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Belated Battleships (KanColle) [REHOST]

Reader mode
On on the topic of ship cats I am getting one. Trying to decide between Saratoga Jersey and Kongou for a name
 
SisterJeanne said:
Agreed. The one thing that might prevent Ari and Pennsy from acts of violence on Abyssmark and the rest that would make Guadacanal One look like an ice cream social is that they are slow enough that Jersey and the rest will probably arrive before the Standards show. If either of them made it to Pearl in time to participate in the festivities, the Abyssals would literally have to shoot them to pieces to even slow them down.

Needless to say, trying to order Ari or Pennsy to not head there to respond is a fool's errand.
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I think you underestimate the reliability of Ari and Penn. They might not like being told they are to remain in defensive reserve, but they will accept it - provided that action is taken by someone they trust to take care of business. Jersey has their trust in this, I am sure.

Rancher_357 said:
I wonder if they would even have enough extreme cold weather gear to fight in the "snow zone". If it is cold enough to affect modern synthetic firearm lubes, exposed skin is at extreme risk. A couple of long sleeve shirts and a bomber jacket won't cut it, either. Hypothermia in those conditions would be as deadly as the abyssals.
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Hazmat suits would work quite nicely with a couple layers of light clothing underneath.
 
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Farmerbob1 said:
Hazmat suits would work quite nicely with a couple layers of light clothing underneath.
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Assuming these are normal Arctic conditions instead of a bullshit magical fucking blizzard that literally wants to suck the life out of everything caught in it.

SisterJeanne said:
Agreed. The one thing that might prevent Ari and Pennsy from acts of violence on Abyssmark and the rest that would make Guadacanal One look like an ice cream social is that they are slow enough that Jersey and the rest will probably arrive before the Standards show. If either of them made it to Pearl in time to participate in the festivities, the Abyssals would literally have to shoot them to pieces to even slow them down.
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I sent a PM to theJMPer regarding how Ari and Pennsy might react. I didn't post it in thread because, if I'm right, it'd be a horrible spoiler. But... if I'm right, it'll be AWESOME.
 
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"Your majesty."

Snow Queen did not look up from her sister.

"Your majesty."

"My sister is dying." There was a dreadful lack of emotion in her voice. "Speak quickly."

The cruiser gulped. "We have identified the wreckage that we cleared away earlier."

Snow Queen took the smaller abyssal by the throat but did not - yet - squeeze. "And this merits disturbing us? Now?"

"Your majesty, the ship was the one called Arizona. A... sister, if you will, to every battleship launched by the land-dwellers of the North American continent. A sister... the sister... that they could not save. One who died here, to a surprise attack."

The Snow Queen might have been made of ice. Her hand around the cruiser's throat. Her eyes upon the Raider Princess as her sister gasped and sobbed, clinging to life, fighting to survive long enough to give life to those she carried.

What would I do for my sister?

If I...

If I failed...

What would I do to protect her resting place?

Very slowly she released the cruiser. "Look to our defenses." The cold was no longer enough to keep emotion from her voice. The Snow Queen had bottled up her anger. Suppressed her grief. Crushed down her fear. None of this escaped. None of them could get past the icy facade she had built for herself.

But horror. That, she had not yet bound.

And shame? Not that either.

"They will come. Soon. No matter the cost to them." Before we are ready to repel them, she thought. And I may have doomed her.

One icy tear touched her cheek. Or perhaps a snow flake. Yes, it was definitely a snow flake, the Snow Queen told herself, wiping it away with the back of her hand.
 
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Omake: A certain lady
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    • * * * * *

    Arizona narrowed her eyes, taking stock of her target's positioning. The winds were nonexistent and her quarry close enough that she needn't worry much at all about drop-off. Certainly not with the amount of power behind each bullet.

    She raised the revolver with a well practiced motion.

    The trigger was squeezed six times in rapid succession. Not too fast, mind. But quickly enough that someone with a less keen eye might think she was simply firing wildly.

    Though her results would certainly give that impression.

    She frowned as she re-examined the distant target. All six bullets had hit the target, yes. But their impacts were scattered and sloppy. Not even remotely close to the standard of marksmanship she held herself to. Making it all the worse was this round was an even poorer showing than the last.

