamashiro's upgrade to Aviation Battleship does away with the canonical not-a-shield-launcher and instead she grows her planes. On a vine. And they're Corsairs because why not.