    Arizona emptied her revolver of the spent casings and set the weapon down on the table. It lay next to its equally unloaded twin and a small pile of empty brass.

    "Ari, I know you're worried. But I don't think this is helping." Voiced Mutsu in a concerned tone.

    "It's not." She admitted. "I think it's making things worse to be perfectly honest."

    Perhaps if she could steady her heart and mind as well as she could steady her hands, she could find a measure of calm. But it was painfully obvious she couldn't. It made the increasingly poor displays of marksmanship all the more frustrating and only served to grow her ire.

    "Hawaii is besieged in ways we didn't even think possible and we're paying dearly for it. Patrol routes are becoming more and more dangerous with each day without any hint as to why. No matter how many of them we send to the bottom..." Arizona ground her teeth so hard that tiny sparks flew from her mouth, as if two sheets of metal were scraping against one another.

    "And you'll be out of commission for your refit starting tomorrow." Stated the pregnant battleship. She scooted over on the bench and patted the spot next to her, prompting Arizona to have a seat. "Come on, take a break and sit down. I'd offer a lap pillow, but I don't think there's room~"

    Arizona couldn't help but roll her eyes at the tease. Neither could she help the tiny smile that cracked her stern features. Mutsu was a few months along now and was making absolutely no effort to hide it. Though given this was Mutsu of all people, it really wasn't much of a surprise.

    "Very well..."

    Without any further prompting, she sat down next to Mutsu and allowed herself to slump over.

    The range was eerily silent for midday. Aside from Mutsu and herself, the only other personnel present were those in charge of the facility. However with all the rapid developments...

    "I do wish Jane could have come. She enjoys coming to the range quite a bit." Mutsu affectionately rubbed her swollen belly as she spoke. "But with school back in full swing, she doesn't have as much free time."

    "It would have been nice, yes." Arizona nodded with a hit of humour. The now temporarily littlest Richardson had more energy to burn than half the destroyers on base. Keeping up with her was quite the workout for almost anyone. Especially for herself and her sister whenever Pennsy got roped into things. They had more than enough endurance to deal with the little girl, but haste was not in their design plans.

    Before silence could raise its head again, Mutsu placed a hand on Arizona's shoulder.

    "Ari, I know you have a lot on your mind right now. But what is it that's really bothering you?"

    Arizona turned her steel grey eyes to Mutsu's verdant green. She could only hold the gaze for a short few moments before looking down at the floor. Her hands came together, clasped in what could only be seen as something desperate.

    "They... Those monsters. They struck at Pearl. First and foremost, they struck at Pearl." She shoot her head and continued. Mutsu had a way about her. Something that made impossible to hide things from her. Well, most of her family did. And she wasn't quite sure if they were just that good at it or she herself was simply that willing to share her thoughts with them. It was probably both if she took the time to sort it all out.

    Mutsu's hand moved around to her other should and pulled her into a soft embrace. She stayed quiet, allowing Arizona to speak without interruption.

    "For all the pain and death they're inflicting, there's one thing that burns me more than anything else. And I cannot help but feel guilty about it. Guilty about placing this above all others." Arizona took a deep shuddering breath. No tears, not even the hint of them pricked at her eyes. "I worry what they'll do to the grave of my crew."

    "Your crew?"

    "My crew. My body is... It's a memorial, yes. But it's still nothing more than old steel. I would be angry. Furious beyond words if it were to be desecrated. But I think... I think that would pass in time. But that it is the tomb of my crew..." She unclasped her hands and slowly removed the gloves she always wore. The burned flesh that snaked up from her arms poked into her palms, the scars that no one could truly make sense of. At times they only gave the appearance of old wounds. At others, they bled and cracked and ached as though they'd been inflicted just the day before.

    "Because that is the resting place of the crew I love and the crew who I failed to protect, I won't forgive anyone who dares lay a hand on it." Arizona ground her teeth. "Not one soul."

    "You don't need to feel guilty, you know." Mutsu removed her headband and rested her head on Arizona's shoulder. "You're only human, and yes, I know we're also ships. Now hush and let Mutsu talk."

    "I a-" Arizona cut herself off and nodded, something that drew a smile from the brunette.

    "You've been a person long enough to know you have wants, desires, likes, dislikes, and all those fun little things that we couldn't truly experience when we were ships. We can even act on them. I certainly did." Mutsu giggled impishly before grinning the same. "And I know you tried to~"

    Before Arizona could spout flustered denials, she found her lips sealed by one of Mutsu's fingers atop them.

    "But as I was saying, you don't need to feel guilty. Being more concerned about one thing over another doesn't mean you're not concerned at all." Mutsu removed her finger and smiled. "You ought to know this by now."

    "I should, but still..."

    "That's just the kind of person you are." Mutsu hugged Arizona with yet more strength. "And we wouldn't trade it for the world."

    Arizona tried to formulate a reply, but none was forthcoming. She couldn't think of an argument against Mutsu's words and she found she really didn't want to. Just accepting those words at face value lightened her soul ever so slightly.

    "I am beginning to see more of what John sees in you."

    "Oh my~" Mutsu's expression took on a playful appearance. "Are you attempting to charm me, Battleship Arizona?"

    Arizona looked away and coughed awkwardly.

    "You don't have any stars on your shoulders."

    There was a poignant silence in the range before it was so swiftly cute down by the laughter of a very amused battleship.

    "You don't need to laugh so much." Her attempts to trade fire on Mutsu's level, however... potentially offending to her sensibilities, had not exactly gone the way she'd hoped. But an attempt had been made at least. She wasn't quite sure if she would be willing to try again anytime soon however.

    "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd try to turn the tables on me like that!" Mutsu's merry laughter continued to ring out, further turning Arizona red with embarrassment and irritation. If Arizona were willing to venture, she would wager even the twins were laughing in their mother's dockyard.

    It took quite a few minutes for Mutsu to calm down, finally wiping her eyes as the giggle subsided.

    "Are you quite done now?"

    "Oh, for the moment." Mutsu poked Arizona on the forehead amusedly. "Your timing was good, but you could still use some practice."

    "Don't hold your breath..." Arizona mumbled.

    "Do you feel a little better now?"

    "...A little, yes. At the very least, it is no longer grating away like it was before. Thank you, Mutsu. Truly." This family drove her to madness, but she did love them so. She stood from the bench and stretched. Perhaps she should try again. With a clearer head to face forward with. "And I'm not sure how much help I can be, but if ever..."

    "That makes me happy to hear. I hope I'll never need to, but if I do I'll let you know." Mutsu smiled warmly.

    Arizona nodded and set about reloading her revolver.

    "You know, I sent a message to Miss Kaga before she and Miss Akagi left." She methodically set the fully loaded cylinder back into position.

    "Oh?" Mutsu placed her hands on her belly as she watched Arizona work. "What did you tell her?"

    "Give them Hell." Arizona levelled her weapon and took aim at the distant target.

    "And come back safely."

    She fired.

    * * * * *

    She sat beneath the canopy of trees that enshrouded her makeshift base in darkness, a firm hand embracing a vessel of fresh, warm crimson.

    Her pale features composed an unearthly beauty that staggered the souls of those fleshly creatures whom she kept around as stock.

    Unlike her sisters, revelling in the grotesque and vile forms their demonic flesh had adopted, she had wrought her body into something more pleasing to the eye. Yet it was to her own sensibilities of beauty.

    The curve of her flesh, so mathematically unique that the first mortal to lay eyes upon it had their mind broken as they attempted to trace its contour. A jawline composing an angle that even her own escorts had difficulty attempting to discern where it began, where it ended, and how it was steel or supple flesh depending on how they glanced upon it. It was so very amusing to see. But not without a drawback or two.

    It was rather difficult to keep her fleet and fuel sane and alive if their minds broke and eyes bled whenever they looked at her wrong.

    A nice dress had certainly helped in such matters.

    Though sometimes she questioned the need for such a form. Pleasing as it was, she much preferred being an entity solely of steel and carnage as she had been those many months ago.

    "No matter."

    Hmm...?

    "The raiding party has returned, I take it?"

    An entity from behind nodded unnaturally. She did not turn to face it, but she could see it all the same. And the shudder that wracked its body told her quite well that it knew her eyes were now upon it.

    "Go on." Her bell-like voice cracked the air as she delivered the simple command. A command that was obeyed quickly and dutifully. Hmm... Not too terrible. Three destroyers and two light cruisers lost. But in exchange the bounty from three human destroyers had been reaped and appropriately salvaged.

    Upon finishing, the reportee saluted, a warped insignia gleamed as sunlight caught it in motion. Many in one, and none at all.

    She licked her lips.

    "Good. Continue increasing pressure on them and increase your caution as appropriate. We've evaded detection this long and I am more than willing to go hungry if it means maintaining such a status."

    She swirled her drink and took a long sip of it. It flowed throughout and fed strongly. Fingers that were too long and too short and all the same traced the lip of her cup.

    "You may go. I have some ideas I would like to entertain."

    The form did not need to be told twice and made itself scarce.

    If it was one thing she would gladly hold over the others, it was her patience. Where they would burn themselves into ash out of haste, greedily consuming without care and only thinking of the next meal. The next birth. The next slaughter. She much preferred to take her time.

    Yes, time. All the time in the world.

    She would not laze, but instead prepare. Her demons needed to be ready. They needed their might to be at the apex. She would squander the weak on these minor squabbles. And those that returned would have another chance. Bleed them well and bleed them over and over again. Bleed them into the might that few could only dream of.

    All to create the most potent navy the world would ever see as it slipped into the void.

    Her laughter rang out as a smile of ecstasy grew upon her lips. Stones underfoot wept angry, black tears and the trees cracked like glass.

    It would be perfect.

    Cull the weak to breed the strong. And cull the strong to sharpen the most powerful of weapons.

    Her soul cried out in the joy of anticipation.

    Of a grand end to all things and the absolute dominance of her fleet.

    Of a single, decisive battle.

    * * * * *
     
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    • Rancher_357 said:
    That leaves the Pennsylvania sisters and Yamashiro as the main battle line in southern Japan (except of course for the very pregnant Mutsu). Regardless of what their very strong emotions are about Pearl Harbor, they probably are professional enough to stay put and trust others to fight that battle while they stay to defend their new home.
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    Mutsu's not that far along (like... 2-3 months last time I checked. Enough that she can show to every bote on base, but not enough to meaningfully slow her down.) She's also a BIGGU SEBBIN battlewagon. She could be nine months pregnant and still fucking terrifying if you're on the other end of those sixteens.
    Rancher_357 said:
    I wonder if they would even have enough extreme cold weather gear to fight in the "snow zone". If it is cold enough to affect modern synthetic firearm lubes, exposed skin is at extreme risk. A couple of long sleeve shirts and a bomber jacket won't cut it, either. Hypothermia in those conditions would be as deadly as the abyssals.
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    Extreme cold hugely favors the defenders, as the Germans found out on the Eastern Front. Only this time they're on the defense.
     
    theJMPer said:
    Extreme cold hugely favors the defenders, as the Germans found out on the Eastern Front. Only this time they're on the defense.
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    Well, in this case extreme cold favored the attackers, because they brought it with them to the tropics where the defenders of Hawaii had to fight both the abyssals and the cold. Take the Russian army defending Moscow in WWII and suddenly put them in tropical weight uniforms. What do you get? A German controlled Moscow.

    And now it will favor the Abyssal defenders, so the girls better wear their scarves and the Marines and Army Rangers better bring their ECW gear.

    Oh and thanks for the update on Mutsu, I wasn't real sure how far along she was actually supposed to be.
     
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    Old Iron said:
    * * * * *

    Arizona narrowed her eyes, taking stock of her target's positioning. The winds were nonexistent and her quarry close enough that she needn't worry much at all about drop-off. Certainly not with the amount of power behind each bullet.

    She raised the revolver with a well practiced motion.

    The trigger was squeezed six times in rapid succession. Not too fast, mind. But quickly enough that someone with a less keen eye might think she was simply firing wildly.

    Though her results would certainly give that impression.

    She frowned as she re-examined the distant target. All six bullets had hit the target, yes. But their impacts were scattered and sloppy. Not even remotely close to the standard of marksmanship she held herself to. Making it all the worse was this round was an even poorer showing than the last.

    Arizona emptied her revolver of the spent casings and set the weapon down on the table. It lay next to its equally unloaded twin and a small pile of empty brass.

    "Ari, I know you're worried. But I don't think this is helping." Voiced Mutsu in a concerned tone.

    "It's not." She admitted. "I think it's making things worse to be perfectly honest."

    Perhaps if she could steady her heart and mind as well as she could steady her hands, she could find a measure of calm. But it was painfully obvious she couldn't. It made the increasingly poor displays of marksmanship all the more frustrating and only served to grow her ire.

    "Hawaii is besieged in ways we didn't even think possible and we're paying dearly for it. Patrol routes are becoming more and more dangerous with each day without any hint as to why. No matter how many of them we send to the bottom..." Arizona ground her teeth so hard that tiny sparks flew from her mouth, as if two sheets of metal were scraping against one another.

    "And you'll be out of commission for your refit starting tomorrow." Stated the pregnant battleship. She scooted over on the bench and patted the spot next to her, prompting Arizona to have a seat. "Come on, take a break and sit down. I'd offer a lap pillow, but I don't think there's room~"

    Arizona couldn't help but roll her eyes at the tease. Neither could she help the tiny smile that cracked her stern features. Mutsu was a few months along now and was making absolutely no effort to hide it. Though given this was Mutsu of all people, it really wasn't much of a surprise.

    "Very well..."

    Without any further prompting, she sat down next to Mutsu and allowed herself to slump over.

    The range was eerily silent for midday. Aside from Mutsu and herself, the only other personnel present were those in charge of the facility. However with all the rapid developments...

    "I do wish Jane could have come. She enjoys coming to the range quite a bit." Mutsu affectionately rubbed her swollen belly as she spoke. "But with school back in full swing, she doesn't have as much free time."

    "It would have been nice, yes." Arizona nodded with a hit of humour. The now temporarily littlest Richardson had more energy to burn than half the destroyers on base. Keeping up with her was quite the workout for almost anyone. Especially for herself and her sister whenever Pennsy got roped into things. They had more than enough endurance to deal with the little girl, but haste was not in their design plans.

    Before silence could raise its head again, Mutsu placed a hand on Arizona's shoulder.

    "Ari, I know you have a lot on your mind right now. But what is it that's really bothering you?"

    Arizona turned her steel grey eyes to Mutsu's verdant green. She could only hold the gaze for a short few moments before looking down at the floor. Her hands came together, clasped in what could only be seen as something desperate.

    "They... Those monsters. They struck at Pearl. First and foremost, they struck at Pearl." She shoot her head and continued. Mutsu had a way about her. Something that made impossible to hide things from her. Well, most of her family did. And she wasn't quite sure if they were just that good at it or she herself was simply that willing to share her thoughts with them. It was probably both if she took the time to sort it all out.

    Mutsu's hand moved around to her other should and pulled her into a soft embrace. She stayed quiet, allowing Arizona to speak without interruption.

    "For all the pain and death they're inflicting, there's one thing that burns me more than anything else. And I cannot help but feel guilty about it. Guilty about placing this above all others." Arizona took a deep shuddering breath. No tears, not even the hint of them pricked at her eyes. "I worry what they'll do to the grave of my crew."

    "Your crew?"

    "My crew. My body is... It's a memorial, yes. But it's still nothing more than old steel. I would be angry. Furious beyond words if it were to be desecrated. But I think... I think that would pass in time. But that it is the tomb of my crew..." She unclasped her hands and slowly removed the gloves she always wore. The burned flesh that snaked up from her arms poked into her palms, the scars that no one could truly make sense of. At times they only gave the appearance of old wounds. At others, they bled and cracked and ached as though they'd been inflicted just the day before.

    "Because that is the resting place of the crew I love and the crew who I failed to protect, I won't forgive anyone who dares lay a hand on it." Arizona ground her teeth. "Not one soul."

    "You don't need to feel guilty, you know." Mutsu removed her headband and rested her head on Arizona's shoulder. "You're only human, and yes, I know we're also ships. Now hush and let Mutsu talk."

    "I a-" Arizona cut herself off and nodded, something that drew a smile from the brunette.

    "You've been a person long enough to know you have wants, desires, likes, dislikes, and all those fun little things that we couldn't truly experience when we were ships. We can even act on them. I certainly did." Mutsu giggled impishly before grinning the same. "And I know you tried to~"

    Before Arizona could spout flustered denials, she found her lips sealed by one of Mutsu's fingers atop them.

    "But as I was saying, you don't need to feel guilty. Being more concerned about one thing over another doesn't mean you're not concerned at all." Mutsu removed her finger and smiled. "You ought to know this by now."

    "I should, but still..."

    "That's just the kind of person you are." Mutsu hugged Arizona with yet more strength. "And we wouldn't trade it for the world."

    Arizona tried to formulate a reply, but none was forthcoming. She couldn't think of an argument against Mutsu's words and she found she really didn't want to. Just accepting those words at face value lightened her soul ever so slightly.

    "I am beginning to see more of what John sees in you."

    "Oh my~" Mutsu's expression took on a playful appearance. "Are you attempting to charm me, Battleship Arizona?"

    Arizona looked away and coughed awkwardly.

    "You don't have any stars on your shoulders."

    There was a poignant silence in the range before it was so swiftly cute down by the laughter of a very amused battleship.

    "You don't need to laugh so much." Her attempts to trade fire on Mutsu's level, however... potentially offending to her sensibilities, had not exactly gone the way she'd hoped. But an attempt had been made at least. She wasn't quite sure if she would be willing to try again anytime soon however.

    "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd try to turn the tables on me like that!" Mutsu's merry laughter continued to ring out, further turning Arizona red with embarrassment and irritation. If Arizona were willing to venture, she would wager even the twins were laughing in their mother's dockyard.

    It took quite a few minutes for Mutsu to calm down, finally wiping her eyes as the giggle subsided.

    "Are you quite done now?"

    "Oh, for the moment." Mutsu poked Arizona on the forehead amusedly. "Your timing was good, but you could still use some practice."

    "Don't hold your breath..." Arizona mumbled.

    "Do you feel a little better now?"

    "...A little, yes. At the very least, it is no longer grating away like it was before. Thank you, Mutsu. Truly." This family drove her to madness, but she did love them so. She stood from the bench and stretched. Perhaps she should try again. With a clearer head to face forward with. "And I'm not sure how much help I can be, but if ever..."

    "That makes me happy to hear. I hope I'll never need to, but if I do I'll let you know." Mutsu smiled warmly.

    Arizona nodded and set about reloading her revolver.

    "You know, I sent a message to Miss Kaga before she and Miss Akagi left." She methodically set the fully loaded cylinder back into position.

    "Oh?" Mutsu placed her hands on her belly as she watched Arizona work. "What did you tell her?"

    "Give them Hell." Arizona levelled her weapon and took aim at the distant target.

    "And come back safely."

    She fired.

    * * * * *

    She sat beneath the canopy of trees that enshrouded her makeshift base in darkness, a firm hand embracing a vessel of fresh, warm crimson.

    Her pale features composed an unearthly beauty that staggered the souls of those fleshly creatures whom she kept around as stock.

    Unlike her sisters, revelling in the grotesque and vile forms their demonic flesh had adopted, she had wrought her body into something more pleasing to the eye. Yet it was to her own sensibilities of beauty.

    The curve of her flesh, so mathematically unique that the first mortal to lay eyes upon it had their mind broken as they attempted to trace its contour. A jawline composing an angle that even her own escorts had difficulty attempting to discern where it began, where it ended, and how it was steel or supple flesh depending on how they glanced upon it. It was so very amusing to see. But not without a drawback or two.

    It was rather difficult to keep her fleet and fuel sane and alive if their minds broke and eyes bled whenever they looked at her wrong.

    A nice dress had certainly helped in such matters.

    Though sometimes she questioned the need for such a form. Pleasing as it was, she much preferred being an entity solely of steel and carnage as she had been those many months ago.

    "No matter."

    Hmm...?

    "The raiding party has returned, I take it?"

    An entity from behind nodded unnaturally. She did not turn to face it, but she could see it all the same. And the shudder that wracked its body told her quite well that it knew her eyes were now upon it.

    "Go on." Her bell-like voice cracked the air as she delivered the simple command. A command that was obeyed quickly and dutifully. Hmm... Not too terrible. Three destroyers and two light cruisers lost. But in exchange the bounty from three human destroyers had been reaped and appropriately salvaged.

    Upon finishing, the reportee saluted, a warped insignia gleamed as sunlight caught it in motion. Many in one, and none at all.

    She licked her lips.

    "Good. Continue increasing pressure on them and increase your caution as appropriate. We've evaded detection this long and I am more than willing to go hungry if it means maintaining such a status."

    She swirled her drink and took a long sip of it. It flowed throughout and fed strongly. Fingers that were too long and too short and all the same traced the lip of her cup.

    "You may go. I have some ideas I would like to entertain."

    The form did not need to be told twice and made itself scarce.

    If it was one thing she would gladly hold over the others, it was her patience. Where they would burn themselves into ash out of haste, greedily consuming without care and only thinking of the next meal. The next birth. The next slaughter. She much preferred to take her time.

    Yes, time. All the time in the world.

    She would not laze, but instead prepare. Her demons needed to be ready. They needed their might to be at the apex. She would squander the weak on these minor squabbles. And those that returned would have another chance. Bleed them well and bleed them over and over again. Bleed them into the might that few could only dream of.

    All to create the most potent navy the world would ever see as it slipped into the void.

    Her laughter rang out as a smile of ecstasy grew upon her lips. Stones underfoot wept angry, black tears and the trees cracked like glass.

    It would be perfect.

    Cull the weak to breed the strong. And cull the strong to sharpen the most powerful of weapons.

    Her soul cried out in the joy of anticipation.

    Of a grand end to all things and the absolute dominance of her fleet.

    Of a single, decisive battle.

    * * * * *
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    Really liked that one, Old Iron. A good look at Arizona's own struggle, and her friendship with Mutsu. Good to see Ari getting a refit, but will it have an impact on her emotionally to be in the same configuration she died in? Will it have an impact on Pennsy to look at her sister and see the twin tripod masts she last saw as collapsed and burning?

    Interesting new villain, or I guess maybe we've seen her before as the battleship Tosa. But she does have a new take on how to fight the war.

    Well done.
     
    the good news is that if this the 30's refit, Tosa is going to be screwed come next fight. She only has a 5,000 yard immunity zone to the upgraded 14/45's Arizona got as part of that deal.
     
    theJMPer said:
    Mutsu's not that far along (like... 2-3 months last time I checked. Enough that she can show to every bote on base, but not enough to meaningfully slow her down.) She's also a BIGGU SEBBIN battlewagon. She could be nine months pregnant and still fucking terrifying if you're on the other end of those sixteens.
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    Mutsu: *smug*
    Rancher_357 said:
    Really liked that one, Old Iron. A good look at Arizona's own struggle, and her friendship with Mutsu. Good to see Ari getting a refit, but will it have an impact on her emotionally to be in the same configuration she died in? Will it have an impact on Pennsy to look at her sister and see the twin tripod masts she last saw as collapsed and burning?
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    I'm glad you enjoyed it. It took a lot longer to put together that I'd have liked, but I am glad it came out enjoyable. The original version was actually Ari and Jane at the range. But that kept running into problems, so Mutsu stepped up.

    As for the emotional impact... Well, you'll have to wait and see~
    Rancher_357 said:
    Interesting new villain, or I guess maybe we've seen her before as the battleship Tosa. But she does have a new take on how to fight the war.
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    It's Tos-*whack*
    Tosa: I told you I needed more screen time.
    Spectre said:
    the good news is that if this the 30's refit, Tosa is going to be screwed come next fight. She only has a 5,000 yard immunity zone to the upgraded 14/45's Arizona got as part of that deal.
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